I'm BAAACCKKK with gifts to woo your forgiveness.

So - I ran away - well not really, but darn near everyone around me, including me has gotten sick.  Then I had the joy of of a horrendous toothache and had to go to the dentist.  But here I am, I didn't leave you, I just barely had time to tend to my regular responsibilities, much less post here.  The good thing is, since I've missed a few posts - I have lots to talk about. 
First I want to beg your forgiveness of my absence with awards!

First off, Stef showered me with not one, not two, but THREE fabulous awards all in one!  I am honored and humbled by her. She, herself is an amazing woman, a heart mom and a great advocate for CHD awareness!  Please go check her out at When life hands you a broken Heart... Create Hope . She gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award, Happy 101, and the Sunshine Award.  With these I must pass them on to up to 10 new bloggers I've found and list something that makes me happy and talk about something that brings sunshine to my life.

I want to give the Beautiful Blogger award to these three amazing women and the beautiful blogs they have (and I'm not just saying they look pretty).  Some of you may know them, but I've only recently found them - so go check them out!

Natalie's Sentiments

Lesson's Learned

Blessed Quiver

Now on to something that makes me happy!  Spring, not that we know what that is this year.  Here in NC we have had more than our share of snow.  But on Saturday - when it was nice for a minute, I noticed my first signs of spring, the crocus are coming up in my yard, and there were yellow and white blooms.  I love it!  So to those who also find happiness and are always willing to share it - the Happy 101 award.

Everyday Occasions

My Adventures and Antics

Mommy 2 3 Miracles

You may wonder how through all the heartache in the world, sunshine is still found.  It comes from the little things and it comes from passing the little things on.  There are moments in my day that bring sunshine in, like when Little Man demands I kiss everyone goodbye - even the dogs - before going to work.  And if he doesn't see it, it doesn't count.  He shares his sunshine with me daily - and so do these women.  They share their life with me and I share mine with them.  I am lucky to have found all of these women in the blogging world.  The Sunshine Award goes to

The Five Fish

Desert Rose Moments

I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor

Now then I'd rather be Changing Diapers (who is a great new find, and a fabulous blogger) also graciously gave me the beautiful blogger award!  I feel really bad now, that I've gotten this award twice, yet I haven't posted in 2 weeks due to pure craziness.  (usually I'm a much better poster).  While I've already passed it on, Heather's rules are a little different, and inclue me listing 7 things about myself.  So here goes.

1. I used to love snow, as a southerner it is a foreign concept and never fails to wow us with it's amazing white flakes.  My yankee of a husband would laugh at me when I would just go stand on the porch and watch.  This year, I'm doing a snow go away dance.  I've finally seen enough - so much that I'm pondering moving further south.
2.  I'll never actually move, it is really just a daydream.  My work is here, family is here and I love the small town we live in. 
3.  I do want to move into a bigger house - with a inground swimming pool, on about 5 acres.  That is my real dream.  I've already sketched it out a few times, and continue to look at how awesome I could make the kitchen.
4.  I love to cook, if I didn't love what I do, I might be a chef or a baker.
5.  As much as I love to cook, I hate cake - all kinds of cake so don't tell me otherwise.  I am a cheesecake fan, our wedding cake was cheesecake!
6. I am now craving cheesecake, but will probably go get a Pepsi instead, I'm a Pepsi not Coco-Cola drinker.
7. I really feel bad for not posting, or even reading blogs the last two weeks.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  I am such a guilty person - I should've been Catholic.

Love to you all, glad you came back for a visit - even though I left for a little bit.  I promise to be better!

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much. ~Oscar Wilde

So Mommy is a Girl

In case you haven't noticed all the blue and brown around here, I -the Mommy - live in a house full of boys.

People say boys are more rambunctious than girls. They say they get dirtier.  I don't really know, because I have no comparison other than myself, and well I don't really remember that far back.

Most of the time, the twins don't even remember that Mommy is a girl, unless I do something outrageous like put on makeup.  Then they look at my face and say "Mommy, you put that stuff on!"  It's the kind of normal in my house, that Mommy is expected to get out and play sports and get dirty, just like the boys.  We all have water fights, and nerf gun wars.  It was all well and good until Santa brought the dirt bike. 

Don't get me wrong, the boys love riding it (now that it is no longer as cold as the Arctic).  They and Dear Hubby have created grand plans for everyone in the family to have one, and to go ride trails together.  Everyone that is, except Mommy.  Mommy is supposed to ride a 4 wheeler.  Not Dear Hubby's rule, the twins rule.

Reasons Mommy needs a 4 wheeler.  A: Mommy is a girl B: Mommy could get hurt.

Well how 'bout them apples?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  I am not allowed to have a dirt bike?  Me?  The-non- primpy- hates to wear a dress- played rugby- Mommy?  Shock wasn't even the word.  I was a little more upset.  What have I taught my children that they think I shouldn't have a dirt bike? 

After some conversation T1 did finally come around and agree that I could ride, and he would even teach me.  T2, against it.  He was really afraid of Mommy getting hurt.  This from the child without fear of his own life flashing before his eyes.

Saturday, we decided to go for it no matter what the twins said.  T1 reluctantly taught me to ride, and T2, decided it was ok, "since I didn't get hurt."

Any "girls" in your house?

Exhaustion! Clear and Utter

I read about some amazing moms out in blogosphere and really I don’t know how they do it. I only have three kids – not six, not multiple multiples, just one set. But there are days when I just can’t do it anymore.

 

I called in sick to work yesterday. And rolled back over in bed. And slept until 11:45 am. I can’t believe it myself. I haven’t slept that late since I was in college and we didn’t get home before daybreak. Monday night I went to bed at a decent hour, although I already felt kinda crappy. Nothing in particular, just drained. I’m not really sure what did it.

 

• Maybe it was the kid who had to do his first ever book report, and then turned his book back into the library on Friday
• Maybe it was facilitating 2 book reports over the weekend
• Maybe it was the fact that these reports were actually projects that took hours upon hours
• Maybe it’s that little man is not quite potty trained, and refuses to let anyone put his pants back on other than me, causing numerous interruptions.
• Maybe it's that it has been too fricking cold for too long. I did not chose to live in the south so I could wake up to 16 degree weather every day for 12 days straight. I hate the cold!
• Maybe it’s the after Christmas blues.
• Maybe it's that work has been kinda nutty.
• Maybe it’s this AWFUL toothache I have and can’t get grips on and am waiting for money to come in so I can go to the dentist.

And writing all this makes me want to crawl back in bed. I don’t know. I know a lot of you have it worse off than me – but I needed a day to rest and a day to vent and I’ll be better tomorrow. I hope!

 

Just because you're miserable doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life. ~Annette Goodheart

Before & After Twins

There are lots of before and afters -

• before college/after college
• before real world job/after real world job
• before marriage/after marriage
• before kids/after kids
• before twins/ after twins

Of all the lessons that we learn in before and after periods, one would think we wouldn't judge those around us too harshly. HA! We all go people watch and we all judge, even if just to ourselves. I used to judge - then I had twins.

BEFORE I had twins I wanted all matching baby furniture - the stoller and carseat and highchair all looked great as a coordinated set.
AFTER I had twins, I was happy to have the high chair that was left by a neighbor for the trash man.

BEFORE I had twins I thought kids in matching clothes was cute.
AFTER I had twins I wanted to be able to tell them apart - besides hand me downs don't come in matching sets.

BEFORE I had twins I imagined making a nice breakfast each morning from scratch for my family.
AFTER I had twins I was happy to get the cherrios into the bowl.

BEFORE I had twins I dispised people who let their children throw tantrums in public.
AFTER I had twins I realized the only way to stop tantrums in public is to just not take them in public.

BEFORE I had twins I knew I would take the time to make sure I looked well put together before venturing out in public.
AFTER I had twins I realized I was lucky if my clothes matched and didn't smell of puke.

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ~Shel Silverstein

Top 10 Bedtime Excuses

The twins have always shared a room. While being seperated at night is something that absolutely terrifies them, it makes bedtime difficult. So here are the TOP 10 reasons to get out of bed - per Nathaniel and Tyler.

1. I have to go to the bathroom.
2. I need a cup of water.
3. I like your bed better.
4. The light won't work.
5. It's not dark yet. (in the summer)
6. It's too dark. (in the winter)
7. He called me a selfish hairball!
8. He won't stop making me laugh.
9. He has a toy.
10. He spit on me!

The absent are never without fault. Nor the present without an excuse. ~ Ben Franklin