~ duds ~

I
t cracks me up how when
kids just aren't tired they'll
fight you and fight you
during nap time but when
they're tired... well they're

OUT!

Yesterday was a terribly rough day,

the kids were at each other's throats.

Finally at about 7:30p we just separated them and the boys watched Cars upstairs and

Sweet Pea watched a princess movie of sorts downstairs.

It's is such a blessing to see them playing nice together today. Don't get me wrong -

there has been tears already today but it's just a better day over-all.

I layed down this little rascal and gave him a book to look at while

I went downstairs to start some laundry and he fell asleep.

 I couldn't resist taking some pictures.

Often, I'll take a nap when the kids do but since he was already asleep -

I snapped some pictures and snuck out of the room so I

could have some Mama Time.... so I'm blogging/facebooking/and emailing my mama and sis,

working on my menu and grocery list as well as listening to

Praise and Worship music. 

I'm so much more effective of a mama if I can have a moment to breathe.

If not - I'm. a. dud.

Speaking of duds...

our 5 little eggs that our mama hen was trying to hatch out were all duds.
Insert sad face here.

There is a way that you can check eggs to see if there is a baby growing in them -

it involves it being dark in the room you are in or just do it during nighttime like we did,

then you hold a flashlight up to the egg and if it is bad you'll see a dark ring around the bottom and no baby chick inside. 
If it is good - you'll see a baby chick moving around or at least veins in the egg.

We were so bummed out but maybe we'll get some more and I'll keep y'all posted.

Wouldn't that of been amazing to see the baby inside!!!?

It is amazing to me,
how through just about everything through my day -
the Lord speaks to me...

It's funny yesterday, my husband was getting frustrated with me - I forgot to water the lawn and I was supposed to go and take these eggs from the mama chicken and get her movin' out of the chicken house and maybe block it off so she wouldn't be able to go lay in her spot anymore...
this would get her out of this wanting to be in "mama mode"
and that would get her to start laying eggs again...
anyhow, I had forgot and he was teasing me -
telling me I was "On strike" which he knows, I just forgot and that's okay
- he was just teasing me and we were teasing each other back and forth...

But still it made me remember about not being a dud -
the words that first came to mind were:

Rise Up!!

God is the only one who can bring real joyful LIFE to this body.

Only He can put that yearning in your heart, soul and mind to LIVE!

He is the only reason for Living - all else will undoubtedly fall short...

Ezekiel 37:5

This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones:
I will make breath enter you,
and
you will come to life.

Happy Living!

~ dirty girl & dirty boy ~

A
couple weeks ago, baby
girl was looking particularly
shabby. I was excited to get
to have my go at grooming
her thinking it was going to

take me 6 minutes flat

as she is about

as big as

gallon of milk.

I was sadly mistaken.

It took me 3 hours! My kids played SO nice during that time.

I was so thankful - until I looked at the clock when I was near done and realized it was 2pm

and my kids hadn't even ate lunch yet!



You know that moment when your kids realize they are starving,

they're tired, you're tired and you're trying and trying to wrap

things up so you can tend to them and you're just not moving fast enough  -

then something more happens to set you back and things just get worse and worse?

THAT is exactly what happened this day.

I took this cute little picture of the finished product of Iz and..

SHE WENT AND ROLLED IN THE DIRT!

Not just any dirt.

The really fine powdery dirt that my chickens play in

to clean themselves off with!

THEN!

My husband pulled up.

Oh yes - it just got better and better.

Starving children - finally groomed dog but is now completely filthy! ...

and then my husband pointed out this to me...

William was SO STARVING he started eating dirt!

Yay!

Dirt!



That's right buddy - how does that taste?

Nummers!



Thankfully - the husband tended to the children.

He cleaned up the filthy, fed the hungry,

&

I handled Mizz Izz and all was good.

Our Daddy to the rescue!

date night.

♥
My husband and I went out
on one of the most perfect
dates I have ever been on
in my whole life.

My sissy suggested that we go and she volunteered to

watch our boys.

I was giddy like a little high school girl the afternoon before our date.

I got all my make-up out.

 I plucked.

These things needed some taming.

Sweet Pea let me barrow her adorable headband.

We both got all cleaned up and ready to go!

We decided it would be fun to go out on our bikes

and see where the road took us.

We ended up riding the greenbelt to downtown and

parked at one of our favorite spots to visit

friends and family.

The Basque Center.

If you haven't been to the Basque Block in Boise well...

shame on you.

 After some ice water for me and a little cocktail for my hubby

we went on to the Matador.

The Matador is a newer restaurant downtown.

I would describe it as Spanish Bistro.

It is a Tequila Bar ...

and it just happens to have amazing decor,

outstanding food,

and very interesting bathroom faucets!

Next we headed back to our bikes and came

across the sweetest old Golden I have

ever met.

Isn't he precious?

 I adore downtown.

We got back to our bikes and ...

 we rode,

and rode,

and laughed,

and were dorks,

and I fell.... again.

 We ended up riding a pretty far ways and ended up seeing deer

by the golf course!

 It was gorgeous out.

A perfect evening for a date with my lover boy.

I love this bridge.

Before home, we went and picked up a movie at a redbox.

True Grit... the new one.

I liked it okay, but I was hoping for a bit more.

Isn't she gorgeous?

So wish I had those braids!!!

Date Night with my love.

I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Thanks Sis <3

~ we are pedalers ~

O
ne of the things on my
Excited About 2011 List
was buy bikes and trailers
so the family can go
on bike rides. DONE.

This was our first bike ride as a whole family. It rocked.

We went on a nearby bike path that takes you by the river.

It. Was. Heavenly.

 Here is my sister Casi and her girl, Sweet Pea -

being SUCH a good girl,

I might add.

It was complete torture to have to ride behind this studd muffin.

Look at those calf muscles. Rawr.....

We stopped at a park that is ride along the river and sat on the grass for a spell.

The kids pretended they were climbing a tree and

the adults caught their breathe for the ride home.

 ... and Pauly had wrestling ideas in mind with his daddy.

... and William had other plans.

~ when he's away ~

When my husband's away,
there are a few things I can
get away with... Things like
using HIS favorite coffee cup
with my morning coffee...

because honestly, isn't this cup

the bomb!?

I can also get away with skipping out on the

NBA Finals.

Jealous. Aren't ya? Lol!

Yep, full authority of the television remote.
HGTV here I come!

Then - I can plan anything I want
on the menu,

(that's right - we're having turkey burger tonight kids!)

Nice and healthy :)

And then
there's no stinky gym clothes staring me in the face

when I go downstairs to do laundry...

...

there is also no sweet hugs and kisses from my lover boy,

no awesome conversation about our boys and our life together.

no laughing sessions (well my sis did fill in pretty well in this department actually),

no one to stay up late with,

no on to take care of these...

no one to make it all better so I can sleep at night...

Don't you sleep SO MUCH better when your spouse is home?
I Do!

My goodness I missed him!

besides - I'll bet if I ask nicely...

he'll let me barrow his favorite coffee cup

any. time. I. want.