Pauly's weekend with Mimi and Papa

Here are the pics as promised - If you didn't read my last post - Pauly went and spent the weekend with his Mimi and Papa.

Thank you Mimi for capturing all these cool pictures

so I could see what y'all had been up to.

This is a picture of him playing while Papa was ropin'. This looks like the perfect place to play in the dirt.Here is Papa getting ready to rope.

(He's been roping with that man on the far right for over 30 years - isn't that cool?)Carti's butt drive me nuts!

Here is Pauly getting to sit on Papa's heading horse. Yippie!

If you don't know what I mean by ropin' aka Team Roping is click here

If you don't think it is fair for the steer... Sorry - it is just what we do. Good girl Splash! The kids love Splash!

Chhheeeeeser!

Okay, these next pics are of the kids the next day at the park.

That tire, I played on it when I was little. Very cool!

Higher Papa!

Carti and Paul are best buds!

Wahoooooooo!!!!

Yippeeeee!!!!

Hey Pauly? Do you love the goat?

(Look at Aunt Cece back there

acting like she can read)

Hey Pauly!

Do you want Papa to make you pancakes for breakfast?

Thanks again Mimi, Papa and Aunt Cece for

taking care of my little boy and showing him a wonderful time!

He is already wanting to go back.

XOXO

I will survive... maybe.

Pauly is spending the weekend at Mimi and Papa's house.

I met Mimi, Papa, Aunt Cece and Carti half way Thursday night (they live about 4 hours away)
and then we'll meet again on Sunday after church.

He has been looking forward to this for the last couple weeks-

- talking constantly about his horse at Papa's house? (what horse?)

- watching Fox and the House with Mimi and Carti

- eating ice cream and popcorn with Papa

I know he is having a BLAST!

Yesterday, he went with Mimi to get her hair done
and then they went to practice roping with Papa, Aunt Cece and Carti Rae. Mimi has been sending me pics of Pauly which has been helping me get through the day.
&
I can't wait to see all the pictures of all of them playing in the dirt at the arena.
(I heard they got filthy!)

I've been getting a lot of things done not to mention the additional sleep.
William and I have been breezing through errands! ... and naps.
BUT
We can't wait to have our little man back.

Thank you Mimi, Papa and Aunt Cece for such a nice break
and Carti for helping to show Pauly
some good old fashioned country fun!

Mama loves and misses you Pauly!

Let me know how you survived letting your kids go for the first time -

How old were they?

And do you have any tricks on helping them to not get homesick?

I'll be back Monday to show you more pictures of Pauly's weekend at Mimi and Papa's House.

Happy Weekend!

eenie meenie miny mo

We met up with some friends today at the park!
They had a remote control Lightening McQueen! & Pauly was in heaven!

William was pretty happy too!

He totally fell asleep in the swing.

So chunky! 6 months old!!!

He is loving his tub times lately!

My boys!

One of my favorites!

Pauly is a very serious block builder! He is so proud in this picture I just love it!

"I miss the days when decisions were made by eenie, meenie miny mo, agreements were made with pinky promises and boys had cooties." - Unknown

from scratch

On Mother's Day I woke up as usual and got the boys going, got them ready for church and off we went.

Church was pretty nice as I spent most of it downstairs with William who refuses to take a nap during church anymore - so I haven't heard a message for a while. BUT, staying downstairs in the nursery is always a joy as I can visit with the other mamas and that is always a nice time.

After church, we came home and my husband whipped up some waffles (from scratch) and turkey link breakfast sausage (if you haven't tried these - Do! they're yummy!) I ate so much! I was hungry and they were so. de. licious!

After stuffing myself to the brim with his amazing waffles - I got a 2 hour nap. ahhhh. sleep. sleep is a beautiful gift.

I got a sweet little card from them and my day was pretty amazing! The thought that kept going through my head over and over was... two boys. I have two boys. I can't believe it. I can't believe how blessed I am to have two beautiful boys and an amazing husband.

I was watching Grey's Anatomy once (note: not a devoted fan of Grey's - it's kinda dirty) and on this particular episode (maybe you saw it) there was a young gal that had been a terrible accident while she was traveling. She was in the hospital and she would have a nurse send her mother emails telling her that she was fine and enjoying her trip while really she was nearly paralyzed and needing many surgeries. The nurse didn't understand why she didn't want to tell her mother what happened so she could have some support while she was recovering. The young lady told the nurse that her mother has repeatedly told her throughout her entire life that she needs to be careful, as she made her from scratch.

I always think about this - it is just something that has stuck in my brain regarding my babies.

Daily, I think why can't Pauly just get out of this funk, this not minding, headstrong funk he is in - and why can't William start sleeping through the night, every night? I keep wishing for the next phase so I can get some housework done, get some sleep, etc.

I had a lady at the grocery store (and mind you, this wasn't the first time I was reminded of this) standing near by me when I was trying to get Pauly to behave and I was a little overwhelmed, you know how it is when you have the kids and you're alone at the grocery store - but she said before you know it those boys will be 20 years old and you'll be wishing you had them back here whining at you in the grocery store...

Jeez lady! Okay! Live in the moment and not wish it away - I get it.

She really is right though, no matter how blunt she was. I don't want to wish later on (though I probably will anyway) but I don't want any regrets and that's the truth of it.

So I'll keep waking up at 11 pm, 3 am, 5 am, 7 am - if that is what little man needs and I'll stay on my toes with Mr. Paul for when he needs me to keep him busy and help him keep learning and behaving and I'll be happy in my work.

My babies mean the world to me - as I made them....

from scratch.

She

She was born in September.
She has one brother.

She has dark brown hair.

She has dark brown eyes.

She has an almost exact replica.... me.

She was raised in the country on a farm.

She has lived in the same town almost all her life.

She wore long brown braids and rode horses every day.
She was a cheerleader.
She roped.
She tied goats.
She ran barrels.
She had a red and white pickup and horse trailer (Pete and Repete)
She met my dad in college.
She fell in love.
She married my dad and a little over a year later I was born.
She had my sister two years later.
She had our baby sister three years later from that.

She let us have baby calves, chickens, sheep and rabbits.
She single-handedly kept a place going while my dad had to work.
She had three teenage daughters.
She made sure we made it to every basketball, volleyball, track, dance and rodeo our heart desired.
She worked at a pharmacy and made delicious beverage concoctions.
She was happy.
She was sad.
She was alone... a lot.
She was strong.
She can cook and bake.
She can craft.
She has three beautiful grown daughters.
She's a friend.
She says warsh.
She is a Mimi.
She had three grand babies born in a 6 month span one year.
She has 5 grand kids.

She lived in her kitchen for almost 6 years while Dad built their dream home.
She's encouraging.
She's patient.
She's loving.

She likes edamame. (or was it who'syourmommy)
She's funny!
She works hard.
She plays hard.
She blogs.
She - presses on.
She has a deep down raw kind of love for God.
She loves to sing to him.
She holds his hand.
She knows her heart relies on him.
She adores my dad, and he her.
She's beautiful.
She's kind.
She's mine.

I'm blessed.

I love you to the moon, Mama.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Samela the 4th Good Fairy

When it comes to the Three Good Fairies of Sleeping Beauty - you know Flora (dressed in the red gown), Fauna (dressed in green) and Merryweather (dressed in the blue one) - I adore them all!

Didn't you just love it how Flora and Merryweather kept bickering over which color the "surprise birthday" dress should be? There for a moment they kind of had a color war turning it red, then blue and back and forth.

I love how Fauna had such a sweet way about her and you could tell she just loved baby Aurora and she'd cry at just the thought of her going back to her parents after she turned 16. She had such a gentle demeanor.

They all had their own little way of being unique and unpredictable.

The other night I was joking with Ben and told him I would be Samela the 4th Good Fairy (except for no fighting evil Maleficent - she scares me!!)

I'd be the one that would want everything white! (except for Princess Aurora's dress, clearly her dress needed to be blue!)

As I've joked in before posts - I'm fixated on painting furniture. My color of choice 9 times out of 10 is white! Sometimes I'll go for green, blue or aqua but mostly it's white.

Too bad I don't have a wand and I could say "Make it white!" to everything in my stash downstairs I want painted white... that'd be nice!

In fact,



too bad I didn't have a wand for anything and everything I wanted to get done and do :)


If I had one I'd share it with you.

Since I don't have a wand I guess I'll have to paint it myself - Paint it White Party anyone?

-------------------------------------------------------

Below are some of my favorites items I've been crushing on lately, hope they make your heart smile as they do mine...

source

source

Enjoy your weekend -

Love, Samela the 4th Good Fairy...

give a little ~ get a little

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the book:

The Five Love Languages:

How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate

by Gary Chapman.

I have yet to read this book (I've yet to read any book since I have 2 kids)

This book goes off of the idea that there are Five Love Languages:

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Quality Time

3. Receiving Gifts

4. Acts of Service

5. Physical Touch

I know what kind of Love Language my partner has but I wasn't sure on myself - so I went HERE to take a quiz and find out.

This is what I found out:

Quality Time!

My husband had me pegged as an Acts of Service lover - what wife/mother doesn't like help around the house?

I definitely do!

But nope!

I'm a Quality Time gal!

Now, if you see Physical Touch is least important on my love list - I'm just not touchy feely - I have my reasons and -well... I'm a little broken -in that sense but that is another post for a different day - maybe.

I have no problem loving on my kids but for some reason I just don't think about it with my husband and well...

I need to work at it more and more and be more aware! Because as you can guess my husband is a Physical Touch guy. Going off of my percentage of Physical Touch you can guess that this is a struggle for me. Leaving his little love cup empty when I don't really try and force myself to be aware of his needs.

So. Do you know what type of Love Language you have - what fills your love cup?

How about your spouse's Love Language?

As long as we let it.

When I was in Elementary School, every Wednesday after school my sister and I would go to Junior Worshipers. From our school we would walk over to the church. We would learn the books of the Bible, sing songs, memorize verses and listen to a short message from pastor.

I was blogging around yesterday and found this blog and she has a memory verse on her post from yesterday that is from Habakkuk... I thought - Habakkuk? Is that even a book in the Bible? The verse looked familiar and her words seems very pleasant and caring.

So I dashed for my Bible and there it was - in the last part of the Old Testament.


I felt so foolish.


I knew I needed to get into the word more - but I didn't realize that I had forgotten about/ didn't recognize names of book in the Bible.


I love reading my Bible and when I do -

I feel better.



I feel at peace.



I feel... him.


I was getting ready for my Mama's Group yesterday and found a little poem in my Bible.

"Little drops of water,

little grains of sand,

Make the might ocean and

the pleasant land.

So the little minutes, humble

though they be,

Make the mighty ages of

eternity"

~Julia A Fletcher Carney

I often struggling with procrastination.

Honestly, often is an understatement.

This quote made me think a lot more about things that I've been putting off for tomorrow (or the next year) -

bettering my health,

taking the time to cuddle with my husband and hold his hand,

taking the time to play on the floor with Paul

or taking that extra moment to love on William

or maybe just make a quick phone call to a loved one.

It also made me think about consistency with my kids regarding love and discipline -

Every day counts.

Every opportunity means something.

Every memory lasts.

As long as we let it.

- - Now I'm off to relearn the books of the Bible - -

Egg*arific!

About twice a week for breakfast I make eggs. Ben usually passes as for some reason they make his tummy upset. But Pauly and I love them.

When I'm hustling around and can't quite get a second I throw eggs (well not really) into a pan and we have boiled eggs. Usually I put them in a little frying pan with a little butter and water, cover them with a lid and they stay all soft and delicious - I think that is called basting.

I am not a fan of fried eggs!

I will eat eggs just about any way BUT NOT FRIED! ick!

My sister recently followed Julia Child's directions and poached an egg in boiling water and she said the inside of it was like delectable cheese sauce.

I have never poached an egg.

I buy regular large eggs and we usually go through one and a half packs a month between breakfasts and baking goodies. Do you ever buy the egg substitute? I've been wondering about that.

I have also only tried one other variation of eggs and that was Quail eggs. It was at a Brazilian Grille Buffet and I'd have to say, Not a fan! It was too "fishy" in the egg sense.

I've had fish eggs on sushi and they weren't "fishy" at all.

THEY are delicious!

Ya feelin' me?

Anyhow, just curious if you can suggest any other variation of eggs (ostrich,egg substitute, etc.) and tell me how do you like your eggs?

P.S. ALSO! not that I'm doing a very good job of following this gal's directions or getting my assignments done on time (but I am taking mental notes and I AM working on labeling all of my posts - that just takes FOREVER!) ... but go on over and check out her new series of ...

She has great ideas and is super funny! Enjoy!

Spoiled Chai Tea Queen

Today I woke up with a big "I'm tired! I'm Sick of it! I'm DONE!" attitude! My two-year-old is waking up the middle of the night and wanting to get in mama's bed and cuddle and watch a movie - which is fine if it wasn't 1:30 am then again at 5:30 am. I think I'm going to have to cut him off from "mama's bed" in whole! (and by the way I don't know why it is just mine, obviously daddy is there too and that is who he actually likes cuddling with, not me.)

Then! my attitude carried on through my morning as I walked into the kitchen and saw all the dirty dishes from last night dinner piled up. I HATE it when I don't clean my kitchen at night or at least have a small mess to deal with instead of a huge dinner mess (we had Granny and Grandad over for dinner last night) I, of course went stomping through my dishes as my 5 (now 6 mo. old - we'll get to that) baby screamed his head off because he's spoiled and that is what he does.

As I glanced out my kitchen window, I was remembering back to when life was simple. Just Ben and Me (and Dapher). I would wake up when I felt like it (if I didn't have to get up for work) I was able to do my hair and makeup without any interruptions - at least 2 to 3 times a week I would stop off at Starbucks for a little caffeine pick-me-up & I bought a new piece of clothing if not every pay check but sometimes once or twice a week. Did what I want when I want!

Now, I'm lucky if I get to sleep till 7 (THAT'S EVERYDAY) I'm up during the night with one or the other, I NEVER do my hair or makeup unless I'm going to church. Fat chance on Starbucks now! Ha! on the clothes and here is an audience while you pee. Cheers!

After my pity party past life flashback - I took my 5 mo old into my room for a nap and Pauly was in the boys' room playing with blocks. William needed a little coaxing to get ready for his nap so I layed with him on the bed and helped him calm down (after his screaming fit).

As I layed there I got a flash of all my blessing (you know how God does that to you) BANG! "Hello! Sami Jo! You are not remembering all I've blessed you with!"

Two beautiful sons, a nice little home, food for every meal, a hard working husband that loves you and your sons - works his tail off and loves catering to your every need, a pretty well behaved dog and health. We have our health! We are never sick, my babies are never having to go to the doctor/hospital like some unfortunate parents have to deal with all the time!

I was realizing that I was going to be 29 in a couple weeks and I'm sure this is where this nervous twitchiness is stemming from and then I also realized, today my baby was 6 months old. MY BABY! AHHHH! Where did the time go? As we laid there, tears streamed down my face and felt so foolish for how ridiculous and immature I had been this morning.

Finally, little Mr. got down for his nap and I've made my way back into the kitchen, finished up putting dishes in the dishwasher and then I opened up a drawer to put away the saran wrap and there it was... a little box of Chai Tea that my husband had bought me because he knows how much I love Chai (especially Venti Iced Vanilla Chai Lattes *wink*wink)- and he knows that is something I've given up so we can afford diapers, and well... our life now. So he bought me some lovely Chai Tea, and some Vanilla Syrup and taught me how to finagle the concoction up myself.

So here I stand in my kitchen - blessed, stinky (because of course in all my fit throwing I haven't took a shower yet) SPOILED, and Happy :) and yes, Dear Lord - ready to try again at this "Monday" of a day.