One-Sided Momma

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Kyle Island

The only plan this weekend was to not have a plan.

I'd say that idea went awry the third hour into Saturday.

Without direction the children become WFC wrestlers; our bed the ring. One take down, reversal and Half Nelson later someone has a smashed nose and the other one (Abby) is pointing her elbow north.

So we took Gentle Giant and Princess Powerhouse on a hike. When life gives you unruly children, you pack up the peanut butter sandwiches and walk their dogs off.

Momma didn't mind the view one bit.

And as long as there were trees around, Grayson and Abby thought they'd be on them.

This looks like a little sketch of a mushroom on a piece of bark. I have no idea what it is really so I'm going with elves.

Elves that live in these little Keebler houses.

Then we plopped a blanket down on the "beach" and enjoyed a very chilly lunch. Grayson found the letter "K" made of tree roots. In case you're wondering, it was K for his friend Kyle and therefore penned our lunch destination, Kyle Island.

(See the knotty K?)

Others had a swim afterward.

I'd say we wore them out but the reality is they could've gone on well into sunset.

(With one catnap and bouquet making between.)

This makes my husband, future Survivor contestant write-in, very proud.

Truth? I wanted hot cocoa in the worst way but probably could've snuggled down on Sadie's blanket to watch them play on for a couple more hours.

It was a very nice day on Kyle Island.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Lollipops

Sometimes, between the shrieking, fighting, wrastlin', clothes yanking, arm pinching, hair pulling and sister tripping, there will suddenly and very surreptitiously be a quiet moment made of bunny ears and a mother's heartbeat.

It doesn't typically last long.

But when it does, I'm so glad Andy bought those awful, sticky, gross, end-up-on-the-windowsill-and-in-her-hair-every-time Tiger lollipops. (That I hid in the pantry. Behind the flour and ten year old flax seed bag.)

Because they take a while to finish.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Beautiful December

December was a great month. We were so busy from Abby's birthday forward that I haven't had time to sit down and write. I miss you, my blog friends. Maybe soon we can connect again through stories, comments and our immeasurable desire for a bottomless carafe of something spiked and warm to drink.

For now, as I try to catch up with unpacking suitcases and repacking ornaments we wait all year to see, I leave with you snapshots of our December.

I hope the end of your 2011 was filled with all things cozy, fun, and memorable too.

Brother's Sweet Girlfriend and Brother, Matt.

Abby opening up a homemade blanket from Matt's Sweet Girlfriend. She made another one for Grayson. It took her hours to do both. This fact alone made me cry on her shoulder for two minutes straight. It was awkward at best but I think I love her as much as my brother does.

Santa brought Grayson a box of pranks for Christmas.

Santa did not bring Sadie a new bed.

(She was borrowing this one from my mom's chihuahua.)

Uncle Donnie and Uncle Alex spoil our kids completely rotten. And they love every second of it.

Daddy passing on his kitchen prowess.

Landon and Grayson beating the ever loving tar out of Spiderman.

Abby heals.

I made Eric sign The Tablecloth. He of course wrote in a perfect circle which made him both nauseous and dizzy for probably two hours following.

But I scored a pic with these two handsome fellas after he signed his eyeballs off his face.

And yes, I do look just a little like my mom.

The one on the right is my Uncle Jimmy. The one in the middle might have been photobombing.

And somewhere in between it all there was this delectable beauty. Poor house only lasted minutes before two candy hungry mouths devoured her shingles.