Post-Partum Hair-mones

Serious haircut just happened. I seem to always end up doing this post-partum. Not sure if it's the need for change, the fact that it all falls out after baby, or the fact that it's 100 degrees and sticking to my neck and also being grabbed by greedy 6mo baby fingers.


Whatever the reason...it's gone. I am SO glad to see it go. I'll probably miss it eventually, but not yet. I feel so much lighter. And Jericho hasn't been able to grab a handful in days. ;) My scalp is thankful for that. It's hard to pry those chubby fingers loose.


I always end up throwing it up into a ponytail most days...I'm so glamorous like that. But said ponytail is much easier to manage now. I went to the pool earlier with the hooligans and it was so nice not to have tons of long tangled hair to deal with afterwards. It's probably not as cute as Tizzy's post-pool ringlets, but I'll take what I can get. ;)

Check out more shots at Simple as That and Sunday Snapshot 

Summer Shenanigans

A friend recently gave the hooligans this pretty awesome sprinkler. It's like a caterpillar and it's arms/legs spray water in all kinds of directions. We took it out for a test run the other day. I think it was a success.

At first there was some confusion. Mostly from Merrick. He was overheard saying, "but it's getting me wet!" when I told him to try running through it. I pointed out that that is, in fact, the point of a sprinkler. And that seemed to make it ok.

Now that we realize the sprinkler isn't broken and is doing its job, oh conscientious child of mine, we had a great time. ;) Tirzah loved it to, and in typical Tirzah fashion didn't really seem concerned about the obligations of sprinklers...she just made sure everyone got soaked with her.

This adds a nice break to my routine of blowing up the porch pool, too! Keeps them distracted (and not whining about how hot they are) long enough for me to reinflate. ;)

Check out more shots at Give Me Your Best Shot, This or That, and Show Off

Storms and the Inquisition

I love a good thunderstorm. I can do without the ones that nearly blow my house over, though. Here in central VA we got a doozie yesterday afternoon. We lost power (that didn't even happen during the last hurricane) and a tree fell in the yard. Thankfully not in the house!

I am grateful that we are all safe. We spent the hours after the storm, and before the power came back on, listening to sirens all over the city, and hearing chainsaws start work on all the downed trees. I am trying to remind myself l be grateful for Merrick's curiosity, since I spent all day being interrogated on storms and the reasons for power outages. ;)

This shot is for Tones on Tuesday, Communal Global, Sweet Shot, and Happiness Project

Check out more shots at Wordless Wednesday.

Porch Pool

I think that there are worse places to spend my summer, than at the porch pool with the hooligans. The older two don't always nap these days, but Jericho takes a mean nap after lunch. So it gives us plenty of time to take advantage of our porch, and our super classy inflatable pool that comes complete with a hole (somewhere I haven't found yet).

But so what if I have to re-inflate it at every use, it does the job, and I haven't passed out yet. But the other day when it was 99 degrees and I was huffing and puffing trying to blow up that thing, I saw my life flash before my eyes. The hooligans love it, though, and it keeps them entertained for nearly an hour. So any dizziness, light-headedness, or shortness of breath I may feel is a small price to pay. I have a whole hour to recover before they turn on me if not.

The other day I managed to convince the hooligans how much fun it would to be dump nice, cool water all over mommy's feet while she laid out. (They were even fighting over who could dump water on me the fastest. Note to self: I may be able to trick them into giving me a massage and cleaning the entire house if I make it a competition.) It was pretty relaxing...which is not something I usually find myself saying in reference to my children.

I'm currently contemplating upgrading to one of those hard plastic deals I don't have to inflate myself every day. Since, ya know, a real pool that would hold more than 6 inches of water is not in my near, or very distant, future. ;) And as much as I love making the treck to the pool at the Y, by the time I apply lotion to 5 people and pack snacks (cuz let's face it, they spend 80% of the time snacking and 20% of the time swimming) I have to start all over again or it's September.

The last shot is for The Paper Mama, Give Me Your Best Shot, This or That, and Show Off 

Check out more shots at Simple as That and Sunday Snapshot 

The Wonder

Sitting there in your pajamas, all the time in the world. If I could keep any moment it would be this: watching you...holding my breath with the wonder of it all.- Story People

The kiddos had their first experience with lightning bugs the other night. Their first reaction was terror, quickly followed by wide-eyed curiosity and pleas for daddy to catch them so they could get a better look. Watching the wonder in their innocent eyes melts my heart, brings me back to my Father...watching what's His with a wonder we don't deserve.

This shot is for Tones on Tuesday, Communal Global, Sweet Shot, and Happiness Project

Check out more shots at Wordless Wednesday.

Their Daddy

I'm struggling to know exactly what to say to my husband as Father's Day approaches tomorrow. How do you thank someone for pouring their life into the little lives that came from yours? How do you make tangible that connection of hands held and shared tears shed as those lives came painfully into the world, making you both into something you weren't before: "mother" and "father". How do you tell him just how much those tiny souls admire him, and put into words the way their eyes watch his every move and make him into the hero that they see and that he is to them? I don't think I can. But I hope he knows...

They bubble over with squeals when he walks in the door, thrilled just to have him here. They show off their newly learned tricks and their eager eyes look to see if he's watching. They want his voice, telling them stories of his Father, to be the last thing they hear at night. They want him to throw them high, wrestle them hard, chase them far, and love them recklessly as only a daddy can. I hope that he sees, hears, feels, knows, how much they adore and need him. And while we may not be able to physically shower him with gifts to let him know how much we love him, he only has to look in their eyes to know just what the gift of giving of himself means to them. Thanks for being their "daddy", Billy. We love you so.

The second shot is for The Paper Mama 

Check out more shots at Simple as That and Sunday Snapshot

Yucky Cheese

Since we stayed home this week, part of it with the hooligans, we wanted to do something fun and different with them. We scrounged up a coupon to Chuck E. Cheese (for some pizza, sodas, and tokens...which is the real reason kiddos go to this place, right?) and took them out on the town. When we told them where we were going they screamed like they were thrilled, even though I'm not sure they've ever even heard of the place, which Tirzah calls "Yucky Cheese".

They seemed to love it almost as much as Billy did. He kept sneaking tokens (they didn't notice) and playing games in the name of winning them more tickets, which he did lots of. They didn't seem to want to play many of the ticket winner games anyway, but wanted to ride different kiddie rides and try to figure out why the Chuck E. Cheese robot wouldn't answer them when they talked to him. (I couldn't quite get that one explained...) Merrick still is under the impression that ol' Chuck just has really bad manners I think.

Tirzah did seem to have a flare for Skeeball, though. She takes the overhanded throw approach.  We didn't break anything, but I'm not sure how. They also played guitar hero, in which she  managed to knock Merrick right between the eyes with her guitar. In her defense, it was taller than she was. Merrick doesn't think she has a defense, but what can you do with big brothers? 

We managed to have a tantrum-free evening. I think I just automatically assumed going there would result in someone throwing a fit. But even when we ran out of tokens no one lost their cool. But that was probably helped by the sweet tarts they bought with their tickets that they were shoving down their throats on the way out the door.

The second shot is for Give Me Your Best Shot, This or That,  Show Off, 

and  Texture Thursday.

Ezer Kenegdo

We're back! (Not that we really went anywhere, but I'm back from our "staycation") It was so nice to not have anything to do, anywhere to go, and to have Billy home every day to help carry that 20 pound 5 month old in his baby carrier...I mean to spend time with us. We even got to spend 2 nights kiddo free in a hotel (thanks to my parents) for my birthday/our anniversary. Our anniversary was yesterday, and it was our 7th. Cuh-razy. How is it we've been married that long, and have three children? Whoa.

They haven't always been easy years, or even fun. We have fought long and hard and often not-so-fair. But in the end, our Savior has been the glue that has kept us together. Loving each other, (and now these three kiddos) and making the renewed choice every day to serve and care for each other, is something we definitely can't claim to have done on our own. 

I'm not one to make it easy on Billy. I'm a stubborn opinionated mess to be honest, most of the time. But I've promised to be his "ezer kenegdo". It's tattooed on my shoulder, and meant with all my heart. (It's from Genesis 2:18, and means: lifesaver beside (or against) him.) And a quote from a commentator I read describes it this way: "If he is worthy, she will be a lifesaver [ezer]. If he is not worthy she will be against him [kenegdo] for strife." Billy, I promise to save your life or kick your butt, whichever you need. Happy 7th anniversary, stud!

The third shot is for Tones on Tuesday, Communal Global, Sweet Shot, and Happiness Project

Check out more shots at Wordless Wednesday.

I'm 30 and I know it.

Two very fun things are happening today. 1) It's my birthday. I looovvveee birthdays. I am like a 7 year old when it comes to birthdays. This year? I'm turning the big 3-0. I really am not too bothered by this I don't think. Maybe it's because I'm too exhausted to care...or I'm in shock. Either way, I'm glad it's my birthday even if I am leaving my 20's. For my birthday, my family (who obviously knows me well) got me someone (in the form of an iPhone 4S) who will pretty much do whatever I tell her to do. I'm probably going to boss her around just because I can.


Fun thing 2) Today is the start of our "stay-cation". While I do wish it was a tropical vacation, I'm not going to complain. It may not be cocktails under the palms, but it will be pajamas on the couch with my favorites. Sounds pretty great to me. (We will even be kid-less for a couple days, as my family is going to keep the hooligans. I may sleep the whole time they are gone just because I can...all while telling Siri what to do. This vacation is looking better all the time.)

I won't be doing anything that looks like work (if I can help it) this week. Cleaning, blogging, changing my socks (kidding), etc will just have to wait until next Monday rolls around. So pardon the dust on the blog and my furniture over the next week. Catch y'all when I get back!