Tizzy Style

I've posted occasionally on Facebook about how Tirzah likes to pick out her own outfits. She, and all my kids, are very independent when it comes to this type of thing. They like to make their own meals, dress themselves, etc. For a person like me who likes all things neat and orderly, letting them do things has been a major test of my patience. But it's good for them, so I just let them go for it and try to ignore my eyeball twitching. (This frequently happens when I get stressed out or extremely tired. So, all the time basically.)


Tizzy likes to be especially flamboyant when it comes to her wardrobe choices. As much as the mixed patterns make me a little bit crazy, I feel like she definitely dresses to match her colorful personality. She is a strong, independent, spunk, emotional kind of character, and so I feel like her outfit choices wouldn't be anything less. She takes great pride in the mixing and matching (or lack thereof? Haha) and always asks do we like her outfit.


I kind of assume that one day she's going to be a very fashion forward trendsetter type of woman. ;) People will oooh and ahhh over the outfits she throws together and say they'd never have thought of it themselves, and "girl you just look fabulous". I gotta say, if anyone could get away with wearing floral sneakers, a striped dress, a cardigan, and a hat with eyeballs on it...it's Tirzah Shae. See you in a few years, Fashion Week.

I Bruise Easily

Not just a sappy song reference guys...I really do. (I've often wondered if it's some medical condition I should be worried about. But if it is maybe don't tell me. Cuz I worry about medical conditions I DON'T have, must less ones I do have. I take my vitamins and workout and hope for the best. #hypochondriac) But anyway, I've always bruised really easily, as have my mom and several siblings, so we'll just blame it on genetics for now.

Recently Billy and I have started playing flag football with some friends. It's been SO much fun. I loved sports as a kid...I was always that one girl playing with the boys cuz I wanted to be running around outside instead of playing with dolls or kitchens (I still don't like kitchens...go figure.) or coloring or something. Ironically my little girl is the exact opposite...;) I had gotten my "sports" fix as an adult with running and racing and lifting weights, etc. So it has been fun to actually play sports again, as opposed to just cheering like a crazy person at the sidelines of kiddos' games.

I typically come out of a flag football game with a few good bruises. Not necessarily cuz I'm getting hit that hard, although it happens, but just because that's what I do. So recently when I subbed for my sister, who is out of town, at her indoor soccer game (so much fun! definitely want to play officially next season!) I had to wonder which bruises came from where. I think these two pictured are definitely soccer. ;) Indoor soccer is no joke. I have run marathons and half marathons and Tough Mudders and 200 mile relays, etc, and NEVER felt like I wanted to throw up...but there were a few times during the soccer game that I thought it was going to happen. Definitely put me in my place...but like the true masochist that most runners are, I can't wait to play again. Hopefully these bruises heal before I get the next round. ;)

Best Day Ever...Again

So I spent all this free time I have (read: none) writing this big long blog post about how we took the kiddos to the fair last weekend. For some reason it just "poofed" into thin air. So now I'm feeling not quite so chipper as I was the first time I wrote it. I don't even remember what I said the first time around. It's been a long day, y'all. But I DO remember that I said it was fun. And we managed to avoid the torrential rain we've had the last week. So many people assumed it would be raining that there were zero lines! The kids literally rode everything. Four times. It was definitely a blast.

Tirzah literally has no fear when it comes to rides. She rode everything she was tall enough to ride, and a lot of that stuff required a parent to ride with you. Her ride buddy has decided that next year we are taking volunteers on who wants to go with us so they can tag team riding with Tirzah. She is relentless and by the time she was done Billy was a pretty shade of green. He wasnt nearly as excited about fried oreos after all that spinning around.

Merrick is a little more timid on the bigger rides. He did ride a lot of stuff, though, and also spent about 30 minutes on those trampolines where they strap you on with giant rubber bands. He did plenty of flipping and scaring his mother. He was also so good about making sure his brother wasn't scared on any of the rides...he's such a good big brother.

I spent most of the day carrying stuff and waving at hooligans flying by on rides. But since I don't like fair rides that was perfectly fine with me...I grinned the whole time. Plus they get pretty upset if I move from my designated waving spot. If they can't wave to me then suddenly that roller coast is not ok. But I love it...I know one day they wont wave like goofballs and yell "I LOVE YOU!" every single one of the 400 times around the ferris wheel.

We always try to see if we can get a "best day ever" out of the kids. They say it a lot, but when they do we know we've done good. As we were leaving the fair Merrick said those three magic words, and it just made a fun day that much better. It sounds pretty cheesy...but there's nothing like watching your kids have fun. Hearing them say they had the best day ever, again, definitely means I've had one of those days too.

Escaped

Recently we were made aware of a new activity here in RVA, and had to try it out for ourselves. (Apparently these are really popular on the West Coast? But we just recently had one open near us.) It's called an "escape room". It features several different rooms (they rotate them out as people have a chance to do them) where you and some friends are locked in, with nothing but whatever clues you can figure out from the room you are in, and an hour to get out. Obviously nothing bad happens if you don't get out in an hour, other than having your pride wounded a little.

It was trickier than I was expecting! Not scary, although they DO have rooms that are supposed to scare the bejeezus out of you...especially with Halloween coming up. It was a lot of crazy weird clues that we had to use to figure out the combinations to multiple different locks. That ultimately led us to figuring out the combination on the lock that led to the escape route. We made it out with about a minute to spare. (It actually was sooner than that...but we were stubborn and wanted to try and solve the last clue that we hadn't solved. We didn't need that one to actually get out of the room.)

It was SO much fun, and I really want to go back and do it again soon! It was great to just have a night out with some of our fav people. (Thanks to the littlest sister for wrangling 6 hooligans so we could make it happen. She's the most responsible adult I know. And she's only 16.) It's nice to occasionally BE the kid, and not worry about the kids. I always realize that when I do manage to "escape" my house. Seriously, guys...we need to get out more.

Baby Blessing Squared

There is nothing quite like a brand new baby. Well...except maybe TWO brand new babies. Oh my goodness y'all, I am such a proud "auntie" right now. One of my best friends in the whole world (we've been friend since high school, and were college roommates as well) recently had baby boy twins. We have the type of friendship that isn't affected by life's busy seasons, and the flex of change and growth, or even separate countries now and then. We both have been through crazy times where it's harder to stay in touch, but are always able to come back right where we left off. That understanding and flexibility is something I've always appreciated and loved. I'm glad we get to share this new phase together as well!

I may be a little bit biased, cuz they are practically family to me, but they are SO gorgeous. I was so thrilled to be able to take a few pictures of them in the hospital, and snuggle them for a little while. I am so excited for their parents, and for the future that I know from experience will be filled with sleepless nights, inexpressible joy, heart-stretching love, frustration, and growth. There is nothing like being a parent...and these two are going to rock it. They are such awesome people, and so deserving of these blessings that have been brought into their lives. Raising kids is one of those things you can't really explain...it's so much bigger than you...and I'm so glad that they are going to get to experience it.

I can't wait to watch these two little men grow up. I hope that there are lots of play dates in our future. (You hear that, Ellen? These guys better be at my house a lot once they don't need mama every couple hours! ;) I'm happy to give you a break and I know several -or four- hooligans who would love it!) They have such a bright future, and I know how loved and wanted they are. Grow well, baby boys...you are two very special people and I'm glad to know you and your parents!