Day 26...Nolan Walks

I love my little man so much. However, he isn't so little anymore.

I love everything about this kid. His goofy grin, his giggle and now his wobbly I can run (when he really can't) style of walking. He gets so proud of himself. He runs and then claps his little hands.

I attempted so capture it on film... you decide just how cute he is!











Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 25...Girl Scouts

Leanna decided she wanted to try girl scouts out. Last night was her Investiture ceremony. I was never a girl scout so I was a little confused as to what all this was going to entail and the whole process of everything so it was very fun.

The ceremony included the girls getting their "uniform" (it is basically a tunic to place all their petals and patches etc...), then the girls had to get up and recite the promise and get their certificates...

The Promise


On My Honor I will try:

To serve God and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

She was so excited. We are also thankful for a great friend who came and supported Leanna. She was grateful to have someone in the crowd. Ms. Beth I am thankful you helped with my little guy while I took pictures for Daddy and the other mommies who didn't have their cameras!







Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 24...Fun boys!

Hudson is sadly one of very few boys in our world. However, this makes playing with boys that much more of a treat for Hudson... hey gotta milk it for what it is worth right?

He has one little friend named Craig. He is so fun to play with. We love when he comes over. And Monday was just such a great day. Craig's momma volunteered to help with his older brother's class that day and we were lucky enough to get to keep him that day!

They had a blast...







These boys were so much fun to hang around with each other! We had a great time!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Days 16-21!!!

We have had so much going on lately it has been insane. I am thankful for children who for THE MOST part...go with the flow.

Nolan had to have hernia surgery on the 18th. I am thankful we had a wonderful Christian doctor who prayed for Nolan (and for his momma) before his surgery. I am thankful Josh was able to be off work and able to take care of Hudson. I am thankful the surgeon (I have an amazing pediatric surgeon if anyone needs a recommendation) was able to fix my boy up and help him.

I am thankful to have my happy go lucky baby dude back! I missed his face! His smiles and his giggles!

I am thankful that he was doing so well after surgery that I was able to take the older two to go and see an amazing play put on by Northwest Highschool Students. They did such a great job.

I am thankful for a 4 year old boy, who normally can't sit still to save his life, that was so enthralled with the show he sat perfectly still the whole time. He loved it!

I am thankful for a 6 year old girl, who is on such a routine for bedtime and school, that she fell asleep against me during the slower ending part. She was so tired.

I am thankful that we had another restful weekend (so many of those are far and few between) and also to be able to spend some time sewing with a friend from church. I love learning new things from Ms. Margaret and she is so talented and just fun to spend time with.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

P.S. Sorry for the lack of pictures they will return tomorrow!

Days 10-15???

What can I say? I am thankful for life happening. Things got crazy! They got crazy quick. I have lots to be thankful about the crazy that has happened in the last 13 days though!

We started off with my girl getting an ear infection! It was very sad it is the first one she has had since she had tubes put in her ears at 11 months old. She was miserable. So to the doctor we went. And for that I am thankful that we have a pediatrician that loves my children. She is amazing with them! Also thankful for antibiotics to help my girl feel better quickly!

NOT thankful that we caught the 24 hour bug while we were at the doctor's office waiting room though... Yeah you heard me right. From Wednesday morning to Saturday (EARLY) morning I was thankful for every vomiter that made it to the bathroom or trashcan... I know it was BAD! I am also thankful for a washer and dryer... if this had been the olden days I am not quite sure WHAT I would have done!

I was thankful for a restful weekend. I also was INCREDIBLY thankful for a routine to return to on Monday. It was so nice!

Day 9...The Bible

I LOVE MY BIBLES. That is right it was plural don't look back... you just did didn't you?

I have several bibles that I have acquired over the years. I like different versions and I enjoy reading the bible. I don't do it nearly enough and certainly not as much as I should.

However I do love it. I love the stories it tells me. The encouragement it includes. I love applying a verse to my life or a current situation that is affecting myself or my family. I enjoy (when we sit down and do it) reading to the kids.

I have a couple different ones that I especially love.

I have a Mom's Devotion Bible. It is awesome. I love that it has life application for being a momma. It is a hard job. I wasn't raised in the church or in a religious family so sometimes it is hard for me to figure out how to make the bible important. Church we have. Prayer we got it. But God's word and application and study. Yeah I am slacking a little bit in figuring it all out. This bible is really fun and easy to read and navigate. I actually have given it out as a baby shower gift a few times now. I love it that much!




Then a good friend of mine Ms. Joyce from the ladies group study I attend on Wednesday nights (while my little people are being taught by someone else!) gifted me with this awesome and amazing bible. It has 4 versions in one bible. It is so awesome to see the different translations. This one stays at home mostly cause it is soooo heavy!

Then one day I got a package in the mail. I have no idea (still to this day) where it came from or from who. So someone has kept a very very good secret or God decided I needed to have it. It was a Busy Mom's Bible. It is so cute it is pink and brown and the perfect size to fit in my purse. I love that I can carry it everywhere with me. I can pull it out at doctor's appointments (there are lots of those) or even while at the park and pushing Nolan in the swing while Hudson runs out some excess energy.

I love to read God's word. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to have so many in my possession. So many do not have the sort of freedoms that I do for that. I am thankful. Now I just need to get better at not taking it for granted and doing it more often!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 8...Budgets and Budget busting!

I am thankful to have a husband who understands that money is important but sometimes not as important as things we need to have or just WANT to have.

It comes as no shock or surprise that we live on a VERY TIGHT budget. It is a choice for me to stay home (an important choice but a choice). So therefore we live pretty simply. No going out a lot. Lots of free activities, the park, the zoo and sometimes it is staying at home and coloring or cooking something fun. Those sorts of things.

There is one thing I do for myself that isn't really a necessity or anything but... I am a member at a gym. It isn't expensive but it is money out of our budget that could be going to something else. I have offered several times to end my memebership at the gym and every time we find some way to keep it.

Josh works very hard and I am so thankful to have the ability to use the gym as an outlet for myself. I love to workout. I am hoping it will start showing even more so now :)

So today I am thankful for the payment I make every month to the gym!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 7...Superheros!!!

Everyone needs a hero. I am so thankful that I get to have a SUPERhero! Everyday my little man plays superheros. He dresses up into some costume or cape or something! Sometimes he dresses on his own in his new Spiderman costume (I got it half off after Halloween for 5.50!!!) Then our friend Ms. Heather gave Hudson a cape with bolts of lightning and skulls and cross bones on it for his birthday this year and he pretends to be all sorts of things.

So far this past two weeks alone. He has been Captain Underpants, Captain Electrode (this is a new one since Halloween when he is this we have to listen the Monster Mash so everyone can get a "charge from my electrodes"), Captain Skeletor. It is amazing the superhero identities he can come up with. It is crazy just how creative he can get!

The most awesome part of this you ask??? When Hudson is in superhero disguise he is one of my best helpers!!! Often you can hear things like this "Mom don't worry Captain "so and so" can get that" or "Captain _____ to the rescue" and whatever secret identity he chooses for the day is usually amazing enough to make Nolan laugh big giant belly laughs!

Today Superhero Hudson was amazingly helpful with Nolan who is feeling a little under the weather from his shots he had this week.

Thankful for my helpful superhero. Thankful for costumes and dress up that keep my little man busy and happy for a large part of our day!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 6...Learning

Leanna is doing so well in school. I am so glad and thankful. She is amazing. The teacher loves her she has made some really great friends.

She comes home from school excited to tell me about her day and the new things she has learned. There is always some super fun story along with a laugh or a giggle from my girl. To see her so happy and loving learning so much does this momma heart proud.

I was a major "nerd" when I was younger and I don't know if that has really changed much. I would still be going to school now if I could afford it. I love to learn and read and figure things out.


It has been my greatest wish for my children to love learning. Today I am thankful that this girl loves to learn.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 5... Insurance

I am so thankful for insurance. It isn't fun to deal with or easy to deal with at all. However, without it our medical bills would be MORE than what they are and that in itself is something to be thankful for!!!

Nolan has a lot more medical issues than most. And after his doctor's appointments yesterday I am just thankful that while his hearing issues aren't being covered by insurance I am thankful the other stuff is being MOSTLY covered by insurance.

So today I am thankful for insurance. In regards to this I am also thankful we survived the three appointments yesterday. (Hence the short post today sorry I am wiped out.)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 4...The husband

I am so blessed to be married to a man who is absolutely amazing.

Some of his FINEST attributes are:

hardworking
handsome
amazing daddy
kind
loyal
helpful

There are other lists too like Finer attributes and Fine attributes. Now there is another list of things that get on my cotton pickin' nerves. However, this month we are being thankful ;)

Josh has been around, out and in my life for 12.5 years now. That just seems crazy to me. For 9 of them we have been together as a couple. 7 of them married. 6 of them parents together. One day it feels like we have been together forever and others it seems so new.

He amazes me at his ability to keep me grounded. His work ethic is like very few I have ever seen before. He loves me for me. Large, small, tall, short, angry, sad, happy or crazy.

The following are a few pictures I snapped the other night (with my point and shoot so I apologize for the poor quality but I was really wanting to catch the moment!) while he wrestled and goofed off on the couch.





That list of cotton pickin' things that drives me crazy. At probably the top of that list is how he always has his eyes closed in my pictures!

I love this man so much and I am so grateful and will be forever thankful that he is my husband and the daddy of our babies!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 3... Friends

My children are blessed to have some amazing friends. And not to toot my kids own horns but they are some pretty good friends to have. They are loyal, (for the most part) kind, fun and funny. I love to watch my children play with their friends (most of the time) it is so interesting to me to watch their interactions and conversations.

It is such a blessing to me as a mommy for my children to have such sweet friends.






So today on our month long journey to be thankful for all things, I am thankful for my children's friends. I am thankful that they have people that they can connect with. I am also thankful that I get to be friends with some really amazing mommies through my friends. *Winks* you know you are!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 2...Apple Picking

We have created some pretty fun traditions in our family. I love to go out of my way to make awesome and fun memories for my little guys. I want them to know that their momma loved spending time with them and that FUN was important to me.

I want them to have fun but I also want to let them have opportunities to grow and learn in the moments.

One of our favorites has to be our annual Apple/Pumpkin picking trip in October. We have gone every year. We love it. We get up soooo early and we stop at a gas station and get hot chocolate and donuts (and usually gas too) and then we sing songs and play eye spy and talk and it is such a fun time.

Sometimes family goes and sometimes we go all by ourselves. We pick apples and talk about silly things and sometimes serious things. The most important thing is that we are together and laughing and playing and we get to come home with WAAAAYYYY to many apples and some pumpkins and sometimes a bellyache from eating to many apples :)

This year was our 7th annual trip :) We had so much fun.

He still makes my heart pitter patter. I just love him.

Nolan was perfectly happy to sit in his stroller and have some yummy apples to munch on.

Hudson had a blast getting the apples from up high in the tree.

This is the group that went this year.

I love to spend time with my family. This trip is something we mark out on our calendar for months. As soon as the kids start seeing halloween and fall stuff come out they ask when we are going.

So today I am thankful for being able to spend time with my family. For making such a simple trip something so important and fun.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 1...My kids

I know this seems like the easy way out. Oh I know what yeah everyone is thankful for their kids.

However sometimes I don't think I truly display the right attitude about being a momma.

How easy it is to dwell on the negative. How simple it would be to think well I don't have a choice... I have to be mom.

NO! The truth is I did have a choice. I CHOSE to be a MOM. That is the life I had wanted since I was a little person. Now I am a MOMMA TO LITTLE PEOPLE! How amazing and awesome is that? Some see it as a duty. Some see it as the 'norm'. I see it as this amazing and awesome job I get to do everyday.

I don't want to take for granted how lucky I am. I know so many mommas that don't get to spend as much time with their little ones as I do. I know so many woman who want a child of their own and I am soooo blessed to have three amazing small people AND that I get to be with them so often.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that God really gave these little ones to me. I was specifically chosen to mother Leanna, Hudson and Nolan. I never feel like I measure up or that I am "Good enough" or even half as a good as some other moms. It makes it hard to be thankful to be a mom when you feel that way. However God knows my heart. He knows the hairs upon each of my babies heads. He knew I was best for them and they were best for me.

So for Day 1 of this month long thankfulness. I am thankful for the beautiful, crazy, make mommy pull her hair out, amazing, kind, funny, sweet and ALL MINE little people!



Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Thankfulness

AS we are nearing the month of November my thoughts tend to turn towards thankfulness.

Several different things tend to run through my mind. Things like what is TRUE thankfulness? How can I show my appreciation for the people/things/God I am thankful for? What do I want my children to be thankful for? How can I help them learn to be thankful and grateful? How can I be more thankful and grateful and content for the things God has been so gracious and amazing and provident and thoughtful and kind and loving to give to me?

So for the month of November I will be posting EVERY DAY from Nov. 1 through Nov. 25 something I am thankful for everyday. It can be something serious. It may be something silly. It may be something large or something small. However I will be focusing on one thing that I am thankful for every day!!!

It is something I think I need to be working on more. I am lacking in contentment lately and I am not happy with that. I want my thankful heart to be more evident to my children and my husband and to others around me. Sometimes it is hard to see the appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness when all others are seeing/hearing/finding me doing is complaining or whining or whatever it may be.

So for the month of November I will be working to be more thankful and not just to actually be so but to let it shine through in my everything. From my walk to my talk to the twinkles in my eye!

Feel free to join in this next few weeks and tell us what you are thankful for!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Numbers...

A morning by numbers in the Brewer household...

3 breakfasts eaten - means bellies are full

3 pairs of pajamas in the dirty laundry - means I have job security

1 load started - means I had made laundry soap (finally)

1 load partially folded - means that momma got interupted

1 girl off to school - means knowledge

2 boys home to play with - means I have lots of fun

2 pounds of hamburger meat thawing on the counter - means there is food in my fridge AND a plan for dinner (YES!)

1,000 tears from Nolan - means I have a teething and quite accident prone little man

1,000 tears from Hudson - means I have a slightly crabby/needing a nap 4 year old

258 pounds on the scale - means I have some work to do before Nolan's party

40 pieces of tissue paper on the table - means a craft was done and I should probably clean up

9 is the channel that is on the TV - means my boys love Clifford

7 unopened bills on the counter - means medical services were provided AND that momma is avoiding them

12:30 is the time for lunch - we are having grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup

40 minutes is how long my washing machine takes - means I will have clean clothes soon

90 minutes is how long my dryer takes - means I have a little more time to do nothing *winks*

12 apples were peeled and sliced - means one lucky husband is having apple crisp after dinner

36 minutes have been used to write this post... time to get back to work!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Project Shay (again I know)

Hello blog world. Long time no blog :)

Updating on Project Shay.

As of this morning my scale read 257.2!!!!!!

Ladies and gentleman that is a total loss of .... 21.9!!!

No pictures this week. Saving a special surprise photo the week before Nolan's birthday party.

My new short goal is to be 250 pounds by Nolan's birthday party on the 9th of October.

The long term goal remains the same I would like to be between 200-220 by the 1st of the year.

In super exciting and awesome news (relating to Project Shay) My sister Stephanie was in town this weekend and we went shopping. For the first time in 2 years I tried on and then bought a shirt that was just an XL from the Ladies' department not the PLUS SIZE!!!!!!!!! It is so exciting! I also purchased a pair of size 18W jeans... now that seems large but the jeans I have been wearing are 22W or 20W so I am losing it. Finally seeing some results after working so hard is really nice.

Hopefully at Nolan's birthday party when I see the pictures I won't cringe. Plus our dear friend Casey is doing family pictures this weekend. It would be nice to be another 3-5 pounds down for that but we'll just have to wait and see...

In other super and exciting news (still related to Project Shay) as I sit and type this my ring is glinting in the light from the computer screen. That is right ladies and gentleman I am once again wearing my wedding rings!!!

Okay enough bragging. Just been a pretty exciting weekend on the Project Shay front.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for pictures to come! (Oh and more regularly scheduled blogging again I hope!)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

7 years!!!

Dear Josh,

I don't know where in the world 7 years has gone. While at the same time has it been 7 years ALREADY?

We have been through so much together. Three kids, job loss, job change, home, not home, moves, bills, chaos, life changing events and yet somehow I still get that heart thumping beat when you walk in the door. I still get excited about date night (probably because it happens A LOT LESS often now). I still want to spend time with you. That has to mean something right? I sure hope so.

I love you. Even the sarcastic smart alec drive me crazy with the one-liners self. I love how amazing you are with our children. I love that you are trying to be a major part of Nolan's therapy. I love that you play shoot 'em up guns with Hudson. I love that you have no idea how to be a girl but somehow Leanna's face lights up whenever you do whatever it is that you do! I love that you will help anyone.

I know it hasn't been easy. I know that the path we have been traveling seems long and crazy and full of bumps, potholes, spike metal tire popping things (whatever they are called) but I know that there isn't another man on this planet I would want to be traveling along it with.

I love you. Whether the next 7 are as crazy as the first or not I am really thankful that they are going to be with you.

Love always and forever,

Shay

Plateau...

So my weight loss so far has been pretty impressive as of yet. It hasn't been TOO hard. I am missing soda and chocolate of course. However for the most part I am still doing my protein shakes and my healthier snacks and things.

This weekend was a little rough. As birthday season continued along with a baby shower. We ladies all know there is never anything better than shower cake (whether it be baby or bridal)!!! I was good though I didn't have any.

I did succumb to the evil pizza last night however. It has been a long week with a longer weekend and cooking was not on Shay's agenda. We had a great coupon and money in the date night envelope (when isn't there money in the date night envelope we don't get to do date nights) so we ordered pizza. It was delicious!

So with all that to say. The scale this morning said 262.0. Which makes my weight loss total so far - 17.1 pounds.

So a loss technically since my last check in. But I know the scale said 260 sometime last week.

So it is back to the gym 4 days this week. (Friday we have our morning MOPS meeting at 9:00 so I may go extra earlier and have Josh walk Leanna to the bus stop and then go to MOPS but I am not for sure yet.)I am back to pushing my mile a little harder Time to get it under 15 minutes. I have added weights into the mix now. Also a Cardio & Core class as well. So hopefully with the change up of workout and more dedication to my morning and lunch protein drink this week will equal a better Monday morning next week.

And to end this post some pictures. I don't know that I see much of a difference yet. Hopefully soon!





P.S. Excuse my crazy hair dude it was CRAZY early this morning. Peace, love and pushups!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*


This post is linked to McFatty Monday @ TheHeirToBlair

Leanna and Friends through the years.

I know this has been a weird montage of my babies small vs. big week. It may be for a few more minutes... I am struggling this year during birthday season. Sorry, but I blog to remember how we were doing as a family, how the kids were growing and how I am doing as a momma. Right now I am stuck in this why do they have to grow up phase...

Lily and Leanna through the years!

Lily and Leanna in 2007...

Lily and Leanna in 2008...

Lily and Leanna in 2009...

Lily and Leanna in 2010...


I love these two girls. They make me smile. Leanna and Lily always laugh when they are together. At nothing...at everything it is wonderful to hear them giggling together.


Leanna and Cadence through the years...
Leanna and Cadence in 2007...

Leanna and Cadence in 2008...

Leanna and Cadence in 2009...

Leanna and Cadence in 2010...

Leanna and Cadence like to play girly things when they get together. Without Cadence's influence in this area I highly doubt that Leanna would have ANY girly tendencies :)

Madelaine and Leanna through the years...
Madelaine and Leanna in 2006...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2007...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2008...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2009....

Madelaine and Leanna in 2010...

Madelaine and Leanna share a little something extra...the share the same birthday only Madelaine is 1 year older. It is hard for me to look at the 2006 picture. They were 2 and 3 there.

These girls all hold a very special place in Leanna's heart. To be honest they hold a special place in mine. It amazes me that so Leanna has so many little friends her age that she has maintained fairly close relationships with. She loves her 'girls' as she calls them and they are always at the top of her 'who' list.

So many memories. I looked at a ton today. It made my heart so happy for her that she has so many friends. It made my heart sad too though. They look so little and then well not so much.

Momma to 3,
*Shay B*