City Museum Fun...

So our cousin Christopher --->
had a birthday this month. He is a whole 4 years old. Not sure how that happened. Annnndddd we won't discuss how in 4 months my little guy will be 4 as well. I can't even fathom that just yet.

Moving on... he had a birthday party at the City Museum. This is a super cool place for kids to be kids things to jump and swing and slide and jump and crawl through. It was crazy awesome and that was just one floor and one area (which for safety reasons because so many kids so few adults) where we stayed!

Some pictures of the fun...
Christopher telling Hudson, "You can do it pull HARDER!"

His smile is soooo infectious!

The girls had a ton of fun together!

The cousins had a blast.

Thanks Cousin Christopher to inviting us to your super amazingly fun birthday party!
We had a ton of fun!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Music to get me through THOSE days.

Thanking God for music this week. It has been a small saving grace this week. I have felt very overwhelmed with somethings in my life going on.
Nothing I can't make it through. Nothing life threatening. Thank you God for that. Just overwhelmed a little bit. I don't want to complain. I am so blessed and things could be so much worse and others have flooding and devastation and loss. I want to remember that I do have SOOOO much. So blessed.

So instead of wallowing this week. I went to my computer and pulled up a playlist maker and I decided some inspirational music was on the agenda while I cooked or cleaned or whatever. Heck music is great background noise for me. So I wanted to share some of the songs, pieces of lyrics and/or artists that have helped this week (with prayer of course!) not seem so gloomy and so desperate, lonely or overwhelming. Music speaks to me. It lifts my heart and my spirits, it can mean so much or so little. For me it often means much.

So maybe it gives you a new artist to check out or a new song to listen for. Heck if the lyric can bring a smile to your face as it has done for me... well then it works.

Missy Higgins - Where I Stood

See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside

Joshua Radin - Brand New Day
It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know, I'll be ok

I don't think I need to post the lyrics to The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun I mean that songs SCREAMS Happy!

Ingrid Michaelson has some amazing stuff. I love her tone and her voice is so calming. Keep Breathing is what I was listening to when I wrote this post. AMAZING.

Old school Third day and Casting Crowns. Pretty much anything by them helps me through even the darkest of hours. With three small people and as many rainy days as we have had? Yeah it can get CRAZY!

There was a brother/sister group LaRue that I think I just about drove my roommate crazy with in college. It reminds me of simpler days and fun. I listen to that when I need a fun little poppy tune to dance in the middle of the floor with the small people.

This is going to sound corny to most of you but there is a country song. Hudson sings to me. It is called Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean (amazing voice I think both Jason and Hudson). He has the sweetest sound. He sings it to me sometimes for no reason. So sometimes I put it on just so I can see his face light up. The singing it together is just a bonus! (I may have to videotape him doing it and play it here one day soon it is that awesome.)

I also really love It's Your Life by Francesca Battistelli

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget

It's your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It's an open door

To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way

It's your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It's an open door

Well holy long post batman. Music it really is healing. So do you have a song you turn on just to belt it out? Is there a song that speaks to you in the dark moments? Is there an artist who has helped you out of a funk? Sorry this got so long. But it was fun for me. Tell me who is your favorite?

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Zoo Trip! With Friends of Awesome!

We got to go to the zoo with some (I missed you Beth you are still a friend of Awesome too) long lost friends of awesome!

Okay so they weren't really lost. We know where they are. We just have missed them and are so glad we got to hang out together!

We got there early to ride the carousel (Casey was sooooo LUCKY to have to be late). I happen to think the carousel is a ride of puking awfulness. I brave it only because my small people love it.

Sarah's little girl Evalyn calls it, "whooooo haaaa" it is soooo adorable. I love it.


Then we explored statues.


An awesome friendship is budding with these guys. I really hope they remain friends.


Lily is someone I have mentioned several times here. Leanna and her really seem to play well together and I love that they are friends. It makes me smile.


I know their momma's are such amazing blessings to me. I thank God for putting each of them in my life. I met Casey at college. She was my roommate. I really am thankful for her. She is an amazing momma and such a fun person. Sarah and I met at camp/college still not sure exactly sure. She is a really incredibly kindhearted person. They are both very talented and extremely fun to hang with. I kinda want to be them when I grow up ;)

So hop over to their blogs and take a peek. They have some of the cutest kids. Sarah a momma to all girls (God bless her) and Casey to one of each. They have some fun stories and their share of completely crazy. Which just makes me even happier they love me and all of my crazy too!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Sweet Moments

Skipping the tell part. Here's the show!







So thankful that they love each other. They have their moments like any sibling group does. But there is love there.

Dear God,
May there always be that outward showing of affection. May they always stand together. Thank you for blessing me with them! Help me raise them to love one another. Help us to raise them to love others. Help remind me everyday that being their momma is the greatest job I will ever have. Thank you for Leanna and her kind although mothering ways. Thank you for the energy that is Hudson and the excitement he brings to every little thing. Thank you for the smile, the love, the new and exciting things Nolan brings to our family. Thank you for your Son and the grace you give me each new day with these little ones.
Amen.
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Baby Mine.

Please feel free to join Amy over at her blog Amy's Finer Things for Finer Things Friday.

I have a 7 month old ladies. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

Where did this little teeny weeny thing go. (Well as teeny weeny as I get to have that is... 9lbs 1oz at birth!)



Now I have this handsome, devilish, smiling, giggling, trying to sit-up, teething, baby food eating little person. Who we have taken to calling Toothless.

I am not sure I can even fathom his 1st birthday but ladies lets get real it is ONLY 5 months away now that is shorter than half a year!!!!

He is beautiful and he is mine. I love that he snuggles me. I love that he still likes to be held. I love that he still grasps his little chubby hand around my fingers. I especially love when no one is around and it is quiet. I have found myself humming several times this little song...I knew I had heard it before (obviously I am no composer) but I couldn't figure it out and then we were driving down the road the other morning listening to 102.5 and there it was. The song I hum against his little bald held when his little eyes are drooping and I am enjoying just smelling the baby on him while it lasts.

Pretty appropriate song.

Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes.
Rest your head close to my heart,
Never to part,
Baby of mine.

Little one when you play,
Don't you mind what they say.
Let those eyes sparkle and shine,
Never a tear,
Baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you,
They'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes,
You're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
Sweet as can be,
Baby of mine.

All those same people who scold you,
What they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
Sweet as can be,
Baby of mine.
Baby of mine

No idea who the original is from. No stinking clue. But the version I heard that day was Bette Midler and I will forever and always remember this song now.

Baby Mine...7 months


A handsome and healthy little boy. Definitely A Finer Thing.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Mother's Day Stuff...

Mother's Day around here is never a big deal. Josh works on Sundays too so...

However church has a little luncheon every year a Mother/Daughter Lunch. So Leanna and I attended. It was lots of fun...

The speaker (our good friend Ms. Ronalyn) told the story of Esther and how she turned lemons into lemonade (our theme this year) and Leanna followed every word she said it was amazing how Ronalyn caught her attention. She talked about inner and outer beauty and it was fun.

The lunch was delicious and we sat at a table with one of Leanna's Best Friends Madelaine and her momma and her Auntie Mel and Grandmother Tina (none of these people are actually related to us however because Leanna and Maddie are as tight as they are they have become family).

Some pictures from our adventures that day...
The girls were asked to dress like princesses to remind ourselves that we are princesses because we are daughters of the King!

Me and my Princess.

Silly girls and silly faces!

Leanna and Madelaine.

She was pretty excited we found something princessish to fit her at Goodwill. Poor girl is so tall (and such a big size) they don't make dress up clothes to fit her anymore.


It was a fun afternoon of just girl stuff for awhile. It was nice.

And we were swingin'

SWEET


SASSY

SIBLINGS

SWINGIN'

Park Trips...

I know these don't always make for exciting blog posts but... hey I am a momma of three small people.

Trips to the park, well, they are kinda what we do :)

We had a lot of fun though.
This time we went to the "church park" which is a little bit further of a drive but we like to switch it up every once in awhile. It makes for a nice treat.

The kids had fun and Nolan well... he was kinda a fuddy duddy this time. But hey he is 6 months old and super cute so we will cut him some slack this time. Just this time though!

Some pictures from our fun day...

This boys eyes make me melt...like butter...on a hot summer sidewalk. It worries me for the future.

Leanna begged and pleaded for me to let Nolan ride the dinosaur with her. However with every bounce and sway I think my heart stopped beating.

I have no idea what this small person was doing. One minute he was laughing the next I looked over and he looked like someone had slipped wacky juice into his bottle instead of the formula. Even Leanna was laughing at him.

Really should work on learning the exposure settings on my camera... But I still love this shot of them. No matter how washed out it may be.

The shadow picture as my blog header? Yep taken at this park. Just like this one really need to get all of us there and take another one. The big blob? Nolan in his stroller of course!


All in all a fun day.
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Going to the Chapel and She's Gonna Get Married...

My cousin Tess is getting married here soon. This passed weekend was her wedding shower it turned out to be a lot of fun.

This is Teresa with her cake at her shower. Isn't she pretty?

Being a wedding shower in the month of May we of course thought outside! Sunshine, less clean up, easier to get people in and out. So naturally the entire week was gloomy and rainy and humid and just not pretty. The night before the weatherman was calling for rain, and humidity and possible storms.

We woke up to humid, gray, drizzling grossness. Driving to the shower it was spitting rain and I began to panic a little. Arriving and unloading in the rain was a little concerning.

Then all of a sudden the humidity evaporated, the drizzling stopped, a beautiful breeze began to blow and the sun exploded from behind the clouds. It was a lovely day and she {The Bride} hopefully had a wonderful time.

My sister and I went in on her gift together and it was one of the best ideas I have had in a very very very long time! I would tell you about but instead I will show you...
A photo quilt! With pictures from them dating, the day they got engaged and some of their engagement photos. It was a lovely day with lots of laughter and fun.

The momma of the bride.



And because I can...
The most handsome man at the shower ladies!

Generations

The lovely lady Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers has a lovely little meme on Tuesdays called Gratituesday and I decided it would be fun to join in. So today I give you...

These girls are sitting there with my Great Grandmother. Nana is the girls' Great-Great-Grandmother. I love that we are so lucky to have 5 living generations on my Dad's side of the family. Not many people can say that.

These are my cousins with their grandmother. She has had a long and somewhat hard life but she is always smiling. She to has Great Grandchildren. 4 generations.

My cousin with her great grandmother. We lovingly call her Nana. Others call her Grandma. Others still call her Little Grandma.

Freaky family trivia... ready? This is my Nana and my Great Aunt. Who is 16 days older than my Father. That is right my Granny and my Nana were pregnant at the same time. Nana not even with her baby! My Granny with her oldest.


This photo makes me a little weepy. There are 97.8 years between these two and yet a language of love is still spoken. Between a Great-Great-Grandma and her Great-Great-Grandson. There share more than just a bloodline... My nana she doesn't hear so good. While hers is age related and Nolan's is well we still aren't sure of the how. They both connect on that level as well. So thankful for this memory captured.


Hopefully one day here very soon I will be able to drag my brood down to the farm where my Nana lives and get me one heck of an heirloom. A five generation shot. Just got to find the $$$ and the time and the people to make it happen.

Love...it really is ageless...


Love
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

In which we attempt the "Trifecta" Shot

We took a brief jaunt to the park (pictures of that to come later) this week and I took the new camera and thought we would at least try to get a shot of the three small people together.

Here are a few of those shots...

I think there is a Leanna in this one somewhere...Oh is she that washed out little girl with so much sun in her face you can't tell who she is?

Hudson looks oh so thrilled doesn't he? Nolan was more interested in his toes than even thinking about giving mom the time of day.

I promise .3 seconds before they were all looking at me. No. Really. Honest.


This is the best shot we got that day BY FAR and I still don't like it much...


Guess I will just have to keep trying!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*