Shay Plus 3

Best and Worst Wednesday

2011-11-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

Best part of being thrifty: A basically brand new toy for a friend for his first birthday!
Worst part: Buying something that didn't have batteries in it... now I am praying it works... cause I have to go buy batteries since I don't have any handy.

Best part of Wednesday: I don't have to cook dinner because the lovely ladies at church do it.
Worst part of Wednesday: They are cooking the exact same thing that we had for dinner on Monday.

Best part about my two year old: He makes me laugh.

Worst part about my two year old: Today I have been laughing to keep from crying!

Best part about blogging again: I really like taking a few seconds out of my day or night and recording some things that happened.
Worst part about blogging again: I feel guilty if I don't post or if there aren't any pictures...Weird I know.

Happy Wednesday!
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

The boys and my friend....

2011-11-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

(Brief Disclaimer: All photos in this post are done by my dear and very talented friend Naomi who is the sister of the friend in this post)

I have a very amazing and awesome friend Nathan. He loves my small people. He is ridiculously patient and kind with them. He never has any problems including them into whatever he is doing.

He is probably Hudson's very best friend. To Hudson he is just one big giant toy. Thankfully Nathan loves my boy for who he is. I love him for that. Nolan just thinks he is cool cause he will rough house and play hard with him. A lot of people tend to back away a little from being so "rough" with him and Nathan will toss him like a sack of potatoes.

The other day Nathan and his sister Naomi came over to hang out and grab a tool. It was awesome cause Naomi has been in Texas since getting married (I miss her lots) so it was fun to visit. Nathan had to work on Sasha (his motorcycle) and he let the kids hang out in the garage with him. The pictures in this post were taken during that!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Working Out...

2011-11-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping up with my working out. I have not been as consistent as I should have been but it has been CRAZY! I can't workout during the day and making myself leave the house after bed time is soooo hard. I always feel better when I work out though. So I have been trying to make myself go at least twice a week. I also work out once a week with a trainer (thanks to some birthday money and a gift from a friend) and I also split the cost with another lady who trains with me!!!

I am running mostly. I am trying to get in enough shape to run a 5k in the spring/summer. I would love to do a half at some point in my life. It definitely isn't something in the near future.

Up until tonight my personal 1 mile time was 12:38 but last night I smashed it by 37 seconds!!! That's right I ran 1 mile in 12:01!!!! It was crazy awesome. My two mile time wasn't as good as it has been or should have been but I was still okay with it as well 25:02.

There was a time when doing .5 miles was overwhelming. The sheer fact that I am walk/running two miles!?!?! Well that speaks in and of itself. I like feeling good about myself and I am hoping my Christmas time to have my mile time down under 11:15!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2011-11-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

It seems like here lately all we do is run around! But the kids are involved in some great things and so we just keep going, going and going!

Leanna and Hudson are both doing soccer and karate. Leanna is in 1st grade now (which makes me feel super old), Hudson is doing 3 days a week at preschool as is Nolan. They both go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Thankfully I have a great friend who is able to help with drop off and pick-up because Nolan's school is so very far away.

Nolan is just doing crazy well at school though! He loves it. His language and speech development in just the last two months since school started is insane to me! We went from maybe 10-20 words
(that others could understand) he probably has between 75 and 100 now! We are still working on the getting him to wear his hearing aids ALL the time without taking them out or hiding them or losing them. But we are getting so much better.

Hudson has surprised me with how well he is doing with school. To be honest I expected him to be in trouble for being to rough or not paying attention...but that hasn't been the case at all! He loves school and has made friends. It has been awesome! He is learning to write his letters and has started to show an interest in learning how to read.

Leanna is rocking the school thing. She tested for the REACH program at the end of the school year last year and she passed! REACH is an acronym for recognizing excellence in Academic and Creative Honors.She loves it. She gets to go and hang out with other REACH kids once a week and they work on unit studies (they just finished a CSI study and she learned about things like DNA and fingerprints and evidence processing! It was very cool)

So we are just humming along with lots going on! Soccer finishes up in the next two weeks and I am sad to say but I am excited it is almost finished. It will be nice to not have to schedule everything around soccer practices and games for a little while!

Time to run. Laundry is calling to me!

*Shay B*

Best and Worst Wednesday

2011-11-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

So I have been a long time reader of a blog called Bakersdozen and she recently started a Best and Worst Wednesday and I love it! So I though with my return it would be something I would start doing.

Best part of today: I got more than 3 hours of sleep.
Worst part of today: They weren't all together.

Best part of Nolan's school: He loves it and has had a language explosion in the last two months since it started.
Worst part of Nolan's school: The drive there! Today we were 20 minutes late thanks to an accident...ugh...

Best part of this week so far: Sneaking pieces of Halloween Candy!
Worst part of this week so far: Halloween hangover!!!

If you would like to participate head on over to Renee's blog and link up! It is a fun thing for sure!

Welcome Back?

2011-11-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Kinda sorta...

It has been a long time since I have blogged. Almost a year. I have decided to try it again. Just sparingly and when I have a moment. I miss recording things here for sure though. I miss writing things down. So I have decided to try to start things up again. We will see how well it goes :)

Life has been busy since I last put something in this little space on the internet.

Here's to just picking it back up.

Happy 1st of November to everyone!

Momma to 3
*Shay B.*

Moving Countdown T-9 Days...

2011-01-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

I may not live through this.

Something I read early this week on another mommy blogger's website has inspired me to look for the shaping, the learning and the purpose to everything...

The silver lining of walking in this challenge is...

1. I am learning patience. I am trying anyway. Hopefully my children see this.

2. I am learning the art of packing with small people helping.

3. My small people are learning the art of packing too.

4. I will have more space, my children will have a yard and my family will still have a home.

With that in mind. I am going now to work on packing and still loving my kids through it.

Pray for me. Pray for my babies. Pray for love and understanding.

And a little selfish here... please pray for the weather to STOP with the snow stuff. We have to move regardless of the weather and to be honest it would be simpler and nicer and easier with good weather.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Taking Pictures of Small People...

2011-01-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

I love my small people they often make me laugh. They often make me wish to pull my hair out. They most certainly are my greatest trial of patience. They also are my greatest joy.

Picture taking of three small people?

AHHHH! Nolan wants to touch the camera, or oooh look a deer, or oh my goodness WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING ME SISTER, or oh wow I have a hand? Hudson has a thousand other things he would rather be doing, looking at, killing, creating, karate chopping and the list goes on and on and on. Leanna will sit and model for 45 minutes for me and never get grouchy.

And so I give you a few shots to show you what I mean. Up first Nolan.

Oh what you had that focused on me when I was further away? My bad! What is that? Can I touch it? Better yet can I lick it?

Oh that is so funny I am going to fall back and laugh hysterically... ready WATCH!

Oh look I have toes. I am going to bend over and touch them at the exact moment you snap the picture. Okay? Okay!

The best picture I got of the mister? Looking at the camera and midly in focus = winner!

Now for the Hudson man. He is sooo active and sitting still doesn't happen often. I often have to ~~threaten~~ BEG him to sit still and let me take ONE picture.

This picture screams Hudson... mischief in the making.

Then he had the NERVE to stick his tongue out at me!

But... then he laughed after sticking his tongue out at me and I got this one.

To be fair I think the first picture is my favorite just because it is SOOOOO Hudson.

Then there is Leanna... and I would show you three pictures of her...but really there is no point. They all look the same. She is sitting and smiling and well easy to photograph. So here is my favorite I took of her today.

Such a pretty little girl she is turning into. It makes my heart hurt to look at her.

Taking pictures of them is sometimes so rewarding... others not so much. But I do it because I know I won't remember if I don't. I know that I will look back on these and treasure them soooo much.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Snow Day...

2011-01-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love snow. It is so pretty and white and clean... well until it gets tromped through anyway!

I mean what kid doesn't LOVE to play in the snow.

Hudson is a dive right in and get wet and messy and snowy and let's have a snowball fight. Leanna is more of a let's make snow angles and go sledding kind of kid. While Nolan... he is a "DON'T EVEN THINK OF PUTTING ME IN THAT COLD WET STUFF" kind of kid.

So even though it is FREEZING cold outside I let the kids get bundled up and play outside for a few minutes. I figured (and I can't believe I am going to say this) why not while it was WARMER out! That's right the warmest part of today? Was at 9:00 am. Which makes me shiver just to think that!

They had a lot of fun though...

Where was Nolan during all of the fun and COLD???

Inside. Warm and toasty. With a sippy cup of milk and his toys. Just the way he likes it!

At some point today or tomorrow I imagine sledding is going to be in order. They have been begging to go since the first snowflake fell yesterday. Pray for me okay?

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

In the Moment...

2011-01-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

We took a walk tonight. We took a walk with some friends.

Hudson, Leanna and I bundled up and took a stroll in the falling snow. It wasn't anything to write home about. Just a chance to be a fun mom. A chance to say "yes" instead of "no".

We didn't talk about anything and to be honest they kinda walked, kinda ran around crazy running and try to do snow angels and catch snowflakes on their tongues.

It was fun. It was cold. It is a memory. Hopefully a fun one. One that they will look back on and think. Mom always took us for walks in the snow. That? Worth every minute of frostbite my toes are now feeling. Sorry folks just keepin' it real!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Moving Countdown

2011-01-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

The countdown has begun! Probably should have begun the first of the month but... never mind that.

We are moving in....

18 Days!!!

*Breathes into paper bag*

WHAT!!!

Time to get busy I guess!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Fun at the City Museum!

2011-01-08T16:31:00.000-08:00

Part of the small people's Christmas present this year from Josh's Uncle Jim was a trip to the City Museum.

My kids had been once before for a birthday party. They only got to see one room though. As it was crowded and crazy and just wasn't safe to try and see anymore with that many children. The birthday boy's mom said we were going to stay in the one area.

So it was hilarious when we went this time and we didn't even visit that room until the end, Leanna came up to us and said "Mommy this place is like magic... it just keeps getting bigger and bigger".

It really is a fun time! A little pricey but worth every penny!

Some pictures of our fun day...

Mommy was smiling through her gritted teeth here. This was a tunnel over in the air climber thingy. It was pretty closed in. I am not afraid of heights... however closed in spaces??? Make me verrrryyy nervous!

Daddy was such a trooper and carried Nolan for over two hours! Nolan was such a good sport that day... he had another ear infection and just wasn't feeling great but he had a blast!

They had a free art corner with clay (which I have stories of for another post!) and painting and mask making and it was so awesome and fun! This is Hudson's masterpiece!

HI MOM!!!

A picture down from the tunnel!

All in all it was such a fun day. My kids absolutely loved it. There is a kids circus there and we watched it. We played on skateboard ramps. We made things out of clay. We climbed and ran and slid. To our hearts content. That was just the inside too! All of the outside stuff was closed due to ice. Really an awesome time! The kids are saving money to go again!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Intentional Calmness?

2011-01-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

The little man has ANOTHER double ear infection.

If you haven't been keeping track let me fill you in on why this is such an issue for me. Nolan has had at least 1 ear infection (usually a double ear infection) per month if not 2 per month. Since.He.Got.His.Tubes.

I was a very unhappy (and saddened) momma this morning when I sat up holding my little man for 3 hours so he would not scream. We went to the pediatrician today got antibiotics (which I am tired of giving to my son he has to be building an immunity to them by now) and had a battle of will with myself. I wanted to shout and scream and be angry and holler. I am soooooo tired of it. There has to be something that can fix this. He can't keep continuing to have an ear infection (sometimes 2) a month for the rest of his life.

So I CALMLY (willing myself with every fiber of my being) had a conversation with my pediatrician today. They are culturing the yucky that was in his ear and sending it to his ENT. I called him today and scheduled an appointment. I believe my exact words were... we get in this week or we will seek out a different ENT. Calmly stated but I intended on carrying out every word I had spoken. We see him on Friday.

I am also calling a chiropractor that a friend recommended to me tomorrow. I am going to take him to see her. My friend has discussed Nolan with her before and she thinks she may be able to do some good for him. I am a little nervous. It is out of my realm of comfortable and I am praying about that as well.

So I will be intentionally praying for wisdom for the doctors. For answers for myself so I can... I am not sure but I just hate not knowing. Also for relief for my boy it really has become to much for him. It breaks my heart every time he is hurting like this. Not to mention it has started to affect what hearing he does have. Which is NOT okay.

Thankfully he is such a trooper he really does smile and laugh and you would never know how much he is hurting. He has such an amazing spirit. I love his face. I love his heart. I love his smile... right now though I am having a very very hard time loving his ears.

With all of that I am trying to remind myself of a few things...
1. We have a doctor who loves our boy.
2. We have access to health care many do not. I truly am thankful to be able to seek out answers and medical attention to help him.
3. I have friends who love my boy. Who are helping me try to find relief and answers.
4. I am not in control God is. Even if it makes absolutely no sense to me? It does to him and there is a purpose for all things... even this.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Tonight - Brownies and Soda....

2011-01-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow the gym starts back up!

I took a break because of sickness and holidays and everything. But tomorrow I am back at it!

I am still down 10-15 pounds it varies on a daily basis... My goal is to be down another 20-25 by March 1st.

My highschool reunion is this summer and I am in a friends wedding in December. Sooooo time to get busy again. My ultimate goal? Still would have to be right around 200 so about 65-70 pounds left to lose!!!

Here we go. Intentional weight loss! Protein Shakes in the mornings and for some evenings too depending on the dinner planned. Lots of veggies! Working out 3 days a week. Because seriously the 4-5 days a week was TOO much. So I will do some pushups and situps and squats on my off days at home. But in real life I just can't commit THAT much time to the gym. So I.Am.Not.Going.To.

Hopefully when I update ya'll the first week of February I will have good news!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Happy New Year and a Recap of 2010!

2011-01-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hello 2011! Did I seriously just type that?

2010 brought so much to our lives. It was crazy, busy, fun, sad, happy and well LIFE!

In January I became a stay at home momma again.

February brought up some feelings and thankfully some friends had some encouraging words for me!

March was full of some many adventures! We had such a fun time with all of our friends!

April was such a pretty month! We spent a ton of time outside!

May brought a fun outting with friends!

June started with me needing to know I am doing okay... I believe I have gotten away from feeling like this lately. It was nice to reread this one.

In July I decided to take note of the numbers in my day. This may have to be a once a month blog post this year. I had so fun writing it! I will love looking back on that when I am old and gray! Think I just might for 2011!

August is always a crazy month in our house with two birthdays and general family crazy. But 2010 took my little girl to her first day of Kindergarten too!

September I celebrated 7 years with the husband! Man I still love him!

October marked the 1st birthday of my baby. Who as I type this is toddling about getting into all sorts of trouble. I didn't blog a lot in October. I was simply waaayyyy to busy!

November started with the good intentions of blogging everyday to be thankful for our many blessings. But life got crazy with sickness and more sickness and just more general crazy!

December hasn't been blogged but so many wonderful things happened. I am so thankful for 2010 and all of the crazy wonderful and amazing things it has brought to our life. Now its time to look forward and see just what God has in store for 2011.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 26...Nolan Walks

2010-11-26T05:10:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-25T06:56:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2010-11-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

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???

2010-11-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2010-11-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-09-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-09-27T09:18:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2010-09-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-09-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-09-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

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*

Looking back...

2010-09-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

This time of year is really hard on me as a momma.

All my babies have birthdays within 2 months of each other.

Leanna turned 6 a few weeks ago. It seems like I blinked and she went from this...

to this....

Hudson decided he just had to turn 4. Why couldn't he stay 3? Hmmm... why did he have to get all big on a momma? My baby boy...

who is this young boy small person?

And now coming up very soon WAYYY much sooner than I would like. My BABY (my forever baby!!!!) is going to turn 1!?!?!?! It seems like just yesterday he was ....

and now this???

What???? WHO said they could grow up? It sure the heck wasn't me. This momma has decided that from now on the months of August, September and October can be skipped. That'll teach 'em. Grow up on me... HA.

Seriously? Why does it seem to be going so fast?

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Dear Nolan...

2010-09-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Nolan,

Please stop growing.

Love,

Momma

"I got big at my birthday"

2010-09-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

That is a direct quote out of my son's mouth today. Someone asked him when he had gotten so big and Hudson replied, "I got big at my birthday".

He did get big. He seems like a little boy instead of my baby. I know I know he isn't my baby anymore...but can he be for a little longer?

That boy makes me smile. He is such a fun and energetic small person. There is no task he doesn't meet with exuberance. He is friendly and caring. He is whiny and scared. He holds my hand. He likes to have his back scratched.

A conversation today...

Momma: "Hudson what do you want for your birthday"
Hudson: "Momma my dream came true already"
Momma: "It did? What was your dream?"
Hudson: "It didn't rain and I got to be a cowboy with all my friends!"

I love him so much. He has such an awesome little heart. He loves his sister and idolizes Daddy. Daddy can do no wrong! He wants to be a fireman, a cowboy, a pilot, a jumper, 'da Charter Man and a astronaut! He has such a creative and imaginative spirit. There is no game he won't invent or place he doesn't get to travel to.

He loves to run and jump and play. However, he also loves to snuggle. Which to be honest is my favorite thing about him. He will curl up next to me on the couch or in our bed and watch a movie. He holds my hand when we go for a walk. It melts my heart to see him smile.

Happy Birthday my sweet sweet boy. I hope 4 is as awesome and amazing and as TOTALLY WICKED (which is his favorite thing to say right now) as 3 was.

I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.

Love Momma

Beautiful Day!!!

2010-09-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday was absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

There was no way I was letting it go by without doing something fantasticly outdoorsy!

While I am no hiking momma strapping my 25 (or so) pound small person to my back. We did get some friends together and make a morning out at Suson Park. It was lovely. The breeze was blowing, the animals were out, the ducks were in the water, the sun was shining and my heart was bursting with thanks for the GREAT DAY! Much needed after the oppressively hot summer we have had.

The kids had a great time. We strolled around the pond and saw fish swimming, got up close to some ducks. At 10:30 the barn doors opened and then we petted the horses, we saw the milking exhibit, we looked at some really big pigs, saw the hens, Hudson and I personally had a great time imitating the strutting rooster (we were a sight to see!) we had a picnic lunch! It was such an amazing and beautiful day. While I don't often wish time away... today I was secretly wishing for the beautiful red and orange and gold leaves to be blowing across the ground. Fall is my FAVORITE time of year. So today was a glorious taste of the coming months!

Thanks to some awesome ladies (Ms. Beth and Ms. Heather) for making a lovely day even lovelier!

Zoo Trip

2010-09-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ms. Beth and I decided to have a last group hurrah before our older girls, Leanna and Cadence, started school. We lucked out to have a day with lower humidity and the temperature wasn't melt-the-mommy degrees outside!

So we got there as the zoo opened. Why you ask? Two reasons: 1. It was cooler out! and 2. We had some kiddos who wanted to pet the stingrays!

The stingray exhibit is a favorite of all of ours. They are amazing, beautiful and so graceful. Hudson wants to swim with them someday. Leanna loves animals of all types, really I wouldn't be surprised if she is a veterinarian when she grows up! However the exhibit costs... $3.00 a person normally or $1.50 a person for zoo members (which thankfully we are!). With a group of 8 of us? That can get expensive.

Now let me share a secret with you... In the first hour the zoo is open... they are free to visit! So is the Children's Zoo and the Carousel.

So we got there nice and early and pretty much walked right in...and the kids had a BLAST!

Then we hit the River's Edge. Hippos, Elephants and Cheetahs and at least 2 of the MUST SEE animals are in that list. The Hippos were in a mood that day though....

And there is always time to play in the fountain too!

Then we climbed the HILL OF HATEFULNESS (more commonly known as Art Hill) to see the Giraffes, Lions, Tigers and Zebras. We also saw the Chimpanzees that day too! We actually saw a lot more this trip then I thought we did!

After this we of course had to visit with the penguins as well! This wall has housed many of our group photos! I think I have at least the last three years on this wall with these very same people (plus or minus a baby depending on the years!)

We also got to visit the Butterfly House this day too. Which is always a great time.

Nolan and Danika did great that day too! They hung out in the stroller way longer than I or Ms. Beth expected them too. Nolan by the end of the day was done. Poor guy.

It was a great day. I am very thankful for St. Louis having one awesome and amazing FREE zoo! We are so blessed. Today was one of the days I am grateful for my city. I am always grateful for fun filled moments with my small people and for memories made with great friends!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

All three!

2010-09-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

The kids have been extra funny lately. I love the way the interact (most of the time). Leanna is such the mother hen. So protective and well bossy! Hudson he is the... what is the best way to describe him... He is energetic and fun guy. Hungry all the time! Nolan is mesmerized by him. He will just watch Hudson's every move and laugh. Nolan he is every bit of the baby of the family. He is doted on and played with. He gets into everything and is all over the place now.

They do love each other though and play very well together.

So I am pretty sure Leanna was sleeping here ;) Nolan was determined to get Hudson. Hudson well he was cheesin' it up!

Okay now everyone is looking at the camera in this house that is a success. Leanna is still awfully sleepy here though!

Now eyes are open. Nap time is over and no one is pulling anyone's hair out...now how to get them all to be still so the picture isn't blurry?

We'll just have to keep trying I guess :)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Because it has been a minute...

2010-09-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Nolan is getting so big so fast. I often forget he isn't going to be a 'baby' anymore. It makes me sad.

He is 10 months old now. HUGE. Some fun things he is doing now:

- he finally has a tooth in his head and a whole mouthful full of puffiness and "white buds"

- he is pulling up and cruising furniture even

- he is saying "dada" even if it isn't at him

- he is eating tons more solid foods now (even with his only ONE tooth)

- he is pulling his hearing aids off even if he is wearing his hat

- he smiles and laughs and is just starting to imitate people.

There is still really no language development. He squeals and yells and cries but we are working on it. He is trying!

Speech therapy is going well. It sometimes all feels so tedious and for nothing. I know it isn't but sometimes it feels that way. I try not to give into the feelings of frustration. I have to remind myself to slow down and that this will take time, hard work, determination and well faith. I have to remind myself that God decided Nolan could handle this and as his momma apparently he decided so could I.

I love his little laugh and the gleam of mischievousness he gets in his eyes. He has an AMAZING smile. Everyone loves him. He is a pretty special little guy. I sure am thankful for him. Even if sometimes I want to toss him out of the window (you know after he has screamed for 20 minutes straight out of frustration or after the 60th time I have had to tell him to leave his hat or hearing aids alone). All in all I wouldn't trade him though.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

A 'Girls' Birthday Party

2010-08-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

Leanna decided this year she wanted to have a small girls only party for her birthday party this year.

I had so much fun planning it with her.
She was very detailed and specific on what she would like. I thought it was so funny to see how her little mind worked and what her 6 year old self decided all entailed a 'girls' party.

She wanted all of the girls to have matching pajamas. So as a birthday gift Josh and I purchased all of the little ones' pj pants. Leanna picked out a very cute light pink with different colored hearts all over it and the bottom cuff was a very dark pink. She decided that we would "make" the pj's shirts. She wanted their names on them and sparkling hearts. So I asked all the mommies to have the girls bring a plain dark pink shirt with them so we could make something special.

The pajama part turned out very cute...

Then she wanted to watch a princess movie... but not a normal princess movie. This proved to be a bit more challenging as what in the world is a princess movie without a princess? Problem was solved when we saw the advertisement for the new Veggie Tales movie... Sweetpea Beauty it was perfect! Not to long... not to princessy and with a sweet tagline and message behind it (A Girl after God's own heart)! With the movie she wanted some special snacks (her favorites of course) popcorn, m&m's, reese's pieces and licorice! Which we did.

Before we watched the movie. Leanna put a special box together for her friends. It had a pencil, a princess crown cookie cutter, some non-traditional princess stickers, some super bling and a princess and a prince wood coloring set (Michael's craft store project).

She then told all of her friends what she thought there special talent is... some were super friendly, some were smart, some were funny. It was a very sweet thing to do and she did it on her own. I was very proud.

And of course wherever there are large quantities of girls... there is large quantities of gabbin and grubbin!

All in all a super successful birthday party. To all the mommies that let their little ones come. Thanks. All of your girls who were there are very special to Leanna and to our family. We love and appreciate all of you. I think it is pretty awesome that Leanna has such a good group of girls that are her friends! I also think I have some really great mommy friends too!

A new scale!

2010-08-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

These morning workouts are really making it easier for me to be consistent. That was always a major problem for me... consistency. The kids would need to nap, I would be in the middle of a project, dinner would be in the oven, Leanna would need to do homework and if I TRIED to go at night after Josh would get home I was too tired to leave my house or my husband to be honest (he works so many hours I don't get to see him a ton you know) and I would just not go and say, "I'll go tomorrow maybe Josh will get home earlier or the kids will be in a better mood", blah blah blah... excuses, excuses and more excuses.

So now we go after we take sissy (Leanna) to the bus stop. I am there by 8:30 we are back home by 10:00 (at the latest if I do a LOOONG workout) and Nolan is usually ready for his morning nap as soon as we walk in the door. It is great! Plus I feel better throughout the day.

So my good friend Ms. Beth has been going with me. Her oldest Cadence's bus comes at the exact same time as Leanna's so we meet up and we workout together. Which is nice to have someone to talk to, to encourage and well to encourage me as we push through. We will be attempting to go at least 4-5 times a week.

This morning however we get there and the scale was BROKEN! (DUN DUN DUUUHHHHNNN... what happened did Shay ever get her numbers? Does she know how much progress she has made??? Oh the suspense!)

So we went to Target and I bought a scale today! While this will not be a completely accurate weigh-in because I had eaten something and drank two bottles of water before weighing myself.

Well I will let the picture do the talking for me...

If you can't read that well let me tell you it says 265.6!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is 13.5 lbs so far! I am almost halfway to my short term goal!

Maybe that 30 pounds by my anniversary isn't impossible?

Oh and even better... Last week my best mile walk/run was 18:10. My goal this week was to shave 10-25 seconds off (I am trying to build endurance overall not kill myself just one time) and today my mile was 17:02!!! I am so excited! By Christmas time I would like to be consistently RUNNING a 12:00 mile. We shall see!

Oh and I am skipping the pictures of me this week because Josh isn't here to take them and well hopefully we will be able to see more results next week!!!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Project Shay Week 4?

2010-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

I know I promised pictures but that will have to wait for Monday!

This is just a quick update...

Starting weight: 279

Weight as of Thursday (after my: two-week-had-to-figure-out-new-schedule-with-Leanna-starting-school break from the gym): 269!!!

I am down ten pounds ladies and gentlemen! And while that may not seem like a lot to anyone else... and it doesn't look like a lot just yet either. It is phenomenal to me!

So a better update with what I have been doing and with an "official" weigh-in on Monday!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

6 years ago today...

2010-08-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

I gave birth to a screaming, red faced, blue eyed, wrinkly chubby little thing.

I don't think I can handle all the emotions from this birthday.

I didn't freak out at 5 like I thought I would. However, today for some reason 6 seems like such a BIG number. Maybe it is the whole school starting thing. Maybe it is her face, expressions, attitude, smile or just the fact that she is over 4ft tall. Maybe it is everything wrapped up into one.Whatever it is. She is big all of a sudden.

She doesn't just fold up into the side of me anymore. She is this gangly thing all arms and legs. She has these expressions that make me do a double take. She is a caring and kind and compassionate little person. Don't get me wrong she is also snotty, crazy, sassy and silly. Wrap it all up... you have this amazing little person.

Today started at 6:00 this morning. Leanna crawled into my bed. Whispering into my ear she says... "Momma", pause. "Momma", she said again. "What Leanna", I reply. "Momma it is my birthday today", she says still whispering. "Do you know I am six?", she says next. Tears welled in my eyes. Yep me... teary eyed over my little girl telling me she is 6. "Of course I know you are 6 silly girl", I whisper back to her. "Does that make you to big to snuggle with your momma and catch a few more sleeps with me?" I asked. "You gonna share the soft pillow with me momma?" She countered. My answer was to scoot-ch over and wrap her up in my arms. A great way to start the 6th year of my girl!

Today was a great day for my girl. She had a great birthday. A post tomorrow on that for now... some pictures of the birthday girl with some oldies thrown in...

This is on her first birthday.

She was a little over a year here.

Officially 6 years old...

and just because it makes me smile...

Kindergarten!!!!

2010-08-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Leanna,

Today you started on a brand new and exciting adventure. Kindergarten!!! I am not sure how you are not still toddling around in diapers and playing with your megablocks, or your baby dolls.

Your eyes were shinning as we put your earrings in. As we were buckling your pretty flowered pink sandals you were telling me how you are a little nervous and, "is that okay mom...were you nervous on your first day?". You made major decisions like... what to eat for lunch and what to bring for snack time. We discussed how it is important to use kind words, listen to the teacher, remember to raise your hand and to smile.

We all walked to the bus stop this morning. Your brother gave you a hug and a pat on the back. We took all the mandatory first day of school pictures. I gave you a big hug and said, "I love you and I will see you when you step off the bus this afternoon." You smiled and waved and went onto the bus.

You will begin to make friends, learn things, deal with being left out or leaving someone else out (which I hope never happens but...), and the whole recess awesomeness. Learning will not only happen with momma anymore but with other teachers who will give you a piece of themselves with every picture drawn and letter written, or new gym class game played.

I love you Leanna. I am so proud to be your momma. I am proud of the young lady you are and are becoming. I pray for you to be a light to others and to be polite and kind. I pray that you love school. I pray that you have just enough of everything. (And maybe just enough extra too.) I pray that your perfectionism trait eases a little and that you cut yourself some slack. I pray that when you don't and the tears of frustration come that I can help and soothe away the bad days. I pray that we will celebrate the great ones too.

Congratulations my love on your first day. Good Luck my sweet first born.

Love,

Your proud momma

Project Lose a Small Person (aka Project Shay)

2010-08-09T21:18:00.001-07:00

So tonight I went to the gym and weighed in.

However before I post numbers... I give you pictures...

Not much noticeable difference. I am a bigger and taller girl. It takes about 10-15 pounds before I will really even notice the difference much less someone else.

The numbers for this week are...

272.5!!!!

Which makes my loss for one week = 6.6 lbs!!!

This helps me in knowing at least it hasn't been for nothing!

Same bat time and same bat channel next week ladies and gentlemen. Join Shay on her adventure on losing a small person (aka 100 lbs!)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Long Week 1 Check In:

2010-08-05T09:14:00.001-07:00

So ladies and gents I have made it to the gym twice so far this week if I make it tomorrow I will have done the three times a week for this week. According to the scale last night at the gym I am down 3 pounds. The pictures in this post have NOTHING to do with anything I may be writing... I just need to smile them...

As far as schedule and routine go? Mornings have been rough. The afternoons are going well. They say to change things in baby steps. Well baby steps we are doing.

I have a migraine from the caffeine withdrawal. I miss my daily Dr. Pepper. I really miss my coffee. Also I am pretty sure that my favorite (I have like coupons for 5 free ones) frappe drink at McD's I don't think I can get decaf... ughhh...

We have been surviving off of cereal, fruits and vegetables. Cooking isn't an option. My house God bless it. It is a good little home for us... but our air conditioner is working as hard as it possibly can and I am not going to do one single thing to battle against so cooking... not an option. Laundry is getting done at night so that the dryer isn't negating all of my air conditioners hard work.

The rest of this week I have to be more disciplined in getting up and moving by no later that 7:00 am. I am always awake but I am kinda slow and sluggish in my motivational.

Just checkin in... How is every one else's week going?
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Gooooo CARDS!!!

2010-08-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Josh and I took the babies to their first ever baseball game!

Thanks to Hussman who gave St. Joseph's Institute for the Deaf the tickets for all of us. Miss Cathy, our speech therapist, was there with her family, some of the nuns, volunteers and a ton of other families. It was pretty awesome of them.

The funny thing of that is that Josh used to drive for Cooper Bussman which is a branch off or something of Hussman it was a pretty cool small world thing.

On to the game. The small people sat through 8.5 innings of baseball with a great attitude. It was an amazing day.

While we were walking to the stadium (which was a pretty decent hoofin' we asked them to do) we had the whole conversation that the game and the snacks we brought were our special treat and that asking for anything would result in a no answer and a sad mommy and daddy because we should be thankful/grateful for what we are being able to do today and not what we want... and they both were okay with this no questions, squabbles or anything!

Lo and behold we walk into the stadium and it was Build a Bear day! They got the cutest little bears... I present you with O. Smith the triplets...

The kids were SOOOO excited! Leanna actually asked me if she could have it before she took it from the lady it was really cute!

The game was awesome. The kids clapped, cheered, screamed CHARGE with the best of them. They showed interest in the game. Asked questions. For this baseball lovin' mama it was a proud proud day for me! Josh and Nolan hung out. The kids got to sit with Daddy or Mommy, it was seriously a wonderful outing! Thankfully it wasn't to hot either.

Some more pictures of our fun filled family day...

So thankful for an amazing and fun filled family day!
This post is linked up to Gratituesday over at Heavenly Homemakers!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Project Shay!!!

2010-08-02T18:58:00.001-07:00

So I have been working on training the kids, doing bible studies, VBS, MOPS and a new schedule and routine for our household...

Today begins Project Shay.

I have a goal.

It is a hefty (pun intended) goal!

I want to lose 30 pounds by my anniversary. I am going to the gym 3 nights a week. Josh and I talked about it and I have decided I need to do this for me. I have to be dedicated cause it will be easy to say no I don't want to or use a rough day as an excuse but I am tired of not being able to find clothes to fit me at the store. I am tired of my closet having three items that fit me because I refuse to buy anymore to fit me "for now" and then feeling badly when I go out in public.

So it starts today at 9:00 three nights a week and stretching during rest time 5 days a week. After 3 weeks of consistency I am rewarding myself with a new DVD player for the living room to workout the other 2 days a week! With a yoga DVD or something during rest time!

The diet part isn't hard. For me it has been the exercise and the snacking after 8:00 because Josh likes to eat after he cools down. No More! It will be hard but it will be worth it!

And for accountability reasons I am posting these completely embarrassing pictures of my overly large self. I will post pictures every Monday. Josh has offered to take them.

So here is me today...
say by bye bye to the puffy face and double chin!

Adios to the 5 month pregnant looking belly!

Those hips are officially out of control! Time to reign them back in!

Edited to Add: The scale at the gym (where I will weigh every Monday night) stated I was 279.1... Oh my goodness that is a scary number!

See you again in 7 days!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

A day by numbers....

2010-07-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today is the 20th

Number of times I said stop that : 1,000,000

Number of waffles consumed for breakfast : 6

Number of egg sandwiches made for the husband : 2

Number of times Hudson had to be told to settle down : 1112...1113, 1114

Number of times Nolan has fallen down : 7 (he is going to end up hurting himself if he doesn't figure it out how to get back down from a standing position SOON)

Number of bottles washed : 12

Number of words spelled for Leanna : 89 (she was writing a letter, a looong letter to a friend)

Number of jars of food consumed : 4

Number of laundry loads completed : 4

Number of time outs : 22

Number of times Nolan pulled his hearing aids out : 35 (no I am not exaggerating)

Number of times Nolan pulled his hat off : 6

Number of books read : 8 (1 by Leanna)

Number of pictures colored : 4

Number of coupons clipped (so far) : 52 (hey I was a couple weeks behind)

Number of time I have vacuumed: 3 (it is an obsession I know)

Number of carrots consumed at snack time : 1 bag (yeah Hudson = growth spurt)

Number of bed time kisses : 16 (delay tactic 101)

Number of I love yous spoken: LOTS

Just another day in the Brewer household...

Smiles

2010-07-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

My heart melts...

like butter...

EVERY and I mean EVERY

Single. Time. He. Smiles.

At me.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Double Dates...

2010-07-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Leanna went on her first double date.

It was with me.

And our double was none other than the amazing and beautiful mommy daughter duo of Sarah and Miss Lily.

We got tickets and went to see the Beauty and the Beast at the Muny (in Forest Park).

It was a great time. The girls behaved so well. The only disappointing moment for us... us being Miss Sarah and myself was Belle's DRESS. You know THE DRESS. It left a little to be desired in amazingness.

Other than that I was so glad we got to go. The weather was G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!!! Couldn't have asked for a better night.

Some pictures of that evening...
Sarah took this one of Leanna and I. It is seriously one of my most favorite pictures of the two of us ever. Thanks!

Thanks Sarah and Lily for letting us share in a very fun and awesome night!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Dancing Queen

2010-07-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen!

My girl really did have the time of her life. She was nervous and scared. But she shook her groove thing with the best of them.

Dance was a fun experience for us. She has done it for the last 6 months. She learned some important things.

An interview of the Dancing Queen herself.

Mommy: "Leanna what was it like to be in dance?"
Leanna: "Fun. A bunch of fun. Until now cause it is over"
Mommy: "What was your favorite part about dance?"
Leanna: "The recital was the best part. Mommy are you putting my words on the computer?"

Mommy: "Yes"
Leanna: "So everyone who reads your blog is reading me?"
Mommy: "Yup"
Leanna: "Oh well my other favorite part is Miss Trish. I really liked her. She helped me learn how to dance."
Mommy: "Did you learn anything important in dance?"
Leanna: "I learned some things about making friends in dance. The way you want to be treated is to treat others the way you want to be treated. So be kinda nice to everyone."

That lesson alone would have made the past 6 months of early morning Saturdays worth it.

She learned so much more than that though.

She learned what is like to be on stage. She learned about poise and grace. She learned that it isn't always easy to concentrate and smile at the same time. She learned that sometimes people mess up or get scared. She learned that it isn't easy being the new girl in an already established group. She learned that making a new friend isn't easy when everyone already has friends.

It was a beautiful thing to watch though. This troop of 3-5 year old little girls. Step on to the stage and face a pretty large crowd. (There were easily over 100 audience members watching the girls) I was proud of her. She made what is now known as the "Angry Anorexic Model Face" for the most part of all three dances. There were moments that she remembered this was fun. There were moments where she remembered this was hard. Mostly she just had moments she'll never forget.

And neither will her momma.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

More BBQ stuff...

2010-06-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

I got to hang out with some of my favoritest peoples in the whole world recently.

It had been over a year since we had gotten our families together.

My husband likes getting a chance to hang out with other men folk so it is always fun for him. Of course I think I only have pictures of the kids though. Sorry. And not even of all the kids!!!

Our kids played soooo well together that day. No arguing or fighting or anything it was great! Casey let us ~~OVERTAKE~~ their backyard. Roger (her lovely husband) manned the hot grill and cooked up hot dogs and brats and hamburgers for all of us. They set up a Slip - n - Slide (which I seriously think was a MAJOR hit) and a pool and the kids found worms and just had so much fun.

Sarah and Will were there with their amazingly pretty red headed children :) and Leanna and Lily and Mia dug for worms and let them swim. It really was a super fun time!

Some pictures from our days adventure...

Leanna having some slip-n-slide-fun!

Hudson playing in the pool.

Eva oh how this little girl makes me laugh!

Nolan and his make-shift swimming bucket.

The end of a very HOT, Sweaty, Water Fun, Friend Filled Morning/Afternoon.

So thankful for friends whose children are now my children's friends too. It was a great time! And here's hoping Will and Casey (my amazingly talented photographer friends {seriously A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. let me know if you need/want info} who also took pictures that day) got some better photos than me :)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

BBQ OVERLOAD!

2010-06-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

We have had so much fun the past couple of weeks. We have had swim overs, Birthday BBQ's, Park dates, Get together because it has been over a year BBQ's, you name it we have done a BBQ for it.

We have had lots of fun with everyone at each so the next few posts will be dedicated to those super fun events!

I can't remember which came first now...

So we will start with Matt's Birthday BBQ. (Because I didn't take a single picture at Rachel's Graduation Party...oops)

Matt and Heather invited us over for Matt's Birthday (He is oooollllddddd don't tell him I told you okay?). The kids had a ton of fun. Plus we got to hang out with some really awesome friends too. Kenny and his wife Megan were there (super nice and their girls are soooo stinking cute), Emma and Shannon were there too (they are expecting a little boy in August!!!), Paul (that guy is a riot!) and Andy and Angela and the Revisky's were there. It was a great time. I only post pictures of those I know I can though so unfortunately not everyone mentioned will be pictured!

Oh his smile!

And this is Owen he is such a cute little guy!

Our happy little man Nolan.

Splash Down!

This little girl is Olivia and I just love her! She smiles every time I see her and it makes me happy!

The obligatory food eating picture. Hudson was starving after wrestling with sissy in the pool.

Heather set up a pretty sweet kiddie pool area and they grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. It really was a nice relaxing time and the kids were asleep before we hit the highway (DOUBLE BONUS)! Thanks Matt and Heather for an awesome time!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Some summer fun so far...

2010-06-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

It has been CRAZY busy with things going on lately. I can't believe how swamped and busy it is! This week is no better. Hopefully I will be blogging some fun stuff as catch up in the next few weeks. But for now...

Some pictures of our summer fun so far....
Our very own Crocodile Dundee ladies and gentlemen!

Some cute girls who were traumatized because I asked them to stop and smile for just one second!

Hudson and his friend Allyson isn't she cute?

Leanna and Madelaine.

Leanna dumping ice cold hose water on her brother and his reaction :)

Lots of fun stuff has been going on. Just not so much down time to get it posted here. But I will! Promise!

Upcoming awesomeness? The Muny with friends to see Beauty and the Beast, a Dance Recital, MOPS KICK OFF and a post about my new Sign Language Class I am taking. Sheer craziness!

Happy Monday!

Momma to 3... The one the only the CRAZY,

*Shay B*

Teddy Bear Picnic

2010-06-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

If you go down to the woods today you're sure to get a surprise.
If you go down to the woods today you won't believe your eyes.
For every bear that ever there was is gathered there together because
Today is the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic!

Leanna has been learning all about camping in summer school this week. Hudson being the "manly" boy he is has been upset that he can't go to school this week.

So the other day she came home with some Teddy Bear binoculars. Hudson wanted them immediately. So we talked about how sissy is going to do some cool stuff at school but that we can do cool stuff too. Still together and at home.

*Cue inspirational heavenly music and light*

I started singing that song on the way home and got a great idea!

We had a Teddy Bear picnic. Complete with blanket on the floor. And appropriate snacks in my living room. Yeah non-believers I ALLOWED PEANUT BUTTER IN THE LIVING ROOM!!! I have pictures to prove it. Nolan was napping which helped this be a success I must admit.

It was a ton of fun and hopefully will be memorable if nothing else. They even brought "real" play food for their stuffed animals.

Some pictures of the event...
The first arrivals were Hudson (his name seriously is Hudson even written on his TY tag) and Eagly (I know Hudson is sooo orginal) and yes Hudson chose a chicken leg as Eagly's sanck.

This is the crew we ended up with. Elephants and Bears and Eagles OH MY!

They really got into it! They played for about an hour while eating apples and peanut butter and pretzel sticks to dip too.

The binoculars that started said picnic? Yeah he watched from the table for the entire shin dig!

I have to admit it was pretty fun! Plus it gave us a great activity that they had a blast with and we had some fun family time too. Sometimes great ideas come to us in the form of "Bear Binoculars" who knew?

Definitely a Finer Thing Friday even if it happened on a Wednesday afternoon right? I love making memories with them.

Keepin' It Real,
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Ummm so yeah....

2010-06-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

It has been an emotional couple of weeks at the Brewer household. Crazy and emotional and busy and crazy.

I am a momma to an ALMOST kindergartner cause yeah that post earlier??? There will be another on her actual first day of kindergarten because well I have to write it. So I can have it. So I can remember the feelings and the crazy that go with being a momma...Not gonna lie I want to have it in writing so when I print this book for this year I have it all!

My days now are filled with just my boys. It is fun filled and a little crazy and a little weird. The dynamic has shifted. Hudson is the oldest at home now. Nolan still my baby.

Activities have changed from playing house and tea party ('cause well Leanna was pretty darn convincing) to... boy things like shoot 'em up bad guys and cars relay races in the kitchen and Spiderman instead of Little Mermaid (did I mention Leanna was convincing?)

I am so thankful to be a momma to such different and exciting personalities. God sure knew what he was doing when He gave me all my small people.

This guy here...

He knocks my socks off ladies

and this guy here...

Well I wouldn't trade him for a million bucks...

But this girl here....

I kinda miss her. In all of her awesome bossy and "convincing" ways.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

The wedding of the Cousin...

2010-06-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

My cousin is now officially married. She said, "I do". It was a balmy and hot Saturday afternoon. Thankfully God held the rain off for the ceremony that was OUTSIDE...

It really was a great day and hopefully everything the bride wanted it to be.

Now I am in no way a professional photographer. However these are Straight Out of the Camera, not edited and taken with a complete beginners knowledge of my camera (working on learning it) but I think I got some pretty decent shots...

Some pictures from their big day...

My cousin (the sister of the bride) and the flower girl (the niece of the bride)

This lady here is my Nana. My cousins Nana too I guess. She is 98 years old. I love her. In this picture she is telling Tess that she better behave and then two minutes later she told Bryan she would have a beer with him at the reception.

This picture makes me a little sad. Only because I don't have one from my wedding. Nana was very ill when I got married and couldn't make it. It is five generations. Alive and kicking it yo. Not many people can say that. I really need to get my generation picture taken for my daughters sake if nothing else. It is such a special thing.

And because when they are together they are like peanut butter and jelly. Airyana and Leanna. The two prettiest "little" girls at the party for sure!

All in all a beautiful day and I was glad to be there to celebrate a great beginning to a pretty awesome couple. Here's hoping this is just the beginning to your... HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Congrats Tess and Bryan!

When God says "Hey what's up"

2010-06-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

I am always asking God to help me understand to... "Show me the bigger picture".

I don't think I can handle the bigger picture. He knows that because, I think the small piece he is showing me right now feels like more than I can handle sometimes.

I love my life I do. There isn't to much about it (okay nothing actually) that I would change except for perhaps an extra hour or two in my day. But here lately the "EXTRA" has been HARD.

I cried into my pillow about all the "EXTRA".

I know I know... "God never gives us more than we can handle". Or "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it", or a thousand other cliche crazy things we say to someone when we just don't know any other way to help them cope.

I know this is just a season and that things will get calmer and more normal and back to a "reasonable" level.

But I can't help but feel like God is saying to me right now in this season of my life... (I hate that phrase and term "season" but it fits and my brain can't make a better word right now and I have been using it a lot lately sorry) God is saying to me, "Hey what's up? Oh that is a lot I know... lean on me. Let me walk in front of you. Let me carry that." I feel him tugging at my soul, "Shay let it go, let me control that, let me do it..." and I am fighting him and telling him I got it and then my day gets crazy or my week gets hectic or the "EXTRA" starts to overwhelm my world.

God is there he wants me to let it go. He loves me and all of that "EXTRA". God's saying, "Hey What's up? Want some help?" and starting today... my answer? "Yep I sure do. Thanks!"

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

She went to school today....

2010-06-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

I am so on an emotional roller coaster of crazy right now. I am unfortunately going to have you take a trip down memory lane with me today. I am sorry for any misty eyes or sadness.

My baby went to school today. Summer school but her first day of any kinda school besides Sunday School ever.

She is being taught by someone that isn't mommy. She is playing with (or I hope so anyway) new friends. Learning new things. Off on her own without me there to hold her hand or kiss her boo boos or make sure she can get off of the monkey bars herself.

It was one of the most awesome days of my life. While at the same time one of the saddest days too.

7 months old here...

Not quite 2 (I was a very pregnant momma at this party get together)

with her brother...just before he turned 2 and she turned 4...

her first bubble!

Our friend Casey took this photo last October when she had just turned 5...

With her brotherS (plural) here...

And today before I sent her off to school...

Tell me where it went ladies? Where has the time gone. She went from baby to big girl and I swear I didn't even blink. I am so thankful she is independent and strong and smart. I am so thankful God graced me with this little amazing person. I am so thankful to be her momma.

I am so a little sad today.
A thankful and tearful
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

the KIDS in my life brought to you by the MAN in my life...

2010-06-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

I know I blog about my kids A! LOT! However those three beautiful babes didn't happen magically. There was another partner involved this guy...

He may leave me over this picture being posted by the way :) He HATES having his picture taken and was being sarcastic to me so he totally deserves this.

He is pretty good guy. I love watching him with the babies. He is so funny with Leanna her know it all attitude completely comes from him right down to the smirk of AWFULNESS! Hudson gets his hands on behavior and want to "fix" things from him. So far Nolan just has his Dad's rugged good looks.

I love watching this man with our children. He is so good with them.

Some examples...

I am so thankful for a man who loves his children the way my man does. He works hard and comes home and tries to work hard again! So glad God gave me him. Such a great worker and daddy and husband.

Have an awesome Friday everyone!
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Burden of Proof...

2010-06-02T09:53:00.001-07:00

Why do we as Mom's feel the need to prove ourselves?

Proof: evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.

We have to have proofs of purchase, proof of payment, proof of residency, proof of identity...

That is why we feel we have to have proof of how our days are spent. How we are raising our children what we are doing all day long, proof of a clean house or a well behaved child. We stress ourselves out so much on things because we worry about "PROVING" ourselves, our decisions, our parenting, our life to others.

If we are living our lives pleasing God. Who else do I have to hold myself accountable to? NO ONE!

I need to remember that sometimes a dirty house means loved on kids. I need to remember that scrapped up knees means one gnarly adventure for my little man. I need to remember that muddy laundry means a treasure digging adventure. I need to remember that a sink full of unwashed dishes means a day where the food was plentiful and bellies were hungry and gracious enough to eat it (A LOT OF IT)!

Yes a clean house and tidy rooms and well behaved children are important. Absolutely. But NOT if they are the mean to proving myself as a mom, teacher, wife, friend or any other role in my life. If they are because I worked hard AND had a CHEERFUL and THANKFUL attitude about doing them ABSOLUTELY.

God sees me working hard. God sees my struggles and hears my prayers to make sure I am making the right and hard decisions for my kids. God knows my head and my heart and my fears. If I am living right he sees every diaper I change, every boo boo I kiss, every dish I wash (AGAIN) and every attitude I correct INCLUDING MY OWN!

Just needed this to remind myself and thought it could be something someone else needed to remember too.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

City Museum Fun...

2010-05-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-05-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-05-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-05-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

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'

2010-05-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

SWEET

SASSY

SIBLINGS

SWINGIN'

Park Trips...

2010-05-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-05-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

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*

You guys loving Nolan!!!

2010-04-30T07:18:00.001-07:00

Amy over at Amy's Finer Things has this little blog awesome sauce thing about Finer thing Fridays. So I thought I would participate.

I am so thankful for all the people who love our family and are supporting us in our hearing impairment journey. It makes it easier to know we have so many supporting us and loving us when someone who is ignorant (and I was that word as it should truly be used!) and cares not to understand and instead chooses fear.

Fear of the unknown or the atypical cause some to strike out in anger and hurtful words and sometimes they do it in front of my other children.

Leanna learned a valuable lesson this week as well. (This is unfortunately her third lesson regarding this.) Hudson well he just doesn't understand that way of people yet, thankfully.

However so many of you choose to love my little guy for who he is as a person and not what he can/cannot hear. Or how he looks. Or how sometimes our routine has to be different.

So thank you for loving him. He is pretty special to us because he is a beautiful boy not because he is hearing impaired. Our family just likes to think that gives him a little "Flava" or extra "sumpin sumpin".

Family and Friends loving our boy? Most definitely a finer thing.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

P.S. Nolan is #153!!! So if you haven't voted yet here is the link! NOLAN BY SURPRISE

Outside Adventures

2010-04-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

We have been spending a ton of time outside lately. It has been so pretty and the sun has been shining and the breeze has been blowing. That and there were a couple of really really hot days in there and it was get out or turn the AC on. We chose to get out.

So bike riding has been high on the list of to-do when we are outside which is just fine with this mama. Nolan, thankfully, LOVES his stroller for exactly two hours. Think I am joking take two days ago for instance we were outside for 6 hours riding bikes and walking and stopping at the playground not to far from our house.

Jaunt 1:

Nolan placed in stroller at 9:58am. We walk the bigger small people ride bikes. At 10:22 we arrive at small park on street. Swinging and jungle gyming (yup just made that a verb)take place. 10:42 we begin walking riding again....there is a mail box circle at the beginning of our subdivision it is a great place for riding to take place. At 11:01 we begin our walk back down the street. 11:22 more swinging and jungle gyming (there is that word again) take place 11:33 Nolan begins to quietly protest. Walking/Riding home 11:52 Nolan is wailing I tell him we are almost home shhhh shhhh shhhh. We arrive home at 11:57.

Repeat that from 2-4 = Jaunt 2.

Repeat that again from 5:30 - 7:30 = Jaunt 3.

We came home took showers and baths. Had Taco Bell (it's what's for dinner), which was brought home by Daddy, for a late dinner. Then myself, Leanna and Hudson all curled up on the couch to watch a little Kung Fu Panda together and that is where (apparently as I do not remember) all three of us fell asleep.

It was a great and exhausting day for us. A later than normal day as bedtime usually happens between 8 and 8:30 here. So a 9:00 bedtime is pretty late. A successful day at keeping outside and busy, exhausting energies of small people and thoroughly exhausting this momma's socks off!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Just some updates...

2010-04-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

So it has been a minute and I thought I would run through some updates of things going on in our lives....

Clear out the clutter.... Still working on it :) Pictures will happen. I need to find ten (cotton pickin') minutes that I don't have kids diggin' things out of the trash pile saying, "but momma I love this scribbled on piece of paper that I haven't touched in one whole year" and hiding it back away!!!

Leanna needs to see an optometrist to register for Kindergarten apparently that is a new state law. Who knew? Well not me obviously so I am working on that and a few other things to get her registered.

Hudson, well one day he makes me sad and the next he makes my heart smile. I love him! He also has recently learned how to spell his name. He can tell you it and will several times over know if I could only get him to try to write it :)

Nolan is having surgery on Friday to have tubes put into his ears. To help alleviate some negative pressure in his ears. Not to mention to drain the fluid that is ever present and is further hampering his already hampered hearing abilities :) He is honestly one of the happiest kids I have ever met. He smiles and laughs and is just a joy to be around.

Josh had a birthday on the 18th. His 27th to be exact. We had a nice time. He got a new BBQ grill and a couple of new movies. Some yummy poke cake and a good old fashioned game of freeze tag while Nolan was napping in the play pen. He is also testing for a promotion tomorrow or today depending on when I finish writing this post. So hopefully (and praying) that it goes well.

I am sleepy :) Okay... when am I not sleepy? I am trying to keep things together and not lose my sanity. However I don't know any other moms that aren't trying to do the same things :) It is going. We are looking at trying to get that house (mentioned in post below), get things organized, clear things out, get a camping trip in here somewhere and enjoy the gorgeous weather.
We have been outside A LOT! Bike rides, walks and trips to the park. Anything to be moving and exerting our energies outside. The sad part is that the inside of my house... well... with the next 4 days consisting of pretty much rain, I will hopefully get things done! Hahaha or string up the small people who will be bouncing off the walls. Shockingly I actually have some projects to hopefully keep them busy the next couple of days while I work. We will see how that goes.

So basically we are well.... living life. It is crazy, it is chaotic and yet some where in there with the grace of God, love for each other and love for Jesus we manage to hang in there, love one another through the faults and find contentment in the chaos (or at least try to) and the majesty in the mundane.

May God continue to help me see the beauty in the beast, the creation in the crazy, the love in the small things, the good in the bad and may He continue to forgive this momma who just doesn't seem to always be able to pull it all off. Thank you for your son and the grace you give me even when I don't deserve it!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

House Prayers

2010-04-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

So Josh and I have been looking for a new house for a little while now. We have been looking all over. Well recently we have switched from all areas to just in Arnold.

Our littlest guy Nolan has some special issues that require some special things. So since our IFSP is set up in Arnold school district, we LOVE our speech therapist, the special school district in Arnold is one of the better ones and Josh's job isn't far from here. After some serious discussions and thoughts from both of us and some prayer, we truly feel like this is the area where we need to be right now. Which is great except for one thing OUR budget doesn't really fit the area.

Amazingly enough a nice lady from church and her husband are going to be moving to Wyoming. They need to sell there house here to move there. It is in our budgeted amount, in the area we feel we need to stay, it is everything we have been looking for. We are really hoping and praying this was put in our paths for a reason.

So I have a few specific things to ask my friends to pray for...

1. That we can get another pre-approval since I am no longer working that still covers the amount.

2. That this is really what we are supposed to be doing.

3. That we can sell our current home QUICKLY.

4. That good attitudes and spirits remain through the outcome of this whatever it may be. We had something a few months ago that we had to let fall through due to some unforeseen circumstances that happened and discouraged barely begins to cover it.

So if you think of us could you please be praying for us and possibly our new home!

Thank you
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

SIX MONTHS!?!?!?!?!?!

2010-04-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

I can't help but want to cry just thinking about that.

He is 6 months old. Where has that time gone? Why did it go so fast?

Nolan turns 6 months old today. He is such a fun addition to our family. I am so thankful for him and his sweet smile. He has added some new "speed bumps" as well. However mostly (so far) they have been manageable and a little crazy although the sign language we have been learning has been a fun thing. I am enjoying it a lot.

The kids think it is cool to have a little brother who always smiles at them. Hudson can make Nolan laugh and laugh and laugh. Leanna loves to mother hen him. She talks to him all the time and pays attention during his speech therapy so she can make sure she is "doing things the good way" and she loves to "help Hudson remember" too. Even if he doesn't like it.

All in all the little guy has made our lives so wonderful and we are so blessed that God decided to give us Nolan.

Some exciting stats I don't want to forget.

Nolan you are....

18.8 pounds!!!!
You are eating almost all baby food now. Although your favorites are peas, carrots, any fruit and sweet potatoes.
You HATE green beans and squash A LOT.
You have been rolling over and over and over.
You are sleeping through the night (12 hours).
Your speech therapy is going very well and Ms. Cathy thinks that you are an extremely smart little guy.
Your trying to sit alone but you tripod for a few minutes then weeble and wobble and fall over. Soon hopefully.
You are really starting to reach out and grab for toys and well at least chew on them now.
No teeth yet but boy are you working on them.

I think that is enough for now. I love you Nolan Scott. You continue to amaze me and I pray all the time that your little life and spirit continue to touch people.

We love you buddy, big guy, little man, FAT head, puddin' nose, tubby bubby there are still a few more but... You get the idea!

Clear the Clutter Part Deux

2010-04-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

So in the Brewer household we are still working hard at clearing the clutter. I think I just going to show before pictures today again. As we are still hard at work and sometimes it is always the darkest before the dawn right?

Well that is my prayer would you please pray it with me too?

We are working on Laundry and kitchen stuff and my own personal job is going through Nolan's clothes and getting rid of the ones he has outgrown (some he never even got to wear!!!) and also the mail carrier or as I like to call it... "The Bill Holder of DEATH...."

So here are some before pictures for your viewing pleasure (again these are 100% real photos of ugly so please take caution before going any further)...

This is my medicine/baby food cabinet. It is in serious need of an overhaul and for old medicines to be disposed of and organized so it is a capable of holding more baby food since he is eating more and so it is easier to just look in there and grab what we need.

Keepin' It Real: This is my laundry room currently. It is a scary scary scary place right now. We are working on fixing that today.

This is a trouble spot in our kitchen. The spot by the microwave/refrigerator is always crammed full of stuff and I need to fix that as well.

This is a handy counter area that separates the living room and kitchen. Do you know what would make it even more handy? If it wasn't covered in junk! And yes those are empty Easter baskets that haven't yet been put away.

This is our coat rack by our door. There are still WINTER coats hanging on it. With gloves and knit hats. It needs to be exchanged for ball caps and jackets. The winter stuff must go. TODAY!

So those are just a few of the things I am working on today and possibly tomorrow. We shall see what gets accomplished. Which means I must end this and get moving. Plus Nolan is pissed that is is 11:30 am and he hasn't had his third bottle and 2nd jar of baby food. Yes you read that right. That would be the reason my not quite 6 month old son weighs 18 pounds. No don't rub your eyes or blink you read that right 18 pounds.

Peace Out
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

We briefly interrupt...

2010-04-07T14:21:00.001-07:00

We briefly interrupt this clear the clutter challenge to bring to you.... well anything besides cleaning (although those pictures will be taken tonight and posted I promise)!

That is right ladies and well ladies... cause well lets be honest here no gentlemen read this blog.

Today was full of appointments for the kids. We had an appointment to look into head start preschool for him. Keeping our options open. I still would like to look into homeschooling some more but I also want to make sure that I can enroll them if we so choose.

Then we went to look into a weatherization program for our house. Since I have quit work it has given us some options for some programs we were not previously qualifying for. This weatherization program will help us update our windows and our front door (at least!) at a fraction of the cost normally. Which is nice because even when I was working our budget wasn't big enough to warrant the costs. Which will then help us keep our energy bills lower too.

After that we grabbed some lunch at Burger King (I know healthy right but it sure was delicious and the kids were happy for the treat) and a stop at a friends house with a nice backyard to play in and eat.

Then we had to move it to SJID (St. Joseph's Institute for the Deaf) to pick up his new ear molds and have some hearing tests done. The molds fit amazingly and the hearing aids are back in working order as well.

Then we attempted a hearing test with my two bigger small people there as well. It was a little crazy but we did manage to get one ear tested (only with hearing aids today no without) and they are pleased with the amount of sound he is hearing and responding too. It is hard to test the exact level of hearing a baby has due to the fact that they just can't tell you and they still move and wiggle and get distracted when they should be listening. So we will be having several hearing tests over the next few months. As a matter of fact the next one will be May 5th. So anyone want to babysit so the two bigger small people don't have to attend?

So all in all a great day!

Sincerely,
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

P.S. These pictures have absolutely nothing to do with this post. It is my blog and well I can do what I wanna right ;)

Day 1 Clear Out the Clutter

2010-04-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

I decided to start our challenge in the living room.

Over Easter Weekend we had some out of town guests come to stay. While that is always fun. We also know how quickly our homes can become over run. Especially if you have a small home (like me (: ). Plus with the craziness of Easter (which was a lot of fun and will post about soon) it has just become a little crazy.

These pictures are completely real and honest. I apologize if they gross anyone out.

Like I said it has gotten a little out of control.

So I will check back at the end of today with hopefully a much improved living room!

Thanks
*Shay*

Clear out the Clutter!

2010-04-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Money Saving Mom (a blog I read occasionally) is having a Clear out the Clutter Challenge this week.

I thought about it for about 2.5 seconds. Then I took a look around and said yup that is just the thing to get my rear in gear.

I have been feeling a little sluggish lately. Tired and a little run down. I know it has a lot to do with our schedule which is partly my fault of getting overbooked and partly the fault of some (not his fault) little boys appointments here lately. (New molds made, double ear infection, virus, hearing aid malfunction, hearing tests and new molds to be fitted and left with... these are just from the last three weeks!)

So this week is a LITTLE less busy for us and I truly believe the other reason I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and run down is my home. It has gotten a little out of control between the appointments, the fun, the out of town guests, the holiday and well just everyday life.

So I will be trying to rid our lives of the clutter. The broken toys, the outgrown clothes (for Leanna anyway), packing up Hudson's old clothes for Nolan, taking the baby stuff to Once Upon a Child, going through our craft buckets, the top of the fridge the cupboard. Our home lacks storage so I don't really have the option of hanging on to everything. So I must truly love, need, want, use or wish for the children to have it for it to remain here :)

So stay tuned this week and if you want join in as I Clear the Clutter!

A busy day full of fun!

2010-03-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

We had such a nice day on Thursday! The weather was B-E-A-U-tiful and we decided we should spend as much time as we could outside.

So we planned a zoo trip. It was a great day for it. The kids had an awesome time. I mean we spent 4 hours there for goodness sake! Nolan was amazing and the kids got to see the baby giraffe, the baby elephant and sadly though the new baby camel was a no show. However we did get to see the new leopard taking a siesta in the sun!

I don't take my camera to the zoo every trip anymore because I have so many pictures from the zoo so i decided to skip it this trip!

After we finished our time at the zoo we had a picnic lunch with our friends at Turtle Park. It was lots of fun too. I did snag my camera out of the car this time to snap a few pictures....

After we finished up at Turtle Park we headed over to my parent's house for an impromptu BBQ. It was delicious and a good time was had by all. I took my NEW (more on that later!) camera out a took a few pictures of the bigger kids!

We are so thankful for the few nice days we had before the stinky/cold weather set in! We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to some great time outside today.

St. Patty's Day Fun!

2010-03-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Leanna decided she wanted to really "celebrate" St. Patrick's Day. So we decided to have a St. Patrick's Day party.

I am part Irish and we (as a kid) lived in the dogtown area which is dominately Irish/Italian/German area. We really did St. Patrick's Day when I was growing up.

So like I said we decided it would be fun so we did. We invited and then we made a plan. While we were trying to figure out what we would serve as snacks and things we could do for our friends. Leanna and Hudson really learned alot.

One of the snacks we decided to make was rainbow jello! It was fun and it took two days to make it (because of having to let each color set before layering the next color) and since it did Leanna really learned alot about rainbows and colors. Oh and of course how to make Jello!

We also learned about how the shamrock became such a big part of St. Patrick's Day. So we made our own shamrocks. We cut out hearts and put the points together it was a fun time with glue and stickers! (Be prepared for A LOT of green in this photo)

Because some of our friends aren't at the "cutting" age just yet we had some fun coloring pages with a leprachaun, rainbow and pot of gold.

A group photo of all the small people that were there with us that day.

And if you want to know what St. Patrick did with all the snakes in Ireland you should ask Hudson ;)

A sweet moment... Captured

2010-03-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

The other night. Nolan was laying on his play mat and having a blast. Leanna crawled down there with him and started singing him a song. It was a sweet moment. They played there for about 10-15 minutes. Before Josh noticed it. He decided to try and get a picture.

Josh managed to grab the camera and snap a few pictures... before she saw the camera that is (she is such a ham).

and of course an after she saw the camera :)

*Shay B*

The boys

2010-03-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

Oh the boys, the boys, the boys,they bring me so much joy.

Hudson can make Nolan light up like a bright day of sunshine. He can make Nolan laugh and laugh and laugh. It is amazing to watch the two of them together.

I am thankful my boys love each other. Hudson lights up every time he gets a smile from Nolan. "He smiled at me Momma", with an equally as impressive smile on his own face. He always wants to hold him. Only for a minute or two cause then of course he has important big boy things to do. Which usually get him trouble. I captured some pictures of them together the other day...

and then Leanna asked to take a picture... so I though what the heck. I don't have any of me with the boys so...

You must

2010-03-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

"You must do the things you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

I feel like lately that is all I have been doing.

They say that God won't give you more than you can handle. There is a bible verse even about it.

I am having a hard time believing that lately. I am struggling this month, heck to be honest this year. It isn't happening the way it was supposed to. They way I thought it was supposed to happen. My plans have been changed and destroyed and altered and I am having trouble seeing it His way. I know that it is never for me to control. I know that it isn't MINE. I know this. In my head and my heart and everywhere I am supposed to. So why is it so HARD?

Man I know I said I was trying to lighten things up a little but.. this is a journal of all things good and bad. Lord knows it hasn't been a well kept one lately. I am trying to fix that too. I want to remember the struggles as much as I want to remember that greatness and the awesome sauce that our lives are. I do. So I am trying to find time to "do the things I think I cannot do". The stuff I am always running out of time, patience, energy to do take care of handle facilitate. There are a million and one words I could fill that sentence with.

Kick in the face?

The chapter I am doing on the bible study this month...

The lies we believe about PRIORITIES... yeah that has been soooo much fun. Okay God I am getting it... Slowly, stubbornly... I am getting it. Getting it is COMPLETELY different from figuring it all out though. That I am beginning to fear I may never do.

*Shay B*

Whispers

2010-03-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

“Does God hear us when we whisper?”

My answer should have been easy. I should have been able to answer so quickly.

I stuttered and I danced. I told her we could talk about it later.

I still haven't answered that question.

I don't know if I have the heart to answer her. I don't feel like giving the answer lately because more questions will be asked more that I can't answer just now.
I don't feel like he does. I feel like I have been shouting lately and I am not being heard. I feel like I have been begging and pleading. Maybe whispering is what I should be doing.

Maybe it is. Cause if I had answered her...

"Sometimes He hears us best when we whisper baby."

*Shay B*

Magic House Fun

2010-02-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

We went to the magic house... okay it has been a while.. but we went with some friends and we had a super fun time.

Curious George was on exhibit there and it was kinda cool that we went cause now we are members there and we can go for free all year! Which a trip may be in the works for next week sometime cause this momma is ready to not be contained to the house for an afternoon. Bring on spring... sorry got a little off track.

Back to the Magic House.

Heather invited us. This is Craig pretending to be the Bellman.

Hudson is so like his Daddy he could have spent all day working on this car.

Owen was there with his mommy too. He is sooo cute.

The static electricity ball of awesomeness. Leanna however (sadly) doesn't really need the ball for her hair to look like this. But it was a lot of fun!

Hudson was having fun sorting vegetables and fruits at the market.

Leanna could have played in the grocery area for DAYS. She checked me out at least 3 times and then put it all back and wanted to do it again!

I am so thankful to live in an area where there are options (learning options to boot) for the kids to play. I like the next momma love an energy using trip to the playground. However a trip to use muscles and BRAINS!?!?!? Priceless.

Man is it Heavy in here?

2010-02-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the last couple of posts. Man it sounded depressing didn't it? It wasn't I promise. Crazy? Yes. Unscheduled? Yup and it still is. Hard? Absolutely. Depressing? Nope.

So in the interests of my 3 readers (love you guys) I wanted to let you all know I am okay. Just working on some stuff. It may get heavy every once in awhile. But sometimes I have to get it out. Or it gets really heavy on the inside...ya know?

So to lighten the mood I present you with pictures of the small people that make this mommy possible...

Nolan...whose smiles make me laugh.

Hudson my monkey... this pictures is ironic justice... my monkey with THE monkey.

Mommy and Leanna getting electric (boogie oogie oogie)

More fun stuff to come I promise :)

Keepin It Real
*Shay B*

Laughter...

2010-02-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinkley

I attended a baby shower a week or two ago. I got settled in and playing some games and the note cards came around. You know the ones. The "Please write a special piece of advice to the new mother" note cards. Instant panic and pressure. Rubbing of temples. How in the world do you cram an awesome piece of advice onto a small little note card. Can you even be original in 5" of space?

I had nothing. They kept coming by with the basket and asking are you finished yet. We would like to put it in a book before the end of the shower. Pressure. Heart pounding. Must finish. What do I say.

Finally I write it down. I say a little prayer that it is just funny enough, original enough, real enough and sympathetic enough. You know what. It doesn't matter. She will probably read and love the book. Don't get me wrong. It is a lovely present. But motherhood is what it is. It is crazy, busy and overwhelming.

Oh and my advice....

It you can laugh at it later then you can laugh at it now.

Hopefully she understands what I meant. If not she will soon enough.

Keepin' It Real,

*Shay B*

Holland instead of Italy? Sure why not...

2010-02-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

I have been reading ALOT lately. Books on parenting, books on living, books on schedules (see previous post), books on children, books on hearing impairment and on disabilities.

'Cause while I don't see Nolan as disabled the world does... The school district does, his audiologist does, the kids do, my parents do hell the whole family does. They may not say it that way (or they just may) and they may not want to discuss it with me (which hurts almost as bad) but they do. It is a fine line to walk and I am crossing back and forth on a daily basis... I read this the other day and I had to share it. It pretty much sums up alot of the way I am feeling here lately.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability — to try to help people who have not shared the unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this …
When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip — to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo’s “David.” The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The flight attendant comes and says, “Welcome to Holland.”
“Holland?!” you say. “What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”
But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. You must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

I think the passage speaks for itself. I'm not missing out on Holland but I want people to realize that Italy just isn't going to happen. No matter how badly I want it to.

Keepin' It Real,
*Shay B*

I have no theme...

2010-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

I have realized my blog has no real theme to it. I blog about everything and anything I am thinking, feeling, talking about, eating, playing whatever. I have no direction or focus.

Which is fun sometimes and others is a little infuriating. Right now my life feels like that no direction or focus or anything. It is distracting and well... infuriating (to reuse a word).

We are working on that here. It seems/feels like that is all we are working on right now. I am not sure how to not work on it. Any advice other stay at home moms? Am I missing the SAHM schedule train? Everyone else seems to be riding it but me? Which for me is weird because up until this last 3.5 months I was the most scheduled and disciplined person I know. Now... you might as well call me willy nilly. 'Cause that is how we are living life here in the "B" casa.

Keepin' It Real,

*Shay B*

Keepin' It Real...

2010-02-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

Yeah so about that...

Today was bad.

I had to just shut the kids in their room for a little while today so I could cry.

No pictures.

No excuses.

Just a sad and tired mommy.

Good night.

*Shay B*

Accountability by Picture

2010-02-01T09:54:00.001-08:00

This is my bedroom.... Yeah I know crazy right. It will not look like this by the end of today. Picture proof by midnight tonight I promise.

This is my laundry room. I am afraid of the monster that is hiding beneath the disaster. Proof again by midnight of my awesome homemaking skills. (*crosses fingers and prays*)

This is our chore chart. Obviously we have been bad about keeping it up. Our new normal has messed some things up. That all changes this week. Promise.

This is my kitchen. Not to shabby but could be better. It is part of the great cleanup of February 1st.

This is my living room. With two really cute if not messy small people that live in it. Man are they in for a surprise this week... or maybe it is mom. We will be finding out.

I invite you back at midnight tonight to see if progress was made. Accountability by picture I am thoroughly disgusted that I just posted those pictures. But hey at least I am keepin' it real folks. Just keepin' it real.

Pray for me would ya?

Thanks,
*Shay B*

Description

2010-01-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

Overwhelmed. Awesome. Amazing. Loud. Crazy. Tired. Busy. Giggles. Laughs. Mess. Laundry. Cooking. Dizzying. Funny. Smiles. Coos. Lessons. Drawings. Cloudy. Snow. Winter. Warm. Love.

A few words to describe the last few weeks. It will be more words later I promise. The new normal is overwhelming and I am processing. More to come :) with pictures even.

Just wanted to remember I can do it. All of it. Even put words to paper. Or keys to screen as it may be.

Hope your world is as full as mine.

Thanks
*Shay B*

There's no place like home...

2010-01-19T21:11:00.000-08:00

Okay so I was never the magically enchanted child. I wasn't the make up pretend princess in the castle games growing up. However I did looooove the movie the Wizard of Oz.

Except for the end. *insert shock and awed faces here*

I know, I know. I am sorry. However clicking your heels three times and saying, "There's no place like home". It may work for the movies and most people but for me it made me mad. (Don't believe me ask my mom.)

However, there is some idealistic person inside of me that is hoping and praying that it is just that easy. That it is just that simple.

Realistically? Well let's just say I love being home...but (there is always a but isn't there) it has been a hard adjustment for me. I worked outside of the home for the last almost 2 years. I have felt such guilt over these last two years. I have felt such shame for someone else raising my babies. However it isn't something I can change. Cue two years later and situations unfolding...I am home again. It is rough.

I wish I was all puppies and rainbows. I know I am lucky to be doing this at all. I love being with my kids all day. However... it is rough. It is hard finding my mojo again. It is hard just sitting sometimes for me. It is hard for me to be dealing with ALL of it alone again. I am thankful for it but it is rough.

I won't judge you if you don't judge me. I will never forget how lucky I am to be a mom. I will never be ungrateful for the opportunity to be a stay at home mom again. I really truly love it and there is certainly "No place like home".

But it is rough.

Thanks,
*Shay B*

Shay Plus 3

Best and Worst Wednesday

The boys and my friend....

Working Out...

Busy, Busy, Busy

Best and Worst Wednesday

Welcome Back?

Moving Countdown T-9 Days...

Taking Pictures of Small People...

Snow Day...

In the Moment...

Moving Countdown

Fun at the City Museum!

Intentional Calmness?

Tonight - Brownies and Soda....

Happy New Year and a Recap of 2010!

Day 26...Nolan Walks

Day 25...Girl Scouts

Day 24...Fun boys!

Days 16-21!!!

Days 10-15???

Day 9...The Bible

Day 8...Budgets and Budget busting!

Day 7...Superheros!!!

Day 6...Learning

Day 5... Insurance

Day 4...The husband

Day 3... Friends

Day 2...Apple Picking

Day 1...My kids

Thankfulness

Numbers...

Project Shay (again I know)

7 years!!!

Plateau...

Leanna and Friends through the years.

Looking back...

Dear Nolan...

"I got big at my birthday"

Beautiful Day!!!

Zoo Trip

All three!

Because it has been a minute...

A 'Girls' Birthday Party

A new scale!

Project Shay Week 4?

6 years ago today...

Kindergarten!!!!

Project Lose a Small Person (aka Project Shay)

*Long Week 1* Check In:

Gooooo CARDS!!!

Project Shay!!!

A day by numbers....

Smiles

Double Dates...

Dancing Queen

More BBQ stuff...

BBQ OVERLOAD!

Some summer fun so far...

Teddy Bear Picnic

Ummm so yeah....

The wedding of the Cousin...

When God says "Hey what's up"

She went to school today....

the KIDS in my life brought to you by the MAN in my life...

Burden of Proof...

City Museum Fun...

Music to get me through THOSE days.

Zoo Trip! With Friends of Awesome!

Sweet Moments

Baby Mine.

Mother's Day Stuff...

And we were swingin'

Park Trips...

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

Generations

In which we attempt the "Trifecta" Shot

You guys loving Nolan!!!

Outside Adventures

Just some updates...

Long Week 1 Check In: