Spring is Here!

My poor Ryder has been really sick for the past couple of days. He went in for his 4 year check up and had a little bit of fever and goop coming out of his eyes. The doctor said it was pinkeye and gave us a prescription for drops. The next morning he was running a fever and has been every day since. He has been laying around, not wanting to eat much and is really pitiful. 

So, since we have been chained to the house so Ryder can get well I have been taking miss Lucy outside and letting her roam around the yard. Unlike Ryder this girl doesn't need anyone to play with. She will go sit in a pile of clovers and just pick them until I tell her to stop. 

Since Spring (or maybe Summer since it was 85 degrees yesterday!) is officially here I decided it would be fun to let Lucy play in the hose.

Oh man, get ready. There were smiles and tears. 

Her first little taste of playing with the hose this year. Look how cute and timid she's being.....

I turned the pressure up a little at this point. Still being kind of shy about it. Don't worry, she'll get into it. *Side note: She found this Alabama pacy somewhere in the laundry room. It was Ryders. You know, back when he took a pacy....when he was like a month old....

There's that smile!

 

Oh Snap. She loves it. 

  

Apparently the Advil started to kick in. Ryder peeked out the window and saw how much fun the sis was having and wanted to join in :) I'm glad he felt just a little better.

  

At this point Lucy was still being pretty sweet about letting Ryder play in the water. The key here though is that she was still the one holding the hose. Ryder doesn't like to get wet, which is good, because a sick kid + getting drenched with a hose doesn't sound like a plan. He stayed pretty much dry except for that little bit on his pants. 

And here we are. Ryder wants a turn with the hose. And I can't stress enough how sweet he is. He asks Lucy so politely for a turn......she didn't like that too much...

"Oh my God, MOM! Do you not see that he took it away from me?! DO SOMETHING!" No girl.

"Seriously, why aren't you stopping him!" 

"Alright, this is just getting ridiculous. Watch out, I'm about to go all out."

 Oh and believe me she pitched a big one. Another spank(seriously, the 12,000 of the day) and a little redirection and we are on to playing happily in a puddle.

Ryder finally gets that crazy girl off his back. He doesn't even pay her any attention when she is acting like that. Its so often and over every little thing that he has just learned to tune her out. I really can't wait til this phase is over with.

 

Shortly after, George gets home from work. Man, this face is awesome!

And he informs Luce that it's time to go inside. This is the face she makes when hearing the sad news. Um hello, do we not see how busy she is watering the driveway??

When she doesn't do what we say("put the hose down, lets go") George holds her hand herding her towards the door.

Here you are about to see the 3 stages of a her silent protest.

Stage 1: Throws her head back and arches her back

Stage 2: Goes completely limp

Stage 3: Plays dead and lays on the ground. Does she care that she is outside soaking wet and in the grass? Nope. She doesn't discriminate on where she will do the silent protest.

SWEET JESUS. She is a hot mess. For some balance, I thought I would throw this little sweet nugget in: If you are laying on the couch and there is a blanket beside you, she will cover you up. If you are crying, she will very sweetly rub your cheek and make a "shhhing" sound :) And she loves to give kisses.

See, in case you thought I wanted to send my 18month off to boarding school the fact is that she makes up for the crap moments. Most of the time...

Can I vent?

While I know that every. single. mother. on this planet has bad days, and days when their kids misbehave I have had just an extra annoying day. Not that everything in the world has went wrong, and that my world is falling apart, but just a really annoying day. 

Let me start by saying I am one of the most chill moms ever. Ever. I rarely get upset about anything. Of course I discipline and get frustrated when my kids spill an entire cup of tea all over the floor ruining that rug that I just cleaned. But for the most part, about the little things I am totally chill. Oh, Lucy has cream cheese all over her face? Oh well. Ryder has toothpaste on his cheek? Oh well. One of them just colored all over my favorite planner? Oh well. Their car seats are filled with goldfish and now a newly acquired grape juice stain? Oh well. All of these things can be washed, wiped, and picked up.

You know what can't be? My sanity. Well, it can. Like right now, when both of the kids are in the bed napping and I am ranting to you fine people. Let me have this, just let me tell you how annoyed I am.

First, lets talk about my diva child. Lucy has taken on a whole new personality over the past week. If she doesn't want to do something it is not happening. This girl will stomp, and kick, and stick out her lip like no tomorrow. If you want to put a diaper or clothes on her at anytime during the day she is not having it. She pitches a full blown fit. Which means I am constantly popping her. Spanks all day with her. I really wish I could sit her down and have a girl to girl talk. 

She doesn't want Ryder to touch her. No he may not put his hands on her stroller. NO. He can not have a sip of her drink. This is Lucy world. If you pick her up and remove her from a situation that she doesn't want to leave this girl will go limp in your arms, or fall on the floor and play dead. Oh my gosh it's delightful.

Then we move onto my sweet Ryder. While he is very obedient and a sweet as they come, he is ALWAYS asking for something. Today has just been extra bad. After I picked him up from school at 12 we went to the mall to get him cleats for baseball. As soon as we walk in, "Mommy, can we go ride the airplane?" "Yes buddy, we have to get your cleats first. We will go ride the airplane after we get your shoes."

 We leave Hibbets. "Mommy, NOW can we go ride the airplane?" YES. We are headed there right now. We get to the little rides. Ryder hops in and I stick the first two crumb coated quarters I find in the bottom of my purse in the slot. Now Lucy wants to ride the little fire truck. Ok, let me round up 2 more quarters. They are both riding and I am just standing there zoning out for 30 seconds while these rides rock back and forth. Ryder's is over with so he hops in Lucy's to finish the ride with her. When hers is over he happily hops out. Does Lucy? Oh, hell no. She stomps and kicks and screams. I pop her hand.....again. 

After I put her screaming, limp body back in the stroller and buckle her up we make our way toward the exit. On our journey we pass every single candy machine, along with Great American Cookie Co. "Mama, can I have a cookie?" NO. "But I really want a cookie, please?" NO Ryder, we aren't getting a cookie today. "But Why?" Because you don't get a cookie every single time you come to the mall. He is over it. Not 10 seconds later we pass a clump of gumball machines. Here we go. "Mommy?...." NO DUDE. NO. We are not buying any cookies, candy, toys, nothing. We are going straight to the car. The end. Do not ask for anything else. 

We get home. "Mommy, can we play outside?" Yes. We need to go in an eat lunch first. After lunch we can play outside, ok? We eat lunch, sort of. Lucy eats broccoli, string cheese, and a banana. Ryder informs me that he "already ate lunch at school". Ok, we will see.

After I give them lunch I walk into their room to gather their clothes to wash them. Oh, did I mention the entire time I am making lunch Ryder is asking me to blow up a balloon for him. After I blow it up for him after him asking about 2,000 times he follows me into their room. "Mommy, can we go outside now?" No, Lucy has to eat her lunch. We will in just a minute, I am trying to wash some clothes. "Can I help!" Now normally, I am happy to let him help. Any other time I would say yes, but right now I am just frazzled. "No buddy, just let mommy do this, you can help me put them in the dryer later." Follows me into the laundry room, sees a Woody the cowboy vest shoved in a random basket on top of the dryer. "MOMMY! Look! Can you help me put this on?" UGH! No, Ryder, I am trying to wash these clothes. You are a big boy, put in on yourself. You can figure it out.

Finally. Finally, we make it outside to play. And then back inside again to take a nap. I change Lucy's diaper and clothes because she is soaking wet from splashing in a puddle. Of course she protests. About makes me deaf.

I go into the kitchen to pour her some milk, she sees the milk and starts crying for it. Meanwhile as I pass by the couch Ryder has happened upon some string cheese. "Mommy! Can you open this for me?" Yes Ryder, in just a min. I have to get Lucy some milk. "MOMMY!!! Can you please open this???!!!" 

That's when I lost it. Between Lucy screaming pulling at my leg for the milk and Ryder's CONSTANT question asking I was done. I yelled so loud Im sure the neighbors 3 houses down heard me. Ryder starts crying, and for some weird reason, Lucy starts smiling. Did I mention that my kitchen is a disaster? I spent the better part of Sunday morning making cake balls for a shower that afternoon because the caramel cake that I made with 5 sticks of butter and 5 cups of sugar was disgusting. And while most people, "clean as they go" I don't think to do that. And so an explosion occurs all over every surface in the kitchen. We didn't make it home until 9:30 last night. So we bathed the kids, put them to bed, and I crashed in the bed myself. So I woke up to an abomination of a kitchen, and am making lunch and pouring milk and having crying kids tug at my leg in this mess. I send both of them to bed shortly after all of this. But not without Ryder asking me for a polka dot banana(cut a banana down the middle, spread peanut butter, add choc chips) right as i am telling him to get in the bed. See, I knew he would ask for food. Too bad, he didn't eat when food was offered. NO. Get in the bed.

Im praying we can all be in better moods when they wake up. 


Please, tell me you have had days like this?

It's Friday!

Yay! It's Friday! And even more importantly, it's George's birthday! Now he is the big 26! I am eleven days older, sometimes I will say that if we are arguing about where we want to go eat. 

Three things you should know:

1. I found this video floating around Pinterest and I can't stop watching it. I don't really know why, it's just a girl putting on make up, but the fact that every thing is so simple and fresh looking makes me happy. I love make up but finding the right product and the correct way to put it on has always been a challenge for me. This video has me itching to get to the mall and buy some Estee Lauder. Plus, I am glad it reminded about the cupcakes and cashmere blog. For some reason I haven't put it in the blogs I love column, so I forget about it sometimes. Going to do that right now!

2. I have made a deal with myself that I will buy one new piece of jewelry a week. AND KEEP IT. As I stated in my post about A.D.D. I lose everything. Everything. For years I begged and begged George to get me diamond studs for by birthday. I started asking when we were 15. Finally, a couple of years ago I got some. I know they are somewhere in this house.....just not sure exactly where. So needless to say, I don't have a lot of jewelry. Which is a shame, because a fun necklace can change up an outfit. 

So last week I bought this necklace from Anthro for only $20!

And just in case my husband sees this post and thinks I am going to bankrupt us on jewelry, I am talking about inexpensive things :) Im a deal hunter.

These guys are only $4.95 from Anthropologie. And I just bought them.

3. My medicine is working really well. I have noticed I crash around 3 pm everyday, but I haven't been able to tell if it's because I have went to bed really late, Lucy has been waking up coughing, and then both the kids have been waking up super early, or if it's the medicine making me feel that way. I got a good, uninterrupted sleep last night though so I'm hoping I won't feel so worn out this afternoon.

I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing weekend! 

Bag Love

I have two purses right now that I switch out depending on my mood. One is an Orange soft leather hobo style bag from Urban Outfitters, and the other is a dark blue messenger from Matt & Nat. I love them both but have been feeling the need to add a new bag in the rotation. Here are my favorites.

I really like this canvas back pack from Urban Outfitters. When I look at this though it reminds me of those little mini backpack purses with a zipper down the straps. They were super popular when I was in Elementary/middle school. My friend Candace and I would keep our gimp(remember that stuff?!) and beads in them to make key chains. So part of me wants to get this and keep a pack of beads in one of those pockets for old times sake ;)

Stripes again. I like that you can throw this across your body or just pick it up by its handles. From Mod Cloth. 

Obviously, I am on a stripe kick right now. Hot Streak Clutch from Anthropologie. I have been looking for a nice big roomy clutch that I could throw a diaper and small pack of wipes in along with all my other stuff. This one is out of my price range since it is $150. I will wait for it to go on sale and maybe snatch it up then.

I think my iPad would fit in this. Golden Plains Pouch from Anthropologie.

 

Fold Over Pouch from Etsy shop Scout and Catalogue. 

I love the feminine peach fabric with the leather. Awesome.

 

Have you been dreaming about a summer bag?

Here's Hoping

Yesterday I went to my family doctor to talk about a new medication for my A.D.D.

I have been taking Concerta since about the 8th grade I think and it has always worked fine. I got off of about a year after I finished high school thinking that since I wasn't sitting in a classroom all day I would be free from the medicine for the rest of my life.

Yea, that was a dumb thing to think.

About a year ago I went back to the doc and asked to be put back on my medicine. I constantly lose things. If you are friends with me and my husband on Face Book it is not out of the norm to see him post on my wall to call him. WHY would he need to post that so regularly? Well, because I always forget to charge my phone, or I lose it. And since he always keeps the iPad charged, he knows it will alert me with an FB notification and I can call him from the computer. It's pretty annoying. 

Lets see, what else do I do...

I have a hard time focusing. Please imagine how much focusing it takes to keep a house clean. A LOT! Staying on task and finishing housework is just as important and hard to do as focusing on a task at work. I have found little tricks that help me. Like I will set the timer on the stove for 7 min and clean in each room for only those 7 min. When the timer goes off I stop what I am doing and change rooms. If it is any longer than that I will get bored and just stop all together. I have to keep things moving for me to concentrate. 

I also am a habitual list maker, I guess most women and mothers are. And I guess I am super impulsive. I agree to things insanely quick. 

So, being a stay at home mom and not having any real boss but myself is not a good combo. That's why I went back on the medication. But something must have changed since I have had both kids, or maybe something changed since I was on it for so long and stopped taking it. Either way, that crap made me super sad. Around the 5th day of taking it I spent half of my day in tears because my best friend moved to New York. Um, she moved to New York 5 years ago.....so where was this coming from! We talk on the phone about once a week too, so it was weird that I was so emotional about her moving. After a couple more weeks of just dragging around and feeling completely down I just quit taking it and never got it refilled.

Now I am on this new medicine, Vyvanse. I am really excited about it because it is supposed to last for 12 hours, and all the reviews I have read about it have been really positive. 

Im excited to be focused and organized.

Now let me go scrub some floors and clean some counter tops....without a timer going off!

I have been thinking about my family's life a lot lately. 

 I have seen several blogs I read and just random things I have stumbled upon online talking about how French parenting is superior to American parenting. I'm butchering the topic, but what I have gathered is French children are polite, well behaved, don't snack during the day, and their mothers never need to raise their voice. Whatev. I am not one to really compare myself or my parenting style to other people. I'm not saying I have always been this way, but I have just drilled it into my head that everyone has a different situation and personality. And since I don't have anyone's situation or personality but my own I have to be the best ME for my fam, whatever that looks like. 

There are so many different ways to parent out there, and while I like to read about what different people do I also only really care about what God says to do.

Don't worry, I'm not about to start rattling off about being a "Woman of God" and a "Sister in Christ". While I want to be a Godly gal(sweet Lord, did I just use that phrase?) I am so not about all this contemporary Christian lingo people throw around. Gag me.

I found this little picture on Pinterest the other day and I love it. 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children. Go to this blog to download a copy.

I like this and have been thinking a lot lately about what I should be praying for my kids. Sometimes it is hard to take a step back if you are comparing yourself to others and see that you are you. That is their family, and you have yours. Above anything the most important is your family's spiritual life. If you are working at that the other ridiculous stuff (like random mom always has the most organized house. Seriously! How is she that together!!!) won't matter as much.

That's what I am hoping anyway!

I really need a chart like this to pray for myself. I get irritated at George a lot and sometimes when I am fussing at him I know I'm being stupid. Sometimes George will go for a solid 15 min of talking without me saying anything. I think he just likes to hear his own voice. I need to work on not wanting to throw a rock at him sometimes. Do they make a chart for that?

Tee Love

I love a good Tee. Who doesn't? I especially love them with big statement necklaces. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

Miami Amor Top from Modcloth. $49.99

 Spotted Picture Show Tee from Madewell. $48

Vintage Cotton Tee from J.Crew. $29.50

Cupcakes Make Everything Better from Esty shop: Dressing on the Side. $22

Indigo Ink Dot Tee from Madewell. $48

Do you have any go-to places for Tees? 

In an unrelated note, George is over at his parents house fixing his jeep since the radiator blew yesterday. It's always nice when you have to spend a unexpected few hundred dollars..... -_-

But to make things better we are taking Ryder to see The Lorax with some friends this afternoon! I think I am more excited to see this movie than Ryder is!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend, see you next week!