Great Mamas Think Alike

So, my mom came up last week (or maybe the one before? prego brain...) and gave me a really pretty set of serving bowls to go with a few other awesome pieces she has given me for past occasions. I finally got to use them this past Saturday. Love them!!

The best part...

Yes!! The top left photo is at my house in Alabama. The top right photo is at her house in Florida.

We had the SAME dinner on the SAME day using the SAME (ok fine...same pattern, different colors) awesome serving pieces and didn't even plan it! HA!

And, yes. I sent that photo on the bottom to all of my little brothers. Boom.

Happy Mother's Day to all you legends out there!

Side story:

Mom told me to tell Andrew that she was having Salsa Saturday, too. He told me to tell her, "No, Grandma. It's Taco Tuesday (long pause) on a Saturday!"

Love that kid! 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Primate House - Birmingham Zoo: Is Social Behavior Important to You? LOL

Thought I'd Share Something {Different}

It's been a little chaotic lately...shocker...with all this "when are we moving" business. And, I will admit...I fell off the meal planning wagon. Actually, I fell off a lot of wagons. Maybe I should stop getting on them. They are dangerous, apparently. Ouch.

Anyway, I have got to regain that familiar sense of normal somehow. These past few months have been craaaazyyy. So, I jumped back on (I know...I just can't help it.) and made a menu for May 1-17. BUT! The best part...I put it in pencil. And, as you can see there have already been a few changes here and there. But, it's ok. This is part of learning to just relax. Which I am seriously bad at doing. But this is a start.

What do you think? What's on the menu at your place?

Oh, before I go....

Hahaha! We will be watching some Lego Star Wars in a bit. Sweet.

Weather Whiplash

Last week there was snow.
Today it is raining and 54.
Tomorrow the high is 74. Sweet.
Wait...Thursday there could be snow?!

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!

While I wrap my head around the fact that people in these parts are going to be purchasing sunscreen AND French toast supplies, take a look at some of the fun we had last week. What is she talking about?? Yes, people in this area hear the word "snow" at just a whisper and they all go running to buy milk, bread, and eggs... I have lived here for almost 8 years and I STILL have no idea why. It is the strangest thing ever.

source

Yeah, it is pretty. But, I am happy that it was  gone by the end of the day. Very happy.

7 Quick Takes: Current Happenings

1. The Tiny One - Take 2

12 Weeks, 2 Days

So, this wee one of ours MUST be a girl. Only because this one is already causing drama. But, I could be wrong still. I won't know until either next appointment or the one after (I haven't decided yet).

I go into my what was supposed to be regular 10 minute prenatal check-up. And, suddenly it turns into an hour. Little Bit didn't want anyone hearing his or her heartbeat. Nice. Mommy appreciates that... Let me back up a tad. I'm slightly worried (every pregnancy) that something bad will happen. This one more than the others. I know... Lame. And, I will be 14 weeks tomorrow - still not one bit of movement felt (though...we have been extremely busy so I could have missed it).

Anyway, Dr. F. has a shadowing doctor right now and she had an issue with finding the heartbeat. But, it was fine... Dr. F. will find it. Only, he came in and 20 minutes later he STILL couldn't find it. UGH!

They both left and got the ultrasound tech to take me next. Seriously?! But, it was interesting how I felt all of a sudden... I knew that it was going to be fine. And, whatever the outcome...it would still be fine. With everything that has happened lately, I was honestly ok. I just said a quick prayer and waited until my U/S.

Thankfully, Little Bit is perfectly healthy and (even though I can't feel anything yet) was rolling around like crazy in there! So, all is well and we should know very soon which "A" name will be announced! YAY!!

2. Baby Bump Photo Yet??

Sorry! I don't have much of a bump just yet. But, someone did say that I was starting to look pregnant! So maybe next week you can have a pic. Maybe.

3. Train 'Em Young!

 
Austin's new favorite thing to do is push the laundry basket around the house. As long as he has Baby Fox helping and gets to keep the basket when he is done, he loves helping Mommy!

4. A New Cousin is Coming Soon!!

 
Those two boys... They crack me up! So we walk into Belk the other day to just get out and put and end to cabin fever. And, of course, they say, "Oooooohhhh....not a mommy store!!!! Where is the Lego store!?" As soon as I explain that Silly Mommy just wants to find something extra to put into Aunt Kate and Uncle Justin's box (I swear...I will send it out tomorrow, guys!!), they were ALL OVER THAT. They each were grabbing this outfit and that outfit. Asking what number we should get. In the photo, Alex (front) is trying to figure out where the pants are to those onesies. Andrew is trying to figure out why that girly outfit is blue when it should be pink in his head. All the questions and comments about items for Baby Keira were so funny!

Note: Just so Kate and Just know...those are NOT the items I chose. There is no pink only because I'm assuming that you have way too much of it from the baby shower (saw that happen at another shower I went to). Also, I realized that girl clothes are overwhelming. So, if this is a boy again... I will be TOTALLY fine with that!! Haha!

5. Snow Actually Happened. 

After an ENTIRE day of waiting and waiting for the mysterious snow storm to come, the snow finally decided to fall. At bedtime. Stupid snow. Anyway, the boys were SO happy when they woke the next morning and gobbled up their breakfast as fast as anything, Austin included, to get their gear on and go out in the slushy mess. Can you tell I'm not a big fan of that white stuff?

6. Snow Explorers

Really. That's what Andrew decided their name should be where there is snow. Austin walks in the snow like a champ, by the way. Alex and Andrew's first times in the snow...they looked like little cats with tape on their paws. This guy? He was born for walks in the snow... Hope he knows down the road that the South is the only place one should live though. I can't do the North. I just wont survive. Like, for real. Still not sure how I survived our Minnesota trip! ;)

7. The Great Thaw

Around these parts, if the boys have been playing outside and it is under...maybe 50 degrees? They request hot chocolate to be ready where they are almost done playing outside. Lately they have been requesting hot chocolate in a "real mug" and are just so excited when I deliver. I may have to let them pick out their own special mugs once we can move to the new house!

Good times once again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Men See Fire. Need More Wood.

Last week we got our fireplace going after years of not using it due to the little people that run wildly about. Also, we wanted to make sure everything was in proper condition for the Open House and for whoever may move in next.

Little did I know that having a fire roaring once again, meant that these little people (and their fearless leader) would revert back to primitive times...

Sure, we have the Duraflames and some extra wood from our awesome neighbor. But that was not near enough for what they were going for. Not at all.

Cave Man Daddy takes the bigger offspring, Dino Boy and Runs Wild, to Big Hill.

You have to look REALLY hard. But they are up there. There is an orange bucket off to the left and they are over on the right. Hunting. And gathering.

You can maybe see them better here... The Boys have blue jackets on and Jason's white tee in hanging out the back of his hoodie. They were out there for like 45 mins. Maybe longer.

But they came back bearing gifts for Cave Mama and Little Squealer

Also, they loved showing off how strong and powerful they both are.

My cave men did a great job at finding the finest firewood in all the land! Look at that fire!

Cave Mama happy. Cave Mama make dinner now.

Sometimes Wii Win - Sometimes Wii Lose

It is entirely TOO COLD outside. We seriously cannot wait for the amazing weather to return...

In the meantime, we are running out of things to do, games to place, and places to go. So, it is time. Time for the Wii.

Note: There are 2 videos at the end. If you cannot see them you may need to click through to the blog post. Enjoy!

Andrew LOVES playing Frisbee Dog! He's getting better at it!!

No. Austin is not actually playing the Wii. He has a Wii Candy Dispenser Remote that Rachel and I found at Toys R Us ages ago. Need one for your little Wii player so they don't feel left out? Click here. He is pretty cute "playing" along, though! Andrew would make his guy do something and Austin thought it was him LOL So cute and so funny! He's very serious about it!

Andrew's Victory Dance Celebration

Alex's Quiet Win

So, how are y'all fighting the never-ending Cabin Fever?? I need some more ideas... Or a new Wii game for preschoolers.

2015 Hair Trend: Bedhead Mohawk

Note: As with all hair trends, please understand that not everyone can pull this off. Style at your own risk.

Start sleeping with partially dry hair, people. It's not just the bedhead look that is in...it's the bedhead Mohawk! Watch it, now! That's right - the Mohawk is cooler (and cuter) than ever.

Good morning!

Why all the photos?

You're making me shy...

Seriously. You can stop now.

This is an all day look that needs no products or styling at all. Especially is you have baby-fine hair. 

Playing around while rocking that Mohawk

Even during school, the Mohawk is still great look!

What a cutie I have, right?! He's napping now. I wonder what it will look like when he wakes. I kind of hope it is still around...


 

Hello? Anyone there?

Wow. Almost 2 weeks since an update? What is going on here?!

Oh, yeah! House stuff. Baby stuff. Moving stuff. If I could insert a squeal somewhere, I would. But, this will do for now:

source

So, yes! We are almost done with the to do list for this house!! In fact, in fact today is the last day for all the touch-up painting, last-minute fixes, and such. Tomorrow is all about staging this place. And, Wednesday? Time to get those photos taken!! By the end of the week, we should have our MLS number and be up for grabs.

This is where I'm going to ask for some more prayers. While we have found the perfect home (I promise to tell more on this when I can - which I can't wait!), we need to find someone to buy this one. Just pray that the right person/family will come at the right time and everything continues to fall into place as it has been. Thanks!!

Now that is all taken care of, how about some pictures! I'm sure the grandparents are about to call me wondering where those grandbabies are!!

How about we start with the youngest? Here's Baby's first picture! This was take at 8 weeks. I'm 10 weeks and 2 days right now. Due date is exactly where I said - August 29th. Of course, since we all know I'm the c-section girl, Baby will born sometime that last week of August. And, yes. Those arrows in the photo are crazy... Those arrows are pointing to his/her head (left) and the arm buds (middle) and leg buds (right). There is ONE baby in there. One. Just one.

We went to the zoo later that same day. Andrew and Alex wanted to make sure I shared the pelican photo. These birds aren't usually out when we get there, so they were pretty excited!

Can't go to the zoo without a train ride!

Chasing Mr. Rooster...

This otter may be Austin's favorite animal of the day. I mean, how cool! 

Back home to start the long list of to dos (we started for real work about 2 weeks ago - today is the last day!!)...

Watching the mockingbird after breakfast

Now, I'm sure you want to see some of what we have been doing, right? If you are following us on Instagram, you may have already seen these.

Cleaned all appliances inside and out. CHECK! Ew. Not fun. But, hello? That oven looks pretty close to brand new.

Power washed driveway, sidewalk, entryway, siding, and back patio.  CHECK! And, um...I didn't realize that our back patio slab was WHITE under all that nasty... WOW!

The boys are pretty impressed with the sprayer!

And, now... I have to share this. I still wonder if I'm going to wake up and this is all some wild dream. I hope not...

Last week was one of the highlights of my life. I have watched thousands of these "house shows" on HGTV since...forever. And, I have watched Tarek and Christina go into these magical warehouses time and time again. But, never did I think that I would actually get to go to this place and pick our my own granite!!!!!!! (maybe the happy squeal should have gone here...?) Yes. Oh, yes I did! Santa Cecilia from Brazil, you shall be mine!!! I am so excited!! You probably can't tell though.

Really?! Like, really?! When Jason told me that I would get to go do this, it was like a kid finding out that they were headed to Disney. Seriously.

Man, that was a great day. I can't wait to cook in my new kitchen...

Last one, then I'm out to get some more things done.

While Jason was cleaning out the garage, look what he found:

From Instagram: In closing this chapter of our lives to begin a new one, our sold signs were found from when we bought this house. This was a good house for these newlyweds 7.5 years ago. But with baby #4 on the way, these walls filled with memories are closing in on us! 

We are definitely ready to start this new chapter!! Let's go!!

Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree! {Let's try this again...}

Ok, so... Our Christmas lights died. Ok, maybe the one light died or something (and we already changed those out), but it caused some major tree drama.

We went from an "ok-it-will-do-for-now" tree to, "Are you freakin' kidding me?!" Stupid lights...

Really? Honestly, Charlie Brown's tree looked better than that...

So, while at - wait for it - Costco, I grabbed some lights. And, since it was the week before Christmas I could pick the icicle lights or the retro lights. Well, icicles go on a house.... Retro it is! 

Awesome. It will do, I suppose.

And, WOW!!

I love our tree again! It is just so festive and happy! And, Austin LOVES it!!

Full of wonder

Best part...he can touch the lights because they don't get hot. Not even a tiny bit. And, if one decides to die, the rest don't follow like dominoes!

Yay lights!!

Speaking of lights... the other day, the boys and I learned about the Festival of Lights, aka Hanukkah, from Albert Einstein on Peg + Cat. Who better to explain 2D and 3D dreidel shapes. Thanks, Al!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a note: for friends and family wondering where the Christmas cards are... They are in the works and they may be, yet again, a New Year's card. I'll share the drama that surround the taking of Christmas photos... (Oh, mom... I am sorry for the insanity I caused for many years just because you need a picture of all of us by the "damn tree" - UGH!!)