Happiness is...

...a glass of wine after a long day.
...waking up to a little girls smile.
...listening to the imagination of little boys playing.
...a hot cup of coffee after a sleepless night.
...family.

We have had my nephew at our house this weekend for a sleepover and he and M&M's have had such a blast! They are the best of friends and I love watching them and listening to them play. Occasionally, like brothers, they fight and yell but for the most part, they get along great. I am so happy they are so close in age and have each other to entertain!

As I sit here and write, I look around at my house and wonder...WTH happened in here!?! Every Lego, puzzle, book, car, train, and toy is out of it's bucket and strewn from one end of the house to the other. There are Ninja Turtle guys without heads, Mr. Potato heads missing limbs and random pieces of hot wheels throughout the hall. The beds are bare from them trying to build forts and the clothes hampers and completely emptied. Most people would be quick to judge saying "Why aren't you supervising them? How could you let they make such a mess?"  Friends, it's simple...they are 3 yr old boys...and they are as happy as can be! Sure it will be a challenge later making them pick it all up, but as long as they are laughing, having fun and aren't fighting, then who am I to rush in and ruin their fun? Gosh, I love them SO MUCH!!

Happiness is a messy house and happy kids :)

CHEERS!

Picture Time

Went to get the kids' pictures taken yesterday without much success at a good group photo. I think my husband was so frustrated at the thought of not getting one good one, that he stepped in (which is a BIG deal because he is anti-family picture man) with the kids. Ironically, that's the only one of all the kids that turned out decent. There were several great individual ones of the kids so we called it a day. I had purchased two Groupons, so I scheduled another appointment to return Sunday.

Pictures round two went a lot better! This time we got a handful of great group shots of the kids and a great one of the kids and myself. Everyone was in a much better mood and we got some more great individual shots as well! Almond Joy's pictures turned out SO CUTE!

I love getting pictures done of the kids! Thank you husband for my wonderful Mother's Day present and letting me buy the picture CD and some prints to put in the frames on the wall :)  I am one happy momma!!

The "cool" mom

As a young mom, one thing I've always tried to be for my kids is "cool."  I try to dress hip, say funny things, not embarrass them at school and always make their friends feel welcome in our home.  This isn't so much important to the younger two right now as it is to Kit Kat, being that he is 9 and in the 3rd grade. Well, tonight I get to put my "cool" mom skills to the test because Kit Kat is having a friend sleep over.

One of the best things about being a mom is spoiling my kids. So when my kids' friends come over to visit, or in this case have a sleepover, I make no exceptions...I actually spoil them more! Pizza and soda for dinner, cinnamon monkey bread for dessert, letting them play x-box for hours followed by a movie and eating popcorn in the living room (a big no-no)...oh yeah, and donuts for breakfast in the morning!!! Is that being a cool mom or a crazy mom...ask me tomorrow! :)

Right now it is 12:05am and they are in the bedroom playing their DS's (while they are supposed to be going to bed) and yet, I don't care because they are having a blast! Hopefully they get so exhausted that they will sleep in....maybe....ok who am I kidding, they will probably still be up at 7am! Hey, it's worth a shot!

I don't want to come across as an irresponsible parent because everyone who knows me can tell you first hand that I am far from it. My kids mean everything to me and that includes their happiness. I love my kids so much and if I want to spoil them, then so be it, I will. Life is too short to be serious and strict all the time...kids need to have fun!! I want my kids and their friends to WANT to hang out at my house. I want to be the "cool" mom for as long as I can be!

This is the sign that hangs over the door way into my dining room

Busy, busy, busy

Holy moly, I can't believe it's been a week since I've last blogged. I'm sorry friends! Since going back to work full time and trying to balance out three kids schedules, all I can say is I'm exhausted!! Still, that is no excuse and I promise to try harder!!

Let's recap the last week, shall we?! We have had some beautiful weather for this early March and so I have spent what time I can at home outside playing with my kids. Tuesday, Kit Kat had cub scouts, I spent Wednesday and Thursday evenings planning and preparing for my friends baby shower that I am hosting for her on Saturday, and my poor little Almond Joy has been one sick baby. My husband took her to the doctor today while I was at work and they said she has a sinus infection! Now that she's on antibiotics, she is doing SO much better! So that was pretty much my week, and yes, I worked everyday! It may not sound super busy to you, but remember, I'm functioning on maybe 4 hrs of sleep at night! ;)

Anyways, I am so excited for the weekend to be here! I have a busy weekend ahead of me with two birthday parties, a baby shower, a cub scout event and preparing the kiddos for the school week with baths or showers! I am not a super mom, I just love my kids!!

Have a fantastic weekend!!