PSF: My boy is growing up

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

This week I have been in full swing Birthday Party planning. I know that those who know us are thinking, "isn't his birthday in March?", and you are right. In my defense, I am a OCD party planner. I want things to be PERFECT, and I want to order his cake early, due to the fact I want the best! We have a lady in town that makes PERFECT cakes, but she is so booked that I try to order 2 months in advance to make sure I get it. She is so worth it too! OK so in the midst of this planning I am overwhelmed with the fact that Joe Braden is turning 6! I mean really that is so BIG to me. I was looking at pictures this morning and came across pictures of his 3 year old party. I thought I would share these!

Look I am 3!

Come on Mom leave the camera alone and let's eat!

PRESENTS!!

So sweet!

WARNING: A VENT INSIDE!

I really try to keep this blog upbeat, but I am sorry today I need to vent. It has just been one of those weeks! We are so busy I can't see straight, the house is in full remodel mode, the boys are all out of sync because of the house, and I am on edge. We have been late leaving the house EVERY morning this week! Nobody is getting on the ball and everyone is dragging. I am sure a lot of it has to do with the cold weather and not wanting to get out of the house, but come on people MOVE IT! On top of it all my washing machine went out! At least our repair man is a friend and super sweet because he is lending us one now while he fixes mine. Of course I went 2 days without one, and all of you know that means I am behind already. Of course Joshua hit the terrible 2's full force the last few weeks, and is saying NO to everything. He is terribly cute, but we are having to get this under control. OK I know there are tons of problems I could have, and I am extremely blessed, but I just needed to VENT! Hope you are all having a GREAT week!

Wordful Wednesday: Cousin time

Joe Braden and Colton get drug to a lot of youth events since their Daddy's are both youth ministers, but they usually don't mind. At least a lot of the time they are together and get to enjoy that time. A few weekends ago we went to a winter retreat and they spent their time playing with their DS and running around outside. They had such a blast. My children are so blessed to be close to cousins on both sides of the family!




For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie

Not Me Monday

I love this post because I can enjoy all the imperfect moments of my week!

I DID NOT feel like a complete fool when I went to take my final and was the oldest person by probably 10 years!

I certainly DID NOT jump up and down like an idiot when I passed, I mean I knew I would pass so why would I be so excited!

I DID NOT freak out one night I the way home because I hadn't talked to Joe. I so DID NOT call my Dad to see when he had talked to him last.

I DID NOT cry at Grey's and Private Practice this week, that would be silly, and I am not silly.

I DID NOT almost bust my Rear yesterday walking in the Church parking lot after just making the statement, "I don't know if I can do heels this high in Austin." OK yeah if I can't do them for Church I won't make it to vendor dinners while in Austin!

I DID NOT laugh when my Joshua decided to only eat the chocolate syrup off his ice cream Sunday and say how cute it was! I certainly was not secretly happy that he avoided the ice cream because I didn't want to deal with the diapers.

I DID NOT have a fit over my kitchen floor last night that is being replaced this week because it was so dirty. I so DID NOT sweep and mop where they are going to be ripping cabinets out today!

I DID NOT try to do homework in the car for 4 hours with 2 screaming kids! That would be CRAZY of me and I wouldn't do that!

I DID NOT think I would use YOUTUBE for my hair and watch videos for over an hour Saturday night researching how to do different things to my hair. Not including the Pouf ponytail, a messy bun, and no heat curly hair.

I DID NOT think I would try the no heat curly hair, only to wake up and look like I had a scrunched hair day gone bad.

I DID NOT let my Bible Class meet in my demolished house in the middle of the remodel. That would be uncomfortable and messy.

For More NOT ME MONDAY visit MckMama

Prayers Needed

I need to reach out to my blogging community for prayers, strength, and support. I got news yesterday that my Memaw has been hospitalized and isn't doing well. She has CHF and it has gotten bad. We are going to see her on Friday so that if something happens we have opportunity to say one final goodbye. Just please pray that if it is her time that she goes peacefully without pain or suffering.
She is a great Christian woman and I greatly admire her. We have always had a close relationship and I have always look to her as a beacon of strength and faith. God will be gaining a faithful servant when he calls her home.

Wordful Wednesday: Crying Eyes

My children are very routine children, they crave routine. We have a very strict bedtime routine along with a routine throughout our day. When Joshua isn't on routine it is not a fun experience for anyone involved. This last weekend we went to a Winter Retreat for our youth group and both boys had to attend, due to the fact all our family was there helping out. Of course we were WAY off routine and had a MUCH later bedtime than normal, but they also had to get up much earlier. So Joshua ended up having several crying fits. Of course the mean Mom that I am I have to get pictures of the crying eyes. Doesn't he just look absolutely pitiful????

For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie

Boots

Joshua wears one pair of shoes and that is all we can get on his precious little feet. He wears boots, as you can see from the picture they are getting rather worn. They are in desperate need of being replaced, but he doesn't care in the least. He wants to wear them at all times, even with his little foot PJ's! I have to beg and plead to get him to wear tennis shoes if he is wearing athletic pants or sweats, and even then it is a fight, so I keep that down to a minimum of 1-2 times a month. We have to get him a new pair, because these are worn and getting snug, but i think this pair will always have a special place in our hearts and home, because they were the first. His first obsession! I know we will have many memories of Joshua's childhood and milestones but this one to me is sad, because when he got them he seemed like a baby, and growing out of them he seems so big. So thank you boots for taking my son the places he has gone the last few months and being there for all the fits we have over shoes!

PSF: Nap Time at Marmee and Papa's

Over Christmas Break we spent 6 days with my parents. We had a wonderful visit, but as we all know, Grandparent houses aren't always child proof. I am actually one of those Mom's who believes house proof the child, not child proof the house, but that is for a different post. Of course even though I feel that way there are obvious temptations I do keep put away, so that my curious little Joshua doesn't get himself into a mess that I have to clean up!
So on Friday of our visit I decide that he can just take a nap without me, I mean he was exhausted and I was cooking, so really he would be out in 10 min, what could happen??? Well first he got into a gray marker! Thank the Lord it was Washable!

So of course I learn my lesson and decide to put him back down, but in the pack-n-play instead of just on the full bed. Well I go back to check on him and he had found my over-night bag with my BRAND NEW Beauty Control Moisturizer, and decided to use it as hair gel! What was I thinking you ask, well that I had a Peach Cream Tart that had to be finished in 2 hours to leave for a family gathering. So needless to say he got a quick bath, and a very late nap that day, and ended up not sleeping well that night. What was I thinking?????????? At least we have good memories and pictures!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I've Lost Joe Braden

Due to the remodel our house is a WRECK and I do mean WRECK! Our furniture is all in the middle of the room and all the stuff off the walls is piled here and there. (This really will be important later in the story.) Every night I wake Joe Braden and take him to the bathroom, before I go to bed. Last night I went and woke him, and guided him into the bathroom, he never wakes up really so you have to literally hold his arm and take him and put him right in front of the potty. We get in there and he actually starts talking to me, which is unusual, so I thought he was awake and sent him back to bed when he finished. I still had a few things to do so went into the kitchen and did a few things, and on my way back to my room I grabbed some of Joe Braden's clean laundry to put away. I get to his room, put it all away, and notice he is NOT in bed!! I was a bit frightened because he could be anywhere since he sleepwalks. I start looking everywhere and finally found him.







So he ended up on the couch in the remodel MESS! The bad part is that I walked past him 2 times, and I NEVER even noticed! He is soooooooo cute though all cuddled up! I guess next time I will not assume he is awake!

Wordful Wednesday: The Remodel Begins!

As many of you know my husband is the Youth Minister at our church. As part of our pay they provide us with a place to live. It is a nice house with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath, living room, dining room, and den. Well we have been here a year and a half and we love it, but it has needed a few things done. Well the time has come and we are getting a remodel! Here is a list of what we are having done.
1. New Wood Floors, we currently have off white carpet and we use our home for entertaining teenagers, so you can imagine how nasty it gets!
2. We have paneling on our walls in the den, dining, and kitchen and it is all going to be painted!
3. All new light fixtures and some with fans.
4. A new floor, sink, and shower door for my bathroom.
5. A new built in microwave
6. And the icing on the cake a double oven!!!!!!!!!
There are a few other little things, but these are the main things and I am SOOOOO excited!!! Thank you to our elders for taking amazing care of us!
The painting begins today, so wish us a Happy Remodel!!!

Bathroom TileMy sink

Current oven

One of the OLD fans and paneling

For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie

Picture Tag

I was tagged by Alicia at More Than Words. It's so easy and fun! This is all you have to do!

1. Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2. Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)!
3. Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!!

Here is my picture!

This picture was taken at the Rangers game that Joe and Joe Braden went to this summer. Doesn't he make that snow cone look GREAT!
So Now I tag my 4 People:
Candi at Loving Motherhood
Monica at A Day in the Life
Valerie
Maggie at Life with Boys

"Don't touch my BoBo."

I was awakened Saturday morning to the horror of horrors for most Moms,it was the dreaded 2 year old throwing up! Yep he was one sick puppy, again! Well I had started feeling bad Friday night after dinner but I just figured it was exhaustion, oh how wrong I was. Joshua and I have been sick all weekend, although he has bounced back much quicker than me. For some reason when I get the stomach bug it holds on for days, always has, so I am guessing it always will.
Poor little Joshua though has had the yucky diapers and his poor little "bobo" as he calls it is just so yuck. So last night I am rocking him, trying to get him to relax and maybe sleep for a bit. Well usually when I rock him I pat his bottom, so I am rocking and he is sitting flat on his bottom. I try to reposition the little guy so he is more comfy and he just starts whining and says, "Mama don't touch the bobo!" I asked several time for him to repeat it because I was in shock, but nope that is really what the baby was saying! Poor boy I had to promise I wouldn't pat if he would reposition! OH for the joys of sickness with toddlers!
Poor Joe and Joe Braden were stuck all weekend inside making sure we were taken care of. Joe was such a trooper and even cleaned up where Joshua got it all on the floor. He fixed all the meals and sometimes that was 3 different things, since Joshua and I did the BRAT diet. Joe Braden was such a sweet heart! He came and would try to love on me, and I kept having to tell him that I didn't want him to get sick, so he went in and got on the other end of the couch with another blanket and just kept blowing me kisses and saying how he couldn't wait till I was well so that we could cuddle.
I am so blessed to have sweet boys and a loving sweet husband! God has blessed me beyond comprehension!

PSF: Trying for good pics

So we went to my parents last weekend for our Christmas celebration, and of course we wanted good pictures of our boys! How in the world do people do it? I thought I would share our pictures because they are just too funny!

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Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Potato Soup

Due to the nature of yesterday's post I have decided that today I will post a recipe. Joe Braden's favorite meal is meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and salad. His second favorite meal is Potato soup and since I am making that for dinner tomorrow night, I thought I would share the recipe! The picture above is NOT my picture it is a random one I googled!

1 package of bacon thin sliced (I usually just buy the cheap stuff, since it is just for flavor really)
5 lbs. of potatoes
1 16 oz. can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 16 oz. can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 8 oz. tub of sour cream
2 cups of milk
1 lg. onion
3 stalks of celery
2 tbsp. of butter
water
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Cook your bacon until crisp, and drain well. Sautee your onions and celery in the butter, you can also sautee them in the bacon grease if you would rather. While you are doing step one and two boil your diced potatoes (skins can be left on or you can peel if you prefer). Drain the potatoes well and add the bacon, onion and celery. Add your milk, soups, garlic, sour cream, and water (enough to cover potatoes well about 4-5 cups). Add in your salt and pepper and simmer for at least 30 min. Of course the soup is better the longer the flavors have to mix!

We always have a ton of left overs, we keep half out to eat and 1/2 we freeze. It freezes wonderfully and is great for a quick warm meal!

Wordful Wednesday: My Chef

I love the fact that my son loves to cook! Hubby and I love it also so one day soon, maybe it will be a family affair. Joe Braden got the cutest little apron and chef hat with all the utensils from my MIL this year for Christmas. She even had it monogrammed, "Chef Joe Braden"! He was still in his PJ's but he was making Christmas cookies is this picture!
For more Wordful Wednesday Visit Angie!

Mission Accomplished, Well Almost....

Back in August, when Joshua turned 2, I decided it was time to at least introduce the toddler bed. Thanks to my husbands brother and his wife, we had a big Step 2 Fire Truck bed. You would think that a bed like this would be any little boys dream, but not mine! Nope, he didn't like that bed not one little bit. Oh he enjoyed playing in it but not sleeping, not even a short little nap. When we would try to get him in it he would scream and point to the crib and say, "my bed, my bed" over and over again. It was a pitiful sight, to say the least.
So over break, while we were at my parents, I of course cart along the trusty Pak-n-play. Well he wasn't going to have that, he wanted to sleep with us in the big bed, I mean after all it was in the same room. So we gave in, kind of, we let him start off in the big bed, but that meant falling asleep on his own. I am not a fan of keeping my boys up until we go to bed, especially if it is after 1am most nights while visiting. So we would put him in the bed to start and he did GREAT! I mean he was such a champ, falling asleep and everything!
On the way home I decided that we probably shouldn't even allow the crib, since he was doing so well. I was afraid that going back to the crib would make it even more difficult to master the Toddler Bed at some point. I told him when we were almost home and he cried just a wee bit. When we got home I left him playing and ran to his room to do the mattress and lovey switch. At bed time we did it with very little crying! The first night he began crying after about 10 minutes and Joe was able to comfort him, and he was asleep in 20 min. Last night was a bit rougher. He got up 2 times and cried 3 times, but each time was short lived. He just needed to know we were still there and to be comforted! He is doing so GREAT and I am very proud of him. Such a big boy! I just hope he keeps it up!

Not Me Monday

This is my Holiday Break addition of "Not Me Monday"

I DID NOT gain 4 pounds over break, I mean how would that even be possible, I would have had to have stuffed my self the whole time! I would NEVER do that!

I DID NOT let my boys stay completely off schedule for 2 weeks, even when they were GRUMPY!

I DID NOT almost cry this morning when I had to take Joshua to day care and see Joe Braden off to school.

I DID NOT take a nap almost every day of break, that would be just plain LAZY!

I DID NOT neglect my studies for most of the break!

I DID NOT turn 30 over break!!!! (If I could make one of my NOT's true this would be the one!)

I DID NOT get to have a couples massage with my hubby and leave the kids for a whole day to try to get over turning 30! That would just be CRAZY!

I DID NOT get totally spoiled by my Hubby for Christmas!

I DID NOT get the greatest gift ever from my Mom for Christmas this year!

If you would like to join in this NOT ME MONDAY go over and see Mckmama