Spunky Junky

Things are looking up.

2013-05-21T14:33:00.003-07:00

Things are looking up around here, in more than one way actually. Throughout the last week or so I've been constantly catching myself staring up at the trees when we take our daily walks down to the park. Geeze these apple trees are memorizing, their blossoms falling to the ground like gentle snow and the buzzing of bees adds a relaxing flare to a chaotic process of pollinating each flower. And just when I thought that it couldn't get much better a late spring storm has made the snow capped mountain peaks glisten against the greenery of the hills. It really is quite the site to behold.

Come visit. You won't be disappointed.

//She doesn't give out smiles liberally that's for sure//

We've also been soaking up the Vitamin D like no tomorrow. For weeks (or maybe even months I suppose) I've been itching for the smell of green grass and lazy afternoons sitting on the porch. I really am a creature made for warm weather, but alas there is something about this place that tugs at my heart strings even in the dead of winter and somehow it pulls me back in with its wondrous Spring-time treasures.

For those that know me well it's been a difficult adjustment moving back to a small town and Sunday marked our one-year "moving" anniversary. The people are so friendly and the extra time with my family has been such a blessing. My personality on the other hand has always craved movement and a more fast approach to life with little regard for schedules. We live, however, in the epitome of Grassroots America--small quiet streets, one grocery store, and a Dairy Queen-like restaurant that is only open seven months out of the year. All of which have seemed to pull my life into a sort of daily (and dare I say, mundane) rhythm. And for someone who loses interest in routines I've found it to be a bit more difficult to adjust. So I've had to change--I've learned to need less (that hasn't diminished my love of online shopping though) while also finding solace for simple moments in life. And the quietness. Well, I can actually here my own thoughts on rare occasions.

The awakening of Spring has helped to change our routine as well. The kids has found a new appreciation for all things outdoors and the dirtiness of each day has proven that playing outside is hard work. And oh my have the lilacs come back in full-force. Their smell has taken me back to my childhood in Utah and to our pretend tea parties where lilac soup was the entree' of choice. Bush upon bush line the streets and the overwhelming smell seems to always brighten my spirit. I'm sure everyone says this but you would be hard pressed to find another place that marvels Montana in beauty.

I think I am starting to like it here. But let's just keep that between you and me...

And don't forget to enter the fun giveaway sponsored by Skip N' Whistle!

Skip N' Whistle Giveaway

2013-05-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Raglan c/o Skip N' Whistle Skinnies: Gap Wedges: Calvin Klein Watch: Brina's Box

Brecken// Birthday Shirt c/o Skip N' Whistle Jeans: Gap High Tops: H&M

Today's giveaway is from Skip N' Whistle. It's a hip and quirky kind of shop. And boy oh boy are their shirts soft--it's really turning into quite the love affair with this raglan! Moving on, up for grabs is your choice of either the Indian Chief raglan or a child's birthday tee (color and number of your choice, of course).

To enter simply visit Skip N' Whistle and tell me which item is your favorite.

For extra entries follow Skip N' Whistle on Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Instagram. or Tumblr. (one entry for each).

Winner will be announced on Monday, May 27th.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

2013-05-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

I pulled Addy into bed with me extra early this morning. John had gone fishing and Brecken was still sleeping so I took a few quiet moments to nurse Addy alone. She contently laid there as I scratched her little face all the while silently giggly at the slightest touch. Restlessness soon set in and she started to use my head as her personal pogo stick. Totally normal, right? Once Brecken woke up we puttered around the kitchen and finally ended up eating left over Chinese takeout for breakfast (mother of the year?) Brecken didn't complain and Addy was more then content to throw sticky rice around the dining room. I tried to take in each moment while letting them completely immerse themselves in each other, Brecken laughed hysterically as he made faces, Addy squealed because Brecken stayed just far enough out of reach so she couldn't grab him, and each of trying with fumble-like fingers to feed the other. It was a simple moment even more than that it was a happy birthday moment.

Oh the happy-go-lucky atmosphere didn't last long. go figure. Toys snatched out of each other's hands, a favorite sippy cup went MIA, and no sleep the night before all culminated in a very emotionally drained (and tired) baby girl by 9 a.m. I've been silently singing "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to..." for a good portion of the morning. Oh the birthday drama. It's totally a girl thing I assume and it only made me appreciate even more the differences in temperament between my two babies.

Happy Birthday Addy Mae. You are loved. You are dramatic. You are our baby girl.

Instagram+Three Things

2013-05-15T20:58:00.002-07:00

Oh Hump Day, you've been rather good to us. I mean really good. Two visits to the park, one was blasted hot and a bit humid and for a place that is bone dry the five percent humidity that we encountered was kind of like the end of the world to two mommas pushing strollers. And then good ole' Mother Nature decided to shake it up for our second park visit of the day (we really like the park if you can't tell) where we were graced with blustery clouds itching to pour rain down, which didn't happen, but it would have been nice because we so need the rain. Like bad! We also kicked Wednesday is the butt by having one of my all time besties come over for one of those nice long girl talks. You know what I mean? So we decided to have celebratory root beer floats, because when you don't drink wine you have to substitute with root beer floats, it's only natural. And can we all have a little party celebrating the blossoms on the trees? I've seen picture after picture of blossoms for the last two months and our little area of the world has finally caught up! YAY!

And what better way to end the night then with a few good laughs. I can't really decide which one is my favorite. You be the judge!

Enjoy.

The last video, well, I about peed my pants. It was worth it.

Bullying

2013-05-14T09:35:00.003-07:00

At some point during this crazy journey called parenting I knew I would have to address the issue of bullying with my children. I didn't however imagine that it would be an issue that I would have to address with my three-year-old child. You can imagine my surprise when it happened in it's most natural form at the park yesterday evening. The park was bustling with parents watching their children play league coach pitch while the children crowded around the playground equipment like lemmings itching to go down the slide. Brecken was in his element--running amok and befriending everyone in site. He was really quite the spectacle to watch, laughing and giggling, holding hands with complete strangers, calling everyone friend. At one point, a boy a few years older than him honed in on Brecken's charismatic energy and slowly began to test his boundaries with my son--a push here, a jab there, which then led into full blown shoves all the while calling him names and growing thirsty for the tears to appear in my little boy's eyes.

After each attempt to fluster my son, Brecken would pick himself up and continue playing. Bless his heart, he was oblivious to the notion that anyone could ever truly be mean to him for no apparent reason, so he kept playing as if the jabs, pokes, and pinches were in some way a game. I was taken aback by the situation and every God-given motherly instinct in my body was on fire and near the cusp of boiling over into a full-blown mother bear frenzy. My heart was aching and I struggled to know when it would be appropriate for me to step in and take control of the situation. Do I jump in and defend my little boy? Do I let him fend for himself and learn about the hard knocks of life? Do I go all crazy-like on the other kid? Do I find his Mother and point out her inadequacy on raising a polite boy? (I'm sure she would have been mortified to say the least).

Once curbing in my own emotions I decided that if tears didn't appear I would let Brecken fight his own battle. Nothing about the experience was easy and it was one of those times where I wish I had a user's manual with step-by-step directions on how to approach the situation. In the end the boy grew bored with Brecken's friendliness and I imagine he was annoyed that he couldn't dampen his spirit so he moved on.

The feeling of inadequacy as a parent was very prevalent during the experience. Knowing that I couldn't intervene and allowing my child to get hurt to only understand that he was strong enough to defend himself was a hard concept to swallow for this Momma. At that moment I felt like I should have prepared him more for situations such as these and by not doing so I wasn't doing justice as a parent. Despite everything that happened I learn a valuable lesson that day--no matter where I may fall short as a parent he has learned (hopefully from John and I) to pick himself and keep moving no matter what obstacle may stand in his way. His true nature permeated the playground that day, bringing in light and laughter and not letting the vindictiveness of another individual dampen his glow.

Now let's all pray I don't run into his Mom on a bad day...

Creamy Tomato and Jalapeno Soup

2013-05-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

I didn't make it very far in the Post a Day in May series. Go figure. In my defense it's been warm here, so warm in fact that we've spent our days playing in the dirt and running in the park, while our nights have involved scrubbing off the fun. And when warm days seem few and far between we have to enjoy them while we have them. Here, here, for summertime, friends!

On that same note it, snowed last week (our weather is so fickle, I can't make this stuff up). So I whipped up this spicy dish using my leftover jalapenos. It's a tasty one, I promise!

Creamy Tomato and Jalapeno Soup

5 pureed jalapenos (remove seeds)

1 pureed medium yellow onion

5 purred garlic gloves

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 TBS olive oil

1 8 oz. can chicken broth

2 cups half and half

2 tsp cumin

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

dash of crushed red peppers

1 TBS lime zest

Tortilla chips

cheese

Puree jalapenos, onion, and garlic clothes. Place pureed mixture in soup pot with olive oil. Slowly saute until smell is flavorful. Mix in diced tomatoes, chicken both, cumin, cilantro, and red peppers simmer for half-an-hour. Mix in half-and-half and lime zest, simmer for an additional ten minutes.

Garnish with tortilla chips and cheese.

Enjoy!

I'm an Expert: Potty Training

2013-05-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Guys, this is a post about potty training. Enthralling, yes? It's a dirty job, painful to say the least and when it comes down to it, it's a vicious mind game plotting fairly sane grown-ups against equally brash toddlers. Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic, but really, it's no easy feat.

Last November during a particularly dark blizzard that forced us to hunker in for the long haul we decided to potty train Brecken. The signs had been evident for a few months--crying before peeing in his diaper, bringing diapers to me when he wanted to be changed, and hiding in the basement to poo. I knew he was ready and it was my own fears that held us back. The diaper was convenient, almost like a crutch, especially with our chaotic schedule which kept us on the-go quite frequently, it just seemed so much easier to keep him in a diaper. My sister-in-law suggested a three day method which worked with her five children, so I accepted the challenge--I mean if she can do I should be able to as well, right?

No.

I later morphed to six days because it just seemed to fit my kid best. Here's the breakdown...

Day one and two//In order for this method to work all distractions needed to be removed i.e. television, phones, ipads, this made it easier for me to recognize Brecken's cues and get him to the toilet before having an accident. It also meant staying in the bathroom for four complete days.

The first two days Brecken sat on the toilet completely naked for the entire day. Let me say that again, thee enntire dayyy. He would sit on the toilet while I would read stories and sing songs. The first few times peeing in the toilet were alarming for him. He would try to stop himself but with some positive reinforcement he would keeping going. To really knock home the idea of peeing in the toilet I tried to find different types of sensory prizes--clapping, cheering, sticker chart, and treats. To make sure he was peeing frequently he was given lots of sugary drinks and salty foods, not his usual diet but an exception was made for the sake of kicking the diaper.

It worked so well in fact that getting him off the toilet was somewhat difficult, go figure.

Day three and four//Once I began to notice his cues: prancing around and crossing his legs I knew when he needed to use the potty. So on day three I began to let him wear underwear. We still spent all our time in the bathroom, but I let him sit on the floor and look at books. Every thirty minutes or so I would sit him on the toilet and tell him to pee, sometimes he would pee right away at other times he would sit there for two hours #killme. And because I know someone will ask, yes, he did have an accident in his underwear but after peeing in it once he realized how uncomfortable it felt and it rarely ever happened again.

So to recap: Noticed cue, placed him on toilet, let him pee, reward him for a job well done. simple.as.that.

By the fourth day, he was beginning to recognize his own cues and would run to the toilet. He still needed help pulling down his underwear, but we successfully made it the entire day without an accident. On Day Four he finally pooped in the toilet as well.

Sorry guys. But I have to talk about poop. so don't unfollow me just yet. As my SIL suspected sometimes kids get nervous and don't want to poop and like us they would prefer to do it privately. so when he finally went by himself I left the bathroom, which made the process easier (I hope) for him.

Day five and six//By the fifth day we were physically pooped (ha!). Brecken was allowed to wear clothes and leave the bathroom, but wasn't allowed to leave the house. I would let him play, but again I would make him go sit on the toilet every thirty minutes or so. By the end of the fifth day Brecken would go to the bathroom on his own, he still needed help pulling down his pants, but he was recognizing the signs of a full bladder all on his own.

By day six we made our first excursion out to lunch. I still took him to the bathroom every thirty minutes to be safe and I can proudly say we were accident free!

And again, I know some of you will ask, night time was actually the easiest. The first few nights I put a diaper on Brecken to be safe. He had a wet diaper the first two nights, by the third night he woke up dry and by the next week he cried when I tried to put the diaper on so I eliminated it completely.

Since then we've rarely had an accident after using the six-day method. For a month afterwards I still made sure to take him to the bathroom every thirty minutes-to-an-hour. The only accidents we encountered happened when I didn't get him to the toilet in time.

Six months later//We haven't had an accident in months. Brecken is successfully going on his own, and will only ask for help if he can't get him pants up or down by himself. At night he is allowed water up until two hours before bedtime. If however in the middle of the night he does need to use the bathroom he is great about getting up and asking me to take him. Good for him, bad for me.

Looking back on our potty training experience I learned one valuable lesson. Consistency was the key. Which meant suffering for a few days for lasting results. I stuck to my guns and eliminated all distractions for a few days so I could focus all my attention on Brecken and it seemed to be the key to not dragging out potty training for months.

Your thoughts? Please tell me you'll keep reading even though I dedicated an entire post to poop....

My Life: 250 Words or Less

2013-05-01T21:28:00.001-07:00

I've been caught in a rut as of lately. Maybe it's the kids or the lack of sleep but blogging has just turned into a chore that I've kind of started to avoid. Jenni at Story of my Life has this fun little event going on called Blog Ever Day in May. Obviously, I don't need to explain it.

I nailed it. go ahead count.

I was born in the Year of the Ox, mesmerizing, yes? Known for being self-confident and obstinate with a twinge of pragmatism running through the veins seems to be the defining features of those born in 1985. As the oldest of four I developed the mothering hen knack at a young age—I was a bonified short stack fire cracker. I never shied away from a fight and even managed to get my first bloody nose by first grade—from a boy no less. To our dismay my parents uprooted our lives in Utah and moved to the vast openness of Montana where we finally settled in the most iconic small town on the Rocky Mountain Front. I even managed to surprise myself when I decided to stay in Montana to attend college. And as luck would have it may have been the best choice I ever made. I met John while he was painting my bathroom (and chasing after my sister). Her loss was my gain? No matter what the case may be we've grown together over the last seven years and after four degrees, two kids, four moves, and a whole slew of takeout meals I still find myself falling for him all over again every day. Cliché, I know. We've had our share of battles, some we've won others we have lost but one thing is for sure, it makes the journey a whole lot better when I have someone else to pin the blame on….joking…or not…

Birchbox

2013-04-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

Birchbox. Birchbox. Birchbox. If you say it enough times it turns into a jumbled mess that sounds faintly like bird box, try it you'll see. Anyway, for those of you who have lives and don't tinker around on social media or blogs all day long Birchbox has kind of made a name for itself around blog-sphere The basic concept is that you can pay for a box of free samples to be delivered to your home each month (ingenious, right). Sometimes the boxes are themed such as this month which focused on well-being, hence the raw vegan macaroons #yikes.

After my hair fiasco and the barrage of unsuccessful attempts at finding the perfect shampoo, gambling on samples each month just seemed like the obvious choice. This past week I received my first box. Honestly, my expectations weren't very high. I was paying ten dollars for a box of samples and the likelihood of getting products that would cater specifically to my needs and wants seemed low. Nevertheless, I have been pleasantly surprised, the nail polish from Ruby Wing dried in less than a minute (seriously cool) and the hair serum from Nexxus obviously caught my eye, and while I haven't seen a complete transformation I'm optimistic.

And honestly, what girl doesn't enjoy getting a box in the mail each month chuck-full of surprise goodies? I mean that right there is totally worth paying ten dollars. Want to sign up and try it for yourself? Go here, you won't be disappointed!

*note: this is not a sponsored post I'm just a girl as frustrated as the rest of you with paying full price for products that end up not working. #aakkk

Eleven Months

2013-04-22T14:04:00.001-07:00

You turned eleven-months-old last Thursday. We were out of town and away from our everyday routine--of which you made me pay for dearly. You really are a great baby, but holy cow, you become a force to be reckoned with when your schedule is changed. And after spending six exhausting hours at the car dealership on Friday night you really hit the ball home by taking three itty bitty steps all by yourself. Naturally, you were less concerned with walking and more intrigued with the toy Brecken had stolen from you earlier. Nevertheless, three steps and I'll take it! Of course you wouldn't repeat the walking for your Dad, and yes, I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures, but we're making progress I (dare) say!

And as if my little baby girl is slipping through my fingertips, three more teeth joined the party! Now it's all sippy cups and eating by yourself which really makes me crave (and cherish) those moments where you still need (and like) me to feed you. Your Dad cautiously suggested I wean you by your birthday. Quite frankly, I think we both enjoy our little moments together too much to call it quits. yes?

Oh Addy, you really are the apple-of-my-eye. It's the simple things like your tousled bed head each morning and your dainty little fingers that play with my face that make me smile. One more month down baby girl, can you believe it?!

Love, Mom

Instagram+Three Things

2013-04-17T22:04:00.002-07:00

One//I'm sure you've already seen the newest beauty campaign video released by Dove. But if you haven't please watch it. John will attest to the fact that I am not a crier, really, it takes a lot for me to shed tears. Prepare yourself for a tear-jerker with this video however. Whenever I watch this video I become a blubbering basket case.

Two//One of my favorite shops is having a 50% off sale. And they are discontinuing some of my all time fave t-shirts. Run fast and get one or two or three...

Three//It may still be snowing here but we brought out the kick/balance bike. This weather will not stop us from "imagining" that it is Spring (and bike weather). And so far Brecken is loving his "new" bike (I prematurely got it for his second birthday). He is still learning how to balance, but his speed is kind of getting scary (yikes). The frame is metal (crash-proof), there is a foot rest for balancing, and an adjustable seat (great for my short stack). It really is an amazing bike, find it here.

See you tomorrow!

Boating.

2013-04-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

What a day, I puttered around the house as usual--cleaning, feeding, tending to the kids oblivious to the outside world. It wasn't until John returned home from work that I learned about the awful news in Boston. My sweet cousin and her husband were at the marathon when it happened. Luckily they're both safe. The whole event has left me a bit anxious, perhaps it's motherhood and the carnal nature to protect my children or any child for that matter I suppose. I guess in some respects it's also due to the day-in-day-out news of bad things happening to good people. Simply, it makes my heart hurt so much.

******

Earlier tonight I was looking through pictures from weekend and I came upon this beauties. Even though there is still snow on the ground (say what?!) the ice has finally melted off the lake making it adequate boating weather. I've often referred to John's little boat as a death trap seeing as it only fits five and if it hits a three inch wave it's bound to sink. All joking aside it has served as a great escape for our little family. Brecken loves to sit with gleeful eyes all the while laughing as the wind blows across his face. Now that his life jacket fits a bit more snug and he has mastered the art of sea legs he can usually be found navigating with ease around the boat. This was Addy's first time out on the boat and she was beside herself with excitement when the boat would skim across the water, jostling her little body back-and-forth. I guess it was a win-win afternoon for us as parents.

Hip-hip-hooray for more boating excursions and if we're lucky the arrival of Spring. #wishfulthinking

that's all.

This Bug.

2013-04-11T20:15:00.004-07:00

The last three weeks or so have been one for the books. We got a bug, it went away, then morphed into a different bug, and somehow it disappeared just in the nick-of-time for us to enjoy the warm weather for a few days. But Karma decided justice was necessary so it came back for a third time to give a whooper-of-a-finale (we must be just that fun to be around I guess). So we slept a lot. Ate lots of chicken noodle soup. Caught on all our favorite television shows. And I even attempted to clean the house one particularly grey afternoon, which resorted to no real cleaning and lots of hot cocoa drinking.

I am happy to report we are now on the mend (crossing my fingers). Bed sheets have been thoroughly sanitized, showers and baths have been had by all, and my head feels about twenty pounds lighter. While I loved the extra cuddle sessions, and the endless supply of 7-Up I am now ready to move on to sunny days and playing outside. Thanks for the reality check, you sick bug, hopefully, we don't see you again until next year (say whaat?!).

Beauty 411

2013-04-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

Guys, this cold, it's killing me. I must have spoken too soon yesterday because it came back with a vengeance and this time it means business. The sinus congestion alone is enough to make me not want to go up-and-down the stairs because of the change in air pressure (A little dramatic, I know). I guess on the bright side there is no excuse for me to not purge my email box and closet today--every girl's dream for a Friday afternoon.

Anyway, this post has been in the back of my mind for awhile. A few weeks ago I went on a small tirade about my skin and hair issues since having a baby. Well, I am happy to report that it has been a little over a month of no shampoo and I can say that while my hair may be a bit more frizzy my scalp has loved the change. My skin issues on the other hand have required a little more trial and error.

Now let me just say for the record that I by no means am a makeup snob. I will, however, fight to the death for certain products that I love. While I have remained loyal to a few brands for years I've slowly started to gravitate towards individual products instead of entire lines. Since Addison's birth my skin has tended to be more dry and what use to be a simple process of putting on foundation, now requires moisturizer, primer and concealer beforehand. My face seems to have welcomed the presence of a few lines as well. I'm sure they all derived out youthful ignorance and my choice to not wear SPF. "Wear sunscreen!" my Mom always said...

After months of trying multiple brands here a few of the products that have been baby-tested//mother approved

1//L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes //perfect for giving the illusion of fake lashes without the price.

2//Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover //I've been using this eye makeup remover for years and I may cry if they every stop making it because it just works that well!

3//Too Face Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer //This junk is amazing. It fills in my creases and creates a flawless look once I apply my foundation.

4//Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Candy Apple & Sorbet //Goes on like lip gloss, but looks like lipstick without the "cakey-ness." Plus it doesn't come off on my kids when they hug me.

5//EOS lipbalm //put this stuff in the refrigerator then use it--amazing.

6//bareMinerals Purely Nourishing Cream for Dry Skin //This cream kicked my flakey-dry skin dilemma. I use it at night before I go to bed. And the ingredients are natural i.e. watermelon extract. Um, yes please.

7//L'Oreal true match in sand beige W5 //So finding a foundation has been tricky. I tried nearly every brand out there but they all seemed too thick and would sluff right off my skin. Because this isn't a "one-color-fits-all" brand I was able to do a perfect color match to my skin and so far I have been pleasantly surprised. As a bonus that fine ladies at MAC recommended this brand if I didn't want to spend the big bucks.

8//Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Color Adjust //I have a reddish hue to my skin and this color adjuster nips it in the bud. When I pair it with the Too Faced Primer it creates an even/smooth tone on my face.

9//Too Faced Powder Blush-Who's Your Poppy? //Love this blush. Not to pink, not to red. Yet still looks natural.

10//Anastasia tinted brow gel in Granite //I was graced with naturally dark hair and naturally light eye brows, so it has always been a battle trying to find the right brow liner. This gel is amazing. It goes on like mascara and provides just the right darkness so as not to look fake.

11//Lorac Liquid Liner //Need a perfect liquid liner. This it is.

12//Victoria Secret Summer Seduction Eye Kit //I have yet to use any of the colors in this palette except the gold tones. What I have used is the bomb. It's my favorite color combo to date.

13//Benefit -Watt's Up Highlighter //use this highlighter on your chin, above you lip, t-zone, and cheek bones to highlight your face. two words: life changing.

14//Bare Escentuals/bareMinerals-i.d. Mineral Veil //After I've applied my foundation I use tinted mineral veil to eliminate shine as well as set my foundation. I've used it for nearly five years and I have never been disappointed!

15//Benefit-Hoola Bronzing Powder //Bronzers are tricky--too much and I feel like the love child of Snooki and Carrot Top. Yet if I don't use it, my face seems super round--baby face round in fact. I use it under my cheekbones, along my jaw line, along the sides of my nose and near my temples.

There you have it. I promise as soon as I have a little sun on this washed out face of mine I will provide a tutorial. Maybe even a vlog if you're lucky. ;)

Have a fun weekend!

Easter Weekend.

2013-04-03T14:02:00.003-07:00

Did I ever tell you about that one time when I was eight or nine-years-old and my older cousins made us hold hands and then one of them would grab the electric fence. The electric shock would slowly ripple from hand hold to hand hold until it surged out of the tips of the last child. Those of us that were younger were usually placed at the end--a sign of submissiveness to the older kids I suppose. It wasn't traumatizing because we were naive (or dumb enough) to believe that no matter what kind of pain was placed on us we were still cool enough to be in the presence of the older kids. Twenty years later, I can still feel the shock.

Anyway my tangent does relate to Easter, I promise.

My family, which includes a whole bundle of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and anyone who decides to marry into our brooding mess, is never satisfied who mediocre celebrations. If there is a party to be had, we hold it. If there is a celebration in order, we go above and beyond. If there is something completely ridiculous and almost life threatening to be tried, it has happened. Easter is no exception. Of course we do the typical things like Easter egg hunting and making enough food to feed a small country, but my family also enjoys a wide array of non-traditional events too. The before mentioned electric fence game being one of them. And have you heard of a cash calf. It's simple--tape gobs of money to a calf and left it go. Then send every kid (adult included) after said calf to retrieve the money. I presume we're just like every other God-fearing American family out there. There really is no end to the things my family will concoct in the name of celebratory fun.

I savored this Easter holiday a little bit more and it's low-key nature. Somewhere the roles switched from being the recipient of Easter tidings to becoming the giver of magic for my son. His eyes that morning were satisfaction enough of a job well done. How great is it as parents that some of our greatest joys resonate out of the excitement and complete wonder in our children's eyes.

Here's some pictures of our weekend.

//Sharpies were the medium of choice this year for egg decorating//

//The stickers were a "meh" idea. They kind of created a filmy residue on the eggs, but the design turned out neat//

//Clothes were optional while dying eggs--just for the kids of course//

//He was skeptical of this elusive Easter Bunny fella//

//This was the best shot I could get of the two of them together. When they get within two feet of each other they kind of go psychotic//

//And as luck would have it the Easter Bunny showed up during our Easter egg hunt--our skeptical little guy may be a believer//

//And when we got back to Bozeman during the Bishop family Easter egg hunt John's nephew proposed to his girlfriend. He's a real Casanova. Let the ohh and ahh's begin//

//Hopefully your Easter was amazing and (of course) electrocuting-free...//

We are alive.

2013-04-02T16:02:00.002-07:00

Somewhere between my head is going to explode and my stomach is doing somersaults, John and I managed to pull ourselves from the depths of self-pity and still take care of the babes this past week. It was a sad state of affairs around here, we both sequestered ourselves to our respective rooms and spent most of the week consuming 7-up and an obscene amount of saltine crackers. Poor Addy caught the same nastiness and spent a good portion of her time crying the saddest and more defeated sobs her little body could muster. It was down-right pitiful to say the least. Brecken on the other hand somehow missed the sick train and learned early on that his wish could usually be granted without much of a fight. Knowing he'd won the battle he took full advantage of the time to watch Blue Clues while simultaneously eating my house dry of Goldfish for a good portion of the week.

By Friday we pulled ourselves out of a germ-infested cocoon and ventured south for some much needed family time. It also provided an opportune time for us to shower and become productive citizens once again. If only being sick was my excuse all the time for not getting dressed or showering. ;) So we packed our bags and headed to Cody, Wyoming once again. While neither John or I felt completely well having family around was a welcomed blessing. They loved on Addy and Brecken all day long which made fighting through the last round of our bug that much easier.

Writing more would be too easy right now, but it is 60+ degrees in Montana without a stitch of wind or a cloud in sight! The kids or itching to run and their wish is my command. Tee-shirt weather is upon us my friends!

I promise Easter shenanigans to follow...

Thanks for sticking with us--this bug was a real damper to my writing.

Instagram+Three Things

2013-03-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've decided to quarantine this contaminated house of ours for the next 24 hours. Addison caught a flu-like bug and I suppose no great detail is required on how my night went down--I'll leave that to the imagination. There is something to be said about sick babies, their constant neediness and no direct way to communicate how they feel, it always seems to wear on me like no other form of torture. I've boasted for months how healthy I've kept my kids and myself (John, of course, is the exception) and little-by-little it finally caught up to us. A sniffle here, a runny nose there, a small ear ache, and then, WAH-Bam! a full blown explosion of sorts! This sickness came in with a vengeance, I might add. I'll venture to say that today will be chock-full of cuddling time, brothy chicken noodle soup, and a few misplaced placed hours watching Blues Clues.

And don't mind me, I just realized this post has a whole lot of selfies. I promise I'm really not that into myself. It's this whole new "no shampoo" experiment that I've been chronicling on Instagram.

Three Things I'm Loving About Easter:

See Jane Blog//Easter Egg Coloring Party

The Alison Show//Painted Easter Eggs

World Market//Ceramic egg crate

*bought a few and they are love.ly!

Cheers.

I am your parent you are my child

2013-03-22T10:14:00.001-07:00

The weekend is nigh my friends! Big plans are in store for the Bishop house--the annual purging of baby clothes and spring cleaning is upon us! It's not glamorous, but I relish the idea of one day having a house free of baby toys and all that jazz, they've become a worthy nemesis at three in the morning.

Plugging away at the kids room is also on the agenda. And this little ditty will be added to their wall soon. If you've never read You Are My I Love You by Maryann Cusimano it's a must have for your child's collection. The book has been a hot topic as of recently when 14 photographers came together to document how they see they children in a new online project entitled You are my Wild. I love the book so much and I find that it speaks to the most simplistic yet amazing moments of parenthood.

If you would like a copy of the print you can find it here. To get a large (and inexpensive copy) simply upload it to Staples and print on their engineering paper. The file is large enough that I was able to make a 36x48"print, but my favorite size is the 24x36". The wording is perfect, but the triangles get a bit grainy the larger the print.

*Also, I know there is a typo on the picture (if you can find it "yay! for you"). The downloaded version is fixed.

Happy Weekend!

Print//Staples Felt Balls//Maypole

Minted Lime Cream Soda

2013-03-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

I love myself a good party throwing shindig. However, since I don't drink I've had to become creative in my non-alcoholic beverage selection. For the longest time I went with the typical 7-UP//pineapple juice//fruit juice concoction, which often seemed juvenile. I've tried to avoid sparkling cider because it's laughable at best--it's one of those drinks that should only be presented during Auld Lang Syne (in my humble opinion).

So I usually settle with one of my all-time favorites that still seems to resonate a sophisticated flare--the minted lime cream soda. Light and refreshing with the slightest hint of lime and mint which makes this drink a crowd pleasing favorite. No recipe is really required. Just a few mint leaves and some fresh-squeezed lime juice, topped off with a fancy straw will make even the hard liquor fanatics beg for more. Enjoy!

Can you tell I am itching for Spring weather?!

10 months.

2013-03-18T15:29:00.003-07:00

What can I say that hasn't been said before--you really are an endless ball of energy and giggles. With each passing month you are growing and learning at such a fast (and alarming) rate. Just yesterday you figured out that with a little effort you could reach in the cupboard and open the cereal boxes by yourself. A trick I suppose you picked up from your brother. And in an effort to not disappoint, you've become an old pro at gliding up the stairs, going down however is still a bit tricky, but you're learning. And if by some divine power you sensed my need for a mid-day break so you decided all on your lonesome that taking a nap was actually serious business and should be had by all every day (momma not included).

Though not walking, you have begun to tinker with the idea of standing on your own. It's usually short-lived but warrants praises for the entire day. Which usually lead to profuse amounts of kisses and hugs. And your laugh, oh my. It's creepy and funny--all bundled into one. I need to record it because it makes you sound like such an old man, like let-me-give-you-a-lollipop-creepy-kind-of-way.

I am so happy I am your momma. Each milestone though small is huge in our book and we gush about you and your brother for weeks. I mean, isn't that what parenting is all about anyway? Bragging about your kids until all eyes start rolling. So here I sit, my heart swelling with love for you and I can't help but think that in two short months my little baby girl will be one-year-old. You are my everything.

By the way, I always thought I would marry a ginger. seriously, my track record of ex-boyfriends speaks for itself. Instead I got ginger babies, which in my opinion is way better. Score one for Team Halsey.

I love you.

Mom

sleepy

2013-03-15T14:01:00.001-07:00

My life can be summed up by one word these days: tired. And if this little face doesn't showcase how our nights have been going the last few weeks maybe the fact that I put hydrocortisone cream on my tooth brush this morning will unarguably prove that we're a little sleepy around these parts. I suspect a nap or two will be on docket for this weekend.

Hope your weekend is fun and restful! See you Monday.

Out There//In Here

2013-03-14T15:26:00.005-07:00

//out there//

//in here//

I really should have titled this post "That one time where my house was so dirty that playing outside became the cleaner option." I'll be the first to admit there is a direct correlation between my stress level and the cleanliness of our house. John would argue that I'm naturally prone to making piles (silly him, he just can't understand my sense of organization :)). I recently took over as the Event Coordinator for Relay for Life in our area and what once seemed like a voluntary position has become a non-paying full-time job. No complaints here, I'm busy and productive while supporting a wonderful cause that is near and dear to John and me. Albeit, my house has suffered--dishes with days-old food lay strewn across the kitchen counter, while lifeless heaps of clothing lay scattered amidst toys and dried-out baby wipes (mind you, the clothes were clean at one point). Bottles, train tracks and remnants of once viable crayons can be sporadically found throughout the house while a pile of dirty diapers still sit on the floor of the nursery (you guys, it's nasty).

The kids and I finally couldn't take it and busted through the filth to the safe haven of outside earlier today. I'd like to say we were taking a mindless adventure of sorts but in reality the mounding piles and the elusive stench resonating in the hallway were more than I could handle at the moment. With Addison nestled safely in the stroller and Brecken in tow we settled for rock gathering and duck chasing to pass the time (who knew fresh air could be so invigorating)! It turned out to be a fine alternative to the eminent clean-up awaiting me at home.

But I suppose all good things must come to an end. Any takers on helping me tackle my crime scene of a home?

Time with Brecken

2013-03-09T09:48:00.002-08:00

The last few days have been unseasonably warm and calm, which has been nice (after all, if it's not blowing here it just seems unnatural). With the erratic behavior of our Montana weather the kids and I have spent the majority of the week outside. We've taken to the streets once again--Addy sits in the stroller while Brecken usually runs along side of me working out a winter's worth of built-up energy. Once again his eyes have opened to curiosity of great outdoors (there is a wide assortment of pine cones and twigs stashed under my stroller to prove it). And while it may be warm, the vast array of puddles and sticky muddy side streets have become endless hours of entertainment for our little toddler--stomping and slipping, splashing and sliding never seem to cease with excitement (luckily Tide does the trick for the stains).

And if the warm weather wasn't enough, this morning our babes woke bright and early at 6:45. Addison was no match for the time and went down for a seasonably early (and rare) nap at 10. Which left the morning wide open for Brecken and I. As usual, train tracks have been built and dominoes have been made and toppled. With two now, I sometimes forget that it was Brecken and I for so long, this morning was a surprising breath of fresh air reminding me that his little energetic body also needs one-on-one attention occasionally.

Thanks Saturday for the unexpected and simple moments that you've provided today. Here's to hoping your weekend is splendid as well!

Instagram+Three Things

2013-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

If you're new here, every week or so I do a fun little post entitled "Instagram+Three Things," in it I highlight a few of my favorite pictures from the week that have been posted on Instagram. If you want to follow us we would love to meet you @spunkyjunky. Beware though, I post a lot of pictures of my kids. I also showcase three things as well--sometimes it's my favorite youtube videos, places you should shop, articles you should read. It basically is my storage box for highlighting my favorite things I find on the web (pinterest?).

Here are a few of my favorite blogs//

creativity: Dana Made It// fashion: The Daybook// kid-friendly: Small Fry// Inspiration: NieNie Dialogues

Thanks for stopping by.

Danny Zuko hair

2013-03-02T19:30:00.003-08:00

This whole postpartum body issue ordeal is getting a bit ridiculous. My body has started to revolt in such an unruly manner that I contemplated asking for a new one. If it were possible and all... Anyway, my hair has taken on this Danny Zuko-esque physique. The moment I get out of the shower this frizzy bomb starts to ooze with some nasty-@$$ greasiness (appealing, right?). To make matters worse my face has gone from combination//oily to sand paper dry. No moisturizer in the world is helping this face. I won't blame it all on the baby blues, but that certainly hasn't helped.

I recently read a series of blog posts about the "no poo" method for hair. Basically it all boils down to using a baking soda/water combination as a cleanser and apple cider vinegar as a conditioner--that's it. As most of the posts suggested my hair would turn straw-like for a few weeks, hence the hairy flurry above. Over the next month or so my hair should hopefully stabilize itself and I will be back to normal again (but healthier). So far I've been pleasantly surprised, the grease is gone and my scalp feels like it can breathe. It's totally a weird choice of words to use but it actually feels like my follicles are more alive. Here's to the hope of shiny healthy hair again. I'll make sure to report back in a few weeks on the outcome. John isn't optimistic, but seriously, what do I have to lose?

My face on the other hand still needs some tender lovin' care. Any suggestions on great moisturizers?