The Sampayo's

Sweet Boys

2021-12-01T08:15:00.003-06:00

I’m not on FB anymore, but I needed a place to capture moments and memories…so I decided to go back to blogging😁 Now, I just need to print out my prior years of blog posts!!

Joshua and Jack both have always been so thoughtful of others. Most kids (including myself as a child🙋‍♀️) naturally want to KEEP things they love, but Jack and Joshua will periodically give away something they love.❤️

Joshua’s elf Icesocks brought him a Pokémon advent calendar (which he proceeded to open all 24 days on Day 1 🤣). I think there were about 18 or so total Pokémon figurines. He has spent a few hours over the last week playing with them independently and just just carries them around the house.

This weekend, he gave his 2 friends in the neighborhood each one….and I instinctively almost interjected and said to keep them😳🤦‍♀️ because he did JUST receive them. But thankfully with God’s grace, I didn’t share my selfish thoughts😉.

Anyway, this morning, he made this for a friend at school. It says…

“Hal, you like Auburn, so blue for Auburn.

And you like Pokemon, so a blue Squirtle figure.

And orange for Auburn and green for grass.”

Such sweet, thoughtful boys we have❤️🙏❤️

10 years ago today...

2015-05-14T18:32:00.001-05:00

I married my 10th grade crush! He's given me 3 sweet boys that stole my heart (and my patience!). He's the best Dada and husband a girl could hope for...I talk a lot of smack, but I am truly the one who's blessed :)

Snake? Check.

2015-05-03T18:30:00.001-05:00

Frog blanket? Check.

Bunny? Check.

Woody? Check.

Woody's HAT!?!?! Check.

Thumb? Check.

Daniel Tiger on TV? Check.

.....Life's good.

"Mama, I'm happy."

2015-05-02T09:42:00.001-05:00

I saw this book at Lee and Karen's house and hoped it might have a good answer for Jared's Heaven questions:)

We've been reading a daily devotion every night. I have enjoyed them and even noticed that Chunk hung around and listened to one (instead of heading downstairs after giving the boys a kiss).

On Thursday night, it was almost 8:15 before the boys got into bed (curses!!! to soccer practice!) & I told them it was too late & we would have to catch up the next day. Tears started rolling down Jared's face. I tried to give him the he's going to be tired speech, but it didn't work....so I grabbed the book and told him to come to Jack's room to read the book.

"What? We're going to read it mom?!?!"

"Yes buddy...when you pull out the waterworks because Mom won't read you a 3 minute Jesus story...YOU WIN!!!"

That covers everyone loving it except Jack....my sweet boy...who I see out the corner of my eye stretching out his arm to reach some toy.ANY.toy to hold/play with while I read a book. But low and behold, God showed me that he does listen after all...

Last night, Jack asked for orange juice after dinner time. 99% of the time, we only allow milk or water...but it was a laid-back night and just Josh, Jack and I, so I said yes.

Side note: It's times like these that make me feel so guilty about being strict....because for a Mom to tell her son "yes" to orange juice on a weeknight after 6pm and to have him act like he just woke up on Christmas morning, is crazy! Lol.

Anyway, he brings me a new 1/2 gallon of OJ and asks me to open it. At this moment, I saw the future. I knew there would be a spill...somewhere, somehow...but remember that "Christmas-like joy" I mentioned above...he was excited & proud to pour his own OJ. So I gave-in and told him to pour slowly and to be careful not to spill.

Well, he filled it 90% full, BUT he did not spill it :) About 10 minutes later, I asked him to put it in the fridge and to head upstairs to bed. And voila! Mama's prediction came true. I think he drank about 2 sips, lol....which means that entire glass didn't just knock over (remember CHRISTMAS-joy excitement); it literally flew out of his hand...

Imagine a husband saying something he shouldn't (hmmm! wonder why this example is the first to come to mind!!) and then the wife throwing a full glass of water onto his face. Yes, that's how the OJ managed to get all over book bags, homework, chairs, carpet and Jack, lol. The poor guy didn't have fear (yay for controlling the yelling!) but felt bad. He just stared down at the mess and said "Mama, I'll clean it all up."

...well that's a kind gesture and all sweet son, but I kind of lose faith when you grabbed a single paper towel and sling the OJ (as 1/16th of the OJ immediately absorbed into the single sheet of paper towel). So I thanked him for helping and told him to just go get in the shower and to make it super quick.

There was some irritation in my voice (naturally, right?) but no yelling or anger. Anyway, I walk past the shower and he says "MAMA! I'm happy." And me (maybe a tad more annoyed thinking he already forgot about the mess he made and now he wants to talk about his upcoming birthday)...but I was wrong. It was about something we learned in the Jesus Calling book...ya know...when Jesus wants to put you in your place...he really PUTS.YOU.IN.YOUR.PLACE ---via an (almost) 7 yr old!

"Why are you happy Jack?"

"Because Mama! In the Jesus Calling book Jesus said to be happy when you make mistakes! And I'm happy!!!"

"Oh yeah, Jack I forgot about that...so remind me please...why does Jesus want us to be happy when we make mistakes?"

"Because it brings you closer to Him and He will teach you how to learn from your mistakes."

"Ahhhh...what did He teach you about your mistake?"

<at this point, he opened the shower door and started talking very seriously and pointing that finger and shaking it with emphasis, as he explained what He taught him>

"MAMA! I LEARNED THAT IF YOU HAVE A CUP OF ORANGE JUICE OR A CUP OF MILK OR WATER OR EVEN A BOWL OF CEREAL AND YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT PLAYING A BATTLE GAME ON THE IPAD, DO NOT RUN!!!!!! Because if you run, you might spill that drink or bowl of cereal! Oh yea and don't run if there is glass either!!!!!"

This was a fun discussion with the boys. I said, "I don't know about y'all but when I make a mistake...I'm not happy about it. I'm usually disappointed in myself and that can sometimes lead to anger or even temptation to hide it. It's a struggle...but the last thing I would ever think to feel is happiness." They agreed and shared how they feel during mistakes. Then we talked about how God can heal those feelings and teach us how to learn from those mistakes.

Thank you Jesus for teaching me not to lose my anger when my boys make a mistake. How sad it must already feel to make the mistake, and then to have your parent, the one you look up to, get upset. I'm thankful to Him that that doesn't happen anymore. Jack's first reaction wasn't fear or shame about my reaction, but instead he was able to process the mistake and then owned it & offered to "clean" it up :)

"Mom, when we go up to Heaven...

2015-04-30T07:28:00.001-05:00

<in the most sincere, genuine voice>

Will we fart?"

"No. Why?"

"Just wondering."

Chunk - This is your reminder to ensure the tooth fairy delivers tonight :)

Smart Dada/Coach

2015-04-29T23:22:00.001-05:00

On Sunday night, the boys had become a handful and quite frankly I was looking forward to bedtime 😁

It was time for a shower and I told them to get into the shower. 15 minutes later...hold up, let me repeat F-I-F-T-E-E-N minutes later, I go back to the bathroom and they are rough-housing in the closet. I want to say one of them was still fully dressed with shoes on!!!

However, I have done a fairly good job training my temper :) and expressed my dissatisfaction and told them to get their dad-gum hiney's in the shower(!!!) and would let them know their punishment when they sat-down for dinner.

I was personally at my breaking-point and suggested sending them straight to bed after dinner. I was totally okay with them staring at the ceiling from 6:30-whenever.their.bodies.fell.asleep. Then I asked chunk his opinion. He (like the intelligent man he is...) paused and waited to reply. However, many minutes later, he commented "Apparently, they have too much energy. I suggest we make them do toe touches (original suggestion was 1,000) and then let them watch a last show....if you agree."

Well that was freakin' genius! They have energy and it helps them improve their soccer game :)

Here are some toe touch pics :)

Then, when they completed their "set" chunk told them to dribble around the couch 10x....

Once they completed that exercise, Dada instructed that the final punishment was to "take the ball away from Dada!" :)

Good thinking on the clock Dada. My punishment would have resulted in a punishment for ourselves :) Your punishment extracted the energy that needed to be extracted and touched on some soccer practices too :) Good job Dada!

Telltale signs that you've drank too much

2015-04-18T05:38:00.001-05:00

1. Between 12am & 5am, you kill 2 bottles of water. You lay down to go back to sleep and fantasize about that cold bottle of water (that was) sitting next to said bottle #2, that you already drank. You CANNOT go to sleep because you want that last bottle of water. But should you be THAT selfish and drink the last bottle? Yes, yes, yes you should (your body's not letting you sleep because it is so deprived of H2O!) and I did! Deliciousness!

2. You wake up and start searching for your phone.....why, one might ponder? Because you have sweet parents who bought you The Nest, where you have the ability to adjust the temperature from your phone (upstairs & down!!). I couldn't find it on my nightstand and knocked over my (closed) water bottle and then worry about waking up Chunk. Then, I'm quickly reminded of how much he drank last night because he is snoring out the wazoo!

Then I start searching for my fan on the nightstand (knocked over said water bottle AGAIN) and I couldn't find that either...Oh my goodness...NOT only did he adjust the temperature, but he ALSO stole my fan!!!! How dare him steal MY fan!!!! And then on top of that, he turned the air up. He must really want to fight! I can't turn on my fan to drown his snoring out and I can't turn on my fan to cool down!!! Errrrrrrrrrr....

Wait a second...

He NEVER adjusts the temperature and he has NEVER stolen my fan...in the 10 years we've been married........

So.....where am I?

OMG! WHERE AM I????????

Okay, in my defense I have never slept at my parents (new) house before...add some screwdrivers to that + a Kim Dismukes + a love for your parents, aunts, uncles & grandparents and you've got a recipe for a tad too much drinking :):):)

P.S. The loud snoring LADY in my bed is my sweet Aunt Kapi. I'm so thankful I didn't nudge her with my irritated attitude when I thought I was sleeping next to my betraying, fan-stealing, air-stealing husband, lol.

P.P.S. Sorry dear...I feel a tad guilty for the (brief) anger I felt in the 1-2 minute flash of not realizing where I was, lol...while you are (innocently) at home taking care of our 3 boys. I love you and thank you!!!

P.P.P.S. It's a shame that I'm away from home, with the ability to sleep-in and here I am awake at 5:42am. Damn alcohol! :) But no worries, I won't give up on sleep that easily...night-night!

How sweet :)

2015-04-17T18:50:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys

2015-04-07T23:27:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure why your Grandma Candy has been on my mind lately, but I've been thinking about her.

I miss her for y'all.

I miss her for me.

I miss her a lot for Dada.

I miss her for Kelty Jo.

I miss her for Aunt Kitty.

I've always missed her for Grandpa.

I've missed her (especially more, for y'all) that y'all ask about her.

I know y'all don't think/know to care about when/who you ask about her, and it is always just an innocent care. Sometimes my heart wishes Dada could hear your questions and other times I'm glad Dada doesn't hear your questions. Not that any of them are bad, but I know that some strike utter heartache in my heart and I don't want to see that ache in Chunk's eyes. Dada is pretty "manly" in hiding these feelings.

Some of the funnier questions that get asked (i.e. Jared!) are about candy (thanks to the true.to.her.name, Grandma Candy). Jared can hear stories and if you give him a couple of days...that story will gain some plot, lol. Apparently, Grandma Candy would just deliver him BAGS of candy and let him and his brothers devour it. 😎

But the primary reason of this post, is just to share with you a beautiful quality about your grandmother. A couple of years before she passed away, she told my mom that a big fear of hers was that y'all would forget her.

Dada and I will make sure that never happens.

I love that my mom gave us this storage cabinet and I love that Grandma Candy's face is right where we (family members) often visit....the guest bathroom, lol.

One of her greatest qualities was her attention to details. She paid attention to YOU. When you spoke, she would give you 100% of her attention (or maybe this was just me, because I was her 2nd favorite child...behind Kat 😄!)

But seriously, one thing I miss is if you sat beside Grandma Candy, she would always snuggle up next to you. She would look at you when you spoke and she would squeeze your hand. I will always remember her cold hands (...bless her heart & she never complained!). She loved being around the people that she loved. She would sit, respond and do whatever you (Jack and Jared) would do and enjoy every second of it.

I remember when Jack was born and she came to visit us. She would rock Jack to sleep after I nursed him (multiple times), so that I could have some rest (and she could bond with her grandson). I could tell she was exhausted during the trip, most definitely when she was leaving. And I know those drives from Missouri were tough, but you never heard The Woman complain. Hell, I kept my house so cold (I did bump it up for her...but looking back, I know she still must have froze!), and she just adapted.

Adapting is a quality that she passed onto Chunk. It is one of the greatest qualities you could ever hope for in your spouse and I thank them both for that fact.

I miss you Woman. I miss your input/advice on that stubborn son of yours (that I love with all my heart).

I also miss your wisdom on life. You are one amazing woman and I can't wait for you to "meet" (in our eyes) Joshua. I know you have to crack up at his personality (Heck! You probably assisted in picking it out!).

All our love,

Your 2nd favorite child + your blood child + 3 boys :)

Sweet (independent) Jack

2015-04-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

One more memory I want to put on paper is about Jack. He is very independent and can entertain himself and enjoys doing things by himself (hmmm...wonder where he gets that from!). The only time that he can be needy (and by needy, I mean N.E.E.D.Y) is when he is sick.

It's touches my Mama heart when he quickly runs outside after he's been given permission to go play with his friends and will always yell on the way out "I LOVE YOU MAMA!" Every now and then, he'll be standing at the front door with it cracked and will add "I'll miss you Mama!" Other times, he will run back inside for a kiss and a hug.

Last night, when he got back from Soccer practice, I needed to run to Target. He was in the shower, so I gave him a kiss and hug and told him that he'd be asleep when I got home. As I was walking out of the bathroom, he said "MAMA!" and I walked back in and he said "I love you.....very much Mama." Okay, on the count of 1, 2, 3 ----Awwwww :)

Lastly, today he handed me something that he made in class and told me to open it.

He instructed me to open the small one first...

And then the medium one...

And then the large one...

Then he explained...

"Mama, it says I love Jesus. Do you see the blood on Jesus?"

"That's because Jesus died on the cross for us, because he loves us. Then he ROSE FROM THE DEAD!"

Then Jared piped in and we started talking about the meaning of Easter. THEN (apparently he wanted to tug on my heart strings just a tad more)..."Oh yea Mama, one more thing, when you get mad at us...it's okay because Jesus still loves you." 😪😪😪

I'm not sure how that comes across reading it, but he was implying that he understand and gets that Mama/Dada will get frustrated at them, and then we feel guilty sometimes (this is what I kept explaining to them as I work on not yelling). He wanted me to know that it was okay we feel bad because Jesus will always forgive us & love us!!

So sweet 😍

Cont'd "He turned it around and found something good!"

2015-04-01T16:56:00.001-05:00

So I accidentally hit publish instead of save...and it actually posted. 9x out of 10, it has an error posting and I have to submit it again. Go figure :)

....As I was saying, this option of sending him away from me A) makes him want to do better so he can be around his family again and B) doesn't leave him mad at me while he is pouting/playing in time-out. Now I could care less if he is actually mad at me and thinks that it is my fault, but what I do care about is that he is actually thinking about what he did and why it was the wrong choice.

Right before I decided to send him upstairs, his pouting fit resulted in him swinging his arm back hard onto the bathtub. This happened immediately after I told him that he was going to hurt himself, if he didn't quit acting out. And before I could even give my reaction a second-thought, I blurted out "Jared, Mama is not sorry you got hurt." He was shocked and then had a mini-temper tantrum and said that I was a mean Mommy. I explained that it's my job to teach him lessons that he will experience throughout life (he asks me all the time "Mama, is this one of those things that are just apart of life?" Lol). Furthermore (I explained) even if he says that I am mean or that I don't love him, I still have to push forward to teach him that lesson.

I could tell he understood, but he just didn't feel quite ready to calm down. I asked him to go to his room and if he thought school was tough, I assured him that if he couldn't change his attitude, then he would see just how tough it would be to stay home. I envisioned some toilet-cleaning, weed-pulling, mopping etc. 😄👍😄👍😄

He cried (a more fearful cry) this time as he walked upstairs and kept asking if I was going to leave him at home (with Dada, not alone). I told him the power was in his hands.

About 10 minutes later, I called him downstairs and his attitude had completely turned around. He came downstairs and said he was ready to go to school & even grabbed both bookbags to put them in the car (they get to hear 2 songs back-to-back if they do that). Jared had never done that before!

Even Jack said "Mama, Jared turned it around and found something good! Just like Daniel Tiger!!!" Lol

One other thing I've learned from this book that has helped is that if they are not getting along well or one is aggravating the other, then I send them to one of their rooms together for 5 mins so they can be nice to each other. They aren't allowed to come out until they are nice. The first time I did this, they came out 5 minutes later in a bad mood. So I doubled the time to 10 mins. After that, they still came out in a bad mood, but finally after another 20 minutes, they came out giggling! 😄

Now they have learned and it usually only takes them about 5 minutes! And it's not something you can fake :)

"He turned it around and found something good...JUST LIKE DANIEL TIGER!"

2015-04-01T15:12:00.001-05:00

Yesterday morning, Jared woke-up moody. Both boys always wake-up before me and head to the living room to watch tv before it's time to get ready for school. Jared's usually quick to respond when I walk out of my bedroom and will start to get ready. But yesterday, the first comment out of his mouth was a whiny, pouting attitude...."MAAAMA, WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOOOOOL EVERY.SINGLE.DAY?" I don't want to go to school!!! I explained that while I understand his feelings, that whining to Mama is not acceptable. He can vent all day long, but I have zero desire to be around him if he just wants to whine and pout.

He stormed off to get dressed and I reminded him again that his behavior was not acceptable and if he wants to pout and whine, then he can do so in his room.

He brought his clothes into my bathroom and still had attitude and was swinging stuff around.

At this point it was almost 7:00 and although inhad zero desire to be around that attitude, I REALLY didn't want to have to discipline that attitude. The upside to this parenting book I've been reading is that I don't have to yell and feel guilty, but I can send him up to his room (nicely, calmly and rationally)

All you need is a little bit of....

2015-03-28T15:07:00.001-05:00

Conversing: "Joshua, you don't want to get yucky on your shirt." He replies "EWWWWW...YUCKY!!!"

a little bit of role play: "See Joshua. Watch Mommy put it on. See if Mommy spills something, it won't get on her shirt."

a little bit of trial & error: "See tuck it into your shirt." Then Joshua replied "NO! and then he yanked it out and threw it on the ground! So we opted to compromise with it lying around his collar.

a little bit of patience (& a tad raise of the Mama-brows!): Joshua, it is your choice. You can choose to get down and not eat any applesauce or you can choose to put on the towel and eat your applesauce.

And voila! He actually ate all of the applesauce with the towel on his shirt. Now this most likely will only impress my mom (maybe Chunk) lol. I was proud. He has hated burp clothes from day 1 and once he was strong enough, he pulled them off. Now, I do know Supernanny's "trick" would have worked (Put it on. He takes it off. Put it on again. He takes it off. Put it on again. He takes it off. Put it on again. He takes it off....eventually his determination will turn into boredom and voila, you win!). But I never really cared enough to do that.

This is what happens when...

2015-03-13T19:55:00.001-05:00

2 French-fry lovers are out by themselves on a Friday during Lent.

"Mama, how much did you love me when I was a little baby?"

"More than 1,000 pounds?"

"More than all the numbers in the world?"

"Even if I called you Mr. Do-Doo face?"

"Even if I said I didn't love Jesus?"

"Even if I broke all the houses down with a hammer?"

"Even if I died, would you still love me?"

My first batch of soap!

2015-03-13T18:07:00.001-05:00

Okay, so this was just about the easiest process.EVER. I hope this soap works as good as my friend Ashley's did😄 If not, I will make her come over and hold my hand during the next batch!

Over Christmas, she brought over some soap. After about the 5th day of using it, I realized that I had not been applying ANY lotion and my skin felt great! And, I didn't stink lol! It was awesome, but I of course thought it would cost an arm and a leg to make, not to mention the time.

Fast forward to last week (after using "chemical-soap") and my skin has been insanely dry. Lotion (applied multiple times daily) was not helping at all. Then I remembered the "magical" (i.e. non-chemical, healthy, moisturizing, natural) soap and immediately texted Ashley for the recipe. She was so sweet and offered to give me more (for free!). But I told her that I was interested in the details so I could begin making it for my family. Then she offered to let me come over and watch her make a batch....but Chunk wasn't home, so I told her we'd do it another time. The next thing I know, she called me and was bringing supplies over for me to make my own batch! 😄😄😄😄😄

And now....TADA!!!

9 bars of soap that cost about a $1 each! If you go to Whole Foods, you could easily spend $3 per bar of soap!

I'm so excited. I may just get in the bath tonight 😄

Can you only "exfoliate" for 1/2 the bar?

...Yea, maybe, lol. But hey, I'm just happy to begin this and have healthier feeling and looking skin!

Thanks Ashley!!!!

The obsession with Frosty

2015-03-12T09:38:00.001-05:00

It began about a couple of months before Christmas 2014. I think Joshua was sick that day and wasn't content anywhere else other than my hip!

We were at Publix and his 33+ lbs were wearing on me (after a few days of only sitting on his "hip seat"). We were rounding a corner and there sat Frosty. Joshua did not notice Frosty, nor did he know anything about him. I grabbed Frosty & realized he sang the Frosty song. I buckled Joshua in the grocery cart & thanked God for this mini-break!

As we neared the check-out line, I noticed the tag on Frosty said $19.99!!! WHAT?!?!?! I've always been bad at estimating, but I was way off this time! I just knew he was about $6. I started trying to distract Joshua and set Frosty back on the shelf, but he wasn't getting fooled. I knew it was a lost cause to begin with, but I gave it a shot 😄.

And thus began the hate/love relationship with dear old Frosty. Below are some of the examples that Frosty has and continues to be shown love in our house 😍😍😍😍😍

In 4 months, we've probably replaced the batteries about 8x.

For the few times we've delayed replacing batteries, the song slows down and gets shorter. He's too young to realize and it happens over a "long" period of time (for a 2 yr old). Once we finally replace the batteries and he hears the normal version of the song, he gets SO EXCITED that I (almost) feel guilty for not replacing sooner, lol.

It took a couple of weeks for him to become obsessed with the show. But once he did, he would point to the TV all day long and say "FROSTY!" He wouldn't really sit & watch it, but it would provide a (total of) 30 minutes break off and on throughout the day (which is PRICELESS time after you become a parent!). I had a DVR recording of it & it accidentally got deleted. I had a mini panic attack and then remembered that I had bought it on blu-ray for the boys a while back. I found it and all was well in Joshua's world again.

My mom was looking for a copy for her car and I happened to find the last one @ Target. It was in the back, ready to get shipped back to their warehouse 😄

In the past couple of weeks, Joshua would actually sit on our bed and watch Frosty, so I bought a digital Frosty from Amazon, lol. I'm making it sound like all he does is sit and watch TV, but we all know he does NOT, lol. But as all Mama's can relate, 5 minutes here and there are like little gifts sent down from above. I bought this digital version primarily for Homework time. It is pure HE-double hockey sticks trying to get 2 boys to do homework, while a TV show is on in the same room. The TV would sometimes momentarily distract Joshua from climbing on the table, harassing the boys etc. They both need my help with homework & Joshua wants my attention too...so it's pure chaos. In fact, on very desperate I.NEED.MAMA.RIGHT.NOW days, Joshua (who would be sitting on my hip) will actually grab my face and turn it towards his...multiple times until I stop what I'm doing and give the boy some attention, lol.

Another funny event regarding Frosty is at times when Joshua has been sick, we will hear Frosty go off on the monitor @ random times after midnight. One night, I actually turned the monitor volume off, as I was struggling to sleep! The upside to this, is that he wasn't crying (due to being sick & waking up) and needing us to soothe him back to sleep.

Another upside, was that this got him to sleep-in! I wanna say Frosty was what pushed him from a 6:30/7:00 wake-time to a 9:00/9:30 wake-time. That's not to say, we wouldn't be awakened to a raspy voice at 6:30am screaming "FROSTY THE SNOWMAN WAS A JOLLY, HAPPY SOUL, WITH A CORN COB PIPE..." but it was nothing a pillow couldn't drown out 😄

The neighborhood kids have asked me multiple times "Doesn't Joshua realize it's not Christmas time anymore?" Lol. Most recently this weekend as we were coloring Frosty on the sidewalk.

Chunk has hidden the Frosty book, given away Frosty to my mom or hidden him at our house. I honestly don't know who was more excited about finding Frosty stuff... Joshua (because he MISSED him) or Mama (because she MISSED the break!). I can handle repetitive movies/music/toys with songs etc. It doesn't phase me a bit. In fact, that was another reason for the Amazon digital purchase...so Joshua could watch it in the bedroom and I wouldn't feel bad when Chunk would come home from work and sigh about Frosty being on again, lol. Even the boys would say "not Frosty again!" although they would sit and watch it too.

When we went to spend the night with my parents (I think this was when Lee & Karen & the kids were in town) and Jack ended up getting sick. I took Jack & Joshua home. When I realized that we left Frosty there, you can guess what happened next...FROSTY #2 arrived!!!!

In our car, for a few weeks Joshua became obsessed with "coloring" Frosty. It became pretty routine and he would flip out when it was time to go, as he would exclaim "cuhlah" FROSTY!" We (Mama, Jack, Jared, Dada...Katie Payne...anyone really, lol) would draw a Frosty and then he would scribble all over it. He looked so cute with his legs propped up & "cuhlahwing" FROSTY!

When reading Frosty to him, I started playing this game and Joshua quickly caught on and it's such a precious memory...when we read books to him, it really means that we point out pictures and name them or we ask him to find specific things. Well, after he has mastered basically everything in the book, we both get a little bored...so he starts pointing to the wrong thing. But what's so funny is he sees me watching him (because he KNOWS he's about to get tickled) and he will start speaking really s-l-o-w-l-y! As in, I ask him where Santa Clause is and he points to Frosty and says "San------ta----------------Cla-----------use!!!!" And them grins really big and I tickle him. I love this game and it is so funny watching him do this. Even when it's over, he'll start giggling as saying "FUNNNNY!!!"

I'm sure there are a ton more ways that Frosty has recieved LOTS of love in our house...but these were the ones that I did not want to forget 😄 Here's Joshua this morning with his (2) FROSTY'S in my mom's car.

This is when he was actually Frosty.

Then I remembered that my mom taught him to say "Cheese!" and he knows to smile! This changed my our Frosty snapshots!

In case it is not evident, in all of them pics he is exclaiming "CHEESE!!!!!"

Dear Boys

2015-03-09T13:08:00.001-05:00

Don't be a fool when it comes to healthy foods! Because if you do...you may miss out, on one of Mommy's absolute favorite food...one that she rolled her eyes for, let's see about, 31 years of her life (yep, currently 32 as we speak). I could eat this every day, for every meal for the rest of my life. Thanks to 100 days of real food cookbook, I have perfected a a homemade recipe that I can now make. Well technically, I should say, SHE has perfected this marvelous recipe.

DELICIOUS doesn't give it the justice it deserves!

P.S. I'm not Martha Stewart. If you look past the sloppiness of it and think of (2) mashed avocados, onions, tomatoes, jalapeños and garlic...and that should just about make your mouth water!!!

And while we're talking about it...these Late July chips are so scrumptious! FYI...at Publix, you can buy a small bag (6 oz) for $3.99 (yes that hurts my feelings too)! BUT at Costco, you buy a whopping 24oz for what feels like FREE99 (compared to Publix), but is actually $5.99. This is a BIG bag of chips!

Here it is standing next to a box of cereal

And I'll this blog with a word to the (Parenting) wise....

If you happen to be making your favorite dish (and especially if you have no more back-up ingredients) while you're sick, dip-loving child is napping...be sure to set aside a small bowl for him. Otherwise, he will hop right on your seat, steal your (last!) bowl of dip and straight up dip>lick chip>dip>lick (same) chip...Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!

Happy Birthday my Frosty-Woody-Buzz loving 2 year old!

2015-03-08T14:40:00.001-05:00

Goodness, you'd think you were my first child, with how much I marvel at what you do/say. I just think you're a genius, lol. You LOVE to learn. I remember when I would read/hear a Mother talk about how her child "LOVES" books and I would think to myself...okay, yea my kids LOVE books...what's the big deal? However, now having had a child that LOVES books, I get it. He is beyond obsessed with books and has learned mostly all the names of things/animals in each of our books. It's amazing, but can be quite annoying as he knows how we pronounce each word. Many times in the car, he will point to a picture and I will try my darndest to repeat what I think he is saying and that little stinker gets MAD like Mama's doing it on purpose. Anyway, here's a few things about our little 2 year old that I want to remember.

My absolute favorite situation that I HAVE to get on camera is when I correct him about something he is doing wrong. He will think about it & then move forward with the wrong action. So I just sit and stare at him with the "MOM stare" (i.e. You are in trouble and my eyes are as fixed as a rock. You best rethink that choice you just made). Because of his pure innocence, he can't look away from me for more than 5-10 seconds. Sometimes he will just flat out try to ignore my stare, but again his pure innocence and genuine desire to please wins every time. Or he may be determined to, for example, hold onto that toy instead of putting it up to go to bed. Those times he will look at the toy and try so hard to play with it for just a second, then he glances back at me. His face is a dead-give-away of trying hard to be what he wants, but his God-given will to do what's right and please us wins every time. Once he gives in (usually takes 1- 1 1/2 mins), then he runs over to me with a big 'ol grin and holds his arms a out. It's like it's such a a relief to do the right thing and he's so glad he chose it, lol.

He is all about his Mama...and it's a shame because the rest of the family (except Jared) would greatly welcome some attention from him. For the longest time, I assumed it just so happened that his attachment was "Mama." However, something recently changed and it was quite bizarre. Chunk was working out in the living room and Joshua wanted nothing to do with me. He kept running to get into Chunk's "workout space."

Chunk was enjoying the extra love and hugs (plus holding 30+ lbs is an added workout bonus, lol). But he just got sick this past weekend and is back to being attached to my hip and wants nothing to do with anybody else. Speaking up the stinker...he just woke up crying, so we got some olives, water and mama's lap. Hopefully soon, he'll be back snoozing in his bed.

We did have some fun today, spending most of the day together 😄

He started enjoying (something different than Frosty and Daniel Tiger!)...Toy Story! I swear this is the first picture that he actually looks small :)

My parent threw in with us on buying Joshua a Buzz (because $60 hurts everyone's feelings! But $30 is doable, lol).

I brought them downstairs and threw them on the couch. Apparently, that was an unacceptable sitting/laying position for them and Joshua had to correct it....

Have I mentioned that he is quite anal? As in, worse than Jack, worse than Mama, worse than GRANDPA!!!!

I have never and I mean never unloaded the dishwasher faster than I did today. He was a pro and just handing everything to me. Up until now, it used to frustrate
me and I think it's because he never happened to come around when it was time to unload. But today, the timing was right. He cracked me up because he got the stool out and once we were done, he put it right back up. Boy doesn't mess around when it's time to clean up!

He is getting so skinny. I miss that belly! He's still got some rolls on the back of his thighs :) sorry, sweet boy when you read this in your teens.

Oh yea and this is his new thing. He brings ALL his dolls that he sleeps downstairs with him. Many times, he puts them all around his little table, in their own chairs. He's a funny guy. And we sure do love him!!

Happy 2nd birthday sweet Boy! We love you so much and thankrb

Sometimes haircuts mean nothing at all...

2015-03-04T21:31:00.001-06:00

Sometimes they just reveal a delay in the road of parenting (soccer practice, basketball practice, the flu, SLEEP, homework etc. etc. etc.)

Other times haircuts can mean one thing, one evil, disgusting, blood-sucking thing!

That's right folks = LICE!!!!

As if me having scabies (which is way harder to get rid of than Lice, in it's own way though) while I was pregnant with Jack. Then again, when Jack was 3ish, Jared was 2ish, isn't torture enough!!!

We received an email from St. Rose yesterday that 2 kids in their building had lice. We actually received notification 2 weeks ago (my mom reminded of this) and (SHAME! SHAME! on this Mama!!!), I never checked them. Quite dumb on my part, but 100% innocent. We've just never experienced this before and it was an "ewww! thank Heavens we don't have it" perception.

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I for some reason recalled the email and checked Jared. He was good.

Then, I check Jack. Within a couple of seconds, I find a bug. Like a bigger-than-a-flea BUG. I flush it down the sink in denial and continue looking. 30 seconds later, I find bug #2.

I email my mom and Chunk and chill in denial for about 15 minutes. Well part-denial because I'm also waiting for the pediatric nurse to call me back. We talk for 20+ minutes. She has 2 girls with LONG hair. They've had it multiple times. We discuss the best brand, the steps, how to prevent etc. etc. etc.

Then I remember Joshua. I grab him, pray to God he doesn't have it (after learning, they have to sit for 10 mins with the lice killing shampoo. Then you wash, apply gel and comb for...however long it takes!). So I start looking and within 30 seconds, I see a bug! ICK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I check Jared again for minutes and find nothing.

6 1/2 hrs later...these 3 boys get an awesome haircut by dada. I WISH I had a before-picture of their long hair! It's been a couple of months and I had actually scheduled 4 hair appointments for tonight!

Originally, I objected shaving and then we started with Joshua and I quickly told Chunk "Do what you gotta!!"

Joshua wasn't bad at all. It was 1 1/2 hrs past his bedtime (6pm=bedtime, he was placed in his non-familiar, no stuffed animals, only the buzz light year birthday present - at 7:30pm & tossed & turned & sat up until 10pm!).

Chunk treated Jared. I treated Jack. I combed that boys hair for over 2 hrs. I am not exaggerating, I probably combed 200+ lice out of his head!!! In the beginning, every comb-thru would yield at least 3-5 lice that I could see. Towards the end, I thought we were almost done...then I combed in a different direction, in a different spot and there were a few babies that were teeny.tiny but moving around like a newborn!!!

SHEW! I am proud of Jack for being able to sit for so long!

By 11:30, when Chunk and I were treating our own hair...I was nearing the point of insanity. I still had many hours of close-out entries (for work) that were due THAT.NIGHT.

First, I literally prayed to God "Dear Lord, please, please remove any lice on my head. I feel I may go over the deep end, if I find it in my hair."

Then I told Chunk (as I applied 5x the amount of shampoo that they used) that I just might shave or chop my hair off IF.I.SEE.ANY.INKLING.OF.A.BUG! He laughed and said "hell no" and that he would comb thru my hair for as long as it took.

Fortunately, it was only Jack & Joshua that had lice. I kept everyone home today. Yet, I got an email from their teachers today that Jack's class and Jared's class confirmed 1 more classmate (in each class) with lice!

I did however find out about fairy tales & lice repel natural shampoo/spray/lice repellent with kick-butt testimonials!

I ordered and am ready to be done with this!!! Yucky! Yucky!

P.S. You're welcome for making you itch after reading this!!!!!

Pacman

2015-02-28T15:32:00.001-06:00

Jack has been loving him some Pacman here lately. I was preparing a crock pot meal and wasn't paying attention to what he was making with playdoh. But he was describing the rules and how after we were both done, we were going to "play the coolest game EVER."

I came upstairs to his room and this is what I saw :)

We each had 4x to be Pacman. We had to get Pacman to eat the Orange ball before the Ghost got to Pacman. If Pacman gets the Orange ball before the Ghost does, then Pacman gets to eat the Ghost & then lock them in jail.

As you can see, Mama had all 3 cells full!

I was very impressed that he made these all by himself!

He's one creative boy :)

I'm kinda over this consignment thing....

2015-02-21T23:40:00.001-06:00

And ready to throw in the towel and call Hannah Home! It's 11:30 and I've been sorting toys since about 2:30.

This is what happens when you have an (almost) 2 yr old help you at my mom's house...

But it ended like this...

Now I have to clean out chunk's car and sort and price all those toys! Now, onto our house...

Jack's room/playroom WAS clean before I came in...

I guess the "good news" (if there is such a thing...30 mins before midnight and I need to complete this before 3x turds wake-up to seek 'n' destroy) is that I am 90% done with pricing and tagging clothes...

But I did see a video that made me smile. I guess it's good to know that we're not really supposed to ever get anything done 😃

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=_bP0Uf3Shd0

Look at that sweet baby boy!

2015-02-20T22:54:00.001-06:00

Big Boy in a Big Bed!

2015-02-20T19:54:00.001-06:00

The I have felt so behind since Joshua turned 16 months!...

rewind to 5ish years ago....

Although I was DEAD SET against it, Chunk ('s cheap butt!) convinced me to move Jack into a twin bed at 16mths. Therefore, when Jared was born a month later, he would have a crib to sleep in.

It worked like (such a!) charm that when Jared turned 16 mths, I kicked his behind out of the crib (despite the fact that no baby was coming along).

I guess everything is different with the last baby. I was not as strict with his sleeping habits, thus he took 4 mths to STTN. I've been wanting to move him to a big bed, but life gets busy (and tiring!). Anywho, today was the day (16 days before he turns 2 yrs old!) I decided. At his naptime, he (attempted) to sleep vertically (versus horizontally in his crib, which clearly gives him more room!), while staring at the camera. His chunky legs slide thru the crib rails (stop at the knee).

After I got the 11am early dismissal text from St. Rose, I had already interrupted his "naptime" and begun taking down the crib.

A few errands & hours later, one (nap-missing) sleepy boy cried for <1 minute and has been happily sleeping in his BIG bed!!!

This was him this afternoon playing in his new bed.

This was him "practicing sleeping" in his new big bed!

The funniest thing was after we first setup his bed, he laid like this, stretched orur each arm and exclaimed "NIGHT! NIGHT!" We laughed and Chunk laughed about Joshua's thoughts "YES! THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO FEEL!!!"

He's now in a queen size bed! And we found some of his favorites "FROSTY" to decorate his wall.

Here he is sleeping in his bed :) I'm quite tempted to go in there and peek at him :) Babies ARE the cutest when they are sleeping!

Okay, you'll have to excuse me while I gather my thoughts about my last baby being out of the crib!!!! 😢😂😭😪😥😰😅😓😤😄😄😄😄😜😭😭😭😢😂😂😓😥😰😅😤😤😤😩😫😩😫😩😩😋😋😋😡😢😢😂😭😪😅😓😜😜😗😙😳😳😂😭😥😰👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

I got jipped!

2015-02-19T23:31:00.001-06:00

Before I proceed in sharing my "jipped" story, I feel the need to share the following:

1) This blog was primarily created for (2) people. 1st My sweet mother-in-law. I knew how much she enjoyed hearing stories about the boys, and I wanted another way to share them with her. Even though she (like her punk son!) might not ever make a comment about a post, I knew she appreciated hearing the stories :) 2nd I have searched back over the years looking for a specific entry and enjoyed reading over the good & the bad of parenting that I forgot.

With that being said, I wanted to point out that some things I say might not feel appropriate to others <ahem, Dad!> but that is how I talk. This is who I am and more importantly, strangers can't search for my lingo & find my blog, lol. It is hidden in Google, but if you have the link, you may pull it up. Anywho, I'll carry on with my story now...

I got jipped because having had (3) c-sections, I totally assumed that my explanation of how babies were born (i.e. the doctor cut>cut>cuts your belly and out comes the baby).

Well, Jared has become quite the inquisitive boy lately. Granted, he's the only one interested in what his life was like as a baby. We've looked at baby pictures and many conversations at bedtime has been about his birth, how I held him, if I rocked him etc.

Tonight, as I tucked him into bed, he asked "Mama, did Nani have to get cut open by a doctor so that you would be born?"

"No, honey she didn't. Good night and I love you."

"But Mama, I don't understand....."

"Well honey, God intended for most babies birth to occur via the birth canal."

"Where is the birth canal, Mama?"

"The birth canal is in between Mama's legs, Ya know where she goes tee-tee."

"Oh! I get it. You mean the baby crawls up into the pee-pee and the becomes born?"

"No, honey. We will discuss it another day."

"Mama, I understand. You mean the baby climbs up into the hair and then comes out?"

"NO. HONEY. WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT TOMORROW."

Totally NOT fair. All those c-sections should have had some advantage!!! Lol!! :)

Why my husband rocks

2015-02-09T17:38:00.001-06:00

I was given a deadline that was beyond impossible to meet and (surprise!) the day ended and it wasn't met. I never even received the file to begin on my deadline. But that's cool because there were another 100+ other issues that occupied my time :)

Anyway, I texted Chunk as I was leaving telling him that I felt defeated (+ a few more sentences of whining) and that I needed mexican and a drink...but that if things were hectic with the boys, I'd "de-stress" by singing my heart out in my car and come home....

His response was "Go get your mexican baby."

You bet your a$$, there were a few happy tears shedded as a result of that sweet reply.

Thanks babe...I am enjoying the peace and quiet :)

Here are a few other reasons that he rocks :)

He's funny: He can turn ANY situation into a humorous one. Trust me I've witnessed some where he had to dig deep, as it was inappropriate(!) and I had to fake laugh & change the subject.

He loves his family: If he goes out of town, it is so evident by his demeanor, just how much he missed his family. If one of the boys spends the night with my parents, I hear him exclaim "I missed you! You haven't told me how your day was! Don't make me get you boy..."

He reads the boys a book every night: Here lately, in the past couple of months, he has been reading the boys their book each night. We used to alternate and I think it switched to primarily being him, when they started reading the Magic Treehouse books (Yep, you guessed it! Because Chunk actually wanted to know what happened in the book!). Anyways I don't know if it's because I'm just "spent" at that time or because I don't get that "involved" lol in the books, but man, I have appreciated each and every night that he reads them a book.

He'a thoughtful: This weekend he bought (and arranged the boys to spend the night with my parents) us tickets to see The (mock) Beatles group on Valentine's Day. He's also initiated planning something fun for us to do with a group of friends for our 10yr anniversary.

He loves MY family: He chats with both his "best friends" often enough (my mom and dad), that I stopped relaying info to him because he had apparently already discussed it with my parents.

He's an awesome, awesome dad: Whereas signing the boys up for soccer or basketball overwhelms me about fitting practice/games into our schedule, he not only encourages them to sign up, but he also signs up to be their Coach....BOTH of their Coaches.

God was apparently feeling humorous by making ALL 3 of our boys, MAMA's Boys!...As I would have gladly waved to them from afar, as they hovered all over Chunk. Even during Joshua's (whiny, trying) sick days, Chunk still admits he would gladly take the bad with the good, if they were attached to his hip!

He's just an awesome man that I couldn't be more proud of and more thankful for...especially on days like today. I love you babe!