Icing on the cake

My 3 sons... Monkey See, Bud, Monkey Do

Motherhood is exhilarating, exciting, emotional and exhausting.

Some days it's all cake.

Other days, it's a giant piece of cake slathered in the yummiest frosting ever known to mankind.

(yes, I have cake on the mind).

Puddin, Daisy, Bud, Monkey See, Monkey Do- March 2009

One of my biggest surprises about being a mommy to many little munchkins is the relationship they have with each other.

Puddin and Monkey See checking out Bud- March 2009

I ADORE watching them love on each other.

Puddin, Monkey See, & Monkey Do- Sept. 2007

It melts my heart to watch them interact with such joy
and love for each other.

Puddin and Bud, March 11, 2009

Now, don't get me wrong, it's not always rainbows and puppies around here. They argue, disagree, and as of late, a certain someone has taken to pinching. *sigh*

BUT a lot of the time they don't do any of that stuff. THEY LIKE EACH OTHER!!!!

Monkey Do and Puddin- August 2011

Hearing my two year old ask her sister if she had a

good day is precious!

Listening to my four year old pray for his siblings and the

"bootiful weader we awre havin" is a sweet, sweet sound.

Monkey See, Puddin, Monkey Do- 2008

When my two year old busts her lip, (a first for us and very traumatic to say the least) it comforts me to know that her sister is just as worried and concerned as I am.

The concern, joy and love they show for each other every day is, well, icing on the cake!

Monkey Do, Puddin and Monkey See, July 24, 2009

It's a relationship I didn't really visualize when we decided to have another baby. Yes, I wanted my children to be close, to be friends and to love each other, but I didn't really know the joy it would bring me to see it all unfold before my eyes!

Puddin and Monkey See, the first time I really saw them being friends and

LOVING to play with each other! Watching a dream become a reality!

Fall 2007

When we were expecting the boys, I prayed that the Lord would give us the wisdom and the strength to raise our children in a godly home and to bring them up in a way that would be honoring to Him. I also prayed that they would be close in their relationships with each other. I am humbled to see God honor the desire of my heart! What a blessing!

To see them love on each other, encourage each other and find joy in each others company is such a blessing!

Thank you Lord for this gift!

 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the

desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Watching these two, snuggled up in a laundry basket telling secrets! What a precious time!

Easter Rewind

We had an absolutely fabulous Easter this year.

Easter is probably my favorite holiday and it's so fun watching children understand the meaning behind it.

I also get to host our Easter dinner so that's super fun for me too!

I'm so far behind in updating everyone with what's going on, and since I was unable to get a family Easter photo (it's pretty much impossible these days....mostly because of this little guy) I thought I'd share some outtakes instead.
He's cute alright, but don't let that sweet face fool you! He's quick and he's determined!

Case in point... the family photo. Should be easy right, line up, look at mommy, say cheese. NOPE.

Not going to happen. He makes us work for it!

checking to see if anyone is in pursuit...

gotcha!

cheese!

Next we went around tot he backyard to see if our "Magic Jellybeans" had grown anything over night.

Sure enough, they had! Each of the children had a giant lollipop grow right where they planted their jellybeans the night before!

*grin*
They were thrilled!

Since Sunday mornings are so crazy in our house (getting everyone up, fed, dressed and out the door in a good mood to make it to church on time) we have agreement with the Easter Bunny... he can come to our house, as long as he comes while we are at church so that the kids can have their baskets after church instead of before. We would never get out the door if we didn't do it that way!

here they are checking out their goodies!

*adorable!*

Very happy kiddos!

getting ready for the egg hunt!

The haul!

Competition was so fierce Puddin had to trade her basket in for a bag and she

nearly lost her bow this year!

Gotta love Daisy's snarl! She just wants the candy at this point!

Out Takes

Well, I tried to get a picture of my crew with my daddy... this was the result. Ha! Chaos at its finest! We really have it down to an art these days! :)

It appears as if Daisy is giving him an ear full to start off...

or maybe it's just the warning of what's to come?

Here they are... The fabulous 5, my Daddy and my nephew "B". In hindsight, this was a good picture. We probably should have stopped here.But- I thought, surely I can get a better one with everyone looking at the camera and smiling. In my defense, I had not been awake long and I truly am not a morning person. I think much clearer late at night! Even this shot was a good one considering what's about to happen... This is when it starts to fall apart... Bud on the run is a dead giveaway things will end poorly! You can barely see Monkey See in the back ground here. My Daddy, deciding it would be a good idea to hold Bud and Daisy to help contain them for the picture, inadvertently put poor Monkey See in a choke hold! Also notice- Puddin is still holding her pose. Ever the professional! My dear daddy, begging for help! Monkey See coming up for air! Puddin broke her pose... everyone is fading fast! My daddy giving in- Bud wins again! He is (sadly) undefeated!!!

His strength and determination are seriously hard to comepete with.

That boy is hard headed!

At least my Daddy was still smiling and no one was harmed during this "photo shoot"!

Pappy

While my Daddy and co. were visiting a couple of weeks ago we

decided to have a quick photo session before they headed home.

These kiddos love their Pappy!

Puddin and Pappy

Monkey Do and Pappy

Monkey See, Pappy and Daisy (she wasn't too keen on sharing the spot light!) Bud and Pappy *While these pictures look mild mannered and sweet, the outtakes are priceless! I tried so hard to get one of all 5 of mine together with him....hilarious! I will share those tomorrow!

SNOW CREAM

This month has been a busy one. It was set aside as my Mary Month. Not familiar with that term?? Check out Jmom- she is way more articulate than I am! While I have been able to be more of a Mary and less of a Martha, lets face it, life with 5 littles is still a busy one!

We have also had a lot of snow- I mean a lot for our area!
2 weeks ago we had 4- 5 inches on the ground!! Last night left a dusting, just an inch or so, but enough to close the schools. And considering most of my babes have been sick, we didn't mind another snow day!

So while the weather outside looks a little like this,

from last nights snowfall... taken at lunch time today

We have been doing a little of this,

Bud and Daisy LOVED their first batch of homemade Snow Cream!

So, while I'm no where near a Pioneer Woman, I thought I'd still share my favorite snow cream recipe for those of you interested. It is YUM-YUM Good!!

SNOW CREAM

1 cup sugar

1-2 tbsp vanilla

2 cups of milk

4-6 cups of clean, WHITE snow ;)

Now, just mix it all up really quickly, top it with sprinkles and serve it to your littles!

EASY-PEASY!

Saying Goodbye

Last Saturday evening my father in law passed away. This week has been a hard one for everyone. (It seems weird to, once again, be blogging about something so important but this is my way to document what's going on in our lives.)
I wish I were more eloquent of a writer.
I'm not.
I wish I had the time and the words to say everything I want to say about this special man.
I don't.
I don't even know where to begin.

I've been trying to explain to Puddin that Papa is a better place- he is with Jesus, and that is a great, great thing. But how can you explain that to a 5 year old that now knows the permanence of death?
She still misses Nanny, and so do I.
She worries about Nana, and so do I.
She has such a tender, tender heart.
It has been a hard week.
We are working through some things here.

He was a funny man, full of humor and loved to make people laugh... something he has passed on to my Puddin, for sure!
He had a beautiful marriage to my mother in law. Next week is their 60th wedding anniversary! WOW!
So, since words escape me right now, how about I share some of my favorite Papa pictures?!

Papa and Monkey See. December 2007

Papa and Daisy. July 2009

Monkey See, Nana, Puddin, Papa and Monkey Do. December 2009

Monkey Do, Papa, Puddin, Monkey See and Nana. July 2008