Family Photos

Time to show off my family!

It seems that the importance of having a family photos goes up when a major even is about to happen.  Such is the case now, right before Matt's deployment.  

We've known about Matt's deployment since mid-November, I just wasn't sure how to tell people?  I guess?
The day of Thanksgiving, after having stuffed ourselves, we loaded up in the car and found a cotton field to take some quick pics.  Here are the results:

This weekend Matt's parents came over, and of course we had to get some photos!  Hello?!  It was actually fun, and pretty easy.  Just some quick ones out in the backyard.

 And then we headed over to a nature park to take a few photos in some rad Boise State shirts.

:: BLOOPERS and fun-ness from photo sessions ::

My best impression of Amy Farrah Fowler from the Big Bang Theory.

Upside Down House

When Matt "move in" at the end of November I was ready.  Ready for some major change in our home.  It was time to get everything the way I wanted it to--nay, the way it should be!

During the first weekend he was home we switched all the bedroom, multiple times.  It was crazy.  And there was mild swearing.
I thought I was happy with one way, but really it needed to be another way.  Gosh, so overwhelming!

So from December till January there wasn't much "decorating," just organizing.
And the two little boys who had to deal with me all day, were kind of over all the crazy, and tried to find sanity in small and simply ways.

 

After Christmas I was a bit over spending money, and tired of trying to figure out how the house should "really" look.  So I took a break, and dealt with really blank walls.  

However Matt's parents are coming for a visit, which has sent "crazy decoration Shannon" into over drive.  Things still aren't perfect, but it's all coming into place... maybe with one too many nail holes in the wall. 

And once again the boys have tried to find sanity away from Frenzied Mama.

Here's a little sneak peak of what's going on. 

Livingroom, and things have changed even from when I took this picture last night.  And big empty space above the couch?  Pictures of the boys in white frames.   

And what meet me every morning when I walk into the hall.  My HUGE calendar: "2013: Every Day Is A Good Day."  Yes, yes it is.  I need this reminder especially with Matt's deployment!  

ANNNNNDDDDDDD!!!  

I got an iPhone.  

My BlackBerry has died, and a new phone is here to save me.  

Apple haters, I'm sorry, but we really got this so that me and the boys will be able to FaceTime with Matt over this next year while he's gone.  So hate if you must, but since FaceTime is like the best way to communicate it's worth being labeled a "mindless Apple Drone."

Plus, I really like Apple products.  Yes!  (So really there's no apologies, hehe!)   

Cute Kids, Ugly Truth

Everyday after school Isaac asks, "What did you guys do today?"  

"Oh," I sigh, "nothing much."

Life with these two at home is pretty fun.  Not that having Isaac at home is NOT fun, but I feel like I'm able to give these two some personal time.  Which neither of them really have had.  (Isaac had 2.5 years to himself before a brother came.)

It's going to change this fall.  Mr. Eli is going to pre-K, and I have to decide about Titus and a 3's class. Right now, I'm thinking not for Titus.  Most of the preschool's here are 5 days a week and 8 hours a day, it's taken some work to find one that is 4 days a week and 3 hrs a day for Eli.  

Guys, I don't know what I'm going to do when they are all in school.  My life has been toddlers, toddlers, and more toddlers for so long... Just, wow.  It's going to get quiet.  Maybe I'll be able to plan meals better, get the house cleaned, work in the yard, read a book, possibly start classes again??   I think I'm realizing (aging and again and again) how quickly this is going to happen.  They will all be in school (pre-K and up) in a year and a half.

And yes, I could homeschool.  However, I know myself.  Truth be told, I am not a very patient person. I rather not destroy my children while I try to "better myself."  Shoot, I've been working on patience all of my life, and it isn't getting any better. In fact, I think I'm getting worse.  Plus, how can I teach my kids the whole wide world, when I'm so overwhelmed with the ABC's for Titus and Eli?!?!

If homeschool is your thing, that's great.  Really it is.  No judgement passed, and I don't think your kids are missing out on anything.  But homeschool is not mine... Motherhood has never been easy for me, something I never felt I was "doing a good job" at, and I realize I would really suck our family up if I tired it.

You want to know the truth?  I get up every morning pleading with God to help me.  "Please help, I'm so overwhelmed.  I don't know if I can do any of this right."  Most of the time I get a reassuring push in the back, which seems to say, "Shannon I love you.  But get out of bed, put your bra on, and feed the kids."

But, still:
I yell.
I run and hide.
I dance dirty in front of the kids while they are trying to watch a show.
Yes, my kids watch shows.  It's true.

(You know, I think I was made to live in the time of "live in a compound with the family" thing.  Matt and I make the babies, give them to the grandparents to raise, while he and I work the fields.  Or he goes hunting, and I tend the corn.  Plus another bonus is all us women nurse each other's babies!  So maybe my children will be able to be breast feed past 7 months old.)

So this is why I bake and cook good things.  Cause hopefully "A way to a man's heat is through his stomach" is true, and my boys will forget all the bad (and weird) and only remember warm chocolate chip cookies.
Or muffins.
The way Eli just reacted from me telling him we were having those for breakfast was priceless!  "Chocolate chip muffins!"  He yells with his arms wide and over his head, "Oh yeah!  They're my favorite!"


And no matter what, no matter my inabilities or insecurities, these boys will always be "My favorite!"