Booger is the new Black

Super cute baby right? All but the tell tale shiny spot. That glistening snot droplet is Sloans must have accessory - she always has one . Haven't you heard that booger is the new black? That mucus is the new maxi dress? She did away with her signature look about 2 weeks ago and I was in kissy face heaven! I didn't have to worry if a salty treat would accompany my kiss goodnight or if my shoulder and legs would have mysterious matte streaks all over . Her bottom incisors came in and life was sweet! Last weekend the nightmare began and one by my kids started dropping like flies succombing to a stomach flu (24 hours- phew) and my baby was not spared - neither was my husband who has had to embrace the throne all day. Her nose is back running like a faucet and I have to do a tissue sweep before her strawberry lips touch mine. I can only dream of a snot free world where mucus does not reign supreme.

Aunt Mel is Well

We were all this sad thinking we might lose our wonderful Aunt Mel ( this is not a pic of Ava crying over Aunt Mel -I like to take pic's for scrappin' but come on that seems way wrong ). A week of fervent prayer and waves of grief have affected every member of our family after Mel was comatose with a life threatening bout of pneumonia . After a week of sorrow and worry Aunt Mel is awake and crackin' jokes about being too stubborn to die and while she is learning to use her body again we are all thankful for miracles,prayer, our Heavenly Father and our selfless loving kind Aunt Mel who is always ready with a smile and hug , loves a ball game , always comes prepared with treats, loves a good joke ( bawdiness is optional), is always there when you need her and can clean a load of laundry like no buddies business ( be afraid stains she's baaaack ) . I love my Aunt Mel we all do.

The Big Girls

Here are the big girls who are always ready to get their toes painted and hair curled, to break out in impromptu song and dance , dream of going to the mall, help me with any project - whether I like it or not, jump on the trampoline till their legs are wobbly , boss around the baby- I mean watch her, put on copious amounts of dress up clothes and lip gloss , valiantly try to play basketball and not double dribble, find all the slimy worms in the garden, and play Barbies till their the fingers bleed from putting on all those teeny tiny shoes- ahhhhhh, it's so fun to be a big girl and even more fun to be the big girlies Mom!

Don'tcha just Love Love?

Nash loves Sloan and Sloan loves Nash.

Birthday Madness!!!!!

My eldest son Xander ( who loves that X Man is a possible nickname) and middle daughter Ava ( not really like Jan at all -thank heavens) just enjoyed turning 9 and 4 ( Chucky Cheese is counting my ducats and laughing in his creepy robotic sinister way). Both had parties ( I would like to go on record as a staunch Chucky pizza hater- hello gross) with some wonderful amigos and familia .They loved planning their treat for school and the menu for breakfast and lunch plus eating off the red plate on their big days.The first two weeks of February are birthday central here and the kids make sure the birthday child is El Capitan . Ava is a little unsure of becoming a full flegged big girl ( she is struggling with remaining potty trained and every word starts with a d wether you like it or not) and Xander thinks he's pretty much a teen by now (he is dreaming of a fedora ala Jonas Bros. and reads Tolkien-sheesh). Kevin and I feel blessed to have such great kids who are unique and amazing ! ( and without a birthday to plan- aka throw together- until July when Nash and Sloan hit us with a double whammy- good thing I dig a party!)

Brothers gotta Hug!

Xander and Nash compete ,adore, hate, play with, stick up for, beat up and snuggle with each other. I am lucky to have two boys who are wonderful , creative and eager to learn how to be little men. Sometimes I want to ring their necks but mostly they make me very proud.

Sugarz' for Suckaz'

It has been 2 weeks without a treat (Devan and I made these to pass out at Christmas and because it was a fruit based treat I gobbled up wayyy more than my fair share) and although late at night (like right now ) or in the afternoon I sometimes feel like I would sell my firstborn for a Snickers ( sorry Xander there are a few non-perks as the eldest child) it has been ok so far... ok and merging into the not so bad lane. Deciding to do it and not worrying about what I would miss out on (Valentines candy,Sunday night dessert, and my Grandmas hot Devils food cake with warm 7 minute frosting at Devan and Ashtons showers to name a few) was the first giant step the rest has been, as the great and timeless Bill Murray sez', Baby Steps. Baby steps around the frozen section so the gravitational pull of some poor-me-I-need-a-treat-ice cream doesn't suck me in .Baby steppin through the candy/cookie aisle where the Bermuda Triangle of Oreo Rocher and Mint Milanos make me feel dizzy and clammy. Baby steps pass the kitchen where chocolate chips are waiting to be turned into pizzookies and milk begs me for some Hershey's. I don't want to go through my life where my stress and mood dictate how I treat my body. I have a whole truckload of big daddy stress right now-(who doesn't Einstein) but by being proactive (the verb not the skincare line-though I hear it works wonders) maybe I can manage everything and not gain a million more pounds maybe even lose a few .Hilari and I are doing this sugar break challenge until the end of April-her 30th Bday -so it is wonderful to have a 'sugar sponsor' to talk me down from the rice krispie ledge- and as the days go by I find I need less hand holding which is empowering and my body does seem to feel better. I feel 100% certain that I can make it the next 12 weeks -bold and brash you say , well that's how I roll - but not cinnamon roll .