Because I like sympathy

When I was growing up I really never wanted to be a housewive or a mother.  I think part of that was a defense mechanism that I started at 19 when I was told it would be hard for me to conceive any children.  The doctors could've have been more wrong.  I basically can sneeze and get pregnant.

It's also because I saw my sister birth my youngest nephew and that cured me.  For a really long time.

I was just someone who wanted a career and to make a name for myself. 

Then I met N and things started to change.  I began to love cooking and cleaning and making our home someplace that was comfortable.  It brought me much more joy than any career I could have.

Then Zoe came along and all my prior hopes and ideas were thrown out the window.  All my priorities changed.  I no longer wanted to be known for my job, but as a great wife and mother. 

Part of this new ideal, in my mind, is a great garden.  This past spring I started my first flower garden and even attempted to grow some pumpkins.  Which I'm proud to report have totally taken over our patio.  It's almost like that big squid at the end of the last Pirates movie.  You know the one that grabs the ships and takes it underwater.  I'm not saying that's the look I'm going for in this new picture I have, but live and learn.  Pumpkins need room.  Miles and miles of room.

To extend my green thumb into other areas of growing, I bought some bulbs.  In 2006 my mom, our dear friend Rose and I went to the tulip festival in Mount Vernon.  It was one of those moments where I fell in love with all things bulb related. 

Those bulbs arrived on Friday, just in time for some weekend planting.  When I opened the box I realized that it contained 100 bulbs.  I had 75 tulips, 15 hyacinth and 20 crocus.  I laid them out to ensure they'd be spaced well and started to dig.  And dig.  And dig.  100 little holes is quite a bit. 

It was so many holes that my green thumb tried to get a hole of its own.

Ain't she a beauty? 

Not as pretty as my garden will be though.  That's for sure.

I think I need an oxygen tank

This week both N and I celebrate our birthdays.  It's been a busy month.  We have a birthday every week for 6 weeks starting the beginning of September and our anniversary is thrown in there.

To say we're busy right now is an understatement.

My mom offered to take the girls Sunday while N and I went to church.  We stopped to pick up lunch and when we arrived at her house, we were pelted with balloons.  All the girls were yelling surprise and "happy birthday" to us. 

They even helped frost a cake.  To make sure everything was exact, they put 32 candles on it. 

Does that thing look imtimidating?

Both N and I were thrilled to have our girls help plan a birthday party for us.

We had some lunch, played Left-Right-Center and then it was time for cake.  It took N 5 minutes to light all the candles.  We made a wish as they were all singing.  I think it took a good three blows to get those candles out.

For our age we are exceptionally out of shape.  I am still feeling a little light headed. 

Thank you  D, E and Zoe for such a wonderful day.  Thank you Grandma for taking all three girls and organizing our shindig.

N and I are going to sit by the oxygen tank and regain our breath.

A sneak peek

On Sunday my family had the awesome opportunity to work with Jaidean Baker.  She's a photographer that I've been blog stalking for quite some time.  I love how she captures families, especially children.  To say I was excited about this is putting it mildly.  I may have been known to have a countdown running on our calendar. 

As we chatted about the session, I told her that I did want a family shot, but mainly wanted her to capture those candid moments.  She did not disappoint.  The pictures of beautiful. 

Thank you Jaidean.  I'm beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you.  Thank you for capturing our girls as they are. 

She has a sneak peek of the session on her blog. 

Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day it's Cinderelly

Growing up, when I wasn't spending hours of time talking to myself in the mirror, I would spend the rest of my time playing dress-up.  My mom had gone to Goodwill and bought a bunch of clothes for me and my cousin to play with.  I can remember this white shawl with fringe that I thought made me look much older than my 4 years.  Then again it could've been the tennis balls I stuck down my shirt to channel Dolly Parton a la 9 to 5.

I have no idea why I did that, other than I've always wished I had been born with a little more up top.  That's a story for a different time.  Or never.

The point is, I dressed up constantly.  Then I would get out the tape recorder and sing some song or have my mom interview me because the tennis balls made me famous.  Just like Dolly.

In the last couple weeks Zoe has started to enjoy dressing up.  She has some jewelry, butterfly wings and princess shoes.  Her current style is Cinderella.

It warms my heart to the point of almost bursting to see her enjoying dress up.  It's going to take our tea parties to a whole different level.

She already has the stance of a princess lounging ever so dramatically after a long day. 

Please excuse the laundry on the princess's throne, her maid is a little behind.  She doesn't have any mice to help her.

Which she is very thankful about.  The frogs are enough.

Wordless Wednesday

I love boys

I have the coolest nephews on the planet. They are awesome hockey players, they like to blow stuff up and they still, in a very quiet whisper tell me they love me. You can't say it too loud for fear of losing your cool status. Honestly, I'll take it any way they're willing to give it. I'm honored to be their aunt.

Yesterday my nephew T-Dog turned 8. I still remember the first time I held him, told him how much I loved him and he smiled. Then he tooted. It bonded us for life. There have been many times in the past 8 years where he has liked to relive that moment. Now it's accompanied by smell. Something his hour-old toot didn't have.

There is a totally different dynamic with boys than with girls. When I bring out the camera, D, E and Zoe pose, smile and totally ham it up.

My nephews, both T-Dog and MJ, ask me to video them turning their faces red. On two, totally separate times. Apparently they like to make those veins in their foreheads pop out. The best part is trying to get them to break. Here is my quest.

Thanks for being two of the coolest guys I know. I'm honored to be your Aunt.

Next year, I'm hoping my youngest nephew, Con-Man will let me video him grunting. That would be the trifecta of cool.

Cuddles

I read one time that you fall more in love with your husband when you see them as a father to your children. At the time I didn't understand what that meant. Over the course of the last 2 years, that quote has been hit home more times than I can remember.

You tell me how true that quote was:

There are two differences though: Zoe has grown and instead of napping on you, she'd rather watch Yo Gabba Gabba with you.