Bear Stretches, Man Food, & Football

Last night, we went to bed at 8:30.  Yes, it has been that kind of week.  I rolled out of bed around 5:00 am and soon after, I heard a little knock on the bathroom door as I was getting ready.  "Mommmmmmy!"  I cracked the door open to find a mini Kevin McCallister baby standing at my door, wide-eyed and bushy tailed, ready for the day.  Keep in mind this little guy was supposed to have slept in with daddy...I had no idea what to do next.  Well, good news.  I thought of something.  It was pay day and this little boy loves Cars.  I grabbed my iPad and didn't hesitate paying 20 bucks for the download I'd been eyeing to add to his little collection.  We snuggled in bed, began the movie and he was set.  I thought anyway.  I finally finished getting ready and as soon as I seen he was cozied up again, snuck out the door.  A little while later, I text Cade to check on everything.  Here's the response...

Needless to say, I laughed and my heart melted all at the same time.  Perfect way to begin a Friday:)  Pretty sure this is one for the books!

Speaking of the end of another week...  How are we already nearing the last day of the first month of 2015?  The Mr.'s birthday and the Super Bowl are this weekend.  Anyone else kind of stuck as to what to serve?  We are having some family time during the Super Bowl, so I am in charge of the spread for our friends tomorrow night for Cade's birthday.  I am pretty sure I am leaning toward a chili or nacho bar but I can't decide.  I am certain I will make these potato skin chips with chipotle ranch dip!  Nom.  What's on your menu?

Here are some more fun ideas that I found at some of my favorite places on the www.  It's always nice when other people do the dirty work for you...on a silver platter-Super Bowl fun!

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Happy weekend, friends!

May you eat lots of man food, sleep in, bear stretch, and stay up late watching the game!

Let's go Tom Brady...errrr Patriots?  Minus the cheating, please.

Weekend Tales

One of my favorite things in the world to do, is turn off the t.v. and blare something classical like Frank Sinatra all over the house.  It automatically sets the mood for a very romantic, relaxing, and rejuvenating environment.  When you add snow to the mix, you pretty much have the perfect day.  I think I just set the mood for our weekend tales:)

Cam is morphing into Denis the Menace these days.  Soaking in the bubble baths until his hands are wrinkly and over 3/4 of the bath water has been splashed onto the floor.  He pretends to cut his toe nails with the edge of a travel size toothpaste.  "Hey Mr. Wilson?"  Nope, "Hey mommy.  Watcha donin?"  He says it 1,447,984 times a day.  And it still somehow melts my heart every time.  He tackles Honor and wrestles her until she finally takes cover back in her laundry room residence.  He packs his little car backpack full of, you guessed it, more cars and tractors to tote with us everywhere we go.  I would really love to have a little girl one day, but somehow, sometimes I think I may be destined to be a boy mom for life?  I don't know.  I guess time will tell:)

In other weekend news, after the first full week of cooking in the new year, I came very close to burning down the house.  The olive oil for our stir fry got a little too hot and poof, as Cam said..."fire!"  Luckily, the Mr. had just got home from work, and cued me mid panic attack to throw it out into it's flooded backyard not supposed to be there pond grave.  I guess it's time for new dishes?

Warm wishes for a great week!

We've Only Just Begun: Winter 2015

Okay.  If I'm not mistaken, December 21st was the first day of winter, so we are a mere month into the winter season.  You know, winter.  Snow, snowmen, snowflakes, cozy, comfy, soups, hot chocolate.  Winter!  I have never heard so many complaints about the cold weather and anticipation to dive into Valentine's Day, and heck---just fast forward to SPRING and summer!  Don't get me wrong, I love looking forward to the next holiday and everything, but I always feel like we rush through the winter season, never truly appreciating it's beauty.  Let's take a minute to think of things that we can look forward to about winter!

1.  Soups
2.  Snowdays (fingers crossed)
3.  Set up camp by the window to watch it snow
4.  Make a giant bowl of snow cream
5.  Playing board games
6.  Sipping hot chocolate and  apple cider
7.  Going sledding
8.  Build a snowman
9. Read a book from start to finish (even if it's a Dr. Suess)
10.  (AND) I would really like to have a date night and go ice skating.  I'm sure that's pretty far fetched, but maybe one day:)

String up some more sparkly lights, keep out your snowflakes, snowmen and plaid...we aren't finished with the cold just yet:)  In fact, I hear we are supposed to have some snow on the way soon!  

Fingers crossed.

Weekend Spill

Happy three day weekend!:)  I would like to make a movement that we make every Monday a new member of the weekend.  It has such a bad rap anyway...right?  Whoever said you should work more than you play?  Oh well, I'm gonna get off my soapbox now and just be thankful I had the day off!

I'm not going to lie.  Lately, I have felt pretty uninspired and like I'm spinning my wheels in sand when it comes to life and for the sake of this post, my blog.  Work has really been tough lately and life crazy and hectic, thus the slackness in posts!  Just when I feel like I can't do it anymore, God sends my sweet Mr back into the swing of things.  Yep, he came home Wednesday night!  It has been a much better week just knowing that he is within a couple minutes reach.  This long weekend gave me a little spark of creativity and reminded me of the reasons I blog in the first place.  To inspire, create, and capture time in pictures and words.

Not to mention a little personal rambling here and there.  Today I may ramble a bit.  This weekend was beautiful.  I guess you could say this weekend was all about Cam.  Things were slow and we actually had time to do the little things that make us feel like a family.  Watch Frozen just to see Cam reenact the Olaf scenes, have nerf gun wars, make cute lunches, and take complete advantage of the pretty days by finally getting him outdoors in his new car and taking a few laps around the closest thing we have to a park here.  *Note to self, Honor has a lot more training to do to be a civil walking partner.  She took the lead and wadded up to take two very large unpleasant dumps right in the middle of the busiest areas.  Thanks Ony...preciate it.  Cam was in heaven finally getting to be outdoors again.  But he still drives his car without the steering wheel.  Full throttle.

Cam also went to his first movie this weekend.  We had a big, fun crowd tagging along.  The daddies got to cry during American Sniper while we cried watching Paddington.  Well, maybe it was just me wiping away tears...  Cam's favorite part was probably sitting beside one of my friends who fed him cotton candy, rasionettes, twizzlers, and popcorn the whole time.  He left the movies in higgggghhh spirits saying, "Bear rawrrrr," and sticking his frafryer in his hat in place of Paddington's marmalade sandwich.  You'll just have to watch the movie;)

Favorite Cam Moments Lately:
1.  "Hey fish, whatcha doing?"  "Owww, fish bite me!"
2.  Any mention of Lello McQueens aka "popsicles"
3.  "Hey mommy, whatcha doin?"  
4. Shake i off!  Treble, treble! (dance party requests)
5.  Screaming "Ready go, ready go!!!" every two seconds, but especially in church...

He is doing so much now!  Can't wait to share more.

In other news, now that the beautiful weather has paid a visit, snow please?  

Hope you all have had a great weekend!

Weekend Rambles

How has your New Year started off?  Me?  I will always have to say that I am blessed every day that I live.  I have felt inspired this weekend, in particular, because I finally swallowed the almost two year hiatus of not regularly working out, and got my butt out of bed at 6 am to complete a 20 minute workout with Cam and Honor crawling on my head and licking me in the face. But, though it was mad crazy as I had imagined, it was so worth it!  I knew all it would take was one workout to renew that drive and addiction to be active everyday:)  Now, if I can just make myself get out of bed every morning early enough to keep it up!

Since it's Tuesday, and I totally dread work like the plague this week, I'm going to keep today's post upbeat and positive while I pump myself up with powerful (or simple) thoughts and thanks.  It will be random, but hang with me...

1.  I am pretty much never taking off my new cowgirl booties all the way from my favorite town ever...Nashville, TN.  My mom got them for me for Christmas this past fall, and I have been anxiously awaiting the moment I could rip them open and admire!  I finally found an outfit that they would work with and I may be crazy, but I almost don't care if they don't match what I wear next... I am obsessed.

2.  I love the fact that Cam calls popsicles "Lello McQueens."  I don't know why or how.  But he can call them that the rest of his life.  And I'm even okay with the fact that his (previously) perfect speech sounds are slowly morphing into substitutions.  "Mommy, ready go flay."  "Snoofy."  P--> F.  Nope.  This speech therapist doesn't care right now.  It's the cutest thing ever.

3.  I am continually pinching myself in anticipation, waiting for this coming Saturday to arrive.  I don't think I will believe it until I finally see Cade walking down from the terminal prepared to make his home with his family again!  He won't be boarding a plane again with out us, you can mark my words.  And I wouldn't mind stealing a couple ideas off of this winter date night bucket list, because after all, we do have a lot of lost date night time to make up for!

4.  The imperfect.  I think the Lord is teaching me a little more every year, that everything doesn't have to be perfect.  Or just as I plan it.  I am not a perfectionist...but I am.  I kind of make myself have the mentality, but never follow through or finally get so overwhelmed with the demands I put on myself when I start striving for the impossible.  Like posting a day late because I was waiting for perfect pictures.  And the pictures are still imperfect and blurry... 

I love that about every centimeter of my house is covered in cars.  Whereas before I had kids, I said that I never wanted toys all over the house.  I love that Cam's hair is a little crazy somedays.  I can put water on it, comb it, gel it, and (shoot) even do a hocus pocus chant every now and then (totally kidding)... but it will still look like he rolled out of bed after sticking his finger in a light socket.  My car looks like we live in it.  Because we do.  I wear my hair in a pony tail or bun most days of the week, and I have a habit of making peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.  But yall, what does any of that hurt in the scheme of life?  I love the Lord's humor.  It really makes you realize who is in charge and what really matters at the end of the day.

5.  I love being a wife and mom.  Everyday.  As far back as I can remember I always wondered what my calling would be.  Naturally, a wife and mom never really crossed my mind as something significant/glamorous in my younger years.  I truly believe that I have received the most fulfillment from this very special part of my life.  Cade and I were sitting in church one day, several years ago at a revival before Cam, and I can remember the preacher, pointing us out.  He said, "If these two do nothing else in life, other than love each other and lead their children to Christ, they will be accomplishing what the Lord has given them to accomplish."  Of course we want to serve the Lord in any and every way possible, but these words have since stuck with me.  I hear them everyday when I look at Cam and think of the future.  Mom's (and Dad's though you probably aren't reading) it's up to us:)

Wishing you all a very happy Tuesday!

P.S.  You won't hurt my feelings if you pray for snow this week.

New Year, New Favorites

Oh, my goodness!  This first week of getting back in to the routine of things has about sucked all of the life out of me...Early mornings, routine, and a toddler who refuses to go to bed until at least 11:30.  The all play mentality and sickness has pretty much become in charge of our lives over Christmas break!  Will I ever be able to take charge of normal again?  Hmmm.

1.  Soup  I don't know about where you live, but it has been brrrr rabbit FREEZING around my parts of the woods.  Some people may want to slap me in the face for what I am about to say, but I love it! Yall-It's winter...it's supposed to be cold!  I had lunchroom duty this past Wednesday, and though I'm not usually enticed by the lunchroom menu, when those kiddos started carrying hot beefy vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches back to their seats, I was drooling.  There is nothing like soup and a sandwich when it is so cold outside!  Needless to say, I came home and made my own version of the soup, but with the grilled cheese croutons that I have been dying to try.  Best. Winter. Meal. Ever!

2.  Weekends  I like to think of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as a mini Christmas break since it is still winter time, and Spring Break seems so far away.  Without them, blogging will become a thing of the past.  I assure you it is physically impossible to stay current with social media while you have a toddler running around the house.  I only blog or do any computer work when Cam is asleep or completely engrossed in a movie (which is very rare).  Weekends give me a chance to be productive because I can actually use those late nights to blog for the week and then sleep in...that is, if Cam will let me.  He woke me up at 3 am this morning shouting, "Mommy, ready ta go flay!, Duice!  Owww, it huts!"  It's a good thing, he's cute.

3.  Delays  We had our first 2 hour delay this past week due to the frigid temperatures.  I must say, I don't hate it!  I'm beginning to fear that this may be a pretty mild winter in the snow department, but I am still holding out for a snow day or two.  Last year, that wasn't even in my radar for the setting I worked in.  Fingers crossed!

4.  Change   I have debated on sharing this with you, as with my husband, nothing is ever written in stone.  As we enter the new year, the MR is planning on coming back to work in our little town until he finishes his degree.  Cam and I are absolutely beside ourselves SO excited to have him back in our lives again.  It's been so hard for the past half year never seeing him and I admit, though I am very independent and don't like to admit when I need help, it will be so nice to have an extra pair of hands around the house (and to keep "Ony" off of the dining room bench).  I envision we will actually use his man cave again, have lots of Saturday morning breakfasts, (watch more football) and take advantage of any chance we get to just be together.  Let the countdown to next Saturday begin!!  

5.  Bible Apps  Every year, I make a resolution to read through the Bible in a year.  As you probably know if you read my New Years post, I decided I never have success with the resolutions I make, so I'm entering the new year taking the things I want to improve on a day by day basis.  No, I won't be able to blog every Monday-Wednesday-and Friday, or read my Bible every single day as I wish to.  But I accept that it is okay and I can only do the best I can.  I have been a "single parent" up until this point and some days we are lucky to get baths and brush our teeth.  I know that reading God's word should be top priority, so I did a little research and found an awesome app that allows you to access God's word from anywhere (no worrying about ruining your bible in the suitcase or what time of day you decide to do your devotions).  BIOY is an app that is updated daily and has devotions and commentary that is meant to be read alongside a Bible.  I have typically been reading the devotions at night and then all of the scriptures in the mornings before work.  Talk about a boost for the day!  If you are looking for a new year plan to guide you in reading the Bible, I would highly recommend it:)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

"Every day is a gift from God, that is why it is called the Present."-Author Unknown

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I am excited about what this new year will bring.  Sometimes a new year gives me a sense of fear along with the opportunity for a fresh start.  But really, it's just another day, right?  2014 was a difficult year, but along with the troubles came sweet memories and blessings.  I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds tomorrow:)  And with THAT thought, I can face any fears I may feel with hope and happiness.  Plus...I can't wait to experience every moment with Cade and our sweet Camster!

I really, for the first time in my life maybe, don't have any New Year resolutions other than for our family to be together this year (and another one I will keep to myself).  I don't think I can stand another year of not seeing my husband for months at a time!  Cam, however, has several...part with the pacifier, sleep in his own room, refrain from climbing and throwing things.  Ahhh, the life of a toddler (and how times have changed!  Check out Cam last New Year).  NEVER a dull moment;)  I guess I am just going to strive for all of the things I always identify as areas that need growth.  I tend to become overwhelmed when I set out to take on the world (thank you personality) so maybe this is the key for me?  Just winging it.  I may just be on to something.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Isaiah 29:11

Wishing you all the joy, love, peace, and happiness in the new year...