H54F|| Jonas Aftermath

Friday has arrived!  And you know what that means:)  Lot's of smiley faces & link-ups with some fellow Friday lovers from the blog world.  How was your week?  Highlights of mine:

1.  We finally got S N O W!  Okay, not as much as I wanted...but I worked one day out of the week & the rest were snow days.  We made hot chocolate, "built" an indoor snow camp, made smores, threw snowballs, & dusted off the sled for the first time this year.  I'll take it:)  What I won't take is my boys having colds & not feeling great.  I am so blessed that's all it has been.  There are so many babies out there who are fighting very scary things right now.  Please remember them in your prayers!

2.  Conley is three months old.  It happened.  1.25.16.  And I know, I'm yet another mom blogger talking about how I can't believe how fast time is going by...but I really can't believe how fast time is going by!;)  It's all been a beautiful blur & I'm constantly afraid to blink or go to sleep at night.

3.  I worked out e v e r y d a y this week!  Jillian Michaels is whipping me into shape (at least I hope she is).  Somehow I never found time to work out with one baby, but here I am with two & I'm actually finding time to do it.  How does that happen?  How do I have more energy to wake up early?  Oh yeah, it's a little thing called Conley is a pretty good sleeper most nights.  Cam never was...hehe.

4.  GO P a n t h e r s (for my hubby's sake!)  The Carolina Panthers are going to the Super Bowl.  And I couldn't be happier for my Mr.  He, unlike many bandwagon fans that have popped out of the bushes, has pulled for them practically his entire life.  Through all the years of failure & mediocre-ness he has been a die hard fan.  And in a time like now, when he is away from his family-I am so glad he has been given a little bright spot to focus on until things work themselves out.  I think God even has his hand in even the little things like this.  Do you?

5.  Rediscovered Puzzles...one puzzle piece in & I was gone.  Great story behind this.  Cam dumps out a 100 piece puzzle on the kitchen table for me to work just after I walked in the door from work.  He was sooo excited until he did a double take when he realized how little the pieces were.  He grabbed a few cars & headed to a different room.  "Cam, I need your help!"  He whipped around, "Sorry, I'm busy Mom."  Yep.  And he kept waddling away to do his thang.  I pretended to cry & he whipped it around again, and without a beat said, "M o mmmm, you can't cry!  It's a perfect day!"  Where does he get these things????  Bahahaaha.  I'm loving this almost (can't believe I'm admitting this) three version of Cam.

I've rambled enough.
Wishing you all a very merry weekend:)

See what I did there? #christmaseveryday

Sorry, Mom.

This is going to be a rambling post, you have been forewarned.  Cam had just got out of the bathtub & we were getting ready for bed.  We were standing at the potty waiting patiently (& oh so patient you have to be with this one & the potty business...) when he grabbed a sticker he had given me earlier in the day & threw it in the toilet, & rushed with all his little might to flush the handle before I could stop him.  Before he had even pushed the handle to flush he shouted, "I sorry, Mom!"  And yes.  There was totally a "full of mischief-I'm n o t really sorry-what's she gonna do next-kinda grin" that followed.  

I thought about what he had done for a second.  I mean no big deal really, he passes stickers out like theres no tomorrow on a daily basis.  But what if this had been another kid who had treasured the sticker?  Or a toddler Conley in the future so proud of the sticker his big brother had given him?

Hmmmm.  I pretended to be sad.  Very sad.  Giving the Camster a taste of his own little medicine...puppy dog eyes.  He looked down at the ground, "I weeaally sorry Mom.  I get it for you!"  He shot his hand down toward the toilet bowl.  "No, Cam...that's okay, I just really wish you wouldn't have done that..."  His little face showed such concern.  If I know him, he thought it would make me upset or I'd just forget about it so he was kinda frazzled with what to do.  "I get you anoder one, Mom!"  He ran to find his little sticker book & let me tell you.  He sure made up for the one he had just sucked down the toliet.  He put them all over my back, butt, & leg.  Serious Clark.  The guilty conscience got the best of big brother boy.  This just shows his little heart right now...

God spoke to me in that moment with my little boy.  Is that not s p o t on how we are sometimes?  Don't we see opportunities everyday to do something we shouldn't (whether that's something big or something totally minor <in our eyes> like eating too many donuts or watching a *"super" scary movie-no big & little sins, right?  ;).  And when we are tempted to "flush the sticker down the commode" we do it as fast as we can all while telling God "sorry" before we have even finished committing the act.  Is that true remorse & a request for true forgiveness?  Nope.  Toddler like remorse.  Yep.  And then, we might even try to give God  as many "stickers" as we can to make up for what we have done.  And if we're anything like Cam, we would probably do the same thing the next time we "take a potty break."  We are born being rotten.  E v e r y o n e of us.

I don't really know where I am going with this post except to say: what a blessing it is that we have a merciful God that is so forgiving (& who has a sense of humor) when it comes using our kids to show us just how childish we can be at times.  Laughing & blessed on this Tuesday night.  

XO

20 Indoor + Winter Fun Ideas

Is it just me or is my toddler e x t r a energetic lately?  After being spoiled with 70 degree December days, we just don't know what to do with ourselves being cooped up inside all day.  Don't get me wrong, I am probably the biggest fan of cold weather ever - but I do love getting to go outside & let Cam just "be a boy" everyday.  You know, get all that c r a z y wild energy out.

Instead, these days he enjoys coloring the couches with pens, chucking his monster trucks into the wall, & turning on every electronic at the same time to see how long it takes for mommy to get a headache & forget my place in the world!  Little stinker.  Oh, & let's not forget how much he begs to use the IPad. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I have resorted to the iPad & television toooo much.  Especially after little brother came along & I've had to juggle two.  Something I said I'd n e v e r do.  Yea, let's just add that as the #43,298th thing I said I wouldn't let my kid{s} do.  It's so easy to have a sit down chill Cam as opposed to a throw his toys into the window & break things Cam.  But easy doesn't necessarily raise up a good kid.  I have consciously become more aware of how much he was beginning to want it in place of playing & we have completely scaled back.  Which hasn't been easy.  I mean, it's winter!  How do you entertain a toddler indoors a l l day long?  

I'm glad you asked!  Let me just share a little research & brain power with you...

1.  Indoor Camp Out:  Grab some sheets to make a tent, smore ingredients, & a flashlight - we're bringing the outdoors inside!  We had endless fun the past few days spending time in Cam's teepee telling "scary stories" (about Sharks) & pretending Ony was a big Polar Bear attacking our tent.  

2.  Hide & Seek with Stuffed Animals:  Let your kids pick out their favorite stuffed animals & take turns hiding them.  Fun for hours, I'm telling you!

3.  Board Games:  Operation, Matching Games, Hungry Hippos, Candy Land.  The list goes on & on!

4.  Bon a petit:  Get in the kitchen & whip up some cookies or a yummy meal.  I love to bake & my favorite things to do are make sugar cookies & "fruit art."  I guess you could call it that?  I let Cam help me mix all the ingredients & pick out which cookie cutter to use.  He also likes to tell me what kind of "fruit picture" he wants.

5.  Dance Party:  Cam loves to dance.  Or be held, while I slowly rot inside with every bounce & shake holding this 45 lber.  His favorite song, along with every other toddler in the world, is "Shake it Off."  The kiddo has good taste...it is hard not to shake it when this song comes on!

6.  Make something!  This, I haven't done yet.  But the internet- or let's just go straight to the source... Pinterest - has way too many fun crafts & projects to tackle to be bored or throwing an iPad at a kid.  I'm thinking of trying homemade slime?  Playdough or magic mud!

7.  Draw/Color:  This is the old school way we used to have fun.  Still nothing wrong with it & a great time to teach our babies letters, shapes, & colors!  Or just color a ninja turtle or princess...

8.  Rollar Skate/Ride Bikes in Basement:  I know this isn't a great idea for everyone- but for those with basements... this is sure a great way to expend all that energy.  I know this was the highlight of my snow days as a kid:)

9.  Build a cardboard house!  If you have some extra cardboard or boxes lying around the house-make use of it!  Get creative.  Build a box.  Or a car.  Use your imagination & the possibilities are endless!

10.  Bubbles:  Kids love them.  If you don't like them inside your home, the bathtub is a fun place to use them.

11.  It's never a bad idea to keep a couple balloons handy.  Cam loves to toss them back & forth or kick them around.  And your sure not to shatter anything with a little light weight balloon;)  Balloon tennis, anyone?

12.  Make an e x p l o d i n g car wash for boys or bubble bath for their princesses for girls.  Check it out here!

13.  This is probably a given...build a tower.  Legos, blocks, or styrofoam cups!  Easy enough:)

14.  Take a bath just for fun.  (Which if your a two year old Cam, that's all baths are supposed to be anyway...right??)  Try throwing glow sticks in the tub with the lights dimmed.

15.  Physical Games:  Simon Says, Ring around the Roses, Duck Duck Goose...all the classics!

16.  Play "store," "restaurant," or "doctor."  I used to love doing this as a kid...encourage using the imagination.  Let them help you make a menu or set up the store.  And for the doctor, remind them of Doc McStuffins!  I'm sure they have plenty of toys that might need an appointment with your mini doc:)

17.  Read books!  Storytime should never be downplayed or get old.  Okay, sorry there is the speech therapist in me.

18.  Tape!  Love this idea for my active boy!  And I have a feeling it will soon be be boys...

19.  Pretend it's summer if your all catching the winter blues.  Throw out some beach towels in the living room floor, grill hamburgers, & play some tropical tunes:)  

20.  Lastly, just follow your kiddos lead...you never know what fun things you might come up with;)  Kids are the most creative little people out there!  

And if your lucky enough to have a "snow day"- by all means...bundle up & head outdoors!  We had a blast today wearing ourselves o u t:-)

I'm all up for more ideas, y'all.  Let's make a running list!  Send them this little mama's way:)  

H54F || Mid-January

Cassidy, here reporting for High Five for Friday, Oh Hey Friday, & Friday Favorites link-ups.   Can you believe we are already living out the middle of January in 2016?  That can only mean one thing in my book, bring on the blizzards- & I don't mean the ice cream! ;)

1.  Budgeting 101:  The Adams family has a budget & we're sticking to it.  I've never been more determined in my life to do something & I feel such a sense of financial freedom already.  Thank you for the envelope system Mr. Dave.  My planning self loves you for it.  Corny much?  But really...

2.  Hubby selfies...they just remind me to smile & how much I love that c r a z y boy.  The boys & I are so very lucky to have him in our lives.  Plus, we know where they get their great hair;)  Annnnndd he's going to kill me for this.

3.  My daddy is texting.  If you knew my dad, you would know how absolutely b i z a r r e it is that he knows how to text.  I mean, when his phone rings he says, "What's that chirping."  Ya.  Cue the twilight zone music!
4.  Y a y for visits from family members living far away:)  Our little cousin Gatlin & his sweet mom & dad came up for a visit this past weekend.  This is the first time we have seen him since he was three months old.  My, how he has grown into a handsome little guy!  Oh the fun these three are sure to have one day...

5.  Another week of work in the books.  I love my little pre-kers!  Yes, it's only two weeks in, but I'm pretty much left here believing that the Preschool world is my calling.

Oh, & if I could have a #6 or an honorable mention, I would say that it's f i n a l l y sweater weather in the south.  Our highs this week are in the 40s & I actually seen snow flakes!!  Winter is officially here!    Annnnnddd we figured out Conley no longer has thrush, but has refulx.  He has quit crying & demanding to be bounced or laying in my arms 24/7.  Don't get me wrong, I love every minute of holding him:)  But when you have a toddler, it makes things a little more difficult -he needs mommy's attention too!

Happy Friday! ;)

The Polar Express & Spider Leftovers

I'm completely behind here, but I have no choice but to share our last little bit of Christmas magic with you.  Plus, knowing me---I'm probably going to lose my phone before I ever do anything with these pictures, so I'd better stash them somewhere safer than my phone like the www;)  

Ahhhhh.  The Polar Express.  The Polar Express in Bryson City, NC is everything you'd imagine the actual Polar Express to be.  Call me corny, but I t e l l you it is absolutely magical.  If you are looking for a "must" do with your babes during the Christmas season...look no further!  Christmas pj's, Christmas carols, dancing elves, story time, hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, The North Pole, a visit with HoHo complete with your very own bell...  And Mr. Cam's personal favorite, his golden train ticket.  I mean, come on.  We were in Christmas heaven!

This is Conley's "I'm gone" face...

Cam?  He was all about the choo choo, hot chocolate (perfect temperature btw), & chocolate chip cookies.  And j u s t after he told Hoho he was going to be good this year, he  may or may not have did everything in his power to ignore everything I said, but hey...YORTPEOAY, right?  Translation: "YOLO" variation...You only ride The Polar Express once a year.  Totally enables toddler passengers to lick their window & hang upside down on the seat, no questions asked- Mom.

Conley on the other hand slept an entire four hours, & at the time- this baby didn't do that.  Between the car ride & train ride...he was in a major Christmas coma the entire time.  Just remind me to leave the carseat behind next time.  I h a d to have burnt off the hot chocolate & cookie calories from toting that thing from the car to our location to board.  But I'm guessing if this 13 lber, double chinned, two month old continues to eat like he does, that won't be a problem next year? ;)

How many more days until we can board this holly jolly train again?  Buying tickets in advance is totally going to be priority for me this year...not just for this particular event but for "The Great Pumpkin" ride as well!

You can find out more information about events offered by The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad here.  You won't regret it!

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Delayed Spider the Elf Shenanigans

and since we're still chatting about Christmas...I figured I'd share the rest of Spider's adventures as well.

Back to Work || Post Second Pregnancy & Bedrest

I can't believe it's already time for me to start back to the ole rise & shine routine!  I can remember the very minute I left North Dakota, found out that I would be on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy, & wouldn't be starting my new job until January...it all seemed like d e c a d e s away.  I should have known it was more like only milliseconds away.  

1st Day Back...<Thank you for my cup BB:)>

I guess you could say that I'm one of those people that used to hate change.  But given the past couple years of my life, I've learned to love & embrace it.  It brought me marriage, motherhood, new jobs, new experiences...the list could go on & o n.  And you know what? I wouldn't change a thing:)

My new job is sort of a dream for a working mama?  I mean, it's part time...I can only work five hours a day-three days a week.  I will typically go in at 8:45-9am & get off somewhere between 1:45-2pm.  I get to work with my favorite little peeps...preschoolers:)  And for the record, we pretty much play games, look at pictures & talk.  And oh, the talking we talk... ;)  I mean, I can talk some mean Paw Patrol & Blaze.

I've come to find that little bitties are my heart.  In one weeks time, I have met eight kids who I just want to take home with me.  They are all so very precious & if I can make a difference in one of their lives- I can say that seven-ish years of college was totally worth it.  It's kind of one of those moments in life where you feel like your doing what you should be...ya know?  When a job doesn't feel so much like a job anymore but like a way to help others.  Maybe that's why this going back to work thing hasn't been as hard as I had imagined it'd be.  <<but I always seem to speak to soon>> f i n g e r s   c r o s s e d

Just call me The Bag Lady & The Water Bottle

Despite the ease of transition, I was definitely feeling the first day jitters & if Conley didn't give me the biggest smile of all time- I might not have had the kind of week I had before I walked out that door on the first day.  And the biggest little brother?  When I came home, he made me feel like super mom with all the love.  I love my little boys.  My little family is the reason I go to work, & I know that's my husbands motivation as well.  I can't wait **well, maybe I can-time seems to move all too fast with babies** to see what God has in store for us this year.  I swear, my heart is so full.

swoon<3

That being said, I h a v e experienced a more fussy baby this week.  So much so that we are going to visit the doc tomorrow just in case something else is going on besides a bad case of gas ( & I'm not so sure the thrush has went away either).  

And the back to work thang & nursing?  W e l l, when I'm not working, I am nursing.  I believe this nursing frenzy even has a name... a phase called cluster nursing.  I don't know if it's because I've gone back to work or because he's hitting a growth spurt - but the second I walk on the door & he hears my voice or smells me...he starts crying & is ready to eat.    Aaannnddd pretty much eats the rest of the evening:)  While Cam begs to play on the IPad (more on this later!)

My evenings are like....
This.

This...

& This...

& I love every minute of it.

This girl is b l e s s e d.  That's all I can say.  Who in their wildest dreams would have imagined that this is where I would end up for the time being.  All smiles on this Monday evening.

Ringing in 2016

Here, we are...2 0 1 6.  It's definitely going to be hard to beat 2015 because it gave us Conley & lot's of fun times with Camster.    We did have a few crazy twists and turns we didnt see coming but we are alive, happy, & healthy-what more can you ask for:)?  <<I think I might have said that 5,647 times this year & we're only four days in!>>  

Cam r e f u s e s to take good pictures with little brother!  Hoping this is just a short short phase.

To ring in the new year, we spent our two days of celebrating with family.  It was so nice to be together for the end & beginning of the year.  And it actually felt like winter--I could wear a sweater without sweating bullets!  We ate, we laughed, we dubsmashed, & played cards.  We also had a couch/table full of iphoners;)  Ahem, the ladies.  Doesn't Facebook news initiate g r e a t conversation?  

And let's be real, with our little crowd of four, we were pooped by the time 10pm rolled around.  So off to our little nest we went.  The boys were o.u.t - O U T once we laid them on their bean bags in their comfy cozies.  

The Mr. & I set up camp on the couch with our Mickey D coffee (my decaf was just moral support) flipping back & forth between channels & arguing over which to watch...the big ball drop or the ball game(& I was pretty excited to watch Carrie perform too!).  I guess we both won out & kept the tv remote hot? 

 All in all it was perfect.  I was with my sweet little family & I got my New Years eve kiss...  Which, didn't happen last year since Cade had to go back to ND before the big countdown.  This year is already off to a better start--right? ;)

Happy New Year from my family to yours. 

 Just as Sinatra once said errr sang >>May your new year dreams come true;)