Sister, Sis-TA!

Ready for some picture overload??!!

My younger sister Marcie came out for a whole stinkin' week! Wahoo! I was mucho excited. I had literally made a {funtastic to-do list} for while she was out, including nummy dinners. I picked her up from the airport Monday night and we caught up over some Kung Pao spaghetti. She said she sat next to a really nice, older couple on the airplane that told her they were flying out to visit their grandson, Easton. Ha! Marice told them she was flying out to visit her nephew, Weston. Too funny.

The next morning, Tuesday, we headed to the Galleria Mall to do some shopping to find tank tops to embellish with a corsage neckline. Shopping with a two year old is NOT my idea of fun, but with Marcie it was much easier. He was entertained by finding various hats and trying them on. Even still, I turned my back for two seconds and he had vanished. I kid you not, within 45 sec. he was nearly up two flights of stairs. Luckily, some kind citizens helped me locate my runaway.

 But that little escapade earned him the leash. Marcie said an older couple walked by her and happily asked, "So how long has he been on the leash?! We've had our grandson on for several weeks!"

 After putting Collin down for a nap, Marcie was nice enough to babysit while I went to the dental school to get my FIRST EVER cavity filled. I'm still in denial about it. Especially after it didn't show up on the X-rays and the supervising dentist took a look, then advised to be "very conserative" in the filling. Honestly, the worst part was just seeing the needle (it didn't hurt going in) and then getting the blasted "rubber dam" put on... the green thing for those who don't know. The procedure itself was a cinch and when the dentist came back to check his work, he did so well, she couldn't even tell which tooth he had worked on!

 Isn't he hot? I think so. I love a man in uniform :) I tried to get him to kiss me after I was all numbed up, but he wouldn't! I was embarrassing him, poor guy. He finally succumbed after making sure no one was watching. I probably should have been offended, but I understand he didn't want to look like he was getting fresh with his patient, if they didn't know who I was.

We made fish tacos for dinner with a mango avacado salsa that was DELISH! Too bad I couldn't eat with half my mouth. He did such a good job numbing me, it didn't wear off til after dinner. I don't know how many times I bit my cheek. Marcie said I was talking like I was deaf. I was complaining so much about it... it seemed I was more numb 3 hours later than I was during the procedure, that apparently Trav was secretly nervous he had paralyzed me!!! He was smart to not share his concerns until after the numbing wore off.

 That night, Rach came over and we watched the Bieber in Never Say Never. Great movie. Wished I had seen it on the big screen though. Then Marcie figuratively stabbed me in the heart and twisted the knife when she said my mom promised to buy concert tickets for her and my sisters when he comes to Phoenix next time! Argh!! Why do I live across the wretched country! Oh I hope he comes in December while I'm visiting.

On Wednesday we went to the Snyder Firestation with the Family Room group for a field trip. He was sitting in Marcie's lap great, watching the fireman put on his gear, all until he got to his mask. Then she said he kept saying, "No no no mask, no no no mask!" He actually started wimpering and I had to take him out. The only kid to do that besides the fireman's son. Greaaat. At least he overcame his fear and ended up giving the guy a high five later.

 I love Collin's face in this one.

(See that nasty, long hair? It's about to be chopped.)

Bahaha. A little cross eyed.

 Then it was to Weglemans we went, to get some SuShI. We tried the coconut shrimp and California roll ones.

That night we had all four missionaries over for dinner (Cafe Rio) and then watched an edited version of Step-brothers (not that great) and cut out the fabric for our corsage shirts.

On Thursday Trav didn't have school and the weather cooperated so we went to the zoo. But with all of us, that meant one person per seat. Good thing Marc is a twig, cuz that's about all the middle seat had room for! 

Here's Collin trying to imitate Paris Hilton. Really he just LOVES sunglasses.

Marcie tried to get him to do a pouty lip.

 Marcie was amazed by all the green and pretty trees.

 Picnic lunch.

 Collin wanted nothing to do with this rhino until he realized it wasn't real.

 Inside the rainforest jungle...

 ... the turtles seem to be enjoying themselves.

 Once the boys were napping, Marcie and I went to the mall to get pedicures. I haven't had one in over two years. Those heels needed a scrubbin' bad!

That night we finally sat down and sewed our corsage shirts and watched The Office finale.

 Ta-Da! They turned out pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. I just don't appreciate the tanness going on next to my translucent-ness.

Friday was more rain so we headed to the theater to see Rio. Ok.... DANG cute movie. I was dancin' and groovin' in my seat practically the whole time.

While the boys were sleeping, Marcie finally cute off my Rapunzel hair. I knew it was long, but after almost 5 inches came off and it was still long, I realized how bad it had gotten! Thank you Marcie! I love the new Jan Brady. :) Right after she was done cutting and styling, Trav called for me to pick him up. I thought for sure he'd notice my hair. I know it's stereotypical for a guy not to notice, but he usually does. Nope! He got in, we talked, got home and he saw the scissors and hair everywhere and I had to give him the hardest time for not saying anything! Well then it gets better. Right after we walk in the door, I hear Collin call for me from his crib. I go in to get him out and the first thing he does is stroke both sides of my head with his hands and say, "Pretty hair, Momma, pretty hair", very appreciatively. Haha! Oh Trav will never hear the end of it! :) 

We had babysitting swap that night so we splurged and went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. We asked Trav to take our picture (he turns into Mr. Photographer when Marcie and I get together) and this is the pic he snapped when we were getting ready. I love it! Especially Marcie's face.

 Then we had to be cheesy.

I have to say we normally don't order cheesecake, but it was a special occasion so we got the 30th anniversary one to take home. O.M.G. That is a keeper! It had me at "chocolate truffle".

Saturday brought sunshine! Well, at least the afternoon did. The morning was foggy so we had to reschedule beach time til after naps. We told Collin we were going to the beach and that was a big mistake. He is a broken record and screetched, Beach, beach practically the whole way there. He was quick to find an appetizing fish skeleton 2 min. after getting there.

 My three boys.

 And the three ladies.

 The weather was too beautiful to eat inside, so we had our Wegman subs for dinner on the back lawn.

Then it was time for the moment we all had been waiting for... learning "the routine" that Monica and Ross do on New Year's Eve. If you've never seen it, click HERE. This is something that we've talked about doing for years! Trav was trying to watch a show on his computer while we practiced it in the living room, and I know he was completely embarrassed for me. We were acting like 8th graders and cracking ourselves up in the process. It was a darn good time.

Then later, we watched an edited version of the Hangover. Hysterical! Seriously, so funny. Now, unfortunately we are drooling over previews of the Hangover 2.

On Sunday we had Stake Conference, broadcasted to our ward building, then spent the afternoon talking and swapping embarrassing stories. Only Trav couldn't contribute because he "doesn't get embarrassed". Oh please.

Then we went for a walk and Marcie admired all the east coast {doll houses}. Admittedly, that's one of my favorite games to play on walks too. Picking out my favorite house and imagining living there. And given our choice of cinema the night before, this picture held all new meaning.

Marcie is queen of fun makeup/hair/clothing blogs and found a fun tutorial HERE for newspaper nails. So we had to try it out.

 Kind of hard to see with my crappy camera, but I loved them! And not hard at all. It was a fun activity to go along with watching the finale of Celebrity Apprentice. Go John Rich! He totally deserved to win.

 On Monday we went to the Family Room then watched The Switch while the boys napped. It was so sad to have to take her to the airport. Collin flipped out when she walked away inside the airport. It's really no fair that fun Aunt Marcie has to live hundreds of miles away. Lane and Rusty have got it good.

 Possibly the saddest part of all was the next morning when I realized that we hadn't done the one and only thing Marcie specifically requested..... visit the GHETTO! I don't know how many times I said I would drive her to the ghetto to see what it was like, and then completely forgot! Sad day. But then, maybe it's better... she may have had some nightmares of Bailey Ave. after getting home. Really, all I had to do was take her to the Wal-Mart on Walden to show her some high class citizens. That Friday that I picked Trav up, he was doing a rotation at ECMC (the county hospital) and man he had some good stories about shootings and general "ghetto-ness". It was really pretty sad. And right after you leave the hospital parking lot, I snapped a pic of this fine poster. It says "Days of peace since Buffalo's last homicide". We wondered if 13 was considered a {high} number, then concluded it must be. Actually, 13 sounds quite miraculous.

Such a fun week. I love my sister! And we missed Shelley for sure. Thanks for visiting the Buff, Marcie! And thank you Mom and Dad for flying her out!

(And an extra thanks for the seed money... as you can see, we took full advantage of every dolla! :) 

A Week Off

This year, the school gave a week off between 2nd semester and spring term. It would have been fun to go do something new and exciting, but taking into account our low funds, it turned into more of a {veg out} week. Monday night, the Bennions hosted what was coined, a reunion BBQ, for the Tonga group + families. It was a fun evening, but sarcastic Stephanie gathered the group for a photo to showcase how much everyone has changed in the long 2 months since they were gone. :) Perhaps a bit more white, but that's about all.

 On Tuesday Trav played soccer and helped dig a massive tree out of someone's yard and I had Bunco that night. But the real fun started Wednesday. I had to do one of those {clear liquid} diets in prep for a super fun procedure on Thursday. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. At least I got to drink chicken broth and eat sherbet instead of straight fasting. However, I bought the wrong kind of popcicles, so my way to the store up the street to get the right ones, I noticed a man walking with two pizza boxes stacked on top of each other. Could it be?! It could. Little Caeser's finally opened!! We have been waiting with baited breath for this to happen. We'd literally update our friends when we saw progress such as the sign going up or notices for employee applications. $5 pizza's are very exciting. And within walking distance!!! Major scorage. EXCEPT for when they open on the one and only day I can't eat them. Of course. I nursed my hunger instead with a lime popcicle and told myself life wasn't that bad.

Then Thursday came.

I was told I'd be put under for the procedure but my doctor failed to tell me that I'd have to pump and dump for 24 hours afterward. So after a full day of nasty prep, waiting an hour in the waiting room, changing into a gown, and getting ready to get it all over with, the nurse tells me this. Weston hasn't taken a bottle in over a month. As it was, I was nervous to get back in time to feed my hungry babers. I called Trav and could hear Weston wailing. He tried again to give him a bottle and no could do. By now I was stressing big time, literally wringing my hands and on the verge of tears. The nurses called all over to see if I could be given something else that wouldn't require me to pump and dump. They finally got authorization to use something different but I'd still be pumping for 12 hours. So I just told them to forget it. I'd do it without anesthesia. It wasn't unheard of, just rare. I just told myself there wasn't any other option, and I could do it. Um, LOTS more painful than I expected. I found myself doing the same breathing I did through my worst contractions in labor. Near the end, I was starting to yell out in pain and then it was over. The things we do for our kids! Then I thought of the guy on 127 Hours that had a premonition of a son he hadn't had yet and cut off his own arm to free himself from the rock. I guess my morning wasn't that bad. Still, I was ready for my slice of Little Caesars. Too bad one slice was all I could eat before I was maxed out. Glad to Thursday over with!

On Friday we spent a couple of hours at the zoo. Bee-a-U-tiful day! The Shaws went too and we probably spent a whole hour under some yummy smelling trees, eating lunch, relaxing and letting the boys run around. When we left, Collin was rosy red and ready for a good, long nap!

 Saturday night was graduation, so we watched Maddie and Boyd for the Cardons during the ceremony. Trav drove them to the school afterward for pictures and saw everyone in their cap and gowns filing out. It is surreal that so many of our friends are done and out of here in the next month or so. It's actually really sad. I'm not a fan of change and big changes are coming our way. 15 families will be leaving our ward this summer. I feel like such a fun, good part of our lives is over, even though we still have a year left. I know this next year will go fast and it will be our turn and that is definitely not something I'm ready for.

Here are Boyd and Weston. Boyd is such a chunk and I seriously can't get enough of his cheeks!

 There is just something about this outfit that I love. It's fun seeing Weston in Collin's old stuff and remembering him at this age.

 Does anyone else do this? It makes me chuckle every time. I love that his face is like, "Ok, crazy lady, you done yet? I don't know why you think this is so funny, but I'll humor you."

Weston is no chunk, but he seems meatier than Collin. I tried to keep these rolls PG. I think I may have graduated from skim milk to 1% with this kid!

 This was to showcase our tulips. They make an appearance for about .2 seconds every spring. Then a nasty storm usually beats them down. Last week was such nice weather, but of course it couldn't last. This week is rain, rain, rain and my little sister is visiting! When I told her the forecast she exclaimed, "Why does Buffalo hate me?!" It hates us all, Marcie.

 We wanted to bless Weston on the 22nd, while Marcie was here, but it turned out to be Stake Conference. I'm striking out all over the place! So we finally blessed our little 3 month old last Sunday. Grandma Ann sent his sweet little blessing outfit. Travis did a really nice job. Rachel was able to write down quite a bit of it for us.

 In the circle were Doug, Creed, Ryan, and Bron (not pictured) and the bishop. It was a different experience blessing Weston, since we did Collin's in Arizona. But I was grateful for good friends to be in the circle. Family away from family.

 I feel like I should have powdered his face or something for these pictures!

 I could eat this belly all day long!

This video will be annoying to watch because I always forget you can't switch views with a video! So, sorry it's on its side. But I thought maybe some Grandma's would like to see some giggles.

Mother's Day

I had a pretty wonderful Mother's Day. I got to sleep in, listen to some heart felt talks in church, take a nap, and have dinner made for me! Trav bent over backwards to make sure I felt loved and pampered and it worked. And the sun was shining for all of it! 

It's still a little weird to realize I'm a mother. I mean....like when did that happen?! And yet, here I sit, with two of the most wonderful little boys I could ask for. AND a husband who takes an active role in raising them, all the while being loving and patient with the woman who struggles being both of those things. 

A while back I read a quote that really struck home to me.

 “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” (Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11). 

I can't help but get tears in my eyes when I read that because I know it's personally one of MY greatest downfalls. I live to check things off the list. I'm stressed unless my house is clean. I'm cranky when I'm sleep deprived. I'm short with my family when I feel like the day has been unproductive. Why does there ALWAYS have to be dishes in the sink, clothes in the hamper, toys strewn across the floor, a lesson unprepared, and fat on my butt?! And more importantly, WHY can't I just accept that that's how it's always going to be and be happy in spite of it?

My mom is the greatest example to me of a mother who simply loves being a mother. She was always so good to not get caught up in the "extras" of life. She will hold and rock a baby until the cows come home and KNOW that she was the most productive that day, for just doing that. She loves to spend time with her kids and her kids know they are loved because they are her first priority. I want to be more like my Mom. I want my kids to know at the end of the day that my family is always my top priority.

Mother's Day evening, we got to Skype with my family. You can even see me in the background of this picture. :)

I wanted to see my Mom open her present that was from all of us kids. I asked for everyone's help in putting together a book of our testimonies. I had seen a friend do this for her dad's birthday and thought it would be the perfect Mother's Day gift. I think she liked it. :)

It's a very simple scrapbook, but I loved putting it together. I couldn't wait for the emails so I could read what my siblings and their spouses wrote. Each one was unique and special, but we all wrote about the importance of families and the gospel. I know my parents aren't perfect and our family has gone through trials and hard times, but I was humbled by the unity I felt as I read these testimonies. It was a sweet reminder that all those {little things} like church attendence, prayer, scripture study, FHE, and just spending time together, pay off.

My heart kind of aches for my dad because (as he put it) he has had to, ".... after months of soul searching, step off a cliff and leave my career (just after finally reaching the “pinnacle” of 3 decades of a whole lot of work) and face the daunting reality of trying to re-invent myself in the midst of the worst possible economic conditions in my lifetime. Faith (or sheer stupidity), hope, perseverance, and maintaining a positive outlook take on a whole new dimension and meaning, let me tell you."

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing that piece of an email I got recently. When I think of my father I think of hard work. I've just really never met anyone that works harder than he does. He has thrown his life into a career that he felt he had to walk away from last summer and I can't imagine the emotions he's been going through since. To quote another part of the email... "If you think you’re being overly self-depreciative and introspectively critical now, just wait until you’re 49-ish! It’s like you suddenly wake up one day and ask yourself, 'so, what was it - exactly - that I actually did or accomplished with my life over the past 4 – 5 decades???'” 

Reading that, broke my heart. One the one hand, I can't imagine how he feels, but on the other hand- given our similarities in personalities- I think I know just how he feels. I would feel completely worthless, thinking that thirty years of blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices had symbolically gone down the drain.

However...

 Dad, to answer your question.... over the past 4-5 decades, you've raised 7 children who idolize you and want nothing more than to be like you. You have 7 children, that because of the example of you and mom, have strong testimonies of the gospel and are doing all they can to live the gospel truths you've taught them. You have three children married in the temple. One return missionary and one on a mission. (And hopefully two more on deck.) We aren't perfect... far from it, but if we've done anything worthwhile with our lives, it's because of our parents. In that respect, we hit the parent jackpot. :)

So even though it was technically Mother's Day, I hope my Mom and Dad both know they are loved more than we can say. 

Trav is getting old.

This poor guy just went through a brutal week of finals. Even though I saw him at home plenty while he studied, I felt like he was still physically/mentally/emotionally gone for a week. A couple times, all he could say is, "My brain is mush" and I felt so bad! I couldn't imagine having to know all the stuff they are expected to learn! All the horror ended on his 28th birthday with his last 2 finals. Here he is with his traditional, birthday donut breakfast (still on his lap top studying).

 I had originally planned on just having a few friends over that night for dessert to celebrate. But then Denyse planned a big Cinco de Mayo fiesta to celebrate finals being over and it inadvertenly got switched to our house since so many amigos were able to come and her backyard was still a swamp from the many rains of April. That gave me some last minute motivation to clean out and spray down the garage. Trav mowed the lawn when he got home and we were ready to party! It turned out so fun. I was having nostalgia from the fiesta of last year.

Carolyn laid down on the blanket with her feet up and I guess Collin saw, plopped down right next to her and started kickin his feet. haha.

 Traci was so nice to hold the babers for a bit while I scrabbled around getting stuff done.

 Some of the yummy Mexican food spread...

 I found Collin running around with his food of choice, a lime.

 Check out the yummy margaritas that the Moellers made!

 Go Wayne. He brought his A game muchacho-ness.

 So I was in charge of dessert. Trav loves cheesecake and I recently acquired a spring form pan so it was time to try my first ever cheesecake! I got the award winning (literally) recipe from Megan and made most of it the night before. It was a time consuming recipe. Lots of steps. I was nervous it wouldn't turn out, but as I put it on the cake platter I gave myself a little mental pat on the back. It looked good. I had even whipped up a homemade strawberry glaze since Trav doesn't like regular pie filling as topping. (mushy fruit = gross, to him). I lit the candles then headed out the door, trying to shield them with one hand from the wind. When I got to the bottom of the steps, all eyes were on me as the candles blew out from the wind. Sigh. Travis was by the garage and quipped, "Hey, I blew them out from here!" My shoulders sagged, ever so slightly, and the next thing I knew, my cheesecake was on the cement!! Rachel literally screamed. I wanted to die! I couldn't believe it! And while everyone was watching. I was so embarrassed. And it couldn't just be a dumb box cake I spent no time on. It was the ridiculous cheesecake that took me hours to make! The metal bottom of the spring form pan was still underneath the cake, so it made it extra slippery, sitting on the glass cake platter. I shouldn't have even tried to walk with it. Trav ran over to hug me (he's the best) and I didn't know what else to do, so I went inside and had a mini melt down. I was just so tired. It was the last straw. All week I had felt overwhelmed and stretched too thin, with too little sleep.(But there was no way I could complain, given my husband was getting about 4 hours of sleep a night) So anyway, scratch that. I would have had a mini melt down if it wasn't for such great friends. Doug and Trav managed to scrape it off the ground, just leaving the topping on the cement and everyone ate it anyway!! Seriously, there were specks of gravel and blades of grass they were picking off of it, but everyone ate it anyway. AND they raved about how good it was. I have some pretty great friends.

 Trav was even willing to eat it straight off the ground. Now we'll always laugh about it being like the FRIENDS episode where Rachel and Chandler are fighting over the cheesecake and it falls on the floor and they eat it off the ground anyway! And then Joey walks up, appraises the situation, pulls a fork out of his jacket and asks, "So what are we eatin'!" Given my love of FRIENDS, you'd have thought I planned the whole thing! :)

 I had also made Funfetti cupcakes (Trav's other favorite), so here's Collin munchin away with the birthday boy.

 The {after} shot of the cake. Just a little mushed.

 The Shaws brought some Toblerone's for Trav (his fav candy bar.. boy you're learning lots about his dessert preferences) and while we were cleaning up after the pary, we chuckled at Collin trying desperately to dig his way into the wrapper of one. No one thought he'd succeed, but this kid's a scrapper! The next thing we knew he was trying to devour the whole bar. And oh so pleased with himself to boot!

HaPpy BiRtHdAy to my handsome hubby... now a big, bad senior! I can't believe he'll be starting his last year next week! Way to go babe. :)

A Little Bit of Everything!

These past few weeks have felt pretty busy! Always something going on!

My friend, Briste, was in town (her husband graduated dental school last year and they've since moved to Colorado) so we got together for a little playdate. Her daugher, Ivy, is about 3 months younger than Collin and they used to be such good, little stationary babies when Briste and I would go visit teaching. No longer! They had a lot of fun playing together, saying "No!", and chasing each other around the house. It was good to catch up with Briste. She made Rach and I a bit envious with her post-dental school, {income making} life! :) It was really good to see her!

 I made homemade bread for sandwiches and the kids ate theirs away from the mommas so we could visit!

 Dodging a kiss! She was being so sweet.

 For ward playgroup last week, we took a visit to the firestation! Collin LOVED it.

(Note: the band-aid isn't covering up a new injury... just the old one that wouldn't heal due to his constant picking!)

 One of the firemen got all dressed in his gear to show the kids it wasn't scary. Ha! Collin was fine to look from a distance, but the second I moved him close for a pic, he was hysterical! Lately, everything to him has been... "Gonna GET YOU!" .. while he extends his hand out like he's going to grab something. So for the rest of the day all he could talk about was, "Fireman, gonna GETCHU!"

(Marcie might also be interested to know that when Trav told him that you were going to visit, his eyes got really big and for the rest of the day he'd be heard muttering, "Marcie gonna getchu!" And since then I'll hear him saying it randomly about once a day. haha

Yes, I'm wearing a hat. No, I've never done it before. Since I didn't get too many people making "Newsies" remarks, I might do it again.

 Collin stayed in the truck for at least 20 min. Just sitting and playing with the seatbelt. 7th heaven for sure. I'm sure he didn't mind that Kadence was near either. :)

 He loved on that hat so much it was ready to visit the garbage can after just one day.

 In other news... we have this bugger of a bird's next by our back door! There is nothing creepier than a bird making like a bat out of hell, just as you're walking up the steps. Shudder. It seriously grosses me out. Only, I don't have the guts to take it down. (Shelley, why don't you come do it?! :) Looks like Trav has something to do on his week off! Nasty birds.

Well it looks like spring has sprung and it might not have been soon enough for Collin's PJ's. I think we got our $7 worth out of these Carters footsies over the winter! For a while, the routine was.... take a bath, go upstairs to get dressed and run in circles around the room for 20+ minutes. Trav would lay in the middle of the room and he's just circle and circle him. He counted 75 laps one time. Crazy kid.

 Almost every night we sneak in and peak at him sleeping before going to bed. Lately he's been shunning his bear (still loves his blankie though), and will wag his finger and say "no no bear" when I set it next to him. So I thought it was funny when I found him all cuddled up with it. Just playin' the tough guy to me, I guess.

 Now to the baby!! He loves to suck on his fingers and even got a hold of his thumb last night! This past week he started to get in the habit of going down for the night around 8pm, but he still wakes up 3-4x a night. I hear his cousin, born a couple days after him, is sleeping through the night. What gives?! And this kid is supposed to be my GOOD sleeper. Ah well. Still love him to pieces.

What's sweeter than a babe in a diaper?! (Well, a nakie baby I guess) But I can't help but snarf all over him when he's getting his clothes changed. He's so funny... always with his right arm bent up. Usually it's because his hand is in his mouth...

... as pictured here. He's so much more social now and gives away lots of smiles. I swear he gets a wary look on his face when Collin comes near though. It makes me laugh. Even though Collin tries to be sweet to him. I love my boys!

If it doesn't get all over the place, it doesn't belong in your face...

Last week I taught my Sunday School lesson on why children are the greatest in the kingdom of God.

And we discussed childlike qualities we should try to emulate.

Well I have a childlike quality that I don't think is going to get me into heaven any faster. (darn)

You see, I enjoy food.

I have previously shared that I enjoy it so much that I'm even known to lick the inside of my icecream bowl.

Well, lately I've been a bit careless.

And the food that is supposed to make it just in my mouth, tends to find itself on various places around my face. Or hair.

This has not just happened once or twice.

It's kind of a weekly (Ok, maybe bi-weekly... ok tri-weekly!) occurrence.

And having massively long hair has not helped.

Now, not only baby spit up clumps up my hair, but milk, icecream, gravy, etc. finds home there too.

I know, I'm gross. I'm Stephanie. I'm disgusting.

I believe it was last week that Trav walked in the door from school, took one look at me and snickered, ducking his face.

I immedietly knew to run to the mirror.

Yup, mac and cheese. Hanging out on my cheek. Like a whole noodle.

(You don't have to tell me I'm too cool for school. I know it.)

So when Collin was finishing up his lunch and I caught a glimpse of this:

(strawberry stem pressed to forehead and Oreo's lining his mouth)

I had to smile.

My son. My prodigy.

Ok, I know all children do this anyway. But I like to think he's trying to be like his momma.

So if you see me walking around church, playgroup, etc with food on my face, be a dear and tell me. I'll appreciate the gesture.

(That is, unless it's a little spot on my upper lip. That's a freckle. Frequently mistaken as Oreos.
If only.)