Growing up is hard to do... and so is watching it happen! :(

OK so I'm going to bounce around a little and tell you a random story, mkay, stick with me.

 My boys have always, and I do mean ALWAYS, have shared a bed/space to sleep. You might think this is weird. Trust me I've heard the lectures about making sure twins are "INDIVIDUALS"  and you should always give them their own room and own sleeping space and their own clothes etc. etc. HA, LETS GET REAL OK!  They are about as different as 2 kids could be!

When the boys were younger there wasn't a whole lot of options for little boys baby clothes that were cute and DIFFERENT. So I dressed them EXACTLY alike though I swore time and time again I wouldn't do that to them. But really there wasn't much other option.

When they became toddlers and very independent toddlers I might add. They thought they HAD to dress alike because that's what they always knew. So it was a HUGE temper tantrum any time they didn't look exactly like the other. (AWFUL)

As they grew out of that so much they were OK in the store picking out different yet similar items. (For example 2 monster truck shirts of different colors.) lets rephrase that statement. They were OK with that until it came time to actually wear it then they'd pick one shirt and fight over it, So horribly bad I'd take a second trip to the store just to stop the future arguing.

They have now hit the stage of not wanting to look anything alike some days and others they want to match. Sometimes when asked if they are twins they now tell people no that they are just brothers. I know this is normal. It's just so sad to watch them grow up so fast! 

OK back on track, like I said they've always shared a bed.

We've been from this:

to this:

to this:

Isn't their room nifty! It's probably the single most awesome room in my house. I'm a little partial  I admit but that's because I DID 99% of the work on this room MYSELF! :) (practically everything glows in the dark!

To this:

Now sadly we have reached another stage in the sleeping arrangements :( They no longer want to share a bed. They want separate beds. They'd prefer different rooms, but sadly that isn't an option at the moment so they'll just have to stick with my decision on what type of bed. My husband and I were torn about having them a bunk bed because they don't sleep in one place. They tend to helicopter around the bed. So, me being a paranoid mother, was freaking out at the idea. but there really isn't much room for 2 traditional beds in their room either. So this left us with a dilemma, what do we do? One day when browsing the web I found THIS bed:

Of course in the space theme bedding.

So with that said my boys in just a few short weeks will be moving to the next stage of life.

Can we please go back?????????

*Sigh*

I knew it was going to happen one day. Luckily they aren't teenagers yet. Come see me next week  and they probably will be. (that seems to be how fast they change anyways!)

I guess the saying is true "Time Flys When You're Having Fun!"

A few things we've been doing this summer Part 1

Mostly this summer has been all about relaxing and enjoying simple little things. I'll list what all we have done but it won't be in chronological order.

I've done a whole lot of cleaning up the back yard and house trying to get it livable and "mine" so to speak. Its finally done and all I can say is WOW why didn't this happen sooner. I'm so much more at peace in my house! After practically having to Strangle, I mean cry (oops did I say that out loud) I finally convinced my hubby to remove the HUGE burn pile from the backyard, because we haven't had any rain since January and its above 100 and so a "bonfire" isn't in the cards.

The boys have had a blast in our back yard hanging out and playing on their pool slide thingy. and just being boys in general. We also bought them a slip-n-slide! This was/has been the GO TO activity this summer! :)

We went horseback riding with pawpaw.

Joshua got his first ever bee sting. OUCH!

We've been fishing numerous times!

We've watched a few Mega blockbusters at the theater. (Sadly of the last 4 Movies I've seen in the theater 3 were superhero related and the other was a cartoon.) I personally thought both movies were oddly pretty good, though I liked Green Lantern just a bit more (maybe its because there was more of a love-ish story or maybe the fact that Ryan Reynolds is in it I'm not really sure. Oh no don't go there I'm married, but hes not bad eye candy, and FUNNY!!! The latter of which is why I said his name to begin with. )

Movie posters and previews can be found here Greenlantern and here Transformers Dark of the moon

We did Fourth of July with my Family on my dads side. It was nice to see everyone, it had been a while since we were all able to get together.

 

Sadly this is the closest we've gotten to fireworks since January. Thanks to the Drought. :(

The boys had their first sleepover and we have plans for more before the summer is out! :)

We baked daddy and paw- paw cupcakes for Fathers day. And have baked a few things since. (one of my boys favorite past times)

The boys are having their birthday party in a few weeks and we've been having a blast together planning that.

(I'll give you a hint)

My husband and I celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary! We didn't do anything extravagant, Just had a date night and hung out together, something we rarely get to do anymore. and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! :)

(This picture was taken on our honeymoon! 10 years ago!!!)

(This was taken last year, I think its the newest one of both of us together sadly I'm not a fan of pictures with me in them! )

That's pretty much the extent so far (that I remember) I still owe you guys a post on their graduation, and then I already have one typed for their birthday party planning. and I have one halfway finished on how much the boys have grown just over this summer! So I wasn't lying when I said I was going to post, I just haven't been around as much as I'd like to have been. We do have plans for more summer activities and I'm quite sure I've missed some somewhere. lol :)

Closet Therapy

6 years ago my husband and I purchased our first home. At the time the sale went through I was days (literally) away from giving birth to my twin boys. We at the time didn’t know their arrival was that close and planned our move so that we would officially be moved into our home by the time they arrived. 

Well God has his own set of plans and I ended up having the boys on Sunday August 28^th, 2005 our move was planned for Thursday September 7^th, 2005.  1 week after having a C-section we moved into the house.  I of course was supposed to be resting and not doing any kind of lifting or extreme exercises (ha) well I moved anyways. We had help from family and friends. But I never had a chance to go through my things and get rid of what I didn’t want.  

Over the next 6 years, I’d go through spurts of let’s get rid of this or let’s get rid of that and heavily cleaning up and out for company or parties. But in the end I’d always get to a certain point and just go ok I can’t take it anymore and call it quits. (I hate having my house a wreck!)  

About a month ago, I’d had enough of not finding things and holding on to things that I didn’t particularly want and started with the office. For 2 of the past 6 years I lived in my living room when I needed to use the computer because it was such a wreck in the office literally it was our junk room. So I cleaned out the office, and went ooh its summer lets go through the boys clothes, from there I said I’m tired of things falling on me when I open my cabinets and cleaned out and up the kitchen, then went to the pantry for my 6 month clean out, from there I cleaned up the living room, the linen closets, my craft closet, and finally moved to my bedroom.  

Today was Closet day. Since I started the major clean out of the house. (Which at the time I started the office, I hadn’t planned to do the entire house it, just kind of snowballed and I was tired of it all at the same time lol) I haven’t particularly been eating well or exercised like I had been doing. And was feeling pretty guilty because where I had nicer muscle tone is jiggly again and the weight I had lost I’ve quickly gained back, and my summer stuff was starting to get snug again. I was just feeling blah about it all.

Well going through my closet was one thing I was dreading. It was a huge mess, and I didn’t want to see all the clothes I was wearing in literal comparison to what I have worn in the past, Basically I didn’t want to see just what kind of mess I let myself become.  Just to give you a good example I have every size pant from a size 6 through a size 12 in my closet Because Over the last 6 years I’ve bounced that much between sizes! I am by no means a skinny girl. Even at 110 lbs I wasn’t bone thin.  It just really isn’t easy for me to lose weight. I gain until I reach a certain weight and that’s it I sit at that weight, and no matter what kind of exercising I do it takes Months before the scale tips in my favor, and by that point I’ve all but given up hope.

After I had the boys I dropped a ton of weight.  I weighed 170lbs (and wore a size 6)  before getting pregnant with them, and 205 the day I gave birth, but just 4 months after having the boys I weighed 135lbs. I didn’t do anything in particular. I had 2 newborn infants and a house to put away, my eating was sporadic, and I just didn’t take great care of myself. And that’s the trend I’ve stuck to since. By the time the boys first birthday rolled around I was back to the normal 180lbs (a size 12) my eating hadn’t changed, matter of fact the only thing that changed was the numbers on the scale.   When the boys 3^rd birthday rolled around I was absolutely horrified at pictures of myself.  No I hadn’t gained weight but yes I did appear to have. So I saw a weight loss doctor. I lost a total of 35lbs (weighing in somewhere around 145-150 lbs) and was down from a size 12 to a size 6. But as soon as I stopped exercising and eating correctly I ballooned back up. Not all the way thank goodness but far enough that it’s pathetic.  I set out to make a change in myself yet again. But this time I didn’t have as far to go.

Anyways before I had stopped working out I made it back down to a size 10.  THE RIGHT AND HEALTHY WAY I might add.  So there was a huge fear when I went into the closet to try on clothes and get rid of what I didn’t want or what didn’t fit. I hit the section of size 8’s and started trying them on (I guess maybe hoping for motivation or maybe to torture myself, at this moment I’m not really sure) and low and behold I actually can wear some of them (and they really fit, not tight!)!

 Needless to say I nearly had a meltdown. I was really harping on myself about how poorly I’ve treated myself over the past 6 years and of course as someone who struggles with weight constantly when the scale jumps you freak out.  I’m not one that just panics so bad I won’t eat but I do get conscious of the food choices I make.  

That’s where the therapy comes in to play. I’ve gotten a very poor body image over the last 6 years.  Before I had my boys I was an extremely Active 20 years old who had time to put into her. And to top it off, I exercised when I could. After having the kids of course they take priority but just by the end of the day I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, pair that with the little to no eating of breakfast and practically skipping lunch all together then scarfing down a large (late) dinner.  And the fact that I have imbalanced hormones (PCOS) it just made me balloon quickly.

Over time I got so insecure and discussed with my appearance I quit looking in the mirror other than at my face and hair, because anytime I did I’d just get depressed.  I didn’t feel pretty or attractive anymore, much less myself. I felt that if I could look in the mirror and see flaws then so can everyone else that looks at me. When I was younger and thin, I was very self conscious, and insecure.  I even thought I was fat because I wasn’t as thin as the other girls were. And I was put down about it from people I thought had my best interest in mind. (Some of that still remains today.)

I’ve come to learn a lot in the last 6 years, but this lesson I’ve had coming my entire life.  I think today just seals the deal.

1.) You will always be harder on yourself than others are on you.  I’m not one to hold on to grudges or things that hurt because I feel like when you dwell on them that gives power back to those people or hurtful things and takes away from yourself. I’m not one that EVER gives in to what people want from me.

2.) You’re not as fat as you think you are. Ok that one maybe an obvious but I couldn’t leave it out!

3.) Self worth isn’t what you see in the mirror, it’s how you view yourself.  There have been times in the past 6 years that I’ve looked at someone else with envy or jealousy, and thought, wow I wish I looked like her! I should have more self respect than that.  I’m beautiful too!

I think I’m finally ready to get back to being me, at whatever size I’m going to be, as long as I’m doing the right things, eating healthy and exercising.  The mirror will no longer control how I feel about myself!

So now you guys know what I have been up to lately, Cleaning house, both literally and metaphorically! J  And I am almost finished! So I shall return I promise! 

It's fun and games until the dog pops the kiddie pool!

So, first yes, I have been missing on here for most of this month. But its summer and school is out and kids don't entertain themselves (or at least mine won't). Second, well I always have to be busy with something (it's a fatal flaw ask my husband! If I sit still and not do anything for too many days in a row I end up feeling like I'm wasting my life away.) So before I post all the crazy stuff we've been up to lately, I thought I'd share a little story.

My husband works LONG (Emphasis on the long) hours, most of the time taking him well past dark. I REFUSE to learn how to shoot a gun properly, so we brainstormed and had this brilliant idea. Lets get a dog that can help protect the family and send him to training school and start him as a puppy growing up with the boys so that the boys can grow with him and we can enjoy him being part of the family.

My husband says oh I know lets get a Rottweiler they are great dogs. My mom had one when we were younger and really loved having one. She'd probably enjoy having one now (which is true because she said she wanted to steal him when she saw Titan for the first time) I personally think its due to the fact that we have a Boston Terrier and well Bandit was supposed to be a family pet. But quickly became my dog because he prefers me and my squishy lap and behaves more cat like than dog, and so he's not keen on the men in my household. My thoughts are that my husband wanted a dog that would love him but that didn't exactly work out either because Titan is also a mommy's dog! (MMMUUUUHHHHAAAAAHHHAAA! yes I'm evil laughing out loud!)

So fast forward six months later, Titan loves to run, and well my house (especially in its current condition) is not big enough for Titan and the 2 boys to run. It just isn't. (maybe because he's nearly as big is they are I dunno) So his temporary living is in our back yard dog run area. It's a large enough area that he has enough room to do whatever his little doggy heart wants, and he gets daily walks around the block, and we are nearly always outside in the evening because it takes me an hour and a half to water all the plants in the back yard (which is a necessity due to the fact we haven't had a drop of significant enough rain since January) any who, I guess over the last 2 weeks he's learned he can climb/jump the gate and has been doing it regularly. He's not normally the kind of pup that tears things up so we were not really worried. We'd just let him do it and keep putting him back inside when we'd see him out. UH WRONG! Titan got out last night and well you see for yourself. (I think its time for obedient school and command training don't you?)

Thank goodness my dad had the foresight to purchase a warranty for the pool that covers EVERY kind of damage. Needless to say hopefully the pool is only temporarily out of order. But goodness what am I to do with these two now? Its been my go to activity for this HOT (105 degree) summer that has no rain!

(Yep he's only 6 months old! He doesn't look very remorseful does he?)

Paw-paw is coming with a new taller fence today. And we have plans to warranty the pool before the week is out. List of other things Titan decided looked fun : a Large frisbee, my outside flip flops, my squash plants, he ate some tomatoes and bell peppers, one of our toad abodes, and the boys pool slide toys.

How is everyone's summer so far?

I'll be back with some of the fun things we've already done this summer! :)

I need caffeine

Howdy friends!


(I probably would really use that greeting from time to time in real life, because I love to change things up! Though to debunk the myth, not all of us Texans use "Howdy", "Ya'll", have a horse, own gun, or constantly walk around with cowboy hats on. I just happen to be the stereotypical Texan. That is aside from the hat, I don't wear hats.)


Seriously can we just hook an IV up with caffeine in it to me? I am dragging booty today, and I have a TON to do. I think my wild party nights with the hubby (I.E. watching a movie at home in our pjs eating icecream) are over. I am officially OLD because its catching up with me. I am not sleeping enough, and getting up entirely too early!

(I saw this shirt in the store the other day and could totally relate, but remember I was with 3 boys all weekend.)

It's the last week of school for us. (wooooohhhhoooooooo) Some of you lucky folks already are off on Summer break, and an even luckier few are already taking summer vacations. Consider me extremely J-e-a-l-o-u-s! Next time can I please stow away in your luggage, I promise I won't make much noise (honestly I'd probably just sleep) and you don't have to feed me much. Ok ok a girl can dream right?

(First day of school, how can something seem so long ago and yet just like yesterday simultaneously?)

So how was everyone's memorial weekend? Ours went by entirely too fast. I guess because we were having so much fun! :) We did a little shopping, took a nap, ate, fished, watched movies, played outside, visited with family, and successfully avoided any and all chores that needed to be done this weekend. Productive right? (oh wait the hubby did mow the yard, dang it!)

This week is going to be B-U-S-Y. Besides for the normal chores, I am watching 2 little girls (bringing my afternoon child total to 6!), I have Kindergarten graduation tomorrow (expect pictures) and then Thursday is Early dismissal, and Friday is our first official day of summer! And for a completely random thought, I am planning to start the 30 day post challenge tomorrow. YAY!

Have you planned your summer vacation yet?

Sometimes I really just need to remember to breathe.

So, this week has started out all wonky. I had a great weekend only to end up with a child home sick on Monday. (I use the term sick loosely. He ran a fever, that's it. Felt fine just a fever. However school rules state that children are not allowed at school with a fever. So home he stayed.) 

Monday we also received a call that our couch was going to be delivered (You see 2 weeks ago I had the couch warranty people come out and pick up my couch to be repaired, the recliner parts were broken on one side, and it needed a good cleaning. As of Sunday, one week later, they still didn't know they had even received our couch, so Tuesday was a shocker.)  Well lets just say since they had a lack of communication, and didn't correct the problems to my couch, I am now going on my 2nd week without my couch. So needless to say my living room is lacking in places to sit and my house is a wreck and I am frazzled beyond belief, because I just spent the last 2 weeks giving it a massive clean out. *Sigh*

Lets add to that shall we? The same week my couch breaks, my home computer decided to CRASH. I finally got a new home computer over the weekend and spent the day yesterday hooking it up and installing all of the software that my husband I have to have on my computer, and reloading all the documents and pictures and music ect. It's the most used computer we own because both my husband and I use it for business purposes, and needless to say its important! (It usually wears down and requires replacing every few years this one was only a year old!!!)

OH, OH, OH and then my husbands truck decided to break down. You know the truck that he has to have to run his service calls (You know the one that he uses to bring home the bacon). So lets add that to my ever growing frustration list.  Of course I wont burden you with the whole list, this is just the more recient little ones to date.

Just about the time I hit my breaking point for the week, this morning, I had a huge realization. You see all of these small things that get me stressed, really seem petty and totally unimportant when I hear about all the things going on in the world, and our country. I remembered a scripture (Matthew 6:25) and it just made me think no matter the size of the worry or problem it isn't beyond God.  So with that statement, I had a refreshed attitude and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Sometimes I really need to just remember to Breathe. 

Last Game and Festival Fun

***(I tried to post this Monday, and it didn't go through, so this is going to count as my Photo Friday and weekend recap all in one because this week was kind of lame, Monday I planned to finish cleaning house from that major over haul i did but well Long story but I had to get Christopher from school and he didn't go back till Wed.  Then Thursday I felt horrible, stupid allergies, and Friday hasn't happened yet, so lets just call this post that is more interesting and full of fun pictures our week!!!  mmmkay???)

This past weekend was a busy weekend, full of lots of laughs, and fun family together time! :) And lots of memories made and remembered.

We watched our local parade and recieved more than enough candy to feed a small child army! The boys watched the firetrucks  I was throughly and completely dissappointed in the lack of parade participation. Back when I was feature twirler at our school the Frontiers Day parade was a HUGE deal in our little town. But I Digress...This year it was a parade full of fire trucks, police vehicles, cars, rvs, and horses. The boys enjoyed it though!

We left the parade and went to the last Baseball game of the season. Contrary to popular vote via all the parents on the team and a few of the other team members.  My guys and I were sad to see the season end so quickly. I got some pretty good pictures though thats a plus!!!

  

Then it was off to the fantastic carnival. For frontiers day they bring in local bands, dance studios, and other types of "performers"  so you can see a wide variety of local talent! They also stage an old fashioned Gun Shoot out, which is totally cool. There is also a car show to boot! So needless to say you don't show up to the festival and intend to only stay for just a little while. Here's some pictures of what all we did and saw. (A huge thanks to my dad for the pictures, because I forgot my tiny camera at home!)

What Fun stuff did you do this week?