A gift for you, a gift for me...

Cullen and Aiden's school had a Santa's Secret Workshop going on this week. That is where they bring money to school and shop for mom/dad/siblings/etc. on their own time. The gifts cost anywhere from $1-$15, or so. I gave them each $6 per family member, with five people to buy for, equals $30 each.
When I handed the boys their envelopes filled out, Aiden immediately asked if he could have some extra money so he could buy himself something. I explained Christmas is about giving, not receiving, blah, blah, blah. I asked him how he would feel if I bought myself a Christmas gift, and not him, which he answered he wouldn't like it. We had a good five minute conversation, which I thought ended with him clearly understanding what Christmas gifting is all about.
I walked to pick them up from school today and the first thing Aiden says is, "I bought myself something today. I had enough money!". "How was that possible?", I wondered. His answer, "I spent less on you all and I had money left over." I think we may need to have the whole "what Christmas is all about" discussion again! He was mighty sad when I told him it, too, was going under the tree with all the other gifts.
Cullen, on the other hand, informed me he brought his own birthday money he had left over from last month so he could spend MORE on us than what he was given. Awww, my baby! Goes to show you what a few years difference will do to a child's maturity level. Makes a momma proud!

Erikk, The Elf on the Shelf

Attention parents: YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK! $29.95
I can't believe I didn't know the story behind this book any sooner.
People have failed me!!
This book answers the age old question, "How does Santa really know if we are being 'naughty or nice?'".
The answer: a small pixie elf remains in your home for a few weeks until Christmas Day, acting as Santa's eyes and ears. He reports the children's behavior to St. Nick himself daily, and each year the elf returns to perform its assigned task.
The Elf (which the kids name) goes back to the North Pole every night while the kids are sleeping and gives Santa a daily report. Each morning, the kids have to find where the Elf is because he moves around at night. That's a fun game, too. If they touch the Elf, he loses his magic and Santa will think the kids forgot about him. Only parents can talk to the Elf. He has strict orders from Santa to not talk to the children. Whenever there is drama in our household, all we have to say are four magic words..."The Elf is watching!". For $29.95, you can't put a price on the peace and quiet it brings!
Jude is reading them the book, and Erikk the Elf is sitting on the window sill

www.elfontheshelf.com

Summer is done!

Another non-blogging month long hiatus and I am ready for story time again.

Cullen started school last week. He is an "old and wise" fifth grader now. (At least that is what he would like to believe.)
Aiden's first day of school was today, my big kindergartner.

They were drawing pictures of themselves. Notice the yellow hair Aiden has drawn. First thing. That is how he identifies himself in every self portrait. I love it!


Time just flies on by, and this time next year, Roman will be entering into the Spanish Immersion program his brother is in. They will be talking about me in Spanish in no time, I just know it.
The good news is I survived the summer, and no one was harmed. Bonus! Having just Roman home today was nice. Very nice. We even took a nap together in my bed. Jude has been on vacation all week and home from work. He has cleaned the house from top to bottom and taken care of majority of the household duties, while I have sat and watched television, leaving nothing left on the TiVo to watch. The last couple weeks of being pregnant has caused me quite a few issues and Jude doesn't want me to do ANYTHING, though I think bed rest would drive me absolutely nuts. It is HARD to sit and do nothing all day. Jude is the greatest husband a girl could ever ask for! I hope my boys are learning from him:)

Happy birthday to our one and only, Mimi!

My mom's birthday was this past Thursday so we went across the lake today to celebrate with her. It was a lovely day. The boys even played super well together. She had a yum yum chocolate cake

that Aiden and Roman were all over. It had butterflies, a dragon fly, and rocks (chocolate, that is). We laughed for hours and really enjoyed ourselves. I don't get to see them enough; I wish they lived closer.
Aiden eyeing up the cake!

Mimi laughing at her card from the boys

The boys eating "rocks"

Nanny, aka-Mimi's mom or my granny, whom does not willingly take pictures at the young age of eighty-three so I have to steal them:)

Spit happens!

In anticipation of baby Preston, I took the time today to decorate some burp cloths (aka cloth diapers). Aiden and Roman both had very bad reflux when they were born (they take after their father) and I am almost positive little brother Preston will follow in their footsteps. It's gross, it stinks, it's extremely messy, and it happens. Over and over and over again! Years ago, an employee of Jude's made me some adorable homemade burp cloths for Aiden, and I eventually gave them all away after Roman. They were one of my favorite baby items, very useful, and I thought I could create my own. I purchased these cute strips of fabric about a year ago when I was taking on the new hobby of sewing. That hobby never really took off, hence I still had the masculine fabric in my closet. I think I did a decent job, though there are many minor imperfections. Now, I can't wait to monogram them with the new monogramming machine that should be delivered any day now that Amy and I are purchasing together. Let the lettering begin!!


For dinner, we took the boys to Chick-fil-a and let them burn off some energy since I had them inside all day.

7 month belly shot

I was getting dressed the other day and decided to take a belly shot. Aiden walked in the room and I asked him, "Aiden, does this shirt make my belly look big?". Aiden stares for a few seconds, thinks, and replies "No, it doesn't look that big."
Little liar.
He is going to make some woman very happy one day.

Re-parenting

*This blog isn't written by me only to remember the good times. It is a daily record of our life...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The chaos and tantrums have been taken down a few notches in the past few days and it is sweeeeeet! The past two days Jude's been home and we have been trying out some new parenting strategies. A few weeks back I was watching Dr. Phil (don't laugh!) and they had a show on about parent/child relationships. It was basically about controlling your children without yelling or spanking. Now, I honestly yell. Hello?! I have three boys, ages three, five, and ten. It seems there is always chaos in our home. Let me state for the record, my yells, according to my friends, are not mean or intimidating, but I yell, raise my voice, none the less. Jude does too. It is something we are not proud of, but the kids drive us nuts at times. Fights, demands, whining, not obeying, not eating, not going to bed, etc. are many of the reasons, and that's X 3. The thing I have to remind myself of is, they are not deaf. Just because I say it louder doesn't mean it sinks in more. I have also spanked a few times, not beaten, when all else has failed and it is something I hate doing but it is always in the middle of that very heated moment. Anyway, back to what I was saying, I ordered this book titled "The Big Book of Parenting Solutions" by Michele Borba, and it came in the mail recently. I purchased "Family First" by Dr. Phil, too.

I also caught another show on Dr. Phil the other day about controlling the chaos with young children. I made Jude watch the DVR episodes with me. Aiden has fits, tantrums, and during the summer, there are way more than during the school year. I will let him debate me till the sun goes down. I will argue like I'm five, give in at times because I feel it's not worth the battle, and ignore him the other half of the time while he does these ear piercing screams that truly hurt my ears. Nothing is consistent, I admit that. (There are happy times, too!!) So we are BOTH working on consistency, not yelling, positive reinforcement, redirecting, and enforcing the same rules, even if it makes us sound like a broken record. What ever happened to the phrase "I'm not a record, I don't repeat myself"? So last night I bought a timer and when Aiden tries to throw a tantrum, doesn't obey, or is outright ugly, he ends up in the hallway corner with "Mr. Timer" on for a minute.

That minute can be added on to. The key to this technique working is being consistent. I have praised them so many times in the past few days, it's sick.
"Good job for eating all your food."
"You make mommy so happy by staying in your bed."
"What a wonderful job you are doing."
"You two are playing so nice together, it just warms mommy's heart."
"I love the way you are helping me. Thank you."
And so on, and so on...
When things have just seemed to be so out of our control, I am hoping this is an answer to my many prayers. Sometimes, we lose control of our house. Sad, but true. We get tired, or overworked, lazy, whatever, and it happens. I am, scratch that, we are trying to take back control of our house this summer. I am very fortunate that Jude and I are on this path together. He is trying just as hard as I am. When I feel I am losing it, he steps in and corrects them, and vice versa. That is really nice, as I am usually the enforcer around here. Daddy is the nice guy that comes home from work and plays with them, bathes them, and puts them to bed with sweet stories. I am the lunatic that corrects them, punishes them, and makes them behave. Oh, I also feed them, clothe them, taxi them around town, entertain them, and so forth, but no one ever acknowledges the nice things I do. lol Oh, the life of a mom!
Now, can Dr. Phil really change lives?? hahaha

Happy 4th of July!

It's not that I take our country for granted, but sometimes it is nice to get a little reminder every once in a while on why our country is so great. This past week showed me what a wonderful justice system we have and the term freedom has a new meaning to me this fourth.
Jude and I started our day taking the two little boys to church and then came home to watch that movie we rented yesterday. Okay, I watched about fifteen minutes of it, fell asleep, and woke up at the end. I am just so tired these days. I entered my third trimester recently and I hope that has nothing to do with it. I think I need to get back on a routine and back in the gym. Then, it was nap time, which I slept some more. The boys played in the pool after, and had some water fun.


Andrea's

When evening came, we decided to catch some more fireworks on the river and drove downtown. I am so glad we did. The fireworks were awesome and the boys really enjoyed it. I took tons of photos of them being silly. I am also wearing no makeup tonight because that would have required energy on my part to put it on; but I am now regretting that decision after looking at these photos.
















Cullen is still at his dad's house. He got a phone call today to try out for the All-Star Baseball team tomorrow evening by his dads, so it may be another day or two before my little man comes home.
:(

Our pre-4th of July weekend

When Jude and I take off to a hotel alone for a few days (for work, play, whatever) I am usually ready to see my kids when the time is up; but if given the opportunity, I would stay just a few more days alone with Jude, as I really enjoy the one on one time with him. Well, after spending four nights in Hattiesburg for the trial of my murdered friend, going through all the emotions, I was so super happy to get home to our boys and spend some quality time with them. I missed them so much! I just wanted to eat them up. Jude is still on vacation till Monday, so we are able to spend time with them together.

Thursday:
When we got in town, we picked the boys up and went to the mall. We bought the two little ones their first pair of flip flops and they are so adorable wearing them. We shopped a little, rented the boys a movie, and came home to our own comfy beds. The beds in Hattiesburg did nothing for me and it was really hard to sleep during that time.

Friday:
I was so exhausted from all week that I literally stayed inside all day, mostly laying in bed or on the recliner. I did nothing. For dinner, we went to our favorite Chinese restaurant where the boys were little terrors and they didn't eat a thing. I was so happy to get home and put them straight to bed. Ummm, I mean, I knew the next day was going to be fun filled and they needed their beauty sleep. lol

Saturday:
Jude and I woke up at 10 a.m. and thought for sure the boys had snuck out of their room quietly and were running the house. Nope. They, to our amazement, were still sleeping. It must have been all the energy they burned getting into trouble the night before at the restaurant. We all got dressed and went for beignets. Then, we headed to MS to ride the beach and enjoy some time at the local Crab Fest.

It was so hot that I started melting as soon as I got out the car. Not sure what I was thinking there. The boys rode a few rides,


we had snoballs, and they were ready to go home. You know it's hot when you still have ride tickets and the kids just want to leave. As we were walking to our car, we passed a shaded park that was perfect to play on.


The boys had some fun and finished their snoballs

while Jude and I sat in the air conditioned car right by them with the windows down. I ran into a few people I knew at the fair and it really makes me miss home. I miss running into familiar faces at every corner:( I miss the water, even if it isn't the prettiest water you've ever seen, and the memories of growing up around there. I miss it all!
On our way home we rented the boys another movie and then took naps. Later, we went to watch some fireworks

at the local park, which were beautiful, and then grabbed some McD's for dinner. All in all, it was a very nice day!
Here are two preggo shots from today, at the six month mark. Three months to go!


Cullen is at his dad's house till Sunday and we miss him much. When I told Aiden we were going to spend some family time together Saturday morning, his response was "We will do the best we can since Cullen's not here. He's at his dad's because he has two families." So cute.
*All photos were taken with my cell, as I forgot my camera on this beautiful day.

Our day, child vs. mom

My child's view of our Tuesday

• Awoke
• Breakfast served to me with my favorite chocolate milk
• Went to the gym and played with my BFF for an hour
• My BFF came to my house and played for a couple more hours
• Had lunch with my BFF from Cane's
• Took a nap
• Woke up and played Lego's
• Went swimming in the pool and the "water slide" for an hour or two
• Got dressed, had dinner, played more
• Went to the movies with mommy and daddy to see Toy Story 3...It was great!
• Came home and went to bed

Mom's view of our Tuesday

• Awoke
• Made breakfast for everyone and had a cup of coffee to get some energy, cleaned up
• Went to the gym in the rain and worked out for an hour, even though I didn't feel like it
• Watched four kids and tried to wash clothes for a couple hours
• Had lunch with my BFF from Cane's, while arguing with Aiden the entire time because it was past nap time and he was a big crank ball
• Took a nap
• Woke up to referee arguments over Lego's and prepared dinner
• Cooked dinner and watched the children play in the little pool for some time, making sure no one drowned the other one
• Dressed the kids and served everyone dinner, ate, cleaned up
• Went to the movies to see Toy Story 3...It was great! Spent $35.
• Came home, blogged, and went to bed

Our days are so similar, yet so different. Oh, to be a child again!!

Monday, starting the week off right

The boys and I went to the gym this morning, the grocery, then home. Jude had come home on his lunch break to my surprise and had flowers, a sweet card, and some chocolate waiting for me.

He entered the dog house on Saturday evening, got a free pass on Father's Day, and quickly returned there last night while I was trying to fall asleep. Men do stupid things, and that is all I will say about that. The boys played/fought while I washed clothes and attempted to clean the house a bit.
Once Jude got off work, he brought the boys to the library, mowed the yard while the boys played in the baby pool, and I grilled some delicious steak and corn on the cob.

After, we all watched Charlotte's Web in Spanish. Aiden is very interested in the Spanish language since starting the Spanish Immersion program at school this past year. He was even excited to see the commercials in Spanish. (We DVR'ed it off the local Spanish channel.) I know Roman is going to know quite a few Spanish words by the time he enters into the program next year. I hope to learn it too one day so there will be no secret language in this house as they get older.

Congrats to Jeff and Julie

Tonight Jude and I attended an engagement party for Jeff and Julie across the lake. Jude and Jeff were very good friends in college. Jeff was the best man at our wedding, and the godfather to our last two children, Aiden and Roman. As Jude works like a mad man, has been married for six years now, and has three kids going on four, we really don't see them much. (Jude doesn't see anyone much, besides us.) I honestly didn't think Jeff would ever settle down; but he has, and Julie seems like a great girl for him, so I am happy for them both. The ring is beautiful and the wedding is planned for January 2011. Here is the only pic I snapped from the evening.

Jeff's in the middle, Brad (was also in our wedding) is to the left of Jeff, and Jude is to the right

Taste and See

Cullen and Aiden have been attending vacation bible school together this week at the church we attend and the theme is Taste and See. It has like a Candyland theme. Every day they give a fun report of what they did. Here are a few photos from my phone...