Satisfaction..Would It Be Energy?

I remember when I used to write this blog in the beginning, I would always write the funny, the frustrating and the insanity that truly comes from having kids at the same developmental age..AKA..twins. I have always been real, not fluffy but hey this is who we are. This is our life. Well, our life is changing ALOT.

 

Ken has started his new Medical Real Estate Firm,boys are in school everyday, I have work, a household to manage and of course the continuous role of shaping my children's way of thinking. A few Sunday's ago was my "insane" day- literally. I have one of these days about every 2-3 months. Yes insane, when I took a big breath and out came the wicked witch of the west or maybe even the exorcist. Thankfully, I used to be a therapist and have had enough counseling in my life to first say to Ken..."Can I just vent and its going to be a LONG one AND I don't want you to fix it, I just need to get it off my chest loudly".  He knows what that means now after 12 years. So he intently looked at me with his hands crossed and said, "Sure, but  you know I like to fix things". Me:"Don't fix things just let me get it off my chest". 

 

It was probably the best thing I did for myself after 3 months of trying to balance everything at home, helping our businesses and of course by precious boys (including daddy).  Finally, after I was done pacing the room, hands up and down, talking passionately, I just looked at him and said the words I knew was the problem the whole time...."Do I suck as a stay at home mom"? Not meaning suck like a bad parent because I know I am a good parent but suck like I can't keep up with balancing it and having energy. I don't get frustrated as much with the kids and I know my heart is full with satisfaction and enjoyment with our life, I love where we are at but the part I am OVER that has to with energy.  I don't fantasize about having a bigger house or nicer cars - I feel so blessed to have this beautiful home and I love our vehicles, I don't fantasize about making it up the corporate ladder or status - I love my little business so I can be with the boys.  What I don't have anymore is energy! I literally dream of it. LITERALLY! That is where my vent and grumpiness came from.  Because in my "little brain" I thought I would be able to physically get more done over the weekend. The question do I suck as a mom. Well, that comes from seeing all the mom's who have bounds of energy and can get so much more done than I can in a typical day. However, I know everyone has there limits and sacrifices they make so that is step one. Not trying to compare my energy levels with women between 28-34. My hormones are drastically changing at 40, my energy is not like it was even 5 years ago, and I was DX with Fibromyalgia and that plays a part in it.  Trust me this isn't a pity party.  I love it when my friends close to my age complain about the exhaustion, not because I want them to be tired but because I don't feel like it's just me.

 

Now that the boys are in school, I have had countless number of people say, "Oh..you must love the break, you must be getting so much done, you must feel so rested, do you go to the pool, you must just love it".   Yeah realty check people. Please don't say that to me. I guess during my vent session I was thinking, I just don't want the boys to be cursed with this sleeping feeling/exhaustion I have always had since I was 18. It sucks. P.E.R.I.O.D

 

Okay.. reality check. I vented. It is over. Being a fabulous Mama is work that never ends. 

 

Now on to satisfaction. After my venting session was over with and figuring the yard was my trigger point because the backyard looks like the "Adams Family" with the weeds in my garden of doom. I have excepted it is going to take time unless I get someone, a teenager to help me catch up on the weeds because honestly, staying at home with the boys IS MY JOB. My resume business IS MY JOB and helping my husbands company IS MY JOB...now how do I squeeze in the yard which I passionately love to be out there working and creating my fabulous flower garden.  It's like I feel so satisfied, then I look out the back yard and it throws me for a loop. Something so little. Thankfully, I can honestly say I am satisfied on the bigger things in life.  One of the things I want my boys to grow up with(other than energy) is the value of satisfaction of where they are in life. Take what I mentioned above as an example. God blessed me with all these wonderful things in my life, then I am faced with this lack of energy but somehow I have for the most part remained satisfied in the present. Except for that Sunday, on my typical 3 month hormonal vent. I think the key is being in the present and "trying" to enjoy it. Weeds or no weeds. Energy...well that will take time. Hormones, I will address that one day at a time, same as my fibromyalgia.  As I grow and get older, I see the importance of that. But it is hard to be present when you feel like the grim ripper sucked your energy out of you. But like the Yo-Gabba -Gabba Song "Keep Trying, Keep Trying, Don't Give up..Don't Give Up". Its one of our household songs.

 

Dreams are fabulous and I encourage it, we embrace it in this house in fact. Staying home with the boys has been one of those things fabulous dreams we made work . Yes, we were initially terrified because I probably needed to have a full time salary, I had to cut down on alot and we made a ton of sacrifices but thankfully I was able to mold a small business that has allowed me to be with them. I will always hold that dear to my heart that I got to share all the insanity moments with them and still do. Like sitting down at lunch last week. Looking into those sweet eyes as they both talked non-stop about who they played with at school, who they sat next too.  I  just looked at them in mid sentence as I was about to get frustrated that they were not eating, I just took a breath and thought how lucky and blessed am I. I gazed out the window and saw the weeds in the yard but then I looked at them and had an overwhelming feeling a gratitude again. Of course, I did end up telling them 100X to eat, there was no escaping that but I did it with a smile instead of my grump face.  Or this week, Nicolas has the flu and I didn't worry about having to be anywhere but here with him. Yes, I am stir crazy right now being trapped in a germ fest with no break but I am here. I have to keep reminding myself of that or my vent session might come out early..lol! 

 

When the boys were born, I quickly learned I had to let go of chasing material things or the thought "If only these things would change" I knew if I didn't, well..I would miss out . I can honestly say, the first few months of their life was insane, crazy and a blur and I did have those thoughts of "I just wish...I had more help, I wish I could sleep, I wish two babies weren't screaming at me at once, I wish they wouldnt go in two different directions" but I finally let that go.  What my goal is now, is to demonstrate to the boys and have them learn a lesson that took me years (still a process) :  Okay..are we satisfied and happy when we look at the big picture and if not, what do we do to change this. This is what I want for the boys.  More than anything. I want them to be present, to be satisfied , yet have dreams without CHASING. CHASING. CHASING to the point they are unfilled.

My girlfriend said something pretty enlightening to me which holds so true. To help your children have a successful journey in life you have to "Fill Their Cups" full. Full enough so that there is no room for others to fill it with garbage and to fill it with love so that their little brains learn not to allow what others say if negative to affect who they are as a person, and to not especially self doubt themselves.

Now, this is not to say that there is a way to mold your kids to have a perfect life. NOWAY.  It is more about learning to teach our kids how to handle things when life throws them negative circumstances and they can talk about it openly without shame, guilt and feel confident. Things we have learned throughout our life (although some of mine I definately do not want them to know). One way that I think we can fill their cup of love is by listening to them, trying to understand their needs, be present for them, ask questions and help them process things when life does through them a ball of obstacles. Like we already had to help them with so many things these past 4 years (including a fight between them over who's girlfriend it was..yes at 4 1/2) . Just like in my vent session this weekend. I asked Ken to just be present and just listen, just let  me vent and be understood. Well, as a parent you know this is hard to do all the time when you have little kids. They can suck the life out of you in a flash. In a  moments notice -purely drain your cup but if you practice and remember this age is so precious and keep practicing it, get that sweet thought in there, it does get easier. It's not easy but you can be present. Like my continious goal of not checking my phone for text or emails or facebook when they are in my presence. It still is hard and Ken busts me all the time standing in the laundry room or squating behind the cabinet to see what just "DINGED" on my phone. I try to never be on the phone when I pick them up from school or on the way there. I try SO HARD not to ever do this unless I have to catch someone that I need to let know something of relevance. As my friends have all heard my line, "I'm bringing kids in- call you back in a few".

 

I am working on to "fill my cup" and to teach the boys. To keep their cup filled so that if or when someone makes a dig at them later in life, they know that it isn't about them, it must be something that person is going through.  

I know so many people who chase that money, who chase power, chase what people will think of them, chase status but still deep inside are never satisfied. In all honesty...we all chase something at some point in our life. I chase the dream of a lawn person...just joking, I used to chase a dream of stability. For many reasons. I have continually worked on this but now I know how to stop when that wicked thought creeps in and say..lets just be real. And if something triggers like my weeds in the backyard, I have to acknowledge it and every few months have to have a good 'ol vent. But I have learned, to stop and say..what is important right now, what is satisfying my soul.

 

One cool thing.....where I said above that I want to "fill the boys cup so full, enough so that there is no room for their filters in their brain to shut down and allow what others say something negative to them..for them to self doubt themselves". We are doing it.  I am slowly seeing the results of our efforts in small, suddle ways.

I saw it in a small, very kind gesture from Christian. We have taught them that when they are on a playground, make sure you ask the kids first if they want to play "Super Heros" with you before you go roaring and growling in there face. Which they tend to do.  I also shared with them, please don't take it personal if they say no. That just means they don't want  play it or with you. It's not a big deal, it would be like if you didn't want to sit down and play legos in the middle of a park. They got it. Well, Friday I saw Christian running after his girlfriend. She turned and said "Christian, I don't want to play that now. Stop."  He just simply said "Okay" and smiled and went off running with the other kids.

 

Her mom sat there with her mouth open and said.."Jody did you see that"? 

Me: What? 

Her: She just asked Christian to stop and he just said okay and was still happy not getting his way". 

 

My heart soared.  So screw these darn weeds in my yard....my boys are satisfied and showing signs of gaining continually love and confidence. This is where I want to be - right now in the moment.

The Boys Summer When They Were 4

I haven't blogged in awhile because I was soaking in every moment with the boys this past summer. I knew that having twins for the summer would probably be busier than ever and possibly insane. But boy was I ever so wrong!  Boys are in school everyday this year, and with naptime I don't get to see them as much. I really felt I needed to blog since the boys have officially started school everyday. It has been tough for so many reasons, on so many different levels. I just feel like time is slipping by way to fast and I find myself running into their room at night before I go to bed and just sitting with them, praying over them and wishing them the most heartfelt blessings upon their new journey. I find myself  taking less pictures of them because I want to be in the moment. 

I don't have many photos of the past 2 months but here it goes! This summer the boys have really gone through a growth spurt in every single way. It has actually taken my breath away more than ever. Ken and I were talking that we both feel this is absolutely been the best age we have experienced. We can breath. Having twins, that first year it was hard to breath, actually the first 2 years it was hard to breath. Their little minds and bodies continue to amaze me with all they have done. This summer I made the commitment to try not to let their childhood escape me like I see so many moms do with their phones texting, reading emails, talking on the phone when they are out doing an activity with their kids. I promised myself I would do these things when they were sleeping, if I was in the car alone or sneak it in while they watched one of their shows.  I have been trying more and more to look into their precious little eyes when they talk to me, get down on their level when they speak (which is constant with both of them - my legs get a good workout..lol!), ask my friends to wait a moment when the boys discover something exciting and new when we are at a play date.

Ken and I feel more and more excited to see them after nap time and greet them with big hugs and smiles. Now don't get me wrong we always have but we have always wanted a bigger break to "regroup". I still get annoyed, frustrated and tired with all the fighting between them. But, when those feeling start to boil inside, I try to step back, hold my tongue before I say anything so that I am more calm which is VERY HARD when you want to yell - JUST STOP IT!!! 

The time to truly be in the moment with them is paying off. The other night, I found my old journal that I kept from age 5- 20 years of age. At dinner, we sat as a family and read parts of it, especially the first 2 years of my journaling from ages 5-6 and the boys decided they wanted to do this. Last week, they surprised me because daddy had helped them journal and my heart was filled with happiness when they read me their first journal entry. It was so simple but made me realize how much we of a difference we are making in their life. I know they love me, cherish me but I never realized how much they appreciate the extras we do. Nicolos's journal entry said: "My Mom is the BEST teacher , cool foalapan" - whatever that last part meant, not so sure. Probably because my journal entry that I read to them talked about me loving my school. Christians said" Good, cool, I love my teacher". I though hummm. I asked- which teacher Christian- Lora or Cassidy? He gave me that charming smile he has and said -YOU MOM, I LOVE YOU, YOUR MY TEACHER!!!

Just looking at their little hands in mine as we walk across the parking lot, brings me tears of joy knowing how much they trust me in every situation. Looking into those eyes as they look to me for direction, their wonder and all the new things we are doing.  It's been a great summer (other than there fighting) but a nice carefree summer that I hope that I will always remember.

Their little waddles in the sand walking down the beach.
Watching both of you become closer and closer as best friends.
Jumping the waves together at the beach.
Their picnics with friends.
Planting our herbs...which didnt work..
Home Depot Building Projects
Both learning to swim and probably my most favorite...all of us going under water holding hands in the pool and seeing their pure joy smiling under water.
Swimming..swimming and swimming.
Seeing a seagull swoop down and snatch a sandwich from Christians hand.
Sprinklers, slip-in-slides, museums.
Seeing them smile when they found caterpillars slowing crawling, trying to count a million legs on it.
Running around carefree in their batman /superman capes.
Helping both of you learn to cope with the lose of our doggie Rocky, it sucked but I think you learned to appreciate things more.
Letting you baking/decorate your own cupcakes on a whim when you asked in the car and we just stopped, got the materials and did it!
Excitement of seeing the boat races.
Tracing my body in chalk, having the most decorated driveway of chalk in Lakewood Ranch (surprised we didnt get a fine)!
Fishing, catching and touching your fish.

Seeing you so proudly carry your golf clubs although it basically weighed as much as you but so determined.

And of course their CAREFREE Laugh and Spirit.

Yes, they are growing...we all are- including mommy and daddy who get teary eyed more than I can count on two hands for every sweet thing we know that will only happen during this age.

My encouragement to all my girlfriends with kids that are 3 that say " 3 is so much harder than 2", trust me please please please...4 is AWESOME, 4 is AMAZING, 4 is EASIER!! As most of you have said, you don't understand why 3 is so much harder than 2. I think it is because they are trying so hard for independence and going through a rapid emotional change in their brain. It happens at 4 but it is different, I can't put my finger on it but it is better. Better than you can ever imagine.

Now that I wrote all the positive....I still have my BEAR GRRRRR moments, I will not be unrealistic but it is less than the past few years. 

Ken is probably reading this saying...."Wait is this really my wife" but yes dear...it is because inside of  me "that internal turmoil"  of what I used to always say I felt, how hard it was with twins was really only about 80% of what you saw. Now, I feel 10 times stronger 10 times less stressed. Maybe as good as what we always say in this house, I feel "Infinity and Beyond" good because I know I did my best as their mom this summer, committing to a "Hands Free" summer while the boys were present with me! I did it!  I was present to them, I felt alive and I felt pure joy with them. Even though I would hide behind our kitchen counter while they watched a show to quickly jump on Facebook, Email or Instagram but I hardly did it when they were present in the room with me. Yipee! A big goal accomplished....now to get through the feelings of them in school each day..GULP  DOUBLE GULP!!

Preschool Learning

I have been missing in action for several reasons...mainly boys have been out of preschool since June 5th so I have been trying to really absorb all the fun and explore different things we can do the past 6  weeks because my little babies are going to be in school EVERYDAY next year from 9-12 which causes me anxiety just thinking about it.  On the otherside of it, I get nutz alittle without a break!!  However, I am going to miss all the little things we do in the mornings and over the past 4 years of their sweet little life.  I try to remind myself, especially during their whining attacks and fighting over toys that put me over the edge!! 

  They still take naps so I am hoping a few of those days we will skip naps depending on how tired they are so we can go have afternoon fun once school starts! I know I will also love the break but 5 days!! Holy cow..to much for mommy away from me!!  I only have 5 more weeks left and I want to incorporate "some" structured learning to get them ready for the basics of their school (the 4 year old class). Last summer I wanted to spend alittle time teaching them the basics of what to expect when started school and I am now starting it again. Things such as circle time (sit on mat while I read 3 short books: one on a verse from kids bible, something fun and something like opposites/numbers..etc.) calendar charts, numbers/ counting /,  cutting  and site words without cramming it down their throats as well as creative playing. I think it helped them last year be less anxious when school started and I think it made it easier for them to learn. Now don't, get me wrong..I do this in small chunks of time because I would be rather out doing activities out of the house. So I wanted to post a few ideas for my friends that were asking about ideas. I know they probably look lame but the boys love it.  I just took the basics and expanded on it.

This one I but a number, a shape, let them count it then stick something to each shape.

  

This one I printed 2 shapes and they had to pick out the shape as well as category of colors (light blue / dark blue). I think it also helps with patterns..not sure.



This one we do casually at meals. They play it as a game. I made site words and numbers, they can pick it and say what it is. We make it a game to see who gets the most (not sure if that is great with competition with twins..yikes). Then we shuffle the cards they get and I do speed guessing of the cards. They love that one because we do silly faces with each one. I just put them all over my center piece of my table.

This one is dexterity and creativity.  I ask them what 4 things they want me to draw and cut out. I draw between the wavy lines. Then I have them cut along the wavy lines to get to the photo. Then I cut out the photo I drew for them. I make it tricky so they have to cut different ways to get to the photo. 

If you have any other ideas let me know!!!!

Vacation Bible School

This I feel right now......   

                                   for the love of God!!                                      

I put the boys in vacation bible school camp this week, which I am volunteering in their class as a Crew leader. I try to keep the kids engaged, interested and happy. Let's just say the word CRAZY TOWN with 28 - 3/4 year olds!! Boys loved it but mommy is beat! Within 5 minutes of getting there, I got kicked in the gut by a BIG boy (about 50 lbs for a 4 year old), then he proceeded to say that I ate to much bubble gum and was fat from it!! YES FAT!! Then he sneared at me with a evil eye and said it again with a nice kick. He wanted his mom, which I completely understand but FAT??   Really?? Yeah, not really wanting to cook tonight....

Christian

Reading With Chrissy (Who was previously dressed as Superman- Lou-Lou's daughter)!

I feel like I haven't had many photos of Christian up lately on our blog or Facebook, so  I wanted to add some! My little spit fire has been full of it lately..lots of fun and lots of "NO's"! He has been such a love bug though! School is out next week for the summer and I hope to enjoy so many memories of them because in 2 1/2 months my big boys will be going to school everyday for VPK!! I can't believe it. Now we just have to find a school for them for the following year.

Ps...side note-Ken just walked by me and said "It's awefully easy taking care of them, they sleep most of the day and play so nicely in the morning..... (with a snicker). OH Please!!
  They are always so good for daddy when he watches them while mommy works.

Home Depot Building Projects- goes with Dad

Loving his finger painting

Telling Grandma he loves her!

The Boys!

Ever feel this way? Around 8:30 am this starts or around 4:45 (exactly) this starts! I know all you moms can relate to this one!

Words You Don't Want To Hear With Twins

Today we had our traditional Monday 'PJ' day after a very active weekend. We just lounged around the house and spent time today reading, eating and playing.  I don't know what got into me but I decided to let the boys play with shaving cream. After they covered with themselves with it, I went to turn on the bath. Within seconds of leaving the room I hear..."GO" then laughter. Literally, one minute! I walked into a kitchen of shaving cream on the counters, floor, cabinets, rugs. So, naturally I had to join in the fun.  Then later in the morning I heard them saying " LET'S BOX"! I don't even know where they got that from but I walked into the living room and they were literally BOXING!!! They were laughing but 'boy oh boy' were they wrestling and hitting their stomachs, faces..etc.  I almost had a heart attack. Something you never want to hear from your twin boys that are only 4!!!

This is what it ended up in...a war of shaving cream, so naturally I had to join in!! Ken's mom came over and said.."Is that shaving cream on your curtains"????  Yep!!

Four Year Old Twins!

Hope you are having one of these fun-filled confident days! Ready to take the world on. I know this house is rocking with action.

Lou - Lou

As almost every blog starts off, I should be working since boys are sleeping and I am backlogged with resumes. Sick again~ go  figure. It seems when I get sick, I get overwhelmed with it all and so emotional.

Well, today it has been especially hard because I realized that in approximately 2 1/2 weeks one of my biggest, strongest, most influential people in my life is leaving and I am so heart broken.  Lou, who has helped with the boys for years, who has been my neighbor, who the  boys think is their grandma is moving to CA.  It is like a pit formed in my stomach and is stuck.  She has taught me so many things about faith, love and respecting others. I truly feel the boys are 1/2 as smart as they are because of the tools she gave me in teaching them.  As a former Kindergarten teacher who is so nurturing, she just loved trying to give me tools and songs to teach the boys that I still use today.

She has been my rock in all areas of my life when I felt things were getting to hard to do, when I doubted myself, she just listened unconditionally with no judgement and would pray with me. She prayed over the boys when they were the sickest with RSV and she always blesses them each time she sees them with her quiet prayers.  It's funny, because I know she wouldn't want me to panic that she is leaving, she would want me to rely on my faith but I have that panic feeling. Your probably thinking what is this...right? 

Well, she has helped me get some of the darkest moments that have occurred over the past few years whether it was about my family or just on days I didn't want to get out of bed. She was there. She would come over and just help me breath.   She used to watch the boys 10 hours a week for about a year and half, then she was offered a wonderful job with my friend to nanny for them 4 days, so I was still able to have her come over on Fridays. I looked forward to seeing her with that smile and huge hug. Then when school started it was whenever she could or when I needed her the most. Or she would just do it because she missed us. If she sensed I was stressed, I was so blessed because she just had those words or would just say..."Let me meet you at the doctors to help you with the boys at their appt". 

Probably, the biggest thing she did which I will forever be grateful is she taught my boys that Jesus lives in their hearts. She taught me "how" - meaning the words to teach young kids.

It is like having a security blanket in your life in a simple way of explaining it. Does that make sense? For all of you who are super close to someone, you get it. You get the pain it is to see them leave.  It is so painful to know the boys will not be able to see her and they will ask "Where is Lou-Lou."  Now if they ask, I just call her up and say when are we doing something.

I just have so many words to express to you Lou! I don't know where to start. You have been my mentor, my friend, my sister, one of the boys grandma, you have helped Ken and I face some scary things and I will never ever let the boys forget you!!! You helped hold these crying babies for that entire week when they had RSV, hours after hours and you refused to leave my side until someone else was here to help them. When Ken was gone that weekend and Christian was so sick, you just came over without me having to ask and rocked Christian and soothed him after he was crying for hours and I didn't know what to do.  You have given so much of yourself to our family for only one reason, you love us. You love us unconditionally.

I hope you too know just how much all four of us love you. Tears stream down my cheek as I write this because it hurts your leaving. I am going to miss you so so much. You have helped keep me grounded when I didn't know I could be, giving me the confidence to be such a strong, confident mother that I am. You've helped me become confident in my choices with the boys and confident in the way I am raising them and I love you so much for that. The only words I want to REALLY say is "Please don't go"!!  So...for now, for this moment in my life, I am sad but I am also counting my blessings that God did put you in my life for a reason and you will always be in my life.

Homemade Parties

As Ken and I were finalizing the decorations for the party (I was cutting and pasting Superman Logos to the dangle things for the ceiling), I was feeling all proud of what we accomplished and he said, "Wow this looks like a homemade party". As you can imagine my eyebrows raised and I yelped...."WHAT"?    "What does that mean, is that bad, is it cheesy".  Quickly, he came back with a nice comeback and said, "No, I don't mean it bad, I just mean homemade, lots of love has gone into this".  Oh.....

I would have to say that it was and it was wonderful. This year was probably the best birthday for all of us. It was special because it was a group family effort to decorate the party to surprise the boys and it was so worth it to see their joy..and all the kids. My mom flew here to surprise me last week for my 40th birthday and she was so sweet to help me make 30 capes as gift favors for the kids. She cut most of them and sewed, I cut and glued and Ken cut all the hard pieces like the "S" and diamonds.  They were a hit and it was so sweet to see them flying around the party with their capes. Side note...I ruined our kitchen table because of the glue...yikes..not so happy about that one.

Ken's mom made the most adorable, beautiful cakes for the boys. Each year she has always made the most special cakes, their very own cakes, as well as one sheet cake for the guests. This year the boys requested a "Batman Lego and Superman Lego" so she did it! GORGEOUS and so creative. Everyone kept asking "Where did you buy these, they are delicious"....I felt so proud to say Ken's mom did them. We had a hard time keeping all the kids away from it prior because they wanted to touch it and play with it which was hysterical in itself. We had a guard on duty most of the party..lol!! 

Then Christian and Nicolas helped me color and cut the little capes / masks for the lolly pops which was cool, although a pain in the ass to tape to each one.

 Grandpa Ken brought bubbles and cookies for all the kids which made all the kiddos happy! 

I have to say, I love having parties for the boys. I think because I get so sentimental and I remember what we went through before we received these boys from God, the most precious gift God can give parents and the fact God trusted me with 2 of them at once...well you better believe we are going to celebrate them! EVERY YEAR! Even if it is a homemade party. Whether at a pool, backyard or our crowded house, we are going to celebrate their life and love with all the people who have been part of their life, who love them, who have helped us as parents and all their new friends that they are making.  I was sharing with my girlfriend Vanessa, I am just so glad that they are 4 and they will remember it because this is a memory I want them to cherish forever. 

All-in-All this party will go down in the books as one of the best ones yet, one of the most special "homemade" parties!!! 

So excited about the cake..Christian in the background making sure no one touches!

My Mom Hard At Work!

Can't wait to play with these yummy legos!!