Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Our Mornings

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I guess I should start documenting how “easy” things are right now with just the boys! I made a resolution this year to get up earlier, pick up the house daily and spend more time with the boys (oh and get to work on time!). Every morning I wake up at 6. Gene is usually in the shower so I pick up our bedroom, living room or kitchen – which ever needs it at the time. I usually have my hair & make up done before the boys even wake up at 7! Once they are up they usually get dressed and eat breakfast. Trace has graduated to the big table and he is loving every minute of it! We have managed to be dressed, teeth brushed, hair tamed, bags ready, blankies in tow & out the door by 7:45! I drop the boys at school and head to work. I have made it on time everyday since 2012!! Lets see if I can keep this up when I have 3!

I have to admit I love our time in the mornings. The boys chat at the table in the mornings and Trenton always has some extremely creative story to tell me about “Remember when I was 3 Mom”? They all start out that way. We are working on Trenton learning to tie his shoes & get himself completely dressed. Trenton loves to eat cereal from a cup (Spider Man cup specifically).

I am trying to teach Trace that every morning I am not trying to punish him by changing his diaper and changing his clothes. He is such a difficult little guy. He manages daily to unload every baby wipe, eat diaper rash cream, lose his paci, destroy the living room in 2 seconds or less & throw about 5 fits before we leave the house. All of this in less than 45 minutes! God love him!

Gene always sends me a text once I drop the boys off at school to see how our morning went. How blessed he is to get himself ready and off to work. Although when Trenton was a baby he had the morning routine because I left so early for work. It’s a fair trade. I am just glad I make a daily effort to dress my kids nicely, brush their hair & Teeth, feed them breakfast and kiss & hug them before leaving them at school. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Popsicles in January

We have had the most crazy weather this year. I mean we rarely get freezing cold weather, but humidity in January is insane! I look forward to a few months of the year where my hair doesn’t look crazy! I rarely buy popsicles in January because I think it’s just too cold, but I bought some (thanks to being pregnant) and the boys are in heaven! I love how sweet they are to sit together to eat their popsicles!

My sweet boys! 

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Yumm-O is the look I am getting!

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So handsome! This boy is so independent and refuses to let anyone help him with his popsicle. He is getting too big too fast. I also really like this sneaky look he is giving me…something I see quite often these days.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

T3

Well we are officially on our way to the loony bin! Gene and I found out in November that we were pregnant with sweet #3! We were shocked and overwhelmed to say the least. Yes, we know how this happens and yes we know Trace is only 14 months old, but it truly a blessing! Of course we are hoping for a sweet little girl, but would welcome another little boy with open arms. I am 14 weeks pregnant with T3 and have had a couple of ultra sounds already. I made a very hard decision to switch doctors to one more local. With two kids, a super busy husband and a job I don’t have the time to travel into Houston to see my doctor. My amazing doctor who delivered my boys! I have been blessed with the most amazing doctor and I know she will take good care of me and my T3. We are not necessarily using a “T” name, it just fits for now!

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I am feeling ok. I am super exhausted, but after trying out a few pre-natal vitamins and realizing I need to SLOW down my energy level is coming back up. Chasing around Trace is keeping my weight down and sanity level in circles! I love that kid, but I think he is going to have a tough time adjusting.

Trenton is so excited. He wants a little sister so bad. He asked me if we could go to the doctor place so they can check my tummy. He wants to make sure they put a girl in there this time! I told him he had to ask God for a sister. He said “God is too far away to hear me” This sparked a conversation about prayer so that night he prayed for a sister! Keep praying buddy, Mommy would love a little girl!

Tweedles

My Mom bought the boys a couple of sets of matching pj’s for Christmas and Trenton thinks it is great when they wear them! These days trying to get them to take a picture and both look at the camera is impossible. It usually goes like this:

Trace look at Mommy…Jan 2012 004

Ok now Trenton you too…keep looking at me!

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Epic Fail! I will one day master both of them looking at the camera, but so far no such luck.

Trace and Trenton love to wrestle. Oh yes the joys of having little boys. Trace will jump on Trenton’s back if he is laying on the floor. Pretty much no one laying on the floor is safe from being attacked by Trace. Not even Mommy! Trenton usually tolerates it for a little while and then bumps him off…

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Trace usually climbs back on if he gets the chance!

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Or Big Brother refuses and you get this sad face.

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Monday, January 9, 2012

New Year 2012

This is the third year that we have spent NY Eve with the Jefferies Family! We have such a good time with them and feel lucky to have such great friends. We are very low key these days, so a quiet night, at home with friends is just what we needed! We brought the Wii over to play Family Feud (Girls vs Boys) Well that was a bust, but Trenton and Drew had a great time playing! We have a lot of new things to look forward to in 2012. I am not one to make resolutions, but I would like to make some changes to the way things are done around our house! I have started getting up earlier so I can be ready before the boys get up. This is hard for me because I am not a morning person. I am trying to keep the house picked up and do a load of laundry every other day so that it doesn’t pile up on me. I am trying to listen first and react last to the boys. My procrastination and ability to run late ALL of the time, makes my attitude and the boys attitude less than great most of the time. I want to take more time for the boys and Gene. I know I can do all of these things and to most sound minimal, but I let work come first and forget to enjoy my life most of the time! Trenton starts real t-ball this year in addition to Gene’s season. We are going to be very busy, but what else is new!

Typical family picture these days! NY 1

This little sweet heart never seizes to amaze me. He is so goofy and I cannot believe how well he keeps up with Trenton. NY 2

Me and my little main squeeze!

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Trace will not sit long enough (with me) for a picture. He is a Daddy’s boy!

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Brothers!

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The boys & their cigars

Gene, Joe & Joel

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The Gals

Brooke, Gretchen & me

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A little Wii action

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I was exhausted and cold by the time midnight rolled around!

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The happy hosts'!

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Riley Christmas 2011

When you have a HUGE family like mine it takes a lot of scheduling to get us all together! We did Christmas on New Year’s Day this year. It was perfect, it gave the boys time to enjoy their toys from Santa before they loaded up again from Nana & Paw Paw! My parents go overboard every year with Christmas. They always have and to be honest our boys are so lucky to have them! My Mom puts a lot of time and effort into all of the gifts. She really wants to make everyone happy and in the end she does (except the parents who have to find places for all of these toys!) Our family is growing every year with our newest addition Sophia! That is my brother’s new little girl who celebrated her first Christmas! As usual the food was great, the company was incredible and the house was LOUD! I love that our family is so big! I love all of my siblings, sister in laws, brother in laws, nieces & nephews. My boys are really blessed to have so many cousins! On to the goods!

Paw Paw with his Grandbabies

Mandi, Trenton, Sophia & Trace

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The happy couple celebrating their 9th Christmas together!

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Playing a little basketball in the living room

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Cousins: Alyssa, Logan, Celeste, Trace & Jaycie

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Sonya & Tony (broken collar bone – OUCH)

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Sweet Sophia!

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Let the gift opening begin. This is hilarious with parents trying to snap pictures and kids throwing paper everywhere!

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Trace had fun (when he wasn’t screaming)

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Daddy & Trenton showing off his new race track

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I think this is the look of becoming overwhelmed with gifts, if that is at all possible for a 4 year old!

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Still opening…..

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and more….

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and more…I’m making sure he isn’t opening Trace’s gifts too.

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He was super excited about this ship. I knew how bad he wanted it and told my Mom!

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Drew getting lost in all the paper!

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Celeste with her new softball glove

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My angel love!

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Trenton is helping Trace open gifts

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I promise he was excited about his air compressor

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Daddy & his little buddy

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This is what my Mom likes to call a “stocking”

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All of the girls got light boxes for next Christmas to display, bath & body stuff, gift card & candy!

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The boys loot

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Sisters & Sister In Laws

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My BFF!

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Laurie & Celeste

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Alyssa & Laurie

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Maddie, Laurie & Jaycie

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My little brother Joseph

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My big brother Joe

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Maddie & Jaycie

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My parents!  Riley Christmas 11 062

Jaycie & Trenton (these two have so much fun!)

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Laurie & Sonya (SIL)

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Maddie, Mimi & Jaycie

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The guysRiley Christmas 11 069

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  The girls with MomRiley Christmas 11 071

Mom & my Sisters! Riley Christmas 11 072

And because I was playing photographer I got a Nook which I am super excited about!