Week's End

This week swung the life pendulum from SO much fun to one of the worst days of my motherhood life to SO much fun (again).   

Monday started off our week for a play date with Jessica and her sweet girls Harper, Elliott (Elle), and Livvy.  It is a funny story to tell about the way that Jessica and I met, but having her in my life has proven to be fruitful and besides the fact that Parker and Jolie love her little girls, Jessica and I are basically the same person in different bodies.   

 THREE hours, lots of loving on each other's tiniest babies (Livvy and Baker are just about a week apart), chicken nuggets, waffle fries, and one ha-UGE ice cream cone mess later we called it a day.

bow // cardigan (similar)

After I made my way home I tapped into Insta and this popped up on my feed.

Yay:)

t u e s d a y Jordan and I had tickets to the Ranger's game and se we let this adorable little thing tag along..  

bow // onesie // leggings

 beer + burgers + chips + guac + salsa

Way better than any restaurant could share.  Plus - how fun is this?? We've never tailgated just the two (three) of us.

DATE night was the best night. The game was so much fun! Rangers were fighting for first place over the Astros and it kept the crowd loud and proud. 

Baker slept through to the 7th inning before she woke.  Cozy in the wrap - and by the way, baby-wearing is probably the best concept/invention everrrr. 

bar necklace // wrap

She did SO good.. hardly made a peep and watched so intently all the moving parts around her.  The baseball stadium had so much to look at!  

 Meanwhile.. the twins had their first sleepover with auntie and uncle J since Grayson made his arrival.  The sent pictures as the evening went on.

They helped make dinner..

 ..and fed baby Grayson.  The have talked all about their sleepover nonstop since they got home.  They LOVE him and they love their time with Auntie and Uncle J!

W e d n e s d a y.. I have ZERO pictures from Wednesday and not because we didn't do anything fun - because I tried to do something fun, but it completely blew up in my face.  Repeated tantrums, fussing, crying- I didn't even recognize my children with the way they acted.. I didn't recognize myself the way I responded, either. It was tough. Finally leaving to go home with three screaming babies in tow- echoing through the mall and drawing stares from strangers in every corner. Probably the hardest most embarrassing day I've experienced since having three babies, and I almost want to say that this was the hardest day since becoming a mom, period.  I had several non-proud moments.  I cried all day out of guilt and frustration and confusion as to what to do with my unhappy kiddos. AND Jordan was at the fire station. Of course. Thankful for grace and redemption from a tough day.

School came early Thursday morning, but thankfully it was a new day and we were all in great spirits! I'm glad they love school and are okay going.  Daddy brought us some donut holes on his way home from the fire station and Parker found it funny/hilarious that Jolie didn't want her to kiss her with a 'sticky mouth!' 

These girls!

 headwrap // tank // pants // moccs

While Parker and Jolie were at school, me and this sweet one met Jackie and Victoria for some coffee and fellowship. 

bow // romper (similar) 

Thursday night we found ourselves on a second date night in one week- that has got to be some sort of parental record!  Jordan got tickets to the Garth Brooks concert for our anniversary    and I was just the giddiest little fan girl on the planet.  You guys.  I have been dying to see Garth for years. We planned and paid for an entire Vegas trip to see Garth play at a the Wynn, and then couldn't get tickets.  Whoops!  A N Yway this show.  It was amazing.  

 My friend Jessica says there are GARTH people and there are GEORGE people.  While I totally hold all respect for the George people, I am totally Garth people.  My earliest memories of music are of Garth (and Tricia).  Trisha is my Reba, ya'll..and when she came out- so many memories and so many emotions!  I remember being like 6 years old playing Barbie dolls in my little friend on my soccer team Erica's garage and jamming to some Garth and Trisha.  

I knew every single word to every single song.  I bounced around- dancing and sweating - I've never had so much fun at a concert. It was so awesome!  Someone on IG used the word 'electric' and thats exactly right.  Every moment of that concert. I didn't want it to end!  I may or may not have lost my voice just a little bit..  Whatever, so worth it!

Thunder Rolls to The Dance to Much Too Young ..Beaches.. Callin' Baton Rouge..Unanswered Prayers.  Every song you can think of.  

..and, Low Places.  Because, duh.

Listening to this back I can apologize now for MY singing. It was so loud in there I was basically screaming the words and you can hear me just enough, and at least it's muffled:)

..and I'll just leave you on this Friday with Jordan's belting tune to Trisha :)

His mama called him precious after I texted this video to her. 

It was an amazing week!!  Happy Weekend, ya'll!

The Calm

Its been one of those weeks.  Weeks that you just 'make it'.  

Yea. Pretty much just makin' it by this week.  Hence my lack of blogging this week.  My lack of social media period, actually.

All this started last weekend with fevers and snotty noses.  Less than stellar appetites warranted multiple offerings at meal times to get them to eat anything.  ANYthing.    

Work this week was hectic.  High strung would be an understatement.  

Wednesday.  WEDNESDAY.  Crying from the moment they woke up to the moment they went to bed.  Parker ate nothing at all.  MAYbe a couple sips of milk. Jolie didn't do much better.  Nothing would soothe them.  Nothing.  

And then.. the calm.  My sweet Jesus reminded me of why I do what I do.  My job, my purpose, my role as Parker and Jolie's mother.

Just peace.  

Yesterday afternoon we spent the evening out in the backyard- just me an the girls.  Daddy was at the firestation, and I was fearful of what I was coming home to after the crazy week we had been having.

In those moments we spent enjoying the weather I saw the pure joy in my baby girls' hearts.  

They were calm.  They were the happy babies I know. 

There wasn't a place in the world that I would have rather been.

After getting them up from nap the girls spotted the new package of head wraps we got in the mail the day before and insisted they be put on their head.  Total clash, but they pulled it off well if you ask me.

 head wrap / Two Little Bees Boutique // onesie / Old Navy

 My sweet girl.  Those baby blues are breathtaking.

Our neighbors were playing on their trampoline and Jolie was super enthused and telling me all about them.  When that little voice turns that babble into sentences I won't know what to do with myself.

 Watercolor.. obsessed with this app.   

 ..and this one.  Obsessing about Daphnee.  Daaaaaa! (dog)

 I dare you to blink first.

 Our #OOTD. I hope no one is taking notes on this fashion sense.

God is good at reminding me of the calm that is to come when I feel like I can't handle one more stress, emotion, cry, or responsibility.  

..and what a beautiful reminder He provided.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.  All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

Weekend Ramblings 6.7.2013

This weekend was another one of those blow and go all weekend long and then crash land into Sunday evening.  Okay..maybe not that busy- definitely not as busy as last weekend  but still I felt like it flew by.  Friday night Jordan was at work, so our weekend officially started on Saturday morning with errands and brunch with the Cabrera's, followed by a little shopping:)

Parker and Jolie enjoyed their lunch in the parking lot before we got to have out brunch/lunch.  How precious are these babies?  Parke's eyes continue to get darker and more grey by the day (just like her momma!)

..and Jolie's eyes.  Holy pool of crystal blue. Jealousy becomes me of my 6 month old little beauty.

Thank you Jameson Monroe and GroopDealz for these perfect headbows.  BB sure knows how to dress these girls' heads, but when they aren't in a BB original, we love, love, love Jameson Monroe.

Time for brunch! Jacob with his little ladies..

None of these three lastest much longer in their seats and ended up dancing, playing, laying in and among our food on the table (yea..we are those people.  Take control of your kids.)

Parker was getting sleepy and oh-so-snuggley with Chris. That girl is so so so sweet.

After lunch we walked the shops and made a stop into Gymboree- their huge 70% off sale banners were calling my name.  I picked up these precious sun hats for P&J to wear during our future and frequent trips to the pool.  99 cents, people.  ninety-nine cents.  I also grabbed some leggings for last this fall/winter. 

What's better than sweet baby cheeks under a floppy hat?

Sunday morning we woke up to thunderstorms and gloomy clouds- which called for spending a little more time in our jammies.  Jolie was being extra sweet with her Daddy and don't those eyes just glow with adoration for him?  Melts me!

oh.. and Jolie recently went bald.. in case you didnt notice.

More loving on her daddy.. post blow out in those sweet crabby jams.  So we didn't spend that long in our pj's. 

After morning nap we headed out to run a few errands.  We pal'd around together: Target, Lowe's, and Tom Thumb were all on the list of to-do's.

#bowheadproblems

 #hermothersdaughter

 Halfway down the road after leaving the house we realized we forgot the stroller.  Happens more often than you would think.. but when you are lugging just about everything out of the house when trying to go somewhere- we end up always forgetting something.  At least it's not a baby, right? 

So- strategically stacking the carseats in the shopping carts for every stop we made became a game.  We got quiet good at it by the end of the day.

My little love bug. She chatted me up all the way through Lowe's.

Finally last stop!!  Picking up steaks for dinner:)  Jo held my drink for me while I pushed the cart..

..and Parker and Daddy made sure to pick out the best fillets on the shelf.

While out.. I picked up this beauty to try my hand at baby food making.  After an afternoon of making pounds of puree (ok, pounds might be a slight exaggeration) it was a success!  Stay tuned for my baby food making experience!

Crash landing into Sunday evening.  No joke.

It was a good weekend with my sweet family.  I adore hanging out together just us four- makes my short weekends SO much better.

Bonus!  Monday morning I got a notification that Jolie's picture was selected for voting by Parent's magazine!  I submitted both girls last week, seperately.. but realized this week I could have done a picture of them together.. boo!  I resubmitted a picture of both my sweet girls.. but for now Jolie is in the running!!

This morning her picture ranked at #20 (of hundreds!) thanks to my sweet IG friends!  Go vote and then vote again:) Both of my girls are up their for voting- so don't forget about sweet baby Parker Jane.

Vote for Jolie here
Vote for Parker here

You can vote once a day:)

It's Friday..

..so I'm going to share some of my favorite pictures from this past week.  It's been one of those weeks.  It had drug on and on and on..

and on.

I am thankful that, it is in fact, Friday and even though this is technically my 'short weekend' at home, we are closed for Memorial Day.  Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. (anyone call that line from one of my most favorite movies, EVER?) 

I think my slow-moving week has something to do with the fact that I've not slept well this entire week.. so annoying.  The girls have been sleeping GREAT and here I am here restless- tossing and turning for most of the night.  Boo. 

Going through my phone looking back over this past week, these are among my favorite times with my sweet littles.

ALL smiles.  Seriously.  All the time.  I adore this silly sweet pea of mine.

Being cray cray babies before it was time to eat.  Again with the silly Parker and Jolie in mid-sentence/babble/yell

Jordan snapped this picture during church last weekend. Parker was being such a snuggle bunny during the entire service.  I sang to her during worship and she leaned into my cheek as I swayed with the music.  So sweet.  I remember at that moment wishing someone would take a picture. 

When momma is away.. Dad makes use of his surroundings.

Hey Jordan, you know what would go good with this coffee?  Donuts. 

My man delivered.

My happy girls after naptime
Bare baby arms and legs are amazing.  Period.

Just sayin'.

It's like she knows shes precious or something. 

While Jo is precious and sweet.. Parker Jane is just plain hilarious.  She recenlty found her tongue and refuses to keep it in her mouth.  She is working so hard to blow raspberries.  Hasn't quite mastered it just yet.

The oatmeal lover of all oatmeal lovers.  I finally have to stop feeding her little belly before it pops!  Then she proceeds to take matters into her own hands by grabbing the spoon. 

While I manage to get the spoon away from her, she makes a grab for the empty bowl. 

Smart cookie, that Jolie girl.

again.. when momma is away.

Working hard on her sitting skills.  These toys are their new favorite things.  They love anything that plays music and has lights. 

I can state in confidence that this baby will be crawling before this month's end.  She is SO busy and scooting her little bootie all over the place.   

Jordan took the girls over to their great-grandmother's house, MeMe, this week and she got to spend some sweet time with Parker and Jolie.  Parker fell asleep while drinking her bottle in MeMe's arms.  Something she's never done before!  So precious.

Whew.  HELLLOOOO Friday.  Thankful for this day and the special weekend ahead with my family. 
What are you guys doing this weekend??!