Back in Town

Been really busy....had my parents in town for 2 weeks and then went a little north for a week at church camp.

Time to play catch up!

Happy Birthday, Liam!

You're birthday was actually Wednesday, but things have been busy. Sorry buddy. I don't feel too badly, since your party isn't until the 16th. So my mind kind of doesn't feel like your birthday has even happened yet because of the party being a couple weekends later...

Emmy got a sliver of cupcake and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We gave you your presents but you were only partially thrilled. Like I said, the most fun you had was trashing your cupcake. Not to mention, you have a sister that keeps "borrowing" your toys, the second you get them (her word not mine). We try to make her share, but honestly, you really do NOT care. So we only push it somewhat, then just let it go.

This is an image from the gift scene:

See what I mean?!?!

Here is bunch of the cupcake shots...

Also, an aerial shot with Quincy going crazy for the bits that fell to the floor...

I know, I know, Q was eating bits of a chocolate cupcake. Lets just say, he has accidentally (honestly, it's always been on accident) eaten ridiculous amounts of chocolate, chewing gum, diapers, etc... No joke. The dog has more lives than a cat. I would say 20 at this point in time...and we're still counting.

Happy first birthday, little boy!

Our Fourth

We did end up at the zoo with Cameron's parents on the Fourth itself. It was fun. Liam loved the aquarium:

However, here is my personal highlight:

At the one of the nearby lakes:

This is how Liam deals with the sand....kind of like grass, apparently:

Playing with Big Sister's sunglasses:

Before church on Sunday:

And big sister before church, too:

Stay tuned, Liam's first birthday to come!

Al-a-bam-a, Ar-kan-saw

I love this right now.

I have literally watched it every day because the song just makes me smile.

Tidying Up.

Sometimes I wonder how I can get this place cleaned with the little notice I have had for some of the showings.

Here are some of my not-so-secret secrets:

(I don't think they are secrets, because if you were in my position, you would probably figure it out just like I have...)

1) Storage unit FULL to the brim of our belongings.

If our storage unit did not exist, my house would be cluttered, not as bad as a person on TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive, but no one would believe there was actually storage in the house! With most things cleared out, there is now a place, or home, for everything. It makes picking up and putting things in their "home," a pretty quick process.

2) A hero -let me say it again, H E R O- for a husband.

He does the laundry. Gets up to give Liam his bottle at night (however many times he needs it-I just change the diaper). Makes dinner about 2-3 times a week. Keeps the kitchen relatively clean. Keeps the hall bath clean. And deals with his somewhat psychotic OCD wife when she loses it because she has to STRAIGHTEN THE CURTAINS. Really.

I'm working on it. :)

3) Microfiber Cloths.

(Apparently GIANT ones at that...what a huge photo! :) )

I think the link exact ones I have-I got them from the hardware store. I have shiny fixtures in my house. Talk about water spots, fingerprints, you name it because it gets imprinted on my fixtures. I run around the house with one damp, one dry and BUH-BYE smudges, spots and fingerprints.

Also good for mirrors and windows...love the sans chemical usage these offer since I've got the little kiddos around-you'd think glass was sweet the way they lick it!

4) Clorox Wipes.

I hate that I have adapted to these being a NECESSITY in my life. But right now, I NEED these. And NEED is the only way I can put it.

I have a tub of these in each bathroom, under the kitchen sink and in the hall closet. I need something fast, all in one, and disposable. After becoming so dependent on them, I found a little plus as well: they smell so strong, the air is even "freshened" after using them, not to mention the garbage can they're thrown out in. I heart Clorox Wipes. A sad life I lead, I know. :)

That's about it. If I think of anything else, I will get another post together...but this is really it, I think.

My mom was visiting and saw me go crazy cleaning the house. Her comment after she saw how I run around and get it done? (Usually in 1.5 hours-and YES she was a huge help that day... .)

And I quote-

"No wonder you're so skinny running around here like that. And I thought I was bad!"

Ah, no mother...you are not as bad as I have been in this regard...I am beyond detailed. Beyond perfectionistic. Beyond crazy (at least I feel like I am, sometimes).

Thank the Lord, we are all a work in progress!

At the Zoo (Last Week)

So we haven't been to the zoo in about three weeks or so....maybe even a month.

We arrive and are walking in and I exclaim, "Of course, I forgot the camera! You know there are going to be great shots today that I will have wished I didn't forget it."

Cameron agrees, but isn't as vocal as I am, course not.

Hence, the great shots captured...on my phone instead:

Never have we seen the moose this close...never. EVER.

Emalyn cried. She wasn't too fond of the close proximity! She did like this next little guy though. Trying to make a break for it!

Liam got a break from the stroller at the farm:

Then we have Liam, Daddy and the goats. Emalyn hates visiting the goats because the goats get too close. The MN Zoo's farm allows you to feed them-so their heads can come out of the fences in certain areas-and they're pushy to boot. They're GOATS!

She screams her head off when we even go near them (mind you 10 feet away is too close for her!). Too bad we say, Liam doesn't mind them and so we visit them...such trials my girl is made to endure!

But you can tell in that very last photo, Liam was D.O.N.E. visiting the goats as well.

Emmy checking out the chickens, they're more her size...

Running through the water mister...you would have thought that thing was the best invention in the world the way she didn't want to leave!

And of course some shots of Daddy and his girl at the creme colored ponies and the snow monkeys.

Hope you had a good weekend! We did!

Pretty in Pink

So the other day, Liam contracted Pink Eye again.

Too bad it was on a Wednesday, after we had already arrived at daycare, that I noticed.

(I don't feed the kids breakfast at home on school days, school gets it done for me. Hence, why I didn't look into my son's face/eyes to notice.)

Which of course meant, I had to turn right around and go home with Liam.

Unfortunately, I had a showing for the house later that morning...we needed to NOT be there!

Hastely, I put Liam back in the car, buckled him up and jumped in the front and returned home. He was fussing a bit, and I didn't really know why, so I just talked to him like I normally do to try and quiet him.

As I pulled into the driveway, I looked back at him to try and figure out what the deal was and wrinkled my brow.

"Why am I seeing his face right now...?"

"Oh, he's front facing."

"Wait... he's not ONE (he's supposed to be 1 to sit that way....)."

"What.... Oh. OOPS!"

Yeah. I put him in his sister's car seat.

Poor kid.

Bubbles!

We've been doing a lot of this lately:

My mom's been gone for a a little less than a week. Yet this is ALL the kiddos want to do. I like it myself, can't complain. But finding good bubble formulae isn't that easy to come by.

Trying a bit of my own mixtures (no luck yet!!).

LJW-11Months

Hello Sweetie boy.

One more month and I have a one year old again! Oh little boy, what fun you are to have around. We'll enjoy a circus party for your first birthday...I am looking forward to that!

Two more of your uppers popped through just in the knick of time to be celebrated during your eleventh month. Man, you can produce some drool, sir!

You're almost standing by yourself. Although, instead of picking up your feet to take a step you just lean towards the person that you want to have catch you. You want so badly to walk-I'm pretty much thinking you want to keep up with your sister. You have a fast crawl down though...

You can wave bye-bye, try to say more (as in "mah" food), put your hand in the air like an elephant trunk and yell the "elephant sound", and roar like a tiger while crawling on the floor. But you don't clap yet...we work on it but you like it better when I clap your hands for you...whatever. Just interesting to me, I guess!

Daddy and I finally found out foods that you really like...anything with flavor. And when I say flavor, I mean strong "flavah". Meaning, spaghetti with homemade sauce (using hot italian sausage. Yep!), seasoned/marinated chicken breasts, tuna salad...you get the idea?

Daddy went out of town this month for a short time and Mimi came to visit and help me with you kiddos. She couldn't believe how great of a little boy you are. you are just so go with the flow. Sometimes you are so different than me, it's hard to believe you made it into this family! But you are definitely one of us...and definitely like one of my dad's side of the family. You are a spitting image of them all!

During Mimi's visit we had the first BEAUTIFUL weekend here in MN. Both Saturday and Sunday were just gorgeous and we hung out in the porch all weekend. It was pure bliss! Then these past few days have been CRAZY hot-100 degrees hot. And when you mix in that MN humidity-U G H. But I will NOT be complaining since I have been begging to get outside more with you and your sister! Quincy prefers to stay inside, but you both love it outside.

We pulled out the kiddie pool (that Daddy originally grabbed out of a dumpster) and have put it to good use. I see many a day this summer out in the backyard with both of you and that pool. You have a tendency to try and drink it more than play in it, but we're working on that.

You have a strong hatred it seems for sippy cups. We are working on it also, but you just have no interest. Emmy didn't care for it much either, but she did it, so I am not too worried about you.

You also have a little dislike for grass on your knees...hence the all fours crawling evidenced below:

You'll be one so soon, my little boy. You've been such a sweet baby. I can't wait to see what your toddler years will look like...they're almost here!

Love you big blue.

love your momma.

Intro...vert

I like to follow some fashion blogs, to keep myself feeling a little taken care of on the outside. You know stretch my wardrobe with some variation...

Today's info on I'm Clothed Much included the following...it's a list compiled by Carl King that he read from The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World.

I've always considered myself an introvert, but no one thinks that way about me-typically. It was so interesting how I resonated with so much of this!

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.

This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.

Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.

On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.

Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.

Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.

Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Here. You can read for yourself: original source