Because He Is My Version of Fun...

I have laughed more in the last year at the things this little man says than I have laughed in the rest of my life until now.

He is just so unbelievably adorable to me. I love the way he calls anyone who is male a dude. I love the way that he says billians instead of villians.

I love that he can make a toy out of a scrap of paper. I love that there is always something fun to do with this fellow.

What Fun She Has....

Sometimes, You Just Gotta Be Upside Down...

You Say Taxes...I Say Tax Returns...

When I say top rated drama, what do you think of?

I know! All the good shows are about hospitals, medical practices, law firms, ambulance drivers....

There are no shows that have super sexy accountants discussing alternative minimum tax. Accountants are underrated though. I think it would be entirely possible for a hit drama to be based on an accounting firm.

Reasons I think an accounting firm could make a good setting for a prime time drama:

1. My husband is always asking me if I have completed all the WD-40s I was supposed to do. It's kind of amusing that he refuses to call the forms by their proper names. Every drama has to have a character's spouse drop by for comic relief.

2. Accountants do it with interest. Get it?

3. Commercial Catch Phrase: Accountants never die; they just lose their balance.

4. Accountants know where all the bodies are buried. No joke. People confess terrible things to their accountant in hopes that it is tax deductible. I know something about several clients that made me feel sick when I heard it. I know who has a love child that his wife doesn't know about. I know who bought a house for his mistress. I know a woman who had an abortion her husband doesn't know about. Do the math. People tell their accountants all sorts of things.

5. February sweeps = Tax season. Ok, maybe I am the only one who finds it funny.

Hmmmm. What do you think? Could an accounting firm make for great TV?

Life Isn't Always Pretty As A Picture...

Life isn't always pretty. In fact a lot of days life is down right ugly. People yell and get angry. Milk is spilled. Cars are wrecked. Money is owed. Limbs break and bleed. Hearts are heavy. Distractions are everywhere. Did I really just eat my weight in Reese's Pieces? Oh yes, after a stressful morning at work, I did eat a crap load of Reese's Pieces. Yes, life isn't always pretty. Then I think about my children.

Their knees are scabby. Their faces are dirty. They smell like sweat, mud, and chocolate. Their hands are always moist...from what?...who knows? Their rooms are never clean. One of them usually has a snotty nose. One of them probably has skid marks in his underwear. There are co pays and medicines. There are "midnight snacks" at 7:00PM. One of them cries at least once a day because of something another one did. My rear is huge because I gained so much weight while pregnant and never bothered to lose it. I am sleep deprived and stressed about managing their activities. They go through at least 21 pairs of pants, 21 shirts, 21 pairs of underwear, 42 socks, and 21 sets of pajamas in a week, and it's my responsibility to wash it all.

Yet, they are so beautiful to me. I'd take one smelly, dirty moment with them over anything else. Scabs and all.

Up Close and Personal with E-Ro...

The kids wanted family game night games for Christmas. Remember that? We jokingly call each other by shortened versions of our name. The kids will call me A-Ro. So, when Ella and Layton were playing Scrabble the other night while Hadley watched TV, I noticed that two of the "words" on the board were E-Ro and A-Ro. Talk about a triple score. Ha!

Would you correct this little face? Nah, me either.

Wordless Wednesday...

Still Scooting...

Just Because She Can...

He Just About Glows; He Is So Cute...

Just Because He Can...

Pucker Up...

When you are a five (almost six) year old boy who has your Mommy wrapped around your little finger...

...you can get away with anything.

Especially when Mommy says, "Smile," and you pucker up instead.

It's Almost Time...

It's just about time for the enabling household to go camping! I'm so looking forward to it this year.

Hodge Podge...

There really isn't a unified theme to this post. It's a hodge podge of pictures and thoughts.

Here is the butterfly that the kids played with at the farm....until Layton accidentally killed it.

Ella smiling in the sun.

Hadley is the queen of green and would be thrilled if we saved on energy a little more.

It's just been that kind of week.

Another One of Those Ella Faces...

This Is Sort of Me...

I love to laugh. I love to cry I laugh so hard. I am a person who loves to feel good and be happy. Here lately, I have found it very hard to be happy. There are things in my private life - aka not on my blog or facebook but probably on twitter - that have been weighing very heavy on my soul. My heart aches. My heart is heavy with regret, anger, and fear.

I almost reached a point of joy last week when Jay and I went out for a bit. I felt slightly guilty for feeling joy during this emotional storm. Yes, it is a storm. One that I fear will force me to choose between the family I was born into and the family I have created for myself. They are not one and the same, and I can no longer be a part of both without making sacrifices that are beyond what should be asked of a person.

I have never felt the urge to put all of my personal drama on my blog. My blog is my happy place where I can scrapbook about my children and type the funny things they say. This blog has never been the place where I air my troubles. Now though, I am feeling called to put some of it out there. I am feeling so very alone. I need support. Jay loves me and supports me, but he doesn't fully understand what it feels like to be fighting the storm that is upon me now.

I need a friend. I need someone who has been through this to give me encouragement and guidance. I just don't know how to find a friend. I don't know how to reach out and ask for the support system I need right now without publicly humiliating someone I care about.

Do I put it out there? Or do I just hold it all in?

He's Still at It...

The warmer the weather gets....

...the more this little fellow gets in the water.

Layton at the Farm...

Hadley at the Farm...

She Did It!...

What was Ella about to do? She got her ears pierced! The jewelry store gave her this adorable little holder for earrings after it was all over with.

She was a little nervous when they cleaned her ears and marked the spots.

She was even more nervous when the triggers were pulled. :) They were smart and had two women do it at the same time. I'll never forget when my sister got her ears pierced. The first hole got done and she threw a big ole hissy fit and refused to get the other ear done. It was hysterical. Seems that has happened a lot, so the jewelers have gotten wise and tag teamed it.

She said it pinched.

And then....

She said the pain was worth it.