FUNNY, SWEET, AND RUDE

For the past few days, I have had I one aching left shoulder and one burning left ear, which causes me to lose sleep at night. I swore I had an ear infection and actually went to the doctor last night to get it checked, and I rarely go to the doctor for something like that for myself, so that should tell you how bad it is bothering me. Well, the doctor tells me I have no ear infection and I just have a stress-induced ear ache. What?!!

Days go so fast and I really feel crazy most of the time, but lots of sweet things happen during the day and I try to savor it. I don't always, but I try. I am especially enjoying looking through all the drawings they make, they can sit for hours drawing and the result is always marvelous. I am kind of biased though.

Another sweet moment is when True and I were working on some writing and reading and all of a sudden Brave snuck up and started playing My Little Pony with her. It kinda drove me nuts that Brave interrupted, but it was sweet to see Brave wanting to be with True and they're really cute to watch when playing with their My Little Ponies! Those little ponies are the "it" toy of the house for the current moment.

The other day True said, "Mom, I'm the funniest. Brave is the sweetest. And Soul is the rudest."

That made me laugh really hard, but it's kind of true. Makes me wonder what Glow will be like...

WATCHING MOVIES

It hasn't been that difficult living tv-less since our television bit the dust last May. Actually, it is kinda nice since I don't think televisions are that pretty and the space it used to occupy is no longer an eye sore. Now, we have plants and pretty things there!

We are still able to get some television on our computers thanks to Hulu, but the only shows in mine and Ben's repertoire are Supernatural (yes, we like scary things), New Girl, and Fringe (my show, not Ben's). The only thing difficult about living without television is that I don't know what news is going out in the world and usually only find out when people start tweeting about some occurrence. I probably should check some online news site more often. Other than that, living without a television has worked well for us and movie watching is done on our computers. The best part is just add on a projector and our ipod speaker system and we got ourselves our own little home theatre. Better than any large television in my honest opinion.

We lay blankets out, bring out the trays, have some yummy food and we all love the coziness of our own home theatre. We spent the day after New Year's just chillin' out and watching a movie together. It was such a nice, cozy, comfy, lazy day. Those can sometimes be the best kind, don't you think?

our happy fourth

We were pooped out from a busy weekend (my sis's engagement party on Saturday, church and errands on Sunday) and it is much too hot of late, so we opted to stay home on the fourth. Ben (and I) also had a bit of work to do, so staying cool indoors sounded like the best option. We stayed in our pajamas all day, put on some fun kid movies, and watched them all day long with the girls (while we got some of our work done).

We did some fourth-ish things in the evening as Ben cooked up some salmon burgers and I whipped up a teeny strawberry shortcake for each girl to enjoy. I have made these yummy cakes three weeks in a row (recipe coming on Wednesday when I share our Cake Party!). I ought to take a break from baking, but I probably won't cause it is too much fun and sometimes cravings just come.

I explained to the girls that today was the United States of America's birthday, so we needed to sing happy birthday. Our red and white was our strawberry shortcake and we stuck on a blue sparkler candle on top. It was the perfect way to celebrate!

Each girl got their own cake in front of them, and nice and loud we all sang, "Happy Birthday United States..." over and over again. I think we sang the birthday song about 5 times. Once all the happy singing was over, they blew out their candles and indulged their tummies with yumminess.

They plowed through their cakes as there was not much left. Soulie was pretty fussy throughout dinner, but once that cake was put in front of her, her mood change dramatically. After dinner, Ben read them stories and put them to bed. Their firework viewing was done on their cakes and our neighborhood had their fireworks show last Saturday (yeah I know, kinda lame), so we didn't head out to watch any tonight. It was a simple way to celebrate this special day for our country.

Maybe next year, we will venture out and be a bit more festive, but we are such homebodies that we have no problem staying home too! How did you celebrate the fourth?

more weekend please

How can weekends go by so fast?!! I really don't like it. I think weekends should be three days long. Despite going by quickly, our weekend went well. I didn't quite get everything done that I had planned as having your car battery go completely kaput on you really changes plans on leaving to go get plants at the nursery, but things were done.

Ben is almost done putting together another garden bed (I can hear him hammering outside as I type this). I cleaned out the front porch, did some weeding and deadheading in the garden, and did some garden furniture moving around. I made enough space back there that we will have room for another 6 ft. long garden bed. We are so excited, but now we just have to actually make it. A project for next weekend? Maybe.

And just to be clear, though we have decided to go without a television, I don't think it is wrong to have a television or allow your children to watch television (my kids are very familiar with yo gabba gabba). I think you do what you think best fits the personality of your family and for us, that means trying without a television for now. Plus, when I do need to get cleaning done, there is always She-ra on Hulu! I am a normal mom after all...

Though we don't have one, as you see in the picture above, we still had a family movie night. What did we use? A projector, computer, and nice, big, white wall space and we had ourselves our own movie theatre. So having no television doesn't mean we will cut out family movie nights, cause those nights are special. We had lots of them when I was growing up and Ben did too. What was showing at our house? Tangled. And the girls loved every bit of it, even Soulie.

Hope your weekend was just as swell! I am starting off Monday with a huge pile of clean laundry to put away, so let's hope I can find some time to do it.

today's play

We have been in a really nice daily routine of late, but today I kind of threw us off track with my need to clean and a spontaneous project. Daily things with the girls are fun, but definitely tiresome.

Am I nervous to throw in that fourth?! Oh you bet ya! I am so scared as how this will look in my home. There will be a new normal, but it makes me super nervous. Sometimes when Ben gets home, I just want to run out of the house and escape, but with four, oh my sanity will be such a rarity. I really wish there was a chill pill cause I need myself a big dose of that! Know of a doctor who can prescribe me some?

As much as they wear me out, it is also a joy. I love watching them play because it is so funny. I see so much of myself and how I use to play as a little girl. They line up all their dolls on their chairs and put on a show! I totally did that all the time.

Can you spot the newest toys in the line up? Yup! That is what happens when they sleepover Grammy and Grumpy's house... a trip to the disney store! Oh me oh my! Good thing I am not a hoarder and purge through toys often. Until then, then will enjoy Minnie and Jasmine until to their hearts' content.

I was such a disney lover growing up, so I think it is kind of funny that I don't really buy them disney stuff. I love Disneyland and all, but I really just don't buy them a lot of toys period, unless it is handmade, but even with that, they have so much anyways, they don't need anything!

I am glad the work week is shorter because even though it just started, I am looking forward to the weekend. I just like having Ben home!

a disney day

Have I told you my baby sister got a job at Disneyland? She is a dancer in the new parade that starts on Friday. She is the red bird named Panchito (near Donald Duck). She will be the cutest one there, so it will be hard not to miss her!

Anyhow, one of the perks of being an employee is that she can occasionally get people in for free. They have a new ride opening up, so yesterday she was able to bring in people to try it out (and the rest of the park). I mustered up the courage to venture out to such a massive place like Disneyland sans Ben, but good thing I have one sibling to help with every kid. Next time, it probably will be 4 on 4, but for now the adults still outnumber my kids. Whew!

The weather was perfect. My girls were excited. And disneyland is just always happy place!

I know my brother rarely gets blog time, but he is the dude in the pictures (just in case you hadn't figured that out yet). I am the oldest of four, my brother is 4 years younger than me, then my two sisters follow. The baby and I are 10 years apart, which means though my mom had me at 21, she had her at 31, so I win! We still got 4 more months to go, but Lord willing I will have popped out 4 kids before 30! HA! Take that Mom!!! And just like my mom, 4 is as high as I go.

I love Disneyland, but I was super happy to be home and with my Benny again. I guess I am just too much of a homebody at heart! There really is no place like home...

We got a vintage here, vintage there post coming about what we wore to the happy place soon. In the meantime, what was your yesterday filled with?!

her special day

True is five and it was a low key, very happy day! She pretty much ruled all day long and whatever she wanted, she pretty much got. Of course, every birthday must start off with breakfast in bed because that is our family tradition! Along, with a Papi made critter of course!

Funny little tidbit about the seal Ben made. He decided to make it on his own without using his normal book, well True said, "Mommy, Papi made my seal sad, but I want him to be happy." It is just funny cause when Ben poked the squash to put in the eye, it leaked out fluid and so it makes it look like a tear is dripping down.

In preparation for her birthday request of riding a pony, we got her a vintage cowboy hat. She loved it and my kiddos have a hat collection going on these days.

The birthday princess then requested some cartoons, so she got to watch a bit of throughout the day. In between, we would have little projects.

Cupcakes were baked at her request and since she doesn't like frosting, she didn't get any! That's just the way she likes it.

This gal on the other hand, loves the frosting!

A present from her grandmama came in today and she was so excited to put it on. A dress in her favorite color was a must wear for her special day. She actually even went to sleep in it!

The day was all about fun and doing whatever True wanted, within reason of course. The most special moment of the day was when I asked her, "True is there anything else you want or want to do?"

She said, "I want my Papi to come home."

It was a melt your heart moment. Ben was with us in the morning, but he went to work around lunch time, and he had a late night at work today so it was just me and the girls all day long. Though we will be sure to have a special family outing this weekend to grant her birthday request of riding a pony. Ben and I go back and forth between having a party and not, but sometimes simple birthdays are just the best kind!