This: is a MUST HAVE.

I've never been super crazy about jewelry [well, except for big, bold, crazy, funky earrings]
Now, those - I love.

But, lately I have been noticing a new attraction to cute, thick, and clanky bracelets.
The other day I even bought my first long necklace that I tie in a knot and wear with my dressier tops, and I am suddenly finding myself in the costume jewelry section at Target at least once a week.

The other night I was browsing online and stumbled upon this super-duper adorable and different necklace that I just have to have.

It's the FIRST thing on my wish-list for Christmas... in SIX months.

[And yes... I even printed a picture of it and put it on the fridge for Lee to see.]
Um... Of COURSE I did that!

Our so-called-life these days.

Lee's schedule has been a bit overwhelming - for him and everybody else that lives in this house.
We are adjusting to it but, it's for sure... different.

I'm getting used to the nights without him here.
Relying on a few text messages and a phone call [if I am lucky] during his shift to get me through.

I never thought I would actually say this, but I think I might even miss him being in my way while he plays his video game.

He get's home, showers, wakes up the kiddo's, and then crawls into bed beside me - right as my alarm goes off.
If I am lucky I will get to lay with him for a few minutes and try to update him on what he missed the night before.

He sleeps while I take care of the house, run errands, prepare meals, and pick kids up from school.
He wakes with enough time to ask them how their day was, eat some 'breakfast' and then out the door he goes.

With all of this craziness as of lately, I find myself looking even more forward to this summer.
We have some fun stuff planned and I just can't wait to have him around more.

This hectic-ness may not be ideal - but it's our life right now so we're just rolling with the punches.

He may be there, and I may be here... but together?
At least we still make one hell of a team.

Raw Ramen? Really?

Because according to Kaylee - it's what's for dinner.

When did I become this way?

Oh, that's right... As soon as I gave birth.

I  just can't seem to figure it out.
It seems like parents these days just let their kids do whatever.

I have been told [more than once] that I can be a bit overprotective.
I am very picky about where my kids can go and who they can be with.
If I don't know the parents and feel comfortable with the environment that they will be in - it just ain't happening.

Now that they are getting older I am being faced with this dilemma more and more.
Kaylee wants a little freedom [which I totally understand] but, she's going to have to be patient.
Baby steps - for me that is.

The other day we saw a friend of hers riding her bike on the other side of town!
ALL. BY. HERSELF.
I almost had a heart-attack when Kaylee told me that she was allowed to do that.

It's weird to me that the neighborhood girls that are over on a daily basis have parents that have never even met me.
That would never be the case if the roles were reversed.

Now, don't get me wrong.
I'm not trying to judge.

When I was growing up we rode our bikes all over the place from morning til night.
It's just a little different now that I am the mother.

I'm just the type of parent who worries too much.
I want to protect them for as long as I can.
I haven't figured out if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Probably a little bit of both.

The love-hate relationship - Part: 2.

The dog loves the cat.
The cat hates the dog.

Ever since we brought Bentlee home, Patches has tollerated him but she has never liked him. That is a fact.
It's funny to sit and watch them interact with each other sometimes.
It is more than clear who the 'boss' is and it's not who you'd think.

The cat is known for teasing and taunting Bentlee. All the time.

When he is outside, she will sit in front of his doggy door and swat at his face when he tries to enter.
This usually results in him whinning and yapping outside for at least 5 minutes until I come and move her.
She will pace back in forth along the fence line where he can't reach her - driving him crazy.
And the latest thing? She eats his food out of his dish.
He just sits there staring at me (while I laugh) like 'lady? Are you gonna do something?'

At least twice daily he will chase her around the house - obviously wanting to play with her.
He can't figure out that the hissing sound coming from her means that she doesn't want to be friends?

The other night, I even found her on his bed.

He was barking on and off obviously disturbed that she was once again invading his space.

I come to investigate and find this:

Yeah, I'm guessing by the looks of things that if she had a middle finger?
She'd be showin' it.

I really shouldn't be allowed to help out with garage sales.

Why? You ask.
Because I bring stuff like this home...

...and then force my 7 year old to wear it while we bake brownies.

Stage fright? She doesn't know the definition.

Kaylee had her first solo this week for her school choir.
[The only solo - might I add.]
She was excited and not a bit nervous. Luckily, she follows after her Dad there.
The child never ceases to amaze me when it comes to performing in front of an audience. It's totally effortless for her.
So, when it was time - she got up there and nailed it.

I had a feeling she would.

Sibling-Stages.

As of lately my kids find it more 'fun' to fight with each other than to actually be nice to one another for more than a few minutes at a time.

After non-stop bickering almost everyday, it's kind of nice to be able to capture a moment like this:

It helps remind me that deep down - these two still might actually enjoy each other from time to time.

Just goin' with it.

It was nice having my husband home tonight.
He's been working a lot of overtime for the past couple weeks and he's been missed.

So, today was family day.

We saw THOR with the kids, [amazing movie BTW] took them out for mexican and ended the night with an hour long NERF war before bedtime.

He just got a new bid at work which means his schedule changes plus he will be picking up another long stretch of overtime for the rest of this month.

I'm thankful for his job of course but missing him when he's gone for long periods of time is inevitable.

The next few weeks are gonna be a challenge, but we will do it - even if it means seeing him for about 45 minutes a day is all I get.

My 'Mothers day' morning.

I've always been a sucker for homeade gifts [ok, what mom isn't?]
Something about little kids putting everything they have into making a gift special - it just gets to my heart.

Kaylee set her alarm this morning for 6AM - and yes, that is too early for me. [well, most days.]
I woke up to a heartfelt arrangement of homemade cards, pictures of me and the kids on my kitchen table, and this 'certificate.'

She was beaming and so very proud of herself, and even though I wasn't really awake, and a tad bit irritated that it was barely 6:30 in the morning (hey, why lie?) I was totally touched by her efforts to make my day memorable.
Let's face it - the girl succeeded.

I gave her a great big hug and thanked her.
Then? I cracked up laughing at her response.
She says: "Well, I did plan on making you breakfast too mom, but I then figured you'd be kinda mad at me if I got your kitchen all dirty."

Ha! This kid gets her 'smarts' from me. I swear.

The couch hog.

Bentlee loves to lay on the couch.
It's a bad habit that we should have broke him of early on but we didn't, so now he thinks he belongs up there.

There is a certain spot [my spot] that happens to be his favorite.
He will actually try and beat me to it if he knows that I am planning to lay down. I kid you not.

Yesterday, I was prepping my pillows getting ready to read a book.
I sat down, was covering myself up, and just about to lay down when he spots me from the kitchen and comes running full-throttle to beat me to it.

He slams his body into mine almost knocking me clear off the couch and then? He just collapses.
The funniest part? He acts like he doesn't even hear me when I am scolding him.

I took the above picture [notice that the dog even looks guilty?] then I spanked his butt and he stayed on his bed for an hour.

Oh, he thinks he is in charge here.
Clearly that is so not the case.

A day in history:

OSAMA. DEAD.

This news brought to you courtesy of the RED, WHITE, and BLUE.

Finally. A little justice has been served.

[[It's a fact: Our brave soldiers don't get nearly enough credit for the job they do for this country. I'd just like to say thank you to all of those sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who are risking their lives everyday so we can be free. ]]

JOB. WELL. DONE.