Their first? Really?

On Sunday we hit a couple of garage sales, and then took the kiddos out for sno-cones. And we *think* that those may have been the first sno-cones ever!
Now please, don't call protective services. I'm not sure how my kids made it 6 and 4 years without sno-cones, but I assure you they had plenty of ice cream cones, popsicles, and whatever other frozen treats a child needs to survive Texas summers.
And now that they have had sno-cones, we will probably have to supply a steady stream of them for the next 3 months. Darn the bad luck... Lol.

I had a pina coloda with ice cream in the bottom. Mmmm... if only I had had a shot of rum handy... it would have been perfection...

Jacob had blue coconut

Lucy had cotton candy
Cotton had blue coconut (don't make faces like that if you don't want them on the blog!)

And Sam had a few little chunks of ice, after I sucked the syrup off of them

After the first 2 "bites," he started opening his mouth for the spoon, like a little baby bird! So cute! He thought that eating stuff was pretty cool! He's halfway to solids, we'll see if he holds out for 6 months!

The sno-cone stand was really cool. They had picnic tables (one in the shade even, lol) with checker boards and tic-tac-toe boards painted on them, and checkers hanging in buckets on the ends of the tables. Quite the nifty little hangout!

confession

Sometimes this motherhood stuff is really hard.

I don't mean the stressful decisions I have to make, or the hard hitting questions that I have to answer honestly.

I mean the 24 hrs a day job. With no breaks, and often, very little help.
Cotton is around, ad he's a super dad. But we've been doing a lot of work on our house, and he is very wrapped up in that. Leaving all of the domestic duties to me.

I'm tired.
I want some space. I want some quiet. I want to have a full hour with no screaming, fighting, whining, tattling, jumping, clinging, crying, asking for a drink, asking me to change the channel, asking me to turn on the playstation, "watch this funny face," spilling things, knocking things over, asking for a bite of my lunch, and then just one more bite, squeaking balloons, flying balls, flying barbie fairies, stepping on cars, tripping over the dog, changing Lucy's clothes AGAIN, "can I hold the baby?"... and the list goes on and on... because this is my life. Every hour of my life.
I wake up when they wake up. By the time they go to bed, I can barely keep my eyes open.

And I LOVE it. God, I love it. I would not trade my chaotic, crazy, loud, busy life for anything else in the world. But a break, a wee tiny lunch break, coffee break, hell a PEE BREAK would be nice here and there.

It's not that I don't have anyone willing to help me. I do.
I never ask for help, because I'm Supermom. I never leave them unless I have to.
My "sitters" have lives of their own, after all. Children of their own.

I just plug along until I can't plug along any more. Then I make it a few more days.
And THEN, I'll catch my breath. A moms' night out, or bunko. Phew. Twice a month, I'll get just a couple of hours to be Krysta. Just Krysta. Well, Krysta and Sam's mommy- but I entered into this baby thing knowing full well that we would be attached at the nip for at least 6 months, and that I would have to nurse him to sleep every night for a year or so. I am at peace with that bit.

My night out was supposed to be tonight. But lots of things happened, and none of my lovely, beautiful, sanity-saving "sisters" could make it. Seeing the MUCH needed light at the end of the tunnel, just to have it kicked away from me at the last minute... not good for the super-frazzled momma. Oh Woe is me.
I thought "well I'll just sneak out to Target when Cotton gets home." Nope. That was another no-go.
I had to resort to a hot bath (with Sam crying in the background for the last 10 minutes, but dammitt- I HAD to get that second leg shaved!), some riesling that just didn't hit the spot, and staying up extra late for a little blog therapy.

It's been a really, really long week and a half.
I've had all the same old stressors, plus a few new ones. A couple of new mouths to feed, and watching my house being torn to bits and put back together, and also stuffed full of new clutter... just to name a few...

I love my life.
I love my children so deeply that it hurts.
When I do get away from them for about an hour, I miss them. But missing them, just a little, once in a while is good. So very good.

"He's almost 3 months..."

that's how I answered the guy today, when he asked how old my cute little baby is.
Good lord.

Lucy's first recital!

We weren't allowed to take any pictures during the performance (although many MANY people were doing it anyway), but I got plenty of shots of her looking adorable in her costume.

rehearsal

Outside the performance hall, before

Inside and waiting to go on, hot, sweaty, itchy, and nervous


Painted up like a $2 hooker. lol.
Have you ever tried to put eyeliner and mascara on a 4 yr old? Not to mention the fact that it melted off in about 5 minutes, so I out it on at home, at the place before rehearsal, before the recital, and again before the recital immediately before she went on... Good times...




Flowers. Flowers as big as she is. Heehee.
Awww....
She did, ummm... semi good. Lol. She remembered her dance, and looked adorable doing it.

I was really blown away by how INTO the whole thing she was. They allowed the children to sit on the floor in front of the stage, and my little leg clinger left me, went allll the way to the very edge of the stage, and sat there hypnotized for hours. She didn't move a muscle during the entire show, except to scoot closer or to clap.
This child LOVES to dance, and to watch others dance. It's so cute to see her just obsessed with it.
We ordered the $33 DVD, of course. Can't wait to get it. I have a feeling we'll be watching it over and over and over and over...

Astrology stuff, again

Because it interests me... :-)
If it doesn't interest you, skip it. lol.

From this site

Sam: (too early to tell...)
Seeming like a bit of a lost soul, the Pisces baby will get emotional and start crying for no apparent reason. It's part of this timid baby's personality, along with the tendency to carry things inside rather than pushing them out. Expect a whimper rather than a shriek. Along these lines, the Pisces baby will pick up on the family's vibe, sensing arguments and other familial disruptions and being profoundly affected by them. This fits in with this child's very caring, almost selfless persona, a quality which manifests itself in things like giving away toys. For this reason, Mom and Dad need to see to it that their Pisces tot doesn't get pushed around in the play group. Extra-sensitive by nature, this child also benefits from an added dose of attention, whether it comes from parents or sibs. With a wandering mind (this is the sign of the dreamer, after all!), the Pisces baby will find it easy to get lost in thoughts, almost blocking out the real world. It's safe to say that this kid shouldn't be entrusted with many details -- they will simply forget them! That dream state is one which should be monitored at night, as the Pisces baby will be greatly distressed by bad dreams. To sum up, the Pisces baby would rather give than receive, is dreamy by nature and possesses the fluidity attached to a Water sign. Let this sweet river flow!
The Pisces child will often be found living in their own world, a dreamscape of ideas, adventures and imaginary friends. Would that we all lived in such a blissful state! Yes, this is a youngster who often feels misunderstood and wonders why everyone doesn't feel (and live) as they do. For this reason, the Pisces child is likely to require more of your attention than children born under other signs. Artistic and musical by nature, the Pisces child will love to create things that make others happy. This will be doubly enjoyable for them if done in the comforting company of a parent. Compassionate as well, the Pisces child offers a good shoulder to cry on. That said, these are very emotional kids, so they may be doing a fair bit of crying of their own! It's part of that caring and sympathetic nature of theirs, a sensibility which allows them to feel others' pain deeply. A bit shy and inwardly-focused, the Pisces child might be a good target for the class bully, so stay aware of their activities to be sure everything's on track. As befits the dreamy state of this sprite, the Pisces child loves to procrastinate -- don't send them to the store for a gallon of milk if you need it any time soon! A better "job" for this impractical dreamer is allowing them to bring beauty into the world.

Lucy: (some of it fits, but she actually seems more like a pisces...)
The Aquarius child can be expected to march to a different drummer, but then that's part of their charm. Independent and free-spirited, expect this child to do the unexpected. Fly a kite in the dead of winter? Hey, why not! Creative as well, this is the child who will always be working with gadgets and gizmos and will be plugged into the Internet from early on. New technologies captivate the Aquarius child, so you can bet that they'll be able to program that newfangled VCR. Hallelujah! It also wouldn't be beyond this kid to build a VCR on their own, inventors that they are. Exceedingly intellectual, the Aquarius child should always have plenty of books around. These kids will do extremely well in school, even if their study habits seem a bit unconventional. Book reports written between innings of a baseball game? Well, this may just be when their thinking is clearest! While some may find the Aquarius child a bit aloof, it's simply that they are fixed by nature and have their own way of doing things. Truth be told, this child enjoys being in the company of many friends. Lastly, the Aquarius child has a rebellious streak which is incompatible with stringent rules. Discipline them at your own risk!

Jacob: (wow- this kid is a classic Taurus through and through!)
The Taurus child is steady and stable, taking his time with things and not rushing about. This is a child who will understand and appreciate process from the get-go! This youngster will also enjoy thinking about things and will generally appear consistent in their approach. A practical mind is a large part of the make-up here: When explaining things to a Taurus child, simply saying "This is how it is" won't do. This child needs to understand the "why" behind the rules, or they simply won't be able to live with them. Sound like a little more work? Perhaps, but the result is a well-adjusted kid. Another thing to keep in mind with this child is their need for affection. You can never hug the Taurus pup enough! This child is also quite domestic. You may well have a "Mother's Little Helper" in your midst, someone eager to mimic and learn from Mom. As the Taurus child is probably a future gourmet, expect this kid to spend a fair bit of time in the kitchen both cooking and eating! They're stubborn as well, making it pretty hard to sway the Taurus child once they get an idea in their head. The flip side to this characteristic, however, is patience and persistence, something which renders the Taurus child a good student and an eager reader.


Sibling compatibility:
3 = You two are thick as thieves
2 = You get along all right
1 = You're like oil and water

Jacob and Lucy- 1
Jacob and Sam- 3
Sam and Lucy- 2

And for fun, my siblings:
Me (Aries) and Geri (Leo) 3
Me and Aaron (Taurus) 2
Me and Tish (Gemini) 3

gorgeous

I want to be the girl that is cool enough to pull this necklace off.
I am funky and artsy on the inside. I really am cool!
(and I am obviously making up for my insecurities today by making goofy ass faces, you see...)



I just happen to be frumpy, milk stained, and frazzled on the outside. And my wardrobe doesn't matter, because it is always covered by some sort of baby wearing apparatus anyway... ;-)

Still, I loved this piece far too much to pass it up. I'll probably just let it sit in my jewelry box. Unworn, but not unloved...

no no no no no no
I will wear it. I am resolving to be a little cuter this summer.
Wearing my jewelry, of which I have a ton, makes me feel prettier. Add a swipe of lipgloss and you have someone who might even be considered feminine. In the pretty, dolled up way, not the earth-mama way which I obviously already was. Lol.

Stunning and unique jewelry by Luscious Linz Creations

milestones for the boys

And here we go... Sam is doing new things.
Monday night, he rolled over. Not once or twice, but 4 times. Back to front.
Cutie patootie was chasing me across the bed. I would move him away from me, and he would flip over and scootch to my side. :-D
I even woke Cotton up and made him watch! Then he did it once more Tuesday morning, and hasn't rolled again since.


Tuesday, after picking Jacob up form school- I found a package in my mailbox. A free playtex bottle that I had sent off for!
I opened it and started to laugh. "What?" Jacob asks.
"It's pink, they sent him a pink one." (Jacob has no way of knowing this, pink is one of the colors he can't see)
"BAH!" he exclaims! "He's a BOY!" then he adds "but can we still use it?"
OF COURSE!
I just happened to have fresh milk pumped, so as soon as Sam starts getting hungry- I warm it up and get everything ready.

Does he look ready?
Jacob gets the honor of going first!
(Christian was spending the day with us, and waiting patiently for his bottle while I snapped a few pics)

Sweet boys!
"am I really supposed to drink this thing?"
then little mama wants a turn!
"maybe if I push a little milk out..."
Jacob moves on to another baby, one who will happily gulp down a bottle

"taking care of kids is hard work..."
Meanwhile, Sam wants some REAL food!
*mom's eye view*

this is what I look at all day... beautiful eyes, and the top of my booblittle man finishes his meal
and Sam points to his star and reminds us who runs this show
later that night, I warmed up some more milk, and tried a different bottle and a different feeder... DADDY!
He actually drank the entire thing!
This is HUGE!
Not that I have the slightest inkling of an interest in being apart from my little guy... we've been attached to each other for 12 weeks straight now! But just the thought that I could, that someone else could actually feed him here and there... wow!

And by the way- I did in fact go up to the school with Lucy, Sam and Christian.
I very strongly debated not going. One baby was asleep, one was on the way, and Lucy was really reluctant to get up. How cozy my bed looked- so inviting... but Jacob knew I was coming. He LOVES it when I go to his school, and I was expected. I couldn't let him down, no matter how sleepy I was. No matter how peaceful my morning could have been...

My 3 littles were SO good for me, I was majorly impressed
Sadly- the weather was not as cooperative as the children. We played for a while, and had a BLAST, but ultimately got chased away by a huge storm blowing in!

Then today it was back to the school for a HUGE milestone for baby #1.

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION!

Are you ready? You know it's coming.
:sob choke sniffle sob:
Of course I cried. Just a little.

I'm tearing up a little looking at that face!
Isn't he sweet, innocent and precious? Still? And yet so big... he is all done with kindergarten. just a couple of silly half days to go. Parties. And then summer break, and getting ready for first grade!

I had to crop out most of his certificate for safety reasons, but it says:

Kindergarten Coyote Award, _________ elementary 2007-2008, Jacob has learned everything he needs to know, Class of 2020

His reaction?
"It isn't a cool certificate, momma. It isn't even cool looking!"
I beg to differ. It is, in fact, VERY cool. And it is already tucked safely into his keepsake box. :-)

Memorial Day weekend

We kept it low key, of course. That just seems to be our style these days.

The kids did some splashing, and Cotton fried a big heaping pile of fish and fries. mmm...
a good time and a good meal were had by all!

Miss Baby helping me in the kitchen
Abs and Baby Joe

Little Man, doing guy stuff

My little diva

And the many faces of Samuel






(he's new here, btw. one of my favorite onesies! lol!)

Last week of kindergarten

Coming right up!
He's off tomorrow for memorial day, Tuesday is "kindergarten survivor," Wed he gets his kindergarten diploma, Thursday he wears his pajamas to school, and Friday is a pizza lunch and luau. And then it's over. :sniffle, sniffle: He'll be a "grader" for the next 12 years. And then he'll leave me for college... :sob: ....... but I am getting ahead of myself.

So Tuesday, I have signed up to volunteer for the games.
Tuesday, I am watching Christian.
The last 3 times I have gone to the school- the other moms have scolded me for not bringing Lucy, to which I reply "I'll bring her next time." Tuesday is the last "next time."
Soo... I could leave Lucy with BJ, I could opt to not volunteer at the school, OR I could lug Lucy, Christian (if you typo on Christian, which I do a lot, you often type Christina- interesting) and Sam, and just go do the damn thing.
Hmmmm.... so here is what pops into my head while debating this.
If Chantel can do it, and you know she can, then I can do it. Lol!
Not that she has gone anywhere with the twins so far (that I know of), but she will. And when she does, she'll have the rest of her brood as well. And she'll be fine, because she is a badass.

I can manage that, right? I can wear one baby, put the other one in the stroller... Lucy is not so much work to take out, she'll likely just cling to my leg with all of the unfamiliar people around. I'll be there for Jacob, and he'll be thrilled. He LOVES it when I come to the school. I'll have to mull it over.

Friday is also Lucy's final dance class, and then her recital is on Saturday. She goes on stage at 11:30.
I have a really cute video of her practicing her routine- but it isn't JUST her, so I can't share it here, where everyone can see. Sorry. You'll just have to trust me, it is CUTE!
I wish that she was going to have a bigger audience. As of now it's just us and Tish. I need to call Alex. I talked to Nana and she's not sure if they'll make it. :-s
Cotton, Jacob, Tish and I will just have to be REALLY loud to make up for it. Quality over quantity. I care way more than she does, but she does want Nana to come, and for Abby and Uncle BJ there. I forgot to tell him the time- hopefully he can get the girls and bring them, even though it isn't his weekend. And Bonk might be able to come, if he finds his niece's recital worthy of getting his hung over ass out of bed. BJ and Bonk- there's some noise for ya! Lol.
Too bad Aunt G and Brian are so far away- I know they wouldn't miss her recital for the world- if it weren't a 4+ hr drive. :-(
(don't you love reading my thought process as it happens...? Lmao. Any respectable blogger would erase all of that, but nope. not me. You come here for me- you get ME!)

I have got a horrible case of the hiccups. They hurt. And I need to start chopping veggies for dinner. Ever since that Mother's Day batch of pico de gallo, we've been craving some more. Fajita "bols" tonight. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm....

random cuteness

Just some random shots, since I've just emptied out the camera :-)
(I also feel compelled to offer proof that I photograph the girl once in a while)

A sleeping angel. I still can't get used to the fact that he's mine.
I get to kiss this face any time I want. Does it get any better than that?
My pretty girl, adding some flowers to our bushes.
The child is positively OBSESSED with flowers! I am so excited about her recital- because I get to take her a bouquet of flowers! Yay!
(I'm not sure what she was gesturing about- she does that any time she talks, lol)

"cheese!"
still gesturing

silly Jacoband then they burst into spontaneous dance. That actually happens a lot around here. Lol.

hahaha
My cuties!

That's it for now!