Accessorize

Not only do I struggle with accessorizing our dinner, I have a problem with accessorizing myself!  I just looked down at my shoes to realize that I have had these same shoes since the year Josh and I got married and I wear them several times a week (if not every day).  They are so old that the sole is coming unglued on the bottom and flaps when I walk on low humidity days;)

That got me thinking about other things I own.  I have the same 8 earrings in my ears that I had in 10th grade and they have only been taken out for soccer games.  I got a necklace for mother's day 5 years ago that I wear every day (except for the 5 times that the chain has broken and I've had to get it fixed...thank goodness for lifetime warranties).

I have never been a very high maintenance girl.  In fact, my mom and sister had to apply my makeup on my wedding day.  I am very grateful for my younger sister-in-law who is a Mary Kay consultant who can give me those inside tips now=)

I have a friend who is a pro interior design expert and I always ask her advice on decorating my house.  So now I'm asking for your help.  Are there any expert accessorizers out there who can give me some tips?  I mean, are there certain guidelines that one is supposed to adhere to?

Mayday! Mayday! We Have A Blowout!!!!!!!

After 1 week and 4 days!  

If you don't know what I'm talking about read THIS POST first=)  

Josh and I were just sitting here relaxing and reading while the older two took their nap.  All of a sudden we began smelling this AWFUL smell!  We look up at Micaiah, who is in the exersaucer, and he has a VERY intent look of concentration on his face.  I do believe Micaiah is working on a present for us.

We begin looking around the room wondering where we should put him to do his business.  Some place where gravity can continue to take effect but at the same time easily cleanable.

I feel a sense of relief for the little guy.  We've all been waiting a long time for this;)  Good job.  Mommy's proud of you=)

(I can hardly believe I've been writing blog posts about this, ha!  You know you are a mom when...)

I'm glad he'll be able to enjoy our family tree decorating tonight=)

P.S.  Thank you all for your advice!  We tried a little more apple juice (only b/c that's the only thing we had around the house) this morning as well as the thermometer trick (3 times throughout the day).  A couple of hours later...voila!

To Shop Or Not To Shop

The Nicely Decorated Living Room

The Kids Table

They thought it would be more fun to eat UNDER the table=)

I am sitting here, completely full after a great Thanksgiving dinner. My sister-in-law is looking through all the sales papers for tomorrow's frenzy.

I'm not a big shopper, especially on the busiest shopping day of the year! I start sweating just thinking about the crowds of people.

I must say though, last year AND this year I have done the CVS Black Friday deals. They start at 12am on Thanksgiving morning so I don't have to fight a crowd. I wasn't even going to go but my sister-in-law, Kelly, talked me into going so I got all my deals ready and headed out with her to conquer. I did pretty good this year. I haven't really looked carefully at my final totals but I think I got around $100 worth of stuff for under $10 OOP and doubled my ECB's. Pretty sweet!

So, are you gearing up for the big day or are you going to snuggle up in bed and sleep in?

Preparing For The Blowout!

***Consider this your warning - if you have a weak or sensitive stomach read no further!  This post is messy=)***

The week before we moved to Raleigh I noticed that I had not changed a poopie diaper in almost a week.  I thought poor little Cai's tummy must just be out of wack because of the move.  Every nursery or place I'd drop him off at would tell me that "We thought for sure he had a dirty diaper and checked him several times but there was nothing.  He just smelled SO bad!"  Inside I was thinking to myself, just look who his daddy is though;)  Don't tell Josh I just said that, HA!  

Well, sure enough on Saturday afternoon (loading day) he had a massive blowout!  Thank you G-daddy (my dad) for changing that one.  It was so funny...for the next several hours Cai was SO content and it was like he just couldn't stop smiling.  I'm sure that one felt good.

Fast forward a week later with no poopies.  The nursery workers are complaining of this horrendous stench coming from this sweet little bundle and I know we are in for a doozie!

I was preparing dinner for our family of 5 children and 4 adults (don't worry, Jenn and I took turns cooking for this crew) when I smelled it!  I looked down at the bouncy seat where Cai was staring into outer space with an intent look on his face and realized that it was time.  Not 2 minutes later I looked back at him and IT was coming out from every imaginable angle.  I just stood there not knowing which action to take.  

After that episode he waited until the following Monday for another poopie escapade.  I have since dubbed Mondays as "Poopie Mondays".

I am a little worried this week though.  Monday has come and gone and it is now Wednesday.  We are about to embark on a road trip to VA and Cai has yet to have his weekly blowout.  

We are heading out prepared with a waterproof pad in his car seat and easily accessible wipes, diapers and vomit bag (when the smell begins to make it's way to the front of the car)=)

Side Note:  He isn't constipated, he just doesn't go.  We've tried a little apple juice to no avail.  Any ideas?

3 Is More Fun

Areyna gets so sad when it is time for Micaiah to go down for a nap and she hates it even more when she has to miss his wake times for some reason or another.  

So, yesterday afternoon we decided to give Micaiah a few minutes of room time with the kids.  Areyna loved the company and played next to him while he sat in his bouncy seat and Zeke only threw 1 book at him, HA!  Let's just say he knows not to ever do that again=)

Wow, 3 kids in room time already.  I can only imagine what this is going to be like when he gets to the wrestling age...

Catchup With Us

Here is what's been going on in our lives this past week.

We moved into our new house on Tuesday!  We LOVE it!  Sunday afternoon was "hanging day".  Since everything was unpacked, except for the piles of books in the living room that make our house look like a library exploded in it (it's time to invest in a bookshelf...or 3) we decided we could start adding the finishing touches.

When we moved to Charlotte we had so much help that they started unpacking our boxes too and I had no clue where things were or what had or hadn't been unpacked.  So this time we decided that we really wanted to take our time unloading so we could get rid of EVERYTHING that we don't need or use.  It also allowed me to arrange (and rearrange=) all our stuff until I found the PERFECT home for our stuff=)

Not only are the kids loving their new home but they are loving being close to family.  They have done an incredible job during this whole transition.

I'll post pictures as soon!

You know what I think is hilarious?  I took a longer blogging break for a move than I did after having a baby, HA!

How about you...when did you take your longest blogging break?

Happy Monday!  It's good to be back=)

I'm Still Here

We're here in our new house and I am unpacking and unpacking.  We couldn't be more pleased with our house.  God is SO good.

I'm also still here in the blogosphere.  I promise I'll sit down and catch you up on our lives...maybe this evening=)

Have a GREAT Frideay!

"We Only Write On...PAPER!"

We have a rule at our house.

"We only write on PAPER!"

The kids KNOW that, so when I walked in to get the kids out of room time I was shocked to see THIS!

Zeke had drawn Spiderwebs on his legs so he looks like Spiderman.

Me:  "Zeke, what in the world.  We...only...write...on..."

Zeke: "...paper!"

Me:  "Zeke, did you disobey mommy? Are your legs paper?"

Zeke:  "But I'm Spiderman mommy!"

What am I supposed to say to that?!  This is what happens when you are a mommy to a superhero I suppose=)

He's just going to have to walk around with these "webs" on him until he gets a bath...and we all know those are few and far between in this Via family, HA!

Saying Goodbye To Our Temporary Home

Tomorrow is moving day!  I can't believe we get to move into our new home.  I can't but help being a little sad to leave this temporary home with our friends behind though.  I thought I'd give you a little peak at where we've been these past 3.5 weeks.

Here is Micaiah's room.

He shares it with the laundry=)

Our office/Snack-coffee area

Rainy and Zeke's room

Living Room

Our Bathroom

Our Bedroom

Jeremiah and Jenn, we can't thank you enough for sharing your home and your lives with us!  Oh yeah, and ALL your toys=)