Takin' a Break

I've been feeling so blue and blah lately. Out of sorts, if you will. I can't really put my finger on why I'm feeling this way. So I have decided to take a break from Facebook and the blogging world until Friday. There have been so many times that Joe tries to shut the laptop lid and says, "C'mon, Mommy!" and I say, "Wait just one more second!" while I post one more status or "like" one more photo. My priorities are getting a little out of whack.

So I need a break to refocus and recharge. I need to read more books to my boys instead of Facebook statuses. I need to pray more with my husband instead of tell him something funny I read in a blog.

I hope you all had a joyous Thanksgiving. My was wonderful and I'm so excited for Advent and Christmas!

Here are some snapshots from my weekend.

Waiting patiently for dinner!

My two turkey boys!

Snoozin'

Cleaning after dinner. I have him trained very well!

Trying to get a picture with my boys. Joe wouldn't cooperate.

Much better!

Decorating Grandma Mary's tree

Santa Sam!

Pulling stuff from the trees already...

He sees himself in the ornament!

 

 

His new trick!

I'll miss reading everybody's statuses and updates on life. I'm a Facebook and blog-reading nut so this is going to be VERY hard for me!

See you in a few days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had a nice long Thanksgiving post planned, but Joe has been extra clingy lately. When he shuts my computer lid, pulls at my hand and says, "Come on, Mommy!" I have to go. Playing with blocks and reading books are more important than blogging. That being said, how on EARTH do moms with lots of littles find time to blog?!?!?

Tomorrow we're going to sleep in, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (SANTA!!!!!!!!!) and go to Ryan's big family dinner later that evening. The next day we'll be traveling to my mom's to have dinner with my side of the family. Even though I am a Christmas nut, I really do love Thanksgiving. I love food, family and traditions!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Words cannot express how God has blessed me.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful, turkey coma inducing, fun, joyful and blessed Thanksgiving!

7 Quick Takes Vol. 25(ish)

I had a blog post planned in my head for every day this week. Then I got le tired.

1. 

This week I vacuumed out the couch cushions because Joe discovered food under there and thinks it's an all-you-can-eat buffet. Grooooooss.

2. 

Ryan overheard our noisy, disrespectuful, ass-hat upstairs neighbor telling someone that he and his fiance had found a house.

This may or may not have been my reaction:

If this isn't true, or they aren't moving out soon, then I'll be like this: 

Speaking of my neighbors, the girl is home on her lunch break right now and blaring her music. This is my one hour of peace while Joe and Sam are napping. I have my fall candle lit, my Christmas carols playing, and I'm trying to relax, dammit! Excuse my while I get my broom and go all Mr. Heckles.

3. 

Can you tell I just discovered how to use gifs on my blog? I think they are hilarious! I spend WAY too much time trying to find the perfect ones to fit my mood. Methinks that's why it takes me so long to get my blog posts written.

4. 

I am officially enrolled in my first two pre-requisite classes for the nursing program. Just to be clear, I'm not actually in the nursing program yet. I apply for that next August.

I am getting kind of discouraged about this whole school thing. I met with a financial aide lady and when I told her that I was planning on taking Anatomy and Physiology this summer she said that was a bad idea since it's a really hard class and even harder in the summers since it's accelerated. Then she told me that a lot of nursing student graduates were coming back saying how hard it was to find jobs.

Plus, there's this whole paying for school thing. I'm hoping I'm not making a mistake.

5. 

I got out my journal from when I quit the first college I attended. Oh. my. Lord. I was really really stupid. And delirious. I've determined that ages 18-26 are the most confusing. Becoming an adult sucks. I'm still kind of in disbelief that in less than two years I'll be 30. That used to be OLD!

6.

I LOVE this time of year. And even though I'm a Christmas nut, I love Thanksgiving, too! Family, food, cold, cozy weather. I feel like a little kid again. It's even more fun now that Joe is getting into it.

7. 

Some days it is so hard to care for two kids. Both are very demanding. But then there are moments like these that make me SO very happy to give Joe the gift of a sibling.

Have a good weekend, everybody! Visit Jen for some more wonderful takes!

7 Quick Takes Friday!

Thank goodness for 7 Quick Takes Friday because I have all sorts of randomness to write about!

1.

I mentioned a while back that I'm doing Weight Watchers on my own. So far I've lost 6 lbs. I remember the first time I did WW I lost 5 lbs in the first week, so at first I was disappointed. However, I know it is important to lose weight slowly, especially since I'm breastfeeding. I'm just a very impatient person!

2.

I was accepted into Metropolitan Community College to start on my path to nursing school! I'm very excited and scared all at the same time. I'll just be taking a couple of classes before I apply to the nursing program, so hopefully I can handle that!

3.

Ryan had surgery a week ago to remove some polyps from his nasal/sinus cavity. I wasn't really worried or scared until the nurse came to update me saying that he was under and the surgery had begun. It was a scary feeling knowing that my husband's life was in someone else's hands. Everything went great and his recovery has been pretty smooth. This is his third surgery to remove the polyps, so hopefully they won't grow back!

4.

So that election, huh? I, along with everyone in America, am happy it is over. Here is how I observed election night:

 My liberal friends

My conservative friends

My conservative friends and liberal friends interacting on Facebook

My reactions

5.

I just now realized that I never shared pictures of my boys on Halloween! Joe was a cowboy and Sam was a horse!

6. 

Even though my boys' costumes weren't home made, I'd really like to start that tradition. I saw the same Wal-Mart/Target Batman costume over and over on Facebook. Of course all these kiddos were adorable, but there's something really special about a putting together your own costume. 

Ryan and his little brother as Batman and Robin

I don't think you could find many Wednesday Addams costumes at Wal-Mart

My mom was awesome at making costumes. We didn't have a lot of money or quick access to a Wal-Mart so mom used old clothes from thrift stores and what we had laying around the house. I always won the Halloween costume contests. And, yes, that is a beheaded doll.

Will I make my kids their own costumes? I would really really like to, but only time will tell!

7. 

Friday Funny:

Photo bombing an X-ray. Disturbing and hilarious all at the same time!

BONUS TAKE!
As I was typing these, Joe pee peed in the potty! It's funny the things you get excited about when you become a parent!

Go visit Jen for more awesome Quick Takes! 

Potty Time

OK, I need some major tips/advice/help!

I think it's nearing that time. The time I've been dreading for quite awhile.

Potty training. NOOOOooooooooooo!!!

As much as I'd like to stop paying out the ying-yang for diapers and as much as I'd like to not feel like I just diapered a 26 lb catfish after a change, I'm really dreading the whole potty training business. Mostly because I have no clue where to begin.

Joe's pediatriciain said that most boys are 2 1/2 - 3 years old before they are potty trained. One of the first signs of being ready is when they can verbally tell you when they have pooped or peed. Just this past week Joe has been doing just that.

While at my in-law's house this weekend he would run into the guest room and yell at us to get out. Then he'd come out and yell "Poop!" He has told us numerous times since then that he has pooped.

We have a little potty chair for him and we've sat him on there (he hasn't done anything in there) and we have rewarded him with tiny little toys or suckers when he has told us that he has pooped. We also have a few pairs of training pants.

But that's where my knowledge ends. I've tried looking up "how-to's" online and I'm just overwhelmed with all the information. I don't even know where to begin.

So if any of you could throw out some tips or strategies or even a "how you did it" plan, I would be very grateful!