Pretending To Be A Daddy!

Every so often your children really surprise you!

They do that one thing that catches you off guard and you are not sure if you should smile, laugh, encourage the behavior, frown upon it, or just plain shake your head and move on!

For example...

Yesterday evening when I walked in the door I was greeted by Tuck, who looked like this...

Yep!

Snow boots, a Coonskin Hat, and a Red Tutu!

Our nanny who happens to be my sister Jes, said he had worn it all day.

Like loved it so much, wouldn't take it off for nap... all day! haha

When I walked in the door I couldn't help but laugh and say...

"oh Tuck, you look sooo pretty!"

He smiled and laughed back.

I asked him what he was doing wearing a Tutu and that hat and he said cause he wanted to, cause he liked it, cause that's what Daddies wear!

As he ran off,

I laughed again and said some what under my breath... "I don't think I've ever seen Daddy dress like that!"

When Daddy came home, the same thing happened...

Daddy was a little shocked to see him wearing a Tutu and asked why he was wearing it?

Tuck gave the same answer, cause he wanted to, cause he liked it, cause that's what Daddies wear!

Around our house we have a motto that you have heard me use before...

"The heart wants what the heart wants."

It is a motto I find myself saying, or sometimes trying to remind myself, that if a situation arises and it is not the norm or what I would want my kids to do, I can't always control everything!

Sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

And honestly, Tuck wearing a Tutu may not be the norm... but it wasn't hurting anybody.

I'm sure we could get into what is politically correct, or the issue in the news lately about gender neutral parenting, but for now... I'm just gonna let Tuck be who he wants to be!

He was dressing up in what he liked.

And if that means wearing a Red Tutu cause he thinks that is what Daddies wear, then... whatever!

Now, if he is still wearing it in a couple of years, we may sit down and have a talk about how the Lord made boys and girls very different but very special in their own ways! haha

But for now, I am thankful that Tuck is a very sweet, kind, little boy who loves to play house with his sister.

He loves to pretend to be the Daddy, or sit under the table and pretend he is driving his sister to Missouri or a friends house... he loves to pretend and play... and who am I to scold him and tell him what he can and can not like or wear while he is pretending!

Even though he didn't look the part, per say, I am glad he spent the better part of his night pretending to be a Daddy.

Little does he know... It is the most important role he will ever play.

Hope you all are having a great Tuesday!

Chat later,

Jen

You may remember this post or this post... when Greta went against the norm as well!

Things That Make Me Happy...

... my favorite two people in the whole wide world...

While cleaning up the house, right before our afternoon "rest" time... I caught these two enjoying a snack and each others company.

They were sitting smushed into our big red chair with their Buzz and Woody dolls... eating fruit snacks and talking about their friends Brayden & Joanna, going to Missouri to have a sleep over with Grandma & Grandpa Appleberry, and how to catch the fox we have seen in our yard!

For a small moment in time... they were each others best friends, each others favorite person.

No hitting, no fighting, no tatteling, no arguments.

Just a brother and sister enjoying each others company!

I'll tell you, as a Mother that has to make the top of my list of things that make me happy!

One day when they are older I am sure I will pull up this post just to remind them... that whatever they are going through, they've always got each other. 

Happy Friday Everyone!

Chat soon,

Jen

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oh Valentine's Day... how I love thee!

I really do love Valentine's Day!

Not because the hubby and I do anything over the top or extremely romantic... ohh except this one time, when we were younger... yeah that was a good one!

... I mainly love Valentine's Day because it is a day to celebrate my most favorite thing in the whole wide world...

LOVE.

The thing we all want to be in... LOVE.

The thing we hope our children always feel... LOVED.

The thing that brightens our days and warms our hearts... LOVE.

The thing that makes girls stop in their tracks and let out an "awwwwww" when they see a sappy movie or hear of a great story... LOVE.

To quote The Beatles...

all we need is... yep you guessed it... LOVE.

So in honor of Valentine's Day I set out this morning to let the ones nearest and dearest to me know that they are loved!

All of my loves woke up to a Valentine balloon floating in their room, tide down with some of their favorite things...

 Candy, a chocolate heart, and flash cards!
(you gotta mix candy with learning!)

 ... and Greta, well as you can see is not a morning girl!
She usually needs a solid 30 minutes before she will talk to you or smile!
Oh well, I still love that sour little face!

... and this boy, my true love!
He got a couple more of his favorite things from me... Sour Patch Kids and Peanut Butter!
If you know Loren then you know I will be looking for my
"Best Wife of the Year" award in the mail...
should be here any day now! haha.

And after they woke to their love grams I made sure they had a home cooked breakfast.

Pink pancakes of course...

I made the babes a bit fancy with whipped cream and sprinkles!

The breakfast of champs!

See, nothing big but just enough to let them know I took the time out of my day to let them know they are special, let them know they are important to me, let them know they are loved! :)
- my Momma did this for me when I was little and I think it's a great tradition to pass on to your babes!

You don't have to succumb to the commercialized part of Valentine's Day but you sure can participate in celebrating love!
Whether you are single, married, young, or old, have kids, or don't...
take time today to celebrate and share some love with the ones you love!

And ladies, as for this guy....

Well, he's taken!!!

Happy Valentines Day.

Love,

Jen

Remember last Valentine's Day and the treat we made?!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies



Last Friday I wanted to spoil my hubby a bit!

He has been having some long, tiring, and hard days at work... so when I heard he spent most of Friday workin' outside unloading rail cars in 18 degree weather... I thought he deserved a little spoiling.

I made sure he came home to a super fairly clean house, a wife who was fixed up with a bit of makeup, and a nice warm meal made up of a few of his favorite things.

On the menu: Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Warm Biscuits (remember he's a southern boy) and one of his favorite snacky desserts...

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies


Wanna make some for your family?
Here is the recipe I use...

For The Cookies:

•1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

•1 cup packed brown sugar

•1/2 cup granulated sugar

•2 eggs

•1 teaspoon vanilla

•1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•1 teaspoon cinnamon

•1/2 teaspoon salt

•1 cup raisins

•3 cups Quaker Oats, old fashioned, uncooked

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together butter and sugars til creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Add combined flour, soda, cinnamon, salt. Mix til fully incorporated. Stir in oats and raisins.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then remove to wire rack.

I find that taking the cookies out right as they start to turn golden brown ensures that they stay soft a bit longer. We prefer a soft, chewy, melt in your mouth kinda cookie at our house, so taking them out a bit early is best for that.

These cookies are actually one of my favorite too!
From the raisins to the oats to the cinnamon, these cookies are packed with goodness...
There is definitely something to be said about a warm oatmeal cookie!
- Pure Comfort Food! -

So...
Have you spoiled your hubby lately?!

Momma always taught me the way to a mans heart is through his stomach!

Happy Monday!

Jen



Tuck & Daddy's 1st Restoration Job

Last week the babes and I were at their favorite store... the Goodwill.

Actually it's one of my favorite stores too!

You just never know what little goodies you will find when you are there! I practically live by the motto
"One mans trash is another mans treasure."

And being in the upcycling/crafting line of work that I am in, the Goodwill is a great place to find those treasures.

... and the babes know it too!

Every time we walk into the Goodwill the babes are told they can pick out 1 toy and 1 book. (it's not like we need all of those toys, but I figure at least every other month I bring a small bag of toys to giveaway to the Goodwill, so the ratio should be all good!)

When we walk down the toy aisle, the same thing plays out every time...

Greta dives into the right side of the aisle fully immersing herself in all the stuffed animals, looking for juuuust the right new buddy to take come and snuggle
(and of course be cleaned & washed by mommy).

Tuck on the other hand always goes for the left side of the aisle where you can find actual toys. Things like cars, trucks, dolls, games, and action figures.

During last weeks trip something almost immediately caught Tuck's eye!

It was a big toy Cadillac.

Very similar to a barbie car... but this was more detailed and harder plastic.

This Cadillac was in rough shape!

It had half peeled off stickers all over the sides, crusty and hair filled seat covers, glitter all over the floor boards, and what looked to be a bad and half removed nail polish job on the back trunk lid.

Did I mention it was in rough shape?!

But like I said, it immediately grabbed Tuck's eye.

He ran over to it, carefully lifted it off the shelf, set it on the floor, and started rolling it up and down the aisle all while making "vroom vroom" car noises!

He loved it and asked if that could be the one toy he got to have that day.

I was quick to say no and try to sway his decision.

I pointed out the icky seats and rotten stickers.

I pointed out the glitter and said that it was a girls car.

I pointed out the bad nail polish job that had been half removed on the trunk lid.

... and that's what did it!

Tuck said the key statement that changed my whole attitude on that ugly ole' car....

"Mommy, if I get it, Daddy and I can paint it with new nail polish...."

"Pleeeease?!?!?"

And there was my light bulb moment.

Tuck and Daddy could make this car their first restoration project!

You see, not only does my hubby have an insane love for cars (remember this post?) but he also spent many of his childhood and teenage years restoring old cars with his Dad.

So, on this past Sunday afternoon Tuck and Daddy set out to restore their first car together!

I wish I could say I had a picture of this car before the boys started, but sadly I do not!

But I googled this exact car... The Bratz FM Cruiser..

And here is what she looked like brand new out of the package..

Here she is at our house....

The "Bratz" emblems removed and filled.

The flame stickers sanded off.

The icky seat covers and glitter removed.

 And the final step, carefully taped off and ready for her first coat of paint...

 Dad and Tuck both were pretty excited about this project!

Here they are about to step out into the garage to take care of business.

 Here she is with her first coat of paint.

At this point Daddy wet sanded the whole car to give it a nice, smooth, finish.

 And here she is after her final coat!

Just look at that car!

And look at that paint job!

A nice shiny black with a slight bronzed metallic finish....

 Awesome!

And little did we know this car does so much more then look cool!
While Tuck was driving it around the kitchen Daddy noticed the back tail lights flicker.
Sure enough, once flipped over there was a slought for batteries.

What did new batteries do for this Cadillac?
Well the head lights and tail lights now turn on and shine bright.
And the radio in the car is an actual radio!
Some how this car radio picks up to real life, local radio stations.
You can change the channel, turn up the volume, and pretty much rock out to whatever station you want to!

Tuck is in love!
He calls it his Johnny Cash Cadillac!

I can't tell you how much this new Cadillac makes me smile!
And for only a $1.00 I'd be kicking myself now if I hadn't let Tuck get it.
But the most important thing is the fact that Tuck and Daddy were able to take on this project together... and those are just the father and son moments I so love and cherish.

I am honored and proud that Loren is the kind of Dad that cherishes those moments as well and sees them as a necessity in raising his boy.

Who knew that rough lookin' caddy would make for a great bonding experience, a sweet new ride for Tuck's action figures, and a memory those boys will cherish and carry into their adult years?!

I guess Tuck did!

He knew that another mans trash...

was his and his Daddy's new treasure!

Lesson learned Mom... lesson learned.

Chat later,

Jen

This post reminded me of another time my babes saw something I did not!
Check out this post - The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants - for another fun read!

The Last Year of My Twenties!

Hip Hip Hooray - Today is my Birthday!

That's right, last night I left the world of 28 and crawled into the world of 29'ers!

I say crawled because boy do I feel old! lol

This is my last year in my twenties... can you believe that?!

Next year is gonna be a doozy... but lets not think of that just yet!

Twenty Nine Years!

Doesn't that sound like a long time to be on this earth?

I guess not if you are in your 60's or 70's... but for me, 29 years feels like a long time!

This birthday feels a little different for some reason.

Like I said, it's my last year in my twenties.

I wonder where I thought I would be at this age when I was a little girl?

I know I wanted to be married. I wanted to have a house. I wanted to have babies... typical stuff that little girls dream of. But I don't think I ever dreamed life would be like this... this good! 

For 29 years I have been spoiled with a Momma that loves me and has always been there for me.

For 23 years I have been a sister to some of the most amazing, smart, and fun siblings!

For 10 years I have been lucky enough to have the kindest, patient, most respectful and gentle man in my life! Five of which I have been able to be married to that man!

And for the last 4 years I have actually been a Momma... a Mom to the best batch of babes I could have ever dreamed of!

Funny how when you are little you just don't know what the world will look like when you become a grown up.

You don't quite know where you will be, who you will be with, or how and why everything works out the way that it does.

I guess that is the difference between a child and and adult.

Because as an adult, I know where I am going and who I am going there with!

I may not know everything or all the little details but I know what I want out of life and for the most part... I know how to get it!

I know to put God first, at the center of everything! - your life, your marriage, your home.

I know to surround yourself with good people, moral people, people who've got your back!

It's amazing how building a strong core group of people can make all the difference in certain circumstances.

And I know that blood, sweat, and tears is the way good things are made!

So, I guess my 29 years on this earth has been more than good, it's been blessed!

As I look ahead at the next birthday I will celebrate, I think there are some more things I want to get done and accomplished.

When I enter the world of thirties I want to feel confident about leaving my twenties behind and putting some of my best years ahead! I got a little more work to do this year!

But for now, I will not worry about goals or checking things off the list.

Today I am going to relax, stay away from a paint brush, spend time with those I love, and hopefully have a HUGE piece of chocolate cake!

Thanks to everyone that has wished me a happy birthday so far!

I truly have some of the best of the best in my life!

Here's to 29 being a happy, healthy, accomplished, and blessed year!

Oh... and if YOU wanna have a piece of cake in celebration of me today... you go right ahead! haha.

Chat later,

Jen

P.S.
Check out last years birthday post here.
And if you are just itchin' to know some fun facts about me, here's a good read!