wow.

so. i am only here for a quick moment. my life has always been busy. it is now beyond busy.  it started with my sisters wedding.  we had it. it was beautiful.  football had started for the two big boys.  busy schedules and lots of practices. and lots of fun.  then football abruptly ended for one of the boys.  at SportsBoys first scrimmage of the season, on the 4th play, as quarterback he faked a handoff and began to run toward the goal line.  he planted his left foot, cut up to the right and was tackled by two other boys.  his femur broke.  many agonizing days later and a surgery behind us. he is home. he is safe. on crutches and in a wheelchair.  with two rods in his leg.  he is doing very well.  i have not processed it all.  it was terrifying.  i am totally concentrated on my family and need to take a blog break.  OldestBoy will start middle school on tues. and Baby will start his new preschool on friday.  school is still up in the air for SportsBoy.  keep us in your prayers.

little mama.

hello.

so.  i am not a summer blogger. 

 so sue me.  i am a great summer mom tho. 

 we are busy.  busy is good.

i don't spend much time on the computer. 

 haven of color suffers.

  but not my babies. 

 life is good.

  here is a few things we have been up to.

our cutie boys went to church camp.

with their buddy and their cousin.

they had a blast.

and didn't miss us.

not at all.

not super great for a mom to hear.

but im glad they had fun.

this boy missed them.

a lot.

thus he got to take 900

pictures of everything

and anything with my camera.

most of himself.

not bad for 4.

told ya.

we have been doing a lot of this.

and truly enjoying each other.

we have visited the new donut shop.

maybe too many times.

we heart it.

there is my sister, the upcoming bride!

we have been helping.

helping my sister plan her wedding.

nothing like having little boys help make decorations.

she is brave.

and sweet.

they Loved being involved.

we are very excited.

there is my sweet mama.

and her bald head.

she rocks it.

she also rocks a scarf.

awesome.

we also have been

doing lots of exploring.

the boys were examining

a bumble bee

with a magnifying glass.

so cool these boys of ours.

so we are well.  having fun.  being kids.

being a family.  loving summer.

we just had the big boys football draft.

yes, people there is a draft.

craziness.

we are thrilled.

the boys both got awesome coaches.

and WorkinMan is coaching

SportsBoys team.

so we end the busyness of baseball.

and go right into the busyness of football.

training in the morning.

practices at night.

hope we can fit school in there somewhere.

ha!

little mama.

happy birthday.

today is our middle boys birthday. 

he is 9.

how did this happen?

he used to be little.

this was kindergarten.

this was today.

he is sensitive.

he is caring.

he is a great athlete.

he loves his family deeply.

tomorrow he will leave

for his first time

at camp.

5 hours away.

for a week.

this will be so great

for him if he can make it through.

he will grow.

he will learn more deeply

about God.

he will make friends.

Lord, please protect him

and his brother.

it will teach him

and oldestboy

how to rely on each other better.

we are so blessed

to have him in our home.

he has such a cool

sense of humor.

always making us laugh.

he is moody.

he is cuddly.

we love it all.

happy birthday

sportsboy!!!

mama loves you

more than the moon.

catch up.

i feel like that is what i do in the summer.  catch up.  we are always busy and some things fall to the wayside such as this here blog and laundry. always the laundry.  but i guess that means i live a full and active life.  winter is much slower around here but as soon as the weather gets nice or even kind of nice us minnesotans are outside capturing life.  cuz you never know when the weather is going to turn bad.  as mama always says "bring a sweater."  so here is my catchup since father's day.  in pictures and a few words.  i like words.

we had oldest boy's last tournament of

baseball.  his team took 4th.

he did great.

it was his first year.

he really put himself out there.

we are so proud.

we also had sportsboy's last tournaments.

the same weekend.

we did 5 games in one day.

it went all weekend.

we are glad it's done

but sad.

sportboys team took 3rd.

here are his coaches.

they are amazing.

such great men.

we are blessed.

baby attempted to ride his bike with

no training wheels.

he did great.

he hated it.

they are back on.

we are not worried.

i am sure they will be off before college.

in other news...

baby doesn't have a nuk anymore.

i am glad.

and sad.

this means he is a big boy.

i am not ready.

baby also started tball.

and cried.

a lot.

then i cried.

a lot.

we decided tball was not worth all the crying.

we stopped.

after 3 lessons.

we are now happy.

and not crying.

no regrets.

this boy turned 4.

what!?

how the heck did this happen?

i cannot express how this child and i

have a different bond.

it was just he and i

in the early parts of his life.

it was rocky in our household.

we would chat.

or i would chat

and he would listen.

he was a newborn.

he kept me sane.

he is why i did not give up.

he understands me.

i understand him.

he is mine.

he is such a blessing.

such a gift.

he has the greatest belly laugh.

it was 900 degrees at his party.

he is very sweaty.

this is the best picture we could get.

with the timer.

on our fireplace.

after the sweaty dinosaur birthday party.

but look at how happy he is.

my eyes are closed in 2 out of 3.

but he is grinning like this in every one.

after the party.

in the car.

he says

"tank you mama for my party."

bliss.

little mama.

happy fathers day! yes!

this guy.

he's pretty great.

he's my dad.

he is a great teacher.

he is kind.

he will give you the shirt off his back.

he loves my mom.

more than life.

he is a strong christian.

he knows what he believes.

and he sticks to it.

no matter what.

i love him.

this guy.

he is pretty great.

he is my husband.

he is loyal.

he is a hard worker.

he will help anyone in need.

he has my back always.

he is cute.

he loves our boys.

he will do anything for them.

he is a great example.

he loves me.

sometimes that is hard.

he does it anyway.

i love him.

happy father's day to two great men in my life.

i am so blessed.

love you both.

little mama.



listening.

a loving husband.

a loving wife.

3 caring boys.

a package deal.

taking time to listen.

listen to each other.

listen to what God is trying

to tell them.

taking time to connect.

connect to the ones they love.

the ones they love the most.

each other.

spending time being silly.

laughing about things only they

think is funny.

listening to the heart.

the hearts of their little ones.

the hearts that teach so much.

making their children

and their marriage

a top priority.

helping their boys become

amazing men.

listening.

this is us.

this is our story.

this is our journey.

loving the team we

are on.

little mama.

where have i been??

i see that blogging is taking a backseat to life.  i guess that is natural.  i am a busy mama of three boys.  three boys that are now all in baseball.  heaven help me.  we have baseball every night of the week.  and some of them overlap.  thank goodness for family!  we are not used to going somewhere every evening and now we are.  such is life.  so we have been doing a lot of this....

yes. they are both
on red teams.
go figure.

OldestBoy waiting for his chance
up at bat!



we have had a few changes around the house.  my parents were getting ride of their brown leather sofa. and we decided it would make a good fit for us.  now usually i am not a fan of leather.  but here was my thinking.... our sofa had seen better days.  it was 10+ years old and had been through three boys and a boxer.  it was starting to wear.  not pretty.  so it was in need of a slipcover or we needed something new.  that is not happening.  not practical to get a new sofa while we have young ones and also not in the non existent budget.  and i also figured that if we could squeeze 10 more years out of the leather then it will have served its purpose.  and it is starting to grow on me.   first, what it needed was some lighter pillows.  Ikea to the rescue....

forgive the awesome picture.
baby is not feeling well.

so off to Ikea me and mama went.  i only use down pillows on my sofa cuz they are the most comfy.  i was going to get covers for the pillow inserts i already have but couldn't find anything i liked so i got their fabric instead.  love the graphic houses.  so i sewed myself some covers!

i was also able to get in a little junkin.  i have had a few items on my list that i am always on the lookout for.  one being a mounted set of antlers.  i have no idea why.   so this is what i finally found...

not enjoying the wood plaque.
but until i think of something different,
it will stay.

we also found this darling little guy. 

adorable.

i love gnomes.  and baby loves snow white.  so its a win win.

i know, super exciting stuff right!  so glad you stopped by.  even tho i had no life changing news for you.  it's always nice for you to come around.

little mama.

happy easter.

happy easter from our crazy house to yours!

OldestBoy, Baby, and SportsBoy.


little mama.

hello again!

sorry to have been a way so long.  last week was very busy. last sunday was my sisters first wedding shower.  she is getting married in august.  so her fiance's parents were in town.  it was very nice to see them.  then the week was just plain full.  WorkinMan back to work, me workin at Baby's school, then a field trip with SportsBoy, and then more family into town.  my mama's parents and sister came into town on wed and left on sun.  we loved having them but their visit was just too short!  my sister, brother, and i hosted a birthday party for my mama on saturday.  there were tons of people around to give her love.  it was so wonderful!  mama starts chemo today and so far it is going very well.  keep her in your prayers.  i will hopefully be back tomorrow with a list of things that makes me happy!

choice.

rainbow.
made by
baby.

some things in our life we have no choice about.  they are just that way.  the parents you have.  the weather where you live.  the amount of traffic on any given day.  what we do have a choice about is how we choose to view these things in our life which we have no control over.  i am not good at this.  i, ironically, just wrote a post a few day ago called blessed & broken.  where i revealed that i am a glass have empty type of girl.  i think the Lord is about to teach me a few lessons in my life. 

my parents moved to amsterdam at the first of the year.  my dad was going there to start a new branch of his company. they were to be there for a little over a year.  very exciting and a little scary.  we were all supportive but of course did not really want my parents to go.  my family is a little different.  we are extremely close.  we live close. we worship together.  often dine together. and in general are very involved in each others everyday lives.  my parents needed to come back.  they arrived home on tuesday.  permanently. 

be still & know.

while in amsterdam my mama started not feeling well.  after many trips to the dr, and er.  they have come to some conclusions.  the amsterdam dr.'s have diagnosed her with ovarian cancer.  they think it is advanced.  we are not sure.  and are waiting to see an amazing dr at the u of m to know for sure.  we are choosing to be positive.  we will deal with things as they come.  for better or worse. 

in blessed & broken i wrote about how "easy" my life has been.  many people have taken their turn in the line of yucky things.  i have not been asked to even get in the line.  some have taken multiple turns in front of me.  i think it is my families turn in line.  we are in the very early stages.  some days are good for me. some days are not good.  same with my family.  same with my mama.  she is strong.  she has an amazing faith.  she knows that whatever the Lords plan is for her, and for us, that it is the right one.  because He created it. 

annelea hart.

in my times of struggle i wish i knew what the plan was.  i am a planner.  but maybe it is for the best.  i need to grow.  i need to learn to give my whole world to Him and let Him lead me.  i have not been doing that.  i have been trying to show Him the way.  pretty silly if you think about it.  i don't even have the map or know the way.  He does.  so i choose faith.  i choose hope.  i choose to spend every free moment with my mama. 

please add my mama to your prayer list.  send us your uplifting stories. send us your good vibes.  most of all, hug your family.  tell them today what they have meant to your life.  we have always known that this life was temporary.  we have always known that He gives and He takes away.  according to His will.  be thankful for every moment.  don't let them pass.  don't be so busy in our mama and papa lives that we miss those wonderful, everyday, little moments.  make today great.  make today lovely. 

little mama.

time away.

i need to step away and concentrate on some family issues. i am not sure when i will be back. i will explain as soon as it is appropriate.  please keep my family in your prayers.  god can do wonderful things and we need him now more than ever.  till we talk again....

little mama.

blessed & broken.

this blog is fun. this blog is a nice way to get feelings out and share parts of my life.  this blog is unimportant.  yes, you read that right.  unimportant.  i sometimes go through my everyday life focused on what is not going "right."  my children are fighting.  my husband isn't reading my mind.  it's cold out and i want spring.  i miss my parents.   i am a glass half empty kind of gal.  sad but true.  i have accepted it and just have to try hard to focus on the positive.  as much as i sometimes think i am getting the short end of the stick, i am not.  i have not.  i only need to look beyond myself to know that i am blessed.  not just blessed like everyone else.  but really blessed.  i have been guarded from much pain in my life.  i have my parents alive and healthy.  i have a wonderful healthy family.  i have had 3 easy pregnancys.  i have 3 healthy children.  i have never lost a child.   my husband has a job.  i have a warm home.  i have 4 grandparents alive and married to their original spouse.  my children have 5 great grandparents.  i have a loving, supportive church family.  i have in-laws who are still married and love our family.  i have a brother and sister who i am close to.  physically and emotionally.  blessed.  

when i hear of others loss, i am abruptly reminded of how cruel this life can be.  how your whole world can fall apart in an instant.  never the same.  and i am reminded in all my flub ups and mistakes and short comings why i need a savior.  i am reminded that his grace is enough.

mary from a splendid adventure wrote a lovely post on being broken.  it touched my heart.  it might touch yours too.  http://www.asplendidadventure.blogspot.com/ 
my friend shared a lovely verse that i want to leave you with...have a blessed day.  
little mama.

"the lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." psalms 34:18

our heart day.

Our Valentines day was pretty normal. Boys to school, Baby and I to yoga, and then to grocery store. I did decide that I wanted to do a fun dinner for my family. My boys love to eat. And they eat a lot. So I started by pulling all the decorations from around the house to decorate my table. Fun jelly hearts stuck to the table, heart garland, and all the sweet crafts the boys made. Then I used our regular white plates on some fun stripe place mats. We had steak, that WorkinMan made on the grill, baked potatoes, and fresh garlic green beans. I also made hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries. This is a special treat that the boys love! I also made my own chocolate mixture that was soooo yummy. I melted milk chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt together and then dipped the strawberries. They were fab. We even saved 5 for us for today. :)  The boys loved this dinner and all the little extras. It really didn't take any more time than the normal dinner I make and they were so appreciative. I didn't spend anything except on the little buckets and candy. Everything else we had. They kept saying "thank you so much mommy!" It was great.

fun.




On each of the boys plates I put a little bucket from the Target dollar section, some coke bottle gummies and a little hand made treat. I made them hearts out of felt, stuffed with brown rice and blanket stitched around the edge. You microwave them for a few seconds and they get toasty warm and cuddly.  Each boy got a different color.

warming hearts.

The boys also got a sweet surprise when they got cards from my parents. Mom had given me them before she left for Amsterdam. The boys were so excited that they had remembered such a special time.

Our heart day was pretty simple but oh so sweet. Time with family is always time well spent. Hope yours was lovely and surrounded by those you love.

Little Mama.