Happy...

Lately I have been really happy. I don't know quite what it is but I've just been really, really happy. I guess it's because I have been making more of an effort to spend some real quality time with my boy and my man. In the morning and later when Carter comes home from school I am all his until bedtime. We play games, read, go for walks, and find excuses to eat a lot of yummy treats. After Carter goes to bed, my full attention goes to my hubby. We relax, talk, and spend time cuddled up watching our favorite shows. I am making a more conscience effort to be present. It has been absolutely wonderful and I can see and feel changes not only in myself but my guys as well. 
I've been taking a lot of time away from blogging, thinking about what I really want in terms of this blog and other life decisions, and getting my priorities in line and let me tell you I am feeling SO refreshed. I am slowly letting go of the guilt I have been feeling about not being able to keep up and remembering that I blog first and foremost for ME. In a way I hate how selfish that sounds, but it's the truth. And if this is something that I want to make last it has to be enjoyable and refreshing...not stressful.
So I thought that I would share with you a few things that have really made me smile over the past couple of weeks. Things that maybe I would have overlooked or not fully enjoyed while I was wrapped up in other stuff. Proof that it really is the little things in life that make me the happiest.
Rain. We haven't had much of it lately, but I absolutely love watching it rain. And there's something about the freshness after a good rain that I love...kinda feels like a fresh clean start.

This face. Need I say more? Perfection. I swear I could stare at him all day. It's been awhile since I just sat and took in how precious he really is. It never ceases to amaze me that he is mine. He's the combination of me and the hubs love brought to life. He's all that I could ever ask for and so much more. I love him more than I could ever express. I am so blessed.

Splurging on something for me. Yeah I know it's just chapstick but trust me, spending $3 on chapstick is a splurge in my opinion! But I LOVE it!

Shaved ice. After school one day, hubs met Carter and I for this special treat. It reminded us of being in Hawaii...one of our favorite places.

Getting dressed in clothes other than sweats. Yup, since we are all finally feeling better it's so nice to actually put on a real outfit, shave my legs, and put on make up! Feeling like a hobo is only fun for so long ;){p.s.- please ignore the unmade bed in the background}

Star Wars. It's a big deal in this house. We took our little Jedi to see it over the weekend and had a blast.

This man. He is the breath of fresh air in my day. My safe place. My comfort. I am so incredibly blessed to be his wife and to be sharing my life with him. Nobody else would do, only him. 

New iPad games. Carter and I have been playing a lot of games together on the iPad. He's a little obsessed with the latest game I downloaded for him, Tap Tap Muppets. Watch and see, I think we may have a little DJ in the making...

And something that I just discovered today thanks to Kristine over at The Foley Fam...Birthday Cake Oreos.

MY LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE. 

Dear Oreo, if you are reading this please make these a regular flavor. Making these a limited edition item will only force me to be on the next episode of hoarders as a troubled cookie hoarder. I could possibly then die due from being buried alive by a cookie avalanche in my own home...or diabetes, whichever comes first. 

So until the next post my peeps...I hope you find joy in your day and lots of reasons to smile.

XOXO

Fly on the wall

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall? Ya know, to see/hear what goes on behind closed doors. I know I have. I think if we were able to be a tiny little spectator in someone else's home we would see that maybe our family isn't as weird as we think it is...or then again, maybe it is ;)

It's been a rough week and a half around here. Carter was sick, there were allergic reactions to things, daddy was on a business trip, then momma came down with one of THESE again...joy. But despite feeling like poop for most of the week I was able to sit back, really listen and enjoy some of the silly, disgusting, and super sweet conversations that went on in my house. Yes, you could say that I was a fly on my own wall. So here's a look into some of the things you would've heard if you were a tiny creeper in my house...

I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher. Just as I'm putting the knives away Carter walks in...

"Whoa mom, be careful and watch out for your weenie around those knives"

"I don't have a weenie dude"

{dear god please don't let him ask what I really have!}

"You don't have a weenie?"

"Nope"

"You only have a booty?! That's terrible mommy just terrible!"

My son constantly has his hands down his pants. Here's what his dad had to say to him about that...

"Carter, stop doing that or I'm going to put a mouse trap down your pants! That'll teach you to keep your hands out!"

{insert hysterical laughter from the three of us here}

While sitting on the couch watching cartoons Carter looks up at me and says...

"Momma this is my happy place right here"

"Yea?"

"Yup, snuggling with you"

{insert heart melting here}

While sitting in bed looking like a heaping pile of ugliness, hubbs looks over and says...

"You look so pretty"

{part of me wants to punch him and the other part wonders why he never compliments me when I'm actually looking good...but mostly I want to hug him and keep him around forever}

On his way out of the room Carter stops, turns around and says...

"Hey mom I got a little something for ya...FAAAARRRRTTTT!"

"CARTER GRIFFITH"

"Oh and something for dad too...FAAAARRRRTTTT!"

"OMG Carter you are a sick dog!"

{insert endless giggles here}

On hubbs way out the door to leave for work Carter runs to the door and says...

"Goodbye best friend!"

"Goodbye best friend"

There are also times when those of us in the house are defiant...

"Carter you need to stop telling me NO and listen!"

"NO! I don't have to listen to you!"

"Don't you talk to me like that!"

His reply said in true Adam Sandler/Billy Madison style {click HERE to watch}...

"Oh I can. And I will."

{insert desperately trying not to laugh here}

While Carter is in the bathroom getting ready for school I hear him singing...

"Ain't nobody dope as me I'm just so fresh and clean...so fresh and so clean, clean"

Hubbs confesses about a 2am snack raid gone bad...

"I went to the pantry to get a snack. It was dark and I couldn't see. I reached for the bag of m&m's, grabbed a handful and put them in my mouth. When I went to chew I realized it was POPCORN KERNELS I had put in my mouth!"

"LOL! That'll teach you! You could've chipped a tooth ya dork!"

For some reason hubbs leaves a pair of his work pants on the kitchen counter. Carter walks in this morning and upon seeing them blurts out this little gem...

"OH NO! Dad forgot to wear pants to work!"

"No buddy, dad wore pants to work I promise"

"Then he forgot his extra pair in case he poops!"

If I was a fly on YOUR wall what kind of silly or sweet things would I hear?

xoxo,

Lacee

In The Blink Of An Eye...

If you saw my update on fb yesterday, then you know that yesterday morning my boys and I were in a car accident. Thankfully it was nothing too serious, and besides some sore backs, necks and head aches we are all doing fine. I wanted to take a minute to share with you what happened because I was reminded of some pretty important things yesterday in the midst of all the chaos. Things that unfortunately you forget to remember until something potentially tragic happens.

We had just left our house to go on our family trip to Apple Hill {more to come on that in a later post}. We were all so excited to spend the day together as a family enjoying the family tradition we had started last year. I was driving and we were no more than two minutes from our house when I stopped at a red light. I was talking with my hubby and when I glanced up the light was green. It's amazing how many thoughts can run through your head in a split second...

How long has the light been green?

Have I been sitting here long?

Is the driver behind me upset?

I glance in the rear view mirror...

That car sure is coming fast.

I don't think it's gonna stop...

BOOM

We were rear ended while at a dead stop by a car going about 40 mph.

My first reaction was to turn around and see if my son was ok. Then my hubby. Then me. Thank God everyone was fine.

I pulled over and watched as the lady behind me got out of her car. My first instinct was to be angry.

UGH...Why weren't you paying attention?!?

I stepped out of the car to a woman about my age who was clearly frazzled and very apologetic. I glanced into her car and noticed her 3 children sitting inside. She explained that she had been distracted by her kids.

In that instant my face softened. I realized that this mother was no different than I was...in fact it could have been me in her shoes. We were all ok and there was no point making her feel even worse than she clearly did.

On our drive up to Apple Hill I thought...A LOT. I thought about how many times I have been in the car and been distracted by my kid or other things.

How many times I had turned around to replace a fallen paci or bottle.

How many times I had stretched myself to reach a fallen toy on the floor. 

How many times the crying or whining from the backseat had me down to my very last nerve.

How many times I had sent that text that "just couldn't wait."

How many times I took that phone call that really didn't need to be answered.

All while the car was IN MOTION.

I thought about the car ride home from the hospital after Carter was born and how the hubbs drove home going about 10 miles an hour while I sat in the back seat holding onto the carseat. 

What's changed, though?

Why was I so careful then, but feel like it's ok to take those risks now?

The truth: It's NOT ok. And it's a shame that it took what happened yesterday morning to remind me of that.

Once we reached our destination safely, I spend the whole rest of the day feeling incredibly thankful.

Thankful that we were all ok. That the other driver and her kids were ok too.

Thankful for another day that I get to spend with the two people I love most in this world.

Thankful that even though we had a bad start to our day we chose to make it better.

Thankful that even though what happened was bad, I could still somehow appreciate the reminder that came from it.

I share this with you all today because I know I am not alone in being distracted in the car and doing things that I really know I shouldn't be doing...things that can WAIT. I hope that this will remind you to PLEASE be more careful while driving. To pull over to answer that phone call or send that text message or to deal with your kids. To be grateful for every moment you have to spend with your loved ones because in the blink of an eye your whole world can completely change. Thankfully this time, ours stayed the same.

xoxo,

Lacee