My other twins

I have fallen behind on my monthly "baby book" style post on the kids. Feeling guilty about that I was getting the 17 month post written and I realized that I had mistaken a picture of my Campbell (5) as Nixon (17 mo)! So I looked up some of Miss C's old pictures and did a little comparison side by side 

 

Can you tell them apart? My Husband can't! Of Course I can! 

I get asked ALL THE TIME if my twins are identical, hmmm no one has a penis, but it looks like I do have some Twinkie pies in my house

#sisters 

Did Christmas kill all the mommy bloggers?

I'v been catching up on some of the original blogs I started reading when I got into this whole blog world a few years ago. These were ladies mostly documenting their lives as moms. Before sponsors & stats became something everyone started caring about. And mostly women I knew in real life. 

I'm felling better about my blogging absence after trolling thru some of my favorite blogs lately. Looks like the holidays equal absence in the mommy bloggers world! 

Cheers ladies for still blogging! 

The blog that inspired me to start a blog!!! 

Adventures in Abelingland

Emily at The Anderson Crew
Little Miss Mamma fresh eggs and laundry And Both Shall Row…plus baby too! Ok this lady did not quit blogging over the holiday but she is one of the first blogs I started reading and still love!  pineapples-n-pickles

Wordless Wednesday: Stalker Dog Edition

#wordlesswedensday #baddog #stalker

Shhhh…remember as far as anyone knows we are a perfectly normal family

Well that secrete is out! Normal we are not! 

When it came time to take 2013 holiday card photos I was on the fence about having Mr. T and I in them but I thought lets take a few with the kids for our personal album even if they won't make the card. Mr. T is not exactly a good sport about photo shoots and I'm not exactly Gisele Bundchen after chasing 3 kids all day.  After 15 min, a lot of sweat (this is christmas in Texas) and a entire container of blueberries Mr. T vowed he was not taking another "fake ass cheesy photo" so I said cool lets capture reality!  

Here are the results… 

 as usual Ryker is just hanging out

Once again BIG thanks to Sarah for capturing us as Our Story Goes On…

Two years running she has beautifully captured my family and I literally mean she was running! Thanks for putting up with my crazy ideas yet again 

Sincerely Sarah Photography

I used to be a good mom

no seriously I was! Hard to believe for those of you who know me now but it's true! 

As a mom of one I:

Blogged ALL THE TIME for 3 years! 

We went to gymboree class

Mondays at the children's museum

Stroller strides MWF

Playgroups (hosted stupid BPA free playgroups)

Moms night out with the play group moms

Threw beyond elaborate parties for my daughter

100+ volunteer hours a year with the Junior League

Preschool room mom

Chair of the teacher appreciation committee 

Safeplace volunteer appreciation party committee  

Went to the gym 3 days a week with a trainer 

As a Mom of 3 I: 

Took maternity leave and never went back from Junior league

Left my daughter in private school in part because of the very forgiving tardy/attendance police

I don't craft or DYI unless you consider wrapping plastic wrap over the balcony to keep the twins from throwing    things over a DYI project

No playgroups or gymboree

Put on an extra 15 pounds

Drink wine from a box

I still do anything the teacher or school director ask but feel guilty because I know I have only done the bare minimum rather than an outstanding job. 

I feel like it's been a good day if everyone is alive and fed. Notice I did not say clean. 

My husband and I almost got divorced ( seriously I'm not just saying that) 

I started shutting down rather than stepping up to challenges 

Do you ever feel like you’ve spent all of your energy going a million miles an hour, taking care of family, jobs, housework, out-of-town guests, etc? Then you find yourself hitting a wall and not knowing how to move on? Come on, ladies, I can’t be the only one! I don’t know if it’s the changing of the seasons or a whole lot of just plain CRAZY! 

Well it's 2014 and I'm making a New Years resolution to get my shit together! That includes this blog! I missed you blog but I'm glad to be back! 

Admitting that I'm out numbered and I need help. 

Admitting I can't do everything I used to and being comfortable saying no. Even if it's mostly to myself.

I have to let go of "normal" and embrace the joys being a MoM brings. Life with 3 kids under 5 is never going to be predictable. Managing 3 personalties is never going to be easy.

 I'm putting a lot of faith in the ol' saying: 

God will not give you more than you can handle

He knows he gave me twins right???

Heres to 2014

a fresh start! 

The Matrix that is scheduling for multiple kids

Moms! How do you do it? 

You know what I'm talking about. The organization of schedules, games, homework, drop/off pick up all times x3 (and I know several that are x4 & x5! Bless you!) iCal is great but I needed something we could all see and know to look at as we came in and out. 

I had this blank boring wall between my kitchen & garage. Since it is the main enterance & exit I thought it would better be used as a functional space rather than just pretty. So I got crafty..... 

The blank wall

I went to my trust ol' Michaels Craft Store and picked out some fun frames. Then covered the glass with chalkboard decal. You could use the spray paint but incase I hated the outcome I did not want to ruin the glass. Also the decal works the same without having the same texture and sound when writing on it. All teachers know what I'm talking about here! 

Here is the results so far...

It's working really well so far. We all write on it daily. If there is something someone needs from the store they write it on the shopping board. Today I've written the kids evening schedule for the babysitter. I made enough boards that eventually every kid will have there own. For now the twins share & the one on the far right is a daily notes/ to-do list. I'm thinking I might add something to hold mail and papers. 

I'v always been a bag lady. It has gone from a Louis Vuitton collection to backpacks & LL bean boat and totes! 

So you walk from my chalkboards to the laundry room where each day of the week has a bag with that days needs

As I do laundry I just repack each bag. This works great now but when the twins start activities I'll have to figure something new out. 

How do you stay organized? I'm looking for all the great orginizing advice out there! Comment your ideas! 

-APC

This post goes out to the best dog ever

I don't know how he does it but he does it every single day! Fashion shows, stroller rides, even covering him with glitter and colored hair spray. He has not snapped at her once! 

Even I would have bit her if she dressed me like the Chiquita bananna lady! He just sits there and let's her do it! 

I love you Ryker!