snips snails & little boy tales

PRETTY PASTELS

2011-04-29T19:31:00.005-05:00

so pretty~ pastels at Easter... the clothes, the eggs, the wildflowers everywhere... the little pink rosy cheeks... this pic reminds me of when he was little... he's still little~

54 eggs to color... lickity split... Coop could do about 3 a minute I think~ he didn't have time for the egg dipper~ I wonder if his thumb tasted like vinegar~ either way he still sucked it~

and loved hunting for eggs... I loved watching him

where are they looking? I have no idea~ I told them not to look at me... trying to make an artsy photo~ don't really think it turned out that way but this was the best pic of the 3 of them together

fIVe GooD thInGs

linen shirts
stain remover
flip flops
messy boy hair
wonderment

ciao~alicia

MISS KIM'S... MMMMM

2011-04-28T13:46:00.005-05:00

You can find us every week at Miss Kim's... she makes the BEST donuts ever and has known our family for over 3 years... when we started hanging out here Nate could not even walk... memories... Miss Kim is a darling~ always smiling... always sweet visiting with her~ and she does cool stuff like go to the Korean Market in Dallas... I told her I want to tag along some time... she asks Nate every week if she can take Nasher to her house~ you should see the look on Nate's face... it's a mix of yes and no... with a nervous giggle... as much as he loves Miss Kim I think he's a little unsure about that one!

Nate has renamed this donut... THE MONSTER DONUT!!!... He orders it by his name of course!

Will Nate always make my coffee? I hope so!

I want this pic forever burned in my memory... good times...

If you are reading~ we love you Miss Kim!!

fiVE GoOd ThINgs

small towns where everybody knows your name;)
sprinkles... always makes the boys smile!
tons of art supplies... even though they are overtaking my kitchen... time for some organizing!
crazy 8 games with Nate
bible time with Christopher... he's looking up verses now... so big

ciao~alicia

THE GRAND PRIX

2011-04-23T15:11:00.012-05:00

Winner Dad~Son project!!! The boys made pinewood derby cars for the big race in Awanas... Cooper is not old enough for Awanas but made one too... and what a surprise he was in for!

step 1~ cut and sand the car... and yes, Christopher LOVES silly bands... he can tell you how many are on his arm any day of the week~ I have to make him take them off some days so that whatever might grow in there dries out;)

step 2~ paint them as original as you can using your best imagination.... we took them to Home Depot to pick out their paint colors... so fun! and they have these little sample jars in hundreds of colors... after much thought we had some beauties!

Nate had to have Ns on his and said the dots were just to make it look cool...

Christopher said he was going to paint his like Van Gogh... his fave artist of course!

Eyeing the competition...

Surprise!!!~ Someone saw Coop with a car ready to go and got him a license to race!!! He was the littlest and cutest racer there and kept up with all the big kids as he sat and watched his car go down the ramp... I melted... and wiped a tear... oh my boys!

AND.... Nate took 4th place out of almost 100 kids!!! Christopher took 7th and Coop was just glad to have raced a few times!!

Chris & the boys already have plans for next years cars!

FivE GooD thInGS

bummy clothes we live in most days that can take the stains!!
my squeaky dryer... means some stuff is getting clean anyway...
Chris teaching the boys guy stuff like how to sand wood
Cooper coming in from the back yard saying "Mama!~ I peed in the grass!" ~ sorry I missed that one... yes, it's innate!!
creative messes!!!

ciao~alicia

FARMIN

2011-04-12T17:24:00.010-05:00

Meet Batman, Chix & Radio...

The best part... they live at Poppy's... fresh eggs to come too!

fiVE GooD ThIngS

kisses for chickens
dirty little boy hands
dirty little boys clothes to wash
sunny days shining on long little boy eyelashes
little boy giggles

ciao~alicia

BABY

2011-04-11T12:58:00.003-05:00

fIve GoOd THinGs

sleep
sleep
sleep
sleep
sleep

ciao~alicia

THE PINK SUPERBALL

2011-02-15T10:33:00.006-06:00

Chris & I loved doing these valentines with him... of course Abby was first~ and of course her ball had to be pink... how does he know girls like pink?~ he calls Abby his best friend~ maybe they have shared stuff like favorite colors~ maybe he just knows more about girls than I think~ he's told me that girls like pretty things... he's told me girls are silly...

to be the only girl in the house gets funny~ to be the mom of boys is a gift~

he likes it when I fix my hair & asks me to wear it down when it's up... he always notices when I change my toe nail polish and always asks me why I paint my fingers~ silly he says~ he fixed my hair for me the other day~ a clip and a headband~ I should have taken a picture... the next day when my hair was different he asked me if he could fix it again... these moments~ scrumptious!!

Five Good Things

hard lessons... sometimes so tough but so good to make them strong~ and me... later that night he got a stomach bug and missed his valentine party... disappointments make us appreciate what we have... I'm not so sure he felt that way yet as the tears flowed... I was glad I was here to comfort
thinking of others... a lesson we talk about EVERY DAY~ harder for some than others
my valentine card from the boys... little handwriting... presh
Beth Moore... started another one of her studies and already have had some aha moments!! LOVE her!
My sweet hubby ~ postponed our valentines day and came home ready to help with all the sickies... we all got it except for Nate... birthday boy was spared!

ciao~alicia

I LOVE NATE

2011-02-14T23:47:00.005-06:00

Nate turned 5 today...

I can't believe it... he's so big and so little all at the same time...

my sweet Nate~ he reminds me to slow down... he reminds me to be silent but to be loud with what is really important... he reminds me that life is beautiful both inside and out~ around and in between... he is so beautiful~ inside and out... my sweet Nate Nate...

his sweet whisper wish... I could swim in this moment for a while...

Five Good Things

Nate's amazing gift to think of others... he would give you his last m&m... for real
Nate's amazing smile... so full of life... delicious
My weekly dates with Nate at the donut shop... the monster chocolate donut rocks for Nate and his smile is just as presh every time he sees it on the tray
Nate's little lego space ships~ I find them everywhere and they are so intricate~ they totally make me smile
To spend time with Nate is like a hot bath... you feel warm, you smell a sweet smell and you finish just a little more relaxed than before...

ciao~alicia

CHILLY CHILLAXIN

2011-02-08T19:03:00.009-06:00

last week I got spoiled... the snow was here~ and of course this texas town shut down... Christopher & Chris were home... dreamy...

so, it was a good day to...

lick sugar off the counter from daddy's homemade donuts... yes, he is delicious in the kitchen~ he also made maple syrup...

from scratch...

oh, how I love you ... let me count the ways... they were soooo yummy!!! powdered sugar like the snow outside, sparkly cinnamon and sugar & sticky maple... oh be still my heart

it was also a good day to...

help mommy put away baby things... to jump on the clean blankets right out of the dryer... to put funny things on Nasher's head to just look cute...

to do a puzzle...

to take a good nap...

& of course napping is better than cleaning up like you are supposed to...

it was the best day to...

do marshmallow art...

to help make hot chocolate to warm up...

to read a good book... if you have boys & haven't read this... you must!

& to make these petite red potatoes... too pretty... I just had to take a pic!

it was A Good Good Day!! .

Five Good Things

little hands learning to cut snowflakes... and decorating my kitchen with them... LOVE
late nights watching a little face
hearing my kids using kind words with each other
Cooper's "it's ok baby ~ don't cry"
4 brothers... I'm still amazed!

ciao~alicia

NASHER JAMES

2011-01-31T12:32:00.007-06:00

I've been thinking about this post for days... what could I say about this last week? I am still a little lack for words... I am amazed... I am blessed... I'm still laughing at how his birth unfolded... I have loved seeing the love of my life with his 4 sons~ pure sweetness... Nasher is just how I thought he would be... calm, sweet, easy~ like he was in the womb~ it was just my body that made it tough... he is amazingly beautiful with the longest eyelashes I have ever seen... his skin & hair are lighter than all the other boys, his fingers and toes are also so long, his cry so innocent it's almost calming. He loved hearing Daddy playing his guitar to him the other night and well, I think I am in a little piece of nirvana... more pics to come... there are 400 in my camera right now & taking more every day!

Five Good Things

my amazing hubby who cooked, cleaned, took care of me and played baseball every day with the boys this week~ so grateful we had him for a week~ he's delicious
3 little big brothers with adoring looks on their faces
the moment... oh to cherish each one and not be in a hurry
warm showers... need I say more?
a house full of little feet and little laughs

ciao~alicia

AFTER MIDNIGHT

2011-01-20T01:16:00.006-06:00

so... i am 39 weeks preggos and up most nights... not that far from the ordinary for this mama but it's different when you are uncomfy and waiting for those contractions to send you into the hospital... so... i think i'll look as good as i can when i get there... my toes are painted thanks to my sister~ i can't reach them... now the nails~ done!

i'm trying to enjoy feeling him move in these last days~ this is the last pregnancy

i should pack the diaper bag but all the little stuff is too presh to look at & there is a part of me that is sad this is the last ritual to be done for the last baby...

the last baby?...

i can't imagine having any more... i don't think my body would condone another round & i feel like 4 is a good number... but everything feels so last...

like when you finish a good book and close it ~ your life perspective changed forever... sad that it's over but love the ending...

baby nasher... the last one... time for a new novel...

Five Good Things

little newborn onesies... 5 to 8 lbs... presh
big brothers
His divine plan for this new life
bland food... soon no more heartburn!
pretty polish

ciao~alicia

LITTLE HANDS... BIG STUFF

2011-01-14T00:18:00.006-06:00

the sweetness of the moment... the privilege of watching them learn... these busy little cooper hands have been trying to master cutting... his determination has been ~ well, for lack of a better word... inspiring... to practice is to grow...

i never want to forget this day...

Five Good Things

that big box of crayons... loved putting them in their stockings and loved that i'm not so old that they had those when i was a kid... after all it was just a couple of weeks ago that christopher asked me if we still had donuts when i was a kid~ i am still smiling about that one!
awanas~ they come home so excited... i never tire of hearing all about it and seeing their little hearts grow
expanding... camera course in the near future? hopefully!!! or maybe just a lot of studying on line!
weekly donut dates with nate while the other boys are in school... to watch nate enjoy a donut will make you want 10!
my messy desk... lots of stuff going on with these little guys! neat can be over rated!!

ciao~alicia

MY YARN & ME

2011-01-07T11:41:00.006-06:00

oh, sleep deprived!! late almost every night lately i have been a factory... crocheting stuff for baby nasher and some other special babies... here's some of nasher's stuff i've been working on... i'm thinking about starting the whole etsy thing~

next on the list... hanging baby cocoon, diaper covers & baby nesting pods!~ stay tuned!

Five Good Things

sunny winter days for boys to run in the back yard = tired boys = peaceful evening
veritas press readers for little minds... i need to do a whole post on this curriculum... it's a m a z i n g!!
getting christmas down... house getting back to normal!
vinegar/water spray... disinfects and green
coffee from laos... sooo good... i have to say i love it more than my starbucks... did i just say that? i think that needs its' own post too!

ciao~alicia

BRING ON 2011!

2010-12-31T23:09:00.010-06:00

my kids definitely know how to party it up for the

new year!!!!

we had silly glow in the dark masks, hats, poppers, confetti and lots of munchies!!

and of course, the funnest confetti cake!! coop is my official baking assistant and thank goodness mimi was there to help... even though it takes almost no effort to bake a box cake ~ i was sadly out of breath by the time it was over... oh my... and about to give birth? not a good sign!!

look at those chocolate chip eyes!

and my little blueberry's eyes... melt!!!

classic... i wish sometimes i could just lick something and get away with it!... oh, to be little!

Five Good Things

no new years resolutions this year!!
pics from 2010 with my tissue box and cracking up
packing diaper bags... or at least thinking about what's going in it;)
felt... the funnest banner to make ever with all the sheets christopher picked out... everything from zebra to puppies to tie die... cute
white tulips came 2 dozen this year from my sweet... gorge!!

ciao~alicia

THE GOOD STUFF

2010-12-30T08:56:00.013-06:00

this christmas i was off my feet a lot... the challenge was to focus on what we did and not panic about what we didn't do... hard for this high standard girl! i have to say it felt balanced though... more family and less "stuff"~ stuff to do... places to go... things to see... we spent time together playing, drawing, creating, just being still. i did get some great pics of the boys in their christmas jammies... the week before chris took me on a date... I wore jeans and he told me i was overdressed... i was puzzled when we drove up to walmart and thought oh, well we do have some shopping left for the boys... then he goes to the camera section~ I still did not catch on... then he points to the nikon d3000... i have been wanting a big body camera since christopher was born. it's yours he says... i totally cried... yes, at walmart... with my huge belly... the woman behind the counter seemed to understand... she looked in the back for the last one... she found it covered in dust... meant to be mine she says...

christopher told everyone to be reindeer...

santa setting up the train after midnight... all i wanted was to see their faces when they got up...

the look of pure concentration... after months of practice bubble blowing! huge accomplishment around here... Nate picked it up the next day... life seems to smile at Nate in these special ways... 14 mos. behind big brother is not always easy...

the silver sleigh bells came on time after i ordered them late... LOVE these... when they leave home they will each have one for every year...

boys zoned out on star wars... i may never understand... the only thing that would have gotten their attention i'm sure would have been an announcement of something to do with food... i heart christmas sheets... my favorite decoration hanging from the ceiling... my favorite tradition... christmas eve night with chris wrapping and watching white christmas...

snow globe alley... i love to pick them each one out every year and watch them play with them...

advent was a sweet thing to add this year...

the only baking i did this year? christopher's birthday cake at 10:00 at night with my little night owl helper... yes, we pride ourselves on our eclectic jammy combos!

now on to the new year and new memories!... next christmas there will be 4 little ones to make memories with... i better start in february!

Five Good Things

bubble gum
hot tea
little boy imaginations
tradition
sisters

ciao~alicia

THE TRAIN

2010-12-27T02:56:00.005-06:00

Would we ever make a gingerbread house? I don't think so... for these boys it was a train!... anything sitting down this Christmas is a good thing... I think I'm going to pop any minute!!

Little hands make me want to melt!

A good good day!

Five good things

My new camera I'm playing with! yay for Chris... maybe the first time I cried in WalMart... Nikon D3000... worth the wait!
I can't be preggo forever
Mom to help with Christmas shopping, cleaning, and other stuff that is sooo tough right now
Christopher's home from school... it's LOUD around here!
Heartburn pills!

ciao~alicia

MAYAN MADNESS!

2010-11-03T09:18:00.011-05:00

They were dancing in their traditional garb... The feathers alone were beautifully stunning! It was sooo crowded but we managed to have tons of fun ~ with this big belly we got off to a good start with a parking spot right by the door!

We made beaded necklaces with Mayan symbols, boats on sticks... sculpted clay and took in all the sights & sounds...

My favorite men... big and little...

I heart days with the fam!

Five Good Things

our wonderful cultural district here in Ft. Worth
amazing little imaginations that inspire me to create
green grass to sit with loved ones
Chris' days off!!!
the latest craving... Central Market veggie potato chips... YUM!!!

ciao~alicia

WORLD SERIES RANGERS?

2010-10-22T19:45:00.008-05:00

We made it to the last game of the season~ Let's just say the boys are hard core

Ranger Fans!

We stuffed our faces with hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and cheese fries~ we went to the far end of the field so the boys could hit balls... waited in line forever~ totally worth it! Left with full tummies and happy boys with funny memories. My fave? Cooper feeding the ladies in front of us popcorn from out of his mouth~ & they were loving it!!

So it has started~ night games with boys up late ~ high fives and yells ~ yes, Coop is into it big!~ Claps his hands "Let's go Rangers!" Here we go... and yes they have been getting a thrill at ganging up on Yankee Mama Fan!~ Christopher says I should have learned my lesson!~ I almost want them to go to the series just for my boys!~ Now that's LOVE! . Five Good Things

black olives with homemade ranch dressing
mini cucumbers with homemade ranch dressing
pineapple lifesavers
black Tazo tea
sweet Baby Boy to give me such yumm cravings!

ciao~alicia

ME BACK ON THE LIST!

2010-10-21T15:45:00.013-05:00

Sometimes I have a season where I forget to put ME on the list~ ever done that? So, I've been spending time picking back up things I love... photography, writing, blogging, now cooking~ shocking I know!... crocheting, and making this place a home~ a continual challenge for me on a budget, in a small house and with little boys that love to play ball in the house! But kid house no more!~ I'm taking back what should be... a home... the kind with lamps and pretty things around... the kind I was good at before kids. You see, when I had Christopher I was 30~ I was a little shocked as soon as he got into the highchair and insisted on throwing everything in the trash can. I convinced myself that everything and anything was going to get ruined by this little alien I knew nothing about. I was soooo wrong~ what ended up happening was I deprived myself of making a home... So... back to home making 101!~

Home school is full swing over here and so fun~ more about that another day~but here are some things I missed sharing with you!

Summer was full.... of things like...

sculptures... peaceful...

mini vacation... refreshing... reflecting... watching their wonder grow... and just plain time giggling!

I have missed this blog SO much!~ I LOVE taking pics of my boys and I love sharing our lives with you!

This summer was sooo full!~ The biggest news was finding out we are having a

baby boy!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Needless to say I was a bit intimidated by having 4 kiddos... this one was a little present! But, I cannot imagine our family without one of these little guys and I'm sure we will not know what to do without him~ Can't wait to meet him... yes, he is still nameless!

So... all name ideas are welcome here!!!

Five Good Things

Protonix... the miracle heartburn pill!!
apple mango laundry soap~ finally yummy smelling clothes that causes no rashes!
The belly band~ so I don't feel like I'm going to have my tummy fall out!
Meyers Clean Day soy lavender candles... THE BEST SMELL EVER!
My loud house... life would be so boring without it!

ciao~alicia

PARENTING LATELY

2010-03-04T19:31:00.003-06:00

I have no pic to share... just some words today...

Rewind to my birthday lunch at chic fila with some friends... I was the yelling Mom... I was out of patience. Early in the lunch Christopher was hitting another kid in the face... it didn't stop there... he sat out for half of it with me and the adults and then after throwing Coop down while I was loading the car, he got spanked when we got home... I was banking on the anticipation having some profound effect on him. I was steaming all the way home trying to gain some composure so I could calmly carry out my mission... consistency... I never want to spank them when it finally comes to it. I would like to just say, well you can't do that! Why was I so angry at his mistake? That was Christophers' day there... Nate had his own challenges at lunch. He started to cry as this HUGE kid was coming down the slide and rammed into his neck... I saw Nate permanently scarred right before my eyes... whatever!... it seemed big at the time when I heard him call out and give that pain cry... I yelled at the bunch of them... "someone is going to get hurt" or something that was over reactive... I wanted to find the mother of this big boy and ask her why she wasn't doing anything after it was clear that he was being too rough with all the little kids. Then I wondered if I was the mom someone wanted to have a talk with sometimes... probably... my three boys are not angels.

I say three boys with new meaning... Coop has graduated to time out. Today he scratched Christopher so hard he drew blood. Am I ready for all this?... YEP.

I thought back on the way home of how embarrassed I was of my children... of how embarrassed I was that I practically yelled up the slide~ "stop! if you guys are that rough then someone is going to get hurt"... I was that mom. I thought about it later and wondered if I could redeem myself... should I hold a special play date? Should I invite everyone to lunch again and threaten my kids' lives before we got there and bite my tongue so everyone could see what a good mom I am? oh my... then I realized that I just needed to let it lie.

What was really important here I thought?... then I got it~ I have great kids and I am a great Mom... we have bad days. I laugh at how simple this is and I've been in that assurance off and on like the tide comes and goes... I think I have to find it again after each kid starts to assert their self; translation~ smacks other kids at a public place.

I think I was so mortified that it prompted me to become a yeller for the next week. I heard myself the other day and just thought "who is this?". Shame... guilt... self doubt. I have re centered. I think the new membership to a gym and the thought of escaping them 3 or 4 times a week helped;)... but really, I gave it to Him... all of it. To constantly surrender... all through the day. Every day.

Five Good Things

going shopping for new tennis shoes... in about an hour!
Cooper leaning in for a kiss with a head but... rough boy!!
clean socks
watching 3 little brothers color with chalk
sorting puzzle pieces... oh my! we'll have that classroom soon!

THE "CITY"

2010-03-01T11:47:00.003-06:00

I think about this "city" the boys built all the time... it has been a wonderful confirmation of the choices we have made for our family...

let me explain...

First I'll tell you a little about this city they built. Downtown is out of the pic~ the city filled the entire room but downtown was a few big blocks clustered by the door... the rest of it sprawled out and overflowed onto the bottom bunk~ it has an ocean with sea shells, an airport, lots of fossils, houses, a park and now that I remember a couple of oceans with boats, sharks & tons of seashells. There are animals everywhere. At the top of the highest building there is a cross... in the center of it all. Am I trying to brag or tell you how "good" we are? Of course not! I need these kind of things to keep me sane~

I really mean that... I miss artsy people... I miss intellectual nerdy crowds who talk about ways to do away with cars. I miss sitting around listening to friends pick at their guitars while we discussed to death the grapes that the wine was made of and how they grew them and how someone has been to the vineyard. Sometimes living in this little town with the s l o w pace and being home ALL THE TIME has made me so anxious that I now understand why you hear those stories of the stay at home moms who break out one day and start hanging out at bars... a lot of them are probably really good people who just couldn't take the everyday... the screaming "it's mine!"... the separating fights... the crying... the maid work~ personally I think this much laundry could send anyone down the street screaming!

It is clear to me that I don't want to work in the fashion industry anymore and work from 12 noon to 2 in the morning out and about at the latest hot spot entertaining some drunk agent... I do however want to be doing some wine tastings or hanging out at an art gallery talking to some fascinating photographer... or do I? They are only little for so long. The fact of the matter is that I am learning to be still... putting aside the flesh to learn what my calling is here. I think there will be a season for more of that out and about kind of thing... later.

So, as I struggle I will do so joyfully... to choose not to complain... and not that I'm there... my wonderful hubby leaves the room now when I start complaining... need to work on that;)... I am trying to voice things to be grateful for when all I see is void... for I do have much~ just not the "things" I am used to... the things I needed to put away that were distracting me.

Five Good Things

loud giggles filling the room when I'm trying to read
hearing the "I'm sorry I hurt you brudder"s
new teeth coming in that hurt oh, so bad
oragel
peace

ciao~alicia

AUTHENTIC

2010-02-15T14:53:00.008-06:00

These tulips are more than a sweet gift from the love of my life... the first flowers Chris gave me were tulips and in one of my most precious dreams Jesus walked me into a banquet with the most indescribable white flowers I had ever seen... I still can't draw them or come up with words that are beautiful enough. Ever since then~ that was about 10 years ago~ white flowers seem to calm my soul~ they bring me a hope that is not of this world. Lately I have felt that this blog is kinda fluffy... not that fluffy is bad ~ we all need to laugh and to be inspired by silly things and the every day. But I have felt a spring welling up in me; a spring that needs a well.

My writings about motherhood may seem hopelessly romantic and like a love story; at least they do to me... sometimes I read them and am like "for real~" for my life has not always been so "bubblegum". The truth is this has been a love story... 10 years ago several doctors told me that it was a miracle that I was alive and that I was not guaranteed tomorrow. The details are not important right now but that was none the less a pivotal time. They proceeded to tell me that I would probably never have children and that I could drop dead of a heart attack at any moment. That was the worlds' report~ I have been healed. Like I said, the details of this are not important now~ some of you know them... most of you don't. So, motherhood, although a struggle sometimes is a love affair for me. I look down into those precious eyes and I cannot believe that I am privileged to care for their bodies, to nurture their souls and to kiss the boo boos.

More about this journey another day~ may the peace that passes all understanding be with you and I today as we take one more step towards home~ what a glorious time we have here but what glory is coming in the eternal... may I be content in today and work for my place in His kingdom... Amen

Five Good Things

transparency
vulnerability
second chances
life
authenticity

ciao~alicia

TODDLER

2010-02-12T13:11:00.004-06:00

He's not a baby anymore...

I had to move his crib because he was turning on his light during nap time and waking us all up at 4:00 in the morning crying... He's slept through the night for a long time now but I guess he wakes up during the night and has been playing with this little light.

His words are too many to keep up with ...

He is the little fish of the family; Christopher & Nate were never really interested in putting their faces in the water until they were older. This little guy is diving in head first in the bathtub and blowing bubbles all over the place~ oh, how he loves bath time with his brothers.

He loves everything about being a big boy... he chases his brothers and joins in their games. They welcome him in, give him a job and it is oh, so cute.

His favorite conversation is "what you doin?" this jumbled phrase means where are you going?, what are you doing? and you can answer him and he usually gives you a big long "ohhh". Precious.

He loves oatmeal and apples and chocolate.

Daddy hung the moon and the stars.

He also loves to tickle everyone and will lift up his shirt and make the more sign for a big raspberry on his tummy~ you know when you blow on it loud?... one of his favorite things ever. His laugh is contagious.

I have to say I cannot wait until the diapers are gone! Five years solid of changing diapers and these hands look 40!

We are entering a new season... time for me to pick up some more things just for me... Lord willing I will be starting my Masters Degree in the fall at DBU! I will also be homeschooling Christopher and Nate... yes, I said it. Over the next few months we will be changing this house... our little museum is up in the hallway, pics to come. And the big boys room is going to be our classroom/playroom! All the boys will be bunking in the little room and I can't wait to hear what goes on in there when the lights are turned out!

What a journey... what a season.

Five Good Things

Snow!~ we had record breaking snowfall!
My crock pot~ yummy stuff coming out of this kitchen lately!
Little guitar players... Lee Boy Band?
Messes... they can always be cleaned
Magnetic Poetry on the fridge~ I missed writing!

ciao~alicia

GOLD

2010-02-07T23:51:00.012-06:00

my accidental pic... cleaning the bathroom turned into a trip down memory lane looking at pics of the boys... this is the look of time flies... this was one of those days that he just woke up bigger...

fresh fruit masterpiece by Nate

warm winter day pictures and pages at the Kimbell

Just a few golden moments...

Five Good Things

art
Poetry on the fridge
Smores made in the fireplace
Dancing with the boys
Warm socks on cold tile

ciao~ alicia

HAITI

2010-01-18T22:55:00.003-06:00

#nowplaying All That I Can Say by David Crowder Band on playlist.com! Click here to listen Posted using ShareThis

THE KIMBELL

2010-01-11T16:04:00.006-06:00

I'm not making any resolutions this year...

I want 2010 to be the year of transparency...

I found these pics... there are about 10~ it is the day I was talking about in the last post at the Kimbell...

I love being a wife, a mom & a searcher... may this year bring into it more than I ever dreamed it would... and for you as well.

Five Good Things

books with old pages that crinkle
people like Dan Phillips who inspire me
new ideas and dreams to be anti-paper plate again
work... cleaning... may I not complain so much!
compliments~ they just feel good and I've never let myself eat them up like I do now... I love to give them even more

ciao~alicia

FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT... FINALLY!

2009-12-30T13:07:00.008-06:00

I never posted these... I couldn't decide which ones to... I LOVE these pics... they were taken at the Kimbell... this was the first place I took Christopher & Nate together~ Nate was a couple of weeks old and Christopher ran around in an open field for the first time~ I'll never forget that day or this one either~ we had all of us there!~

Five Good Things

good photographers~ thanks April!
green umbrellas~ I had to keep these!
sea shells from Chris~
hats for boys
naps!

ciao~alicia

WHITE WINTER DAY

2009-12-29T15:08:00.003-06:00

Cold pink noses... little hand prints... & big flakes... it snowed on Christmas and now... MORE!

Five Good Things

White Christmas Snow
Back rubs
Hot coco to warm little tummies
abc mittens from Aunt Vicki
each snowflake is different~ hmmmm

ciao~alicia

CHRISTMAS... PEACE

2009-12-26T14:53:00.009-06:00

This year was a different Christmas... we stayed home a little more... enjoyed simple things more like baking cookies and just being together doing puzzles... we shopped for family and I watched kid generosity~ (not that they have mastered it ... but when Christopher walked in the kitchen with Nate's gift behind his back and said "look what I got for you Nate... you don't know what it is" my heart melted...)

Chris and I stuck to tradition and spent Christmas Eve wrapping presents, hiding new bikes, and watching White Christmas (twice)... these Santas went to bed at 5!

So, sip some coco and snuggle in for the rest of the winter~ this is going to be an amazing new year with new challenges and new growth... love to all...

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

Luke 2:14

Five Good Things

A King was born... oh Mary!
it was a white Christmas for real!
Chanel parfum from my Santa
babies opening gifts... Coop lifting out presents and saying "wow!"
Tradition~puzzles... we are becoming enthralled with puzzles; memories and the best family chat... ever

ciao~alicia

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS HOUSE

2009-12-22T11:48:00.013-06:00

Merry Christmas!

Five Good Things

pajama parties for baby Jesus
Santa Chris~ bless him~ he found all his bikes!
baking with little boys
Coop's new words~ hungry, here you go, MAMA!!!
my iphone camera

Ciao~alicia

CHRISTMAS 2006... NOSTALGIC

2009-12-12T22:07:00.001-06:00

all my cameras are broken except my iphone that is so blurry so much of the time... so i took a trip down memory lane... a very tired precious time that was one of my very favorites in my entire life!~ enjoy sharing our memories...

Five Good Things

Memories and cameras to capture them even if they haven't been the best~ maybe just maybe Santa Chris will bring me a new camera;)
Red, soft Christmas pjs
Santa hats
Brothers
New memories this Christmas with Coop

Ciao~Alicia

OH MY, HE'S GOING TO BE 5!

2009-12-05T10:13:00.000-06:00

he's so fun to talk to now... I live for his hugs~ they are getting fewer but more potent.

he has so much energy I just wish I had a bite of it ten times a day...

my firstborn... so big

Five Good Things

His leadership qualities
His engineer mind... he HAS to know how everything works
His tender heart towards teaching the little ones and showing them the way
His songs he makes up are presh
This birthday will be one to remember

p.s. thanks Mom for this picture... it's one of my very favorites!

Ciao~Alicia

PUMPKIN PLASTIC SURGERY

2009-11-02T19:04:00.000-06:00

this was the beginning... going pretty well so far except for that fact that I have chosen the hardest, unripe pumpkins in parker county...

still going well... Christopher's stronger partner got the job done pretty quick...

then, nate's pumpkin's face caved in when Daddy tried to finish it, i think by that time i just had a part of a mouth...so....

everyone got a sucker at 9 o'clock (this was taking way longer than I thought) and we all laughed and laughed at Nates' pumpkin... surprisingly enough we were laughing because it looked like a fish mouth and asked him if he wanted to keep a "fish mouth" pumpkin... was worth the try right?

Christopher got bored and added "hair" to his... so christopher... my little builder!...

this is right before he lost his face...

chris did an "ace of cakes" ~ got out the bamboo skewers and went to work!...

ta da!!

at 9:45 we lit them and put them outside... whew!

i think we'll always remember these jack o lanterns... and the little punkins who had so much fun... chris & I may have had more fun just watching them!

Five Good Things

bamboo skewers
firsts
watching chris save the night
forgiveness
forgiveness

ciao~alicia

VAIL... REFOCUS

2009-10-26T09:27:00.000-05:00

Our trip to Vail was a m a z i n g... we got to reconnect in a way we so needed... and set some awesome goals for where our family is going...

Daddy's shoes are big ones to fill... but they always "help" Daddy get ready for work... Christopher will stand there with the belt... Coop stands in the shoes... Nate just kisses & watches... .

I am a Wife & Mother now... no job... my Soul is peaceful...

Five Good Things

I have such an amazing leader in my husband... I know he will lead us into the next chapter of our family's journey... For we follow the Almighty~ the God who created Heaven & Earth... we are in awe of His power and forgiveness
Having the choice to stay home
Weekend to Remember Conference in Vail~ http://familylife.com
Friends and Grandparents spending time with the kids while we were away~ thank you guys!
Coop is the same age that Christopher was when Nate was born... ahhhh! amazing!

ciao~alicia

SWINGIN'

2009-09-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

i think this is the heartbreak look... I'm hooked!

Five Good Things

Old Friends~ you just never know who will come back into your life~ and not be accidental!
Brothers~ will there be one more Lee Boy? Who knows
Vail's Vaca with my Hubby!
Sister support~ love you Sistas!
Preschool

ciao~alicia

BYE BYE SUMMER

2009-09-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

i think we did all the important things this summer like peeing on lots of grass...

trying new stuff...

Chris managed to steal me away...

LOTS of swinging...

cool little boys stylin' around...

LOTS of cinnamon toast with lots of butter of course- with the bike helmet... if you haven't read, Christopher wears it like it's a couture Chanel scarf or something boy like that...

spent some awesome time at the pool with friends... it was fun girls!

and growing...

my baby is 1...

Five Good Things

Next summer to look forward to
Hot Cocoa soon
Christmas... oh my!
Baking pies this year... look out, you may be asked to taste test!
Family

ciao~alicia

DAVID... MY REAL BIG BROTHER

2009-09-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

You may not know I have a big brother... my Mom gave him up when she was very young...

She found him and met him this past week... I was so happy for them both.

I wonder if he knows I have always "looked" for him in airports, in restaurants... everywhere...

I fantasized I would see him when I was in Greece and he would just know me and .... well...

So, I'm working on a letter... how do you tell your brother you have always wanted him in your life and that you have a lifetime of memories that you wish you could have lived...

What a journey... I'm going to meet him soon~ I know it in my soul... Namaste

Five Good Things

Siblings
Intersections
Mystery
Moms
Me

ciao~alicia

THE NEW LOOK

2009-09-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

i can take absolutely no credit for the new banner... Chris, my wonderful man saw me struggling for nights and took over, learned the software I was trying to figure out, put in his creative input... it's truly a family blog... Love you Baby with everything... it's the little stuff!

Five Good Things

Chris' patience
Chris' patience
Chris knows my visions... he gets that part of me
Chris
Chris looks good with the laptop on his lap typing;)

ciao~alicia

REMODELING

2009-09-10T15:45:00.001-05:00

bear with me... a lot of "remodeling" going on here lately... schedules, blogs, home office in my kitchen and a cute surfer room for the boys... pics to come!

OUR DIFFERENT DAY

2009-09-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

right before they went in... purely for my amusement... I'll take it!

Sometimes there are just no words... just the moment

Five Good Things

The look on their faces after they were buckled and knew they were actually "going" to school... this was the moment
Christopher getting dressed so quickly and setting and example for Nate
Cooper loves soy milk and is talking all over the place! "hi" and "cracker" are his faves... still signing and picking up more
Seeing little boys run to the door at school yelling "Mama"... I think we all loved the break!
Caffeine!!

ciao~alicia

CELEBRATE

2009-08-28T02:46:00.000-05:00

it was over before I actually knew everyone was there and had drinks and saw Coop sit on his cake...

it was surreal... like a mini dream that you know you are in but just seems to kind of go along without... you just get to witness, say a few things and if you are lucky, feel like you were in moments... I just wanted to stand there and stare at him~ and I did.

when I thought about it, we didn't really have a Luau... we had leis and burgers... did I plan for all sorts of Hawaiian "things"... yep... did it happen... nope... that really seems to be how parties go with having kids for me... it's odd and yet so me... so disheveled... late... I'm rarely together anymore... babies and boogers and diapers have relaxed me some to a default...

so, I will be grateful to Chris who cooked some awesome burgers, kept our tradition with the leis and to Rachel for taking some rockin' pics and just remember how cute Coop looked on this special day... so I'm not the best kid party planner... there are worst things and they did leave with bubbles wrapped in some ribbon, the kids that is... although I'm practicing, I don't know if I'll ever truly be thrilled with my parties... I was happy with my cupcakes~ and I think a few others were too~

Time for b e d.

Five Good Things

Coop loved my cake~ I'm smiling just typing... you get it
Smelling plumeria
Coffee
Organic cream for my coffee~ thanks Babe!
Brothers

ciao~alicia

BAG BABY

2009-08-22T18:19:00.001-05:00

I really want a new camera right now... did I say really? I feel like Coop may be the last baby and I want to photograph him all the time... All the time...

he's a little busy lately though, and has other ideas!

Five Good Things

Wal Mart is always open and I may be there at 2:00 in the morning when I realize I'm missing something for the party tomorrow
Chris' thoughtfulness~ I opened up a box from Hawaii today... smells sooo sweet in here!
Dad doing all the shopping~ thanks Dad~ love you
Dreams
Phone chargers~ it would be good if I could find mine;)

BACKYARD BABY

2009-08-21T14:47:00.001-05:00

Coop is officially 1!

Stay tuned for pics from our Luau ~ Lee Style this Sunday!

Five Good Things

Cooper's sign language~ milk makes me melt
Coop's awesome sleeping schedule
Coop's 4 teeth and 4 more coming
Cooper's open mouth kisses~ my Besos!
The Littlest Lee~ what a year!

A DAY WITH NATERS

2009-08-03T10:24:00.001-05:00

Nate & I hit the mall yesterday...

It was a glimpse into those little blueberry eyes...

We played ~we shopped ~we had lots of sugar ~we shopped & played some more

On the way home I thought...

he got the gumball out himself and told me he wanted to get brother one ~he was so patient when I had to try on clothes and told me I was beautiful ~our 6 trips to the bathroom (this is not an exaggeration either) just made it the ultimate kid day ~my Mama Heart is full ~ no ~overflowing

Five Good Things

The Great Provider
Nate Nate~ my little blueberry
Listening to Christopher & Nate say the blessing
Have I mentioned Caffeine lately?
Party planning

ciao~alicia

INDEPENDENT

2009-08-01T17:49:00.000-05:00

Christopher either loves or hates to have his picture taken... I can relate... I love 4... it's a time for him to start revealing all the stuff I've wanted to ask him about who he is.

He makes "beds" in his room for all his little brothers... he chooses the blankets so carefully so that they have their ones Mimi made and also Coop's faves. I love that he is the biggest brother... my little leader

He is also our toy repair man... if you need more batteries Christopher is your man... Nate has already figured this out and gives him "jobs". Whoever marries Christopher will love the way he loves things neat and clean... he didn't get it from me and now we go clean together... he's inspiring. There is nothing like a first born son.

Five Good Things

Rain!!
Baby sign language
Parkfest in Willow Park
Coffee
Does that include caffiene?

ciao~alicia

FIRST CUP

2009-07-29T17:51:00.000-05:00

Coach Christopher... gave the perfect demonstration...

mission accomplished!

Five Good Things

Night Baseball... becoming a tradition in the backyard!
RAIN!!
Family Dinner
Friends who remind me of grace
Stella Artois~ Belgium's finest Beer!

ciao~alicia

FAMILY

2009-07-19T10:52:00.000-05:00

James K Welch~1929-2009

My Grandad~ Here is a beautiful part of his legacy...

All the "kids"... Gary, Mom, Vicki, Mike & Cynthia

Easter egg hunts in the forest... driving up the mountain to that big house on a white wonderland where big spruces welcomed us up like soldiers ready to play... hearing all the men playing pool down in the basement where all things wonderful were kept like a huge train set and newspaper clippings like the man landing on the moon and stuff like that... his laugh... amazingly enough, Grandad was one of the first to arrive after I "saw" Santa drop off a load under my tree~ Uncle Mike, I don't think I knew it was you until I was about 10!... playing dolls with him~ I think he was having as much fun as I was... racing up to Aunt Cynthia's because Grandad just shot a deer and they were about to gut it~ my first biology class!... During one of the hardest times in my life he called me at least once a week; I will always hear him telling me he loves me and will always wish I told him just once more~ I love you... Carpe Diem

Five Good Things

Love you Mom~ I know you are missing your Daddy
Aunts & Uncles~ Love to you all
Cousins~ We're all grown up~ Love you guys!
New Generations~ babies, babies, babies!
New Life & Fresh Starts!

ciao~alicia

MADE FOR ME

2009-07-18T19:40:00.000-05:00

Remember the post~ Sister Love? This is my gift made just for me... homemade laundry soap by my sweet friend Maia!! ~This powder smells lemony and fresh and looks like candy... I love the way it smiles at me on my shelf in my laundry room... it makes me dream of an adorable room with old white metal basins, glass bottles full of all sorts of stain potions with little brushes dangling from cute little hooks~ I think in a room like that the laundry fairy would HAVE to visit and keep me caught up, right? Maybe I'll paint it pink... it may be the only "girly" room in the house!

Five Good Things

Coffee in my daisy cup Christopher gave me
Cooper's coos
Days with Family
Hair dye~ no more gray!
Clarity

ciao~alicia

PEACHES PEACHES

2009-07-17T13:28:00.001-05:00

Peach ice cream, peach cobbler, peach peach and more peaches!

It was HOT and the ice cream was so cold... we all just wanted to dive in our bowls... The Peach Festival for those of you who don't live here is something to look forward to... lots of good friends you'll see, lots of yummo food and most of all the peaches!

It was a good day once we actually got out there! We talked to all the bikers, watched the men carving wood pieces in the old bank, drank LOTS of gatorade and water, took LOTS of pictures, ran into a few friends and looked at all the stuff to buy... the hats were their choice! Coop LOVED the ice cream and ate more of it than all 3 of us...

Five Good Things

Matching clothes... can't loose a kid when they all look the same;)
Days below 100*
Moms
New study starts next week... yeah!
Boldness

ciao~alicia

ALMOST ONE

2009-07-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

Chasing the big boys... getting into EVERYTHING... using baby signs for milk, more, all done, no, yes, hungry... giggles, giggles, giggles... cruisin' down the sofa... open mouth kisses... head butts... peek a boo with style like in this pic...

Where has this year gone?

Our house is such a baby house... this first birthday will be bittersweet.

Five Good Things

Small Towns
The Pumpkin Patch
Nate Nate on my lap
RIP mj...
Baby Showers... going to be sweet April;)

ciao~alicia

CLEATS

2009-07-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

"Where is my other cleat Mama"? I heard an hour before we needed to leave...

My son had gathered all his "stuff" for the game and couldn't wait to prepare.

Nate & I went & got M&Ms... Ems played on the bleachers with the smallest flip flops I have ever seen... Aunt Heidi was on Coop duty while Nana and I were taking pics... Chris got there before it even started... the announcer introduced all the players~ they called "Christopher Lee #20" and he had to take the batting helmet off~ he was ready to go!

It was a good night

Five Good Things

A Daddy's Love
Individuality
Gatorade
Camera instruction manuals~ I think I need to read mine~ these are shots out of about 50
Creative Friends~AW;)~ that get my juices flowing!

ciao~alicia

MY ELVIS

2009-06-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

eLViS...

Christopher wants me to take his pic ALL the time... he tells me how far to stand and what to take it of... he then inspects it, tells me if it's good or asks me to do it again with his "tips"...

he LOVES to play his guitar and write songs...

painting~ they are vivid and amazing~ Christopher loves to make purple mixing red & blue (if you haven't heard yet, he loves all things purple), he asked me how to mix it when the purple depleted... stay tuned to see our outdoor art studio Chris & I are working on!

I think I have to pick up the piano again... there is a band forming I think;) We have a harmonica player, a drummer and a lead guitarist along with his little jr.

Five Good Things

Chris plays guitar beautifully
Siestas
Coop poked another tooth!
Watercolors
Heidi's piano

ciao~alicia

SUN

2009-06-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

the sun felt yellow today...

Five Good Things

Soft, green grass Chris just mowed
Coop's stripes
Me
Naps
Green Apples

ciao~alicia

DADDY DAY

2009-06-21T21:54:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like Daddy...

He is tender... He is manly... He is great at first aid... He loves to play... He makes the best pancakes ever... He loves to talk... He reads to them with love... He remembers what brings them joy... He makes time for them... He holds... He teaches them how to express who they are... He is loyal... He is present... He can pick out the best books... He knows cool stuff about the ocean... He teaches... He leads by example...

We all love you Chris...

Five Good Things

Listening to the boys read "The Ocean Book"~ their fave
Love you Dad... you taught me to drive a stick and for that I will forever be grateful... I think I'm a stronger woman for being taught how to "drive like a man"! hee hee... although Chris might disagree with my driving talents!
3 so little at once... funny conversations!
Fortitude
Coming full circle in this season of rebirth... a time to heal...

ciao~alicia

THE NEST

2009-06-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

Here's the little one learning to fly... and the nest we took from the grill when they were done... made so intricately and with such brilliance!

Five Good Things

Dinner with Good Friends
Babies
Dirty little boy feet
Miss Barbara~ we love you!
Chris' grilling skills;)

ciao~alicia

HE SLEEPS

2009-06-18T12:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, he's sound asleep! I think he was really trying to stay awake for the movie!

Five Good Things

Esther's beautiful submission
God's provision
My table girls... so refreshing!
Baby sign language
Faith & Truth!

ciao~alicia

BIRTHDAY POPPERS

2009-06-11T23:25:00.000-05:00

For Chris' Birthday I bought those little poppers that you throw so that we could have some laughs with the boys... Most of them got jumped on although Christopher is getting pretty good. Coop got in on the action clapping for every pop... and said "gak" after the pop... he's a baby genius you know!

My cake was too pitiful to show... but it tasted sooo good!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Five Good Things

Boxed cake mixes
Pink spiral candles Nate had to put on the cake
Christopher's negotiating skills... he wore me out today... I just keep thinking "he's going to be sooo successful; he asks for everything he wants in 10 different ways!"
New Opportunities
The baby birds flew off this morning... Chris can grill... YUM!

ciao~alicia

POOL PLAY'IN

2009-06-08T14:05:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to push pause...

Five Good Things

Sun hats
Chris is going back to school... yay!
Little glass baby bottles make great kid cups!
Creative ways to be frugal
Little boy conversations

ciao~alicia

THE HAPS

2009-06-06T17:48:00.000-05:00

I've missed my blog... and hearing from all of you... the past few weeks have been amazing, sad, tiring, miraculous and more... He is the author of wellness and I'm happy to say that both Mike and my Sister are doing well. So here is a little of what we've been up to at home...

Chris has sacrificed his grill for the "babies"... there are 4 baby birds that have hatched in THE most intricate nest their parents brilliantly built in the grill...thank you honey for changing your Memorial Day feast! You'll have your grill back soon! The boys now call these darlings their "pet wild birds" and tell everyone not to touch them...

couldn't resist the tball pic... Nate's pants are bigger than Christopher's and I think I may be the loudest Mom on our team! Other than that it's been lots of pool time with friends and more to come... it should be such a fun summer with new friends, old friends and LOTS of family!

Five Good Things

The Pool... clean cool water and happy boys!
Moms in our neighborhood... gems!
Esther's timing...Esther 5:2
Creative minds
Citrus citrus citrus

ciao~alicia

SHADE

2009-05-31T03:04:00.000-05:00

Summer... Sunscreen... Cool Water... Laughter... Wet Babies... Big Towels

Five Good Things

Marriage
Love & Support
Health
Sisters
Clean Air

ciao~alicia

THE WORM HOUSE

2009-05-18T17:55:00.000-05:00

Today they lined their worm house with "concrete". It's turned into quite a project in "the itchy place" as Christopher named this spot in the back yard... last year he got poison ivy here~ needless to say I still don't know that I could tell if it grew back... there are 500 little vines and they all have leaves of three... isn't that what they say? Of course they are still thinking Predator X is under there somewhere and it looks like by the end of the summer there will be a little bug city of some kind. Can't wait to see what they come up with... last week they built mr. worm a bridge.

Five Good Things

Dirt
Stain Remover
Dump Trucks
The Prophet ~ Kahlil Gibran
Coops' brown eyes

ciao~alicia

LITTLE BOYS, LITTLE GYM

2009-05-15T21:34:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite days is gym day... for about 2 years we have had the boys here...This week was camping week~ they made tents, tumbled through them and found the dog that they lost... it was precious; we went twice this week! Brette~ your heart shows... thanks so much for sharing your passion with all of us~ we need nurturing, fun places to take our munchkins where "everybody knows your name"! Christopher loved helping you put away stuff the other day... it was all he talked about! Check out this Sister's business, The Little Gym ... she's added her own touch & it's too fun!

Five Good Things

When He closes a door he opens 2 more!
Mama Toni
Forgiveness
Small Towns
Big white, fluffy towels

ciao~alicia

WILDFLOWERS

2009-05-11T01:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to Me...

Five Good Things

My joyful helper, Christopher
My generous Nate Nate
Delicious Cooper
My Mom's love for us all
Chris' tenderness

ciao~alicia

PLAYIN' & PLANTIN'

2009-05-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

Nate said he was coloring Easter eggs.

Christopher wrote his name and #4 all over the driveway.

Then we started our seeds for our organic garden!

Isn't this the coolest little greenhouse? The little disks are peat and you can plant them along with your seedlings! Looks like I'm going to be diggin' this weekend... I have the spot picked out and we are also planning an organic pumpkin patch for our harvest party this year!

Five Good Things

"Free" organic herbs and veggies this year... YUM!
They are only a little pink after a day with not enough sunscreen... oops!
Cool showers!
My Reef flip flops
Seeing Nate laying on his stomach next to his rolly polly talking to him

ciao~alicia

BABIES ON THE BRAIN!

2009-05-06T08:21:00.000-05:00

I love this day... I remember it well. It was the first place I took them both... the museums... the sound of water. I could hardly walk, I had a hard time bonding with Nate and I could barely keep up with my 14 month old even though he couldn't walk very well himself. I didn't know how I was going to do it... it was so hard and so beautiful.

Nate's feet

Maybe it's because if Coop was Christopher I would already be a couple of months prego with a brother... Maybe it's because 2 of my sweet friends are prego... maybe it's because my other friend has a newborn boy right next door... maybe it's because I want to have more babies... I don't know, a combination of it all. The other day all the boys were in the middle of the living room playing trains; I heard the boys say almost in unison "no Coopy... we don't want to play with you"... my heart winced as I knew he didn't even know what they were saying. I immediately thought oh, and I just can't do another pregnancy now. Not to mention 4 kids under the age of 5 may mean a breakdown for this Mom. Will there be another baby? I just don't know... and that's fine for now.

Five Good Things

The boys are playing t ball together!
I have no doubt that every child is intentional by our Creator
I will be fine if we have 3 kids
I will be fine if we have 4 kids
I think Chris is halfway amused by my baby talk

ciao~alicia

LEE BABY FARM

2009-05-05T15:51:00.000-05:00

I put Lee Baby Farm recently on an invitation... we got some calls asking if we were expecting. I've been thinking about that name for a while... it just seems to fit, ironically for this city girl. I do want a sign outside in a flowerbed that says "Lee Baby Farm" ~ even though we don't really have a farm we might as well have in my eyes... once we decided to have kids I wanted to live in a loft! Then something happened to me and I understood why people move "out" when they have little ones... I wanted them to see a more natural world with the grit ~ boy stuff! So here we are in our little town in our little house... I originally wanted 2 sets of 2 babies ~ if I did prego well I would want to be prego now. Christopher & Nate have THE coolest bond... they don't know life without the other! More babies to fill up our "farm"?... we'll see! Here's our littlest one this week exploring "the grounds"!

Bonkers!

this is my unwasted, wasted space... we don't use plastic anymore (I should say except for Tupperware ~ no bpa) anyway, it makes a great baby cabinet...

It's fun to be a baby on this "farm";)

Five Good Things

I love my feather pillow
My legs are shaved
Tylenol
My moody computer
Chris made breakfast this morning... ocean pancakes... he rox!

ciao~alicia

THE MANTLE

2009-05-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

Christopher revamped my mantle...

Looks much better now don't ya think?

Here's his little chair...

He moved my glass vases so carefully...

I can't move it yet!

Five good things

I can't have this virus forever!
Chris brought home dinner
My head has not literally exploded yet... I think Chris is tired of me telling him it's going to!
7 up & pineapple juice
Veggie Tales!

ciao~alicia

TROPHIES & TREATS

2009-05-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Coach John had something special to tell each "Jaguar" when he gave them their trophy thursday...

How awesome is that? The "Jags" all walked a little taller... we love Coach John! The kids left full of sugar, covered in bubbles and red frosting, and all the kites flew away except 1... it was a sweet way to end our season! Do I have 1 pic of the boys together... of course not! Did I have too much fun flying kites and blowing bubbles? Yeah!

Five good things

Chris always has my back! He made it to the party & we all got to play together! Then he took care of fussy Coops so I could play! Luv ya babe!
Women are strong and amazing beings
We have been watched over during this time of no health insurance... almost over!
I love to hear the boys playing... they are making up some funny game right now with a train, a parakeet and picking left and right? cute!
Coops' hair still sticks up

ciao~alicia

FANTASTIC FOSSILS

2009-04-29T10:55:00.000-05:00

Chris took the boys fossil hunting & snapped these for me...

I think he's a pretty good with the cam... my proud Daddy!

And every day just about you can find them in the backyard trying to find "Predator X" ... long story but I've already passed on my dorky love of documentaries... hee hee... they'll thank me maybe when they have kids of their own... the best thing about it is they think there might be a fossil in our back yard just like the one a man took almost his entire career to find.

Five Good Things

Go Go Gogey! His voice makes me smile
I love our house... I saw pics of our lot yesterday from before we built... memories
I love that boys can always have messy hair and it's cute
The Book of Esther... refreshing & mystical
I have the best friends... love you girls!

ciao~alicia

CHRISTOPHER'S BIG DAY

2009-04-25T01:13:00.001-05:00

I put Coop on the top bunk to wake him up... he never wants to miss his shower with Daddy!

After breakfast he took this pic of a cardinal (his very favorite bird) on the fence... notice the little bitty cardinal in the center of the pic... that's my little photographer...

He played on the computer for a while and complained about all the noise Coop was making... we talked about how we all have to live together and all that jazz; I left out the part that he is the LOUDEST person to live with and we all love to put up with his "stuff"!

Then, after dinner he had to wash the dishes... I don't know weather to laugh or cry... He was so determined to finish the 3 pots, colander, 2 cutting boards oh, and a muffin pan. He wanted to finish it all... and he did. As challenging as he can be his gifts are twice as fragrant...

and he loves to clean... he told me tonight he always wants to wash the dishes with me... I should have had him sign a contract... tonight was also the night he wrote his name... CHRIS.

So, being the supermom that I was tonight, I dug out the Doug & Melissa Responsibility Chart and started "it" at 8:30 ahhh!... I'm so kidding about supermom; "Santa" brought these...

When Christopher was about 2 I wondered why he would never sing the ABC's with me... a few months later he sung the whole thing... I didn't even know he could write an R until he wrote it tonight in his name... you can't really see all of his, it got rubbed off; it's burned into my brain forever.

Maybe it was my big day...

Five Good Things:

I had the energy to go until 9:30 with the boys... Chris got home at 9:45
Coop's ordeal was just allergies, no doctor visit
Beth Moore rox!
He knows my needs tonight
I have bags packed for tomorrow morning

MY CURTAIN

2009-04-20T16:12:00.001-05:00

This is my living room curtain... I've had it for a few (maybe more) months... item #3546 on my to do list ~ sew curtain!...

MY GLOVES

2009-04-20T16:04:00.000-05:00

Here they are... my fabulous gloves!... the white ones are the disposable kind (I've tried to be more green but, green + babies, oh my... you know) and they rock for potty training! The purple ones, the ones Christopher loves, are way too big on purpose ~ they can be whipped off in a second while you're washing dishes to pull a child off the other... the trusty yellow ones clean the bathrooms... I love my gloves!

MY FLOWER

2009-04-20T12:09:00.000-05:00

Christopher picked this for me... I think it's a weed... might as well be an orchid...

Five good things

I spent about a half hour with just Chris this morning
The boys all slept in
Cooper is eating. I love the way he sounds drinking his bottle
I have some beautiful strawberries in the fridge
Mike has decided to get surgery

ciao~alicia

I WANNA COME!

2009-04-18T11:58:00.001-05:00

Coop is all over the house trying to catch his brothers any way he can! If you look really close you can see Christopher's hand in the bathtub... his new thing is "hiding" from everyone... he hides under any blanket, pillow, or behind some door and then pops out and yells at you... I have my heart in my throat about 3 times a day... he's fun to live with like my sister was... he's going to be that kid that who "gets ya good"!

Five good things:

1. I love my collection of dried flowers from Christopher

2. I have 2 less loads of laundry to do

3. Chris is off tomorrow

4. My gray roots will be covered up soon

5. English muffins with lots of butter... yum!

ciao~alicia

I'M TIRED

2009-04-15T11:17:00.000-05:00

Yes, he's 4 and he still sucks his thumb... always... I pull it out all day long... I'm tired of pulling it out... I'm tired of hearing myself, "you don't need it son"...

It feels like Monday again today... there are dishes to be washed, laundry to be done and a kitchen that needs mopping; I hate mopping. I feel like Chris is never home lately... yesterday for the first time since Nate was a little baby he left before they woke up and came home after they went to bed. My heart winced as he came home looking a little defeated; the testing period is wearing on us. I feel like I am constantly doing, doing, and my toes are still not painted.

Every one needs something... help brushing teeth, help with the goggles, just the "hey mamas" today are making me crazy! Acceptance time: there are 3 little ones here who don't really do for themselves. Christopher is starting to become more independent but he still doesn't bathe without me there... they are just little... and needy. (I just stopped for the 10th time to help Nate with the tape~ they are doing a "project" and I have been posting for 30 min. now... ahhhhh). It's a wonderful life!

Five good things:

1. They won't be brain damaged if they watch 6 hours of movies today

2. Cooper is asleep for the moment

3. Each of them has kissed me today

4. Chris will be home eventually

5. Cooper is crawling...fast

BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY II

2009-04-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

The boys with my sister... Aunt Jen

It was a peaceful day;)

BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

2009-04-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

They made this plate for the Easter Bunny... Christopher picked the eggs while Nate held the plate... this pic was right before they went to bed... We woke up & Coop was clapping his hands for the first time and did it all day... this was truly just sweet; our King is alive and this baby's joy... I have no words.

Their faith was so beautiful to watch this week and such an example. They didn't find it hard to believe at all this miracle; it took me back to when I was 4. I accepted Christ and I remember my own understanding at that age~ anything was truly possible with my God. A good reminder to me not to get bogged down by my brain. I have so much useless info running around in there and the scientific studies to back it up. My God is bigger than science. Science tries to explain my God. This was a really special week for me as a Mom; I saw seeds that were planted years ago bloom so innocently and so fresh.

Yesterday we spent with my Mom & Mike... When it started to get dark Chris, my Mom, me and all the boys went in her front living room to read the Easter story. As we sat there I thought of my Mom so faithful every morning when I lived at home. In her strawberry kitchen she would be found sitting at the table with her coffee & Bible. Now we were all together, my hubby, my children & my Mom~ the Matriarch was reading aloud. It smelled sweet in the room...

EGGS!

2009-04-12T12:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I realized I had left my camera with my fresh battery at home as I was backing out of the driveway for "the hunt"... However, I did have all 3 kids, the stroller, jackets, baskets, and the video camera ~ that's success! I thought with it starting at 9 we had until about 9:05 until it was over and we were pulling out of the driveway at 9... we made it! So, after the hunt was over and we had visited a little I ran home, got the camera, and went back up to the park... what I will do to get "the shot"!!

They hunted true to their little selves; Christopher RAN when they said go. He gave the man an egg that gave us the donuts and juice... I watched him walk over to him so big and looking up so high as he offered his gift. Giving has been something he's been making a new effort at... and he's even sweeter than I thought.

Nate said afterwards his favorite part was watching the girls find eggs. The other day Nate asked me if God had made his wife yet... I have been praying for his wife since he was in my belly. Then he told me that he prays for her too; I got a glimpse of him as a man and his sweet wife... if you know Nate you know she will be sweet.

LUCKY LADYBUGS

2009-04-09T10:42:00.000-05:00

My transition to Mom was not an easy one. I had Christopher and then turned 30... I had done the "college thing" and the "career thing" and was amazed at the prospect of even wanting a family. I thought it was going to be like the diaper commercials... I would be in all my natural glory with no makeup on, flawless skin and undoubtedly smell like a gardenia. After all I will have just given birth and be in la la breastfeeding land! Don't get me wrong... after preterm labor and a lot of bed rest I was absolutely a changed woman after giving birth; I just had no idea what this "change" would mean.

There was a plan for me the whole time. I had to learn to play again; this is still something I struggle with but once I let go of the fact that my house will not be perfect so that I can play a game of hopscotch I am much happier. Now I just face the useless guilt of "my house is messy and I am playing". I'm at peace with the fact that I am not innately "domestic"... without my gloves I would be puking at the wet hair I just picked up. More about my mighty gloves in a later post... I have 3 different kinds and no matter what budget crisis comes they are staying!

So yesterday after gym we sat in the parking lot with the lucky little ladybugs that found themselves at the mercy of little Lee hands. And they were "gentle" until Nate loved his a little too much... I just sat and watched. These are the moments that I really live for; the confirmation that all the gagging is so worth it. How fragile like the ladybug their spirits are and how blessed I am to love them.

YUM!

2009-04-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

Even though the mess is no fun, this face is!

Serious party of 1 please!

This blog has gotten way too serious; I'm starting to journal more and this needs to be a place of more simplicity and a dash of me at my best! ... Life is too short... I'm not sure where this whole blog thing is going but I can tell she hasn't found her niche...

THE GRASSHOPPER

2009-04-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

The biggest little guy came over saturday...

I think he had a play date with the boys...

He stuck around for a while & even took a break on the tree... He looks how I feel lately... confident that He is taking care of me but feeling kind of stuck out on the edge too. The reality is that I am giving worry over to Him all day long... Our family is really going through some times that have pushed me to learn to trust Him on a different level. I have good days and bad days & days when I start my day over after lunch. I am also excited for change to come; last week was a tough one... I had a fender bender that was my fault; my car also broke down and needed a repair. The warranty expired last month. After working with Central Market to solve the problem which could not be resolved, we now have to order Coop's formula on line by the case (long story). I accepted the fact that I am taking Coop to get his shots through the state; that was a big one for me! On the flip side, I am loving spending time with these boys...Coop is up on his knees rocking! Nate asked me the other day if Mimi's was open that night, and Christopher is showing so much responsibility doing his chores I am shocked! He has volunteered to take out the trash & put the new bag in. We also started our seeds outside and the boys are deliciously curious about every step... Nate loves the cute little "flower babies" he sees first when he walks out the front door! I don't know how far we will be stretched but I am still here at home with my boys and this trial has made me a better Mom. I have a new excitement about giving them the tools to make it through trying times and come out with a stronger faith, not just in themselves but in their Heavenly Father. I can see their spirits at rest and I see them watching me. We have a new sense of gratitude throughout the house and everyone and everything is just a little bit sweeter... thank you sisters for all your encouragement;)

BYE BYE WINTER!

2009-03-31T18:43:00.000-05:00

The last few nights of the cold winter we did marshmallows & hot cocoa...

Can you see the cricket in there? Oh yes, we cremated him.

Personally I'm looking forward to cleaning the sticky off the fireplace... Ever wonder what these stone fireplaces can handle? We have roasted with our little sticks now for 2 winters and it still looks white after I get one of those great bleach erasers to it!

I love the changing seasons... it reminds me to grow into change... & do a little spring cleaning!

PEEK A BOO!

2009-03-30T09:09:00.000-05:00

it's the little things... like new bike helmets & climbing up on your bumper!

MOM TALES

2009-03-26T12:26:00.000-05:00

I don't know if you know that Christopher is a miracle; my doctor did not know if I could have kids. I don't know if you know that I asked God for a blue eyed baby... He gave me Nate.

I also don't know some days how Chris & I will ever find the strength and wisdom to raise them. It is so easy for me to feel the magnitude of being trusted with 3 little souls... I am only one person after all and I consider myself to have a lot to learn in this life. I can come up with the list of doubts, how I am not enough to do the job well. Then I see myself through His eyes. He knows what it means to grow up as a little boy even though I don't have brothers ~ He knows. He knows before I ask Him... He knows what I'm going to ask before I ask it.

There is a reason why I am coming across thousands of "Mom blogs" and they are all unique. We all want to tell our story in some form. The tale of how I became a woman... the tale of how I became a Mom and am still so amazed by the miracle of life I could just have a baby blog that was just gooey. The tale of how I never really knew what love was until I understood how my Mom loves me. Tales of seeing souls discover who they are and how this place works. Being a Mom is very demanding, hard, healing, and I always feel like I am learning more than I am teaching. What a beautiful design.

NATE'S POSSE

2009-03-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

Every night for story time Nate gathers his "posse"... this usually includes the twin Eeyores (of course), kitty, Christopher's bunny and now the frog from Mimi...

Eeyore has been with Nate since the womb waiting for him on my nightstand and later into the delivery room; Christopher had Pooh and Coop has Tigger. Nate has always sucked his thumb with Eeyore's tag in his same hand. I have 3 now (as genius backups in case they quit making them) and they were in the closet but then I started to think that I would need to rotate these little guys or if we lost the "one", he would surly know. To make a long story longer they all ended up out... one lost his tail and Nate said "Mom, Eeyore's butt fell off!"... so now we have the "twins". In one of those "oh so cute" moments he says "look Mom I have twin Eeyores ~ there are 2!" I was so impressed that he knew what twins were that I just said oh my goodness you do!

As I was looking at Nate the other night walking down the hallway to bed barley able to carry everyone I remembered reading some dumb article in a waiting room talking about how it was not a good thing to still have their "blankies" when they were 3... it said something about examining why they may have feelings of fear and why they felt the need for "something". So as I looked at my secure little man gathering up his little friends for bed I was reminded by their designer that He has them in the palm of His hand always... and for me to always remember to ask for that discerning heart when it comes to things I read.

I could watch Chris with them for days... often my story time lasts 20 min... I'm tired. But Chris will go sometimes for an hour... they will look up something on the computer in the middle of it all or watch the discovery channel. We are big ocean fans around here... I always talk about how much I am alone taking care of the kids and I am but I have gently been nudged and my eyes are open to what a wonderful man I married and how much quality time he spends with them. Their new thing is showers with Dad in the morning... what a load off! What would I do without him? Love you baby if you happen to glance at this;)!

LOVELY

2009-03-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

I am so in love...

can you see why?

Lilies of the Field

2009-03-19T18:48:00.000-05:00

His love never fails...

Things have been a little lean & I have cut some of the organic things lately...

However, Coops formula was still staying organic and it's not cheap; they are also out of it almost every time I go in to Central Market and then I have to pay $4 more a can down the street.

I spoke with this very kind manager on the phone who was so apologetic and offered to bring me 6 cans, & deliver them to my house free of charge!

They were here 2 hours later!

Nothing is too big or small for this Father of ours!

Therefore take no thought saying, "What shall we eat? or "What shall we drink" or "Wherewithall shall we be clothed?... for the heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."
Matthew 6:31-33

Swim in the Moment

2009-03-18T12:43:00.001-05:00

When everything seems to be moving so fast around us...

Swim in the moment... the story, the bath, cutting bats out of cheese;)

I am constantly reminded of all the distractions: more of this and more of that, spend, spend and spend some more you don't have. Get your kid "involved" so that they develop people skills. I noticed this new gym class that Christopher is in that since they are 4 you can drop them off. When he was 3 we had a wonderful group of Moms to visit with every week; there are 2 maybe 3 there every week now. Keep it up Sisters... you all do a wonderful job of being a light... a light for other Moms to see Him through you!

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

proverbs 31:28

Sister Love

2009-03-15T07:32:00.000-05:00

This came via Maia... check out her blog... she is a Mom with a sweet spirit and definately has the gift of joy! This was actually an answer to prayer thismorning. Last night I came accross the MOST inspiring blog I have read yet... more about that one another day; I am blown away by my new sisters I have come accross lately! Anyway, last night I prayed specifically for direction with this blog. For me it has been really fun to post our every day life, after all that IS where the miracles are. In the moment. But I felt there has been something missing. Did I want to go on a 5 paragraph article on what God is doing in my heart every day with scripture to inspire? Not really... I love reading some blogs that are this style but I was really asking God to show me how I, Alicia, the daughter He created could use this blog in a new way. To inspire... to thought provoke... to serve... a place to come when you need a little joy or encouragement. So come on this journey with me... this is the beginning.

...Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:12&13

to the first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Lucky you! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations: 1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! 2. What I create will be just for you. 3. It'll be done this year. 4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a mask. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! 5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

A Very Merry UnBirthday!

2009-03-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

Thismorning we celebrated unbirthdays! Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my faves... and so I sing "a very merry unbirthday" to them all the time...

How much fun to have candles to blow out with waffles and be sung to?

They each picked a candle... it was a good morning!

Coops & Me

2009-03-11T19:12:00.001-05:00

This was such a good day I had to post the rest of these pics I just got from my Mom...

There are those moments in the day that make all the sacrifices all worth it...

Sometimes I miss meeting with the stylist about a photo shoot for one of my new models... Sometimes I miss going out for a glass of wine with some photographers from Europe...

But I wouldn't miss for the world:

Cooper learning to cough to get my attention

Christopher scoring his first soccer goal

Nate peeing on the toilet without being too short to stand up and not drip (this happened literally overnight)

staying up holding them when they are sick and knowing that I don't have to have anything for anyone else the next day...

seeing so many "firsts" that my soul is bubbly...

To all my sisters who know what I'm talking about... my heart is full for you...

we will never get these moments back!!

Friendly Frog

2009-03-11T07:56:00.000-05:00

Let's just say this frog had the rudest awakening to spring... he was dug up by the Lee bros and Nate took him under his wing...

he told him he would keep him "safe"...

he was safe even though Nate jumped after him like a little frog... I thought for sure he was going to jump on him... he was still safe when he dropped him a "couple" of times... he was even safe as Nate "jumped" him and "swam" him in Mimi's fountain!

When the frog hopped off in the bushes I think only then was he truly safe!!... never a dull moment!

Kissing Coops

2009-03-07T15:10:00.000-06:00

Coop goes to the playground a lot with us...

he's at that perfect size where I can carry him around with one arm and not get that tired. He just bobbles to keep his balance and looks all around...

more than half way to 1 year...

time flies!