My life in 3 pictures-

Seriously...I have the funniest boys. I had mentioned underwear on the head before....well here ya go. Out of nowhere this morning they came running in my bathroom while I was getting ready and jumped into the bathtub wearing THIS:

Fun in the snow with the Maxwell's

We had so much fun visiting the snow with Uncle Bryan and Jeffrey. It was Jeffrey's first time seeing snow so that made it even more exciting!!

Hispanic by marriage-

I was blessed to have been brought up eating the best food prepared by my Grandparents. Yummy tortillas, enchiladas, beans, red and green chili and much more. For New Year's Jamie invited us over for a Mexican Fiesta. When we discussed what our family would contribute, Kirb offered to make my grandparents signature red chili. This was not his first attempt at making it but my first to blog about it. The guy is amazing. Have I said that before? Anyway, after working in the kitchen for quite a while-the smell was heavenly and brought back memories from my childhood and the taste was incredible too. Although to make it perfect, it would require my grandpa's tortillas but I must say it came pretty darn close. I have had it left over about 5 times since then and keep thanking him over and over again for being so ambitious and such an awesome cook. He always tells me that if you can read a recipe that you can cook too. I say nope. Not true. He's a natural. Thank you for out of this world chili sweetheart!

Me, Martha Stewart? HARDLY!!

My poor kids!  I was so excited to decorate a gingerbread house with them last week.  After participating in the activity for years with kindergarten students, I was thrilled to share in the fun with my OWN kids.  Here is how it goes.  You take all of the pieces of the gingerbread house and glue them together with frosting.  After it is nice and stable, the fun part begins and it's time to decorate the lovely house with lots of candy.  Well folks, my inner Martha was gone that day.  I could not even get the house to stay together.  The roof kept falling along with all sides of the house.  I was humiliated.  Stumped.  Frustrated.  Sticky.  Do you understand what I'm saying here?  I could NOT get the darn thing to stay together. The simplest thing ever.  Anyway, despite my troubles, the boys had a great time.  I laid the pieces flat and Preston put tons of candy on the sides and Mason had a blast eating the candy.  I have to constantly remind myself of a saying that is repeated often when working with children......"It's the process not the product".  And the process was fun!

It happens ONCE a year....

I speak for all in my family when I say that Papa's homemade ravioli is our favorite Christmas tradition. This is not just ravioli. It is the ravioli. The ravioli that is coveted by all who enjoy any sort of pasta. The ravioli that melts in your mouth. The ravioli that takes Papa hours upon hours to make and is made with love. The ravioli that the family fights for. The ravioli that could not be replaced by any other Christmas meal. The ravioli that everyone ditches their in-laws for to have a seat at the house with the to-die-for meal. I have enjoyed this tradition for as long as I can remember and hope to enjoy it for many more years to come!!

Papa and Preston sharing the job of ravioli making!

Papa showing Mason how it's done!

Auntie Jules and Darrel helped just a bit too!

Preston and Papa making ravioli....his first time!

Papa and Mason making ravioli for his first Christmas!

You know you have boys when....

When you find yourself quoting Mrs. Brady from the Brady Bunch when she said "no throwing balls in the house". She knew what she was talking about.  A light fixture was broken thanks to a wondering ball.

When there are knobs missing from each dresser set.

You know you have boys when you have a huge gap that is missing ornaments on your Christmas tree.  Ornaments are better used as baseballs, soccer balls, and even bracelets (I'll let you figure out who likes the bracelets).  

When the underneath part of your ottoman is ripped from too much (un-allowed) jumping occurs.

When end tables are empty of picture frames, plants, or any sort of decor due to the fact that it would last about 5 seconds before it is knocked off or broken.

When there are so many scratches and peeled off paint on your walls, you give up trying to cover them up.

You know you have boys when it's not uncommon to have mud all over.

When kitchen utensils are used to build things not to actually cook.

You know you have boys and love them when they are last to make you smile at night and the first little people you want to see in the morning-mud and all!

If the shoe fits....

 Then wear it!!  Apparently Mason feels the need to throw up gang signs to look tough while wearing my shoes. I love these boys! Not a day goes by when they don't make me laugh!