Mom is MIA

It has been 3+ months since I wrote you last.  I am a slacker!  I have been highly unmotivated and probably a bit down in the last few months.  We only swam twice the whole summer and that is crazy!!  Last year, we went almost weekly! So, what have we been up to?

June was all about our Colorado trip for Brian and Erica's wedding.  We also celebrated Daddy's birthday, Joey's birthday and Gramma Lang's Birthday.  We had Father's Day with daddy.

July flew by me going to Phoenix for convention and lots of locket parties!  We spent 4th of July with Aunt Becky & Uncle Steve.  We had our 15th wedding anniversary with little or no fanfare!  You went to the Zoo with Gramma Debi D and Allen and had lots of fun.  She visited with you another time and you went bowling.

August was lots of fun.  You went to a family reunion/birthday party on the Lang side.  I couldn't go so Aunt Val & Gramma took you.  We went to St. Joe for a hotel night with a pool and KC Chiefs training camp - so much fun!  My birthday came and went.  Now, August is over and it is time for fall!!

I need to get on here more often so that I can make notes of little things.  It was nap time on Friday and Joey was having a hard time settling down.  I went in there and he laid on my tummy for a bit.  Elijah asked if he could lay on his tummy.  Joey laid his head down and Elijah stroked his hair and sang "Hush little baby."  I just had to watch and sigh in contentment.  You guys sure do kill me sometimes!!

We have some assigned chores around the house.  Just today, Joey has started helping, too.  You guys have 3 chores...  gather your milk cups around the house so we can wash them, unload the dishwasher (handing me one item at a time) and then putting the soap in the dishwasher and starting it.  Joey would just play but today, he took it all over.  He unloaded about 75% of the dishwasher and was ready to put the soap in and close it before I even started loading it.  He also likes to stand on his chair and rinse out dishes to hand them to me for the dishwasher!

This weekend is a holiday weekend and our intent was to stay home all weekend and boot camp potty train Joey.  Well, yesterday was a fail.  And, it looks like today, we gave up because you guys are at the Children's Museum with Andrew & Tyler.  :)

I am way behind on my scrapbooking but I got quite a few pages done yesterday.  I haven't posted in awhile and so some of these go all the way back to October!!


Christmas morning at our house.  I think I am finally done with scrapping Christmas!

The Halloween party at Disney during our last trip.

Joey's 12:55 shot on his birthday!  We were in Colorado.

Elijah's bounce house party.  And, he is planning on having his party there again this year.  (So he thinks)

Joey's favorite - the carousel during our last Disney trip

Our visit to the circus in May with Morgan.

Erica's visit in March

Yummy chocolate fondue in December

My garden this year.  You guys loved helping me water and drinking hose water  :)

Disney photos from our trip this year.

Impromptu shot of Joey while we were at the gymnastics studio in March.  I put my camera on the ground and just took a shot.

Two year old photos.

Joey's bday party in Colorado.

Photos from the lake party in August.

Daddy's birthday

The big helmet walk at Chiefs Camp.  Elijah was an internet sensation - ha.  He made facebook (KC Chiefs site), Twitter (Tamba Hali's site) and Kansascitychiefs.com!!

Mom should have done her hair, huh?

Christmas again!

Ramada hotel pool day

Elijah's birthday present to Joey.  We made Spongebob at Build a Bear.

Some photos/layouts

Hi boys!

Quick refurbish on your blog.  It was finally time to take the snowman down as I think we are now officially done with winter.

We survived our trip and had a great time.  Now, May is almost over and we are counting down to the wedding.  This Memorial day weekend, we are resting because Joey has an ear infection.  Looks like both you boys are going to have tubes.  Aunt Sheila is out of town so we don't even have a BBQ to look forward to - she is our BBQ Matriarch :)

As we prep for the wedding, we also prep for Joey turning 2.  Can't.even.believe.it.  wow.  He will turn 2 in Colorado surrounded by 1/3 of his family.  Then, we will do a picnic for the other parts of our family.

This week, I said extra prayers of thanks for my boys and their health.  A good friend reminded me that we take health & being "normal" for granted.  Besides being stubborn and lippy, we don't have much to complain about.  Most of our medical stuff is pretty minor and pretty short term.

I have been busy scrapping this weekend so there are even some new Disney photos to share!


Here are some oldies from our September 2012 Disney trip.  I am a bit behind there.

Still have a couple of Christmas pages left to do!

Elijah's birthday at Great Gramma's.  Still have to do your bounce house!

For your books, I decided to do one page with one photo a month.  This is Elijah's 2012.

Couple Easter down, couple to go!

Our April 2013 Disney pool photos.

Unfortunately, I lost all our beach and pool photos except what I put on facebook that day.  DARN IT!

Big trip...

Well, boys, we are almost off!  Tomorrow, we leave for Disneyworld.  We will get to see Gramma DVD and Auntie Val.  We will get to see all the Disney friends.  Elijah knows we are going on a trip and he knows we are going to a beach but no specifics!  I am sure it will be exhausting, I am sure I will be crabby but I am sure it will be MEMORABLE!

I have something deep to share with you.  I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but I have to tell you as it has been on my mind lately.  Mostly, in my life, I am always looking for something.  Next trip, next job, next event.  I still do but to a smaller degree.  Last night, I was just looking at you guys as you fell asleep and realized that I am good.  Elijah rolled over and put his arm on my shoulder and signed.  Joey snuggled up to me and had a big sleepy smile.  Looking at you two, I know that I have now experienced everything I need to experience.  Sure, I want to go more places, see you grow up, see some grandbabies but really, it is all gravy right now.  Just having you two and sharing my life with you gives me a sense of fullness and completeness that everything else is just a cherry on top.

Joey is really starting to talk a bit clearer.  He walked up to Gramma's door and said "Open the door."  He was trying to say his prayers last night and was mimicking Elijah's list of people to bless.  "Tyler", "Mark", "Padi" and "Luke" came out so clear.  I can't wait to see you at Disney with your favorite Mickey!!

Elijah was in such a good mood last night.  He made us laugh, he was listening and he wasn't being ornery.  It was just a feel good night!  I can't wait to hear his reaction when we pull up to the airport!!

I have made a vow to WRITE THINGS DOWN this trip.  Last time, I didn't and it has been super hard to remember all the details.  So, i am going to make notes nightly!!

Love you both so much!