Tic Tac Toe

My Pinterest inspired fun craft for the kids today... Stump, rocks, and some craft paint... 

They had fun making and have been playing... I see night by the fires with it. 

Opening Day of 2014

Go Twins!! They want to go there someday to a game they told me today...

Yes and so do I boys! 

Another Fun day out

Another stay-cation day!! 

Getting in some BP! 

Life is to short...

Life is to short 

to go back on broken pieces from yesterday

Pick it up and move on 

because today is a new day

Movie Day on Break

Having a stay-cation this year for spring break! 

Went to new Muppet Movie and out to lunch. 

The movie was really cute. 

Boys review: it was good. 

Homemade taco seasoning

I wanted to make tacos for dinner... Went to gather ingredients only to realize I had no taco seasoning packet. I figured I have to have the right spices on hand to make my own... I searched and found one! Easy and a lot healthier than those packets filled with sodium! 

Below is Rachel Ray's recipe for your own : 

1 tbls chili powder

1 tbls ground cumin

1 tbls garlic powder 

1 tbls onion powder

1/4 tbls crushed red pepper

1/2 tsp Seasoned salt

1/2 tsp Black pepper

Mix all together in air tight container. 

When ready to use 

Scoop 2-3 tablespoons into browned ground beef with 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water! 

Thrifty Thursday!

Here is my thrifty Thursday outfit this week! You could really pair any color tank underneath. I chose one to compliment the earrings. 

Boutique skirt: bought at thrift store 5$

White sleeveless shirt : Plato's closet 3$

Baby blue tank top: 3$ target clearance

Sandals: 15$ (marked 75 percent off) at Fedora- a pricey boutique stor

Bracelet: free : from Grandmothers collection

Earrings: 3$ target clearance 

Total: 29$!

Accessory tip: 

My grandmother used to wear a lot of Jewelry when she was younger and still has some in her drawers. She had me go through it when I was there taking what I wanted as a hand me down. Now when I wear them I can think if her she said.

If your mother or grandmother has jewelry they don't wear maybe they will want to pass it down if you like it...

It's The Little Things....

I was outside laying in my chaise while the boys were running around and playing on their play set. I heard Jordan come up behind me and say, "Mom, I love you and I want to give you a hug, I picked some flowers for you out of the yard." 

Made me melt! It was so sweet!

He didn't see weeds, he saw an opportunity to surprise me and give something to his mom and make her feel special and tell her he loved her....

At bedtime he asked where I put my flowers and I said I put them in a safe spot and he said I will pick you some more tomorrow. 

Home Preschool Is Working For Us

I had a hard time deciding to keep Jordan home or sending him to preschool for 4-5 days a week. I decided the best thing for us as a family was to keep him home. We are so busy during the week with the kids activities he never got to be home and be a toddler. Last year he was so exhausted. I have enjoyed having him home and spending quality time with him. It's my last year with him to do this and I am fortunate to do so. He is my baby and will always be!

He acts as if he's 4 going on 10 socially so I am not worried about that at all! He's always finding someone to play with at his brother's events or when we go to the park to play. We sit and do workbooks, worksheets, activities and crafts. Now he has also started a one hour class in Chapel Hill called Kidokinetics. It's basically a PE class for preschoolers. He of course loves it. One of his little friends is also taking it with him so he loves that. I needed to find something for him at least one hour a week away from me and having to focus and take directions from an adult other than me and something he likes to do. Since we are home during the weekdays we also take advantage of stick and puck during lunch hour when there is absolutely no one there and he gets a whole sheet of ice to himself. 

I often wondered if he was actually learning anything when we are doing the workbooks and such but last night in bed I got that answer. He asked me how to spell my name and I told him the letters and he wrote them out legibly and then he wrote his dad's name too. If I would have asked him that before introducing him to that stuff he would say, "I don't know how to draw that". So it is sinking in and he is getting it. That was a small thing but a proud mamma moment! It also solidified my decision of keeping him home. That I am doing what works for us and it is working.

He's is growing up and I get to witness it, that's the best part!!

This week his brothers are home so we will be taking some "field trips" and go to the Natural Science Museum, Marbles Kids Museum, and Life and Science Museum...to name a few...

My time is going by fast. July 14th is going to be here before I know it and he will be in Kindergarten all day every day! Sniff Sniff!!

10U Hawks 2nd place

Way to go Braedyn and the Hawks! Two and two for the weekend...

Not a bad start for the first tournament of the season and who would have thought Sunday we needed winter coats on top of it!! Got done just in time and the rain came in! 

Proud of you!! 

Braedyn played mostly catcher and second base. His favorite position is catcher... He's a spider monkey back there... Quick and agile! 

It's going to be a fun season! 

Baseball Opener!

Today is Braedyn's first game with his travel team The Hawks! He is on the 10U travel team. They are in Oxford, NC for the first tournament of the season...I am one Proud Momma!!

Going to be a fun season! Go Get Em B!! 

Thrifty Thursday

In the Spirit of the NCAA Basketball this is what I was going to wear today in showing my love for the Florida Gators but never got that chance...but here is my next game day outfit!! I have learned in the south you can show your pride without being decked out the bookstore clothes but in cute color coordinated clothes!

All of these items were at a thrift, consignment or on clearance.

Forever 21 orange/white sheer blouse 8$ at Plato's Closet

Sonoma Tank Top Blue 4$ at Plato's Closet

Orange belt 6$ Clearance at Target

Express Shorts Blue Polyester 8$ Clothes Mentor

Ralph Lauren Chaps Orange Wedges 6$ at Chapel Hill Thrift Store

Blue Beaded stretchy Bracelet free

Blue Bamboo bracelet 5$ Local artisan

Total outfit: 37.00$

(Just the shorts alone are worth that off the racks at Express!

It's to shall pass...or will it

The reason I did not blog about my stylish little outfit from the other day that I got a steal on was because I was dealt a day from hell! 

When older women look at me who have raised three or more boys and they say God Bless You! Today was one of those days that I understand more as they get older why these wiser women tell me and just smile and say I've been there...and this to shall pass.

Well it may by 1 am when I finish the last load of laundry!

Thrifty Thursdays advice

Anyone who knows me, knows I am very thrifty! I seem to find steals and deals. I have an eye for it...whether it's something for the house, repurposed, or clothes for me or my family members.
My closet is mostly filled with items from thrift stores, consignment or friends who just wanted to give stuff away because they no longer wanted it. They know who to ask first before making that trip to Goodwill. I have an eye for putting things together and spotting things to work with. 

You see living in Chapel Hill has a few perks you can find stuff big or small; name brand, couture, or boutique clothing and some still may have a tags on them! If you can remember back to your broke college days...you need money to go out~ right...there is now a store in Chapel Hill called Clothes Mentor that buys name brand, newly styled (within 2-3 years), quality stuff and they give you cash on the spot! cha ching...affords a night out on the town for them and something new to wear for me. That equation means theres been a lot of cute clothes I have picked up cute stuff at that store and it looks like it has never been worn. 

I could probably afford to go to the Mall or cute boutiques but I pride myself on putting together eclectic looks from different thrifty stores. It's fun to me... Some may think its gross but there is such a thing as a washing machine! I do draw the line at garments that would not be in good personal hygiene to buy used!!! If you catch my drift!
I thought I would start blogging about that here for Thrifty Thursday posts...putting tips on here, were to shop, and some outfits I put together and how much I actually spent on the whole outfit!

If I do splurge on something its few and far between and probably because I actually need it! My only splurge item is on running shoes! I have to have top of the line running shoes, I have learned my lesson on buying shoes from regular shoe stores versus running stores! It made a huge difference in my training. You cannot skimp on shoes!  It makes this thrifty shopper feel better about splurging every once in awhile.

So look for those posts on Thursdays...
 

Thought for the Day

From THE MESSAGE, Eugene Patterson translation of Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.

Here is the the actual verse 3:5-6

Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Mother Nature Is Confused

I woke up to the phone ringing at 6 am. I knew what it was going to be considering we were on a three hour delay. It is supposed to be in the 60s with sunny warm weather in North Carolina...today we find ourselves ALL at home again. We are having a snow day when were supposed to be making up a snow day. That stuff happend in MN but here it is a little surprising and frustrating.
The buds on my rose bushes are shivering, and the trees are freezing with icicles hanging from them today. It is freezing!
Usually by now the pool has been opened and he boys are swimming on spring break. This has been the strangest weather I have seen since we have moved here. The boys start spring break on friday and it looks as if spring might actually be on the horizon!
Mother Nature has been teasing us giving us some nice warm days the past couple weeks intermittantly but she has decided to wait until the actual first day of spring to let us see some consistant sunshine!
So now we are left to wonder...when are we going to make up yet another snow day!

When I look at you...

You are the light in the dark
you are that ember that strikes the spark
the shotgun at the start
and you are the beat, the beat of my heart

You make my worries disappear
no more worries no more fears
you can wipe away all my tears
I can count on you to hold my hand
taking me thru all the years

You are the ray of hope
when I am hanging by a rope
when I am down on my luck
can't seem to get up

and you keep on showing, showing me
your love,
your love
it just keeps flowing
can keep me going...
One thing remains true
everyday, everyday when I look at you

You are my saving grace
when I'm questioning my faith
I can look at your face
and I know I am safe
your shoulders are my resting place

You can read my mind
by just looking in my eyes
aint gonna get a lie
by you...

and you keep on showing, showing me
your love,
your love,
it just keeps flowing
keeps me going...
One thing remains true
everyday, everyday when I look you

St. Patrick's Day craft and lesson for the day

 

We started our lesson for the day on St. Patrick's Day and I asked him to tell me something about what he knows about St. Patrick's Day...

He responded with"the leprechauns pee green!"

Oops 

Well of course that's the first thing a little boy is going to remember after this morning!

I then had to look up the real story of St. Patrick and got a history lesson myself! I just thought it wa some Irish holiday for an excuse to drink green beer and party but there was an actual man who named himself St. Patrick.... It was an interesting lesson for the day for myself too! 

You can search it on YouTube and there was a History Channel lesson.... 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I started doing this last year and the kids get such a kick out of it that now its become a tradition. Lucky the leprechaun comes overnight while we are sleeping and messes up everything and sometimes leaves a lil treasure behind that fell out his pot of gold.

Can't wait to see their eyes!! 

Growing In Faith

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to."

(2 Timothy 3:16-17, New Living Translation)

One of my goals is to grow in my faith and strengthen my ability to live God's teachings and enhance my connection between my faith and daily living. Through scripture is a good way he is communicating to us. We can take that and apply it to our lives. Instead of going through the motions of our daily living if we place an emphasis on our faith it has an influence in our choices, and the power over our decision making processes. It's easy to turn to God in despair, depression, pain, tears, and heartache but what about thanking him and for guidance on our journeys. Maybe it's a daily devotion or a simple prayer before bed. It centers me to know that I have lifted up my prayers and concerns to The Lord because some things are just out of our hands and he listens without judgement and interruptions. I keep the bible on my nightstand and sometimes just pick it up and open to any spot and see where I land...something new to learn every time. 

As a mother of three boys I seem to be praying a lot more for them than for myself. As they have gotten older I find myself turning to God asking him to help them make the right decisions in their lives and walk beside them. As they get older my presence is no longer and they need some guidance when mom isn't there, I would hope by them seeing me living and learning in my faith it will rub off on them. Once can hope...but it's up to them to find God. I just give them the tools. 

You can view the bible as a hedge. A hedge on your spiritual road. You can jump that hedge but you may be on your own. Sometimes that hedge is very distinct as in the Ten Commandments and sometimes you have to discern where that is sparse. Moral confusion should not be an excuse to jump that hedge and as Christians we have moral principles that exist with doing what is right and breaking those principles is wrong. Scripture can give us a safe arena in which to face those confusions are are unavoidable in our daily lives. Scripture can also be hard as it does make us realize what is wrong in our lives and what we need to do in order to change and change is hard. It can wake us up and slap us in the face...When we move to understanding of the scripture as God's way of communicating with us to our benefit we are more open to connect it to our daily lives than just the ones that are convenient. Respect for God is the beginning of wisdom.

Apply The Brakes

"As you begin to discover the importance of rest even in a busy schedule, you'll notice that from time to time you need to embrace the breaks in order to apply the brakes. Learning to slow down, say "no," and rest isn't always easy, but, as you'll discover it's essential to discovering the rest God has for you"

~Margaret Feinberg

This spoke to me today as I have had to rest now for over two weeks. It's a hard thing for me to do or for any of us with small children. There is always something to do or someone to tend to. 

This rest has made me realize I can let some things go, my children can do some things for themselves, and if I want to take a nap, I can. The house will not fall apart and the children will be just fine. I don't need to be so hard on myself. The time that I have to take is giving me the break I needed to say it is okay to also apply those brakes at some point! 

Fallen Logs turned Pretty

If I had a few trees down I might have Charlie help me do this....

Here's a fun thing to do with those trees that have fallen in the storm if they are still in good shape...

You can use it as a garden bench by cutting out a flat sqaure with sides or put some boards on it after you have cut it flat. If it is a large stump you can make it into a chair...

You can create a more natural look and add woodland plants suck as ferns or dogtooth violets around the log. You could cut out an area for some pots and put some potted plants in it....

You can use it as edging along your woods or flower beds...

A few suggestions as spring is around the corner....

60s and Sunny But A Snow Day?

We are at home yet again because of the storm from Friday. 

I drove to Hillsborough yesterday and could not believe what I was seeing it had looked like a tornado came through our area. Only about 3 miles away the damage started! As we were driving Cooper said, "Its a good thing we said our prayers." There were trees down everywhere on the roads, ditches and some on houses and barns. The power lines were down on the road or half way down (a truck would not fit underneath them). Some of the roads were coned off because of the dangerous power lines down or the tree was blocking the road. Some of the poles were snapped in half and the big transponder which would sit on top of the pole was on the ground! I had never seen anything like it before. 

While were in town at baseball practice, we heard sirens every so often. As of this morning there were 2,900 in Orange County without power and some 21,000 in Alamance County which is only about 5 miles down the road from us. 

After coming home from practice I was sure we were going to have school called off since there was no way a bus could travel down that road I was on. Most of the people I know or had talked to in our school still had no power and were told possibly they would get it back by Wednesday! I only saw one truck out on the way home. 

So we are at home enjoying this beautiful 60 some degree sunny weather because of a "snow day". Weird....

Only in North Carolina!  You can have an ice storm and the next be 65 and sunny!

We Made It Through Another Blast of Winter With A Little Prayer

At least in Minnesota we could plan on having snow days, with it being cold, snow accumulations, ice, and be miserable for about 6 months! A big reason we moved to the south! I had many resources up my sleeve for indoor play with my kids...looks like I need to reach in that bag of tricks today!!

People are not equipped to deal with winter here! We are yet again home from school today and there is a glaze of ice over everything this morning. The trees are toppling over everywhere because of the ice and wet ground and there are power outages all over the county. The schools were canceled because the schools were even out of power.  Luckily ours has just flickered for awhile and it came back on... I believe it's due to the boys. Here is a cute little story...

The lights started flickering on and off and Cooper is always the first one to freak out. He was upstairs in his room and came out and asked what was going on. I told him the power might go out and I pray to God it stays on. I said maybe you should say a prayer....

Well he did...He bowed his head and put his hands together and said, "please Jesus, please keep the power on today so I can play my computer." After that if didn't blink off again...and I told him thank you it must have worked. So then I said maybe all three of you should sit down and say one so we make sure he heard us. So they sat in Jordan's room and I was downstairs. I was listening to them through the intercom... Braedyn started..."Dear God, Please help us today and please keep our power on today so we can have fun and so we can play our games and our computer, Thank you." Then it was Jordan's turn, "please Jesus keep our power on." Then they went to play. After about half hour I said, "I'm so happy the power stayed on." Braedyn said, "we all said a prayer and he heard us." It made me smile...

It makes me happy to know that they still know they can pray and that God is watching over us even though our attendance at Sunday school or church has been very limited! I try to fit it in when I can! A teachable lesson even though short.  I am trying to teach them as they get older they can talk to Jesus if they can't talk to me or they need someone to listen or if mom or dad isn't with them at that moment in time. If they are scared or nervous about something.  I know this may sound corny but sometimes on the way to hockey, we would say a little prayer...please give Cooper the strength, courage and endurance today to play well and for the team to play well. So when he gets older it becomes natural...and I'll try to do that with each one of them and now Braedyn for baseball season. I beat myself up sometimes about getting to church but when you have busy weekdays and sports on weekend it makes it almost impossible to attend and more stressful. I want to be present when I go not just show up...

In times like this when we are inside and when it storms, I think back to growing up at Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's house. We all know what happens when a storm is coming...the palms come out from Palm Sunday...The ones that have been blessed. I often wondered if she was the only one to do such a ritual. My grandparents are devout Catholics. When it would storm, I can remember her burning the palms. She said it helped keep us safe and would keep the storm away. As a kid it was comforting, as a teenager, I thought it was weird and a form of voodoo. Now as an adult I look back at it with fond memory of time with my grandparents.

Well, I won't be burning any palms today for fear I just might burn down the house but we did say a prayer and Grandma would be proud! I am glad we had those rituals and traditions. As I grow older I treasure those and recall them fondly. I hope I am creating memories for my children and traditions that when they can look back they can smile like I can do. I was thinking back to my childhood the other day and how a lot of it includes my Grandpa and Grandma Nelson and being at their house while my parents worked or mom just needed a break when she was still a stay home mom. I love you guys and miss you! 

It's time to break out some indoor activities and see what kind of memories we can make today!

Back To The Land Of The Living

A shower never felt so good!! 

I get to drive today! 

Off the strong pain medication which was the reason I was getting so ill. 

One day at a time a little step at a time... 

It's just nice to be upright without feeling like I'm spinning! 

 

One Flew Into The Cukoos Nest!

Always exciting in the Jacobson household! Yes, that is a bird inside the house! It's funny now but Charlie wasn't to happy trying to chase the bird out of the house! 

It was quite comical as the whole ordeal began with cooper coming into the kitchen nonchalantly saying "look there's a bird in the house" and took him a few seconds then he started freaking out at what he just noticed and screamed the same calm sentence this time. Charlie comes running in. 

The boys had left the door open while getting all there snowy clothes off in the garage. Apparently, this southern NC bird doesn't like the snow either. 

He kept flying back and forth from the kitchen to that window ledge off of the kitchen. We all were trying to scare it out into the porch off of that window with the door wide open. It would taunt us by flying over testing on the open door but wouldn't fly out of the dang door. Charlie standing on the kitchen counter stools trying to scare it from not flying upstairs into our second story open great room. That attempt failed. It flew upstairs I quickly ran upstairs shutting bedroom doors trying to figure out which room it flew into. I trapped him in Braedyn's room and I'm trying to open the double pained windows to let him fly out Charlie comes up with a broom. I'm thinking...oh great I was picturing guts, blood, and feathers everywhere.  

He hit lightly enough not create a mess! Picked it up and carried it outside as I went around the house checking for bird poop. 

NO POOP! 

Another regular day in our house with a lesson learned ... Shut the door! 

Thank You!

My family thanks everyone who helped us out with food and taking care of the boys when we needed the help and I needed my quiet time. It helps so much not having family here! Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated and for all the meals people delivered while I was on my bed rest - it was so great and appreciated! You made life a lot easier! 

Thank you! 

Allie

Big Boy Bike

Jordan has mastered his big boy bike so mommy can run without pushing a jogging stroller and we really have fun going for our three mile runs and we play at the park the rest if the morning. I treasure these last moments because they will be gone soon and I will be out on the trail by myself while everyone's at school. I love you my lil buddy!! 

Hockey Hair Is Gone

I let him grow out his hair all season. He went six months without a haircut! It was so long and thick! I finally know what color his hair is!! 

Hockey and the Beach

We had one last away Saturday game in Wilmington, NC. Two games so left Raleigh at 6 am just me the boys and a hockey mom friend and her daughter. It was a fun day with a break in between at the beach. It was a chilly day for the beach but I'm not gonna miss seeing the beach or ocean when I'm that close. Something about the water and the beach being me a sense of peace! To me it's beautiful at any temperature. It's about giving my kids that memory because Cooper will not remember the scores of those game but I'm sure he will remember stuffing his pockets full of seashells to bring home and Jordan too. Throwing rocks into the ocean and watching the surfers in February is amazing to this MN born momma!! Then Walking out to the end of the pier and watching the waves crashing underneath us. I want them to remember those special times! That's what I treasure! 

snowmagedden 2014

February 12, 2014 was a day in history in NC and we were here to be a part of that weather history.

Charlie was in the middle of it literally!

He left work at 1:45 pm got home at 6:30 pm. I wasn't worried about him since he has the hummer. I figured he would take the ditch if he had to. I was worried he would run out of gas in that traffic! People were just leaving their cars in the middle of the road and saying to heck with it. Who does that??? 

North Carolina can't deal with winter!!!! 

Mr. Mom

In recovering from my surgery, my husband had to take on the roll as Mr. Mom... He has not had to do this in a long time and remember when I had Jordan, it wasn't as difficult taking care of just Braedyn and Cooper who were 3 and 5.  I was able to at least get up and help with things. He now has a 10, 7, and 4 year old to take care of and a wife who can't get out of bed and is drugged up on pain meds for a couple days and has to remain in bed for the most part of a week. How he quickly had a new appreciation for the job title of MOM. For those of you who know my husband, you are picturing it in your head and chuckling to yourself! My parents cannot make it out here til April and Charlie's parents are not able to travel right now either. We are in this together...Team J!

Those of you who know me well, which are the people reading these blog posts since it's only you who read these, I don't sit still, I don't lay around and do nothing, I am always on the go, I am exercising, running, chasing boys, carpooling, playing with Jordan, homeschooling Jordan, transporting kids every which direction, doing homework, making meals, cleaning house, keeping schedules, and taking care of Jake our four legged child. You can imagine what it's going to be like for me. 

I have to say it was wonderful being waited on, food and drinks brought to me and my meds on schedule, and help to get to the bathroom. It was nice to have this break although it would be nice without the surfboard pad or ice pack between my legs!  Charlie has been a wonderful help and he has not only helped me but kept the house picked up, the boys went to school with homework done, matching clothes that were appropriate for winter, they had lunches ( I am assuming they were healthy, lets just say they were because it was successful if it made it to school), no one was seriously hurt, they didn't starve, and the toilets were even clean! He did great. 

The boys are very loud, they like to run and jump in the house, and are your typical boys. They fight, they argue they fight some more. They have a few punches, or I hear "get off of me" coming from the living room, or "don't touch me" or "don't sit by me", or "don't put boogers on me". Then I finally hear Charlie giving them wordly wisdom before starting to yell. I am pretty sure they are now not supposed to ever be able to go anywhere, be on any electronical device, never get anything from the store and not get to stay up late, and stay in their room for the rest of the day. They like to test us! I think they test Charlie more than me!

One night Charlie had come in the bedroom and told Braedyn to get ready for dinner he was heating it up. We are so lucky to have had great friends bring us food through this for us to heat and reheat which has been great for Charlie...He didn't have to "cook". He said what we were having and Braedyn was not happy about the menu. Then Charlie said, "do you know how hard this is for me", and Braedyn whispered to me "It's not hard for you". Then he also was asking me "when can you get up again, I like hanging out with dad but I like hanging out with dad watching sports or doing stuff outside." 

The boys have an appreciation for all mom does too since they have had to do pretty much everything by themselves if dad wasn't here. I spoil them I have decided...at the moment my 7 1/2 year old says, "mom, I'm going poop", and I say well then go...and he says "oh man you can't get up and wipe my butt". 

My oldest, Braedyn has been awesome! He is a little gentleman. He comes in and snuggles with me and tells me not to get up and asks me what I need. This morning I was so ill from the pain meds and Charlie left for work, he got out in the kitchen and made sure everyone had breakfast and their vitamins and he took his own allergy medicine.  We are on such a tight schedule normally and I run a tight ship around here so they know the rules, the schedules, where everything is and what we do so they had it down pretty well. Can you believe the house is even "clean" and beds are made as I type this right now. They all helped each other make their beds this morning. It is these glimpses of awesomeness that I can pat my back and say I think I have done good and I deserve this little break. I am going to sit back and kick my heels up for a bit. Let them take care of me for once. I am also taking a break from running for six weeks per Dr. which allow me some quality time and fun trips with Jordan to different parks, museums, and day adventures. I am looking forward to that with my baby. 

This break has come at a perfect time after a long tiring hockey season and before baseball gets into full swing. If someone notices a few new gray hairs on Charlie, I may have contributed to that these next couple weeks! 

A Chapter Closed

Rewind 10 years ago I thought I had a normal birthing experience with Braedyn, albeit painful and LONG I did not have anything to compare it to. He was a healthy 7 pounds 21 inches long little baby boy. Since it was my first, there was a lot of vaginal trauma (as my Dr. puts it) and the Dr. never stitiched my up correctly. I then had 10 pound Cooper and almost 9 pound Jordan...the weight of those two and add in the previous trauma, I'm surprised my insides weren't falling out! I realized the first one was not normal and as time went on and my problems worsened with that area of my body, I needed to fix it when I was done having children. It was becoming a self confidence thing even more so than my deflated and dissappearing boobs. It is emabarrasing to talk about it but I am sure any woman who has multiple births can attest to some of my feelings. Things are never the same!

I had numerous side effects from my Mirena IUD that I had put in after Jordan was born and decided it was time to take it out and look into other options now that we were done having children. It was time to speak to the Dr. about sterilization because I wanted to go in and have my other issues taken care of as well. 

I was having a hard time emotionally with knowing I was done having little babies around my house. It is over. I am moving on to another chapter in my  life.  When your grandparents and parents tell you make sure you enjoy every minute and savor the moments because they go fast~THEY ARE CORRECT! It does go too fast. My baby is starting kindergarten this July! I had to be ok with this decision as a vasectomy can be reversed this cannot! I think if we lived near family in MN or SD we might have had the discussion of another child but now it is not feasible. I run crazy right now and that wouldn't be fair to another child. It is hard enough to find time for all three right now and juggle their schedules. Try to throw in naps and feedings with a newborn I would be in the looney bin for sure. After I finally was ok with the finality of it I went in and had my pre op appointment. 

The decision was to have an Essure placed for sterilization which is an option now instead of a normal tubal ligation where they go through your uterus and place tiny things in your fallopian tubes that eventually tissue grows around them to close it off instead of having to cut into your tummy and have that recovery time. Then have a posterior repair to repair a rectal prolapse that created a rectocele in the wall of my vagina. A rectal prolapse happens when part of your rectum bulges into your vagina wall and creates a bulge at the opening. They cut open the wall of your vagina take the bulge out and suture it back up. That prolapse can happen during labor/childbirth. Then also had scar tissue removed from the first born when they didn't stitch me up correctly. My Dr. said it will be like brand new and will be like before you had children...I am sure you can imgaine what my husband said to that! 

It's an added bonus...

I was very nervous about the procedure and I don't do well with anesthesia. I don't know if I was more nervous about the actual procedure or the recovery! How was I going to be sendentary for a week with three active boys at home and no family around to help. I know what it was like to have Breadyn but he said it will be a little worse than your first childbirth experience. So I kind of knew what to anticipate. 

Charlie took the day off and planned on being home with me for the next five days. He and Jordan took me to the hospital and it was an outpatient surgery. We checked in at 11:00 am and went back at about 12:30 and all I know is I was home by 8:00. While recovering they found a couple things; I do not do anesthesia well at all, I was very very sick from that and kept turning all sorts of whites and greens. and I have a heart arrythmia that is a newly found condition that know one has ever found before. The Anesthesiologist called it Bigeminy (bi-gem-i-ne). It is an abnormal heart beat...It describes a state where your heart alternates one "normal" beat with one "premature" beat. It is describes as two beats close together with a pause following each pair of beats....kind of like boom, boom, pause... He said it was from my running. My resting heart rate is only 40 which is low but that of an endurance athelete and they see it alot in endurance atheletes. It is not to be of concern unless I have other issues. We do have a lot of heart conditions in my family so it was scary but is something to be aware of and keep an eye on and let my Dr. know about it. That was interesting to find out about it. It was a long evening and they asked if I wanted to stay because I was just not coming out of the nausea and pain but I wanted to come home in my own bed and I knew my husband would take care of me. 

I have many stitches up inside me in and around that whole area....an area that probably has the most nerve endings! It is very painful and I advise don't do it unless you absolutely have to! Peeing was like after labor with your peri bottle and you have to take laxatives or Miralax because there are stitiches running inside along your rectum wall...you don't want those to rip open. 

I have Oxy for pain and lots of ibuprofen which Charlie was great on keeping up with it because I wasn't even able to get out bed for two days! If I had to go to the bathroom he was holding me up while I hobbled into the bathroom. 

This is the 6th day in my bed. I am still nauseated from the pain meds still sore on the bottom but not as tender since I can pee without screaming! The swelling has gone down so I can feel the stitiches pulling my skin tight. I am able to get up without help but very slowly. I realized one day when I thought I had a second wind I cannot be up more than a few minutes at a time. Then it is back to bed. 

Saltines have been my diet. It will be a long six week recovery period but it will be worth it in the end. 

The things children do to us physically, emotionally, and spiritually Dr.s can not even tell you what to expect when they come out and what we go through but I wouldn't change it for the world! I love my munchkins!!!

Now back to a nap! 

Baseball Tryouts

Baseball tryout time again and Braedyn wanted to try out for the 10U Elite Hawks travel ball out of Hillsborough. We agreed to let him try out and he was excited for it. He knew there would be a lot of talented kids showing up. He has worked hard with his dad on his skills and it paid off. He made the team. I was so proud of him! 

He got back on the horse. He tried out two years ago for a travel team and didn't make it but that didn't discourage him. He knew what he needed to work on and he also knew what tryouts were going to be like this time. He was better prepared. The last time it broke my heart more than his to have to tell him and I was hoping I wasn't going to have to be the bearer of that news again.

He went to tryouts and I believe there were about 17 kids trying out and they took 12.

Charlie and I are very proud of him. We are also looking forward to a fun travel spring season. We know most of the families from playing rec ball all these years in the same organization. Each sporting season begins a start of a new family....

One is done the next one starts...

Hockey ended this weekend and we have a little bit of down time in between. 

Cooper starts his rec baseball season in a couple weeks too... so now we switch gears but it will be nice to be outside in the nice warm sun and have a break from the cold ice rink!

Basketball Boys of White Cross

They all get to play basketball this year. Braedyn and Cooper on the same team and Jordan in the 4-6 year old team. It's hysterical to watch Jordan play. The other two are intense it's fun to watch them and daddy's the coach! They look for each other to pass to. It's a fun Friday night! 

A Season Lived and Learned

Cooper is done with his travel hockey season and though it was a year met with growing pains with a newly formed team and organization, he seemed to have had a fun year and take away some good skating skills. He made some good friends and I made some good hockey mom friends! A first year squirt as a 7 year old was an eye opener for he and I.  He now has no fear of taking on kids twice his size and he is wide open like always. He works hard every shift. He got three goals and saw a few times in the penalty box. Cooper is intense. I also saw how stressful it can be to be a hockey mom with a son on a travel team. Also just like in any sport there's lots of political stuff. We learned a lot about travel hockey in NC. I don't think we will be doing that again for awhile. It took a toll on me and it took me to realize, at this age, what I think they need most is ice time whether it be ADM or full ice...travel or house...Just being on the ice is most important. I wish I could give that free ice to him by living in MN but we don't have that opportunity nor do I have a husband who has previous hockey experience. I hope people know how lucky they are who have young kids like mine that all they want to do is play hockey and you don't have the wonderful opportunity to send them outside to play and goof off on the ice. That is where they learn valuable lessons and techniques with their friends or just by themselves...mine would never come in!

a few challenges that I face In NC are:

1. A Drive to the rink usually at least 30 minutes

2. Find open hockey/stick and puck times and pay 10-12$ for hour and 15 minutes per kid

3. you might have to watch out for flying pucks because at stick and puck its all ages! Older guys usually watch out for the kids but the teenagers are slinging pucks without watching whose in the way.

3. there is limited ice time and few rinks

4. to rent ice whole sheet is 200$ an hour

5. most of your ice time is "coached" ice time not just for screwing around.

6. to get quality coaching you have to search it out since most people that are Charlie's age around here have never been on the ice let alone know the rules or skills.

7. the cost is actually ridiculous compared to back home in MN to even play at a house level and that is just to sign up. (Actually kind of embarrassed to say the amount we paid compared to what some of my MN friends pay for a squirt team.)

Well I guess it could be worse ~ we could live in a place with no rinks!

It is a competitive and small community in North Carolina with most of the travel programs being in Raleigh which is not close for us but I love hockey and love that the boys love to play, so we will continue make it happen as long as they want to. 

Next year, I gave Cooper an option which ended up working in my favor. He chose to just play house, have fun, play with his friends, and brothers in a closer rink in Hillsborough. So he will play house but also get some other training on the side to keep his skills up for tryouts the following year when he can and actually is the right age to be on a Squirt travel team!  I want him to have fun and enjoy the games.

Coming from MN you know the small percentages that actually make it into even college with a hockey scholarship! So here you are kind of throwing away a lot of money for fun at this age! I haven't heard of any D1 scholarships hailing from NC! When he is older and serious about it, I will listen, but right now I have come to the realization if your kid is good, he will be good, but its up to him and he is a kid so let him be a kid right now! There are lots of other things out there to try, unfortunately mine likes hockey and it can take a hit to the pocket book but maybe he will change his mind as he gets a little older. I don't want to have spent all this money and he wants to do something else in the end. I want to be able to offer them the opportunities they want to try and not be hockey broke!

It's easy to get caught up in this competitive world but I learned and sat back after this season to reflect on it and say it's not my decision, it's my son's. You want them to succeed at what they want to do so as a parent you search out the best teams, the best coaches, the best programs, the private lessons....but in the end is that really what he or she wants or do they just want to be on the ice....

chances are, if they are like my boys....they just want to be on the ice...

If I could swap out all the money we shelled out this year for hockey and the money I will probably spend for him just for them to get some ice time ~we could have put a rink in here at home...a synthetic one. maybe we outta look into that since I don't see us moving to the tundra in the near future :)

The Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi or in Team J house

The Olympics are always an exciting time of year around our household. The boys enjoy it as much as we do. 

It started off with snowboarding and now Cooper is begging for a new snowboard and he wants to go to Minnesota and move there so he can become a snowboarder...he is so funny. We have not even taken the boys to the mountains in NC to go skiing. We now know something that they would love to do. Little do they know there is a huge difference than MN skiing/snowboarding than actual mountains. I would love to make a trip up there sometime too.  The last time I went skiing didn't go as well as planned so first things first....lessons!

Our morning routine included getting in minutes of watching the Olympics in the mornings while waiting for our rides.They even got in the spirit by acting out certain sports. 

We got a snowstorm here in NC while the Olympics were going on so they built a USA snowman, turned the slide into a luge and decided to turn the driveway into a speedskating track...

They watched the hockey game over and over again. Cooper said he is going to be in the Olympics someday...dream big my boy!

After the Olympics were kind of going thru withdrawal...Go Team USA!