Addictions-

Just recently for the season of Lent I gave up fast food, in the form of burgers, fries, chicken nuggets etc.  However I could not manage to cut out pizza...it is just not something I have the strength to do.  But back to no fatty fast foods.  So I thought it would also assist in the weight loss effort.  For as many of you may or may not know, fast food is my absolute weakness.  We pick up burgers ALL too often, courtesy of our schedule.  It is an awful habit we picked up while Omar played ball and stuck.  When giving up one habit I in avertedly started supplementing fatty foods with sweets!  Cupcakes became a common visitor in our home.  I know Lent has not been going on THAT long, how much damage could I have done... trust me folks, it was bad.  But they had to be Publix cupcakes, not even my own.  I am a sucker for  their butter cream frosting.  Just recently in another effort to shake my sweet tooth I have picked up yet another vice!  This one is slightly less fatty...roasted corn!  Delicious roasted kernels, and occasionally I will accompany my snack with a Malta.  Maltas are super fatty though, like 225 calories each, so I am limiting myself to one a day.  And I feel like my little snacks have also kept me pretty full most of the day and keep me from stuffing my face during meals.  In retrospect, I guess you can say that my fast food addictions have lead me to eating a little healthier.  I am hoping once Easter passes I can stay away from it with a little less effort.  Don’t get me wrong, I jones bad for my fatty foods...but my will power is getting stronger. 

Feeling Nostalgic

Every so often I look back at old pictures.  I am such a fan of taking pictures at all times.  My husband humors me and participates, but really does not appreciate my photog tendencies.  Tonight while scrolling through some relatively old pictures on snapfish I stumbled upon a set which captures my eagerness and Omar’s lack of cooperation towards capturing that perfect moment.  To set the scene, these were snapped after a game in Davenport...the only reason so many were taken was because the first one we self- portraited (is that even a word!) I thought my hair looked a little crazy, plus I have a blinking dilemma...

take one

take two

 

take three

success!

  

(*After the third debacle, I advised him it was in his best interest to stop with the funny faces because I was only going to make him continue to take pictures until we got it right...lol)

While looking through 2007’s season pictures I got all emotional when I saw these two little pups.

My little Coco and Peanut... when they were still the babies in our lives.  Poor little guys, they were so spoiled.  I get sad when I think about how they must feel neglected now that the boys rule our world.  And OMG--- check out my locks!  I miss my hair being that long, but oh the comfort of having short hair makes me know it was worth chopping it off.

Just one more picture for the soul purpose of missing my hair...lol.  Although the angle (another self portrait) makes it look like there is a flame on the top of my head!!!  Just another pre-baby picture taken at the cabin.  I also secretly miss O’s braids.  I know they are hood and whatever...but I actually really like them.  I try to convince him ALL the time to grow it out again and braid it, never gives in.  Says the in between stage is too annoying.  But I am persistent and hope he will give in one day, perhaps when he has a mid-life crisis.

One Down

I met my friend A.J. (Anthony Joshua) back in seventh grade (a year after I met Omar!) when he transferred middle schools.  Since then we went to different high schools, colleges (kinda), boyfriends/ girlfriends, wedding (mine) and pregnancies (also mine) and are still pretty close friends.  Close as I guess we could be with two very different lives.  In my life my oldest friends are (in order of appearance into my life lol)  Omar, Cameron and A.J. ...Darlene came into the picture in 10th grade. So imagine how insane it is to realize that one of us is 30!  I mean, yes obviously we are not ancient or ready for a nursing home… but seriously 30?  I for one still feel so young, like I can keep up with the kids (although OMG I call them kids--- first sign you are old!)  For his birthday his (very sweet) girl friend Norma planned a too thoughtful VIP bottle filled evening at Blue Martini.  A little short notice, but I hooked him up with a small little pull a part cake :0)  Happy Birthday old friend...I cannot believe our bond is 18 years old and counting.  You are such a special friend to me and to my growing family.  Thank you for sharing your day with us, and thank you for staying part of our every evolving lives.  oxoxo, US!

In case you were wondering...

I am not sure how many (if any) have ever wondered if those lovely little creations Mr. Clean Magic Erasers really do clean any and everything.  Well folks I am here to tell you they were not meant for every surface.  What had happened was... (lol) I decided to tackle some little home projects, one of which was painting some parts of the ceiling.  About 10 months ago when we painted (yes I know bare with me on the time frame- it happens) some small parts of the ceiling were painted along the edges.  So I decided I would spray those pesky marks right off!!!  Scurried on down to Home Depot, (which I am not sure if it’s an odd thing but I love going there) and bought a can of ceiling paint and went to work.  In the process I got a couple of specks on my arms and a pretty big one on my right hand.  When done I tried washing it out only to have this genius idea...MAGIC ERASERS, they get every thing out so easily, surely they are the answer.  W-R-O-N-G!!!!  All I can say is thank goodness I did not rub it up and down my arms as I had first intended.  I have always wondered what those babies are made of...I think I figured it out- white sand paper.

Mommyhood and all the stuff people forgot to tell tell you about

I find that becoming a mother is the most fulfilling thing I have ever had the privilege to do.  I am thank God every day that he has blessed me with two healthy energetic boys, and hope he blesses us with a little girl one day.  Before I became a parent I heard all the enjoy them, they grow quick variations, and it is the best feeling speech.  And quite honestly it is so true... a) you will never imagine the love you have for your children until you hold them in your arms.You think you know, but it is not until you hold them that it hits you and b) these little boogers grow so quickly, I have days where I want to freeze them and keep them at this stage for another year or two (or five) when Papa and Mama are the best and all knowing beings alive.

And than there is all the real "fun" stuff no one decided to warn you about.  I  think the first is, just because both children are made up of the same genes they will be NOTHING alike.  Omi and Aiden are almost night and day, and pretty much sleep in shifts, just to assure neither of their parents decide  to add another little one to their pack.

Did you know that potty training is an event you look forward to, only to realize that public bathrooms are disgusting and would much rather your little one use their undies.  Which any parent stuck in the midst of diaper to undies transition knows "Mama, peepee in the toilet" means RUN your minutes are limited, very limited.  I can’t complain about this too much though, Omi has had maybe 2 accidents and  they were both at home.  And really neither were his fault, just mama not being quick enough at getting those pesky slacks off.

Brushing your teeth is a luxury some days- enough said.

Combing your hair, even less a priority than brushing your teeth. LOL... how big of a slob must I sound like?  Don’t judge

Everyone advises you to sleep and rest when they do, that way you have the energy to continue to run after them when they wake from their slumber.  What they didn’t tell you?  If you sleep when they do NOTHING will get completed,  the only time you have without them (literally) tugging at your ankles is when they are sleeping.  So put on the battery pack and get to working Cinderella!

THERE ARE NO BATHROOM BREAKS... EVER.  I for one usually have an audience present.

And before I scare you non parents into rethinking of having children... let me stop.  Children are the BEST.  I would not trade all the madness in our lives for any thing in the world, and DO enjoy it all to the fullest and with open arms.

The hangover after a Getaway

No I am not drunk!!!  I actually cannot recall the last time I sipped alcohol.  Have you guys seen the Everybody Love Raymond episode where Deborah gets a DIU???  HA ha ha ha... when she goes in for the hearing to have her license reinstated she tells the hearing officer "I should be drunk every day"--- let us say that I have had a few of those days back to back this week. 

No one enjoys vacations more than I, period.  There are a number of reasons, more so because it means I get to pry O away from FBC from a couple of days.  Which anyone who knows O, that phone is his life line and there is always what I have come to address as baseball emergencies.This past weekend we headed to Orlando (again) with some of the fam.  We went to celebrate little Gabriel’s first birthday.  Omar and Danny were loving life, and I am pretty sure they feel that the get away was for the soul purpose of them being able to spend some quality time together. We only went up for a weekend, but it was just the right amount of time to throw my routine out of whack. 

The boys LOVED Chef Mickey's.  Omar’s wallet was not as thrilled, but the kids is really what it is all about.  They all loved being able to "eat" with the characters.  Their favorite part?  The napkin twirling of course!

 

This picture ladies and gentlemen is the reason Mr.. Falcon is not allowed to photograph important moments.  He takes one shot, make it count--- regardless of the end result.  Hence why I am rarely photographed, if I want a decent picture I need to be at helms.

Check out Buzz getting a little fresh, with his hand on my bottom…. tsk tsk

In case you are saying to yourself, hey this picture doesn’t look bad cut Omar some slack- it was not taken by him.  (lol thanks Angie)

 

And last but definitely not least, what I consider a getaway hangover.  Laundry- and lots of it.  The laundry we get to carry back after the fun, plus (not pictured) the laundry that was left unattended before we left.  And yes, that is my precious oldest son Peanut pictured laying on the pile. 

Oh my goodness!!!  Can you imagine that I just realized that I had never posted a single picture from when we took the boys to Disney back in November???  Seriously, I’m out of it.  I will try to post a couple Mickey shots next time.  Until than here are some shots of the absolutely cutest boys alive...I get the urge to bite them all the time (and some times do!)