Two Little McMonkeys

He’s 4 years old!

2011-02-06T07:37:00.001-06:00

4 years ago I was on the way to the hospital, hoping I would make it in time, and wondering who this little boy I was about to meet would be.

I have to admit that he quite surpassed any expectations I may have had. He was born with big curious eyes that took in the world around him. In hindsight, I think he was just taking it all in for the day he would be mobile.

His imagination and creativity have always been evident in the latest “You won’t believe what Bryce did” stories but his mommy knows how big his heart is. Several times a day he kisses me on a whim and is always looking for someone who might “hold you” or “shuggle” when he gets a little tired.

He’s a peacekeeper and a leader and keeps us in line around here

and he is health conscious and leads Yoga sessions in the family room in an attempt to keep us fit and mellow.

He is full of love and energy and laughter and he’s ours!

Happy 4th Birthday, Bryce!

We love you!

Happy Birthday, Ella!

2010-12-14T11:50:00.001-06:00

Just in case you were wondering, this is what 6 looks like! Our sweet, beautiful and spunky little girl arrived 6 years ago and has kept us laughing every day since!

Ella is all the best things in life rolled into one little pint sized body. She loves glitter and glam and fancy shoes. She loves digging in the dirt, adventuring in the woods, and rolling in the yard with the dogs. She loves snuggling in bed, reading books, and coloring the most amazing pictures.

But by far the best thing about Ella is she LOVES! She loves everyone without fail and everyone she meets loves her; but no one loves her as much as her mom and dad!

Happy Birthday, sweet princess!

A Week of Firsts

2010-08-14T14:06:00.001-05:00

This week has been filled with backpacks, lunch totes and nap mats. That’s right. It’s back to school time. Actually, it’s just school time since this week has been a week of firsts in the McCleary house.

This little doll started Kindergarten this week. I do not think I have ever seen a little girl more excited about school. She has bounced around all week and takes particular pride in how “big” she is now.

One of my favorite moments this week was when she came home marveling at how you can get ice cream out of the freezer at school and there’s “no money”. She hasn’t quite figured out that mom and dad deposit money into her lunchroom account! I love my Ella so much and she just adores everyone and everything!

Also this week, Bryce started preschool. He loves school and bounces into the building 3 mornings a week. Unfortunately, he bounces through the day and is having a little difficulty sitting in his chair and walking in line. In fact, his monkey went to “monkey jail” this week. oops! He assures us that next week will be better and we’re working toward a more tame Bryce. Let us pause for a moment of prayer. :-)

It has been a great week overall but I have to admit that I miss my babies terribly. I count down the minutes each day until I can pick them up. Jake says this part will get better but I think it may be a little while. However, I love watching my tired little boy who can’t manage to make it through the car rider line without a little nap. I think I may have found a little magic in the waiting.

Cookin’ in the Kitchen

2010-07-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

Someone has become a big helper in the kitchen lately. I can’t stand next to the counter without hearing a chair scrape across the floor and a little voice saying “I can help you.”

It’s a precious gift for a mom to get to teach her little ones kitchen skills. I just think we may need to work a little on the wardrobe.

Fishy, fishy swim

2010-07-26T17:30:00.001-05:00

Today is the first day of swim lessons. I know, the Summer has almost left us but it’s been a busy one and it’s the earliest we could fit them into the game. The kiddos don’t mind the delay and are completely psyched and ready to go.

They both dressed themselves. One of them does a little better job than the other. Someone may have his swim trunks on backward but don’t mention it. I mean, really don’t waste your breathe. He’s dressed, he’s ready to swim and they both look perfect!

Dance Little Doll

2010-07-23T10:24:00.001-05:00

Ella christened the Summer with her first dance recital at Steps of Faith Performing Arts Center. She was a delight to watch but the real fun was backstage. She twisted and twirled and marveled at her hair and make-up and costumes. It was all Ella in her purest form!

Don’t get me wrong. She took her job seriously and practiced her poses with her carefully perfected ballerina face and posture.

Until she realized that she was dressed and fluffed and needed to go potty. Go figure! It turns out that I peeled her out of her three layers of costume for a false alarm. Good grief! It’s good that I love this one so much!

After her beautiful ballet performance, we moved onto the exciting 10 Commandment Boogie tap. This dance was made for my girl and she felt it the instant she put on her costume. Her energy was contagious and I couldn’t help but laugh! Just look at my girl!

After my darling’s performances we marveled at how she sang along with each song. She quickly informed us that she was reciting her moves (shuffle, shuffle, step…). Serious I say!

She was over the moon at the receipt of her medal and flowers.

Ella considers herself a professional dancer, now. In fact, she watched a group break dancing in the park last week and has been practicing ever since. I’m a little concerned about her neck! Dance classes can’t start back soon enough.

Happy Father’s Day!

2010-06-21T12:39:00.001-05:00

This guy is the best father I know.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. He’s the calm in the storm. Jake has a patience that brings a relaxed atmosphere to our home. Those tasks that make me crazy, like dressing an unwilling 3 year old for church, appear easy when he does them.

2. He’s a natural adventurer. Drop by anytime and you may find a reptile in a box, a water park in the front yard or a hotdog roast by the creek. He’s instilled this spirit in our children and he helps me to let go and live.

3.He can grow a crazy good beard and he knows when the beard has outgrown its welcome!

4. He loves us all in spite of ourselves and he is never surprised when he comes home and finds this

or this

5. He’s good with tools! Seriously, he can build and/or fix anything. It’s almost ridiculous!

Best of all he’s ours! Happy Father’s Day, Love!

Batten down the hatches…

2010-06-12T20:38:00.001-05:00

We’ve had a bit of an accident around here. I’ve felt the necessity to write about it but just have not been able to bring myself to relive the events.

The result of the accident is this…

But relax, he’s still Bryce.

A couple of weeks ago my little monkey attempted to climb his chest of drawers to find his favorite pair of pajamas. While climbing, his chest fell upon him and when I found him he was completely pinned underneath it. I was there within seconds and adrenaline allowed me to lift it off him before Jake arrived and turned it back upright. An immediate assessment told us that we were ER bound. Bryce had a gaping wound on his forehead and cuts around his right eye.

By the time we arrived at the emergency room, Bryce’s face had swollen considerably and he was completely calm. It was bedtime and all the excitement had made him sleepy but it sure didn’t help his mommy’s heart.

Bryce ultimately received a CT scan because they suspected he may have broken some bones around his eye. The scan came back clear. Praise the Lord! Bryce was the (unwilling) recipient of 8 stitches in his forehead. It took 4 of us to hold him down and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the screaming. My little guy has a big vocabulary and he used every word he knew. Phrases included:

“Stop doctoring me, doctor”

“Don’t you do that again, doctor”

“You are scratching my eyes out. Stop it!” (because his eyes were draped and he’s a little bit dramatic)

In hindsight, I’m proud of his spunk! I have no doubt that this strength aided him in this ordeal. In fact, I have thanked God everyday since that my sweet hard headed boy never lost consciousness, a fact that seemed to amaze the doctors and nurses. I know that God took care of my baby that night.

Things could have been much worse. The seriousness of Bryce’s accident has changed a few things in our home. We’ve strapped large furniture to the walls and screwed it directly into the studs. If you’ve got a little monkey in your home, I encourage you to do the same. I can tell you that there are worse things than a few holes in your sheet rock.

On a lighter note, my little man is recovering well

and things are pretty much back to normal.

love,

A moment in time

2010-04-14T16:08:00.001-05:00

At least once a week I think to myself that I would like to freeze my kids in time and remember them at this exact moment. On the other hand, at least 20 times a week I say I prayer that I’ll survive this exact moment.

Today I’d like to remember my sweet Ella’s gappy smile. She loves to tell me that people think she “loosed” a tooth but she didn’t really “loosed” a tooth, yet. Someday that gap will be replaced by big girl teeth and I’ll be a little sad.

I also love that I can’t take a picture of her without her holding her arms in the air in a dramatic pose. That’s my free spirited, happy go lucky girl!

This is the look that is so purely 3 year old Bryce. In fact, he has given me a version of this look since he was a little baby and will probably continue through adulthood.

Bryce is my quiet thinker with an energy level as high as his hair. He is moody and wild and steals everyone’s hearts.

Today’s a fantastic day for sunshine and smiles and good memories.

Easter in our house

2010-04-05T11:20:00.001-05:00

I love my children. They are spunky, creative, and independent thinkers. There are a few times in life that I would like to reign these qualities in a notch, family Easter pictures being high on the list.

Each year I set of goal of capturing that perfect shot of the whole family in their Easter best and, while the photographs are being taken, I actually convince myself that it went well. However, upon closer review, I realize that our Easter portraits, although not perfect, exemplify our lives.

We did manage to capture a couple of lovely moments, but that family photo still eludes us.

A Budding Artist

2010-04-01T13:58:00.001-05:00

My sweet Ella loves to draw. She can color for hours and loves to find new ways to express her inner creativity. I'm her biggest fan. I encourage her to express herself. Unfortunately, yesterday’s medium took the Ra out of my cheer!

I heard giggling. This is easily one of the best sounds God ever made. I then heard my sweet baby boy say, “Ella made me silly.”

As I rounded the corner, here’s the view I encountered.

That’s dry erase marker and an elephant on my little man’s cheek. Brilliant, huh?

Someday this will be the head shot she’ll use in her artwork portfolio.

Bryce felt pretty bad about the whole ordeal. Can’t you tell?

He’s Growing Up

2010-03-10T13:55:00.001-06:00

He’s big enough for a moustache but

too little to outrun Mr. Nap.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

2010-03-05T12:32:00.001-06:00

Ella’s school celebrated this special week with a week full of crazy days! My little girl lives for an excuse to “dress the part” and typically reinvents her look 6 or 7 times a day. This week was made for her.

We started each day with a short photo shoot. The results make me laugh because they are so genuinely Ella!

CraZy sock day:

CraZy hair day:

CraZy Pajama day:

DRAMA LIVES HERE.

Change of plans

2010-02-14T10:15:00.001-06:00

What do you do if your Valentine’s Day gets covered in snow?

You snuggle into bed with the one you love and eat candy, of course!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

What a difference a day makes.

2010-02-06T08:51:00.001-06:00

While my baby boy slept last night he magically transformed from a precocious 2 year old into

a 3 year old BIG BOY!

Happy Birthday, Bryce!

A fashion icon in the making

2010-01-27T16:42:00.001-06:00

My big boy has learned to dress himself and even prefers to select his own clothing. Here is a sneak preview of tonight’s church outfit.

Divine don’t you think?

There’s freedom in pairing plaids and stripes and, honestly, the orientation of ones shirt is merely a matter of preference. No?

I really couldn’t criticize one element of this little outfit. Of course, I got stuck on those fluffy cheeks and that proud little smile.

We’re almost ready to roll and will be out of here just as soon as we find his firefighter boots!

Happy 5th Birthday, Baby Girl!

2009-12-14T09:09:00.001-06:00

Five years ago today I was in the hospital and I was crazy nervous about the new little girl I was about to meet. If only I had known how special she would be.

She has a heart that is twice as big as her little body and almost as big as her smile. She’s obsessed with animals of every kind and would save them all (in her bedroom) if we gave her the chance. She is already more than I had hoped for and she is mine.

Let the celebrations begin!

We have hired a nanny!

2009-11-25T10:01:00.001-06:00

She is great with the kids, works for next to nothing and is content to sleep in our unfinished basement. What a deal!

Our only complaint is that she is a little hairy and occasionally has a body odor issue but nobody’s perfect.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love means

2009-11-08T20:32:00.001-06:00

you never have to sleep alone.

On a scale of 1 to 10

2009-11-04T11:59:00.001-06:00

How wrong is it for me to just ease the running stroller into the kitchen after our morning trek?

Family Friends

2009-11-01T09:05:00.001-06:00

My little princess loves everybody and everything. It is a fantastic trait and one that I admire in her. It can, however, complicate life at times.

My husband picked up this little treat in the backyard this morning.

Yep, that’s a little snake.

My sweet girl dashed off and retrieved her Easter basket so that “Mr Snake” would be cozy. She’s so thoughtful.

She then started to plead her case for keeping the snake as her new pet. She countered every argument we gave and even interjected, “My friend Jackson has a pet snake.” Thanks, Jackson.

She then used the eyes. Pitiful and unfair!

(Yes, that is Spiderman inspecting the snake. We roll with the Super crowd.)

Unfortunately, Mommy is fairly immune to the eyes. My angel was pretty disgusted with my lack of compassion for her new friend, but the snake had to go.

We’re talking about a pet fish.

A single photograph

2009-07-29T16:54:00.001-05:00

can sometimes sum up an entire day.

It is good.

2009-07-01T13:04:00.001-05:00

Peanut Butter is good.

Naps are better.

Father’s Day 2009

2009-06-22T15:35:00.001-05:00

Father’s Day 2009

We took our annual Father’s Day picture yesterday and I can not help but marvel at how much the children have changed since last year. Ella looks a foot taller and Bryce has doubled in size. One thing hasn’t changed, though. Jake’s smile is exactly the same. What a nice constant.

Father’s Day 2008

High Fashion Surrounds Us

2009-05-04T08:58:00.001-05:00

Daddy watched the kids for a couple of hours this weekend and when I came home I found my little man rocking a new look.

While I’m not sure this is the direction I would have gone, I think we can all agree that he really owns it and is working the knee socks. It’s hard not to admire the confidence.

I would like to extend a special thanks to Bryce’s “design consultant” who helped make this look possible.

Daydreams…

2009-04-24T15:08:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I found Ella, my little dreamer, sitting in the grass playing with her ponies. She was so completely engulfed in her little world. It was magical to watch her.

But she eventually caught me watching…

and rewarded me with a booty shake (‘cause that’s how we roll in this house).

…just living the dream.

We brought the “wild life” to the zoo

2009-03-23T16:32:00.001-05:00

Spring Break came to a fantastic end with a visit to the zoo. It was, like any of our outings, a wild time.

Little man managed to stay in the stroller for a record 10 minutes before prying his way out and insisting he walk. Luckily, he seemed to have a reasonably healthy respect for the animals and we only caught him trying to do this

a couple of times.

My sweet princess was completely mesmerized by the animals and loved each one more than the last. She did, however, provide us with a running commentary regarding the “stinkiness” of each new animal we visited. That’s my girl!

Jake and I really enjoyed the day with our kids. The house building has caused us to miss more than a few workouts lately. At the zoo we did lots of heavy lifting, ran several sprints, and completed a 3 hour test of our endurance. Better than a gym!

We left the zoo with two happy little sleeping babies in the back seat and a napping mommy in the front seat.

That’s a good day!

The Leprechaun’s are at Work

2009-03-17T15:00:00.001-05:00

Today we celebrated St Patrick’s Day in style with green accessories, a St Patrick’s Day parade with Aunt Christie and even some leprechaun mischief.

My first little leprechaun is such a beauty and never fails to make me smile. She loved the parade and found that if she blew her whistle before she waved, she received a better response. What a smart girl! I love seeing the world through her eyes. It truly is magical.

My second little leprechaun was quite the charmer in his little green hat. He was pretty mellow during the parade as it fell near his nap time but he enjoyed the motorcycles and fire trucks.

This little leprechaun was also responsible for the day’s mischief.

1 case diapers + 1 box of paint =

5 minutes of crazy good fun!

(He used to diapers to reach the paint)

When I found him he said, “I paint” but he immediately stopped smiling when he read my expression. He had found himself in a sad state once again. He was caught painting the wall, wearing his sister’s Hello Kitty necklace and he had no where to run.

Today’s prayer: Thank you Lord for helping me laugh through the craziest days, for making my little busy one lovable despite himself, and especially for the “magic” in my Magic Eraser!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

2009-03-16T10:02:00.001-05:00

Dear Bryce,

Mama loves you so much and I can hardly believe that you have been two for a full month, now. My eyes still see you as that tiny little baby with the big curious eyes.

Two has been a particularly busy time in your little life, and I want you to know that I forgive you. I know you were just trying to help when you put the can in the microwave and pushed start. Next time, let’s empty the contents into a bowl first. And I completely understand that it was an accident when you emptied the gallon of milk onto the floor. The sour smell is gone now and there’s no permanent damage. Concerning the cookies, maybe you could just eat one or two next time and not take one bite out of each one. That will keep daddy happy.

Now is my turn to apologize. Mama’s so sorry she took your pacifier away. I know you didn’t mean it when you said

“Bad, Mama…no fair…Mama, take away”.

It was just the pacifier withdrawals talking. Please know that I just wanted you to avoid big bucked teeth in the future. I hope you will forgive me.

I look at your sweet little face and those busy hands and those still curious eyes and I worry. I know that your mind is working and developing a plan for your next adventure. I just pray that God gives me wisdom and strength to head you off at the pass because my heart beats a little faster each time I hear you say,

“I drive car.”

Love you with all my heart,

Mommy

It’s a Crazy Life

2009-01-16T14:05:00.001-06:00

Whew! We have been so busy around here since Christmas.

We have, unfortunately, had some more of this..

and, of course, lots of this..

and this..

We even had some of this (dry Kool-aid)..

He seemed very sorry.

But not really.

He did at least make an attempt at “sheepish.”

Happy Birthday Jesus & Ella

2008-12-22T08:01:00.001-06:00

December, as usual, has been a very busy month for us. We have celebrated 2 birthdays, traveled to the mountains, and attended more Christmas parties than I care to count. It has been fabulous, really.

My sweet angel turned 4 this month. I can’t believe it. She is such a big girl and carries herself with such grace. Honestly, you would think she is royalty.

The princess at her party

The barefoot (we’re southern) royal daughter perched on her throne (toy box) opening her gifts.

This was completely her idea!

The Princess Pony Castle

These birthday festivities have continued for weeks with parties at church and school. It has really evolved from a birthday to a birthmonth.

Despite the attention focused on my darling daughter, I have worked hard to keep the reason for the season at the front of our minds and often replace the word “Christmas” with “Happy Birthday, Jesus”. Lately, I’ve noticed that when I say “Happy Birthday, Jesus”; there’s always a little voice that adds “and Ella”.

We will probably try to tone things down next year but I will always remember the year that we celebrated

Happy Birthday Jesus and Ella!

Oops…

2008-11-23T15:20:00.001-06:00

“Mommy’s so sorry about your hair and I promise to never do it again.”

These are the words I whispered in my sweet baby boy’s ear as I lifted him out of his crib this morning. He looked at me with his big brown eyes and smiled and said,

“Kay.”

They forgive so easily.

Last night, with my husband as my #1 cheerleader, I attempted to trim my munchkin’s locks. Just a small trim. Not a big deal. One problem. He wiggles. This was nothing like that doll head I practiced on as a child.

The bright side is that I quickly recognized that things were not going well and I stopped. The result is not terribly pretty. There is not a straight line to be found and there is a decent amount of choppiness. However, in the midst of the ordeal, I had enough foresight to leave enough hair for my hairdresser to work with. We will visit her this week.

There are no pictures with this post. I just couldn’t do it. I assure you it’s not good. In fact, close friends and family have inspected my work and concurred that it’s not good. Luckily, my baby still has those big juicy lips and huge brown eyes.

Who’s looking at his hair anyway?

I have a little confession to make…

2008-11-21T15:47:00.001-06:00

I take pictures of my family while they sleep. I know that many people have the occasional “oh so cute” photograph of their sleeping angels. That’s not what I am talking about. My computer is the storehouse of many, many folders dedicated to the sleep positions of my husband and kids.

I really do not know why I do this. Maybe its because they all have so much energy. They are always moving, running, or jumping. Honestly, there is just no better time to guarantee a shot than after R.E.M. has kicked in.

These are a few of my favorites:

There are no rules when it comes to snuggling!

This one makes me smile every time!

Almost every night my very manly husband falls asleep in his daughter’s big fluffy, pink bed while she reads him a bedtime story!

This is today’s favorite. My little handsome fell asleep watching a toy commercial on TV. I am sure he is dreaming about Christmas!

They’ve got talent.

2008-11-14T16:23:00.001-06:00

Somebody has a misguided notion about where lip gloss should be applied…

He may have somehow learned this from his big sister.

She (at about the same age) did this…

Unfortunately, her tool of choice was a Sharpie.

They’ve got talent. We probably need to reign it in a little. Maybe apply a little polish, but they’ve got talent!

He’s a Big Boy!

2008-11-04T16:02:00.001-06:00

Our little man has learned how to open the refrigerator. He found this skill last week and has worked hard at honing it. As proud as I am of new accomplishments, I knew that this was not all good; but it is hard not to smile when you find your precious little one feasting on a healthy snack that he has acquired 100% on his own!

I know! He is glorious and those little sucker stained lips just make me want to kiss him head to toe. What a great day!

I whistled through the afternoon with my little man at my side. He even helped me fold laundry. What a good little boy. He eventually became bored with the bath towels and toddled off to find his own adventure.

Then I heard it, Silence. I went in search of my little prince.

Why? That’s all I could say. My little man had cracked at least a half dozen eggs on his little head. I fussed. I paced. I grabbed my camera (‘cause that’s just the kind of mom I am).

He said “Cheese!”.

Do you ever feel like you are just not being taken seriously?

Our Own Little Fairytale

2008-11-03T09:07:00.001-06:00

Halloween delivered to us a ferocious dinosaur and a beautiful flying ballerina princess.

Our Dinosaur roared on cue while still holding on to his “pap”.

Do not be fooled by those fluffy cheeks and big baby eyes. This dinosaur was quite strong and would take down the strongest man for a small taste of candy.

Our Ballerina flew all about town visiting family and church friends and finally landed back home in a big pile of this…

The Dinosaur & Ballerina appear to have developed quite a problem. They wake early in the morning bellowing for treats and crying over ailments that only candy can cure.

The Evil Duchess has hidden their stash high out of reach and will only dole it out after healthy meals. Will the Dinosaur & Princess overtake the Evil Duchess and win back their candy?

To be continued…

Our journey in pictures

2008-10-13T09:01:00.001-05:00

There is nothing I love better than looking at pictures of my family. Even the blurry ones make me smile.

Recently, as I perused our history in pictures I noticed that something (or better yet someone) was missing. I realized that some day my children will grow up and say, “Where was mom?” I became determined to find pictures of me with my family and I did.

Here’s a picture of my sweet baby and me at the park. It appears that one of us was just not into it, so I continued my search.

Here’s a recent photo of me with my beautiful children at my husband’s office. Once again, there appears to be a bit of distraction. I think we have a theme.

I then remembered our beach trip and felt confident I would find a nice picture there.

This pretty much sums it up. I think I will put my journey for the perfect picture to rest. I suppose that If I were honest with myself, I would admit that these photographs better reflect my journey than a posed portrait of a perfectly groomed and smiling family (but a girl can dream!).

Where’s my muffin?

2008-10-08T08:42:00.001-05:00

One day last week my husband made yummy chocolate chip muffins for breakfast. (I know. He’s a keeper!) I left mine on the kitchen counter while the coffee brewed. Upon returning to the kitchen, I discovered that my muffin was missing. There were however, a little pair of eyes watching me.

I asked those little eyes, “Have you seen my muffin?”

This was the response…

Definitely not guilty, huh? (note the grubby hands, cheeks, and countertop) I then asked, “Did Daddy sneak in here and eat my muffin?”

Immediate relief. Because I’m mommy and I can read minds, I knew he was thinking, “Yeah, that’s the ticket. Daddy ate the muffin. Let’s go with that. Good thinking, mommy!”

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer

2008-10-04T15:48:00.001-05:00

Before you get too excited, this is not an awe inspiring post aimed at getting you excited about the upcoming holiday season. Instead, this is a glimpse into what happens in my house when I’m not around.

One evening last week I was lounging on the couch, reading a book and enjoying a nice “me” moment. Little man was playing trucks and his big sister was floating around the house with a mini flashlight, a favorite toy. Life was good.

I was vaguely aware that my light wielding daughter was moving in my direction but I continued with my exercise in relaxation. Before I knew what happened, my sweet angel shoved her flashlight into my left nostril and peered at me with her big eyes. I was stunned and very still. She then said in her sweetest and most excited voice, “Sing the reindeer song, Mommy! Sing the reindeer song!”

I manage to remove the offending flashlight from my nose and with a little inquiry discovered that this is a game that Daddy taught my precious princess. Oh, thank-you, Daddy!

I then laughed until I cried or maybe it was just the residual effects of the flashlight.

Groceries, butterflies, and prayer

2008-09-29T15:11:00.001-05:00

I have to confess that I am not an organized person by nature (those who know me well are laughing at this understatement). However, something magical happens when I begin to prepare for grocery shopping. The result is a carefully organized list that allows me to do my shopping as quickly and efficiently as possible. I say this to preface today’s story. How do things go so terribly wrong?

As I shopped today, I attempted to make the food choices that would be healthiest for my family. I pondered the cereals and selected that highest in fiber, lowest in sugar, and most delicious. I even bought veggie corn dogs so that the kids can enjoy a yummy treat without all the extras that are bad for them. Then as I stood at the meat counter selecting the chicken breast we would have for dinner, I noticed my sweet angel out of the corner of my eye. What’s she doing? I then realized what was happening and all I could do was call on the Lord for strength. She had leaned over and was walking up and down the meat counter, licking it! One more time. She was licking the RAW meat counter! I think I blacked out for a moment.

The rest of the shopping trip was a blur. During checkout, the sweet lady at the register questioned me about all the opened items in my cart. I just pointed to the baby and continued loading the conveyer belt. My spirit was broken.

We were about to leave when our sweet customer service lady asks, “Is your daughter sick because her face looks sick?” This brings me out of my fog. I immediately think she has licked up some type of super germ that has quickly overtaken her little body (too much Dateline!). I then look at her precious face and can only laugh. You see, we attended a fabulous party this weekend that included face painting. My angel was painted like a beautiful butterfly. It appears that maybe we left the butterfly on a bit long and the result is an odd pink and blue mix that gives her a bizarre look that is somewhere between surprise and sickness.

My prayer for today is thank you Lord for our food, our family, and for face paint ‘cause it gave me a good laugh when I needed it. Oh, and please spare us from the meat counter super germs! Amen.

And this is why I love you today…

2008-09-22T14:53:00.001-05:00

Baby boy, I love you for so many reason but these are a few for today.

You are such a big boy and have learned how to climb out of your crib all by yourself. I was able to witness this feat today and while it gave me pause to see you dangling, unsupported from your bed; I applaud your courage. You are a superhero!

When you threw up this morning you were so considerate and managed to do it in the bathtub (with your big sister). It was so thoughtful of you to save mommy the chore of cleaning the carpet. What a wonderful little man!

When I rescued you from the yucky tub, you clung to me and made me feel like the most important person in the world. You smiled at me in a way that let me know that we were all going to be okay. You are a comforter.

Despite your sickness, you still managed to muster up enough energy to climb upon the kitchen table, peer out the window and talk to the lawnmower. You really are a champ!

Sweet girl, you know Mommy loves you so much! You gave me so many reasons today.

You are so creative and have renamed your baby brother, Baby Sephoe. I don’t know where this name came from but it seems to fit and I am so proud of your creativity. You are an artist.

When Baby Sephoe spilled (your term) in your bathtub this morning (and on you and your toys and your towel) you proclaimed that we had an emergency on our hands and immediately rushed into action. You have a heart for adventure and are always eager to help. You are a rescuer!

Even whilst we all huddled together in the shower trying to wash away the remnants of the emergency, you pointed out the sillier points of mommy’s anatomy and giggled. You bring humor to every situation. (even if I don’t always laugh!) You are my own little comedian!

When it was time to rest, you asked if I would snuggle you on the couch and you said to me, “Mommy, you’re my best friend.” Baby girl, you are my best friend, too.

Race Report

2008-09-01T09:52:00.001-05:00

Every year our local track club hosts a Labor Day race on the mountain with 10K, 5K and 1 mile distances. Last year we decided to make it a family event. Jake ran the 10K, I ran the 5K and Ella ran the 1 mile fun run (with Daddy in tow). We had so much fun that we decided to make this an annual McMonkey Family tradition.

We intentionally waited until the night before to tell Ella about the race, and it’s a good thing because she spent most of the evening running laps around the house and bending over imitating a breathless runner. (I think we may have overdone it a bit watching the Olympics!)

Race morning was filled with excitement, more running, and lots of talk about winning. Here’s the official race report:

They set off at a blistering pace. Ella’s pink shorts and Jake’s orange shorts made for a bright combination that was easy to pick out in the crowd!

After about 14 minutes I saw a pink blur coming across the horizon. It was my baby girl and she was going strong.

So strong, in fact, that she apparently started a little bit of preschool smack talk. Her pacer (aka Daddy) says that she leaned over to the little boy in orange and said with 3 year old confidence, “I’m beating you.” (Once again, a little too much Olympics.)

This prompted him to stick out his tongue and pick up his pace, leaving my angel in his dust.

Bless his heart. He really under estimated my little princess. With 10 yards to go she kicked into high gear.

Here’s my little red-faced Ella running to the finish line in a full sprint. And, yes, that’s Mr. Orange watching those little pink shorts run away.

What’s this? The finish line ribbons are pink!!

You can try but you will never convince my sassy little 3 year old that she didn’t win this race; because she’ll tell anyone that will listen, “I beat that boy!”

Like Father, Like Son

2008-08-24T22:02:00.001-05:00

I guess the old saying is true because when I went outside yesterday evening to call my husband in for supper, this is what I found…

My very talented husband had been working on one of our cars and had apparently rubbed his hands up and down his face. Why would he do that?

Upon returning inside I found this…

My precious baby boy had finished his meal and had also rubbed his little grubby hands all over his face (and his clothes and his high chair but what I can say, he’s an overachiever).

But in the midst of all of this dirt there is a shining light. My sweet grubby-faced baby does see the value in clean hands. In fact, he makes regular trips to the bathroom just to wash his hands in that water-filled basin that is so conveniently located right at his eye level. I’m so proud!

Let us dance…

2008-08-21T15:46:00.001-05:00

Almost every afternoon my kids and I turn on music and dance. We leap, we twirl and we shake our booties. It’s not sophisticated but it is a special time we share that no one really knows about.

Today I was particularly disgusted with the state of the house and was busy picking up toys, gathering laundry and generally raking the clutter together when my sweet angel asked if we could dance. I almost told her to wait and then my mind was flooded with the thought that she’s only going to be this little, this loving, and this mine for a little while.

You see, tonight my husband will attend the funeral of a child who attended his home church. I have no doubt that God is working through the life and death of this beautiful girl and that his perfect will shall be accomplished; but the human part of me continues to struggle.

I am not proud to admit that I have questions and I have fears and I just want to hold onto my kids extra tight in an attempt to protect them from this big bad world. (I know, God, you’ve got them and thank you.)

God’s still working on this part of me.

So in the meantime, we danced, we sang and we even ate peaches on the carpet. All this with dishes in the sink, laundry in the hamper and toys almost everywhere. I will never be mistaken for Martha Stewart but somehow all that just seems a little less important.

Her worm crawled OUT of the apple

2008-08-20T15:38:00.001-05:00

This is what our wonderful preschool teacher whispered to me as I picked up my precious girl at school today. It is a good thing that I read the note that was sent home yesterday or I might have been a little confused by this statement. It appears that the new rating system involves an apple, a worm and a bucket. Obviously, the worm is not supposed to come out of the apple but we are all terribly grateful it did not fall in the bucket!

I didn’t love to hear the news about the condition of the worm but I realize we will have ups and downs and some days will be better than others. I know we are all still adjusting to the whole “school world”. I just hope God understands my prayer when I pray that the worm stays in the apple.

Update to our Glamorous Life

2008-08-18T12:34:00.001-05:00

We have started a new trend in bathroom decor. It is called toilet paper in a basket. Chic, huh? Can you guess ~~who~~ what inspired this brilliant idea?

Glamorous

2008-08-11T15:24:00.002-05:00

The above is a photograph I took this afterno0n, but do not be deceived. Glitz and glamour do not live here. Nope! This is the collection of crystals my 18 month old has plucked from the dining room chandelier throughout the day. He removed a jewel or two each time he visited until he had this extraordinary collection. Impressive.

I also found him perched upon the kitchen counter this morning sipping the remnants of my morning cup of coffee and rummaging for snacks. (I do feed him but he never gets full!) This was after I discovered him in the shower with a pump bottle of hand soap, attempting to give himself a waterless bath. It is so much fun now that he can open doors by himself.

How, you may ask, am I able to record these transgressions? Worry not. The little criminal is safely behind bars.

She has left the nest

2008-08-06T14:19:00.001-05:00

My firstborn, precious baby girl started her first day of preschool today. It seems like just yesterday that she looked at me and said, “Mommy you're my best friend. You’re my precious angel.” Well, actually it was yesterday which made it even more difficult to leave her!

She started the day with big hair, a banana, and a lot of excited talk about the adventures to come.

Here is the mandatory first day of school picture with the sparkling white shoes. (they will never look this way again!)

I got teary as I left her. She was unfazed. In fact, I’m fairly certain that she’s trying to give me the brush off in this picture.

Someday I hope to be as resilient and brave as my children. They jump into new situations without hesitation. They seek out new friends and don’t wait for friends to find them, and they quickly bounce back when things do not go their way. Maybe when I grow up.

Run as long as your little legs will carry you

2008-07-31T15:03:00.001-05:00

This is the motto my son lives by. He starts the day running and goes and goes and goes. He is no Forrest Gump, mind you. He runs with a purpose. Yesterday’s purpose was apparently one of self discovery because this is how I found him.

Precious, but I quickly bundled him back into a diaper and clothes so that we could avoid spreading those baby booty germs about the house.

Today was a new day but the same race continued. Bryce ran and ran. He ran so fast that he ran right past his morning nap. Unfortunately, naps are hard to outrun and Bryce ultimately lost the race, but I think neither of us were prepared for the finish line. He fell asleep on the rug while I was changing his diaper! I guess babies “hit the wall” sometimes, too.

Things I learned at the beach

2008-07-23T12:52:00.001-05:00

I was blessed enough to spend the weekend at the beach with my Mom, sister, and 5 kids. Relaxing? Maybe not. But we had an incredible time together and learned something new every day.

Lesson 1 : Little monkeys will make their own fun when the DVD players stop working. We moms should give them the chance more often!

Lesson 2: Popsicles taste especially good when shared in a bathtub full of friends

Lesson 3: Sometimes a Southern Girl just needs to get comfortable and eat a bag of chips. (European style!)

Lesson 4: We should all be as confident and comfortable with ourselves as a 1 year old.

Lesson 5: All the packing, planning, whining (mine), and sleep deprivation were worth it!

Wrong answer, Mom!

2008-07-14T10:39:00.002-05:00

My daughter is 3 1/2 which means that we inevitably get to visit the bathroom at all of our favorite shopping stores. During a recent visit to the lovely facilities at our local Wal-Mart, I had one of those “Mom Moments”. I really can’t blame this experience on my sweet girl or even myself. Here’s the culprit…

Yep! It was the toilet’s fault.

When I first discovered auto-flush potties I thought it was the wave of the future. So nice that I no longer had to risk dropping a shoe in the toilet while balancing on one foot trying to flush. (because there is nooooo way Misty’s gonna touch the handle in a public bathroom!) What I never fathomed was that someday I would squat down in front of one of these fancy contraptions, holding my three year old, trying to make sure that neither of us comes in contact with what we refer to as “booty germs”.

Well, this is how it happened. We had both assumed our positions. My precious girl does her business, uses her toilet paper and then casually (or so I thought) asks, “Mom, does this potty flush?”.

Me: “Yes, baby, it flushes.”

Ella: “Does it flush by its own self?”

Me: “It sure does.”

My little angel then lets out an awful scream and leaps onto me in true McMonkey fashion. I have to admit I was caught off guard but not so much that I was willing to let me or my baby touch the public bathroom floor. I then somehow managed to stand and that’s when I realized that Ella still had her used toilet paper in her hand and was rubbing it all over my clothes. I started to yell, now.

Me: “THROW THE TOILET PAPER IN THE POTTY!”

Ella: “No! No! The potty’s gonna get me!”

Me: (while trying to pry the dirty hand off me) “Throw it in! Throw it in!”

Ella: “It’s gonna be loud! It’s gonna get me!”

I finally managed to pry it out of her hand (ugh!) and got her dressed. I then took her to the sink and scrubbed off as many of the booty germs as I could and tried to ignore the giggles coming from one of the stalls.

This experience has taught me several things. First, the questions my kids ask are seldom casual even when they appear so. There is often a bigger picture I need to search for. And second, always be on the lookout for leaping monkeys.

There Was a Little Girl

2008-07-10T09:44:00.001-05:00

There was a little girl

Who had a little curl

Right in the middle of the forehead

When she was good

She was very, very good,

But when she was bad she was horrid.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

4th of July fun

2008-07-08T08:24:00.001-05:00

We spent the 4th outside playing in the sprinklers and enjoying the day. We promised to take the kids to a fireworks show that evening and my daughter was super excited. That is until I referred to fireworks as “pop-pops”, which I thought was okay because this was the term she came up with last year to describe them. Apparently, I had mistakenly provided the memory queue she needed to remind her that the fireworks were incredibly loud last year, a little scary, and had brought tears. Before things went downhill too fast, we came up with a solution…

She was super cute in her daddy’s headgear and she pranced through the crowd of people at the fireworks show like the princess she is. You would have thought she was wearing a tiara! She gave a very loud (because her ears were muffled) commentary of the whole fireworks show and kept us laughing.

My precious baby boy, who is fearless, didn’t even seem to notice the sound. He was completely captivated by the lights. He would point his little finger and clap his hands and say, “Oh! Oh!” It was precious.

Despite the look on my face and the obvious exhaustion, it is so much fun watching my kids experience and be excited by the same traditions my family had growing up. If I could keep them small a little longer, I certainly would!

These are the moments of my life

2008-06-29T18:22:00.001-05:00

I savor the quiet moments in my house. I sit and drink a cup of coffee and reflect on how God has blessed me and my family. These sweet moments usually take place on a day when the kids have miraculously synched up and taken their naps at the same time. (Can you hear the Hallelujah music?)

However, there have been a few occasions that I realized that this serenity was just a fantasy. Merely a mommy caught in a daydream. No one is asleep. No music is playing. Even so, the house is eerily quiet. Trouble!

During one of these spells Ella applied her own make-up just like Mommy. Unfortunately, her tool of choice was a Sharpie marker. Her eyes did look quite dramatic after that but I don’t think she quite achieved the effect she was going for.

Bryce has recently joined into the sneaky mischief. His method of making mommy crazy usually involves climbing. A couple of weeks ago, I caught him on top of the dining room table, emptying his diaper bag and making a huge mess. I didn’t speak a word to him but instead grabbed my camera. I had a good laugh later as I looked at the progression of expressions he had when he realized he had been caught. He immediately pouted, turned the pout into a scream, and then stared in wonder at the crazy mommy who was taking pictures of the very sad baby.

Hairy Sucker

2008-06-20T15:16:00.001-05:00

That’s what we had today because Bryce received his first haircut. It hurt my heart to think of cutting his hair so I’ve put it off as long as possible. However, it was recently brought to my attention that he was developing a bit of a mullet. My heart decided it was way more painful to have a baby with a mullet than to have a big boy with a haircut, so cut we did.

PaPa (Jake’s dad) scheduled the haircut with Mr Luther. Jake and his dad have a tradition of going to the barber shop together and have gone to Mr. Luther for years. It was only right that Bryce be initiated into the “Man Club” and join them for his first trim. Mr Luther quickly made friends with Bryce by giving him a sucker and from that point on we had a relaxed, people-watching, sucker-slurping, baby.

So little in such a big chair

Haircut? No big deal

Still my sweet baby, even with a big boy haircut!

Beautiful Boy??

2008-06-17T20:49:00.008-05:00

Bryce loves his big sister more than anything else in the world. He follows her, he kisses her, he duplicates her style...

Yes. That's my tough little boy in a princess outfit. He was terribly proud of himself and Ella was thrilled to have another princess in the house. I have to admit that he is awfully pretty!!

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

One little monkey sat on his knee.

The other little monkey said, "What about me?"

Now his arms were full and his heart was happy,

'Cause his two little monkeys had found their proud pappy!

Ella speak

2008-06-11T19:42:00.008-05:00

Ella has a remarkable ability to communicate. Anyone who has been around her for more than 5 minutes can probably attest to this! She has also developed her own vocabulary. We have found that often times "Ella speak" is more appropriate and always more humorous than ordinary lingo. Here are a few examples:

Wordpickle: Sharp beaked bird best known for pecking on wood

licker: That thing in your mouth that gets ice cream and Popsicles (I heard this word first used in Sam's one day when Ella announced, "Look, Mom! That man has a BIIIG licker!")

screamer: Called a baby monitor by most but in our house it's the contraption that screaming comes out of.

poenails: Those things at the end of our toes that we like to paint pink.

shoo-bee: This is similar to "bombs away" and usually means that Bryce is about to cry.

growl: The part of your gums above your two front teeth. Only visible when you growl.

creech: The action of squeezing too hard. This especially applies to a hug that last too long.

boop: This is usually described as a teasing poke. Be on alert when you hear this word. Ella uses little discretion in what part of the anatomy she boops. If you've fallen victim to a boop, I apologize.

Ella in the Smokey Mountains searching for the elusive wordpickle.

My little girl is driving...

2008-06-04T14:14:00.005-05:00

With a tear in my eye I announce that my little girl is finally driving! I say finally because she's had her new "wheels" since Christmas but until this weekend she was a wild woman behind the wheel. Her driving has mostly consisted of a jerky stop and go motion accompanied by a total lack of focus and inability to concentrate on the task at hand. (pretty much the same way her mommy drives a straight shift!) Unlike her mommy, Ella has finally developed a method that gets her where she wants to go. She picks a direction, points with her little finger, and then drives like mad in that direction. She even throws the jeep in reverse when she runs over something or gets stuck. It's so funny! Bryce was so funny riding with her! He picked up a flag and rode through the yard waving it like they were the cavalry coming to the rescue!!

Picking her direction

Let's cruise!

Just like a man... she does a little multi-tasking while driving and he tries to take her keys away! ugh!

We all scream for ice cream

2008-05-30T21:56:00.008-05:00

Jake loves to wind down for the evening by enjoying a bowl of ice cream. He's done this for as long as I've known him. Only recently has this experience become slightly less relaxing. He mistakenly shared a bite with Bryce one night. Well, one taste and he was hooked. It is not an understatement to say that Bryce hears the freezer opening from anywhere in the house and pounces on anyone who attempts to eat ice cream without him. Jake says the whole experience is considerably less enjoyable than it used to be but it is impossible to say no to that little face.

Princess Ella has also developed a taste for ice cream. (she never like it before, which made her daddy strongly question their relation- he just can't deny the eyes, though!) She, however, eats it in a much more dignified manner. She is royalty, after all!

2008-05-29T12:06:00.000-05:00

I've attempted to keep a journal of the funny things the kids say and do but just can't seem to keep up. This blog is plan B. I tell myself that my primary goal is to archive these memories & pictures and share them with family and friends. It's probably more acurate to say that I'm collecting evidence so that when the "monkeys" get bigger I can say "You really did all this..." I hope you enjoy!

I've included a picture of the monkeys taking a little nap together. Sweet, huh? Just wait until they wake up!