Zeke and Me

Last night Michael and I sobbed our way through Marley & Me.

I kind of have this rule about not watching movies where dogs die. I don't like sobbing my eyes out even if it is a great movie. I just rather do without.

This movie is like a page torn from my life.

How many times have I been Jennifer Aniston (I mean we look like twins!) waiting at the door for Daddy to come home; holding my breath after getting the kids down for a nap; loving the gift of motherhood, but wondering what happened to the me I knew...

I totally related to Luke as I too just had a big milestone birthday (13 is AWESOME!)

and wondering about the paths not taken....

And I totally get Marley.

Zeke is not as destructive as Marley, but close. He has chewed through a BBQ pit, countless toys left in the backyard, fences, wooden post, digs holes big enough to see China, and tears up my plants.

Zeke has been with us through almost all of our milestones.

He joined our family shortly after Michael and I bought our 1st house.

He evacuated with us when RITA was headed our way.

He moved with us here to A town.

He was there when we found out about our 2 little boys on the way.

He moved with us again.

He has enjoyed snow for the first time.

He has befriended the boys and Brody and him have a special relationship.

And he is sick.

Cancer.

And I think we have one of those goodbyes coming.

Hopefully, not too soon.

Zeke and Me.

5 days a Week

The boys have been growing like weeds.

This past Sunday I went to grab the linen pants that I just bought at Easter.

Pants no more...Capris.

After the sweet cries of my little boys saying that their underwear were tight we went to pick out some 4Ts.

We walked by the girls' underwear first and Brody liked the ones with monkeys, of course.

After explaining that the pack he just picked up was for girls and showed him the boy monkey underwear, I discovered an injustice!

For $9.99 you can get:

a. 7 pairs of girls' panties

b. 5 pairs of boys' underwear

Not sure why the underwear makers of America think little boys go commando 2 days/week.

But, every pack of underwear I have bought the boys only has 5 pairs.

I then checked all the boys' underwear displayed- 5 undies for 9.99; and walked down to the girls' section (where I never go) and saw all these 7 packs!

Weird.

So that's why if you peer over the fence, my little boys are sporting the natural look.

Target said so.

*Note: I went online to get pictures of the underwear we saw...Target sells Boys' 7 pks online. I guess you can get 7 pairs! But only if you pay shipping. Ha!

Boots or Bows

Not one day goes by that I don't think about her.

Late at night, driving in the car, working out at the gym.

When I get asked "Do you have any more kids?" "Do you guys want to have more kids?"

Yes. We are ACHING to have more kids. 26 months of aching for more kids.

When my boys ask for a baby.

Every day I think about her.

Hope for her.

Dream for her.

Pray for her.

Now it could be him. I would be equally blessed and excited.

I think about him.

Hope for him.

Dream for him.

Pray for him.

Boots or Bows. Not one day goes by without me anxiously anticipating the day.

I just wish it was as easy as planning to have a summer baby and it just happen.

I am staring down a long and winding road.

And I can't see the end.

But I have great hope in the ending.

I know the plans I have for you says the Lord...

to give you a future and a HOPE.

Jeremiah 29:11

Who's that Hoppin'?

(Yes, we are wearing a Build a Bear shirt. :) Yes, we are wearing "night-time underwear" Any night-time potty suggestions? It's complicated with all our night-time issues...)

This week I have spent my nap/blog time taking care of a sick little boy.

Yesterday, He came bouncing (literally) out of his room.

We broke the fever and the bounce (literally) is back!

(We call him the Energizer Bunny. He never sleeps, always is moving, jumping, and bouncing!)

This morning I woke up to lots of banging on the drums, fights, laughter, and getting hurt all before 9 a.m.

Yup...We are better!

Aint No Other Man

Can Stand Up Next To You!

Every Saturday morning you can count on there being Pancakes!

You can count on the Buffalo Kisses and the Tickle Monster.

Only the coolest take you on fun rides in the 12 passenger van!

2 little guys are pretty crazy about their daddy

and I am, too!

My Special Dad

By: Brody

My father's name is Michael.

My favorite thing about my dad is when he hugs me.

My dad likes to open the playroom with me.

It makes my dad laugh when I tickle his toes.

I love my dad because he loves me so much.

My Special Dad

By: Dylan

My father's name is Daddy.

My favorite thing about my dad is helping him.

My dad likes to turn on the lights with me.

My dad laughs when I am silly.

I love my dad because I hug him!

The Dreaded Suit

I HATE swimsuits.

Always have.

Always will.

I mean what happened to the swim dress...

I think they look adorable.

No wobbly bits flopping about.

While on my DUTY-FREE trip

(that I totally need to blog about, but nap time never seems long enough....)

Hannah told me about Lime Ricki swimsuits.

Then when Cassie blogged about it, too

(P.S. Cassie-I totally pulled a "copycat." You always have great things to "copy.")

It just was a sign.

So I took the plunge, bought an adorably cute suit-at least on the hanger, and anxiously awaiting to see if it fits the bill!

The Skinny Arm

Forget Kindergarten...

I learned all I need to know

@ TWIN MAMAS DUTY-FREE TRIP!

Amy taught us the "skinny arm" trick. What?! You haven't heard of

"THE SKINNY ARM?!"

So, your arm loses like 10 dress sizes by putting you hand on your hip and pointing your elbow back.

Ahha, moment-Oprah!

This is why all the girls in the prom photos were sporting the "skinny arm."

Well, if you say skinny-I'm all over it.

So I quickly implemented "the skinny arm" in all my photos of the weekend.

See below for true, certified evidence.

No Skinny Arm.

Just 7 Sweet Beautiful Women that have been blessed with TWINS!

"The Skinny Arm"

See...10 lbs....right.

Still Just 7 incredibly blessed women equally blessed with each others support and friendship.

Hollar, TWIN MAMAS!

Britni, Kristi, Hannah, Amy, me, Liz, Shelley

Warmer Wednesday

Who doesn't LOVE cupcakes?!?!

I have been SUPER excited about this warmer coming.

The Scentsy July Warmer of the Month is this cupcake warmer for only $22.50!

The scent of the month is Happy Birthday which smells good enough to eat!

Come July 1st, I will be placing a order for this cutie!

Check out my website for this and the other Scentsy Specials going on!

https://leahmercer.scentsy.us/Home

* This has been such a surprising journey for me! I am at the close of my first 70 days in the business and am really close to reaching a BIG goal with Scentsy! If you need any products, you can shop right off my website! I would really appreciate all your support as I am close to reaching a Scentsation Start Goal!*

POTTY like a Rockstar!

6 Months ago we began one of the last BIG transitions....

Potty Training!

Lots of highs and lows down the road

and now the potty panic is gone!

We have 2 Potty Pros!

At their Potty Celebrations

(even though it was a few months apart)

We have even discovered new tricks

that can only be done

by the

POTTY PROS!

I'm Gonna Soak Up the SUN

every day for the next 2 weeks!

My 2 little fish are learning how to swim!

Blowing Bubbles

Kicking Practice

A little tree climbing

and Buzz vs Woody fights

in between all that learning!

Back to WORK!

Jumping for Fishie Food Treats!

Practicing kicking

OMG!

I got a new job....I'm a

I am so excited! I have always loved throwing lots of parties!

Scentsy Lamp Warmers are wick less candles that burn the wax with the use of a light bulb in the base. There are many designs of warmers and plug-ins. It is safer than a candle and cleaner, too. It is perfect for your office or dorm where candles are not allowed, but are a NECESSITY!

(Shout out to all the Freshman Dorms!)

There are TONS of scents! Picking out the ones you like is one of my FAVORITE things about SCENTSY!

You can even shop online!

Check out my website and Happy SCENTING!

https://leahmercer.scentsy.us/Home

A Skinned Knee

The other day the boys went for a "run" around the college campus near our house. They had a BALL, but Brody fell down and skinned his knee. He had to get band-aids on it ASAP. He wore those Dora band-aids all night and to church the next day. As it began to fall off, I took it off. He threw the BIGGEST fit and wanted his band-aid back on even if it wasn't covering the scrape anymore.

Yesterday, my band-aids were falling off, too.

With 2 little boys, a full-time job as mom, a part-time job as teacher, and a full-time job as a minister's wife I try to keep the band-aids on. But when things are slow (even for a moment) the scrapes are exposed and it begins to hurt.

I have watched Grey's Anatomy from the beginning. Way back in the day pre-kids, my girlfriends and I would get together each Thursday night. This week, Meredith spoke my language. I feel a little different than her as I really am truly happy for all my friends that are pregnant. I know what a special gift that is and I am not jealous of their happiness. However, I feel like I have another full-time job full of temperatures, surge kits,blood work, and a calendar full of circles and numbers. It is WORK. Sometimes, I grow weary of waiting. I feel like I have learned that lesson and I begin to doubt..... will I ever have another child.... will the boys ever be BIG brothers.....is it time to let go of all the baby stuff in the attic.....

For now, I am going to slap on some DORA band-aids and keep moving. Tomorrow is another day.

I finally finished the birthday blog. Why does it take so long?

WEE-HAA!

This Spring began the boys 1st season of WEE BALL!

Introducing my Little YOUNG GUNS:

(Yes, he bared his belly in the middle of team pics. REALLY?!! They are too funny!)

Over it...ok...maybe not!

A week ago I was SO OVER IT. After two years of wondering what each month will bring- a positive (yeah, right!) or a negative I was just done. Then there are health concerns that have derailed my fertility with no answers near in sight. I am left with just a fat body.

Then I see all the Facebook posts of little sonograms and "It's a girl! " It makes my heart ache.

Ok, maybe I am not over it.

It's my party and I'll PARTY if I want to!

The boys requested for their 3rd birthday a ....LEGO party!

Our town doesn't have LegoLand. It doesn't even have a LEGO store.

So with a little imagination, a lot of spray paint, and circle cookie cutters aLEGO party was born!

LET'S PARTY LIKE WE'RE 3 YEARS OLD!

THE DECORATIONS

THE FOOD

The lego cases held BRICKWICHES--peanut butter and pimento cheese. There was also fruit, crackers and circle cheese to build your own lego cracker, pink waffer cookies "Brick cookies" and cheetoes requested by the birthday boys.

THE CAKE

Our dear friend, Lindi works her magic again! I told her to make a dump truck filled withLegos. Not only does it look great, it tasted sooooo yummy!

Also on the dessert table were Lego Men and gummy bricks.

THE KIDS TABLE

Each spot had some LegoVille color sheets and these cool crayons from Lil Doodlers. Each kids got to take some home in their Tool Box.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

I had big plans for this, but life blew up at the beginning of 2011 so it became much more simple. Simple is good sometimes.

Who doesn't love a JUMP JUMP?!

They also had tubs of sand and had to find the hidden LEGOS.

THE PINATA

We made a LEGO pinata and filled it with bricks. With lots of whacks and a little

BOOM BOOM POW

Legos went EVERYWHERE!

Each kid had a tool belt and they were able to fill their tool belt with all the loot they found!

THE FAVORS

Inside each of these tool boxes on the ladder were lots of Lego treats!

The tools included:

* a LEGO set

* BRICKS and LEGOMEN crayons

* LEGO stickers

* and candy bricks