Jay and Kage | Beauty and The Boys

What I hope they know

July 30, 2015 - 7 Comments

It’s my third week of work and I think we are finally adjusting to our new chapter of life and our new routine. While we all are adjusting pretty well, I tend to miss my boys like crazy when works slows down enough for me to really think about them. I know getting used to this schedule was a bit hard on my boys, they went from having me around all the time, to only having me around in the evenings and on the weekends. I’ve been thinking about it and there is a few things I want/hope they know.

I hope they know how I miss them. I get this ache in my heart when I slow down enough to really think about them while I’m work. When I picture all their sweet little smiles and I bring to my mind the sound of each of their beautiful laughs. I just want to grab my purse, clock out, and rush home that way I don’t have to miss another minute of missing either of those. I replay the stories they used to tell me during the day and I replay the way the twins always smile when they see. The random games of peek-a-boo, piggy back rides, coloring, and playing outside; things that I only get to enjoy for a short time after work and on the weekends. Going from being able to hear and do those things anytime of the day, to a limited time, it really takes a toll on a momma. I hope they know that I think of all of that and I can’t wait to walk through the door and see them.

I hope they know that when they see me after I’ve been gone all day, those smiles that light up all of their faces, the chorus of mommy and baby sounds washes over me, and my heart rejoices. Finally, all those hours I spent missing them and wishing for those moments, I now have the minute I walk through the door. I hope they know how much I truly cherish the time we get to spend together as family now. I can’t explain it, but it’s different than when I was always around them. Now I get it, now I get what it’s like to only have x amount of hours in a day, and you don’t find me wishing for bedtime anymore.

I hope they know that when life got hard and it was time for mommy to step up to the late to do what is best for our family I did it without a second thought. I knew this was going to be a new chapter in our lives and while their our days that I just don’t know if I can be away from them any longer, I stepped up to the plate, and I know it is the right thing to do. I hope that encourages them and that one day they understand and appreciate the sacrifice I made for our family.

I hope they know how much I love them and I hope they don’t feel like I abandoned them, especially the babies, who have been with me everyday since coming home from nicu. Kade wasn’t too happy about me working at first, I could tell in the way his attitude change, but I think he’s finally coming around that mommy isn’t gone forever, just short periods of time. I hope they know that I cherish our family swim in the evenings, our relaxing evenings, and spending as much time with them as I can.

I hope they know that I am doing this for them, no matter how bad it hurts me to be away from them, I’m doing it, and I hope one day they will respect that and look at me with a sort of awe, that mommy stepped up when our family needed her the most.

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Snapshots of life lately + 4th of July weekend

July 6, 2015 - 14 Comments

I absolutely love my shirt from my friend Skye’s shop! It is such a pretty blue and one of the softest shirts I own! & hello, it’s about Texas which makes it the best thing ever. #texasborn #texasraised #texasmade #IobviouslyloveTexas

Hubby and I at his family BBQ on the 4th. I realllllyyy wish he would freaking smile!! lol.

The boys, my nephew, my sister, and I all enjoying relaxing in the pool! // SMILE! lol. // Kisses from Kage. // Jay playing with his new toy from his aunt & uncle that daddy put together.

I love when my boys cuddle with me. Sweet cuddles with Jay. // Jax was extra cuddly so I snapped a few pictures, it was so sweet. // Kage chillin with mommy.

The boys made paper ties for daddy for Father’s Day, inside is a bunch of questions they answered about him. He proudly rocked those ties on father’s day and I fell in love with him a little more in that moment.

Kade’s cute little outfit. My mother in law and I went shopping and she bought the twins a few outfits and this is one of them!

Delicious + cute cupcakes my cousin’s girlfriend made. // Another picture of Hubby, Jay, and Kage on Father’s day. // Jay getting his relax on. // Jay and my niece enjoying being outside, soaking up the sun, and eating watermelon.

Daddy & the twins. // Sweet little Kade. // Kade trying to crawl to daddy. // Kage hanging out with his cousin aka his best friend. They are only a few months apart in age.

I love my sweet little guys. I can’t believe they are already 8 months old!!

My cousin’s daughter & I at a BBQ. // The twins & I at another BBQ. // Two of my brother in laws, my father in law, and my sexy husband. // The twins & my niece.

My 4th of July outfit. // Shirt from Your Texas is Showing. // Rocking that super soft shirt. // Pretty blue bracelets from Cloud Nine Designz.

Soooo, how was your 4th of July weekend? Did you do anything fun? Did you get things done around the house? Finish projects, BBQ, etc.?

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7 things that help me get through the day

July 1, 2015 - 1 Comment

I get asked a lot, “how do you do it?” or I get the, “I really don’t know how you do it” or “You are awesome, I couldn’t do it, I really couldn’t.” statements when people find out I have four kids and two of them are twins. Most of the time I just smile, give a small laugh, and respond with, “I don’t know how I do it either” because, most days, I really don’t know how I do anything or accomplish anything or keep my sanity! lol. I started to think about it though and I wrote down seven things that I believe help me get through the day. So, here is my answer to, “How do you do it?”

1. My Thrive. Seriously, it gives me the vitamins and natural all day energy that I need to make it through the day. Before Thrive, I was dragging ass trying to take care of my kids, my house, and everything in between. Now, I’m getting stuff done and on the hard days when not much is getting done aside from taking care of the kids, I’m still doing a lot with them and not wanting to crash halfway through the day.

2. My husband. He really helps me so much. He has always been a great daddy, but seeing all that he does now that we have four kids, it just makes my heart so happy. I really don’t know what I would do without him, I truly believe I would be lost. We make an excellent team and I’m so glad that God gave me him to go through this crazy life with. We make a good team, especially as parents, and that helps more than people know.

3. Chores. If we didn’t have the boys picking up after themselves most of the time, cleaning their room, and a couple of other little things, days would defintely not run smoothly. I’m only one person after all and I can only contain the mess of all of us for so long. I also think it’s wonderful to teach your kids responsibilty so, it’s a win-win in my book.

4. Crafts, toy, and games. Having something for the kids to do and the babies to play with while I get things done that need to get done, helps soooo incredibly much!

5. Movie/nap time. Depending on our day, we usually have a quiet time during the day where the boys quietly watch a movie while the twins are napping so I can get work or household duties done. It’s a life saver a few times a week and it’s one of those things I’m glad I’ve done since my kids were old enough to understand it.

6. Lists. Seriously, I make a list of everything {Obviously lol} I need/want to do or get done that day. My mind is constantly all over the place so if I want to remember to do something, I write that shit down, otherwise I’m likely to forget. Also, I love checking things off a list! Anyone else?

7. Wine or some form of alcohol. I’m not a daily drinker, but a nice glass of wine or a delicious mixed drink is so nice after a long, hard day! When I have time, I love unwinding with a drink and a good book. It makes my day end on a good note!

What is something you need that helps you get through the day?!

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Last day of school

June 17, 2015 - Leave a Comment

I can’t believe the last day of school has come and gone. Just to prove how far behind I am, the last day of school came and gone almost two weeks ago. We have been super busy enjoying summer already! I really can’t believe I officially have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner! I can’t believe how fast the boys are growing up!! I am so NOT ready for Kage to be going to school yet, but he is super excited to be starting school with Jay after summer so, I’m definitely not killing his vibes. I’m so proud of Jay for doing so well in 1st grade! His teacher adored him and he adored her. He also stepped out of his shell this year a little bit and made lots of friends! We celebrated by buying a pool and inviting my nephew + sister over to swim! The boys have been in the water every day since then! {minus the rainy days of course}

Is summer out for your little one{s} yet? How did y’all kick off summer?

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Bubble Fun

May 26, 2015 - 10 Comments

It has been raining and storming so freaking much the past two weeks, we are so over it and so tired of being stuck inside. Whenever there is a break in the rain though, we make sure we are outside, soaking it up. One day last week during a break in the rain while Jay was at school, I had just bought the boys some bubbles, and Kage was begging to go outside and blow them. It’s so cute how the littlest things make kids so happy. He spent a good thirty minutes just blowing his bubbles and laughing, I think he just loved that he was able to be outside!

I’m hoping the rain will ease off some today so we can play with chalk outside! What’s the weather like where you are?

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Jay’s 1st grade field trip

May 20, 2015 - Leave a Comment

Before Thrive, with my back the way it is, there is NO WAY I would have been able to chaperon this field trip that Jay had. It was at the Botanical Gardens and it was tonnnssss of walking and I was in charge of 3 little ones! I am so happy I got to be there with him and that we had a blast. They all three kept saying “Today is the best day ever. This is the best day of my life. You are so awesome miss Cassie/mom.” I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from his field trip. Had I not had three kids to keep up with while I was there, I would have spent hours upon hours just taking pictures because the beauty of it all, blew me away!

Which picture that I shared in this post is your favorite?!

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4 kid friendly things we do on rainy days

May 12, 2015 - 6 Comments

We have been getting soooo much rain here in Texas. I thought April showers were supposed to bring May flowers, but good grief it’s been raining and storming so damn much. Which of course means, the boys are stuck inside and they can only play so many games on their tablet or build so many legos before they start getting bored and start fighting. So, I picked up a few things while I was out to keep the kids busy and happy while we are stuck inside!

One. I picked up these little dry erase activity books. I think they are going to have lots of fun we these and I love that they can erase them, trade, and have fun with them!

Two. We love color wonder markers around here. They are pretty much my favorite! So, I found a full booklet full of color wonder pages and I know the boys are going to freak out coloring on these. They are always, “Oh my gosh mommy. It was white and then it turned {insert color}” Little things bring them so much joy and I love it.

Three. I found this chalkboard and Target and I can’t wait to use it. I think I’m going to write fun sentences on it and have them draw what I wrote about or draw a picture and have them write what it is. The possibilities are really endless!

Four. Books, books, and more books! We love reading in this house and we have so many great books that we can spend hours reading on those rainy days!

What is your favorite rainy day activity with your little ones?!

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I love having boys

April 28, 2015 - 12 Comments

I get asked quite a few questions + comments when it comes to being a mom of boys. Questions like, “Are y’all going to try for a girl?” “Are you sad that you have all boys?” “ALL BOYS, oh you poor thing.” “Don’t you want a girl with all these boys?” “You need to get a female dog that way you have a girl in the house.” “I couldn’t handle all boys.” I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there. I want to answer some of these questions + respond to some of these comments. I know society believes you should have two kids and that they should be a boy + a girl. They also believe if you only have boys, you NEED a girl. I think that’s downright silly, that makes it seem like girls are needed & are better than boys, and I’m sorry, that’s not the case.

Here we go…

“Are y’all going to try for a girl?”
I’ve been asked this question since Jay was born, seven freaking years ago, and it kept coming after Kage was born, and those that don’t know I have my tubes tied, ask since I’ve had the twins. My answer almost every time is..
No. No, we are not trying for a girl. Would it be fun to have a little girl, absolutely, but I wouldn’t mind having another boy. {That was the answer I gave after Jay and Kage} Now my answer is, No, we are done having kids and I’m completely happy with boys.

“Are you sad that you have all boys?”
My answer is normally no, but I’m going to take it a step closer.
This question really pisses me off. Why the hell would I be sad about having all boys? Are girls really that much of a big deal that I should literally be sad I don’t have one? No they aren’t and that’s just downright stupid to ask someone. I am not sad that I don’t have a little girl. Like I said up there, I’m sure it would have been fun to have a daughter, but I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I have four amazing little boys and I am extremely happy I have all boys. The next time someone thinks about asking this to a mom of all boys, don’t, because you are more than likely going to piss them off and get a rude ass answer.

“ALL BOYS, oh you poor thing.” “I couldn’t handle all boys.”
No sweetie, I’m not a poor thing because I have all boys. Yes, they are crazy, destructive, and loud. They fight, they are hyper, they build things, then destroy said things that they build, and they are messy. You know what though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I embrace the Chaos of having all boys and I love it. To the I couldn’t handle it comment, I didn’t think I would be able to handle four boys either, but I was surprisingly wrong. It is so much fun because, despite the Chaos, they are so much fun and I’m the queen of the house, which pretty much rocks.

“Don’t you want a girl with all these boys?”
No, actually I don’t. I have plenty of nieces that I adore and that I get to buy cute clothes for and do girly things with. So, I’m not missing out on the fun of having a girl. I am a total boy mom and I love it. I think God knew I couldn’t handle girls, which is why he gave me all boys. I like to dress up all cute, do my makeup, get my nails done, etc., but I’m also a huge tomboy. I like guns, playing cops and robbers with my boys, building mud sculptures, wrestling with them, having water balloon fights, finding lizards, and bugs in the dirt. I like building endless lego structures, drawing + coloring with them, playing football with them + soccer + basketball. I like rough housing and I like action movies. I was absolutely cut out to be a boy mom and I’m not missing out on anything by not having a girl. I get endless hugs + kisses, I have mommy’s boys, I have little boys who love me so much, I have little boys who can be so incredibly sweet, who pick me flowers, who draw me pictures, and who wants to always play with me. I get to cover my driveway in chalk drawings and play in the rain with them. There is so much more I can say about this, but just know, there is nothing I love more than being a mom of all boys.

“You need to get a female dog.”
I often laugh about this one. I love dogs and when the twins are around two or three, we will probably get a puppy because we totally want one! Guess what though, it won’t be a female dog. I can’t really stand female dogs, I like male dogs and that’s what we will get soooo, yes I’ll get it dog, just not a female one!

I mean, how can anyone not look at these sweet faces and not automatically know that I don’t need a girl and that I am happy with my wonderful little guys!

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Living in chaos & loving it

April 22, 2015 - 11 Comments

I have four kids seven and under, two are eighteen months apart and two of them are twins. I’m going to be honest, I never wanted twins. Every time I got pregnant, I was terrified it was going to be twins. I would worry about how the hell I would handle two babies at once and I knew I just couldn’t do it. That all changed though when I saw my babies on the monitor. I was completely shocked at first, but after a couple of minutes, a calmness came over me and I fell in love with those little ones growing in my belly. I wanted them something fierce and I couldn’t explain it because, like I said, before I found out I was having twins, I didn’t want twins. I wanted them bad though when I saw them. As they grew inside me, I couldn’t picture not having twins. I was scared, but I knew I could handle it and I know that had to be God reassuring me. Now that they are here and home {since they were born early}, it has come more naturally than I thought. I didn’t know how I was going to balance four kids, being a wife, a blogger, a writer, and running a household. Almost six months later, I am loving this life.

It is chaotic and crazy. We’ve had setbacks and bad days, but the amount of good days far outweigh the bad. We live in a three bedroom home so, six people under this roof is a tight squeeze, but we make it work. We make it work by embracing the chaos. Life itself is chaotic, it’s unpredictable, and you never know what to expect. It’s the same with having four little ones. I never know what’s going to happen. We have baby stuff everywhere, legos scatter the floors, laundry sometimes is left sitting until I can get to it, the kitchen isn’t always spotless, and things are often not in their place. At first, it drove me crazy. I liked having everything where it belonged, knowing what the day was going to hold, but I’ve learned to let it go. The laundry will get done, the dishes will get washed, the floors are vacuumed daily. I’ll probably still step on legos and cuss like a sailor when I do. I imagine things will be out of place for awhile, that my house won’t always be as clean as I want it, that everyday is going to hold something different, and that each day is unique and chaotic and beautiful.

I’ve learned to love not knowing what the day will hold. I’ve learned to love baby items and legos taking over my house. I’ve learned to embrace the chaos of our life because it’s beautiful. The smiles, the giggles, the stories, the piggyback rides, the sweet laughs, the memories made, the laughter that fills our house, and the love that is everywhere. I’ve learned that this is just a chapter of life and it won’t always be chaotic and one day everything will be in it’s place. I know when that day comes, I’ll look back and miss the beautiful chaos of little kids, but for now I’ll embrace. I’ll cherish this chapter in our life, and I’ll continue to make memories and teach my children and play with them, and most of all, I’ll always let love flow through this house.

The love and laughter is worth the chaos.

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Happy 7th Birthday Jay!

April 15, 2015 - Leave a Comment

Dear Jay,

Yesterday you turned seven years old. I found myself looking through pictures of you when you were a baby, finding it hard to believe that seven years has passed so quickly. You continue to amaze me everyday. I am so blessed to be your momma and so thankful that I get to watch you grow and learn every single day. You are such a wonderful helper with your baby brothers. You have always been a wonderful big brother and it melts my heart completely. You are continuing to do great and school, I love working with you on your homework and seeing how much you are learning and how smart you are. For the most part, you love school still, there have been a few kids who have picked on you that have made you not want to go to school as much, but we are working through that and I am proud of you for standing up for yourself and pushing through. You are such a sweet little boy and I hope you hold onto that sweet side forever. You have also developed a bit of an attitude, it gets under my skin, but I expected it, after all you are seven going on thirty. You love having brothers, whether you are playing with Kage or entertaining the twins. I love the relationship between you and Kage, y’all are truly not only brothers, but best friends and that’s so wonderful.

You love your daddy so much, I swear you want to be just like him. Watching you and him continue to bond melts my heart and I hope that you and daddy always have a great relationship. He is an excellent man and such an amazing father, I hope you always continue to look up to him. You are currently into video games, but you still love playing outside as much as you can. You’re sense of you humor is becoming more and more apparent and you always know how to make us laugh.

There is so much I could say sweet boy, but I’ll end with this. I want you to know how much I love you and how proud of you I am. Watching you turn into the wonderful kid you are today has been amazing and I love your personality. I can’t wait to celebrate your birthday with family and friends this weekend! I love you so much Jay!

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