My day

Mother's Day was super sweet.

I woke up to a hot and super yummy breakfast.  Ryan went to a little gourmet diner and brought home breakfast for everyone.  He hung a sign up that he made for me.  The kids each picked out a little gift.  Then we went to church. 
It was a very casual day, but that works for me!  Especially with the way things have been going at our house with Maven.  I enjoy casual and relaxed more than ANYTHING!

 Christian got me a snow cone machine!  Woo hoo!  Taylor Rose got me a candle (because she LOOOOVES candles).  This candle just happens to smell like a musky old lady.

Ryan picked out these homeopathic calming tablets as Maven's gift to me.  They're supposed to calm kids down.  Each of my kids would need an entire bottle for these to take any effect!  So far, they haven't worked a bit.

Mamen Shave

Things around here have been restless.  Not much sleep going on... lots of commotion... lots of stress... lots of soreness... ugh.  Therefore, I have had zero time for other things.

BUT!  There is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

A diagnosis has been made.  A solution is in the works!

Maven has a pretty severe lip and tongue tie, meaning her lip and tongue are too tight to suck properly.  She has a hard time nursing and with her bottle, though her bottle is the most difficult.  She constantly clicks her tongue trying to maintain a suction.  She gets frustrated.  She chokes.  She is hungry A LOT.  She doesn't sleep well.  She gulps air, which causes stomach pain and gas. 

Poor baby girl.

We are getting it fixed with a quick 15 minute surgery.  I know it will be a rough few days, but it will get better.  Yay!

On a much happier note, she SMILES!!  And she is full of smiles!!  I love her sweet little face.  She has the cutest little dimple on her right cheek.

Another cute mentionable... Taylor Rose calls Maven "Mamen Shave", therefore I catch myself calling her that all the time.  It even makes her smile!

 She's been so hungry that even Taylor Rose looked appetizing!

 I see both kids in Maven. ( Taylor Rose is on the left and Christian is on the right.)

A Mad Hunt

... for eggs. 

Easter eggs!

Ryan's parents came over to see the babies and brought eggs to hide.  Ryan and I don't really do all the usual Easter stuff since all the grandparents do it for us.  So, instead we try to focus on the meaning of Easter and celebrate Jesus.

This was Taylor Rose's first year to really hunt for eggs.  She had to stop and open every single one to make sure there was candy inside.  Christian just darted out the door and went on a rampage.

 They also went to my mom's to decorate eggs.  Real eggs!

 Christian made one for everyone with their name.

The kids read books at Pops and Penny's house.  They also each got a cute little Easter basket.

Happy Easter!

Futbal

• soccer mom noun

A middle-aged, overprotective woman, usually the mother of two children with names like Britney, Brandon, Caitlyn, Austin, etc. She is usually blonde (often bleached) and has average to above average looks (the latter usually being also a "trophy wife").
She lives in the suburbs, doesn't work (may become an obnoxious realtor after the kids go off to college), and spends an inordinate amount of time at her kids' schools, usually to the chagrin of the teachers and/or administrators.
She is the reason, and the ONLY reason, why "Kids Bop" has a market because she wouldn't dare let her precious children listen to the actual versions of Top 40 radio.
She drives a gas guzzeling SUV embossed with soccer decals on the rear window. If her husband is particularly successful (usually an overpaid attorney), she drives the higher end version of said SUV (such as the GMC Denali or a Lexus RX 330) so as to show all the more middle income SMs that she is just a bit better than they are.

Technically I am a "soccer mom", once again (imagine me saying this with the little finger quote thingy and an eye roll).  But, I am soooo NOT a soccer mom.  Except for the SUV part.  And the not working part.  And the suburbs part.  Other than that, no way.

Ryan, however, is totally a soccer dad!  Obviously, since he has been playing soccer since before he was in diapers.  (Hhhmmm... does that really make sense?)  He has a great team this year.  All of his kids play really well.  Surely Ryan's superb coaching skills have something to do with that!  They have won every game.  (Yes, it is one of those leagues that don't keep score, but the parents DO.)

Christian is doing totally AWESOME again this season.  He has scored in every single game.  A lady in the bleachers said "who does #7 belong to?"  I replied, "He is mine."  She said, "Oh... he's good.  Really good!  Has he been playing for a while?"  I didn't point out the fact that he is only five so he really hasn't been playing all that long. 

A few other people have commented on how fast he is.  I want to tell them "Yeah!  I know how ridiculously quick he is... I have to try to catch him when he is in trouble." 

Aside from being good, Christian is also being rough.  *sigh*  A few weeks back, the opposing team was running all over our team and pushing the kids.  Their coach didn't say anything.  Christian got tired of it and punched a kid in his shoulder, making him cry.  Their coach got all mad.  He said something to Ryan. Ryan told him to watch his kids.  The ref got involved.  Christian was pulled out for a little bit.  Blah, blah, blah.  Is this really a kids' game??!!

Last week, Christian pushed a kid.  I really don't think he meant to push him down, just out of the way so he could get the ball.  Nonetheless, he was benched.  Hopefully, he learned his lesson.  We shall see.

A mom was making breakfast of fried eggs for her young son.
Suddenly, the boy bursts into the kitchen...
"Careful!! Careful!! Put in some more butter! Oh my goodness! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them. TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh My! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful!...CAREFUL! I said CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you crazy! Have you lost your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!!"
The mom stared at him. "What's wrong with you? You think I don't now how to fry a couple of eggs?"
The son calmy replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm trying to play soccer."

These are a few pictures that a team parent took during a soccer game.

And a few of Taylor Rose at the soccer game...

God's Light Shines Through You