Little-Miss-Savi-Cupcake

During the Book Fair at school last week, I purchased a new book for each child. I surprised Savannah with a Disney Cupcakes and More cookbook…which she absolutely ADORED!

 

 

What a great opportunity to utilize her precious, cupcake apron from Auntie Teryn! (I just LOVE this picture of sweet Sav and her two chins…she is SO PROUD of her apron)

 

 

I let Little Miss Priss pick out any recipe in the book that she wanted to try and we made cupcakes together (a new weekly or perhaps monthly tradition). She enthusiastically chose the “Snowy Owl Cupcakes” (from Sleeping Beauty) on page 22.

 

 

And I have a sneaking suspicion it was due to the colorful gummy candies & jelly beans that serve as the owl eyes & beak---this girl LOVES candy.

 

 

Assisting my little baker…Mama is so proud! I tried to step in as little as possible.

 

 

We had a spy---peering from behind the bar (sweet Benny Boo was watching our every move)

 

 

This is what happens when you give Dad control of the camera for 2 seconds…

 

 

mixing it all together…

 

 

Absolutely priceless. LOVE this pic.

Sav was waaaay more interested in licking the spoon/bowl than filling the muffin tins. (Yes, I realize that there are uncooked eggs in the batter---but a little spoon-lickin’ never hurt nobody…)

 

peeking in on her cakes…

 

 

We have some verrrrry interested customers. The waiting seemed like eternity for these eager little mouths.

 

 

And after dinner, after finishing ALL of their vegetables (nothing wrong with the occasional bribe)---the children were able to decorate their very own owl cupcake!

 

Sav

 

 

Drew

 

 

Ben

 

 

Ethan

 

 

Not only did we have fun baking in the kitchen together, but Mama was also teaching the kids some very important life lessons: doing things for others, sharing our favorite treats, surprising others for the fun of it, etc.

 

We packaged up some cupcakes, along with a cute little “OWL card” and made special, surprise deliveries to Auntie Liz, Aunt Ashley, and our wonderful teachers at school.

 

Nevermind that this hard-working-out Mama had a secret, ulterior motive:

getting those cupcakes OUT OF THE HOUSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!!

 

Me & the Hubs at the Aggie Game

Joe and I are SO incredibly lucky to have amazing friends who scored 4 free tickets to the Texas A&M game last Saturday and invited us!!! (Thank you Adam, Katie, and Stu!!!)

 

Granna and Papa were more than gracious to watch the kiddos, so that Joe and I could spend the day playing in Aggieland! You guys ROCK!

 

A couple of early morning game day pictures with me and my BFF.

 

 

Ummm…yah, we don’t get out much. (and yes, it is still cool to rock the “prom pose”)

 

 

BYE-BYE KIDDOS!!!! We are OUTTA HERE!!! Weeeee!

 

 

Joe and I miss our season tickets terribly!!! Every Saturday morning during the fall used to start out with a nice little trip to Starbucks---then we would eagerly hit the road for the Aggie game. Sipping on a Pumpkin Spice Latte and nibbling on my Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin in the Tahoe…listening to tunes…enjoying the beautiful scenery…

 

 

So fun to meet up with good friends! Joe, Wes, Sheeds, Rocket---chillin’ on Northgate before the walk over to Kyle Field.

 

 

 

Awesome seats!!!

 

 

…but good gawsh, it was BLOODY HOT at 2pm!!! I was sweating like I do in Spin Class---that is just NOT right.

 

 

How did the game go?…

 

Well…

 

Here is a picture I secretly snapped of Joe on the drive home…

 

{---crickets---}

 

deep in thought…broken hearted…

(Sorry, babe! I love you! tee hee)

 

I don’t know if I’ll ever figure out or “get” why my main squeeze gets SOOOOOO worked up over sports…right, ladies? Anyone in the same boat?

 

But he sure is cute and I can’t help but love that passionate, little nerd.

2 Sets of Twins for a Weekend

Joe took Ethan and Savannah to Austin for a weekend with Grammy and Grampy. They had oodles of fun!

 

 

Grammy and Savi playing and eating at Angels!

 

 

Grampy and Ebud with his new train

 

 

They headed over to our buddies house to watch the Aggie game and had a nice little playdate with T.

 

 

Gettin' some love from Uncle Dan before heading back to Waco.

 

 

I took Ben and Drew to Waco for the weekend, to play with Papa and Granna. Papa wanted to take the boys to Kiddieland all by himself! (Uh—good luck, Dad!)

 

 

They had a blast and apparently did great, until it was time to leave…and Ben flung himself on the ground kicking and screaming. (sorry, Pops!)

 

 

But he recovered in time for his very first college football game! Baylor vs. SFA.

 

 

Dad supporting his local Bears in his green and gold.

 

 

Joe tried to get me to dress the boys in their Aggie gear---but I decided to go with the more “peaceful” route- neutral colors.

 

 

Isn’t this the most “forced” picture you’ve ever seen?! Hahaha. Too bad we weren’t able to watch the bands perform at halftime---lightening was all around and they stopped the game. Oh well- they had a good time.

 

All-in-all, it was a great weekend! Ethan had a difficult time in the beginning about leaving the brothers behind in Waco…separation anxiety…but was perfectly fine once he got to Austin. Andrew kept asking about Ethan throughout the weekend. He was constantly aware of the fact that E was not there.

 

Its funny how they recognize that pieces of their hearts are missing when they are away from each other. Too cute.

 

Happy Friday y’all! Hope you have a great weekend!

(and Gig ‘Em Aggies!!! Super excited to be on a double date, with my honey & BFFs, to the game this Saturday!! Woo Hoo!)

A Hard Pill to Swallow

Hey Suz, maybe your *darling* daughter is sassing her teachers because she is mimicking what she sees…

OUCH.

 

Yep, I went there with myself this morning- doing some reflection during my daily quiet time.

(For the record, I had Sav pose for me this morning with her crazy bed hair and mean face---but I actually get this face quite often)

 

You know how I was super stressed and trying to find advice on how to balance life?- You guys were gold and I truly appreciate all of your responses and suggestions. PURE GOLD, I tell ya.

 

The reoccurring theme was that I need to make a schedule and plan out my week (activities, meals, etc.)- something that I used to be very good at doing. However, when I birthed quads, I had to learn to roll with the punches and go with the flow---be able to adapt to unexpected situations on a daily basis… so, I had gotten out of the habit of being so “scheduled”.

 

I’m realizing that “scheduled” isn’t a bad word after all (ahem, Casey Gerwer & Teryn Todd--thank YOU!)- but something that makes my life easier and more manageable. I have also realized that if I have any chance of working out- it is imperative for me to go early in the morning before the kids wake up (when I actually have energy!)…and I’m a morning person who wakes up with a smile on my face anyway (just ask my friends!)---so there is really no excuse.

 

The new and improved Suz started this week with her new and improved schedule (with help from my BFF, Mari):

I wake up early and head to the gym. When I come home, I take a shower and chat with Joe until he leaves for work (precious quality time that I was missing by sleeping in every morning)- then I sit down to have quiet time with my devotional book (Day-Votions for Mothers) and spend some time with my Father.

 

 

Now, usually- the kids wake up EVERY SINGLE DAY between 6 and 6:15am- no matter what! It is so frustrating! (I need to get one of those OK-to-Wake clocks).

 

 

But here is the awesome part- ever since Joe and I have been waking up early and starting our days off right, the children have been miraculously sleeping past seven ‘o clock!!!! SEVENNNNN!!!!!!!

Keep in mind- they haven’t slept in that long in over a YEAR! Coincidence? I think not. No doubt that God is blessing our time.

 

So this morning- the ‘ole Day-votion hit me pretty hard. Here are some quotes from the book:

- Our children are just kids, not little adults. They haven’t mastered the art of patience. Neither have we as moms. But we are the nurturers. We are the ones to lead by example.

- Children often mimic what they see and hear

- Does anger make me feel superior to my kids? Is that the fuel that feeds my impatient spirit at times?

- Anger begets anger.

- Gentleness is power under control.

- As I changed- guess what?- so did my children.

- Sometimes God lets our children be the teachers. At those times, we would be wise to listen- and learn.

 

Mama most definitely needs to work hard at leading by example with a spirit of gentleness- so that my children can feel accepted, loved and secure. And I have to admit- this is SOOOOO difficult for me when my kids are fighting or being disrespectful! Especially when I feel my blood boiling and heart beating out of my chest!

 

I will post pics from our Mama/Daddy weekend with twins- but just wanted to share my heart this morning. XOXO

 

Happy Hump Day, Blogger Peeps!

Twins for the Weekend

Our kiddos are very close and LOVE each other---but they are not DEPENDENT on each other. This is something that Joe and I have worked very hard to establish- a strong sense of individuality. We like to split them up as often as we can and this weekend, we will be dividing them 2 and 2.

(Ben, Drew, Ethan, Sav)

 

 

Ethan and Sav will play with Daddy all weekend…

 

 

…while Andrew and Benjamin will hang with Mama!

 

 

There is no rhyme or reason to as to how we split them up- we just try to change it every time. Looking forward to my weekend with TWINS!

 

 

 

BTW- today is the last today to have a chance at a 7 day getaway to a Sheraton hotel!!! How awesome does that sound?! I would freak out if one of MY awesome blog buddies won!!! Comment here and I’m crossing my fingers!