Mama's Back in Town

Mama Bird is back, so in our house that means it's officially spring!!! MB is a housefinch (says GOOGLE), and for the last 6 years she and Papa Bird have been making nests twice a year in a basket in our porch. I'm not sure how long these two have been a couple, but every year they pop back in, and she lays 4-5 beautiful little blue eggs.

She just hangs out up in that nest all day while PB brings her food and nest materials.

Papa Bird is a pretty reddish color and very much the vocal of the two. But both are very trusting of us and even allow us to take the basket down a couple of times a week, so that the kids can take a peek. We have even had to put a baby back into the basket after he fell over the edge. Pretty soon our little birds will be hatching and look like these little fuzzy darlings from last season.

Aren't they just so sweet and helpless? And hopelessly ugly, but that stage only lasts around a week. Then they are loud and hungry and chirping at the crack of dawn for breakfast. Typical newborns. But these babies don't stay little for too long and in a couple of weeks they are jumping out of the nest into the big wide world of cats and storms and scary things. Oh, I'm so glad I have a few more years before all that drama!!!

Enough of the heartpangs. Here are a few of my favorite flower gardens in the city. Pretty soon they'll look like this once more. Enjoy your spring!!

Smooches~e

BEAUTIFUL!!!! Okay, here's a couple more, because frankly, I just can't help myself ;0)

Today, just pretend that I am Oprah for a minute. Not the crazy, narcisisstic, left-wing Oprah, but the one who shares her favorite things with her friends. Okay, maybe just a little crazy.

Tops on my list today is a t-shirt company that makes beautiful distressed looking shirts, but with the addition of Bible verses and great graphics. I love them extra much because they have a shirt reminding us to put on our full armor! How cool is that! So check out WildOliveTees.com and get your verse on!

Okay, next we move from the shirt to the face. The sleepy, puffy, dark circled face you avoid in the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning. I know, it's scary. However, for the last 6 months or so, I have been using a product that makes the scary go away a little quicker. Drumroll, please, Garnier Nutrionist Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller. Whew, say that 3x fast! In less time than it took me to type out the name, this awesome little roller ball will brighten your eyes and reduce the puffiness so that you can look your best at the bus stop. Okay, maybe it will just take the attention off the yoga pants with the unraveling hem and the holey t-shirt you've had since Junior Year---of high school.

While we're still hanging out by the eyes, let me plug my most favorite mascara eva!! Now understand that I have wee little lashes that are both sparse and short. If I had the extra fundage just burning a hole in my TARGET shorts, I would probably splurge for eyelash extensions. Yes, there actually is such a thing. We are a sad frivolous nation, my friends, but I'd be first in line! Until then, I am rarely seen without "muh-scary" as it's known in this house, and my first choice is the giant orange tube worn by Ms Drew Barrymore, LashBlast by COVERGIRL. I will worn you that the waterproof is just a devil trying to get off, but I run, swim, and shower in this mascara and love how it stays on and keeps my lashes thick and long---ish. Love it and I can't wait to try the new LashBlast Luxe with glitter. Basically just say the word glitter and I'm there. I digress.

Moving on, to my last fav of the day, Herbal Essence None of Your Frizzness conditioner. I know what you're thinking. Herbal Essence and their cheezy somewhat risque commercials, blah, blah, blah. However, in the last year or so, they have totally revamped their ad campaigns, their marketing, and ultimately their products. Which brings me to the conditioner. I have crazy frizzy hair, and poor Wreckity-Girl has inherited it as well. She doesn't always use this conditioner, because her hair is still young and fine and wispy, but twice a week I lather her head up with this and it takes care of business. Truly, it is better than any salon conditioner I have ever used and it's only a third of the price, too! It smooths my hair without leaving it weighed down and heavy and it smells yummy, yummy in my shower.

There you have it. My favs these days. Little things that I now tend to take for granted, but were super exciting when I first discovered them. So what are your favs?

smooches~e

Me...Through My Kids Eyes

So, I totally had to copy and paste this from Facebook, because it was just too funny not to share. It's a short little survey filled out by your children---about you. I have to admit, I was more than a little worried about what their answers would be to some of these questions. And as cute as they were, it let me know that things are a little off balance around here. I think I need to refocus my praises and priorities. By their answers to what makes me happy, you'd think that my house was immaculate to the point of OCD. In fact my house most of the time looks like a miniature tornado just ran through the Wal-Mart and stopped whirling long enough to dump an entire store's worth of junk all over the floor. And let me tell you, when you live in a 3 bedroom house with no extra space, any mess looks just overwhelming. So yes, I probably am a little on the nagging side when it comes to the clean-up words. However, I believe that my singing, running, and splits performances totally outweigh all my annoying tendencies.

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Finley- Clean your room

Donovan- I love you, Clean your room

Avelinn- Clean your room

2. What makes mom happy?

Donovan- When I clean my room

Finley- Doing my chores

Avelinn- When I say I love you

3. What makes mom sad?

Donovan- When I say mean words

Finley- When one of your relatives dies

Avelinn- When I say shut-up

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Finley- When you mess with your contacts and make funny faces (okay, in my defense I think my astigmatism has grown worse in my right eye, so it's been a little wonky these days)

Donovan- Saying jokes and stuff

Avelinn- when you talk ( ah yes, I crack myself up!)

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Finley- You liked reading

Donovan- You liked art

Avelinn- bery bootiful

6. How old is your mom?

Finley-30

Donovan-41

Avelinn-14 (I would settle for an average of D's & A's)

7. How tall is your mom?

Finley- 5' 4"

Donovan- about 6 feet tall

Avelinn- 4--just 4

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Finley- MOPS

Donovan- Letterboxing

Avelinn- going to Lauren's house :0) oh yes, L, it is my mostest favoritest thing eva!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Finley- hang out with dad and watch shows that kids aren't allowed to watch (oh that sounds nice. and Donovan just blurted out, but not 'sex & the city')

Donovan- have fun with dad

Avelinn- get lost (yes, my darling, I'm lost without you)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Finley- singing

Donovan- running

Avelinn- getting married (please put duct tape on this kid's mouth)

11. What is your mom really good at?

Finley- imitating people

Donovan- running & doing the splits (what?!)

Avelinn- putting up the tree (I'm glad someone notices my Christmas decorating!)

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Finley- juggling

Donovan- farting with her armpit (but not for lack of trying)

Avelinn- climbing the wall (no, that's your job, avey)

13. What does your mom do for a job?

Finley- keeps us safe

Donovan- bowling (that would explain our financial troubles ;0)

Avelinn- watch us

14.What is your mom's favorite food?

Finley- soup

Donovan-strawberries

Avelinn- chicken

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Finley- when I get all As on my report card

Donovan- when I get all Ss on my report card

Avelinn- when I clean my room

(I'm thinking I misread this one)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Finley- Bill Nye. Fin, that's not a cartoon character. Does Star Wars Lego's characters count? No. Okay, Padme from Star Wars Clone Wars

Donovan- Ben Kenobi, he's on Star Wars Clone Wars

Avelinn- Dora

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Finley- go to the store together

Donovan- go play at my school's playground

Avelinn- we pick the boys up at the bus stop

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Finley- we love to read

Donovan- we both kiss each other's cheeks

Avelinn- i don't even know how to do this game anymore

19. How are you and your mom different?

Finley-you read longer books than me

Donovan- you don't play much basketball

Avelinn- I just don't know this game (stinkin youngest child)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Finley- you do nice things for me

Donovan- you kiss us on the cheek (I'm gonna have to watch this kid. He's all about the smoochin'!)

Avelinn- when you kiss me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Finley- his looks

Donovan- he's smart and strong

Avelinn- his hair

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Finley- Granny's house

Donovan- Seeing Grandma (this would be my MIL, lol)

Avelinn- Children's Place So there you have it. All my dirty secrets. All the innapropriate for children tv watching. The shallow reasons for loving their father, and the hopes that one day I'll be on television, so I can finally get married, lol!

Here to the LEFT is the insightful eldest, Finley Mac followed by his crazy smoochieness, Donovan Xander, and then the Wreckity-Wreckness herself, who is turning the F-O-U-R today. Happy Birthday, Avelinn Pillow-Willow!

Smooches (and an extra one for Dono)~e