#the52project Week25

post by casey.



jacob: "I just gotta say, you've been a different kinda mom lately...better!!!!"
me: quizzical/questioning/should I be offended face?!!??!?

i can't say I don't agree with him! This summer has been jam packed and I'm already 30WKS along, with baby number4 and it seems I've found a patience that didn't exist in those early weeks. Not to mention those early years of motherhood. 

Full Disclosure: I hit a wall of exhaustion this weekend and may have told Jacob that if I had had a newborn at that point (and the other 2 littles, who were fighting nap time that day, as well - not to mention, Jacob was working)...I would have curled up and died...DIEDDDDDDD. I may have cried at the thought!
BUT I'm coming out of it and feeling much more alive today!

besides that...my mind has been going a million miles per hour! The next few weeks of August are full and will go so quickly. 

i'm currently stressed over the idea of getting healthier and cutting processed foods out of our lives and the possible effects that is having/has had on us...and yet I don't have a ton of energy/motivation to doooooo anything about that...I'm overwhelmed by this topic...I'll stop there;(

homer starts school in a few short weeks and I've been able to put that to the back of my mind but I'm gonna be a mess over that change in our days:'( I'm excited for him and sad for me and so proud of him and anxious about the big guy he's gonna become and a lot concerned about what friends he'll make, that will inevitably chose the 'moms' I'll be surrounded by the rest of these 15ISH years;)
OH, and we want to enroll him in Karate! I'll keep you posted on that! Kinda depends on cost and timing and such.

and Rocky is like...OLD. Tall and less and less like a baby everyday. I'm soaking up his cuddles and just trying to be present and really LOOK at him and hold him and be aware of those moments when they're happening. He's never stopped being the.best:')

theo is just...*hmmmm...?!*...she is a character! So cute! So much my baby girl yet:) She brings the entertainment, that's for sure!

as you can tell, I haven't spent endless nights quietly sobbing myself to sleep...hardly any...a few, at most...5 of 7...weekly;).

here's to enjoying every last bit of this summer and new beginnings and births and being better - mom's, wives, selves:):).


my good stuff: an uninterrupted  2hr nap:). 1-1/2YR olds dancing (and 3 and 5YR olds...and husbands;). a pre-arranged babysitter for a ME day.

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - no cooler (or sassier;) dude!

theo daisy - the cutest freaking shopping buddy! 

"mom!!! Take my picture!"

rockyp - got his first buzz, a few weeks back!:)

#the52project Week24

post by casey.



we've been SO busy but if you asked me what we've been up to - please don't - I probably wouldn't be able to name even a few things that we've been doing?! Besides breaking up fights between the elder 2 from the minute they wake uppppppp...or selling crap on Facebook - what a nightmare - and pool days and lake days and local carnival weekends and chocolate shake consumption to the point of illness;) and coffee mornings and early morning and late night solo walks...Our days have been full and exhausting and good:)


my good stuff: coffee outside on a new-to-us picnic table! sister's who drop off creamer when you're running low:) being pregnant:):)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - being a big helper:)

theo daisy - always a lady;)

rockyp - my workout buddy (this also may have been the only workout I've done during this pregnancy;)

#the52project Week23

post by casey.

so the new 1 of 52 plan, for me, is to just keep posting when I find the time to post and we'll just see where things shake out at the end of the year;). 

i sent Jacob off this morning for his 6 day road-trip/camping trip! He left at 530AM and should be in Breckinridge, CO by midnight and then he'll be home sometime mid-morning on Saturday. I miss him already and the days, frankly, suck without being able to look forward to ending it with him:( Gosh, we're lucky that our lifestyle/careers don't involve being apart for any significant amount of time because I'm about as needy as they come;).

my good stuff: sleeping-in...till 915AM:) sending your excited husband off on a week-long vacation! a potty-trained 3YR old!!!

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - sharing my watermelon addiction:)

theo daisy - can you imagine EVER wanting to spank her ass?!?!! She's so, deceivingly, cute;)

*I keep scrolling back to this photo because I can't help but smile and tear-up when I look at my freaking precious girl:):')

rockyp - the only one that doesn't complain about the 'heat'...mostly, because he can't speak words;)

#the52project Week22

post by casey.

doing my best to type up this blog post while Theo asks if she can "take my eye balls out". Alrighty, then;).

it's only Saturday but it feels like we've lived a lifetime since 6PM on Friday night! It's been go-go-go. Not a bad thing but the homemade cards - the only thing we had loosely planned for Jacob - did not get accomplished today. Shittttttt. With that being said, tomorrow may be pretty uneventful because Jacob has to work AND he doesn't have any cards to open;). Happppyyyyyy Father's Dayyyyyyy!!!;)

wrapping this up because crying kids, combined with the word "noooooo" can only signify one awful/cruel/painful thing: BEDTIME;)

my good stuff: adding France to the Travel List - specifically, L 'Escale du Ciel:). talking baby names with Jacob. quiet/nonshared dinners after the kids are in bed:)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - I still don't know how to turn a grill on and then there's this kid who is damn near ready for his own business card!!!;)

theo daisy - a, sometimes, sweet mess:)

rockyp - no one can spot a bird like RockyP;):)

#the52project Week21

post by casey.



anyone happen to know what week we're on!? Anyone out there???? Yeahhhhhh...I think we're all in Summer Vacation mode and the inevitable is happening: blog neglect. But don't worry...the blog isn't the only thing that we neglect during Summer Vacation;) There's days that I don't think we actually eat a real meal cause we're constantly outside and snacking and on the go and fending for our own damn selves;). And the kids should for sure be getting baths every night and they're for sureeeee not getting baths every night and so then their sheets should be getting changed and that ain't happening either! And since we're outside 24/7...the inside looks like we hustled to get outside and so yeah...EVERYTHING IS DIRTY!!!

and that's just not at all a complaint:) We're loving our days together and we're so lucky that we get these days together and there are still time-outs and fits over not being able to play on electronics and sassy mouths and me yelling and themmm yelling;)...but we're doing okay...better than okay:)


my good stuff: good friends getting engaged!!:) Wednesday Beach Day! winning an Instagram give-away:)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - passing on my watermelon obsession to my boy:)

theo daisy - will she forever be my only girl?! Gosh, I love her spunk:)

rockyp - refusing to stay my baby:)

*he can't sit there by himself but insisted and I allowed it long enough for this photo:)

#the52project Week20

post by casey.


jacob and I are headed to a Brewer Game tomorrow morning. It's slipped my mind over the last week, since planning it. But now it's finally here and ALL I can think about! Some time away, alone, with Jacob...WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!!! Homer's regressed a bit in the attitude/sassiness department and so I'm worn.out. Apparently, Jacob told him that if he was scared of something (like bad dreams or a 'monster' under the bed), he could "beat the crap out of it". And soooo Homer took that information and kinda ran with it and has been informing everyone that will listen, that he will beat the crap out of them, it, us, you and your dog. ARG;)

BUT this weather. And flowers. And sun. And daily walks:).


my good stuff: 930PM solo grocery runs. warm May days:) a dry nap for Theo!!

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - always bored. always annoyed.  (always = mostly;) 

theo daisy - her goofy self is bubbling screaming to the surface:)

rockyp - he doesn't often fall asleep randomly...this was the sweetest surprise:)

#the52project Week19

post by casey.

the baby-kids are strapped in highchairs and so I'm gonna knock out this quick blog post!! 

we had a pretty busy morning, that began with us sleeping in (SLEEPING IN: where the kids get up at 6AM - which is unlike them - and instead of getting out of bed at that REASONABLE hour, I make them lay in bed with me and somehow we all fall back asleep from 730-845AM:). And then both boys got hair cuts and that went relatively well! I didn't even have to sit in the chair with Rocky - he's such a big boy:) and they all got, no less than, 3 suckers each for good-ish behavior;). Now I'm cleaning myself up and heading to a baby appointment...SOLO:):)

my good stuff: a sunny mothers day, spent outside:) early morning solo walks. strawberry sundaes.

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - starting school this fall. Mixed feelings, on my part...but he's such a big guy now!!!!:')

theo - artist.

rockyp - he's been teething, maybe?!, and such a little cling-on:)

#the52project Week18

post by casey.

the weather is reallllyyyy starting to warm up around here and we're enjoying so many walks and I've even gotten a few opportunities to expose my newly pregnant - and very white thighs - to the world, again;) And I've pushed mowed the lawn - which I love doing but rarely can because...kids...and we've made promises to not make any TO DO LISTS for this summer! Of course, a clean-ish house and paying bills and maybe doing some camping and a lot of walking/hiking and spending an obscene amount of time at the beach/pool and read some books outside in the sun during nap times...we've got plans but we don't want to have expectations of things that *must* be done - especially, house/fixer-upper related. This summer...we chill:)

the other day me and the kids went to the park and on this rare occasion, they played nicely, which allowed me to start a book - The Magic Of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd - and the sun was shining and it was just what I needed to remind me that I don't need to be planning our next vacation - although, it's mighty fun to be doing that:), or what project I'd like to start/finish or what our lives will look like next year or next month or next week, I don't needdddd to be thinking about much more than how happy I am right this moment:)

here's to slowing down:) - another great book, I recommend to everyone (which I started and finished on our 3 day trip to Tulum, post HERE) - Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner. So so good:)

my good stuff: hot showers after Jacob gets home from work...which allow me to lock the door (me on one side, children on the other;). waiting on the arrival of a new shirt in the mail:) the arrival of a baby bump:)

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - when we leave for our walk in the mornings, it's still pretty cold...but by the time we head home...some of us aren't wearing shirts;)

theo - the sass is strong with this child...representing May the 4th with her Yoda sweater:)

rockyp - being adorable...I may rush him in to have his eyes checked, in hopes that he'll need glasses (kidding BUT he could totally pull this off!!!!;).

#the52project Week17

post by casey.

it's May1 and it's snowing outside. Two things: 1/ the snow doesn't bother me because it will be gone by morning and it makes for a pretty Instagram video:) and 2/ am I the only one that doesn't understand the Justin Timberlake May meme???? - this feels embarrassing to admit, even though I have no clue what to be embarrassed about;/ FILL ME IN!!!!!;)

my good stuff: leaving Target with no purchases (except for the slushy baby girl got for AMAZING behavior:). grandpas turning 85:) windows where there once weren't.

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - we decided against an iPad of any kind for his birthday because he clearly has an addiction and we're not ready to deal with how many hiding places we'll have to come up with to keep him off another device;/

theo - my baby appointment buddy:) This was the best day!

rockyp - sporting his new tank top and a double chin;)

#the52project Week16

post by casey.

it's been a good week! We're a bit behind but when isn't that the case, really:) And on top of a good week (last week), today...MONDAY...has been down-right amazing! Spent some of the early morning with my husband, before he left for work. Had well-behaved children all through breakfast!! A successful baby-appointment (I'm downright giddy to be doing baby appointments again!!!!!:):) and Theo tagged along and was just the best little buddy!!! Now it's nap time and I'm going to push-mow the lawn while listening to a podcast and good lord...these are the days:):)

my good stuff: $55 pillow cases (2 for $55 - that's not supposed to make it any better;) that your husband talked you into and that he guarantees will be life-changing;). good mornings that turn into good afternoons. googling flights, always.googling.flights:)

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - the kinda day you are bound to have when this face wakes you up in the morning;)

theo - baby girl learned to ride her bike! It wasn't easy going the whole time...she ran into a boat, almost broke her 'parts' and fell in dog shit. BUT she has it down now!!!:)

rockyp - he, basically, does as he pleases;)

#the52project Week15

post by casey.

now that we finallyyyyyy got that peskyyyyyyy baby announcement out of the way - HERE if you missed it;) - we can move forward and play catch-up! Man...hiding a pregnancy can be all consuming and in some ways...a total buzz kill! Glad to have the cat out of the bag and to be able to share how much I've really been eating;)

lots more fun blog posts coming up but for now...these 3 knuckle-heads:)

my good stuff: telling people you're pregnant:) family volley ball games. endless birthday parties (and cake:).

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - I've been SO impressed with his building!!!:)

theo - equally as impressive;)

rockyp - always off somewhere, being too cool:)

#the52project Week14

post by casey.

these weeks pass in a blur and they do so because we're so damn busy...I think?!...and yet here I am trying to recall even one thing we did? It was a good week and we even got a few really nice days - which, was necessary to get us through the next week of rain filled days! We paid off a loan! Jacob and I got to spend a few hours alone, spending an obscene amount of money on household essentials but appreciating that time together and task more than I ever thought possible:)

my good stuff: successful sales on Facebook:) warm hotel pools. getting the puke bucket just in time;) - Rocky was sick last week.

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - this boy has pushed me to the point of considering going back to work...maybe I should let someone else raise him for a while?!:(

theo - thinking tonight might be the night we try to get her out of diapers overnight!!!!:) I see lots of laundry in my future;)

rockyp - he'll never turn on me, like the other 2 have...right?!?!!?;(

#the52project Week13

post by casey.

skipping right to the good stuff list because...what do they say...

what you think, you become

what you feel, you attract

what you imagine, you create

my good stuff: hard candy Life Savers. paying off debt. free pens. 

 a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - hotel phone calls

theo - looking older and older every day:(

rockyp - bath night

#the52project Week12

post by casey.

it's been the busiest week! I took to rearranging a few things around the house, which set in motion abouttttt 18 different projects. All.at.the.same.time. I have a habit of kissing Jacob good bye for work and then setting out to change THE WHOLE HOUSE...and every paint color...but this ambition normally only lasts till abouttttt 1130AM, when my energy level comes to a screeching halt...along with all the projects I started! And then there's Jacob's face when he walks into the disaster after work. Oops;)

But we (my sister, Megan and myself) were able to get the majority of things back in order by the end of Saturday night! Although, our house is far from finished...it seems we're doing an okay job minimizing and finding a place for everything! Slowly but surely!

also, we finished up just in time for me to completely shut down today...this bit of dreary weather had me laying around for A LOT (understatement) of the day. I did, occasionally, leave the couch or bed for snacks - duh;) Andddd I invested at least a few hours (understatement) into researching the cost of a quick trip to Paris in June (that's unlikely to happen but a girl can dream/ignore her children from 1-5PM for the sake of vacay research;).

my good stuff: 15 minute workouts. learning the guitar...very slowly...with lots of interruptions:) finding a new TV Series (How To Get Away With Murder - soooooo goooddddd!!!!) that both you and your husband are into - weekly date nights are back (we used to watch Castle together:)!!!:)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - he asked me to be his girlfriend this week:) Which turned into a very confusing conversation;)

theo - "I'm the babe!"

rockyp - couch potato:)

#the52project Week11

post by casey.

coming in a tad late and had to catch 2 of them first thing this morning! BUT we did it;) Week 11 down. 41 more weekssssss to go. 

my good stuff: beginning my Birthday Week with an early morning, 1st Day of Spring, pretty sunrise, walk:) starting from episode1 of The Office. my husband hand scrubbing the floors while I eat my way through 2 cinnamon rolls.

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - currently in a time-out (his time-out isn't in front of the TV;) and working on getting a shot of vinegar for sassing. HI, Monday!!!!!!

theo - the only person that's looked through those photo albums, that I agonize over, in the last year;)

rockyp - about to work out? just worked out? 

#the52project Week10

post by casey.

you may or may not remember all the complaining I was doing last week - reminder HERE?!;) Not this week, my friends...not.this.week;).

as promised...I'm trying to keep a close eye out for all those little things that make those not so fun/long/cold days feel better than:) And I'm here to deliver with a little list:)

my good stuff: a router that ended up not being broken. it's my birthday month. my husband suggesting a trip to Paris (in 5YRS:).

and now these kiddos. Who may make an appearance or 2 on My Good Stuff List from time to time...maybe...highly unlikely...maybeeeee;)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

homer - just realizing now that it'll be at leasttttt 30 more years and maybe a couple of his own kids until he fully understands my love for him:(

and those eye lashes aren't Rodan&Fields;) - all his!;)

theo - when you're the first one up, you get the last of the 'good' cereal:)

rockyp - ravioli/bath night:)