Happy Birthday Mommy!

Well, today was my birthday...twenty-nine years ago today I entered this world. Even though most of the day was pretty much like every other day, making breakfast, changing diapers, folding laundry, etc., it was such a blessing to see my kids get so excited about my birthday. Now granted it doesn't take much to excite them and when they hear 'birthday' they automatically think CAKE, but even still they were very excited. I quickly learned after becoming a mother that my birthday is really no longer about just me! So today we did things that we all like to do. The day began with Tytus and Beau making the usual request for pancakes. I whispered to Tytus that today was my birthday. With eyes lit, he ran to find Beau, where I overheard him saying, "Do you know who's birthday is today, Beau?...it's Mommy's!!!", with Beau replying, "Yeah, birthday cake, birthday cake!!" After pancakes and playing outside, we celebrated with a birthday lunch at Chick-fil-A. We all love Chick-fil-A, especially me...the people that work there are so nice, they practically feed my kids for me! Then it was back home to bake strawberry cupcakes. Followed by a nice long nap taken by all three children at the same time(this was probably the best gift of all!!) As you can see from the following pictures the older boys got to rest together today which is quite a treat. They ask everyday and I rarely let them, but since today was my birthday we broke several rules!! After naps we had to put frosting and sprinkles on the cupcakes and make a delicious meal...the boys favorite, PB&J (no one should have to cook on their birthday if they don't want to!) Then we waited for Daddy to get home (did I mention that Brock has been gone for three days on a business trip and wouldn't get home until late) to have our little 'party'. So the boys got to stay up later than normal and eat cupcakes at 9:00(like I said we broke lots of rules today). And they got to wear their Christmas pajamas with the footsies that zip up the front. That's another one of those things that they ask to do frequently and I don't let them, mainly because they get really hot when wearing them, but also because I think I have an issue with them wearing pajamas with snowmen and Santa on them when it isn't Christmas time. Anyway, Brock came bearing gifts, the cupcakes were delicious, and everyone went to sleep with no fits or fussing, even Cash opted to forgo his nightly thirty minute meltdown, which I am truly grateful for. I really wouldn't want to spend my birthday any other way than doing the simple things with my kids...I wouldn't turn down a message or a trip to NY...but seeing them happy and filled with joy and getting excited to make me feel special, really is a great gift! Thank you boys for a very nice day!

From the Mouths of Babes...

Like most children, mine are constantly saying something funny (or at least I think so). Often times what they say is even profound and thought provoking (in a child-like way, of course). In order to aid in my effort of storing these precious memories, I am starting a section of the blog to honor their humorous quotes. So, today as Tytus was getting dressed...well, actually he was putting on the dalmation costume I made for Beau last year, but never the less, he was getting dressed...our conversation went a little like this:
Me: "Do you need some help, Ty?"
(he looks at me with a puzzled look)
Me: "Do you like it when I call you Ty?"
T: "NO"
Me: "Oh, you like it when I call you Tytus, right?"
T: "NO...it's T-Diddy! or you can call me T-Man, but I love it when you call me T-Diddy!"

Multi-tasking

Nearly every evening, at almost the exact same time, Cash has a FULL BLOWN MELT DOWN! For about thirty minutes he screams and fusses and screams and fusses. It is during this time that I am so very thankful for my husband. He's just a great daddy. He has this calming touch that frankly I am lacking by the end of the day when I have had my children all over me all day. One night a couple of weeks ago when the crying subsided I emerged from my bedroom to find the above scene. I love this picture. I think they both look so content, doing something that they enjoy. And who says a man can't multi-task?

Catch Up

Several times a day at our house my little Beau can be found running around yelling "You not gonna catch up, you not gonna catch up!!" It's pretty cute watching him run as quickly as he can to one of his usual hiding places. Of course any of us could catch up with him even though most often we just humor him. The more I've heard him joyfully proclaim that I will not catch up, the more I begin to think that maybe he is right...not gonna catch up. Not gonna catch up with the laundry, the cleaning, the organizing, the filing, the teacing, the learning, the neighbors, the lists (you know, those lists I make after I've already completed chores so that I can check more items off and feel super productive!) I like to believe that I am not just slow, that I am not the only one out there that is "not gonna catch up". So, friends, join me in not catching up! Let's humor ourselves for a bit...Let's shout it out..."Nanny-nanny-boo-boo, You not gonna catch up!!", and let's run to our hiding places and feel like we really WON!!

In the spirit of catching up (or not catching up), I thought I would add a few pictures of the gang from the past few weeks.

????

I decided to go ahead and get this blog up and going before I figured out all the details. I figured if I waited until I knew what I was doing, this blog would never exist. So, needless to say, I have some questions! Please bear with me and please feel free to HELP!!

1. How do I follow someone else's blog if there is not a place on their blog to click "follow"?
2. When I try to upload a picture yo be displayed when I follow someone or comment it won't let me because my pictures are too large...any suggestions?

That's all for now. I am certain there wil be more questions to come.

Tah-Dah!!!

Well, I finally did it!!! I have been saying for two years now that I wanted to start a family blog to chronicle our daily life, and I just haven't accomplished it until now. I am not sure what has been holding me back... I mean, besides moving, having babies, taking care of little ones, running a household, and everything else that being a stay at home mom entails. For some reason I finally bit the bullet and dove right in (or is it dived? I never can remember). I'm not sure my timing was all that great, with the holiday season just around the corner, but what's one more thing to do??? My hope is that blogging will allow me to capture our memories as they are happening (not similar to my attempt at scrapbooking, which clearly exhibits my gift of procrastination).

The title of our blog was obviously adapted from the 1969 Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", a classic that I love and can give partial credit for inspiring my parents to name me as they did. Also, the title was inspired by my step-father, who never fails to refer to my children as The Sundance Kids. Brock and I started our little "gang" nearly four years ago, when we were blessed with Tytus Bentley on January 6,2006. Only a short fifteen months later, Beau Broox joined us on April 2, 2007, and just three months ago we completed the threesome with Cash Allen Edward on August 4, 2009. We could not ask for more amazing boys. They are sheer joy! It gets a little rowdy at times, but they are definitely the best of both of us. I thanks God daily for entrusting them to me (and pray fervently for his guidance).

Well, so here I go...officially entering the world of blogging! It is certainly a work in progress, but surely over time I will tweek it until it is just right. I have been so blessed by the blogs of some of my friends (e.g. Julie, Carissa, Bratt) that I dare attempt to match up to their blogging skills! My main desire is to create a virtual journal about this family that I love so much. In the meantime, I hope that you too are as blessed by my life as I am! ENJOY!!