This I know for sure

1. My house will never stay clean. (I pick up they pull out)
2. I don't care.
3. Nap time is not for cleaning. It is for relaxing, peeking in on sleepy babes, and ugh homework.
4. I can't contain my excitement for this weekend! I am taking my boys to what I consider heaven on earth. We will spend our days getting as dirty as possible, catching as many fish as possible, riding horses, and top it all off with a little branding.
5. My first babies (dogs) still love me, even though I'm not the greatest mom to them anymore. We laid on the living room floor last night like the old times, and when the baby cried Riley rolled over and ran to his room.
6. My husband still makes my heart thump every time I see him. (Especially in his police uniform)
7. Hearing Krew and Seth sing ZBB Free makes my heart smile. Such an amazing song with such meaning when sang by them. "All we need is LOVE"
8. Last night when I finally sat I looked around and realized I have EVERYTHING I need. (Home, love, family)
9. Tomorrow I turn 27 and will spend my birthday cleaning, packing, and then dinner with my hubby. (Funny how times change)
10. Packing for a family of 4 is hard work! Especially when its for 2 under 2!

Yep that's what I know for sure.

"Let him sleep for when he wakes he will move mountains."

~Imagination~Exploration~

If there is anything I NEVER want to hear my boys say its, "I'm bored."
There is nothing that makes me more crazy than people whining on facebook about how boring Casper is.
All I can think is they must not have had parents like mine.
The Gillilands didn't get bored.
The one reason is because if you said you were bored my dad found "something" for you to do.
This something was usually picking up after the dog, or cleaning a bathroom.
So instead of saying those words we became explorers.
Our backyard was a mountain, the Oregon Trail, or raging rapids.
I remember playing outside for hours and never watching TV until right before bed.
And those were the days our parents were at work.
On the days they were off we were fishing, prairie dog hunting, rock collecting, or just enjoying Wyoming for all it has to offer.
Moving on from my childhood to what I want to instill in my boys.
This time last year my dad said, "I'm glad you don't buy Krew a lot of toys."
I looked at him and thought is he serious?
Then he went on to point out that my son was 1 and playing with cars like a 5 year old.
His own dialogue that none of us could understand going along with the play.
Since that day I have been very mindful of the toys I do buy the boys.
My rules are: 1. They must be kid operated. By this I mean it can't be a toy that just lights up and spins. The boys must do something to make something happen. 2. IT MUST encourage imagination or exploration. That one is pretty self explanatory.
If you've ever been to the site fatbraintoys.com they break it down for you :-)
That being said while at my mom and dad's last night I was lucky enough to watch Krew explore their back yard with a stick, and a ball.
I will probably never know what he was discovering, but I do know his imagination was in full force.
Here is a little peek at Krew's birthday present, which he was given a moth early.

Ahhhh Summer

So it's finally here!
Sweet Summer TIME!
I get to have the best job for the next two and a half months....
STAY AT HOME MOM!
It's funny, because I will be the first to admit I am not someone who is cut out to be a stay at home mom full time. I love to work too much, but summer is just the right amount of time.
I get to nurture my boys and teach them so much without getting restless.
Every year come August I am itching to work again, now if only I could get my boss to let me bring my boys with me it would be the perfect mix!
I'm going to try and blog just to keep a journal of all out summer memories, if you're out there and you read this then great!
So Week 1 of summer break down!
This week we have done so much already! On Monday we had a play date with the adorable Maddux. This little guy is great! He could not be more different than Krew, yet I have a feeling they will be good friends. He is quiet, and he is that kid that when looking at him you can tell he is really studying everything. While Krew is the kid that says what he is thinking instantly! It's so fun to watch these two grow, because they are exactly 2 months apart. They are both still at the parallel play stage, but you can see them moving towards wanting to play together. I'm sure by the end of summer they will be playing perfectly together! Then on Tuesday and Wednesday we were park rats! I swear having a park two blocks away is a curse, and a blessing. Blessing, because we walk there several times a day, a curse, because we walk there several times a day! lol
Thursday Kade had his helmet fitting, and it went great! The doc took his measurement, and we go back on the 16th for the scan. He told me that everything I notice in his face is something only a mom would notice, but the helmet will fix it. One thing he said that threw me off was, "Some parents don't want to do this because they are embarrassed." Wow really who could be embarrassed of helping their kid?
Anyway so far summer has been amazing! I can't wait until Seth has some time off, we get to go branding, start swimming lessons, and get serious on some potty training!

{The Love Of Brothers}

Boys,

Today you are 7 and 22 months.

You both slept so late I had to wake you up to get ready to go.

I got Kade ready, took his 7 month picture, and then handed the sticker to Krew.

Every month this is what we do.

Krew gets the sticker, puts it on his head, and tells me all about his sticker hat.

Funny how this conversation has evolved from, "hat"

To..."mommy, silly hat." "I funny."

Yes Krew you are. You alway can make me smile.

Kade you think your brother is hilarious. You aren't even scared of him anymore.

This morning you both just laughed all morning. Until......

The dreaded car seat.

Kade I'm beginning to wonder if you will EVER tolerate it.

You see it and instantly get mad.

Well this morning something a little different happened.

I put you in and like always you screamed, but then your brother came to the rescue.

He gave you his blanket, his cow, and his sheep.

This is no small thing.

These are his three favorite things of all time.

Once all 3 things were stacked on you he squatted down and said, "hey, hey, ok tater."

You let out the happiest laugh, Krew looks at me and yells, "I did it"

You did it buddy. You showed your brother what the love of a sibling is.

You showed me that no matter what material thing it is, your brother being happy is more important to you.

My goal is to raise you to be a kind person, and well I think we are on the right track.

You both make me so proud. I cannot wait to see what amazing people you turn into.

Love always,

Mommy XOXOXO

P.S. Please never forget how much you love each other. This quote makes me think of today's events, because today Krew you WERE a superhero to your brother.

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.

-Marc Brown

The Greatest Gift He Has Ever Given Me.

My husband is my rock.
My best friend.
The one who gave me the most amazing little boys on the face of the planet. (to me)
As I sit here the night before my 2nd official Mother's Day I can't help but think to thank my husband.
He gave me these wonderful gifts.
I can tell you that my life is full and mean it.
I can tell you that I now know what my mom felt and probably feels.
I can tell you that I would not change one decision I have ever made.
3 years ago I told my mom on mothers day that I was married, and had been for a bit.
She cried and hugged me telling me she knew Seth was the one for me.
Now I sit here with two of the most amazing women I know (my mom and aunt) and we talk about our babies.
Mine just babies, theirs grown adults....
I listen and get excited, and sad.
I need to cherish these moments and hug my babies, because before I know it I'll be sitting with my aunt and mom they'll be talking about their grand kids, and I'll be talking about my grown kids.
So I will again say these are the greatest little people I know, I cannot wait to spend everyday with them, and watch them grow.
Being a mom is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, along with becoming a wife to a husband that is the most amazing dad.
The loves of my life that fill my heart.......

{Little things...}

On Tuesday I came home and from my garage I could smell house cleaner.
Ahhhh She came I reminded myself.
The house cleaner had came and went while I was at work, and boy did it feel good to come home to a clean house.
I set the boys down and looked around taking it all in knowing that in about 3 hours they would destroy all her hard work.
But for 10 minutes I lived like I did before babies.
One thing I noticed was my vase was sitting in the middle of my kitchen table empty.
Sad. Lonely.
So Krew and I went out and picked the GIANT tulips that were growing in our ugly garden.
Placed them in the pot that they are way to big for and didn't care, because I had a little Spring in my house when it's not spring outside in Wyoming yet.
Here are my beautiful flowers in a vase that's not quite big enough......

{To Helmet or Not to Helmet}

I have been going back and forth with this decision.

Our PT doesn't think it is necessary, because she feels Kade's head isn't as bad as I think it is.

So what to do.

You're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about well......

With Kade's Torticollis he doesn't turn his head both ways, so one side of his head is flattening.

With this one cheek isn't filling out as much, and one eye is a little smaller than the other.

Many people don't notice it, but I do.

Maybe I do because as a mom you look at every inch of you baby all the time.

Maybe it's because it is noticeable.

What the helmet does is put pressure on the side of the head that is pushing out, and its open on the flat side.

With this the head should round back out.

Many people say just keep his hair long.

Well, if you know me, you know Krew gets his hair cut about every other week.

I don't like long hair on boys, and have very strong opinions on it.

In short I feel people act they way they are kept. You dress like a slob you act like a slob. You wear your hair like a punk you act like one. You dress for success you are successful. I know when I get ready for work in the morning I keep this thought in my head when I'm tempted to pull my hair up in a wet pony tail.

I know petty, but something I feel. Same reason my boys will NEVER get their ears pierces, their hair colored, or grow it out. Not until they are 18 at least.

So back to my great debate. Have my baby wear a helmet for a few months and then be normal again. Let me inform you these helmets are not covered by insurance, and cost around $3,000...Yikes.

Or have a little odd shape to our head that may self correct as he grows stronger and moves more.