I'm not gonna lie.

We're only three months into 2013,  and it's already delivered my fair share of knocks.  I'm feeling a little trodden on, to say the least.

However, despite what the universe may send my way - there are a few bright spots in my life.  Ever present, ever blinding, bright spots.

Yes.  I get a lot of Holdeezy.  He never leaves my side.
The other three are in school/work all day.
It's not favoritism, it's just presence. 

And for these four guys, I am grateful.

Snowquestration

We got a snow day yesterday, thanks to a storm that impacted my leg more than it did anything else, really.
So we banded together to have a sledstravaganza!

Amazingly, the kids lasted about two hours in the very wet, slushy, "snow".

Kenny got tired of waiting for a sled to free up. 

A few other parents said "I'll hold you camera and take pictures of you and Holden".
Seriously, this is the best one of us.  

"Down again!"

Find the orange hat.  That's us. 

This was the perfect kind of snow day. Snowy, get-out-of-school-free kind of weather, a day of play, and then today the roads are perfectly clear and dry and the sun is out and everyone is back at school and work.

Mommy has had it up to *here*!

Sometimes, the world becomes a lot.  When it does, you need to get away from it all.
So we did.

The cottage on NAS Oceana that we rented for the weekend.
Old officer housing converted into vacation housing.
3 bedroom house for a steal! 

Some friends from OSU had us over for dinner as soon as we arrived into town.  So, that was awesome.  

The next morning we set out for the Virginia Zoo (in Norfolk).

We're FONZ members, because well, we like zoos.  We are our own zoo... we like to see how others operate.  It turns out, there are zoos and aquariums all over the US that have a reciprocity system.  Norfolk zoo gives free admission to FONZ members.  So, pretty much, we're ballin'. 

Hubband thought he was tough enough to get by with just a track jacket.
The prospect of several hours outside in 20mph winds, in 40 degree weather changed his tune.
We stopped by Target to keep him from becoming a "pop" sicle. 

Continuing the idea that my kids will combust if they look at the camera.

Baby Monkey. 

EVEN THOUGH THE WIND IS INSANE and IT'S FREAKING COLD, we have to visit the beach.
Because the ocean is awesome. 

If the entire rest of the trip had sucked, it would have been a win for me.
Hubband started teaching Holdeezy how to rub my shoulders.

Braxton likes to read the "Stink" series of chapter books.
In the most recent one, the family vacationed in Virginia Beach.
So, when we drove past this guy, who also happens to be IN the book -
We had to stop.
This is, apparently, the biggest gorilla in the world.
Left foot and my children give a good size comparison. 

Mount Trashmore from the top.

Kind lady took a picture of us all together...
And her finger. 

Lunch on the way home. SO good.
I highly recommend the wonton nachos.
(Karen, this place is further south than I remembered, It's in Hampton.
But REALLY recommend.  Really, Really.)  

We had a good time, all in all.  We came back recharged and ready to roll.   That's the point, right? 

Moving forward.

Working on moving forward.
On keeping the house clean.
On getting "to do" projects done.
On enjoying my boys.
Yes, all four of them.

Job applications submitted.
Crossables are crossed.

This can only mean one thing! Time for more house projects to kill time!

Seriously, a little good mojo this way would be a blessing.

Short People Have Rough Lives.

Normally, Hubband makes the boys' lunches as soon as he's done cleaning up dinner.  The last few days, our fridge has been so full, there hasn't been a place to store the lunch boxes - so I've had to make it in the morning.

Monday night.
Hubs: Hey baby, I'm going to need you to make the lunches in the AM.  No place in the fridge to store them tonight.
Me: Ok. No problem.

The next morning.

Yep.  That's the boxes.  At the top. 

Hubs: JUST KIDDING.  I WANT THEM TO STARVE!

Hat hair.

It's no secret that NOVA has been hit with a bit of a cold snap.

Today, we got an 1.5 inches of snow and all hell broke loose.

Waiting for a light.  Sometimes, you just need to look a little harder to find some beauty in your world. 

While you can't see the entirety of the line, it extended for two miles.  All the way to school.
We averaged about 8mph the entire five miles to school. 

What happens to little boys' hair, when faced with a cold snap.
(Hat hair)

The snow is not much more than a dusting, but it really is cold. 

trekkin' through some fresh pow.
To starbucks. 

All in all, I do love the pretty white stuff.  Just keep your head about you, VA, and we'll all get through this just fine.

Busy Work.

I've finally gotten around to re-doing my bathroom.  It's sucking  up a lot of my spare time and keeping my mind occupied.  It's looking fabulous, though to finish the look I want (think French lingerie), my elbows will have to leak just a bit more grease.  Since I'm headed back up to assemble hardware, I'll leave you with a picture post.  All the paint has left my brain cells without the ability to write coherently.

Waiting to see if we'd be spending Christmas in the hospital. 

Home-brewed (and duct-taped) Christmas deliveries! 

"Show Mommy your cute face."

My little blonde Harry Potter.  

The boys home-brewing rootbeer for their friend's Christmas deliveries. 

Probably the funniest band-aid I've ever seen. 

Christmas morning.
It too four hours to get him to put that down and open his other gifts. 

Older model, on Christmas eve. 

I didn't need wine to get through the holidays this year.  Other than illnesses going around - our holidays were wonderful. 

No words.

New thing: Ear 'staches. 

B-rox's 7th birthday breakfast.  

I love his silly face.

Zoo lights for B's 7th birthday, with some college buddies. 

Waiting for the metro, post - zoolights. 

A little tuckered out. 

Spent a day in the ER, hoping he didn't have appendicitis.
(He didn't, thankfully.)

First Lego store purchase, ever! 

If you know Andy, then you know I found his dad. 

Bathroom preview.

It's come a long way since even this picture was taken.
By the time I'm done, it will ooze with so much femininity that the testosterone
torpedoes I live with will bounce off the special estrogen barrier caused by girliness. 

PSA:  Hydrate.