A Beautiful Mess

Things have been rough lately. The twins are hard. They've started biting. Mother's Day Out is over for the time being. The laundry continues to grow exponentially while my ability to do it continues linearly. I haven't showered in 48 hours. I didn't brush my teeth until 2 pm yesterday. A random family caught the boys before they ran out into a parking lot at the splash park today when I wasn't looking. I find myself looking around and thinking,

What a mess.

I long for a day off. Just a day to go walk around Target. Or browse random antique stores for junk I don't really need. Or watch a trashy Lifetime movie. Or go eat a meal without a child on my lap or while driving with my knee. I just feel tired.

Then I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself. Because I'm so lucky to have all of this:

I got to see Laney be a flower girl for the first time last weekend. She was stunning.

She chased and crushed on the ring bearer all weekend long. This would have been adorable if he wasn't her cousin (I guess we should explain that soon).

The boys got dressed up and Parker immediately started posing. Such a ham.

Brooks clung to Daddy (in true Brooks fashion).

And some nose-picking ruined my only shot of a picture of the boys together.

Our life really is just a mess. A beautiful, beautiful mess.

Are We Toddler or Are We Dancer

I've pretty much been looking forward to dance recital time since I found out that Laney was a girl at her 20-week sonogram. And it finally came around! I have such wonderful memories of ballet, tap, and jazz as a little girl and can't wait to do it all over again (in a very non-Dance Moms type of way, I swear). I'm so glad she loved this first year of ballet. I'll never make her do it, but I can't promise I won't cry real tears in my closet when she stops. I wish I was kidding.

Her favorite part was wearing makeup. She got to wear lots of make up. And was looking way too much like an 18-year-old for Marshall's liking. But all the lipstick, sparkles, and glitter were a dream come true for her.

Her class did a dance to the "We Are Siamese" song from Lady & the Tramp. I use the word "dance" hesitantly. I don't think any of them were doing the same move at any time. But it was absolutely adorable. And I'm sure you're shocked that she had an entire fan club in attendance that thought she was the star of the show. Thanks, family! It was wonderful waking up to a house full of her flowers this morning.

Snapshot In Time

I just finished sewing a bow tie order that was looking SO good. I was thinking the whole time, "This may be my best one yet!" Then I noticed I had sewn something on backwards at the very end that couldn't be corrected. Darn that Law & Order for distracting me! Anyways, I don't think I can deal with starting all over right now without crying, so I'm taking a break to blog. HA!

I never write down the cute things that my kids do and say because I just can't imagine that I could ever forget it. But I've been discovering lately that I have a really terrible long-term memory. For instance, my mom and I randomly got on the topic of high school homecomings the other day. The conversation went something like this (NOTE: names have been changed to protect the innocent...or guilty...whichever):

Me: "I honestly don't really remember having class wars in high school."

Mom: "Seriously? You're telling me you don't even remember that homecoming when you and your friends spent the night at Sally's house and ended up in a huge war with the girls a year older? And Jane launched a frozen canteloupe at you and bruised the entire left side of your body for a week. And somebody's dad ended up chasing people off the property with a gun in hand. None of that?"

Me: "No."

You think I'd remember something that traumatic, right! Needless to say, I should probably start documenting this stuff. So here's a snapshot in time.

LANEY
-loves clothes; especially any "party dress"
-still calls breakfast "brepast"
-finds a way to say "actually" or "definitely" in every sentence
-has a huge vocabulary
-is a social butterfly
-gets in trouble at school more than I'd like
-always wants to be the bad guy when playing
-loves Spongebob Squarepants (I know...I'm an awful parent)
-can't tell her brothers apart
-doesn't know why you would ever need/want to tell them apart
-scolds anybody who is mean to those brothers

The Boys
-love turning lights on/off
-love opening/shutting the garage door
-love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
-love Barney
-say TAIN CHUUU (thank you) all the time
-think Laney is the coolest human ever
-love Mother's Day Out
-find a slide to go down anywhere we are
-do not like diaper changes
-love granola bars
-give kisses with mouths opened wide
-kiss eachother when they fall down
-fight quite a bit

Parker (I list him first because he's a minute older. It's only fair.)
-thinks the more blankets you have the happier you are
-HATES having his face wiped
-loves carrots
-holds Laney's hand when going places
-signs "please" so cute and vigorously
-dances a lot and has great rhythm

Brooks
-wants me to carry him everywhere
-is sensitive and sometime very serious
-always wants to hold mommy's hand when going places
-rarely dances (so it's adorable when he does!)
-is a very good eater of most things

Derby Darlings

Yesterday we went to our little friend Palmer's Kentucky Derby themed first birthday party. It was precious. And my kids looked precious, too, if I do say so myself.

But Brooks didn't think so.

Which is weird, because he was all about that shirt when he wore it for Easter.

I guess he was mad that I decided to omit the bow tie this time. His motto is erring on the side of being over dressed rather than under. Point taken, Brooks.

And we got to stay at the party for an entire hour before making our signature exit. You know, the one where Marsh and I drag out 3 mad, crying kids with snotty faces while everybody looks on at us pitifully and makes some comment about us having our hands full. But, like a said, we stayed A WHOLE HOUR with all of them! Things are getting better every day!