Boy Toys With A Mama Makeover

Hi all!
Thanks for loving me through yesterday's meltdown.
As promised I'm back to normal today,
whatever that is. ; >
Today I bring you a project that was a year in the making.

It all started at a yard sale last summer,
when James purchased a boy's dream come true...
a real treasure chest!
Here's a picture of him once the transaction was complete.

He's beaming!!!

Now flash forward 12 months, to last week.
That's when I went looking for a solution to house
the every growing figure collection in my living room.
I had lots of ideas but decided on quickest turn around time.
Mama wanted to wrap it before school pick up.
I started by lightly sanding the chest.
Then I spray painted it with Valspar's Wrought Iron.
Once it was dry it needed a little something extra.
I scored a roll of these damask stickers months ago
and had them stashed back for the right project.
I'm thinking this was just the right project.

I love it so much that I'm actually excited
about James keeping a few toys in the living room.
Hooray for Boy Toys with a Mama Makeover. :)
For more mama makeovers stop by
the Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party.

Still Here, Still Hanging On

Do you ever have one of those days?
The kinda day when you realize how
very busy and crazy your life has become?!

Yesterday I was the woman that seemed to balance
the weight of the world, with a smile and hot meal.
But this morning?
I just wanted to go back to bed and cry.
The worst part is that I'm not even
a lay in the bed and cry kinda girl.
Who has time for that anyway?!

So seriously, what's my problem?
More importantly why did I meltdown today??

Here's the way I see it.
We've had lots of changes lately
and today was the day they all caught up with me.

We started August with Andy's new job.
It's an awesome opportunity
that I'm certain he was made for,
yet it is kicking our tail.
Then Joseph started high school.
Not only do we have high school classes,
we have high school football too.
And James?
Well he did start elementary school.
But nothing has been as challenging for him
as being without his Daddy and brother in the evenings.
By the time bedtime rolls around I'm
certain my eyes are crossed and ears are bleeding.

So today Andy was off
and home for the first day in a week.
He knew I wasn't myself and
asked what was going on.
I told him the best way to describe the way
I was feeling was to picture this...
the world was a million piece puzzle
and I was the Gumby holding it together.
True to form he stepped in and saved my sanity.
After a hot bath and early jammy tales intervention,
I'm chilling.
I promised to be good as new tomorrow,
and I'm certain I will.

This morning I silently wished for my life to return to normal,

then realized I wasn't sure what normal was.
Now tonight I have hope that we'll find a new normal.
Life will settle down long enough for us
to laugh over our crazy days.
But the best part is that the God who brought us to it,
will carry us through it!

J-E-S-U-S Baby!

Hi all, I hope your week is going well!
I just ran across the greatest YouTube clip,
and I couldn't resist sharing it with you.
Your gonna be singing this all day tomorrow. :)

Hang in there, it's almost the weekend!

Freshman Football Overload

Hi all, it's me.

Remember me??

That hopeless DIY romantic,

who tries to balance the must do's

with the wanna do's?

Well after a week of working in the boy's room,

I've been playing catch up around the house.

I'd planned to have my yard sale this week,

but decided to postpone it. 

Andy started his new job.

It's kicking our tail but we love it.

AND, Joseph had two-a-day practices this week.

Two-a-days as in Monday he practiced

 from 7-11am and then 4-8pm.

That's a total of 8 hours of practicing.

When he walked through the back door,

soaking wet with sweat

I said "How was practice?!"

His answer?

"Not as bad as I thought it was going to be!"

So it's been wild, but having a child

loving every minute of it makes all the difference.

My mama reward came yesterday afternoon

during football pictures.

You see I was tired from a long week.

Read: tired mama = sassy mama.

So while the boys were changing into their uniforms

I tried to find out the 411 on the picture process.

Needless to say the assistant coaches were unsure.

I decided I was over patiently waiting

for my parenting orders.

You know: show up, smile and whip out a checkbook.

That's when I found the photographer unloading his van.

He kindly explained all the details.

But the best part was this...

if I'd wait until the coaches got their shots 

then I could have my boys' picture made together.

Hello framed print for their new room!

As I headed back to the car 

I passed the head coach who was fussing 

about "finding out where the picture forms were".

Before I could stop myself,

I blurted out "The proofs will be here in 2-3 weeks,

then the parents can order online, 

I just talked to the photographer."

Oh snap was the look he shot me.

But remember, sassy mama had taken over and

 I had jumped through that man's hoops all week.

I felt a little bad but couldn't be bothered 

with explaining myself.

Later on when the photographer had finished his poses

I walked over to ask if he was ready to do sibling photos.

Luckily I had another mom who wanted the same,

and you know there's safety in numbers.

That's when a man turned and put his arms around me,

shot me a big grin and said "Sibling Photos!?!" 

When the man turned I realized it was the coach.

He probably hugged me to keep from 

strangling me, but whatever.

I consider myself paid in full for those 

two-a-days I had to choreograph my life around. :)

I did nab several pics of my own.

Remember, sassy mama 

can't leave her best laid photo framing plans 

in the hands of football coaches.

Here are the boys' on the new field.

Which by the way, is gorgeous.

I LOVE this photo

of my boys.

James was so proud to be part of the fun.

Here they are in the stands. 

And last but not least I give you,

the Three Amigos and their Mini-Me.

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope your week was twice as blessed as it was busy.

School starts back on Tuesday,

are you ready??