This kid is actually saving me money

It's kind of awesome when your kid can create gifts for people so you don't have to buy them. I plan to use her artistic abilities for my own personal gain for a very long time. 

Mia created these quirky little sketches for my nephew's nursery:

 I do not understand how she thinks of this stuff. 

And she didn't copy any of it - she just created it out of the clear blue. 

And I love that these have a little bit of humor in them. Look at that one eyebrow up:

 Weston's all, "I guess they'll do." 

Marathons and children will be the death of me.

Being a runner is a lot like being a parent: It takes up all of your time, you sometimes hate it but you would never admit that to anyone, and once you get yourself into it there is really no way out. In both cases you are filthy and smelly all the time and there is no point in wearing makeup. And every mother knows that the bonus is that you get to live in active wear!

Much like raising kids, some days are good and some days are bad. And there is no great way to predict which kind of day it's going to be. Running, like parenting, morphs you into a person that your friends kind of appreciate, but mostly just don't understand. Basically, you're a freak.  

And here is proof that some races are better than others:

Check out last year's race photo...:

 ...compared with this years:

This is the face of a person who has wished death on herself.

And, sort of like childbirth, it's not too long before you forget about the pain and are ready to do it all over again. 

What I do on prednisone.

I certainly don't sleep. 

Last night I found this little nugget about 1 AM and cried.

The most adorable, sexist play I've ever seen

 Bode was in the 2nd grade musical this week. He and his bros were roosters.

Their only job was to heckle the "cute chicks." 

 Bode saw these pictures and said, "Hey, there are supposed to be four chicks hanging on me. Someone wasn't doing their job." 

With that attitude there should be NO chicks hanging on that little chauvinistic rooster (perhaps he should have been a pig ;).

But all joking (sort of) aside, I sincerely loved seeing these little jocks in their barnyard costumes. It reminds me that they are still innocent little boys.

 Bode is so blessed to be surrounded with this group of snaggle-toothed kids. They still think girls are weird and terrifying, they smell like wet puppy dogs and their parents aren't jerks. What more could a parent ask for?

What's happened the last 26 days:

 I'm sure you've all been wondering (Mom).

Well, first off chocolate. 

Chocolate is always happening at our house, but thankfully Easter gave my Dad the perfect excuse to give my children this monstrosity. 

And I'm not even going to pretend to be upset about it. 

Have you ever put part of a chocolate bunny ear in your coffee? Well, you should.

Then there was LTC. The Leadership Training for Christ convention is something only the most devout church of Christ kid can understand. It's strangely awesome.

These kids studied the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth for months. I know Mia learned a lot based on the questions she would ask me ("Mom, what's a virgin?" "What's a rape?" "How many people do you think Samson murdered with his bare hands?"). 

Thanks, Old Testament.

 Gena and I were up to no good the entire weekend...

Sneaking food into conference rooms, 

 skipping our kids' events to stuff our faces, 

 drinking coffee well past our bedtimes.

We were terrible examples to the Christian leaders of tomorrow. 

"Watch what we do, kids, and go forth and do the exact opposite".

It's a miracle this kid has turned out as sweet as she has. 

Bode wasn't invited to LTC this year per the request of four different security guards at the hotel. Let's just say last year Bode and the security team at the Dallas Anatole had several bonding moments.

You don't have to read when your sister does it for you.

This is how you get out of trouble. 

Because no parent is going to get mad at this. Even if said parent tucked both children into their respective bed hours ago. 

These moments make me want to freeze time.

Second place really is first loser.

These sweet babies got second place in their post-season tournament this weekend. They were all bawling, because second place stinks. Really, it does. Character building? Yes. But, fun? Nope.

 Thankfully, ice cream makes everything better. 

 He fought the pole, and the pole won.

In other news, if this doesn't put the fear of God into a mother, nothing will:

This woman-child has grown a foot the past 6 months and her hand-me-down-iphone-turned-ipod-with-no-data-plan is quickly turning into an appendage.

Oh my word, she's me.

I'm going to need a bag to breathe in....and after that a sedative.

And the winner is...

Mia accidentally missed her own art show (When Disney calls, we answer). Thankfully, a friend went and noticed that Mia won Outstanding Youth Impressionist. 

I'll sell this to you for the very fair and reasonable price of one bajillion dollars. 

I say a little prayer every time I open Bode's backpack.

 Because I find things like this:

And this (He dreams big. I believe this has something to do with having to be a certain height to ride things at Disney World):

And finally, this little nugget:

I'm certain his sister hasn't seen this as I have not heard the indignant screaming....yet.

We went to Disney World (again) and loved it (again)

Is it possible that we have crossed a line with this whole Disney thing? Perhaps.

But, seriously, your kids are way less annoying in Disney World. That thing that makes you want to beat your head against a brick wall at home? It's completely adorable anywhere on Disney property.

And your kids think you are actually kind of awesome. There is little to no eye rolling at Disney.

At home, that look on Bode's face would mean he was plotting a way to make his sister scream that shrill, ear piercing, exasperated scream that he's grown so accustom to. But in Disney World, this is an admiring, loving look at his hero and mentor - his adorable sister.

This kid has always been able to sleep anywhere, but I believe this is the first time he has ever literally fallen asleep standing up and then just crumpled onto the floor of the bus. Only in Disney.

Bode and I got to have a mother/son day in Epcot while Andy surprised Mia with a trip to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios (she finished the entire series and is officially obsessed)! I'm hoping this will motivate Bode to read.

For some reason, I'm doubting it really sunk in.

Mia showing the fam pictures of her dream day of all things Harry Potter:

Apparently, Andy and I can't keep our eyes open. It's like we've never taken a picture before.

Cousin Besties for life

Normally, I would have given Bode a look that said, "This is no longer funny. Make a normal face right this instant or you will have to spend your Friday nights practicing how to pose for pictures. And it will take a really long time. And you will hate it." But in Disney World I'm all, "It's so hilarious how Bode ruins every picture with those adorable faces. That kid!"

Okay, even in Disney World this is considered a terrible picture.

This picture was immediately followed by the trip back to Oklahoma where everyone resumed their normal, super annoying activities.