May is for Moms: An Interview with Myself

Sept 15th 2004

April 5th 2012

1. Before you ever even had children, how did you feel about being a mother?

Honestly, I had always said I'd never have children. That I would travel the world, meet new people, and do a million activities that I had always dreamed of doing.... I'm beyond happy that I have my boys though! World traveling will happen, just as the others have, together as a family! 

2. Since becoming a mother, what is something that has happened that you never thought would?

 I NEVER thought I would one day become a SAHM.... I had worked since I was allowed to with a student workers permit. Even with our oldest I had worked from home for a couple of years. Now I do again, with blogging and reviews, but this is definitely much more fun. It is on my own time/the children's time, and we are able to ENJOY our time together as a family.

3. Is being a mother less difficult, more difficult or exactly how difficult you imagined?

Oh, so much more! So many more worries, having to think of what you do say and how you act, because they WILL repeat and remember! 

4. What is your fondest memory of being a mother (so far)?

The fact that when I held my oldest for the first time I knew that God existed. i had been stuggling with His presence for 2 years at that point. But holding my little guy in my arms showed me He was there all along silently guiding me through all the difficult times to that very moment... And all of the hugs, I love you's (I hate you's), cuddles, milestones achieved, excitement over great grades.... There isn't just one really..

5. If your children only learn one life lesson from you, what do you hope it is?

That pursuing their dreams through hardwork, remaining honest with themselves and others, helping those that would normally be turned away, and slowing down to enjoy life will take them further than they ever imagined.

Our Little Monkey's 1st Birthday Party!

On the Friday our Little Mikey Monkey turned 1!! 

On Sunday we had his 1st Birthday Party! The road to make this possible was beyond bumpy though! Between wanting to ring my husband's neck, wanting to consume more than a bottle of wine and wanting to just not do it all together, it turned out Perfect! Lesson learned: Start planning more than two weeks ahead of time and DO NOT wait until the day before to pick up decorations, food, etc...(It's so much easier for older kids! Still trying to get back into the swing of the everything with a little one).

I was able to find a bakery that made custom cakes & cupcakes! American Dream Cakes, Bakery. They are an hour away in Jacksonville, NC, but they have a store front that is only 30 minutes away and were able to bring the cupcakes and SMASH cake there for pick up! I LOVE how they all turned out!Perfect for the Monkey Themed Birthday Party that daddy chose!

Daddy decided to BBQ for the party which turned out to be great with the first day of amazing weather! Friends, the man-child's friends and even Baby B's buddy Baby R enjoyed the time outside!

 With it being a Monkey Party I HAD to find the perfect shirt for our Little Monkey/Mini Marine. After looking online and through Etsy, I came across several but fell in LOVE with this one! It is made by LittleGoodieTutus who also happens to be the wife of an Air Force Veteran! (MAJOR Bonus there! I love supporting Spouse owned and Veteran owned businesses!!!) She did an Amazing job and the shirt itself is so soft for baby's skin!

We took the party inside for snacks, play time and present time!

Then it was SMASH cake time! I'm not sure who was more excited, Baby, daddy or the kids...

 He didn't know what to do with it at first. Thought it was a toy, looked like he was trying to pick it's nose, tried turning it upside down. Then we took off a little piece for him and he went to town!

 Big Brother had been begging for a piece since we got it. We said he could have a bite but I don't think Mikey Monkey was too thrilled with it. ;)

  

Back off my cake man!

 Of course daddy wanted to help him along as he was enjoying the cake and taking slow small bites...

 From there it was ALL OVER... The Messy Monkey came to life and he dove in!

 Between our Little Monkey, Big brother and Daddy, that cake was destroyed!

Daddy took him in for a quick bath and then it was more outside play time to run off all that sugar!

Banana splits to wrap it up! A must for a Monkey Party!

Later that evening Big Brother and Little Man built a Castle together with his new blocks.

Then it was bed time for our Little Monkey as he enjoyed his new Sleepytime Monkey to sooth him to sleep. (We are still amazed that he went to sleep after all that sugar!)

Happy Easter from Our Family to Yours!