Venturing out into the C*O*L*D! (aka STIR CRAZY!)

HOP ON YOUR BIKES KIDDOS! (trikes, but you get the idea!)

We are off to the park!
Gavin checks out the lightning tree. (See precious post)
All that is left is this stump.

So I place the munchkins on it for a picture!

Then it begins to rain, HARD ~ HARDER ~ then DOWNPOUR!

Gavin didn't seem to mind.

Nor did Gabriel to much!

He actually LOVED the rain.

I think that the poor kiddos adored being outside, out of the house, in nature, and being wildly silly! Ahhh... the joys of boys!

Well, that was fun! Anyone want some HOT COCOA?

YUP!

To the BIKES and TRIKES!

Grant suggests our aprons for the job. Fine but I only have 2, so...

So how about a tank top of mine with a belt!

Ackward yes, but do they care a bit ~ NOPE!

Gabriel's outfit choice for PRE-SCHOOL

So... the four of us finish breakfast and I innocently say, " Boys, put your dishes on the counter, then wash your hands and face. I am going to lay out your clothes."

Gabriel replies, " No thank shou (you) Mom. I am going to pick out something matching AND FANCY."

I answer, " Excellent Gabe!"

So I get myself dressed and come into the boys' room to this stylin' outfit. Those are blue sweats with green stitching, a cute walrus shirt with blue and green writing, a tie, sunvisor and a tanktop under it all (or cami as Gabe called it!) *** Now my saving grace was that the pants are WAY too short!!***

So I used all my savvy mama skills to play off of this and say, "Wow! You look amazing! One bummer though Bud, I think that you need some 5T pants. YOU GREW!!!! Let's find your 5T box and look and see if there is anything new AND FANCY that you might like." He knew that he would like anything better than his stylin' outfit until I brought out the BIG guns ~~ Khaki pants with embroidered puppies all over them. Whew!! Worked like a charm and he was ALL IN!!! He swapped his (capri) sweats for cute khakis, walrus shirt for a brown thermal and we were set. No fuss, just JOY.

I love parenting smarter, not harder. That will be my book ~ if I ever get around to writing one. You have to parent smarter. Make it seem like their idea. But really you are just guiding them where you want them to go. OH, us parents have to be SMART and SAVVY with our sweet, little rascals. Avoiding power struggles, savvily diverting attention and picking our battles.

And with that I am off to enjoy my lovies! Ciao!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

This year for Christmas, we saved ourselves a BOATLOAD of moolah, due to our tree size. It was short and fat. The Short saved us $14 because we went 2 feet smaller than usual.
I loved the idea because Christmas trees are tricky for 4 reasons:
1. Hard to get the presents UNDER THE TREE due to low branches
2. Hard to water the tree through presents and being so close to the ground
3. Trying to water the tree causes you to bump the tree resulting in needles on the carpet.
4. Spilling makes a mess (rusty on the rug from the tree stand if you spill)

So for the first year we set the tree stand on a rubbermaid tote, upside down. It is perfect, taller and full (er... fat!), easy to vacuum, room for gifts and easy watering and CHEAPER!

Decorated and time for the star!

Gavin's turn being the star topper!

Now Mr. Grant in Green

Not bad for some amateurs!

It now feels like Christmas!

Ever just FREAK or SPASM out ~ yup, I do!

So I was at Target shopping for a Christmas dress, for the Christmas Company Party in TWO days. Yeah, not much time ~ but like I have much time anyways. I was proud of my attempt to be trendy and cute, shopping with NO KIDDOS so I could think/have a thought.

OK, so I wondered into the misses/ junior section when I realize:

• I don't know what the heck is in style! So.... hmmm..... crud.... PANIC STARTING. I don't want to be the ackward, ugly girl. Oh Mercy.......... BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!
• Don't FREAK Karen. So do I ask that trendy lady, holding up a dress, "Is this cute? Or even in style?" Humbling, but ..... H-E-L-P!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• OK, I think this dress is super, super cute. So I try it on and VOILA!, it fits - almost. I really needed a 4, not the 6, but I am desparate ~ remember? Do you buy a cute dress that fits decent (not great)? It is on clearance for $19 and pretty cute (I think, but really don't know. Truly I don't know, but I HOPEFULLY think that it was. Wool houndstooth on the bottom in gray, black and cranberry, gray on the top that is highwaisted with a gray belt.
• Then I realized what shoes would you wear with this little beauty? I don't know- ballet flats, mary janes, nylons (are those even legal or arrested immediately by the FASHION POLICE?) , high boots. REAL PANIC, I am completely flustered and starting to sweat. Help, now I need more deodorant. Mercy me!!!

Now at this point I am baffled, so I walk out of the dressing room. Return the dress back to the rack when I see a DARLING sweater. Gorgeous, longer, with 3 top toggles --- on clearance for $12 and I KNOW this is trendy cuteness. So without hesitation~ I grab the sweater and pay for it and RUN off.

**Now I know, I am a mom. I don't know trendy, get stressed out shopping, and even consider buying something decent vs. amazing. HA! I never thought that day would come so soon!

Christmas Tree Farm 2010 - TIMBER!

TODAY IS THE DAY! I love family time, Christmas time, and Christmas trees. We headed up to Farrell Farms in Washougal on a December Weekend. It was moderately warm so no winter coats needed. BONUS!!!! We grabbed a tie with our name on it, a saw and our tribe of boys in their new, red moose outfits.

Off we went to scout the perfect tree!

Our smallest helpers. Tenacious Gavin and Pensive Grant!

The testosterone of the Cowart Family holding a manly saw.

Here is the whole family: group shot with the camera balance on, yup, another tree. Plenty of those around!

SUCCESS! We picked a short(ish), F-A-T, beautiful tree! See videos below!

My 4 favorite men on the planet.

Our little fatty getting a quick SHAKE!!

It was LOUD!

Gavin mesmorized!

Grant not liking the noise.

Gabe happy to watch!

Wrapping up our tree. Not so fat now, huh?

Rewarding ourselves with some cocoa and candycanes by the bonfire! Ahh... I love the fire and hot goodness.

Mirror image those two little monkeys.

Guzzling down the cocoa like nobody's business. Gabe is sitting so sweetly, but truthfully I wouldn't let Gavie and Grant-Grant sit up by a fire. Too dangerous and they are somewhat wiggly = a potentially BAD combination.

Karen with Gabe and Grant. I am wearing skinny jeans and trendy boots. A big step ANY day!

Gavin's smile.

Gavin's sad face.

Gavin's surprised face.

Here's Grant's smile.

Grant's sad face.

Grant's mean face. Hmm...

Grant's surprised face.

Another great day, another busy day, another new, favorite, PRICELESS memory of our family's afternoon together. God we pray for many more days like these!


My videos popped up backwards. Bottom first, 2 in middle next, top last! Enjoy!

A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Thankfulness Challenge 5

So, I have been doing Brittany's Challenge from the HIGH-HEELED HOUSEWIFE BLOG on thankfulness.

This week's challenge is to celebrate your favorite part of your home! Spend extra time and attention there and fill it with holiday cheer.

I am NOT normal, nothing new. I like the kitchen, like my living room, BUT I love my bedroom. ** I know most people LOVE the kitchen. The kitchen is a lot of work to me.*** The colors are relaxing, the bed inviting, and well with 3 young boys (who I am constantly asked if they are triplets - 3 TIMES today!) I am tired and need my sleep. I think of it as TWIN-SOMNIA. My husband and I love to relish the quiet of our room at night. I pray in there, read my bible in there, made some babies in there, laugh and giggle with my best friend over the episodes of the day and snuggle the world's most precious boys in there each morning. Yup, I feel the love. My room also has the computer, so I can blog and decompress in here too!

I will try to keep the room a calm haven for my handsome husband and myself. Heavens knows that we need it after chasing 3 young tornadoes daily, all day long... NON-STOP! :)

Oh, I am so thankful for my room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With 3 young boys, you have to kinda expect it!

Christmas pictures were fun (I mean, fun for me to have) last year, and so I planned for them to happen again. The outcome wasn't perfect, but not too shabby. Corey had a slight face rash, I was almost over my weird allergic reaction on my face, but the boys were lookin' good with no major bumps, bangs or bruises. Yes, we will be KEEPING the appointment.

The happy family!

Our Darling Boys!

Squeaky out 4 pretty good pictures!

Talk about LUCKY.... squeaked this one out. The next day Grant was stretching from my bed to my nightstand. His hand slipped and well, he hit with his face. I of course BASICALLY FREAK (nothing unusual)!!! His eye is bleeding in 2 spots, his lip is bleeding, but the worst is the bruise that is swelling rapidly from his nose to lip. OK, I can't imagine if this happened to an adult. We would be OUT for a day or two. Poor baby boy!

OUCH-Y!

Lord have mercy. That looks like it hurts so BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!