PSA: If you are sarcastic, you will more than likely raise sarcastic children

A sad, but true fact, and I am so sarcastic most of the time, I don't even realize it. Yesterday, Fletcher had kicked off his shoes and peeled off his socks in the car for the 14 billionth time and I was frustrated. Fletch and I have had about as many conversation about why leaving shoes on in the car is such a stellar idea. So when I made the discovery yesterday, I said "Gee Fletch, that was really nice of you to take off your shoes and socks" and immediately thought to myself that perhaps that was a little harsh on a 3 year old. However, not skipping a beat, Fletch got a smirk on his face and replied, "no problem"
Fletch got the opportunity to kick off his shoes when we went to Ypsilanti so I could help Kimberly with a project (that's all I'm saying about that). We hung out and went to the student center and had some lunch. I love how EVERYTHING is an exciting discovery to children. We have flowers at home, but when we see them somewhere else, it can prompt a serious inspection and discussion about how "cool" (their words) it would be if flowers had eyes and a nose and hands and feet.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Roy is working monster hours today and the little fellas and I are going to Niles' football game with Nana and Papa.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad

38 years ago today, my Mom and Dad decided to make their love official and got married...and I'm glad they did. They provided our family with so many things (including life:) They have shown us all about unconditional love, laughter and making family priority.

I remember when I was a little girl, staring at their wedding photos thinking my mom looked like the most beautiful woman alive and my dad looked, well, a lot different:) Those photos and seeing the love on their faces has set a standard for what I expect out of a relationship (which might sometimes annoy my husband), but I'm so glad that they fell in love and showed us what putting in work is all about.

Lunch Ladies

That was me, Fletch and Sawyer today. We went to Niles' school for lunch duty, because if they don't have a volunteer, the teachers have to stay in the classroom with the students. That means ALL DAY in a room with 7th graders--and while that sounds like a really good time, I thought I could help out once in a while. It was fun, Niles seemed genuinely excited to see his brothers at school and by the way they were alternately playing it super cool and running around on the play ground, I think they had fun too. It was so sweet too, he kept his desk back by us, until he kind of smiled and said "I usually sit up there" while pointing to a group of kids. I was touched by the gesture of him sitting by us and told him to get up there with his friends. The best part is he only had to tell the class once that his mom is weird (I wish this was a joke).

Of course, this picture is not from today, pulling a camera out on a 7th grader in front of his friends at school is risking life and limb, this is from the 4th of July...I just think he's so blasted cute:


Oh, and by the way...he hugged me goodbye, with friends around.

The best moment of the day

I have lots of moments every day when I think to myself that I'm so lucky that this is my life (I do have my fair share of moments when I think "THIS is NOT what I signed up for", too) But yesterday, I realized at one definite second that I was living my favorite moment of the day. I was picking the boys up from pre-school. They have to sit on the steps and wait for the teacher to bring them to their car. Sawyer tried to worm his way out and come to the car, but he was caught in the nick of time. Then Fletch stepped down and looked around. I could see the recognition when he spotted me and a smile started creeping across his face until it was a full blown smile. The smile was pure joy, not a babyish grin at all, just very happy to realize I was there and he really liked me. My heart almost broke from happiness and a little sadness that they are really growing up. He didn't try to run to the car, he just turned around and sat down and waited. It brought back memories of when Niles was little and he would run to me with reckless abandon because I was there finally and YES, this is HIS mommy.

Another bright spot was seeing Sawyer decided to behave enough at school to get his race car stickers and pick a prize. Roy and I laughed pretty hard at what he chose, but I'm not going to deny that they are pure Sawyer...sorry the picture is a little blurry, my camera was dying so I was trying to hurry. (those of you that know Sawyer know he wanted the blanket on his shoulders:)



Enjoy the moments in your day today.

The Thing about Roy is...

He has some rule book, and in it he has written in big letters "DO NOT LOOK NORMAL IN PICTURES!!!" That's what I think anyway. Here are a few examples:




But luckily, him making us look like a Gap ad isn't what is important to me (free clothes would be nice though). He is an amazing daddy. I can't imagine my live without him as my partner. I am so blessed to have a man who loves his family so much and works so hard. He makes me laugh and he makes me proud. It's kind of like he told me at our wedding reception five years ago (Oct. 5th), "Sonja, you're the luckiest girl alive!"

It's a really good book...

Note: This is not tonight, this is last night. Tonight, Fletch decided midnight was a good time to go to sleep, therefore, I can't sleep now. But I will have time to nap tomorrow as the children are going to Chicago to visit Aunt Ashley so Roy and I can hang out for our anniversary, being the wild romantics that we are we got each other the same gift. Car repairs!!! Yes, nothing says the fires of romance are still burning like a fuel pump, but hey, it's better than walking everywhere.

Hey Mama!!

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear mo-ther, happy birthday to you:


For those of you who don't know, this is my mom. For those of you that do, you know this face is exactly my mom. Here she is on the 4th of July in all her sassy glory. Who knows what she was saying, but she has the funniest way of being, well, her.

Tonight was her birthday and we went out for dinner and some of the best roast beef in the world (2nd only to my mother-in-law's). It was a very good time and while I thought I forgot my camera, it was actually in my purse, so I just forced everyone to take pictures just before they left.

The cute birthday girl (don't worry Ash, she has brown and black on ONLY temporarily):

I thought maybe if I posted this, I'd stop trying to look so goofy in pictures (I look pretty deranged, but my mom looks darn cute):

And everyone just say it with me "AWWWW":

So mom, Happy Birthday. I love you for so many reasons, most of all just because you're you...and you make me laugh pretty hard. Thanks for all of the love you've given me and my boys...There's no one like you.

And just a few quick other things, I just have to show everyone this, because I've been meaning to since Monday and I want to before I forget:

It's a Major Award!!!!


I'm very proud of Fletchy-doodle. He got all of his race cars on his track at school (for good behavior) and got to pick a prize, you would swear that plane was made of pure gold:)

and one last thing, I just love this picture from today when the boys were playing so well together and made my heart all quivery:




This also makes my heart all quivery, he really is growing up and he is just so stinkin' cute (umm, yeah, he gets that from his mom):