The story of 3 different mornings

3 Different boys being raised under the SAME roof - the same parents - and yet so wonderfully amazingly different.

7am - they all need to be up, so how does it start?

1 - I pop into Nick's room first (he is the oldest and seems to take the LONGEST to get ready - but if he were ready quickly, he can also be the most helpful and has been known to actually MAKE eggs) so I start there.  Sometimes he is already up, fluttering around looking for a little direction.  Sometimes he just needs that added push to get out of bed.

2 - I walk into Shane's room, slowly open the blinds, watch his little body curl back pulling the covers further over his head.  I REALLY want to crawl in there with him as he is tremendously cuddly.  I peel back the covers just a bit, he reaches one arm out and hugs my neck (something he has done since he was a baby when we would take him out of the crib).  He is VERY slow to get ready, but doesn't ind at all if I dress him real quick.  Than he methodically brushes his teeth and continues on with the morning (way more focused than the older one)

3 - Wonder why this guy is last?  Well, the biggest reason is he doesn't have to get on the 8pm bus - but in reality I would prefer to let him sleep - because now I get the shouting - keep my blinds shut - I want to pick my clothes out - only the green shirt.......  geesh, sometimes I walk out of there wanting to walk back into Shane's room - 

THERE IS SOMETHING to BIRTH ORDER!

LORD helps us next year.

Nashville April Fools we are 40 - What?!?!

We did it!  A year ago, we talked about turning 40 and how it would give us this wonderful reason to get together and do something to celebrate us - so we picked Nashville and planned it!  

Here I am at the airport in CT sporting my cowboy boots that were a gift from Chris on my 30th!  Still love them.

Ashley flew in from GA (driving first to an airport and staying the night)

Natalie drove from Put-in-bay OH

Farrah from DC and I from CT

we all arrived at the airport and relatively the same time

Felt SO good to be together (until I was sick - blah blah blah)  

This is the most instagrammed sign - so we had to snap a photo - plus we had the worlds greatest brussel sprout salad here - YUM!

That night we chose between 2 restaurants that Brian had booked for us - once Uber dropped us at our choice and I saw the white table clothes I wanted to bolt (not a high end dinner) the food was great, however it sounds like we all feel that 404 cafe is the one that got away - I was feeling like crap anyway and missed out on the late night bar time and headed to bed - wishing it would pass so I could ENJOY my time with these wonderful ladies!

In desperate need of freshening up! - at a DRY BAR - meaning blow dry your hair (they had champagne so not THAT dry)  the idea of NOT having to style our hair at all this weekend was a little bit of heaven - great call Farrah.

The eye lashes we all scored were a total treat!  Our stylist also styles the stars of course - because when you work in nashville that is totally normal!  (matter of fact she was flying on Saturday to Vegas were the country music awards were being held that Sunday night!) 

Love the after photo!

Now lets go get some tattoos!  This was such a popular place all appointments were book - matter of fact when the folks at the dry bar hear we were going here - they were surprised we could get it, well we couldn't, we had to wait at the doors until they opened and get on the wait list

Thanks to Ashley we got in!

This photo makes me laugh a bit, Brian called it a suicide pack gone wrong - I can say that right?

Love love love how they all turned out!  Our tattoo artist was a hoot and enjoyed being part of our conversation.  He did each one of us and it was the experience we paid for (since yes, the tattoos were pricey!)  But I will always remember THIS!

Now onto a juice bar - GREAT Idea - ginger shot was FABULOUS!  great call ashley - knock it out of me - 

The batman building was often our directional beacon as we walked through the city.  Snapped this one for the kiddos

Dinner on Friday rocked - I didn't snap a photo of them, but we sat right next to a family from Germany!  Natalie LOVED using her german and she still had it - they thought she was German!

Love these pretty ladies all dolled up

Wonderful dinner - wonderful wine - i could go home right now...but we didn't

Here is where the night gets late - we were in search of a 2 stepping bar - somewhere along the way, we met hockey coaches, wondered to 2 other bars (limited dancing but lots of music) scored a really crabby taxi driver (why we didn't take Uber is beyond me) ate REALLY hot pizza and finally told the late night half at 2am it was time to go home!  they were shocked it was that late an although their first response was - it doesn't close tis 3, we managed to wrap them up and take them home!!

Classy photo - I know!  I wore my cowboy boots ALL weekend (they were a gift from turning 30 when we lived in Austin!)

Now we are just snapping photo before our Uber driver shows up

Love this one

A mere 7 hours later - I am not sure if you can see the tears in our eyes - but we were laughing until our stomachs hurt trying to figure out this selfie stick - I am certain it was compounded by the fact we were a bit hungover and out tis 3am - this was breakfast and thankfully, someone was singing to us while we had bloody mary's in hand.  We linked up with Ashley's Aunt and husband here - The wonders of social media, a photo of her on FB had them responding saying they were hear too seeing lots of great shows - I love that they popped over for a quick hug!

Now to walk the streets of Nashville the DAYtime Right in the city - train station turned hotelJust about every bar had live music as well as its own flair - I have to admit that hockey stadium sure does stand out like a sore thumb - sure its unique but...  (its in the left hand side of the photo and street - kinda looks like a blue dome)

Yes, we walked through the Grand Ole Opry and

 

Ryman Auditorium - 

We didn't actually "Go through it' but instead soaked in the surroundings - you know i have never been a detail or museum person no matter what the subject - instead I purely just like to 'be' there. and we were!  

I loved imagining the legends who have truly changed their life here and have made this city what it is today

And this is where we ate Pizza last night - Ashley and I got asked by a million folks for a slice - our next business venture is a Pizza truck - RIGHT HERE!

We are getting pretty good at the selfie stick right?  About to head into a Honky Tonk bar!

Truth

Yes, this is the magic selfie stick you have been hearing about - while we were walking through the city we stumbled on a group celebrating 60 and trying to figure out their selfie stick - they were laughing about as hard as we had - we offered to take their photo so they could figure out the selfie stick later - 

So what does a Honkey Tonk bar sound like??

https://youtu.be/vAkTI57QUfE

Of course we had to do some cowboy boot trying on - sad to say, none were purchased - but they were all cool!

Greatest snack ever - tator-tot Nachos - pretty sure we should have had this at 10am this morning.  This was served to us by our waiter who looked like Jason Bateman, Micheal J Fox and a few others all in one (now I am regretting not snapping a photo of him)

I did manage to get one of the band

Such a pretty afternoon

With 4 girls on a trip together without kiddos and the rest of their family - allowed the time to get ready=LOTS of selfies!  I honestly couldn't decide which I liked better

Yes, I did snap a few of the scenery - but none could truly capture how beautiful the afternoon was.

We caught ourselves really loving the fake eye lashes and had to do a little close up of them.

They stayed on the whole time, but we were VERY careful in the face-washing department

More nashvilleness - 

Ready to get started?

Saturday night we had a fab dinner right on the corner people watching - we all just about ordered the same thing which was rather humorous - drinks and all - it was an early night as Ashley and Natalie had early alarms clocks to schedule.  

We enjoyed the evening being together - talking about lives, moves, what's to come and really just being thankful for the time we were truly in each other's presence.  These ladies are so real and so part of who I am - being with them no matter where we were was so wonderful.

I remember Ashley and Natalie tucked in while Farrah let me read some senseless trivia about being 40 and what our childhood experienced - 

So Sunday morning we hugged Ashley good by first - than Natalie and than Farrah and I caught an Uber to the airport and enjoyed a coffee in the lounge - (a perk of all the traveling Brian has had to do)  It was so quiet (having been loud all weekend, we were able to be quiet too)

Back to real life feeling full and fortunate for this time.

And than i read this on the plane and cried my eyes out - I couldn't even explain the book to Chris without bawling - its a good one.

It was a good weekend - love you ladies and thank you all for the time together - 

Boys

These smiles tell is all - they boys are the joys of our life and individuals in every way - 

anyone how ever thought birth order DOESN'T play a roll never raise 3 kiddos - 

Nick - a Dreamer - the world is his oyster - he was our first and we did everything for him (for maybe a bit too long - he is a bit scattered (you should see his room) his treasures hide in every nook and cranny no matter how hard I try to get him to stay organized.  He is an observer and sees how we feel from just watching - his behavior is often reflected.  A true kind heart.

Shane - A hard worker - he is incentive motivated - his homework packet comes home and he can put it off all week or knock it out - he knocks it out - he tries hard, he gets frustrated, he wishes he was older - he wishes someone would sit next to him on the bus - he is SUCH a SWEET kid - I love the way he says 'momma' unless he has said it 100 times and I wish he would stop!  he smile says - Yes, I love you - and I know you know love me!

Drew - Now look at THAT smile - he understand incentives but most of the time could give a crap.  He asks for something so many times he knows you may eventually give in and just give it to him - He is SUPER cute - thankfully and loves us a million, trillion 100 million - but boy does he think he can get away with stuff.  

Chris - the taker of this photo on a friday afternoon when I escaped to Nashville with Girls -  Here is his foursome and boy is he the best dad = He wouldn't have minded a girl in the mix either - but we have 3 boys and he owns it better than me.  he plays on their level, he encourages their growth and he tries to keep them focused.  he puts family first especially in this change of pace - he is doing it for all the right reasons as they need him everyday!

Easter Weekend!

Easter weekend and I am truly loving the probity of family and how my sister and her family can come down and we all get to spend the holiday together.  I hope I will never take for granted that is was once MUCH harder to get all together.

Truly a weekend to celebrate

Lets start by egg dying - 

The kiddos got rather into it this year.

Noted - next year we will amp it up just a bit - Love this stuff and it used to be such a hassle because they were so little - now they can help!

Love family dinners that look like this

Pretty sure these 2 trouble makers should not be sitting next to each other - seating error

Saturday morning we hosted the annual Easter Egg hunt - 

Thanks to my sis and Chris for your help stuffing the eggs and thanks to the hubby's for your help hiding them this morning - wonder how many we will find this summer =)  

All the eggs discovered and tine to hang out in the props

He kinda makes that look comfortable

Now lets take this crew on a bike ride - everyone on wheels! - THAT is an accomplishment!

They stopped for this photo!

We went to the river tossed some rocks - and came back for a little easter prepping - 

Pinterest can be a fun thing - honestly enjoyed making these with my sis while the kiddos played and the boys had beer.  She was a good sport!

Dont they look so cute?

Soaking in a little hair braiding time.

Smiling at the finished product =)!

Crafting #2 - birds nest - so fun to make - thankful for little helpers

Look so pretty - but for some reason they aren't a favorite in the consumption

Now this one was a HUGE success - both making and eating - they are called Empty Tomb rolls - we had the whole description of the steps and how they correlated with Jesus on Easter.

Meaningful AND yummy!

Ready for dinner

Bit of a better seating arrangement - love this photo of these 2

Love the full table

Both sides of it - 

My mom had her own little pinterest project - Go mom!

Sunday at church - someone didn't like the Sunday school - worked himself into a nap - snored all the way through Church - Nice work jackson!

Glad we caught this photo of everyone all together on the ground of the Church - beautiful crew

Just the Grandkids

Thanks so much for making this all work - To my folks who put so much effort into the meals, bringing us together - hosting my sister and her family and keeping up with us all.  To my sister and her family for packing up and heading our way all the time (even though Riley informed me that they won't be coming next year as she would like to host at her house!  You got it girly!) But I know its not easy to be the ones traveling and I hope you were all settled Sunday night for your week back at school.  Holidays come in many shapes and sizes, I believe the best part of them is being surrounded by those you love.  

Happy Easter - He has Risen!