My Man

 Mathew

 Uhmmm, wrong one

Mark

Not that one either

This one...

My little man

Christian

I am so in love

He has changed

in the last week

I swear it!

Maybe his personality is finally coming out

or

Maybe his teeth are hurting a bit less

Who Cares!

He is hilarious

Laughing at himself

Clapping

Eating by himself

I think 8-12 months is the most fun

I say that today

Tomorrow I might be singing a different tune

LOVE HIM!

Went to the zoo yesterday

It was good

Made for a long afternoon with tired kiddos

Wore my puma's

They suck!!!

Should have walked around in sexy heels

Been working on our halloween and fall decor

Embarrassed to post pictures after seeing Allison's

Connor witnessed Mark and me having an argument

The next day he asked me if Santa hears everything

Then he wanted to know if we (mommy and daddy) were on the naughty list

for fighting

NICE PARENTING JANN

When I was at Target the other day pushing the stroller

and carrying the hand basket 

(in my money saving attempt)

I walked past the pharmacy where 2 people were waiting

When I was about 3 feet away they started talking about me

"wow!"

"she's got her hands full"

"wouldn't want to do that"

That sort of thing

HELLO FOLKS

I am right here

I can still hear you!!!

Look at me...

My hair is in a pony tail

I am wearing yesterday's make up

And my shirt has stains

Do I look like I am having fun?

I don't need you reminding me

HA

Just kidding

I do have fun, dirty clothes and all

Off to swim lessons

Sorry I am a bore these days

What I've Learned

This week I have learned:

- Don't stick your finger in a coke can. I had one arm full of baby and the other hand full of garbage and tried to grab a diet coke can for the trash by sticking my finger very carefully in the whole. YOWZA!!!! Dang near took the top of my finger off

- You do what you have to do when your freshly potty trained kid has to potty and you are sandwiched in in the carpool line. Even if you got out of the line and went to the closest gas station and got everyone out of the car, it would be too late. So you grab a water bottle and let the boy go!

- $150 worth of groceries doesn't get you through the week. We had to have pizza for dinner

- Connor better be smart, cause he is not gonna be a soccer star

- Texas loosing is almost as gratifying as Oklahoma winning for Mark, which = happiness for me

- Christian is allergic to mosquitoes- Is that even possible? But he will get HUGE welts from them, almost immediately. The last few nights when we have been outside playing I have sprayed us with OFF and the stickin' mosquito's will find the one unsprayed spot, on the top of his hand or inside his shirt. They just eat him and me, seem to leave the big boys alone for the most part....weird huh?

Here is what I would like to learn
Maybe you can help
Do folks not eat as a family anymore?
I don't expect it every night. Kids have practice and hubby's have to travel or work late, but a few times a week it is so hard to sit down together? I even remember EVERY. SINGLE. SUNDAY going to Granny's house for lunch after church. And it was a feast. We never questioned it or asked to do something else. We went, we ate, we played. Life was good. My cousins came once or twice a month and they lived an hour or more away.

Target

I often spend a Friday or Saturday night alone

wandering the isles of 

TARGET

It's my get-away

Kind of sad I know

But I'm ok with it

I have been avoiding it lately

Mainly because you can't go there with out dropping

$100

And I am trying to watch my pennies

And I have been too tired at night to even venture out

So yesterday I went with my entourage

GOOD TIMES FOLKS

GOOD TIMES

I did not get a cart

Just took the stroller and grabbed a hand basket

Trying to keep myself from grabbing too much useless, random crap

My little basket still held $64

So it kind of worked

I saved $40 right?

We were on a strict "no toys today" rule

Cause the brats had been a bit too bratty that morning

We still looked though,

per their request 

So they could add to the ever-going list

Then we had a break down

NICE

I did pass by the same lady several times

Finally she said to me 

with a smile of her face

"I just have one question for you, does he ever stop talking"

I laughed out a NO

Glad someone else saw (heard) it

I am not making it up

My sweet Connor is a talker

non-stop talker

I also hit Hobby Lobby and Michael's yesterday

I am looking for a few more Halloween decorations for the house

I am getting all my goodies put out this weekend 

I wanted to make it more orange/black

versus Fall for October

since the boys are at that perfect age to really enjoy it

We are having fun looking at all the ghosts and goblins

Gotta get crafting after reading about all of Allison's new creations

She is so talented

For some great ideas, check out her blog here

She has done more crafts this month than I have had showers

JEALOUS

And a little side note.....

If one thinks his/her Lexus or Mercedes

is so freaking special that it needs to park on the line so that it takes up 2 spaces

Then park your dang foreign car at the end of the parking lot

and walk your lazy ass into the store!!!!

Just Saying

(Wow! I feel better after getting that out)

Tonight I am going to try and catch up on some of my DVRed shows from the week

I have been a bit disappointed with the newbies in TV

Tomorrow is a noon soccer game

And from 12-3 is 

Fall Fun Fest at school

Kind of excited about our first school event

Wishing it wasn't in the middle of nap time

But we will deal

Also hoping to find a pumpkin patch or two in this little town of ours

Happy Friday

That means daddy is home for 2 days

YAY

Not Much To Say

Shocking I know

Usually I am foaming at the mouth 

when I have an opportunity to chat with other adults

Even if it is in this write and read about it

blog world

But I am seriously drawing a blank

Nada

Nothing

Zilch

I might have writers block

'Cept I don't even feel like talking

Is that called talkers block?

So here goes some randomness

-I want to blow up a picture of each boy

My favorite candid photo of Connor is MIA

I have been through all the pics on my old pc and the new one

Can't find it anywhere

It is driving me mad!!!!

-In the process I am enjoying looking at all my old pictures

And I have realized I am SO behind on my pictures

-It has made me realize that I remember nothing of Colton as a baby

How sad is that?

I think I remember so much of Connor because he was my first and I had nothing else to do with my time but take care of him

And Christian, for quite a while, reminded me of Connor

But with Colton...it's like this writing

Drawing a blank

So I have been studying his pictures

This was right before we went to Ireland and left them with my parents for 10 days

He stopped nursing after that

Maybe that's part of the memory loss

Did I miss some bonding?

-Christian is going to be 10 months on Saturday

The time has really flown by

He has slept through the night less than 2 dozen times

How did I screw that up so bad?

No wonder I am freaking tired

-With all the tragedy that has been mentioned in blogs just this week 

(loss of friends-young, old, and furry) 

and sickness

I should show my gratitude for 3 healthy boys

But can I bitch for just a minute???

Somebody please feed this baby 1 time!!!!

How am I ever gonna get him off the boob and on a cup in the next 2 months?

I am way to tired and sort of tired of the boys

That is the most horrible thing to admit

But I need a break from them

Can I get a PTO day?

-Total change of subject

I don't get the obsession with Justin Bieber

For months I thought his name was Justin Beaver

And I kept thinking how did someone with a name like "beaver" get famous

Either way, still don't get it

I must be old

-I have been trying Wen hair products for a week now

Definitely different in a good way

But still haven't decided if it is worth the money

-Still looking for a new face wash and moisturizer

I had ordered Bare Essentials and was very excited to receive it from QVC

(yes I am a secret QVC whore)

But then I realized I had shipped it to my old address

And it was sold out

So I am back to square 1

-I would give my left arm right now for a house cleaner

I have asked twice about it on mamma source

But no one has responded

I would rather a person versus a company

-The boys are done eating and it looks like we had a food fight in here

-Sometimes when I feed Frisco, he is eating so fast that it pushes his bowl into the corner

Then he has a hard time reaching it and he starts growling

Like someone is taking his food

Dumb dog!

Bath Time

Thanks for the vent session

Welcome FALL

LOOSER

YEAH

THAT"S ME

You: "So, Jann, what did you do Friday night"

Me: "Well the boys and I cruised the mall"

TOTAL LOOSER!!!

Christian was in desperate need of pj's

I was about 1 night away from cutting out the toes in his jammies

Don't laugh

I have done it before

A visit to Children's Place was in order

Colton needed new underwear

since he is....

wait for it

POTTY TRAINED

he has been in underwear for over a week now

except at night

WOOT WOOT

Connor also needed pajamas

He has had a growth spurt recently

They all need their fall clothes

But hard to get in the mood for that when it's 

95 degrees still

Connor wanted Toy Story jammies

So we visited the Disney Store

I was buying 2 pair

And while Connor needed both

I did not want to fight the battle with Colton as to why he did not get any

So they each got 1 pair

I think for Christmas I will get them the opposite pair

Because this Buzz and Woody

are

SUPER CUTE

To Infinity and Beyond!!!!!

Last week Colton started his school

Finally

He did great and loved it

I am praying that another day will become available

This little one is pulling up on

EVERYTHING

He is the happiest baby ever

as long as his tummy is full

Today Connor and I went to Toys R Us to trade in the 

carseat carrier for a new one for the baby

I was very sad to see it go

I am not sure why

that puppy was disgusting

I hauled around 3 babies in that carseat

My MIL who purchased it for us when Connor was born 

certainly got her money's worth

I ventured out to the grocery store today

I guess my new goal is $150/week

Man that just sounds crazy to me

I have been trying to cook more

Not sure why because Mark is never home 

and the boys sure as heck don't eat it

I have been trying some recipes from Allrecipes.com

Tonight we had 

Bada Bing Pork Chops

Pretty Good

And thanks to my better half for grilling

Looking forward to new TV starting this week

I programmed my DVR tonight

Got a call from a bestie Saturday night

She was telling me about her husband's cousin and his wife

Whom I have met once or twice at birthday parties

They were coming home Friday night on 75 (in Dallas)

and a drunk driver hit them

They both died

They left behind 2 daughters

The youngest, around 6 or 7, was theirs together

The oldest, around 9, was the wife's from a previous marriage

But the father died of cancer 2 years ago to the date

Please keep them in your prayers

And finally....

Connor's second soccer game was Saturday

I stayed home with Colton who desperately needed a nap

From what I hear it was a "normal" 4 year old game

Half the kids crying

Melting out

Didn't want to play

Good Times Folks

Good Times

Hope you all had a great weekend

Weekend Fun

Last weekend was Labor Day Weekend

And it already seems like it was forever ago

I haven't posted much this week

Our time just seems so busy

And really it's not

We are home alot doing nothing

But with 3 little ACTIVE ones

It's hard to sit at the computer

or wash your hair

or do laundry

Hey

Some of that I don't mind

Anyway...

last week Mark went to Dallas for his 

2nd 

fantasy football draft

(He better win something from all this)

He picked this little bench up for me 

I had been wanting it for my entry way

And it is the perfect little spot for our

library book basket

Over the holiday weekend we didn't do much

Some yard work and messing around the house

On Labor Day

we drove to Brick Town in OKC

just exploring a bit

There is a cute little River Walk

much smaller than San Antonio

But I am sure at night it is much livelier

But it was a fun morning stroll

Connor also had his first soccer practice that evening

I stayed home with Christian and his fever

That baby boy....

During this week we had some crazy rain

But one morning we went to the zoo

It was still drizzling a little

so we had the place to ourselves

We sat down to eat our picnic lunch we brought

and this little fellow dang near attacked us

He even took Christian's spoon

A lady working a near by snack stand fed him a hot dog bun

trying to get him away from us

He kept coming back

While there, we, of course, checked on Big Mamma the Gorilla

They had them inside that day

Then I remember seeing on the news that there was a 

"near escape"

the previous week

That had happened in Dallas a year or two before

Crazy monkeys!

This weekend Mark and I had a date

The YMCA had parents night out on Friday

So we took the boys

It's cheaper than a sitter

We went to a little restaurant right across the street

One of neighbors recommended it

And I mean little

maybe a dozen tables

MAYBE

It is called

Signature Grille

The hubs is the chef

and the wife runs the front

I thought it was great

A bit pricey

But will be a nice place for special occasions

One of those places where everyone knows each other

However

Saturday we paid the price for our little rendezvous

Not with hangover

but TIRED boys

Everyone was up late

10pm late

which might as well be an all nighter by our standards

Plus no naps had been had on Friday

And with Connor's first soccer game at 1pm

No naps would be had on Saturday either

Well

Connor snuck one in

on the way to his game

Never a good sign if they fall asleep on the way to the game

There is Connor on the right

And yes they are all 4

I know Connor is little

But those kids are on ROIDS 

just sayin'

They won!

(I think)

How could they not with the giants on the team

And played much better than I thought a bunch of 4 year olds would

And as we stood out in the middle of 10 fields

watching our oldest child

I almost cried

I so vividly remember rocking and nursing him

And now I am watching him run up and down the field chasing a ball

And so begins a new chapter

in our

Life with Boys

SPORTS

And I think I'm gonna 

LOVE IT

And I have to say

my little man is so little

How little you ask?

He is so little that I hope he doesn't run out of his shoes

They start making cleats at a size 10

Connor is a 9

barely

And the little ones had fun watching too

Ok so Colton was more interested in games on the phone

not the field

But he was tired folks

And pant-less

He is potty training

And don't you know

Minutes after finding the right field

I see  the little stream of yellow running down his leg

So I stuck him in the back up diaper I had

Unfortunately I did not have back up shorts

Tomorrow is his first day of school

Praise You 

Jesus

News Talk

I don't usually talk politics

or news

or religion

too much

here or in general

mainly because I don't like it when people disagree with me

And I don't have the chance to stay on top of the news 100%

But this morning I was able to catch a few minutes

of some stories

And I am livid

LIVID

that is such a fun word

just kind of rolls off the tongue

So, pissy point number 1

The muslim mosque proposal for Ground Zero

SERIOUSLY??

Who in their right mind would ever think this to be appropriate

You don't have to believe in my God

You don't have to believe in any God

That is the this great right we have in America called

FREEDOM

But lets face facts

Faith and belief in 

the Father

the Son

and the Holy Spirit

are the foundation of our country

and certainly a majority belief here

So why build a temple for those few who believe in something different

The same "higher power" to those of the ones who caused

Ground Zero

Just Saying

Pissy point number two

This preacher who wants to burn the muslim's holy book

For REAL??

You know,

I have some pretty un-Godly things to say about

those "out of towners" and their beliefs

But I don't

(very often anyway)

All you can do is pray for them

But a preacher wanting to burn their book?

That does not sound very Christian-like to me

So some good news

I heard this story the other morning

PLAY

This is a story of God's work

BEAUTIFUL

Random Happenings

At

 Casa de Lenz

****Nothing says**** 

Last day of August 

like

sweat pants and a long sleeve t-shirt

nice dressing yourself there kiddo

****Nothing says****

good grub

like

no explanation needed

****needless to say****

we went straight here

Knew this sink would come in handy for something

****meanwhile****

Colton was playing 

"golf"

with a baseball bat and a basketball

good thing he's cute

****nothing says****

mom you really deserve to take a shower today

like

this 15 minute shower

cost me 45 minutes in clean up time

I used to pretty good at math

But for some reason those calculations just don't

add up

****Christian****

seems to be getting over whatever rash took over his body

today the bumps are barely visible

****Mark****

is in Dallas yesterday and today for

another

 fantasy football draft

that's right friends

ANOTHER

as in 

2

dos

deux

****Connor and Colton****

totally obsessed with sock gloves

I think it started as a way to play spider-man

but now

just for kicks

is this a little kid thing?

a boy thing?

or just my "freak show of a family" thing?

And when they are not on their hands

They use them to ice skate 

And Colton almost always has one on his foot

Yep

just 1

We're stylish here

**** me****

I'm surviving

Gonna be co-room mom at Connor's school

Reading lots

Avoiding the laundry

All the usual crap

So there is a run down

We live a boring life folks

Nobody ever said I would keep you on the edge of seat

Just a Quick Update

Good news

for sure not chicken pox

Bad news

still no idea what it is

Christian still is covered in bumps

 and I mean there are well over 50

yes I have tried counting

 but they are fading

I am beginning to wonder if it is some sort of weird bug bites

 I think this because they look like that

big and red

and they are not on his stomach or back

which is always covered by a onsie

So today I am washing everything in HOT water

He still has diarrhea-5 days now

Maybe it is related 

or not?

who knows

But that shit stinks!!!!

LITERALLY

Still not in a major posting mood

Dont' know why

But I am definitely making my poster today

Kid for sale

Free kid

Kid with $20 in his pocket

Chicken

POX????

We are not sure

That's what I'm dealing with folks

Haven't felt much like blogging the last couple of days

Have lots of good ideas in my pretty little head though

So look out

When I have a moment

And a clear head

I will let loose

In the mean time

I am trying not to put a toddle out on the curb with a

"Free to good home"

sign

Bought the poster board

Set out the markers

It just might happen

In the meantime I am checking Christian's spots

every.single.hour.

Are they worse?

Are they better?

Counting

more or less

Nothing is oozing

Scanning the Internet

Yeah, bad idea there

The doctor said they look like pox

But it is so rare these days

So we are waiting

Say your prayers peeps

Many many thanks

Is it bedtime yet?