Light at the end of tunnel:

So, we have been struggling with the boys' behavior at school.  It is a daily battle that has me biting my nails each and every day as I pull into the school in the late afternoon...90% of the time, they are very good boys.  They listen, follow directions and interact with each other and their friends appropriately.  But the other 10% of the time, they are pushing and pulling and biting and just not listening.  You can say, "Oh, they are boys."  or "They are two...", but when will this end?  Two days ago, Wade was pulled aside for pushing a friend...Ms. "Biz" was explaining to him how that is not nice and so on, and during that time, the B-man went up and bit the same friend.  Did he do it because Wade was getting attention and he wanted it as well?  Did he do it because they are brothers and he was just helping him out?  Whatever the reason, we have decided to take a different approach and encourage positive enforcement throughout the day and into the evening.  Right when we wake up, we tell the boys that if they try really hard and listen to their teachers all day long, that they will get M & M's when we pick them up. 

We tried on Monday...the M & M's remained in my pocket at pick up time.  I sighed.  Granted, the whole school was crazy, as everybody had just returned from Christmas break and all were a little out of whack...

We tried on Tuesday...the M & M's remained in my pocket at pick up time.  I sighed.  Again.  But the good news is that we almost had a break through.  There was only 1 inncident, but still...1 incident still equals no reward.

And then there was Wednesday.  We did it.  Me, Dad, Ms. Biz, all the other teachers, B-man and Wade.  We won!!!!  They had a perfect day and were rewarded with M & M's 2 times at school, on the way home and rewarded with HUGE praises and celebrations upon walking through the door at home!!!  They were both beaming and so proud.

We never talked about how they lost their M & M's, because that is giving negative attention, that we are trying to avoid...instead, we talked about how if we tried just a little harder the whole next day, how we would be rewarded.  And it worked.  It worked for 1 day, but hey, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Way to go B and W!!! (You both will laugh at this one day, as you did all of this for 3 mini M & M's!!)

Happy Birthday Jesus

I want that special feeling to last all year long. I want to feel the merriment of friendships and giving. I believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit. I love the dazzle of the lights and the twinkle in the children's eyes. Only 362 more days left until next Christmas!!

Our Christmas Eve afternoon was spent celebrating my 32nd birthday with Gator and Nana and making my annual request of homemade reuben's and salty, kettle cooked chips. We feasted on caramel cookies and had a blast opening presents!!


As soon as the grandparents headed out the door, the gears shifted from a birthday party to the anticipation of Christmas morning and Santa stopping at our house! The boys took a warm bubble bath, snuggled up in their footed pj's, left Santa milk and cookies and fell fast asleep, while the glow of Christmas lights twinkled above their beds!

This year was extremely different from last year. The boys tore into their presents, beamed with excitement with each rip of the wrapping paper and were happily overwhelmed when all was said and done.






After Nana and Gator got their Christmas morning fill of the munchkins, we got the car loaded up, the boys dressed and headed to PCB to celebrate with Todd's side of the family! (We were originally in the Suburban...all loaded up...and as soon as we got about 1/2 a mile from our driveway, the darn engine light came on and the engine went all haywire. Needless to say, we could not drive it to PCB...so back to the house we went and into the "the box" we climbed. Oh, the joys of traveling without a DVD player. I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!)


We were greeted by Grammie, Pop's, Mimi, Uncle Scott, Aunt Allie and Cousin Caden!! It was seriously the quickest 24 hours of our lives. I feel like we pulled in, opened presents and pulled back out. To say it was a whirlwind is quite frankly an understatement!!! I guess Christmas with 3-2 year olds will throw anyone for a loop!! We did not even have a chance to take a family picture, which has become a tradition for Grammie..she was bummed :( The meals, diaper changes, hugs and cleaning up was a joint effort among all who stayed at the Harrell household...it was a wonderful trip!!!






This Christmas was incredibly memorable!! Thank you to ALL of our Santa's, near and far...we appreciate you more than you will ever know! Thank you for making the boys' Christmas special and magical...!!

It's almost Christmas!!!!

I can hardly wait....I am so excited. I cannot wait to see their little faces. I cannot wait!!!!!!!!! A few pre-Christmas activities throughout the past week:

Celebrating Christmas at their school, showing off all of their crafts, decorating cookies and opening presents! Thank you Ms. "Biz" for all you do for the kiddos!




After the school Christmas party, the boys spent the night with Nana and Gator!


Baking cookies and helping with breakfast the next norning!


I unfortunately left my camera at home, but we drove over to PC to surprise Pop's for his birthday on Monday. We feasted on meatloaf and mashed potatoes and yummy ice cream cake...Watched Polar Express for the 80th time and slept as a family on the living room floor. (Well, B-man slept, Wade scooted across the entire living room all night long, Todd continously covered Wade back up and I tossed and turned on the couch......hehehe. Who needs sleep anyways??). Brody and Wade's school is closed this whole week for Christmas, so they spent Tuesday and Wednesday with Grammie and Pop's, while we worked, and had a blast! Thank you guys!

The air is filled with electricity as we count down the hours until Santa comes down our chimey...tonight, we will bake cookies, read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and have visions of sugar plums dancing through our heads!!!



This time next year, we will have a 7 month old baby boy, who will complete our family!! We cannot wait to meet you little guy!


Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!!!!

Mommy ate the baby??

I was driving to the post office this morning and I felt the baby move.  I was so excited and so proud...I wanted to shout to all who could hear, "Hey, I have another baby growing inside of me and he is officially moving!"  What an amazing feeling...does not seem to get old, no matter how many pregnancies a mother experiences!  The weird part for me is not wondering which one just kicked me and remembering to stop referring to this baby as "they" or "them".  It's just 1 in there!!

Everybody keeps asking me what the boys' think about having a new baby brother.  If they get it.  I think this conversation pretty much sums up what they think about the whole situation:

Ms. Sara:  "So B-man, is Mommy going to have a baby?"
Brody:  "No, she not."
Ms. Sara:  "Yes she is!  She is going to have a little brother!"
Brody:  "No, Mommy is a girl."
Ms. Sara:  "Yes, Mommy is a girl, but she is having a baby.  She has a baby in her belly!"
Brody:  Looking very serious...."Mommy ate the baby???"

If you ask Wade if he is excited about Mommy having a baby, he replies, "No." and then says, "It's a sister!"

Listening to their little responses to the world is hilarious.  You should hear them pronounce the word 'stick'.  Let's just say that I have it on video, but it is not appropriate to send out, on this here blog.

There are so many moments that I do not want to forget...that I know, as time passes by, they will slowly dwindle from my memory bank.   The innocence of a child cannot be fully captured...like the moments when we pass a home with Christmas lights...how they literally shreek in enjoyment.  Or watching them learn empathy.  Or how they have perfected their fake cries, all the while grinning because they have finally realized that we are not buying it.  Or how every night at the dinner table, we have to clap every time each one of them eats a bite of veggies...they tell us to clap, and cheer each other on and even clap when Todd or I take a bite of food.  Too cute.

Wade has taken an interest to watching us cook in the kitchen.  He wants to be involved in each and every process...


Oh how they LOVE the Christmas tree. I cannot wait until Christmas morning this year!!






Last Saturday, Nana and I took the monkeys to the Destin Christmas parade. Ended up watching it with half of kids in their school and their parents! Grayson and Cooper's Dad backed his truck right up to the edge of the parade...it was a great area to keep all of the kids locked up safe in!


At one point, the boys and Roland thought it was more interesting to check out every inch of the truck, rather than socialize. Such boys.


The parade started off with loud sirens, from police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. I thought for sure that the boys would be super excited to see all of them close up...but they ended up a little scared and were not big fans of the loud noise. While everybody else ventured to the curb and remained there for the duration of the parade, the Harrell boys hopped their little hinies right back in truck and remained quite comfy on the tailgate.


Saturday night, we enjoyed a date night with Gator and Nana and attended our annual Christmas party, the Holly Ball.

All dressed up and kid free:


What happened 2 second later...real life!!!!


And we were greeted by a beautiful white Christmas in our front yard, upon arriving home later that night. Our friends got us. Let me just assure you that Todd is out for revenge and he knows where each and every one of you little hoodlums live. (The pictures do not do their work justice. 18 rolls of toilet paper were used, creating this masterpiece!)






The Christmas stories and traditions have begun...9 days until we get to see our boys' come down the stairs, in their little footed jammies, and watch that gleam sparkle in their eyes...once again, capturing the magic of childhood that I now live for. Santa Rocks!

The Momma of 3 boys.

My breath was completely taken away from me yesterday, as I watched the little ultrasound wand roll across my belly and reveal to us, our newest additions little "parts"...another boy. I am going to be the Momma of 3 precious little men. All boys. The Harrell boys. They will move mountains...I just know it!!! We will forever be known to all as the house of testosterone and I am excited to live and breathe each and every ounce of the wrestling and boy energy and sports and cars and dinosaurs and trucks and dirt and torn pants...bring it on! I told Todd last night that my one wish for our 3 boys is that we raise them to be kind and strong and to respect women. I want them to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and like what they see...to be proud of the men they will become. And Todd and I will remain strong and committed to each other, to stand strong together, to walk them through each journey this life will take us on...through sickness and health and everything in between. Ahhh...to be a parent is the biggest blessing and gift one can be given. And I am incredibly thrilled that God has chosen me, to be the Momma to 3 boys. Life is damn good!!!

This song sums it all up for me...

"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts:

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you want to go,

And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you left,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish

I hope you know somebody loves you

May all your dreams stay big

Fall on your knees...oh hear the angels voices!!!

The tree is up...decorations all out on display...stockings are hung...now counting down the days until Christmas morning!!

Just waiting on Todd to hang the tree star and the last remaining "too hard to reach" ornaments at the very top...and, finding a tree skirt big enough for our large tree!!


A few memories of Christmas 2009:

What will "it" be???

We head to the Doctor at 8am in the morning to find out if the little peanut is a BOY or a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let's hope he/she cooperates!

The bug that kicked our tails...

A sweet story I don't want to forget....completely captures the innocence of childhood.

The stomach bug swept thru the Harrell household this week/weekend...By far the absolute work sickness we have EVER had.  Period.  The B-man threw up at/on/around/all over the dinner table and after the poor little guy was finally done, this was our conversation:

B:  "Mama.  I spilled."

Me:  "Oh no baby, you didn't spill, you threw up."

B:  "I spilled throw up..."   

That little conversation darn near broke my heart.  He has now almost perfected his aim into the "puke bucket".  And so has Wade, as well as the lucky Mama.  Whew.  Hope we do not have to experience that ever again!!

The boys showing that stomach bug what’s up, by flexing their HUGE muscles:

Turkey Day

Before we headed out of town, we enjoyed a yummy Thanksgiving dinner with Nana and Gator! Everybody stuffed themselves so full, that we were all in bed by 8pm that night!


We THOUROUGLY enjoyed our trip over to Macclenny to visit with Grandmother, Pop's, Uncle Andy and Aunt Marilyn...and even a quick visit from Andrea too! We feasted on Grandmother's home cooking, camped out in the RV with Pop's every night, explored the parks and hunted Christmas lights, played the piano at Andy and Marilyn's and even found time to visit the Jacksonville Zoo!


Chasing bubbles...who knew bubble makers could bring this much joy??

Enjoying Grandmother's huge backyard!



Snuggling up with G-mom, whom they both call "Grandmudder"...

The parks in Macclenny were fantastic!

Every night, Pop's would take the little guys hands and head out outside, to camp in the RV.  They thought it was the neatest thing and so did Todd and I, as were able to sleep in every morning!  Thank you so very much Pop's...they had a blast!!

The boys helped with breakfast each morning...


And we finally made it to the zoo!  Pop's pushed the stroller, Daddy led the way and I took pics...


One evening, Marilyn and I took the boys out for a Christmas light hunt...and we stumbled upon this little village, all lit up. The boys were in heaven...such a treat to experience the magic of Christmas through our little ones eyes!! (As you can see, they would NOT stay still for a pic!)

Thank you Macclenny Harrell's for another memory filled Thanksgiving...we cannot wait to come back!!

Big News!

First and foremost...we have a BIG announcement...baby #3 will be making his/her debut at the end of May! I am in my 12th week of pregnancy and we could not be happier!! Little punkin' danced for us yesterday on the big screen, as well as sucked its little thumb! Heartbeat was strong and in the 160's...I cannot wait to feel the little punkin' move!




And of course...a few snippets from our pretty boring week at home. We battled a virus, cuddled up next to the fire to stay warm and were raring to go with energy once the sickness ran its course!

Zoned out from watching too much TV while sick...


Learning to deal with respiratory distress...


And remain happy, even while at the Dr.'s office...


We are a constant mess. Constant. Anybody else trip over toys non-stop??


Shoes that are just too big...


And, of course, Silly and Handsome and Messy faces...of the cutest "soon to be big brothers"!


Next week...is Turkey Day!! We are headed to Macclenny to visit the "East Coast Harrell's" and are counting down the minutes...hurry up! Might even visit the zoo while we are there!  Eat your little hearts out, travel safely and enjoy this special time with families...