bumps and bruises

Last week, it was a hot afternoon, I was cooking dinner before daddy got home from work.

Marx just wasn't moving fast enough out the back door, so his big sister gave him a nudge.

Or a push.

I didn't see it happend, but I did see Layla bolt out, as if she had done something wrong.

When I asked her what happened, she did tell me the truth, so I sent her to her room

and had her stay put till daddy got home.

Poor baby boy had an instant knot/bruise and scrape on his head.

These pictures don't do it justice.

Little sassy fras. She really does love him...

new at instagram

our family hasn't been up to anything to exciting.

mother's day was wonderful, i was pampered by my children, Lance, and even my father-in-law.

i ate lots of yummy food and enjoyed face timing with our family.

we've spent lots of days playing with our friends, outside, before we can't go outside anymore.

it's been really nice. i'm not looking forward to the heat + humidity.

BUT we did get the kids a fun pool and a trampoline, so hopefully the pool along with the sprinkler and our trampoline will keep us cool the rest of the summer.

it sure has today!

so i'm new at Instagram, and so far I love it just as much as everyone that does it.

here's just a few pics to share.

Sunday daddy/daughter snuggles...

Relaxing with the hubs, while watching our kids destroy our house in .2 secs...

the fun new toys for the kiddlets...

going to her first tea party...

feeding brother his pancake...

some serious bedhead...

learning to improvise...

their first sleepover (at our house)

Layla and Brooklyn had their first sleepover at our house this last weekend.

I love watching how excited they both get as they prepare to have sleepovers.

Layla had slept at her house last weekend, so this weekend it was Brooklyn's turn to come

to our house. I think Starling and Wendi were a bit nervous as to how she'd do, but she did awesome.

I put Tangled in for her and Layla and by 10:30PM she had passed out on the floor.

Here Layla is checking on her...

When Layla noticed that she was asleep she said (with a yawn) "I'm tired Mom, I think we should go

to bed." So I picked up tiny little Brooklyn, that weighs as much as Marx, I swear, then we all

to a trip to the potty, so we wouldn't have any accidents. When I put Brooklyn on the toilet, she looked at me with her little tired eyes and said, "Oh, Jet-si, I'm so tired." I said, "I know baby, let's go potty so we don't have an accident, then I'll tuck you and Layla in bed." She then gave me a little grin. So off to bed they were. I tucked them in around 10:45 and they slept till nearly 8:45 the next morning! I had got up to take a picture of them, then crawled back in bed with my hubby to enjoy actually staying in bed, cause let's face it, it rarely happens that our children sleep till nearly 9:00AM on Saturday mornings!

At 8:45 I heard Brooklyn say, "Oh Layla! I slept at your house, all night long!" So I ran in the bedroom to snap another picture of their bed head and sleepy swollen eyes.

Their next request was chocolate donuts, and because I want to be the fun mom, that all of Layla's friends love, Lance and I loaded them in the car and went and got them chocolate donuts.

You would've thought they were in heaven!

Brooklyn wouldn't even take her eyes off of her donut for a picture.



And we can't forget about little man.

He liked his donut too!

Essential Wellness Tip

Peppermint

Peppermint is popular in countless forms- from toothpaste to chewing gum. As an essential oil, it is used to ease breathing and as a digestive aid.

I use peppermint daily. I begin each morning by putting it along with my Wild Orange in my diffuser. The two oils together create a homeostasis state, meaning, it's putting your body and mind in a calm balanced state. I do notice the mornings that I do diffuse it and I don't diffuse it, in myself and my children. The peppermint is also a wonderful refresher, so those mornings that I just can't get out of bed (which feels like most mornings these days) I will put a drop under my tongue or simply take a deep breath of it. It's wonderful!

I've also used it in so many other ways! One night I had a little case of heart burn, all I did was rub it on my chest and it was gone within 30 secs. When my children run a fever, I rub peppermint on their feet and spine, it brings it right down. Now there have been times that I did do both Motrin and peppermint because I'm so scared of fever, but I'm learning to trust the oils and my childrens bodies and let the peppermint do it's work along with their bodies. It's ok if their running a 99 degree fever. That's the bodies way of fighting infection. After all, what did people do when they didn't have tylenol and motrin?! So I just make sure to continue the peppermint every half hour until the fever comes down. Much better for my kids than synthetic drugs. Now, let me be very clear. I am thankful for modern medicine, and in many cases I feel it's very necessary to take modern medicine, BUT, generally, doTERRA Essential Oils do work. I've been using them for a little over a year now, and I've seen so many amazing things that they've done for myself and my family. And I feel it's very important to share it with my family and friends. Back to peppermint! I've also used it when I've had headaches that I just can't get rid of, by rubbing it on my temples and my neck. It works wonders!

Other possible uses for Peppermint:
-nausea
-colic
-depression
-fatigue
-food poisoning
-hives
-irritable bowel syndrome
-morning sickness
-soothe and cool skin
-toothaches
-tuberculosis
-hot flashes
-fever
-flu
-varicose veins
-diarrhea

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! My email is ljspiers@gmail.com or LTS_28@yahoo.com

calling all superheros

Little man's birthday bash was a hit.

We had all our friends and family celebrate with us, and soon realized that

we need a bigger house!! Thank goodness it cooled down a bit and we were all able to rotate

coming inside and outside. We had a great time, and I even had a few people say,

"Girl! You know how to through a party!"

(really, I don't, I just love celebrating with the people that I love!)

So I'll let the pics do all the talking.

It was all wonderful.

The food.

The gifts.

This little man turning 1 was great!!

Thanks family and friends for making it such a special day for Marx!

The kids that we used to teach at church gave Marx the nickname "jack-jack" from the Incredibles.

So it was only fitting for him to be jack-jack!

 I love this face...

Marx is 1 year old!

Dear Marx,

We made it!! We made it to your first birthday!

Feww....

We both survived it, and for the longest time I didn't think we would.

It's been a tough year. I feel for every mother that complains about a baby that cries a lot, because

well, you cried A LOT! Everyday I'd just tell myself, "Just get to his first birthday, he'll get so much happier!" Let's hope that's the case.

You have been a bit happier this past week.

I don't know if it's because you're not nursing anymore during the day, and you're actually

getting fed. (I'm worried I starved you for 12 months, and that's why you were so fussy, but you were always right on track with weight...it's a mystery!)

Maybe it's just because you're a momma's boy.

Don't worry, I still love you to pieces, but I am SO ready for this next phase in your life!!

You give the best kisses EVER.

Every time we say, "Marx! Give me kisses!" or "Marx, can I have a kiss!" or just "Kisses?"

You come darting at us with your little mouth wide open like a baby bird.

It's adorable, and on most days, you just keep on giving them.

You're trying so hard to talk.

You say:

Mama

Dada

and

uh uh uh uh uh uh- Oh!

Which is Uh-Oh.

Stinking adorable!

And other times you'll just use your baby words, and we'll just talk along with you.

You'll get so excited like you're really telling us a story.

You still are a little champ at sleeping.

I'll take a baby that sleeps any day!! Because, let's face it, if I don't get my sleep, I'm not a happy mommy!

You lie down on your own for both your naps and at bed time.

I still wish you'd let me rock you, but you just would rather me put you down and let you

cuddle your duck.

(which actually used to be your sister's duck that she cuddled and slept with too.)

Just this last week you started to wrestle with your daddy, me and your sister!

It's so stinking adorable, and it makes your daddy so happy. His exact words were,

"I've been waiting all year for him to do this!!"

You're sister will lie on the floor for you and you'll run over to her and plop right down on her.

It's a joy that I don't know how to explain, watching you play like that with your sister.

Your favorite treats are:

chocolate chip teddy grams

animal crackers

chocolate cheerios

graham crackers

bananas

and of course

anything chocolate

When your daddy gets home work, you'll walk right over to him and hang on his legs until

he picks you up. It makes him so happy that you're so happy to see him.

You're big sister loves you so much.

I know at times it may seem like she doesn't, like yesterday for example, when she picked you

up and sat you under the sprinkler. I was trying so hard not to laugh and tell her that you didn't like that, but she just wanted you to have fun like she was.

When you're sad, she'll sing I am a Child of God to you, and it almost always calms you do.

She also loves to feed you, and if you don't like it, she'll say, "Look at me brother, I'll eat it! Mmm, it's good!" You're a pretty lucky guy to have such a great big sister!

You love watching:

Rio

Baby Einsteins

Tom and Jerry

Backyardigans

Dora

and

Diego

You still have the pretties blue eyes, and get compliments daily on how adorable you are.

Everyone always says, "OMG! Look at that blonde hair and his blue eyes!"

I'm a very proud momma. You are a very handsome man.

And really, you look just like your daddy.

You lucky little fella!

We'll buddy, I love you to pieces. Let's hope for a better year this next year!

Let's try to be happy how bout?!

Happy 1st Birthday! I can't believe it's already here!!

Love,

Your Proud Mommy

she did it again, and this time it was bad

Ya'll, I swear I watch my children.

This happened a week ago. I haven't blogged about it because, well, it's pretty depressing.

Layla cut her hair!

OMG!

All I could think of is... "What is the Lord trying to teach me!"

I had just put Marx down for a nap, put in Tom and Jerry for Layla, and started scrubbing

the bathrooms. I heard her getting into something I knew she shouldn't be getting into

and seriously had a sick feeling in my stomach.

When I came around the corner she had a huge grin on her face and said, "Look Mom!"

It all happened in a matter of 5 minutes, no lie.

I think she saw the furry in my eyes, because the grin changed to a frantic/scared look in .3 seconds.

All I could do was grab her arm, take her outside, and shut the door.

I was so sad. I just sat on the couch and cried.

I've just come to terms that my little girl may never have hair!

Since the day she was born, I couldn't wait for her to have long, thick hair for me to play with.....

She's got the asymmetrical, bald spot on the top look going on.

Sheesh!