Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Who knew that paint colors could be such a big decision?  But maybe it’s just me.  Two trips to Home Depot, eight samples later and I’m still not sure we have a winner.  If you’re driving our way, please stop in and cast your vote. Little do our guests {thankfully family so they have to love us anyway!} know that they will be part of our panel of judges this weekend.  I am in a painting frenzy… The possibilities are endless and oh so fun! 

{Please note that 1, 2 and 3 are out of the question.  Seriously, how can they call #2 & 3 “tans”?}

We’re working on our kitchen/dining/living room area which is way overdue and thinking something in the beige/tan family.  It’s a huge space and hence, a huge decision.  At least that’s how I justify having spent so much money on silly little samples.  It’s truly baffling how many undertones and hues samples can have at different times of the day and in different rooms and varying lights.  Baffling I  tell ya!  After that I’m moving on to tackle repainting both bathrooms and if I feel really brave, I may attempt a freshening of the trim through the entire house.  Let’s hope I have it in me!

These boys of mine are getting too smart.  All three.  Smarty pants who take after their… {don’t answer that} Daddy of course!  On our ride home from school yesterday the older boys were asking about their names and how we chose them.  I explained that Mommy loved the name Ethan and Daddy loved the name Aiden but we didn’t like the sound of them together.  Daddy’s favorite name was Aiden so we chose that and Mommy chose her other favorite name, Christopher.  They of course inquired about how we decided who got each name.  Thankfully it was quite simple as we kept it alphabetical and decided ahead that the first baby out would be Aiden and the second would be Christopher.  I tried to convince them that because of this, they technically chose which name they had.  Not convinced about the alphabetical piece, Chris wanted to know why his name didn’t start with a “B” since B is next in the alphabet.  He then inquired about how old he would have to be to change his name.  I thought twenty-one seemed reasonable but we negotiated back and forth.  Chris said he would like to change his name to Benjamin and Aiden was considering the name Ethan as a replacement.  Chris piped up that twenty-one didn’t seem fair since he would forget by then.  In being honest, I told him that was my hope.  He replied that he was going to write it down so he wouldn’t forget.  Chris is a man of many “treasures” and many treasure boxes.  I asked him where he would keep a note for that long and he was confident that he had the perfect place in one of his many special boxes.  After a long winded conversation, he said “ya know what Mom, I think I‘d actually prefer it if my name were Nathaniel.” …. A day in the life of an almost five year old!

I also have to share a story about just how different the boys, although identical are. Staying two full days now means that they now bring a lunch to school.  Very exciting stuff!  It’s always a big decision about what they will bring as their school is nut free so their staple and regular “go-to” of peanut butter and fluff/jelly/nutella is out of the question.  Should they bring yogurt or cheese and crackers?  The list is short and maybe that’s not a bad thing?  We’ve been trying to get creative.  Anyway, they usually put in their request the night before and I have it ready for them when they wake up.  Their lunches are typically based on what their friends and classmates and bringing and what is “cool” to eat that week.  As school dismisses, they jump in the car at pick up and are often proud to tell me that they finished their lunch.  This is a feat for them as they are sloooooow eaters at home and have all of about 20 minutes to set up, eat and clean up at school.  Well, it came as no surprise to me when Aiden hopped in the car and said that he had run out of time to finish his lunch at school.  He asked if it would be okay for his to have his lunch dessert {pudding} after he ate dinner.  Fair enough, so I agreed.  Chris hopes in the car and thanks me for his fruit snacks {his lunch dessert} and explains that he ran out of time to each his yogurt. I’ve got one playing by the books and saving the best for last and the other prioritizing and making sure he’s made time to each the “good” stuff!  Boy oh boy! Hard to believe they’re identical!

And Jake. He’s full of it. REFUSES to sit still making diaper changes i.m.p.o.s.s.i.b.l.e!  Busy and into everything.  Climbing, crawling and pulling up on everything and finding secret hiding places {see photo below}.  Standing without assistance for a second here or there.  Ready to take on the world and putting in a whole hearted attempt to keep up with his big brothers.  He loves all things little – legos, loom bands and super heros.  This little babe is growing up way too fast.