Pseudo Outside

Hello everyone!  A few pics of the boys I took yesterday.  It have been beautiful then rainy then beautiful and hot then rainy.  So we like to go outside to play and have been able to do more of that, but the bummer is that Eli isnt walking still, so I can exactly put him down in wet grass and let him go at it.  I mean we were stuck in the house for over a month last time he got sick, I am not taking any risks.

So instead we opened our 'balcony' and I let them hang out out there.  I don't know why I haven't thought of this sooner.  I will be doing this everyday when we can't go outside.  They loved it.  And living on a busy street happens to be in our favor here.  Boys + Cars = LOVE.  So that works out!

I got them to turn at the same time! whooo hooo!  Super cute boys!  And maybe a little plug for Mc Donalds?

Eli and his chunky legs trying to get out himself.

Go buddy, go!

Look, McDonalds!

And here is my really cool kid.  Watch out ladies, Eli's comin'.  {That one's for you Dad!}

And lastly, story time with the boys.  You know when Eli wants to read a book.  He grabs it and throws it at you until you get the hint and open it to read it.  He is such a gentile little boy.

Few pics and Eli can say please!

So like i promised, few updates!  Don't worry, I won't be that consistent. LOL

We spent Saturday as a family day together and it was nice.  The weather was beautiful we ate at the good ole Mc Do's and played in the park.  What a wonderful day.  I wis every day was like this...

Look at Eli, chillin after eating.  Full belly for sure!

The mens drinkin their sprites

Me and the hubs on this wonderful day

The E man got 'new' hand-me-down clothes from a wonderful friend here.  I think this is as new as Eli's clothes will ever get. Sorry dude!  But aren't they stinkin cute?  I love it.  And they are a little big so he can grow into them. 

Then we have Eli here who has finally learned how to say please and all done.  Although he very specifically says it only when he wants to, he will have everyone know, no one makes him do this.  And the sign language for please is tapping your chest, so in case your wondering why I am all excited Eli is hitting my boob, there ya go. 

Enjoy!!  And you're welcome mom! :)

Where have I been???

Soooo sorry for all my lovely peeps who read this blog.  I have totally been MIA for like a month.  That is awful.  But let me tell you about where I have been....

So when the boys were sick a while back, for over a month, it was pretty rough over here in the Simmons household.  It was just me and Lavar (obviously) which is really a bummer living so far away from family and friends.  But at the end of that time, I was feeling pretty dumpy and depressed.  I felt like I didn't do anything for myself, I hadn't worn makeup for weeks, and I forgot about things that i wanted to do.  I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I knew that there could be a balance.  Anyone who knows me knows I am not the best at balance, but hey, that's what life is for, working on things!! 

I had been bouncing around in the bloggy world and found blogs like Sydney's and Elaine's.  I also found Eisy Morgan.  I thought, you know what?  I can do this.  I can do more for myself to feel better about myself and in return do better as a wife and mom.  I didn't want to change this blog into a blog for me, because so many family members read it and I didn't want to bore them with outfit posts or crafting ideas.  So I started my own.  It is called Ma Nouvelle Mode.  I am having a blast doing it.  I love it because it challenges me to come up with new things to do, like crafting or makeup or hair.  I love reading all the other blogs out there for awesome inspiration.  Not that I don't like the 'momma blogs' but I don't care as much to read about someone else's life.  Unless I know them, of course! 

I just wanted to give a quick update for you all.  I would love it if you stopped by and checked it out.  Even follow if you find it interesting enough to do so!  If not, no hard feelings, trust me!  :)  I will do my best at keeping this blog up with pics of the little men and stuff like that.  Thanks for staying with me!!  Oh and I come home in 6 weeks! Yikes!!  And I am going to Paris next week, super fun! :)

Pics of the boys

the other day I was having a bit of a bad day and I was sitting at the table and i noticed that Eli had gotten a hold of one of my shirts.  Before I knew it, he had put the shirt on around his neck and was crawling around like this!  He was cracking up, too, like he thought he was hilarious!

 Recently we have decided to go to one nap.  I know, I know, it is a sad day when one nap comes, but he was taking two little cat naps and I was not havin' it.  But the thing is, by napy time, he is ti-erd!  He concked (sp?) after drinking a bottle for lunch before his nap.  Can we say mommy time!  Love it!

My precious boys chillin on the couch.  Don't worry, we didn't get rid of our awesome couch covers, they are just at the dry cleaners. (which I hate that I had to spend money on!).  Sometimes i will look at the boys and see Tae with his arm around Eli.  So cute.  I hope they will be buddies when Eli can be a buddy.

my handsome little men...

Going on 4 weeks

This pretty much sums up the three, going on four, weeks in our house...

Momma and Daddy need a vacation.

London's Calling! part 1

Ok, so now for some pics of London!!  I had an awesome time.  The city was so different than I thought.  The architechture was incredible, I might even say better than France.  It was also actually more Americanized than I thought.  They had more American products than we do here in France, which was quite appealing!  I don't know why I expected it to be pretty close to France, but it wasn't.  It had its own feel.  I most definitely fell in love with the city.  I wasn't used to, however, because able to talk and assume no one could understand me.  I had to be a bit more careful with what I said... hehe  It was a great feeling to be able to communicate with everyone.  Like I didn't have to translate everything in my head first.  I could just go up to anyone and ask without thinking too much about it.  That was most definitely nice.  I would love love love to go back to England.  I loved London, but the entire country to be in intriguing.  Maybe take a Pride and Prejudice Tour and see all the places from the movie.  Overall, loved it.  Would love to go back.  I feel like I didn't even touch half of what I is there to see. 

It's in English!

Isn't it beautiful?

I went with my friend Stacy from college.  Actually, funny story.  I never actually went to college with Stacy.  We went to the same college, I was just a, eh-um, few years ahead of her.  He husband played basketball with my brother.  Last year Stacy and her husband moved to Australia for basketball and now they are in England.  So they are living a very similar life as we are.  It is just so neat for us to have someone who can understand our lifestyle, because believe it or not, a lot of people don't.  But that's okay, we happen to love it!  So it was so refreshing to talk to her all weekend and share adjustment stories and pieces of advice with eachother.  I truly enjoyed it and plan on making it an every year thing!  (hope that's okay, Stacy!)  I am hoping and praying they play in the same league, or maybe same team! :) hey a girl can dream.  I will settle for a nice place to visit, I suppose.

Top of a double decker bus

flower heads on the Stella McCartney Models
Oh and closest we came to anything Beatles. And I was going to try to make my brother jealous!

Oh YES!

So fun!

Camden Town

I had to make a very important phone call... :)

I saw this and said 'look! A ship in a boat!' Can you tell I am a mom loosing her mind?

Niiice horsey...

It started to nibble on me!

Big Ben and a red phone booth!

Even the street lamps were pretty

At the gates of Buckingham Palace waiting for the Queen to invite us in for tea!

ahhh, dinner.  Good 'ole fish and chips

Simmons house is Sick... ugh

For starters, my linked within isn't working and I have no idea why. 

So it all started with the food battle between me and Eli.  I figured out a few days later that he was just not feeling well.  And now, two weeks later, I have what he has and I can understand.  I haven't eaten much either.  Wow, I feel like a bad mom.

Eli and Tae got sick two weeks ago now.  I remember after a Wednesday basketball practice, I knew Tae wasn't gonna make it to school.  He stayed out for a whole week, which is huge for my little social boy.  He loves school.  He missed basketball again today, once again huge.  He loves his basketball too.  Eli is finally eating better.  It was oatmeal, yogurt and applesauce there for a while, but we are most certainly back to grubbin'.  Now I have an awful sore throat that just stinks and Tae has been saying he has had a headache for the last day and a half.  He said tonight that he was going to be better for school tomorrow, we will see.  Maybe just the morning. 

Then there is Eli...  There is a reason God gives you so much love for your kids.  Because sometimes, well, I'm sure you get the picture.  I don't want to ruin it for future moms or moms with perfect kids.  Just know that I thought I had it all together too, with Tae and the first 6 months of Eli's life.  Then I had an awakening.  So Eli is not a good sleeper.  I don't know what to do.  He wakes up in the night, not to play or eat or anything, sometimes he just cries until someone gives him his binkie.  But he doesn't soothe himself very well, so most of the time if we let him cry, he doesn't stop.  And he shares a room with Tae, and while Tae does sleep pretty hard, it has got to bother him.  Heck, it bothers me and I am a room away!

The bummer thing is that I feel like I have tried everything.  Advil, Doliprane, nose stuff, cough stuff, the poor kid is getting drugged up every night before bed.  I went again to the pharmacie last night and they gave me two more things for sleep, both homeopathic, so I thought I would try them too.  He did a little better last night.  But I was still a stinkin' wreck today.  I had to get Lavar and I laid down for three hours. Yes, you read that right, 3 hours.  I don't remember the last time I did that.  I could have gone longer too.

So far tonight I haven't heard him and it is not yet 10.  So I am going to post this and lay-it-down as my husband says.  I am just praying that I can sleep.  That Eli sleeps.  That Tae doesn't get woken up.  With all these sickies in the house, we can't get better when no one is sleeping!  Eli, get the memo!!!!!!!!!!!  But I love you.  But seriously, sleep.  Ugh, I am getting delerious.

How I met your father...

Okay, so Lavar isn't the most romantic man on earth and he refuses to celebrate Valentines Day because he says it is only a Hallmark holiday.  I agree and I honestly don't really care.  I do, however, like to give him a hard time about not celebrating it.  But actually, last night he came home with pizza and ice cream!  He swore it wasn't for Valentine's Day, but hey, I'll take it!  Anyway, in honor of the day of love, (even though it is a day late) I thought I would share with you how I met my husband.  I think it is a cute quick little story. :)  Our entire love story is a little too long and dramatic for one post, so just how we met will do!

We both attended a small, Christian college called The Master's College in Southren California.  He played basketball and I played volleyball.  Lavar remembers the first time he saw me, what I was wearing, and where I was standing.  I, however, cannot remember Lavar during the first semester for the life of me.  I went to every basketball game, home and away, and still, not a clue.  I do remember being at a friends house and hearing two Bahamians talk and I could not understand what they were saying.  I actually asked someone if it was another language.  Little did I know how much that 'language' would be a part of my life.

Second semester around Feburary or March I was kinda sorta dating another basketball player.  We were sitting in the lounge area of the dorm when one of his friends (Lavar) brought us lunch.  I saw him walk in and the first thought I had was 'oh my gosh, he is so cute!  I wish I was not sitting with this guy right now!!'  We were introduced but that was it.  I didn't talk to him after that for a while.  Meanwhile my relationship, and I use that term loosely, with the other guy ended. 

At this time my volleyball season and his basketball season were finished, I was involved in intermural basketball.  I played in high school and decided it would be fun.  So after one of the games, my best friend Lindsey and I were sitting at the top of the bleachers and my friend Darren came up to us.  I had known Darren since early first semester and he was also a friend of Lavar's.  {little did I know, this was all set up by Lavar}  Right after Darren came over, his big, cute, black, Bahamian friend came over too.  Darren introduced us and all four of us started talking.  I don't remember how it came about, but it is very consistent in our personalities, Lavar and I made a bet.  {side note ~ he won't make bets with me anymore because now I never pay up. The beauty of marriage! haha}  We bet that Lindsey and I could beat Lavar and Darren in volleyball by more points than they could beat us in basketball.  It was on.  The next afternoon we were in the gym.  We did beat them in volleyball (Lavar is horrible) but they did beat us in basketball too, by more points... So our first date, I paid.  We went to a steakhouse, Tony Roma's on CityWalk and Lavar got ribs and chicken and a smoothie drink, while Darren was nice and ordered a simple meal and water. 

After that night we were inseperable, for a while anyway.  We have had ups and downs and have known eachother as friends, dating, not talking, dating other people, you name it.  There has been a lot thrown our way, but we wouldn't change it for the world because it has brought us to where we are now!  So happy Valentine's Day to my husband.  Love you!

Oh and I have to mention, before Lavar left the Bahamas for college he declared to his friends that he would NEVER marry a white girl!  HA!  I guess that teaches you to never say never (love JBeibs) and, well you know, I guess I am awesome like that!

Watch out Beyonce!

Okayt, I read somewhere that the choreography from Beyonce's video 'Single Ladies' was taken from something called 'Mexican Breakfast.'  Well, Lavar and I thought we would check it out.  I was laughing the entire time.  I love it.  Hilarious. 

Since I thought I should have something to post Monday morning, what better than a little Mexican Breakfast.  LOL  I don't know what the writing is though, so you can ignore that.  This is the only version I could find. 

Oh and Happy Valentines Day!!  I will have to do something for my boys since my husband refuses to celebrate it! (something about a Hallmark holiday... blah blah blah)

I think I need it...

I entered a blog contest yesterday, I had to. Once you see the pictures I am going to post and then check out the etsy shop where you can purchase these lovely bags, you will understand. You might enter the contest too... Man I should have posted this a little later. 

Anyway, you have to check these out!  They are handmade by a stay at home mom! What?  I am a stay at home mom and the only thing I hand make is dinner.  Even then it is throwing some nuggets in the oven like tonight.  Pretty impressive.  Here are some of my favs.

Beautiful! Can go with a lot too

Cute kinda vintage-y feel

Love, love, love this pattern!

probably my favorite because of all the colors!

So you have to check this person out. To see her store on Etsy click here.  The giveaway that I entered was at The Undomesticated Momma.  Check her out, love her blog, super cute! 

Sometimes I wish my husband read my blog so he could catch this hint and just get me one.  But he doesn't and wouldn't catch the hint even if he read it. haha And he is sooo against Valentine's Day, so that isn't gonna work, I don't even bother asking!  But I can't complain, I am leaving on a jet plane tonight for LONDON!!  Yeah baby!

What I am soooo Lovin' about Wednesday!

If you didn't know, the blogging world is huge. I don't very often link up to any other blogs or anything, but today, I felt like I had to because Jaime at This Kind of Love is hosting something called 'What I'm loving Wednesday'  And today, I am LOVING that tomorrow I leave for London!!!!  Without the kids!!! By myself!!  Without the kids!!!  I am excited.

I am so loving that I get to take this trip by myself.  I love my boys and I love my family, but momma puts in work and man, it is time for a vacation. 

I am loving my seriously awesome husband who is facilitating this.  He is keeping the boys throughout the weekend and he even has a basketball game Friday night.  He is awesome.  And hot. :)

I am loving that the friend that I am going to see is a young married with no kids yet.  So if I would have had to bring the boys, it just would have been a little harder.  I am so stoked for the fun we are gonna have!

I am loving that we are going to see a movie!  In English!  I have been to the movies in months and I am excited for candy and popcorn and English.  So much fun!!

I can't wait to be able to post some of my own pictures!  I posted a few above of things we will probably see.  I am a huge history buff and I love countries that still have a monarch, like England.  I find it so interesting.  Sometimes I just sit on Wikipedia for hours reading about people and places and things.  I know, my husband told me, I'm a dork.

Stay tuned for my own London/England pictures!! YAY!

Tap out

Tap out.  I need a sub.  Like a replacement mommy for just a little.  I am so tired.  It feels like the plague hit our house this week.  And out of respect for those who don't have kids and would like to someday, I won't post any pictures, but it's been brutal.

Started with Eli not eating his dinner and not finishing his bottle.  I thought he was being a stinker, then he got a fever and kept it for 3 days.  Tae got a really bad cough and stuffy nose.  Neither are sleeping great so we are up a few times a night.  Lavar is gone today and tonight for a basketball game so I really had no sub.  And night before games I try to get up with the boys so Lavar can sleep, so brutal for me.  Just not pretty around here.

I leave for London next Thursday.  I am just praying that I don't have to leave a household of sick boys behind.  My husband is nice enough to watch the kids for the weekend so I can go alone (so freakin excited!).  It would be hard to truly enjoy myself knowing what Lavar is going through here.  Please please get better boys!!  And I really pray I don't get sick, because that would be a bummer too. 

Focus on the goal ~ healthy boys.  Sanity and sleep for mommy and daddy.

It is times like these we really miss family, friends, and grandparents...

Mommy vs Eli

This is my beautiful monster.  Eli John Simmons.  OH MAN.  If I ever thought I was a good mom or better than another mom, I'm sorry.  I will never ever think that again.  Eli, you have set me straight.  The checklist for a good kid is out the window. 

Here is our mealtime.  For some reason, the last few days, Eli has decided that he doesn't want to eat dinner.  I make his baby food and I am not throwing it out because he decided he didn't want to eat it, so wartime it is. 

Little bit of a whine

Now he is a clever monster.  It is tough to get one by him.  He swings his hands in front of his face, trying to swat the spoon out of my hands or away.  I used to get a bite in when he would cry, but now the smarty-pants cries with his mouth closed.  Man.

Before he learned to cry with his mouth closed.  Right when I would slip a bite in his mouth

Now I am a stubborn person and my husband makes me look bad in that department, so we aren't new to this.  And Eli, you have met your match.  Knowing that I am fully aware (well maybe not fully, are we ever really fully?) what kind of personality he has, I am up for the challenge (most nights).  All I know is that mommy has to win. 

And win I did.

A defeated little monster

That is what I call victory.

*DISCLAIMER* 

 I LOVE my son.  Words like monster and sly and stubborn are all endearing words when coming from a mother.  He can be a challenge and still have my heart strings.  Which he does.