My Most Important Job

As a crazy busy wifey and Mama of two littles, I'm always looking for methods, products and ideas of how to be better at My Most Important Job. Better at getting a healthy dinner on the table. Better at keeping up a nice clean comfy home. Better at keeping up laundry. Better GROCERY SHOPPER - I'm totally bad at that. Better at being thrifty. Better at being crafty... get the idea? This task, My Most Important Job gets overwhelming. I have a tremendous helpmate in Mr Crews. He does a lot of the work right along side me. I am so thankful for him. As my babies grow, so does my to-do list. Perhaps it doesn't grow, but constantly evolves. Hard to keep up with, but absolutely a delightful journey.

On the journey it is so easy to lose yourself as a young woman. In your house, what do you hear as the family grows? Mommy! Mama! Mom! Ask Mommy Beau. Did Mommy let you have that? Mommy, Lauren needs you! Mommy, this is yummy. Thank you Mama. I love you Mommy. Ma Ma Ma ma babbles from the baby. It is a sweet melody from Heaven on my ears and I ADORE my new name and My Most Important Job. I rarely hear Carrie. That would be because Beau picked up Mike and Carrie surprisingly well as a 15mo old. So we address each other as Mama and Daddy to solve that little predicament.

In fact, I rarely see a lot of Carrie. I throw on clothes that still fit in the closet. I put on make-up during stoplights. I can totally fix my hair sight unseen with my travel teasing comb and liquid concrete hair spay - a permanent item in my purse. My Mama (and her Mama) says, "You can never afford to not look like a lady!" Amen! I can get my Lady-ness on in half the time and on the run! It's easy to take that time I spent on myself and do the million other things on my list. But now. Now that my Screamella is a distant memory and she is becoming Sleeping Beauty, I am finding a little more of that Carrie time. I've made a promise to myself to take better care of MAMA.

I started washing my make-up off before bed again AND using a nice scrub (please keep all; that's-really-disgusting judgemental comments to yourself until you experience your own Screamella). Goodbye dull winter skin - Hello fresh, I get to sleep more, radiant skin! I am packing my lunch to work to eliminate fast food. I go on a walk through the vineyards at lunch when the weather is nice. I am feeling better with these small but significant changes. I'm looking forward to integrating much more significant improvements soon. My goal is to lose 33lbs and have long Victoria's Secret hair. It's a goal people!

Right now, my world is a little rocky with so many unknowns. Mike and I are stressed. Regardless of what happens, next year will be a very different experience for our family. In my efforts to be really good at My Most Important Job, I am trying to stay up on my game and make sure the things that are in my control are healthy choices. I've got a helmet and God on my team. 

Go Mama Go! ... but not crazy.   

God knows what we need...

"I (the apostle Paul) have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret to facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me...And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:11-13,19

Beauisms

 I'll never get tired of Beauisms.

This sweet little teddy bear keeps me on my toes. 

But I'll never get tired of Beauisms  

 In .2 seconds of a minute he esaped the garage and was in the backyard. He drags Lauren away from the VCR, says No-No Sissy! and then sticks his own fingers in there. He pulls one arm out of his seatbelt and plays air guitar in true fashion during a favorite song and then puts his arm back in where it goes. Third Day is his favorite. Still totally chills him out, just like when he was little(er).

 He is consistantly using the potty while we are home, mostly for the dum-dum suckers, but using the potty no-less. He can make Lauren laugh. He can make Mama laugh. He can get yogurt out of the fridge, a spoon from the drawer and sit at the table and eat it all by himself. He will end a sentance with, "I'm serious Mama" when something is serious. It sounds just like the way Uncle Kevin would tease about being Sewious and it makes my heart smile and sad because I still miss him SO MUCH.

 Beau likes to work. He likes to have a job. It is his job to feed kitty in the morning and bring the newspaper in to Joy's house. He pulls a barstool in the laundry room and puts clothes in the washer. When he is quiet and perhaps.. putting on makeup right after a bath while I'm getting Lauren dressed, I say, "Beeaauuu, where are you?" and I get back, "I'm in here, what'd you need?"

I need you to stay this adorable and charming and wonderful the rest of your life. oxox Mama.

Jump Jump Jumparoo and Beau too!

Brussles Sprouts and Snorts or sorts

Le Brussels of de Sprouts

Chop in halve

I am continually trying new things, or ways to prepare veggies so my Beau will have, "big muscles, strong teeth and great hair!" Update on the pureed veggies: I have the most success with: cauliflower in cooked pasta with butter and milk. It tastes like an Alfredo sauce. Carrots in spaghetti sauce. Carrots or Sweet Potatoes in stoups I make up. *Stoup is a Rachel Ray term. Not soup, not stew - Stoup. The boys don't seem to notice them in these recipes. The recipe's listed in the Seinfield cookbook are not too favorable to the Men of Crews Quarters. In fact, pretty sure they've gagged at all of it. Jerks! Not really.

olive oil in cast iron on high heat. stir stir stir. no other seasoning!

entertain hungry children

put everything in the 350 degree oven
clean oven

Wha Laa! YUMMO.

Prepare bribery

So in my New Recipe Adventure Challenge, I read a blog, Babe of my Heart (which was introduced to me by Erica) and she featured a post on Brussels sprouts. I can hear an uprising of collective "Ewwww's!" I am a fan of cabbage. I love that buttery goodness stinkin' up the whole house flavor. MY whole side of the family loves cabbage. Mike does not. Shocking. In points of desperation of a cabbage fix, I have been known to eat an entire head of cabbage by myself. Not a good idea, for so many reasons. So I was pretty pumped about trying this out. I loved them and did eat ALL of it myself over two days. Those boys didn't even snort at it. More for Mama!   

The Party Barge

If you know me, there is a 93% chance you know most of, if not all of the Party Barge. For those of you out of state, or perhaps living on a different plant...

The story of the Party Barge, by all involved 

A condensed version.

Once upon time, ok Fall 1998, the freshman class descended upon College of the Ozarks. From near and far, random strangers were paired up as roommates. Us youngin's were tossed into the CofO workforce. Orientation groups were formed alphabetically, well not so much for me as I was in a group of "M's"....and friendships blossomed just like the late summer Canna's growing all over the campus. From really not too far away the majority of the Berryville High School class of 1998 moved to Point Lookout, MO. From really, really not too far away, I was one of 3 from my class of 500. I had to make friends. Stat. I was paired, by the Grace of God - literally - with Jenny Jackson. Roommate Jenny.. Jenny is deserving of her own blog all together. But I will say this, Jenny and I were Roomies all four years, in the same room Ashcroft 104, and she means the world to me.

Jenny came from Berryville. Jenny was besties with Shannan Lovelace, also from Berryville. Shannan, Jenny and Ashley Huddleston, from Alton were all in the same orientation group. They immediately hit it off. The Berryville group decided they would eat lunch together in the cafe ole that first week of classes. Jenny invited me to tag along. That is where I met my Mikey, oh pitter patter went my heart! -but not a first to be honest. I was with someone else at the time and he thought I talked too much. ANYHOO. Roommate Jenny introduced me to my love and that's the important thing. Trapper Patillo dated most of the girls at CofO. Except me. He dated Karista for a long time. Karista and Ashley were roommates for a while after graduation and before Trapper and Ashley got married... Karista and Shannan earned their MBA together from Missouri State... oh I'm getting ahead of myself. Amy. Amy Huddleston is Ashley's little sister, as in like 9mos younger. Not really, but they are close in age and heart. Amy showed up that next year. She and Ashley were roomies and moved across the hall from me and Jen. At this point, that end of the hallway started getting a reputation. We were loud, usually awake, had food to eat, and Dumb and Dumber or Rush Hour 2 was playing continuously in our VCR. We (Ashcroft 104) were blessed with the name, "The Party Barge". We used this name and "Pretty Princesses" as our intramural sports team name. We went undefeated in softball, soccer and flag football. Jen and Ashley recruited freshman. They had to make-up for Shannan and I's skillz. We won cheering competitions, we were all in Homecoming one time or another. Jen was actually QUEEN once! and never won Mudfest.

The boys:

Obviously, Trapper chased Ashley from the moment he saw her. Their story is a whole other blog as well. I told Mike he should date me, and ultimately marry me, he obliged, because I'm lucky. Mike and Trapper were roommates over in Kelce. Shannan dubbed them as the Godfathers of the Party Barge in a passing moment, we all laughed hard and it sorta stuck. Shannan met and fell for her Kurt in the Accounting Department and workstation Bonner. They are the perfectly numerically matched duo. Karista and Mike met playing softball and will soon celebrate their 1st anniversary! That went fast. We like Mike. a lot. Matty is Mike's bestie from AR. They grew up in church together and spent most summers side by side causing chaos. Matty met Cassie at the Passion Play and the rest is history!

Friendships with others we made as classes and workstations changed kind of fluctuated through those four glorious years, but at the end of the day; You could find us girls, usually piled up in one twin size bed laughing 'til we hurt, crying our eyes out or talking someone into doing something stupid. We are tight. We are the Party Barge. We will be friends until the day we die and then we'll start over in Heaven, because I have the joy and peace of knowing every one of them will be there with me.

Right now, we're in Phase 2.5 - Mama's and Daddy's and it is 100 millions times funner. that's right funner doing it together. None of us live near each other. It's about 1hr 1/2 to get together for most of us. It's a two day trip for Jen. She decided to go to Seminary in KY after CofO. She met the love of her life, Curtis and together they are serving the Lord in CA! We miss her, but she is definitely where she is supposed to be right now. I can't wait to visit her and her beautiful baby boy Reid. 

We try to make an effort to get together as often as we can for an afternoon of CRAZY with all these BABIES. It is too much fun. This weekend was no exception. Love these people.  

Beauster

Kelsey

Shae

Lauren + 2 teeth!

Hudson

 Mackenzie runs away from cameras. She's that beautiful little red-headed thing that matches her Daddy!

 It was Ashley's birthday AND little baby patillo will be here in September!!! We'll find out she's a she in May. Because she's a she. We had hairbow making 101 with hairbow mentor Cassie.

{my name is carrie and i am addicted to hairbows}

 Who needs toys when there are stairs to play on with uncle trapper?

 Chip picnic at auntie karista's beige house! Hmm, looks who's got the chips. Shocking.

When we ALL get together there are 12 adults and 9.5 babies. We graduated to Lamberts and

Private Dining rooms.

Little Shamrocks Rock!

For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way-

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day!

 Beau's a little sleepy for St Patrick's Day photo shoot. Wishful thinking is he isn't about to pick a green boogie. Just Wishful thinking.

 Happy 1st St Patricks Day Lauren!!

 I AM getting a Shamrock Shake from MD's today.

Cuteness for Tuesday

Mama and Daddy's room is the place to be.

Laundry, Toys and Crumbs you see.

Cheerios's picnic? Yes please.

Sing with Daddy's guitar? Absolutely.
Comfy Cozy Quaint and Free

Keeping Mama safe building gates

Shooting hoops until the picture frame breaks. 

Mama and Daddy's room is the place to be.  

{bet you didn't know it, but I'm not a poet. Just cuteness in my room... you see}

heehee!

My Truck

Let me introduce you to "someone" very important at our house...

This is My Truck. My truck is good for many things. He can obviously haul very important things, excluding Sissy. He can drive Really Fast with his bff Beau. My Truck is a rolling step ladder (yikes) and is a good last minute seat. My Truck is a good truck. He waits patiently while we're using the potty and even has a pillow to lay down when he goes to bed. It is necessary to find My Truck as soon as we come home and he likes to play exactly what Beau wants to play. We love My Truck.

nine

At Nine Months Old Lil'bit is 16lbs and 26in" tall. That means she graduated to the 10th percentile for height, and is still in the 5th for weight. Sweet Lil'bit. She prefers big people food to baby food, and warm it up, thankyouverymuch. She is FINALLY (insert Hallelujah chorus) sleeping through the night. She can get up on her hands and knees and rocks but doesn't have much of a propeller to actually go. She does go where she wants to by means of rolling, scooting, army crawl, grab and pull and pushing off. I think once she masters siting up from laying down, she'll be a little rocket. The other thing is fabulous big brother bear is good to bring her what she wants. Lauren is a princess after all.. She sleeps on her tummy with hiney in the air and wakes up smiley. She is a cuddly snuggle bug when she wakes up. I LOVE this. I'm loving that time with my Lauren. She has TWO toofers! Teething hasn't been too traumatic for her, knock on wood, I realize we only have two. Nursing and teething is a different story. Ultimately I had to wean her. Mixed emotions about that. I believe Lauren will really benefit with baby sign language, especially during dinner time. We need to communicate bite and drink, she gets too stressed out!
The other day I was driving down the road and the thought popped in my head that I get to pick out an Easter dress. I immediately teared up for joy! Before I had my babies I would wonder through the racks of Easter dresses (and baby swimsuits) and try not to cry. I have been been hunting for the ONE. The one Easter frock that makes my heart pitter patter. I never found it. So, I'm having a dress made for her. It will be so very special and made from one of her Daddy's dress shirts. I'm so excited and guess what? I will have professional photos taken... I know, shocking. What's Easter without a bonnet I'd like to know?! Mama and I found a pitter patter pink and white bonnet made from an heirloom handkerchief. She can carry it again on her wedding day. sniff sniff.
So YES, Lauren is as cute as her Aunt... all TWENTY of you! Plus TEN more if you count all of our first cousins who could technically fill the Auntie roll. Plus EIGHT more if you count our dear friends that are just as close as family. Lauren is so fabulous just like all 38 of her fabulous Aunties. She is blessed to have you in her life.