Stop and smell the roses

June has been crazy for the Harless family. 

step fathers birthday (6) 

Wesley's 32 birthday (13)

fathers day (16) 

7th wedding anniversary (17)

We took a family beach trip to celebrate and enjoy the beginning of summer. The kids had a blast and made wonderful memories catching crabs, flying kites, building castles, fishing, and swimming mixed with minimal fighting. It was a much needed trip and a wonderful way to spend Wesley's big day and our 7 married years together. We did break away for one date night and it ended with a trip to wal mart! Woo hoo! The joys of being married/ traveling with children.  

Amongst this chaos of summer I've managed to sit back and enjoy and reflect (if only momentarily) on some incredibly special moments. York and Perry met some friends at the beach (Sam /age 11 and Gunter /age 12) who stayed at the house beside us. They were amazing little men and adored my boys. They woke each morning anticipating how their new "friends" would fit into their day. We even invited them to dinner one night. They braved the waves, "taught" the big boys how to fish, built a massive sand castle, and dominated any snack food I provided. It melted my heart to see these older boys so engaged with mine. And quickly reminded me that time doesn't stop and soon mine will be out on the beach standing taller than Me.  We became Facebook friends (hehe) and hope to keep intouch.  They set a great example to my boys in many ways with their stellar manners and incredible patience. We are still talking about those two and I hope York and Perry will always remember their first beach friends.... 

(I'll post pix later)

We are also enjoying swimming.  York learned last year and had a rocky start remembering. In fact I gave a pep talk (while in pool screaming at the TOP of his lungs shouting things like "I will choke and DIE"--- all parents watching and judging) "it's just like riding a bike! Son -You never forget" to his appropriate response "mom- I don't know how to ride a bike! Duh!". Right.  Ok  

Implement plan 2--I just chunked him in!  That worked like a charm. My little nemo swam to the ladder like a pro. (still onlookers are judging). After a very harsh look from York and the realization that he was in fact alive -he did a little chuckle and began swimming like micheal phelps. Ok so maybe phelps little cousin but nonetheless he is enjoying it an I don't have to pay for swim 

Lessons again! Woo hoo!  I am now contemplating trying the "sink or swim" method with ole P who thinks he can do the breaststroke already.  I'll update on that as we progress...

Our new favorite place is steel city pops! If you haven't gone it's an absolute must. Heaven on a stick! I am not joking. My best friend Kelly has been telling about the Popsicle phenomenon (because she is alway in the know about incredible new kid things) for at least a year and I can't believe I didn't go sooner. As York would say-"it has changed my life."  and that my friends is NO exaggeration.   Find a store near you and if I may-- order a butermilk and eat until your hearts content. (also good are strawberry and chocolate).

I have to blog about the other night before I forget. I put both Ramsay and Perry to bed and let York watch some cartoons in my bed for awhile. It was getting late so I told him that he could stay until he fell asleep then I would move him to his bed. He then asked me if I would hold his hand as we slept so we could dream together... And that is precisely what we did. I woke up about 3 hours later his small little hand in mine and my heart is still full thinking about it.  As I stepped out of the sower the next day I said "York you sure were funny in my dreams last night. So glad you were able to come!" and he said "I dreamed about you too, mom. The holding hands really does the trick". Yes it does sweet boy.   I will dream with you anytime. 

Perry is talking a ton! He has a very sweet heart and is quite the character.  My favorite is when Wes will tell him "I love you P" and he yells "I love MOMMY!".  It is hysterical and he only does it because I laugh so much. He went with me to the nail place recently and as they were doing my pedicure (him in my lap) they reached up to rub some lotion on his leg.  The nail lady sweetly looked up and said "that feel good?". From then on he continually repeated in his best baby Asian voice "that feel gooooood! That feel gooooood! Mommy- do that feel guuuuud?"  It was definitely the highlight of my day and maybe 3 or 4 other ladies that heard him. 

Ramsay is almost walking. He has taken a few steps. Some willingly and others forced by brothers who get too pushy. (literally)  He is strong and can hang with his brothers without a problem.  He loves to eat and hasn't found a food that he doesnt enjoy.  He has a tender disposition and just goes with the flow. As long as brothers are in clear site he is happy.  He will be a year old in just a month and I am again wondering where the time has gone. What a blessing he is to our family and my sanity.  Not to mention he has a killer smile...

House update 

We are in the framing stages of the build and I have a gazillion pictures to post to document our progress. It is exciting and the boys are finally understanding that in October / November  we will move into this house we have watched go up. Bigger post to follow on details. 

Enjoy these days of summer my friends. Until next time. 

Ev

Yorkism--Pinglish

Yorkism's...
"Do you have a girlfriend?" - pop pop

"No oo o ...they are too expensive!" York  

"I love you petal to the metal" - York 

"Mom -you need a sleep number bed." -York 

((too much television?))

"I have kong fu skills" - York 

"Oh great day" -York 

(learned from uncle Scott)

"I love snails -I think they are gorgeous!" -York 

"I feel so free mom!" -York 

(walking naked after bath) 

"I don't do sleepovers " - York 

(when asked to stay the night) 

"Girls can not go to home depot.  It's just too dangerous. You can like it mom but you can't go!" - York 

(justifying a boys trip to the depot) 

"I want to change your name to Dave mat-u" -York 

(Dave Matthews -- bc of my hysteria surrounding last post/ concert)

"Do you know what I like to do for fun? I like to kick people's 

buts." -York 

"I'm not cute I'm cool" - York 

"Dot call me kid ...call me preschooler!" -York 

"Mommy your an expert " -York 

"I love you so much even when you make me 'mad as I can go'." -York 

"Heaven has a gift shop" -York 

"What does heaven look like? " - me

"It had beautiful flowers and lots of hummers"-York
(York's obsession w daddy's humme
r has hit an all time high)

"I don't like the color you are when u tan" York to me

"Is that why you bought me these water Guns? ...So I could protect you from lizards!" -York

"I've been hunting for days. Shot 10 ducks" -York
(duck dynasty)

"I've been walking for years ...that's why my shoes have holes" -York
(wearing crocs)

"Stay close someone might snatch you." - me
"I'll snatch them --they don't know about me!" -York
(where does he get this confidence??)

"I just burped on the interstate"- York

"Get your bloody face away from me" -York
(after my fall)

"Mom you're Acting like you're 22!" -York

"Those dogs in the doggy trap are mean!" -York
(perhaps that's called a dog pen)

"Is he into those ?" -York
 (Ramsay eating Cheerios)

PINGLISH...

"I love you so much" -P

"Thank you brother sir" -P

"Santa watchin you!"- P

"No cut my chicken fingers!" -P

"What chew think about that!" -P

"Hey broda bear!" -P
"let's jam momma! Windows down.. Turn it up!" -P

"I love mommy boo boos" -P
(after my fall)

"How bout that!"-P

"Whose your best friend ? - me   "SteFAnie" -P
(his teacher)

"Chocolate nilla " -P
(what he calls chocolate krispy Kreme donuts)

"You s bad boy-- you go jail !" -P
"perry did you bite that boys?" - me
"he a bad boy.. I bite him 2 times!" -P

DMB = incredible

This is my brothers girlfriend "kitten" and me at Saturdays Dave Matthews band concert!  I absolutely love Dave and have since middle school. I'm on the corner of obsessed and crazy girl when it comes to him/ my music. Sweet hubs gave me tickets for my birthday in January and I have been looking forward to it ever since. He did NOT dissapoint! Seats were amazing, company wonderful, and nachos perfection! Yes I did rock a Rambo style headband ... On a dare but I think I did it justice! Ha! I have finally learned how to upload picky iPad so I'll be posting more frequently. I'll leave you with one of my favorite DMB songs... And his encore song!

"The space between the tears we cry

Is the laughter that keeps us coming back for more. "

Plain and simple

Life is hard.  Raising little people is difficult.  Some days need a do-over!

Plain AND simple. 

Other days are incredible, impossible to forget, and rewarding beyond measure. Hey moms... This stuff isn't easy, there is NO manual, and we are all in the same smelly-sleep deprived-sticky boat! Some days our boats are sailing beautifully into the sunset and other days we are capsizing and washing upon shore.  My house is a wreck, my car atrocious, and my mind is overwhelmed with daily schedules and logistics. (( We need groceries! ...there are 100 loads of clothes to do!...we are out of diapers!..."don't touch your brother!"...have the dishes been run?... Oh -here is that dirty diaper in the back seat I forgot about 3 days ago! ... I have to run those clothes again because they smell like mildew!!... "please don't touch your brother"....Here is a nutrigrain bar and propel because we are out of all lunch items AND milk...sorry I forgot about cowboy day at school- mom's cowgirl hat from college really looks good on you - I promise...what's for dinner?... "if you touch your brother again I will get the spanking spoon"... No the baby cant have chips!... We need groceries!)) I hope some of these things resonate with you!  It's life... And in between the 426 questions per hour you are answering -while juggling dinner, diapers, baths, and hubby's conveniently, inconvenient phone calls -the most amazing things happen. You overhear your little one tell his brother he is his best friend.... shares a toy without your prompting ... leans over to kiss the boo boo of his best friend... attempts to entertain brothers bc you can't get to them immediately... Bows his head and thanks God for his day and his meals... Rubs your arm while watching cartoons...sings softly with you as you rock him to bed...and  reaches for your hand in public just to know he is safe. Wow- these seemingly unimportant everyday occurrences are tiny moments etched in your hearts and minds forever. And while we are caught up in our day to day chaos these little seconds of the "good stuff" are slowly fading away. Our babies are growing and I'm reminded we are in a season of life. A very difficult but incredibly important season.   These moments when I'm stress to the max and about to loose my mind I have to remember to be patient, kind, and choose my words with love. They will remember my temper, if my words were shrewd or compassionate, and will model it. These tiny sponges are looking to us for guidance. I hope we all will think before we speak, only react with love in our hearts, and show them love as Christ loves us.  Soak up each moment... And vent about the tough ones!! Praise him for the days in the sun and praise him for days in the rain.  When it's a really bad day... Blog about it- we have all been there!

:) Ev 

Life is GOOD

 Here are a couple of recent pictures of the Harless Hams... enjoy!

Say what you need to say...

"Sometimes when I wait too long I have to pee outside link an animal."

"I put boo boo traps all over the house."

"it was before rams came from heaven ... Before he touched earth."

"that plane made an X in the sky for me because it's my world."

"I'll freak out and won't come back until July" 

(if we had another baby)

"abc pipe" (PVC pipe)

"I lost my mind when I saw my presents"

"my mind was blowing up"

"sun will change your life."

"I'm from sweetieville"

York you are 1 hot mess - mom

"no, I not - I'm a masterpiece"-York 

"'my eardrums can't take that"

(Ramsay crying)

"this ice cream is changing my life"

"I have gps in my pants"

(regarding his amazing perception of direction)

"I got this at the freak out toy store... You know when you get the toy you want and you freak out!!!"

"this little piggy went to the market, this little piggy went home, this little piggy went to the bass pro shops" (on sweet Ramsay's piggies)

"look at that dog lasso!" (dog leash)

"that is frustrating"

Perry is talking up a storm as well!!

He calls my brothers girlfriend Kristin.. Kitten (which has stuck)

"hush- mere" (hush come here!)

Coo bean (cool beans)

You Racal (rascal)

Oh tooey (oh fooey)

Tanks wheaty (thx sweetie)

Kunkin pie (pumpkin pie)

Bubba or rork (York)

Bebe (Ramsay)

Doing? (what are you doing?) 

He will repeat most anything and has such a doll face voice! He loves to sing, play guitar, or the drums. He joins me nightly singing twinkle twinkle, daisy, you are my sunshine, and Jesus loves me. I just melt when he sings... Darling boy. 

Ramsay is talking too-- cooing and babbling. 

EXCITING NEWS

As most of you know, Wes is a home builder by trade.  He was a builder when we met and built until we were pregnant with York.  When the market began to decline and money inconsistent we decide to explore other options.  Luckily, Wesley's family needed help in their family business and it was a smooth God made transition.  Although we weren't building full time we decided to keep up his license in hopes that one day he would use it again.  Building is Wesley's passion... it is his first love and his special talent.  I have been throwing around the idea of "flipping" a house since Ramsay was born.  I am always looking for ways to secure our financial future and provide Wes an outlet doing what he loves on the side.  Recently the opportunity has shown itself and after careful thought and much prayer we decide to pursue this dream of mine.  We have closed on a property in the Redmont area with wonderful friends and hope to finish all construction by mid march..  The house is so unique and a wonderful find.  I have begun a blog (www.aberdeendream.blogspot.com) and hope you will follow our progress throughout!!

In other BREAKING news... We have decided to buy some land and BUILD for ourselves!  We did not mean to do these 2 very LARGE projects simultaneously .. it just happened that way.  We are relying heavily on prayer to keep our priorities straight during the next coming months.  I hope to include the boys in every stage of the build and allow them to even "dig" a little of our foundation and swing a hammer or two.  They are so very excited about living in the "country" .. haha!  It is definitely not the country but the wooded lot does give that feel -which I adore!  I can't wait to give our boys the feeling of "freedom" to build tree houses, climb trees, have large area to play, and ride toys like I did growing up.  Here is our "under contract" lot!  I'm sure you will get CRAZY tired of my updates -but hope it will serve as a way to track progress with pictures.

 It has been over a month since I've blogged!  We are a little busy as you can see but promise to jump Back on the blogger bandwagon!  Family update....H1 is doing great -Loving school, moved up to children's church out of nursery (tear), begging to wear flip flops and short sleeves daily, and keeps me in stitches with his one liners! H2 is talking up a storm and I have to add has the most precious voice!  He says "doin" to everyone ... Aka what are you doing? He is feisty, energetic, and is amazed by his older and younger brothers. H3 is cutting teeth, growing big, and killing us with that grin!  He is an absolute gift- sweet, funny, and calm!!! Loving these boys and our daily adventures.