Closing up shop

Over the past year, we've had some big changes. I started Fresh GraNOLA, we faced an unexpected pregnancy, our kids started school, we welcomed our third and final child into our family, Luis graduated college, and I was awarded a fantastic promotion at my job. My life is extremely busy these days. I started to feel stressed and anxious about things, and it was likely because I was taking on too much. I realized that something had to give. Since giving up my children or my full time job are not options, I had to let go of Fresh GraNOLA. I had my shop on vacation for a little over a month due to some home re-vamping (moving our office and giving Kadence a big girl room), and when I opened it back up I realized it was too much for me. I immediately received orders, which I was incredibly thankful for, but it also left me frustrated, scrambling to find time to fill them, wondering if I had enough supplies- its just too much for me right now.

I'm so sad over this decision. I loved creating a product that other people enjoyed. I thrived on the connections I've made through selling this laundry powder. I'm proud of myself for taking on a small business endeavor and it being successful enough to last over a year. I want to continue with it, but I can't- not unless someone out there wants to volunteer their time to order supplies and fill orders for me. :) In case anyone is interested, I will still be blogging about my family and our journey to hippietown. I can do this. I have to do this. I need something for myself. Plus, I can do this on my lunch break!

To my customers, a huge THANK YOU for all your support. I hope to one day open my shop again, but for now, I have to close the doors to Fresh GraNOLA.

A letter to my son on his birthday

Dear Gavin,

I can't believe you are TWO today. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. You bring so much to our family. You are the life of the party...a leader in your own right. You look up to your sister so much, but you don't let her run you (try as she may). You get excited over the smallest things, and just make "normal" days so much more fun. Your teachers love having you in their class. They always tell me how good you are and how excited you get when you learn something new. One teacher, Ms. Tammy (Mammy) said when she was teaching you guys your shapes, you wave your hands in the air and scream CIRCLE!!!!!, which got your whole class doing it. You are so much fun to be around, Gavin. You are also one of the most loving kids. You hug and kiss me regularly, and tell me, "I wuv you too, Mommy".

You are so smart. You can count, recognize letters and numbers; you play pretend- you are the blue power ranger (and we are all various power rangers I'm the yellow power ranger according to you). You are so silly when you play pretend, you get all of us involved. I love the words you use that are sort of wrong, but so cute. For instance, when you get "trapped" under the laundry basket,  you yell, "I'm trappin'!!", and when you want to say, "It's dark in here", you say, "It's darken". You pick up things so fast. In fact, you potty trained yourself over the last few weeks...you showed interest, so we took your diaper off, and that was that. No more diapers. Wow.

You are also AMAZING with technology and "working". You can complete puzzles and memory games on our phones in seconds. It freaks me out. You also get anything that resembles a tool and you say "I workin'". One day recently, you were "workin" on the fireplace, and you actually got a screw out! You're amazing, little man.

And the cute! I can't get over how gorgeous you are. Your big blue eyes and long eyelashes, your sweet smile and dark skin! You are one of the cutest little boys I've ever seen, and that's not just because I love you!

Gavin, you bring so much joy and love to our family. We are so glad you are a part of it. I can't wait to celebrate your birthday at your Star Wars party. You are my favorite middle child!!

Love Always,
Mom

Guest Posting!

I feel like a huge dork because I'm ridiculously excited to be guest posting on another blog. Go check out my post on little girl's self image over at House of Burks, an awesome blog about my e-friend's life with her family of boys! :)

Beautiful, inside and out

Go The F to Sleep

I got this topic idea from Melissa over at Growing Up Geeky, for Toddle Along Tuesday. Should be fun to look back on one day.

Ah, bedtime. I remember when we only had Kadence, Luis and I would practically argue over who would get to rock her to sleep. She slept most, if not all night from an early age. It was glorious. These days, with 3 of them, bedtime looks something like this:

This begins about 8:30, and ends about 10:00pm.

After about 30 minutes of rocking, Dylan is out...I put him down...shit, did Gavin just wake him up? No, he's good. We start to wrangle the toddlers, and get them settled down.
"Kadence, put on your nightgown."
"But I don't WANT that one!"
"Fine, just pick one."
"Do you have to peepee?"
"No."
 The kids settle down into K's bed to watch TV. "STOP FIGHTING!"
"We're just PLAYING!" (famous last words)
::cries::
"What happened?"
One toddler hurt the other toddler.
"I told you to stop fighting!!"
Kadence: "I have to PEE PEE!!"
"Luis, can you get their tooth brushes please?"
Epic battle to get Gavin's teeth brushed. Kadence complies, but wants to do it all by herself. Not yet, kid. Not yet.
"What do you want to watch?"
"Diego, Dragon Tales, Dora, no.... not that, Busytown, no not Phineas and Ferb.... Power Rangers!"
"Phineas and Ferb it is."
Gavin and Luis then lay in his "Star Wars" bed and play iphone games until the battery dies (or at least until Luis shuts it off and tells Gavin the battery is dead). It's quiet in there- did Luis fall asleep too? Yes.
Kadence has me tell her stories, usually her birth story. Then she tosses and turns and eventually passes out. Most often, I pass out too.
::hysterical crying::
Fuuuuuuuuuuuck. The baby's up.

That about sums it up.