we'll always remember you

wow.  just wow.

we've had a long past few days here at the house of M.  on friday we started building this.

i'm sure i'll post more on that later (we're still not finished).  right now, quite honestly, i'm just tuckered out.  we worked on it friday, saturday, and sunday.  that means different family members in and out of the house, here to help. 

it's spring break.  today i played host to not only my 3 kiddos but also my neighbor's grandson and our 2 buddies from down the street.  at 2:30 this afternoon i realized i was wiped out.  having not slept much since the time change, building a clubhouse, and taking care of a group of kiddos had worn. me. out.  by 3:00 i was fortunate to find myself with only my 3 kids.

i should probably also mention here that this sweet, little, precious, oh-so adorable punkin' here....

...is the main reason for my sheer exhaustion. (and irritability. grr.)  not sure what's going on with her, teeth? ears? time change? whatever it is she's not sleeping. not eating well.  and not leaving her momma's hip.  {long, dramatic, exhausted sigh}

{did i mention that my bestie also came to visit??  no pictures.  meant to do that.  grrr.  rj, i miss you already!  NY is too far away!}

the boys leave tomorrow to go camping with my parents.  that means the next couple of days it'll just be Doh Doh and me.  girl time.  seriously.  i'm hoping it also means long naps and much productivity in my house.

once it gets pretty outside (and right now it's just downright gorgeous!) nothing -- and i do mean nothing -- gets done on the inside of my house.

so with all that's been going on around here lately, and with the impending camping trip tomorrow, the boys get to have a slumber party with momma tonight.  good times.  all clean, fresh out of the tub, and smelling good, we climbed under the crisp white sheets and snuggled in. 

this is my favorite part of slumber parties.

after everyone got settled, the sugars started and all the "i love you's."  Bruiser looked into my eyes and told me he loved me.  i responded the same.  then he said, "i love you so much."  my heart melted. 

Bubba started his usual spiel, "i love you way up to the moon and back. down, down, down to the stars.  way, way up to the moon.  down, down, down to the stars." 

ever a competition between the two, they kept trying to outdo each other.  and that's when Bubba said it.

"we'll always remember you, momma."

odd.  kinda creepy.  very sweet.

Bubba has a way of combining all 3 into obscure sweetness.

and i found myself asking the Lord for more time with my children.  at this age they'd barely remember me.  if they even did.  morbid thoughts? probably so.  but i'd say typical for us mommas.

and i'm thankful.  thankful to my God for my life.  for my children.  for all that we have.  blessed beyond belief.  (and thankful for dark chocolate.  and caffeine.  yep, definitely for caffeine.)

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for m'mm m'mm mondays, i'm sharing Cowboy Guspetti.  this used to be one of Bubba's faves, hence the name, but he's not a big fan anymore.  but my man certainly still is.  it's kinda like a jazzed up chili mac recipe.  so after a long day of clubhouse building, i made this saturday night.  and while i was doing ok taking pictures while cooking, i completely forgot the finished product.  {sigh} 

enjoy the recipe anyway.  i promise it'll please your hungry crowd.