The Holiday Hairdo

This Christmas my generous parents gave all of us siblings and our spouses a night out together-- which equaled an amazing five star dinner, a Christmas broadway show and fully paid babysitters as the icing on the cake. 
So... on our night out I decided to glam it up a bit from my regular fancy of black dress and necklace. 
Well.. wait a second I did indeed wear a black dress and necklace, but I did change up my hair from the usual messy, thrown-up bun to some crimped magic. 

I used this bad boy made by Hot Shot Tools to make it all happen. (I definitely did not pay the 50 bucks that is listed in the link, more like 20 from some shop in Naples, anyways...)
It's pretty self explanatory, but for those like myself that like instructions just in case, here they are:  You start at the root (careful not to burn your scalp) and just hold the Waver for 10 seconds, release to the next section on that same strand and continue to the end. Then grab the next strand and repeat, over and over again. It is tiring and boring, but the results are worth it.
So here are the pics to show how you too can have this do. 

When I was finally done in the bathroom with my waver I asked Matt what he thought of my hair. He said: "Looks good, but was it really worth it to make us LATE?" 

Yes, my love, so worth it to break free from mom hair just for a night. 

With my sister Mags, who can pull off any outfit anytime. 

All the girls all dressed up. 

It only took 15 takes to get the perfect selfie. 

I know this picture is just plain weird, but I had to show that 24 hours later I still had a little wave going on. 

So there you have it ladies, if you are looking for something new (and something kinda 80's), I give this Deep Waver 2 thumbs up!

Fa La La La

1. I spent the last week trying to get our Christmas card done.
Every dia I tried and every dia I failed.
I even went to Walmart with both the girls in tow while the boys were at school thinking I could create one reeeeaal real quick. "No way," a crying Grace and a clinging Hope screamed! So last night as I was driving around doing last minute Christmas errands, I resolved myself to NO Boda Christmas card with the faces of my children on it this year.
Well... then at 1 in the morning when I was wrapping up my happenings from store to store, I got a second wind and veered into Walgreens determined to create a Happy Birthday Jesus card. And BAM! I did it.

Awwwe, success. It feels so good.   

2. With that exciting news aside (ha!) it must be said that two of our favorite people are in town for Christmas!

Father Zyg is back from Rome, which means that we get to have Mass in our home with our favorite priest. Quite the Christmas present and just what the doctor ordered for me to truly focus on the true meaning of the season and not succumb to my crazy ways (see #1) of holiday business. 

3. Also, Aunt Mag is home! 

Grace is in Maggie heaven, per this heavenly picture. 

4. Instagram has been capturing some fun happenings for me and my littles. 

Grace insisted on wearing this shirt today (eye roll). In the period of a 5 minute spam she said: "Happy Halloween, Santa." And then: "Baby Jesus likes to trick or treat."She then asked me to take a picture with her Christmas shirt by the tree. Obviously, I am doing a stellar job with kids this advent season.

5.

All the guys went out on a kayak trip for the afternoon. As the girls and I watched them paddle in, I saw that Isaiah was riding in his very own kayak. It was a proud moment for this momma!

6. I captured some pictures of the girls the other day on their favorite rock in da whole wide world. 

Overload of pictures? Probably, but I just couldn't make up my mind which one I like the best.

Ta ta and Fa la la for now.

Fun Times

Trying to get a Christmas card picture this afternoon was oh-so fun. 

Maybe I will try again tomorrow or next year.
Merry Christmas for now!

Sunday- Not So Best

If you make it through to the end of this post, God bless ya, because this is the longest Mass recap that I have ever done...
We in Team Boda land have been on a roll for weeks with good behavior in Church. Each Sunday we have been boppin' to this good, consistent beat of starting Mass in the pew as one big happy family. Hope snuggles/plays with me while I hold her in the sling, Grace is touching my person in some shape or form, and the boys sit nicely next to Matt. This rhythm lasts for the first half of Mass. 
Then at precisely the half way mark of the priest's homily, Hope reaches her max time in the multicolor sling and starts yelping to be released from the cloth. I release her and she lasts about 2 minutes in the pew before she has officially gotten the attention of every person in a 3 pew radius. So, da Hope girl and I whisk to the back of the church (which honestly is just fine by me, because by this time I am in need of a break from the Gracie girl, who has given me zero personal space since stepping through the Church doors). 
At the back of the Church Hope proceeds to wreck all of the "Help Feed the Poor" pamphlets that are neatly stacked on the shelves and by the 100th time of this wrecking, I then sequester her to the greater outdoors.  Due to no cry room, we then spend most of the Eucharistic prayers behind the veil of the wooden doors with the sun beaming down on my free and toddling babe. Even though I am outside during this most Holy time, God gives me the grace to still enter into the beautiful happenings going on inside. 
When I hear the drumming of the communion hymn behind the wood we then sneak back inside to join the rest of our little family, where Grace's "mom radar" immediately goes off and she again attaches herself to my hip as we walk up to receive Jesus. After Communion we all file back into our pew where I pray that Hope contains her singing voice to a reasonable volume, so that we don't have to tap shoulders and squish our way out before the final song. And most of the time we make it!     Well, today our nice lil' beat we had a goin' went straight to the crapper and I almost wound up in the crazy bin. Upon arriving just on time and sliding into our pew, Hope decided to stay in the sling for a mere 2.2 seconds before she literally flipped her way out while singing the freedom reigns song at the top of her baby lungs. At the same time Grace connected herself to me, per usual, and for some ungodly reason kept pushing my dress up and then up again, showing off my spanks to the pews behind us-- which really was just SO not cool. 
Somewhat frustrated now with only 2 minutes into Mass (but trying to keep my mommy smile on), I quickly handed Hope to Matt, instructing him to take her to the back while I handled the rest of the brood alone. Matt left and Grace sat on my lap, wrapping her entire little body completely around me in a hug. Not so bad, I thought, I could certainly handle hugs from my 3 year old throughout the rest of mass. But then the pulling of my dress up and down started happening again. By the tenth time of me scolding Grace and growling at her to NOT touch my dress, I seriously thought I was going to loose my marbles. 
Homily time rolled around and I was done with my 3 year old little chica and took her to Matt, who was in the great outdoors with da Hopie girl listening to a Homily on his iphone by Mr. Scott Hahn. Wait a second, I thought to myself, is that legal to be listening to an iphone while Mass is going on? But, I guess a man has to do what a man has to do with no cry room and no way of hearing anything our dear priest has to say. 
Deep breath by me and back in the Church I go, free of my 1 and 3 year old to sit with my big boys.
Two seconds of peace go by and then Isaac hops on my lap, hiking up my now hated dress that I will NEVER wear to Mass again. Kneeling time comes and Isaac starts messing with my sling and banging the metal rings (loudly) on the pew. After the 3rd time of me glaring at him to stop, he finally does. Seconds later I look over and he is biting and licking the pew as he kneels. Why he thought that would be fun or okay is beyond me, so I whispered: "Really, dude?? That's disgusting and weird and you'd better stop it." He smiled, knowing it indeed was disgusting and weird. 
Then time for communion where Grace comes clomping back into the pew with her fairy, sparkly, pink high heals on. She again attaches herself to me, but I hold my dress down hoping to eliminate scaring the innocent praying people behind us from a not so wanted show. Hope then sees me and literally jumps into my arms, smiling ear to ear.
The kids led the way back from communion where they marched into the wrong pew. Holding up the communion line, they laugh their way laugh back out to the right pew. 
I whisper to Matt, as Hope starts singing the communion hymn (seriously, she loves to sing) that I have had all that I can take for one Holy Mass and that we must leave NOW. He dutifully agrees and we head to the van. 

And like the good and loving mom that I am, I tell the kids: "Isaiah was absolutely perfect during Mass singing and praying to Jesus, so he gets a treat. But Grace and Isaac, you both were berry, berry, VERY bad and get NOTHING." The faucet of tears begins by my 2 hoodlums, which somehow gives me a twinge of satisfaction. Like I said, I am a good and loving mom. 
I hope all of your Sunday Church services went slightly better than mine. I probably should have hit up another Mass for some much needed prayer while Hope went down for a nap, but instead I opted for a nice hour nap while my awesome parents graciously watched the 3 bigger kids and Matt hit the cigar bar for the Browns game. 
PS. My mom just hinted ever so nicely the other night, in not so many words, that maybe I should think about putting some more quality posts out there about things that really matter.  Maybe that will be my New Years resolution. Maybe...

Worst picture ever taken, but had to show the now hated dress that shall never be worn again to Mass.

A somewhat redeeming lunch after Mass. 

Grace has been waiting 3 weeks to light the pink candle on our Advent wreath. 

Preparing the way... trying, that is

Happy Advent friends! 
This really is my most favorite time of the year. The lights, the trees, the songs, the joy, the anticipation, oh my! Wait and did I mention preparing for the celebration of the King of Kings birth?? This preparing is what it is all about and how often do I fill my mind with the other "stuff" (though good and fun and part of the Christmas season) to the point of putting baby Jesus on the back porch? A.LOT. 
So, what am I doing this year to focus on that Jesus truly is the reason for the season... read on...
1. Santa

My favorite Santa. A bag of M&M's to all who can tell me who is behind the white beard? 
First, I must say that we do include Santa in our Christmas/Advent happenings. One of my best friends Ann sent me this article and I loved it. You must read... it says everything that I have thought of about Santa and more...
2. Gifts  I stress and stress some more about gift giving. I am not and have never been a good gift giver. I think and think and think some more about the perfect gift and then after finding it, I question and question some more whether the person will really like. It is so annoying. I completely annoy myself with my antics. And as far as my kids, I think and think the entire month of December about what I/santa will get them for Christmas. I just don't want them to be disappointed. I want them to wake up and have a magical experience. So I think, and look, and shop... 
Sooooh, my goals for this year... ~~ Try not to stress. ~~ Give myself a time limit to shop. ~~ Buy only 3 gifts for each child (and stocking stuffers :). Why 3? Because as my friend told me: Jesus only got three gifts on his birthday, so why would we get anymore than that. Brilliant I tell ya! 
*Side note: I am actually done buying gifts for the kids, minus a few stocking stuffers! I am Hallelujah-ing it all around my Christmas tree that this is done! 
3. Prayer  I am going to make prayer, like sit down talk with Jesus prayer, a part of my daily routine. There will be no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Also, I am going to confession next Friday, because this soul of mine is longing for it.  4. Advent Wreath 

I am a huge fan of advent wreaths where the kids get to open a box everyday. We have a couple going over here so that each of my kiddos gets to open something, thus trying to prevent tears and tantrums. I haven't done a Jesse tree yet, but I am hoping that next year I will venture onto it as a new tradition. Granted I say that every year (in regards to the Jesse Tree), but for sure next year *wink, wink*.

5. Advent Candle Wreath 

We also have an Advent candle wreath, which we light during dinner before we say grace. The kids absolutely love this! In years pasts we have had some close calls with small fires, but nothing to worry about this year, mamma is all over it! 
6. Nativity Scenes I always have the Little People Nativity set available for play during the year, but during Christmas time I bring out lots of nativity sets for the kids to play with at will. Grace is my avid nativity set player. She can't get enough of baby Jesus and Mudder Mary. 

These two were playing so sweetly until they started fighting over baby Jesus. 
7. Happy Birthday Jesus Cake  On Christmas day we always have a Happy Birthday Jesus cake for dessert where we actually sing Happy Birthday to Him. This helps to make it more "real" for the kids that it is really is Jesus' birthday. 
8. Homemade Gifts from the kids  I always have the kids make their own gifts for each other, Aunts and Uncles, and Grandparents. This can be a lot, and I mean A LOT, of work for me, but it is always worth it. I think my mom and siblings might be a little tired of homemade Christmas ornaments and picture frames, but hey this gal (me) only has so much craftiness to her. Any suggestions are TOTALLY welcome and appreciated. 
As I am writing this all out, it doesn't seem like much that we are actually doing, but for our family full of little ones it is just enough. 
PS. I have been trying to get this post up for what seems like days now. My Mac is on the verge of total malfunction-- the screen is cracked, the mouse only works when pressed ten times, and I am missing a few keys. New Mac on the horizon, not a chance.  I'm going to type this thing into the ground...

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving was here and now gone... time seems to be just a ticking away at the year 2013.

We had a great and happy Thanksgiving day full of the 3 F's: Food, Fun, and Familia. We started out the day with a competitive game of kickball, where of course I dominated over our 1-7 year old children. They just couldn't stop my lead foot resulting in multiple home runs. I tried not to gloat. Ha!

All kidding aside, I do love kickball and la, la, love that my kids are at an age where we can play some resemblence of organized sports together. I took 2 not-so-stellar pictures to remember the game by. 

After our 2 hour work with the kiddos my mom and us gals cooked up a gluten free feast, which was nothing short of awesomeness. (My pooched belly did complain later, but just a lil' bit.)  

Though I spent half the dinner nursing and walking around with Hope, it really was the best to have our family all around one table giving thanks for our many, many blessings.

I am especially thankful for my 4 little people, who I love so much. 

We are all thankful for this little babe. 

The kiddos were beyond thankful to have Aunt Maggie home, and per usual all 4 love waking sleeping beauty from her slumber.

Especially Grace who would not leave her side.

Thankful for 8 years of marriage to this hunk. 

Thankful for my mom who lets me come to her house and eat her food every.single.day with all my kids.

Thankful for little girls who insist on putting on their own shoes. 

Thankful for pink leg warmers.

Thankful for sisters

And brothers + cousin Ziggy

... and cousins who live down the street from us.

Thankful for a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle Tommy's and Aunt Jess's. 

Not so thankful for my monkey in the middle and my Isaiah breaking his collar bone. 

Thankful for our trooper at the emergency room. 

Thankful for Advent beginning. 

7 Click, click, Click Its

Linking with Jen at Conversion Diaries for some happy clicking!
1. If you haven't noticed, which I am most certain that you haven't, I am a bloggin' away over here. Three posts in 2 days, you would think I sit around eating bonbons all day! But I just couldn't let you miss out on some of my recent favorite blog posts. 

2. Before I get to some Click Its I wanted to share a super duper big ol' hurdle that we have crossed in the area of Gracie girls hair. So, for awhile now I have been complaining on good ol' instagram (love me some Instagram, slightly addicted) how Grace does not let me do her hair let alone brush it without a huge cry fest. Well, the other night I had an idea. I braided my hair in two pigtails and asked Grace if she would let me do her hair just like me. She was thrilled and totally went with it! Now for the last 4 days in a row she has let me braid her hair each and every morning. All I can say my friends is that miracles do indeed happen!

3. Okay, now for some clicking... One of my bestest friends, who I mentioned here, is now a guest blogger at this super cool blog called Tales of a Mountain Momma. I mean it when I say that you don't want to miss Ann's post! Ann is so the real deal as a Mom. She has 3 beautiful kiddos ages three and under and always keeps them busy and active. Her ideas in this post are simple, fun, and guaranteed to get your kids outside. Go forth and read and rest assure that I will be updating you whenever she posts.   4. Okay, so you have heard me talk about her before, but I just can't help myself. Grace at Camp Patton has the cutest announcement in the form of a video. If you want to smile big and I mean real big watch it!
5. Okay, so if you follow da blog world at all you are probably super familiar with the blog In Honor of Design. But for those that have never visited her site, it is an AB-solute MUST. I have to warn you though that at first you might be super jealous (or at least I was), because she is like way beautiful, has amazing fashion style and each picture on her blog is better than the next. But the more you read, the more you get to know how authentic and real Anna is. Her posts never disappoint and always uplift, go visit. 
6. This week I loved this post from String of Pearls. For all of us moms with young kids, it is a good reminder to really remember that truly "these are the days".
7. One of the first blogs that I ever started to read is call Bean In Love. Sheena is the best DIY blogger. I mean if I ever did anything crafty, I would want to do everything that she does. Her posts are always interesting. I mean take a look at this one and how she dressed her twin girls for Halloween. Since I barely ever (and I should probably say never) do any DIY projects when I read her blog it kinda gives me the feeling that I have, weird, but true. 
Happy Clicking!