He is Risen!

           Indeed He has Risen!

                 Happy Easter!!

Funnier :)!

No one hardly ever tells me I'm funny. And I mean ever more than hardly.
And I am fine with that. 

Really I promise, I am just fine with that. 

Now I may get chuckles here or there for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or I may get a half laugh from someone because I can be purty ditzy when I get one drink in me (or no drinks, but who's counting), making my hair seem just a tad bit blonder than it already is. But the chuckles that I get are never full out laughs that would at all indicate that I am full of funniness. {But I mean heck my better half is lol funny enough for both of us, so I am more than covered.}

Well, just yesterday my funniness status changed and as annoying as this post may be because I continue to use all forms of the word fun, I just can't help myself from writing it.
So, Let me start at the beginning...

This week I went and got on The Frozen wagon and bought it for the kids via iTunes.  We all now refer to Grace as Elsa, Hopie as Anna, and Prince Hans as Prince poopie pants, of course all per Queen Graces' orders. 

Anywho, so we were watching Frozen and the scene with the character named Oaken came on. Oaken is the big guy with an accent who owns the "Wandering Oaken's Trading Post and Sauna". Well, I started imitating Oaken saying in his accent: "Yoo hoo! Big summer blow out!" Now whenever I try to be goofy or sing at the top of my lungs my kids always say: "Stop Mooooommm." But this time my skills of impersonation just flew out of me as I nailed the character of the goliath Oaken and I got lots and lots of pure belly laughs from all of my kiddos. Of course that meant I milked it for all that it was worth and went on and on and on throughout the rest of the night talking like the big, jolly, rosy cheeked guy. 

I promise there is a punch line in here somewhere....

Well, the next day Isaiah came home from school with a paper he had written where he was required to use all of his spelling words. One of his spelling words was "funnier" and the sentence he wrote using that word was: No one is funnier than my mom.

Yes, you did read that right and in case you missed it he said: No one is funnier than my mom. 

Okay, I know right --- Awesome! The amount of joy and pride that this one sentence written by my 7 year old about me has nothing short of set my heart on cloud 12! Can I get a Yoo hoo! Someone really thinks I'm funny, even if he is only 7 (and a half)  and my own flesh 'n blood.

So that's the story... and let me tell you I am holding onto it for weeks to come :) :).  

This kid thinks I am funny.

6th Birthday, Hot Potato, Awesome Godparents and Mo :)

You know it's bad when I resort to shooting shot glasses of apple cider vinegar. Yeah, I just can't seem to wipe this darn/damn sinus infection. My sights were brightened though today when my Grace said: "Mamma, you will get better by Christmas. I just know it." Thank you my dear Grace, the peace that brings me about the next 9 months is short of no peace, but really your words are sweet.

Anywho-- enough about me and my sinus cavities--- It so must be noted that last week we celebrated a big birthday.  Our Isaac turned 6 years old! 

As the mom, I always want my kids birthdays to be just perfect. I want them to feel super loved, special, and super duper happy on their birth of a day. Matt and I always start the celebration the night before with decorating our breakfast nook with everything that screams: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! For Isaac this year it was Pokemon that spoke to his little heart. And then bright and early on the 22nd Isaac and the rest of our crew started the day of birthday bliss with pancakes and wrapped gifts of Pokemon cards (duh!), red and black Heelys, legos, and little trinkets wrapped by hers-truly-Grace. 

Now to the par-tay... we opted for a simple birthday party with just family and (pheww) it was a big hit! Cousin Chase came up from south Tampa and then my family came for brunch, cake and a slew of games. We pulled out all the classics: hot potato (with a real HOT potatoe), water balloon toss, pin the tail on the donkey, and balloon volleyball. A couple of tears from the kiddos were shed (per usual) due to their competitive little hearts, which I blame completely on Matt's side of the family.... Haha, Just kidding, of course! You know that us Maz's would rather die a slow death than loose at balloon volleyball. But in the end we managade to finagle it to where each kid won at least one game -- Matt and I have become the masters of trying to minimize tears in every situation.

Jaja playing pin the tail on the donkey :). 

Birthday boy pinning it, while sporting his new Heely's. 

The h2o balloon toss *ahem* that my parents dominated in. 

HOT potato. Happiness abounds in this picture... and then the music stopped and someone got out...

Isaac's Pokemon cake that was lovingly made and crafted by Aunt Katrin with the kids at her house the day before while I was home painting my nails (or mopping the floors, same diff), because she spoils me!

After all that Matt took the boys out for a game of bowling and laser tag, via Aunt Emily's and Uncle Michael's awesome Groupon bday gift.

Oh and I must mention that the day pre-birthday, Isaac's Godparents took him out to lunch for some gluten free pizza, which was the creme de la creme for our little 6 year old. And after his cheesy goodness with 2 of his favorite people, Uncle Nate and Aunt Katrin (and cousin Ziggy), he got to pick out his own bday gift -- Pokemon cards, of course!

And the best Godparents of the month award goes to... these 2!

Uncle Nate is awesome for many, many reasons, but one thing that I love most about my brother is that he is always willing to put together toys/furniture/anything that Matt and I don't want to or don't have the patience to figure out, hence Isaac's 360-- the finale gift given by my parents. 

And of course a picture of our little party gal must be included in this birthday post.

Isaac, we love you to the moon and back and pray that you have the best year ever! 

What I Wore Sunday

I was actually inspired by a friend of mine from Naples (who has since moved, so I keep in touch with her life via blogging) who wrote an honest post today about why she posts her outfits on the internet every Sunday. I just love it when bloggers put it all out there for their readers. So, really you should read this, it's great! 

And in lieu of her post I decided to link up with the gals from Fine Linen and Purple and What I Wore Sunday. 

Us Loboda's had a great Sunday. 

I wish I could just stop at the sentence above, but once the final hours of daylight were ticking away and dinner was on the table, each and every child of ours seemed to have a meltdown one. right. after. the. other. Ugggh, exhausting at best, but yada yada life goes on. 

Before the cry fest 2014 hit though, Matt and I each were able to spend one on one time with the boys. Isaiah and I marched off this morning to his first school birthday party where I must admit that watching 7 year olds bowl is far from my definition of fun. Can you say just a tad (or a lot) bit borrringgg. But it was nice to be there with just him and watch the interaction that goes on with his friends from school. And once we got back Matt then escaped with Isaac for some g-free pizza and swimming. 

Because of our adventures during the day, Matt and I split up Mass times and I can't tell you how nice it was to go to Church with just 2 kiddos instead of 4. It's the little things, like not having a active 17 month year old in your lap and then at your feet and then in your lap and then repeat 100 more times, that made Church such a more pleasant experience. Just saying....

Happy Sunday, y'alll!   

Ash Wednesday Mass and My Sweet Isaac

Today we celebrated Ash Wednesday with our big boys (1st and kindergartener) at their all school Mass. I absolutely love going to Mass at their Salestian school where the music and Mass parts are done with much joy and enthusiasm by all of the students. I also love that the boys are allowed and encouraged to sit with us and that my children behave miraculously well when surrounded by their peers (or probably more accurate surrounded by their teachers, whatever works, right?). 

Way back in August Matt and I and the girls made our first appearance at the opening school mass. Upon walking through the doors Isaiah quickly spotted us and with his teachers permission bounded down from the bleachers smiling and waving. Before finding our seats though, I looked and looked for our Isaac. Finally I spotted him with his class where he was sitting contently with all of the other little kindergarteners. I waved to him and motioned for him to come and sit with us, but he barely looked my way. His teacher saw me and went to get him, but she came back and whispered to me: "He didn't want to come." So I quickly blew him a kiss and sat down with my other 3. But, while sitting there my heart was somewhat crushed that he didn't want to sit with us, sit with me! I had to refrain myself from running up the bleachers and giving him a big bear hug. 
My Isaac is a melancholic and shy at his core. I logically knew that it wasn't me or us that he didn't want to sit with, but that it was just WAY out of his comfort zone to be singled out and walk the big walk all in front of his classmates. I knew this in my head, but still my heart ached because I wanted to be close to him! When mass was over I waved to Isaac, trying  my darndest to say through my eyes and smile that I saw him and loved him. 
Well, every mass since then our Isaac has responded in the same way. While Isaiah is running towards the girls and I when we walk through the doors, Isaac smiles but doesn't budge from his seat... well, that is until today... today he sat with us! It may have taken him 8 months to warm up to the idea of walking in front of his class to sit with his mom, dad and siblings, but he did it and all in his own timing. I just love that kid! And my heart was soaring all through Mass to have him so close. 
I pray that you all had a blessed Ash Wednesday and can't wait to hear what you are doing for lent! 

Mass with the Loboda's, nose picking and all. 

Our sweet Isaac. 

Ps. More to come on what our little family is doing for lent and the ways in which I plan on becoming closer to Jesus during this time. I know... the suspense is killing you (smiley face, smiley face). 

A Sunday of Considering the Lilies

While driving to church yesterday morning to the tune of a made up song by the Gracie girl my sweet husband reminded me that today was indeed "my" gospel reading at mass. 

For as long as I can remember Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 6 have always immediately calmed my heart and freed me of worries big and small. During my sophomore year in high school my mom wrote this scripture on the back of my assignment notebook and told me to read it anytime I was anxious or worried, which I did throughout my days and years of school. And though I have read this Scripture over and over again, I still never tire of hearing Jesus' words telling us to not worry, to simple trust and to just consider the lilies.

Knowing that this reading, my reading, was at the heart of the Scriptures today gave me an extra glide in my step and peace in my spirit as I walked into church. And this peace, His peace, lasted all while managing our little minions in the pew throughout mass, which is a true sign that miracles do in fact happen. 

Matt may have a different side to this, but the kids all seemed to want me and only me for the entirety of mass and by God's grace I just went with it. There was no frustration, even in the midst of Hope taking out each and every one of the 100 missals that were somehow jammed into the two little clear holders nailed to the back of the pew in front of us. I was peaceful with no worries, just bein' happy. I held Hope, let Grace lay against me, rubbed Isaac's back when he needed my attention and held Isaiah's hand intermittently throughout. Even when Hope and I made our usual detour to the back of the Church and then to the great outdoors when the temptation to pull every pamphlet off the back table was just too much for her, I was still a jammin' with His peace. 

And at the final blessing, though mentally a bit (okay maybe a lot) tuckered out from the going of one child to the next and trying to make sure all were behaving in church styled appropriateness, I was - you guessed it- still peaceful.   

So, y'all I am praying that God's peace and His words of "Therefore I tell you do not worry about anything..." will guide me and you throughout the rest of this week! 

I'll never let go Grace. Promise. 

Isaac did NOT want to get in the picture with us. Really I don't blame him.

The kids most favorite person in the world.

Cast Free for this Mamma!

Always some sort of news over here to announce, so without further adieu: We are now official nanny-less. *Tears and more tears*. We will miss our Emily dearly, and I mean dearly, but so thankful that she is family and marrying my brother come August, so she is forever bound to us and our little crew (lucky her, haha!).    As always God's timing is perfect for me to be on my own again, for one we done run out of money and two I just had my 6 week doctors appointment and I have been cleared to go cast-less for the rest of my days. 

A picture for the books of my gnarly titanium plate and screws.  It can't be healthy to have metal like this in your body, just saying.

This is my happy face in the doctors office upon hearing the good news. Just in case you are wondering, I waited until the doc left the room to take this selfie. 

The other night at dinner my dad told me that I should blog about a certain topic, so with all due respect to my big papa I think I shall. Ps, I didn't even know that my dad knew that I had a blog, so I was happily surprised that he thought I had some sort of "voice" that was worth listening to (or should I be honest and say a voice worth scanning through for pictures :).    So, by my dad's demand I am here to inform all of you lovely readers that if you are in an accident and have to go to el hospital due to injuries don't and I repeat DON'T sign any papers without really knowing what you are signing. Some might say: duh, Kristin, you should never sign anything without knowing what it really says. But when you are in a bad car accident for the first time, multiplied by the most intense pain of your life, time-zzzed by desperately wanting to get a hold of any pain medicine, and polished off by blinding tears streaming down ones face listening to the hospital staff half explain (or really not explain at all) what each paper said seemed to be the only golden ticket to getting out of the hallway and into a hospital bed where a doctor could help me. 
Well in my vulnerable state, I now come to find out that I signed away my PIP without even being informed that I had a PIP or that I was signing it away to the hospital.    What is a PIP, you ask? It is this handy little thing called personal insurance protection. This protection gives you a certain amount of money (money that you earned and give to the insurance company every single month) that is set aside to help you pay for your needs that may occur with an injury. For me those needs included HEEEELLLLPP with my 4 young kids, one who I might add is still nursing. I could not cook, clean, pick up my baby from her crib, change a diaper, push a stroller, drive a car -- heck I could barely shower without help. So we really, really needed that PIP money to pay our dear nanny who did everything for me and the kids until Matt got home from work.    But, yep you guessed it, I signed that puppy away somehow without even being told that that was what I was doing. Not only did I sign it away, but the hospital then took it for themselves, even though we have insurance and my bills WILL indeed be paid.  Anyways, what I am trying to say is don't sign your PIP away even in the midst of intense pain and no real knowledge of what the heck is even going on around you. Hire a lawyer straight off the bat, so that they can do your bidding.   Enough said.  Dad, I hope I did you proud.    And now that my blue cast is off hopefully I will be pounding these keys a little more regularly.