InstaMonday..Tuesday...Wednesday

Where do the days go?  It's Monday again after 2:00 and I just walked in the door.  Been running around doing random things and just now cleaning up the breakfast dishes.  NO JOKE.  It is beautiful outside and I need to get out and finish planting my flowers on the deck.  The boys all have activities tonight.  I really should be doing a load of laundry too....

Quick InstaDump off of my Instagram Pictures on my phone...the quickest way to catch you all up on life here.

Random thing for you to hear...I read an article the other day on instagram pictures, and for those of you (Mom) who don't know Instagram is an app on my phone where I take and post pictures from my phone, they are random pics as you can tell.  It was talking about the benefits of Instagram.  For instance I have pictures of Max in his car seat on the way to church....in a football helmet, boys at Dr appointments.  Not a moment I would have taken my big camera out for a snapshot but with my phone it's easy.  I feel like I am capturing little moments that I would never capture if it weren't for Instagram.

The past week of Instagram (aka iPhone) pictures... (and just realized it's MORE than a weeks worth...more like a random splattering of the past 3 weeks minus our Kansas City trip) and they are in NO organized order...

So with no further ado...

***so I tried to get this done in the afternoon, didn't happen.  Tried again last night.  Ran out of time.  It is now Tuesday morning...Tommy just called from school and says his tire is flat.  Sigh...another day in the life of a Mom right?  NOW I will try to get the pictures up.

**Tuesday night, after baseball games.  Trying again to get blogger to cooperate with pictures.

**okay now it is Wednesday afternoon, I am just sitting down.  WHY is this computer NOT cooperating this week.  I have been running all day from ortho, to haircuts, to other random errands...to now home, laundry going and Max asleep.  Jack will be home within the next 10 minutes.

 One of my favorite things about spring, and our porch.  We always have birds nests.  I LOVE watching them.  This year we have 3.  2 of them still have eggs as the Mama's haven't left sitting for almost 3 days.  1 has babies that she and Dad are busy feeding daily.

 Sweet boy, so mad about something.  He is even cute in a time out.

Friends over last Wednesday, took a peak at the playroom and they had done a terrific job, mainly Max, of trashing the place. 

 On Thursdays people put up "throw back Thursday" pictures, I posted this one of Tommy and his best friend in preschool Maddie.  We are are now twitter and Instagram "friends" as are she and Tommy...it's fun to be in touch with her again.  Sweet girl.

No comment needed

Yes last Thursday and Friday it snowed here, a lot of snow...especially for MAY.  I am a Minnesota girl and I love snow but I am DONE

Max LOVES when his brothers come home.  Drew just home from track and baseball.  Track ended on Monday this week...I hate to say this...but I am SO glad to be able to cross off one activity off of the calendar

Proof of snow....and happy birds to have something to eat since they can't get to the worms

Watched a friends kiddos on Friday morning...fun to have pink and pig tails around.  Note playroom STILL trashed...

Looking back through old pictures...found this.  Tommy and Drew about ages 3 and 5

And it was Kentucky Derby week and found this from when we went to the Derby in 2002....with Jack in my tummy.  I still have that dress.  Why?  Haven't worn it since.  Time to part with it.  Anyone want a size 10 lite blue linen dress?

Saturday was Blakely's 2nd birthday (Miss Emily and Ross' baby girl)....we were all at the party for a portion of it...Tommy had to leave early for basketball.  Sigh we love her...told her she can pick from any of the 4 boys to marry.  Tommy and Drew...thought that was weird

Teaching Sunday School on Sunday "Katie" came in to visit, she is in the Special Needs Sunday School class for adults...we teach the children's version.  She posed for MANY photos.  She is a HUGE Hello Kitty fan so we love to talk about that.

Mom sent me this...they spent Sunday with Ariana, her birthday.  Sigh where have the years gone?  Beautiful young lady.

Sunday was also the dance recital at "Dance with No Limits" for my friend Amara, I was honored to be at her recital.

Post recital smiles

Ouch...Max hit me HARD with his head on Sunday night while laying with him at bedtime.  Swollen nasty bruise to prove it.  Motherhood is not for the weak.

Planted flowers with this very sweet boy on Sunday

Some funnies...from the past couple of weeks.

This is from a couple of weeks ago, movie night with our 2 bigs....went to see "HomeRun" great movie.  We loved it.

Drew after his Dermatology appt on Monday, stop for Krispy Kreme

Yep this is a normal laundry pile for me after 2 days

Loved this...

My Friend Julie had a "throw back thursday wedding edition" on Instagram.  I joined in not only with a pic of us, skinny me, but one of my parents who will celebrate 50 years this summer.

Matching brothers...Max is always SO proud to match one of his brothers.  So cute

This never EVER gets old to me.

We moved the "cabin" before the snow of course...he LOVES it.  WE had it on the deck last year.

Folding laundry while watching Happy Days...oh how I love the Hallmark Channel

My friend Terra brought this when I watched her kiddos...Now that was a wonderful treat.  DARK chocolate.  Dove Dark Chocolate.  Yum

Sunday morning at church my friend Rachel pointed out my bandaid.  Yep couldn't find any others and forgot I had it on.  Spider Man #boymom

I cannot believe it's now Wednesday afternoon and I am JUST getting this posted...sigh May has a way of stressing me out.  And I have read 2 amazing articles this week on NOT being stressed...I need to figure out how to better apply them.  Thankful for God's grace....

Tree House Parks, Iowa Cubs, Conference Champs and Long Track Meets

Yesterday Max went to a new park with my friend Ruth, he goes to her house most Mondays with his buddy Leo, yesterday Colton was there too.  She took him to a park he called the "Tree House Park", they played and had a picnic, he had a great time.  She sent me these pictures from there.

Last night Jack's Little League team had the opportunity to be the Iowa Cubs Anthem Buddies.  This is where the team gets to go on the field by the players for the National Anthem...pretty cool when you are 10 years old.  Here are a couple of pictures from the night.  One of the Mom's took them and sent them to us, Scott is coaching Jack's team and was there with him.

Max and I were at a track meet for Drew.  My first track meet ever...it was beautiful weather but WAY longer than I expected.  I had not planned on staying, we thought he would run by 5:30 so we could head down to Jack's Anthem buddies...so I was not prepared with stuff to entertain Max.   We got there at 4:00 and Drew didn't run at the expected 5:30...not until 7:34.  But it was fun to see him anchor a relay....he is not a fan of the track meets but LOVES the track practices and work outs.

In the meantime Tommy missed a day of school for the Varsity Golf Conference meet...and Des Moines Christian took home the win.  So that was exciting for him....my friend sent me these pictures.  Tommy has been loving golf and has been having a great season.  There are 3 freshman on Varsity, and the upper class-men are such great kids and good family friends.  BONUS.  They have so much fun together.

So it was a full day for the Shislers...so many fun things happening.

Surprise Ride

Saturday morning I woke Scott up at 6:00 am and told him to get dressed...we were headed out on a Surprise RIDE.  Surprise Rides are something we have done for YEARS with the boys, throw them in the car and we head out without them knowing where we are going.  Well I decided that Scott deserved a Surprise Ride.  He has been so EXTRA helpful and patient since my surgery, and I planned a little quick get away.

I woke up Jack and Drew and told them we were leaving and that there were instructions on the counter as to the plan for the day.  NO one knew anything.  Tommy and Max were still asleep when we left.

Our first stop was...

Bob Evans for breakfast...his very favorite.  They are based out of Ohio.  

The one we ate at was north of Kansas City about 20 minutes.

 Then to the Plaza in Kansas City, where it was chilly and 

sprinkling but beautiful to see tulips everywhere.

 (so this part of the day may have been a little bit for me)

Patiently waiting on the sofa in my favorite Anthropologie Store while I looked around...

Burgers and Milk Shakes at one of his favorites...Winsteads by the Plaza.  

Back to the hotel to check in, I took a little cat nap.  He worked on his computer, should have left that at home hmmm....but I knew he would NOT want to be away from it.

Then onto the highlight of HIS trip and day.  Watching the Cleveland Indians play the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

 One of my favorite things about Scott is his passion for his teams...and his ease at talking with strangers.  This gentleman sat in front of us and was 75 years old, there with his 2 grown sons and a lifelong Indians fan, they talked off and on all game about the Indians.  It was fun to watch them.  

 Here we are...cold and chilly...Scott banged his head last week on the nightstand in his sleep, poor guy wounded.  Thankfully they allowed blankets in the stadium so I could be bundled. 

 We both got a new pair of shoes at the North Face store...here they are with all of our peanuts.  What's a baseball game without hot dogs (or brats) and peanuts?

 What a fun night, and Mom I didn't even ask to leave early.  Scott was proud!

I love this man...it was fun to surprise him and give him a special day.  We spent the night in a hotel, met good friends of ours (the Haltermans) for brunch in the morning and headed back home.  

The boys had fun with some church friends...the daughter is a Junior in High School and their son a freshman in college.  Between the two of them....they did a terrific job caring for our boys.  The boys LOVED having them there and I don't think we were missed much at all.

The funniest part...when we got home we were in the car together all of us, headed to a friends for a dinner...and Jack says "So what did you do on your trip?  Make out?"  Tommy and Drew about threw up in the car with their moans and groans over that comment...Jack laughed and laughed. I high fived him and laughed almost as hard as Scott.  Classic Jack.  

It matters who you marry....I feel blessed.

Watch Out Boys!

This Mama is tired of boys who leave shoes, socks, trash, legos, hats, sweatshirts, toys, markers, crayons, ipads, iPods and any other RANDOM things ALL over the house.  

The Things Max Says...

-"Do Momma's poop? I know that Robot's don't."

-"Daddy if you need a cough drop just call Max, M-A-X and I will come and open one for you."

-"Are my brudders at stool?"  (school)

-"Where my brudders?  Where they are?" (at the dinner table if someone is not home)

And last but not least I will leave you with this video I shot of him last week.  He found one of the NCAA brackets and was asking Scott which teams he wants...so so funny.

The Stuff that Matters

I am overwhelmed today by the laundry pile...my messy closet (have YET to outgrow my stash and pile of clothes on the floor...sorry Mom)...just the schedule we have this week...car in the shop for new brake pads...had to get a shuttle back to school and then get the truck there from Tommy.  (grateful for that extra car today as Scott is out of town)

And then this note just came from Drew's track coach...

Just letting you know I really appreciate the effort Drew is putting in.  He works hard and is very, very polite and respectful.  When I have him in the weight room, he works hard there too.  Those are good qualities in a young man.  God will use that. 
Chris Zepp

THIS is the stuff that matters.  God stuff.  What God will use in ALL of our lives.  This other stuff....nope doesn't matter.

I needed that reminder and God seems to have shown me in several ways today of that.

Calendar Thoughts

Some days I open my computer to look at the calendar and quickly want to close it back up again and go back to the days where I didn't even NEED a calendar.  We would just be in jammies much of the day, unless we had to go to Hyvee, or Target, or drive to meet Daddy for lunch.  Then the afternoons we were home, napping, making dinner and just waiting for Scott to get home.

Those feel like they were SO LONG AGO.

I often try to remind myself that these days are fleeting even though it doesn't always feel like that.  Tommy is slowly creeping up on me in height.  I KNOW it is going to be within the next month or so he is going to pass me up.  Strangest thing ever to hug your son and kiss him eye to eye....he is not such a fan of the kissing part.  He drives to school, and to school activities now with his school permit.  It is nerve wracking and causes me a lot of time praying for protection and safety BUT wow is it helpful too.

It has rained much of this week which I don't mind because the grass is now turning so green, and soon I can plant my red geraniums...

I will be back soon with a picture update.  It's been awhile.  I also need to do a post on Jack's wonderful trip to Washington DC with my parents.  Both of our Mom's celebrated their birthdays this past week too...74 years for my Mom and 83 for Scott's if I am correct.  We are blessed.

For those of you still enjoying those days of toddlerhood and empty calendars, soak it in.  It REALLY doesn't last long.  And for those of you who have calendars color coded, with alarms for reminders much like mine...let's keep holding on and praying and doing our best to enjoy the ride. And for those of you whose calendars are not so full of kids activities anymore...soak in a different kind of quieter days.  Know you did your best with all of those days before...

Happy Sunday

O-H-I-O

Yes we are crazy O-H-I-O people check out their website..

and you can see the boys here....

and here...