Lotti's New Friend

If you know the my stepsons mom at all, you know she loves flamingos.  Everything flamingos. The boys all have stuffed animal flamingos... So when I saw this at PetSmart, I had to buy it.

When I got home last night (we had the boys), I made a big production out of it.  I called all the boys into the living room to make the unveil. 

I said, "I know how much your mom loves them.  I know how much you love them.  So now it's time for Lotti to join the group."

I pulled the Flamingo out of the bag and they were all surprised!  "A FLAMINGO!!!"  😂😂

Then I gave the squeaky flamingo to Lotti to play with and the boys all said, "Wait! We have to name her!"

(So apparently the flamingo is female...)

We went through a series of names for this flamingo... and we FINALLY ended up with Strawberry. A flamingo named Strawberry.  😂😂  It's cute. 

But this is cuter.  💗💗💗

Garden and Fire Pit

We worked a lot in the backyard this weekend! Such a beautiful day!

Friday evening we went to Lowe's to buy veggies.

Saturday afternoon, we got a ton done!

Everybody pitched in. 

As the day went on, it started to look like a garden!

Put a fence around to keep the rabbits, squirrels, and Lotti out.  😀😀

Here's the complete garden:

Brussel sprouts, broccolini, yellow peppers, tomatoes, basil...

Then we also got a new fire pit:

Me and the twins picked up sticks around the backyard.

The boys think of it as our "new backyard".   😂😂  Garden, fire pit, clean patio, cleaned off the outside table, etc... We had dinner outside this evening and s'mores!

What a lovely day and evening!

It's A Brand New Day...

I would love to say that I am the most awesome stepmom ever... but honestly, this isn't anything new.  Simply Google for it and it comes up everywhere.  Two words:

CHORE CHART!!

Seriously though... Phil and I have been together almost two years now, married for a little over a year and I'm just finding this??

Come on guys... help a sista' out!!

Made in MS Excel.

Comments from around the house echoed:

"Finally! Something to do around here!"  😂😂  This boy is getting more added to his chore list!

"Jennifer, I know what kind of rewards we can get!"  (this is a "points" based system for rewards)

"I've already done one of my chores!"

"Can I put the check mark up there now??"

Phil showed our oldest how to start the laundry. 

I showed my middle stepson how to do the bathroom trash. 

And no, this doesn't cancel out our cleaning lady. She's still needed for my sanity. 😂😂

Oh guys... If I ever feel like I cheated the system... Today is the day.  I have five new little work-horses around the house. (Keeping child-labor laws in check, no worries there.) 

Life is most excellent.  💓💕💖💗

I Would Like A Do Over!

This step-mama is exhausted from the weekend. You know, being a step-mama is not all glam and glory. I may look like Super Woman every now and then... but ladies and gentlemen... I am human!  😂😂

Word of this weekend:  WILLPOWER

I can't even begin to explain what went down this weekend.  More wine than I anticipated, that's for sure. But... when you have five kids. Five boys. And they all want attention.... You know one boy is going to try to out do the others. 

So that's all I have to say about that. 

🍷🍷🍷🍷