We Believe(d) That We Will Win!

World Cup 2014 will be one I will always remember. It's much like the one four years ago when we watched games while very pregnant with W and drinking Icees with reckless abandon.  Perhaps this tournament, if Abram had been born later, we just might have named him Jurgen. Ok, not really. His name had been chosen for a while now.

My mom made the boys matching shirts; we watched the hype videos. We were ready.  By the time the games began, John had his own version of the "I Believe" chant and didn't hesitate to bust out his go-to dance bounce and sing it whenever he saw an American flag. 'Atta boy!

We had pizza picnics in front of the t.v. and mini M&Ms shakers to cheer our team on and eat when we needed a distraction. We took out toys that were in hiding so Momma could watch the afternoon games. 

We believed our lucky shirts were helping our boys to victory. We pretended Dempsey was Superman and Howard was the Hulk.

We planted a seed (for future soccer players perhaps). We believed.
And while the team had some success and some heartbreak, our hearts filled with pride watching our guys hang with the world's best one memorable summer.

Handful of Sweet and A Heart Full of Love

It's no secret that preschoolers feel things in a bit way. The good news is that this applies to their compassion as well. 

We've instituted TAKOS Tuesday over here, and after finding a Ninja Turtle tattoo in a particular brand, bought it again in hopes to get another character. W hopped around with excitement as I prepared dinner and grabbed his little piece of happiness. Indeed, it was Donatello. Hooray!

I took it out of the packaging, grabbed a towel, and we counted to thirty together as I pressed it on his forearm.

Turns out, I didn't take that plastic strip off the back. Donatello was plastered firmly on it instead of my sweet boy's arm. We didn't have back-up.

After I promised we would grab another one next time at the store and applied a Cars tattoo we had lying around, I apologized again and told him I felt really bad.

W looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Do you need a hug?"

Yes. Why yes I did.  I hope he always knows that such small tokens of kindness go so far.

(Photo courtesy of Momma's Gonna Snap Photography)

New Look (In More Ways Than One!)

J apparently played around with my little space here yesterday while I was out running errands and all three, yes all three, slept practically the entire time I was out.  He has such hard parenting duties sometimes! But hey, the guy used his time wisely and gave When In Doubt a bit of a facelift. I like it. I just better start taking some amazing pictures as they are front and center.

What better way to start than showcase our CMC (again, but hey he's cute) in his new threads from The Little Crane. Poor guy lives in hand-me-downs, and because of the way the birthdays fell,  a lot of the cutest outfits didn't seasonally work out for him. When I caught hold of some Friday sales through their Facebook page, I couldn't resist a new purchase for my sweet boy.  We headed out Saturday morning to feed the turtles and snap a few pics.

I'd say he wears it well! 

He's just one super cool kid. I told myself I would choose one or two pictures to post, but I love his personality. He's definitely one to just eat up!

We don't always have impromptu photo shoots, but when we do, we sport brightly colored imitation Crocs and a leftover Lightning McQueen knee tat.  Details.

I'm hosting a trunk show on Instagram today, featuring some back to school items from TLC. Come follow along and also be sure to check out The Little Crane on Facebook! 

Friday Five - My Week in Five Pictures

It's been a doozy around here.

1.

We ended last week and started this week with a much needed date night. My parents were in town, and J and I finally tried a restaurant we've had our eyes (and tastebuds) on for a while. The food was delicious and I treated myself to a bit of wine and a meal containing dairy. And do note, J did not bring the iPad; he's simply checking out their wine menu.  God must have known I needed the emotional fuel for the week to come.

2.

 We checked out Lots of Dots from the library and explored painting outside one afternoon. This moment lasted seconds before John was looking to get into the garage and W decided he was bored.

3.

Abram had a check-up on Monday, and W had his four year check-up on Wednesday. I go to the dr. today. Not a fan.  But how awesome is this one's waiting room selfie. I'd say he nailed it.

4.

(I can't believe I'm putting this pitiful photo of myself out there!). And then...we were back in the doctor's office on Thursday. Little guy started with a fever on Tuesday, and we confirmed an ear infection after two sleepless nights.

5.

Our newest member must be growing. Kiddo is eating up a storm and enjoying hanging out in the morning with his brothers.

Yea...6 photos. I know. J loves saying "hey" to Abram when he's hanging out. I can't imagine anything so cute giving me such gray hairs. "Don't press the baby's eye!" 

Here's to the weekend, my Friends! Come back Monday for a fun sale from The Little Crane! 

Introducing The CMC

A's pediatrician at the hospital walked in when my mom was visiting with the big boys and took one glance at John climbing chairs and staring excitedly at all of the monitor buttons just itching to be pushed. His words were "and this is the confident one." Hence his new nickname - CMC or Confident Middle Child. 

That's our John. Confident. Courageous. And oh so Curious.

He can't help but draw attention wherever we go with his blue eyes, healthy cheeks, and inviting smile.

Lover of remote controls, television panel buttons, and climbing, he won't hesitate to pull down what he wants off counters and out of drawers. He's earned his Instagram hashtag "daredeviljp."  (His middle name isn't Paul.)

He will wave hi and tell you bye, and I've never seen a kid with such a love to be tickled.

He laughs with his whole soul, and we love him so.

Friday Five : My Week in Five Images

And we're back! I'm not sure for how long or in what capacity. Lots of thoughts rolling in my head about where this little corner of the blog arena might be headed. I don't have bit plans for growing it; in fact, it might become a private family space, but in the meantime, I'm hoping to play a bit of catch-up while noting what our lives are like these days. 

1. 

We go through stain remover like crazy these days. The worst offender uses his sleeves instead of napkins.

2.

The road goes on forever, and the laundry never ends. My go to strategy is to wash loads upon loads at a time and fold at night while catching up on an unexciting season of The Bachelorette.

3.

Cabinet locks all day thanks to the Confident Middle Child!

4.

Toys are part of the decor. I don't mind these reminders of who our family has become.

5.

Lots of library books. We are reading through a different theme each week, and I love that I can reserve books online and make a quick trip to pick them up instead of scouring the shelves with three in tow.


Good days, bad days, we are knee deep in this family's ocean. A non-napping is currently wailing for my attention after waking from an early nap. God has surely rained down blessings, and I am thankful for the umbrella and boots He's provided in the form of an amazing husband and father to walk by my side through this and the friends who lift us up through prayer, meals, and snoball dates!

In An Instant

And just like that, he's a little boy! 

Trying "death-defying" stunts on anything he can climb:

Driving vehicles straight into the dirt:

And noticing everything that flies in the sky, from birds to airplanes to leaves falling from trees:

 You are going to be a great big brother, kiddo!