chair rails, birthday parties & shadow boxes.

As I sit here in my chair listening to the sleet against my window, I thank God for all my blessings. 

We had such a great weekend! It was filled with family time, birthday parties, eating out, house projects & early nights to bed (which are my favorite).

In observance of Martin Luther King day, Jordan didn't have school today. It definitely feels like a Sunday night. 

On Saturday we made a family trip to Home Depot. I can't even begin to describe to you how much I love that place. I love the people, the popcorn, but most of all the tile, paint, lights, molding, knobs, plants, flowers.... I could go on forever, trust.

We chose the molding we wanted for the chair-rail & shadow boxes(for our stairwell). I picked out the paint, after asking every woman's opinion in sight. I hate second guessing myself but sometimes I need some reassurance. I've been wanting to start this project for weeks but life never seems to slow down. After walking through almost every aisle probably twice we were done & ready to go.


Oh, I almost forgot. Jordan was whining. Dominic was complaining he was hungry & Dycen started crying.... that was the real reason we were ready to go. :) I was so caught up in picking colors, I forgot we had 3 kids to keep calm.... thank goodness for Demond. He stood next to the cart while I checked out every flippin' paint swatch they had. Ok, now we're ready to go.

Demond and I took turns watching the kids. He would measure something then I would check it out and give the 'ok'. We went on like this for a couple hours until Dycen went down for his nap. The older boys are ok if we put a movie on. We knew we had about an hour to an hour and a half before he would wake up. We worked as fast as we could... almost like clock work as Demond nailed that last nail, we hear "Dada, dada, dada", through the monitor. Perfect timing!

There was no way I could paint on Saturday. That would have to wait. Disappointing because I'm such a sucker when it comes to interior decorating. 


Sunday we celebrated my nephew's 1st birthday. Isaac turned one and what a celebration it was.

Dycen Carter 9 months old

Big Sister celebrating Isaac's birthday!

Dominic, ready for cake!

Happy Birthday Isaac! We love you so much!!

The Good Life! Father & Son

Cake time!

Tasting cake for the first time.

Always time for wrestling!

Later that evening, all of the Tapscotts (yes, all 25 of us) met for dinner at Longhorn to celebrate Daron & Little Daron's birthday. I forgot my camera so unfortunately I don't have pictures of that.


Today, my sister-in-law took all three kids so I could paint. She is the best! Thanks Danielle!! After 4 hours of painting I finally finished. What a wonderful weekend. I'm ready for the next project. Until then, enjoy some of the before & after pictures. The colors in the pictures don't do the actual paint colors any justice. 

Before

 I stared at those colors for weeks before I decided on the lighter one of the two.

After the wall was finished painted & the chair-rail and shadow boxes were almost done.

It's done!!

& I love it!

Thank you Demond for being awesome & putting up the chair-rail and designing the shadow boxes. I love you & everything you do!


Look who else loves you... & look who learned how to kiss... kinda! haha!

Hope you all had a great weekend. We sure did!


be blessed.
oxox, jess

yuk.

So most of my posts are loving, funny, sad or whatever but this is just silly & gross... I had to share! Sorry Mom.....

I've been a mother for over 6 years & today I experienced something I never wish to experience again....

Dycen threw up in my mouth! YES! He threw up in my mouth!!!!!!

We were in the kitchen & he had been fussy so I picked him up off the floor. I held him above my head kissing his face & really just trying to change his attitude. I kept kissing him & making silly noises... All of a sudden it happened. I had an entire mouthful of grossness. In my nose, on my face, running down my neck but most importantly IN MY MOUTH!  Sorry if this is all too graphic but like I always say... I'm keepin' it real. I've gotten pooped on, peed on but never this! I've truly seen and experienced it all. Thank goodness we were in the kitchen so I immediately spit it out in the sink.

Ugh! I will leave it at that but wow.... motherhood is down right nasty sometimes... 

I put Dycen down & cleaned myself up. I don't think I will ever be the same. I can tell you I will never hold my child above my head while talking and being silly..... my mouth will ALWAYS be closed!

Good thing I love them so much! So now when I say.... "I could just eat them up!" I think twice :)

Haha. Love y'all.

GoodNight 

oxox, jess

Friday Night Randomness

It's Friday night & I'm not working. I'm sitting in my chair listening to the baby monitor. Dycen went down awhile ago but has already been up once. He doesn't feel good.

I picked him up from his crib and he immediately got comfortable.  There was no more crying, no more coughing. He nuzzled up on my chest & took a big sigh. He was comfortable & that's just where he wanted to be.

I rocked him in my chair. Singing all of my special little songs...  He eventually went back to sleep. That brings me to where I am now. In my chair with my feet up listening to the heat crank up & turn off, listening to football on the TV & staring at the kitchen table that needs to be cleaned off. 


You would think that having a night off would be a night off. It sure doesn't feel like a night off. I actually feel more tired than normal..... ah well... it's silent right now & I'm enjoying every minute.


Dycen is everywhere these days. I caught him going up the stairs today. Dominic thinks it hilarious but I don't find it funny at all. It's actually heart wrenching... I can just see him falling down and really hurting himself. And so it goes....


I was feeding Dycen this morning. I went to the kitchen to get a rag & put his spoon in the dishwasher when something told me to turn around. I did & to my surprise he was standing in his highchair. Hands in the air with the biggest smile on his face. No, I don't use the straps but now I will. One wrong move and he was done! Ugh! I don't think I moved as fast as I did this morning in years. I grabbed him and said no, no, no... he could care less, he smacked me right in the face. Oh yea, he does that... he thinks its funny... it's a good thing he is cute or we would have  issues.


Dominic is growing up so fast. I remember when Jordan was his age. Jordan was always a smart kid but Dominic truly amazes me with the things he says. It's crazy how different it is when you have an older to sibling to teach you the ropes. 

Jordan is doing well in school. I'm really anxious to get his report card. 

Jordan has this friend who comes over all the time to play. He's in 5th grade. Is that weird? I often wonder why a 5th grader wants to play with a kindergartener. I listen to their conversations & watch everything. Nothing has caught my eye to be strang but isn't that weird?


Anyways.... I feel like I'm rambling now. Have a great weekend ya'll!


oxox, jess

My 2010

2010 has come and gone. The older I get the faster the time seems to go. Sometimes I don't want to blink because I think I will miss something.

2010 was so good to me. I feel like a grown up. I know that has to sound weird but it's totally how I'm feeling at this exact moment. 

I completed my family with the most perfect addition. I always questioned how I would be able to love something like I love Nic & Jordan. Dycen is the perfect fit to our family, the perfect fit to my heart.

Dycen Carter perculatin'

The first time I ever held him 

The first picture of my 3 sons

2010 taught me many things about myself. I really am strong, even when I don't feel I am. I don't do well off a schedule & neither do my kids! :) I got a crock pot in 2010 & couldn't imagine life without it now. I have learned to let go. I've learned to ALWAYS go with my heart and stick to what I believe in. And above all else.... I've learned to forgive. Thank you God. 

I love the simple things in life. The sweet smiles, the laughs, the 'momma I wanna lay with yous', fresh air,  sleeping on my stomach and the chaos, the round the clock chaos!

Enjoy some of my favorite photos of 2010.

February 2010, Dycen still in my tummy

March 2010 Roasting marshmallows for the first time.

May 2010 Main Street Fair (The cutest tiger EVER)

June 2010- Slip n' Slide in the backyard

Happy 3rd Birthday Dominic!

Fun times down by the river with Jaxson Davis!

August 2010

Our Getaway to Ft. Lauderdale -August 2010-

Happy 6th Birthday Jordan! OBX Style

September 2010 OBX Aquarium

October 2010, Our first professional family photo shoot!

October 2010, Sky Meadows State Park, our picnic spot!

 2010 made me a better person. Whenever I tell people I have 3 children under the age of 6 they always have something to say about it.... "Oh, you have your hands full or Wow, praise you."

But to me, I don't look at it that way. I look at it like this is my life. This is where I'm suppose to be. It's not that hard. It's alot of work but not hard. Don't get me wrong, some days are better than others but never more than I can handle.

In 2010 I have realized that I am capable of anything. I am capable of doing things I never knew I could. I have a wonderful husband who supports me & I'm so lucky for that.

2011 is here, at least for the moment. I'm so excited to see what this year has in store for us but really excited to see what it has in store for me, for Jessica. I'm done having babies & I'm ready to start a new adventure. Something for me.... something other than being a mom & the fun bartender. I'm going for it, I'm reaching for the stars!

Stay tuned!


I leave you with this funny tid bit...


Me (standing in the kitchen): Jordan, What is Dycen doing?
Jordan: I don't know.
Me: Nic, what is Dycen doing?
Nic: I don't know MOM!
Me: Jordan, please make sure he isn't playing with your small toys.
Jordan: Ok Mom, but if you really wanna know the truth I would come in here yourself, I mean...... he is, YOUR baby! Not mine.
Nic: YEAH!!!!! He's not mine either, Mom! Gosh!! Boys don't have babies!!!
Me: I couldn't stop laughing, the dishes had to stop & I sat in the middle of the living room, right between all the chaos... after taking the best advice I'd ever received from a 3 & 6 year old.


Happy New Year to you all!


oxox, jess