Who Flipped the Switch?

2.5 years have finally caught up with this one.

Don't let the baby face fool ya.

He is 100% mischief.

He'll secretly sneak any electronic device he can find and plunk himself down in this cozy bucket to play a game or two before he is caught. Mom's iPhone has never been more sticky or covered in greedy toddler fingerprints.

Being the youngest, he is spoiled rotten. He gets away with far too much. Why? Because he has 5 family members who love him to the core and are at his constant disposal, and because mom and dad are worn out and find it easier to give in than to hold out.

I know. We're creating a monster.

But aren't all youngest children monsters in some way or another?

(I speak from experience. I'm #3 of 3.)

Long gone are the days when we could consistently get an adorable picture of our baby boy. Now, the camera captures faces that only a mother could love.

His favorite phrase is, "No Mom." He says it very matter of factly and with a tone of confidence that he knows what he wants and is not afraid to share his mindset with me.

His name is Shaw.

And he is our resident rascal.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

...pictured right here in this snapshot.

Kennedy, Me, Chante (niece), Carene (Sister-in-Law), Jamie (newly added niece)

You know you're in good company when the conversation flows effortlessly, laughing is in abundance, smiles abound, hugs are frequent, and you can all snuggle up on your daughter's bed and talk until the cows come home.

I love these gals so much.

Whenever we get together (which I wish was more often...they live in Idaho) we get on YouTube and show each other the latest video "gems" that we've come across. After watching several music videos, we decided that we were creative and talented enough to come up with our own.

Here's the end result.

WARNING:

* This is what happens when you stay up until 2:00 a.m.

* I am VERY, VERY Caucasian.

* This song is long....watch only as much as you can stomach.

* This will most assuredly dash any respectable assumptions you may have previously made about me.

* At the moment, we're looking for an agent so there might very well be more of these to come.

* All of my VERY, VERY Caucasian dance moves are Trademarked. There will be a penalty if you try and steal any of them.

(And that penalty will be you looking as ridiculous as myself.)

Today I'm Trying on the Number 39 For Size...

...and these last 15 minutes that I've been awake and alert, it seems to be a good fit.

I'm really going to make these last 365 days in my 30's count for something.

Something that I can proudly carry into my 40's.

********

Wanna learn more about this day? Read here.

The Inevitable

I'd like to know who or what has catapulted my 11 year old son into this new arena of life.

An arena where 11 year old girls call him on the phone around the clock. They call, then hang up. Then call, then hang up. On the occasion that they do actually say something, he tells us that it is random, and scattered, and usually not connected to anything that an 11 year old boy would really have any interest in.

{But by the grin on his face, I don't think he's minding these one sided conversations.}

I'm sure part of Taiden's intrigue to the young ladies, is his quiet mystique and the puzzling charm of being a young man of few words.

{Cause when you don't say much, you keep 'em guessing.}

He's chill and cool.

He's handsome.

He's mastered the art of using hair gel.

He's a user of multiple Axe products.

He's informed us that he's started a morning routine of 20 push ups and 20 sit ups.

Whatever has caused this increase in attention, I don't think it's going to be going away any time soon.

{So please understand that our phone line will be intermittently available for your calls.}

Peace, Be Still

A very simplified Christmas season has made its way to the Gregson home.

Simplified to the extent that only the tree, the mantel and the front door are being decorated.

This year I've decided to cast aside the fervor and perfection of Christmases past. I've laid to rest my tendencies to overdo and overspend and overrun our lives with too much stuff in too little time.

With these attempts, I hope that our family can truly feel the spirit of the season.

A simplified, Christ-centered season.