predictable afternoons.

My afternoons, five days a week, may vary slightly but are often predictable from start until the last child is snoozing.  It is comforting and mundane at the same time.  Afternoons are often my least favorite time of day, except for the fact that we are reunited with Tyler, life of the party that one is.

Benjamin will oft complain about the fact that we have to wait FOR-EVER in the school pick up line to get brother.  The moment the whining starts, the day begins inching downhill in a rather predictable sourness.

So when 4:45 showed up on our clock yesterday, I knew I needed to remedy the grumpiness stat or else the whole day would be a bust.  I called a timeout on the wrestling and bickering and told the boys to saddle up, we were going on a scooter ride!

I hoisted Nicholas up on my back and said a quick prayer to the heavens no one got hurt.  My boys are notorious for landing themselves in the ER when dad is away gallivanting on business.  And we totally hit the streets... all three of us (four if you count nic nac on my back) zooming slowly scooting through the neighborhood.  The fresh air did us some good!

I proclaimed it "cereal night" for dinner and a slightly later bedtime for the older two.

And then I zonked out at 10pm after having taken a Tylenol PM.

How predictable are you afternoons?

protection.

Sometimes you need protection from the older brothers.  Life is rough with all this wrestling going on!

bed head.

can you see it? it's barely there. fuzz up top. fuzz in the back.

This is what bed head looks like when you are lacking in the hair department.  Such fuzzy sweetness!

sponsor love | tiny prints.

design by Tallu-lah for Tiny Prints

For those of you who didn't know, Tiny Prints is a superb choice when you are in need of, let's say, party invitations or birth announcements.  They boast a beautiful array of designs and their quality is nothing but the best.

Right now I have my eye on their Valentine Cards.  They have classroom cards for kids that are tempting me at the moment.  I've got one in kinder and one in preschool and I need to get crack-a-lackin' on their school valentines. 

Tiny Prints is a MFT sponsor.  My thoughts.  My words.  My opinions.  Interested in sponsorship?  Email me for details. info AT afewofmyfavorites DOT com

motherhood | birth order.

 me. older sister. younger sister.  older brother not pictured.

Birth order --- does it play a part in our personality?

Now that I am a mother to three, yes count them... One. Two. Three. boys, I have had the opportunity to watch birth order in action.  I think we take on certain personality traits and attributes according to the order we were born and then blossom into our own.

Tyler, our oldest.  He leans towards being bossy.  He is a take charge, go get 'em type of kid.  I see it every day in the way he interacts with his brothers and peers.  He is a leader.  He is driven and hardly every gives up.

Benjamin, our second born.  The middle man.  He does not like confrontation.  I have watched him give a toy to Tyler or let him go first in a game.  He does not like to see his brothers become upset and likes to please them, well, most of the time.

Nicholas, our youngest.  The baby.  Although he is still a little he is such a delight.  Happy go lucky my little nic nac is.  And I am sure the older two will accuse me one day of spoiling him.  Isn't that the way it goes?  The youngest is far more spoiled than the rest?

What number are you in the line up?
Do you notice certain birth order traits in your own children?
Ready, one two three... comment!

MadeByCassandraSmith.

Little by little, bits of "animal" art has trickled into our home, or that's what the mister calls it.  A picture of antelope here.  A silhouette of a stag there.  And let us not forget the golden pig.  But my newest fascination is antlers.  I've wanted some for a while.  My home reckons it needs a set or two but alas, I have not found any worthy of my love.

Every so often I would search for my beloved antlers.  This is where internet browsing becomes dangerous.  Idly whittling away the minutes, just because, is a deadly game to play.  Many an impulse buy has happened because of this.  During a particular browsing session I stumbled upon MadeByCassandraSmith and knew that this shop was worthy of MFT and a giveaway.

Cassandra is an artist and freelance curator who happens to also have the knack for painting antlers.  Gorgeous color combinations in striped patterns adorn these antlers.  I knew you guys would love them, so lets conclude this post with a giveaway!

Fancy yourself an antler lover?  To enter, please visit MadeByCassandra and favorite her etsy shop.  Be sure to leave a comment (with email) letting me know and tell me why you like antlers.  This giveaway is open to US readers only and will end Tuesday, January 31st.

P.S. the antler pictured above is the antler you will win :)