This is my life & Day 117. 248 Days Left.

As a mom, my days are filled with many toddler activities. Most of my time is dedicated to Addison and Jackson. I don't say this to shed myself in a favorable light; after all, I am the type of mom that yells loud and often.

My days are spent sitting on the floor playing cars with Jackson often while Addison is styling (pulverizing) my hair or "reading" me a book. I do, spend a lot of time DOING stuff for them. I didn't realize how much time was going to be spent just trying to keep up.

My kiddos are busier than some, they require constant attention. They like to be entertained; Addison talks from the moment her eyes are open, expecting an answer to her every question and a response to her every thought. Jackson spends his days following Addison around trying to get her attention by hitting, pinching, pulling, biting, wrestling and occasionally kissing and hugging (but more often violence is his go-to attention grabber!) When they are not fighting or talking my ear off, they want more mommy time… mommy to color with them, paint with them, read to them, sing for them and dance with them. Jackson wants to play outside but Addison wants to play in their room. They are rarely quiet, or still.

When they are quiet, there is trouble… paint on the tile, crayon on the sofa and walls, artwork made by using condiments, Jackson standing on furniture or playing in the toilet because Addison “forgot to close the bathroom door”. Toilet paper and tissues have started to go missing; perhaps why the toilet keeps getting clogged, so occasionally (several times a week) I have to plunge the toilets... what do you think is happening to the toilet paper? Jackson has a fascination with wipes, diapers, toilet paper and toilets. That is pretty exciting right? This is a SURE sign that potty training is right around the corner... no, the only thing that might be around the corner is a pee puddle or poop that seems to have mysteriously appeared there while Jackson has taken off his shorts and diaper for a little "air"! Be careful at our house or you might just be the next sucker to step in it!

Ah, yes, The Sankey clan; (once you have more than one child you are forever referred to as one entity. We come with our own demolition name and warning… can’t you hear it: “Look out here comes the Sankey clan”) we are loud, we yell from room to room to communicate, we laugh loud- play hard, we are constantly chasing a toddler around yelling “NO!”, someone is always in the middle of a meltdown, Addison I can mostly reason with but Jackson’s come with laying on the floor, limbs flailing, head banging all while screaming- first class temper- tantrum. Wow! Will I make it through another TWO YEARS?

This is my life... Always chaotic...Always amazing.
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Day 117
The Potato Heads

Getting Crafty & Day 83. 282 Days Left.

Today I decided to let Addison forgo naptime with Jackson for a little craft time with mommy.

We have had such a busy week with traveling and numerous doctor appointments; I thought I would give her a break in routine, especially with all the” lay down it is naptime” and “no’s” I throw at her.

What we did...

I found Easter egg pintables and had an idea for craft time fun; an Easter egg tree. I printed the eggs and Addison colored them.

I traced her hand down to her wrist onto a piece of construction paper which she colored brown (we were out of brown). I cut out the hand print and we glued it onto another piece of construction paper. This is our tree trunk.


While Addison was adding a sun, flowers, clouds, grass and gluing the tree trunk I was busy cutting out her colored eggs.

Once I finished cutting out the eggs, I had her glue them onto the tree limbs.

Her finished masterpiece.



I loved spending one on one time together and seeing her face light up as she hung her picture on the frig.

That hour, amazing- even though now, at 11pm, she is an overtired monster refusing to go to bed.

Have you done any crafts with your children lately? What are their favorites?
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Day 79
baking cookies

Day 67: Artwork…or the art of getting messy. 298 Days Left.

There is not much more in life (at this point) Addison enjoys more than painting. She sits quietly, for hours, handing me one masterpiece after another to lie out and dry. I have been letting her experiment with paints from about 15 months (just as Jackson does now). I did find with Addison she had quite a knack for painting and even more amazingly, for naming each “piece”. I would hope having artists in both my and the hubby’s family, that eventually, the ability to make something magical was bond to hit one of my children. And it did.

My kitchen is a beautiful gallery of Addison’s artwork. I envision, that one day, the hubby and will be standing in the middle of her very own gallery…
There is a glare because they are framed hanging in my kitchen
"My Family"

"Pumpkins in the nighttime"

"Speedy Spiders"

"Cat and Dog and Friends"

"Happy Rain"

Today's Masterpieces
"Nusa"
sidenote: A Nusa is a snowman...I have no idea why she calls it a Nusa when she can say snowman...just one of those things that make you go hmmmm.
"A Monster Rainbow"

Jackson creating a masterpiece on paper

Happy artistic exploration!

Morning Chores and Day 60. 305 Days Left.

While in the nursery with the kiddos, I heard a bunch of commotion in the living room. I went to check what all the noise was. One of the cats was running around playing. I noticed his toy of choice was a giant fur ball. Perhaps it is time to vacuum. So I did just that. I typically wait until the kids are lying down just before they fall asleep; mostly because Jackson follows me around the house trying to help or ride the vacuum. Well I figured what the hell lets get it done now. I made my way through half the house before I realized no Jackson. Maybe he got bored with the vacuum. He is probably watching TV with Addison. No problem better for me. I get to the dining room where I not only discovered Jackson but the art box, empty bucket of crayons and his masterpiece all over the floor. Looks like I am mopping next.

The look of guilt clearly says it all... yes Jackson, you have been caught.

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Day 60
All the coloring must have been exhausting

Grateful For & Day 22. 343 Days Left.

As Becky from BeckyandJames.com: A Peek Over The Fence reminds us, it is easy to get lost in our daily lives and forget what it is that makes each day so special.

I often find myself frustrated with Addison and Jackson and have to remind myself that I am raising two precious children, not maintaining inconveniences. In these moments, I drift back to that horrid day in the park; talk about prospective.

So today I want to join in with Becky's and Maxabella’s “I’m Grateful For” and focus on the amazing gifts my life has to offer.

Today I am grateful for:

*Lazy Saturday mornings with the kiddies.
*Jackson’s morning nap especially after waking at 6am.
*Fingerpaint; keeps Addison happy for hours & I get more amazing art to showcase.
*Aunt Mon-ka arriving in town this afternoon.
*The Cat in the Hat (our new favorite show) & Yo Gabba for much needed mommy break.

Take a peek at Becky’s grateful for


and Visit Maxabella's blog to see what other's are grateful for today!
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Day 22
Jackson 5 months