Happy Mother's Day

I am blessed to know so many good women! You know who you are, and I'm so grateful for each of you!

This Was the Week...

 ...that Maya wrote Chris & I a very persuasive letter, asking us to allow her to cut bangs. In June. So we do have some time to mull it over. While I'm certain her new look will be stunning, I'm not sure of their forehead-cooling capabilities. This is Texas, after all.

 ...that I wore my mom-iform. And by that I mean some form of denim + a Mexican-style blouse. I have enough of them to go a full week, if necessary! They are my favorite. (From Plato's Closet, Target, Zulily somesuch and Forever 21)

 ...that my kids got rained out of field day but managed to carry on indoors. With mustaches. Maybe not who you would have expected to have a mustache. (Or maybe exactly who you expected, if you know Maya...) Mason deemed it the best day ever, but had some worn-out, close to bedtime tears when he realized that he'd missed his opportunity to get a mustache of his own. Super sad times. In other news, field day is NOT the same as it was when I was a kid. Case in point: even before they moved the festivities indoors, "Cup Stacking" was one of the events. I should also point out that cup stacking as Mason's favorite event and he's already been putting it to good use when he does his daily dishwasher unloading. (Maya's favorite: hip hop dance clinic? When I was a kid it was races and long jump and high jump, complete with blue ribbons!)

...that we celebrate mothers. I have a great one. (The best one, says me!) :) Not only is she a wonderful mother, she is an amazing Grandma. She helps me out so much, and I couldn't do it without her. But she never (okay, not usually) does it out of obligation...she just truly loves spending time with her Grandkids. This quote made me wonder if I maybe don't have to wait to be a Grandma to be as enchanted with my kiddos are their Grandparents are. It's not all fun and games around here, but I truly do enjoy my kids. It is easy, however, to get caught up in what they're doing to drive you crazy rather than how awesome they're also being. So I've been trying to focus on seeing my kiddos more in that light. Has it been working? It has. Has it been perfect? Definitely not. Unfortunately, learning patience seems to be a lifelong journey and I certainly have my moments. But I do try. And I'll keep trying. It is a privilege to be a mother and to have a mother as wonderful as mine. (Free print of that quote here.)

We also did...
...swim team practice
...tae kwan do
...volleyball practice
...swimming lessons
...tumbling
...Mother's Day poetry reading with Maya's class (classic!)
...lots o' church stuff
...Brownie scout service project at the animal shelter
...lots o' birthday prep for Lucy's big day this week (2!)
...volleyball game (another great one for Maya!)
...birthday parties with best buddies

'Twas the best (and busiest) of times!

Happy Mama's day to all you wonderful Mamas out there!

The Family That Runs Together

This past weekend's Chuy's 5k Hot to Trot race marks my 1-year anniversary as a runner! So exciting. I ran it last year on week 5 (of 9) of the Couch to 5k program and I was (obviously) NOT prepared. The longest running spurt I'd had to that point was 20 minutes. My only goal was to run the whole thing, and I did it! (It almost killed me, but I did it!) My time was somewhere around 38:45. As you know, blah blah blah, I decided that I LOVED to run and ran a 1/2 marathon in December...my greatest achievement (aside from birthing 4 wonderful babies) to date!

So this weekend we returned to the scene...where it all began, if you will. This time, much of the fam' was ready to run, too!

4 Cottams, ready to go! Mason ran the 1/2 mile "Kids K", but Maya ran the whole enchilada!

 3 generations of runners. Did you know that my Mama has been a runner for years? All growing up people would come to me with their Jan-sightings. "I saw your Mom running on Edmondson Pike!" She was very famous...maybe because running wasn't such a thing back then. (Or just because she's super awesome!) Anyway, she ran 5-7 miles 5-6 days a week for years, until she had foot surgery a few years ago and thought she couldn't run. After I started running, she got the itch and it turns out, she CAN run! FAST! (She was 7th in her age group, go Mama!)

 Mase really booked it! And Chris...well, he kicked bootie! His goal was to finish under 25 minutes and his official time was 23:36. He's a beast!

And Maya, good ol' Maya. She didn't even train and she pulled in at 35 minutes of walk/running! (Her bestie Addie's Daddy won the master's division with his 18:02 personal record! Great times!)

As for me, my official goal was to come in under 30 minutes. My "secret" goal was to shave 10 minutes off last year's time. The verdict: I made my goal, at 29:27, but fell short of my secret goal by around 45 seconds. Still, I was super excited to be able to get out there and push that hard. And it was even better to do it with my family! 

What I Wore: Thrifty Edition

I was raised by a thrifty Mama. I remember perusing Southern Thrift back in Nashville from a young age...those were good times! I've always loved to hit the Goodwill to check out the toys and books and this & thats. Once I started clothing my 2 littles in hand-me-downs from their big bro & sis, I realized that second hand ain't bad at all, and I started checking in to the second hand stores more often for kid clothes. (So much good stuff out there, it's crazy!) And it's only been recently that I got brave enough to dive into those racks and racks of women's clothing at Goodwill. But let me tell you, it's worth diving in...there's some GOOD stuff in there! (You know, if you dig...)

So one of my new goals is to buy as few "new" things as possible. I have my limits. No one is going to be wearing Goodwill socks or underwear, and I did just purchase a brand new swim suit at a retail store, never fear. But if I can buy my kids like-new Under Armor shorts and Mini-Boden dresses for $3 a pop at Goodwill , I'm going to do it! This not only financially motivated (though I have been and always will be cheap), but it's also Natalie-style recycling (why do they need to make a brand new one for little ol' me when there is a perfectly good second-hand one out there already???) and also...it's just super fun and exciting!

My Mama of a shopping buddy of mine and I both had killer Goodwill weeks last week. Amazing Granny-style crochet blanket, brand new Crocs-ish animal shoes for Simon (exact pair he just outgrew, purchased new at Nordstrom) new-in-box birthday gifts for Lucy (I was going the used route anyway, since we already have EVERY toy!!!), the book I've been wanting to read...and some fun finds for me, that I've already been sporting. So, drumroll please, here is what I wore...from the thrift store!

 Cutest H&M tunic ($4.50 at Graceful Buys thrift store in Grapevine, TX) along with mall-purchased Gap skinnies and Target sandals. 

Super bright & fun Old Navy skirt ($5 at Goodwill) along with a super-old clearance-rack Target cardigan, in my effort to mix prints. How'd I do? I think I pulled it off!

Chris has even gotten on the used game, though he's had the best luck at Plato's Closet second-hand store...pricier than Goodwill, but they have GREAT stuff and great prices. I've found some fun tops there, too. He did come home with a brand-new, tags still on Under Armor running shirt that he scavenged for at Goodwill for $2. It was an exciting find! My favorite find to date is brand-new, authentic Minnetonka knee-high fringe boots...my size, $8. Or you could buy them at Nordstrom for $90 if you prefer. SCORE!

Like I said, it takes a while to get to the point where you're cool with wearing someone else's old clothes. It's taken me YEARS of thrifting various items to get here. But now I love nothing more than rooting through racks at Goodwill...and it's so exciting when you find something good!

And, of course, I'm that girl who has no shame and who can't just say "Thanks!" when someone likes my Goodwill skirt...I have to blurt out "Goodwill, $5!" and then high-five them. And then go home, take pictures and post it to the internet. That's just who I am. 

Coming soon...Lucy's entirely thrifted/Garage-saled/Craig-listed big-girl bedroom. And by "soon" I mean as soon as I get all those lovelies cleaned up and into her room. Which will be...hmm...eventually. Maybe.

Dinner Swapping: Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Green Chile Sauce

Have I mentioned meal swapping here before? It is...literally (shout out to Chris Traeger)...the best thing that has ever happened to me! If you can line up the perfect circumstances, I can't recommend it highly enough. I swap with my Mom and sister-in-law. Tuesdays, my Mom cooks...Wednesday it's Jessica's turn, and on Thursdays I whip up a little something for everyone. Meals are dropped off at dinner time and include usually 3 elements...a main dish, a fruit or veggie (or both) and maybe a bread. It's the best. So my routine is that I only cook on Mondays and Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays we usually do leftovers or breakfast or pizza or something along those lines. Sundays we collaborate for a big Sunday dinner.

This Thursday I was also making dinner for a neighbor who had had surgery and a friend who just had a baby. I mean, if you're going to cook, you might as well cook for everyone, right? On nights like that, I like to whip up enchiladas. You can double, triple, quadruple...etc. etc...up to any amount. I did a quadruple batch of my absolute favorite enchiladas. They're yummy and sort of sweet and not too spicy and well...just delicious. I hope you try them! If you do, make a double and take a batch to a neighbor...or stick them in the freezer for next time.

Tiffany's Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce

1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tsp. chili powder
2 minced garlic cloves
2 large chicken breasts, cooked & shredded (I just bake Costco chicken breasts in the oven)
12 corn tortillas
2 cups+ shredded cheese (LOVE the Costco Mexican mix)
1 14 oz. can of green chile enchilada sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half & half)

Combine honey, lime juice, chili powder and garlic and whisk well. Add chopped chicken to marinate.
Mix enchilada sauce and cream together. Pour about 1/2 cup into the bottom of the pan and spread to cover.
Add a scoop of chicken and some cheese to your corn tortillas and place seam down in pan. Cover with sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Hope you enjoy!

It's For Charity: Round 2

Some of you may remember last year's charity carnival, a little neighborhood gathering that Maya and her friends cooked up and hosted, raising $250 for charity. They went shopping with the money and bought toys for Hannah's Hope Orphanage in Ethiopia, which used to be the home of our neighbor Jonathon. It was an awesome experience and of course, the girls were eager for a repeat performance!

So this year the carnival was BACK and bigger and better than ever! And I do mean bigger!

This year we expanded into a third yard (thank you, generous neighbors!), added a bake sale and enlisted the help of Maya's Brownie troop.

Here's a shot of our yard...

...and it carries on down a bit.

This year it was dinner & a carnival for $5 per person. You got your hot dog, chips and a drink, plus all you can play games with awesome prizes. The greatest part was that we got almost 100 percent of everything donated by those generous Girl Scout families. It was fabulous! (We planned for a big crowd and still had to send out for emergency hot dog supplies!)

The bake sale was a huge success...again, yummy treats provided by generous donations.

There was even a celebrity sighting! Maya's (and many of the Girl Scouts) beloved 1st grade teacher stopped buy to have her face painted, her hair colored, tattoos...the works! (She is a saint and we LOVE her!)

Fortune telling was back, this time with Mason behind the curtain. It was as popular as ever...I heard kiddos proudly proclaiming "I'm going to be in the Olympics!". "Yeah? Well, I'm going to have 10 kids!" Fun times.

Here's a view of part of the crowd, exact number undetermined. It was an awesome crowd, though. We had a blast!

The girls did tattoos...

Maya sprayed hair. Like, majorly. You should have SEEN Maya's hair by the time it was all over. Yowza! Have you ever seen such a maniacal grin? She was definitely amped and excited on carnival night! :)

Some of my sweet youth group girls came and painted nails.

 And LOTS of my besties came out with their families to support the cause.

Miss Addison, one of the co-hosts, looked amazing in her clown get-up.

Overall, super fun time provided (as much as possible) by the kids. They did a great job. AND, drumroll please...the final donation tally came in just under $1100! Yes, you read that right. Almost eleven-HUNDRED dollars! Crazy! We are so grateful to have such a wonderful, supportive community. 

Up next: what to do with all that money?! We're still nailing down the details, but the girls want to help provide relief to Austin's homeless in some way. I'll fill you in once the project is complete. In the mean time, I'm very proud of these kiddos for their commitment to doing something good. It's definitely proof that kids can make a difference!

Dusting off the Ol' Blog

Well, goodness. It's been so long since I've posted here that I hardly recognize the place! I need to get back on track with (at least) cataloging what's been going on in the family (busy busy, but good busy!), but I thought (for now) I'd pop by with a few of my current favorites:

My Mormon friends may recognize this! Our friend Macy took this picture of my Mom & I and it ended up in the Deseret Book (Utah-based bookstore) catalog this past month. It was so funny to hear from friends all over the country as they discovered the picture. It was a fun surprise for us to see it there, too...we had no idea it was going to be published. (And...I just love the photo. And I love that Mama!)

 Sorry for the crappy phone pic...oh, and also that  my finger AND toe are in the picture. Nice. Anyway, believe it or not, it's almost Lucy's 2nd birthday! (Cue weeping. Just kidding.) We're going with a Mary Poppins theme after being inspired here (rest assured, my party will NOT be that cute) and I love how the invites came out (details on the back). Miss Goose is, after all, "practically perfect in every way", not unlike Mary herself! (Ha! Lucy's antics deserve their own post. My oh my!) So we've been obsessing over the movie and quoting Mary whenever possible. My favorite is when Simon quotes the above line. He adds Jane's reply on to Michael's statement, in his own special way: "We better keep an eye on this one. Her's tricky. Her's wonderful!". It makes Lucy laugh every time. We're looking forward to sharing a spoonful of sugar with some friends in Lucy's honor. I'll post pictures eventually, I'm sure...

One of my New Year's resolutions is to read actual books this year. So far I'm doing okay. I've started a few that I haven't finished, finished a few that I enjoyed and came across one so far that I've absolutely loved and would like to recommend highly: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. It's hilarious, interesting and not too heavy. I don't like anything too heavy...there's enough heavy stuff in real life! Bryson's tales of walking the Appalachian Trail are hysterical but the more informative parts were also some of my favorites. Somehow a brief and general overview of Earth history changed my entire perspective on my crazy life. Highly recommended!

 I started The Mysterious Benedict Society over the weekend and I'm absolutely loving it so far. It's technically juvenile lit and I know Maya will totally eat this one up! I'm excited to read a little more...and that it's a 3-book series. Fun, fun!

Finally, I'd like to leave you with everyone' favorite cover of Gotye's Somebody that I Used to Know. While I actually like the original version of the song best, you absolutely can't beat this for covers. Such fun!

Other things we're up to:

• Driving to 4x a week swim team (Maya), 2x a week Tae Kwan Do (Mason), piano (Maya), swimming lessons (Mason & Simon), tumbling (Maya), volleyball (Maya), etc. Oh, and did I mention that Maya would also like to take ballet? I wish I had her energy!
• Frequenting Goodwill and scouring Craigslist for fun frugal finds. One of my new goals is to buy as few "new" things as possible. You know, not including socks, underwear and swim suits. I have scored some pretty awesome stuff that I should probably share. There's so much good stuff out there if you're patient!
• Still running! Running a 5k this weekend with the family. Should be fun.
• Planning our epic summer road trip! The international version! And by that, I mean Canada.

I do have lots of family photo catch up that I'm hoping to post this week, so brace yourself! You know, maybe.

Ninjago Party for My Mason

Mason has a history of obsessing over different characters. We could, in fact, send him to college by selling off his Thomas the Train collection a piece at a time. Next, it was Disney cars. We have all of them. Times a million. And now, it's Lego Ninjago. So of course, he wanted to celebrate his 6th birthday with a Lego Ninjago party!

Since it's a pretty new theme, there's not a lot out there. I Googled it up and found some great ideas to inspire me.

Here's the treats! We added the "angry eyes" to everything (I just created them in PhotoShop using circles, an elongated triangle and an ~ for the eyebrows. Easy peasy!) which definitely set the tone! We had "Kai's fruit swords" (on the little sword picks), "Kruncha Corn" (caramel & cheese popcorn named for one of the Ninjago skeletons)...and then I ran out of clever names, but there was also goldfish, gummy bears (in Lego-constructed candy dishes), red vines and cheater cake pops, i.e. sprinkle donut holes on a stick. Yum yum!

Ninja Pinata - took hours and hours to make, and 2 whacks to break. Um, oops.

The decor: Chris' hand-painted ninjas and balloons with angry eyes. We also made a bunch of Chinese lanterns (+angry eyes) and strung them up everywhere.

My friend made the cute angry-eyed cupcakes.

Aaaand, treat bags with angry eyes. Yes, we did the angry eyes to death.

Party favors: the kiddos all got a skeleton spinner (found on clearance after Christmas) and dollar-store swords, plus a punch-balloon and pinata candy.

Ninjas all up the stairs!

Activity #1 = making Chinese throwing stars.

They turned out really cute and the boys enjoyed tossing them around.

After that, they were awarded their headbands. They were simple to make...I just printed out all the boys' names in a free Karate font, then put the paper under the strips of fabric, traced with Sharpie and filled in with black paint. They turned out really cute!

Next, my awesome brown-belt buddy Rhonda taught them some real karate moves.

Yah!

Flying ninja birthday boy!!!

Maya was overseeing the action! :)

Such focus! Rhonda really had those guys working. It was cute.

And somehow, they only punched the air and not each other! Not pictured: the "guess how many Legos" game + pin the angry eyes on the ninja. Good times!

A happy birthday song later, we sent them home armed and dangerous! Super fun theme. Nin-ja-GO!!!

February Faves

These people = my favorite. Things have been super busy lately. We've been zooming from one thing to the next with not enough down time in between. So it has been nice to have a rare, low-key Saturday. I wanted to capture all my favorite peeps doing a few of their favorite things.

- A Daddy & Maya dogpile -

- Lucy in down dog -

- Peek a boo! I see you! -

- Upside down|Right-side up hair -

- Poptropica zombie Mason -

- Dirty-faced Goose + Dirty-faced Snoopy -

- Ready to go night-night! -

- Underpants-only playtime. With his 'structions, of course. -

- Silly Simon! -

- What kid loves to run around naked, but insists on clothing for nap time? -

- Curled up on her bed with a book. -

- And then on the couch. Maya gets around. -

- Those freckles = my fave -

- Consulting the directions while building Legos -

- Always with chocolate on the face -

- Ninjago cards, of course -

- Post back-walkover floor landing -

- Headed out for a run. Perfect on his 1,000 mile running goal for the year so far! -

Streeetch!

Nothing beats just hanging at home with my homies!