Mother's Day 2012

Mother's day was wonderful as it always is. The kids get SO excited about it! They told Tim this year that they wanted to get me a hummingbird feeder! Of course, it was a surprise to me!

Tim's gift to me was a zoom lens for my camera. I still have to buy it because he doesn't know what to buy! 

On top of being taken out to dinner over the past few days and all the other gifts I received, I feel spoiled! 

My most prized gifts are the handmade cards to me from the kiddos :-)

We had takeout lunch and ate outside in perfect, gorgeous weather today. I watched the kids run, play and blow bubbles. We also finalized some very exciting summer plans!

Earlier in the morning at church, we watched 7 people be baptized and 16 babies be dedicated! What beautiful Mother's day gifts!

I love these two kids who call me momma. B Boy told me so many times how pretty I am! He melts my heart! Sweet girlie cleaned her room all up for me! 

Life is one big change and evolution

My days really seem to move at a faster pace than they used to. It feels like this past year has flown by. Inside these busy days, there have been SO many good things happening.

I do longingly remember the days of toddler hood. We had a nice, relaxing routine- get up, eat breakfast, play, possibly a morning nap, lunch, a little play, glorious afternoon nap and then playtime before daddy came home.

Sometimes, we also went to the library and occasionally the store, but that was it. Plus, being in a small town, there weren't many other options of things to do! But I reveled in the simplicity.
Of course now, we are in a more populated area and the kids are school-aged, and with school, activities and church, our busyness has sometimes felt never ending!
But things are starting to come to an end (for the summer anyway).

In a couple of weeks, I will officially be a mother of a kindergartner and a first grader (wha??)! 

I am so proud of everything the kids have learned and accomplished this year. 

I'm so proud of them sometimes that I could bust! 

It is so amazing to watch them grow and learn! They have both learned scripture verses, both are READING, C Girlie has been learning ballet and B Boy is learning to play baseball.
As happy as all of this makes me, I have to be honest and say that I am truly looking forward to a low key summer!
The kiddos will have swim lessons and VBS, but other than that, we are only doing fun summer things! I'm so excited to be volunteering to help with VBS this year. Our church has an amazing program. I took the kids to it last year, but we have met so many people in the church since then and I totally feel comfortable volunteering now. 

That is another thing that blows my mind- this time last year, we knew no one in our church. 

We started Sunday School last August and other activities at church and has made a world of difference. It has been so great meeting and getting to know so many wonderful people. 

I know this post is wordy, but it feels like a chapter is closing and a new one one is opening. 

Of COURSE, I must reflect on this, lol! 

I am beginning to feel that I am a part of my church, school, and community. 

This July, we will have lived here for two years. It does take time to find your place, at least it seems to for me. 

I feel like I have grown in my spirit so much.

 
Moving to a new community and losing my MIL and being away from my best friend almost broke me. 

I had a hard time for months, maybe longer.

I feel like I've overcome that. 

My heart has been healing. God has been healing it. 

My struggle now is watching my children become their own selves, big kids. But, I recognize my struggle and I try to give it to God. I'm sure there will always be a part of me that is sad to see them grow, but oh, how amazing it is as well. 

I feel like turning 30 was a major milestone for me. In a few days, I'm going to be a "thirty-something" from now on. And I'm good with that. 

Last year, I was sad to see my 20's gone. 

This year, I'm excited to see what the 30's have in store.

 

I never knew that I would change so much as an adult. 

I hope to pass that on to my kids, that life is one big change and evolution. We are continuing to grow everyday. Maybe only in our spirit, but some form of change will constantly be taking place.

Kindergarten Mother's Day program 2012

Pictured (left to right): Soon-to-be 1st grader, Soon-to-be 31 year old, Soon-to-be Kindergartner

Trying to do my best

There are only 24 hours in a day.

There are so many things I want to do.

I want to play with my kiddos and feel good.

I want to spend time with Tim and feel good.

I want to have energy.  I want to feel like running around.

I struggle with wanting to be a perfect wife, a perfect mother, a perfect friend, and I want to feel accomplished as a person too.

I want to have time to pray and read my Bible.

I want to cooked home-cooked, healthy meals.

I want to exercise.

How many of those things do I actually get accomplished?

It depends on the day.

I struggle so much with wanting to do ALL of them everyday.

And then I feel overwhelmed and then there are many days when I just don't feel good and none of that seems to happen.

And then I feel more overwhelmed.

I am trying to learn to veer away from perfection and live with doing my best.  The best that I can do.  I am trying not to compare myself to others.


I'm just trying to do my best.

My 29 things to do while I was 29

1. Take the kids to a nice restaurant for breakfast.
Check!

2. Eat healthier.
I have been doing better about this!

3. Tone up.
I've been keeping a pretty consistent elliptical workout so that is good!

4. Do 50 push ups
I gave up on this since I started having nerve/muscle shoulder issues. Now I do what I can and go easy on it

5. Do a Bible study.
Sadly, I did not accomplish this, but I am working on doing it soon!

6. Take the kids to pick berries.
took the kids to pick blueberries and strawberries

7. Make freezer jam with the berries.
made 14 containers of freezer jam!

8. Take the kids to a baseball game.
Did not accomplish, but hope to real soon!

9. Do a Mother/Daughter and a Mother/Son day.
I have done a Mother/Daughter day, but still need to do a Mother/Son day.

10. Pay off the credit card!
It will be paid off this summer, so close enough!

11. Do more crafts with the kids.
This stayed about the same, but we do lots of fun, crafty things normally

12. Cook with the kids more.
 I did some baking with them, but I would like to start teaching them more about cooking in the kitchen

13. Keep the kiddos birthday stress free.
The party was wonderful and stress free!!!

14. Learn to speak more gently.
I did a good job doing better!

15. Ride paddleboats with the kids again.
Didn't get to do this, but hopefully this summer we will!

16. Have a magical time at the beach.
 sadly, this did not happen due to the oil spill. Darn BP! But we are going to the beach in June!

17. Take the kids to see Granny Dixon.
We did go visit Granny once more before she passed away.

18. Write in my journal more frequently.
I did do this!

19. Spend more time "tech-free."
I did not do this! But I don't let it affect my family time!

20. Take some great pictures on the beach or somewhere cool
We took picture in a couple of cool places and I plan to take more at the beach this summer

21. Write our names in the sand.
also did not happen due to the oil spill, but will in June

22. Drink more water.
I have definitely been doing more of this since I found out I had IBS

23. Follow where God leads me.
This requires much prayer and something I am striving for everyday.

24. Play more games with the kids.
Check!

25. Although I can't control this---get my braces off!!!
Maybe, just maybe by the end of the year...

26. Go horseback riding.
Tim.....

27. Get a couple of massages.
I didn't do this, but I am so scheduling one the day both kiddos go to school!

28. Get photographs organized completely.
Check!

29. Stay a night at the Lodge.
Check!

My 30th Trip around the Sun

It's finally here.

I've learned a lot in my thirty years.  It seems like I have found myself the most and learned the most during these past 5 years.  Myself at 25 was a different person than who I am today.  And I am very blessed and thankful for that change!

I have learned the preciousness and the joy in LIFE. I have learned to cherish family and friends and live each day to the fullest.

I am looking forward to my 30's.  I'm looking forward to more change; to be the best me I can possible be.  To watch my children grow and flourish.

Everyone tells me that your 30's are the best years of your life.

Let's make it happen 30's. Let's make it happen.

Friday through Sunday--this thing we call the weekend

It seems as if our weekends have been jam packed lately. Don't get me wrong, they have been jam packed with some great stuff!  This weekend was no exception!  On Friday night, we took the kiddos down to Lawrence Plaza to watch 'Up' outdoors.  The kids are at a great age and this was such a fun thing for them!

On Saturday, we started with a little trip to Lowe's for a Build and Grow.  The kiddos built a heart vase for me for Mother's Day.  They are very into crafts and making things!

Next, we drove down to Fort Smith to attend my SIL's college graduation!  She graduated magna cum laude in Early Childhood Education!  We are very proud of her!

 Sunday morning was Mother's Day.  This is what I woke up to...

I got homemade cards, balloons, streamers, and cinnamon rolls from the kiddos.  Daddy went overboard and this is what I got from him...

An iPad, and my, my it is very cool!

Tim grilled filet mignon for lunch and it was SO good!

I am so so so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who appreciates me and makes me feel so special!

We finished the day off by getting slushies and heading to the new splash park downtown at Lawrence Plaza.  Yes, it is warm enough here to go splashing in May! And yes, my children are strange.  They are wearing safety goggles to the splash park! lol

I hope all you mommas had a wonderful Mother's Day!

I Owe My Mother

I came across this recently and got a laugh out of it!  Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there! <3

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE--
 "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning."


2. My mother taught me RELIGION--
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."


3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL--
 "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"


4. My mother taught me LOGIC--
"Because I said so, that's why." 


5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC--
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."


6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT--
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."


7. My mother taught me IRONY--
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."


8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS--
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."


9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM--
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"


10 My mother taught me about STAMINA--
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."


11. My mother taught me about WEATHER--
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."


12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY--
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"


13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE--
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.."


14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION--
"Stop acting like your father!"


15. My mother taught me about ENVY--
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."


16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION--
"Just wait until we get home."


17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING--
"You are going to get it when your father gets home!"


18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE--
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."


19. My mother taught me ESP--
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"


20. My mother taught me HUMOR--
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."


21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT--
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."


22. My mother taught me GENETICS--
"You're just like your father."


23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS--
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"


24. My mother taught me WISDOM--
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE--
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you !"

You have to take the good with the not-so-good

Yesterday we found out some not-so-good news.  Tim's mom has been battling pain in her legs for some time now.  She had seen her doctor and been referred to the Arkansas Heart Hospital for some tests.  The doctor had previously done a stress test but those results were lost.  Anyways, yesterday she went to Little Rock to the Heart Hospital to have a dye test done.  I got a call from Tim's sister yesterday explaining how it went.  They had a very hard time even getting the dye through her because her arteries are so clogged.  She needs a bypass, a new valve and stints in her legs.  However, the doctor does not want to do surgery.  He believes that in her condition, she would likely have a major stroke and be bedridden or not even make it through surgery.  We are all shocked, scared, sad and a host of other emotions.  They are going to put her on some medications and watch her.  Please keep our family in your prayers.

Last night, Tim called on his way home for work and said that we were going to have our first houseguest (overnight, not just houseguest we have had those).  Rick, Tim's BFF, was coming to stay the night because he had a meeting in Bentonville this morning.  The kids were so excited!  They loved having a guest especially Rick!  They even gave him one of their little "surprise" birthday parties!  We had a good visit and even watched a movie together.  OH! And we found out the date that him and his fiance' Brittnie are getting married!  I'm sooo excited that we have two weddings to go to next year of people who are so dear to us!

A couple of funny kiddisms from lately:  We were at a park the other night and our kids were the only ones there at first.  A little boy came with his family but was a little shy.  After a bit of trying to get his attention, the little boy started playing with them and C said, "Mama, I made him interested!"  Oh baby, that will be the first of many times....
B has been obsessed with the scale lately.  He has been weighing about 40lbs., but he wants the numbers on the scale to go up.  Every time he eats, he has to go weigh after.  He gets very excited when the scale says, 4-1.-2!  So funny.

So, this morning, I thought it would be a great idea to take the kids to this little park I found that had some beautiful flowers and take their pictures.  The weather outside was amazing.  As I saw on someones Facebook status, it was "outdoorable!"  It was in the 50's and 60's this morning.  However, things rarely work out how I want them to with my kiddos.  B didn't like the sun in his eyes and then we got sprayed by the automatic sprinklers!  I did get a few good shots though!

Why Don't they Tell Us About This???

First let me say that I was worried about stretch marks while I was pregnant.  I had seen what happens to a woman's body after giving birth and it is not always pretty. I rubbed on the special stretch mark lotion every night.  I didn't end up getting bad stretch marks and now, my skin looks like it did pre-pregnancy.  This I owed to my special lotion, or so I thought.

I recently read a small article in a reputable magazine about stretch marks.  It was an "Ask the Expert" section.  Question- Can anything be done to prevent or treat stretch marks?  Answer- The marks- usually appearing during puberty, pregnancy or weight gain or loss--aren't caused by stretching, says dermatologist Eric F. Bernstein, M.D.  They're a result of hormonal changes in the skin that cause inflammation.  This damages skin's elastic fibers, and increases blood flow (hence the redness).  Little can prevent this, but promising treatments now exist.  A combo of prescription steroid and/or retinoid cream and alpha hydroxy acid lotion may improve stretch marks' appearance over time.  Laser therapy is another option.  Over-the-counter Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy cream may help.  Whatever your choice, act fast (old marks don't respond well), and avoid sun; it can further break down elastic fibers.

What the heck?!!!  Someone needs to tell women about this!  I know that I have not heard this before.  We are all going around thinking that "stretch marks" are from being stretched.  They need to change what they are called!  Hmph.

Cereal Time

It's a tradition in our family, a "system" we like to call it.  Cereal time.  Everyone has their own kind, mommy cereal, daddy cereal, etc. You get the point.  Sometimes they want milk with it, sometimes they don't. We all dig in with gusto.

I'm reminded of college days, coming home at 1 or 2 am and finishing the night off with a bowl of cereal.  Now, I have passed it on to my children.  We reflect.  We laugh. We talk about the day.  It is a time of togetherness and family.

We change up the kinds we eat; we try new things.  We find what our favorites are.  I hope the tradition will continue; be passed from my kids to their kids.  Who wouldn't want to continue a tradition of family and food?

We go to bed full. Happy. Loved.

Someday things

You know those things you walk past everyday in your house and think....I'm going to get to that someday.  Well, today was that someday for me.  And, wow, it feels good.  It feels good not having those things staring at me, weighing on me!  I know that soon, there will be more someday things staring at me again.  But for this short time, they're not there, and it feels nice.

Letter to my babies

Dear sweet angel babies,

Today could have been a disaster with you waking up at 6:30am.  Mommy likes to stay up late and sleep until at least 8am.  However, you guys got up, got dressed and played, quietly by yourselves for an hour.  You are growing up!  I do still call you my babies, but you really aren't babies anymore.  You are kids now.  That's almost painful for me as your Mommy to say!  So, thank you for being so good and letting Mommy sleep. 

Love,
Mommy

Dirt is IN

I found this recently and found it very informative and amusing.  I'm always telling my mother that she cleans too much!

Turns out that too much cleaning can be bad for your health.  Using household cleaning sprays even once a week increases the risk of developing asthma by 30-50%, say European researchers who studied 3,500 people from 10 countries.  If participants used cleaning sprays four days a week, their risk of asthma more than doubled.  Glass and furniture cleaners and air fresheners had the strongest effect.

Now I'm glad I only dust every couple of months....