This year has been one crazy ride! We have made more memories and done more as a family than I ever thought possible.
In February Pig Pen turned 3. Being 3 is a lot harder than being 2 and she has had some growing pains this year that I am not sure any of us were ready for. She is the funniest child you have ever met who is obsessed with animals, her tricycle (she rides it in the house), and getting her way. In early September her sister gave her a hair cut so she went from having beautiful long blond hair to short short light brown hair over night. That change is the hardest for me because I still can't believe her hair is so short. She isn't as far along academically as Peppermint Patty was when she was this age, but I know Pig Pen is smart and will get it in her own time. She is stubborn like her mama (who would have thought) and she doesn't like to be pushed to do anything she doesn't want to do. I am excited to see where God takes her over the next few years and how her personality continues to develop. She truly is a special little girl and I am so proud that she is mine.
On March 7th Peppermint Patty turned 5. The baby that took 9 months and 14.5 hours of labor with 3.5 hours of pushing before she would come out turned 5. The baby that I still don't know where all the time went turned 5. I am still not sure I am over her turning 5 and she will be 6 right around the corner. She loves fishing, riding on the tube, swimming in the pool, getting tickled, and playing with Nylah the dog. She is still timid when she is in big crowds or around people she doesn't know but that doesn't slow her down for long. She is funny, smart, quiet, bossy, and a good friend. She has grown up so fast and I can't believe I have a kindergartner! She is a girly girl who Big Grasshopper is already trying to figure out how we are going to pay for her expensive clothes and hair some day! LOL! She is one of a kind and I am so glad that God has put her in our family.
The weekend in between the girls two birthdays we had a joint birthday party on the Tumble Bus. That is one pretty cool ride that I would definitely recommend for small parties. Everyone had a great time and the girls enjoyed having their friends at our house.
In April Big Grasshopper turned 36 and I turned 32. We are old. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. I don't even think I should have mentioned it here, but it is definitely a milestone that must happen in order to keep the dash going. Getting older is one of those strange things in life. I look back at when I was the girls age and think I thought my parents were so old at the age I am now....and guess what....I think I was right.....they were old and now I am kinda feeling old. 32 is not THAT close to 40 but it is way farther away from 22-23 than I feel possible. I am hoping the closer I get to 40 the less old I will feel....maybe?
The Summer....aaaaahhhhh.....the summer that was 2010....filled with camping, boating, swimming, tubing, hanging out with friends, fishing, more camping, more swimming, more hanging out with friends, more enjoying 100 degree heat, eating, drinking, camp fires, and more hanging out with friends. What an amazing summer!! I am really not sure summer 2010 will never be beaten in my mind. Peppermint learned to swim without her life vest or floaties in the pool. She still has to always wear her life vest in the lake, but she is so proud of her swimming abilities in the pool. We camped out so much that I think we were camping more on the weekends than we were home. The girls and Big Grasshopper really love fishing and I have bragging rights that I am the only one that caught my limit when we went Stripper fishing while BG's sister and her boyfriend visited for a few days. We enjoyed the boat more than any people ought to....but my mind still goes back to those days of rafting and having fun as a family on these cold winter days. It truly was a magical summer that will not soon be forgotten.
August 19th. The day I have been dreading since March 7, 2005. The day that Peppermint Patty started to school. I cried most of the summer when I thought about PP going to school. She didn't get into the school near our house due to over crowding so we have to drive her across town to the overflow school. I may not like the drive but I like the school and her teacher is absolutely amazing!! I can't say enough about the experience PP is having this year. She is learning so much and has come so far. I can't believe by the end of the year she will be reading and writing in complete sentences with some accuracy. I am almost in tears just thinking about my baby who isn't a baby anymore going to kindergarten but she loves it and loves her teachers so I am so proud of her. (Thank you Peppermint's teacher....you know who you are and you know I LOVE YOU!!!)
Sometime between September and the end of October we lost our camera....with A LOT of pictures on it. Still hoping to find it and this is the one low point of the year that I can think about. If you want to get us a gift...now you know what to bring us. :)
Between August and now is just a blur of driving everyone to everything every where. My car is always completely trashed out and always smells of milk, fast food, or some chap stick that Pig Pen thinks she needs to coat her lips in. BG and I are trying to keep up as best we can with all the demands of having 2 crazy girls and a life that seems to be getting faster. Don't get me wrong...it is crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way!
I am not sure what 2011 is going to bring. I am having an itch for something but not sure what. I am going to be putting out fleeces and letting God lead me through this instead of me leading God....well....I am going to try anyways....Whatever happens I know this.....Geoff and I love each other, love the girls, and the girls love us. Nothing is better than that and I am so proud of the family we have built. Ups, downs, whatever happens, we have each other in 2011.......Happy 2010....Hopeful for 2011.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Just Be Human
Doctor's and Teachers are very much alike. Both have degrees, are professional, and deal with the public in both the best and worst circumstances. Both work hard everyday to make sure who they see is taken care of and should go beyond the call of duty when necessary to see that who they are taking care of is taken care of and they are the best "OK" they can be. Both also deal with more paperwork and bureaucracy than should be necessary and if given the chance to hold a bonfire and burn all the paperwork, most would not hesitate to bring the paperwork and lighter fluid and do a dance as it burns. I think for the most part both teachers and doctors go into their profession with a whole hearted thought they can make a difference and then find out that medicine is not like what we see on Grey's anatomy and teaching is not what is depicted in after school specials.
As a teacher on sabbatical I know first hand the carnage of teaching. (As I am not a doctor I won't say it is hard but watching from a far I am pretty sure that it is difficult.) It is hard. It is difficult. There are long hours. There are tears. There is heart ache. There is a lot of sacrifice of one's self. However....this is only if you are good....no great....the greatest....you are human. You care. You love. You laugh. You dance. You sing. You put yourself out there. You are yourself. You make mistakes. You are kind. You speak from the heart. You look people in the eye and are honest. You take time to explain what is happening with the other humans that you are dealing with. You treat others the way you would want to be treated; the way you want your kids, wife, husband, mother, father, etc. to be treated.
I think this is what a lot of doctors and teachers have forgotten. We have forgotten that we deal with humans and to deal with other humans we have to also be....drum roll please.....human!!! Since when did it get so hard to take a few extra minutes to feel for others? Since when did it get so hard to try to understand someone's plight?
I have struggled for the last 10-12 days being sick. I am not expecting miracles when I go to the doctor. I am not even expecting them to make me be better in one day. What I do expect is what is expected of me as a teacher when their child is in my classroom - I want a human. I want someone that is kind, considerate, compassionate, understanding, and takes an extra 30 seconds to be friendly and helpful even if there isn't much they can do. I also want them to look me in the eye and try to help me the best way they know how. Is this too much to ask? Maybe....but if I have to be a "human" when I am teaching their child, than I expect that of my doctor when they are doctoring.
Human...nothing more....nothing less...Human. Just Human.
As a teacher on sabbatical I know first hand the carnage of teaching. (As I am not a doctor I won't say it is hard but watching from a far I am pretty sure that it is difficult.) It is hard. It is difficult. There are long hours. There are tears. There is heart ache. There is a lot of sacrifice of one's self. However....this is only if you are good....no great....the greatest....you are human. You care. You love. You laugh. You dance. You sing. You put yourself out there. You are yourself. You make mistakes. You are kind. You speak from the heart. You look people in the eye and are honest. You take time to explain what is happening with the other humans that you are dealing with. You treat others the way you would want to be treated; the way you want your kids, wife, husband, mother, father, etc. to be treated.
I think this is what a lot of doctors and teachers have forgotten. We have forgotten that we deal with humans and to deal with other humans we have to also be....drum roll please.....human!!! Since when did it get so hard to take a few extra minutes to feel for others? Since when did it get so hard to try to understand someone's plight?
I have struggled for the last 10-12 days being sick. I am not expecting miracles when I go to the doctor. I am not even expecting them to make me be better in one day. What I do expect is what is expected of me as a teacher when their child is in my classroom - I want a human. I want someone that is kind, considerate, compassionate, understanding, and takes an extra 30 seconds to be friendly and helpful even if there isn't much they can do. I also want them to look me in the eye and try to help me the best way they know how. Is this too much to ask? Maybe....but if I have to be a "human" when I am teaching their child, than I expect that of my doctor when they are doctoring.
Human...nothing more....nothing less...Human. Just Human.
Friday, November 19, 2010
For My Mom
For the past several days I have been thankful for something different. My family, the girl's teacher's and the simple things in life. But today, today I am thankful for my mom. My mother. My mommy. My mama.
When I was 2 we were in a terrible car wreck. I wasn't sitting my car seat that day (this fact actually saved my life). Instead, my mom put me beside her on the big wide console of our 1970's car. When my mom lost control of the car and we started flipping over and over (5 times in total), she wrapped her arms around me. She protected me in spite of her own safety. When the car came to a stop, the paramedics were called, and we were rescued my mom was found to have crushed both arms and broken ribs to save my life. I broke my left arm and have scar on my face that is still my reminder of what my mom did for me. While laying in the glass of that broken, flipped, mangled car, I would scream "mama, mama." Every time I would yell for her she would become conscious enough to tell me she was there and it was OK. Eventually it was really OK.
She has always told me that it is OK and if it isn't, she has always tried to make it OK. We haven't always seen eye to eye. My mom is a lady in every sense of the word. She has manors. She knows how to cross her legs. She knows how to be quiet when she should be. She knows how to walk in heals without looking like a fool. At one time when she was in the business world, when she spoke, people listened. When she walked, people watched who she was going to fire. She was and still is commanding. She also plays the piano and organ like nobodies business. She is Mrs. Clean. She is a Proverbs 31 woman.
She deserved a daughter who was much like her. Gentil, manored, lady like. She got me. I say that to say I am sorry I am not more like her. I wish I was quiet with less of an opinion. I wish I knew how to always act correctly in all situations that I am thrown in to. I wish I had the desire to sweep and mop on a daily basis. I wish I were a little more like my mom....but I am not....I am me, and she has always been OK with that. She hasn't always understood everything I have done or said. She hasn't always been the proudest when I have stuck my foot, elbow, and half left arm in my mouth but she has always tried to be there no matter what. She sometimes still frowns on some of my craziness but she loves me no matter what. She always says I Am OK. It is OK to be who I am.
I am proud to be her daughter. I may not be the daughter that she deserved, but I am proud that I am the daughter that she raised. She raised me to be independent, self sufficient, strong willed, unwilling to settle, loud and proud of who I am. There has never been a day that I haven't known she was proud of me. There has never been a day that I haven't known how much she loves me.
Thank you mommy for loving me. Thank you mommy for always standing behind me and being proud of me for who I am. I love you more than you know I am proud to be your daughter. You may not have gotten the daughter that you deserved but I thank you for always loving me anyways. You are the best mama I could ever ask for. I LOVE YOU!!!!!
When I was 2 we were in a terrible car wreck. I wasn't sitting my car seat that day (this fact actually saved my life). Instead, my mom put me beside her on the big wide console of our 1970's car. When my mom lost control of the car and we started flipping over and over (5 times in total), she wrapped her arms around me. She protected me in spite of her own safety. When the car came to a stop, the paramedics were called, and we were rescued my mom was found to have crushed both arms and broken ribs to save my life. I broke my left arm and have scar on my face that is still my reminder of what my mom did for me. While laying in the glass of that broken, flipped, mangled car, I would scream "mama, mama." Every time I would yell for her she would become conscious enough to tell me she was there and it was OK. Eventually it was really OK.
She has always told me that it is OK and if it isn't, she has always tried to make it OK. We haven't always seen eye to eye. My mom is a lady in every sense of the word. She has manors. She knows how to cross her legs. She knows how to be quiet when she should be. She knows how to walk in heals without looking like a fool. At one time when she was in the business world, when she spoke, people listened. When she walked, people watched who she was going to fire. She was and still is commanding. She also plays the piano and organ like nobodies business. She is Mrs. Clean. She is a Proverbs 31 woman.
She deserved a daughter who was much like her. Gentil, manored, lady like. She got me. I say that to say I am sorry I am not more like her. I wish I was quiet with less of an opinion. I wish I knew how to always act correctly in all situations that I am thrown in to. I wish I had the desire to sweep and mop on a daily basis. I wish I were a little more like my mom....but I am not....I am me, and she has always been OK with that. She hasn't always understood everything I have done or said. She hasn't always been the proudest when I have stuck my foot, elbow, and half left arm in my mouth but she has always tried to be there no matter what. She sometimes still frowns on some of my craziness but she loves me no matter what. She always says I Am OK. It is OK to be who I am.
I am proud to be her daughter. I may not be the daughter that she deserved, but I am proud that I am the daughter that she raised. She raised me to be independent, self sufficient, strong willed, unwilling to settle, loud and proud of who I am. There has never been a day that I haven't known she was proud of me. There has never been a day that I haven't known how much she loves me.
Thank you mommy for loving me. Thank you mommy for always standing behind me and being proud of me for who I am. I love you more than you know I am proud to be your daughter. You may not have gotten the daughter that you deserved but I thank you for always loving me anyways. You are the best mama I could ever ask for. I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Home
I am Sooner born and Sooner bred. A part of my heart will always belong to Oklahoma, but something is changing and has been stirring from within me for awhile now. I am becoming an Arkansan. I have been here over 10 years. I moved to NW Arkansas on a hot August day in 2000. I didn't ever think I would officially call NW Arkansas home. I think I thought I would eventually return to Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweeping down the plain) fall in love with a Sooner man (a Cowboy would never do) and settle down on the plains. What actually happened was I fell in love with a California nerdy computer guy who could really care less about football, and the rest as they say, is history.
So why do I think I am becoming a NW Arkansan? Good question. I love this little part of the world. I love the trees. I love the lake. I love Walmart (even though I curse it daily). I love the atmosphere. I love the lifestyle of the area. I love the people. I even like the Hogs (gasp...I know)....
Also, when I am driving north on 540 from Fort Smith to Fayetteville I get goose bumps every time I come over the hill and see Fayetteville in the valley and the U of A on top of the hill. It is beautiful! It is amazing! It is home!
Now I know I don't live in Fayetteville (30 minutes away actually) but when I see the U of A on the hill I always know I am home. NW Arkansas is my home. NW Arkansas is home....and I couldn't be happier.
So, this Sooner Girl that was Sooner born and bred...is home...with her California boy....in NW Arkansas.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Blessed
I started on a journey 3 weeks ago that I didn't and still don't know where I am going and where God is taking me. She Lives Out Loud has been a time on Tuesday nights that has been a saving grace, time of reflection, and a time to renew. It is amazing how much God loves this girl that can't seem to keep it together, that runs the other way when things get hard, who asks more from him than I could ever repay, and who on a daily basis finds little time, if any, to fit Him in. In spite of that, he has still blessed me beyond measure.
I think the most amazing thing about my God story and my life journey are the people that He has put into my life. For most of my life there has always been someone there to stand in the gaps. Women and men that have served as a parents, mentors, friends, protectors, confidants, teachers, and much more. No matter where I have turned or which path I have taken, there has always been someone there to help, fix, listen, and take care of me. I truly believe these people are from God.
My life story is nothing more than a turbulent first few years, middle is filled with love, hope, and being spoiled, and the end as of now is more being spoiled and being blessed beyond my wildest dreams. In my story, however, are God's finger prints everywhere, in the form of love from others. People that simply have blessed me because they love me where am in life. They don't care who I am, where I am from, or how crazy I am in all my glory. People love me for me, no matter the me that I am at the time.
Amazing people like Geoff, my Mom, Dad, Aunt Helen, Uncle Blaine, Alex, Aaron, Aunt Patsy, Uncle Henry, Erin, Erin, Aaron, Granny Reichert, Papa Reichert, Grandma Irene, Papa B, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Francis, Jimmy and Sandy Schimmel, Neely Schimmel, Dane Schimmel, Grandpa Schimmel, Grandma Schimmel, the House family, Elaine -Natalie-Ryan Bates, Darlene Taylor, the Jordan family, Lisa Willis, Christy Lynch-Burcham and her wonderful mom, Lookeba MBC, Hinton MBC, Oakdale MBC, Bethel Baptist Church, Cedar Hills Youth Camp, Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Summers, Mrs. McGregor, Pete and Sharleen Rathmell, LaDonna Ball, Grace Point Church, my workout group, Waltina Hannah, and so many others that I could fill up pages and pages and pages of names, but I won't. I won't because some of them don't have names, some of them don't even have faces, and some of them I have long since forgotten - but God hasn't. All of these people are God's fingerprints. God's way of showing himself to me on earth. Sure I have had "God moments" where I knew only because of him am I still here, but it is the moments that aren't as significant that take my breath away.
Thank you to all of you that have taken my breath away and continue to take my breath away on a daily basis. God's love that has been shown through you is nothing less than a Heavenly treasure here on earth. I truly don't deserve God's love but He gives it freely because he loves me in ways I cannot yet comprehend. I stand on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 on a daily basis and truly believe that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." I also believe that everyone has a purpose in those seasons. I may not always understand why people come in or go out of my life but I know that God knows. Every single person's fingerprint on my life is amazing, cherished, and blessed.
My prayer for each of you is simple. Dear Lord, please bless all those who have blessed me until their cup runs over. Thank you for always filling the gaps and for leaving your fingerprints of love all over my life. Amen.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I think the most amazing thing about my God story and my life journey are the people that He has put into my life. For most of my life there has always been someone there to stand in the gaps. Women and men that have served as a parents, mentors, friends, protectors, confidants, teachers, and much more. No matter where I have turned or which path I have taken, there has always been someone there to help, fix, listen, and take care of me. I truly believe these people are from God.
My life story is nothing more than a turbulent first few years, middle is filled with love, hope, and being spoiled, and the end as of now is more being spoiled and being blessed beyond my wildest dreams. In my story, however, are God's finger prints everywhere, in the form of love from others. People that simply have blessed me because they love me where am in life. They don't care who I am, where I am from, or how crazy I am in all my glory. People love me for me, no matter the me that I am at the time.
Amazing people like Geoff, my Mom, Dad, Aunt Helen, Uncle Blaine, Alex, Aaron, Aunt Patsy, Uncle Henry, Erin, Erin, Aaron, Granny Reichert, Papa Reichert, Grandma Irene, Papa B, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Francis, Jimmy and Sandy Schimmel, Neely Schimmel, Dane Schimmel, Grandpa Schimmel, Grandma Schimmel, the House family, Elaine -Natalie-Ryan Bates, Darlene Taylor, the Jordan family, Lisa Willis, Christy Lynch-Burcham and her wonderful mom, Lookeba MBC, Hinton MBC, Oakdale MBC, Bethel Baptist Church, Cedar Hills Youth Camp, Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Summers, Mrs. McGregor, Pete and Sharleen Rathmell, LaDonna Ball, Grace Point Church, my workout group, Waltina Hannah, and so many others that I could fill up pages and pages and pages of names, but I won't. I won't because some of them don't have names, some of them don't even have faces, and some of them I have long since forgotten - but God hasn't. All of these people are God's fingerprints. God's way of showing himself to me on earth. Sure I have had "God moments" where I knew only because of him am I still here, but it is the moments that aren't as significant that take my breath away.
Thank you to all of you that have taken my breath away and continue to take my breath away on a daily basis. God's love that has been shown through you is nothing less than a Heavenly treasure here on earth. I truly don't deserve God's love but He gives it freely because he loves me in ways I cannot yet comprehend. I stand on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 on a daily basis and truly believe that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." I also believe that everyone has a purpose in those seasons. I may not always understand why people come in or go out of my life but I know that God knows. Every single person's fingerprint on my life is amazing, cherished, and blessed.
My prayer for each of you is simple. Dear Lord, please bless all those who have blessed me until their cup runs over. Thank you for always filling the gaps and for leaving your fingerprints of love all over my life. Amen.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Big Girl...Stick With Your Dancing Doctor Idea
Big Girl and Little Lady decided to play barber shop yesterday....Little Lady's hair lost.
Yesterday afternoon started off like any other. I picked Big Girl up from school, came home, did snack, watched 30 minutes of TV, and then told them they had to go play for a little bit while I tried to pick up (ha!). I went to check on them a couple of times and they were playing really well...or so I thought. After I had checked on them, I came in, sat down for a minute and flipped on the TV for some reason. A few minutes later Little Lady comes out and says "Emma has scissors." OK. Wait. What? Wait. What has happened to your hair? What the? BIG GIRL!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!?! GET IN TIME OUT RIGHT NOW!!!! WHAT THE? WHAT THE? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY DID YOU DO THIS? Big Girl simply says "Sisters hair was too long. She needed a hair cut." At this point I am crying historically (yes...historically) and trying to figure out the what, why, and where this hair cutting has happened.
I call Big Grasshopper and leave the following message crying....bawling......OK....snot coming out my nose, tears dripping on my clothes crying.....BIG GIRL JUST CUT LITTLE LADIES HAIR!!!!! CRYING...and I hang up. I bet that is a great message.....yup....classic Kristin message.
I then call my WONDERFUL hair goddess person and beg her to help me. She takes me in laughing and fixes Madison's hair.
I know most kids do this and it is a right of passage, but to say that we have talked about not cutting hair is an under statement. Every time we have out scissors (which will be never, ever, not until they are 35 will they get to use another pair of scissors in this house) I talk to them about only cutting paper, and only cutting things we need to cut. We never, ever, under any circumstance think we need to cut clothing, Barbie hair, or someone's hair, including our own. (Think all my talking has really paid off...don't ya think?)
My verdict at the end of the day is Big Girl should stick to her dancing doctor idea of what she wants to be....and it is just hair....it grows back....right?
Yesterday afternoon started off like any other. I picked Big Girl up from school, came home, did snack, watched 30 minutes of TV, and then told them they had to go play for a little bit while I tried to pick up (ha!). I went to check on them a couple of times and they were playing really well...or so I thought. After I had checked on them, I came in, sat down for a minute and flipped on the TV for some reason. A few minutes later Little Lady comes out and says "Emma has scissors." OK. Wait. What? Wait. What has happened to your hair? What the? BIG GIRL!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!?! GET IN TIME OUT RIGHT NOW!!!! WHAT THE? WHAT THE? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY DID YOU DO THIS? Big Girl simply says "Sisters hair was too long. She needed a hair cut." At this point I am crying historically (yes...historically) and trying to figure out the what, why, and where this hair cutting has happened.
I call Big Grasshopper and leave the following message crying....bawling......OK....snot coming out my nose, tears dripping on my clothes crying.....BIG GIRL JUST CUT LITTLE LADIES HAIR!!!!! CRYING...and I hang up. I bet that is a great message.....yup....classic Kristin message.
I then call my WONDERFUL hair goddess person and beg her to help me. She takes me in laughing and fixes Madison's hair.
I know most kids do this and it is a right of passage, but to say that we have talked about not cutting hair is an under statement. Every time we have out scissors (which will be never, ever, not until they are 35 will they get to use another pair of scissors in this house) I talk to them about only cutting paper, and only cutting things we need to cut. We never, ever, under any circumstance think we need to cut clothing, Barbie hair, or someone's hair, including our own. (Think all my talking has really paid off...don't ya think?)
My verdict at the end of the day is Big Girl should stick to her dancing doctor idea of what she wants to be....and it is just hair....it grows back....right?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Your Only A Day Away.....
Tomorrow...sweet tomorrow....
The day Emma was born was so special. For one it meant that my body would quit having high blood pressure and I could go back to feeling somewhat normal and two it meant I would finally get to see this bundle of joy that I had waited on for the last 9 months. After she was cleaned up, everyone got a good look at her, and I was all alone for a few minutes with this little person it hit me....I would never be able to completely protect her again.
I know that she isn't going off to college and I am not sending her away to a deserted island but tomorrow is one more thing I can't completely protect her from. I can't choose her friends, can't make people be nice, can't always help her make the best choice, and I will not be there every second to know that she is OK. I can't protect her.
So for me....tomorrow is just a day away....but if today slows down to a crawl....that will be just fine for me...because today I can protect her and know that she is OK.
The day Emma was born was so special. For one it meant that my body would quit having high blood pressure and I could go back to feeling somewhat normal and two it meant I would finally get to see this bundle of joy that I had waited on for the last 9 months. After she was cleaned up, everyone got a good look at her, and I was all alone for a few minutes with this little person it hit me....I would never be able to completely protect her again.
I know that she isn't going off to college and I am not sending her away to a deserted island but tomorrow is one more thing I can't completely protect her from. I can't choose her friends, can't make people be nice, can't always help her make the best choice, and I will not be there every second to know that she is OK. I can't protect her.
So for me....tomorrow is just a day away....but if today slows down to a crawl....that will be just fine for me...because today I can protect her and know that she is OK.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Things Never Said About Having Children
There are unwritten and unspoken things about having children. Things that if a people who do not have children learned before having kids themselves would maybe make them rethink having the beauties in the first place. Why are these things unspoken? 1. We who have children want others to be in misery with us so we don't tell them the REAL horrors. 2. You sign a waiver (in the hospital while drugged up) saying you will never, ever, under any real circumstance tell any childless couple what life is really like after you take home that precious little bundle of joy. OK...well maybe you don't sign a waiver but I do think there is an unwritten code that some things just aren't talked about. 3. We who have children want to laugh at people who don't have children when they actually do. Most people who don't have children have a preconceived notion that they can parent better than we can or that they would do things different. What normally happens is they turn out to be average parents just like us and do crazy things just like us and so then we get to laugh at all their "if I was a parent" theories. So what are the the things unspoken or things you have to sign a waiver to never ever tell a childless parent?
1. You will NEVER, EVER, EVER sleep a whole night the same way you did before you had your bundle of joy. The first 6-12 weeks are the most sleep deprived time but even after you think you should go back to peacefully sleeping through the night you don't. You get up to see if they are breathing. You hear every cough. You hear if they roll over. You hear if they go to the bathroom. You hear EVERYTHING. You also STILL have to get up. They get sick. They throw up. They have to go to the bathroom. They want to play with their dolls or cars at 3 in the morning. Sleeping is NEVER the same.....EVER....
2. The amount of poop one child can have on any given day is so massively unproportional to how big they actually are. It is ridiculous! You think they should have tiny little poops and that it should only happen 1-2 times a day. Nope. Some days I have wondered how on earth that much poop can come from such a small child. When the girls were babies they seemed to be poop factories....OK...and so they were poop factories....but I would absolutely be amazed at how much poop would come out of them at any given time...and just when I thought they were done....oh no...they would poop...AGAIN!!!
3. Throwing up. Not spit up...Throw up....on you, around you, in your mouth, in your hair, on your clothes, on your new leather sofa, on the carpet, in the bed, anywhere but in the toilet. It happens. It still happens and Big Girl and Little Lady are 5 and 3. Neither of them can seem to find a toilet when it needs to be done and the mom instinct is just to let them to puke on you. Yup.....pleasant....I know.
4. Vacations are for.......SLEEPING!!! Yes...you will just want to sleep! I know...you think you are going to want to do all the usual things when you go on vacation without the little beauties for the first time like drinking, having sex, partying it up, etc. Nope...After Big Girl was born we had our 4th anniversary. We decided to go up to Branson for one night. We dropped her off with Nana and away we went. I thought we would have a great time. We would eat out, get some rest, have sex which we haven't had since she was born because we were so tired (see #1 if you don't remember the lack of sleep part) and just really do some fun things. We got to Branson, checked in to the hotel and decided to nap....for 4, FOUR, 4 hours! We got up go eat, see the show we had bought tickets for, and then went to the hotel back and fell promptly to sleep....AGAIN! The next morning at 9:30 we wake up to remember that check out at this hotel is at 11. Oh yes we did have some fun in between the sleeping...but there was JUST SLEEPING happening.
5. Most parents will tell you that sex will become way over rated...because it NEVER happens. Being sleep deprived and smelling like poop or throw up or both at the same time is not the picture of attractive. If it does happen it is short, sweat, and hurried. Long gone will be the days of pretty night gowns and candles. Long gone are the days that the acts of lust could take forever and no one would care. In are the days of someone screaming at the door that some cartoon is over, their sister won't share, or that they need milk. In are also the days were you say "hurry...you have 5 minutes make them count....do you really think they are asleep?....etc." Yup...romantic don't you think?
6. Children are dirty and gross little creatures. They are always getting into things. They are always putting things in their little mouths that they shouldn't...like dog poop, rocks, coins, crayons, play do, etc. I don't think I have gone a day in over 5 years where I haven't been utterly disgusted by something one of my children has done. They are always showing me things I would rather not see, doing things I wish they wouldn't do, and putting things in places...well...we won't go there.
These are 6 of the more obvious things to list. I could write 94 more to round out to an even hundred but I can't. Remember...I signed an oath. But I will tell you this if you are still reading. I wouldn't change a thing. For all the sleep I have lost and for everything else that has happened, I wouldn't change a thing. I would actually go back if I could and do it all again. I long for the nights were I had 3 am feedings so I can hold Big Girl again and have her stare up at me with her big brown eyes or for mornings where I could escape for a few moments to have some quiet nursing time with Little Lady. They grow up so fast and as I look back over the last 5 years I laugh and cry. There really are crazy things that happen that no one tells you about....but I wouldn't change a thing.
1. You will NEVER, EVER, EVER sleep a whole night the same way you did before you had your bundle of joy. The first 6-12 weeks are the most sleep deprived time but even after you think you should go back to peacefully sleeping through the night you don't. You get up to see if they are breathing. You hear every cough. You hear if they roll over. You hear if they go to the bathroom. You hear EVERYTHING. You also STILL have to get up. They get sick. They throw up. They have to go to the bathroom. They want to play with their dolls or cars at 3 in the morning. Sleeping is NEVER the same.....EVER....
2. The amount of poop one child can have on any given day is so massively unproportional to how big they actually are. It is ridiculous! You think they should have tiny little poops and that it should only happen 1-2 times a day. Nope. Some days I have wondered how on earth that much poop can come from such a small child. When the girls were babies they seemed to be poop factories....OK...and so they were poop factories....but I would absolutely be amazed at how much poop would come out of them at any given time...and just when I thought they were done....oh no...they would poop...AGAIN!!!
3. Throwing up. Not spit up...Throw up....on you, around you, in your mouth, in your hair, on your clothes, on your new leather sofa, on the carpet, in the bed, anywhere but in the toilet. It happens. It still happens and Big Girl and Little Lady are 5 and 3. Neither of them can seem to find a toilet when it needs to be done and the mom instinct is just to let them to puke on you. Yup.....pleasant....I know.
4. Vacations are for.......SLEEPING!!! Yes...you will just want to sleep! I know...you think you are going to want to do all the usual things when you go on vacation without the little beauties for the first time like drinking, having sex, partying it up, etc. Nope...After Big Girl was born we had our 4th anniversary. We decided to go up to Branson for one night. We dropped her off with Nana and away we went. I thought we would have a great time. We would eat out, get some rest, have sex which we haven't had since she was born because we were so tired (see #1 if you don't remember the lack of sleep part) and just really do some fun things. We got to Branson, checked in to the hotel and decided to nap....for 4, FOUR, 4 hours! We got up go eat, see the show we had bought tickets for, and then went to the hotel back and fell promptly to sleep....AGAIN! The next morning at 9:30 we wake up to remember that check out at this hotel is at 11. Oh yes we did have some fun in between the sleeping...but there was JUST SLEEPING happening.
5. Most parents will tell you that sex will become way over rated...because it NEVER happens. Being sleep deprived and smelling like poop or throw up or both at the same time is not the picture of attractive. If it does happen it is short, sweat, and hurried. Long gone will be the days of pretty night gowns and candles. Long gone are the days that the acts of lust could take forever and no one would care. In are the days of someone screaming at the door that some cartoon is over, their sister won't share, or that they need milk. In are also the days were you say "hurry...you have 5 minutes make them count....do you really think they are asleep?....etc." Yup...romantic don't you think?
6. Children are dirty and gross little creatures. They are always getting into things. They are always putting things in their little mouths that they shouldn't...like dog poop, rocks, coins, crayons, play do, etc. I don't think I have gone a day in over 5 years where I haven't been utterly disgusted by something one of my children has done. They are always showing me things I would rather not see, doing things I wish they wouldn't do, and putting things in places...well...we won't go there.
These are 6 of the more obvious things to list. I could write 94 more to round out to an even hundred but I can't. Remember...I signed an oath. But I will tell you this if you are still reading. I wouldn't change a thing. For all the sleep I have lost and for everything else that has happened, I wouldn't change a thing. I would actually go back if I could and do it all again. I long for the nights were I had 3 am feedings so I can hold Big Girl again and have her stare up at me with her big brown eyes or for mornings where I could escape for a few moments to have some quiet nursing time with Little Lady. They grow up so fast and as I look back over the last 5 years I laugh and cry. There really are crazy things that happen that no one tells you about....but I wouldn't change a thing.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Adventure Point Camp 2010 - Grace Point Church
As a PK I have been to my fair share of church camps and vacation Bible schools. Never have I had this much fun or been so warn out. It is a true pleasure to be a small part of a big church doing huge things for NWA and the world!!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Brett Michaels Oh How I love you...But in My Dreams?
I often have strange dreams. I swim, fall, fly, yell, and talk. Most of the time it is with blobs of people around and not people that are non-distinguishable. Last night...oh man....last night was different. Brett Michaels of Poison popped up. Apparently I was in love with him and him with me.
Brett: Kristin, Oh how sexy and hot I think you are. Kiss me!
Kristin: You are so hot!...and what is up with your hair? Wait....what are these other women doing here?
Brett: You know....We are on my show...Rock of love 100. :)
Yup....I love Brett Michaels...but I think we just need to keep that love from afar.
Dreams...
Brett: Kristin, Oh how sexy and hot I think you are. Kiss me!
Kristin: You are so hot!...and what is up with your hair? Wait....what are these other women doing here?
Brett: You know....We are on my show...Rock of love 100. :)
Yup....I love Brett Michaels...but I think we just need to keep that love from afar.
Dreams...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Commencement 2010
This time of year brings up so many fond memories. It was a short 14 years ago (well...maybe that is a long time) that I walked across the stage of Yukon High School to graduate. I did not get to speak to the masses that day and more than likely I will not be called to speak to the masses any time soon. But, if I was, this is I would say.
Graduates, Parents, Fellow Teachers, Administrators, Families, and Friends,
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Remember from this day on, the path you choose is yours. Your parents, family, and teachers have gotten you this far and now it is your turn. Choose wisely and I hope you have the time of your life. Congratulations and good night!!
Graduates, Parents, Fellow Teachers, Administrators, Families, and Friends,
Today is a special day. For the last 18 years graduates, your parents, family, and teachers have nurtured, cared for, watched with much anticipation, and pushed to get you to this point. You have not gotten to this day alone. It really does take a village to raise a child and so this day not only belongs to you the graduates, it also belongs to all of those that have helped get you to this point.
The times have changed since I graduated just a short 14 years ago. If I needed to call home I found a pay phone that took quarters, the internet was just a figment of everyone's imagination, gas cost $.69 cents a gallon, we only had 100 channels on cable and I still had to get up to change the channel, and we could eat at Taco Bell for under $3.00 for lunch...OK...so the Taco Bell part is still the same. Now everyone has cell phones, the internet is the place to be, connect, and go to for just about everything, gas is on the rise daily, and now cable has hundreds of channels and I don't have to get up to change the channel and can "tape" any show I want simply by pressing a button.
However, for as much has changed socially, much has remained the same when it comes to the lives of graduates. Every graduate that walks across the high school stage to receive a diploma in the next few weeks all have their lives ahead of them. All of you have basically the same goals, same dreams, same aspirations. Most of you have really no clue how you are going to achieve all that lies ahead of you and more than not, most of you have no clue what life is really like...and that is OK!
I thought of a song that I think is poignant for graduations. I Hope You have the Time of Your Life by Green Day.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
If we break down these lyrics into a few short segments you will see that this truly is the perfect graduation song. Today is graduation day....a fork stuck in the road. You must make a choice. You alone must choose what path your life is going to take. Oh sure your parents, family, and friends will have some influence on you for a while, but the choices are truly yours from this moment on. If you succeed in college it will be because you got up, went to class, and did well. If you flunk out, it will be your failure alone that got you to that outcome. If you decide after high school that college isn't for you and you are going straight to work, know that the choices you make are also your own. You must get up, get to work on time, do what is asked of you, and at the end of the day choose if you will be successful. Everyone on a daily basis makes choices and you as well will be making them. Choose wisely.
The fork stuck in the road is also here today because starting today you will be having to choose a new path. Most of you will have to decide what seems right now to be a dark and unlit path. The path of the unknown. Life from this point is unknown and it is what you make it. It is what you decide. It is up to you to be successful, it is up to you to be who you think you should be. No longer will the path be lit for you by parents, family, teachers, or the state of Arkansas. No longer will there be people along the way to light your path. You will have to do that yourself. Choose wisely which path you will take and how and who you will light your path with.
Also know you will have other forks in the road. Leaving high school is a very small fork compared to some that will come at you. Life is a journey, a process, and there will definitely be other forks. Be prepared for those forks. Sometimes they will come gradually and you will see them long before you get there. Other times, the tree in the middle of the road will hit you right in the middle of the forehead and you will wonder how and why did that happen. If you know and understand that life will have other forks, you will more than likely be prepared to handle what is ahead.
Take photographs and still frames in your mind. Life goes by so quickly. It doesn't seem like 14 years ago I walked across the stage to receive my diploma...sometimes it seems like just yesterday that happened. Life flies at you and by you faster than a speeding bullet, slow it down by cherishing memories and mile markers on your path. Leave little lanterns on your path with those photographs and still frames so when you get lost (and you will get lost), you can come back to those moments.
Cherish where you are on your path at that moment. For most of your life you have always wanted to get to the next mile stone or the next mile marker and your parents probably couldn't wait for you to get there as well. Sitting up, rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, going to kindergarten, going to high school....all of those things most of you couldn't wait to do and your parents pushed you to do. Life is truly over in the blink of an eye so slow down along the way and take those photographs and still frames. Cherish where you are in that moment and be happy that you have that moment because it will never be there again.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
However, for as much has changed socially, much has remained the same when it comes to the lives of graduates. Every graduate that walks across the high school stage to receive a diploma in the next few weeks all have their lives ahead of them. All of you have basically the same goals, same dreams, same aspirations. Most of you have really no clue how you are going to achieve all that lies ahead of you and more than not, most of you have no clue what life is really like...and that is OK!
I thought of a song that I think is poignant for graduations. I Hope You have the Time of Your Life by Green Day.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
If we break down these lyrics into a few short segments you will see that this truly is the perfect graduation song. Today is graduation day....a fork stuck in the road. You must make a choice. You alone must choose what path your life is going to take. Oh sure your parents, family, and friends will have some influence on you for a while, but the choices are truly yours from this moment on. If you succeed in college it will be because you got up, went to class, and did well. If you flunk out, it will be your failure alone that got you to that outcome. If you decide after high school that college isn't for you and you are going straight to work, know that the choices you make are also your own. You must get up, get to work on time, do what is asked of you, and at the end of the day choose if you will be successful. Everyone on a daily basis makes choices and you as well will be making them. Choose wisely.
The fork stuck in the road is also here today because starting today you will be having to choose a new path. Most of you will have to decide what seems right now to be a dark and unlit path. The path of the unknown. Life from this point is unknown and it is what you make it. It is what you decide. It is up to you to be successful, it is up to you to be who you think you should be. No longer will the path be lit for you by parents, family, teachers, or the state of Arkansas. No longer will there be people along the way to light your path. You will have to do that yourself. Choose wisely which path you will take and how and who you will light your path with.
Also know you will have other forks in the road. Leaving high school is a very small fork compared to some that will come at you. Life is a journey, a process, and there will definitely be other forks. Be prepared for those forks. Sometimes they will come gradually and you will see them long before you get there. Other times, the tree in the middle of the road will hit you right in the middle of the forehead and you will wonder how and why did that happen. If you know and understand that life will have other forks, you will more than likely be prepared to handle what is ahead.
Take photographs and still frames in your mind. Life goes by so quickly. It doesn't seem like 14 years ago I walked across the stage to receive my diploma...sometimes it seems like just yesterday that happened. Life flies at you and by you faster than a speeding bullet, slow it down by cherishing memories and mile markers on your path. Leave little lanterns on your path with those photographs and still frames so when you get lost (and you will get lost), you can come back to those moments.
Cherish where you are on your path at that moment. For most of your life you have always wanted to get to the next mile stone or the next mile marker and your parents probably couldn't wait for you to get there as well. Sitting up, rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, going to kindergarten, going to high school....all of those things most of you couldn't wait to do and your parents pushed you to do. Life is truly over in the blink of an eye so slow down along the way and take those photographs and still frames. Cherish where you are in that moment and be happy that you have that moment because it will never be there again.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Life is unpredictable, crazy, insane, and at times really scary. Whatever your life will become, know that it is the right path for you and I truly hope you have a great time. I hope you had a great time in high school. I hope you will look back with fond memories and great times. I hope you ceased the day. I hope you got everything out of high school that you wanted and deserved. I truly hope that you had the time of your life. If not, know that you can't change those moments or go back in time, but you can change the rest of your path and where life will take you.
When you look back some day in 10, 14, 20, 30, 45, 60 years on where your life has taken you, all the forks in the road, all the photographs, and all the twists and turns that you didn't even know would be there, I hope you look back without regret. Take chances, do things that aren't conventional, take that path that is less followed. I hope you truly have the time of your life.
I would like to leave you with a poem by Robert Frost. Most of you have read it or heard it at least onc, if not a few times in your life, The Road Less Traveled. Sometimes forks in the road will be there and there will really be only one way to go, but on a few occasions there will be two forks. When there are, go with the fork that doesn't seem to be the most withered, the most walked. Know that that path has been walked before by others but it has been awhile. Know that in the darkness you will find your way. Know that the road less traveled is often times the best path that you truly can choose.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Remember from this day on, the path you choose is yours. Your parents, family, and teachers have gotten you this far and now it is your turn. Choose wisely and I hope you have the time of your life. Congratulations and good night!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Easter Bunny?
Yesterday was Easter and our first really hard questions about how "things" get in the house arose. Here is the conversation.
BigG (Big Girl): When is the Easter Bunny going to come?
BG (Big Grasshopper): He has already come...you got baskets?
BigG: Yes...but then how did he get in our house?
BG: Magic!
BigG: Magic? What kind of Magic?
BG: It is just magic.
BigG: Like Santa?
BG: Kinda...
BG looking at me, "You know this "magic" thing would be easier if there weren't Walmart tags on everything."
Me: "Yup....Walmart magic."
BigG (Big Girl): When is the Easter Bunny going to come?
BG (Big Grasshopper): He has already come...you got baskets?
BigG: Yes...but then how did he get in our house?
BG: Magic!
BigG: Magic? What kind of Magic?
BG: It is just magic.
BigG: Like Santa?
BG: Kinda...
BG looking at me, "You know this "magic" thing would be easier if there weren't Walmart tags on everything."
Me: "Yup....Walmart magic."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Recycling
OK....So I do it...but I don't have to like it. I think recycling is ridiculous. Sorry to all my tree hugging friends but I really, really do. It is stupid that I stand at the sink rinsing out containers of syrup, peas, milk, etc. so that it can go in the trash? HUH? I mean...IT IS TRASH! I get it...I get that this trash that can be taken and turned back into whatever it was or done something else with, but why do I have to wash trash? I mean really....do you think it really matters if there is a pea stuck to the bottom of the pea can that is going to be sent to be melted down to make another pea can? Does it matter if my milk container has 1 drop of milk left? Really?
We live in a town that has one bin for recycling everything. They have some rules about what they will and won't recycle but that is complicated and time consuming so if it has a recycling logo on it I throw it in the bin and let someone else worry if it is a #2,4, 5 or something else. The only thing we don't put in there is glass and this is the one thing I wish they would recycle because it is the easiest (or so I have heard).
So why recycle? Does it even go to where they say it is going or do they just take it to the landfill and it is just supposed to make me feel better because I am "saving mother earth"? I don't really know....but I sure would like to find out.
Now until then.....excuse me...I have some peas to scrub out of my cans.
We live in a town that has one bin for recycling everything. They have some rules about what they will and won't recycle but that is complicated and time consuming so if it has a recycling logo on it I throw it in the bin and let someone else worry if it is a #2,4, 5 or something else. The only thing we don't put in there is glass and this is the one thing I wish they would recycle because it is the easiest (or so I have heard).
So why recycle? Does it even go to where they say it is going or do they just take it to the landfill and it is just supposed to make me feel better because I am "saving mother earth"? I don't really know....but I sure would like to find out.
Now until then.....excuse me...I have some peas to scrub out of my cans.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
National Geographic Boobies
My poor children - girls...I am sorry. You won't know this for a while (please God, not for a L-O-N-G while) but you will have National Geographic boobies some day just like your mommy (National Geographic boobies are the boobies from pictures of women I remember seeing in the 1970-1980's National Geographic. Normally The pictures were from Africa where the bra had apparently not been introduced or they have realized what we all know...bras are not comfortable, are designed by a man to make boobies do things they should not do, and should be burned when ever possible.).
How do I know the girls have no shot at small, pretty, perky boobies (unless they buy them)? The power of observation is amazing. I have big boobies, my mom is not small, Big Grasshopper's mom is on the larger size, and BG's sister also had big ones before she had them flopped, chopped and pulled up (I am so jealous by the way).
So there you have it. They have NO chance EVER to know what it is like to have small, pretty, perky boobies. One minute they will go from flat as a board to D size and not even hardly blink an eye. There will be no Victoria Secret, no pretty colors, no pretty patterns for them unless they are just starting out (oh who's kidding...I am never buying my children Victoria Secret bra's or pretty bra's for that matter). There will be plain white, nude, and black bra's in their futures. So how do you tell a 9-10 year old girl that one day she will have National Geographic boobies and she can never shop at Victoria Secret? That is one more question to add to my list of things to figure out before I have to explain puberty. (please Dear God, let that be a L-O-N-G time from now as well!)
How do I know the girls have no shot at small, pretty, perky boobies (unless they buy them)? The power of observation is amazing. I have big boobies, my mom is not small, Big Grasshopper's mom is on the larger size, and BG's sister also had big ones before she had them flopped, chopped and pulled up (I am so jealous by the way).
So there you have it. They have NO chance EVER to know what it is like to have small, pretty, perky boobies. One minute they will go from flat as a board to D size and not even hardly blink an eye. There will be no Victoria Secret, no pretty colors, no pretty patterns for them unless they are just starting out (oh who's kidding...I am never buying my children Victoria Secret bra's or pretty bra's for that matter). There will be plain white, nude, and black bra's in their futures. So how do you tell a 9-10 year old girl that one day she will have National Geographic boobies and she can never shop at Victoria Secret? That is one more question to add to my list of things to figure out before I have to explain puberty. (please Dear God, let that be a L-O-N-G time from now as well!)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Rich Famous Men....Here We Go Again!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/03/18/jesse.james.ppl/index.html?hpt=C2
So here we go again....Yesterday it was Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, etc...today it is Jessie James. When will beautiful women, ugly women, fat women, skinny women, funny women, hateful women, young women, old women, middle aged women, short women, tall women, christian women, agnostic women, faithful women, and any other women not covered in any of these catagories rise up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! This is getting ridiculous!! I know it is human nature these days to see and want, but when does taking a vowel and saying I love you, trust you, want to be with you, remind these men that you CAN'T have everything they want?!? (Thanks for letting me vent...go back to your regularly scheduled programming.)
So here we go again....Yesterday it was Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, etc...today it is Jessie James. When will beautiful women, ugly women, fat women, skinny women, funny women, hateful women, young women, old women, middle aged women, short women, tall women, christian women, agnostic women, faithful women, and any other women not covered in any of these catagories rise up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! This is getting ridiculous!! I know it is human nature these days to see and want, but when does taking a vowel and saying I love you, trust you, want to be with you, remind these men that you CAN'T have everything they want?!? (Thanks for letting me vent...go back to your regularly scheduled programming.)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
For The Best 5 Year Old Ever!
Dear Big Girl!
Wow! What a year you have had! It doesn't seem possible that you are 5. I feel like it was just yesterday when I was screaming at Dr. Hannah to get you out of my body. :) Your labor was probably the hardest thing I have ever been through physically in my life. I was in labor for 14 hours with 3 1/2 hours of pushing (some day you will know what that means). You changed my body and my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.
You have grown up so much this year. You are not my timid little girl any more. I think you will always be more reserved than Little Lady, but you definitely are not a scared one that is going to sit on the side lines while everyone else is having fun. You are always going to be in the thick of things, you just won't be as vocal about it.
You know most of your letters and can spell anything I tell you letters for. You are starting to put together letters with sounds and I know it won't be long before you are learning to read. You can count to 20 and can count to 100 with help. You know all of your colors and shapes. You can write your first and last name without help, your sister's name, mommy, and daddy. You love spelling and writing. You always want paper and pen or pencil to write and love doing crafty things.
You love watching TV and playing on the Wii. You are so good at the Wii and have even beaten me a few times at bowling (sad I know). You also love making a tent, hiding so I can find you, playing baby and reading books. You love playing outside, riding your scooter and bike, writing with chalk, and blowing bubbles.
You love Nylah. I think that has been the biggest surprise I have had since getting Nylah. You love picking her up, carrying her around, and having her lay on you when you are on the couch. You wish she would sleep with you at night but complain she makes too much noise and snores. :)
You are becoming such a big helper. You are good at putting the silver ware away and doing small chores like feeding the dog and putting your laundry away in the right drawer. You don't like helping all of the time to pick up the messes you make but you are trying harder to help when asked.
You are so ready to go to Kindergarten that you can't stand it. You thought when you got your shots back in September that you could go the next day. When I told you that I had registered you for kindergarten you thought you would go tomorrow. You are going to have a blast...and I am going to miss you something terrible. We found out that you won't be going to the elementary that is near our house but one that is across town. I pray you don't know the difference and will have fun no matter where you end up.
You have become a little girl that I adore and admire. You are thoughtful with your sister and loving with the people around you. You are so smart and I am SO proud. I miss holding you, kissing your little head, and those sweet little moments that I had with you when you were little. You aren't little anymore and that alone kills me. I know this is the journey of life and I can't turn back time but I wish I had a few more of those moments. Those cuddle moments are becoming less and less and I know before long you won't even want to have me in the same room. That will also be a part of our journey. But for now, I will hold on to the moments that you sit in my lap and we have cuddle time together. I will also cherish more the moments that you let me help you and do things for you because that too, I am sad to say, will be going away before long.
I love you my girl! I love you more than life. I love you like I love breathing. I LOVE YOU from head to toe and in between. Your my baby that isn't a baby...just don't grow up too fast. It is already killing me that you are 5!
My prayer for you is that each day you don't take yourself too seriously, you learn that you are so special, and that no matter what mommy and daddy are right behind you cheering you on.
Happy Birthday Big Girl! You are the best! :)
Wow! What a year you have had! It doesn't seem possible that you are 5. I feel like it was just yesterday when I was screaming at Dr. Hannah to get you out of my body. :) Your labor was probably the hardest thing I have ever been through physically in my life. I was in labor for 14 hours with 3 1/2 hours of pushing (some day you will know what that means). You changed my body and my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.
You have grown up so much this year. You are not my timid little girl any more. I think you will always be more reserved than Little Lady, but you definitely are not a scared one that is going to sit on the side lines while everyone else is having fun. You are always going to be in the thick of things, you just won't be as vocal about it.
You know most of your letters and can spell anything I tell you letters for. You are starting to put together letters with sounds and I know it won't be long before you are learning to read. You can count to 20 and can count to 100 with help. You know all of your colors and shapes. You can write your first and last name without help, your sister's name, mommy, and daddy. You love spelling and writing. You always want paper and pen or pencil to write and love doing crafty things.
You love watching TV and playing on the Wii. You are so good at the Wii and have even beaten me a few times at bowling (sad I know). You also love making a tent, hiding so I can find you, playing baby and reading books. You love playing outside, riding your scooter and bike, writing with chalk, and blowing bubbles.
You love Nylah. I think that has been the biggest surprise I have had since getting Nylah. You love picking her up, carrying her around, and having her lay on you when you are on the couch. You wish she would sleep with you at night but complain she makes too much noise and snores. :)
You are becoming such a big helper. You are good at putting the silver ware away and doing small chores like feeding the dog and putting your laundry away in the right drawer. You don't like helping all of the time to pick up the messes you make but you are trying harder to help when asked.
You are so ready to go to Kindergarten that you can't stand it. You thought when you got your shots back in September that you could go the next day. When I told you that I had registered you for kindergarten you thought you would go tomorrow. You are going to have a blast...and I am going to miss you something terrible. We found out that you won't be going to the elementary that is near our house but one that is across town. I pray you don't know the difference and will have fun no matter where you end up.
You have become a little girl that I adore and admire. You are thoughtful with your sister and loving with the people around you. You are so smart and I am SO proud. I miss holding you, kissing your little head, and those sweet little moments that I had with you when you were little. You aren't little anymore and that alone kills me. I know this is the journey of life and I can't turn back time but I wish I had a few more of those moments. Those cuddle moments are becoming less and less and I know before long you won't even want to have me in the same room. That will also be a part of our journey. But for now, I will hold on to the moments that you sit in my lap and we have cuddle time together. I will also cherish more the moments that you let me help you and do things for you because that too, I am sad to say, will be going away before long.
I love you my girl! I love you more than life. I love you like I love breathing. I LOVE YOU from head to toe and in between. Your my baby that isn't a baby...just don't grow up too fast. It is already killing me that you are 5!
My prayer for you is that each day you don't take yourself too seriously, you learn that you are so special, and that no matter what mommy and daddy are right behind you cheering you on.
Happy Birthday Big Girl! You are the best! :)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Open Letter To My 3 Year Old
Dear Little Lady,
Today you are three. You were born on February 22, 2007, on a Thursday, at 1:20ish in the afternoon. You ground your head on my cervix for 15 long weeks. You made me sick. I don't think there was a day I didn't throw up, have constipation, or have heart burn (most days I had all three). I lived on Tums and Miralax for almost 9 months. I gained about 10 pounds and had the weirdest cravings for food. I was miserable towards the end and had contractions on and off for almost 3 weeks. Guess what? It was all worth it!
You are the sweetest little lady ever! In the last 3 years you have brightened our hearts, lives and house. Your little smile and giggles make my day. You are the spitting image of me when I was your age with your blond hair and blue eyes (sorry you don't look more like daddy). You run, jump, and gallop your way through the day until you almost fall into bed at night exhausted from all the energy you exude.
You have learned so many things this past year. You potty trained yourself (a true miracle) between Halloween and Thanksgiving, learned not to put everything in your mouth, how to ride the tricycle, use crayons and markers, be a good helper, and how to better interact with your sister and friends. You were brave swimming in the lake almost letting go, and you love fishing and looking at the worms in the container. You even made me look at the worms and touch them for you. You have also learned how to interact with your peers, biting is bad, and that we need to share our toys. You are starting to learn your colors and shapes...but for some reason I think you might be pulling my leg that you don't know some of your colors or you are color blind. :)
You love playing with your sister, Nylah the dog, mommy and daddy, and your friends at school and church. You love being outside anytime you can get out the door, swinging on the the swings, playing in the sandbox, sliding, and running around. You also love digging and finding rocks and sticks with Gigi and Papi and finding other fun objects at Nana and Papa's. Inside you love playing with your babies and can't seem to get enough of being a good mommy to your babies. You also love coloring, trying to cut (but you can't figure out how to hold the scissors right but won't let me help you), and gluing. You love your Little People stuff and making forts and tents.
You also love your purple blanket. Every day we have to go on a search for your purple blanket. Normally when I wash purple blanket you sit and cry by the washer and dryer until it is clean and you get it back. As I write this I know I will look back and smile on this moment, but for now most of the time it just annoys me because you cry and I hate that you cry when you know you are going to get it back. You are so attached. Both Gigi and Nana have had to fix purple blanket because it got a hole in it. I hope some day you will realize how much I think not only you love the purple blanket, but I have loved what it has come to symbolize for you and me both.
I can't wait to see who you become. You have come along way since the day I pushed you out of my body and held you for the first time. You are my little pumpkin head that I love from head to toe and in between and you make me so proud to be your mommy. Your spirit and laughter light up the room and I hope you always keep that with you as you grow. You know you have a big name and share your special day with the first President of the US so you have a lot to live up to. You are a gift from God that I do not take for granted. My prayer for you is that your big heart, large laugh, and big smile remain with you always and that the Lord always keep you in the palm of his hand.
I love you Little Lady! Happy 3rd Birthday!
Today you are three. You were born on February 22, 2007, on a Thursday, at 1:20ish in the afternoon. You ground your head on my cervix for 15 long weeks. You made me sick. I don't think there was a day I didn't throw up, have constipation, or have heart burn (most days I had all three). I lived on Tums and Miralax for almost 9 months. I gained about 10 pounds and had the weirdest cravings for food. I was miserable towards the end and had contractions on and off for almost 3 weeks. Guess what? It was all worth it!
You are the sweetest little lady ever! In the last 3 years you have brightened our hearts, lives and house. Your little smile and giggles make my day. You are the spitting image of me when I was your age with your blond hair and blue eyes (sorry you don't look more like daddy). You run, jump, and gallop your way through the day until you almost fall into bed at night exhausted from all the energy you exude.
You have learned so many things this past year. You potty trained yourself (a true miracle) between Halloween and Thanksgiving, learned not to put everything in your mouth, how to ride the tricycle, use crayons and markers, be a good helper, and how to better interact with your sister and friends. You were brave swimming in the lake almost letting go, and you love fishing and looking at the worms in the container. You even made me look at the worms and touch them for you. You have also learned how to interact with your peers, biting is bad, and that we need to share our toys. You are starting to learn your colors and shapes...but for some reason I think you might be pulling my leg that you don't know some of your colors or you are color blind. :)
You love playing with your sister, Nylah the dog, mommy and daddy, and your friends at school and church. You love being outside anytime you can get out the door, swinging on the the swings, playing in the sandbox, sliding, and running around. You also love digging and finding rocks and sticks with Gigi and Papi and finding other fun objects at Nana and Papa's. Inside you love playing with your babies and can't seem to get enough of being a good mommy to your babies. You also love coloring, trying to cut (but you can't figure out how to hold the scissors right but won't let me help you), and gluing. You love your Little People stuff and making forts and tents.
You also love your purple blanket. Every day we have to go on a search for your purple blanket. Normally when I wash purple blanket you sit and cry by the washer and dryer until it is clean and you get it back. As I write this I know I will look back and smile on this moment, but for now most of the time it just annoys me because you cry and I hate that you cry when you know you are going to get it back. You are so attached. Both Gigi and Nana have had to fix purple blanket because it got a hole in it. I hope some day you will realize how much I think not only you love the purple blanket, but I have loved what it has come to symbolize for you and me both.
I can't wait to see who you become. You have come along way since the day I pushed you out of my body and held you for the first time. You are my little pumpkin head that I love from head to toe and in between and you make me so proud to be your mommy. Your spirit and laughter light up the room and I hope you always keep that with you as you grow. You know you have a big name and share your special day with the first President of the US so you have a lot to live up to. You are a gift from God that I do not take for granted. My prayer for you is that your big heart, large laugh, and big smile remain with you always and that the Lord always keep you in the palm of his hand.
I love you Little Lady! Happy 3rd Birthday!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Random Thought of the Day
Why is it my age...like my boobies...are both going in the wrong direction? South...and fast. At one time (in my early 20's) I never thought my boobs would sag or that I would hit my 30's. Now that both have happened, I am wondering 1. why boobies have to sag and 2. how did I get so old so fast? I had a real problem saying that I was 27...and now I am having problem's with the next number (32). I guess it is better than the alternative....well at least for my age...but the alternative to my boobs being saggy would be for them to be perky again...and I would take that any day of the week. I am telling you if I could afford to have my boobs lopped, chopped, pulled up, pushed in, and moved north...I would have it done in a heart beat. Random...I know. :)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Sleep? Apparently It Is Only For The Weak!
I have had two nights this week that I have woken up around 2:30-3:00 in the morning and could not go back to sleep. I have many nights I get up about this time to go to the bathroom (I think that habit is one still left over from pregnancy or something) but usually I go right back to sleep. Normally when I wake up and can't go back to sleep I have a strict fight getting up policy but the last few times I have quit and gotten up to watch reruns of the Cosby Show, the news, or something that I have DVR'd (the best invention of the last 5 years). Last night after fighting rolling around and knowing I was awake up trying to pretend I was asleep I decided I couldn't lay in bed anymore so I hit the couch and turned on the TV. After I watched a few infomercials about work out videos and almost buying one set I decided to watch Project Runway and Private Practice. At around 5:00 I decided I needed to try to sleep even if I didn't think I couldn't. I turned off the TV and laid on the couch in what I thought would be dark. Nope...there is a blue light on our DVR that shines...really bright. It isn't a normal blue light....it is neon. I put my hand up over my face and close my eyes thinking if I just close my eyes it will go away. I guess it did for a few minutes but then...it happened. Something got in my mouth...not sure what that something was...praying it wasn't a spider....and made me cough. BLAH!!!!!
Eventually I made my way back to my side of the bed and tried to go back to sleep. I listened to Geoff's alarm go off, asked him if he slept, and then listened to him grunt his way through his workout, shower, and fumbling for clothes. I think I might have dozed off a few times but nothing significant to speak of.
At 8:00 Madison came in and tapped me to remind me that I would not be going back to sleep for good and my day must start whether I wanted it to or not. Apparently this week is trying to teach me sleeping is for the weak or children under the age of 20. Yawn!!!
Eventually I made my way back to my side of the bed and tried to go back to sleep. I listened to Geoff's alarm go off, asked him if he slept, and then listened to him grunt his way through his workout, shower, and fumbling for clothes. I think I might have dozed off a few times but nothing significant to speak of.
At 8:00 Madison came in and tapped me to remind me that I would not be going back to sleep for good and my day must start whether I wanted it to or not. Apparently this week is trying to teach me sleeping is for the weak or children under the age of 20. Yawn!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
I'm Not As Young As I Used To Be
Last night was really fun. Geoff and I went to eat at one of the best places in Fayetteville, The Pesto Cafe, and then went down to Dickson Street to see a concert at George's Majestic Lounge (sounds cooler than it is). I enjoyed spending time with Geoff, eating at one of our favorite restaurants in the area and then hanging out for some good music. However, I am not as young as I used to be.
First, When we got down to Dickson Street we had to stand in a line out in the cold for like 30 minutes. When I was in my 20's this probably would not have bothered me....but let me say I was freezing and if we would have had to wait another 10-15 minutes, I am not sure I would have gone to the concert at all. Nobody is worth standing in line out in the cold for over 30 minutes to see.
Second, the concert said it was going to start at 7:00 on the tickets. We were still standing in that very cold line at 7:00. At 8:00 we were inside but there was still no movement. Finally at 9:00 the warm-up band came one and played their set. I have always had an issue with people/places/events that don't stick to time schedules, but as I get older, this drives me more and more crazy! I get that this was a concert in a bar so it was obviously not going to start at 7:00, but the main band didn't even come on until after 10:00! I am starting to be like Big Grasshopper's dad. If someone says they are going to do something, be somewhere, have an appointment, etc. at one time, BE ON TIME!!
Third, my hearing. I STILL can't hear anything this morning. I know this is normal and I know it will eventually go back to normal (I hope), but waking up this morning my ears and head hurt worse than I remember. Ugh...Maybe not as young as I used to be.
Last, we didn't get home until after 1:00 a.m. This isn't really wasn't/isn't a big deal because BG's mom and dad (thank you Nana and Papa) watched the girls last night. The time wasn't the issue...what I find interesting is I kept watching my phone for the time and just kept thinking I should have been reading the girls a book, or tucking the girls in, or even just going to bed myself. I am NOT a night owl. Normally I am asleep by 10ish. I thought last night before we went that I would be excited to be out late, do something that "normal" people do, and just do something we used to do that we don't do anymore. I can now tell you why we don't do this any more or very often.
I know I sound like I am whining (you can write and complain that I am later), but I really am not. All I am saying is maybe, just maybe I am not as young as I used to be. Things that didn't bother me in my 20's when we went out, now bother me. Things that BG and I used to do when we were dating and newly married don't really seem to fit who we are any more. Yes, we still like to get out, yes we still like to have fun, but maybe that getting out and fun is just now in a different form....and maybe I am really OK with it. I was never a party girl and I really don't want to be the party girl who is still trying to hold on to something that was or maybe never was. Yup...I'm not as young as I used to be...and I am completely happy with that!
First, When we got down to Dickson Street we had to stand in a line out in the cold for like 30 minutes. When I was in my 20's this probably would not have bothered me....but let me say I was freezing and if we would have had to wait another 10-15 minutes, I am not sure I would have gone to the concert at all. Nobody is worth standing in line out in the cold for over 30 minutes to see.
Second, the concert said it was going to start at 7:00 on the tickets. We were still standing in that very cold line at 7:00. At 8:00 we were inside but there was still no movement. Finally at 9:00 the warm-up band came one and played their set. I have always had an issue with people/places/events that don't stick to time schedules, but as I get older, this drives me more and more crazy! I get that this was a concert in a bar so it was obviously not going to start at 7:00, but the main band didn't even come on until after 10:00! I am starting to be like Big Grasshopper's dad. If someone says they are going to do something, be somewhere, have an appointment, etc. at one time, BE ON TIME!!
Third, my hearing. I STILL can't hear anything this morning. I know this is normal and I know it will eventually go back to normal (I hope), but waking up this morning my ears and head hurt worse than I remember. Ugh...Maybe not as young as I used to be.
Last, we didn't get home until after 1:00 a.m. This isn't really wasn't/isn't a big deal because BG's mom and dad (thank you Nana and Papa) watched the girls last night. The time wasn't the issue...what I find interesting is I kept watching my phone for the time and just kept thinking I should have been reading the girls a book, or tucking the girls in, or even just going to bed myself. I am NOT a night owl. Normally I am asleep by 10ish. I thought last night before we went that I would be excited to be out late, do something that "normal" people do, and just do something we used to do that we don't do anymore. I can now tell you why we don't do this any more or very often.
I know I sound like I am whining (you can write and complain that I am later), but I really am not. All I am saying is maybe, just maybe I am not as young as I used to be. Things that didn't bother me in my 20's when we went out, now bother me. Things that BG and I used to do when we were dating and newly married don't really seem to fit who we are any more. Yes, we still like to get out, yes we still like to have fun, but maybe that getting out and fun is just now in a different form....and maybe I am really OK with it. I was never a party girl and I really don't want to be the party girl who is still trying to hold on to something that was or maybe never was. Yup...I'm not as young as I used to be...and I am completely happy with that!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Chicken Tacos
Chicken Tacos are our favorite. They are super easy to make and you can bake them or throw them in the crock-pot.
1 pound (more or less) of chicken breasts or chicken tenders (I use the boneless skinless kind)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning
Put chicken in dish of choice. Mix Rotel and taco seasoning together and pour over. Place in crock-pot or oven. If crock-pot cooking cook on low for like 6 hours hours (I have a crazy crock-pot that cooks this stuff in 2 hours on low...but that is for another post when it blows up the house.). If oven cooking, cook at 350 for an hour or a little over until it is tender and juices run clear.
Once chicken is done take out, shred and place back in juices. Sometimes if it doesn't have a lot of juice I put in either tomato sauce or tomato juice - whichever I have. Leave in juices until you can't stand it anymore.
We eat these as tacos or we also make "Mexican Rice Bowls." Yummo! Mexican rice bowls are layer in a bowl Mexican or Spanish rice (love Spanish rice), taco chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, corn chips broken up, sour cream and Chalula hot sauce.
1 pound (more or less) of chicken breasts or chicken tenders (I use the boneless skinless kind)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning
Put chicken in dish of choice. Mix Rotel and taco seasoning together and pour over. Place in crock-pot or oven. If crock-pot cooking cook on low for like 6 hours hours (I have a crazy crock-pot that cooks this stuff in 2 hours on low...but that is for another post when it blows up the house.). If oven cooking, cook at 350 for an hour or a little over until it is tender and juices run clear.
Once chicken is done take out, shred and place back in juices. Sometimes if it doesn't have a lot of juice I put in either tomato sauce or tomato juice - whichever I have. Leave in juices until you can't stand it anymore.
We eat these as tacos or we also make "Mexican Rice Bowls." Yummo! Mexican rice bowls are layer in a bowl Mexican or Spanish rice (love Spanish rice), taco chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, corn chips broken up, sour cream and Chalula hot sauce.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Smoke Signals
This afternoon I decided to make chicken tacos for dinner (recipe to follow). They are so yummy, easy, and we all love them so I thought this would be a perfect meal for a Friday night. I turn on the oven to 350 degrees and go have a seat on the couch to prop my foot up because my ankle is still hurting. A few minutes later (like 8-10) the beeper goes off that signals that the oven is ready. As I continue to sit on the couch I get a whiff of smoke that signals my brain that something is very wrong. I don't clean my oven often (confession #4,687) and so I thought it might have just been something that dripped from the last time I cooked something there. As I go to open the door, a plume of black smoke rolls out of the oven. I quickly close the door and panic. Panic is what is what I do best and so panic I did. My brain raced and I decided to call Big Grasshopper. Why I didn't call 911 with the thought of my oven being on fire is beyond me but I called Big Grasshopper.
Me: I think the oven is on fire!
BG: What did you do?
Me: I didn't do anything!
BG: Do you know the oven is on fire?
Me: No....but there is smoke coming out when I open the door.
BG: Did you turn the oven off?
Me: Good idea!
BG: Pour some water on it!
Me: That will ruin the oven. How about the fire extinguisher?
BG: Um...if water will ruin it, so will the fire extinguisher...I have to go...your my Little Grasshopper figure it out.
OK....so now I am on my own. I open up the oven door again and let the smoke billow out to find that one of my lovely little ones has put the pizza cutter with the rubber handle on one of the racks along with something else that I still cannot figure out. I get a potholder and pull out the pizza cutter that is melting and the other thing and throw them on the counter. Then I try to figure out what to do.
BG: Yes.
Me: It was one of the girls.
BG: I am busy.
Me: Yes, but our house almost blew up. Do you care?
BG: Do you have it under control?
Me: Yes.
BG: I am busy being king of the book world, I am smart, funny, and everyone needs my intellectual abilities. Gotta go!
OK...so maybe I made up what BG said about himself...but I was on my own again....trying to figure out how to get the black gunk off of my oven. After consulting Face Book Friends and my father-in-law (who is was a volunteer fireman...I thought I might need help in case I tried to blow up the house) I decided to try to scrape off the rubber that adhered itself to the bottom of my oven. I don't know if it was a God thing, Kristin thing, or something else but the rubber actually came off in one big chunk. Amazing.
Now if I can just get the self cleaning oven clean (that doesn't self clean anymore...that is another post for another day), we will be back in business.
UGH! Smoke Signals!
Me: I think the oven is on fire!
BG: What did you do?
Me: I didn't do anything!
BG: Do you know the oven is on fire?
Me: No....but there is smoke coming out when I open the door.
BG: Did you turn the oven off?
Me: Good idea!
BG: Pour some water on it!
Me: That will ruin the oven. How about the fire extinguisher?
BG: Um...if water will ruin it, so will the fire extinguisher...I have to go...your my Little Grasshopper figure it out.
OK....so now I am on my own. I open up the oven door again and let the smoke billow out to find that one of my lovely little ones has put the pizza cutter with the rubber handle on one of the racks along with something else that I still cannot figure out. I get a potholder and pull out the pizza cutter that is melting and the other thing and throw them on the counter. Then I try to figure out what to do.
BG: Yes.
Me: It was one of the girls.
BG: I am busy.
Me: Yes, but our house almost blew up. Do you care?
BG: Do you have it under control?
Me: Yes.
BG: I am busy being king of the book world, I am smart, funny, and everyone needs my intellectual abilities. Gotta go!
OK...so maybe I made up what BG said about himself...but I was on my own again....trying to figure out how to get the black gunk off of my oven. After consulting Face Book Friends and my father-in-law (who is was a volunteer fireman...I thought I might need help in case I tried to blow up the house) I decided to try to scrape off the rubber that adhered itself to the bottom of my oven. I don't know if it was a God thing, Kristin thing, or something else but the rubber actually came off in one big chunk. Amazing.
Now if I can just get the self cleaning oven clean (that doesn't self clean anymore...that is another post for another day), we will be back in business.
UGH! Smoke Signals!
Crazy Dreams
I have been having crazy dreams lately. Some are really detailed, some are long, some are scary, some are just down right funny, and all of them are in color. Last night was one of those I would rather forget but interesting none the less. Last night my dream was about trying to go to the lake with my whole family. It was supposed to be a nice trip of relaxation that was anything but. After yelling at people that it was already 4:30 and that the sun would be down at 6:00 and it would take us like 45 minutes to get to the lake, we leave to go to the lake. The dream then cuts to us hanging out, having a good time and then the water starts to disappear. As the water disappears (this is where it gets weird), there starts to be body parts that float around us and dead bodies start to appear. As we start to run out of the water and we start running for the shore, we have a tsunami like event happen. We find shelter behind rocks or something. The whole time I am screaming to find my girls and trying to keep them safe.
Really weird huh? Dreams...some say they are windows to your soul. Maybe my soul is trying to keep my girls safe, happy and away from dead bodies? Hum....
Really weird huh? Dreams...some say they are windows to your soul. Maybe my soul is trying to keep my girls safe, happy and away from dead bodies? Hum....
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mommy Can't Get Sick
I don't get sick often and lately when I do it takes me down for several days. I normally get the stomach flu at least once a year (I think I always get it from Big Grasshopper) and I have allergies so I normally have a few flare ups along the way. But what do SAHM's (stay at home mom's) do when they get sick? We can't call into work and say we can't be there, we can't stop the day, and we can't just tell the our children to go take care of themselves.
This morning I woke up not feeling well....really it was 3 this morning. I kinda felt like I had a sore throat yesterday but didn't think much of it. This morning at 3 I woke up not being able to breathe, barely able to swallow and I was freezing. After laying (read: tossing and turning) for who knows how long (I am blind without my glasses) I finally fell back to sleep just to be woken up by Big Grasshopper complaining I was snoring like a pig....go ahead...laugh....get it out....OK. So he was right....when he woke me up I was still breathing like that and actually heard myself snoring like a pig...it was loud...I couldn't breathe.
Well after little sleep my job started at about 7:45 with Little Lady toddling in and demanding milk. I woke Big Girl up about 8:30 and got breakfast going. By 9:00 a.m. I had no energy. Also at 9 I decided to take some medicine hoping that would help. By 9:30 I was so groggy I could barely keep my eyes open. So...with the girls contently glued to the TV watching Max and Ruby, Dora, and whatever else is on Nick Jr. I fell asleep in the recliner. I am not proud of the fact that I let the TV babysit my kids while I dozed...nope....but I did. There...that is my confession...I don't feel better because I told you, I just feel the need to get it out there.
So I am still working out the kinks in this SAHM stuff. Still not sure how to handle every situation.....Maybe I should ask Dora...She has a backpack and map....or maybe I can ask Ruby what she does since they don't seem to have parents and only grandma comes by on occasion. All I know is staying at home is not for the weak or lame....even if we can't help it because we are sick. :/
This morning I woke up not feeling well....really it was 3 this morning. I kinda felt like I had a sore throat yesterday but didn't think much of it. This morning at 3 I woke up not being able to breathe, barely able to swallow and I was freezing. After laying (read: tossing and turning) for who knows how long (I am blind without my glasses) I finally fell back to sleep just to be woken up by Big Grasshopper complaining I was snoring like a pig....go ahead...laugh....get it out....OK. So he was right....when he woke me up I was still breathing like that and actually heard myself snoring like a pig...it was loud...I couldn't breathe.
Well after little sleep my job started at about 7:45 with Little Lady toddling in and demanding milk. I woke Big Girl up about 8:30 and got breakfast going. By 9:00 a.m. I had no energy. Also at 9 I decided to take some medicine hoping that would help. By 9:30 I was so groggy I could barely keep my eyes open. So...with the girls contently glued to the TV watching Max and Ruby, Dora, and whatever else is on Nick Jr. I fell asleep in the recliner. I am not proud of the fact that I let the TV babysit my kids while I dozed...nope....but I did. There...that is my confession...I don't feel better because I told you, I just feel the need to get it out there.
So I am still working out the kinks in this SAHM stuff. Still not sure how to handle every situation.....Maybe I should ask Dora...She has a backpack and map....or maybe I can ask Ruby what she does since they don't seem to have parents and only grandma comes by on occasion. All I know is staying at home is not for the weak or lame....even if we can't help it because we are sick. :/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
"It Is Finished"
"It is finished." John 19:30 Three of the most powerful words ever spoken other than "I love you." I am at peace. My soul is no longer at war. I have made a decision.
Growing up I was taught and told that I could be what ever I wanted to be by both my parents and society. I watched Oprah and other talk show hosts and programs that promoted young girls going out into the world and forging their own path. When I graduated HS and went off to college (well....went off as in I went to class and came home to my parents house). I decided after the first semester that I wanted to be a teacher. During HS I had aspirations of being a lawyer (I do like to argue), veterinarian (can't stand blood), a chef (I do like to eat), and a hotel restaurant manager (that was changed while I worked for Long John Silver's as a shift manager). After much thought I decided on teaching. I had some very influential teachers in my life like Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Summers, Mr. Colly, Mrs. McGregor, and Mr. Andrews who really shaped who I was. I wanted to be influential like them. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be remembered. I loved history and I thought about the days I would sit in Mrs. Tucker's class and we would talk...not necessarily about history but we would talk....about life....about what was happening in our young lives. That made a profound impact on my life and to this day I tell stories of being in Mrs. Tucker's class. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to make a difference like her. So I set off to be a teacher.
After graduation I really couldn't find a job (it was January after all) so I did temp work. Let me stop right now and say I found out very quickly answering someone else's phone really wasn't the thing for me. In June my Auntie Helen called and asked if I was interested in special education. I told her I was and she told me she thought she could help me get a job. I sent my resume and application one week, the next I interviewed and the following I had a job. It was a whirl wind. I quickly moved to Bentonville (with the help of my parents) and started in August.
For the next 7 years my life revolved around my work. I fit in meeting Geoff, dating, getting married, having two babies, and trying to forge a new life in Northwest Arkansas. I met friends, worked with some of the best and brightest teachers on the planet (All of you know who you are but especially the teachers at the Sophomore Campus and LaDonna, you ROCK!). I had more crazy times than I can tell and more wonderful memories formed than one girl deserves in a lifetime. The people I worked with became more than friends...they became part of the fabric of who I am. They shaped me in ways that today are are still not easily put into words.
However, in 2007 my world turned upside down. Madison, my precious little 6 month old baby, was diagnosed with PDA. PDA is a condition some infants have where they have a small hole in their heart that needs to be repaired. As we started going through testing and learning more about PDA I had major mommy guilt. My thoughts turned to I should have known, I should have seen the signs, if only I had been with her I could have known. Reality is I probably wouldn't have known something was wrong because Madison was a strong baby and showed no normal sign that she had a 3 millimeter hole in her heart. After getting the hole fixed in her heart in April of 2008, I continued to have mommy guilt. Going through surgery, having to hold down my precious little angel and knowing that a doctor had to go in and touch her little heart with instruments to fix it tore me up inside. It also reminded me that children are gifts from God and time is fleeting.
So....after much contemplation, crying, talking, crying, bawling, talking, crying (see a pattern...yes I cried...A LOT!) I decided to stay at home.....and over the last two years I have contemplated more than few times if I made the right decision. I love teaching. I think it is different than any other profession because I think a "normal" person can't just go be a teacher. Either someone is a teacher or they aren't and the kids know it. It is the one profession you can't fake. I love and have loved teaching with every fiber that is in me. So until today (1-26-10), every time I tell people who I am, I tell them I am a stay at home mom that is a teacher. I felt I needed to tell people that to justify who I am. I didn't find it enough to say say I am mommy to Emma and Madison. I didn't think enough of what I do for Geoff and the girls to just say I am the best stay at home mommy I can be for them....until today. Today I am at peace. Today I can for the first time say I am Geoff's wife (for the next 42 years...then we can renegotiate....love you big Grasshopper) and I am Emma and Madison's mommy....forever.
So....It is finished....I am done. I have made a decision. I am a stay at home mom. The path that is less followed these days will be the path I am going to choose. I didn't know I was going to make a decision to continue to stay home when I made the decision to stay at home 2 years ago. I didn't know that I would even want to. But how do I pass up taking Emma to school and picking her up at 2:45 on her first day to see the smile on her face and look at all the little pages she has done for the day? ... And how do I tell Madison she has to go spend 7:30-5:30 with someone else every day because mommy has to go be with other kids? I can't do it. I can't. I won't. I have always said teaching was not my first or my last job and I guess I am about to find out what else is out there. Maybe teaching will be my path again, maybe my path will be something I haven't even seen....all I know is for now....it is finished....and I am at peace.
To all my teacher friends....
Growing up I was taught and told that I could be what ever I wanted to be by both my parents and society. I watched Oprah and other talk show hosts and programs that promoted young girls going out into the world and forging their own path. When I graduated HS and went off to college (well....went off as in I went to class and came home to my parents house). I decided after the first semester that I wanted to be a teacher. During HS I had aspirations of being a lawyer (I do like to argue), veterinarian (can't stand blood), a chef (I do like to eat), and a hotel restaurant manager (that was changed while I worked for Long John Silver's as a shift manager). After much thought I decided on teaching. I had some very influential teachers in my life like Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Summers, Mr. Colly, Mrs. McGregor, and Mr. Andrews who really shaped who I was. I wanted to be influential like them. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be remembered. I loved history and I thought about the days I would sit in Mrs. Tucker's class and we would talk...not necessarily about history but we would talk....about life....about what was happening in our young lives. That made a profound impact on my life and to this day I tell stories of being in Mrs. Tucker's class. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to make a difference like her. So I set off to be a teacher.
After graduation I really couldn't find a job (it was January after all) so I did temp work. Let me stop right now and say I found out very quickly answering someone else's phone really wasn't the thing for me. In June my Auntie Helen called and asked if I was interested in special education. I told her I was and she told me she thought she could help me get a job. I sent my resume and application one week, the next I interviewed and the following I had a job. It was a whirl wind. I quickly moved to Bentonville (with the help of my parents) and started in August.
For the next 7 years my life revolved around my work. I fit in meeting Geoff, dating, getting married, having two babies, and trying to forge a new life in Northwest Arkansas. I met friends, worked with some of the best and brightest teachers on the planet (All of you know who you are but especially the teachers at the Sophomore Campus and LaDonna, you ROCK!). I had more crazy times than I can tell and more wonderful memories formed than one girl deserves in a lifetime. The people I worked with became more than friends...they became part of the fabric of who I am. They shaped me in ways that today are are still not easily put into words.
However, in 2007 my world turned upside down. Madison, my precious little 6 month old baby, was diagnosed with PDA. PDA is a condition some infants have where they have a small hole in their heart that needs to be repaired. As we started going through testing and learning more about PDA I had major mommy guilt. My thoughts turned to I should have known, I should have seen the signs, if only I had been with her I could have known. Reality is I probably wouldn't have known something was wrong because Madison was a strong baby and showed no normal sign that she had a 3 millimeter hole in her heart. After getting the hole fixed in her heart in April of 2008, I continued to have mommy guilt. Going through surgery, having to hold down my precious little angel and knowing that a doctor had to go in and touch her little heart with instruments to fix it tore me up inside. It also reminded me that children are gifts from God and time is fleeting.
So....after much contemplation, crying, talking, crying, bawling, talking, crying (see a pattern...yes I cried...A LOT!) I decided to stay at home.....and over the last two years I have contemplated more than few times if I made the right decision. I love teaching. I think it is different than any other profession because I think a "normal" person can't just go be a teacher. Either someone is a teacher or they aren't and the kids know it. It is the one profession you can't fake. I love and have loved teaching with every fiber that is in me. So until today (1-26-10), every time I tell people who I am, I tell them I am a stay at home mom that is a teacher. I felt I needed to tell people that to justify who I am. I didn't find it enough to say say I am mommy to Emma and Madison. I didn't think enough of what I do for Geoff and the girls to just say I am the best stay at home mommy I can be for them....until today. Today I am at peace. Today I can for the first time say I am Geoff's wife (for the next 42 years...then we can renegotiate....love you big Grasshopper) and I am Emma and Madison's mommy....forever.
So....It is finished....I am done. I have made a decision. I am a stay at home mom. The path that is less followed these days will be the path I am going to choose. I didn't know I was going to make a decision to continue to stay home when I made the decision to stay at home 2 years ago. I didn't know that I would even want to. But how do I pass up taking Emma to school and picking her up at 2:45 on her first day to see the smile on her face and look at all the little pages she has done for the day? ... And how do I tell Madison she has to go spend 7:30-5:30 with someone else every day because mommy has to go be with other kids? I can't do it. I can't. I won't. I have always said teaching was not my first or my last job and I guess I am about to find out what else is out there. Maybe teaching will be my path again, maybe my path will be something I haven't even seen....all I know is for now....it is finished....and I am at peace.
To all my teacher friends....
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Working Out? Me? Yup...
I HATE working out. I hate getting up early to get sweaty, grunt, and be in pain....but I have found a new alli. Geoff has decided he is going to work out with me in our living room. For the past week and a half he has flipped the lights on at 6 a.m. to tell my brain I have to wake up, I don't have a choice, and to just get up and get it over with. It is painful, sweaty, and not that much fun. I tend to yell "I hate you!" at whom ever is on the DVD telling me not to give up and then cursing at some point that these people seem to think working out is easy.
I am starting to feel more in control and stronger every day we do the work outs. I also feel like I am going to change...for good....It is time. It is time I take control and find time for my body. So am I working out? Yup....but I hate it.....
(Updates will follow....if I can get out of bed)
I am starting to feel more in control and stronger every day we do the work outs. I also feel like I am going to change...for good....It is time. It is time I take control and find time for my body. So am I working out? Yup....but I hate it.....
(Updates will follow....if I can get out of bed)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Kindergarten Rocks? Nope, Not For Me!
Today I did it again. I cried. I cried like a fool. I cried like a fool that has a baby that isn't a baby anymore. I cried like a little girl. I cried!!!! I picked up the book "Kindergarten Rocks!" to read with Emma today at the library. I got about half way through the book and I just lost it. I didn't know I was going to lose it, but I did. I just started bawling...trying to read the book through tears and snot. Tears and snot...reading a book about Kindergarten. Pretty picture huh? Anyways....
Big Girl is so excited about kindergarten and all I can wonder is where is my baby and how do I get her back? Where are my cuddle moments when she is wanting a bottle at 3 in the morning? Where are are my moments when she glances at me with that little cunning smile that melts my heart when she is getting into something? Where are my moments when I can sit her down in one place and know she will still be there in 10 minutes because she can't crawl, walk, or roll? I don't necessarily want to go back to the 3 o'clock feedings or the days when I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her or even the days that were painful because she was sick a lot. All I want is for the clock to slow down to have a few more moments before my baby, who isn't a baby any more, goes to kindergarten. I want a few more innocent looks as her and her sister get in trouble, I want more giggles under the covers playing monster, I want a few more piggy backs and I definitely want more cuddling....SLOW DOWN CLOCK! I WANT MORE! Kindergarten Rocks? Nope...not for me....It means the world is speeding by and someday soon my baby will go with it....while I have tears and snot....
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Rented Shoes
Just had my first bowling lesson....in rented shoes. I ordered shoes but they haven't come in. I had a BLAST! I can't believe I had so much fun. I learned several things.
1. I have no clue what I am doing but I am learning.
2. I turned my hand and basically I was bowling like a left handed person even though I bowl right handed.
3. I tried bowling left handed since I am a lefty and it wasn't natural at all....go figure.
4. I need to open up my shoulders and stay square.
5. Did you know all the boards on the lane (39 in all) have names...1, 2, 3....mundane I know but apparently they help you aim....who knew? Not me!
6. I need to practice.
7. I don't like rented shoes...can't wait for mine to come...hurry up UPS!
8. If I decide to bowl more I want my own ball....is that wrong? The one I was looking at and my instructor recommended was $94 dollars and that is with the fingers drilled...not bad (my instructor is a way nice firefighter guy...if I fell over and passed out from so much working out he could save me...Yay!)
9. I enjoyed myself....I really liked having time to learn something new and taking instruction from someone else who knew what they were doing.
Bowling may be something that reminds people of the 70's with the crazy bowling shirts and everyone playing on a league, but I really liked it today and I felt a sense of accomplishment....GO Kristin!
1. I have no clue what I am doing but I am learning.
2. I turned my hand and basically I was bowling like a left handed person even though I bowl right handed.
3. I tried bowling left handed since I am a lefty and it wasn't natural at all....go figure.
4. I need to open up my shoulders and stay square.
5. Did you know all the boards on the lane (39 in all) have names...1, 2, 3....mundane I know but apparently they help you aim....who knew? Not me!
6. I need to practice.
7. I don't like rented shoes...can't wait for mine to come...hurry up UPS!
8. If I decide to bowl more I want my own ball....is that wrong? The one I was looking at and my instructor recommended was $94 dollars and that is with the fingers drilled...not bad (my instructor is a way nice firefighter guy...if I fell over and passed out from so much working out he could save me...Yay!)
9. I enjoyed myself....I really liked having time to learn something new and taking instruction from someone else who knew what they were doing.
Bowling may be something that reminds people of the 70's with the crazy bowling shirts and everyone playing on a league, but I really liked it today and I felt a sense of accomplishment....GO Kristin!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Out of the Mouth of Babes
After lunch today Big Girl asked for apple juice. Big Grasshopper (my honey for life) told her he would give her water. She responded, and I am quoting and laughing as I type, "I already pooped today....so I can have apple juice." HA! HA! HA! We have told her in the past when she has problems pooping that she needs to drink more water. Apparently today she thought she had "gone" enough and wanted juice! HA! HA! Funny Stuff coming out of the mouth of the biggest babe....funny stuff!
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Price is Not Right
The snow and inability to get out have gotten to all of us (read I) and I think we (read I again) are all about to go crazy! Yesterday Big Girl and I had a "Come to Jesus" (that is what we call it in the south) moment. I am tired of asking my big girl who will be 5 in a few months to pick up, put away, and take care of the things that people have given her. She has become very disrespectful with her things and she seems to not care if things get broken or lost. Yesterday I lost it. We were picking up (some would say this is an act of God in itself...I might agree...but I was bored!) and I asked her where her baby bag was that her Nana had made for her for Christmas. She said she didn't know, so we go on the hunt. After THIRTY...30...THIRTY minutes of looking I asked her if she cared if this nice bag was missing....her answer....the one that made me lose it was....NO! At that moment some animal/mom/crazy woman instinct kicked in. I found trash bags quicker than you can say "oh no you didn't" and started sacking up everything in her room. Dress up clothes, kitchen stuff, the baby bag (that I finally found in sisters closet), elephant, other stuffed animals and babies, the crayon she got two days ago, Dora's, her new game system....if I could get my hands on it....it got sacked.
Needless to say she is/and was not too happy. When her daddy came home (my big grasshopper) we discussed what had happened during the day. They had a very interesting conversation. One of the most priceless moments came when big grasshopper tried to explain that big girl was going to have to earn her stuff back....get this...she said "I don't have enough money in my piggy bank." ha ha.....kids....even in the rough moments gems do come to light.
Will big girl get her stuff back in the next month? Maybe....but it will take more than her money in her piggy bank to get it back.
Needless to say she is/and was not too happy. When her daddy came home (my big grasshopper) we discussed what had happened during the day. They had a very interesting conversation. One of the most priceless moments came when big grasshopper tried to explain that big girl was going to have to earn her stuff back....get this...she said "I don't have enough money in my piggy bank." ha ha.....kids....even in the rough moments gems do come to light.
Will big girl get her stuff back in the next month? Maybe....but it will take more than her money in her piggy bank to get it back.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
I Got Kooties!
I wanted to shout from the roof top "I've got Kooties! I've Got Kooties!" when my big girl opened up this game. I remember this game from my childhood and how much fun it can be. The Sunday after Christmas we opened up the box and got down to business of getting Kooties! Big Girl and Little Lady had a great time getting Kooties. Big Girl made sure she kept track of whose turn it was and Little Lady sat on the table making sure everyone got their body parts in the right order (she also tried to swipe a few legs for her Kootie). Game time was a hit and we all got KOOTIES! "I've got Kooties!"
Fun at Gigi and Papi's
The day after Christmas we went to Gigi and Papi's. The roads were less treacherous than thought and we made it in almost normal time (about 2 hours). The girls really enjoyed playing with their cousins short stuff and biggin'. They also enjoyed unwrapping the last of the presents for this year and really enjoyed yelling into the walkie talkies and trying to figure out how everything works. Yay for Gigi's and Papi's and Nana and Papa's for enriching our lives!
Christmas 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)