The Right To Be Right?!?!

So today I am on fire and hurt and just plain upset.  Today I logged on to FB with my coffee to see all those fun things people were up to today. Some drinking coffee, some just had a great time with their families, some are hurting and experiencing pain in their families, and some posted wonderful pictures of their accomplishments and beautiful adventures, and then inevitably I run across some post that makes my blood boil yet never type a comment. 

When did we as people feel we have the right to be right all the time?  We have become some of the most narcissistic people ever!  I find it funny that I have friends on both sides of the now infamous Chick-fil-a debacle and both seem to actually trash other people for their beliefs.  I reviewed the Bill of Rights again today thinking I must be missing something.  I must be missing a right stating that our opinions and beliefs are "right" no matter what, giving us full permission to outwardly ridicule and mock other human beings.  Did I miss it?

NO I didn't because IT IS NOT THERE!!!!

Listen, I am FAR from perfect which everyone I know can attest.  However, if we believe Christians are bad, why are we ridiculing them as humans?  If we believe homosexuals are bad, why are we trashing them as humans?  If we believe carrying a gun is ludicrous, why do we call them crazy people?  If we believe that taking food stamps should be against, the law why do we attack the person on food stamps?

It seems to me we all need a hand held mirror to take a long hard look at our own junk.  This world is wonderful in so many ways and my kids remind me of that everyday.  However we as adults are making it crappy for them.  We attack people because their "right" is not our "right".  What happened to the old adage "If you don't have anything nice to say then be quiet."

Please understand, I am all about debating the facts and standing firm to what we believe.  But when we stop debating facts and start attacking people, we have missed the mark and are teaching future generations nasty and unsafe habits that will not benefit us when we are in need of their support.  Soon their "right" might not include taking care of their elders. 

First Week as a Working Outside the Home Mom

So, I have completed my first week of a full time working outside the home mom or what I will refer to as WOTH mom.

First, let me boldly stand and applaud all those mommies who have been doing this since their  children were tiny because it is by far more exhausting in a week than most every week I had as a SAHM (stay at home mom).  I am not here to start an argument over who works harder, etc because both are extremely difficult.  But exhausting??  If I had to vote the WOTH moms win.
I say this only based upon my experience. (Oh and please know that when I stayed at home I could have spent way more time organizing and cleaning my home, as those of  you who have spent time in my home can attest.)  When a SAHM I ran my own day, I was the queen.  For example, if I was exhausted I could lay down with C at nap time or choose to not do laundry for that day, etc. Yeah, that didn't really work this week.:)  I don't' think my principal would like it if I asked to build in a 20 minute power nap to my schedule.

Also, I have learned you have to be organized.  Now know that my current organization level will only probably last the next month.  And then I will be blogging that I have lost all control and feel like a snowball running down Mt. Everest.  But there has to be organization.  Example?  Colin's birthday party today.  Normally I would make my lists and go to certain stores and then if I forgot to run to Target I would say "Forgettta about it (using my best mob voice), I can go tomorrow."  Not the case when working full time.  There are pretty much only certain times for errands so I am thinking to make this work I need to maximize my errand running time. 

Finally a part I have not had the full grasp of quite yet.  Spending all day without my kids.  We have been blessed last week and this to have family staying with the kids as they do not start everything until next week.  Here are my pros and cons. Pro, I have loved spending so much time with adults.  I have had to control my thoughts to ask them if they have to go potty or if they need help at lunch.  It has been nice to utilized my brain in a different capacity.
The cons, ovbisouly the quote from my youngest peanut on Friday "You go to work, NEVER!"  Yes I had to fight back tears and the the idea that I was some horrible mommy that should immediately be tried for neglect.  But I didn't cry in front of him and just said, "A lot of mommies work, I will see you after nap and you will have fun with Kelsey!"  And I was able to do this because of the great advice from other WOTH moms. I know we will have many more months of transition and a few more tears, but in the end I can honestly say I do believe this will be wonderful for all of us.

Which brings me to two pieces of advice that I received from two amazing moms who have had much more experience with WOTH.  I will share them with you as I think they are GOLDEN!!
First, if you don't have the "right" childcare for you little people that you are 100% comfortable with, you and they will be miserable.  Why you ask?  Because you will contstantly be thinking about them, never able to do your work, and spend your whole day counting down the hours until you can run to them.  So, RULE #1 find a good school/provider.
The second piece of wisdom I will call RULE #2.  "If you are okay with it, they will be okay with it."  If you are a mom you know that kids smell fear/anxiety/happiness, etc. even when we don't express them aloud.  So when the little peanut expressed his displeasure in his working mama, I let him and then did not cry or make it a big deal.  More just a matter of fact that I was headed to work and we'd play later.

My first week as WOTH mom, DONE.  Although I left it with exhaustion and wanting to sleep on my couch at 5:30 each evening, I also feel that I am happier, have more patience with my kiddos and actually have spent more meaningful time with them, as well as Jeff and I working more as a team together.

Finding the Right Bribe for Your Kids

So this weekend we made S take off the training wheels.  Well, Jeff did.  I didn't care if he had them on forever, even though we did tell him kids would eventually make fun of him.  S likes to play it safe and only likes to do what he likes to do when he likes to do it. 
Jeff and I tried different tactics, he resorted to telling him that big boys ride on two wheels and it was time for him to learn.  A mixture of sucking it up, feeling good about learning and peer pressure.  
Me??  I use bribery.  Most time with treats.  (Yes I know that this is bad and I am sure if my kids are morbidly obese as adults they will tell their therapists that their mother made them this way by bribing them when little.)
So, I say to S, if you learn today to ride on two wheels then we will all go to ice cream.  His response was to ask what kind of ice cream as if he needed to know his efforts were worth it.  I then said BR, which is down the street and one of the family favorites.  He actually then thought for a bit and said no, he did not want ice cream and would ride with 4 wheels "forever"!
HUH!?!? No to ice cream, that was my best offer--but was it?!?!  I then thought quick and said to him if he learned to ride on two wheels I would video it on my phone and then send it to Samantha.  He paused, thought, and just like that said "OK, Dad, take off the other wheels!"
And that was that. He went with Jeff and although he did whine and still is not totally comfortable, he is riding.  And all it took was telling him Samantha would see it.
I think at this point I should be less concerned about the therapist and more concerned that he'd do anything for the ladies.
:)

A FOOT IN TWO WORLDS: Home to Work

I have been thinking about this post for many months.  I have had a hard time composing it without sounding offensive as I have had a lot of mixed emotions on our upcoming transition.  But I am going to lay my thoughts out there the best I can.
We have all see the articles on moms working in the home versus outside the home and all the jargon to go with it.  We have seen the overt statements and the funny jokes, etc.  I have often wondered why we as women continually bash each other ( yes we do).  From who has better shoes in their closet, to who looks better in a dress, to who disciplines their children the "right" or "wrong" way.  We do this to random women on the street and yes to even our greatest friends.  We women are the worst to each other when in fact we should really become allies.  I have never felt this so strongly as when our family made the decision for me to return to work this coming July.

I mainly wanted to write this blog to make two bold statements about having a foot in both worlds.

1. WORKING OUTSIDE THE HOME MOMS LOVE AND CARE ABOUT THEIR KIDS JUST AS MUCH AS WORKING IN THE HOME MOMS!

You probably wonder why I think I have some authority to even write this blog, well, because I have stayed home for over 7 years and am going back to work.  I have had the ability to meet and talk with many stay at home moms and actually a majority of my friends are work outside the home moms.  Yet, I think the only reason I can make that statement so loud and clear that my decision to go back to work was not at all out of any lack of love or compassion for my kids.  I have a passion for social work and a passion for my kids.  We never ask dads when they go to work if they love their kids, we assume they do!  So why do we do that to woman?
Also, I personally do not believe that God has stated that all women should stay home with their kids.  I am not really up for a biblical debate, but just read Proverbs 31 and let me know what you think.  I doubt she took her kids all those places when working, but just my view.

2.  MOMS WHO CHOOSE TO STAY AT HOME IN NO WAY RESEMBLE ANY TV SHOW THAT YOU SEE! 

Staying at home is no Real Housewives event.  If it was, I would have 3 nannies and go to the spa at least once a week and let's face it this body would look much better because I would also have a personal trainer and a chef.  Staying at home is long days with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.  You see the good, the bad, and ugly, and if possible the even uglier.  You can go for days with no shower and hardly any adult conversation.  But one of the blessing is you see almost everything, every moment, first, last, and you don't have to use a sick day if someone else is sick.

My dear women friends, who are we kidding?  If we are truthful we all have made snarky remarks about other women in this area and they usually are directed towards the camp in which we do not fall.  How about this, lets say we are all on the same team.  The grass isn't any greener, it is just two different types of grass.  We all are moms who love and hope and pray for the best for our kids.  I am convinced that sometimes the reason men have become so very successful in certain areas is frankly they could give two sh$ts about this kind of stuff, I think we should probably feel the same. 

 I am preparing for July 2012 to about December 2012 to look like a train wreck when I return to work.  I am more excited than I can tell you, but I also know this will be one of the largest transitions for our family.  I will cry and there will be yelling, whining, and probably even gnashing of teeth.  But it doesn't make it the wrong decision.  It just is a transition.  I guess in all of this I have just often wondered what would it look like if we just honored other mom's and family's choices?

In my opinion. . . a whole lot better.

Behind the Lobster Tank

There is a song by Jason Gray that I love and have listened to over and over call "How I Ended up Here." Here are the lyrics and the link to the song.

 

There's something I need to confess
At the risk of exposing my faults
But I'm starting to find that most of the time
I just don't like people at all

When I saw you five minutes ago
I was afraid you might talk off my ear
I panicked inside and decided to hide
And that's how I ended up here
Crouching behind the live lobster tank
Hoping you'd just pass me by, oh...

That's how I ended up here
That's how I ended up here

Oh how I wish I could say
It's my first time to hide in this spot
But with all of the people I try to avoid
I find myself down here a lot

I mean, just look at these guys in the tank
With the red rubber bands 'round their arms
If they don't open up
And just keep to themselves
They won't do anyone harm

So I screen my calls,
don't answer the door
Sometimes wish I could disappear,

oh...That's how I ended up here
That's how I ended up ..

Building a wall so no one could bother me
Living my life in isolation
Opening up to only those close to me
Nobody's close to me, what have I done?

See, I really want to be known
But I'm not quite as strong as the fear
That you won't understand the fool that I am
And that's how I ended up here
That's how I ended up here
That's how I ended up here

My favorite lyrics in this song is "See, I really want to be known, But I'm not quite as strong as the fear,That you won't understand the fool that I am".   I know that many of you think that I can relate more to being the person that talks off your ear, and that is true, sad, but true.  But I think we all identify with wanting to be known.  

You know that feeling.  The desperate aching of wanting to share, wanting someone to notice, or even just sit with us.  Wanting someone to share our stories, our sadness, or even just a drink.

I have  friend that considers themselves to be a "loner".  They have friends and a family, but they pride themselves on being the one who doesn't need anyone. Everyone is kept at an arms distance. Somehow they think it makes them stronger than the average person.  Like a superhero with a "I" for independent on the back of their cape.  But, let me tell you friends, I call BS on that friend.  

I believe that God made us to be known.  Why else would he have given us communication skills, or provided mates, BFF's, families, or even created us at all?  Now I am not saying that we have no boundaries and share everything with everyone who comes in contact.  But I have learned sometimes we need to come out from behind the lobster tank in all of our foolishness, whether it be to a friend, a loved one, or our God.  The surprising part is that the outcome many times is not what we expected.  

Some Mindful Snapshots

This afternoon was a we-WILL-cry-over-spilled-juice-&-any-other-thing-that-looks-at-us-the-wrong-way.  So if you are blessed to live in Arizona that calls for some let's go outside and try to get through the afternoon work.  So we went out back and played, it was nice, so I grabbed the camera. Here you go. . . .

Wordless Wednesday: Stinker

Lock Up Your Daughters!

Forget locking up Lauren until she is 30, I have recently decided we should lock up our sweet boy S. 

This boy's love language oozes from his body: physical touch.   I do know I will have to warn his future wife of this as he communicates everything that way.  

In preschool he has a journal.  Each day when they first arrive they wash their hands and do some journal work.  It is different each day.  This particular day the prompt was to "Draw something beautiful."  As his sweet teacher was going around looking at journals I am sure she saw a plethora of rainbows and flowers and mountains.  Then she got to my sweet boy's picture and had to ask the very nice teacher question, "Tell me about your picture?"  Which is code for what the heck is that?!?!

Here is his reply:
It is my mom's nightgown.

Yes. . . he . . did.  He did just tell his teacher that something beautiful was his mother's nightgown.  Oye!  Really?  First, for the record I rarely wear a nightgown to bed.  I am more a pajama pants kind of girl.  But really, at 5 years old his idea of something beautiful is his mother's night gown.  He either has a really big Oedipus complex or will just make an amazing husband one day, I prefer the latter. 
Oh dear, when Dr. Leman says that the middle child beats to a different drum he wasn't kidding! :)
He contintues to make me laugh and I do believe he will make a very attentive husband one day. . when we let him out. HAHA!

For the Love. . . of Reading Week

I had the opportunity to read for the Love of Reading Week last week at L's school.  Each parent who read also told the kids a bit about what they "do". 

So the on the eve of my reading date, L asks me what I am reading and that I will have to tell the kids what I "do".  I said to her, well I stay at home L, what should I say I "do".  (very long pause)  She said, "Well you could tell them you make things.  Or. . . . ummmmm....Oh I know, tell them how you do LAUNDRY!!!"  To which she starts laughing. 

So I read my book and then took questions and sure enough one sweet boy said "What do you do?"  Then L said out loud in front of her classmates "Tell them about how you do laundry, laundry and laundry!" 

Needless to say her teacher found this funny and I laughed as well.  I knew that 2 years ago when she stood on her preschool stage and told everyone "When I grow up I want to be a mommy, because I love my mommy",  would have to be a memory I clung to for moments just likes these. 

So on this Saturday if you are doing laundry, know that I am right there with you!  :)

My sweet 'S'- yes again :)

I am beginning to think this blog could just be about the funny interactions with my sweet, eldest son.

If you have taken Love and Logic parenting courses, you know the words "I love you too much to argue." 
Well that has been my mantra this afternoon.  And I am a bit tired.

Then I see/hear this.
My sweet boy taking a large wooden pole (the kind used to hold up trees) and using it as a ramming rod against our glass french door.  Of course I immediately scream his name and he stops and I send him straight to his room.  He begins to argue and I repeat as calm as possible, "Go to your room,  I love you too much to argue."  And also explain that I am WAAAAY to angry to talk so I will need a few minutes to calm down.

After I take my few minutes we have a conversation about love, actions, why I don't want him to do things that can hurt him, etc. I wanted to share part of it.

Me:  Who loves you even more than mommy and daddy? 
S:  Hmmmmm.  (long pause)  I am trying to decide between God and Jesus!  ummmm, ummmm, GOD!!!
Me:  That is right, God loves you even more than. . . .
S interrupts:  Yeah I knew it was God because Jesus is just a baby and is tiny.  :) 

This made me laugh aloud and yes, I know we have a bit more training to do about Jesus getting past the infant stage, but in my defense it was just Christmas.  Just add it to my list of things I need to teach my kids.

Have a great rest of your week!

Zoo Moments: Brought to you by the middle child

Here are my "kid in the middle" stories today from the zoo.

Story 1:

Me:  Look guys there is the mama lion and her 2 cubs! She has three, but I don't see the third out and about.
S:  He probably smacked his mom on the head and is in time out. (Said very matter-of-fact)

Story2:
The elephants and the zebras are near one another at the Tucson zoo.  L and S walked over to the Zebras (where I could still see them) and C and I stayed watching the elephant keepers putting out food. We are all having a nice time.  Then, I looked toward the zebras.  There, facing me, was my sweet five year old, S, pants down to his ankles peeing on a zoo tree!! My quick response was a yell (that could be heard to PHX) of his FULL name.  He knew. . BUSTED!  He quickly pulled up is pants and came over.  I made him sit on the bench until I could compose myself and explain in a kids version, indecent exposure.  His response. "Yeah I shouldn't do that because no one really wants to see my penis." 

I hope you laughed as hard as Jeff did when I called him at work to relay the story. 
Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Mindful Snapshots

I feel that I have been reminded over and over these past few weeks to take what I have decided to call "mindful snapshots".  Mindful meaning in my mind and purposeful. Snapshots, obviously meaning pictures.

Maybe the best way to describe it was the mindful shot I have in my mind from yesterday.  Let me describe the scene.  We had lunch after a great morning at church, just the five of us at Culvers.  The snapshot is all of us sitting at the table.  Sean snuggling his daddy almost on his lap, content and smiling, Jeff laughing while Lauren sits next to him laughing with her toothless grin, I am across from them with Colin putting his sweet hugging arms around my neck saying "mommy" in a little voice.  I chose to make that a mindful snapshot as we were all there, all loving each other, all laughing.  We had no agenda right then, no place to be, nothing to do other than be there in that moment sharing time with one another.   My heart was so full.  Who would have guessed that a Sunday afternoon lunch at Culvers could hold such a moment? 

Therefore, I have decided to take more mindful snapshots, more times that I just stop, live in the moment and take it in.  I know this sounds morbid to some, but it is absolutely true that life is short and 30 seconds from now I could no longer abide on this earth.  Some I know can't stand when I talk like that, and I get that it can be scary and sad, but it is reality.  Yet, because of grace the promise of new life for me is a gain, so it doesn't bother me. 

I want to live in those moments, for I believe that they are gifts from above.  I believe that they are the moments that make pain, stress, agony, and turmoil disappear from our lives even if only from an provide peace, love, happiness, joy, and contentment. 

I hope to posting more descriptions of my mindful snapshots and would love to hear some of yours as well.

The Place for Santa

I have read a lot of things recently about the place for Santa, especially among the christian community. And I am not here to judge.  Santa comes to visit our house every year, yet I thought you'd like to see where we place Santa in our house.  I think this pictures says it all.   :)

More Than a Run

This past weekend was great, but was so much more than just a 1/2 marathon for me. :) I have been so excited to share my thoughts with you and hope that I can get it all out and coherent while C watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. . we will see.

So this weekend was great for the run, for our marriage, and for my mind, soul and heart. 

First, the run.  It was great to run the strip at night!  But did you know that although the strip looks very long, it is truly only about 3 miles one way.  So a lot of the run was through neighborhoods with homes and businesses which was okay, but the strip at night was by far the best part.  I caught myself several times smiling at all the lights and in amazement that the whole street was closed and I got to run on it!  Well run/walk/jog on it!

The race was very crowded, not a place where if you were going for a personal record I think you wanted to be.  It was very hard to get through the crowd and move forward.  They began with a wave start, but I guess they quickly abandoned that theory and everyone just went at once, which made for slow going at first.  I mainly just walked the first part because I could walk as fast as some were jogging and there was no room to move.  So that was nice as I could take in all the lights and truly appreciate the run.  I met some amazing people in my corral, yes they call them corrals, just like cattle.  A women who chose this to be her first 1/2 and another who has a goal to finish a half marathon in every state.  They were amazing women.  I had two personal goals in this race and met one, which was just finish in less than 3 hours and that was accomplished!  The other one, I will try to set in Phoenix for that 1/2 in about 6 weeks.  I guess I better get to the speed training then huh?  I have no end race picture because it was so cold and raining off and on, I just wanted a nice warm shower!

This was a good once in a lifetime race, but I think they need to plan a bit better in the future to get the bugs figured out.  I was probably mid-pack of all the 1/2 marathon people and at several water stations there was little to no water left, so that meant that all the people behind me likely did not get any water and that is bad, especially when it happens at mile 7.  Also, they ran out of medals for participants!!! Oh my, that is not good.  So, if you are planning on doing it, give them couple years to get the bugs figured out! 

Leaving for this one was also really good for our marriage.  It is good to be away without 3 small monsters (and I mean that in the kindest way) in tow.  There is something about sharing a meal together and not having to cut up food or having anyone not like it or want to snag it off your plate.  It is nice to worry about only yourself for a bit, sleep in, take NAPS, and not have to be somewhere to do pick up or drop off.  We saved our 10th anniversary dinner for a beautiful and amazing restaurant in Vegas called Andres.  It was the nicest dinner we have ever had, and the food was WONDERFUL!   Jeff gambled and we just hung out and just spent time "being".   It was good and I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband who totally supported me, spent a long time just looking with me at the expo, and waiting in the cold for me to finish.  AMAZING! :)

And lastly, this was good for my mind, soul, and heart.  As you know I was very anxious about the run.  I know I should not have been, but I just couldn't calm my nerves.  So that morning I was listening to my iPod and had a little epiphany.  The song by Nicole Nordeman "You are Good" came on here are the lyrics.

When the sun starts to rise

And I open my eyes

You are good, so good

In the heat of the day

With each stone that I lay

You are good, so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell you I'm grateful again

When the moon climbs high

Before each kiss goodnight

You are good

When the road starts to turn

Around each bend I've learned

You are good, so good

And when some body's hand

Holds me up, helps me stand

You are so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell You I'm grateful again

'Cause its more than enough

Just to know I am loved

and You are good

So how can I thank You

What can I bring

What can these poor hands

Lay at the feet of a King

I'll sing You a love song

It's all that I have

To tell You I'm grateful

For holding my life in Your hands

When it's dark and it's cold

And I can't feel my soul

You are so good

When the world is gone gray

And the rain's here to stay

You are still good

So with every breath I take in

I'll tell You I am grateful again

And the storm might swell

Even then it's well and You are good

I know that was long, but I cried (I know shocking) as I listened to these words over and over.  The run was not about pleasing others there, or making my time I had planned, or even about pleasing my husband and making him think I was a super cool runner.  It was about an audience of One.  I have learned that when running there is a stride and a breathing pattern that is specific to each runner.  And as I listened to the words "with every breath I take in , I will tell You how grateful I am", I thought about my breathing pattern in running.  And when the song talked about what kind of offering I could bring to someone who loves me unconditionally with total grace, I thought, my gift is my run.  My run was a gift to my audience of One.  My run was a small offering of just how grateful I am for the blessings and just how good my God is, no matter what. 

So there is my long story about the run.  I hope you were able to hang in there to know my heart and hear my story.  If not, that is okay. . it was long. :)

As we are beginning the Christmas season, I pray that you would be blessed and feel love and experience grace as you never have before, for there is nothing more to be grateful for than this. 

At the Expo

Trying to stay warm about 1 hour before race time

Now I am am REALLY trying to stay warm before race time in about 15 minutes

Fear

So I have fear.  I hate to admit it, but I fear a lot of things, even weird things.  My current battle with fear involves this half marathon in 4 DAYS!!!  And yes that was me very much emphasizing the time I have left.   I have gone back to look at my other posts in March, April and May about my first half and I remember feeling similar about that one, but this one comes with new fears of course.

I remember my sister thinking I was crazy at the starting line in May because I thought I was going to throw up. I remember thinking there was this big cartoon arrow over  my head that all 60,000 people could see saying "Psst . . she is not a TRUE runner like the rest of you. . she is faking it!!".   Then I remember her pointing out a woman probably in her 60's wearing jean capri pants and saying,  "At least you know you will beat her!"  And instead of agreeing I thought she would probably kick my @&$ in her stupid jean capri pants.

I also have had to coach my sweet husband on this whole half thing.  There are many amazing women runners that work with him, and are participating, but they are fast and run all the time.  I know they will beat me, but I have had to coach him on what not to say to me at the finish line.  For example, do not say "Good job!  I was worried about you because I saw Chris finish an hour ago!  I thought something happened to you."  Yes that is NOT what you want to say.  

I had forgotten how long 13 miles was until I did about 10 on Sunday.  Ummm yeah it is a long way.  Oh I know I will finish, but I still have these stupid fears.  My anxiety has been high all week.  I even did a run this morning and it was awful, which did not help my self talk.

When it comes to beating yourself up, I am the queen.  No one can make me feel worse than I do about myself.  So I have decided I really need to let it go.  If people think I am a non runner. . let them.  Because I am a run/walker. :)  If Jeff's colleagues think I am slow, at least I am moving!  And then I remembered this morning that this is just practice for January.  For when I run for Sam!  I run for Sam because I can, I will run because I can and there are so many people that cannot. 

So I am working on just going and enjoying my time, having great time with my husband, sleeping in, and completing a "little" run.    However, I do wish I had a sign that said to race officials and others,  "Yes I know it looks like I am going to die in the first 2 miles, but it takes me that long to get my stride." HAHA! And I realize that there are only few that will get that. . .and my hubby is not one.

I will let you know what happens when I return!!

My White Boys

As a mom I know that this is not the best music genre for my kids.  But I love this video of them as it makes me laugh so hard.  Have a great week ahead!

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth?!?!?!

We have made the promise/deal that when each child turns 5 in our home we will take a family trip to Disneyland and California Adventure to celebrate.  That is their party and present for birthday number 5.  Well my sweet S turned 5 on Monday, October 24th so we went during the fall break.  It was great and we had fun.  It actually also made me feel like a typical wife/mother/woman, and the following scenario will explain why.

Picture this:  About 7 pm a family is waiting for the parking shuttle as we walk by on the way back to our hotel.  The family has three young kids, about the same ages as ours.  As we walk past we see the mom very clearly telling the dad something.  Probably something about what they need to do, didn't do, or how she needs him to help her more as the kids are tired and exhausted, as is she.  As she is talking, the smallest of the three is throwing herself on the ground crying and has clearly had too much Mickey Mouse, and at the same time the dad is taking his frustrations out on the umbrella stroller folding it shall we say in a VERY aggressive manner.

This whole scene made our evening as we walked past.  Why?  Because that is our family.  That is what happens to us ALL the time.  Jeff and I both laughed and not at the couple and their family, but a laugh of relief and thankfulness that it was not our moment.  We did have those moments in the parks. And I just hope another family could benefit and say "Thank God, it was not our turn!" 

On more than one occasion I saw a wife arguing with her husband about something and the husband being very frustrated.  I saw kids throwing tantrums just like mine in line and over ice cream and due to pure exhaustion.  This made me happy.  I know, very sick of me huh?  But was a welcome relief as when you are a spouse and/or parent there are times you think you are the only one who ______.  Fill it in with whatever you might think you are the only one on God's green earth to do, and in reality you are not alone. 

We had a great trip and the grandparents were even able to come for a couple days as well.  It was busy, but a great birthday celebration. 

Halloween 2011

One Batty Night

The first grade at L's school has a whole unit on bats.  She has done a couple bat projects and knows more about bats than I ever will.  To end this unit and as a fun day before break, the kids had a bat breakfast and a bunch of bat centers on Friday morning at school.  Jeff was able to take the morning off to spend in her classroom (which she loved). 

To end the day all of the first grade classrooms have a "Bat Night".  A local bridge at the Pantano Wash in town is the home to thousands of bats and at dusk they all fly off, so the first grade classes use this as a family get together for the end of the unit. Each first grade teacher asks their students to bring in a shirt and then that teacher decorates the shirts for all the students in their class.  They also get bat goody bags to take home.  It is a great family event.  So this past Friday was bat night.  It was SUPER hot, but we were there and did get to see some bats.  I took video but will not post it as you can barely see the bats.  (Obviously I am not a videographer.)  Here are pictures of the evening.

Annual Labor Day Trip

For the past nine years there has been an annual labor day trip.  Well, we did miss one, so for eight years Jeff and I, and sometimes the kids have been vacationing for three days with some AMAZING people.  There are five couples total.  I went to college with all of the women and even went to high school with one of them.  Needless to say we have known each other for a while.  These women have also married amazing men and nine years ago we decided to do an annual trip. 

We all get along very well and for some of us it is the only time we get to see each other all year due to geography.  The guys sometimes play golf or watch football and the girls hang out and sometimes find a local spa.  I love these friends.  This year I really realized that they fall into the life long friend category.  You know those kind of friends that you don't talk with or see frequently, but you can pick up fast and you know that whatever would come my way they would always have my back, ALWAYS.  I have laughed hysterically and cried hysterically with them.  So enough for that here is a very abbreviated weekend from Labor Day 2011.

This year I only have two pictures. Why you ask?  Well because I always forget to take my camera out because we are having way to much fun.  Funny that they are from the very first day and then the last night.

 The first day driving from Reno to Lake Tahoe.  Yep that is my husband getting a big fat speeding ticket.  FYI the speed limit along those roads is 50.  Jeff thought it was 68. HAHAHA!  At least the officer was nice and I was able to take a quick picture from the back. I am sure I could get in trouble for this pic on some level, but it was too good.  Don't turn me in! :)

This was the last night.  This is Melissa or Mindi and her sweet daughter Megan whom I adore.   It was a great Monday night.

I am not sure what to share as we kind of a have a saying "what happens on the couples trip stays on the couples trip". :) HAHA!  No, really there was a bunch of laughs, good food, great people, sleeping in, time on the boat, time talking, ESPN watching, and maybe even a new tattoo thrown in there.  And no it wasn't me!

Thank you my dear friends for an amazing time!  We love you!