Some things are BIGGER

It was one of those mornings.  Counting down the minutes until I could get the girls down for nap.  Looking around at all of the things that need to be done, pick folding laundry, starting a new load, and unloading the dishwasher.  Okay, I'm taking a break, just want to be mindless for a few, maybe finish the kid activity blog I started the other day.  Log into Facebook, because that is the ultimate mindless activity and BOOM!  I'm reminded that life is not always a simple choice between which endless house task to complete, or how many I should complete before I take some time to be lazy, etc..  Sometimes it's not simple or easy or lazy at all.  Sometimes its about a fight for your life. 

I logged onto Facebook and found a shared link to a page for Friendship Paddle.  The scary, tearful part of this link, is that I find myself looking at my sisters best friend and her beautiful family.  I've known Tara has been in a fight for her life.  I think about her.  I pray for her.  Yet, seeing this tugged on me harder than knowing these past few months has.  I did what I needed, I donated.  Yet, I sit here now feeling sad and awakened.  I often kid and complain about parenting and kids and relationships, but the reality is these things are what makes life beautiful and worthwhile.  I can no longer imagine a life without my family, nor my families without me. 

When you find yourself frustrated about your job, your life, the laundry, the dog, whatever it is, remember this, It is a blessing.  This life is a blessing.  Live it as such. 

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude.” - Denis Waitley

And in case you are interested and want to learn more http://www.friendshippaddle.org/current_paddle.htm

The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's backyard. - Abraham Maslow

Be Prepared

I remember when I was pregnant thinking, "why didn't anyone warn me about this?"  Then I realized it's one of two things, women forgetting how much being pregnant sucks after having an amazing little thing placed in their arms; or two, fear, the fear that you must be all alone in feeling this way or having certain side effects that you are too scared to share them with anyone for fear of judgment.  I decided that I would never hide the ugly side of pregnancy to any pregnant friend.  And, I haven't.  I also now realize that there is an ugly, oh so ugly side to parenting that no one ever talks about; I'm guessing for the same reasons.  So, here are my UGLY parenting facts:

1.  Showers are need based only.  Smell bad enough and it's time, otherwise what's a day or two without a shower, no one really knows anyway.

2.  A warm meal, especially dinner, is a luxury, not a daily occurrence.

3.  Doesn't matter how many times you have changed a diaper in your life.  You will get poop on your hands, the changing table, the wall, the floor. 

4.  Poop is a daily conversation, so get over any issues with it pre-baby

5.  Stubbed toes are another daily occurrence, especially in the middle of the night...so much stuff

6.  There is so much stuff you have to have for one tiny little person who isn't even mobile, and just wait until they can move.  You will have to get rid of your stuff to make room.  Bye bye whatever odd collection you love so much.

7.  Your friends without children really don't want to hang out with you anymore. No, not because drinking to 1 am is really not an option for your anymore, but mainly, because all you can talk about is your kids, poop, and how little sleep you got due to your kids poop.  Seriously, no one but you and your spouse care about your kids poop, and probably not even your spouse (my hubby has let me know) so we should all really try to stop.

8.  Stuffed animals will invade your home.  Why does anyone think they make a good gift?  I apologize to any one I may have gifted a stuffed animal to in my pre-child days as well as those really fun, obnoxious, loud toys (which will be the ones you stub your toes on in the middle of the night)

9.  You will live in an abyss of laundry that only grows exponentially with each additional child.  No matter how hard you try to stay atop of laundry, you will always be behind, or perhaps lost in the abyss.

10.  MOM.  DAD.  Those beautiful words SUCK and will make you feel old.  Doesn't matter your real or imagined age ( I'm still 27 in my head), the day your little one says mom rather than mommy, you will feel as though you have aged 10 years.  It is an ugly, oh so ugly day  (maybe a shower would help?). 

an open ended letter to my children

I know that I wasn't the first and I am sure that I will not be last, but while I was ending my first pregnancy I decided to write a letter to my then unborn child.  It is basically a  fear and hormone driven letter letting your child know that you are sorry for not being perfect, but love them more than you ever knew possible, and promising that you will be the best parent possible.  I know mommas, it is more than that, and personally it truly was a way for me to put down my hopes for my child(ren).  The other day I opened the letter I wrote to B over 3 years ago and I cried.  Wow, the fear I must have felt that I would somehow never manage to let her know what I truly want for her.  I'm sharing a few excerpts of this very personal letter Why? Because as parents, as humans, we often get so caught up in the day to day that we forget to look at the "BIG" picture, the things beyond academics that we want for our children. Because I believe everyone should take the time to do this for their children. Because if you don't have children you may not realize what those of us with them truly dream.  Finally, because I have decided to make this an open ended letter.  I have chosen to go into this letter, when the time sees fit, and add to, but never ever take away.  Maybe you should as well?  I have made it a letter to my children. A letter that sees past the daily occurrences and keeps the bigger picture in mind.  It is a piece of me.  I share this as a reminder that life is a journey, full of bumps in the road, especially parenting bumps, but in the end, a beautiful ride with glorious intentions.  These are ideas that I think every single person can benefit from and may need to hear from time to time.  Please keep any/all mean comments in your mean little heads, thank you.

.  ... ..... He has shown me that at the end of the day if you do not love who you are and what you do, then what is the point?

I am probably going to be telling you what to do or at least what I think you should do for the next 30+ years of your life.  You are probably not going to want to listen to me most of the time, but remember I love you and if nothing else try to live by the following:  

Get out: Outside, being in nature, where Gods gifts are untouched is the most beautiful place in the world.  Better yet, you get your fill of sunshine (vitamin D) and exercise, and more often than not a place to clear your thoughts and find peace.  Out of your comfort zone: it is too easy to go through life doing what comes easy to us, without taking any risk. But, if you truly want to have fun and discover who you are, push yourself beyond what you think you can do. Try something new, challenge your mind, body, and soul and in the end you will be stronger, wiser, and happier. ......

Have Faith:  In God….there will be times in your life when you feel no one and nothing is on your side, but I promise you, God is always with you and on your side.  Have faith and know that everything happens for a reason and God is behind it all….and we are lucky for that.  Have faith in your parents, we love you in a way that you will only comprehend when you have your own children.  Have faith in yourself.  You are capable of whatever you put your mind to.  We are limited only by our inability to believe in ourselves.  I didn’t say things would always come easy.  In fact, hard work is usually the only route towards achievement, but faith in yourself along with hard work, will guarantee you success.  

Fail:  Many people avoid trying new things because they are scared to fail.  How will you ever learn what you are capable of if you don’t try?  The answer: you won’t.  So go for it, whatever it may be, go after it and if you fail, what does it matter?  It doesn’t.  What matters are the lessons you learned in your attempt and the person you have become due to them.  No one is perfect, no one can succeed 100% of the time, and if someone did, he/she would not be having very much fun. The scrapes and scars that our attempts leave behind help to define who we become (just look at your dad, he is covered in scars and I love him more and more for each one)

Wow, a lot of time has passed since I've taken time to write to you.  You are a big sister now.  I realize now that this is not only a letter intended for you, Blaire, but this is to be shared with your sister, Sloane, and any other children your father and I may have (we are still on the fence ;) )  In the past three years I have learned more from you both than this letter can even hope to give to you girls.......

Happy thoughts, happy life.  Blessings

 

down and dirty workout

Remember quality ALWAYS beats quantity:  have at it

1 min each no rest between

Alternating side lunges,  lunge to side keeping stationary leg straight, keep knees stacked over ankles, drive from hips and glutes
Mountain Climbers : pull knee to opposite elbow, slow or fast, just have good form
Plié Squats
Plank Hold (or push ups if you can, also can do as many push ups as you can then hold a plank until time is up)

Rest 2 mins

Squat Pulses with jumps:  squat down, pulse low for 10 then complete 5 squat jumps 2-3xs
Tricep Dips 30 seconds
Side Planks, 30 secs each side
Lunge Jumps:  Get into a lunge, then jump, landing on the SAME side 10 each side

Stop here or Rest 2 mins and repeat a second time through

Remember What the mind believes the body achieves.

Hands off kid

The not so endearing everyday occurrences that make me want to scream, "Hands OFF, kid!"

I know, sharing is caring.  Yet, every time one of my girls goes to grab food from my plate I am bugged beyond belief.  I don't know what it is, yes, I do; I don't want to share my food.  You have your food on your plate, which is the exact same as what is on my plate, so come on kid, hands off!  I put this food here because I want to eat it not have you eat it for me...especially if it is dessert!

Everyone know that kids have the best sensors: they can sit and keep themselves entertained actually telling you to leave them alone, but the moment you need to get something done they know and therefore need you right then and there.  That can be bothersome in and of itself, but it's when I am standing there, trying to prep dinner and my pants are being yanked on and almost off that I want to scream, Hands off kid!  I am wearing these pants for a reason and would like to keep them on. Aw how cute she wants me to hold her.  Nope, sorry, I can't stand my pants being pulled on for attention.  I love my girls but that bugs and I often find myself shaking them off of my leg.   

My clothes are put away neatly in drawers and or hanging in my closet.  That is until one of these little munchkins decides that pulling out and showing whomever is around my underwear is a fun activity.  Or there is the pulling down of every shirt saying, "mommy this is pretty wear this", sorry kid I am not going to wear that fancy dress to the park today.  The part that bugs is that for every shirt she would like me to wear about 5 end up on the floor, which I then have to re hang.  Seriously, I know that is not a big deal and how cute is it that she wants to help dress me, however, it totally bugs me! Hands off my clothes kiddos.  I like them where they are thank you. 

Maybe I am OCD, maybe I am just a little mean, I don't know.  I just know that these, and I am sure there are a few others, small toddler behaviors I find far from endearing.  They irk me.  I love my kids.  I just wish that they knew to keep their hands off! 

July 4th Part 2

As someone who likes to entertain I'm always on the look out for little bits and pieces of extras to leave for my guests.  At Christmas, B and I made green Rice Krispie treats, cut them out in Tree shapes and decorated them with stars on top and a few sprinkles, tied them up in little baggies and put them out on everyone's dinner plate; a little take home dessert.  I picked that treat because it was easy for Blaire to assist me in doing.  I had no idea they would be such a hit, but then again who doesn't love a Rice Krispie Treat?  I will admit I make them with the healthier Brown Rice Krisps, but no one knows the difference.  We did a batch at Easter, eggs fully decorated with sprinkles and frosting.  Of course this means we are making a batch for the 4th!  We've only begun decorating (we had to get more colors today seeing as red white and green doesn't scream 4th of July).  I'm excited because I found food coloring markers!  Usually I refuse to use food coloring in our food (unless it's the natural kind), but I'm intrigued and  can't wait to try them later!

July 4th Activities, part 1

As any good stay at home would, I have started with some 4th of July activities.  Funny thing: my kids are 1 and 3, do they even give a rats bum about the 4th?  We will BBQ and maybe see the fireworks, though I don't feel up for dealing with the craziness of crowds so unless we can see them from our deck, we will miss them.  Oh well, I'm doing these activities anyway, but the truth is they can be done any day of the year :)

Fireworks in a Jar

I first saw this on Pinterest and spent some time looking at a few different websites and decided ok this must be cool.  Honestly, only slightly and it took us 4 tries to get it right!

Fill a jar 3/4 of the way with warm water (that was my mistake on the first 2 efforts)

In a separate bowl put 3-4 Tbsp oil then add in a few drops each of a few colors (food coloring)  Gently mix with a fork

Gently pour oil into water and VOILA! Fireworks!  Well, kind of.  The drops slowly fall through the oil and when they hit the water the color disperses. 

Failed attempt

On our 4th attempt we skipped the oil bowl.  We put the oil directly in the jar then once that settled at the top, we dropped the colors in.  I actually found that to work the best.  Though the oil and colors left some pretty designs in the bowl in the traditional method.  Either way, it's quick and fun for the little ones.