So please visit me:
here.
May 18, 2012
Hey y'all!
I know that I haven't given this blog much love lately, and I truly do apologize. I wanted to start fresh, so I did with another blog. Unfortunately in doing so I completely forgot about this one.
So please visit me:
So please visit me:
Feb 14, 2012
WWTK #42-44
Sorry for my slight hiatus' when it comes to blogging. I have been so busy with cub scouts, sports, kids' school, my school, bills, family, horse, cleaning, organizing, life, etc.
WWTK Week #44
[1] How was your Valentine's Day? So far so good, but it has just started.. I predict that it is going to be a really good day! We have quite a few fun things planned for the day and I am more than excited to get a start on them.
[2] What is your favorite flower? Did your honey get them for you? Stargazer Lily. I think they are the most beautiful flower on earth! & Oh yes, he will get one for me whether he wants to or not ;].
[3] Was Valentine's Day a big deal for you when you were a kid? Of course.. lots and lots and lots chocolate! Other candies were nice too.
[4] Did you put up any Valentine's Day decorations? Unfortunately we don't have any.. But I figure that I will get some for next year when the decor goes on sale.
[5] Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions? We don't really have any traditions for Valentine's Day.. It would be really neat to start some though! I do know that we make sure to not argue or get upset with each other today (even though you should do that every day.. haha!) and to spend as much time as we can together and as a family.
WWTK Week #43
[1] What is for dinner tonight? Pizza! K's Cub Scout's pack are having a pizza party and the parents are all joining in.. at their own separate tables haha![2] Share something you are currently looking forward to: Getting bills caught back up.
[3] What are your thoughts on re-gifting? I think it is fine. If you are gifted a really nice item but have no use for it or already have one why keep it in storage to get dusty when there is someone else that could use it? That's also to say it's OK as long as you don't gift it back to the person who gave it to you!
[4] How often do you rearrange your furniture? My tables (end tables, coffee table) are always getting moved around because they never seem to be in the right spot.. Our "big" furniture gets rearranged about once a year.
[5] Share a picture from your cellphone or camera: (See left)
WWTK Week #42
[1] Fantasy style, money is no object, if you could pick one type of help which would it be? Why? - Maid, - Nanny, - Personal Chef? Oh my.. All three of those sound absolutely amazing! I think that I would want to choose a maid, just because cleaning is at the top of my "I hate doing, but I have to" list. Although, a nanny and a personal chef would both be very nice.[2] What is your least favorite household chore? I would probably have to say.. dishes!
[3] What is your least loathed household task/daily chore? Vacuuming! I am extremely OCD when it comes to vacuuming my floors, as in I go over the whole thing two or three times before I am satisfied. But I find it oddly soothing.
[4] What is your favorite cleaning supply? Do you have any magic cleaning tips to share with your readers? Hands down my green Organic all purpose spray. I can't remember the brand, but I love it, it smells good, and it gets the job done! & Unfortunately I do not have any cool cleaning tricks up my sleeve, but I would be more than happy to learn some.
[5] What is your usual housework avoidance activity? Watching TV.
Feb 1, 2012
25 Rules for Mothers of Sons ♥
I stumbled across this amazing article on Pinterest (my new addiction) and had to share. If you are a momma to a little boy I definitely suggest you read it. I definitely teared up! & I got it HERE, so go check her out!
1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment. He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement. Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference. Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion. Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.
2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games. There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics. There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts. There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade. He will tell you to stop. He will say he's embarrassed. But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.
3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt. He may not always choose to do it. He may not ever have to do it. But someday his wife will thank you.
4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books. Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles. Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever. Writers are the transcribers of history and memories. They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important. And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.
1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment. He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement. Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference. Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion. Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.
2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games. There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics. There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts. There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade. He will tell you to stop. He will say he's embarrassed. But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.
3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt. He may not always choose to do it. He may not ever have to do it. But someday his wife will thank you.
4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books. Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles. Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever. Writers are the transcribers of history and memories. They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important. And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.
5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals. No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three. It doesn't have to be good. Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals. No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three. It doesn't have to be good. Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.
6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).
7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).
8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things. If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this: If you have done any of the following: a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero. do not doubt yourself for one second. Seriously.
You already are all of those things. If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this: If you have done any of the following: a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero. do not doubt yourself for one second. Seriously.
9. Teach him to have manners
because its nice. and it will make the world a little better of a place.
because its nice. and it will make the world a little better of a place.
10. Give him something to believe in
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there. Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there. Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.
11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.
12. Let him ruin his clothes
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable. Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes. Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable. Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes. Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.
13. Learn how to throw a football
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song. Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song. Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.
14. Go outside with him
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away. Just go outside and follow him around. Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions. It's like magic.
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away. Just go outside and follow him around. Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions. It's like magic.
15. Let him lose
Losing sucks. Everybody isn't always a winner. Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't. He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed. And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids. This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....) Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean you ever give up.
Losing sucks. Everybody isn't always a winner. Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't. He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed. And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids. This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....) Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean you ever give up.
16. Give him opportunities to help others
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help. Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities. Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help. Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities. Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.
17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life. You become a better writer by writing. You become a better listener by listening. You become better speaker by speaking. Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing. Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip. Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier. Practice, practice, practice.
This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life. You become a better writer by writing. You become a better listener by listening. You become better speaker by speaking. Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing. Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip. Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier. Practice, practice, practice.
18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"
Answer him, or search for the answer together. Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches). Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself. Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.
Answer him, or search for the answer together. Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches). Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself. Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.
19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
Especially the wipes!
Especially the wipes!
20. Let his dad teach him how to do things
...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.' If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything. You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers. And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom, you will stay connected to what is happening in his life. Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.
...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.' If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything. You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers. And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom, you will stay connected to what is happening in his life. Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.
21. Give him something to release his energy
drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog. Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff. and then you'll be sorry.
drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog. Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff. and then you'll be sorry.
22. Build him forts
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic. Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders. For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic. Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders. For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical
23. Take him to new places
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.
24. Kiss him
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet. They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day. But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender. So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?' Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild. Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old. You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it. p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet. They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day. But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender. So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?' Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild. Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old. You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it. p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).
25. Be home base
You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.
You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.
Jan 25, 2012
WWTK #40+41
I am so many weeks behind it is crazy, so I will catch up on the latest two, and maybe incorporate older ones in my next couple posts. Or something along those lines.
--> Week 41 <--
[1] What is your favorite room in your house and why? I would have to say my bedroom, because it is my "area". That means to toys, and no crazy running around and yelling. The rest of the house belongs to the kids and is filled with toys and projects, so it is nice to have one small portion of the house that isn't.
[2] What is your favorite time of day and why? I love the mornings just because it is when I feel most ambitious, plus all the kids are asleep and I can get some quality deep cleaning done!
[3] What is your favorite genre of music (or band/singer) and why? After putting much thought into this I have come up with : I don't have one. I like a little of this and a little of that. There are many songs of many genres I love and many songs of those same genres that I don't like.
[4] What is your favorite "go to" snack? Is it something you keep on hand? My favorite snack is definitely Sour Cream & Onion Pringles, and yes I do keep them on hand!
[5] What is your favorite form of exercise or way to keep moving? Yoga! I just started doing yoga and I love it. To be honest I always thought yoga was for "pansies", and boy, did I think wrong! I struggle with some of the most basic poses, but I feel amazing during and in the end of it.
--> Week 40 <--
{1} Which of the following phrases characterizes how you live your life?
a. You only live once
b. test the water before jumping in <-- Definitely this one. I love to be spontaneous, but only if it seems to be a smart idea.
c. stability is the key to life
{2} What were you doing the last time you had a really good laugh? I think J and I were just laying in bed. We are always coming up with and talking about the craziest stuff. One of the many reasons I love him!
{3} Who is the last person you hugged? J ♥
{4} What song always makes you happy when you hear it? Lately my "go to" song is "Keep Your Head Up" by Andy Grammer, it is a GREAT pick-me-up song.
{5} What's the first thing you thought about this morning? How long I had to start cleaning until the kids woke up!
b. test the water before jumping in <-- Definitely this one. I love to be spontaneous, but only if it seems to be a smart idea.
c. stability is the key to life
{2} What were you doing the last time you had a really good laugh? I think J and I were just laying in bed. We are always coming up with and talking about the craziest stuff. One of the many reasons I love him!
{3} Who is the last person you hugged? J ♥
{4} What song always makes you happy when you hear it? Lately my "go to" song is "Keep Your Head Up" by Andy Grammer, it is a GREAT pick-me-up song.
{5} What's the first thing you thought about this morning? How long I had to start cleaning until the kids woke up!
Dec 7, 2011
We Want To Know Wednesday - Christmas Style
{1} What is your favorite cookie to eat? Easiest question ever, my aunt Cricket's peanut butter cookies. Seriously those suckers are a bite of heaven every time.. If only I got them all year round!
{2} Have you ever done a cookie exchange? I haven't, I have entertained the idea few times.. But then figured that it would be a lost cause seeing as not many of my friends bake and I don't really either. I could always exchange cookies with myself?
{3} How are you doing on your holiday shopping? Oh I don't even want to talk about this, but I will. I have 25 people that I absolutely have to buy for. (Did I mention both J and I have a rather large family?) We haven't gotten quite every one yet. BUT we are working on it!
{4} What is your holiday shopping style? (A little at a time, or power shopper? Early in the season or last minute? Online or part of the crowd?) I definitely like to power shop, and get er' done! That just seems to be the easiest for me. Then I don't have to stress and put everything off til the absolutely last minute.
And a random seasonal 3 part question...
{5} Light displays...do you put them on your house? What is your style and your fave kind to see?Heck yes we put up lights! Our whole community goes ALL OUT! We definitely have a lot of amazing competition out here, so we have to pull out all of the stops. That means every kind of light in every nook and cranny.
{5} Light displays...do you put them on your house? What is your style and your fave kind to see?Heck yes we put up lights! Our whole community goes ALL OUT! We definitely have a lot of amazing competition out here, so we have to pull out all of the stops. That means every kind of light in every nook and cranny.
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