Cool Like That

Your child might have one of these...

Your child might even have one of these...

 But, does YOUR child have one of THESE!?!?

 Our oldest Childs begged and begged for one of these library cards.  She saw on Arthur that in order to get one of these gems, you have to be able to write your full name.  And it just so happens that she's been doing that for quite a while.  How DARE Arthur keep this secret from her for so long!


So, I caved.  
Not a big deal, right?

Wow.

You would have thought I told her we were moving across the street from Chuck E. Cheese!  She stood beside me so proud while I filled out the paper work.  Then, she set right to work on finding some Babysitter's Club books she hasn't read yet. (Remember those!?  I used to read those!  Ahem... not in 2nd grade though.)  She gathered her books, stood in line again, presented the card, and VWA-LAA...

BOOKS!  
In HER name!
Struttin' her stuff, she comes up to me~
"Mom, I'll be in there reading my new books."
(pointing to the enclosed bookcase with comfy pillows to lay back on- perfect for diving into a good book.)
Aw... my oldest daughter.
She's cool like that.

A Little TOO Quiet

I put Trey to bed the other night.

When I came out of his room,

I couldn't find Jada.

So I went on a search and 

found her sleeping here....

Why didn't I just look behind the couch

in the first place?

Silly me Jada.

dirt, sticks, and roads

"Mommy!  Gaacie, me, woads!"

Spring Break: Omaha

What does a normal sane crazy mom who doesn't want to stick around home during spring break do with three kids?  

She takes them to Omaha, NE...

Here are our Top 10 Highlights:
10.  St. Patty's day supper (made by Tom!)
9.  Playing with Bella and Anna
8.  Shopping with Mimi that includes make-up, nail polish, candy, Orange Julius, and popcorn
7.  Playing with Chasing Lily/Abby
6.  Being tickled by Mandy and Michelle
5.  Singing to Baby Pepsi
4.  Chinese Buffet, burgers, IHOP, Taco Bell
3.  Papa's singing at church
2.  Running, skipping, galloping, marching in Papa's backyard
1.  Being SPOILED by Mimi and Papa!

kids being kids

kIdS

wheelbarrows

drinks

 roofs

 dirt

 paintbrushes

and water.

 How is it kids can have such 

a good time with the basics?

comfort

It's been a week since I heard a man tell the DJ on KLOVE that he was to the point of (almost) no return.  He was standing on a bridge in California last Wednesday, when he heard God's voice tell him to get off the bridge.  He was amazed at how, throughout the day, God sent him messages that he was worth saving.  Messages through songs on the radio, friends who happened to call and check on him.  Small miracles like this. 

I've thought about this man, and how he sobbed his story over the radio.  I thought about how I sobbed when I heard it, and then two hours later heard the DJ's talk about all the phone calls that came pouring in trying to encourage this man.

We don't know each others' thoughts- no matter how close we are to a person.  But, God does.  He knows the number of hairs on your head.  He knows your every thought, your every need, and your every plead.  God can lift you up, and comfort you.  

All you have to do is say one word-

Help.

Go to God tonight.  Talk to Him.  Have Him talk back to you- just like this man did.  He's ready.  God says YOU are worth saving. 

Going Green

Last Friday Gracie was playing on the monkey bars.  Just doing her thing, when she fell... on her wrists.  She went to the office three times because of how much it hurt.  The nurse finally wrapped it up and she was sent home with the diagnosis of her wrist being "spranged." 

Gracie complained all day Saturday.  
Tylenol.
Gracie complained all day Sunday.
"Can't you just take me to Immediate Care?"
More Tylenol.
We told Gracie if it still hurt on Monday one of us would take her to the doctor. Well, Monday came.  Chad took her to the doctor. Turns out her wrist is broken.

We ARE awesome parents.
Usually.
Just not this weekend. 
But, this is not about us.

Gracie's wrist was put on a board, and wrapped.
Of course this helped with the pain.
She was much happier.
We were feeling horrible about our parenting.
But, again... this is not about us.

Today I took Gracie to the doctor to get her cast.
I have never broken any bone in my body (I'm a wuss when it comes to doing anything active.  Some might call this prissy.  I call it safe.) So, I wasn't sure what all getting a cast on meant.

I took out my camera, and asked the nurse, "Can I be THAT mom and take pictures while you do this?"  She agreed that would be ok.  So I clicked away.

When the nurse asked Gracie  what color of cast she wanted, she said right away, "GREEN!"  Little did the nurse know that Gracie is a think-ahead type of person.  She knows St. Patrick's Day is coming up and wanted to make sure she didn't forget to wear green!  Clever.

I took her back to school afterward and she about couldn't stand it.  I couldn't walk fast enough (while carrying a sleeping Jada) to keep up with her.  She would not wait for me.  Gracie was so excited to get to her class so they would see her cast.  But, most importantly, she wanted to get there so people could sign her cast! 

 Gracie came home from school telling us that her favorite part of having a cast is that she gets to be the 

~center of attention~

Yep... the perks of breaking your arm, folks!

You get to have all the attention (even from the boys... shhh...).

Grown Up Mommy day

S onic drinks

H oly cow, Bed Bath and Beyond is crowded!

O nly Mom and me

P anera for lunch

P retty jewelry and curtains

I {heart} Orange Leaf

N eeded coupons at Michaels

G onna go again next year!  

W alked out of one store with nothing!
I didn't get pulled over this time
T alked, and talked...
H ow is it we're so alike!?

M inutes wasted on a cash register that didn't work
O nly sunshine- near 70 degrees!
M other's Day project started for school

  

Friday

Just some happy pictures to go with these happy thoughts... 

It's a Friday.
The sun is shining.
I'm sitting at home in my comfy clothes.
Watching Toy Story 3 with Jada.
(unfortunately she's a little sick.)

Later today I'll be opening the windows.
Later this evening I'm scheduled for a date.
With Chad.  :)
(Probably won't happen now, but it's happy thought.)

Another happy thought:  
now that I'm at home for lunch, I get to make Kraft Mac-n-cheese.  I usually only put in about 3/4 of the noodles so it will be super cheesey!  Mmmm...

Got my hair highlighted yesterday.
Please don't get too jealous when I tell you that I got to:

a.  read a WHOLE magazine,

b.  have my head massaged during shampooing,

c.  sit under a heat lamp because I was cold.

An hour and a half to myself (well... and Shannon- my hair dresser).  Lovely.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!  

I hope it's as sunny where you are as it is here today.

I think it's supposed to be close to 70 degrees!

Love.

34

Happy Birthday to me!
I love the idea of thinking of 34 things about myself on my birthday.  (Thank you Danielle, for the idea!)
So, here it goes!

1.  I am married the perfect man that God intended for me to marry.  Chad is an amazing man, husband, father, son, and friend.  I respect him for a lot of things:  he's good at his job- even the days it's not his favorite; he's an incredible father- I've learned SO MANY parenting skills from this man; he puts everything into everything he does- from loving me, to loving his children, to loving God.


2.  Gracie:  7 years old.  She's extremely smart, talented, and just a little stubborn.  Gracie cares so much for other people.  Tonight in Target she told me she wants to volunteer at a store, restaurant, and Caring Hands Animal Shelter so she can see how they run before she decides to work in one.  Very organized thoughts.  She loves to sing, dance, and is inseparable from any book she can get her hands on.


3.  Jada: 5 years old.  She's spunky, loud, smart, and loves to be silly.  Jada is quite the dancer and loves to dance on the Wii.  She's in preschool, and couldn't WAIT to get her Kindergarten shots so she can go to Kindergarten!  Who's kid is this?  Jada loves to be tickled, and is inseparable from her Bunnybear.


4.  Trey:  23 months.  He's athletic, talkative, smart, and such a boy!  Trey loves to run around while wearing his cape.  He goes to daycare by day, and wears a Batman mask by evening.  He LOVES to read books, pretend to be a firefighter, and is inseparable from his red blanket.


5.  Maurices and Target- need I say more?


6. I could eat Kraft mac-n-cheese everyday of the summer.


7. I have always known I wanted to be a teacher.


8.  I'm not good at playing with my children- I will line something up for you, put clothes on dollies/barbies/pollys, but ask me to use my imagination and it's like I lost it.


9.  chocolate.  period.


10.  I hate being hot.  I'd sooo much rather be cold.


11.  I've recently bought notebooks to keep my thoughts organized.  Blog ideas, short-term/long term goals, other ideas or shopping lists go in these notebooks.


12.  My very best friend is Jessica.  She lives in Minnesota, which stinks.  We've been friends for 23 years.  Her birthday is April 8th, so when we would tell people we're twins, we would just say our birthday is on the 8th.  I will blog about her someday.  Pray for her, she's having her third baby at the end of this month.


13.  We live in a small house.  We're outgrowing it, and would like to move to a different house.  I've been praying for it.  We'll see what God has in store for us next.


14.  I love KLOVE- a national Christian radio station. When I taught 5th grade, I tried to listen to the pop/rap music that was popular with the kids, but I found when I did that, I was grumpier during the day.  Once I started listening to KLOVE instead, I found myself more patient with the kids.


15.  I'm a wanna-be scrapbooker.


16.  I crave my alone time. It's how I get rejuvenated.  


17.  The only person I really cuddle with is Trey.  He's tiny, and that's cute.


18.  I'm trying to increase the items in my jewelry box.  Can't wait for my Mom/Daughter day on Saturday!


19.  I love to sing and I love to dance.  In my own house.  In front of my children only.


20.  I'm afraid of my basement.  I've always been afraid of basements.  I convince myself there are things that will pull my feet back down as I'm running up the stairs.  


21.  I've lost 14 pounds since last August!  So proud of myself for that.  I have 10 more to go, for sure.  It's so hard to just lose ONE pound for me, so I'm guessing it will take through summer, and maybe until next Christmas to get the last 10 off.


22.  My favorite M&M's are the green ones.


23.  Pepsi.... mmmm...


24.  My favorite entertainer of all time is Michael Jackson.  


25.  I'm interested in learning more about women in the Bible.  


26.  I have no interest in going to a foreign country.  I would just love to visit more of the United States.


27.  I have crazy weird dreams.  Especially when I was pregnant.  I once dreamt that I birthed Kermit the Frog, while bomb planes were flying above me.


28.  I wish I had long hair, but don't have the patience to grow it out.


29.  I drive a mini-van.  ick, right?


30.  I am super close with my mom and dad.  My mom and I can talk for hours and hours and hours.  She's my go-to girl.


31.  My top 5 favorite movies:  Breakin', Dear John, 50 First Dates, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Annie.


32.  I love Musicals.  But, mostly ones I know.  


33.  My favorite color changes.  I love to wear black.  But, I'm slowly getting more color in my wardrope.  I bought a red shirt today.  Woo-hoo!


34.  Most importantly, Jesus.

down

I'm feeling down.
Not sure why.
The waste of time workshop I went to all day today didn't help.  I had a fun time in the van on the way up with my friends, and on the way back. 
But, for some reason, I'm in a funk.
My kids are fighting a lot lately.
Most of Gracie's attitude stems from a particular person in her class who is bullying her to be friends with her.  Yeah, so last time I learned how to make friends, it wasn't by forcing it.  
So that's been hard.  Because she feels torn.  She wants to do the right thing, but she's tired of this person bringing her down.  All Gracie wants to do is focus on her best friend, Tessa.  They ARE inseperable.
You won't believe this, but I forgot Jada AGAIN at preschool.  And where was I at 3:30- when I was supposed to be picking her up?  I was leaving that worthless workshop in Emporia.  Chad had a meeting he did not want to miss.  But, he had to leave when preschool called and asked if Jada had a ride home today.  It's going to take a lot of pleading for forgiveness, and maybe some cookies to Ms. Mari on this one.  
I'm dreading spring break.  
Chad will be gone for the last half of the month.
But, I've decided I'm taking the kids to Omaha the first part of our spring break. Chad's family cheered me up when they talked about taking time off when we're there.  But, afterward, my slump came back.  
I feel like a loser mom today.
I feel like a horse lately- even though two people (two of my most favorite people) commented on how I look "smaller."  Wow, not sure how I deserved those comments.  But, they did cheer me up for a second or two.  
I'm afraid of my house when I'm the only adult in it.  
I'm not talking about a little scared- but I'm talking about how I talk myself into hearing noises, and seeing things that aren't there.  I'm ready to move.  Maybe to Australia (name that book.)
Hopefully this mood will go away by tomorrow.  It's my birthday tomorrow after all.  And who wants to feel like this when they turn 34? 

their hearts were racing

Want to know one thing you can always count on to make the childrens' hearts race?

This.

Here's how it went down...
(Imagine this as a slow motion movie.)

LOTS of children running, yelling, chasing, sliding, swinging at the park. LOTS of moms, a few dads, sitting around the outside edges of the large playground.  Some talking to other parents, some supervising their child closely, some texting and taking a break from parenting.
 
The sound of the ice cream truck drawing near.
A few kids stopping in their tracks.
They listen.
Did we just hear what we think we just heard?
The ice cream truck is now in sight.
PANDEMONIUM!

I watched as children ran slow motion all around me.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!"
My own children-

one of them running toward the ice cream truck

~without money

one of them screaming my name

~asking for money

one of them oblivious to the truck

~could care less about money

A few moms with one child gave in.  

Thanks Moms.

As I looked around, I noticed mothers and fathers with more than one child were dealing with sad/mad/disappointed little faces.

"Why do THOSE kids get ice cream?" I was asked.

"Because their mom is nicer than your's," was my reply.

Not good enough.

"But, why do SOME kids get ice cream and others don't?" I was asked.

"Because I just have my keys, and my phone.  No money."

"Oh."

Thankfully, my children came to the truck when I called them later on.  Thankfully, my children were NOT the ones screaming in Subway during supper.

Thankfully, I finally remembered to bathe my children this week.  

It was a good evening.

And it very well could have ended up pretty grumpy.... all because of the ice cream truck. 

playing

We got a chance to play outside.

Look!  No snow!

It was almost 60 degrees today!

 with sticks...

and hoods...

and cute poses...

 and friends...

 and a few tears because someone 

didn't get to have the swing when

he wanted it.

But, for the most part, it was really

nice to be playing outside again.

Spring can't come soon enough

around here.