Stolen Moments

Lately, when I'm making dinner, Brody will waddle into the kitchen holding a couple blocks or his favorite truck.  Before long, he'll plop down on the floor and start jibber-jabbing about his day.  I always bend down to give him a little lovin' before I have to return to what I was doing.  Our kitchen rendezvous is just one of the stolen moments I look forward to each day.  I've realized that with Kid #3, I've got to look for these opportunities and not take them for granted.  Sure, while Brody and I are relishing in our stolen moment, I'm also dealing with my girls, guarding my snack pantry from random neighborhood children, setting the table, making tacos and tripping over the dog but, that's okay, because Brody gets it. He gets that I'm busy, he gets that he's got two older sisters, he gets that dinner has to get made.  And, you know what? In the middle of all this chaos, I'll catch his eye and he'll give me the cheesiest grin ever to let me know he's okay.  And, let's be honest, watching me juggle all of the above has got to be some top notch entertainment for a toddler.

It happened so quickly that if you blinked you would have missed it.  For a couple magical minutes, these two realized that they don't have to be mortal enemies.  They could, in fact, share a little giggle.  Of course, it ended when Ella pushed Brody off the couch. But, I'm telling you, for those couple minutes I was in maternal bliss!  As I've mentioned before, one of my main goals as a Mom is to foster great sibling relationships between my kids.  These two I worry about just a bit.  Being so close in age, they find themselves as inadvertent rivals more than I'd like.  Whether it's a sippy cup, Mommy's lap or the last graham cracker, they always seem to want the same thing at the same time.  For at least the first year of Brody's life, Ella refused to even acknowledge his presence. And, now that Brody is bigger and badder, he's been getting WAY more physical.  He loves to grab a big chunk of Ella's hair and just yank! Then he just squeals with delight as she's crying and thrashing.  Nice.  Real nice.  This is all a totally new experience for me since Hannah and Ella are soul mates in the purest sense...kinda like Khloe and Kourtney.  Ladies, I would love to hear any tips all you other Moms have on helping siblings, not just get along, but actually thrive in their relationships.  Please share! :)

A Case of the Mondays

I woke up on this Monday morning feeling blaaahhhh!  One glance at the clock tells me I slept through my alarm and missed my morning trip to the gym.  Double blaaahhh! When I look out the window, I see nothing but grey clouds hovering over a snow white sky. Triple blaaahhhh! A definite case of the Mondays.

I've been at home raising my kids for almost six years now.  Recently, when picking up my kids from Grammy and Pops' house, my dad asked me with crazy seeping out of his eyes, "Is this what you do everyday?"  Um, yeah, it totally is.  How do I stay sane on a day when all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and hope Tuesday comes really fast?  The little kids giggling in the next room need breakfast, clothes, hugs, etc. so I know sleeping until tomorrow really isn't an option.  Lying under the covers, I make a plan.

1.  GET DRESSED.  Although, the urge is great, I force myself to NOT pull on my favorite sweats and, instead, reach for my Sevens. I know it's totally superficial but getting dressed kinda cute helps me feel better.  It really, really does.  I feel more productive, more apt to leave the house, talk to people, etc.   Plus, on days like today I like to wear some fierce eye makeup.  Why?  Kardashian-esque eye makeup makes me feel powerful like I can take on the world or, maybe, even start an empire.
2.  GET ORGANIZED.  You know those days where you never get dressed and end up wandering around your house aimlessly checking Facebook and Pinterest until you realize your kids are about to come home from school and you've got nothing to show for it.  It happens.  It sucks.  I pull out my trusty planner and start planning my week.  I'm a nerd so that always gets me going. My planning session includes my personal goals, family night, my exercise routine and our daily meals.  (F.Y.I. We are talking about our ancestors tonight for Family Home Evening. Here is the link to the lesson I'm using.  This gal has lots of great ideas.)

3.  PRAY.  Probably the simplest thing you can do to shake off a bad mood and yet, very often, totally overlooked.  Praying to have a better attitude works...it really does.  I know because I'm prone to  being a big, old grump and I often use prayer to help lift my mood.  I just read a quote by George Albert Smith in which he uses the term "developing happiness."  That term has really stuck with me because it implies that being happy is a talent...something I can practice and achieve.  I like that.
4. DIET COKE AND CANDY.  Getting in the car and running to McDonalds always helps.  I get some fresh air, a bit of perspective and a little sip of heaven.  The secret candy stash I have in my desk drawer doesn't hurt either.
5. BE CREATIVE.  I love writing, scrapbooking and journaling so those are my favorite outlets.  It helps me clear my thoughts, focus on my blessings and just feel like I'm accomplishing something outside of homemaking. Doing laundry is important but I don't really feel that awesome sense of accomplishment when I'm finished.  You know how it is.

Happy Monday!!!

The Best Present EVER

Our holiday season flashed by in a whirl of twinkle lights, candy canes and some serious holidazzle.  The parties, shopping, butter and fun seemed endless.  Those things were all great...really.  But, do you want to know what the very best thing about our Christmas was?  The thing I will never, ever forget?

Ella finally found her words!!!  {APPLAUSE}. 

Ella is my most spirited child. She's bright, hilarious and totally irreverent.  She has a "giggle" that you would expect to belong to a burly trucker.  Her face and eyes express more emotion than most people feel in a lifetime but, until recently, she was silent.  How could this be?  No baby noises.  No Mama or Dada. Just this awful silence.  Was I worried?  I was frantic!  Ella, who charms everyone she meets with her mile-wide grin and a warmth that literally just oozes, had nothing to say! I just couldn't accept that. Not knowing what was going through that adorable little noggin of hers was torture.  But, it was also really, really hard for me to acknowledge that my beautiful baby was struggling.  I knew I had to do something when I realized that she realized she couldn't communicate like the other kids.  Social situations where she was expected to speak became absolute nightmares for her.  Luckily, we found the most amazing therapist in the entire world, Kristine Hatch.  She is like the toddler-whisperer. Seriously.  Ella loves her so much and I do too.  She helped Ella find her words and that was the absolute best Christmas present in the history of Christmas presents.

WANTED: Ten Lousy Minutes

I needed ten lousy minutes to edit some pictures I wanted to include in, what was sure to be, the most epic blog post ever crafted.  Scott was home from work so I seized the moment to sneak upstairs.  I could hear Dora singing and the scuffle of little feet in the kitchen for breakfast.  Ten minutes.  That is all I needed.

Within two minutes of my not-so-stealth escape those little feet were coming my way...fast.  Only, this time it wasn't a little scuffle.  It had transformed into an elephant stampede.  Ten lousy minutes.  That is all I needed.

CRASH!!!  That is how my children open doors...anytime, anywhere.  With Herculean strength.  

It was then I made my critical mistake.  As the herd entered my quiet little domain, I should have just waved my white flag. Obviously, I was beat.  But, for some reason, I was determined to fight.  Bad idea. 

Ella comes cruising in half-naked because, well, she hates wearing pants and thinks panties are optional.  (I don't get out that much anyway.)  Hannah follows and is soon coughing all over me while wondering if she is healthy enough to go to school today.  (Oh, she's sooo going.)  But, it was Brody who sealed the deal as soon as his sticky little finger found the bright blue power button on the computer.  I watched my pictures disappear.  Oh, and, Scott was there too.  (Not exactly sure what he was doing but we'll save that for another day.)

Done. 

What happens next bothered me for the rest of the day.  Instead of saving my pictures for another time and giving my children the attention they were looking for,  I threw a temper tantrum. I'm pretty sure that is frowned upon in the realm of respectable grown-ups.  I stamped, I yelled, I threw a royal fit.  I truly hate when my kids see me lose my cool.  I really do. Don't you?  Because the truth is I love being a stay-at-home Mom.  I relish the fact that my kids (usually) enjoy being with me and that I get to spend my days with them.  It is a tremendous blessing that I wouldn't trade for the world.  But, sometimes Mommy just needs a couple minutes.  Is that okay?

Fun According to Kids

Mom Lesson #583:  Kids have a very simple definition of FUN.

We had nothing planned for Fall Break, so I asked the kiddos if they wanted to do something super-duper-amazingly fun.  I told them we could do anything in the world as long as it was in Utah.  I was thinking we could hit The Zoo, Discovery Gateway, Treehouse...let's paaaarty!

After discussing their options over Cinnamon Toast Crunch, they decided they wanted to spend Fall Break 2011...Are you ready?....drum roll, puh-leeze... feeding the ducks, going to the library and making cookies.  Their only stipulation was the cookies had to have orange frosting and Halloween sprinkles.  No wiggle room on that.

Seriously? Yep.

NOTE TO SELF: Stop stressing about planning all kinds of nonsense and going a zillion places!! Sometimes little kids totally dig just hanging out with good-ole-Mom.  P.S. That's totally you! Are you blushing? ;) 

 According to my kids Fall Fun is:

riding in a wagon

stomping through a gigantic pumpkin patch

finding the ugliest, wartiest pumpkin EVER

zooming through a miniature hay maze about a zillion times

hitting the McDonald's for strawberry sundaes

xoxox

Spooky {Decorating Ideas}

Have I mentioned I LOVE Halloween?  LOVE!  I think it has something to with the creative aspect of the whole day.  You get to dress up, use your imagination, wear glittery makeup.  Amazing!  We've been hard at work transforming our space into our own little slice of fright and relishing in our spooky family traditions. Happy Decorating!

Subway Art from The Girls at Eighteen 25.

Crow Printable from The Blooming Homstead.

Halloween Garland adapted from UCreate With Kids.

Today I am linking up with Skip to My Lou.

For more spooktacular ideas, check out my SPOOKY Pinboard by clicking on this cute little icon==>>

A Planner Mom

I had to get a planner.  GASP!

Those who know me well know I’m not much of a planner.  (See Below: Child #3)  But, the chaos of  life has made it necessary for me to morph into a Planner Mom. 

Why?

TRUTH:  The first month (or so) of Hannah being a “school kid” was a absolute blur of crazy. After five years of chillin’ like villains, the whole concept of needing to be somewhere at a certain time everyday (bathed and dressed) kinda threw me for a loop.  Soccer, playdates, doctor appointments, volunteering…and all just for Kid #1!  

Knocked me on my toosh.

I would like to report that I’ve fully recovered but that would be a complete fabrication.   I’m doing my best though.  Taking one day at a time and holding onto my planner for dear life.  Hopefully, I’ll get the hang of things before Hannah graduates from high school.  Hopefully.

LOVE

LOVE:
the way your hair sparkles in the sun
how genuine your smile is
seeing your fat feet dangle off the potty
that delightfully dirty look you give your brother
when you say,"Oh, yeah?"
the way you cuddle with Hannah
when you feel pretty
the belly laugh
hearing your prayers each night
and, pretty much everything else about my Miss Ella Boo

Two Perspectives, One Event

That morning she felt excited and, oh, so big.
I felt heart-thumping anxiety.

She was worried she would fart in class.
I was worried she would feel lost in a sea of kids.

She was smiling for real.
I was barely smiling at all.

She was going to miss her little sister.
I was going to miss my little buddy.

She wanted to be nice to everyone...no matter what.
I wanted her to punch anyone that was mean to her.

She was wondering what beautiful skirt Ms. Liddell was going to wear that day.
I was wondering if I had prepared her for the real world.

She said, "Mom, just keep your arm around me till the bus comes."
I said, "Okay."

 

What is your secret to capturing multiple perspectives while documenting those "big" events?

A School Kid

I've never had a full blown panic attack until yesterday. The reason? Back-to-school night.  I thought my heart was going to explode. And, I was sweating!  Really sweating. Granted, it was super hot outside but STILL!

I'm not that Mom! 

At least, I like to think I'm not that Mom.  

I had so many questions swirling through my head about volunteering, t-shirts, that dang bus, PTA...  Luckily, I happened to stumble upon my cute neighbors (hi!) who also happen to be veteran school-kid parents. I attached myself onto them like a parasite. They had all the answers.  Buy this t-shirt not that one, that fee is optional, volunteer here.  You get it.  They rocked. I was still totally sweating but at least my heart regained a normal rhythm.

Hannah and her teacher, Miss Liddell.  Hannah told her she was pretty during her kindergarten assessment.  No joke.

Seriously, how did this happen?  Is she ready? It seemed like just yesterday I brought my little Hannah Bug home from the hospital all swaddled up in a pink blankie and now she's wearing sneakers and riding a bus (to school only).  As I begin to wax poetic, I realize I'm totally that Mom.  Uggghhhh!