Monday, April 26, 2010

I LOVE it when my kids say...

...OKAY.  It is one of my favorite things to hear.

happy girls

Friday, April 23, 2010

A Little Romance

Just wanted to share a couple of fun blogs I found recently all about dating your husband.  They have tons of ideas.  I don't think Mr. Wonderful would really go in for some of the crazier ideas, but he always likes to know he is loved.  I think there is something for everyone on these blogs.

The Dating Divas



Love, Actually


I'm looking forward to some fun dates.  Thanks ladies!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

International Family Postcard Swap

Zoe of Playing by the Book is organizing the International Family Postcard Swap.  You can visit her blog to read about the details.  We are joining in and are so very excited to participate!  Thanks Zoe!!!


Tuesday, April 20, 2010

All Girls Outing to the Quilt Show

On Saturday I took my girls to a local quilt show.  It's a tradition I'm trying to instill.  They do think quilts are very pretty things and were way excited to go.  They even counted down the days!  . 

It was fun for me to see how each girl acted at the show. 

Miss Banana really wanted to study the quilts and take time to look at each one.  She had some definite favorites.   (sorry for the blurriness)


Miss Bear liked every quilt, but wouldn't look at one quilt for longer than 5 seconds.  I couldn't tell if she was bored or really excited.  I wasn't able to get a picture of her because she did not sit still even once.  I should have told her that I wanted to take her picture.  I think that might have stopped her for a minute.

Miss Monkey loved every quilt with any pink in it. She was mostly just happy to be out with the girls.  She did find a cute little monkey to adore.  And yes, she did dress herself and do her own hair.  She is 4, you know.


We didn't stay very long, but did enjoy our time together and we are all looking forward to next year.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Getting to Know You part 25

Q:  What happy exclamation do you use the most?

A: Sweet!  or sometimes  Super! 

Please leave a comment with your own answer to this question.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Overcoming The Invisible Mom

Kiddo is in the 4th grade and is in the process of deciding what is "cool" and what is not.  So far it's been quite the process, and I know we are just at the beginning.  I've always wanted to be a "cool" mom.  The kind of mom my kids won't be embarrassed by.  The kind of mom they will feel comfortable talking to.  And listening to.  I want to be that kind of mom. 

At the beginning of the year I signed up to help at the school every Wednesday.  At first this was just fine, but as the weeks went by, I could sense that my level of "coolness" was dropping.  At first Kiddo would come over and talk to me, then he would just wave, then by Christmas time he just quit looking at me altogether.  Like if he didn't see me I wasn't really there.  I was trying to be the "cool" mom, so I left him alone.  I didn't push it. 

But I was bothered.  I wasn't hurt by Kiddo's actions, I was worried about the kind of relationship we had and would have in the future.  I was afraid that maybe he didn't really know just how much I loved him.  I realized that I hardly ever hugged him, even at home.  I used to when he was little but had gotten out of the habit as he got older.  I used to give him great big hugs we called "shield hugs".  The normal bumps and rough spots of life weren't so bad when he was protected by my sheild of love.  How could I have forgotten?

So I've changed my mind about being cool.  Now, when I see him at school, I go to him and give him a big hug.  No matter who is watching.  I hug him and tell him that I love him.  At first I was afraid that he would be mad at me.  But he wasn't.  He hugged me right back!  Sometimes he will see me before I see him and he will sneak up behind me and surprise me with a hug!  It is so great! 

For more Wordfull Wednesday entries, or to participate yourself, visit Chocolate on My Cranium.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Pink Carnations

On Friday I bought a bunch of pink carnations at the grocery store.  There were so many that I could barely fit them all in my wide mouthed jar that I like to use as a vase.

This is all that was left by Saturday morning.  Miss Monkey liked them so much that she took most of them to bed with her Friday night.  Little Man picked the little purple flowers in the yard and brought them to me. 



pink carnations

 

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Getting to Know You part 24

Q:  What is the busiest day of your week?

A:  Wednesday.  I am so glad today is Thursday! 

Yesterday we had dentist appointments for the 4 oldest kids, I helped at the school, had a meeting about Primary (the children's organization at church in which I am very blessed to serve) at my house, Kiddo had band after school and Miss Banana had piano lessons.  Mixed in with all of that was all the everyday stuff: naps, meals, laundry, homework, etc., etc., etc.  Thursday is a welcome sight! 

Please leave a comment and tell me about your busiest day of the week.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A Visit from the Stomach Bug

Considering the title, this might sound a little strange, but I had a really wonderful weekend.  I felt like it was some of the highest quality time we've had as a family in quite a while.  We spent Friday and Saturday nights at Mr. Wonderful's grandparents' home. It is always so good to visit them. 

We had a good drive (5.5 hours) to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The kids got along great!  We all enjoyed a very nice day together on Saturday and happily went to bed that night.  I was peacefully sleeping when Mr. W woke me up very, very early on Sunday morning (about 1:30) saying "What was that?"  Kiddo was throwing up.  In the middle of Grandma's kitchen floor.  He had been sleeping on her carpeted livingroom floor so we heartily congratulated him for making it to the kitchen.  We got him and the floor all cleaned up, found an empty ice cream bucket, and sent him back to his sleeping bag after moving it away from the other kids.  We went back to bed hoping it was just something he ate.  I always hope that.

One hour later we heard more strange sounds.  This time it was Miss Monkey.  I won't go into all the details this time.  Let me just say that once again, Grandma's carpet was spared.  Such a relief!

After getting back in bed yet again, Mr. Wonderful and I had a hard time going to sleep.  We would both jump up at the slightest moan or sound of movement from the kids.  We were wide awake.  So we talked.  For almost two hours.  We talked about so many different things.  It was wonderful! 

The next day Miss Banana asked me why we have to get sick.  I told her that it's just part of life.  But, I've been thinking about that question and our weekend experience.  If the kids had not been sick, Mr. Wonderful and I would not have had the sweet, peaceful time to ourselves that we enjoyed so much.  We worked together and worried together.  And were brought closer together because of that. 

I'm starting to realize that quality time does not mean perfect time.  And really, why should it be?  Life is not perfect.  Why should I expect quality time to be so far out of my reach that it hardly ever happens?  It is not out of my reach at all.  It is right there in front of me and all I have to do is grab onto it.    

The stomach bug turned out to be pretty mild and only Kiddo, Miss Monkey, and Little Man ever got sick.  Another blessing.  Yes, I really did have a wonderful weekend.