This evening we finally left our house for the day! Savannah was much better and a happier little girl. Late this afternoon she helped clean her playroom and was excited to go to Walter Jacobs Park to see the Owls!
It was nice to meet up with many friends and their children. It was a beautiful, crisp cold night to walk the nature paths. We saw two of the three owls. One was Screech Owl and the other was Barred Owl. I loved the Screech Owl because it was so small. I think Eric and Savannah liked the large Barred Owl because we have two of these in trees at our home. Savannah wants a Screech Owl that she can pet and tickle!
Inside the building we saw many other cool things! (Bee Hive, numerous snakes, soft shell turtle and other preserved native animals. They even served us coffee, hot cocoa and cookies! Savannah says none of the animals scared her. She is a real outdoor girl who loves crunching thru the leaves as she holds a lantern to light her way down the path!
It was a great family evening and a great end to the past 24 hours that had not been near as fun! HOOT HOOT!
Savannah did not go to sleep until very late last night. I was at BUNKO and when I got home expected to tiptoe in and things to be quiet. I was greeted at the door by a giggling little girl and her Daddy. They had too much fun while I was away. She was no where calm enough to hit the hay! After a bit, I took her to our bed, turned on a TV show and within 5 minutes she was out like a light.
I knew that this morning would come too soon for my little sleepy head. She still had 8 1/2 hours of sleep, but when I woke her up she was not eager to get up. The second I told her it was preschool circus day the jumped up so excited. Savannah was the tight rope walker. The next minute she said she was a ballerina. I have not ever seen a ballerina at a circus. She has not been to any other circus than the tent at the State fair. That scared her to death - the clowns that is. The last time she went into the circus tent she was about 2 1/2. I think my friend Liz and son Gavin also had the same experience! By the time we had purchased the cotton candy, the screaming began. Ever since then any clown, on TV, at a craft fair, at street festivals she was terrified. I was hoping that no preschool clown was going to scare her today.
Savannah looked precious. She wanted to wear makeup like the tight rope walkers do. I don't know how those crazy pageant Mom's do it - but it was a chore to me! She would not sit still enough for the mascara. Then she had to rub her eyes and looked like she had raccoon eyes. I put purple and sparkles on her eyes and she looked like a peacock she said. A sparkly round circle of pink blush on the cheeks, lip gloss and princess stick on earrings. Then I put her hair in a high pony tail, that was not easy either. It was worth it all when I took Savannah to the bathroom mirror to see herself. She had the biggest smile, hugged and kissed me and thanked me for making her so beautiful. I told her she was beautiful before we put that stuff on her face. She felt extra special in her pink tutu with striped leggings and twinkle toe light up tennis shoes.
I on the other hand did not look like a the Mother of a Princess. I had sweats, sweatshirt, uggs and glasses. It was cold and I was just focused on warmth and comfort.
Later this afternoon I took Savannah with me to look at Ball Gowns. She was so excited! She thought they were all so beautiful and just had to touch them all. I did not try on any today, but know that when I do get ready for the ball, I will feel just as special as Savannah did this morning! I look forward to having those special times with Savannah thru the years.
Today has been an extremely long and tough day for Savannah, despite the fun dress up. With not enough sleep last night, fighting it tonight she loses control and is an angry, exhausted little girl. I just pray this sweet child calms down soon and has sweet dreams of the princess she is.
Today was a windy, cold, rainy day that I would have preferred to stay in with Savannah. It wasn't possible because we needed milk and cornmeal. So we loaded up to go to our local Brookshires in Haughton. We wore our rainboots and had the big polka dot umbrella out. Savannah said it was a great day to be out! That's a child for you! They love jumping in puddles! She was a busy helper pushing her own cart in the store. The store was 75% rednecks today! Almost all of them had to say something to Savannah about how cute she was. They were loud ones, ones that bent down and got in her face and scared her, ones that made her laugh, several without any teeth and quiet a few with overalls!
Some things never change. At the age of 12 I moved to Alabama from Mississippi. I was told what a redneck was my first day at St. Elmo Middle School (Redneck country). I didn't get it for quiet a while! That was 1977 and my first memories of rednecks. They have been around as long as I remember and are still around to this day! I am not saying I am any better than they are. I am just saying we are all different. I was born in the deep south - Mississippi and lived there until age 12 and moved to Alabama.
At the age of 37 I married Eric and moved to Ohio. I thought there would be no Rednecks - WRONG! There were a few! Indiana I am not sure - probably were some. Kentucky - not really rednecks - just hillbillies!
Later today Savannah watched a movie of Spiderman that was Black and white. She thought the movie was broke. I started explaining to her that TV shows were black and white when I was a little girl. I told her we did not have TV remotes and that cartoons only came on Saturday mornings. Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound came on early Sunday morning before we left for Sunday School. I told her we only had 3 TV channels. Maybe 4 channels on a good day.
I can't wait to tell her more as she gets older! Things like:
I did not have cable TV till I was 16. Eric was an adult before he had cable or a color TV. My Mom never had a TV. We had to roll our own car windows down. I never had a car seat and did not wear a seat belt until I was driving my own car at the age of 15. Every place I bought gas for my car was a full service gas station. I did not pump my own gas until about the age of 20. There was no air conditioner in school (public or private school). Everybody we knew went to church. Every family did not own two cars. Most all of my friends had to share a bedroom with a sibling and they only had one bathroom in their home. We happen to have two after I was 12 years old. We did not have cordless phones. We had no computers in our home until I was about my mid 20's. We did not have saran wrap or paper plates that I ever remember until I was older. I did not grow up with McDonald's or drive thru restaurants until my teens. We did not have a microwave oven till I was a teenager. I owned a stereo and we played 8 track tapes and LP records. When I was older we had cassette tapes! We never owned an electric pencil sharpener. There were no flat irons for our hair. We would use a real clothes iron! We wrote checks to pay for things and used cash most of the time. There were no ATM cards. We did not grow up with our own playrooms. Our bedroom served both purposes. White gold and silver jewelry was not popular, Gold was what everyone wore! We wore add a bead necklaces, Izod shirts, belts, socks and hairbows. We ironed a crease in our bluejeans and bought our Levi's from the Army Navy surplus store. I started school in a small town in Mississippi. I was not admitted into public school in 1969. I went to a private school for 3 years. Once in public school, Integration meant all white kids had a black teacher and all black kids had a white teacher. At the movie theatres white kids went to the downstairs theatre while the black families had to go upstairs. One group went to one side of the snack bar and the others to the other side. We grew up thinking this was normal - and it was not normal, legal or fair. I grew up very naive and shy. When moving to the big city of Mobile, Al at the age of 12, you could drive out of my new, upper middle class neighborhood for 5 minutes and see a KKK cross burning on any Friday or Saturday night. Thank goodness I had parents who taught us to love everyone equal and not have hate in our hearts.
I could keep going. Thank goodness so many things have changed for good in my lifetime. I think I should start writing these things down! As fast as things change in this world, many people and things will stay the same. There will always be rednecks!
She will never believe them! Heck, most young Moms in my Moms groups would not believe it either!
This morning as I was driving Savannah to preschool I heard the most beautiful some on KLove radio. The words were : "greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done". It really got me to thinking. No matter how tough days we have, there is always someone else who is having a tougher day. When we have what we think is the best day of our life, someone else is always having their worst. God knows the plans He has for us. We have to keep our head up and do the best we can.
Nine days ago we had a tough night with Savannah and her "poopy" training issue. She had been potty trained for going pee pee for 10 months. The day after this tough night, I broke thru that wall. She has not only went poopy in the potty since. Sure, she held it for 2 days and nothing happened. She took enough pedialax that she was bound to have to go poopy! When she told me she was ready, there was not a happier Mom in this neighborhood, and she knew it! I am trying really hard to do more positive reinforcement. Ever since that experience she has "taken care of business" like a big girl. On Monday I went out for a while and when I returned, Eric told me she went by herself and then yelled for him to come check it out. When I bragged to her, she said "Mom, its no big deal"! Yes to most people its no big deal. To a Momma who has fought this battle for at least the past 6 months, it is a very big deal!
Today was Savannah's first day back at preschool since the big day and she had to tell everyone! We continued to have a great day. I did nothing different from any other day. At least 3 times this afternoon I was told what an awesome and sweet Momma I was. I decided not to fight the issue tonight over if I put her to bed or if she needed to wait to see Eric. The night was nice and calm. She asked if I would make a fire in the fireplace while she had her bath. We had played in the yard and on the trampoline and were a bit cold. We had dinner by the fire and laughed and giggled. She watched TV in our bedroom while I cleaned the kitchen. When Eric came home from his dinner meeting, she ran out and told her Daddy she and her Mommy had a great day! She still needed her one on one Daddy time to go snuggle with her. That's fine, I know she loves her Daddy and he loves her very much. I need to accept that this is a "good thing" and not fight it.
Yes , today I did nothing different from any other day. It's just all part of God's plan that I will never quiet understand. I just have to trust and treat every day as a new day that God has given us.
This morning I read on Kay Arthur - Christian writer's facebook page : "
Kay Arthur
When God is our focus, everything else - including self- has to take a back seat. He is the only One we have to please. Isn't that refreshing? We don't have to be afraid that such an attitude will make us hard or unloving or uncaring. What God works out in our lives will reflect His character, His likeness... His imprint. Read Psalm 73:25
How refreshing it is to know that God is the only one I have to please. When I please Him and seek His will, the greater good will be done for everyone around me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Everyone knows by now I am so ready for this month to be over with! I am so DONE with it!
All I have ever wanted to be was a good person, a wife and a Mother. It took me FOREVER for this to happen. Age 37 and then age 42. One would think I prayed long and hard about both and I would be good at it. I am not aiming for great - just the best I can be and learning as I go. This month the days start wonderfully and by evening - all hell seems to break lose if I don't have Savannah to sleep by 7:30 or before her Daddy gets home. I am the bad Mom, the wicked witch! My child is sweet and precious - but I think she needs to realize that as a child she can still break your heart. She can also melt your heart with her hugs, kisses and beautiful smile. These tough times are just a tiny portion of our day. Maybe she needs someone to have to share her time with. I don't know if its best to be an only child or not. I only want what is best for her and for us. I only know that my friends with more than one child do not deal with these issues.
She cracks me up most of the day! This morning she told me she did not want to watch "Handy Manny" because he was too fake! We all know that's true! Later today she told me I felt soft, was pretty and gave good kisses.
After a wonderful morning taking Savannah to Kid City to play with friends and me to have some Mommy time with my friends, I treated her to lunch at McDonald's. We came home, ate lunch, played games, watched a movie for quiet time and had a snack of popcorn. I stood on my feet all afternoon preparing 5 meals for what I thought was a 5 person meal exchange, only to find out at the end of the day that it is just 3 of us. Fine, whatever, no big deal I tell myself, let it go. So what if you have 4 Cranberry Chickens in your freezer! So what if you still need to go to the grocery store and prepare meals for this week. I tell myself to "chill out"! Yes I am tired, Yes my feet hurt - but "chill, chill", I say! Do I want to eat the dinner I prepared of Cranberry Chicken, green beens and ginger rice? The answer is heck no!
I have friends all around me who lately are dealing with issues of other adults trying to take advantage of them, trying to get something for free (freeloading) or just plain old stealing. It is hard to watch. Never in return giving back to those who always seem to be helping them. Sometimes people seem to try to take advantage of those of us who are older. People think money grows on our trees. It does not. We have worked hard for what we have, have sacrificed and saved. There are people in this world who have learned how to "work the system". Many of these people drive fine cars, have the latest electronics and the newest of the latest fad. I feel that so many people today have no morales and no values. To be quiet honest people do not give me discounts when I order products from them, so why should I be expected to? I had a Mom friend today telling me about her 8 year old daughter constantly saying "its just not fair"! I think I can relate to her daughter!
I have wonderful friends who are loving and are there for me. I have friends all around the country younger and older than I am. I am not perfect, they are not perfect, but we do seem to be able to exist and go thru the years together. I have parents who were always there for each other, thru alcoholism, sickness, good times of finance and tough times. Thru thick and thin. My parents were/are good people - I am proud of the things they taught us! I have an amazing husband who works hard all day to provide a great life for us. I am truly blessed.
I am going to blame this all on my parents! After all that's what our kids will do to us one day, right? My parents were strict and very loving. If they told us something, we better well do it or die trying LOL! My Daddy was a Marine in his younger years, my Momma was from a very large family and she was one of the oldest. There was not time to play around. Maybe that's where they learned how to parent. I took things I learned from them and applied it to working with youth in ministry. I think I have some pretty fabulous adults who many were wild and crazy Jr high and teens. They range in age from college students today to adults in their late 20's. They still love me to this day. They are well adjusted adults, hard working and many are parents. From Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. I loved them, was honest with them and told then like it was. No room for farting around as Daddy would say! I was not there just to lead and please them. I was there to teach them the Truths of the Bible, to be loving and accepting. I was not there to judge them.
So maybe its all my problem. I have lost some patience and tolerance. I need to be more forgiving. Maybe I just need to live in my own little bubble for a while till I figure this whole thing out. I will try hard to focus on the Serenity Prayer and to live it! 13 more days in this MONTH!
Yesterday was a long gloomy rainy day in more ways than one. I don't know about you, but I need a dose of happiness and sunshine! Last night it seemed like forever before we could sit down together.
This morning I woke up early and saw Eric sitting at his computer. This is very normal to see around 6 am as he is preparing for his day at work. Most mornings I think he leaves between 6:15 and 6:45. I crawled back in the warm bed and dozed back off to sleep. Savannah woke up early and came and crawled in our bed. A bit later, I noticed that Savannah was no longer in our bed and Eric was snoozing! He woke up and told me he had taken the day off. Eric said he was going to stay home and help out with Savannah today! THIS was a wonderful surprise. Very simple, but very thoughtful and worth more than you can imagine to me. I let Eric go back to sleep and I went to check on Savannah. She was very self sufficient for an almost 4 year old this morning. She had picked out Madagascar the Movie, put it in the DVD player in her playroom by standing on small box. She pressed play by taking a felt flower from a bouquet that Lindsey Fell caught at Liz and Doug's wedding a few years ago. She took the flower and used it to reach up to press the play button. Pretty creative! She went to the fridge and got out her sippy cup with milk in it!
It was still rainy and gloomy outside, but the mood around my heart was becoming full of sunshine. I drank my Spark and a cup of hot tea and enjoyed every second of it. I started washing and folding clothes and enjoyed watching the Today show! Savannah quiet in her room watching a movie and Eric sleeping soundly in the bed.
It wasn't long before Eric told me to do something for myself today. I am so blessed to have Eric in my life. He has never been one to surprise me with things. He gets so excited any gift he orders he tells me before it comes in! He totally understands when I am drained, sad and need time for myself. So - I got to choose my day. I took a very long soaking bath in my jacuzzi tub this morning. Later I enjoyed a very long lunch with sweet friends, running simple errands and just browsing a couple of stores all by myself. Nothing extra special. I did not need a pedicure or anything like that. I just needed time to myself.
Eric also received a special day. He and his baby girl spent a special day together sharing lunch, movies, snacks, playing games, reading books and they say they cleaned the playroom. You can never tell as it gets messy again within an hour.
I came home to both of them giving me hugs and kisses and a home that was still in order!
This evening I will again go enjoy some quiet time watching TV and organizing in my bedroom while Eric is away at a meeting.
I really think I like surprises and the sunshine it brings to my life this time of year especially! Eric and Savannah are my sunshine!
My definition of a weekend use to be a time to hang out, a time to rest, a time to do something fun together as a family and worshiping together at church. I don't think we have had very many of those lately. And to make it even worse this is a 3 day weekend - but only for Savannah and I. This is not a day off for Eric. I wish we had a 3 day weekend each week, especially with all of the hours Eric works. It seems as if we never get any projects completed, never all rooms of the house cleaned and organized at the same time. I am sure this is the same for many families.
This weekend, all three of us have had different social events, all fun - but all pretty much separate. Eric works every Saturday morning on his Mardi Gras Float, I went to an evening painting class with a friend and Savannah had a birthday party at SciPort on Sunday afternoon. It was not a bad weekend, but just not what I visioned in my brain it would be.
Saturday morning while Eric was away, I cleaned and cooked spaghetti and meatballs. I worked on craft projects along side of Savannah. I promised her an afternoon of Target shopping and Baskin Robbins ice cream. It rained all day and when we got to those stores the electricity was out. Not what I promised or planned for the weekend. Sunday morning I worked hard cleaning, putting away clothes, cooking a good bfast , only to have no one eat what I cooked and the house was a mess when I stopped to go wrap a birthday present and put my make-up on. Friday night we did have a nice dinner together at home and made smores by the fire (which no one ate).
By Sunday evening I get a little envious of seeing posts of other families, who went out of town for the 3 day weekend, went out to dinner together as a family, went to the movies together, had family over for dinner, had a date night (Eric and I did have a great date night last weekend). I was homesick from all my former churches and church family from Al, OH, IN and KY who posted about being at church today. We have to just jump in at a United Methodist Church here and go with it. This has been the hardest move ever to find a place to fit in for church, but the easiest move to make friends. Totally unlike any other place we have lived as a family. I have a great MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group and Bible Study group, but I am about to have to drop that due to Savannah's preschool schedule on Wednesday mornings.
For some reason I am just a bit sad about too many little things today. Maybe its because it has rained for a few days and been cold. Maybe its because it is January - the least favorite month of the year for me for several reasons. Maybe hormones also have something to do with it. I don't think I am the only Mom who has these feelings this month of not being my best self. I did get a chuckle as we left the birthday party this afternoon at Sciport Childrens museum . A friend and her son were leaving as we were. He looked at me and said "My Mom is being mean to me". Savannah said, "My Mommy too"! I asked her why she thought I was being mean. She said because I was making her go home. We had been there for 3 hours and 15 minutes! Sounds to me like I had been a good mommy!
Now I will count down the last half of January and get to February as fast as I can. January is the month that my Daddy passed away and he was buried in February. I had my first fertility treatments that same year and month. I seem to take everything that happens too personal when I am in this mindset. I seem to let these sad memories get to me each year this same time. I will go into each day left in January and look for the blessings or memories of each new day and opportunity that God has for my family and I. I will strive to continue to make each day special for each of us and look for opportunities for us to do as many things together as possible.
Growing up as a teenager my Mom and I always has some sort of craft project we were working on. Tshirts, flowers, painting, ornaments, macrame planters or purses, ceramics, hair bows, woodwork painting with my Daddy and many other things. One year we even made all of this country stuff to sell at a craft fair. We made geese paper towel holders, geese this and geese that, ducks, bears and very little of it sold. We had to give the stuff away! My Momma sewed beautiful matching clothes for my sister and I growing up that I did not appreciate at the time. My Daddy learned to create beautiful things in his woodworking area. My sister Becky, I don't think she was ever into arts and crafts as her social life! She had one and I did not. (Now its quiet the opposite!) My Daddy even took watercolor painting after he retired. His work is amazing and I cherish it more each day. He never knew he had that talent in him. I often wonder if he did, what a different life he would have had.
I took art class in high school. After school I took oil painting classes. I loved every minute of it. It was a great hobby that took up lots of time when you were a shy teen without a social life! As an adult I continued making things. Whenever there was an art show in town my family was usually there when the doors opened! After getting married, we had such large homes with extra rooms and full basements that I had a crafting room. The first time I went to buy curtains for our new home I was in shock. The cost was approx $800 for two rooms. The design team was from J C Penney and it was 2002! The next day I went out and purchased a $125 sewing machine and a $15 "pattern for dummies". I really want to learn how to do more, but the classes that are offered in my area are not at a time I could take them. So, I need a friend to come hang out with me and teach me a few simple things!
In 2007 before Savannah was born I sold almost all of my art/craft items. I knew my new focus would be on being a Mom. I have not had time since then to be creative like I was before. Instead I focused my creativity on planning play dates, parties and events all around toddlers. I have always encouraged Savannah's inner artist. She took art classes at the age of 2. She has an art closet and an art bag that she is very proud of. At this age she loves to paint, cut with scissors and glue!
Today we both were a bit creative. I painted a fun wine glass for a dear friend. Tonight I went and painted a silly picture of a dog named "FAT OSCAR"!
I don't know where the time will come from or where we will put all this art and the supplies but this winter Savannah and I will be a bit more creative! And we will enjoy every minute of it!
Tradition: thehandingdownofstatements,beliefs,legends,customs,information,etc.,fromgenerationtogeneration,esp.bywordofmouthorbypractice:astorythathascomedowntousbypopulartradition. Traditions bring us closer.
Its been a very busy week for Eric. Savannah did not see her Daddy on Tue, Wed, or Thur this week because he worked late. She was so excited for tonight and to make smores with her Daddy! She is a Daddy's girl.
Everyone that knows me knows that I am all about carrying down and creating traditions. My parents carried many things from both sides of their families as well as creating new traditions for my sister and I.
As a Brownie, Girl Scout and member of a United Methodist Youth Group I made smores at many events. As Director of Youth Groups I did this with many teenagers over the years. I loved the memories and special times. As a child I never remember making them with my family. My Mom does not remember us making them. She says it was probably my sister and I that taught them how to do it. Either way, this is a tradition I wanted to carry down from my memories and create in our small family. I talk much more about this than Eric does. We need to talk more about them and bring ones from each side of our families. We may be a small family, but I want us to be full of memories, traditions and all things that are important to family.
I created the platter with all the necessary ingredients while Eric started the fire in the fireplace. He seemed to be a pro making the special tool needed from the two metal coat hangers I found in the back of the closet. Savannah was excited. I had the camera all ready to document every second.
I placed the toasted marshmallows on the graham cracker with the Hershey chocolate. I mushed it together and it oozed all over the plate - yummy!
Savannah touched it and that was about it. She instead took a piece of Hershey chocolate and a marshmallow. She said they were too sticky - the smores! She told me all about them. I asked her how she knew. She said my cousins taught me all about them. I immediately started texting them. Haley said they made them once a while back at their home! Where was I? How did I miss this important event? After all, you only create your first smore once in your life! If she had to have her first smore with anyone in the world I would want it to be with Thomas, Chase and Haley! They are the ones who taught her the tradition they had as little kids of doing a but drop on an air mattress!
The evening was not what I planned, but it was a special night by the fire with two of the most special people in my life. Those that make my life worth living, smores or not!
Continue reading to learn more about the importance of traditions
Traditions Bind FamiliesTraditions are an important part of family life. Traditions bind families together. When families set aside time for functions, they are essentially creating opportunities for unique interactions. It is during these times that family members are able to talk about the current happenings of their lives, the feelings associated with them, as well as exchange ideas. This time together creates an opportunity for families to have dialogue that might otherwise not take place. Research suggests that families gain greater feelings of closeness, belonging and connection between generations as family traditions are acted out and passed on. In having set customs, rituals, or time together as a family, the family unit grows stronger.
Traditions Benefit Children
The effects that traditions have on children are substantial. Children benefit tremendously from the feelings of unity and connectedness that are manifested through tradition. Research shows that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn extensive vocabulary, and decipher between which fork to use. Furthermore, kids who eat most often with their parents are 40% more likely to say they get mainly A's and B's in school than kids who have two or fewer family dinners a week. Children thrive as a result of family tradition, even those that may seem simplistic or mundane. When families adopt traditions, children are able to sense a commitment to family that helps them to make healthy and balanced life choices.
Traditions Serve as Markers
In addition to feelings of intimacy, traditions make it easier for family members to recall experiences shared. Traditions serve as markers. When families make a habit of spending a certain amount of time together, the memories seem to become automatically linked to those traditions or customs. With traditions as markers, we are able to commit to memory those special events or instances that might otherwise be forgotten.
New Traditions
If a family commits to spending a certain time together, the possibility for more traditions to develop as a result is very likely.
Bringing Your Family Together
You may be wondering which traditions are right for you and your family. Consider a past time that will bring your family closer together. Begin by taking inventory of the activities your family enjoys doing together. Remember that it is an opportunity to influence your children. Finally, make the most of your tradition so that you can recall wonderful memories. Strong families find that opportunities for quality time occur as they spend quantity time together. I encourage you to set up a family tradition of your own. You will look back on the moments shared with your family with great joy.
Today has been a long, good, accomplished and successful. If you walked in my house right now, you would say "really"? The clothes are not folded, the floors not swept, the counters not cleaned off....yet.
We have had a few tough days. But good ones still. Growing pains I guess. This morning Savannah and I both woke up excited for our "Moms Meet Up at Villaggio Buttercups Cupcakes". It was at 10:30 this morning. We were up at 7:00 this morning. Throughout the morning I knew we had to go. I had promised Savannah we would go if she was really good and tried to go poopy in the potty. She has tried really hard. She has pooped once in 3 days. That one time was in the potty. She has worn no poopy diapers. She has had tons of meds. Not sure what is going on - other than she is trying. I follow through on promises. I kept wondering how on earth I would get her to eat lunch if we were eating donut's at 10:30. DUH... It dawned on me that what is the difference between eating a cupcake for breakfast than eating a donut? Probably more sugar in the donut? I did a Google search. These are all average totals. Dunkin Donuts glazed with strawberry frosting - 280 calories, Cupcakes 200 - 300 and poptarts 200. Its not the fat I was worried about, it was the sugar and having a 3 year old bounce off the walls when I did not feel well.. Not my favorite time of the month. I spent 20 minutes googling how much sugar is in a cupcake and a donut. I gave up. I guess we are not suppose to know that answer.
Savannah always gets a pink cupcake. Last night she told me she wanted a wedding cupcake. Surprisingly that is what she requested today. She had so much fun sitting at a table with the other little girls that she only took one bite of her cupcake. Later in the day she took a few more bites.
Since I did not feel well all afternoon, she was a very big girl. She watched a movie in her room and played with her toys. She came out checking on me several times. I of course checked on her many times. Only once did she get in her bathroom sink and fill it up with water. She said she was doing water repetitions with her play dishes. Not sure she knows what repetitions mean. She also asked me why my face was yellow. Just three year old conversations which keep me cracked up.
This moment she thinks she can do but drops on the couch. She is patiently trying to wait on her Daddy to come home from work. She has not seen him in about 3 days, other than when she slips into our bed at 4:30 in the morning. She has been going to sleep by 7:30 and said she was not tonight. She was going to make smores by the fire with her Daddy!
Beginning the day with a cupcake and ending the day with a smore is definitely a good day! More days need to be like this. Thank goodness we had healthy food during the day. But some days - you just have to keep calm and eat a cupcake! This is a tradition we have at Buttercups. One that I will carry out with her thru the years. One that neither one of us will outgrow!
These two little girls met at the first Meet up with the Louisiana Moms Club at Tiny Town Play Area in October of 2008. Savannah was 18 months old on that day and Hannah was a few months older. They did not play well that day. Hannah could climb everywhere and Savannah could not. Hannah tried to "help" Savannah by trying to pull and push her into doing all the play areas. Hannah's Momma Heather really seemed like a nice Mom. Little did I know that this would be one of Savannah's good friends among many others she made that week!
They have done many things together. Music Class, swimming, movies, playing at the Louisiana Board Walk, playgroups, meeting up at the park, going to lunch together and now they are at the same preschool. They are not in the same class and that may just be a good thing for their teachers, but they do get to do many events together.
The past few days have been pretty tough ones around here. This morning was no exception. Savannah screamed for about 45 minutes. She was refusing to wear any of the clothes I chose for her. She only wanted to wear clothes with the picture of a princess on it. We have two princess t shirts, both short sleeve and too tight. I do not usually let her wear these clothes out of the house. These are with her play clothes. Savannah has a closet full of beautiful custom clothes in addition to clothes from Old Navy, Target, Children's Place, Gap and Gymboree. She wanted to wear a short sleeve pink princess t shirt and black pants with skulls on them from Halloween a year ago! She went out of the house wearing purple polka dot pants/leggings with a pink stripe fleece shirt and boots, no hair bow. It just about killed me. It still was NOT what she wanted to wear, but she quickly put something on when I told her that Hannah would be coming back home with us after morning preschool.
The conversations have been so funny and silly. The girls had a lunchable for lunch. Hannah told me she did not like the cheese. She only likes Chunky Cheese? She taught Savannah how to make a cracker sandwich with the ham. Savannah was very impressed. Hannah went to nap time and Savannah to quiet time. They hugged and said they would miss each other.
When they both got up it was playtime. I gave them Valentine conversation hearts for being such good girls. Lately when they play they fight over toys and run around giggling or screaming so loud that I think the cops are going to show up. Not today, not yet anyway!
They have played a game together and are watching Sleeping Beauty. The best thing is listening to their pretend play. Apparently Hannah is the Mommy and Savannah is the baby! Hannah came out a bit ago to tell me that Savannah said the word Stupid. Savannah came to tell me that Hannah stuck her tongue out. I went to talk to both of them and they were hugging!
At the moment life is good in this house, girls are happy laying on pillow pets, drinking chocolate milk, eating cheez-its and I am here by the fire on this cold day!
Maybe what we need around this house is another child... hmmmmm. Things always seem easier on days like this!
This afternoon as I was putting logs in the fireplace for a fire Savannah told me "Momma, That's a Daddy job!" Where she got this I do not know! She sees her Daddy doing this more often than me. But, I can start an amazing warm fire! I never want her to think something is a specific Momma or a Daddy job! After all, I already see signs of a chemist and an engineer in this precious child.
Most all of you know that I did not meet Eric till I was 34 and did not marry till I was 37. So I had to learn to do things myself. I never did learn how to take care of a car. My Daddy always had a company car and didn't have to do it and so he never taught me. So - that is why when I had "forgotten" to get an oil change on my first car for a long time, that my car overheated. We got a ride to work and called a wrecker. When the wrecker went to pick up my car within a 30 minute period, the car had been stolen, later to have been found. When I finished college and moved to Atlanta I had my first flat tire one morning. I attempted to change the tire only to have the jack go thru the floor board and the car fell down. So - I do say those are a guy's job or a job that I pay someone to do. Other than that I try to do many things myself. AAA is worth every penny!
The kitchen is an area that has always been my pride and joy. I love to cook like my Momma. I love to bake, I love to learn how to make new things! When moving to Ohio after being married I called local bakeries in February to order a Mardi Gras King cake. I quickly learned that those were to only be found in the south. I could order one and have it shipped for approximately $50 or I could learn to make one. So, I search for Emeril Lagase's recipe and created the most amazing King Cakes for 7 years. Now that we live in Louisiana, I am not sure what I want to do. I think mine are the most amazing King Cakes compared to anyplace I have ever purchased. Hmmmm , maybe I should take orders and sell them! I have learned to bake bread, make pasta, biscotti, buckeye's, gumbo, and many other yummy and fancy dishes.
When Eric and I met I knew the way to his heart may be southern food. His idea of cooking was to open a can of green beans, a can of Chinese vegetables and boil a bag of rice. It all tasted like the inside of the tin can! Pretty soon his skills improved. He could make the most amazing shish kabobs that I have ever eaten. Heck, he has even learned how to do a shrimp boil and boil peanuts!
I am not a June Cleaver or a Martha Stewart. I could cook all day if someone would clean up after me. I have friends who say that they do not cook. I don't understand why they won't try. I watch "House Hunters" on HGTV and see many wives walk thru a kitchen and comment that it is not an important room as they do not cook, they have a career!
I too had a career. I was a manufacturing accountant for 13 years and a Methodist Youth director for 8 years (not counting all the volunteer years). I was a community volunteer, I was a recipient along with the Literacy Council I was president of for President Bush's "Point of Light". I was an English as A Second Language Teacher and regional trainer. I will never say that someone who cooks meals for their family and friends is beneath anyone who chooses to not cook and only have a career. I have had both.
I remember one Christmas I had a friend in Ohio make a beautiful apron for my Mother In Law and for myself. I gave it to Priscilla for Christmas. She absolutely adored it and has worn it since. This wonderful Mom of Eric's has her PHD. She had an amazing career. My sister in law quickly told me to "NEVER" give her an apron and expect her to wear it. That she was not that kind of woman. I don't know that "that kind of woman" is, but I am proud to add that to my resume. I proudly wear my aprons. Yes, I have several. One is of Savannah's hand prints. It will always be precious to me. Others are silly or seasonal designs.
I love how food can also feed the heart and soul. I was blessed with my MOPS (Mothers of Preschool Group) who provided my family with many meals when I had foot surgery. I have lovingly prepared many meals to share with new Moms and those who are ill. I have taken more meals than I can count to families who have lost a loved one.
I have been a part of about 5 meal swaps in the past few months. I will not list any of the Moms names because I am sure I would leave someone out. These are amazing Moms who are amazing cooks. The hours of 5 - 7 are the "witching hour" in our house. Things just seem to do downhill with meltdowns. My freezer stays full of home cooked frozen meals. I am only now cooking about 2 to 3 times per week. I can have fun, focus on Savannah and make this a special time. Eric is not picky and has loved all the meals. These Moms and meals have blessed me beyond measure!
In the south I do think that we focus to many events around food. That is one of our contributing factors to the obesity in the south. Maybe we just need to eat off of smaller plates like my Momma does. That seems to work for her. One of my most precious gifts from my Momma is a cookbook she created for my sister and I the year after she retired. It has all her recipes and my Grandmaw's in there. I would not trade it for anything in the word. I hope to be able to create the same and pass it to Savannah when she grows up. My sister is not a cook. Our family constantly jokes about it. She cooks everything on 450 degrees and smothers it in Dales sauce! I still love her and my sister in law, even though they would never wear an apron! My sister can cook if she had the time and set her mind to it. She cooked lasagne and cheesecake from scratch to impress the guy she was dating who is now her husband. Tom loves that my Momma has an apartment built onto their home. He gets amazing meals and leftovers to take to work!
So tonight, I sit here relaxed more than the "mom next door". I thank each and every one of you who have provided for my family. I am not June Cleaver or Martha Stewart, but I wouldn't mind it one bit if I was a bit more like them!
This has been one LONG day! The past 24 hours have been long! When I started to open my laptop tonight, Eric started laughing. He said I would be typing this BLOG for 3 hours with the way this day has been! I told him no, I had a more creative idea tonight!
I love my daughter Savannah who is 3 years and 22 months old this week more than life itself. I would do anything for her. But some days I don't know how this little bundle of energy can go from sweet and loving to REGAN from the Exorcist or a HELLCAT! Yesterday I bagged up a large plastic bag and a giant tote full of toys and dress up play clothes. I was tired of picking them up over and over. Savannah is learning to help, but not totally there yet at her age. I was determined that the next few days were going to be better than me constantly cleaning. Last night Eric and I started watching the movie "Grown Ups". As I said last night this is the first movie or TV show we have sat down to watch in FOREVER together. I don't know what we do wrong, but it has got to be something! The movie had 20 minutes left and she woke up crying. We tried to let her go back to sleep, but she kept getting louder. Eric went to check on her and thought he had her asleep again. NOPE, It didn't last long. Then I went in, she started screaming that I was a meanie, only wanted her Daddy. That either makes me so mad or breaks my heart and I want to cry. I was asking her what was wrong and she just yelled over and over. She had wet thru her diaper and was soaking. Eric came and took her, I went to another bed and I think I cried for an hour or so. She cried most of the night. Her knee hurt, it was the wrong jammies, the wrong pillow, the pillow was upside down.
This morning was a new day. School was cancelled for a snow day. I had plans to do my best to be sweet and loving all day. When it becomes night time she doesn't want much to do with me if I have told her no to anything! Some days it just doesn't matter. Us Moms who are with our kids all day, just can't ever get a break or do anything right. For years I took Stay At Home Moms for granted. Those that have time to watch TV, keep a spotless house, home school and keep sane by the end of the day are doing something that I want to know about! Daddies can come in and just make it all perfect at the end of the day. By the end of the day Mommies are usually drained. But today I was going to make a conscious effort to be the happiest, sweetest, Mom possible. I snuggled on the couch and watched Dinosaur Train, Word Girl, made cinnamon toast and bacon for breakfast, snuggled more, helped her create art from her artist bag, played games, giggled,collected snow to make snow cream, played in the snow, sled down the hill, jumped on a trampoline with ice all over it, took a hike thru the ice and snow, went to McDonald's, watched a movie, let her play in her playroom, play in the sink with water (well - I just caught her doing this one!) . It didn't matter, at the end of the day, I was still not the best. I think if we don't get her to bed by 7 pm that things just go downhill some nights. Here are just a few thoughts, comments things that occurred from 5 pm till things just got quiet at 9:15 tonight!
Mommie that's not enough water in the bathtub, I want it all the way up to my boobies!
Mommie, please find my sparkly rubber duckie my Daddy bought me, No go look again, No keep looking, Keep looking Mommie you have to practice.
NO, I am not ready to get out of the bath tub.
Mommie let me sit in front of the fire to dry.
Mommie I don't want to wear footie jammies.
No, I want to put them on all by myself.
I need a poopie diaper.
Yes Mommie, I would love chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.
No Mommie, I am not going to eat it, never ever. It's yucky.
Mommie, Don't tell me no, I just want to eat from the sugar bowl.
Mommie, my poopie is not coming out, I need poopie medicine.
7:15 pm, Eric arrives "Tina would you like a glass of wine"?
No, I only want to eat salt. (Savannah says)
Pulls Sophie's tail 3 times, gets in trouble.
(Kicking, screaming and refusing us to change her poopie diaper and kicks herself in the mouth)
I will not brush my teeth. You will not brush my teeth, never ever. No I don't want to go to the Dr. Dentist, No I don't want a shot.
Screaming
Oscar is just a stupid cat.
No, don't take my big girl toys away, I am not a baby. I want my alligator.
Screaming
I will hide here forever (under the Melissa and Doug Easel, she hides, we lift it, she jumps up, bumps her head and runs and gets under the living room end table) Screams for ever. Eric gets her out.
Screaming
I will not go to sleep, my bedroom is terrible, its awful, my tooth hurts.
I need medicine. I will not take that yucky medicine, that medicine will not work it hurts on the outside.
Ahhh - Its all quiet and its 9:30. Eric says we should finish watching our movie. I tell him we can't. I finished watching the last 20 minutes. It was a Direct TV Pay Per View. We rented it last night, watched all but 20 minutes last night and it expired today. This I will never understand. I guess we need to figure out Netflix for those times twice per year we actually get to sit and watch a movie.
We still need to clean the kitchen, I need a shower and to find a nice quiet place to lay my head. Some days you just don't get a break! Tonight I ask myself, "Tina would you like a 2nd glass of wine? It took you 2 hours to drink the first one. I think my answer is YES"!
I still love Savannah more than life itself no matter how bad the day ends. I am thankful and blessed that Eric can walk in after a 12 hour day at work, be happy and smiling, deal with the meltdowns and then just let it all go and laugh. I look forward to Savannah playing with friends tomorrow and me chattng with my Mommie friends. I just know that every day is not sunshine for every Mommie, no matter what they say or BLOG about.
This is life, this is real, the good and the bad - and we are still Blessed in this very LONG day! A bad day with meltdowns is still a much better day than one without a child to love!
This has been one LONG DAY! We woke up this morning preparing for a big winter storm for up to 4 inches of snow, thanks to the warnings from the National Weather Service and KSLA News. I know the local stations exaggerate a bit much, but the NWS? It was COLD this morning. It was sleeting and very messy out. We had a game plan! Wash all the clothes, vacuum, mop, pack up toys, clean, cook a few things, get candles, batteries.... After all by noon today several friends in the area already experienced power outages. I figured we would be ok as we have gas heat, a wood burning fireplace with a gas starter and 2 hot water tanks to last us for a few fast hot showers.
I cooked us a great bfast of Christmas Cranberry coffee, breakfast burritos and bacon. I decided it was cold and that meant soup. Thank goodness for my meal exchange I do every two weeks and the amazing MOMS who are cooks! We had my friend Kristen's homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. YUMMY and comforting! I baked someones lasagna for dinner tonight. These meals are suppose to serve 5. Well they will feed Eric and I much longer than that. I think tomorrow I have to share some of this with friends too! Tons of clothes and underwear were being washed. Eric focused on going to Dollar General for batteries and candles. After all, we have lost power here before and gas too in the winter! $60 later we have enough batteries to last us for days and cinnamon bun and vanilla cupcake candles to make us crave some yummy desserts!
Our counter has four flashlights charging, candles, weather radio, a pot of soup, a carafe of coffee and paper products. We have burned a fire all day. We kept our fingers crossed as our electricity went on and off several times throughout the day.
We have a BIG hill in our backyard. We were hoping for all our friends to come sled. I don't see that happening unless the snow starts again (I think we got 1/2 to 1 inch) or the sleet goes all night. It has been coming down all day. Our big concern is the limbs on trees and power lines. But we will deal with that when it happens. We will have heat and fire and I have friends with gas stoves. I have two freezers full of food and I think they would welcome me in with that!
Savannah had fun playing in the "snow/ice" and made snow angels on the trampoline. She hung her socks up by the fire to dry. She thinks Santa will come fill them tonight. I think I might just have to help "Santa" out a bit tonight! I sure hope one day she can experience the real winter snow that I loved so much living in OH, IN and KY. It was nothing compared to this. But those area's are much more prepared for a little ice and snow than Louisiana is.
We will hang out at home tomorrow as preschool is cancelled. Eric will have to figure how to get to the plant tomorrow if the roads are still closed. The problem is how to cross the Red River when all the bridges are closed. I am sure he will be ready to pull out any hair he has left if he is couped up again tomorrow. I know I am. Chocolate is the answer. I think Savannah and I will be making Buckeye's tomorrow and will share with friends whenever we can meet up! And she does love sitting right in front of the fire!
