Reunited and It Feels So Good...

Well, I'm back. After coming here each day to click on links to my blogs that I read, and seeing your encouraging comments while here, I have decided that I shall keep blogging and stop worrying about the fact that I am not exactly changing the world while doing it. I see those bloggers out there who have like a thousand readers and I think about my lil'ole blog and it's 5 or 6 readers and I think  what's the use? But the "use" is that I enjoy writing, I enjoy taking pictures, I am a terrible journal keeper and I like that my kids will have this to look back on as a journal of our family and my thoughts, so blog I shall! Anywoo, on to bigger and better things...

A couple of weeks ago we had a very special visitor here. Last year Madison's very bestest friend in the whole wide world moved to Texas. It was heartbreaking to watch and although they did see each other around the holidays last winter, they had not seen each other since. They talk on the phone a lot and chat on Gmail but it's just not the same! So when we found out that Alyssa's family was going to be here for a few weeks this summer we reserved a couple of days with her and Madison chose not to have a birthday party back in April so that she could go to Lagoon with Alyssa. When the big day finally came Madison was counting down hours and minutes until her "soul sister" would arrive. When they got here she was SO excited! Heck, so was I! It has been SO hard to watch her be without a true best friend while they have been apart and even though I knew it would only be for a few days it was so wonderful to have them back together.

Alyssa was so sweet and brought Madison a birthday gift since this was technically her "birthday party" for the year and it turned out to be the Mystery Date Game and the cutest pajamas plus a shirt for Lagoon. The best part was that the PJ's and shirt matched Alyssa's! I remember wearing matching clothes with my friends when I was young and it was so fun that Alyssa's mom had put so much thought into that gift...especially seeing as Madison is a head taller than Alyssa!

Like I mentioned, the girls had been planning for months what they wanted to do once they were together again and one of those things was going to the Ice Berg for dinner for burgers and shakes. The shakes there are so yummy and HUGE! Of course I brought my camera along and thoroughly embarrassed them by documenting the entire excursion!

After dinner the kids all wanted to try out a new car wash that had opened near us (I know....right?!) so we took a trip through and it was fun to see their enthusiasm as the brushes scrubbed over us.

Emilia wasn't as amused by the whole thing and looked quite terrified but made it through without any major dramatics. After that we headed home to play outside for a while and then get a good night's sleep (the girls in matching jammies!) before a full day of roller coasters and junk food (and wouldn't you know it I actually forgot to get a picture of the girls in there beds)!


To Be Continued...

Pickin' Feathers Outta My Teeth...

So remember how my son got a teacher that nobody seems to say anything good about? Well yesterday the school called and said that Thomas could finally change teachers. Even  though things had been going well I decided to still take them up on the offer. When Thomas got home I told him and he kinda freaked out. He told me that he really liked his teacher and didn't want to change. I thought about it all night and really just kept going back to the thought that really I just want him to be happy. I also thought about how I can't always rescue him from different personalities in life. In the end I decided that he should just stay where he is if it's really where he wants to be. The hard part though was that now I had to go back to Marilyn (one of the office ladies) and inform her that although I had caused a mini ruckus about him being in that class and called to check on how far he had to go on the waiting list just a few days ago, now I wanted him to stay. So I drove the kids to school today, threw Em in the stroller and marched in to eat a little crow. Marilyn was coming out the front doors when we walked up to the front doors and I explained what had happened and told her that we would be staying with T's teacher after all. She was happy that all was well and told us that she had already told both teachers about the change and his stuff had been moved to the new class. She told me that I would need to go inform his teacher that he would be staying after all so they could get his things back. Oh, I'm sorry, did I just say I would eat a little crow? I meant a GIANT one! Now I had to go face his teacher who now knew that I didn't want him in her class and apologize for thinking badly of her...GULP!

Through the halls we walked with me praying inside for courage to apologize. I HATE confrontation of any kind and I especially hate hurting others' feelings and I felt awful that I had listened to gossip. Really though, for all I know she's still going to turn into a wicked witch after a few months of this and I was just trying to protect my little duckling from having his enthusiasm for school crushed...but, I digress. So, through the halls we went on our way to my feathered snack. When we walked in she greeted us with a smile and I told her that Thomas has loved her so far and would really like to stay in her class. I told her that I had listened to gossip and had worried when I heard that her personality and Thomas' personality together would be well, somewhat explosive and not a good combination. I apologized for judging her without really getting to know her and thanked her for the effort she has put in as a teacher to make her classroom a fun place for kids. She thanked me and told me that she knew about the things people were saying about her (ouch!) and that she has really tried to make the necessary changes to make her classroom a pleasant place and explained that when she had first started teaching 2nd grade three years ago, her family had been going through some significant trials and were also in the process of moving while she was trying to adjust to teaching a new grade. She was under a lot of stress and admits that it was not a good year. She said last year was great and hopes this one will be even better. She's sad that some people still judge her from that first year. Honestly, I don't know what to think but I feel bad that I judged her. I feel bad that I didn't just give her a chance in spite of the gossip. Oh well, I guess the mama bear in me was just trying to protect her cub. It's hard to just chalk it up to experience for him when you know it may not be a good one. I guess if nothing else it was a good opportunity for my kids to see that I can admit when I'm wrong and I can apologize to someone when I have misjudged them.

Well, there you have it. He's staying. I've learned a valuable lesson and maybe, so have my kids. So next time you see me and wonder what those black things are in between my teeth you'll know that they're bits of crow feathers, and although that bird didn't feel good goin' down, I'm still alive and a better person for it. Now, I'm gonna go find me a toothpick...bye!

Updates...

Ok so, school started and everything is good with Thomas' teacher so far. Thomas seems to like her and although she is a little on the quirky side, she doesn't seem to bad. I still worry what she will be like after having kids all day everyday for a few months but I guess we'll just take it as it comes. He is next in line to be moved to the other class but I don't think they will  move him after the first week of school unless there is a concrete problem. To tell you the truth I feel kind of bad for her. She knows she is the least preferred teacher. It can't be fun knowing that you are the one that nobody likes/wants. We went to Back to School Night last night  and she was explaining that she knows that when the other teachers walk by her classroom they think she is yelling at her class and that she isn't very nice but that she has nerve deafness in her ears which makes it hard to know how loud she is talking if there is a lot of other noise going on around her. She said that she has asked the kids to give her a certain signal if she starts shouting. I don't know what to think. Honestly, I figure if Thomas is happy, I am happy. We'll see how it goes...

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For those of you who are interested in the ongoing Maya saga, well, she's gone now. She left us this past Sunday and the family that came and picked her up was really great! They are the kind of people that we would totally be friends with if they lived closer. Since they drove away with her they have let me know that she is doing well and they love her already. I have to say, as much as I don't miss the barking or the other little annoyances that come with a dog, I do miss her very much. I miss her "hugging" my leg and letting we scratch behind her ears when I would come home. I miss seeing her cuddled up on my down comforter at night. I miss walking up the stairs and seeing her lying there with her head on her paws. I miss her cuddling up to me when I would go to bed before Matt, with her furry body stretched against my belly and her eyebrows under my nose. For those of you who really don't love animals this all probably sounds pretty silly and while even I will admit that she isn't on the same level as one of my children she was still one of my babies and I miss her...

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Well, I think that's it! Exciting, I know...

Confessions of a Shop-aholic...

In the past you have been privy to my inner most thoughts and confessions from my dark side, such as my addictions to Diet Coke and Ben and Jerry's, and today's post will be no exception. I feel I should lie on my couch as I type this and picture a Freudian like therapist taking notes and figuring out how it all relates back to my mother...Anyway, lets talk a little less about psychotherapy and a little more about retail therapy. I shop. A lot. Too much really. And I am good at it!  I love to find a good sale or bargain, clearance racks...well, they...complete me. My poor husband has thus far been quite patient with my somewhat expensive form of self-help, but to be honest, it bothers me. I mean I know it bothers him too. He doesn't yell at me or berate me over it but I know it bothers him. But I don't know that he knows that it bothers me too (maybe we should both lie on a couch?), and that all kidding aside, it makes me feel weak and selfish and stressed. I don't just go spend money just to spend it. It starts because I need to get out of the house because I am going stir-crazy with a toddler climbing all over me and screaming at the top of her lungs when I can't figure out what the heck she wants. At that moment Target starts calling my name. There they have Diet Coke (said with reverence) and popcorn to occupy the Little One. There are adults to talk to that know me now (sad but true) and we talk about our kids and can actually communicate with one another. They have toys there to entertain the Munchkin, toys that she's never seen before and because of that they actually hold her attention for more than 30 seconds and I don't have to entertain her or try to decipher "toddler speak" while she plays with them. But the part that traps me, that sucks me in, is the outfit that will make me like how I look again if I buy it. The home decor that will make me feel happy and make me want to stay at home all day just to look at it. The workout DVD that is different this time, I'll actually use this one (really!) and lose all that weight that I hate carrying around so much. The jewelry that, hanging from my ears or around my neck or adorning my fingers, will make me feel beautiful again. There's the cooking gadgets that will make me all of the sudden love cooking and the cleaning items that will make me magically want to clean. There's the make-up that will make my skin look like a model's or the one toy or game that the kids don't have that will suddenly entertain them for hours on end and cure the endless arguments and bouts of boredom. Oh, and the shoes! Don't even get me started on shoes...

The funny thing is, I know all of that is a lie.

I'm a smart chick. I know that none of this stuff is going to make me the person I really want to be. Most of the time it's just more clutter that I have to find a place for or stuff I may never end up wearing. It just made me feel excited to have something new, and hopeful that it would be the one thing that would make me feel beautiful, successful, fulfilled, you name it. The part I hate though is that I actually live quite a charmed life and I don't feel content a lot of the time. My kids are healthy, my handsome husband works hard and loves me (and my stretch marks), our home is beautiful, we have reliable cars and food to eat (even if I HATE cooking it) so why am I not fulfilled? It's not that I want to go get a job, although I do miss feeling like something I do is worth paying for. I wouldn't trade my kids for anything and I'll be the first to admit that I have really great kids! Why can't I just stay home each day, seeing as I am a stay-at-home mom, and plan fun educational activities for my kids and bake bread and make delicious, nutritious meals and sing while I do dishes and laundry and feel content? Ok, that was a little much but you get the picture.

Please don't misunderstand. I don't hate my life. I'm sure it sounds like it but for the most part I really am happy. I just feel like sometimes I am never going to be successful at this mother/homemaker thing and it gets discouraging. I just don't want to keep trying to shop my issues away because it's not helping anyone, especially me. Well, once again I was probably too honest today and I hope you don't think less of me because of it. Of course, if you're still coming back for more after some of my other posts than I'll just chalk you up as a real friend and maybe we can go shopping together one of these days!



P.S. Next time you're at Target tell the girl at the snack counter that Misty sent you!

Eeny...Meeny...Miney...Moe...

So, I didn't like that my eyes were so dark underneath in our family picture and there were a few other things I didn't like so I Photoshopped our picture in some places and your job is to tell me which one looks better. If it looks too edited tell me the truth!

Now, pick one (you can click on them to see the bigger)...

Picture 1 :

or

Picture 2 :

Now be honest! You are not going to hurt my feelings either way! I need a good one so that I don't end up putting a family portrait on the wall that looks ridiculous! While you're here I'll show you the pictures I took of the kids too. They turned out really cute and Amber took one of me with Em and one of me and Matt that I really liked so I will put those here too...