Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
3.17.2021
1.01.2021
3.17.2020
9.02.2019
9.04.2017
10.28.2011
Halloween Rules For Grown-ups
I received this email from FlyLady today. When I began reading it I started to laugh, but then I realized what good advice it is. Especially for some adult males who-don't-really-like-holidays-I-won't-mention-any-names-but-it-starts-with-Dan. For instance, we're attending Sunny's Harvest Festival at school this afternoon. I am way enthusiastic, someone who shall remain nameless is not so much. But even he realizes that these are moments we will never get back. And once he says he's going to do it, he'll do it without complaint (until we get home and he may complain to me!) If this is too many rules for you, just follow Rule #1 and Rule #2 and you'll be fine.
If you want to receive emails from FlyLady or learn more about her tips for everything from cleaning your house to sticking to a budget to preparing for the holidays visit her website.
For those of you that will be attending fall festivals, trick or treating, Halloween parties, trunk or treating or anything else we can call this weekend I want to address a few rules for Moms & Dads, Grandmoms, Grandads, aunts, uncles and anyone else that might be participating with children for the afore mentioned events.
1. It will be hard, it will be long, accept it, know it, embrace it.
2. Have fun, you will never get these days back, there are no do-overs.
3. Have Patience, your kids will not even be able to contain themselves they are going to be so exited. They will be bouncing off the walls, will want to wear their costumes at 9 in the morning, will wake up like it is Christmas morning. It may not be a big deal for some of you but it is a huge deal to them. (See number 2)
4. Don't over-schedule! Be realistic as to what can really be accomplished. Don't try running errands with kids that are so stoked to go out and celebrate. Reschedule things that can be rescheduled so you all can have fun together! (See number 2)
5. Be prepared - have a game plan as to what is going to happen. Where are you going, what time, who with for how long. Once you know, explain it to your kids AHEAD of time, do not expect them to just agree with you and leave quietly. It will not happen. (See number 1)
6. Be the fun one - let's say that you want to leave or stop trick or treating at 9:00 pm, tell your kids 8:30. Then when they ask (beg) for a few minutes more say YES! They will never know what time you really wanted to leave and you get fun, cool adult status for the night! (See number 2)
7. Do not Procrastinate - if you need supplies get them as soon as possible! Don't be the one in line with your kid half way dressed on the way because you needed to get the last few things. It will make your kids crazy and in turn make you crazy. Right now make a list of anything you need to do. Review the list. Delegate what you can if you can and make a game plan. (See number 1) (PS - don't forget the flashlight and check the batteries!)
8. Plan your meals ahead of time - the drive thrus will be crammed with all the people that did not plan and the pizza places will be hours behind due to the volume of people that called before you did. Plan breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will be so glad you did (See number 2 ) If you don't plan for this you will pay with hungry, tired cranky kids! (See number 1)
9. Go to bed as early as you can the night before you start celebrating, plan a quiet evening if possible. Try everything you can to ease into the day. Sleep and good nutrition will really help keep the crankiness at bay. I am not saying that there won't be cranky times but you can take preventative measures to reduce the length and number.(See number 1)
10.) No Yelling - unless it is an emergency and it warrants yelling. How you behave will set the tone, if you are cranky, tired and yelling your kids will make you even crankier, more tired and you will yell more and so it goes. (See number 1) If you make every attempt, no matter how frustrated and tired you may be, to establish that this is all about fun they are more likely to follow. (See number 2)
11.) Listen - if your kids are telling you they are hungry or thirsty, they are. If your kids tell you that they need to go to the bathroom, they do. If they tell you that they are tired and want to go home, they do. I guarantee that if you are not listening or putting them off, it will cost you big. (See number 1)
To sum this up for you, it will be hard but make sure you have fun! You won't get this time back, make great memories; you all deserve them!
If you want to receive emails from FlyLady or learn more about her tips for everything from cleaning your house to sticking to a budget to preparing for the holidays visit her website.
For those of you that will be attending fall festivals, trick or treating, Halloween parties, trunk or treating or anything else we can call this weekend I want to address a few rules for Moms & Dads, Grandmoms, Grandads, aunts, uncles and anyone else that might be participating with children for the afore mentioned events.
1. It will be hard, it will be long, accept it, know it, embrace it.
2. Have fun, you will never get these days back, there are no do-overs.
3. Have Patience, your kids will not even be able to contain themselves they are going to be so exited. They will be bouncing off the walls, will want to wear their costumes at 9 in the morning, will wake up like it is Christmas morning. It may not be a big deal for some of you but it is a huge deal to them. (See number 2)
4. Don't over-schedule! Be realistic as to what can really be accomplished. Don't try running errands with kids that are so stoked to go out and celebrate. Reschedule things that can be rescheduled so you all can have fun together! (See number 2)
5. Be prepared - have a game plan as to what is going to happen. Where are you going, what time, who with for how long. Once you know, explain it to your kids AHEAD of time, do not expect them to just agree with you and leave quietly. It will not happen. (See number 1)
6. Be the fun one - let's say that you want to leave or stop trick or treating at 9:00 pm, tell your kids 8:30. Then when they ask (beg) for a few minutes more say YES! They will never know what time you really wanted to leave and you get fun, cool adult status for the night! (See number 2)
7. Do not Procrastinate - if you need supplies get them as soon as possible! Don't be the one in line with your kid half way dressed on the way because you needed to get the last few things. It will make your kids crazy and in turn make you crazy. Right now make a list of anything you need to do. Review the list. Delegate what you can if you can and make a game plan. (See number 1) (PS - don't forget the flashlight and check the batteries!)
8. Plan your meals ahead of time - the drive thrus will be crammed with all the people that did not plan and the pizza places will be hours behind due to the volume of people that called before you did. Plan breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will be so glad you did (See number 2 ) If you don't plan for this you will pay with hungry, tired cranky kids! (See number 1)
9. Go to bed as early as you can the night before you start celebrating, plan a quiet evening if possible. Try everything you can to ease into the day. Sleep and good nutrition will really help keep the crankiness at bay. I am not saying that there won't be cranky times but you can take preventative measures to reduce the length and number.(See number 1)
10.) No Yelling - unless it is an emergency and it warrants yelling. How you behave will set the tone, if you are cranky, tired and yelling your kids will make you even crankier, more tired and you will yell more and so it goes. (See number 1) If you make every attempt, no matter how frustrated and tired you may be, to establish that this is all about fun they are more likely to follow. (See number 2)
11.) Listen - if your kids are telling you they are hungry or thirsty, they are. If your kids tell you that they need to go to the bathroom, they do. If they tell you that they are tired and want to go home, they do. I guarantee that if you are not listening or putting them off, it will cost you big. (See number 1)
To sum this up for you, it will be hard but make sure you have fun! You won't get this time back, make great memories; you all deserve them!
9.24.2011
The Holidays Are Coming!
And I don't just mean Christmas. You can see that I've gone a little overboard with holiday countdowns at the top of my blog. That's for my benefit. So I will realize that each Fall/Winter Holiday is fast approaching and I need to get myself in gear to be ready for them!
Fortunately, I don't really have to do anything for Halloween. We'll go to Katie's house to trick or treat with the kids.
Same with Thanksgiving. Katie is hosting this year so I just have to prepare and take my assigned food.
Christmas? Now that's another story. I love Christmas and enjoy having some part of it at my house. This year we're having our family Christmas celebration on 12/17. Then Katie has invited us over on Christmas Day to watch the kids open their gifts.
I love this time of year. It seems as if there's always something to anticipate!
Fortunately, I don't really have to do anything for Halloween. We'll go to Katie's house to trick or treat with the kids.
Same with Thanksgiving. Katie is hosting this year so I just have to prepare and take my assigned food.
Christmas? Now that's another story. I love Christmas and enjoy having some part of it at my house. This year we're having our family Christmas celebration on 12/17. Then Katie has invited us over on Christmas Day to watch the kids open their gifts.
I love this time of year. It seems as if there's always something to anticipate!
5.30.2011
Observing Memorial Day
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
that mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, WWI poet
5.23.2011
Monday Meanderings
Joplin - My heart goes out to the people impacted by the tornado that struck Joplin, Mo. The pictures are just devastating. I'm praying for those who are trapped. For those who have lost loved ones. For those who have lost their homes and possessions. For the emergency workers. The injured. The local government.
Faith - An acquaintance of ours lost his battle with cancer this past Saturday. We have known this family for about 20 years. Sometimes we have been more involved with them personally than other times. His wife, Ellen, wrote the most beautiful Facebook post about his passing. Her faith shone through brightly. She was unapologetic in her unswerving belief that he is Heaven with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Today, I am praying for this family in their loss. But I am mostly thanking God for this wife who in the midst of her sorrow, finds the strength to share the love of Jesus Christ with others.
Breaking the rules - I have to confess that I have been breaking the rules lately. One of the rules I try to live by is: when you bring something new into the house, something old must leave the house. I abhor clutter. I probably to overboard in trying to assure that my home is not cluttered. I haven't been doing so well lately. My downfall is in the craft area. I have been bringing crafts into the house and then letting them sit around making me feel guilty that the craft projects are not completed. Or in some cases, not even started. I have got to get a handle on this. My goal in June is to get this bad habit kicked. We'll see...
Potty training - Seriously, it never occurred to me that I would be participating in potty training again. When Zach was potty trained, I thought it was all over for me. I celebrated. I was wrong. Sunny is potty training and since she spends time at my house, I have a participatory role in this momentous event. The worst thing about potty training this time around is that I have to follow Katie's rules, instead of doing it the way I normally would. Oh well. Sunny is doing quite well. Katie's goal is to have her trained by the time Thunder arrives. She just may do it.
Appraisals - Dan had a phenomenal month in April, 26 orders! yippee! May has been quite a bit slower, but we still received more orders than we did in Jan, Feb, or March. What a blessing!
June - June begins next week. Seriously? I just know the summer will fly by. Before June arrives though, I will face May 25th. May 25th is traditionally the day that I get serious about my holiday planning. I start my Twelve Days of Christmas gift planning on that day. If you would like to follow along with me as I prepare for another stress-free holiday season, check out my Christmas blog. I'd enjoy hearing how you prepare for the holidays, your traditions, what works - what doesn't.
Have a great Monday!
Faith - An acquaintance of ours lost his battle with cancer this past Saturday. We have known this family for about 20 years. Sometimes we have been more involved with them personally than other times. His wife, Ellen, wrote the most beautiful Facebook post about his passing. Her faith shone through brightly. She was unapologetic in her unswerving belief that he is Heaven with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Today, I am praying for this family in their loss. But I am mostly thanking God for this wife who in the midst of her sorrow, finds the strength to share the love of Jesus Christ with others.
Breaking the rules - I have to confess that I have been breaking the rules lately. One of the rules I try to live by is: when you bring something new into the house, something old must leave the house. I abhor clutter. I probably to overboard in trying to assure that my home is not cluttered. I haven't been doing so well lately. My downfall is in the craft area. I have been bringing crafts into the house and then letting them sit around making me feel guilty that the craft projects are not completed. Or in some cases, not even started. I have got to get a handle on this. My goal in June is to get this bad habit kicked. We'll see...
Potty training - Seriously, it never occurred to me that I would be participating in potty training again. When Zach was potty trained, I thought it was all over for me. I celebrated. I was wrong. Sunny is potty training and since she spends time at my house, I have a participatory role in this momentous event. The worst thing about potty training this time around is that I have to follow Katie's rules, instead of doing it the way I normally would. Oh well. Sunny is doing quite well. Katie's goal is to have her trained by the time Thunder arrives. She just may do it.
Appraisals - Dan had a phenomenal month in April, 26 orders! yippee! May has been quite a bit slower, but we still received more orders than we did in Jan, Feb, or March. What a blessing!
June - June begins next week. Seriously? I just know the summer will fly by. Before June arrives though, I will face May 25th. May 25th is traditionally the day that I get serious about my holiday planning. I start my Twelve Days of Christmas gift planning on that day. If you would like to follow along with me as I prepare for another stress-free holiday season, check out my Christmas blog. I'd enjoy hearing how you prepare for the holidays, your traditions, what works - what doesn't.
Have a great Monday!
4.28.2011
Holidays
I love holidays. In fact, you could probably say that I have a holiday addiction that almost rivals my paper addiction. To clarify, I'm talking about the major holidays.
I always say Christmas is my favorite holiday, but that's really only because it's the holiday that I spend the most time preparing for.
My least favorite holiday is New Year's Eve/Day. I think it's silly. Personally, I think the new year should start when the new school year starts. For most families, that's the real new year in their lives.
Halloween is probably my second least favorite holiday. I don't have an issue with it. I enjoy decorating the house for it. I just never had a good imagination for costumes when my kids were growing up, so Halloween was always very stressful for me. I enjoy passing out candy and seeing all the neighborhood kids dressed up. And now that I have grandchildren, I really enjoy going to their home for trick-or-treating!
Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday. I love everything about it. The decor, the food, the time together with family. The fact that Christmas is right around the corner...
I also really enjoy the 4th of July. For some reason, it has evolved into a holiday where I pause and take stock of my life. What have I accomplished so far this year? What do I need to accomplish before the year is over? What does next year look like from here? I started this when the kids were in high school. That's when time really sped up for me. One year I had my oldest in high school and then I blinked and they had all four graduated!
If you share my obsession enjoyment of Christmas, be sure to check out my Christmas blog.
And don't worry, I don't plan to be like one blogger I came across. She literally has a separate blog for each holiday! She only updates them during that particular season. Plus, she has a couple of other non-holiday blogs. She must be a prolific writer...
I always say Christmas is my favorite holiday, but that's really only because it's the holiday that I spend the most time preparing for.
My least favorite holiday is New Year's Eve/Day. I think it's silly. Personally, I think the new year should start when the new school year starts. For most families, that's the real new year in their lives.
Halloween is probably my second least favorite holiday. I don't have an issue with it. I enjoy decorating the house for it. I just never had a good imagination for costumes when my kids were growing up, so Halloween was always very stressful for me. I enjoy passing out candy and seeing all the neighborhood kids dressed up. And now that I have grandchildren, I really enjoy going to their home for trick-or-treating!
Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday. I love everything about it. The decor, the food, the time together with family. The fact that Christmas is right around the corner...
I also really enjoy the 4th of July. For some reason, it has evolved into a holiday where I pause and take stock of my life. What have I accomplished so far this year? What do I need to accomplish before the year is over? What does next year look like from here? I started this when the kids were in high school. That's when time really sped up for me. One year I had my oldest in high school and then I blinked and they had all four graduated!
If you share my obsession enjoyment of Christmas, be sure to check out my Christmas blog.
And don't worry, I don't plan to be like one blogger I came across. She literally has a separate blog for each holiday! She only updates them during that particular season. Plus, she has a couple of other non-holiday blogs. She must be a prolific writer...
10.25.2010
Monday Miscellany
Two months from today is Christmas Day! Dan is a huge Johnny Cash fan (me, not so much) and he had a song on his Christmas album with the lyrics of “Christmastime is coming. Christmastime is coming. Christmastime is coming, and I know I’m going home.” That song has been running through my head all morning!
Time of a change of decor at my house. I’ve had my fall decor set since Labor Day and I usually take down the Halloween potion on November 1st. This year since we’re trick-or-treating with Sunny, I think I’m going to take it down and get my Thanksgiving decor set. I bought a huge, beautiful pumpkin at Sprouts yesterday, along with two little pumpkins and some mixed nuts in the shell. I’m ready to say good-bye to October and hello to November. I’ll change out the Halloween pieces in the photo below, rearrange with my huge pumpkin, and voila, it will be Harvest time.
Time of a change of decor at my house. I’ve had my fall decor set since Labor Day and I usually take down the Halloween potion on November 1st. This year since we’re trick-or-treating with Sunny, I think I’m going to take it down and get my Thanksgiving decor set. I bought a huge, beautiful pumpkin at Sprouts yesterday, along with two little pumpkins and some mixed nuts in the shell. I’m ready to say good-bye to October and hello to November. I’ll change out the Halloween pieces in the photo below, rearrange with my huge pumpkin, and voila, it will be Harvest time.
I went to a baby shower yesterday and saw so many friends and former co-workers that I haven’t seen in years. It was such fun to catch up with everyone! We played a cute nursery rhyme game and I won! Now I have a beautifully scented candle to enjoy this week.
No Sunny this week, I’m on Grammy Daycare vacation. I have a list a mile long of things I need to accomplish. I think I’m over-reaching just a tad. I need to cross-stitch diligently to have a hope of finishing the four stockings that are expected this year.
Praise God, Dan’s appraisal business is through the roof this month. He has received 25 orders so far. He used to receive 30+ orders regularly before the real estate market crash. I told him how much he has generated in fees so far this month and we figured out that the last time he made that amount in a month was in 2006. Just more confirmation that the last three years have really been awful. God is faithful!
9.07.2010
Labor Day
Katie had a "girls day" at her house yesterday. Jessica, my mom, my sister-in-law Kelly, Katie and Sunny made up the guest list. We sat around and chatted. We watched Sunny play. We ate a delicious lunch. We relaxed. We enjoyed each other's company. What a great day. Thank you Katie!
9.01.2010
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...
...but you're going to have to wait until Halloween for the picture.
Costco and Sam's Club have the cutest Halloween costumes for kids. Dan and I (really, it's all Dan) have been looking at them for Sunny. At Costco this weekend we spotted the cutest cow and ladybug costumes. I asked Katie if Dan could buy Sunny one. Katie said the cow was 1st choice and the ladybug 2nd choice. So we bought the cow.
Yesterday, Katie was running late so I couldn't give her the cow costume. Later she texted me and asked me to dress Sunny in it and send her a text photo. So I did. As soon as I picked up the costume Sunny's face lit up and she started "mooing" (one of the sounds we worked on in August). I dressed her in it and just let me say, you've never seen anything so precious! I took her into the bathroom so she could see herself in the mirror where more "mooing" ensued. It was so cute and funny.
Trust me, when the pictures get posted at Halloween, they'll be worth the wait...
By the way, Christmas Corner was updated today.
Costco and Sam's Club have the cutest Halloween costumes for kids. Dan and I (really, it's all Dan) have been looking at them for Sunny. At Costco this weekend we spotted the cutest cow and ladybug costumes. I asked Katie if Dan could buy Sunny one. Katie said the cow was 1st choice and the ladybug 2nd choice. So we bought the cow.
Yesterday, Katie was running late so I couldn't give her the cow costume. Later she texted me and asked me to dress Sunny in it and send her a text photo. So I did. As soon as I picked up the costume Sunny's face lit up and she started "mooing" (one of the sounds we worked on in August). I dressed her in it and just let me say, you've never seen anything so precious! I took her into the bathroom so she could see herself in the mirror where more "mooing" ensued. It was so cute and funny.
Trust me, when the pictures get posted at Halloween, they'll be worth the wait...
By the way, Christmas Corner was updated today.
8.11.2010
Christmas Corner Changes Gears (for this week)
Today the Christmas Corner is focusing on Thanksgiving... which is only 15 weeks from tomorrow!
7.06.2010
Food, Fun, Family, Fireworks
Some of the family got together on the 4th of July to celebrate Katie's birthday, to welcome Jess & Adam home, and to celebrate the 4th.
The food was great, we had fun, we enjoyed time with family, and we watched the fireworks display at Surprise Stadium from our front yard!
The food was great, we had fun, we enjoyed time with family, and we watched the fireworks display at Surprise Stadium from our front yard!
Yes, I started to cut the cake before I realized we needed to get a picture.
Plus, I already took all the decorations off!
Carl & JoAnne - the Greats
Katie & Sunny
Gabe
Adam & Jessica
Dan (Gramps)
"I don't think I like this pool!"
"Yeah, I really don't like this pool, get me out of here!"
7.04.2010
Happy Birthday, USA!
America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)
Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus
1. My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!
2. My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
3. Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
4. Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.
Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus
1. My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!
2. My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
3. Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
4. Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.
7.01.2010
It's July
Wow, the year is flying by. It's July which means we've completed half of 2010. For some reason, I always stop and evaluate the year on the 4th of July. When the kids were still living at home, I would sit in the parking lot at Sweet Tomatoes on Bell Rd waiting for the Peoria Stadium fireworks display to begin and think about what had transpired that year and what was yet to come. When is the first day of school? When does early morning band practice start for JD? Who needs shots for the upcoming school year? How much will I have to spend on school supplies this year?
I also used that time to imagine what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Will we still all be together watching fireworks or will some of them be off to other events? What will Dan & I do when they're all grown?
As you've already figured out, I'm usually living in the future. The positive thing about that is that I'm usually prepared for whatever. The negative is that I can (and sometimes do) miss out on the pleasure of the here and now.
This year we're having family over for a BBQ. We can see the fireworks from the Surprise Stadium from our backyard. Some of the kids will be here, some won't. Some extended family members will attend, others are forging their own Independence Day traditions.
No matter what, there will be constants that connect me to the 4th of July(s) of years past. It will be hot, not extremely hot this year, but still plenty warm. I will still sit in the dark awaiting the fireworks and take a few moments to evaluate January - June 2010, and then look ahead to the rest of the year. I will wonder what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Then I'll turn my attention to the pleasure of the here and now.
I also used that time to imagine what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Will we still all be together watching fireworks or will some of them be off to other events? What will Dan & I do when they're all grown?
As you've already figured out, I'm usually living in the future. The positive thing about that is that I'm usually prepared for whatever. The negative is that I can (and sometimes do) miss out on the pleasure of the here and now.
This year we're having family over for a BBQ. We can see the fireworks from the Surprise Stadium from our backyard. Some of the kids will be here, some won't. Some extended family members will attend, others are forging their own Independence Day traditions.
No matter what, there will be constants that connect me to the 4th of July(s) of years past. It will be hot, not extremely hot this year, but still plenty warm. I will still sit in the dark awaiting the fireworks and take a few moments to evaluate January - June 2010, and then look ahead to the rest of the year. I will wonder what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Then I'll turn my attention to the pleasure of the here and now.
6.30.2010
Christmas Corner Update
Have you been in Michael's, Joann's, or Hobby Lobby lately? It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (and even more like Autumn and Halloween!) Check out today's Christmas Corner for fun holiday tips.
5.10.2010
Katie's First Mother's Day
Yesterday was Katie's first Mother's Day. She had Dan & I and most of Gabe's family over for dinner. It was so fun to watch our granddaughter and her three little cousins together.
I wanted to do something to commemorate Katie's first Mother's Day, so I made her a frame with the baby's handprint, the date, and a few photos of Katie & the baby together.
It was so cool to be with Katie on this special day. As we were leaving, we told her Happy Mother's Day again, and Dan added "you'll now celebrate this holiday the rest of your life!" Her smile said it all.
I wanted to do something to commemorate Katie's first Mother's Day, so I made her a frame with the baby's handprint, the date, and a few photos of Katie & the baby together.
It was so cool to be with Katie on this special day. As we were leaving, we told her Happy Mother's Day again, and Dan added "you'll now celebrate this holiday the rest of your life!" Her smile said it all.
5.08.2010
Happy Mother's Day
I wanted to be a mom from my earliest memories. When I was in Kindergarten, the class had a special fancy baby doll. Each recess, a girl from class was chosen to play with the doll. I loved my turn with that doll. I don't remember why she was so special, or what she looked like, but I do remember the feeling I had walking around the playground with her.
When I was in Jr. High, I decided I wanted to have 12 kids. In Math class, when I should have been learning (I totally suck at Math, but I don't think this is the reason why) I would make lists of the names I would give my 12 kids (there's that list thing again). I would list their first name, middle name and the estimated year I would be giving birth to them. I would daydream about my future family often.
By the time I reached High School, a little sanity prevailed. I wanted six kids. Three girls and three boys. Or maybe four girls and two boys. I definitely wanted an even number. I knew too many kids from odd number families and someone was always being left out of the fun stuff.
When Dan & I married, I started my name list again. I had a list of six girl names and six boy names. I pared that down to my top four for each sex and started having babies. Jessica Lynn was the first name on my girl list and she was born on September 3, 1983. She was five weeks early. That was a good thing, because as impatient as I was I could hardly wait another day for her to arrive.
Joseph Daniel was my first choice for a boy, and he arrived on June 18, 1985. Jessica was so proud to be a big sister! She loved to care for him and helped me every chance she got. I was so happy that I had a boy and girl. Now I didn't really care what sex the rest of them were.
He was quickly followed by the best surprise I've ever received in my life. Kathleen Renee on July 3, 1986. Poor JD, I knew I wouldn't be able to lift him when Katie arrived, so for the two weeks leading up to her birth I would try to drag him around, hoping he would learn to walk. It didn't really work. I'm not sure if that's the reason why, but when Katie was born, he wouldn't have anything to do with me for the first week I was home from the hospital. He wouldn't look at me, he wouldn't kiss or hug me, he avoided me like the plague. It's funny now, and to tell you the truth, it was funny then too! Well, kinda funny, kinda sad...
Last but not least came Zachary Marshall on May 18, 1989. It was one of the hottest Springs on record. As a matter of fact, the record high for yesterday and today were both set in 1989. I remember those days well. Even though I would have gone ahead and tried for six, my OB had a different plan. I remember vividly as he was sewing me up (I had four c-sections), he was talking to one of the other doctors about fishing. He would say "the fishing was great at Lake Whatever this spring" followed by "you can not have any more babies; "next week I'm taking the boat out on Lake Whatchamacall", "this is absolutely your last baby".
I got the message. After three planned pregnancies and one surprise, our family was complete.
So, if you're doing the math, you can see that we had four kids in less than six years. JD & Katie are 12 months 2 weeks apart. I will admit that when I was pregnant with Katie I said I should be walking around with a sandwich sign on that said "Yes, I am completely out of my mind". Dan & I literally can't remember any event about Katie's first year without looking at pictures. It's all a blur. Thank goodness she was easy and flexible.
Plus, another example of my Math deficiency is that I did not figure out until Zachary was two that the boys were both born on the 18th and the girls were both born on the 3rd! Guess I was busy with other things.
I'm telling you all that to tell you this: I love being a mom. It is everything I thought it would be and more. I love the good times and I appreciate the not so good times. I love remembering their childhoods, and experiencing their adulthoods. I love the way each one of them is different, yet they all have some similar traits and characteristics. I am proud of each and every one of them, and, call me crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing about our family. They are my pride and joy.
So, thank you Jessica, JD, Katie, & Zach. Thank you for giving me the gift I wanted most in life. Thank you for making me a mom. I love you!
When I was in Jr. High, I decided I wanted to have 12 kids. In Math class, when I should have been learning (I totally suck at Math, but I don't think this is the reason why) I would make lists of the names I would give my 12 kids (there's that list thing again). I would list their first name, middle name and the estimated year I would be giving birth to them. I would daydream about my future family often.
By the time I reached High School, a little sanity prevailed. I wanted six kids. Three girls and three boys. Or maybe four girls and two boys. I definitely wanted an even number. I knew too many kids from odd number families and someone was always being left out of the fun stuff.
When Dan & I married, I started my name list again. I had a list of six girl names and six boy names. I pared that down to my top four for each sex and started having babies. Jessica Lynn was the first name on my girl list and she was born on September 3, 1983. She was five weeks early. That was a good thing, because as impatient as I was I could hardly wait another day for her to arrive.
JD & Jessica 2009
Joseph Daniel was my first choice for a boy, and he arrived on June 18, 1985. Jessica was so proud to be a big sister! She loved to care for him and helped me every chance she got. I was so happy that I had a boy and girl. Now I didn't really care what sex the rest of them were.
He was quickly followed by the best surprise I've ever received in my life. Kathleen Renee on July 3, 1986. Poor JD, I knew I wouldn't be able to lift him when Katie arrived, so for the two weeks leading up to her birth I would try to drag him around, hoping he would learn to walk. It didn't really work. I'm not sure if that's the reason why, but when Katie was born, he wouldn't have anything to do with me for the first week I was home from the hospital. He wouldn't look at me, he wouldn't kiss or hug me, he avoided me like the plague. It's funny now, and to tell you the truth, it was funny then too! Well, kinda funny, kinda sad...
Katie & Zach 2006
Last but not least came Zachary Marshall on May 18, 1989. It was one of the hottest Springs on record. As a matter of fact, the record high for yesterday and today were both set in 1989. I remember those days well. Even though I would have gone ahead and tried for six, my OB had a different plan. I remember vividly as he was sewing me up (I had four c-sections), he was talking to one of the other doctors about fishing. He would say "the fishing was great at Lake Whatever this spring" followed by "you can not have any more babies; "next week I'm taking the boat out on Lake Whatchamacall", "this is absolutely your last baby".
I got the message. After three planned pregnancies and one surprise, our family was complete.
So, if you're doing the math, you can see that we had four kids in less than six years. JD & Katie are 12 months 2 weeks apart. I will admit that when I was pregnant with Katie I said I should be walking around with a sandwich sign on that said "Yes, I am completely out of my mind". Dan & I literally can't remember any event about Katie's first year without looking at pictures. It's all a blur. Thank goodness she was easy and flexible.
Plus, another example of my Math deficiency is that I did not figure out until Zachary was two that the boys were both born on the 18th and the girls were both born on the 3rd! Guess I was busy with other things.
I'm telling you all that to tell you this: I love being a mom. It is everything I thought it would be and more. I love the good times and I appreciate the not so good times. I love remembering their childhoods, and experiencing their adulthoods. I love the way each one of them is different, yet they all have some similar traits and characteristics. I am proud of each and every one of them, and, call me crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing about our family. They are my pride and joy.
So, thank you Jessica, JD, Katie, & Zach. Thank you for giving me the gift I wanted most in life. Thank you for making me a mom. I love you!
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