I May Be Praying Every Second Today

So, early this morning, my little miss got angry because she wasn't getting her way. And when it first started, she began talking while gritting her teeth. She then was squeezing her fists together and tensing up her whole body. She finally looked at me and with much anger, informed me that she hated me. I felt bad seeing her display her anger in that way, because it is learned behavior. I tense up, I shout some times and I grit my teeth when I am angry. I don't want my child having an ulcer by the age of ten. So, I am going to end this TODAY!

After sitting in her room for a few minutes for telling me that she hated me, I explained to her what it means when we say that we hate people. I also told her that mommy doesn't do a good job controlling her anger sometimes and that I want to be loving and gentle and that she should be too. I told her that it is okay to be angry, but acting mean when we are angry isn't okay. And then we prayed. We prayed for God to help us to be patient, loving and gentle. I told her that anytime she is angry, she should pray for God to help her to be gentle and that I would do the same thing.

A few minutes later, we were both angry again. She was angry because she wanted to play and I wanted her to sit down for lunch. I was angry because she was fighting me. So, I grabbed her hands and we prayed. And I am going to continue to pray each time I am angry. And hoepfully, soon, my new example will wipe away the older, meaner example.

A Parent's Reward

I really enjoyed this Video, so check it out!

Stranger Danger

So, you may or may not have noticed some changes to my blog. I took off anything that lets others know what city I reside in. I am also going to no longer use my children's names. They will be the miss and the mister. My hubby will be DH. I am still working on changing every post. I have maybe 100 more to go.
My email address was also removed due to the identifying information in it.
Why the sudden change? While at the retreat Friday night, a few of us got on the topic of blogs. One of the gals mentioned to me that the idea of having a blog scares her because of a case in California a family member of hers was involved in. A young child was horrifically attacked and murdered in her home. It was one of the worst cases in that city's history. The murderer first heard of and saw the child on a family member's blog. He was also able to find out where the child lived by piecing together the various clues placed throughout the blog. It's scary, folks. I mean, of course I knew from day one that anything I put on the internet is out there for all to see, but it didn't really worry me until Friday night. I need to keep my children safe.

Also, while on the topic of child safety, I urge parents of toddlers to start teaching your children now about strangers. Honestly, my little miss doesn't know yet to be scared of people she has never met before. We chat with sweet old ladies at the grocery store who may come up to us to compliment the kiddos. Every Sunday, she is left with a preschool teacher at church. She would most likely go with an adult if they asked her to, because she doesn't have any reason to see it as dangerous. I have every intention of teaching her about strangers and what not, but always thought of it as something that you do when they are a bit older.

But over the weekend, I also heard of another story that is producing some more changes in me. I heard the story of a gal who was abducted at the age of four. She willingly went with the man. She now goes around and talks to young kids about the danger of strangers and how to protect yourself.

So, please keep that in mind and talk to your 2, 3 and 4 year olds about it.

I want an Oompa Loompa, NOW!

As a mom, one of the things I really want to strive to do over the years, is not let my children get caught up in the self-absorbed, impulsive, wasteful habits of so many Americans today. I want them to realize how blessed they are to live in a nice home, to have new clothes, to have three meals a day. I want them to be aware of just what it's really like in other parts of the world. I don't want them to take anything for granted and I want them to thank God for all that they have.

I am going to make sure that as soon as they are old enough, that we volunteer with the kids, maybe at a soup kitchen for instance, or delivering gifts to hospitalized children. I want them to grow up with a grasped concept on how important it is to spread kindness to many and to give to many.

I grew up in a wasteful home. I grew up not really appreciating all that my parents provided for me. I guess, I just grew up expecting that I'd go clothes shopping at the end of the summer and pick out hundreds of dollars worth of outfits. I grew up expecting that I'd have a brand new backpack each year and that at Christmastime mostly everything, if not all, the gifts I wanted, I would get.

My brother and I both didn't take good care of our things. And things got ruined rather quickly because of it. And then we'd just throw it away. I never really understood the value of all that I had. I don't want my children growing up the same way.

I do have some impulsive tendencies to this day, because of being raised that way. I find at times, I'll get fixated on a certain item and have to have it right then and there. And I don't mean big money items, because I am pretty realistic with what I can afford. But I do get caught up in having to have something...NOW!

We also struggle with handling our finances, with budgeting, with paying everything on time all of the time, and again, I feel a lot of that stems from watching how my parents handled their finances, which, well, they didn't.

In January, DH and I are going to attend a Crown Financial class for a month every Sunday night at our church, and I am hopeful that that will really start us off on the right foot for the new year.

A month ago, the miss saw the dancing princesses Barbie movie and then a day or so later saw a commercial on television for a Barbie dancing princess doll that spun around and had a skirt that lit up. "Wow, I want that, Mommy," she said to me while staring at the television set in complete awe. This was the first time she had seen something on television that she wanted to have. And like all parents, I enjoy making her happy. So, a few days later, I headed to Wal-Mart and purchased the $20 doll to give to her at Christmas. That weekend, DH and I were both not feeling well, and we spent most of the day laying down on the couch. We were letting the miss entertain herself with movies and her toys. I felt so bad for her though. So, I decided to give her her doll then. I thought it would make her happy and give her something new to play with for a bit.
So, I gave it to her. She recognized it right away and of course was happy.

But the bad thing, I think, is she remembered that that was the doll she saw on tv and that she had told me she wanted it. And since that time, anytime basically any toy commercial comes on television she yells out to me that she wants it. "I want that, Mommy.....I want that!" I feel I created something that I had wanted to avoid.

I think soon here, she'll be old enough to start with chores around the house and work to earn maybe coupons for instance that we can save up and later use to get a toy or maybe see a movie with. I want her to know that things are earned. I don't want her to get into the habit, especially at a young age, of thinking that her parents will give her everything she wants. And I don't want her to get into the habit of thinking that she'll get everything that she wants, NOW!

I also want my kids to realize the value of money as they get older and the importance of tithing. So, when they are at the age to understand money and all of that, I want to allow them the opportunity to earn, save and tithe with what they make. Of course I have some time to devise a plan of the best way to go about doing all of that.

We are so blessed that we live in the country that we do. We have so many opportunities to work, to make money, to purchase many things for ourselves. But with that also comes the ability to put ourselves in debt, to live way beyond our means and to pass those same habits on to our children. I don't want to raise children who go out and get a department store credit card on their 18th birthday, because they can, and max it out in one day, like I did. I want my kids to really, and truly understand the importance of saving and of credit.

So, I hope that little miss' requests of ..I want that...Mommy, will begin to die down through the years as she focuses on giving to others and on the importance of earning what she'd like to have.

Christmas Crafts For Kids

I wanted to share with you the Christmas crafts page from Danielle's Place. There are some GREAT Christmas crafts for the kiddos to make. So be sure to check it out. Please let me know if the page doesn't work for you. I am a member and have more access to the site than a visitor does. But the site remembers me. I am hoping that you will all be able to access the page. So, let me know if you can't.

Little list of thankfulness

So, the day care kiddos are going to make a Thanksgiving garland tomorrow and on it will be the things that they are thankful for. So, yesterday afternoon I explained to them what Thanksgiving is and also what things we have in our lives we could be thankful for. After the miss listened to E (my 4 yr. old day care kiddo) list off what he was thankful for, I asked her what she was thankful for. She smiled and said, "Mommy."

Me: You are thankful for Mommy?

Little Miss: Uh-huh. Yes.

Me: What else are you thankful for?

Little Miss: (Screaming on the top of her lungs with a huge smile) DURIN!!!!(Durin is one of her closest friends).

Me: Anyone else you are thankful for?

Little Miss: Ummm...Daddy! (Poor daddy came in third). :o(

Me: What about your brother?

E: Yeah, are you thankful for the mister?

Little Miss: (VERY Matter-of-factly) NO!

Wish I could think of creative titles

Hello all....the weekend is over and it's back to the hustle and bustle of the week. We had a pretty nice weekend. All day Friday I told the miss about the paci-fairy. She would get a little sad, but nothing too bad. That evening, we looked all over for her pacifiers, but could only find 2. I think we had lost many along the way. So, we put one on her windowsill and I told her she could sleep that night with the other one...but that I'd take it away after she fell asleep and put it on the windowsill. Then, I ran to Toys R' Us to get the special toy from the fairy. The miss loves the Backyardigans. They do a whole pirate episode and she loves talking like a pirate. She walks around many times saying, "arrrrr...matey." So, they have this one Backyardigan toy that is dressed like a pirate and when you push on her tummy she says various phrases like, "walk the plank." She also sings a really cute song about saying arrrrrrr. So, I wrapped it up in pretty pink paper with ribbon and put it on her bedroom floor. I then went to take the pacifiers. The one on her windowsill had disappeared. My smart cookie must have jumped out of bed the second I left the room to take it and hide it. It was hidden in her bed with her, but I finally found it.

That morning when she woke up, oh my goodness, she was sooooo excited to see her present. And, she loved it....Loved it. In fact she hasn't really parted with it all weekend.

Now, I really was expecting it to be a tough weekend without her pacifier. This girl has always whined and screamed for it in the past. But all weekend long, she'd ask for it every now and then and Steve and I would just remind her that the fairy took them and left her her pirate toy. She would get sad for a second, but then start talking about something else.
And at bedtime, she has gone RIGHT TO SLEEP. Tonight she didn't even mention her pacifier.

Now, yesterday a pacifier turned up. She had found one and was very excited. She saw it on the floor, but hadn't gone over to it yet. So, I distracted her by asking her to get me something from her room. While she was in her room, I took the pacifier and cut the nipple off of it and then put it back where she found it. I know, I'm so mean. So, when she walked over to it and found it broken, she started saying, "Oh no, mommy. Some kid broke my babi(bah-bee)." She has always called her pacifiers babi's. I have no clue why. She then kept saying, "No kid, you don't do that. Don't break my babi." It was cute. We ended up throwing it away since it wasn't useable.

Anyway, I am very proud of my little girl. I thought she was going to scream bloody murder for the first few nights. But, nope...she's been fine.

On Saturday, a toy store out here was having a grand opening. I had received an email about it and decided to take Audrey. There was going to be crafts, toys out to play with, small carnival type games, magicians, face painting and an appearance by Curious George. It was all free. I wanted to take the miss because I knew she'd love seeing Curious George. She had so much fun. They had a bunch of toys out that the kids could play with and she spent the majority of the time playing with the trains. I really need to buy that girl one of those train tables. Too bad they cost a fortune. Anyway, I took some pictures to share on this here blog.




When she first saw George...who she calls, monkey George, she had the biggest smile on her face. She kept looking at him with such awe. It was very cute.






So, that was our weekend. We were going to try to go this afternoon to an amusement park out here sincefaeryland mom gave us free passes to it. But we were lazy bums today. But I enjoyed having a lazy day. It isn't called the day of rest for nothing.

Is it 6:00 P.M. yet?

Well, today's day care day is a tough one. It's my first real tough day though, so with 5 kids...and having them for the past 2 weeks, it's amazing I made it this far. The miss and R are both super whiney today. And I mean super whiney. R won't stop throwing toys. I have talked to him about it....I have re-directed him. I eventually put him in time out. But what did he do as soon as he was out of time out? He threw toys again. And he isn't just throwing them in the air, he is throwing them AT people. And the miss is just whining and complaining about everything. So, my patience has started to wear thin just a bit. But in an hour my day will be halfway over.

In other news, I have decided that there will be no more pacifiers with the miss starting tomorrow morning. This will make for a tough weekend I am sure. And I know my family who know my stance on Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny will find the method I am going to use a little absurd, but I think it may work. Oh and in case you aren't family, we don't incorporate Santa or The Easter Bunny into the holidays. I can explain that all in another blog on another day. Anyway, we are going to collect all of her pacifiers tonight and leave them in a bag on her window sill. Then tonight while she is asleep, the Paci-fairy will come and take them away and leave her a special toy in their place.
Since I am not sure if the miss knows what a fairy is, I found a picture online and printed it out so that she can see what the Paci-fairy looks like.


I've explained it to her a few times already and she does seem to get a little sad. I know she won't be happy tomorrow...and I know she'll scream for it tomorrow night when she is ready for bed time. Tonight, I will let her go to sleep with her pacifier with the knowledge that when she falls asleep, I will take the pacifier from her and put it with the others.

Last night we sold Luna to a really sweet girl. She recently moved out here with her hubby who is in the Air Force. They have a Great Dane puppy and were looking for another puppy to be her playmate. She and her hubby both grew up with labs. She brought her puppy over last night to see if Luna would get along with her and then she paid us for Luna, we put her in the gal's truck and off she went. I was a tad sad to see Luna go. But I know that we just at this time couldn't give her the attention that she really needed. Also, the weather is getting colder and soon it would be too cold to keep her outside. Keeping her in the house scared me because I knew she'd chew up everything and DH and I just don't have the time right now to train her. We also couldn't keep her in the garage on cold nights because she'd destroy the bowflex.

I am so happy to know that she is going to a loving home and will have another puppy to grow up with. She will love having a playmate and they really did look so cute together. The great dane is only 3 months old, so Luna was a monster in size compared to her, but soon I think the great dane will be bigger, that's for sure. So, Luna better not be too tough on her now.

Well, that's all I can fit in for now...time to round up the troops. More to come this evening or this weekend......

You know you're a mom when....

So, over at Everyday Mommy it was suggested that we write a post on today, the 12th, completing this sentence..... You know you're a mom when....

So, here goes.....

You know you're a mom when you can be completely captivated by two big blue eyes staring up at you with so much awe and wonder.

You know you're a mom when you can be peed on, pooped on and puked on and not even cringe. In fact, you're used to it.

You know you're a mom when you can take one look at your child as soon as they wake up in the morning and know that they are sick.

You know you're a mom when your children are bathed, dressed, fed and entertained and you haven't even changed out of your pajamas or brushed your teeth.

You know you're a mom when going to Walmart, which is usually a stressful thing, becomes a time of relaxation if you get to go without the kiddos. You find yourself relaxed and zoning as you walk around the store. And the long checkout line doesn't bother you, because it allows you time to pick up your favorite magazine and read a big chunk of it in peace. When else do you get time to do that?

You know you're a mom when you can't remember the last time you were able to use the restroom without the kiddos banging on the door or following you in.

You know you're a mom when you know the entire morning cartoon schedule for PBS, Nick and Disney.

You know you're a mom when you find yourself dancing along with your child to the wiggles. And you have actually gone on their website to see if they are coming to your city because you just KNOW that your kiddos would LOVE to see them live.

You know you're a mom when your days and nights are filled with smiles and laughter at the cute and funny things they do and say.

You know you're a mom when you're on the verge of losing it, because your kids have just been pushing the limits, and then they say something that just melts your heart and in an instant all that frustration that had started to build up, disappears.

You know you're a mom when you have to remove the diaper, baggie of wipes, baggie of snacks and small toy from your purse before finding your lipstick that is at the bottom.

You know you're a mom when you get so excited when a new kiddie movie comes out in the theaters, because it means that you can actually go see a movie and maybe your hubby can come along too. It's so nice to sit in the theater and eat popcorn and get out for a bit, even if it means you have to make 3 bathroom trips, clean up spills and try to keep your child from wanting to run loose.

You know you're a mom when you KNOW each and every time your child is doing something they shouldn't even when you are on the other side of the house.

You know you're a mom when sleeping in is 7:30 A.M.

You know you're a mom when everything you want to do for the day is worked around nap times, lunch time, and feedings.

You know you're a mom when the instant the baby is placed in your arms after giving birth, your heart just swells up inside of you, you cry and you can't take your eyes off of the little hands and feet. And each day that you notice your child getting bigger, you are sometimes saddened because you wish they could just stay little forever.

Go Diego Go

So, the miss loves to watch Go Diego Go and Dora The Explorer...and see, good things do come from having your child veg in front of the TV sometimes. Some days, I feel guilty for how much TV my little gal watches. But today, we were in the car, and she kept saying Help, Help and then something that sounded like adudame. So, I looked up Help Me in Spanish and sure enough she is saying Ayudeme. :o)

She's such a smart cookie and she doesn't even know it!

My Mother's Day Gift

Many of you already know about this, but I wanted to share bits and pieces from my weekend, because it has to do with my Mother's Day gift.
Anyway, this weekend was definitely a scary one that was very emotionally draining. On Saturday evening, the miss took quite a fall. She fell about 4 feet and landed face down, on her head on the sidewalk. Her forehead took the entire force of the fall. We went to the emergency room and she began vomiting, so they took her back to be checked out right away. I won't go into details about the ordeal, because honestly, I don't want to talk about it anymore. But they had to do tests and she had to be given certain drugs to help in the testing and it was so hard to see her like that and it was heart wrenching. Anyway, they did a cat scan to check for any internal bleeding. If there was any, they'd have to do surgery. Our doctor thought the scans came back okay. He was pretty certain that we'd be gong home, but they had to be checked out by a specialist in Maine. While looking over them, he determined that the miss' skull had been fractured. We were admitted so that she could be monitored overnight. Then today, they had a neurosurgeon and some specialists who work in the ICU, look over her scans and her chart. They all came to the conclusion that she was okay and could go home. Of course, there can be effects from her head/brain trauma that we won't see yet, like her memory or other cognitive abilities. Either Monday or Tuesday, we will have an appointment with the neurosurgeon. He will go over the scans with us, show us the skull fracture, explain everything to us and also check the miss out and see her and make sure she is okay.
Anyway, about my mother's day present...... After her fall, she was not herself, obviously. She was very lethargic, very out of it. When she was drugged for her cat scan, she was comatose. Even after the medicine was wearing off, my little miss was not herself. At around 12:30 in the morning, she got a burst of energy. She started tickling her daddy, one of her favorite things to do, and she started saying to him, "I got you." I looked over at her, fought back tears and told her that seeing my little punkin' be her cute little self was the most wonderful Mother's Day present ever.
She seems to be fine. I think she will be okay. The fracture will over time heal on its own. Thankfully children recover much better and faster from head/brain trauma than adults do. She is a tough cookie. But just keep her in your prayers please.

Thanks!