Tuesday, August 31, 2010

25 things about me ...

1. Pink is my favorite color. Which is why I love Valentines Day so much. Pink is everywhere!!! Which is why Clint always gets me hot pink roses.


2. I was a cheerleader for 8 years. Yes, that is right, I was a cheerleader and loved each and every minute of it. Heck ... I was head cheerleader my Senior year in HighSchool and my Sophomore year in College.


3. I am TERRIFIED of birds!!! Those darn things scared me to death! I hate going into Home Depot because they fly loose in there. I one time hit the floor trying to duck from one ... needless to say it was entertainment for Clint as he came aroiund the corner and saw me do it. I will never drive with the windows down either ... what in the world would I do if one flew in the car while I was driving ... what the ...


4. I had the time of my life in my college days!!! I do not remember much of it ... but had so very much fun doing it. I met my husband at the bar one night in fact ... some of my best memories are with college friends ... I love and miss you all!!!


5. The older I get my panic/anxiety gets worse. It is a feeling that I hate, but feel like I have no control over it either.


6. My husband is my very bestfriend. I trust him to the fullest, he makes me smile, he laughes at my jokes and I would not be complete without him. Ok, Hilary is my bestfriend, too. She has to remain my bestfriend forever because she has way to much on me to be an enemy of mine. Haa Haa.


7. I love to drink a Pepsi .. but would much rather have a FiGi water.


8. I hate doing laundry with a passion.


9. Getting my tubes tied was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. What I would not do to have 1 or 2 more kids in the Moore family.


10. I do not go anywhere without my oversized sunglasses or lipgloss.


11. In the winter I live in hoodie sweatshirt, yoga pants and Nike tennis shoes/Ugg Boots.


12. I NEVER miss an episode of "The Hills" and I am not embarrassed to admit it.


13. I cried when I dropped Breeanna off at school for her first day of kindergarten and 1st grade. I bawled like a baby when I walked away from Harleigh the first day she started kindergarten. I fell into Amy's arms in the school parking lot crying my eyes out. I sobbed the second I turned away from Eythen as well.  I find it so hard to let my kids grow up. I feel like every time I turn around ... they need me a little less, have less of that "baby face" look to them and act years older.


14. I will some day have a boob job and tummy tuck. I so badly want my "pre baby" look back. Diet and exercise is not going to "put things back" where they "use to be" no matter what I do. I may be 50 when it finally happens ... but I guess I will be one hot looking 50 year old.


15. I send out over 100 Christmas cards every year. This year was 130 ... it is the only time I truley keep in touch with each and every person that means something to me.


16. I get jealous over stupid things, I vent when I get frustrated and yell a bit to much, I wear my heart on my sleeve and that has gotten me in trouble many times, I think people are always judging me, I try to think before I speak, I do not like backstabbers, I feel like I truley know "who I am" since I entered my 30's, I sometimes have a hard time communicating to Clint because I feel like he "should know" what is bothering me and I laugh sometimes at things that happened yesterday.


17. I love to kiss my husband. It is one of my favorite hobbies and/or past times.


18. I was in labor for 26 hours with my 1st pregnancy and then had an emergency c-section. Then without a second though I wanted a c-section for the other 2. I went through enough labor one time to last me a life time.


19. My sister and I use to knock on the wall that was between our rooms at night ... that was our way of saying "good night" to each other. I still knock on my wall to this day every night just in case she did.


20. I can not stand meat on a bone ... it makes me gag and I can not stand the sight of it. Won't touch it or eat it.


21. I check the doors nonstop at night to be sure they are locked. I could just have checked them ... crawl into bed ... and still debate with myself it I locked them and get back up to check it. I am the same way with the alarm clock. Now that I think about it ... I think I might have OCD???


22. I had a car wreck that involved cows. Yes that is right ... cows. I was driving home from work one night (I still lived with my parents) and a farmer left his gate open ... it was pitch black outside ... and I plowed right through a heard of cows that was on the highway. I killed 4 and they have no idea how many I hit. My car was totalled and to this day ... I can not handle driving at night.


23. My shoe size is a 6.


24. I sing in the shower and totally rock out in the car. I like to think I am a rock star ... I am that person you see driving down the road singing at the top of their lungs ... yes, that is me.


25. I am a Target whore ... I could shop in there no matter what. I will always find something that "I just have to have".

I heart being a Mommy ...

I have 3 of the most amazing kids. They are beautiful, smart, well mannered, and the light of my life.  But when exactly did they grow up?



To me, I can still remember the exact moment I found out I was pregnant with each of them.  I can remember the moment they each were born and tears fell down my face.  I can remember having to leave each one of them at the babysitter for the first time after my maturnity leave was over . . . I can remember sitting in the car wondering if they were going to be ok, where they going to miss me, would they wonder if I was coming back, would they love the daycare provider more than they loved me . . .

All of those moments, plus SO many more are things that I will forever hold in my memory.


I think back to all the "experiences" that I went through and learned SO much from.  The first time you change a diaper and they are still going as you change it.  When you are in the car driving somewhere, but they HAVE to be fed right then and there . . . so you pull over into a parking lot or the first place you can get to and pull out the bottle to feed them.  How about when they are toddlers and you have a full cart of groceries and they HAVE to go to the bathroom.  So you find a "safe spot" to put your cart and head into the bathroom where you squeeze all 4 of you (me, Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen) into a stall so everyone can take a potty break.  What about when you are out and about and you turn around to do a "number check" (yes I count to myself 1 - 2 - 3) and suddenly your heart drops and the blood rushes to your face because one of them is no longer in your sight.  The first time one of them throws a fit in the middle of a public place (I can thankfully say that has only happened to me once with little Miss Harleigh Jene when she just turned 2). You TRUELY look at other Mom's in a different light when you see them going through it . . . you think to yourself "that poor Mom".  How about when a child is just learning to feed themselves and you go to a restaurant and they sit in a highchair ... you get up to leave and there is a HUGE mess on the floor. (As a Mom you walk away feeling horrible and wanna apologize to each and everyone that you pass ... but you want your child to have the experience and try it themselves.)  How about when they enter school and they walk away from you for the very first time and enter the school building ... and you can not be there.  You can not tell everyone how great they are, play with them at recess if no one else wants to, tell them to take 5 more bites of lunch so they are not hungry later, or sit by them to help them with their work if they do not understand how to do it.  As a Mom, you have to let go of their hand and walk the other way.  Oh yes, if you are anything like me tears are falling down your face at the sametime ... but you are so very proud of them for being so much braver than you are at that moment.  How about when you tip toe into their room while they are sleeping and just stare at them.  You can not take your eyes off of them.  They are so peaceful and innoncent.  Not to mention . . . you secretly watch their midsection to watch for movement (a Mom will always continue to check to make sure they are breathing no matter how old they are).  What about when they get sick . . . I mean really sick.  A fever that you can not get to go down, or a horrible cough that scares you when you hear it. What about if they have a rash or a bite on them that you have no idea what it is ... if you are anything like me your mind starts to race and all you wanna do is take them to the ER and spend that LARGE amount of money just to hear the doctor say "they will be just fine".  Did you know that the Tooth Fairy cries???  Well, it does ... When I was the tooth fairy for the very first time 3 summers ago ... I walked out of Breeanna's room with tears in my eyes ... how could she be old enough to be loosing her first tooth?  How about the first time someone is mean to YOUR child.  Lordy be . . . that is one of the worst feelings when your child comes home from school in tears becasue someone said something mean to them.  You wanna tell them that some people are f**kers, but you polietly tell them that they need to keep being nice to everyone even if this person is mean.  Then you hug them and you never wanna let go . . . you know that if you keep them in your arms then nothing can hurt them.  You can protect them from all the bad things in life ... but you open your arms back up, look down at them, smile and tell them how wonderful they are.


Being a Mom is the most wonderful gift that I have EVER received.  Everyone tells you that the moment you become a Mom your world changes ... and it is so true.  The moments you walk into their room, and even though you are SO sleep deprived that you can hardly see straight, but you look down in that crib and see their big "gummy" smile . . . it is all worth it.


Of course ... I have realized one other thing as well. You treasure those "me moments" as well. Even if you are roaming around in Target not picking up a darn thing, you drive extra slow to Sonic to get a drink, you shut the bathroom door while you are one the phone (but lets face it . . . they still find you in there), or you go to a PTO meeting for that one hour. You somehow still miss those little smiles. Your heart begins to miss them and you cannot get back through that door fast enough . . . the chaos, the mess, and the screams welcome you back home with open arms.


I heart being a Mommy!

Moore kids tak to their Mommy back on February 28th - 2009 ...

I found this as I was going through some of my old things ... and wanted to share it with everyone. 

February 28th - 2009 ... I asked a series of questions to Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen ... on things about their Mommy.  At the time, when I did this with them, Breeanna was 7, Harleigh was 6 and Eythen was 4. 

I think I will have to do an "up to date" one really soon ... and see how their answers changed.

1. What is something mom always says to you?


Breeanna: I'll love you forver, I'll like you for always ... as long as I am living, my baby you will be.


Harleigh: Don't cross the street without looking both ways.


Eythen: I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?


Breeanna: When we do our best.


Harleigh: Hugs and Kisses.


Eythen: When I play with my big tractors (I think he wass stating what makes him happy ... haa haa).

3. What makes mom sad?


Breeanna: When we are sick and do not feel good. And when we are at school ... because you say you miss us during the day.


Harleigh: When we do not do something right.


Eythen: When it rains outside (actually that makes me really happy ... I love cloudy rainy days.)
4. How does your mom make you laugh?


Breeanna: When you are hiding around the corner and then jump out and scare us. And when you are getting gas and make funny faces through the window at us.


Harleigh: Makes silly faces at me.


Eythen: Tickle me.


5. What was your mom like as a child?


Breeanna: You loved Cabbage Patches Dolls and Grammy and Papa.


Harleigh: Played a WHOLE lot.


Eythen: Played with Barbies awhole bunch.


6. How old is your mom?


Breeanna: 30


Harleigh: 31


Eythen: 6


7. How tall is your mom?


Breeanna: 9 inches


Harleigh: 40 inches


Eythen: Like this tall ... not very tall Mommy.


8. What is her favorite thing to do?


Breeanna: play with us.


Harleigh: Have a good time with me.


Eythen: Play on the computer with me.


9. What does your mom do when you're not around?


Breeanna: Take care of Eythen.


Harleigh: Lay down and watch cartoons.


Eythen: Pick my clothes up.


10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?


Breeanna: Singing


Harleigh: For wearing cool high heels


Eythen: Ummm ... when the sun comes out (no idea there???)


11. What is your mom really good at?


Breeanna: Cooking


Harleigh: Getting money from the bank.


Eythen: Cleaning dishes


12. What is your mom not very good at?


Breeanna: Not good at computer games.


Harleigh: Hool a hooping


Eythen: When the dishes are not clean.


13. What does your mom do for a job?


Breeanna: Taking care of all of us.


Harleigh: Bake us food.


Eythen: Sweep the floor.


14.What is your mom's favorite food?


Breeanna: Chocolate


Harleigh: Mommy's diet dinners


Eythen: Chicken nuggets (again ... he is answering for himself ... haa haa)


15. What makes you proud of your mom?


Breeanna: When you try your best on everything that you do.


Harleigh: When you make really good food.


Eythen: When you tickle and love me.


16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?


Breeanna: Little Miss Happy


Harleigh: Sponge Bob (she knows I can not stand that show ... little turkey!!!)


Eythen: You should be in HSM


17. What do you and your mom do together?


Breeanna: Snuggle with each other


Harleigh: Cuddle Bug time (something her and I started when she was itty bitty)


Eythen: Play with our puppy Lucy


18. How are you and your mom the same?


Breeanna: We both have our ears pierced.


Harleigh: We both have balck hair.


Eythen: We both have legs.


19. How are you and your mom different?


Breeanna: I have long hair and Mommy has short hair.


Harleigh: Mommy has earrings in and I don't right now.


Eythen: I am a kid.


20. How do you know your mom loves you?


Breeanna: You make sure I am safe all the time.


Harleigh: Simple ... because I love you


Eythen: Hug me.


21. What does your mom like most about your dad?


Breeanna: Daddy kisses you all the time. AND you love each other so so so much!!!


Harleigh: "That is a tough one, Mommy. You love alot of stuff about Daddy. You are always kissing each other."


Eythen: When he hugs you.


22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?


Breeanna: Shopping at Target and Old Navy.


Harleigh: The grocery store in Eudora.


Eythen: Shopping for peanut butter and jelly.

My son ...

My son translates "no" and "we'll see" to ... "ASK AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN!"

Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen ...

I would just like to say thankyou to Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen for giving me their sore throat-headache-stuffy head-earache crap ... that they just got done with. I would have loved a hand made card just as much. Just something to think of the next time, kiddos.

Just some randome thoughts ...

1. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.



2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.


3. I think it shuld be a "hidden rule" that only your husband is allowed to move your nightstand while you are packing up and moving to another place. 


4. Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?


5. Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.


6. There is a great need for sarcasm font.


7. I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.


8. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?


9. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.


10. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.


11. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.


12. A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.


13. Was learning cursive really necessary?


14. Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".


15. Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.


16. Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".


17. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?


18. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!


19. Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. One time I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies".


20. What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?


21. While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.


22. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.


23. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.


24. I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.


25. Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. They have 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!


26. If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.


27. Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....


28. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.


29. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.


30. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.


31. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page document that I swear I did not make any changes to.


32. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.


33. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?


34. I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.


35. Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...


36. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.


37. It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.


38. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.


39. It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.


40. I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.


41. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.


42. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Mondays ...

I think that Monday mornings shouldn't start until noon.

Who should I talk to about changing this? Obama? Oprah? The principle of the school? Dora the Explorer? George Clooney?

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Dog Food ...

Just noticed that our dog's pet food bag states ... it has "New Improved Flavor".

SAYS WHO?????

Friday, August 27, 2010

Awww ...

Just got that warm fuzzy-smile across your face-Mommy moment. I dropped all 3 kids off at school ... looked back at them in my rear view mirror as I was driving off ... and saw Bree and Harleigh reach down to hold Eythen's hand. I heart being a Mommy.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Dear Papa Gene:

Dear Papa Gene:

I would like to bring it to your attention that you have created a ... well ... I am not really sure how to describe the situation that is going on ... every single day ... in the Moore house.

Ever since you were "in charge" of Eythen ... the morning of Janet's wedding.  He suddenly thinks he is part cowboy part farmer.  I am not sure why he would think this???  It might possibly be due to the factor that you took him to a store and he walked out looking like this ...

On a side note ... I would like to state that the FIRST THING he asked for the morning after the wedding ... was if he could put on those cowboy boots and cowboy hat.  Needless to say ... there was NO convincing Eythen to take them off ... as we went into McDonald's ... to grab some breakfast that morning either.  It was a battle that I was DEFINATELY NOT GONNA WIN.

Just when I think that my only battle with him ... is wearing his cowboy boots and cowboy hat to the grocery store ... with his cut off shirt and soccer shorts.  I get another surpise sent my way. 

Pape Gene ... you decided to send your sweet 'ol grandson (whom has you wrapped around his finger ... not once ... not twice ... but multiple times) a pair of overalls. 

Now ... I would like to say ... he sure does look cute in them. 

BUT ... it is not such a "cute" thing when you ask your son to go and try on his first day of school outfit.  And he comes down looking like this ...

 

I kind of had other "outfit options" in mind for such a big moment in his life.  I was thinking more towards this ...


His second day of school oufit that HE wanted to wear ...




The second day of school outfit that Mommy TOLD him that he was gonna wear ...

 

So ... Yes Papa Gene ... Eythen thinks he is half cowboy and half farmer.  He is certain he is gonna be joining you on the combine when harvest time rolls around.  Please remember though ... that the little sucker knows if you really have that combine on and cutting the beans ... or if you are just trying to "trick him" and take him for a casual cruise up and down the field. 

Nothing gets by little E-Man.

Nothing.

He also notified Clint the other night ... that he needed the phone to call Papa Gene.  When Clint asked him why ... he stated that he needed to tell Papa Gene that he needed a belt and belt buckle to go with his cowboy hat and cowboy boots.  We refrained him from dialing your number that night ... but please note ... that I did warn you when you answer your cellphone one afternoon and hear that cute little voice on the other end say, "Hi Papa Gene!".

I would also like to point out that the girls ... well ... they are in love with cowboy boots now as well.  Except ... they are adding their boots to their outfits in a different type of "style".  They are going more for the Rock-N-Roll look.



Can I just throw in an extra photo of Breeanna? 

Well ... I am not sure why I am asking.  Duh!  After all ... it is my blog.

Can I point out that she looks like she is 9 going on 19!?!?!?!  *sigh*


So there you have it Papa Gene.  You have 3 adorable ... boot wearing grandchildren! 

YEEHAW!!

Heel, toe, docie doe come on baby let's go boot scootin.  Oh, Cadilac black jack, baby meet me outback we're gonna boogie.  Oh get down, turn around go to town boot scootin' boogie.

P.S.  When Eythen does come down the next time to cut beans with his BFF (that would be you, Papa Gene) ... I am gonna be sure that he wears his boots ... no matter what ... no matter where you go ... no matter what you do ... no matter what he wears.

FYI ... Eythen asked if he could borrow my camera ... and this is the photo that he took.
A photo of his beloved ... boots.
Not his beloved Mommy ... but his boots.



Mommy and Eythen ...

What do Mommy and Eythen do to fill in the time during the day ...
while Daddy is at work
and Breeanna and Harleigh are at school???

Let me give you a little sneak peak into our lives ...
and what goes on behind closed doors.


1.  You take a son that ask NONSTOP if he can use the cans of silly string ... that Grammy J. bought ... and sent back TO MY HOUSE ... and I kept meaning to secretly pack it into their over night bags when they would go down for a vistit ... but kept forgetting to ... so "Can I PUH-LEEEEEEASE use the silly string?" would continue to be asked on a daily basis ... until I finally caved in and said that one magic word that Eythen just love to hear ... "FINE!"

2.  You mix in a tad bit of green silly string ...

3.  You put in a dash of Mommy getting ahold of the blue can of silly string ...

4.  You sprinkle on some giggles and laughes ...

5.  And you end up with a big fat mess. 
Unfortunately ... due to the factor that it was nearly 90 some degrees outside ... and the rays of sunshine were bouncing off the pavement ... you can not really see the zillions of silly strings that are all over the patio ... and grass ... and sliding glass door ... and smashed into the bottom of the flip flops ... and smooshed into our dog, Lucy's, paws.

In case you are wondering what happens to silly string when it is left outside ...
when it is as hot as the inside of an oven ...
wonder no more!!!

It turns into a big pile of gooey mess.

Clint ... Clean up on isle 5.

Safety first???

Don't all kids walk around the house with their bike helmets on?

No?  Really?  Your kids don't?

Hmmm ...

I don't have an answer for that one then ...

This week ...

This week is one of those weeks ... that I would like the strength to change the things I can. The grace to accept the things I cannot. And a few glasses of wine as a backup plan.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

UGH ...

It's not even 10 o'clock and I have already used up all my "I don't give a crap" for the day.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Nighty Night ...

There is a reason why Breeanna and Eythen always get paired up together when someone has to share a bed ...

... and this is the reason why.


The two of them are impossible to sleep next to.  They will hit you, punch you, kick you, roll on top of you, sit up and start talking to you, stand up in bed-step over you-and move to the other side of the bed, snore, cuddle to with you to the point of suffication and flat out lay on top of you.

So ... when Daddy was way this past weekend ... and we had a "slumber party" downstairs (Yeah ... we vegged out with junk food and watched movies till all hours of the night.  Don't be jealous) ... Breeanna and Eythen got the "honor" of sleeping on the pull out couch ... together. 

Harleigh and I waited till they were fast asleep (and on top of each other) and went up stairs and slept in my bed.  Quietly.  On our own half of the bed.  Without being disturbed through out the night.

But ... as always ... just like every other night since we brought them home from the hospital ... I whispered to them.
I'll love you forever ...
I'll like you for always ...
As long as I am living ...
My baby you'll be.

Love you Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen.

Nighty Night.

And their off ...

I can tell you exactly what I did ... with all three of the kids ... as I dropped them off for their first day of kindergarten.


I cried when I dropped Breeanna off at her first day of kinderten ... hard. I cried REALLY hard.


I cried when I dropped Harleigh off at her first day of kindergarten ... quickly. I cried before I even kissed her good-bye.

I cried, today, when I dropped Eythen off at his first day of kindergarten ... for a long time. I made it till Clint and I got out the back doors ... and then the tears just started to fall. And the fell ... and they fell ... and they continued to fall clear until we got into the truck. No wait ... they still fell. They fell as we were driving back home, as we pulled into the driveway ... and as we sat in the kitchen ... with the silence surrounding me.


For the first time ... in 9 years ... my house is completely quiet.


For 9 years ... there has been Dora the Explorer and Back Yardigans playing through out the house, there has been "MOMMMMMMYYYYYYY" screamed till the wondows shook, there has been opportunities for books to be read, adventures to the park, cuddles time in bed, naps during the day, someone asking me if I wanted to play, countless games of CandyLand, "Mommy I am hungry", someone holding my hand as we walked into a store, convseration from the backseat as we drove to and from, scrapes that needed Mommy's kisses with a Hello Kitty or Scooby Doo bandaid, hugs at random moments, giggles that echoed throughout the house because the tickle Monster came out of no where, or those special words of ... "Mommy, can I sit on your lap?" that every Mommy lives for.

Now ... nothing.

Not a sound.

No chaos.


No temper tantrums.

No whining.

No nothing until 3:25 in the afternoon.

I am one of the "those" Mom's that cry at every milestone of my children's lives ... I cry when "Happy Birthday" is sang to them each and every year. I cry on their first day of school. I cry on their last day of school. I cry at special moments where I sit back and watch them shine. I cry at the girls dance receital. I cried when Eythen hit his first homerun and scored his first soccer goal. I cried when Breeanna scored the winning point at her volleyball game. I cried when Harleigh had her first gymnastics meet. I cry when they cry. That is who I am ... and I am not embarrassed or ashamed for being "that kind of Mom".

It is hard to know that I am no longer the one that will be there every single moment of their lives. I will not be the one and only person who can solve their problems. Fix their bo-bo. Reassure them when they are scared. High-five them the exact moment that they figure out somthing new for the very first time. Wipe away their tears.

Their teacher is gonna be taking on my roll in their little lives now. From 7:30 to 3:30 Monday through Friday ... it is no longer me ... it is the "other woman" in their lives.

But ... on the brightside. I will be the one they come running to with huge smiles when the school doors open. I will be the first to hear about what they did at school-who they played with-what they ate-who they saw-what they heard-what story was read to them. I will be the one the school nurse calls to come to the rescue when they have a tummy ache-fever-thrown up-or need a new pair of pants brought to the school because they spilt milk on their clothing. I will be the one that gets to hear the praise and comments from the teachers at parent/teacher conferences about how my children have good manners and are poliete to everyone (well ... so we hope that is what I hope to always hear). I will be the one that gets to open the report card and smile because they have worked so hard ... and the report card shows it. I will be the one that gets to wave to them as they are up on stage during a school program. I will be the one that stays up all night making sure all three kiddos take 3 or 4 homemade cookies ... per student ... to their classroom parties. I will also be the one that delievers all of those cookies to the classrooms and snaps photos of their classroom parties. I will be the one that gets to have lunch and volunteer in their classrooms. I will be the one that gets to experience school through thier eyes.

As with every other step along this parenting journey ... friends, family and even strangers offered opinions on how I would feel when I dropped my child off on their first day of kindergarten. I did not have a clue what I would do when that door closed and I got that last glimpse of them ... for seven long hours. The one thing that I did know ... was that they would be crowding my thoughts for those seven hours. I would be wondering ... what were they doing, what were they thinking, if they were ok, if they were eating their lunch and using their manners, if they miss me ... or their siblings ... or their dad, if they were scared, if other kids were being nice to them ... and if not ... did they need their Mommy to come and kid some kids unpoliete butt for them???

But all in all ... that nervous-anxious-excited-weird feeling that was in the pit of Breeanna, Harleigh and Eythen's stomach ... on thier very first day of kindergarten.

You know ...


"That feeling" ...


The feeling of ... Who will be my friends? Will the work be hard? What if I don't know what to do?

Those feelings that each of my kids had ... I was having in my own way ... at this very moment ... as I dropped my baby off for his first day of kindergarten.

I knew exactly what they had been feeling. I knew. Because after being a full time Mom and part time everything else for 9 years now ... sending my youngest today ... marked a new beginning for me as well.

"What are you going to do now that all 3 kids are in school full time" everyone keeps asking me.
I just keep finding myself dodging that question like it is some foreign disease that is gonna wipe out the whole planet. Instead of realizing that no one is at home that really "needs me" anymore ... I choose to say that I am gonna volunteer, drive them to and from every activity known to man kind, enjoy them while they still want me to attend their school functions and just being the best Momm and Wife that I know how. But I deep down know ... that that part of me ... dodging the question ... is just like any other 5 year old on thier first day of kindergarten ... walking down that long hallway not knowing what to expect, nervous, anxious and excited all rolled into one.
It is scarey ... but I guess I need to put on my big girls pants and be as brave as all 3 of my kids were ... when I dropped them off on their first day of kindergarten.

Eythen ... It feels like your Dad and I have been counting down to this moment since you were born ... "Can you believe in three years he’ll go to school?" ... "Next year at this time he’ll be in school." ... "Only two more months until school." But now, when time has felt less like a marathon and more like a 50-yard sprint ... we are sending you off with your markers and pencils, a Transformers lunch box and colored folders. I love you, E-Man. I can hardly wait till the school bells rings are I see you and your sisters darting out of the school buildings ... with a huge smiles on your faces ... ready to talk 90 miles an hour about your day to me.


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Dear Monday ...

Dear Monday ... would you please stop breathing down my neck & tapping me on the shoulder! I am trying to avoid you all together ... but for some reason you will not leave me alone. *sigh*

Friday, August 20, 2010

alien ...

I am not sure when it happened ... but I am 93% sure that aliens take over Harleigh's body at odd moments throughout the week.

I have not pin pointed when it happens ... but I do know that it happens often.

And I am not so sure that they come in peace ...

Don't let this sweet innoncent smile fool you ...

Told you ...

I think this might be one of those moments ... when the alien over took her. 

 *no caption needed here*

*yet again ... no caption needed here*

*trying to act like she does not hear me telling her to go and pick up her room*

If you know my little Harleigh Bug ... then you know she is a hoot and a half.
This photo is just the icing on the cake.

*surprised*

*this is the normal look she flashes Eythen when he says something off the wall-did he really just say that-I do not understand what he means*

*creepy*

HUH????

*the overly excited "CHEESE" photo*

*scared*

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

*angry*
well ... an attempt to "look" angry

*gasp*

*true goof ball smile that I get to see on a daily basis*

Harleigh's alien "disguise" ...

Things I am teaching my children ...

*I am teaching my children ... TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE - "If you're going to kill each other do it outside - I just finished cleaning."



*I am teaching my children about ... RELIGION - "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

*I am teaching my children about ... TIME TRAVEL - "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to throw you into the middle of next week."


*I am teaching my children about ... LOGIC - "Because I said so, that's why."

*I am teaching my children about ... IRONY - "Keep laughing and I'll "give" you something to cry about."


*I am teaching my children about ... OSMOSIS - "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."


*I am teaching my children about ...  CONTORTIONISM - "Will you look at the dirt on the back on your neck!"


*I am teaching my children ... STAMINA - "You'll sit there till all those peas are finished."


*I am teaching my children about ... WEATHER - "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."


*I am teaching my children how to solve ... PHYSICS PROBLEMS - "If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming towards you; would you then listen?"


*I am teaching my children about ... HYPOCRISY - "If I've told you once I've told you a million times ... Don't Exaggerate!!!"


*I am teaching my children about ... THE CIRCLE OF LIFE - " I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."


*I am teaching my children about ... BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION - "Stop acting like your father."


*I am teaching my children about ... ENVY - "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."