Brain Dump

I have much to discuss.  The importance of it, well, it is not so important, but if I do not get it out, then I am afraid that my brain will wig out.... so, onto my thoughts...

1.  I took Red to her dance class this morning.  Yes, it was a wonderful morning, me, Red, and the Bear.  We got out of the house on time and even arrived at dance 10 minutes early... Holla!  We pull up to the building and it is pouring down cats and dogs, it was a wet mess y'all!  I will paint the picture... me (with straight hair that cannot get wet, the afro that would be created would scare small children) I would not want that to happen.  So, I am wearing some sorta hooded jacket and my children are in a tutu and shorts and a t-shirt (did I mention it was about 60 degrees and raining... chilly outside, I think so).  Anyways, after 3 trips in and out of the rain to get all of my peeps and their gear into the building... Red decides that she does not want to dance today.  I am just trying to keep it to the 3C's (calm, cool, and Christian, let's face it when you have a child who is having a moment in front of others, you have to stick to the 3C's!)  Anyways, after 10 minutes of standing in the back of the dance room, crying, stomping, and a little bitta snot, I just looked at Red and said, "looks like we just need to go home."  She snapped out of it and said, "yes, let's go"!  Not really what I wanted to happen, I thought she would be like, no way, I gotta dance, did not happen!  So, I tried to encourage her one more time, and then she just started running around the place jumping on the trampolines and playing.  I just started to pick up our bag and said we gotta go!

I start carrying the bag, the Bear, and then holding her hand to get us to the door (still pouring down rain), and Red went limp!  The worst!!  Then I started sweating, the water was drenching me, and I could not tell if it was tears falling or raindrops!  I could feel the crazy mommy coming out!  In fact, this is pretty close to what I looked like!

  

I got everyone in the car, both kids having a meltdown, it is pouring down rain, and I was just humming and smiling to myself... Jingle Bells, we had been watching Mickey Mouse Christmas (I bet the other mommy's were all watching through the window thinking that lady is going to snap, ha)!  I made it all the way out of the parking lot and then Red says in a sniffly voice, "I had a nice time".  Just pitiful!  I had to laugh and then call her daddy and my mother!

Kids are funny!  You never know which personality is going to come out!  Hopefully, we get to attend next weeks class!

Also, I did not have a break down, I just had to breath through it, kind of like contractions.

 

2.  Tomorrow my Razorbacks play Alabama.  I hope we beat them by like 30 points!

3.  Next Friday, my friend Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, is having her "Show Us Your Singles" link up!  I am so so excited because I am going to link up to the blog.  Let me tell you, girls that have a single male in your life that is seriously looking for his Mrs. Right, please check back next Friday!  I am going to write about my most wonderful girl friend.  She knows I am doing this, but what she does not know is that I just want her to meet the most wonderful man through this.... the chances of it happening, well it could happen!  I mean 5 other couples met up and got married and others are seriously dating or engaged!  How amazing!  K. Stamps has a better match making record than The Bachelor!  So, if your single man friend/ brother/ cousin/ uncle is wonderful, please find us on the link up next week!

 

4.  This weekend, Aron and I will be married for 6 years.

I just really really like him a whole lot!

 

5.  Last night I started watching a new show, Scandal.  Ya seen it?

It follows, Kerry Washington (who plays Olivia) a woman who protects the public images of the elite, and it last nights episode she was all twisted up with the Pres of the U.S, Tony Goldwyn (Fitz Grant).

O my word, it was just as the title states... Scan-dal-ous!  It kept my attention.  I even got over my long time disgust over Goldwyn who played Carl in the movie, Ghost!  Remember he had Sam (Patrick Swayze's character) killed and then at the end he died and the scary devil ghosts of hell came and took him out of the winda?  Remember?  Well, I just have not liked him since that movie and I have had a ridiculous fear of a broken window falling down on me, but after last night.. I got over it and watched Scandal!  New season starts in a few weeks!

 

6.  Also in a few weeks, my Grey's Anatomy starts back.  I am not so sure that I am going to be able to watch it since they killed off "Little Grey", Lexie!  I totally loved her and Mark together!  Still not over it!

 

7.  Did I mention that I adore nap time?  It gives me time to focus on my "chores".  I should be folding the 8 loads of clean clothes on my bedroom floor (yes, the floor), but I don't wanna.  We are all out of detergent so I cannot wash the rest of the dirty things, therefore, I do not want to sit and fold clothes, only to finish, then have to stop and go and get detergent and then wash and dry, then sit and fold again.  Seems like I should just get everything cleaned and then sit and fold...?  Logical?  I think so.

 

8.  I had a friend stop by earlier to drop something off, and when she came around the corner, she said, "don't judge", like I was gonna judge her for wearing a t-shirt and black yoga pants!  It made me laugh on the inside cause I was thinking, "don't come too close, because now that I think about it I cannot remember if I put on deodorant this morning!  She was standing close to me and showing me a book, all I could think was don't move your arms!  Then she said, "your house smells so good"!  Ha!  So, to my friend, you were talking to me and explaining the children's choir book, but I only heard the thoughts in my head!

 

9.  So, it is September.  Has anyone else gone over to your local Hobby Lobby and purchased any Christmas ornaments?  I did yesterday, and I am not ashamed!

 

10.  I feel like I have not been reading much lately!  I was on a book binge and now I am in a reading rut!  We have been doing lots of reading with the kids, I am trying to read at least 30-40 minutes a day, sometimes longer!  I am loving these Step 1, early reader books.

Elmo Says Achoo!, Sweet Potato Pie, Fancy Nancy books, Dora the Explorer

Both kids are now reading with me!  Love that they love reading!

 

 

 

 



Am I really present in this moment??

I have started this post three times, let's hope that this draft is a keeper! Ha!

Over the past few months, I have been reminded how precious my days are, and that I should really review how I am spending my time.

I have been in constant prayer for the following things....

My Bucky and his chemo treatments, constantly praying for his improved health and that he is in no pain.  I am also praying for my Moss who is taking care of him.  I cannot imagine the stress of taking care of a spouse who is ill... it rocks me to my core.  I am praying for my parents, as well as my aunts and uncles who are dealing with having a sick parent.

I am flooding my friend with prayers, that has been diagnosed with cancer and has had a growth of some spots in areas on his spine and head.  I just pray that the spots some how magically go away and that any anxiety he and his family are feeling will just be lifted

I am praying for my friend whose husband was taken off of life support this week and passed away.  I just pray for her and her daughter and their family

I am praying for some friends who lost a friend in a accident this week.  The woman was my age and I went to high school with her.  It was so unexpected.  My heart just breaks for them

There are so many other things that my heart is just filled with at this time.  Friends going through a divorce, trouble with children, people with sick parents or children, friends that are having trouble with work or having NO work, issues that are occurring all over the world every single day.

So, this has been my constant prayer list for some amount of time.  All of these people who are struck with such pain and heartache, and their time is being cut short.

With all of this going on, I have really been looking at myself.  How am I living in my life, and am I really present in this moment, and what is the legacy that I am going to leave if something happens to me.  I know, is this too deep for Wednesday MOM-VERSATION?

This time here, at my Earthly home is not going to be forever.  I believe, with all I got, that my God is preparing a heavenly home for me with Him.  I like to think that I will be in a sweet little two story brick house next door to my right will be my MamMaw and PapPaw, my Aunt Diane, my Aunt Glenda, one of my dearest friends Brad will be right across the street, my MawMaw and PawPaw, and my Mimi will be in a house behind my house... ya see in this heavenly home I will live on a lot of acreage, and Aron's momma Glenda will be right next door on the other side of the house.  It is a happy place with no pain, fear, or worries.  What a wonderful place.

Anyways, these moments that I have right now, with my people are precious.  This time I am spending with my babies is special and I do not think that I am always treating it as so.  When they want to play with me, I am sitting there making a list in my head of projects that I want to do in their room.  When I am sitting with them watching a movie, I also have my IPhone in my hand looking a Facebook.  When my husband comes home from a long crazy day at work, I immediately unload my days issues and things that he could help me with:(  When the kids go to sleep, I could sit with Aron and talk about stuff, anything, but we sometimes just sit on the couch too tired to function let alone spit out a sentence.  When a friend calls me on the phone, I sometimes find a reason to silence it or let them know that I cannot talk because I have other things keeping my attention at the time... this is horrible, because they may have really needed a friend, and I just blew them off.  Sometimes when a family member stops by, I act frazzled and frustrated with my stuff when I probably needed to ask them how their day was.

Well, all of this...

1.  Makes me sound like a jerk... (please do not feel that way, I am really a nice person, just a bit overwhelmed)

2.  just makes me see that I am not really present in the moment.

When I am with my babies, I need to be with my babies.

When I have time with my husband, I need to be building that relationship.

When someone calls me, I should make myself more available.

Needless to say, I am going through a change... not "the change", but a change.

It is time that I re-evaluate how I am spending my time, because this time that I have is so very limited.

I want my babies to think of me a fun girl who likes to play Barbies and Animals.  A momma that does not freak out over spilled apple juice or when she finds some clothes in a toilet.  A mommy who would get on the slide at the playground and play in the rain.

I want my husband to think I am the same fun girl that he married (even though I have grown a few sizes and have a few more stretch marks).  I am still the same girl on the inside.  I do not want him to ever feel like I am a grump and a control freak!  I want him to feel appreciated and loved, and never ever 2nd guess my love for him.  I want him to always feel secure in this marriage.

I want my family and friends to need me and me still be able to be there for them.  I do not ever want them to feel like they are bothering me or that I have too much going on in my life for them, because I do not!!

I also want my family to not think that I am a nut ball, because after this post they might question my sanity!  Hopefully, people will not see them out and ask them if I have gone coo-coo!

Most of all, I just want to always know that my people know how much I love them.

Sorry to cut the thoughts short, but the Bear is crying, he never really fell asleep during nap time, so I should go scoop him up and put my focus where it needs to be.  Loves!



Big bed... not for Red.

I will go ahead and lay it out here for ya.  We are definitely going through some changes in our home.  We have been doing more with Tiny Tot University (my version of the homeschooling), Red has started to take a weekly dance class, the kids and I are getting busier with our fall schedule (Bible study Tuesday, Wednesday evening church, and Sunday choir), Razorback football Saturdays!!, potty training... well, that was successful (1 down and the Bear to go), and now we have transitioned to the big girl bed.

So we are swimming in a sea of change at la casa Foresee.

Last week, I woke up and decided today is the day that Red shall now sleep in a big girl bed!  Woo Hoo!  I made a big deal about it to get Soph all excited, and we talked about no jumping on the bed, and this is where we sleep for our naps and at bedtime. 

(Does it look like these two are going to have issues with jumping on the bed??)

This was them obviously testing the bounce of the mattress.  Poor Baby Bear, it looks like he broke his head on the landing!

We even went to the store and got new sheets and such for her bed.  All Disney Princess with a fun throw and pillows.  The girl was pumped.  I got everything washed 

She was so proud.

 Then she had to lay on her big girl bed.

Then B had to sit on the bed too!

Needless to say, the evening came, the stories were read, she climbed in the bed, lights off......... 10 minutes later.... the pitter patter of Little Red's feet.  She just stood at my door and smiled.

I think it just gave her a thrill to know that she could get in and out of her room if she wanted to.

No more lock down for Red!

Little Red was out of bed and did not want to rest her head!

(Okay, enough of the Dr Seuss rhyming)

Anyways, this went on 4 more times.

Energy to deal with it... I had none.

So, Red's big girl bed was changed back to a crib that night.

(As I was fixing it back she told me, in the sweetest little voice, "Momma, I'm just not ready for a big girl bed."

Maybe next week we can try again.

Until then, it is naps on the couch for us!

All Before Noon

This past Monday was Labor Day!  We celebrated this happy vacation weekend the same way most families with tiny tots do.... waking up super early (ya know, before the daylight is even peaking through the blinds), sitting so close to the television that we have to wear protective eyewear while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and feasting on nothing but the best.... McDonald's hotcakes and sausage biscuts.  Go on.... be a little bit jealous all of you people who slept in and then played in the lake!!  Ha!

Anyways, it was a wonderful weekend.  Aron was off of work all weekend (so glad he was not on call) and we were so happy to be with him every waking moment!!

So, yay for Labor Day!

watching the Mick-ster with our protective eyewear

 

Riding on the turtle

This is me trying to clean the Bear's room.  This is the Bear dumping out the boxes that were filled with toys and then stacking them up for extra seating

We took a visit to a playground.. the kids... were in heaven!

Or, maybe Aron was in heaven.  Look at the kids, they really wanted to play on the equipment too!

 What... ya didn't know I really have 3 monkeys!!

 Born Free!!!!!!

I know, before this we went and had breakfast on our local square, at The Station.  It is like slap ya in the face good!  We love it!

 Here is Red telling us she was not having a nice time... (she does this bit when she is mad about something)

This is how we started our morning... a nature walk on the trails at Crystal Bridges

 This picture makes me laugh!  Aron was leaning against the pig, smiling for me to take his picture, as I am taking it, he begins to laugh saying, "what?  wait, dont take a picture of me sitting on this pig."  So I take the picture.

It was a fun weekend!  Did I mention all of this was done before noon!!

One Fierce Battle.....

The day had been so lovely.  I took Tinkerella to her ballet class, the Bear and I were able to sit peacefully and watch her dance and twirl all hour, I made us a yummy lunch of Totinos Pizza and fruit with cheese blocks, and we have really enjoyed sitting and reading books and I was able to watch the last nights episode of The Duggars.  All in all, the afternoon has been pretty good.  We have had only a few time outs, one fall off of the slide, and one lost crayon was recovered (after it had been used on the wall).... a great day.

Then nap time.

Oh, Baby Bear.... it is nap time....

I swoop him up and carry him off.  He handles this well, usually just waving nigh nigh and easily falls asleep.

1 down and 1 to go.

Oh, Red.... it is nap time.  Let's find our paci and blanket.

(This is usually when we just head for the couch)

I lay her down at 2:30

She asks me to lay with her and I do.

She even grabs my hand.... precious...

After 14 minutes of tossing turning, constant Mommy, I have to pee pees, and feet kicking, I say, that's it..... shut your eyes.

This is when it starts to get heated....

She stops moving.... I like to think that she knows when I mean business.......

4 minutes goes by...

I am even laying there with my eyes shut, then......

Yeah.  I am comparing myself to this lion looking at their cub... probably thinking, you have got to be kidding me... do you want this to get ugly???

I lay her back down....

Squiggle... squirmmy..... flip... flop.. giggle

It has now been a total of 23 minutes that we have been playing this....

After 30 minutes....

This was me....

Ya see the cub... it is not even phased (much like my Red).

So.. after this moment (which no pictures were taken since National Geographic is unable to take pictures of this "mommy beast") she finally surrenders to the dreaded nap....

Look at her little cherub like face.

Precious cheeks, tiny sweet hands, her cute patootie ears..

All is calm in our house.

The Great Red sleeps and the "Mommy Beast" feels defeated and like her "mommy card" should be taken away:(

Now, this is a time when most people would turn to that ol' gal Betty Ford for hitting the bottle, but not I, I prefer her sweet sweet sister... Betty Crocker  

Yes.  It is cake icing in the jar.

Don't judge.

 

Well played Red... well played.

Tiny Dancer

The time has come!  We are so excited that Red has been enrolled into a pre-ballet, tap, and tumble class at a local dance school, Infiniti!  We signed up last week, and within the hour we had purchased our first pair of ballet and tap shoes with a pink tutu and matching tights!  Tiny dancer was so happy to wear her new "ball-derina stuff".  For the past few days the noise has been ratta, tat, tap, with her tap shoes, and we have been practicing pointing our toes and all of the different positions in our ballet shoes.  You have to know that I have it all on film!  I am the mom-arrazi!

Tear!  Her first time in a ballet shoe.  So precious!

Here she is in her tap shoes!  She loves to run around on the kitchen floor!  (It is okay, I am taking Advil to get through all of the tapping)!

Here she is, all done up and ready to go to dancing school!

Pure preciousness!  She is even pointing her toe!

The class was an hour long and there were only 3 little girls in the class (how on earth do they have a bigger class??  I do not know, I was nervous for the teacher with three, three year olds, but Ms. Sarah was wonderful!  I guess there is a class of 13 later in the evening!

They did some ballet for the first few minutes, then changed to tap, I think I heard some rustling of some pom poms, then they did about 20 minutes of tumbling (trampoline, balance beam, parachute, forward rolls, and chasing a hula hoop (they loved this)!

 When we got into the car, Red said, "I had a real nice time".

I just laughed!  So, I guess we will continue with this activity!!

Bring on the leotards and tutus!!