Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday a blog carnival created by McKMama. You can head over to her blog and read what she and everyone else has not been doing this week. I'll start with mine.

I did not leave the duty of bathing kids to my husband for three nights in a row this past week. I would never have him take care of our children that many nights in a row. Not me!

I did not pick up Subway subs for dinner on Friday night instead of going home and cooking my family a three course meal. I would never forgo home cooking for convenience. Nope not me!

I did not skip going to the gym on Saturday after work because I "just didn't feel like it". I am always motivated and do things even though I don't want to. Not me!

I did not try to bribe my son to go poopoo on the toilet with the promise of taking a shower. (showering is his new thing, instead of a bath) I would never use bribery, not this mom! Nope!

I did not throw away my lunch and pack up my childrens lunches when Little E almost pooed in his underwear while at the mall. I would never waste food in an attempt to divert an underwear "accident". No way, not me!!

I did not tell my daughter that she couldn't wear her brand new shoes to a dinner Sunday night at a friends house. Then when she realized that her brother would be wearing his ( he fell asleep in his at nap) I did not feel bad and give in to her request. I would never break down and give in. Nope, not me!

Lastly....
I did not go shopping at Target four different days this past week before work at 8:15 am for no reason and randomly buy things like new bedsheets, towels, greeting cards, chewing gum and Easter clothes. Nope, Not Me!!!

Six Word Saturday

Small blessings, life's biggest encompassed treasures.

Writer's Workshop- Light My Fire

First of all, I wanted to thank Our Mommyhood for setting up a social calendar with a list a meme's for everyday of the week. If you haven't heard about this new blog I encourage you to check it out after you read my blog carnival today! This one is being held over at Mama Kat's Losin It. After reading mine be sure to head over there to check out what you have to do to participate.
I picked....What lights your fire? Describe five things you are most passionate about.

5. Scrap booking my mother in law gave me a scrapbook kit 6 1/2 years ago when Miss Kay was born. I thought at the time, what a silly gift, I'll never use that. Fast forward 3 1/2 years, one of my friends invites me to an ALL DAY scrapping called National Scrapbook Day. Hook, line and sinker! I'm not sure if it was because I won the raffle that day ( an entire scrap kit worth $150.00 to scrap one year's worth of pictures) or the fact that I could dress up my photos and show my creative side. I LOVE to scrap, now if only I could find the time or the space.

4. Photography without taking a thousand, million pictures I wouldn't have anything to scrap. Before kids I took pictures of my dogs. I took pictures of sunsets, beaches, my niece and nephew, bugs, butterflies. You name it! Now, I pretty much focus, my lens, ( little photography joke) on my kids. Now if only I developed the pictures I take, instead of archiving them on the computer.Then a week before a scrapbook date I have to develop hundreds of photos and pray they make it in time from the developer. One downfall to digital.

3. GOD Each day, with every breath I take I become a firm believer in our Lord and Savior. Yes, I question him daily and know that I won't get the answers by word but only in sign alone. I have to trust my faith that he will take care of me if I give him myself. I thank him everyday for the blessings and hardships he has given me. They are what have shaped and molded me into who I am.

2. Cooking I love to cook,cook, cook, cook. I love to try new recipes and then change them or make my own. I love to bake cookies, cakes, and brownies. My favorite thing to cook with is my crock pot (or some of you call it slow cooker). Definitely invented by some one who is BUSY!! I love how you can throw a bunch of things in it, cook it for several hours and voila!! you have yummy goodness! the best part about the slow cooking is the smell that fills the house. Except when you smell it the next day and the next day. That is when you get out the candles.

1. My children if you read most of my posts they are about my babies. (yes they may not be babes anymore, but even when they're in their 20's they'll still be my babies) I tell my husband quite often that it's their turn now. If we didn't get to do it before they were born, then it'll have to wait. We had our turn at childhood so they are going to get to enjoy theirs. If we can afford it we do it: vacations, Disney, road trips and everything in between. I want my children to have the opportunities that I did not. So if my son wants to play the violin (long story) then so be it and if my daughter wants to sign up for 5 dance classes then sure thing! You are only young once!

Top 3 Thursday- Parenting

I can't believe that it's Thursday already. Where did the week go? I could answer that but it would take me 3 more sentences and it's time for this week's Top 3 Thursday!! Hosted by two great gals at Confessions From a Working Mom and the (Un)Experienced Mom. The question they came up with this week is:

What are your Top 3 favorite things about being a parent?

3. That this tiny human being was created by me. (And my husband of course.) When you give birth to your child, and I felt that way with both of my babies, this overwhelming feeling of joy courses through your body. It's that moment when I look at their face that I know true love.

2. Snuggle time with my babies, no matter what age. I love when your newborn snuggles in close to you and roots to find your breast for feeding. When your little boy is sick and running a fever, he only wants mama close to comfort him. When it's bedtime and your little girl asks you to crawl under the covers with her to read her favorite book.

1. When your child looks up to you to be their protector. To take care of all the nightmares and boogie monsters. The bearer of light when it gets dark in the middle of the night during a storm. The super hero who saves their beloved stuffed animal from a fate worse than death, and washes the dirt away in spin cycle.

I LOVE BEING A MOM! The best reward is love.

Working Mom Wednesday-03/10/10

Happy Wednesday ladies! It's the middle of the work week for most of you! Not me because I go to work from Tuesday through Saturday but Happy Hump Day to ya'll! This weeks question from Julia at Work, Wife, Mom, Life is

How do you regain focus and perspective on being away from your kids/family for work? How do you refresh and get back on track when life seems to get you down?

This is a great question for me since I've been dealing with some separation issues with Little E. Up until about two weeks ago E never had a problem with me leaving him at daycare. It was the same routine with hugs and kisses, waves goodbye through the classroom window and blowing lots of kisses as I pull away. Now after we walk through the door of the building he grabs my leg and drags his body as I try to walk into his classroom. I have stayed calm through his clingyness and tried to explain in a positive voice that "mommy will be back, you go play." Yeah.. that's not working. Today (as it breaks my heart to do so) I told him I was leaving and I didn't like his behavior. It worked. He picked himself up from the floor, ran over to me and said "mommy I want kisses and hugs".
It breaks my heart to leave him. It has nothing to do with who is taking care of him. The daycare that he attends is the same one that his sister went to for three years. I just don't like the feeling that I'm letting him down. I'm sure five minutes after I leave he's running around, laughing and playing.

I have learned to let go of my doubts. I know he'll be okay and when the day is over and I pick him up, he'll be smiling and laughing. When I leave work, work stays at work. I shut that part off and I'm mommy. The multi-tasking hat I wear.

I have to listen to my heart but also let my heart lead me where I should be. I know that by working and making money I am providing for my children. By sacrificing having every day, ALL day with makes me put more quality into the evenings spent with them.

I try not to miss bedtimes but on the nights I do miss, my husband is ALWAYS there to read the bedtime story. Once I get home I never miss that goodnight kiss on my sweet babes cheeks as they sleep.

I pray. I pray to God that I'm making the right choices. I listen to his direction and hope that I'm following his word. I have to put my faith in that basket.

So unless I win the lotto or my husband gets a HUGE pay raise, this is how I'll be coping with my separation anxiety with my kids. Don't judge unless you've walked in my shoes. Live, Love and Laugh A LOT!

It's what's for dinner

UPDATE: Dinner last night at Denny's was a success! The kids and I had a great time. Only if I didn't have to be done by 6:40 pm and get to the church because as well as having Kids Eat Free Tuesday if you ordered fries or pancakes, they had unlimited refills!! My waist line didn't need that so thankfully I didn't have the time. With the purchase of my meal both kids ate free. Little E chose the mini cheeseburger and fries while Kay picked the chocolate chip pancakes with two sausage links. Glad I picked the Build your own Slam and added pancakes because the child sized pancakes didn't fill up Kay. Maybe I should have ordered my free refill? There's always next time..... So last night's bill....one adult + two children were able to eat for $15.00 with a tip!

So this is my new monthly thing. For now. It could grow. Let me give some background on what made me decide this. I am on the board at my church. As a deacon of the church you are expected to attend board meetings and board meetings are held every other month on the second Tuesday. As if dinners aren't hard enough without adding something else to my evening to take care of. I have to figure out how to feed my two kids before 6:45 and get myself to the church where my husband can pick them up. Well... a month ago I searched on my phone for "Kids Eat Free Tuesday" Well there are A LOT of places. And not just on Tuesday. So..
I will be blogging about our adventures in FREE eating. The kids of course.
For now it will be every other month and if we decide to eat out and get the kids a free meal any other time I will be sure to post about that time too.
This time we will be dining at Denny's. Where the
you can get 2 FREE kids meals with the purchase of 1 adult meal.
You can't beat that.....well maybe you can. But anyways. I'll post the story tomorrow.
This was just an introduction to my new adventure.

2012-Realization

I finally watched the movie 2012. How many of you have seen it? I'm sure several of you got to theater to watch it. I don't get to the theater much. You know. I've got two kids.. no time.. no money for a sitter and and extra 40 bucks to blow at the movies.
Anyways. I'm not sure why it is or was a controversial movie. It's some one's idea of the end of the world. The apocalypse. Sooo. If you're really worried, read the Bible. Read Revelations if you want to know what's going to happen. I've studied it. But that's not the point of this post.

It is a movie. It was a pretty good move actually. I enjoyed the heart wrenching parts of the movie. Sure I enjoyed the action but what keeps me in the moment is the people and their relationships. The main character Jackson, played by John Cusack is a divorced writer who takes his two kids to Yellowstone National Park. This is the start of his realization that things he wrote about in his book are starting to happen.
Anyways. Back to my point of this.
So farther into the movie Jackson has his ex-wife Kate, their two kids and her fiance Gordon and they're on their way to getting on one of the "ships" built by the government. Jackson didn't like her fiance but his son Noah has really looked up to him while Jackson has been on hiatus. It clicked for me. This was one of "those" moments. It really spoke to my heart.
I don't believe in divorce. It is something that I would try to avoid at all costs. But I realized that maybe it's not all that horrible. Not all the time. I'm not saying it would be something for me but I think sometimes it makes greater and better families. It's all about relationships.
Here is this guy Gordon who adds a dynamic to these childrens lives. Their father was out of the picture dealing with his own issues and their mother has met this great guy. He treats the kids like his own children. Having kids is something he always wanted. What better to have two kids that like you back that are not biologically yours? I know that lots of blended families don't work that way. My husband's family is broken. One key reason I don't look at divorce as an option. I see what it put him through. It emotionally scars people. Even more so when the new parent ostracizes you.
But I am trying to have a positive outlook on things we cannot control. What works for you may not work for me but it's ok. When the relationships work it shouldn't matter. The more the merrier. Whatever works.