Out of the Mouths of Babes

Oh boy I have been really taking time to enjoy the moments with my kids.  I mean as chaos is crashing around me I am trying to laugh and just embrace things.  I have really come to understand that what my kids do and say bothers me more than it truly bothers any one else.  This has been said to me multiple times, but it is hard to remember when things are happening around you.  Now here are just a couple fun events that have happened that I didn't think they were very fun when occurring. However now I can laugh and actually realize that it is just what kids do.  Sometimes they just like to embarrass us without even knowing it!  :)

A week ago I had to take the cat to the vet for her yearly shots and check up, and I had to bring my entourage with me.  Audrey was super excited for the cat to get a shot and was very curious on how she would handle the pain.  The entire time the doctor was examining her she asked him the play by play of what he was doing.  He had made the comment that Aurora was a very good cat.  I had snickered and said she was a little high strung, but overall she was a good kitty.  Without skipping a beat, Audrey interjected in the conversation and added that Aurora was a pretty good cat, but she does scratch when you punch her.  Seriously child, you need to tell the vet you are punching your cat?  Without hesitation I said to Audrey that I probably would scratch her if she punched me and then explained to the vet that no one punches the cat.  I was waiting for PETA to come through the door, but then I got the chuckle from the vet and he informed me he had three kids and understood.  Thank you Lord that he understood that kids sometimes have diarrhea of the mouth and say things that are so off that you don't always believe what is happening.  Honestly I think the only time the cat has scratched the kids is due to them corning her or Ayden pulling her tail and well she needs to defend herself so I didn't really get after her for that kind of scratching.  But that is neither here nor there, just so that we are clear that no one abuses animals in my house even though my daughter speaks of punching the cat.

Now on to another crazy moment with my children.  Yesterday I went off to get a couple shirts with the kids because I needed out of the house.  Before we walked into the store I explained to the kids they needed to be close to me and on their best behavior.  We get into the store and they scatter when I am distracted by the sales lady talking to me.  Really?  This is what my kids do, they scatter and then literally play a weird game of hide and seek whenever I get distracted.  They were being good for the most part of roaming around the store, but Audrey was trying to bring me clothes to try on and Ayden was trying on sunglasses and dancing like a monkey.  Why can't things just be easy? I struggled with the help of the sales lady and found some shirts to try on.  As I was getting ready to grab my kids to go try on shirts, I couldn't find them.  I mean where could they go, they didn't leave the store, but I knew they were near because I could hear the giggling.  The kids were in the store front window dancing for the folks passing by the store.  I guess they were hurting no one, but I was waiting for someone to knock down a mannequin.  We got out of the store without any major incedents and I found a couple shirts, double bonus, but boy was that a hard trip.  Why do I think it is going to be any different than last time?  It always seems that it gets worse, but not better.  However the ladies at the store are always great because they have kids and get it.

Audrey is not always my crazy gal.  She does say some outlandish things, but as we were driving yesterday she asked a very unique question.  "Does it rain hearts on Valentine's Day?"  What an interesting question for a four year old.  I mean it makes sense that one could draw a conclusion to this with all the heart stuff that goes along with Valentine's Day.  However after we talked about me never seeing it rain hearts, she then just simply said, "Oh, I guess the book we read at school was wrong."  The truth comes out, she heard this in a book and was just checking to see if the book was fiction or nonfiction.  Nicely played Audrey, here I thought I had two out of the box thinking children.  Maybe she will get there, but for now I will just enjoy her random questions, comments, and dancing and embrace them as joys because they truly do bring laughter to my life.  But both kids do make me smile a lot more than wanting to bang my head on the wall, so that I am blessed and grateful.

How Full Is Your Bucket?

On Sunday at church during the Children's Sermon, I held my breath like I normally do, in fear of what outlandish things would come out of my children's mouths, but was able to walk away with some empowering tools to begin what was going to be a very long week.

The topic was on filling and dipping buckets, whether it being yours or others, and was based off the story Have You Filled a Bucket Today?  A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud.
It really piggybacks off the concept of going through life with a full cup and how better we feel with a fuller cup.  I mean think about it, we can definitely go through life happier if we are full with love and happiness.  Most folks get love and happiness through simple gestures and generous acts from others or doing for others.  I truly believe that lately I have been running around with a low bucket, and this message could not have come at a better time!

I have really been wondering how I can get my children to become better.  Not that they are bad by any means, but I really want to create a lifestyle for my children where being kind is a natural behavior that stems from them understanding that being kind can make them and others feel good.  Maybe these are lofty goals, but I really do want my children to be thoughtful and use those big hearts I know they have.  I already have seen the kindness they have, but I think that lately they have lost sight of the importance of being kind.  The fact that we have had over a dozen knock down, drag out fights in the past week, being kind to each other or even following directions from Tyler and I has been far from their minds.

In the past couple days, Audrey has been very aware of being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper.  Now she has not been great at it, but she has been asking about certain acts and if she is helping fill my bucket.  She also has been telling me when I fill hers or dip from hers as well.  I am not sure that I am truly dipping because I am not giving her her way, but she is understanding when she feels good and bad about certain acts.  Now my little Ayden is a different story.  He really is not understanding how he is filling and dipping, but I have been vocal about letting him know when he has done both.  At this point he is really following Audrey's lead, which I am going to continue to roll with.

Now not only am I going to help my kiddos with this bucket filling, but I think it is very important that I lead by example.  I feel I give a lot, but I think I really only give within my house.  I need to work on filling other's buckets as I go out and about.  I mean lets think about it, how often do we go out and about and stay in our little space.  There are times that I feel that I am just trying to contain my chaos, but how hard would it be to help someone by holding the door, a simple smile, or a word of encouragement.  Even though I feel I have nothing left to give because lets face it as a parent I feel I give my kiddos everything, but being more of a bucket filler will in return help fill my bucket right?

Here is to filling buckets as a family, one small act at a time!

Thank you Linda Hankins for sharing this great book and inspiring me to be a better person!

A Little More Sleep Please???

Needless to say as I have come into motherhood, the lack of sleep is inevitable.  However I thought that as my babies grew it would get better.  I think I have written on this subject a lot, in hopes maybe it would improve.  In this stage of our lives, we are dealing with Ayden trying to push the envelope further.  He is still childproof lock free, however he may be losing that privilege soon because he is seriously finding every loophole in my parameters.

Ayden has been told he needs to stay in his room, but now he is playing the I'm scared card.  He doesn't' come into our room scared, but boy does he have a story to tell of why he is in our room.  The kiddo has gotten smart though.  He goes to Tyler's side of the bed, and Tyler just lifts him up and puts him in bed with us.  Now there are two issues with this, one Ayden is a windmill and two why is it Tyler will wake up for Ayden, but never wakes up for me when there is an issue with the kids?  Dually noted Tyler, and well played.  Now normally Tyler can fall back to sleep, but Ayden doesn't always think it is bedtime.  Since when is 4 am an acceptable wake up time?  The kid tosses and turns, and literally falls asleep about 6:30 and then passes out until 10 am.  Nice right?

I know that we will get through this tiring time, but I think it is about time that I get another clock that can motivate this kid to stay in his room.  We got a My Tot Clock for Audrey and I asked Audrye if Ayden could have hers, but she had a complete meltdown about this, so I guess I am going to search for another clock.

I think I have found the motivation for a new clock for Audrye and give Ayden the older clock, but I am wondering if that is fair?  The kids really aren't going to care at this stage because the old clock will be new to Ayden and if I get him a couple more stories to listen to on the clock, it may be a win win.  Now to contemplate what my best option is this afternoon because this is something that I can wait out because when Momma is sleepy, our world is not happy.

I think this a perfect switch for my little princess:).

Friday Funnies

Last Friday was by far a joke.  It seemed like every time I turned around something outlandish was occurring.  Like to the point where I was laughing at the end.  The best part was I took a few photos to just record these memories, and when I was telling Tyler about my day and he was chuckling, I kept saying I can't make this crazy up.  And that's what it was, some of the events that occur in our house is just that....crazy.

It all began with a quiet morning and fun play date before we got Audrey ready for preschool.  Before we walked out the door, I figured a pit stop to the bathroom was a good idea since I had just down a couple glasses of water.  As I went to flush the toilet the handle literally broke off in my hands.  It isn't like I was being forceful with my flush, it just broke in my hands.  I think I squealed a little because the kids came in to see what the commotion was and they were in instant defense mode of "It wasn't me!"  This was the topic of discussion on our way to preschool.  Why did you break the toilet mom?  How are we going to flush now?  Where will I go potty?  Seriously we have two other bathrooms upstairs and Audrey was determined we no longer had indoor plumbing due to one broken handle.

Now as we were traveling to preschool, all I could smell was jalapeno poppers.  Yes, in a moment of weakness the previous day I went through a drive thru and made a fast food splurge I haven't done in at least a year.  I of course had to eat this greasy goodness on my way home because why wait right?  In the process of stuffing my face and driving, I know totally safe right, a popper squirted juice down the front of my face.  Yes I was a hot mess but I thought I had cleaned it all up.  While traveling to preschool I came to the conclusion I must have had a squirt of jalapeno juice somewhere in the car.  I was frustrated because I thought I was going to have to do a deep clean of the car and it was not something I was looking forward to.  We were in the drop off line and I turned around to unbuckle Audrey, when I asked her if she smelled the jalapeno smell.  She of course was clueless, and I was determined that I would only be cleaning my front seat.  I took off my sunglasses as the sun went behind the clouds and it was pretty dark.  It was then that I realized where the smell was coming from.  I guess in the squirting of juice, some cream cheese from that popper landed on the nose piece of my sunglasses.  I had to take off and put on my sunglasses multiple times before I noticed this.  Oh boy...kinda scares me on how bad my observation skills are going down the toilet!

I prepared myself for more crazy because that is just what happens in our house, and it found us as I was finalizing dinner.  There was a knock at the door, and seriously you know how dogs go running to the door and start barking, this is kinda how my children react to knocks at the door.  Except this time, Ayden was roaring like a dinosaur and attempting to get the door open.  This garbage disposal representative looked scared and probably wasn't over the age of twenty.  He had know idea what kind of Pandora box he was getting ready to open.  This was the only time I was hoping Ayden would attempt to escape and roar at this poor man.  I didn't want to listen to his speech on garbage pick up and our garbage is included in the rent, but this gentleman was not listening.  So the giggle that came from me when Ayden started roaring and attempting to get out of the house was the prefect timing for me to tell the gentleman thanks but no thanks as I had to get my dinosaur under control.

There you go my friends, just a glimpse into my crazy Friday from last week.  Here is to hoping this Friday is a little less chaotic.

Snow Day Blues

When school was canceled yesterday I truly thought Audrey was going to lose her mind.  She was absolutely distraught that she was going to miss another day.  I guess this is a good problem to see with her wanting to go to school because it may change as she gets older.  Ayden was sad that the MOPS meeting was canceled because he was going to miss his friends.  Seriously did not know he was into friends, but good sign here that he likes people because I was beginning to fear that he was going to be my antisocial kiddo.

Okay now that you know how everyone was feeling, well at least the kids.  I had that feeling that the walls were closing in on me and we needed to make sure it was a good day.  Audrey loves schedules, so I figured I would plan our day and write it all down so we could stay on track.  This gave her some control too because she would go to the schedule I put on the fridge and would ask, "Okay Mom, what's next?"  Our morning went well, except for the free play.  I am not sure why my kids struggle with free play when I am watching them.  It is like they are putting on a show of lets pretend to play and then begin the kid's version of WWIII.

The kids were happy and we were all getting along.  I even managed to play six games of Chutes and Ladders, even after they changed the rules 80 million times, without losing my mind.  We worked on some letters, printing, and opposites.  A couple Valentine crafts were completed, and I even let the kiddos water color paint.  We had lunch and I even convinced the kids that quiet time was a great idea while I folded the two loads of laundry that was on the to do list.  Multiple stories were read, and I even surprised them with snow ice cream.  In which Audrey has informed us that snow ice cream is better with chocolate syrup because everything is better with chocolate.  Ahhh....a girl after my own heart!  I decided a little movie action may help buy me some time to get a couple projects done.  Everyone was happy with that decision.  We ended our day with a trip outdoors as the kids were determined to build a snowman and I needed to get after the drifted snow in the driveway.  The snowman was attempted as I was ready to go in, and they decided they wanted their snowman to be flat.  They had a couple carrot noses and some almonds for eyes and their mouths, but after they built the snowman faces they decide to eat them.

While I was attempting to make dinner and they kids were playing around with some expo markers and notebooks, Audrey informed me today was the best day ever and I was a good mom.  Thank you Audrey, I think?  I guess when our day is jam packed with activities and fun I am a good mom, but when I make them do things on their own I am just mediocre.  Well I have said it before and I will say it again, I am okay with being okay, so bring on a few mediocre days:)

Just enjoying some snow ice cream!

Quality verse Quantity

Boy can I tell that it is that time of the year.  I remember the winter blues hitting me more in March, but this year they have hit me in full force.  I think there are quite a few factors hitting me at this point, but I can just feel myself falling into a funk and it is the silly things that are getting to me.

Lately I am finding myself scrolling through Facebook and seeing everyone having a good time. Here is my first issue, stop looking at social media Lindsay.  However even though I am seeing folks have a good time, it is making me sad.  Sad because I was not invited to those events.  Really?  I need to get a grip on this sadness because a month ago that would not have bothered me, but I really believe that with the weather and still attempting to find our routine again has really amplified my emotions.

After I had discussed my funky feelings yesterday with some wise folks, I have awoken with a new look on things.  This may be due to the fresh snow that is coming down hard that has changed the perspective of the world outside, but regardless of the reasons I am feeling better.  It has gotten me to think about friendships though.  I love how during different seasons of our lives, God allows folks to walk into our lives and give us the friendships we need for that time.  What is even better is when those folks are lifelong friends.  You know what I am talking about, those besties you have that you can literally not talk to for years, but once you see them again pick up right where you left off like no time ever passed!  I am so lucky to have a handful of these gals in my life because there are some folks who never experience this type of friendship.

As we adjust to the nonmilitary lifestyle, I have found myself understanding the concept of quality of friendship very quantity.  I have always had the philosophy of surrounding myself with many friends.  I mean the more the merrier and if you ever return back to the previous stationed place, you will have a built in support system...bonus right?!  Yet now I need to realize this is not my life any more.  I need to take the time to focus on the friendships I have now and work on those, verse trying to add more to my circle.  Ugh...now that I typed that means I really should follow through on that one, and lets face it trying to change something you have done for years is hard.

There it is, I am going to work on my authenticity in my friendships.  I will add more to my circle of friends willingly, but I will not be pursuing it as hard as I sometimes feel I have in the past.  I am going to embrace what I have been given and continue to be grateful for my quality of friendships and stop focusing on the quantity.

Mommy I Want You

Okay so I have to admit that I love bedtime for two reasons.  Number one, Ino longer have to be responsible for two little humans that are driving me insane, and number two, I can sit on my butt and do nothing if I want and not feel bad about it.  Bed time is the beginning of mommy time and I love it.

Ayden is great about getting into his bed and going to sleep, but Audrey pushes the envelope and really tries to stay up as late as possible and see what mom and dad do when she goes to bed.  Which basically is not too exciting except we do watch an occasional show, which for some reason has an appeal to her, but that is neither here nor there.  I get annoyed with Audrey when she does not go to bed right away.  Annoyed because how dare she infringe on my mommy time!  Yes, I just wrote that and after reading this article, Mommy Will You Lay With Me I am disappointed in myself.

I really love my children, but sometimes I just need a break, but I am really trying to work on laying with Audrey more because she needs that extra time.  Most the time, we both grab our books and we just lay together and read to ourselves.  However last night I had a mommy moment that made that lay down time worth it, even though I had a bunch of things to do.  Audrey has been into listening and reading the Bible.  I asked her if she wanted to pick out a place in the Bible to read, and she eagerly did so and asked me to begin reading.  We read a story in Acts about King Herod, and it ended where King Herod had been cursed with a disease and was eaten by worms.  Yeah I read it and then realized I should have censored, however I focused on a different part and we discussed it and she had forgotten about the dying and worms...thank goodness!

At this point I decided maybe I should leave the reading to her.  She found her Bernstein Bear Bible and read me the Creation story.  She most definitely was not reading the words, but she had the story memorized and she was giving her best effort to retell that story.  At this point I couldn't help but begin to drift off to sleep.  I don't think I was sleeping too long because I was awoken to a blanket being taken off me and a whisper of sorry.  During some part of Audrey's reading, I had truly drifted off to sleep and she covered me up with her blanket, however she must have become cold and needed her blanket because she was grabbing it back.  It was then I realized that I was given some moments I would have never experienced if I didn't take the time to lay down with Audrey.  I needed this because all during the day I was completely overwhelmed with the kids behaviors and really thought they were out to just drive me insane.  (I know that sound irrational, but I was having one of those days!)

Take time to read the article mentioned above and take time to let those chores be and lay down with those babies because the time slips away quickly!