She did it!

Mara will be starting her second season of gymnastic competition in a couple of weeks.  She amazes me everyday with her dedication, strength and technique.  This past summer her class had been working on getting their back handsprings. This was a very big deal for Mara. For whatever reason, she was convinced she couldn't do it.  I don't know why??? Flipping backwards not seeing your hands isn't that bad.... right??  :) She would come home crying from gym telling me that everyone else could do, why could she??  So, after talking with her coach and many others who had the same problem, we decided to have a private lesson with her coach on just this!  Well, 5 minutes into the lesson and a lot of support, she nailed it!  WAY TO GO, MARA!!!!!  You are amazing and I can't wait to watch this years competitions!  LOVE YOU BABYDOLL!

 I love her face when she accomplishes something hard!  Its the BEST feeling in the world to see you child succeed.

Age...

I am 36 years old and for the first time the other day, I felt old. I was on my daughters field trip surrounded by all these other moms. They were all sweet and beautiful and I felt like I fit in. Until they started talking about their ages.  24, 26, 23 and 27.  The 27 year old had 6 kids! WHAT?  They were all at least 10 years younger than me! 10! Only the 27 year old had kids older than 6. (When did she start having babies??) I spent the remainder of the field trip walking around feeling old.  I think I was even walking old.  Even my reflection was screaming "yep, you're old"!  My dear children refer to my childhood as the 'olden days."  In response, I always say, "Yes, the 80's was FORRRRREEEEEVER AGO!  Can you believe I am still alive????"

UGH!  Whatever the reason, the number 10 killed me that day! I have always been like 3 or 5 years at the most older than some, but 10? I still feel like the same old me. I think the same, act the same, and really am just Me.  Age has never bothered me.  I still shop in the juniors section.  No, I don't want to be that frumpy lady. I still LOVE boy bands, Disney movies, and secretly wish that I could dress up like a princess and go to the store without being thought of as insane. Thank heaven for Halloween, so I can do just that! One direction is my favorite! If you see me driving down the street singing my head off its because I love them and secretly wish I was young enough to show it. I still think that the 1990's were 10 years ago and that I graduated high school 8 or so years ago. um, try 18 years ago!

My sweet husband turned 40 this year and he doesn't act any differently.  He has a few, ok a LOT of grey hair, but I think it's sexy.  Most of my close friends are over 40 and they look young to me.  I told this situation above to my husband and he looked at me and said, "How old would you be if your mind/ body didn't tell you how old you actually are?"  Hmmm... profound.  Right now I feel about 16 because I still get butterflies before I go out on dates with B, just like when I was 16. I went to lunch with 2 of my favorite ladies and I felt like a mom, whatever age that is. 30 something maybe?  Early 30's because that's when I felt like I knew everything. :)  I am sure tonight when it's time for bed, I may feel more like 74.  The more I think about age, the more I get depressed, so I will focus on living and making myself happy for the moment.  As long as I act my age, right?  Well, of course when no one is looking...

My little angel...

 This little angel of mine just turned 6.  While I am trying really hard to contemplate on how this happened, I am so very grateful for the journey she has taken me down.  From this little girl I have learned many things.  The most important is how to love unconditionally and how to have faith in every foot step.  This kid is wise beyond her years and I know she was sent to us for a very large purpose.  She can walk into any room and light it up with her small voice, her loud laughter and the very quirky things that she says.  I never know what is coming out of your mouth next.  She has a knowledge of her savior, Jesus Christ that is in her heart and that has been there since she was born. She talks of Him like he is her best friend and constant companion.  She speaks of Him as a brother and protector and she genuinely believes this.  She has an eternal perspective on life and she knows that all will be ok, NO MATTER WHAT. 

 

You don't care about material things, which makes it hard to buy you presents, but then again, not really because you love whatever is given to you.  You have the ability to make others around you feel special and loved, including those who you meet for the first time.  Your spirit is infectious and can bring a smile to anyone's face.  You have an odd ability to randomly move your eyes in different directions and you take pride in this.  You are silly, loving, accepting and pure.  Please don't lose sight of who you are!  I know you won't because pressures around you don't knock you down.  Instead you walk away feeling even better about yourself!  I wish I had this talent.  You remind me everyday that I am loved and you accept me for who I am completely.  You speak of your twin that was lost early in my pregnancy, like you have an incredible relationship with her and know everything about her...  I know that you do.  Thank you, Anna!  My little living angel.

Anna, you have brought light into our world and we are forever lucky to call you ours! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA BANANA!!!

Oh, and PLEASE stop growing!  I know you won't, but I had to ask.

Blogger friends, come back!

Ok, so where is everyone??? All you amazing people that USED to blog, but don't anymore!  I miss you!  You inspire me, keep me going, make me laugh, make me cry, piss me off and much more!  I NEED back!  I have searched for others and let's face it.... I can't find anyone that measures up!  Do you know of some amazing blogs I need to follow???  If so, please share.

 

I know I have not been the best at blogging either!  Between gymnastics, soccer, summer, and everything else, I feel like my blog has moved to my Instagram page.  Cuz, let's face it... it's faster, easier and I can do it while I am shopping, sitting, waiting, having a special moment, you name it, I can do it!  BUT, I LOVE blogs!  So, this is my promise to myself that I will keep this blog up!  The main reason I did it was for journaling purposes for my kids.  But let's face it. This is where I come to see all of you, vent, boast and let go!  So, PLEASE all of my favorite people, you know who you are, PLEASE starting blogging again!  If any other reason, do it for ME!

Thank you!

Otherwise, do what I do..... Instagram and I will follow you there!

 

 

Yell no more...

Forgive me if this post seems all over the place.... There is a ton on my mind! :)

Mara went to bed mad at me last night.  Right after dinner she and Anna were making fun of William's stinky feet.  Ok, so his feet DID stink.  Yours would too if you had just played soccer for 3 hours!  Well, the taunting and making him feel bad just kept going.... for 20+ minutes.  Each time, I would tell the girls to stop, but they were in a goofy mood and just kept going.  To the point where Anna got up from the table and said, "I can't take it anymore! I can't' sit by you!"  Well as you can imagine, it put William over the edge.  Broke his heart and he ran from the dinner table and hid under a blanket.

Now I know that this is a normal sibling issue, but I lost it and got mad at both of the girls.  They just wouldn't stop.  Then Mara starting yelling, I started yelling, Anna started yelling and William was still hiding under his blanket of protection crying.  After yelling back and forth, Mara stormed off.  I told her goodnight and to go to her room and go to bed.  It was 7:30PM.  Well, after about 20 minutes, I went to check on her to make sure that she had cooled down so we could talk and she was sound asleep, lights off and tucked in.  She had fallen asleep before I could talk to her and give her a hug.  It darn near ripped my heart out.  She fell asleep and the last thing I did was yell at her.  I broke one of our family rules! You don't go to bed angry.  Nothing good can come from it.  Well, just like usual, sleep cured the angry heart.  We talked it out and hugged this morning.  It felt better.  Well, kind of.

As a  mom, I HATE playing the bad guy and I feel like I have had to do that a lot lately.  My kids have been at each others throats and I find myself lost in the middle trying really hard not to take sides, lose my cool and just meltdown.  I have noticed that I yell a lot!  I mean, A LOT! I hesitate even admitting this, but it's true.  I wouldn't want to be around me...  who would?

My mind starting playing games with me as I laid awake in bed last night thinking of the evening.  One of the biggest things that I thought of was the influence that my children have once they step outside of our home.  Of course there is good.  But our children are growing up fast and everything around them is moving faster.  They are part of the information era.  Anything is available at the touch of a button.  Most of which is negative.  The last thing that my kids need is more negativity.  Our home should be a protection and safe haven from negative experiences.  I have been trying so hard to make sure that everything is perfect.  Perfect kids who speak perfectly to one another.  Perfect dinners, perfect home, perfect scripture study, perfect experiences for everyone, perfect clothes perfect paint on the walls.... you get the idea.  I have been trying so hard to make sure that everything is perfect that I lost sight of what I already is that way.  Perfectly wonderful kids who are perfect to me.  A wonderfully perfect husband who is there for me no matter what.  I perfect mess inside my non perfect home. A perfect gospel to raise my children with. Perfect knowledge of my Savior, who was perfect.  So perfect, that he knew I would not be... 

 

We have some new rules in our home, effective immediately. 

1.No yelling

2. Remember to breathe

3. Be yourself

4. Emotions are wonderful and should be expressed, but not in the form of yelling or hurting others. 

5. Love deeply

6.  Laugh a lot!

I am done with negativity and trying so hard to be what I am not.  I want my kids to know that I love them more that they can imagine and although our life is not perfect, our family is perfect and that to me is pure perfection.

Back to school and Aunt La...

My beautiful sister recently visited us from Louisiana.

We had so much fun having her here, but it made us realize how much we miss her and wish that we weren't separated from so much distance. We LOVE you, La!

The kiddos went back to school and I am sitting here wondering where summer went.  They were all so excited for their new year.  Mara is in 4th, William is in 2nd and Anna started kindergarten.

All I have to say is the house is insanely quiet and still haven't started working on the intense list of to do's that I have.  Oh well, someday right?

I still can't believe that my baby is old enough for kindergarten. I am so proud of all them.

Anna the artist...

My little Anna is an artist.  She loves to draw things to that make her feel happy. This picture below is something that she painted at artist camp this summer.  She also took party in an acting/ talent camp.  They did a small play, Matilda and a talent show.  She showed off her art work for her talent and did an amazing job in the play with 2 parts that she memorized and spoke with a perfect British accent. 

I have a feeling that this will not be her last time on stage! Way to go Annie!

This is her talent show artwork.