Year Four

February 5, 2015

My Beautiful Princess,

It is hard to believe you turned four last week. I am constantly amazed with the little person you have become. You are determined, kind, imaginative and funny.

Here is a little peek into what you LOVE right now.

Skirts and Tutu’s – You will not wear any sort of pants without the addition of a skirt. It is adorable and also a little frustrating (searching for the last clean skirt as we are running out the door).

Cheese – You are your mother’s child. You can’t get enough of this stuff.

Being Pushed on the Swing – You could do this for hours. You ask me to push you when I drop you off at school and when I pick you up. You are getting really good at doing it yourself. You go super-high!!

Taking Showers – I can’t even bribe you to take a bath right now (although I try). You love taking showers and you giggle and sing the whole time. It is super-adorable.

Walking next to the cart a the grocery store – You no longer want to ride in the cart (sniff). You are actually very helpful and you never run off (if it is just the two of us). If your brother is with us all bets are off and you have to ride (for sure).

Strawberry Milk – Who doesn’t?

Now to a few things you do NOT LOVE right now.

Hearing the word “No” – It is getting better but we definitely need to work on this one.

The dark – This is a big one right now. You are very fearful when the lights are out. That is why we have not one but 4 night lights strategically placed throughout the house to guide your way 😉

Leaving any party/visit/playdate, etc – Even when we prep hours before any event and let you know that we have to leave at a certain time, you seem to always melt down when it is time to go. I really can’t blame you, I don’t want the fun to end either.

Only being 4 – You wish you were as big as your brother. Trust me love bug, you will be there before we know it and I won’t know what to do.

Happy Birthday My Little Princess. Your Mommy and Daddy love you more than the sun, the moon and the universe.

To Resolve or Not to Resolve…

January 7, 2015

via

Happy 2015!

Long time no see! I take complete responsibility. I just realized that my last post was October 1st. Seriously? I would like to blame the lack of inspiration for my absence but to be honest once October hit, we were non-stop until January 2nd. I always say that once Halloween arrives, time passes in a blur and the next thing you know it is a new year. Well this time, it started on my birthday in mid-October and has been a complete time-warp to where we are today. Not to bore you with too many details but between Halloween, Thanksgiving, several birthdays, school parties and programs, not to mention all the social events of December our plate has been full. Work and life took over and my little blog suffered because of it. All is well now though and I want to hit the ground running in 2015 (even though it is already the 7th…)

I looked at my post from this time last year and it seemed a little vague in the way of resolutions for the new year. I know the jury is out for some people on the idea of New Year’s resolutions. I’ve seen annoyed Facebook posts by people who are already tired of resolutions in their feed. I’ve read articles on how setting resolutions in the New Year is a recipe for disappointment. I think I fall into a sort of middle ground on this (go figure). I think that the New Year is the perfect time to reflect on what has worked the past 12 months, what hasn’t and tweak things accordingly. It is also a perfect time to try to get to a healthy pace after a month (in my case 3) of overindulgence and a lax schedule. I also think being able to give yourself a chance to re-start every so often is good and gives you a little perspective.

I am all about supporting those who have resolved to better themselves in the upcoming year. I also understand that it is important for us to set reachable goals so that we aren’t disappointed come mid-February when we aren’t 3 sizes smaller, our houses completely organized and our kids reading 3 grades ahead. Baby steps party people.

So with that in mind I have decided to jump on the train and make some resolutions. Here are some of mine for the New Year. I am putting these here as a way for me to look back and see how well I have done and but not beat myself up in case things don’t go exactly as planned.

Get Healthy/Strong

When I mentioned having a full plate in December, I really meant it. My plate was full of everything all the time and I ate every.single.bit. That mixed with the constant change in schedule throughout the month (read: no gym) has left me feeling sluggish and all of my clothes feeling a bit too snug. No bueno. So I am back at the gym each day and using the My Fitness Pal app again to keep an eye on things. I also got a Fitbit for my birthday which I am really enjoying. Little Man asks me each day when I pick him up if I have reached my 10,000 steps. If I haven’t I try to take him and the Princess both on a walk to get to my goal.

I also want to go with Little Man to more of his Running Club meetings. These are fun for both of us. (Since this falls under the Healthy/Strong item I’m including it here).

I want to work on strength training again. It feels great to be able to lift my kids (and other heavy things). Seeing a little definition doesn’t hurt either. We will see how it goes.

Read More Books

I want to set a reading list and stick to it. I miss reading new books and need this back in my life. Do you have any book suggestions?

Be Patient

I talked about this before here. I am really working hard on this one. I want my kids to learn patience and I think the best way is through observing. I feel like the more patient I can be, the happier everyone will be. Everyone else happy=happy Mommy.

Travel

I want to take a couple of trips this year. Even if it is somewhere close, I just want the kids to be able to see and experience new locations. I enjoyed this when I was young and I know they will too.

Our Keys trip last year.

Work Hard on Growing our Business

Without really going into it too much this one is pretty self-explanatory. My husband and I own a business and I want 2015 to be a great year for us. I think with hard work and focus we can make it happen.

Blog Regularly

This goes without saying. October 1st? Sheesh.

Really Enjoy My People

This one is the most important to me. I want to focus on every little moment I have with the ones I love. Whether it be my husband, my kids, our families or friends, I want to make an effort to live in the moment. Be present with them and give them all of my attention when we are together. I run at about 100mph all the time and my mind is constantly multi-tasking. I want to turn that part off and just listen a little more. I am excited about this one.

So there they are, my resolutions. I am looking forward to what 2015 has in store for us.

How do you feel about New Year’s resolutions?

2014 Summer Bucket List

June 5, 2014

Today was the official last day of school for Little Man. I cannot believe he is done with kindergarten. I have been very emotional today so to take my mind off things I decided to jump on the Summer Bucket List bandwagon.

I keep seeing so many great ideas on Pinterest and all over the internet so I thought we would join in on the fun. Since I will still be working full-time, Little Man will be in camp for most of the summer, and The Princess will continue with daycare, our list will have things that can be done in the afternoons/evenings and on the weekends. I found this great printable.

I printed it out as a full-size photo on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and trimmed it a bit on the edges to fit in an 8×10 frame. I just used a dry erase marker right on the glass to write out our boxes and list.

Here are some highlights:

Make homemade ice cream

Go to the pool

Fish in the lake

Family Game Night

Eat outside

Clean rooms/playroom and donate toys

Dollar Movie

Little Man to read 6 Junie B Jones books

The Princess to practice writing her letters

Sidewalk chalk

Food Trucks for dinner

Beach

Breakfast for dinner

Mini golf

Feed ducks

Batting Cages

Ice skating

Outdoor movie or concert

Attend baseball game

Whew. This seems like a lot but I think we can do it! Little Man will be going on quite a few field trips during camp and The Princess has water day every Friday so there will be no shortage of fun things going on. Not to mention our family vacation to the Keys.

I look forward to a busy and exciting summer. Mainly to keep my mind off the fact that my oldest will be in first grade come August. Ugh.

What things are on your Summer Bucket List?

Teacher Appreciation

May 7, 2014

via

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate my sons teacher. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but having your first child start kindergarten is a real emotional journey. Don’t get me wrong, we had firsts prior to this. The first time with a babysitter, the first time at daycare (can you say emotional wreck?) but nothing really prepares you for that look your child gives you the first day of “Big Boy School” when you drop him off and you say goodbye and walk away, then look back. Luckily (or unluckily) for me my husband was the one who had to take Little Man the first day. It broke my heart when my husband described the “I’m very scared but going to be brave” look he gave. What I realize now, is that he didn’t need to be scared and neither did we. The amazing person standing on the other side of that door made the fear go away.

From day one she has taken 15 children and made them her family. I have been lucky enough to help in the classroom a couple of times and I do not know how she does it. She is the most patient, caring, inspiring person. I have two little ones saying “Mommy, mommy” to the extent that drives me a little crazy. She has 15 little ones saying her name on repeat for 6 hours a day! She never bats an eye. Each child’s request is just as important as the next.

She goes through each day molding these little minds. She challenges Little Man. Makes him do things he may not even know he is capable of. He just adores her. When I drop him off in the mornings, I see her car at the front of the parking lot which means she was one of the first teachers to arrive. She stays and sits out in the hot sun until the last of her car-riders leaves in the afternoon (which is well after dismissal). I’m sure she leaves even later than that most days! She sends me texts to let me know how he is doing. She sent a text before a play to let us know which section of the stage Little Man was going to be on so we would know where to sit. Just today she sent me this picture.

They incubated eggs and they hatched!

She goes above and beyond. I know she is not alone either. There are so many wonderful teachers out there, many are my friends and I just think the world of them.

So the point of all of this is that yes, this week we celebrate our teachers and let them know how much we appreciate them. What I want my sons teacher to know is that we don’t just appreciate her this week, we appreciate her every single day. I was so afraid to begin the elementary school journey. Thank goodness I had this wonderful person to help me with the transition.

Thank you to all the teachers out there. You are helping create wonderful little humans and you are so very much appreciated. Every.Single.Day.

Now I know what they mean by “Mom Taxi”

March 19, 2014

Spring Break is right around the corner, and I will be honest I am really looking forward to a week without after-school activities. Don’t get me wrong, I love that my son is interested in trying new things but it gets to be a real challenge when it comes to scheduling. I don’t understand how Mom’s of more than one child keep up with all the activities. Between homework (yes it is Kindergarten but still), Running Club, Tee Ball and Golf we are all over the place during the week. The Princess is now at the age where she wants to do things too and I seriously wonder how we will be able to do it. I have such an admiration for parents that have multiple kids in different sports/activities and seem to pull it off seamlessly. We are still fairly new to the “activity” game and I am learning every day. Time management is crucial and keeping to a schedule really helps. And as with most things, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are a couple of things that have worked for us so far.

Since we spend quite a bit of time in the vehicle going to and from all these events I decided I needed a “survival kit” for fussy kiddos. I always hear “Mommy, I’m STARVING!” so I decided to fill a small basket with snacks and mini waters for our little trips. Since everything we do tends to be within a 15 mile radius, we are never too far from a bathroom so I’m not too worried about the liquids. My kids drink like you would not believe so I have to be sure the car drinks are smaller so we aren’t having to make emergency pit stops.

I found these little bins at Target. They were on clearance for $3. They are perfect because they are a canvas-type material that is super-easy to clean. They are pretty too.

We also have a DVD player in the vehicle which is nice when the bickering gets to be too much to take. Did you know that a three-year-old and a six-year-old will go back and forth in an argument (“No it isn’t”. “Yes it is”.) no less than 736 times? Sometimes my “Please stop” just doesn’t cut it. I call on reinforcements in the form of Yo Gabba Gabba DVD’s. I know the phones, iPad’s etc. are good too, but my kids seem to fight over these as well. I think just being in a vehicle makes them combative. So thank you DJ Lance for your help with this.

I have also learned that you must be prepared for baseball fields. Just grabbing my purse that I’ve tossed a couple snacks in does not work. I take a separate bag (that I don’t mind getting dirty) with all the essentials. The Essentials=keeping a three-year-old entertained at a Tee Ball game.

I put snacks, little toys and her Leap Pad in here because apparently watching five and six year olds hit balls, run crazily and otherwise stress out their three grown coaches is just not entertainment to a three-year-old. I’ve also learned not to pack too many liquids for said three-year-old. When I do, I will inevitably hear “Mommy, I’ve gotta go to the bathroom”, RIGHT as Little Man is about to step up to bat. Did I mention that the bathroom is 1/4 mile away from the Tee Ball fields? We are averaging 2.5 trips per game. So no more drinks until after the second inning.

As I mentioned we are still learning but I feel like we are getting better at being prepared. Something as amall as planning ahead can make all the difference.

How do you better manage all the “activities” in your family? Any tips or suggestions?

Meal Planning

March 4, 2014

I have been trying really hard to keep with a meal plan every week for our weeknight dinners. It not only helps us stay on track health-wise but also budget-wise. I was making my list and grocery shopping on Sunday’s but it actually takes a good chunk of time and honestly I would rather spend a full free day hanging with my family, not pouring over the internet looking for recipes and spending an hour at the grocery store. So I have started planning and shopping on Monday and I will say it is working a lot better. That way I can shop solo which is always a little easier and a LOT quicker. I have this dry erase sticker that we keep on the fridge. That way everyone knows what the plan is. But mainly it is so I stay on track.

I am really really trying to get to a point where the whole family eats the same thing. While my daughter is pretty game for just about any food, my son is super-picky. I always say that for being the child of parents who will eat (or at least try) ANYTHING, we created the pickiest eater. He is definitely a “kid food” type. But I’ve found that the more he helps me cook, the more new things he is willing to try. I think being part of the process really interests him. So, for now we have two meal plans, one for us and one for the kids. But I hope to change that soon.

Here is what our plan looks like this week.

Monday

Us- Taco Salads. Ground beef sautéed with coconut oil, a strawberry onion (picked two up at a farm stand after we left the Strawberry Festival. These are so good), 2 zucchini and the following spices, chili powder, cumin, chipotle chili powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Topped with mashed avocado, tomatoes and hot sauce. I added some cottage cheese to mine.

Kids- Chicken nuggets, 365 Organic Shells and Cheese, frozen corn, whole wheat King’s Hawaiian rolls, strawberries for the Princess and grapes for Little Man.

Tuesday

Eating out. Dinner with Little Man’s Tee Ball team

Wednesday

Us-Crockpot Pork Roast. I will normally put a 2lb roast in the crock pot with an onion, a couple cloves of garlic, chicken stock, onion powder, salt and pepper. I keep the seasonings pretty basic because we normally spread this out over two days. We will eat this with roasted veggies. I normally roast broccoli, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes all at the same time.

Kids- Grilled Cheese on Whole Wheat King’s Hawaiian Rolls. Frozen corn and pineapple to go with.

Thursday

Us- This is a Tee Ball game night. Convenience is key so we aren’t tempted to just eat out after. Leftover pork will turn into carnitas bowls. I re-heat the pork and then eat over broccoli slaw (normally I would use brown rice but I’m really trying this week to stay away from rice at dinnertime) and top with all sorts of stuff. Salsa, avocado (more than likely leftover roasted veggies too), fat free greek yogurt (for me), tomatoes, cucumbers and lots of hot sauce.

Kids-Little Man will probably have a cheese stick and peanut butter and jelly sandwich before the game. The Princess will snack at the game and then when we get home they will have homemade pizzas on pita with strawberries/pineapple and broccoli “trees”.

Friday

This is the day we normally play it by ear. Little Man has golf lessons that last late so when we grab him he is normally starving. We may have leftovers or take out. Friday’s are always a toss-up and that is fine with me as long as we stuck to the plan for the beginning portion of the week for the most part 😉

I really want to try eat a little better during the week so I don’t feel so bad indulging in this on the weekend.

It is all about goals right?

What is your meal planning process? Any tips or tricks that work for you?

Happy Harper Day!

February 26, 2014

Yesterday, my sweet sweet boy, we celebrated your sixth year! Everyone you meet loves you and we do too!

Here are the things you really like right now.

Playing Disney Infinity
Asking LOTS and LOTS of questions. You want to know so much about everything and I love it! It is amazing how your brain works.
Reading. You are reading chapter books now and are so good at it. I still cannot believe you can read to me. You are so smart.
Fried shrimp. This one amazes me because you are very picky otherwise. But I love that you are trying new things.
Tee Ball. You hit and catch really well and I am so proud of you every time I watch.
You’ve just started golf lessons and you really like them.
Helping. You are such a great helper and are always willing to lend a hand.

Things you are not really into right now.

Being patience with your sister.
Eating any veggie other than green peas and broccoli. You also really don’t like to try too many new things.
Anything too scary. You still come visit me in the night when you have a nightmare (I am hoping you keep doing this as I don’t know what I will do when you are too old to need your Mommy).

You truly inspire us every day and it is wonderful to see the world through your eyes. We love you more than the sun, the moon and the universe.

It’s a Virtue

February 11, 2014

(via)

I used to watch John and Kate Plus 8. Not regularly, but if I came across it, I wouldn’t change the channel. I remember a particular episode where Kate was losing her patience-a lot. She was yelling-a lot. No judgy-mcjudgerson here, I mean seriously, she has EIGHT children. In the episode, the six little ones were just wobbling around. I can’t even. Holy-freakin-diapers! I didn’t have kids at the time but I could still understand how difficult it must be to take care of all those little ones. I just think it says something that my main takeaway from the episode was the severity of her frustration. Like she was going to implode.

I have never been patient. Never. I tend to move at one speed at all times-Mach 20. Anything that pumps the breaks on my momentum tends to feel the wrath. I figured that once I gave birth the patience gene would appear. I figured it was a chemical change that happens in your body once you become a mother. I mean, once you have a baby you HAVE to have patience right? Nah su much.

Recently, I find myself sounding like Kate-a lot. Losing my patience and becoming frustrated at these two little humans that are just trying to figure it all out. I try to get out of the house and my three year old says “I do it MYSELF” at least a dozen times. Which means when I look at her before leaving I see, her shirt on backwards, toothpaste all over her cheek, yogurt on her pants and her shoes on the wrong feet. Totally adorable, but the only thing on my mind is how late I will be now that I have to “fix” all these things. In that moment I should be recognizing the look of pride in her eyes because to her, she DID do it all herself. But all she hears are the groans and sighs and all she sees is the look of annoyance in my eyes. I hate to think what that does to her.

If my son wants to help in the kitchen, and I get frustrated because the egg shells are in the mix and the flour has gotten all over the floor that I just cleaned. I should be excited that he wants to help as he is such a picky eater that this may be the only way I can get him to try new things and be as excited about food as I am.

These moments will be gone in a flash. Does it really matter that I am going to be off my schedule by the 10 minutes it will take to help her? Will it kill me to fish out the eggshells and clean the floor again? Absolutely. Not. So…in staying with my resolution of trying to better myself, I MUST MUST MUST be more present and calm. I have got to find joy in these little moments. Take pleasure in the fact that this sweet little girl is going to be independent and determined and my support will help her do that. Remember how great it is that this amazing little boy is going to be interested, helpful, smart and caring and how I react to his engagement in different activities will help him grow.

I would hate for my kids to look back at their childhood and think Mommy was always so mad or frustrated. I want them to think of these times as happy ones. I want them to remember the expression on my face as smiling, not frowning. Because this is definitely the happiest time of my life and they are the reason.

Here are a few things from the internet I found that really hit home for me on this topic.

I like this Mom’s advice.

I am seriously thinking of this. I’ve been wanting to try for a while.

This post makes my heart stop a little. I can totally relate.

Have you had luck in becoming more patient in motherhood? I need details!