Laughter is the best medicine!

This is just going to be a collection of random quotes from the kids that Adam and I have found funny! Hope it gives you all a good laugh!

Ava: "Addie! Stop singing that song! It makes me nervous. That waiting on a woman song. It makes me nervous!"

I was telling Ava that Mommy was getting a new car and I was excited. To which she responds,
"Well I'm not exciting!"
Adam: "But Ava, you'll have more room for your babies."
Ava: "I WILL??? Then I AM exciting!"

Ava: "I don't like that colored icecream Mommy - it makes me nervous!"

We were getting the kids dressed for bed the other night and Alex came in with just his pajama pants on and no shirt...
"Can I sleep like this Mommy? Like real mans do?" (priceless)

Ava was giving her doll a ride on her bike when she fell off...(the doll, not Ava)
"Oh Shirley Curly are you ok? I'm so sorry." "Come on Shirley Curly we'll ride some more."

Ava: "Hey Mommy I just killed a butterfly."

Ava: "MOMMY! Turn it back to the crocAdiles eating the zebras!!!" (my kids love Animal Planet)

Ava: "When I grow up I wanna be a dinosaur!"

Alex: "Can I have a banana Mommy? The little ones that are just my size."

Over dinner tonight there was a discussion about eating the skin of the baked potatoes we were having. Adam was telling Ava that potato skins were good for your eyes and Ava took him a little too literally...
Ava: "Daddy you can not put that on you. I'm serlous!"

Ava has just learned that she can put a name to her feelings...So we hear...."I'm mad at you because..." ALOT. She and Alex got into a discussion about her broken chair yesterday...
Ava: "Alex you broke my chair I am SO mad at you!"
Alex: "I did not break your chair."
Ava: "Yes you did."
Mommy: "Actually Ava you broke it."
Ava: "Oh. I did?" Alex and I both nod in agreement.
Ava: "Well, then, I'm just so mad at myself!"

Ava: "Hang on, I'll help you Avalanche Boy!"

I'm sure I'll have more to add but this is all for now! :)

Face time

Adam and I recently had an epiphany. Perhaps other married couples are quicker to come to this conclusion. But for Adam & I it's taken 3 months. Now mind you, the last three months have been full of change. Newly married, graduating college, moving out of state, starting a new job...And in all the cacophony of life, we managed to lose the most important thing. US! Everyday I would wait impatiently for Adam to get home, and then we would both end up frustrated because once he arrived it was play with the kids, get dinner ready , clean up the house, bathe kids, get them in bed, clean up the kitchen, collapse exhausted on the couch, watch TV then drag off to bed to do it all over again the next day. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I was so frustrated with the way my days were going. And Adam was feeling it too. Then we finally realized what was missing. US. Our time together. Face time as we call it. We had resorted to watching TV together and calling it "our time" but we weren't really spending that time together. Sure we cuddled on the couch with each other, but that's not face time. And I was finding that more and more I was getting jealous of the kid's time with Adam, of the TV being on. I was jealous of the PlayStation!!! Because I felt like they were stealing MY time with Adam. As we talked about this I realized that he was just as frustrated as I was about the situation. So we came up with 'face time'. This is my time with Adam. This is Adam's time with me. No TV. No kids. Sometimes we take 15-30 minutes behind closed doors when he comes home from work. Sometimes that doesn't work. If that's the case, then after the kids go to bed, the TV goes off and we spend some time just talking. Catching up on each other's day. Bouncing ideas off each other and in general, just enjoying being in each other's company. My days are better now because I have my time with Adam. That time when I don't have to share him with anyone else. When I get to bask in his undivided attention. And I LOVE IT! It has brought us closer, it has eliminated that end of the day frustration and feeling of being let down. It has given me something that I look forward to all day because I can't wait for him to come home. Just knowing that he wants to have that time with me just as much as I want it with him makes me feel special and loved. And it's a wonderful feeling. Being a parent is a wonderful thing. It's also tiring and at times frustrating. I need my time with Adam to refocus, to hear his perspective on things, and to then be able to provide our children with a united front. We are a team, we are one. And when we're in sync with each other our days run smoother, our home is at peace, and I am at peace. Unity. It's a beautiful thing. If you don't have face time with your honey....get it. Make time for the two of you, you'll be glad you did. And I promise, you won't miss that TV/computer/book time you may have had before. Nothing is as great as being face to face with the one you love. Nothing!

Kisses & Kids

N-O spells No!

I have very recently discovered something amazing about myself! And you may want to sit down for this one if you're not already. I DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOLD NO! No really, stop laughing. I'm serious here. Let me just give you a few examples,..."No, I'm sorry Ma'am, we don't have that in your size." "No, I'm sorry, we're out of that...." "No, I didn't get your message." "No, I'm sorry but that won't be possible." "No Honey, we can't buy that now." "NO Mommy!" And the list goes on...and on...and...well you get the point.

You see no matter how you phrase it, or who delivers it, I DON'T LIKE IT! My reaction can range from annoyance & frustration to down right anger. Now perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that this discovery of...er, um...me isn't so startling and really not that new. You see I'm quite certain I've never liked to be told no. I didn't like it when my parents said no to me in my childhood, teens, or anytime for that matter. I didn't like it when my teachers said no, my friends, my husband and sometimes yes, even my children. It's harsh. But what really gets me is the fact that when I'm told no, it means I'm not getting my way. And you know what? I don't like it. I like to get my way. I want what I want, when I want it. On discovering this about myself, I was really pretty disappointed at how incredibly selfish I am. And I realize that it is human nature, but it's not something I want to see in me. And it's most definitely not something I want to cultivate, not in me, not in my children, not in my marriage.

There isn't going to be a time in life when being selfish will serve me well. Instead, if I let it, it will sour every relationship I have. From marriage, kids, friend & family...right down to the dog. Ok, so the dog is a slight exaggeration but you get the point.

1 Cor. 13 talks alot about love. It's patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, and here's the killer....does not seek it's own. Translation? Love isn't selfish. Ouch. So if I read that correctly, then I'm not really loving my husband when I put myself first. Wow. That's a little hard to swallow. When I'm really honest with myself, ahem, and now you, the bottom line is, it's easier to be selfish. I have to work ALOT harder to put myself last. To accept no gracefully, to acquiesce to other's wishes, wants, & desires over my own. And just so you know, I'm still struggling with this. It is a daily battle, sometimes it's an hourly battle, one I often lose. It's hard to put aside what I want. To accept no. And to do it with the right attitude. Sometimes as a mother I get really frustrated at the number of times I have to tell my kids no in a single day. No sugar, no jumping on the couch, no we can't play outside right now, no you can't hit your brother, no you can't have a snack before dinner...Why do I do it? Because I know what's best for my children. I know that what they want isn't always what's best for them. Interesting point. Perhaps it's safe to say that what I want, isn't always good for me. It's a humbling thought to realize that sometimes, my husband knows that something I want isn't good for me. Just as my parents knew. (all too often might I add). Selfishness is blinding. We are so focused on self, that we fail to see the danger in what we want. So I challenge you to open your eyes. Be honest and ask yourself, where is my focus?

Now for those of you who are honest enough to admit it, hang in there. Your relationships are worth the sacrifice to self. There is peace in giving true love, the kind of love that is patient, kind, not selfish. Love that endures, that is a reward in itself. So on the days when you're struggling with no, think on these things...
"No, ma'am, I'm not going to give you a ticket this time..."
"No, no one was hurt."
"No, Honey...don't cook...let's go out!" haha.
No, I'm not perfect, but I'm loved. And I want to love with the same passion, kindness, & selflessness in 1 Corinthians. I want to bear all things, believe all things and hope all things because love never fails even when I do.

Ever "had a day"?

Yeah....you know the days I'm talking about, my usually well behaved children got into a screaming match with each other this morning, resulting in the need to discipline them both. Fun. :( I used to hate when Mom would discipline us and say "this hurts me as much as it hurts you." Yeah...right. I know what she was talking about now. It makes my heart hurt to see my children displaying such bad behavior, and then to have to correct them, hear them cry, it makes me cry! So after getting that sorted out we had the enviable task of locating and going to the local DMV. I don't know about anyone else but I would pretty much rather get my teeth drilled on by the dentist than have to deal with the DMV, at any rate, (side note, I'd already called to make sure that I had everything ready.) So we head inside, after getting lost and spending twice as long getting there as we should have, having to stop for gas, we finally arrive in time to see the lunch crowd almost out the door. I hustle the kids inside and we get in the line and wait...and wait...and wait some more. Finally it's our turn, we get up there only to be informed that even though the car is to be titled in mine OR Adam's name, I still can't get the license plate without him. So, we leave. I am thoroughly frustrated at this point. I then managed to get lost getting to Target, finally find what I need there, get out, the kids are hungry - we find a McDonald's and rummage for some change for the dollar menu to get a snack. It's 90 degrees and I wore jeans, don't ask, I have no idea why?! At this point I'm seriously feeling sorry for myself. Finally we leave and head to the one highlight of the day, the Farmer's Market. We make it without getting lost, we get what we need for way less than I thought, and I throw a watermelon in for good measure. I then came home and made a homemade apple pie. Yummy! And that more than makes up for the 'day' I had. The watermelon wasn't half bad either. Sticky summer fun, with watermelon dribbles, the smell of apple pie and even though it started out in a less than desireable way, the day took a turn for the better.

So to all of you out there who have had a 'day'...I hope it gets better. It could be worse...you could be stuck at the DMV! :)

A Life, A Legacy, A Mom

This post is probably the most difficult for me to write but I feel it's necessary. A little over a year ago my Mom died of breast cancer after 5 long years of suffering. Now I don't want to immortalize her into a saint. She was no more perfect than the next person. But she was my Mother. Her laugh, her touch, she always knew what needed to be said even when I didn't want to hear it. She was my confidant, my listening ear, my shoulder to cry on, counselor, advisor, and best friend. No, it wasn't always that way. I remember plenty of times when she annoyed me, my skirt was too short, my make-up too heavy. I drove to fast, talked to loud. But she always loved me and no matter how angry I got with her, I always knew that. Even in her last days, as sick as she was, we all knew that Mom was hanging on to make sure that WE were going to be okay. She was a caretaker even on her deathbed. Telling her that it was okay to let go, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. With all that I am, I wanted to tell her to fight, to stay, not to leave me. I needed her then and even now, I still do. But it would have been incredibly selfish of me. And even on the days when the tears are just under the surface, or Ava says something funny that I know Mom would love, when I'm hurting, sad, or just want to hear her voice, I can be at peace knowing that she's dancing on the streets of gold, and she is free of pain.
She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, Mimi and friend. She was loved by all, knew no strangers, opened her home, her life and her heart to everyone. She was my Mom. And I am extremely proud to be called, her daughter.

This is how my garden grows!

How DOES your garden grow?

I just went to the farmer's market here, which is quite amazing, might I add. Ava is a big fan too. She loves to "gently" pick up the fruit, and sometimes accidentally drop it...She also loves to smell the flowers,...all of them. EVERY SINGLE FLOWER. There are ALOT of flowers...
Generally speaking it's fun. I love the amazing array of fruits and vegetables. The gorgeous flowers, and I'm in awe that people can actually grow these things! Boggles the mind. At least mine. Green thumb I do not have.

One thing I have come to realize lately is something that all too often I think hits people after marriage. We all tend to be in the mindset that dating is HARD work. So we think when we get married we can relax, let our hair down, make interesting bodily noises in front of our spouses, and just TAKE IT EASY. I got a news flash for you...dating was the easy part. Marriage is hard work and lots of it. Now don't get me wrong...it is well worth it. Think of it as a garden. You start by preparing the soil, (first comes love) then planting,(then comes marriage...) then a continual daily watch, watering, weeding, protecting your growing plants so they can flourish. But even as they grow stronger and bigger they still require care in order to become the best they can be. Just as with marriage relationships, they have to be tended on a daily basis, watched over with care so that no harm comes to them. We vigilently watch over our marriage guarding it against attacks from the outside, making sure that it has what it needs to grow and survive. I find that when I am not tending my marriage...the level of chaos in my life increases to an unbearable amount. Everything seems to fall apart because the foundation of our home is our marriage. When it's neglected, the weeds get high and it's hard to see the plants through all the weeds growing around them. Communications lines go down, hurt feelings rise, and the weeds get thicker until suddenly you can't see the plants anymore. Just recently I had to do some serious weeding in my garden. I had become so busy with, life, that I didn't take time to tend my garden. Weeding is often painful, but always necessary. And the end result, is a garden that is beautiful, enjoyable and bearing the fruit of love.

Okay...I'm finished with my garden analogy, although I thought it was relatively clever. I have been rather uninspired to write the last few days due to laziness or general lack of interest...happens when the weeds get thick...sorry. I couldn't resist. On a different note....raising kids is like baking the perfect biscuit...the right amount of dough....haha. I'm totally kidding. Somebody stop me I'm on a roll. Or is that biscuit. Ok, really, I'm stopping now.

I would like to say a huge Thank You to my sister Annie - for the awesome logo she made for my blog! Check her out at www.sisterwisdom.com She's wisdom and hilarity all rolled into one.