Writers Workshop- I'm Going Kayaking!!

That's right. This Memorial Day Weekend I am going with my two daughters to go kayaking. Now before you go and think I am some big explorer that takes her children on wonderful, daring adventures, let me just tell you, I am not. My big weekend adventure usually consists of which load of laundry to start with first. I have never been kayaking in my whole life. In addition, the riskiest thing I have done in my life in the last 10 years was have children!

So, why I have I decided to go paddling out in the ocean in a little boat with my two daughters now? Well....I really don't know. Other than deep down inside I am secretly an adventurer who never got to go on adventures and an opportunity arose and I'm taking it and I'm dragging my kids along with me. Don't worry, they won't be in any danger. If I even see one whitecap I'm keeping my feet on dry land. Of course, I'm slightly nervous as I'm listening to my friend explain that you have to watch the tide tables and wait for the best time when the current is not so fast (why?...so, you don't get swept out to sea? I wonder). The people I am going with assure me that everything will be fine and it is completely safe.

I'm excited, but then the other night I saw a commercial promoting tourism for Canada. Has anyone else seen this? It is video footage and at first all you see is what appears to be the front of a... kayak and something jumping in and out of the water. Yeah, my interest was peaked. You can't quite figure out what the heck it is until all of a sudden out jumps a seal which lands on the front of this kayak. Of course, the person taping it thought it was really cool and that's the whole point...then it says something like, Canada, A Great Place to Be or some crazy thing. I didn't actually get the catchy little "come see Canada" phrase because I was still contemplating the fact that a freakin' seal could JUMP onto a kayak. Let me just say I don't think I will be near as happy as the idiot on the commercial if that happens to me this weekend. However, all jumping seals aside, I think (I hope) we will have a good time and this will be a great experience for the girls.


For more Writers Workshop go visit Mama Kat

My Little Potty Mouth...Doin' Mama Proud

Amy is going to kill me for this one because I am going to use her not so favorite word. However, after our long catch up conversation I decided that this story was blog worthy. My daughter. Oh, I'm telling ya' you should see this sweet little girl of mine. Cute as a button. Yes, I know, I'm her mother and of course I would say that. You should see her though. The fair complexion, big blue eyes, long curly brown hair, even a dimple. Then, she starts talking. If you've been keeping up you will know that she's the one that has said such charming things as "what the HELL?", and "EWW, mommy you smell like poop!". She has also been know to throw out a few "damn its" when she falls, or drops something. I think this is a phase, or maybe mommy needs to watch her mouth. In my defense, the other two kids never talked like this.

Anyway, back to my story. We were at a little get together in a building that only has one ladies bathroom and one guys bathroom. My little darling informed me she needed to go potty. We get in there and I think okay this should be quick. Oh no, she tells me she is going poop. GREAT!! I might as well pull up a chair and sit a while because my daughter poops like a guy. She takes her time, she hums, whistles, sings a little song to herself, lays back, lays forward, props her head on her lap with her hand, you name it. I'd give her a magazine if she could read. One time, I timed her and she spent 15, I'll repeat 15 minutes in the bathroom doing her business. So, I can hear people lining up outside waiting to use the bathroom. There's knocking on the door. I tell Her Royal Highness it's time to get off the throne. She says she's not done yet and I say too bad. I get her off, pants on, hands washed, and the whole time she is scowling at me. There are about 4 ladies waiting as we head out of the bathroom. She walks out in a huff with her hands on her hips and says, "But mom, I wasn't done going POOP!!" The ladies were at least kind enough to look down at the floor and pretend they hadn't just heard that. I know I pretended I hadn't as we breezed by. This has got to be a phase.


Don't be fooled by her girlie-girl exterior, inside she has the manners of a frat boy. She'll be crushing beer cans on her head in no time. This gal is made with sugar and a whole lot 'o SPICE!!

Wordful Wednesday: Princess Sleep

Don't you wish you could sleep this good? I do!  They just look so peaceful and oh so comfortable.  I

I don't know why I don't sleep this good. Oh wait, could it be that the three princesses are sleeping this good so therefore the two occupants that should be in that bed finally gave up and got up! Yes I think that would be the reason why I and the Hubs don't sleep as well as these little ones who finally awoke about 8:30. Nice, huh! If only we all had a bed that was 3 times our size that we could sink into and have sweet dreams? We would all sleep that good. The Hubs and I were actually in there too if you can imagine that! I think we must have each had the two inches on each side. I am not sure how we even stayed on! Maybe that is why we got up. 

Speaking of dreams. I had one last night that I was being chased by a pack of lions! Any idea what that means?

Be sure to check out Lady Di's very cute Wordful Wednesday - click here. You don't want to miss it. It will make you smile - I promise.

For other Wordful Wednesdays or to participate go visit Angie:

I Knew He Was Up To Something

This is my first Wordful Wednesday. My son stays with me in my classroom after school instead of going to a babysitter. It's cheaper, however, he can drive me crazy at times because I do have work to do, prepping for my lessons. My son LOVES to mess with the overhead projector and I can always tell if he has because of the tell-tale "overhead hands" he gets. The ink from the vis-a-vis markers gets all over his hands. The other day I left him alone while I made copies. When I came back he was sitting, doing his homework, and I noticed "the hands". I asked, "So, you weren't writing on the overhead while I was gone, were you?" He said with a very guilty grin, "Oh, no mom, no. I was doing my homework." He kind of giggled. He knew I knew better, but I didn't get up to check, I just helped him finish his homework then we left to go home. The next morning I came into my room and when I went to the overhead I found what my son had be doing while he was left alone the day before. It was a very pleasant surprise. He can be so sweet when he is not being obnoxious. Nah, I'm just kidding!! He really is a sweet little fella as evident by the note.

**Oh, almost forgot I would usually not get a picture of such a thing as this however, I just happened to have my camera on me because I was taking pictures of my classroom. Teachers do strange things like that so that we can remember how we put our rooms together and so forth. Anyway, I thought this was cute and very much a reflection of Liam's sweet nature.

Click here to view Amy's Wordful Wednesday and for others go visit Angie at Seven Clown Circus

A Mom I Have Never Met

I have mixed feelings about this tribute, but I feel like I have to let this out. I have never actually met the person this tribute is about. However, after only reading her blog I feel the need to express my deepest sympathy first of all for her situation, but then I wish to express my admiration of her strength, and appreciation of what she is doing and what she has done. I know she may not feel strong right now. In fact, her world has been shattered into a million pieces, and I know there is nothing I can write that will make it better for her. Yet, maybe one day as the pieces of her life start to come together she will understand the impact her and her families’ story had on so many people. I know it had a profound impact on me.

It was a busy week for me and my family. You know, the not home until 10 o’clock at night kind of busy week. I was super tired and only out of sheer curiosity did I check some blogs. I was on my lap top and I don’t know why but sometimes my touchpad gets ultra sensitive and it automatically clicks on stuff even if I haven’t actually tapped it with my finger. So, I was swiveling my finger on the touchpad going down the sidebar of someone’s blog and BAM it did it. It did that automatic “click on something” thing it does. I found myself on another blogsite called The Spohrs Are Multiplying. I am sure many of you have seen this. I immediately recognized it because my blogging friend Amy had done a post to promote the March of Dimes in honor of their daughter Maddie who passed away suddenly in April. She was 18 months old and beautiful (of course all babies are beautiful). She looked like a little fairy. So, I was aware of the situation and Amy had told me that she had been to their site and was very much moved.

Well, it was late and I should have just gone to bed, but I stayed awake and I read…and read. Two hours and a box of Kleenex later I had finished reading and was feeling a mix of many emotions. I started of course with the most recent entry and went backwards. Further and further I went back into their lives. Heather did an excellent job of documenting everything her little girl did. So many stories I could relate to as a mom. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child, but because of Heather’s openness to share I can understand some of things that she misses the most that perhaps we take for granted. In one post she wrote about the fact that she doesn’t remember ever kissing her daughter’s knees. Even though I have not felt the pain of losing a child I immediately understood the pain she was in. As a mom, when you have your new baby you feel you can practically just devour them, with their soft skin, and that smell. You just cover their soft little pink bodies with kisses from head to toe. Yet, do you really soak it all in? Do you know you got every part? After reading, Heather’s post I suddenly thought, “Have I kissed my baby’s knees?”

Whether she knows it or not, Heather Spohr is a strong person. Even if there are mornings she doesn’t want to get out of bed…she is a strong person. She loves her daughter and keeps her spirit alive by telling her story. Her story has definitely touched many people’s lives. I know she would rather not be the strong grieving mother. I know she would rather be the fun loving mother taking her daughter to the park today. However, for reasons that I certainly can’t explain Maddie is in God’s hands now. I dedicate this tribute to you, Heather Spohr and all the mothers that have lost a child. You have to endure the hardest pain there is. My words may bring little comfort right now, but know that Maddie’s life has reached many because of you.

When I was done reading Heather’s blog that night, I turned off my computer. My 3 yr. old daughter was sleeping in bed with me (again). I have been taking her up to her own room (trying to get her to sleep in her “big girl” bed), but not that night. No, that night I left her where she slept right next to me. I listen carefully to her soft breaths, I looked at the silhouette of her tiny face in the dark, I touched her soft curls, and I kissed her knees.

For more Tributes or to participate, visit http://angiescircus.blogspot.com/

To donate in honor of Maddie to the March of Dimes click here.

You Know You Have Mama Drama When...

**It was fair week last week. My step-daughter showed a pig (hence the shaving the pig on Mother's Day). We were very busy the last three days this week. That is why I was MIA. Well, I'm back. I'm a little fried this morning, but I did my best with the Mama Drama this Monday.

1. After being checked by the security guy with a metal detector at the entrance to the local fair your son asks why did the man just do that and you say, "Oh, he is just looking for dangerous stuff" and your son says, "Yeah, making sure people don't bring in things like burning cigarettes so they don't burn the fair down, huh?" FYI I don't smoke he just says random stuff like that all the time! Anyway my point is that I just say, " Yes." to such a random comment because I don't want to tell him, "No son, what they are really looking for are the guns and knifes that some of these gangsters may bring in to retaliate for last weeks shooting that killed 4 kids". I'll just keep my son in that innocent little bubble I have him in a bit longer, thanks.

2. The night before show day you have to call everyone you know to find a pair of white pants (part of the uniform) because your eldest daughter, who has been doing her own laundry for two years all of a sudden forgot that you can't wash white pants with a red sweater, tie dye shirt, bright blue t-shirt, and just about every other COLORED shirt she could possibly wash with her WHITE pants.

3. You are so tired and hot at the fair that when you you finally get to the hospitality room with two hot, tired, hungry, kids, you down two margaritas like they were little cups of kool-aid, then go get snacks and water for the kids. Hey...don't judge, if mama goes down first, we all go down.

4. You consider sabotaging your husbands truck so he can not abandon you again with all the kids at the fair. Okay...so, he was going back and forth to work, not exactly abandonment, but in my defense it sure did take a long time for him to check those freakin' potato fields. I mean really they're not going anywhere!!!

And Finally...

5. You are finally home, hot, exhausted, been around animals, dirt, and shavings all day. Your whole body is achy and you feel the layer of dirt on your skin, and you know you need to get in the shower, but you just want to sit for one second, and here comes that sweet little girl of yours. She sits in your lap and starts to suck her thumb and rub YOUR ear. You think, "ahh, oh sweet, my little girl taking a moment with me.". Then she stops rubbing your ear, pulls her thumb out of her mouth and sniffs me and says, "EWW, Mommy you smell like poop." Thanks honey, until you said that I didn't know that, thanks.

What are your indicators of Mama Drama? Please share, I know I 'm not the only one out there with it!!!

Weather, Bugs, and Fevers

What do bugs, fevers and the weather have in common? Nothing really. Well I guess if you consider that when the weather warms up here in the Southwest the bugs come out in full force but the fever doesn't fit into that equation.  However they are all a part of my life (my drama) so that makes them related in some way.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes yesterday.  I wish it was me that has the fever but it isn't that would be the Middle Princess who woke up with a 102.3 fever Friday morning.  We don't do high fevers much around here (in fact the only time we use Tylenol is for leg cramps and teething).  So off went the hubs to the store for some Tylenol, which worked until Friday night when it spiked again (did I mention the hubs was leaving town for the weekend, I have no neighbors, and the hospital is 80 miles away). I called the Doctor, broke out my arsenal of essential oils and dusted of the Motrin and went to work.  The Motrin came right back up, lovely.  The oils worked immediately and it broke.  Yay!

In the meantime the Hubs' plane was delayed and ultimately ruined his trip so he came home. Good thing because Saturday was dance recital day and since the Middle Princess was still feverish- off went the Oldest Princess and I leaving the others with the Hubs.  I prolonged the morning hoping and praying the fever would magically disappear but it didn't and the Middle Princess missed her first recital.  I and she were so sad.

The recital went great and then it was back home for us.  On the way home we hit some freak rain storm.  I almost pulled over!  The lightening was actually purple and the cloud was a little frightening.  The wind was crazy and the drops of rain were huge.  I called the hubs to see if Arizona ever had tornado's. He laughed! I get that a lot.

We finally got home and watched Tales of Despereaux - a little creepy but good. No - just creepy and off to bed we went.  Here is where the bug enters the story.  There I am sleeping peacefully - dreaming when I wake up feeling something tickling my stomach.  I in my half sleep state realize it is not something I want on my stomach and as it is crawling roll it with my arm and actually feel is POP! YUCK! I throw it off the bed and immediately get up flip the light and can't find it.  What is it? I am freaking out: Was it a spider? Did it bite me? Why am i so itchy and red? I am going to die? Did it crawl/bite the Middle Princess who is sleeping with us? I am a bit dramatic I know - but that is me. I check the MP and she is completely annoyed by this interruption in which I realize she was not bothered by the bug but does have a fever again. Lovely.  Get the Tylenol but do not go back to sleep for what seems like hours because I have a severe case of the heebie jeebies!

 

Because I am convinced this is the bug that was in my bed:

or

Would you sleep?

Six Word Saturday: Annoyed

The FEVER has ruined our day!

To play along visit Cate @ Show My Face

Running behind - Yep that's me!

Amy's Friday Five: This is where I share with you the 5 things I have learned this week and you just might learn a little something about me at the same time.

I am late today b/c I was out late with dance recitals and then woke up with a sick kid and a really messy house this morning. 

Five things I have learned this week:

1.  I love love love chopped salads from BJ's Brewery.  Good thing I live in the middle of no where, no where close to a BJ's because although it is a salad I am sure they are not the healthy type.

2.  When I a am missing tupperware, kitchen utensils, and pans from my cupboards I should remember to look in the backyard because that is where they are sure to be. Covered in mud and dirt but at least I know I wasn't crazy after all.

3.  When I need Tylenol the most I'm sure to be out. { If you have read my posts you know I live in the middle of nowhere and a trip to the store and back takes two hours.}  You would think I would be prepared for such situation - I thought I was until this morning where apparently the three bottles of children's tylenol I thought I had were completely empty (who puts empty bottles back in the cupboard? What is up with that?). I am blaming the hubs  (love ya! babe)- actually I am taking his word that they are out and have not actually looked myself . Maybe I should..........................Nope he would be correct.  I did find some Infant Tylenol so we area not completely out.

4.  Fresh cut grass is like getting a new haircut. I love it! It just looks so good! I'm strange - I know.

5.  I should pack my whole cupboard of snacks (instead of a small bag) when going to the next dance rehearsal. That and feed my girls a huge lunch instead of peanut butter roll-ups and cheese quesadillas as we run out the door.  In my defense I wasn't planning on being at the theatre from 4pm to 8:30pm. Good times! HUNGRY children are NOT HAPPY children!

There you have it - 5 things I have learned this week.  Because there is always always something to be learned.  What did you learn this week?

Writers Workshop: Trying a Different Way

It's that time again. Time for Mama Kat's Workshop. Go here for the prompts. I picked #2. It might not be that long because I had truly planned on getting this done and then going to bed early but here it is 10:20 and I am just getting started because my internet connection had other ideas. Even as I write this I see the message at the bottom could not contact Blogger.com Saving and publishing may fail.  Gerrrr! Which means I will be up for awhile..........

2) Tomorrow I will do it differently. Here's how.......

Tomorrow when my 3 1/2 year old (the middle one, I am thinking about calling her JT for Just Trouble) gets the soap for the umpteenth time from the bathroom and spreads it on the foot stool, a stuffed animal, her baby sister, really anything she thinks needs, I don't know, washing maybe.  I will not get completely irritated and raise my voice. Instead I will bend down to her level and I will give her a hug and tell her I love her and I REALLY want her to try to listen to what Mommy says. Because getting angry is not working with her and even though the reasoning thing  has never worked before I am going to use the power of positive thinking and hope that my calm reaction will reach her.

Tomorrow when that same 3 1/2 year old takes all the tupperware out of my cupboard to her room (while I am teaching my Oldest across the house) and opens her baby sisters soy milk and decides to empty it into above mentioned tupperware resulting in major spillage of milk onto my carpet (mainly by her baby sister who happens to be in there and is thinking that this is great fun).  I will not overreact instead I will be patient, clean up the mess and again kneel down and give my little determined, stubborn, hard headed child a kiss and tell her I love her and ask her to work really hard to try and not to make such messes.

Tomorrow when I walk into her room expecting my two little girls to be playing together to see again that same 3 1/2 year old trying to be Mommy and changing her baby sisters diaper using diaper cream and notice that it is all over her, her baby sister, and the carpet that I have already cleaned once. I will not put her in the naughty chair, I will not get upset. Instead I will kneel down give her a kiss, and tell her that although I appreciate her help  Mommy should take care of the diaper changing because that is my job and if she wants to help than Mommy will let her fasten the diaper.

and tomorrow when I walk into my kitchen (after I realize its much to quiet and she has to be into something perhaps some more soap)  just to find that little rambunctious, strong - willed  3 1/2 year old lying on my kitchen rug sound asleep I will carry her into her bedroom, lie her on her bed, lay down beside her, wrap my arms around her and thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such a beautiful, loving, caring, incredibly adorable, super silly, truly sweet little girl who will teach me many things but above all -  patience.  That is one thing I won't do differently!

To read more responses or to take part in Writers Workshop visit Mama Kat: