New Year's Resolutions

In the past I have made the same resolutions for the upcoming year: "Lose some weight, eat more vegetables, start exercising more", but where has that gotten me? Overweight because I get depressed over not eating more vegetables and not having the motivation to excercise. Year after year the vicious cycle runs. This year I reslove to make different resolutions. I have decided to spend more time with my friends. Yes, I do belong to a MOMS Club, but I very rarely get to attend most activities because of the times they are held. I enjoy the activities I attend, and I need to make an effort to attend more of them, BUT I also need to make the effort to call friends up and have them over for playdates and cocktails (or to go OUT for the cocktails). I find I am a happier person and a more patient Mom, if I spend time outside of MOMS Club events exploring my own interests. So that is how I am going to start 2008!

Let it Snow!

WOW! Today is the first day of December, and how fitting is it that our first HUGE snow storm of the year started today? We have many inches (don't know an exact stat), and it keeps falling! If I ever get dressed today, maybe I will get a picture on here. I was going to head out to the grocery store this morning, but the snow isn't letting up. This is one morning I especially wish I had a Starbucks in my kitchen! Let's hope it stops soon...AND that it will start up again Christmas Eve, so we can have a white Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to give a "shout out" to my friend Katie who is hosting her first Thanksgiving this year. Good Luck getting everything together, and good luck with having your family (9 extra people) stay with you! (If you have to sneak a shot or two of vodka to help keep you sane, we'll all understand!) (I'm so glad my house isn't big enough to host Thanksgiving dinner...I'd even more of a wreck right now than I already am!)

Tradition

Now that October is over, I have started thinking about Thanksgiving. (Novel idea huh, thinking about the Holiday IN THE MONTH the holiday occurs...WOW! Wish retailers would follow my example!) My sister and I started talking about Thanksgiving dinner, and who should provide which dishes (it is the year we all spend it with my parents/family) and it got me wondering about my friend's traditions. In the last few years, my Dad started Deep Frying the turkey. My hubby and Dad (sometimes my brother) stand around the turkey fryer in the backyard, holding a beer or two or three (my brother sans beer), while the women try to get the rest of the meal ready at the same time or even before the turkey is done. How fair is that? The turkey of course is cooked to perfection, AND we don't have to run to the neighbors to cook the rolls or dressing. But it never fails....the women are rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off (I know cliche, but I haven't had my caffeine yet this morning) and the men get to stand around "watching to make sure the turkey doesn't start on fire". Now I ask you "How many men does it take to make sure a turkey doesn't burn??" in our case "Four, 1 to actually watch the turkey (my firefighter brother) and 3 others to tell him how to watch it".

So now it is your turn...let me know what your Thanksgiving traditions are!

"Friends"

OK, so I need a bit of advice, or I guess I'd like to hear your views/experiences on something that is hard to do. My family and I have some friends that have been friends for a long time. It started out with our hubbies working together. Once we started having kids we all became friends, and would hang out occasionally, and see each other at company functions. We would even send birthday/Christmas gifts through our husbands to each other/kids etc. I even joined the wife's book club, since we have a love of reading in common. Since May of 2006 the guys haven't worked together, but they keep in touch. Since earlier this month, I don't attend the book club anymore. I actually can't stand the wife anymore, she talks tooo much about her bratty kids and how "cute" their antics are, AND she is not the kind of parent I strive to be (I actually reprimand MY kids when they run amok in other people's homes). I think my change in attitude is me finally becoming more aware of what I like and do not like in a friend. AND I am finally starting to make friends on my own (without having to use hubby's "work" as a starting ground). How do I "break-up" with them? I don't mind if my hubby stays in touch with her hubby, I just don't want to hang out with them ever again (with or without the kids)! I am getting sick of having to send gifts for B-Days, and having to come up with something for Christmas. AND it is getting expensive. Do I finish out the year with the same type of gifts I always buy (I DO want to be fair, don't I?), and then start next year anew, with just cards for B-Days and Christmas? (there is only 1 b-day then Christmas left this year) OR do I just cut off ties completely? They are the only non-family people we don't see on a regular basis that we have this "tradition" with. I don't want to hurt feelings, I just want to be done with it. So any advice you have, I would be grateful for.

Halloween

Halloween is usually one of my favorite holidays. This year, I just can't get into it! Normally on or around October 1st we have "Opened Halloween" (my son's phrase) by getting all of my decorations out and making sure the huge spider/spiderweb in the front window is just perfect. I really don't want to do it this year. I'm not sure if it is because it is soo much trouble to get it all out, or if I just want to prolong fall as long as possible. I'm so NOT ready for winter. And I think if I trick myself into thinking Halloween is NOT just around the corner, winter won't be either!

Missing Girl Found

Today they found Kamberlie. She fell into the murky waters of Lake Powell and drowned. I hope I never have to even imagine what it is like to have something like that happen to one of my children. My heart goes out to the Binks family, and my thoughts are with them as they grieve for such an adorable little girl.

Missing Little Girl

There is a little girl from South Jordan that is presumed drowned in Lake Powell over the last few days. I hadn't heard anything about it until this morning, when the news reported specifics about the little girl's family. I recognized her name immediately, and instantly started to cry. Little 3 year old Kamberlie Binks and her mom and brothers belong to the same MOMS Club Chapter I do. I have met them only a few times, but was hoping to see and meet the family more often. Please pray, send good thoughts, meditate (or whatever you do) to the family dealing with this horrible, tragic loss. And as a friend of mine said in an eariler email "hug your little ones close".

My Kids

OK...so I thought it was about time to share some pics of my kids. Aren't they cute? :) It took a lot of poking and prodding and bribing to get my son to wear a shirt that "matched" his sisters, as well as to actually let me take the pictures (he is sooo his father's son). Hope you enjoy.....these may be the only pics I put on here since it is such a process to take them!

Both kids sitting quietly (for once)

His favorite face for pictures

Isn't she precious?

Mama Bear

My friend sent this to me in an email, and when I read it I agreed wholeheartedly....except for the part about the cubs being partially grown. I love (and often miss) the newborn baby stage where all your little one wants to do is sleep on, next to, or near you!

Ahhhh! Two hours to myself!

So Friday was the first day of the weekly babysitting. It was so relaxing! I didn't even get everything done I wanted to! I went to the Quilted Bear, and just looked around FOR TWO HOURS! I know that place is big, and I know I never finish looking at everything before the kids get bored, but I didn't realize it would take up my whole time! I started out not having anything to occupy my childless time, but have since come up with a few things that will help me remember my name isn't Mom....I just hope I will keep this going for long enough to "find myself" but still be able to remember what my true role in life is...motherhood.

"Trying" part 2

Here's what I've decided to do....I have asked a couple of friends (12 year olds) to watch my kids for a few hours every Friday afternoon. I made the decision to have a standing babysitting appointment with them so I can go do whatever I want, just for me. The problem is....what do I do during that time? I can go get a pedicure....but wait, have to pay the babysitters. I could go get a coffee and sit and read....but wait, have to pay the babysitters. A bit of a dilema. Maybe I'll just go buy a single serving sized Ben and Jerry's ($1) and sit in the car. :) At least I'll be alone...doing something just for me! (And I'll still be able to pay the babysitters!)

"Trying" being the key word

So I realized that my little quote here on this blog has something to do with me "trying" to do things to remind myself I'm not just a Mom. I guess "trying" is the key word. I need to "try" harder. Although the month just started, I haven't done one thing that hasn't been for or included my kids. We went to a few BBQ's over the Labor Day weekend...but we took our kids to all of them (at one they were the "entertainment"). We've been to softball games, and the park and even though the park day was kinda for me (I wanted to see if my 4 year old would get tired enough to take a nap--no such luck) the kids still got to have fun too. I guess what I am "trying" to say is: I NEED TO TRY HARDER! Any suggestions that don't include waking up early (I'm NOT a morning person) would be greatly appreciated!

"Night In Jail"

My son came prancing into the house this afternoon...singing a song from "Cinderella": Son: "Sweet Night In Jail..ahhahhahh..Sweet Night In Jail" Me: WHAT!? Son: It's a song from Cinderella, Mom. (now I'm realizing the tune is "Sing Sweet Nightingale". Me: Oh (with lots of inflection)....you'd better go sing that to your Dad. Isn't it crazy what kids hear when they listen to the English language? (At least he got the tune right!)

I have been thinking

I have been thinking a little bit about sending our kids off into the world. OK, maybe not the "real" world, but at least the preK world. Even though my son started his second year of preK, I have some friends who are sending their kids out into that world for the first time. I wonder how each of them will react, and I also wonder if I reacted in the "proper" way.

I didn't cry, I didn't feel sad, I was actually HAPPY! I had four hours a week to do all the things I couldn't get done when my son was home! Oh Joyous day! Then I started thinking....what if he isn't polite like I taught him? What if he hits and bites and is mean to the other kids? What if....? It took me a little while to realize my "what ifs?"weren't about his behavior, but in my ability as a parent. I knew I had taught him the things I wanted him to learn, but would he use them the way I wanted him to? That plagued me for a few months until I realized that if any of my fears had merit his teacher would have called me in for a conference. Now not only do I revel in my "one less kid" joy, I also am proud of my role in helping him become the smart independent person I want him to be. If that isn't the "proper" was to react to your kid going out into the "real world", then I don't want to be "proper". Ever!

What is is the deal with....

What is the deal with seeing other people's kids when you don't have your own with you, that makes you miss them? For once on a Saturday morning, I was sans kids. (OK so I was selling stuff at a yard sale, but still NO KIDS) It was kinda nice to be with some friends, swigging a Dr Pepper, and sitting in the sun, all without having to keep an eye on anything but my yard sale goods (those things don't try to run into the street, just because they can). All of a sudden a beautiful little girl appeared (OK she was with her Mom) and it made me miss my daughter. For a moment (but only a moment), I wished I had brought the kids with me. I don't know if it was because I wanted to show off my cutie, or if I wanted her to become "friends" with the other little girl, or if I even just really missed her. What's the deal with that!? I try to get away from the kids for a little while, just so I can do something to help me remember I am not JUST a Mom, and I get the motherly yearning for my kids! Does that just happen to me!?

Umm...

So, I started a blog. I wish I could write better....then this would be interesting. To clarify my blog name...I LOVE being a Mom. It is what I have always wanted to do with my life. However....kids can suck the life out of you! I am always having to remind myself that I am a person too, and that my needs are as important as my kids (Now getting them to understand that is a different story).