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Monday, May 20, 2013
May madness (05/16/13)
I don't know what it is about May, but it has to be one of the busiest months for moms. December still probably ranks as No. 1 overall busiest months of the year, but in my opinion, May is a very close 2nd. One nice thing is, the weather is always better to deal with in May versus December but honestly, sun or snow, there can't be much more we can fit in, in the month of May...
Cold but happy (05/09/13)
So I know I recently complained about sitting through a freezing track meet, and now several weeks later, I'm complaining again about a freezing cold softball tournament. It's May and from what I can recall, May is usually the perfect month with beautiful weather with green grass, flowers blooming and 60 degree temperatures. ...
Chatterbox (04/25/13)
Man, have my mother's wishes came true! Growing up, my mom always told me that, when I was little, I talked ALL the time. She has told me the same story, numerous times over the years, how I sat in the backseat and talked the entire trip from Nebraska to Texas one summer. She always said, "Someday, when you have kids, I hope they talk ALL the time, like you did."...
Track meet fun! (04/18/13)
Well, I have been formally introduced to Junior High track meets this week. Wow! I've been so excited to go watch a real track meet, not the elementary school kind with 3-legged races and softball throws, but the actual athletic contests of jumping and racing. Finally, this week, I got to experience it all firsthand. And, man, what an experience that was!...
Foul mouth driver (04/11/13)
Here I get after my oldest daughter all the time about texting things to someone that she wouldn't say face to face, but I caught myself doing kind of the same thing yesterday behind the wheel of my truck and realized I've been doing this for years. ...
Birthday sandbagger (04/04/13)
So for Hubby's birthday a few weeks ago, instead of going out and buying him an ATV blade or a rapid-fire nail gun, which he mentioned, I gave him a night away with his lovely wife in a town far away from his children and the "honey do" list. I think he likes the idea or at least he's pretending to. ...
Do as I say, not as I do (03/28/13)
So when it comes to being a health nut, I'll admit I'm far from it. I love me some cheeseburgers, nachos and fries, and there's nothing better than a foot-long chili dog washed down with a throat-burning cold Coca Cola. Makes me hungry just thinking about it!...
Can't seem to time it right (03/14/13)
Why is it, that THE day I choose to take off work or happen to stay home sick, is the only day I unexpectedly see everyone? Maybe this just happens to me, but inevitably, the day I look the worst or have chosen to go "au natural" as far as my appearance, is the day I run into a long lost friend, the UPS guy surprises me, or I have to run to the school because one of my girls forgot something...
Mom's the co-pilot (03/07/13)
When traveling with my family of five, one would think that the pilot, or the driver of the vehicle, holds the most important position as they are in charge of safely transporting each passenger to their destination. However, as designated co-pilot for the past 13 years, I believe my role may hold equal value, if not, maybe a little more. After traveling across the State last weekend, I was reminded of all the duties of the co-pilot as well as the results of those responsibilities...
Things I said I'd never (02/28/13)
So before I became a mom and for a few years after having two baby girls, I had a list of "things I'd never" say or do when it came to my kids. It's funny how with time and with more experience, some of those things on the list were quickly scraped off. I'm not proud that I caved on some things, but I've also learned to pick my battles and not to dwell on the guilt of feeling like a lame parent. For instance:...
Teenager in da house (02/21/13)
Yes, it's true. We have a teenager in our house. My oldest daughter turned 13 this week. I've said this before, but every year, when her birthday approaches, I get sad. It doesn't happen with my younger two girls but I've decided it's just because she's my first and a reminder every year of how fast life flies by and how soon she'll be grown and gone...
Bling Bum (02/14/13)
I know they've been out for a while now, these new jeans with the bedazzled bums covered in shiny rhinestones. I never have been a huge fan of the new bling jeans, mostly because I'm a simple Sally but also because they cost a hair less than a thousand dollars. I never realized that the price of rhinestones was comparable to gold these days, and I just couldn't justify spending more on my jeans than I do on my electric bill...
Never good enough (02/07/13)
Why is it, that whatever I do or we have isn't good enough? As a mom, it seems that if I did it, made it, or bought it, it's never as good as someone else's mom's. For example, the other night I finally sat down, after getting badgered about four days, and made my 6-year-old a Valentine's box for school. ...
Mama Bear unleashed (01/31/13)
I know I've written about this before but its traveling basketball season again and I can recognize that familiar bubbling in my belly known as sports rage. Every year I work on it and it gets better and better, but last weekend I was hit with a new revelation. I usually can keep a pretty good hold on my rage and I can sit through some fairly excruciating games without too much irritation UNTIL.....another player hurts my kid. That there is a WHOLE other side of my sports rage...
Is it her birthday, already? (01/24/13)
This happens to me every year and every year I think, next year I'm going to do better but here I sit again. It's my baby's 6th birthday this week and have I done much of anything to plan for it? Nope. I try to tell myself that it's because it's so close to Christmas that my mind can't plan or prepare for it. ...
When's a mom too old to dance? (01/17/13)
So when does a mom get too old to shake her groove thang on the dance floor at a wedding?? I'm not talking mother-of-the-bride slow dance to a sappy country song, and when I say "shake her groove thang," I'm not referring to anything vulgar that would be inappropriate for any good girl...
A clean house ... someday (01/10/13)
As I was picking yet another lonely sock off the bathroom floor and chucking into the laundry basket, the usual thought crossed my mind -- why do my girls always leave clothes lying around? I hung up yet another wet towel that someone ran off and left molding in a heap on the bathroom floor, and retrieved seven pony tail holders off the counter and put them in their drawer. I thought to myself, I wonder when the day will come when I won't have to pick up after everyone?...
Did you use soap? (01/03/13)
What is it with kids and hygiene? WHY, is it SO hard? You'd think after 10-12 years of being alive and living in a home where baths, brushing teeth and washing hands are repeated daily, that eventually these things would become habit and something instilled in their brains, kind of like eating and sleeping. Something that they do involuntarily, without thinking, plus with all girls, I guess I foolishly thought they would automatically WANT to be clean and pretty. Apparently not!...
It's beginning to look a lot like ... well, you know (12/20/12)
I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music this month, trying to get in the spirit, ya know. However, this week, I decided to change up the words a little to one of my favorite carols. Sing along so you catch my drift and use your best Bing Crosby voice:...
Drive-thru madness continued (12/13/12)
So as I wrote about the chaotic drive-thru process last week, my mind began to think of all the other drive-thru instances that can cause brain damage for a busy mom. Having to generalize these situations into one story just isn't possible. Also, ranting about the subject brought back some vivid memories of other drive-thru occasions that make me chuckle now but were NOT funny at the time. Apparently this drive-thru thing isn't anything new and not particular just to me...
Drive-thru madness (12/06/12)
When a single person goes through the drive-thru to order food, it's usually no big deal unless they're late or something. They pull up, announce their simple order, especially how they like it, pay and away they go. Slick as a whistle! However, not the case when you become a mom. ...
Great for Mom, bummer for kids (11/29/12)
What did parents do before Infinite Campus? This is one of the best inventions since ... you said it, "sliced bread." If you haven't heard of this yet, Infinite Campus is the online service provided by the schools for parents to track their kid's grades, lunch money, attendance, you name it. It's awesome ... but ... now that I have a smartphone, it's even better!...
Daily Thanksgiving (11/21/12)
So since the first of November, several of my mom friends have been posting online each day, something they're thankful for. There's been thankfulness for everything from their children, to their husbands, their daycare workers and their vehicles. What a perfect way to recognize and count your blessings for the Thanksgiving holiday! I think it's a wonderful idea and I should have participated in this online thanksgiving. ...
Dance moms (11/15/12)
I picked up my 12-year-old from the Jr. High dance last Friday night and asked the usual question, "Well ... did you have fun?" To which I received the same less than enthused answer as always, "Yup." No emotion, no nothing. "Well, did you dance this time or just stand there and giggle with your friends?" That question at least got a little smile and then she said, "Ya, just stood there mostly. ...
Pack mule (11/08/12)
So I guess I was mistaken. Apparently, since I'm the only one in our family that carries a purse, I am, therefore, responsible for toting every family member's belongings when we are out and about. I guess I must have missed that chapter in the What to Expect When You're Expecting book, and I don't remember a memo being sent home from the hospital explaining that I will, from now on, be the pack mule of the family...
Family picture shock (10/25/12)
So we got family pictures taken a few weekends ago and this week I finally got to see the highly anticipated snapshots. We haven't had family pictures taken for almost 5 years so we were way overdue. Fortunately for us, my middle brother has real talent for photography and so he took them for us down at the park by our house. ...
Making a messy fool of myself (10/18/12)
You think I could get through just one week without looking like a fool. Nope, doesn't seem to be happening. I realized that I just have to expect that sometime in the span of seven-day week I will, at one point or another, either dump coffee on myself, spill food on my shirt, dip my sleeve in some random sauce, or find some other item to either sit on or lean upon to embarrass me...
Filth discovery (10/11/12)
So it started this evening, when I tried to get up from the kitchen chair and my left leg pant leg stuck to it, making a peeling sticker sound when I tried to stand up. "Nice." My best sarcastic response to the mysterious mess someone politely spilled on the chair that morning at breakfast and didn't bother to clean up or at the very least tell me about...
Poor Daddy (10/04/12)
I know every week I write about myself and what I'm going through, but I thought this week I'd speak for the silent one. The only male in a house full of females, and no, the dog doesn't count, although he's Hubby's ONLY ally and probably the only other living creature that somewhat thinks along the same lines in life. ...
Mess mystery (09/27/12)
Okay, I'm really starting to worry about my girls. Not kidding, it hit me that all along I thought I had lazy kids, completely oblivious to clutter. Every evening I've been acting like a big nag, walking around the house like a drill sergeant, barking out orders. ...
My driven daughter (09/20/12)
I've always thought the funniest trick God plays on us is making each one of our kids so different. I'm not a gambler but having kids is sure like it, just a roll of the dice. Although my girls have similarities between them, for the most part, they are really different, both in looks and in everything else. ...
Just wanna watch my show (09/13/12)
The clock hits 9:25 p.m., and I finally hit the couch. Got my bedtime snack, sometimes cereal, sometimes milk and cookies, and ready to relax and find a good show to watch. Some quiet time, to chill and veg out before I head to bed and face the annoying 6 a.m. ...
Score on school supplies! (09/06/12)
So I hate to jinx it by saying this but we finally made it through a whole week of school without having to go to the store for more school supplies. I don't remember this happening in the past but for some reason this year I've had to traipse to the store every week since school has started to buy additional school supplies or correct the ones that were wrong...
Back to School blues (08/30/12)
Wow! Has this been a tough couple weeks! I think I've mentioned before that I'm one of those moms that actually dreads the first day of school. I know I'm not the norm and I get just as fed up with the summer bickering and boredom my girls daily express, but when I realize the first day of school is approaching, the sadness starts to swell in me. ...
Dumb mom, smart phone (08/16/12)
Well I finally broke down and joined the 21st century and ordered me one of them fancy schmancy smart phones. I justified it cause of my new job 'n all. I was afraid with trying to balance my job duties and all my girls' activities, I needed a phone that could handle the task. I knew my old way of making lists on post it notes and the backs of used envelopes wasn't probably the best organizing method...
Not a nurse (08/09/12)
I don't know why I try to fight it. It always happens and usually at the most inconvenient time. But for some reason, every time, I still get in a big fat tizzy because my all plans are chucked out the window. You'd think after 12 years I'd finally just accept the fact that kids get sick once in a while, but nope. I accept it about as well as I accept going to the dentist. I hate it but I deal with it...
Changing my title (08/02/12)
Well, as of this week, I am officially changing my title from stay-at-home mom to working mom. Yes ... it's true. After 12 years of staying home and raising three little girls, I'm now going to take on the challenge of STILL raising three girls while also working a full time job. I know moms do this all the time so I'm sure I can pull it off, but man am I nervous. It reminds me of having a baby ... very excited but very scared all at the same time...
A method to my madness (07/26/12)
Having an organizational personality doesn't always help when it comes to be a mom. One would think it would, but sometimes it's to my downfall, especially when not all of my offspring have the same personality trait. Maybe it's just kids in general, I don't know for sure. Or maybe it's just that it's summer time and I'm reminded daily that organizing this or that is mostly a waste of my time because it'll be destroyed within a few days...
The son I never had (07/19/12)
I often write about my middle daughter, the 10-year old, and what a tomboy she is so it shouldn't surprise me when she does certain things that one would assume are primarily of the male gender. But, for some reason, it always cracks me up when she varies from the "norm" and makes me think she's the son I never had...
911 Emergency: We got a Polly Pocket down (07/12/12)
Just when you think you've covered all your bases, your kids still find some way to surprise you. Last weekend, my gracious dad agreed to keep my two youngest girls while Hubby and I took our oldest out of town to a softball tournament. The girls have stayed with him on other occasions but not quite for this long but I wasn't worried. I knew they'd have fun with Grandpa and the thought of not having to haul two extra kids to sit outside for three days in the hot sun was a welcome one...
No more babies for this mama (07/05/12)
There comes a time in every mom's life when they realize they don't want to have any more babies, if blessed with the choice. For every woman it's different, but it does happen. I remember my youngest brother asking me that specific question only hours after the birth of his first child...
A gun for my girl (06/28/12)
So my middle daughter just turned 10 years old this week. I've been stewing for months about what to get her for her birthday. She's a tomboy/girlie girl so it was a tough thing to decide upon. I contemplated some golf clubs, which she's never asked for in her life but I know she would use. ...
Father's Day fun (06/21/12)
Every year I think that my girls and I are going to do our best to make Hubby's Father's Day relaxing and fun. Since it's always on a Sunday, you can forget breakfast in bed, because a mom trying to get three girls and herself ready for church leaves barely a spare moment to give Daddy his cards, nonetheless a four- course breakfast in bed. ...
Things you do for your kids (06/14/12)
When parents looks back over their years of parenting, it doesn't take long to recall some of the most ridiculous things they've done just for the sake of their kids. Well, that exact thought ran through my dirt-pelted head many a time this last Saturday...
Goodbye southern, hello northern (06/07/12)
Whew! About time! I think my girls have finally lost their southern accent. I was sure hoping it would happen eventually, but after living here 2½ years now, I was starting to wonder. However, last week my 9-year-old was playing her video game and yelled out a sentence that sounded so northern that I cheered with relief. She said the word "about" and "five" like she was a Fargo native. She asked why I was smiling and clapping and then I explained my feelings...
Feeling the love on vacation (05/31/12)
Sorry for taking a break from my column last week, but we decided, for some strange reason, to fit in a span of five days; the last day of school activities, my birthday, a softball tournament for two girls, a dance recital for all three girls, a house full of company and then a weeklong vacation. Gotta love May!...
No dancing for money (05/10/12)
So last Wednesday was beautiful and sunny, free from the wind which seems to be so popular these days. I went to pick up my 9-year-old after school and she pulled her usual stunt, asking AS she's entering the truck, with her friend standing beside her, "Can she PLEASE come over and play this afternoon? Please, please, please?"...
A good day gone bad (05/03/12)
Fridays are supposed to be good days, right? Everyone's always in a good mood on Fridays and that's exactly how I woke up last Friday morning, but, man, did that change in a hurry. Little did I know that my day was not going to be anything like how I'd hoped it would...
Mud, glorious mud (04/26/12)
Welcome to spring time, eh? Of course with the weather like it's been lately, it's hard to determine if its spring or summer, depends on the day. Anyways, I love spring time and all that comes with it, but with spring time in our house also comes the dreaded ... MUD!...
Making memories (04/19/12)
I think it's funny that as moms, we sometimes go all out to make a moment or an event memorable for our kids. However, as the years pass and my girls share their memories, it's not quite the memory I was envisioning them treasuring forever in their minds. In fact, the memories they choose to keep for eternity, we could have made at home not costing a dime...
Because I'm the mom and I said so! (04/12/12)
Famous quotes are posted everywhere and on everything. They're on posters, greeting cards, backs of T-shirts, and calendars to name a few. There're funny ones, inspirational ones, motivational ones and poetic ones. You can have them texted every day to your phone or sent to your Facebook page, wherever you need to make you laugh or just get you through a tough day...
Darned if I do, darned if I don't (04/05/12)
There are so many times when I am reminded that I have a household full of daughters and not sons. For instance, I'm sure all-boy households don't have a separate load of laundry dedicated to just pink clothes, or a full video library of Barbie movies...
Spider-1, Mom-0 (03/29/12)
Moms are supposed to take care of everyone else, right? They don't dare be sick, or injured. No way. There are meals to be made, clothes to be washed and kids to boss around. I admit that God did not bless me with the most compassionate bones when it comes to taking care of sick kids or Hubby, but I'd much rather be the nurse, then the patient. Plus, I don't have time to deal with my own health issues. I've got stuff to do, for Pete's sake!...
Duh, Mom! (03/22/12)
I always think it's kinda funny when I see someone driving around town with their coffee mug accidentally left on top of their car, then watching it and wondering how long it'll stay on before it rolls off or how soon the driver who set it up there and forgot it, will realize it's gone...
Unappreciated performer (03/15/12)
I realized this last week that my audience is shrinking quickly. I'm down to only one kid who still pays attention to my antics and actually gets a kick out of it. For years I've been entertaining my girls by singing normal songs in an opera voice, dancing like a goob whenever the mood hits me, talking in exaggerated accents, and making some unbelievably ugly faces, just so they'll laugh. Heck, I've even been known to pull off quite the dinosaur imitation...
Meanest Mom Award (03/08/12)
Just in case you didn't know, I AM the meanest mom in the world. No one else's mom is as mean as me. Everyone else's mom lets their daughters do whatever they want but not me. I couldn't get any meaner. In fact, I think my Meanest Mom of the Year award is being shipped as we speak. I'm certain my daughters secretly nominated me for this prestigious honor for all the horrible, awful things I've made them do or have not allowed them to do...
NO indoor pets! (03/01/12)
The way my kids talk, you'd think I was the cruelest mom ever for not letting them have pets in the house, and by cracky, when they grow up and have their own house, they're gonna have as many inside pets as they want, so they tell me. In which, I respond, "Go ahead, knock yourself out, but you're not bringing them home for Christmas."...
My competitive beast (02/23/12)
So over the last few months, it has been a whirlwind of basketball. Basketball practices, going to watch high school games and going to youth tournaments for my older two girls, since both of them are playing traveling ball this year. Basketball is by far my favorite sport and I love everything about it, so this is fun for me. Thank goodness God blessed me with girls who also enjoy the sport and the feeling I get from watching them play and improve each year is so awesome...
I'm all snacked out (02/16/12)
To all those new moms out there, just a heads up for the future, you will be required to provide "snacks" ALL the time and for EVERYTHING. Almost every facet of your child's life includes snacks, school, church, sports, at home, you name it. Snacks, snacks, snacks! So, when you're sitting there rocking your new baby, you may think, "Oh, snacks are no big deal. ...
The February Fairy (02/09/12)
It's finally February and I couldn't be more excited! What an awesome month for my family. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than February. Although, November and May come in a close second and third, February, by far, ranks No. 1 in our house. You know why? Oh no, it's not because all our birthdays are in that month, or because it's Hubby and I's anniversary or anything like that. It's definitely not because of Valentine's Day. That day lost its excitement YEARS ago!...
Losing my marbles (02/02/12)
Call it old age creeping up, call it hormones or call it just plain flighty but I have spent the last month forgetting things. I'm talking important things like deadlines, real estate papers and other people's children. Not dumb stuff like forgetting to turn off the porch light or forgetting to water the plant. ...
Too loud, too fast, but super fun (01/26/12)
When the hospital staff sends you home with your new baby, not one of them warns you, that in the future you will have a new part time job as a taxi driver. Whether you like it or not, transporting kids to designated locations will be a large part of your job as a mom...
Kid free grocery shopping! (01/19/12)
So last Sunday, while visiting during church potluck, one of my friends asked if my youngest would be starting Kindergarten in the fall in which I replied with a devilish grin, "Yeesss," then, "I'm freeeee!" I clarified that I still will be a bawling idiot when I'm kidless all day but I mentioned that my freedom to go grocery shopping and run errands. alone will be SO cool after 12 years of hauling at least one, sometimes three small offspring with me at all times...
Dog whisperer wanted (01/12/12)
So since Hubby threatened to ship off our dogs last summer, the girls and I have been trying to help out more with the two backyard beasts. They're still here only due to our begging and promise to help more. The dogs' main problem earlier was running off, with an occasional digging here and there. ...
Good bye, yoga pants (01/05/12)
So I guess this time of year is all about resolutions and making changes in your life. Every year I vow to work out more. Get back to that high school size. Is that possible? Eat healthier, drink more water, spend more quality time with kids and hubby, etc. etc. I have lots of resolutions each year and I do give each new year some serious thought. So, after a few days this week to ponder my goals for 2012, I decided that this year I have GOT to work on a wardrobe change...
Merry Christmas, Moms! (12/22/11)
Merry Christmas to all the moms out there that have been Christmas shopping for a few months now and can't find the presents they hid or remember who they bought them for. Merry Christmas to the all the moms who shopped so early they bought the same gift twice for the same person and didn't realize it till now. ...
Santa's helpers (12/15/11)
So from what I hear, Santa can't be at all the malls and stores to take pictures with kids since he's so busy getting ready for Christmas Eve, so he often sends helpers to represent him at these places. Apparently, there are times when it's actually him and sometimes it's not, so the kid's never really know. They just have to assume it's him at all times and act accordingly...
Freezing day off (12/08/11)
I haven't seen this much snow combined with this cold of weather since when we lived in Colorado. Despite the majority opinion, I do love the snow and chilly temperatures. It's December. It should be cold with snow. However, this kind of weather recently reminded me of a morning that happened to me almost 12 years ago now...
Sunday afternoon ice bath (12/01/11)
I should have figured the Thanksgiving holiday couldn't have gone as smoothly as it did without something ridiculous happening. We traveled to see family in Ogallala last week and stayed for five days. The week was filled with food, family and fun, and the weather was gorgeous. To top it all off, all five of us managed to escape the holiday without getting sick. That in itself, is somewhat of a miracle...
A mom is thankful for (11/23/11)
Thanksgiving is here. A time to be grateful and remember the precious things in life that God has blessed you with. Although, I am very thankful for my life, my family and my friends, I think it's also important to be thankful for the little things as well. Before I was a mom, these things didn't even cross my mind, but since becoming a mom, I'm now grateful for these following things:...
No sympathy for Mom (11/17/11)
I was raised in a family that had very little sympathy for minor injuries or illnesses. One of those families that would laugh hysterically first, when you fell, then ask if you were okay, and then later feel bad for laughing if you were really hurt. ...
I'm sorry! (11/10/11)
I'm not a confrontational person at all, unless it has to do with my kids ... or Husker football. But aside from that, I'm a people-pleaser, consider myself fairly friendly and do my best not to make enemies. However, last week there were two places that I seemed to be the target of other moms' irritation, once I got behind the wheel of my vehicle and also at the big box grocery store. ...
Halloween in the good ol' days (11/03/11)
Phew, Halloween is over! The kids had a great weekend and that's all that matters, right? The costumes they individually chose turned out fine, nothing spectacular and now it's time to transform the house from spooky to normal. I look forward to Halloween every year, as I do every holiday, but then during the holiday, its total chaos and I spend it all stressed out counting the minutes till it's over...
Did you forget somethiing? (10/27/11)
Well, it finally happened to me. I've heard lots of stories about this happening to families and I remember, clearly, when it happened to my youngest brother. Over the years I've had many dreams of it happening but until last weekend I've have been pretty lucky...
Thanks, but no thanks (10/20/11)
I wonder if there is an exact number of years that have to pass before certain experiences that were horrible at the time, all of the sudden become funny. Maybe it depends on how bad it was or who it affected, I'm not really sure. However, the other day, I was reminded of one of those experiences. I had completely forgotten about this day and I don't know why. I guess my brain must have blocked it out in order to save my sanity...
Halloween costume tradition (10/13/11)
So ever since the older girls were toddlers, I have dressed them in a Halloween costume "theme" every year. It began as Husker cheerleaders and went on from there. As soon as the youngest daughter was born, then the fun really began. We'd sit down months ahead of time and start brainstorming themes that included three main characters. ...
Shoe shopping is supposed to be fun (10/06/11)
Well, it's that time of year again, when kids' feet are suddenly too big for their shoes from last winter. With the cooler weather making visits lately, my girls have discovered that all the cute shoes we bought last fall are now squishing their feet like Cinderella's stepsisters'...
Mama knows best (09/29/11)
Everyone has a "gut feeling" or I guess I'm assuming most people do. Pretty much we are born with an intuition about some circumstances or our subconscious tries to speak to us sometimes. As moms, we are pretty in tune with our kids and most times can sense if some situations may not be the best idea at the time...
You are SO embarrassing (09/22/11)
This "embarrassing your kids" thing is kinda fun! Til now they haven't been old enough to care, but my two big girls now are at the age where Dad and I often embarrass them, and most times we really get a kick out of it. The worst thing we do to humiliate is dance. ...
Little Miss Independent (09/15/11)
An older woman once told me that each child you have will be different. My second daughter was a complete opposite of my first so I had no idea what to expect with the third. That same woman said that my third will be even different than the first two. ...
You're not going to cry, are ya? (09/08/11)
It seems that having children brings out a new side to any parent. Moms and dads alike discover a love like no other they've ever felt and therefore, their emotions are unleashed sometimes without any control. Even the strongest of men break down into blubbering fools at the site of their newborn baby. I guess it's just God's way of reminding us of one the reasons He puts us here on earth...
Feeling like a million bucks (09/01/11)
I think every mom has a day, once in awhile, where they feel like they look like a million bucks. Their hair worked out perfect that morning and they're dressed in a brand new outfit with matching super-cute shoes. This combination causes them to walk with their heads a little higher than usual, with a confident smile on their face...
The How To Manual (08/25/11)
My family is always complaining that I don't sit and play games, or go outside with them because I always have stuff to do, "stuff" being housework, laundry, meals, etc. It makes me feel so guilty and I often wonder if I have my priorities in order. When I sit and think about it, I have probably spent one-third of my years as a mother and wife feeling guilty about things I've not done. Another one-third I spent worrying about family and the remaining third actually having fun with them...
Back to school (08/18/11)
Yes! School is finally starting! I can't believe I'm saying that because I love summer vacation and can't wait for it to get here each year. It's so nice not to have a set schedule and the freedom to do what we want each day. However, by mid-August, summer vacation starts to smell like old fish and it's time for it to be thrown out...
Define 'vacation' (08/11/11)
Sometimes I don't know why they call it a "vacation". A vacation can be A LOT of work for a mom, especially when it's a family vacation. Actually, it really shouldn't be called a "family" vacation. It should really be called the "kids" vacation because that's usually who has the most fun and most the activities are geared towards. At least that's how it is in our house since our kids are so young...
A mom's sanctuary (08/04/11)
A mom deserves a sanctuary in her home that is just hers. Maybe for some moms it would be their own personally-designed kitchen. For others, perhaps, a sunroom filled with beautiful plants and cushy furniture to lounge in and read a novel. For a limited few, maybe even the laundry room...
Too old for the pool (07/28/11)
Ahh ... summer! No school, no schedule, sleeping in and sno cones galore! I love summer time and I can't wait for it each year but it seems I forget every time June rolls around that along with summer comes the constant daily question, "Will you take us to the pool?"...
Poor doggies (07/14/11)
So, when I signed up for motherhood, I didn't realize I got to be mom not just to our kids but to our pets, too. We never had pets when the older girls were babies but when they were 3 and 5 years old we were living in Oklahoma and bought some property out in the country. Well, apparently, there's some unwritten rule that if you move out of town, you have to have animals, so right off the bat we got two adorable puppies...
The 'third kid' excuse (07/07/11)
For us, it's the "third kid" excuse, but for other families, it could be "fourth kid" or "fifth kid," whichever, but for us, the last kid is being raised a whole heck of a lot different than the first. Before our third daughter was born, I had a friend that was always referring to "third kid."...
Life with young animal lovers (06/30/11)
So my younger two daughters, the 4-year-old and the recently-turned 9-year-old are HUGE animal lovers. I say "huge" because they love anything from a teeny crawling lady bug, to a killer whale and all sizes and kinds in between. My 11-year-old likes animals, from a distance mainly, but certainly doesn't have a heart for them. ...
Salesmen stealth mode (06/23/11)
I will start out by saying that I believe door-to-door salesmen are some of the bravest and most self-confident people that exist. To choose a career knowing they will be rejected, ignored and avoided says a lot for their courage and passion. I completely respect their efforts to make a living and they should be proud of themselves...
Where is that smell coming from? (06/16/11)
So once you are a mom, your senses become quite perfected. You can hear your child's voice yell "Mommy" out of a crowd of a hundred little kids and you can hear your newborn's fussing before anyone else in the house. You can hear the fridge being raided or someone digging into the bag of chips in the kitchen, clear from the basement, and you can tell by the footsteps, who it is. ...
God thought it would be funny (05/26/11)
My mother is the epitome of feminine. She loves dresses with a matching hat, switches purses weekly, and appreciates a good diamond. She's always on the hunt for cute shoes, as well as the perfect haircut. She loves to sing and always wanted to be a dancer. She never played sports, and sprains her ankle at the thought of running, but she's a great cook, an even better baker and keeps a spotless house...
So much for making plans (05/19/11)
The thing about being a mom is, you can never really make plans or have any guarantees for each day. You can try. You can keep a calendar on your fridge or in your phone, scheduled full of activities for each day, and most of the time all goes as planned. However, you just never know from one day to the next how your plans are going to actually turn out and that's the fun thing about being a mom. Expect the unexpected!...
One tough garage door (05/12/11)
Maybe it was a full moon, maybe the planets weren't aligned correctly, I don't know, but I started the week on Monday by backing into my garage door ... while IN the garage. I know, I know, how the heck does anyone do that? Well, it's like this. I was late leaving the house to pick up my two older girls from school, my phone was ringing as I'm loading up, and my 4-year old buckled in the backseat was insistently whining for a snack. ...
The 'joys' of motherhood (05/05/11)
Ah, the "joys" of motherhood. Doesn't that phrase immediately conjure up an image in your mind of a beautiful, new mom, gazing at the newborn baby in her arms, or perhaps a parent magazine cover of a beautiful, wrinkle-free, skinny woman smiling and hugging her two, equally beautiful, perfectly dressed children?...
Jennifer Morgan
Motherhood Moments
-- Jennifer Morgan is the mother of three girls and lives in McCook.