Patience is a Virtue...The Terrible Threes

Are parenting experts actually… parents? Being one myself, I have a serious bone to pick with them: The “terrible twos” are crap.The "terrible threes" are more like it!

Charlie sat down at the dinner table and decided that clapping his hands would be a good thing to do to keep him busy until dinner was served. Well, this would not have been a problem except that his hand clapping involved arm movements slightly reminiscent of eagle's wings flapping. Needless to say, I asked him to stop and warned him that he might spill his milk if he continued. Next thing I know, he's is knocking his milk onto the floor...on purpose.

This is a common occurrence in our house, not the spilling milk, but the constant small battles of a three year old and his strong will! I remember thinking last year that we were so lucky and Charlie was a considerably well behaved two-year old, and that this 'terrible twos' thing wasn't so bad....then he turned THREE! Where did my angel go? And when did I become one of those parents??
Children at the pre-school stage are developing a host of new skills, including: wanting more independence (for example, ("No, I want to do it by myself!"); asserting
their wants ("I want that!"); and learning about friendship ("Give that back!").As well as throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. My child...(being advanced I guess!)...has mastered all of these!
I love the articles I have read that your child needs your calm, warm presence and sense of humor to help bring them back into their bodies when they are out of control. They do not need sarcasm, judgment, guilt, bargaining, or separation to help them. When I read these things, I wonder if these people have kids?! While I agree with them on a certain level, a warm and calm presence is challenging to maintain when your child has just painted the walls or cut their hair or laid down in the middle of the Kroger parking lot throwing a tantrum!

Although, don't get me wrong, he can still be incredibly sweet, and has lots of days where the devil doesn't take over his body...
I love him more than I ever thought it possible to love anyone in my life. He brings more joy and love and happiness to everyday. And my heart melts with every hug, kiss and I love you. His silliness, laughter, funny little sayings and expressions are an endless source of delight!

I do cherish everyday, just not every moment!

Here are a few priceless "three year old" pics:

A New Beginning

At the beginning of this year after lots and lots and lots of searching...Ryan and I decided to build another house in College Station. We are the king and queen of house hunting, and have been for the last couple of years! It is such a big decision and huge commitment and lots of different things to consider. Do we buy used or build?, which builder? which neighborhood?, school district?, city?!?!??? Price range?, floor plan?? A lot of things to weigh!!! After much deliberation and a large amount of thought and consideration and prayer, we finally decided on the right house for us. I hope :)
The building process brings lots of different emotions. Excitement, frustration, anxiousness, sense of accomplishment...we have both worked very hard to get to this point in our lives and we are trying to soak it all in.
We are less than a month away from closing, and the real excitement(and fear) has set in! Are we doing the right thing? Did we pick the right builder? right neighborhood, right street? Prayers have already been answered for great neighbors. We are thrilled with our next door neighbors that we have already met, and it looks like Charlie will have lots of friends to grow up with on this street!
I have spent a lot of wasted time the past few years worrying needlessly about things and people I can not change. I am learning to appreciate life and have decided not to worry about what I have no control over, enjoy the blessings...which are plentiful!
I am overjoyed to start this new chapter in our lives, in our new home and start making memories for many years to come.

Charlie and Parker (our next door neighbor)

My thoughts on Exercise...

This time last year, I was feeling confident, in shape, and tan....I was a week away from winning the Marethouse fitness challenge, and life was good! Well it didn't take long for me to lose my luster!!! Life is still good...BUT I am currently ghostly white, the opposite of 'in shape', and feeling less than encouraged about my appearance. I have only myself to blame and I am the only person who can change this.
I did manage to keep off about 30 pounds from last year, however I am not near where I would like to be. Another 30 would be great! And I know I can do it!
After being a part of the Fitness Challenge last year, I know what I have to do! Unfortunately it involves the "E" word...something I have loathed all of my life (perhaps that is why I am the size I am!)
EXERCISE....
Webster's definition of exercise: a regular series of specific movements designed to strengthen or develop some part of the body.
My definition of exercise: Extreme mental distress, Unbearable physical pain, intense feelings of suffering...(okay, this is actually the definition of torture...but it fits well for me!!!)
I am not sure why I have a such strong dislike for exercise, it does ultimately make me feel and look better. I just dream of the magic pill or diet that will transform me into Carrie Underwood without having to break a sweat...I know, not gonna happen!
It is the inevitable truth - I have to EXERCISE!
I started a boot camp yesterday and other than feeling as though my limbs need to be amputated, I am excited for the new challenge. With summer creeping around the corner, I am excited to get back into shape so that I can keep up with my energetic 3 year old, and maybe wear a bathing suit without being mistaken for Shamu.

The Duck Jam-boree

Another great weekend...
Friday night we enjoyed a Parents Night Out with the Nehring's! Stacey and I decided to take the kids to Powersports Gymnastics, where they have "kids night out" every Friday night from 7-11:30. To be honest, I was very nervous, Charlie has never stayed with anyone other than family before, but I felt better sending him with Natalie and Nathan...and I was SO glad we did, Charlie absolutely LOVED it. The kids smelled like a sweaty locker room when they were picked up, but I would call that a success! They were filled with excitement and lots of funny stories. Charlie said that his pants fell down while jumping on the trampoline, and that he got stuck in the foam pit, but his pants didn't fall down! He has told everyone since Friday about going to "gymnastics"! He was so worn out, he slept until 9 the next morning!
Us parents enjoyed ourselves too! I must say Duck Jam is quite a different experience when you are not in college, but it was lots of fun enjoying the live music and watching the college kids make fools of themselves!
On Saturday we promised Charlie a day of fun at Duck Jam...we have been telling him about Duck Jam for the past week. For some reason, he has been calling it Duck Jamboree! He was very excited to go to the Duck Jamboree. We got to see Natalie and Nathan again, watched the lumberjack show, dog jumps, and played games. We also ran into Charlie's girlfriend, Riley, from school right before the much anticipated "Choo Choo Soul" concert! Charlie was thrilled and the two of them were adorable singing and dancing to Choo Choo Soul together. After a long day, Charlie (and Mommy) were pooped!
After sleeping until 9 again Sunday morning...we all enjoyed Donuts! While I cleaned up inside and finished the laundry, Charlie and Daddy were very productive too, they washed my car inside and out! To end the weekend on a high note, we had a surprise visit from Mimi and Poppa. Charlie always enjoys their company, and we showed them the progress on our new house!
After our company left, we grilled steaks and Charlie and I made cupcakes(his favorite):)
I would say we were pretty blessed with another wonderful weekend!

Dancing Queen

With almost 11 years between us, Katy, is and will always be my baby sister! Unlike her big sister who does not posses a coordinated bone in her body...Katy began dancing at the age of three and immediately showed her talent. She is not only talented, she has an infectious smile that is so fun to watch! Through the years I have watched her grow into a beautiful young woman and I am so proud of all of her hard work and dedication she has poured into dancing. Years of recitals, competitions, football games, spring shows, the hours are countless.
Last night, I watched Katy perform for the last time. She was AWESOME. Chad, Ryan, Charlie and I had the honor of escorting her across the stage at the start of the show for Senior Recognition. She looked gorgeous and danced beautifully to all 13 dances!
WAY TO GO KATY!

Aggie Muster

Softly call the Muster, Let every comrad answer "here." The Spirits hover 'round us, as if to bring us cheer! Mark them 'present' in our hearts. We'll meet some other day, there is no death, but life for our old friends such as they.

While I did not graduate from A&M, I consider myself an Aggie....I grew up in a family rooting on and attending Aggie sports, bonfires,learning traditions and I have lived in College Station for almost 10 years now. I also married an Aggie and I am an employee at the University...so I think that qualifies me as an Aggie by Association! And who knows, maybe I will go back and get my degree someday! The best thing about living in College Station is becoming part of the spirit of Aggieland, and raising and teaching our family, the traditions...one of them being Aggie Muster.
This year, Muster holds a very special place in my heart. Unfortunately I will know two names called this evening, Aggies who have passed this year. On July 1st, 2009 I watched my beloved boss, Dr. KC Donnelly, lose his 18 month battle to esophageal cancer. Chris Cooper, a husband, father and friend who worked with me for the past two years had his life taken way to soon by a distracted driver on December 29th, 2009. Dr. Donnelly graduated from Texas A&M in 1973, a member of the corp of cadets. Chris Cooper graduated in 1997. Tonight will be a very special way to honor their memory.
The annual gathering evolved into a celebration of Texas Independence on San Jacinto Day – April 21st. Aggie Muster is celebrated in more than four-hundred places world wide, with the largest ceremony on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. The ceremony brings together more Aggies, worldwide, on one occasion than any other event. Muster is a time to look to the past, present, and future…not only to grieve but to reflect and to celebrate the lives that connect us to one another. A gesture so simple in nature yet so lasting in spirit, Muster is the lasting impression every Aggie leaves with us.

Bedtime Blues

Charlie has always been a good sleeper. He always took great naps and was sleeping through the night by 3 months. Everyone would always comment how lucky I was to have such a great sleeper. We would all laugh at how early he went to bed. From the time he was sleeping through the night until he was 2, he went to bed at 7:00! In fact if you tried to keep him awake, it wasn't a pretty sight! He would lay down in his bed, we would read a book, say our prayers, and sing our songs, say good night and that was all she (he) wrote!
Well, something happened to my sweet sleeper about 6 months ago. Charlie decided that he does not require sleep anymore. He decided that he does not like his room or his bed, he decided that he does not like naps, and he has decided that he does not need a bedtime!I am not sure when or why this happened, but it has. Lately Charlie does not seem to have an off switch either. Often, when he is tired, he just reverberates faster, like an overwound toy, until he crashes.Then he wakes up in the night, cries for me, tells me he is "beary" scared and begs to sleep with us. And unfortunately I have given in a time or two at 3 in the morning!
Everyone has offered suggestions and advice and their input....everything from trying a nightlight, warm milk, a rewards poster, a countdown timer, lots and lots of great ideas...
I am determined to get him out of this funk and back into a good routine. If not for him, for my own sanity!