My Little Monkey

Playing in the bathtub last night...

Ashley...and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

Growing up this was one of my FAVORITE books...for some reason children find the misfortune of others so funny! From the moment Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, to the moment he gets in bed with a burnt out nightlight, things just do not go Alexander's way. No wonder Alexander wants to move to Australia! The book ends with his mother's assurance that everyone has bad days, even people who live in Australia.

Well yesterday...I had a terrible,horrible, no good, very bad day! I woke up to find my house a disaster, the way I had left it the night before because I refused to clean on Mother's Day! Although, it is not pleasant to start a Monday off to a mess. I tried not to let it get me too anxious, and got dressed for work. I burned my wrist with my straightener while fixing my hair...ouch! I went to wake Charlie up, who lately is like trying to wake up a hibernating bear...no mommy, I tired...no mommy, leave me alone! I got his breakfast ready, and laid out his clothes and shoes for the day. I then went and told Ryan I was leaving and to have a good day...
When I got in my car to leave...the car wouldn't start, I tried several times. SERIOUSLY?! Ugh...went back inside to tell Ryan, this created a bit of chaos as I rushed to get Charlie dressed so that they could drop me off at work on their way. Ryan reminded me it was trash day...so I took it upon myself to help get the trash into the trash can, as I did...I managed to drip garbage on my pants!!! I let out a frustrated scream and went to change quickly. That was it! I couldn't fight back the tears at this point. Ryan dropped me off at work, and as I walked into my building on a hot and muggy Monday, I wiped away the tears that my morning had caused and tried to pull it together. At this point I realized that I didn't even get my morning diet coke...something that is a necessity to get me through!! Ugh...
I powered through the work day, ate lunch from the vending machine and tried not to feel so sorry for myself! Monday afternoon I received an email from my workout partner asking if I was going to boot camp after work?? Oh Lord...boot camp sounded like the last thing I wanted to do on my dreadful day...I told her about my car, and rest of the day to try and prep her for my decision not to exercise. She told me that I was going and that she would drive me!!! Ugh... I tried to look on the bright side, maybe I could get some of my frustration out by going to boot camp. By the way, I hate boot camp, it is brutal, and it is the last place I wanted to be to finish off my terrible day. When we showed up shortly before 6, our trainer wasn't there,could it be?! I have to admit this made me happy...I thought maybe I wont have to go! We drove down the street to another place he sometimes has the camp, thinking maybe we missed an email...nope, not there either! I was smiling at this point and told Mollie to just drop me off at home! She said lets go back and check one more time to make sure he isn't there....and of course, who's bright and shining faces do we see when we pull back up....our trainer and the other 4 skinny girls in our camp!!! Ugh... Mollie laughed at my reaction and told me to come on!! Our trainer had us start off with our usual sprints to warm up our muscles...we lined up and waited for our signal to start...GO! I was off.....until I ate it and tripped on what must have been my own feet, and landed knees and hands first into the sticker burs...OUCH! I popped back up and all I could do was laugh at that point!! My trainer rushed over to see if I was OK, then he got his chuckle in too! I managed to finish the rest of the hour without passing out or throwing up, which in my opinion is a success.
Whew...what a day....and it wasn't over yet....
I hobbled into the house after boot camp to find everything picked up and the floors vacuumed! The kitchen was sparkling and the air smelled of my favorite candle!
My sweet baby boy greeted me with a huge hug and...Mommy,I missed you! My sweet husband had cleaned the house and had already cooked dinner for Charlie. What a wonderful surprise! He also told me that my car was working just fine too! We decided to take our daily trip to the new house to see the progress...and I loved the new paint colors! When we got home Charlie was a perfect little angel, listening, and being extra sweet!
The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day was over...and in fact it ended on a high note. I am very lucky to have those two handsome boys in my life, they can make any bad day better!

Every day, I try my best to be, A mother like the mom you were to me

I feel so incredibly lucky to have the Mother I do. I could not have grown up with a better role model of the Mom that I inspire to be!
Thank you Mom for being by my side every step of the way...

I found this poem and thought it said it perfectly:

A Thousand Thanks

Mother's Day brings to mind
The thousands of things you did for me
that helped make me happier,
stronger and wiser,
because I had you as a role model.

I'm grateful for all the times
you healed my hurts
and calmed my fears,
so that I could face the world
feeling safe and secure.

I'm thankful for all you showed me
about how to love and give--
lessons that now bring
so many blessings to me
each and every day.

Your sacrifices and unselfishness
did not go unnoticed, Mom.
I admire you, I respect you,
I love you.
And I'm so glad you're my mother!

Happy Mother's Day!

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!