Big Day

So Tuesday was the big day, the day I left my 30's and began my journey in my 40's.  I felt a couple of obligations to fulfill--one was to change my profile to reflect I have jumped off the cliff.  The second was to do something that made me feel young at heart.  I tried to convince Kevin that I would require an ATV to complete my "young at heart" task.  For those of you who know my past history with horses(bucked off/stepped on),
3 wheelers(barbwire fence), skis/ski lifts(fell under lift/lift shut down), jet skis(flipped on my head) and doors(broken bones), he responded with a laugh and a vision of me in the hospital.  Darn!

  Next thought was, I can jump on the trampoline.  Apparently I can talk myself out of things pretty quickly in my 40's.  That particular day it was cold outside and I remembered the noise my knees make when I jump on it, they have that Special K crunch.  The next day always results in soreness--there you go, I probably just talked you out of jumping on the trampoline too. 

I get really antsy when I get this bug, it really bothered me that I could not come up with some adventure to get into on my day off.  My "young at heart" task was alluding me!  I had a wonderful lunch with my bestie, I got wonderful birthday wishes from everyone --that should be enough.  What I ended up doing was hanging out with my kids and playing WII, my "young at heart" task was complete!  A couple of dances with the Just Dance II was all it took.

             By the way, I still want an ATV!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough!

Disclaimer:  Okay, so I have to do a little bragging about about one of my kiddos--so here is your chance to click on the little X in the corner and get on out of here if you don't want to read it.

This Sunday my son Hayden climbed a HUGE Mountain!  I can see you now asking yourself --what's in her Koolaid or maybe she has gone off her rocker!  Let me explain:  In this world of up and downs, mountains and valleys, he was all the way on the top of the peak!

Let me give a little background about Hayden.  Hayden was diagnosed with dyslexia in May and his whole world changed.  It meant changing from the school he attended with his big sister and going to a new school that offered a dyslexia program.  Pretty scary for a 7 yr old, having to make new friends, not having your big sister around to show you the ropes.  It also meant going to a tutoring class all summer.  For us, as his parents, it meant the puzzle pieces suddenly fit together.  We knew why he made A's & B's on math & science but struggled with Reading and Language.  Why he would struggle with words like "dog" if were on the page of a story more than once.  (dog, god, pod, gob, etc....)  He sees things in three dimension , so he will be good at things like sports and music.  Some other things that you might not know about dyslexia:  Children with dyslexia are usually bed wetters and have a slight hearing loss (we found out about his hearing loss through the school nurse way before we found out about his dyslexia)  It is hereditary and passed down through a parent, if one parent has it, then your children have a 50/50 chance of getting it.  (if you have 2, one will have it, if you have 4, two will have it)  Most children are not diagnosed or tested until 2nd or 3rd grade.  They will be able to do blood tests on babies in the future and tell you if they have it.  There are different levels, Hayden has both, numeric and letters as well.  I had asked his kindergarten, his 1st grade and his 2nd grade teachers if he had it, they said it was too early to tell.  Another interesting thing, not all states recognize dyslexia.  Thanks to the great state of Texas, not only do they recognize it, but several colleges offer students scholarships.  If you feel like your child may have it, there is a department in the school administration building that you can call and schedule your child to be tested.  (This is what we did)  These tests revealed that Hayden has a very high IQ, that he does better with verbal testing and does not do well with timed activities, and that he has a problem with short term memory.  Now we knew all that, it was time to learn how he best learns.

Now back to that Mountain, knowing his background you can see why I was a little apprehensive when he came home and said he got the lead in a Christmas Musical our church was planning to do.  How many acts?  How many lines?  How long do you have to learn it?  The musical was called, "The First Leon."   Here is a description of it:

 The First Leon. In this charming new musical you will see the Christmas story through the eyes of Leon. You see, Leon is... special. Ever since he discovered that his name spelled backwards is Noel, he's felt called to tell the world the true meaning of Christmas. But when he tries out for every role in the annual pageant, he finds that he's the only one who doesn't get a part. Rejected. Now Leon understands better than anyone how Mary and Joseph must have felt when they heard the words, "No room" that night in Bethlehem. Without really trying to, however, Leon does uncover the true meaning of Christmas when he identifies the real Star of Bethlehem. 

The fact that "Leon" could see his name spelled backwards was "Noel" was not lost on me....maybe it was the part that Hayden was just right for.  After hours and hours of practice and rehearsing, He did it!  He hit all his marks, sang all his songs, knew all his lines and even got laughs at all the right places.  He even got a little write up in the newspaper.  Talk about a Mountain!   I know as he continues to work through the years of school ahead that he will have valleys that will challenge him, but with a Mountain for him to stand on and shout out every now and again--He will soar!

Countdown!

It's countdown time!  We are counting down to Christmas, we are counting down the end of 2010 and I am counting down to the end of my 30's!  Egads!  Where did all the time go?  Looking back, the majority of my 30's where devoted to being a mom.  I know that won't change in my 40's, but it was all new to me when I started my 30's.  I had Peyton, my oldest, when I was 29 1/2.  Becoming a mom rates as one of the best things I have done in my life.

So, now 16 days until the big 4-0.  Let's focus on the positive people.  Some things I enjoy associated with 40--
I enjoy driving 40 miles an hour.  Much better rate of speed than say, 35.  If I am going somewhere, I usually like to have a couple of twenties in my pocket.  ( do the math, 20+20=40)  You know you could eat a decent meal, go to the movies or fill your car with gas if you have 40 bucks.(Not all 3 of those things at once, you have to pick one in today's economy)  Another good thing is a lot of my friends are hitting this milestone with me (Lisa, you go first).    I don't have to feel all alone.

Honestly, I don't know what to expect in my 40's.  I am hoping for growth, wisdom and faith.  So far each year I know I have grown and learned more about this world we live in.  I am continuously surprised by someone doing something so extraordinary for others that my faith in mankind is renewed. (The difference in ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. -Jimmy Johnson)  I am expecting big things in my 40's and I believe if I set my expectations high enough, it will make me work harder at making my 40's great!

So as I take my 40th revolution around the sun,  I do so with the sun on my smiling face.  : ) 

(This feeling may change on the 28th)

A Note from the Teacher

This week a note was sent home from Hayden's teacher that said the following:

Dear Parents:
         Today during P.E., Hayden had inappropriate behavior.  They were learning a song with actions called, "Tony Chestnut."  The students point to their toe, knee, and chest.  However, Hayden took it farther and pointed to another body part and showed two girls his interpretation of the song.  I've talked with him about appropriate and inappropriate behavior at school, but wanted you to be aware of it.

A few things came to mind regarding this:  First thing, it was very important that I kept a straight face when getting on to him for this, no laughing.  My mom called me on the phone to give me a heads up and read the note,  I laughed.  Second thing, I can not believe that this song has not had this issue before when it is being taught to 8 yr old boys.  They might want to change the name to Tony Chesterdrawer.  The last thing was, Hayden was all set to be Joseph today in our Christmas Cantata at church, this kind of thing gets around and I can seriously see them revoking his manger privileges!  (I shared the story after his Joseph appearance)

This note will go into his "School Days Memory Book."  I am entering a new frontier with Hayden, we have also had conversations about "Toots"  not being funny recently.  Boy humor can be so gross.

Bulkie Genes!

My mom purchases in bulk and then passes it on.  My latest gift from my mom, a huge package of paper towels.  We had 2 new rolls in the cabinets, but she did not find them--so now, we have 6 new rolls.  She also likes to give me soap in bulk.  I am not sure how I feel about this.  Are we a messy, dirty family?  My mom is giving me a complex! 

Am I a bulk buyer too?  Is bulk in my genes?  I do enjoy a good stroll through Sam's, but who doesn't.  (I will use those 3 giant bottles of ketchup, so don't judge me.)  My grandmother on my dad's side buys bulk in socks and cup towels, we get them every year for Christmas.  All the girls get cup towels, the boys socks.  I guess with 7 kids and triple that in grandchildren, bulk is a way of life.

I really am thinking way to hard about this.  Kevin swears I buy his socks and underwear in bulk.  His theory is --If I buy him 30 pairs, I only have to do his laundry once a month.  (That is genius if you ask me!)  I'm just trying to make sure he has stylish options, whether it be polar bear boxers or plaids, he is covered. 

I think I am not so bad with bulk purchases, unless shoes count!

Let Us Give Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving, the obvious things I am thankful for are the the things listed on my "Good Things" list on the right. (Ok, I am not that shallow, I can live without the shoes)  Being thankful is all about perspective, I think we would all answer we are thankful for God and family.  Are you thankful every day?  Are you thankful for the little things?

Sometimes I like to give my friends "Thankful journals" or "Thanks Filled Journals" as gifts.  It is a little journal for them to write everything they are thankful for each day.  This is were the perspective part comes in, you can be one of the most negative people in the world (you know, a Debbie Downer or the glass is half empty kinda person), but when you truly focus on the good things that happened to you each day ...you can find a whole new perspective.  It is less about the things you don't have and more about all the positive things that happen to you every day.  Don't take for granted that a person held open the door for you or you found enough change to get a Dr. Pepper from the coke machine. (love it when that happens!)  What about the really special days when someone expresses that they care enough for you to have you in their prayers!

When you start to focus on all the good you have in your life, you are altering your perspective to such a positive place.  It was just that easy!  So give thanks this week and make it a habit to give thanks everyday...write it down if that's what it takes.  Give one of your friends a Thankful Journal and hold each other accountable to write something down each day.  Your life is better than you realize!

I Spanx I Can

As Thanksgiving comes closer, with all the home cooked goodness we are about to partake in, the more reliant I will become on my Spanx.  (For the few guys that may read my blog, a Spanx is a constricting undergarment that helps keep you held in)  How many of you go to try on clothes and think I may be able to wear this with my Spanx?  I do all the time, only for me, it is more like ---With the right mirror & the lighting just so, and if I suck this in and have my Spanx...I might look pretty good in this!

How did guys get so lucky?  No Spanx, No Make up, No heels.  Just shower, dress and go?  So unfair.  I think there should be one day a year where guys are required to take at least  1 1/2 hours to get ready.  They should be required to wear make up on this day and heels, maybe even pantyhose and a skirt.  We could call it "I Appreciate Women Day" or maybe "I Feel Pretty Day."  No sports logo clothing permitted please.  My minds not made up yet on whether they should have to shave their legs on this new found holiday.  (Guys, quit your belly aching, it will grow back!)

I know, some of you may say, why not just spend the day without heels and make up and all the works?  I have those days and they are spent at home, where no one can see!  I am doing you a favor by putting my make up on to go to soccer games.  I was made to accesorize!

You Can Quote Me On That

I have always thought it would be cool to be quoted.  To say something so profound that many people agree with what you say and feel it is worthy to repeat it and use it again.  We use quotes all the time...."Home is where the heart is", "You are what you eat", "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."  Do you recognize any of those?

Here are some others that I have seen :

We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles. --Jimmy Carter

The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.  --JFK

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but habit. --Aristotle

All of these were just from this week!  What starts to become obvious, especially if you have children, we are quoted all the time.  Billy said, Jenny says, my mom says...it's amazing how much you are quoted in just one day if you think about it.

Your words have weight.  Sometimes they are so heavy , they feel like you are getting hit by a rock or a brick.  They can hurt.   Once your words are out, you can never take them back.  Even with an apology, the damage has been done and they have a way of being in the back of the mind of the person you launched your verbal assault on.   

So as you are quoted each day, let your words be a reflection of how you truly want to be seen.  Are your words kind?  Are they meaningful or are they hurtful?  When I speak out in frustration, I am purposely trying to hurt others.  I know I am choosing words that are hurtful and I always have regret later. 

 Speak without regret. 

This is something I am working on.

Halloweenie!

I lovvvve Halloween!  I love the change in temperatures and the crispness in the night air.  I love the costumes, what an awesome way to show your creativity.  I love the decorations, so this year I decided to make a Halloween grapevine and fill it with all kinds of fun Halloweenie stuff.

I love the movies, and telling my kids ghost stories and being scary (no comments from the peanut gallery please about me being scary all year around).  We have always taught our kids it is okay to be scared...what do I mean, it can be fun to be scared by someone because you are empowered to know that we will not let anything bad happen in that situation.  The reality of ghouls and goblins and all those things are that they are fiction.

Last year, Peyton ran through the Haunted House with her dad.  Hayden says he will go in with them this year--so I am going to have to see if I can empower myself to go with them.  I still have zombie memories from all of the Haunted Houses my friend Dawn and I went through as teenagers.  My children love to be scared!

So as Kevin carves his pumpkins and my kids go to bed and contemplate what kind of candy they are going to get this weekend...Have a fabulous Halloweenie and keep it fun!

The Halloween Kidds

Have a Blessed Day!

I have friends who sign their e-mails "Have a Blessed Day."  My mom even takes it a step further and says "God Bless You and I Love You"  each time I am getting off the phone with her.  Even though she has been doing this for years, I still am unsure how to respond to her.  Sometimes I say, "God Bless You Too" (this sounds like we are having a sneeze contest) and most times I say, "I Love You, Bye."  I am still very thankful she does it, it is like there is a tiny prayer in there for me and my day to go well.

I am going to take it a step further, what if WE are the Blessing in each day.  Joyce Meyers says, "Start each day intending to be a blessing to everyone you come in to contact with."  Man, that is tough.  Some days I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, the wrong side of my husband and I must be getting in the car on the wrong side too!  (This seems to usually happen on Mondays by the way)  Sometimes my attitude is definitely in need of an adjustment. 

What if we ALL did take that challenge though?  What if we ALL decided to be a blessing?  Can you imagine how much more pleasant it would be at the grocery store, in traffic or at your job?  With only 69 days left until Christmas, think how much less we would dread Christmas shopping if we knew that people would be making an effort to be a blessing. (Yeah, that's right, 69 days.  You better get started) 

So, as we start a new week, I will simply say, "Have a blessed day!" for each day is truly a blessing.

Lap Burns

I said "Lap Burns" not "Lap Dance" people......I digress.  Have you heard all the big to do about getting lap burns on GMA and MSNBC?  Apparently people who are using there laptops for extended times without putting anything between their laptop and their skin are suffering burns.  The story they showed had a girl who had skin discoloration and she said she would often use her laptop in her lap for up to 8 hours.  I'm gonna say that a little self awareness as well as a little common sense might work well with this particular affliction.  If it burns, move it.  If it gets really hot, move it.  If you smell something burning, check your legs and move your laptop!

They are calling it, "Toasted Skin Syndrome."  There are actually pics of what it looks like and can cause permanent nerve damage and hair loss on your legs.  So this means I am actually dancing with danger by writing this blog.  I am putting my self at risk for your pleasure, I think I deserve a reward!

                    Do you smell something burning?

Love Letters

Recently I read an article in magazine regarding love letters and I decided to issue a challenge to my husband...

we were both at work and I sent him a simple text that read, "Write me a love letter."  His response, "A love letter?"  "yes, a love letter."  There, I put it out there.  I didn't know if he would take my challenge or not.

  You see, we are not one of those couples that are really into PDA.  We tell our kids how much we love them all time, but we just do not tell each other.  That being said, we definitely know that we love each other and I guess it is assumed. 

I issued my challenge in the morning during work, we had lunch together and you can not know how excited I was when in the afternoon he sent back a text, "Check your Gmail."  I am pretty sure that the other lady in the office  (Kim) was wondering why I was grinning from ear to ear while reading a message on my phone.  It said exactly everything that a love letter should say.  It was just what I needed to read that day.  I would share it in this blog, but I'm pretty sure my husband would kill me if I did. 

He asked me if I was going to frame it and I offered to immortalize it in my blog.  He said, "Frame it, not me!"

So while all this mushy stuff is being put out there, maybe it is a good time to write someone a little note or text if you are into modern romance(no sexting please) and let them know how much they mean to you.

Kick the Bucket

Have you noticed how popular "bucket lists" or "things to do before I die lists" have become?  There is even a show about it on MTV.  I think everybody has one, I know I do.  I haven't taken the time to write mine down and I think it is because that makes it permanent and almost like a contract.   I know I add stuff to mine all the time, but I don't know that I mark things off my mental list very often.  Maybe I am afraid of failure, my list would become a big novel of things I haven't done. 

Some things on my list is to ride in a hot air balloon(I am really afraid of heights by the way),  parachute jump (this would only work if I am attached to someone and they threw us both out of the plane) and another one is to travel to lots of places.  One thing I did accomplish on my list this year was to write a blog--one thing down a million more to go!  What are some things on your list? 

 Let's all work on accomplishing something on our list.

Guns, Money & Eyeballs

Guns, Money and Eyeballs...no I am not watching "The Sopranos" and no I do not have mob connections.  I am talking about the arsenal I have in my washing machine.   

When ever I do Hayden's laundry, I am always sure I will find something interesting.  What a blessing!  I am in no hurry to move into the next phase of pocket stuff in the wash because the stuff I find now means he still likes juice pouches, transformer underwear (don't tell him I told you) and hot wheels.  It means he still has that little, sweet voice that hasn't changed yet.  That little voice that yells, "Have a super duper day mom, I love you!" as he is walking out the door to go to school.

Now I admit it was not pleasant finding the remnants of a mini chocolate candy bar all over my whites(pig wrestling comes to mind), but those sweet words that I hear every morning are enough to forgive and forget.

  Even though he told me tonight that my singing in the kitchen was disturbing his meal. (Everybody is critic these days)   

                     

 

How Dare She!

How dare she!  There was a life lesson to be learned there!  How dare she solve her own problems. 

 As most of you know from my last blog Miss P and her spankies had a little run in with Pauly Walnuts.  She got in the car super excited from Cheer Practice because she won the spirit award for the day--"Mom guess what, I won the spirit award and I didn't even have to use spirit fingers!"  "Also, I got a new pair of bloomers!"  I was shocked, "Where did you get those, do we owe money...I already got you 2 pair!"  She was shocked.  Of course I had not told her I got her any to teach her that life lesson.  

She is only 10 after all and I am sure I've got quite a few life lessons to teach her still, like take care of your things and put them up where your dog can't chew heart shaped holes in them.  I guess I will let her solve this one for herself, Pauly is continually making his rounds so I am sure this will be an issue again in the future.  So as she starts her 5th grade year she is starting to pick out her own clothes and style more, she is trying to occasionally see if we notice she has lip gloss on and she is solving her own bloomer problem.  I guess this is the beginning of her growing into her own person--not that she hasn't always had her own opinion, believe me.

P.S.  Peyton thinks the above picture is really embarrassing because she is holding all those spankies.

Jack Russell Terrorist

I woke up Saturday to carnage.  As most of you know I live with a Jack Russell Terrorist named Pauly Walnuts.  (He is also known as Paul Wal because after a visit with the vet he lost the 2nd part of his name)  Pauly is known for getting into places and things and demolishing important stuff.  When he was a puppy, we came home from church to a living room that looked as if it had been covered in snow.  He had shredded an entire box of Kleenex. After Peyton got her very expensive orthopedic tennis shoes with special prescription inserts just for her feet, Pauly took it upon himself to take the inserts out and chew them and the shoes in the night while we were all asleep.  He is like a billy goat, he can climb high and eat anything.  He enjoys toys, stuffed animals eyes, electronics.....everything.  I once found him on the kitchen cabinet eating a quiche my friend Kim made.  (Side note:  Kim both I and Pauly enjoyed the quiche very much and would love to have another.)

Pauly has a way of admitting his guilt before you ever find his handy work.  He falls on the floor, belly up in front of you as if to say, "I've been a bad, bad dog."  So, I knew coming down the hall I was about to find something because he fell in front of me in his classic "I'm sorry" pose.  Something else you should know about Pauly, he loves bottled water.  I guess you could say he is a bit of a fancy dog with his selective taste for bottled water and quiche.  I turn the corner and I see water bottles strewn about the living room with lids chewed into little wads.  Apparently, in his bottled water euphoria, he decided to go for the gold on this Saturday because as I got closer to the couch I found Peyton's brand new spankies (that's bloomers for you old schoolers) for her Cheer Squad uniform laying in the floor with a giant whole in them.  WHAT....We haven't even had our first game yet, not even our first pep rally!  How did he get these out of her room and how does he always get the really important stuff?

                              Now I was really impressed that he ate a hole in her bottom in the shape of a heart(look at the photo sideways), but here is the kicker, both of my kids are setting and playing in the floor among the carnage and did not do a thing to stop him or even clean up after him!  This got my blood pressure boiling and I probably could have not given Kevin the wake up call he got with all my yelling.  Later in the day I realized that we can fix this, surely she won't be feeling the breeze with her new built in air conditioning at her first game.  Luckily I got on the computer and found a bloomer website for these things and ordered two pair.  (Yeah, we have a back up now and thank God for the Internet)  

So in the end it all worked out...just one more thing....I haven't told Peyton that I was able to order anymore, I am kind of letting her sweat it out until her first game.  SSSSHHHH! Don't tell her. 

I'm a blogger too!

So I am new to the blogging world and in looking at some of the other blogs I have come to a couple of realizations:

1)  Every body and their dog has a blog.

2)  Most bloggers are women with children.  (Lots of pics)

3)  I have got to get some of those M&M's with the pretzels in them and try
     them!  (you would not believe how many people are discussing these in their
     blog)

My thoughts are then --what makes a good blog?  What brings you in and keeps you coming back for more?  What can give my words wings?  I think the answer to all of these is "personality."  Are you funny, do you have something worth saying, is your perspective relatable?  I hope so!  I have figured out that you have got to sell yourself to get followers.  With this I mean, you got to talk yourself up.  "Hey, you know how funny I am when we hang out together, well now you can enjoy me in a blog."  or maybe  "I've noticed that sometimes you actually laugh at my jokes, you should read my blog."  If all else fails, "I know that you like to make fun of me and I am not above bribing you with some pretzel M&M's if you will follow me."

These are just some of the tactics I am considering trying.   Since I only have one follower right now,  I better go to the store & get my bribes ready!

Have a blessed week!

My first blog

This is my first blog and a few things come into mind--

Am I worthy of followers?  Probably not

Is my life interesting enough to actually have something to blog about?  Again, probably not

So far my blog is full of expectations that I am not sure I am going to be able to fulfill and , no pressure here, a questionable number of words as to whether this could even be considered a blog.  Thus is life, high expectations and a questioning of ones self worth.  The good thing is, the closer I get to 40 (December 28th for those of you looking to add to your calendar) the better I feel about my self worth.  Who knew the older you get the more confident you become?  Or maybe it is just the more you are willing to share your opinion.  So, if nothing else, I hope I am at least relatable to others.  I definitely have an opinion and maybe I've peeked your interest enough to want to find out what it is.  Here is to hoping I blog again.  Have a great week!