The Day I Was Grateful for Randomness

We get the occasional squirrel on our back steps, the periodic finch, and even the rare Easter Fence Lizard in the summer.  But the random HAWK?  What the HAWK?!  He sat there for a good 4-minutes.  I took video.  I took pictures.  I got right up to the French doors and sat 2-feet away from him (of course, I was inside).  It was almost surreal.

So, here's to unexpected visitors.

Here's to taking the time to enjoy them.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Capes

No.1's teacher asked if I could help make capes for her class to decorate for the 100th day of school.  I spent maybe a total of 4 hours cutting 25 or so capes out of t-shirts.  No biggie.  I was so glad she thought enough of me to ask for my help (she's a bit OCD and sort of a micro-manager and I love her!), so it really meant a lot.

No.1 had an idea to write 100 100 different ways, but I told him there are only a few ways you can write 100 and suggested we write it in 100 different languages.  Google translation gave us almost all the languages, I had to go to Native American sites for tribal language, and Mr. told us the binary 100.  I did all the copying and pasting, No.1 colored most of the fonts, I cut and glued (glue gun) them, and No.1 wrote on the cape.

So, here's to receiving the reigns.

Here's to working with my child.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Trying

I had some avocados.  I had a pinned recipe.  I had some time.  So, I made Avocado Mac-n-Cheese.  And guess who tried it and loved it?  No.2!  (and me, of course - hello, it's avocados!)  No.1 tried it after school.  I didn't tell him it was avocado.  He took one bite and said, "This doesn't taste right."  Oh well.  2 outa 3 ain't bad.

I have been making a lot of experimental recipes this year (thank you Pinterest).  Some are hits, others are misses.  Luckily, most are hits.  I'm grateful all my boys will at least try everything I make.  I tell them if there is apparent apprehension:  You don't have to like it, but you do have to try it.  Sometimes when I know it's a hit and No.1 just doesn't want to eat, I tell him he has to try it 5 or 6 times.  Other times when even I know it's a miss (and I usually know that about half-way through the cooking process), I just have them try it, out of respect, really.  And they do.  And I am grateful.

So, here's to expanding pallets.

Here's to teaching manners.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Reminders

This "For Better or For Worse" strip really made me smile.  No laugh, just smile because it made me think.  How many times do I put my wishes on my boys.  Luckily, I really don't think there are many things that put me in this category (with the exception of piano - that's not budging).  Still, I see many parents put stress on their children to succeed at something the child doesn't want (namely sports).  I saw it a lot in soccer.  No.1 is not playing this season because he hated last season, but we made him finish because he can't quit a team mid-season.  I just hope that I'm mindful of my children's individual strengths and encourage them in activities that will develop those talents.

So, here's to self-examination.

Here's to allowing children a voice (at times).

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Reading

This is No.2 on our way home from picking up No.1.  I cannot read in the car because I get sick beyond sick, but I am so glad my boys both read in the car.  They have so many activities to do at home that reading sort of takes a back seat until bedtime, but both boys long for it so much so that it is a great tool for good behavior at bedtime - disobedient?  No books. No.1 actually lost out on it and cried.  I felt bad and really wanted to read to him, but he can't goof off at bedtime, cutting into lights-out, and still expect reading.  Tomorrow.

So, here's to books.

Here's to quiet times.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Wrinkles

It's funny I can be grateful for wrinkles when I just dyed my hair the other day to get rid of about 10 grey hairs.  I try to hide my age in my hair, but bring on the crows feet.  Why?  Because wrinkles show personality and crows feet show happiness.

I have a lot to smile about, and I'm grateful my eyes show that.  I love my mom's wrinkles.  She is 62 and has beautiful, healthy skin that has wrinkles.  The wrinkles are not saggy or like a dried up orange peal, but gentle signs of a life well lived.

I'll keep my wrinkles, even at the age of 35.

So, here's to more smiles.

Here's to character.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Heat

This is a little space heater Mr. got me for Christmas.  I'm usually cold, especially in the basement where our family room is, so this really was a wonderful gift.  Today the boys and I watched a movie together (the Smurfs).  I was able to cuddle with No.1 and stay nice and toasty.

When I'm uncomfortable, heck, when anyone is uncomfortable, I'm grouchy, so I love this heater.

So, here's to warm hands and heart.

Here's to happy mommy.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Potties

I don't often take pictures of my children on the toilet, but the lighting and the way No.2 was looking out the window just begged for one.  So, here you have it.

I am grateful that No.2 uses the potty.  He's not potty trained by any stretch of the imagination, but some days he wants to wear underwear and use the potty and that's something.  I'm not pushing the potty training.  No.1 was done by now, but No.2's different.  They're not the same and they are not going to meet the same milestones at the same time.

We do baby No.2 a bit, I won't deny it.  It's hard not to.  He's so stinkin' cute and we just don't want him to grow up.  Still, I know it's going to happen no matter what, but at least I'll know I didn't rush it like so many parents do.

So, here's to hold on.

Here's to letting nature take its course.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Selfies

Read that again, because you will probably never read it from me again.  I have a theory about facebook pages with too many (and I mean, like 4) selfies.  I feel that those people are lacking somewhere.  Anyhow, that's not my message for today.  My message is that I love THIS selfie.  No.2 sat on my lap and made face after face into the phone while I tapped the shutter.  I'm pretty sure he'd still be making faces if he wasn't in bed.

I love how curious children are with their own faces.  When we webcam, but boys just want to see themselves in the the little square.  When I take a picture, they want to see it right away.  When given the chance, well, they stick their tongue out and snap a pic.  I love it.

So, here's to self portraits.

Here's to self-awareness.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Left-Overs

This is all that is left of our igloo.  It was sad it see it go, but "All good things..." you know.  You can't hold on to everything forever.  So, I was grateful for this little reminder that many things come and go, but our memories will last forever.  Those memories are my favorite left-overs.

So, here's to remembering.

Here's to warmer weather.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Bedhead

Holy Cow!  That's all I can say.  Holy Cow!

So, here's to hairy memories.

Here's to detangling spray.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Parties

I personally hate parties.  I don't like going to them, I feel uncomfortable when I'm there, and I can't wait to get home.  (Shhh, don't tell anyone.  Pretty much only Mr. knows my fears and I'm a pretty darn good actress.)  Still, I'm so glad my son's school allows them.  I'm so glad his teacher makes time for them.  And I'm so glad No.1 has fun at them.

I'm not so grateful for the sugar rush....but that's another post for another blog.

So, here's to celebrations.

Here's to letting kids have a little break.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Innovation

So, it might not be soooo innovative, but I had the great idea to use a toy bin to make blocks of snow into an igloo.

I put No.2 down for a nap and called No.1 to get dressed and we would go outside and have some fun.  He took a while getting dressed so by the time he got outside, I already had about a row and a half done.  No.1 grabbed a bin (I brought 2 out) and tried to make a brick.  The snow was starting to get a little icy and was, I guess, too difficult for him to scoop up.  So, I let him just play in the snow while I finished the igloo.

It didn't matter that he wasn't helping build the igloo, we were outside together having fun.  He enjoyed shoveling snow, and I quickly made bricks.  We talked.  Not about anything important or earth-shattering, but we talked and laughed and that is important.

So, even though I experienced a little bit of the Little Red Hen complex, it really didn't matter to me.

So, here's to just being together.

Here's to communication.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Art

Again, no, I didn't take this picture.  I couldn't.  These are Monuments Men from WWII.  These men were given the task to identify important building and art that needed to be protected and not bombed during the war.  In the end, their efforts led to the recovery of thousands of pieces of art that had been stolen by the Nazi's.

So, today I am grateful for these men who recognized the importance of art and the culture and history each piece holds.  I have taken No.1 to the Smithsonian Art Museum.  He really enjoyed it.  (I guess No.2 was there, too, just inside my round belly.)  I am grateful for art, even the kind I don't understand.

So, here's to preserving art (and THE arts).

Here's to teaching children art appreciation.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Hearts

in my cheesecake!

I made a cheese cake yesterday for tonight's dessert.  It turned out pretty good.  The middle was not cooked all the way through, but I'm sure had I left it in my oven any longer, the edges would have burned.

The cheesecake isn't the only special food from this Valentine's day.  I made our traditional heart pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast.  Dinner was baked ravioli accompanied by cauliflower and asparagus, heart-shaped rolls, hear-shaped watermellon, and pineapple with the core cut out with a heart.

I don't mind cooking for my family, but there are some meals where I actually put some love into it.

So, here's to my 3 Valentines.

Here's to a little love in the oven.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Candles

We lost power in the snow storm tonight.  It went out during No.1's piano practicing.  I thought for sure he'd be pleased and think he wouldn't have to practice anymore, but when I brought out the candles, he got really excited and thought it was the coolest thing and played his songs over and over.

So, here's to candlelight music.

Here's to new practicing techniques.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Marbles

We got the call earlier tonight that school would be canceled tomorrow because of the snow.  (Yep, we're getting tons of it - yeah!)  So, I let the boys stay up a bit later than usual.  No.1 and I used that time to build this beauty.

The boys received these marble tracks from Santa and it has been a wonderful hit.  No.2 mostly makes stacks and "shoots" from them, but No.1 is learning and experimenting and having loads of fun with them (he may or may not turn a stack of cylinders into a gun, too).

I am glad I didn't spend time by myself tonight.  I was tired and would have loved to have lied down and rested, but I love this memory more.

So, here's to experimenting with my son.

Here's to having fun together.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Phones

I hate talking on the phone.  I have friends who call and I'm thinking to myself, "Get to the point already!"  But when my mom or sister calls, I can't get enough of it!

The phone allows my boys to talk to their grandparents.  No.2 is always talking to them anyway on his fake phone :).  I think about how people use to write letters to be sent and received a month later (sometimes 3 months if it was traveling across the ocean).  I don't know how I could handle not knowing how my family is doing and waiting months to find out.

I am grateful for this invention and that even though we are physically 1000's of miles away, we are still so close.

So, here's to saying Hello.

Here's to hating to say Good-bye.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Temple

 No, I didn't travel back in time and capture this sweet girl peeking out of a closet, but I did travel over the world wide web and found it, and others, along with lots of news about the passing of this wonderful girl.

When I about 12, my grandmother gave me the movie Dimples for my birthday.  She said she loved my dimples so much and Shirley Temple had such great dimples, this movie reminded her of me.  That was the first in my collection of Shirley Temple movies.  I remember watching Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm and Heidi and The Little Princess (over and over) before that birthday, but Dimples was the first in my personal collection.  I now own all of her works from childhood Fox released in a special VHS format.  (Ooooh, VHS!)

So, I am grateful for Shirley Temple Black.  She filled my youth with wonderful memories.  You can't watch her and not feel happy.  She is a great example of a hard worker as she was always on top of it on the screen and, as an adult, in her political career.

Shirley Temple passes away today.  She will be missed, but her legacy lives on for me to share with my children.

So, here's go pure tv.

Here's to pure people.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Storehouses

This is a Bishop Storehouse order form.  As Relief Society president of our ward, filling these out for families in need is one of my duties.  Today I had the opportunity to help a family of 3, sometimes 7 when his children are with them for the week, fill out a form.  The mother is under a lot of stress, suffers from almost debilitating depression and anxiety, but still goes to work and tries to pull it together for her family.  Her husband was laid off this last week.  I am so grateful that the storehouse is there for honest people in need.  I'm sure this family will do all they can to make this form a thing of their past, but for now, I'm so glad (and I am sure they are too) it is available to them.

I hope I am never in the position to need this form.  I am so blessed to have a husband with a steady job and a degree so I can go back to work if/when needed.  Still, if I ever need it, I will feel no pride, but complete humility.  What a beautiful organization we have in our church for welfare.

So, here's to giving to those who truly need receiving.

Here's to staying humble.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for LEGOs

We saw Frozen in November.  Absolutely the best Disney movie EVER!  Today, we took the boys to see the Lego Movie.  Absolutely best non-Disney movie EVER!

The message was clear - heck, they even flat-out said it several times:  everyone is special, creative, and can do anything they put their mind to.

I hope that I didn't need a movie to instill that into my boys, but it doesn't hurt to have my position backed up by a beloved LEGO man.

So, here's to good movies.

Here's to great values.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for the Olympics

I made dinner, took No.1 to karate, Mr. fed the elders, we all ate delicious cookies, the elders left, the kitchen cleaned, the boys ready for bed, then we all stayed up and watched the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics.

I get so excited for all the athletes, American and non.  They have been preparing their whole lives for this.  I just want them to do their best.  I'm not sure the boys understand what a monumental event this is, but they watched the ceremonies anyway.

I let my mind wonder sometimes and think about what sacrifices I would be willing to make if one of my children showed amazing talent in academics, music, or sports.  No.1 will start swim team this summer.  What if he's a natural?  Who knows what No.2 will excel in.  What if I have a genius child.  Do I send them away to get better training?  If I don't, will they ever meet their potential?

I attended a piano recital while in college.  The recital was given by students from a private boarding school.  Parents send their children away for the year to study music, often only seeing them 5 times during the school year.  I know I wouldn't be able to do that.  But would I be willing to move?

I know my boys are bright, but hopefully I'll never have to make a decision like that.  I respect those parents who do make those decisions.  I watched the Gabby Douglas Story (Lifetime) they other day.  Gabby's mother was a single parent with 4 children.  Not only did she make sacrifices, but Gabby's brother and sisters saw her talent and willingly gave up their desires so her talent could be coached.  Now her name has gone down in US gymnastic history.

So, here's to the athletes.

Here's to their families.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Anticipation

I actually took this picture tomorrow (the wonder of scheduling posts), but I knew I was going to make them Friday and I dreamed about theses delicious cookies all day.  They are the perfect chocolate chip cookies.  I'm making them for dessert with the missionaries tomorrow.  I know how much they will love them and know my boys love them (they were gone in 2 days last time - of course, it only makes 16 cookies).  So, for today I'm grateful for the anticipation of cookies.

So, here's to ooey-gooey yumminess.

Here's to waiting patiently for tomorrow.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Finishing

I like to get things done.  I'd been asking No.1 what he wanted to do for his class valentines for about 2 weeks when he decided he wanted to do crayons again (he did them for kindergarten).  So, we purchased crayons Monday, pealed them Tuesday, baked them Wednesday.  I did it all by myself because I just wanted to get it done even though they are not due for another week and a half.  Still, I just really like getting things done.

Yes, No.1 could have pealed crayons (he even asked if he could when he came home Tuesday, but I had it all done already).  Yes, No.1 could have placed them in the molds.  Yes, No.1 could have even hot glued them to the cards.  But I just wanted it done.

That is one of my many flaws.  I know my children miss out on learning opertunites a lot because of my desire to just get it done, and that's something I need to work on.  Still, it was nice getting the valentines done.

No.1 did address and sign each one, though.

So, here's to finishing projects.

Here's to being better about including the children.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Brownies

I tried a recipe I saw on facebook:  Preztles, brownie mix, bake, caramel.  It was ok.  The best part?  My boys taking care of the leftover batter.

So, here's to licking the spoon.

Here's to licking the bowl.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Pizza

Today was a busy, busy day on the calendar.  Volunteer at school in am, chiropractor at 10, visiting teaching at 10 (didn't leave the school until 10 - oops), pest services 12-2, No.1's check-up at the doctor's, grocery shopping for the rest of this month's groceries, make dinner, FHE.  I just couldn't do it all.  I, of course, rescheduled, then rescheduled again my chiropractor appointment (can't be two places at once).  I called the pest people and asked if they could spray in the rainy weather, they said they could do the inside and come back for the outside, I just rescheduled the whole thing, and we moved FHE to Tuesday.

No.1 and I didn't get back into town until after 6:30, so we ordered pizza.  Easy peesey!  My overloaded day ended in overloaded pizza.  And the family was happy.

So, here's to simply evenings.

Here's to a stress-less mom.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Kings

Yes, No.2 does join us almost every night, right around 1:30am.  I don't know how to stop it.  I've taken him back to bed (not just once, but continually), and he returns 30-minutes later.  So, I suppose you could say we've just given-up and given-in.  Luckily, we have the space.

No, it isn't good that he is waking up every night. No, it isn't good that he is in this habit.  No, it isn't good that it is causing me to lose sleep, too.  Still, I can't help but love this little diagonally lying boy.  I'll gladly sleep on 8-inches of our king-size mattress to snuggle with this little man for as long as I can.

So, here's to sleepless nights.

Here's to cuddles.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.

The Day I Was Grateful for Tissue

I love this cute box.  I love what's inside better.  We have had snot-nosed kids (and mommy) running around the house these last few days.  I hope it doesn't get any worse.  No.2 is nearly off his medicine, so hopefully he's on the mend.  No.1 is sniffling, but luckily no other signs of illness.  I'm tooting my horn hourly.  We can't have a sick family, because a sick family is a grouchy family.  And a sick mommy is the worst!

So, here's to Kleenex.

Here's to napkins, paper towels, dishcloths, dirty t-shirts, et al.

And here's to a Better Mommy Me.