Memories of Me

I opened my "Napkins" Christmas morning while two little gitty girls gathered near with anticipation. The second the wrapping paper was off they both nearly exploded then squealed,  "Its not napkins! We tricked you, Mom!"

In place of napkins I found a delicate necklace that bore one simple charm which read "MOM".

A symbol of what I now am- and not because I'm now maturing into my 30's :-) or because I have been out of the singles-game for almost 12 years now...but its because I am fortunate enough to have 4 beautiful children in my life that call me "MOM"...and for that, I'm grateful.

It hasn't been an easy road and it definitely hasn't been filled everyday with rainbows and sunshine like I imagined before I had kids -- there have been many dark and cloudy days, but I'll take the clouds so I remember to appreciate and soak in the sun when it shines.

With the planning and pondering of our New Years Resolutions coming to full swing over the next little while -- I would like to share with you a New Resolution to consider adding to your list--

Add to your list: Improve M.O.M

(and not for the reasons you might be thinking)

We women could think of a million and two ways to "Improve our mothering techniques" this next year...but the one I hope you focus on is strictly the M.O.M portion.....

M.O.M = Memories Of Me

In the busy world we call home, we often try to match the pace of the mayhem around us, leaving little time to slow and look at the demanding, amped up life we are trying to live. 

We have our shopping lists, endless loads of laundry and dishes, dirty floors to clean, social networks and blogs to update. :-)

Some of us try to balance duties of home while working outside jobs, the list is endless...but I promise you, that the things we occupy most of our day with (which I'm just as guilty), if left alone for a time, will still be there unchanged tomorrow --  but our little ones will not. 

Every day they grow older, Every hour they absorb, Every minute they are looking for something to do....can't that something but with you??

The greatest gift you could give your family this year are the memories they will hold dear for the rest of their life....memories of their time spent with you.

So live up to that wonderful title you have been so fortunate to bare -- MOM -- and give your children the TIME to create something irreplaceable, which are those precious memories of you!

--- HAPPY 2012--- 

MAY IT BE A BRIGHT & SUNNY YEAR FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY!

The white lies of Christmas

Auh Christmas...the time of year when little white lies run ramped in our house.

I find it amusing that we lecture to our kids about being truthful and that telling the truth the first time instead of being caught in a lie will always bring lesser punishment and heartbreak.

However as Moms, we know there will be moments when these little white lies can sometimes save our little ones from their own self-punishment and heartbreak.

For example....

The other night, after we arrived home from Christmas shopping with the kiddos, Dad and the girls gathered up the wrapping supplies and started to head up stairs to wrap the gifts they have bought for the family.
(Now it wouldn't be a night of wrapping if there wasn't a few 'I want to wrap that!' arguments from the girls.)

As they were headed up the stairs I hear Arlee begin to argue with her sister by saying "No Dewie, I get to wrap it." Then Dewie pipped in and said, "DAAAAaaad, Arlee says she's going to wrap it but I want to wrap moms Neck....." Then her little voice trailed off - realizing she had just blown the Christmas surprise.

Immediately Arlee got upset and cried out, "Thanks a lot Dewie now mom knows!" Then Dewie ran off crying in the other direction.

Thinking fast I walked upstairs, called them in together, gave them a hug and said, "Hey, accidents happen, that's why we shouldn't fight over silly things right? And its okay that I know that I'm getting Napkins for Christmas (honestly napkins was the only 'N' word I could think of at the time) I have never been given napkins and I'm really looking forward to opening them."

They both looked at me confused for a split second then instant joy returned as they realized I had heard the word NAPKIN..instead of NECKLACE :)

As the days have drawn nearer to Christmas the glorious splendor of the notorious Napkin has also grown. It has gone from being regular old napkins - to being napkins made of Christmas colors - from Christmas colored napkins, to napkins with glitter and Christmas tree stars on them -from a glittery, star covered Christmas napkin, to glittery star covered napkins with tv screens on them so we can watch TV while we eat - from a flat screened, glittery star covered Christmas napkin to a deluxe tv screened, glittery star covered napkin with a built in house alarm so if anyone breaks in during Christmas the napkin's alarm will sound.

YES-- this little white lie has snowballed into a gigantic wondrous fib...but hey...that's what we allow sometimes as moms, right?! :)

...and I'm not going to lie -- I'm looking forward to opening my "Napkins" on Christmas morning and seeing the joy on their little faces, knowing I had helped to keep their Christmas secret live in their hearts and hopefully made this season bright.

 MY WISH FOR YOU IS THAT YOUR DAYS MIGHT BE FILLED WITH THE SIMPLE JOYS AND WONDERS OF THE SEASON...AND MOST OF ALL MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO MEAN THE MOST TO YOU!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!



MAMA POWER

These past couple of weeks have been extra crazy for some reason and I bet I'm not alone.

On top of the usual everyday dishes, laundry, grocery store trips, homework and more...we ladies always think its possible to add to the mix this time of year a couple holiday parties, school parties, Christmas shopping, gift making, present wrapping, treat making, Christmas card mailing....aauuuuhhhh the list goes on.

Even after the kids are in bed we find ourselves plugging away til the wee hours of the morning......I guess that could be considered Mama Power, but tonight, I believe I have discovered the true meaning of the phrase.

We have had the opportunity to have our sweet niece stay with our family this week. She has been such a joy and a blessing to have in our home.

Tonight as she and my girls were getting ready for bed I walked past their bedroom door and heard them giggling hysterically inside. I paused for a moment at the closed door with a smile to listen...curious to find out what in the world was so funny to an eight, a seven and a five year old girl.

What I discovered however, was that their conversation was a brutal verbal beat down to a once beloved friend of my dear five year old.

I listened for a bit longer to the ridiculous things they were saying about poor Dora The Explorer.

Finally, I cracked open the door, popped my head in and said, "Lets remember to say nice things....even if it is about poor Dora. "

My girls just gave me the 'OOhhh mom' look but my Niece stared back at me with a look of complete shock upon her face, She stared at me for a bit - jaw open, mind racing (I'm sure), then replied...."WOW...How good is your hearing?? You must have Mama Power like my mom!"

I was caught off guard for a second but them asked with a laugh, "What Power?"

Then she replied, "You know...Mama Power."

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Auh yes...Mama Power...
- The power to hear through doors
- The power to heal hurt with only a kiss and a hug
- The power to silence any room with 'The Look'
- The power to service selflessly with out need of recognition
- The power to teach without an education
- The power to wash your 3 year old's hands and flush a toilet with your foot all in the same motion
- The power to function on 4 hours of sleep night after night
- The power to set the mood of the home
- The power to receive parental promptings...and then the power to act on them speedily
- The power to sneak clean laundry into drawers and closets of rooms where babies are sleeping
- The power to shape a little ones life
- The power to relate to situations that occur
- The power to be a true best friend
- The power to truly listen
- The power to never die from the monotony of our everyday routine
- The power to love unconditionally
- The power to also forgive unconditionally
- The power to get emotional...over EVERYTHING and be okay with it because ITS NORMAL
- The power to be amazing in the eyes of a little one.....


And that's when it hits you....Mama Power....the power inside that you never knew you had.

Now use that power and become someones hero today.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THE POSTINGS OF A RAMBLING CRAZY PERSON WHO BELIEVES SHE CAN TAKE SOMETHING AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN IT IS.....HEY...MAYBE THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF MY MAMA POWERS!! SWEET!  :-)  ANYWAY...I WISH THE BEST TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

Merry Christmas!!!