Mother's Day

 I will let them be little, fill their hearts with laughter, help them grow wings, nurture their sense of wonder, inspire them to believe, and LOVE them like there is no tomorrow. 

Waking up to extra hugs and kisses is always a good way to start a day. Reading endless handmade notes and cards that are made with so much love, priceless. I try to teach them to love and love big, be emotional, tell people you love them, take chances (while making the right choices), be who you are and be proud of that and to be a good friend. There are many more things but those are some that we talk about regularly. This morning, I was confident that I am doing an okay job of making sure they love and love big. Their faces when giving me their homemade cards were not just them being proud of what they made but watching their reaction to how happy that they made me. It is such a great day to take time to remember why you wanted to bring these beautiful people into the world a day to think about your responsibilities to these little people but also a day to be reminded of love, unconditional love that we, as a family have for each other.  I love my kids, to the moon and back (even the smiley moon). 

My Mother's Day gift: we planted our very own orchard. I have to laugh a little because it was only last year that we started our own garden and I am still learning so much about that. We planted 5 fruit trees, one for each member of our family. Two apple trees, two pear trees and a cherry tree. We read and learned about what to do, we talked about bees and their importance and how to nurture our trees to become strong, healthy fruit bearing trees.  We also talked about how we have to have patience because it takes a few seasons before we can eat the fruit. Wylie said, "mom you are not very patient." (Oh how my kids know me too well. HA. )

               The three people who made me a Mom and our 5 new fruit trees in our new Orchard....

Top 10 Reason I love You: By Wylie 

10. You drive me to my sports practices and games

9. You are the best baseball fan

8. you sit with me when I am hurt or feeling bad

7. You have movie night with us

6. You tuck me into bed every night

5. You make my favorite meals on my birthday

4. After try outs you take our family out for dinner or ice cream for trying our best

3. You sit with me when I am sick

2. You buy me Christmas toys and birthday presents

1. You are the best- YOU LOVE ME.  

~ It's My Life 

One tiny clementine

On a Sunday where a lot of people are celebrating St. Patrick's Day, drinking green beer or watching championship Sunday, awaiting Selection Sunday we try to figure out who threw away their clementine.  At our house, we don't throw away our fruit and/or vegetables... it's a rule. As their Mom, I know which veggies /fruits are not their favorite (in which they don't get much on their plate) and I know which they love and are then expected to eat what they are given.  In this case, it was one clementine with their lunch.

(The Clementine itself) 

So cleaning up the kitchen after lunch, I realize that one of the kids threw away their entire clementine. So I very nicely ask all three kids, "Who didn't eat their fruit?" And all three kids had the same answer, "I ate all of mine." So I asked three more times and when their answers didn't change they were all sent to sit on the "dog couch" (only cause it is smallest) until one of them wanted to admit to throwing it away. After 20 minutes or so and still no confession, I ask "This is your last time to tell mom you threw away your orange before I get really mad now for lying about it. I wasn't even that mad about the orange and I was just going to make you eat it. But now, you are in trouble for lying about it. So you will sit there all day until one of you tells me." Keep in mind, I know my kids and I had a good idea after asking them the first time which one did it but that's not the point here. It's a good lesson for all.  Twenty more minutes go by with no one confessing, so I had them go into the office (aka interrogation room) and talk to Jacques. He very calmly asked each kid the same two questions: "Did you eat all your orange?" and "Did you throw away your orange?" Each kid, yet again, said the same thing, "yep I ate ALL my orange" and "NO I did NOT throw it away." So back to the couch they go, by this time Wylie has crawled onto the end table because he is just mad that one of the girls has not admitted it yet... oh and that way he can also partially see the t.v and the basketball game that's on.

 

 (Tori above in "interrogation room," while other two wait their turns)

One hour later, yep they sat there for one hour, doing nothing just sitting there. We talked about how terrible it was to not admit to doing something wrong, let someone else get in trouble for what they did, not taking responsibility etc and how even if they might get in trouble, telling the truth is always the best way.   So we asked Tori to look Kasey in the eyes and repeat after us and we asked Kasey to do the same. As soon as Tori had to repeat, "Kasey I ate my orange. I would never lie to get you into trouble because that is not what sisters do," she started bawling... Kasey could repeat it all pretty sharply cause she is pissed that she was getting into trouble for something she didn't do. So I ask Tori, "Do you want to come with mom and talk to me?" She says "no, I ate all my orange." Finally, after nearly 2 1/2 hours (in total) I say, "I am giving which ever one of you who did this 3 minutes to fess up I am going to freak out, yell at both of you and send you both to your rooms until dinner." Tori is crying this whole time when I announce there is only 30 seconds left, she stares at me with those big blue eyes and says "I want to talk to you." So off we go.... She admits through lots of tears that she did it. She had to go apologize to Kasey first and then up to spend the rest of the afternoon in her room for lying.

Kasey also learned a valuable lesson because I got to explain to her that it would have been easier to believe her if she hadn't lied to me about things before. She said, "that's a horrible feeling for you not to believe me when I love oranges, they are the first thing I eat if you pack them in my lunch."


Who would have thought that this tiny little clementine would cause a 2 1/2 hour stand off, lots of tears, some interrogating, a confession and one tough (but ever so important) lesson.


                                                 ~It's My Life

Road trip with a friend

"Friends are siblings God forgot to give us." This is a quote that has always been dear to me. Growing up I had always wished I had a sister.  I am so thankful that Kasey and Tori will have each other, what a special relationship.

 One of the benefits of growing up with out a sister is that I have tried really really hard to value my relationships in my life, especially the ones with my girlfriends. The older I get, the tighter I hold on to these people in my life. The more I realize that although having a sister would have been great, having  close friends can be just as great!

Something I think everyone should do sometime with their girlfriends.... Take a road trip! Even if you don't have a certain place to go, get in the car, play your favorite music, talk about life, LAUGH A LOT & just drive.  This can be the best therapy in the world & give you some of the best memories.

I was fortunate enough to have just completed yet another road trip with a friend. A 13 hour (one way) trip to Nashville, TN to spend 3 nights in Music City and also to see the one and only, Mister Jon Bon Jovi. Yes, JBJ may be the "reason" for these trips and he is certainly the highlight of the trip, but it doesn't compare to the talks in car, getting lost on the way, stories that make you laugh til you cry & sharing the experience with someone who means a lot to you.

And.... I get to do it all over again next month with another friend to Iowa.  Get in the car & drive....

"As we grow up, we don't lose friends, we just learn who are real ones are."




                                   ~ It's My Life

Bittersweet days, yes another one

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that my little 2 pounder was born. I knew she would change our lives, mine specifically.  I have had these last few years at home during the school year with just her. We do so much together, run errands, make lunch every day, play lalaloopsies and talk....A LOT. These are days I will always look back on and cherish. Absolutely cherish.

   

Today I registered Tori for Kindergarden. It was bittersweet. I am so excited for her, wait no I am not. I would keep her home again if I could. Let's try that again. I know it is inevitable and I know she will strive to do great things but I am just so not ready to let my little, innocent, sweet girl out into the big bad world of kindergarden. (haha)

I consider Tori and myself so so lucky this year. Tori has had such a great experience in her preK class and absolutely loves her teacher and her friends in the class. I love the environment, the school, the teacher, the kids and the kids parents. I mean does it get better than that? We can't even fit all the play dates in.... It is such a great group of Moms and kids. We are so lucky.

I know kindergarden will be okay, I really do. Today was just another reality check that time just keeps on ticking and that my babies are growing up. Bittersweet day.


Loving preK and not ready to move on yet.....

                                                              Tori's Class out to lunch

                                                       Adam, Tori and Willy having a playdate

                                                          Tori and her dear friend Jonas

                                                    Willy came to watch Tori's gymnastics

                                           Sydnee, Tori and Kenley having some girl time

                                                     Such good girlfriends, Tori & Kenley

                                               Tori, Kenley and Declan having a play date

                                               
                                                      ~It's My Life

Birthday tradition

Back in 2003 when I first found out that my due date was January 3rd, I remember hoping that Wylie would be born on my Dad's birthday, which is January 7th.  My Dad always said, "oh no we want him/her to have their "own" day." Neither planned worked. Wylie decided to join us a week after his due date and although he has a different birthday than my dad we still have decided that we want to celebrate them together, on the same day, which usually ends up being neither of their actual birthdays! This year was no different. We celebrated on January 11th with a taco bar & ice cream cake!

                                     Happy 9th Birthday Wylie & Happy 70th Birthday Grandpa!

                          
                                                    Some things Wylie got for his birthday: 

January 12th the fun continued as Wylie got another birthday party with his friends. This was his first "non" themed party per his request. He requested that some of his close buddies come over & sleepover. It was almost a perfect night. One of his best buds got the stomach flu and couldn't make it but we have a make up sleep over party for the two of them next weekend, so we are all good.  It was a fun night full of pizza, cupcakes, snacks, football playoffs, knee hockey games, slot car races and more. Lots of loud cheering & laughs through out the night!

                Nicholas, Tyler, Wylie and Erik (Jack not pictured and home sick..boo ) 

For me, it was an emotional week.  I was caught off guard at my emotions for both my Dad and Wylie's birthdays. I think I just feel so so fortunate and lucky to have my Dad around and healthy and mostly importantly such a big part of our lives and to share such a special time each year with Wylie. And well, I was emotional on Wylie's birthday because he is NINE. WHAT? Where is my little boy? Luckily, he still has a little boy heart and I will hold on to that as long as I can. It was just a great weekend celebrating two people I love very much! 

~It's My Life

5.4.3.2.1....Happy New Year

We hosted our 2nd annual New Year Eve Party and it was a great night! Why we didn't think of doing this party years ago is beyond me. I missed some of my friends who have their annual NYE plans but was happy that a lot of friends joined us! We truly are lucky to have such great people in our life & our kids life!

                                                           We are ready to party!! 

2012 Trivia game: Men vs Ladies  

Ladies Won . . . again!! 

Girls working on their arts & crafts!! 

Junior cup races & Grand Prix Race 

(this is some serious racing, no joke!) 

1st Movie showing 9:30pm~ Madagascar 3 

Dancing under the disco ball to "gangnam Style"

The kids that made it to Midnight!! 

New Year day tradition~ setting off a rocket

5.4.3.2.1..... Blast off

*you can see the smoke next to Kasey who is closest to Jacques and the rocket is almost to the top of the picture in red... Jack and Wylie (on right) are the rocket chasers.  It is a great New Years Day Tradition! 

Happy 2013! 

~It's My Life 

Family Traditions

I am so happy that we got another Christmas with all three kids still believing in all the magic. I am not going to lie, it is getting tougher and tougher to convince them of these magical happenings.  Christmas Eve day might have been one of the longest days, ever! The kids get so excited they can hardly stand it. And one of the best things is that they get equally excited for family time as they do the gifts, well okay maybe not totally equal but pretty close. They love traditions! My parents come over Christmas Eve and have dinner with us, the kids open their gifts they picked out for each other and my parents spend the night. After the kids, finally, fall asleep Jacques, myself, and my Mom and Dad watch Christmas Vacation together! Oh and I can't forget that "santa" prepping . . . It is just a great night!

Christmas  morning is here & the wait is over . . . "Can we go down yet?"

"Can't we just peek around the corner?" 

Finally, once Mom, Dad, Grandma & Grandpa all made it down stairs they ran to the living room. 

Santa brought jumbo pillow pets along with some fun stocking stuffers! 

We spent some time opening gifts, eating brunch and spending time as a family! We spent the afternoon playing with toys! Some of the kids favorites: 

                                                  Until next Christmas~ 2012 was good to us!

                                                                             ~It's My Life