Things This Mom Does Not Do

I came across this blog the other day from The Happiest Mom and on it the writer listed 5 things she does not do as a mom and 5 things she wishes she did do as a mom.  

I thought I would try my own list.

Things This Mom Does Not Do

Purposefully Lose at Games.  I am too competitive to lose at games when I play with my children.  If they win, it is an honest win, and if they lose well then they have to deal with it...

Watch Cartoons.  Many of the cartoons now a days really grate on my nerves.  It is rare I will sit down and watch a cartoon with my kids and not have something else to do (read a book, grade papers, etc.).  Now I do enjoy watching many of kid movies with them, but when it come to the 30 minutes shows on Disney, Nick Jr., or Sprout...I could do without.

Iron.  I think one of the best products out there is Downy Wrinkle Release spray.  It has saved me many mornings from having to iron clothes.  I will iron on rare occasions, but for the most part I just leave it to my husband to take care of.

Things this Mom Does Not Do  BUT Wants To

Do More Craft Activities.  I would love to do more craft activities with my kids.  I find that sometimes my patience and / or energy level is zapped by the time I get home or the weekend comes to do these type of activities.  I know my kids would love it and I hope I can make this a reality soon.

Finish / Start My Children's Scrapbooks.  I am so far behind and there are times I want to give up.  Katie's is 3/4 of the way done and Jake only has photos organized into a folder for when I do start his.    I hope to make his a bound book instead of a scrap book.

Take More Home Movies of the Kids.  We took a ton of footage when Maddie was little and then there has been a sharp decline of the video footage taken with each child.  I was reminded tonight when I took snippets of Jake's dancing of how much I may be missing...

What are your mom don'ts?

Reality TV

Okay...I will 'fess up.

I enjoy reality tv.

Now I use the term reality loosely, but I take guilty pleasure in watching other people's train wrecks.

My first taste came with MTV's The Real World. It was the season in San Francisco. I so enjoyed watching their "drama."

Today I now like watching most of the competition shows - especially cooking ones. I also enjoyed pretty much anything on Bravo TV.

Right now I am watching Big Brother, Real Housewives of NY and New Jersey, the Next Food Network Star, Design Star, and Master Chef.

What don't I watch? I have never been able to get into the Bachelor / Bachelorette. I also no longer watch MTV series like Teen Mom or Real World.

What guilty TV pleasure do you have?

What??? It is July 8th Already???

Where has the summer gone?
It feels just like yesterday I was counting the days for summer to come.
I am definitely NOT ready for it to end, so I am NOT counting down for when I have to report back to school.  Surprisingly though, my girls have said they are ready for school.  I think they miss their friends.  While I love our neighborhood and house, the one drawback is there are not enough kids nearby for them to play with.  All of our immediate neighbors are either retired or nearing retirement.

Where has our summer gone?  
The Tour of Florida (Gainesville, Tampa, and Disney)
Vacation Bible School
Acting Camp
Golf Lessons
Our 9 year anniversary
Trips to the movies
Lots of Swimming
Lots of books read and drawings made

Where is our summer going?
Washington D.C. / Virginia
More golf lessons and acting camp
More swimming
Hopefully a trip to the beach
Trip to Atlanta
Jake's first birthday
More books to read and more drawings to make

I Am a Mother

It has been a long tome since I have posted.  I have had lots of ideas floating around in my head but have not made the time to sit down and write them down.

I Am a Mother...

I am the mother of five (I include my dogs in that count).

I am a mother who is fiercely protective of her children and struggles with making sure I am not over protective.

I am a mother who loves to celebrate their birthdays.

I am mother who has trouble finding the balance between my family, my work, and myself.

I am a mother who needs a little mothering herself.

 I am a mother who is divided...I want my kids to stay little, but I love seeing them grow up and assert their independence.

I am a mother who...

loves my blue jeans and wishes I could wear them to work.

wants to find more time to pursue my personal interests.

who loves to cook, but hates housework.

who has big ideas for my house.

who is married to my best friend.

who KNOWS she needs to have more patience.

and who LOVES her life.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yesterday...
When I think back on the past I can say without a doubt I had a happy childhood.  Growing up I had a loving family, of course there were dysfunctions, but what family doesn't have those.  I know I was loved and I know I was happy and the way I was raised made me the person I am today.  No regrets or what ifs hang over my head.

Today...
Today my life continues to be happy...oh sure I have my wants, but I have no needs.  Today I want my children to go to bed happy and know they are loved.  I want my husband to know I will be there when he goes to sleep and when he wakes up and plan on being there for at least the next 50 years.

Tomorrow...
Tomorrow I look forward to my children grow into confident and caring individuals who will be able to think for themselves.  I want to help raise a generation both in my home and in my classroom of people who care for those around them.

8 Weeks and Counting

Spring Break is over...

8 weeks left of for school.

Will I make it?  About this time every year I ask myself the same question and every year I make it with my sanity still in tact.

I cannot wait for summer this year.  Last summer was rough because I was in my last trimester of my pregnancy and did not want to do anything.  It was too hot to move and every time I moved too much I began having contractions.  I felt bad for my girls because they did not get to do a lot of fun stuff.

My plan for this summer is to be a summer of fun.  Lots of time swimming, trips big and small, and good memories (I hope) for all of us.

Now to get through these 8 weeks...

What Makes Me Happy

When I was in college I kept a happiness journal.  I still have that journal and here is a list of a few of the things that made me happy back then:

fresh cut flowers

washing th car while barefoot

Cool Water cologne

french fries with ranch dressing

Monster Margaritas

Denny's

My badge

sleeping in

beer and Oreos

hammocks

Basset Hounds

roaming the halls

sunrises and sunsets

water fights

drinking beer and shooting pool

formal dresses

window seats

Now some of the things that make me happy:

my husband

my beautiful children

my dogs

supper club

a glass of wine

a quiet house

a noisy house

planning birthday parties

my dogs

having a screened in porch with a fan

seeing my students graduate

my mom's Rice Krispy Treats

sunsets

wrap around porches

window seats

my children's laughter

having a tidy house and all of the laundry done

My list could go on and on...maybe I should start recording this in a journal again.

What makes you happy?