Thursday, January 29, 2009

What I learned today: Never let your kids play on the computer right after eating glazed donuts.
What Ella learned today: Stuffed animals are not meant to wear lipstick.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Give Me A "G"



Give me a "G"
Give me an "O"
Give me an aspirin










Actually I really enjoy coaching Upwards cheerleading but it can definitely be exhausting ~ espeacially w/ 8 kindergartners & 3 1st graders. Marley is cheering for her 2nd year and really enjoys it. Our church offers a league called Upwards ~ it is a national organization offered through local churches. It is an incredible outreach ministry and a very well run program. The goal is to reach families for Jesus through sports. Whenever I get a chance to share a testimony during 1/2- Time I share a saying I learned at Hoosier Hills Baptist Camp when I was a teenager..."It is easier to build boys and girls than to repair men and women."

I am thankful to be a part of a church that recognizes the need to get out in the community and share the love of God. Thankful to be a part of a church that recognizes that it is not up to us to change people ~ but up to God. And thankful to be a part of a church that recognizes the value of a child.

Now, with all of that said.....I really need to go get a tylenol!

Goodnight!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Who asked you, Mark Twain?


Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

~Mark Twain


I've never really cared much for Mark Twain.

If you know me even a little you know that I hate birthdays. Not other people's ~ just mine. And not the gifts and cake; they're great, just the whole getting older thing. So I guess I should say I don't like aging. It's really annoying. And please, I implore you, don't ever tell me, "Well, it's better than the alternative."

While yes, I do agree it is better than the alternative, I would just prefer a little pity over well intended cliches.

The reason this is on my mind when my birthday isn't for another 7 months is because of the 1" long crease (not wrinkle) that has shown up right between my eyes. I seriously think it's because of squinting as I've had alot of headaches. The only time it goes away is when I raise my eyebrows. So, if I appear surprised to see you, don't think too much of it!!

The way I see it is that I have 3 options:

1. Botox
2. Leave it and grow old gracefully (not likely)
3. Let my eyebrows grow together to cover it (for me, this would take only about a week or 2)

I don't know....this whole thought of aging is very interesting to me, though. We were with a large group of friends and the discussion came up about how as we age, we progress in our comfort level of talking about things like bowel movements. (I think it was Kristin who made this observation)

It's true. As a teenager you would have been mortified if someone even suspected that you had bowel movements. But then we have kids of our own and we become quite comfortable sharing diaper stories. And now, at this point in life, apparently desensitized to poop, I can comfortably exit a bathroom and announce "Whoa! You do not want to go in there!" (not always, just after certain meals).

This theory is very similar to my ice-cream theory that I may have shared with you.

As a kid I always loved chocolate ice-cream. Maybe even w/ chocolate syrup on top. Fast forward to now ~ I prefer peanut butter or vanilla w/ caramel sauce. What's next, BUTTER PECAN?

Just give me some root beer barrel hard candies and orange marmalade while you're at it.

I'm not quite sure why this is so heavy on my mind tonight. Maybe it's because I've not put on make-up or left the house in a couple of days because I've been organizing and cleaning.

And maybe a bowl of ice-cream will make me feel better....I'm not telling you what kind, though!

Dinner and Dancing

There is something so pleasurable about fine dining. An elegantly set table, flickering candles in a dimly lit room and easy listening music soothingly playing tends to relax most anyone. Prolong the evening with dancing and delectable confections (I like the word delectable) and you've had a perfectly lovely experience.

The girls and I busied ourselves transforming our dining room into "La Cafe Des Delices." I prepared dinner as they happily set the table and decorated cupcakes. Once everything was in place they disapeared upstairs to seek appropriate attire for the occasion.

The food and fancy drinks were ready to be served and the girls were dressed to the nines. Alternating between dancing and peering out the window, they passed the time waiting for Heath to pull into the driveway. When he arrived, they behaved like perfect little princesses.

"Please pass the rolls." "Thank you!" "May I be excused?"

Their manners ~ long gone I had feared ~ were suddenly back (and w/ some sort of a weird Victorian/English accent).

We all enjoyed the evening and the girls were none the wiser that I concocted the entire event to teach them a few conventional requirements as to social behavior....aka: MANNERS!


If there were an award for Creative Parenting, I would nominate myself!!