Pretty Ballerina

New Play-Date Mates

A few months ago our family went through a transition.  We started attending a different church that is in our town.  Before, we were going to a church in the town where all of my friends live.  The old church met our needs and we were enjoying the friendships we made there.  God was stirring in us, though, to try out the church here.  James knew a few of the guys who went and then a family dear to us started attending.  In October, James and I decided that we would begin the process of trying it out.  Almost immediately we knew that this was where our family was supposed to be.  I was ok with it; I still had my Monday night Bible study girls along with my MOPS gals.  Since the church is huge on discipleship of the guys, I felt that James may enjoy interacting with some local guys while growing in Christ.

Two weeks ago at church, a spunky lady probably a few years younger than me introduced herself to me and said she saw my hair the week before and told herself that she had to meet the girl with the great hair (I was kind of shell-shocked because I've never really been complimented on my hair by a stranger!)  I was happy to meet her.  Then this week she came up to me and invited me and the kiddos for a play-date with some fellow mommies.  I was stoked.  Since all of my friends live in a town 20 minutes from here, I've only had a few local play-dates at the McDonald's PlayPlace and the water park.  It was a nice thought of just jotting across town to have some mommie/kiddo time.  Now don't get me wrong, I will drive any distance for a play date so my friends in A-town do not despair, I will still drive to "play" ANYTIME!!!  ;-)  

Today was the day.  I made some "no-bake" cookies last night and Isaiah, Samara and I piled into Bonnie at 11am and headed over for the play-date.  It's such a small world because one of the mommies is related to our neighbor across the street from us. (sing with me now...it's a small world after all...)  Anyway, it was a group of 3 other mommies and 7 precious kiddos.  Isaiah was the oldest, but he handled himself very well.  Samara dressed up as a princess so she was definitely in her element.  I totally enjoyed getting to hear some of these gals' stories, where they are at with their faith, and their life as a mommy.  We sipped on delicious coffee from our local coffee shop, had an amazing smörgåsbord for lunch, and then nibbled on the cookies as a snack.  At 2:30pm, we made our way back home to let George out and then pick Malachi up from school.  It was definitely a lovely Thursday.

Hopefully, I didn't scare them off and I'll get invited sometime for another play-date =)

We May Never Have a Child-Free Home

It's adorable.  Instead of Isaiah saying, "when I grow up" or "when I'm an adult", he says, "when I'm a daddy."  He's talked about how when he marries, he will still call me a lot.  But a few days ago, he started saying that he isn't going to get married.  He is just going to live with us forever so he wouldn't have to call us.  I'll have to remind him of this when he thinks we are the worst parents ever and can't wait to move out ;-)

Samara's Birthday List

The month of January is jam-packed full of birthdays including the boys' and mine.  Since Samara doesn't want to be left out, she has started telling us what she wants for her birthday (it isn't until Sept!)  She doesn't want much except:

  " Mr. Incredibles Daddy
    Mr. Incredibles Mommy
    Mr. Incredibles Boy
    Mr. Incredibles Girl
    Mr. Incredibles boots
    Mr. Incredibles mask
    Sleeping 'Booty' (Beauty) dress
    Sleeping 'Booty' shoes
    Sleeping 'Booty' cape
    Pocahontas dress
    John Smith (from Pocahontas)"

I have a feeling this list is just going to get longer and longer and . . .

Randomness

She picked out her outfit to wear to pick Malachi up from school.  Yes, she did get out of the car like this!

Her throne....chill-laxin'

I Do Care

A few nights ago Malachi came into our bedroom long after he should have been asleep.  With a heavy heart, he told me there was a girl at school who will say bad words  (granted, I didn't ask what words they were because we are very strict about what they can say so the bad word may have been "stupid" or it could have been way worse.)  But what concerned him the most was that she told Malachi that her dad doesn't care if she says the bad words; he just doesn't care.  We talked about how sad that was and Malachi said that he was happy that James and I care.

This conversation has been nagging me ever since. Does this little girl have someone in her life who really does care about her?  Does her dad realize that his daughter has this view of him?  Why do some parents not take their role seriously?  Do they think it's an option to be involved in their child's life? It's an option to raise these precious ones correctly?  These are little humans who are desperately impressionable. What a reality check that at the age of 5 or 6, a child can tell whether or not a parent cares enough about them to teach them morals, values and discipline. And moreover, they are happy to have their parents care enough to teach them right from wrong.

Yes, it is exhausting disciplining kiddos; it is simply exhausting raising them.  You have to die to yourself and think of what's best for them.  But it's such a natural transition, though, too.  When Malachi was first born, all I could think about was his needs, what I could do for him.  Eventually, I had to remember that I had needs, too, that needed taken care of.  But my first thought was about him.  How do some parents not think about their kiddos' needs above their own? 

With all of these thoughts, I then remembered going to Walmart last week just to grab a loaf of bread.  I encountered a mother with 2 small girls down the aisle.  I couldn't tell what the little curly-haired blond girl was saying, but suddenly the mom yelled at her to "shut up" and stop talking so *curse word* much.  The little girl was crushed and told her mom that she wasn't being nice.  I wanted to scoop that little girl up and hug her and tell her that Jesus loves her.  She needed someone to love on her.  Now, I am not the perfect "Walmart" mommy, but this just encouraged me to be that much more understanding and loving of a mommy. What did that teach that precious girl? 

So for the record Malachi, Isaiah and Samara.  I DO CARE.  I do care that you are raised knowing Jesus loves you.  I do care that you are hugged and loved on daily.  I do care that you learn right from wrong.  I do care that you are praised for your good choices and disciplined for your bad choices.  I do care that you eat healthy, have clean clothes on your back and have a good home to come home to.  I do care so incredibly much and I hope that you never have to question the depths of how much I care.   I do care because I love you.  It's that simple.        

Happy Groundhog Day

I think our Groundhog is way cuter than the one that makes national news.