I tried to email everyone that I know reads this blog. I changed the address because the old one with the missing "e" was bugging me :)
If I missed you, hopefully you'll figure it out and come back to me!
May 21, 2007
May 20, 2007
Its NOT an omen!
So, my "Unconditional Parenting" book met its demise today. I'm sad to report that Adeline threw it in the toilet. This bring a HUGE chuckle to my throat, as it seems predictable that the toilet would be right where a 3-year old would believe any parenting book belongs.
Unfortunately, the pages swelled up within seconds and even my speedy response wasn't fast enough to save this copy :(
On an ironic front, I actually ended up with 2 copies of this book. I lent my other copy out to a friend, but hopefully she won't mind me borrowing it back to finish the last couple of chapters. I was *just* getting to the good stuff.
Unfortunately, the pages swelled up within seconds and even my speedy response wasn't fast enough to save this copy :(
On an ironic front, I actually ended up with 2 copies of this book. I lent my other copy out to a friend, but hopefully she won't mind me borrowing it back to finish the last couple of chapters. I was *just* getting to the good stuff.
May 18, 2007
Randomness
Random thoughts - just to squelch the complaining about my lack of blogging. (love you all!)
*Yes, we are moving. Again. We refer to it as our yearly move - since we have actually moved every June since we got married. (And a couple times in between.) We're quite excited about this move. We found a cheaper house (which was our #1 criteria), but this house also happens to be NEWER with a REAL, LIVE backyard. (When I get around to putting up some pictures of this backyard, ya'all will laugh at its small size - but let me tell you - compared to most here in MX, this yard is HUGE!) We're hoping to get a big load of crap - I mean, furniture ;) - over there tomorrow night. We won't be able to ACTUALLY move (i.e. sleep, eat, live) at the new house until the phone and internet get hooked up. Otherwise, Kyle won't be able to study. So, in the meantime, I've been packing and cleaning. You remember how much I love Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, right? Well, I've been reacquainted with my love today. We went through 1 entire box (4 erasers) and there's plenty more work to do. I just love that I don't have to repaint the walls!
*Jogging has been going well. We added an extra buddy in our morning runs, which has really helped in the motivation. Now, if I decide to sleep in, I'm letting down 2 people, instead of 1. As a result, i was up w/ the alarm every day at 6 this week. I think we're doing about 2 miles a session. It would be nice to up it to 3, but between our warmup, stretching, and the run - we're already taking 30 minutes. We'd have to get up even earlier to add any more time - and I'm not sure when I'll be willing to do that. After we move, I'll be on my own for running. I figure I'll get up and go int he mornings for now, but hopefully when we're in AZ this summer I can get a single jogging stroller, then maybe next semester I can go jogging with Sullivan right after I drop G and A off at school
* I found a GREAT school for the kids for next year. Its bilingual, with a HUGE focus on arts/talents which I LOVE. They actually have little classes in French too, so maybe I should say its trilingual ;) The principal was amazing - and while it costs more than where they are this year, it has its advantages. Shelley (friend) also takes her son there, so we can set up a carpool and I won't have to drive every day. SOLD! Its called "The American Academy" even though the owner is French, there aren't any Americans, and it doesn't follow American curriculum. Go figure.
* As an update on the Unconditional Parenting blog from a while back. I wasn't seeing improvement for a while (I originally put "things got worse" but that's not true - it was really just the same chaos as always - honesty is the best policy, right?) but I think I'm seeing the fruits of my labor. YEsterday I was babysitting my friend's 2 kids for an hour (yes, I had 5 children ages 4 and under.) and when the little boy called Guthrie a name, he actually looked at him and said (sweetly). "(boy), please don't call me a peepee, I don't like that." To which (boy) replied, "'OK." That's EXACTLY how we've been trying to teach him to handle things (vs. tattling which makes me want to claw my ears off.) It works better with other kids than it does on Adeline though. She loves to bug Guthrie by sitting on his beanbag. He's really good about asking her nicely to move, unfortunately, she's not all that great at actually moving. Usually it escalates into a fight. Well, a couple of days ago, he asked her to move (nicely) and she jumped right up and scooted over to her own beanbag. Guthrie's eyes got wide, and he said to me excitedly, "MOM!! She respected me!" AHHHH! LOL! It was all I could do not to crack up!
Long day packing, cleaning, and softball-gaming tomorrow, so I think I'll end there.
:)
*Yes, we are moving. Again. We refer to it as our yearly move - since we have actually moved every June since we got married. (And a couple times in between.) We're quite excited about this move. We found a cheaper house (which was our #1 criteria), but this house also happens to be NEWER with a REAL, LIVE backyard. (When I get around to putting up some pictures of this backyard, ya'all will laugh at its small size - but let me tell you - compared to most here in MX, this yard is HUGE!) We're hoping to get a big load of crap - I mean, furniture ;) - over there tomorrow night. We won't be able to ACTUALLY move (i.e. sleep, eat, live) at the new house until the phone and internet get hooked up. Otherwise, Kyle won't be able to study. So, in the meantime, I've been packing and cleaning. You remember how much I love Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, right? Well, I've been reacquainted with my love today. We went through 1 entire box (4 erasers) and there's plenty more work to do. I just love that I don't have to repaint the walls!
*Jogging has been going well. We added an extra buddy in our morning runs, which has really helped in the motivation. Now, if I decide to sleep in, I'm letting down 2 people, instead of 1. As a result, i was up w/ the alarm every day at 6 this week. I think we're doing about 2 miles a session. It would be nice to up it to 3, but between our warmup, stretching, and the run - we're already taking 30 minutes. We'd have to get up even earlier to add any more time - and I'm not sure when I'll be willing to do that. After we move, I'll be on my own for running. I figure I'll get up and go int he mornings for now, but hopefully when we're in AZ this summer I can get a single jogging stroller, then maybe next semester I can go jogging with Sullivan right after I drop G and A off at school
* I found a GREAT school for the kids for next year. Its bilingual, with a HUGE focus on arts/talents which I LOVE. They actually have little classes in French too, so maybe I should say its trilingual ;) The principal was amazing - and while it costs more than where they are this year, it has its advantages. Shelley (friend) also takes her son there, so we can set up a carpool and I won't have to drive every day. SOLD! Its called "The American Academy" even though the owner is French, there aren't any Americans, and it doesn't follow American curriculum. Go figure.
* As an update on the Unconditional Parenting blog from a while back. I wasn't seeing improvement for a while (I originally put "things got worse" but that's not true - it was really just the same chaos as always - honesty is the best policy, right?) but I think I'm seeing the fruits of my labor. YEsterday I was babysitting my friend's 2 kids for an hour (yes, I had 5 children ages 4 and under.) and when the little boy called Guthrie a name, he actually looked at him and said (sweetly). "(boy), please don't call me a peepee, I don't like that." To which (boy) replied, "'OK." That's EXACTLY how we've been trying to teach him to handle things (vs. tattling which makes me want to claw my ears off.) It works better with other kids than it does on Adeline though. She loves to bug Guthrie by sitting on his beanbag. He's really good about asking her nicely to move, unfortunately, she's not all that great at actually moving. Usually it escalates into a fight. Well, a couple of days ago, he asked her to move (nicely) and she jumped right up and scooted over to her own beanbag. Guthrie's eyes got wide, and he said to me excitedly, "MOM!! She respected me!" AHHHH! LOL! It was all I could do not to crack up!
Long day packing, cleaning, and softball-gaming tomorrow, so I think I'll end there.
:)
May 10, 2007
Faux-hawk!
People keep telling me to cut his hair, but I'm feeling too sentimental about my baby growing up. I found the BEST hairstyle to showcase his personality. The mullet/faux-hawk. A view from the front (above) and the back (below.) He has a better pony-tail than I can get in Addie's hair most days.
There's nothing better than the sweet surprise of extra bodies in your bed in the morning. Especially when these bodies give me an extra hour of sleep in the morning.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Addie - EVER! I just love her dark brown eyes, messy hair, and grin. Her smile is SO enchanting!
May 8, 2007
I REMEMBER!
I had a pretty overwhelming day. I tried to wake Guthrie this morning to get ready for school, and he was completely unwakeable. I let it go and decided to keep them home rather than fight, rush, and beg to get things done quickly.
We spent the morning in chaos. Sullivan MUST be teething (although it seems like the same back molar has been trying to come in for weeks.) He's got runny poos, maybe a little fever, and oh man - was he fussy today. Adeline acted like she needed a nap only an hour after she woke up - and Guthrie decided to test limits all day long. (As a side-note: I'm thinking Guthrie is just getting used to our new no-punishment thing. He has been really sweet for the most part, but when he *does* decide to misbehave, it seems very deliberate and calculated. I'm still working on how I should handle this.)
Anyway, the house was already untidy this morning, and as the day wore on it turned into utter chaos. Seriously I was tripping over clean laundry, toys, shoes, cups, books. . .you name it - it was on my floor. By 6:30 tonight, I was physically ill from the disorder. Seriously - nauseated. Sullivan was STILL crying, and my bag of tricks was empty.
I finally had to ask Kyle to take a break from studying and hold the baby just so I could finish the small project I had started. (Clearing the clutter from my bedroom floor and packing our giant suitcase with all the clothes we won't need for the next few weeks - kind of a start to packing for the move, without REALLY packing for the move.)
Things calmed down after that, kind of. I nursed Sully for an hour until he was out cold, then prayed G and A would sleep while I cleaned the kitchen. Just getting the dishes done helped my mood a lot. I picked up a few things from the family room, although I'll admit I just did enough to clear a walking path. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
Feeling rather dejected and down, I picked up my "Remembering Wholeness" book and figured a few chapters would help me re-focus. It was PERFECT - seriously just what I needed.
I am PERFECT! I don't *do* perfect, but I *am* perfect. You might come to my house and see clutter and messy faces, but you'll be able to feel that my heart is in the right place. I am happy, life is easy, and it is familiar. I know how to do what I need to do, and I have all the tools to get it done. My children might seem unruly to you, but they're perfect for me. They think for themselves, they question the world, and they love me unconditionally, just like I love them. They're becoming exactly the people I hoped they would become.
After that little pick me up - I feel ready to sleep knowing that tomorrow I get to keep on keeping on. I even feel excited about tackling that pile of laundry that I've been trying to ignore.
I *am* whole. . . I just keep forgetting. So from now on, I REMEMBER!
1 more affirmation : my hormones affect my reproductive cycle, but they have no bearing on my mood. MWAHAHAHAHA! How that?
We spent the morning in chaos. Sullivan MUST be teething (although it seems like the same back molar has been trying to come in for weeks.) He's got runny poos, maybe a little fever, and oh man - was he fussy today. Adeline acted like she needed a nap only an hour after she woke up - and Guthrie decided to test limits all day long. (As a side-note: I'm thinking Guthrie is just getting used to our new no-punishment thing. He has been really sweet for the most part, but when he *does* decide to misbehave, it seems very deliberate and calculated. I'm still working on how I should handle this.)
Anyway, the house was already untidy this morning, and as the day wore on it turned into utter chaos. Seriously I was tripping over clean laundry, toys, shoes, cups, books. . .you name it - it was on my floor. By 6:30 tonight, I was physically ill from the disorder. Seriously - nauseated. Sullivan was STILL crying, and my bag of tricks was empty.
I finally had to ask Kyle to take a break from studying and hold the baby just so I could finish the small project I had started. (Clearing the clutter from my bedroom floor and packing our giant suitcase with all the clothes we won't need for the next few weeks - kind of a start to packing for the move, without REALLY packing for the move.)
Things calmed down after that, kind of. I nursed Sully for an hour until he was out cold, then prayed G and A would sleep while I cleaned the kitchen. Just getting the dishes done helped my mood a lot. I picked up a few things from the family room, although I'll admit I just did enough to clear a walking path. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
Feeling rather dejected and down, I picked up my "Remembering Wholeness" book and figured a few chapters would help me re-focus. It was PERFECT - seriously just what I needed.
I am PERFECT! I don't *do* perfect, but I *am* perfect. You might come to my house and see clutter and messy faces, but you'll be able to feel that my heart is in the right place. I am happy, life is easy, and it is familiar. I know how to do what I need to do, and I have all the tools to get it done. My children might seem unruly to you, but they're perfect for me. They think for themselves, they question the world, and they love me unconditionally, just like I love them. They're becoming exactly the people I hoped they would become.
After that little pick me up - I feel ready to sleep knowing that tomorrow I get to keep on keeping on. I even feel excited about tackling that pile of laundry that I've been trying to ignore.
I *am* whole. . . I just keep forgetting. So from now on, I REMEMBER!
1 more affirmation : my hormones affect my reproductive cycle, but they have no bearing on my mood. MWAHAHAHAHA! How that?
May 3, 2007
Tag - You're it!
1. Comics or novels? Novels, no contest. Do they still make comics?
2. Neat or slob? I really really really really really want to be neat. I love organization and cleanliness - but at the end of the day I would have to admit that I'm constantly fighting my inner slob. (Good thing I live in Mexico and have a weekly cleaning lady :p )
3. Chocolate or peanut butter? Chocolate. DUH!
4. Cold or Hot? hot hot hot!! I'm an Arizona girl and would take boating, swimming, and sweating over chills and snow anyday!
5. Talk or sleep? talk. I love those nights when the conversation just flows and Kyle and I end up lying in bed daydreaming aloud for hours. Although, with a baby who hasn't slept through the night yet - sleep is getting more appealing everyday.
6. Being told you're loved, having time spent with you, getting a present, having something done for you, being touched. I'm pretty sure I read this book when we were first married. (5 love languages, anyone?) I must be high maintenance because I could never pick between any one of these. I NEEEEED them all on a continual basis. Lately I crave time more than anything - but ultimately if too much time passes without the other categories I feel bummed.
7. Which is your least favorite season? Fall in Mexico - I LOVE the rain, so I'm always sad to see the rainy season draw to an end in September or October :(
8. Do you like your photo being taken? Yes! I'm usually the one behind the camera, so I'm thrilled when I get to sneak in a photo. I want my kids to look back at their pictures and see what mommy looked like when they were young.
9. Have you ever blabbed a secret when you said you wouldn't? Probably ;)
10. Who do you think has the most interesting life in your social (blog) group? hmmm - maybe Meems. She moved to the US from Germany, immediately after marrying her husband (whom she met while he was serving his mission in Germany.) That has to be crazy, right??
11. Do you ever fantasize about having a different life? Not really - well, unless fantasizing about the day when we have health insurance and a paycheck counts - then ALL THE TIME! :p
12. Have you ever had to start your life all over again? Moving to Guadalajara felt like we were starting all over. We sold all our furniture and started all over again down here. Thankfully, I got to keep the kids and the husband ;)
13. What are the three most important things to look for in a relationship? sense of humor, common interests, and common language. (that last one is always a plus.)
14. Words, tone and delivery, or body language: Which do you absorb first? Which is the most important? Tone and delivery - you can say you love me, but if you don't say it like you mean it, then it doesn't count. Likewise, you can yell, "I hate you!" but if you're hugging me and laughing, then I won't believe you.
15. Are you a good communicator? I try - but I have room to improve.
16. Do you think you talk too much? Totally - but I tend to hang out with other people who talk too much, so sometimes we're a room full of people just trying to get a word in edgewise.
17. Can you handle the truth? Hmmmm, probably not. There are only a few things I'm truly passionate about, so to have those things criticized in myself would probably hurt. Doesn't mean I don't need it, though.
18. How often do you cry? a few times a month - I should probably cry more, because I always feel much better afterward.
19. What sound annoys you the most? Kids fighting *plugs ears* - but the BEST sound in the world is children laughing. :)
20. Where did your pet get its name? We once had a dog named Sadie - which is what I begged Kyle to name Adeline, but he really didn't like it. Coincidentally, its also my cousin's name.
21. Would you rather be single, dating, engaged or married? Married. I'm so not jealous of those in the dating game - its exhausting and loses its appeal very quickly.
22. Significance, self-worth, security. Which is more important? Self-worth. I'm actually reading a book right now that talks about all the things that can go wrong if we don't have a high enough regard for ourselves, and our own capabilities. YIKES!
23. If you could have one super hero power, what would it be? I'd like to be super-fast like "The Flash!" I could get the house clean in no time flat and then have the rest of the day to play, shop, cook, and spend time with the kids!
24. Do you think you are a good driver? Yes, SUPER good. My mom yells at me to drive faster when we're visiting the states. I feel like 35 is WAY too fast.
25. Why do you go to work? I don't right now, but when we get back to the states I will someday go to work because my kids are grown and I've found the job that suits my fancy.
26. Who was your favorite teacher? I think I had a teacher in Jr. High who let me sleep long after the bell rang. I didn't like him enough to remember his name, but that was awfully nice of him.
27. Who's survey would you most like to see? Serin, Genny, Jenn, Mimi, Ashley
2. Neat or slob? I really really really really really want to be neat. I love organization and cleanliness - but at the end of the day I would have to admit that I'm constantly fighting my inner slob. (Good thing I live in Mexico and have a weekly cleaning lady :p )
3. Chocolate or peanut butter? Chocolate. DUH!
4. Cold or Hot? hot hot hot!! I'm an Arizona girl and would take boating, swimming, and sweating over chills and snow anyday!
5. Talk or sleep? talk. I love those nights when the conversation just flows and Kyle and I end up lying in bed daydreaming aloud for hours. Although, with a baby who hasn't slept through the night yet - sleep is getting more appealing everyday.
6. Being told you're loved, having time spent with you, getting a present, having something done for you, being touched. I'm pretty sure I read this book when we were first married. (5 love languages, anyone?) I must be high maintenance because I could never pick between any one of these. I NEEEEED them all on a continual basis. Lately I crave time more than anything - but ultimately if too much time passes without the other categories I feel bummed.
7. Which is your least favorite season? Fall in Mexico - I LOVE the rain, so I'm always sad to see the rainy season draw to an end in September or October :(
8. Do you like your photo being taken? Yes! I'm usually the one behind the camera, so I'm thrilled when I get to sneak in a photo. I want my kids to look back at their pictures and see what mommy looked like when they were young.
9. Have you ever blabbed a secret when you said you wouldn't? Probably ;)
10. Who do you think has the most interesting life in your social (blog) group? hmmm - maybe Meems. She moved to the US from Germany, immediately after marrying her husband (whom she met while he was serving his mission in Germany.) That has to be crazy, right??
11. Do you ever fantasize about having a different life? Not really - well, unless fantasizing about the day when we have health insurance and a paycheck counts - then ALL THE TIME! :p
12. Have you ever had to start your life all over again? Moving to Guadalajara felt like we were starting all over. We sold all our furniture and started all over again down here. Thankfully, I got to keep the kids and the husband ;)
13. What are the three most important things to look for in a relationship? sense of humor, common interests, and common language. (that last one is always a plus.)
14. Words, tone and delivery, or body language: Which do you absorb first? Which is the most important? Tone and delivery - you can say you love me, but if you don't say it like you mean it, then it doesn't count. Likewise, you can yell, "I hate you!" but if you're hugging me and laughing, then I won't believe you.
15. Are you a good communicator? I try - but I have room to improve.
16. Do you think you talk too much? Totally - but I tend to hang out with other people who talk too much, so sometimes we're a room full of people just trying to get a word in edgewise.
17. Can you handle the truth? Hmmmm, probably not. There are only a few things I'm truly passionate about, so to have those things criticized in myself would probably hurt. Doesn't mean I don't need it, though.
18. How often do you cry? a few times a month - I should probably cry more, because I always feel much better afterward.
19. What sound annoys you the most? Kids fighting *plugs ears* - but the BEST sound in the world is children laughing. :)
20. Where did your pet get its name? We once had a dog named Sadie - which is what I begged Kyle to name Adeline, but he really didn't like it. Coincidentally, its also my cousin's name.
21. Would you rather be single, dating, engaged or married? Married. I'm so not jealous of those in the dating game - its exhausting and loses its appeal very quickly.
22. Significance, self-worth, security. Which is more important? Self-worth. I'm actually reading a book right now that talks about all the things that can go wrong if we don't have a high enough regard for ourselves, and our own capabilities. YIKES!
23. If you could have one super hero power, what would it be? I'd like to be super-fast like "The Flash!" I could get the house clean in no time flat and then have the rest of the day to play, shop, cook, and spend time with the kids!
24. Do you think you are a good driver? Yes, SUPER good. My mom yells at me to drive faster when we're visiting the states. I feel like 35 is WAY too fast.
25. Why do you go to work? I don't right now, but when we get back to the states I will someday go to work because my kids are grown and I've found the job that suits my fancy.
26. Who was your favorite teacher? I think I had a teacher in Jr. High who let me sleep long after the bell rang. I didn't like him enough to remember his name, but that was awfully nice of him.
27. Who's survey would you most like to see? Serin, Genny, Jenn, Mimi, Ashley
May 2, 2007
Flying Felon!
Guthrie walked up to me yesterday with blood dribbling off his lip and in a worried voice said, "Mommy, something happened." I asked him what happened, expecting a spilled drink or broken toy - but instead his lip trembled and he said, "My tooth fell out."
This caught me completely off guard, as he is *only* 4.9 years old - and I really had no clue I should be watching and checking for loose teeth. It turns out he was downstairs sneaking a bite of frozen chocolate and the tooth just popped right out. (This is bad news for me as I LOVE my chocolate to be frozen, and Kyle absolutely hates it. Now he can use this tooth as an added weight to his side of the argument.)
We searched the kitchen floor and found his teeny, adorable, tooth. I took some time to explain that its totally normal and to help him understand how cool it is to lose teeth and get new, "adult" teeth.
He then, proudly posed for the camera to show off his HOLE!
The sore on his lip is from something else - but you can see his absent tooth - to the side of the bottom front teeth.
He wanted me to take picture after picture to show off his smile - and it was quite funny how his smile changed to try to get that gap to show up.
He's dreaming peacefully in this picture waiting for the tooth fairy (flying felon) to come whisk his tooth away and replace it with a big boy toothbrush, big boy toothpaste and (3) $10 peso coins!!
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