Mommy of Many®

Yesterday I had the fun of being the Story Time reader at our local, Big Spoon Yogurt. 3, holiday-themed books were preselected, the room was rearranged and kiddos and mommies came in to enjoy some yummy yogurt and listen to some Thanksgiving fun. I’ve always enjoyed reading to my little ones and thought being able to participate in this monthly event would be fun. I was right!

Every 3rd Thurday from 1-2pm Story Time can be enjoyed, complete with a free 4 oz. yogurt for all listeners 6 yrs old and younger.

If you missed out on this month’s Story Time, be sure to mark your calendars for next month and THIS Saturday, November 19th from 1-2pm a Free and Fun special Holiday craft is being offered. A complimentary hot chocolate can be enjoyed during this craft time. Go! Free fun is my FAVE!

Big Spoon Yogurt, serving up yummy yogurt and a lil extra fun on the side.

Good Stuff that helps me keep Doing the Dance of the Children with a spring in my step~

~Sigh~

With a heaved sigh, I look at the clock and realize that I’ve had 2 whole hours to “work”. The sigh is because I’ve been at the computer and on the phone the entire time and while I know, for sure, that I’ve gotten lots of “work” done; loose ends tied up, emails sent, contacts made, statuses updated , phone calls made, my calendar updated, Oh yeah-dinner’s in the slow cooker and I made sure to announce my Story Time debut, but if you walked into my house right now, you’d see a stack of dirty pots and pans and every single knife in the house, waiting to be washed, vacuuming that needs to be done, clothes that need to be hung up and at least one bathroom that needs some attention given to cleaning detail.

Is it a M.O.M.’s constant Dancing act (some of you may juggle, or balance. I choose to do my work while dancing) to pick and choose which steps make it into the daily routine? I’m sick of feeling like I’ve worked. No! Wait! A rephrase is in order…I’m sick of KNOWING I’ve worked for hours/days but knowing that the work isn’t something my family can SEE, so there’s a lot of acting like M.O.M. does NOTHING.

I suppose this is my own hang up, something I need to let go of. But the floors still need to be cleaned and the dishes still need to be washed, so letting go of the “I haven’t worked hard enough” feelings isn’t going to change the fact that the work still needs to get done.

~Sigh~

So with another deep sigh, I think I’ll turn the music up, log off the computer and go do some work that will show me some results before I head out to pick kids up from school and head off to a fun Story Time (watch for this post).

Doing the Dance of the Children~

I’b dot a told…a bad one.

I woke yesterday to a runny nose, a cough and pressure in my sinuses. I took some vitamins, stayed well hydrated and ignored it. There’s no point in M.O.M. giving in to feeling sick because the Daily Dance isn’t going to stop or even slow much. So I pushed on. This morning it was a little worse, but again, I pushed forward, packed up the kids, toys, snacks and hit a park. But this evening this little cold of mine decided it would no longer be ignored and hit me hard. I know that none of this sounds like a reason to be thankful and none of that stuff is, but this…THIS, is Good Stuff-

Maddi comes in from San Diego tonight and not only was she landing at 10pm, but I just found out her flight’s been delayed and she won’t even land until about 11:30pm and who’s picking her up and delivering her here? Her dad. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL that tonight, of all nights, he is the one taking care of this. A reason to be thankful, indeed!

Now I’m going to drink some effervescent Vitamin C, curl up and go to sleep.

G’night~

Nothing spectacular has happened, we didn’t go to a parade or win the lottery, but having the extra day to just be has felt SO good!

On Friday, 11/11/11, we celebrated Max’s 9th birthday. It was cloudy out, so we chose to spend a couple hours at an indoor playplace-Wacky Tacky. It was crowded and full of the energy that kiddos with a day off have to burn! Tristan and Max especially liked the foam, air guns. They spent quite a bit of time shooting at anything and everything. When as much energy as possible was expended, we headed home for lunch. Then it was present time! Whoo Hoo! In the last few weeks, we’ve discovered the Plasma Car. One of our neighbors has them and the kids really fell in love with riding them. So not only did Gabi get one for her bday (pink, of course), but Max is now the happy owner of one in yellow. These really are great! They hold up to 180 lbs, sit low to the ground and require nothing but kiddo energy.

Then we enjoyed a nice dinner and dessert was some special Daddy n Max time at a frozen yogurt shop that also boasts a hot chocolate bar! Yum!

Yesterday we ran errands and spent some time visiting with a friend that was up from Pacific Beach. The kids enjoyed some time finding items to add to their Christmas lists at Barnes and Noble while I got to hear what’s been happening at the beach. A great afternoon!

This morning has been leisurely, with kids waking up one-at-a-time over the last couple hours. Max has been taking his Lego Creations vehicle (another bday gift) apart and rebuilding it into one of the other vehicles it’s capable of making. This would NOT of been a toy I would’ve enjoyed. I want things put together and to perform whatever function they’re created to perform, but Max and Tristan both LOVE taking their Legos apart and recreating over and over again. The difference between girls and boys? Or the difference between brains that function at what’s been deemed “genius” level and those of us who have regular ol’ brains? Who knows! But I’m glad they have so much fun with it all!

So it’s Legos and Apple Crumble muffins for breakfast and onto a Sunday that will involve some leftover homework, the beginnings of a school project, church in the evening and then youth group.

A good weekend!

Doing the Dance of the Children and Feeling Thankful For All of It~

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe that no one has to use the bathroom so bad as when there are chores to be done.

Doing the Dance of the Children~

Yesterday Lex and I headed over to Big Spoon Yogurt to watch Max enjoy the rewards of selling LOTS of cookie dough. After all the yogurt fun was over, I saw a sign announcing Craft Time from 1-2 on the first Thursday of the month. Hey! That was right then! So we decided to stay and check it out.

The day’s craft was a Turkey Cookie

Look how happy his is!

So, for all you local Mommies and Daddies with lil ones, who are constantly on the look out for free fun, make a note that Big Spoon Yogurt on Sunset hosts Craft Time from 1-2 the first Thursday of each month. The craft is free and so is a 4 oz. yogurt for any lil fun seekers who are 6 yr old and younger. And that’s not all! On the 3rd Thursday of each month, also from 1-2, they host Story Time! I LOVE Story Time! I love it SO much, that’s I’m going to be this month’s reader! Whoo Hoo! Come on out and join me!

I hope to see you there!

And until then, I’ll be here, as always, Doing the Dance of the Children~

My last couple of days have sure been a roller coaster full of icky, angry teenage angst/A fun day in SF/Some Great Pump-Me-Up Silpada Training/Happiness at Seeing Max be proud of an accomplishment/Fun Kid-Time Crafts and, of course some house cleaning.

2 nights ago, there was lots of angry time in my house. I hate it when that happens and I’m suddenly nominated for The Worst Mommy’s Club. It totally sucks the life out of me and does a number on the little ones. I then have to spend time getting my head back on straight and remembering that just because a teen is angry at me, doesn’t mean the words they’re spewing are true. This can, sometimes, take days to undo. Ugh! But at the same time, I have to ease the little ones’ minds after all the guck they’ve heard. It’s a tough, energy sucking job. This episode ended in a teen staying away from home for the last 2 days. This is UNACCEPTABLE! I haven’t received a call or visit from the parents where my teen is staying and I don’t have any contact info for them. So this morn I let my teen know (through text) that if I didn’t have the info by noon, the school and the police would be called. I’ve been told that my teen will be coming home after school. If not, well, I’ll go back to the plan.

On a lighter note, I got to have my mind soothed by heading into San Francisco, yesterday. I was treated to a fabulous lunch and a tour of a friend’s floral studio before heading over to a Silpada Designs training session. Perfect timing because I have a string of parties coming up and I needed some fresh energy! I got it! I’m excited to get out there, show off this fabulous jewelry, meet some great people, have some fun and make some money. All Good Stuff!

I got to take this beautiful wreath home. It’s draped over my dining table, waiting for me to find the right thing to do with it.

This afternoon Lex and I went over to a local yogurt shop to join Max, who was arriving with classmates in a Hummer limo for selling a certain amount of cookie dough. He was so happy! Afterward, we stayed for a craft time they were hosting (this is getting it’s own blog tomorrow, b/c there’s some Good Stuff to share for all my local mommies! Come back tomorrow to check it out!).

Heading back to school.

So, it’s just about time to start the afternoon pick ups and I’m feeling ready for it!

Doing the Dance of the Children Through it All~

After the school parties we came home, regrouped, freshened up the costumes, bought a bunch of candy and headed out into the neighborhood. I had been invited to bring the kids to a court a couple over from us, so we started over there with some visiting and playing and then hit the sidewalk. Maddi and Anna decided they would stay home and hand out the candy.

Ready to hit the sidewalks

Anna and Maddi ready to hand out candy

My kiddos and neighbor kiddos, ready to Trick-or-Treat

Pretty Maddi

We had a ton of fun! I got to meet neighbors and the kids realized how many classmates they live near. I was especially happy with my new neighborhood when I was handed a glass of wine and told it was tradition and that I could just return the glass to the front porch later. I do believe I love my new neighborhood!

I had made a full crock pot/rice pot meal so that the kids could have so real food after all the sweets, but they never made it to eating. It’s made for an easy dinner night tonight!

I walked with the kids for an hour and then passed them off to their dad who did more than an hour more! The kiddos brought home HEAVY bags of candy. I allowed them 2 pieces and then tucked them away to be doled out over time.

Halloween was FUN! It was nice for us to really feel like a part of our new neighborhood and to see so many friendly faces. We are truly in a good place.

Doing the Dance of the Children~

Dear Lil Blog,

I’m writing to apologize for abandoning you over the last week. I didn’t mean to go, it came up suddenly, and I found myself in a rushing current of life. I could see you on the bank watching me go by, but I just couldn’t get to you. I’m back now, a little bruised from the various rocks that beat my behind as I bumped over them, somewhat weary from the emotional toll and physical struggle of trying to get out of  that rushing torrent, but back none-the-less. I can’t wait to tell you all that was happening while I was stuck and all my thoughts. You were constantly on my mind, but I just had no way of reaching you.

I’m glad you’re still here! We’ll talk soon!

Love,
M.O.M.

Here is today’s amusing conversation between me and Lex. It’s getting so it’s a daily occurrence with this kiddo.

Lex-Mom, you know the bread we eat at church?

Me-You mean the host we receive.

Lex-Yeah, the bread we eat.

Me-It’s called a host and…(I went into a brief, explanation of why we don’t refer to it that way and the respect that’s to be given, etc.)

Lex-Yeah Mom, the bread (I suck in a breath and listen to see what else he’s going to say). Well, since Halloween is coming soon do you think they’ll make it shaped like pumpkins for the next weeks?

Me-(Trying so hard not to laugh, but YOU can!) Lex, they never make the host into festive shapes. They’re not going to do that, Honey.

Lex-I asked the guy and he said they were. He smiled and nodded his head.

Me-The guy? OH….(remembering that he was trying to say something to the deacon at Communion on Sunday, when I shuffled him off quickly. And indeed, the deacon was smiling and nodding and surely not understanding a word Lex was saying). Honey, he couldn’t hear you.

So, an intensive course in receiving communion, what it means and why we do it is in order.

Doing the Dance of the Children~

This morning Lex called me into the bathroom and as his lil 5yr old self sat there finishing his business he says,”It should be, ‘Humpty Dumpty wasn’t so comfy…because he fell off that wall’”!

Gotta love lil minds contemplating Mother Goose!

Doing the Dance of the Children~

It’s been a hell of a week.

Through out this years-long process of separation and divorce I’ve been pretty quiet about all I go through. I’ve tried hard (and succeeded) at finding the positive in each day and staying focused on what’s most important (keeping my kids safe, stable and feeling as “normal” as possible). But some days/weeks it’s REALLY hard to have any coherent thoughts at all. I keep getting the rug pulled out from under me. Every single time I rely on the information I’ve been given or settle into feeling secure about what’s been agreed upon, it all changes. It messes with me! I go from being a positive, strong, focused M.O.M. to a mush-brained, semi-frantic, mess. I just want to be able to count on what I’m supposed to know!

Now I’m in a situation where I stand to lose my house and face the real struggle of feeding my kids and where the routine everyone has fallen into is being threatened to be turned upside down.

I don’t have time or energy for being messed with! And honestly, I end up going quiet when it gets like this, because it takes energy just to speak about it.

I know God has a plan. I KNOW and BELIEVE it. I’ve been shown time and time again that it’s going to be ok. But being human, I get all low and scared and my thoughts turn to gloom and doom. It messes with everything! My podcast has suffered, my blogging goes silent and I forget how strong and worthy I am.

Ick!

Yes, I’m strong. Yes, I hold it together while raising these kiddos and making darn sure there’s food and shelter and transportation and meeting with teachers and keeping tabs on what Max needs and pushing forward with getting all that will help him. I cook, clean, do the laundry, fix hair, bathe kiddos (often with the help of Maddi and Anna), support their sports, meet the neighbors and school families, go on field trips, take them to bday parties…

Could I catch a break?! All I’m asking is for a plan that’s agreed upon and upheld. Is that really too much to ask for?!

Ok. I’ll stop ranting. But I thought that maybe, just maybe if I opened this door and let it spill out that the feeling of holding my breath while smiling would leave me.

Doing the Dance of the Children…No Matter What!

This morning Lex woke up early and wanted me to sit and cuddle him. I spent some time holding him and enjoying the quiet of the early morning, but then it was time for me to get to the work I normally get done while the kids are sleeping. So I set him on the kitchen counter while I unloaded the dishes. He watched for awhile and then said, “I really wish you had 4 arms so you could hold me while you do your work.”

Sweet lil guy. He settled for his 2-armed mom giving him a bowl of cereal and allowing him to eat it lying on the counter.

Doing the Dance of the Children~

I had 2 sets of books to give away and 3 people entered to win. So everyone’s winning! Mrs Anderson and Chelsea, you will each be sent a set of 3 What to Expect books from the company and Pilary, I will personally be sending you a set.

Congrats to each of you!

Doing the Dance of the Children~

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a giveaway, so let’s do one!

I’ve partnered with the great people at What to Expect to bring 2 lucky winners a set of 3 What to Expect books. You’ll receive What to Expect When You’re Expecting, What to Expect The First Year and What to Expect The Second Year.

This a perfect set for any expecting or preparing to be expecting mom. Having gone through these years several times myself and knowing that each baby and toddler comes with their own set of surprises, I think you’ll find tons of great go to advice in the pages of these books.

For those of us with older kiddos and teens, I did ask them if they could sent me a copy of What to Expect When Your Kindergartner Cries Each Morning Before School and What to Expect When You Teen Hates the Word “No”. But they didn’t seem to have copies of those. I see a writing opportunity in my future .

To enter, go to the What to Expect Facebook page and like them. Then leave me a comment letting me know you’ve checked it out. Easy! Random winners will be chosen on Friday.

Doing the Dance of the Children and Giving Away Some Great Books~