Embracing Life

I don't know what made me happier last night. Being able to sit outside on my new chair and enjoy the summer night: Smirnoff Raspberry Ice and J.R. Ward's Covet OR.... the fact that these two non-napping almost three year olds were finally asleep :

It's not that I don't like doing art projects with the kids.  It's more like, I don't care for the clean up. I had the paint and the paper ready.  Took off their shirts for good measure.  I turned away for about five seconds.  Only FIVE seconds.  And then I heard the words that haunt me to this day: Look, Mommy! We can paint our bodies!  Colin  Connor The purple princess By the way, someone painted the wall too. 

I had big plans for a cute post today.  But instead, I'm going to ramble on about me.  (Shocking, I know.) I can't do it all.  But I feel like I am killing myself trying. I can't do it all, but I have to according to society's standards.  WTF? I feel guilty because society deems that a working mother has to be a super mother? Sure I like the title, but I spent half the morning in tears, trying to be "super".  And now I question if I am being too honest on my blog because it's no longer an anonymous thing, but people I know read it.  And I wonder, what will they think of me? I remind myself, that I don't care what people think.  I do things for me.  But still that nagging feeling of vulnerability creeps out and I am back to that place I don't like to be in.  I try to count my blessings, but then I think - why hasn't the damn doctor's office called me yet? My house is a disaster, and we are having a picnic on Monday.  Keith wonders w...

A couple weeks ago, Connor and I went out to lunch, just the two of us.  His only favorite place to eat out is Panda Express.  He gets the same thing every time.  For an extremely picky eater, we are quite surprised that he loves orange chicken, lo mein noodles, and crab rangoon with plum sauce.  (This is the kid that would only eat oatmeal for the first two years of his life!) After lunch, we went to Michael's, where he helped me pick out some things.  He also picked out a single flower made from cloth and standing in a little bright blue pot.  We keep in on our kitchen table, as a reminder of our special day together.  I love my sweet little boy.

..... my heart is bursting with love. Especially on nights like this: Also, Leigh is looking for 100 people to find happiness today!  Share the love and write a post about something that makes you happy!

Otherwise titled: Running, running, running... Last week, I ran two 5Ks.  Mother's Day was my first one ever.  I didn't know what to expect, and finished with a time of 40:59.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and Keith and the kids were there to support me.  Being that it was my first time, and it was on a course I was not familiar with, I didn't know that the trail was supposed to be marked, you weren't supposed to pour your own water (they had a shortage of volunteers), and there was no clear marking at mile 2, so it was hard to gauge how much time was left.  The nice thing was that as I came back to the track to the finish line, I heard some kids yelling, "Mommy!"  And there were my sweet kids waving at me.  My only goal at this one was to finish.  (And not be last.) At Saturday's race, I finished at 38:45.  It was at a zoo that we have a membership at.  We go often enough, so I know my way around.  I was able to visualize ...

A few months ago, we were approached by daycare to send underwear for the twins because the teachers thought they were ready to make the big move from pull-ups to underwear.  I knew Colin wasn't ready, but figured they would learn that on their own. Three days and 10 pairs of wet underwear later, we got a note saying they felt like we should wait on Colin so as not to put too much pressure on him. Fine by me. Keira, on the other hand, loves her Dora and Princess underwear.  So much so, that she wears it over her pull-up if she wears one, goes potty a lot at school and home, and stays dry a good portion of the day.  At daycare, the children are rewarded for proper pottying with an M&M. In recent weeks, Colin has become obsessed with eating M&Ms for dessert after dinner.  Yesterday, he caught on to the fact that if he goes potty at school, he gets a sweet surprise.  He had A LOT of M&Ms yesterday. Maybe we are on to something......... we ...

Sunday was a fabulous day.  I started it off early in the morning, running my first ever 5K.  It was amazing.  It took me a little longer than I had thought it would, but I didn't come in last place, so the race was a success. ;) Keith had gotten me flowers a couple days before, and Connor had picked out a giant heart chocolate chip cookie at the grocery store the day before.  The twins also surprised me with plants and very cool necklaces that they made at school. The white carnation was handed out to all the runners after the race.  Connor picked mine out! Keith also surprised me on Sunday with a beautiful bracelet from etsy. It's kind of hard to see (because I took a picture on my phone), but the charms are personalized:  Connor (rectangle), Keira (larger disc) and Colin (smaller disc), as well as 10.30.04 (the date we got married - located on the right side of the picture).  There are also charms such as a heart, key, four-leaf clover...

And the winner of the book, Spilt Milk,  is Jody!  Jody, please email me your address, and I will contact the author with your information. Thank you everyone!

......because my very first 5K is this Sunday!  I'm really excited, because I've been training for about 9 weeks now. Check out my post at Fox Valley Mom to read more about my journey: Could I be a.... runner? I wasn't big on running in the first place, but it was one of my goals that I set for the year.  What are some of your recent goals? How close are you to achieving them? Also, feel free to check out my book giveaway - Spilt Milk .

 A few months ago, some blog friends and I began doing a devotional with this book.  Since we live all over the place, it's done through email.  We read a chapter, then discuss. Let me tell you, it's been wonderful! The author, Linda Vujnov, is a wonderful writer and really knows how it is to balance life when you are a busy mom.  Her stories are funny and heart-warming.  They make you feel like she knows exactly what you are going through - because hey! She does know what you are going through. The author is graciously giving one reader of this blog a copy of her book! To be entered in the contest for a copy of Spilt Milk ,  just leave a comment!  That's right, all you have to do is answer this question - What are your plans for Mother's Day? Please note, you have until noon (CST) on Mother's Day to enter this giveaway. I will announce the winner that afternoon. After leaving me a comment, please feel free to visit the other great women...

She is only 2 1/2 half years old. She changes her outfits at least 4 times a day, and is most creative in what she wears. She loves to wear her princess underwear, and then tell me she has to go potty 5 times in an hour, only to sit on the toilet and sing.  She says, Damn it Colin.  In the right context. She has an obsession with bags, and stuffed animals, and her Princess playing cards. She loves Minnie, and Daisy, and Dor-Dor (Dora), and Princess Aurora. She likes to yell out, Justin Bee-ber, where are you? She has the most beautiful blue eyes. She is super smart for her age.  And she has no problem telling everyone everything. She is very concerned about hiding her toys so No boys get my stuff. She is quick to tell me how much she loves me. And her brothers.  And her daddy. I've noticed she has already wrapped her daddy around her little finger. If Colin is hurt, she will come over and rub his back while he cries. Unless she is the one who caus...