Her permanent front teeth have taken a whole year to come in. While I did quite enjoy her toothless grin, I am glad to see them finally making their slow progression into her mouth. One tooth down, one to go. . .
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
One Year Later
One year ago, Kiki fell and knocked her two front teeth loose, and eventually had to have them both pulled. That one incident changed her look forever and I will not soon forget it. She's grown and changed so much since then. She's getting taller, more mature, and just growing up way too fast.
Her permanent front teeth have taken a whole year to come in. While I did quite enjoy her toothless grin, I am glad to see them finally making their slow progression into her mouth. One tooth down, one to go. . .
Her permanent front teeth have taken a whole year to come in. While I did quite enjoy her toothless grin, I am glad to see them finally making their slow progression into her mouth. One tooth down, one to go. . .
Friday, March 27, 2009
March Madness
In the spring of 1939, March Madness was born, with the first ever NCAA basketball tournament taking place. There were only eight teams that year in the tournament, with the final four teams of Villanova, Ohio State, Oregon, and Oklahoma. The Bucks and The Ducks (nice rhyme) played the final game on March 27, 1939, with the Ducks winning 46-33.
Also on March 27 of that same year, my father was born. I find it ironic that in the same year he was born, his future alma mater was in the championship game (too bad they didn't win).
What do these two events have in common besides their date? One of my favorite sports to watch is basketball and one of my favorite people in the world is my father. He taught me so many things; love, compassion, honesty, respect, tolerance. He is a sensitive and caring person and has the best, albiet dryest, sense of humor. He taught me that you can find humor in ALMOST any situation and to make the best of it. I can always count on him to make me laugh.
My dad has always loved sports, basketball being one of them, and growing up he often shared this enjoyment with me. I remember watching football games with him (and keeping my distance when the Buckeyes lost to Michigan), having him teach me to keep stats while watching baseball games, and of course there was basketball. I think because it was the easiest for me to understand and fast paced, was the reason I grew to love it so much. I also have always enjoyed the result of the games often being determined right down to the very last second. Just when you think one team has won a game, the other team nails a shot at the buzzer and turns it all around.
One of the most important things my dad taught me about sports, and life in general, is sportsmanship. While winning is great and losing isn't always fun, playing the game (or in our case watching it) is the best part. Growing up I loved going to sporting events with him, because just being at the game was so much fun! I still remember the endless 13 inning Tigers baseball game where my dad, brother and I started making up songs, inspired by players' names in the game program, just to entertain ourselves. We were having so much fun with that, we didn't even care at that point who won. There has also been times that my Purdue Boilermakers beat his beloved Buckeyes and he didn't care, because he was so happy for me that my team had won.
I think why I love sports so much is because of the memories I have of watching games with him. We still love to talk on the phone and exchange emails about the various games our favorite teams play, and about which teams we picked to win games in our NCAA bracket. I thought about these memories recently when we took the girls to a couple of Indiana Pacer games, and when I sat down with my them to watch Purdue (lose) in the Sweet Sixteen last night. I am hoping they enjoy these moments as much as I do and that they will one day share these memories with their own children.
March is a great month! Spring arrives, March Madness begins, and of course I get to celebrate the life of one of the two great people that brought me into this world.
Happy 70th Birthday, Dad! Thanks for all you do for us!
Grampa Jack with Boo at a baseball game June 2008
Also on March 27 of that same year, my father was born. I find it ironic that in the same year he was born, his future alma mater was in the championship game (too bad they didn't win).
What do these two events have in common besides their date? One of my favorite sports to watch is basketball and one of my favorite people in the world is my father. He taught me so many things; love, compassion, honesty, respect, tolerance. He is a sensitive and caring person and has the best, albiet dryest, sense of humor. He taught me that you can find humor in ALMOST any situation and to make the best of it. I can always count on him to make me laugh.
My dad has always loved sports, basketball being one of them, and growing up he often shared this enjoyment with me. I remember watching football games with him (and keeping my distance when the Buckeyes lost to Michigan), having him teach me to keep stats while watching baseball games, and of course there was basketball. I think because it was the easiest for me to understand and fast paced, was the reason I grew to love it so much. I also have always enjoyed the result of the games often being determined right down to the very last second. Just when you think one team has won a game, the other team nails a shot at the buzzer and turns it all around.
One of the most important things my dad taught me about sports, and life in general, is sportsmanship. While winning is great and losing isn't always fun, playing the game (or in our case watching it) is the best part. Growing up I loved going to sporting events with him, because just being at the game was so much fun! I still remember the endless 13 inning Tigers baseball game where my dad, brother and I started making up songs, inspired by players' names in the game program, just to entertain ourselves. We were having so much fun with that, we didn't even care at that point who won. There has also been times that my Purdue Boilermakers beat his beloved Buckeyes and he didn't care, because he was so happy for me that my team had won.
I think why I love sports so much is because of the memories I have of watching games with him. We still love to talk on the phone and exchange emails about the various games our favorite teams play, and about which teams we picked to win games in our NCAA bracket. I thought about these memories recently when we took the girls to a couple of Indiana Pacer games, and when I sat down with my them to watch Purdue (lose) in the Sweet Sixteen last night. I am hoping they enjoy these moments as much as I do and that they will one day share these memories with their own children.
March is a great month! Spring arrives, March Madness begins, and of course I get to celebrate the life of one of the two great people that brought me into this world.
Happy 70th Birthday, Dad! Thanks for all you do for us!
Grampa Jack with Boo at a baseball game June 2008Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Who me? Really?
I am honored to receive my first blog award from Liz at Eternal Lizdom. She gave me the "Mom of the Year" award! I guess there are "rules" to this type of thing, where I share my experiences of being a mom, both good and bad, and then pass the award on to others. So here goes:
RULE #1: Admit that One thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It is over with, it is in the past. Remember, you're a good Mom!
I received this award during a particularly trying week. Boo is a very strong willed child and had been testing my patience all week. I feel badly that I am not more patient with her, but sometimes it is so difficult as she seems to push every button I have. I have tried many different approaches with her and am still trying to find what works best. I also worry about her self esteem as she sometimes says things like "No one likes me." and "She does this better than me", etc. It is hard for me to know if she really feels that way or is trying to get my attention. I've tried hard to treat her equally and wonder where I've gone wrong. So I feel like I've failed her somehow and am not sure what to do. I worry sometimes that maybe I've been too hard on her (by losing my patience, etc.) and caused her to feel this way.
RULE #2: To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY, that you rock!
1). I am a very loving, affectionate, hands on mom. Not a day goes by that I don't hug or kiss my children and tell them I love them. Even after our worst days, I make sure they know I love them.
2). I am a hands on mom. I help out at school, play games with them, read, etc. I'd much rather be with them than do my chores, which is why I have a messy house.
3). I love to dance and sing with them. We put on silly music and dance around the house and just laugh. This is probably one of my favorite things to do with them.
4). I also enjoy reading to them, and listening to them read to me. My highlight of the day, especially on a particularly busy one, is sitting on the bed with them at night, cuddling and reading together. Once in a while they get to bed late because I don't like to put them to bed without reading to them. Sometimes these reading sessions lead to lengthy discussions. They love to ask questions and I do my best to answer them!
5). I love going swimming with the girls in the summer, when we practically live at our neighborhood pool. They truly enjoy swimming and I love getting in the water with them and playing. Some of my best memories of my childhood were days at the pool and I hope they feel the same way someday.
6). I love listening to my girls laugh. Nothing makes me happier than their laughter. They both have very contagious laughs so it is hard to keep a straight face when one of them gets going. We joke around often and try to find humor in everything we do. My dad taught me the importance of a good sense of humor and I want to pass that on to them. Life is too serious most of the time.
7). I love every part of my girls. They are so beautiful, inside and out, and both have very different but wonderful personalities. Kiki is outgoing and inquisitive and a caring child. She is the first one to help someone when they are sad. Boo is a good mix of shy and outgoing, depending on her situation, and despite being strong willed, she is also strong and independent and I love that about her. I am so blessed to have them in my life!
I am passing on the Mom of the Year Award to:
Burghbaby, one of my all time favorite bloggers to read. She is funny, sarcastic and so much fun to read. She takes the most amazing pictures and I highly recommend you check out her blog.
Emily from DesignHERMomma is another fantastic blogger. I love the way she writes. She has a way of making you laugh, and then the next minute you feel your eyes welling up with tears. Highly recommend her blog as well.
Piaku is written by Mandy, a neighborhood friend of mine. She started a new job this past fall and hasn't had much time to update her blog. I know she loved blogging and wants to find her way back to her blog, so I am hoping this inspires her as I sure miss reading her posts!
I also chose Throughthisvalley, written by a friend of mine from high school, whose has a son with Neuroblastoma cancer. She has only written one blog post and I know would love to do more, but she has her hands full with caring for her son, and three other children. With all she has been through, I felt she deserved to be Mom of the Year.
And of course, please check out Liz at Eternal Lizdom. She is a wonderful blogger and has so much to share about motherhood and life in general. She is another one who can make you laugh and cry in the same post.
Thanks, Liz, for this wonderful award! ! You really lifted my spirits during a difficult week and helped me put motherhood in perspective. I've also been suffering from writer's block lately and this gave me a chance to write again!
RULE #1: Admit that One thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It is over with, it is in the past. Remember, you're a good Mom!
I received this award during a particularly trying week. Boo is a very strong willed child and had been testing my patience all week. I feel badly that I am not more patient with her, but sometimes it is so difficult as she seems to push every button I have. I have tried many different approaches with her and am still trying to find what works best. I also worry about her self esteem as she sometimes says things like "No one likes me." and "She does this better than me", etc. It is hard for me to know if she really feels that way or is trying to get my attention. I've tried hard to treat her equally and wonder where I've gone wrong. So I feel like I've failed her somehow and am not sure what to do. I worry sometimes that maybe I've been too hard on her (by losing my patience, etc.) and caused her to feel this way.
RULE #2: To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY, that you rock!
1). I am a very loving, affectionate, hands on mom. Not a day goes by that I don't hug or kiss my children and tell them I love them. Even after our worst days, I make sure they know I love them.
2). I am a hands on mom. I help out at school, play games with them, read, etc. I'd much rather be with them than do my chores, which is why I have a messy house.
3). I love to dance and sing with them. We put on silly music and dance around the house and just laugh. This is probably one of my favorite things to do with them.
4). I also enjoy reading to them, and listening to them read to me. My highlight of the day, especially on a particularly busy one, is sitting on the bed with them at night, cuddling and reading together. Once in a while they get to bed late because I don't like to put them to bed without reading to them. Sometimes these reading sessions lead to lengthy discussions. They love to ask questions and I do my best to answer them!
5). I love going swimming with the girls in the summer, when we practically live at our neighborhood pool. They truly enjoy swimming and I love getting in the water with them and playing. Some of my best memories of my childhood were days at the pool and I hope they feel the same way someday.
6). I love listening to my girls laugh. Nothing makes me happier than their laughter. They both have very contagious laughs so it is hard to keep a straight face when one of them gets going. We joke around often and try to find humor in everything we do. My dad taught me the importance of a good sense of humor and I want to pass that on to them. Life is too serious most of the time.
7). I love every part of my girls. They are so beautiful, inside and out, and both have very different but wonderful personalities. Kiki is outgoing and inquisitive and a caring child. She is the first one to help someone when they are sad. Boo is a good mix of shy and outgoing, depending on her situation, and despite being strong willed, she is also strong and independent and I love that about her. I am so blessed to have them in my life!
I am passing on the Mom of the Year Award to:
Burghbaby, one of my all time favorite bloggers to read. She is funny, sarcastic and so much fun to read. She takes the most amazing pictures and I highly recommend you check out her blog.
Emily from DesignHERMomma is another fantastic blogger. I love the way she writes. She has a way of making you laugh, and then the next minute you feel your eyes welling up with tears. Highly recommend her blog as well.
Piaku is written by Mandy, a neighborhood friend of mine. She started a new job this past fall and hasn't had much time to update her blog. I know she loved blogging and wants to find her way back to her blog, so I am hoping this inspires her as I sure miss reading her posts!
I also chose Throughthisvalley, written by a friend of mine from high school, whose has a son with Neuroblastoma cancer. She has only written one blog post and I know would love to do more, but she has her hands full with caring for her son, and three other children. With all she has been through, I felt she deserved to be Mom of the Year.
And of course, please check out Liz at Eternal Lizdom. She is a wonderful blogger and has so much to share about motherhood and life in general. She is another one who can make you laugh and cry in the same post.
Thanks, Liz, for this wonderful award! ! You really lifted my spirits during a difficult week and helped me put motherhood in perspective. I've also been suffering from writer's block lately and this gave me a chance to write again!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Ding Ding!
When Kiki was about two years old, the daddy private parts somehow earned the nickname "ding ding." Seems to me this all started with my husband, who gave "the parts" that name when Kiki was playing with him and accidentally kicked him down there yonder. He told her, "no kicking Daddy in the ding ding, " which was followed by many giggles from our precocious two year old.
Weeks later we were shopping for a birthday present for him and walking through the men's department looking at clothes. She said "Get Daddy a ding ding!?" I was mortified until I realized she was pointing to the belts (and then I laughed my ass off)! I was more than amused that she had thought all of this time that the "ding ding" was the belt instead of the male body parts slightly below that area. Why would she know anything else?
Fast forward six years and somehow the discussion comes up about the "ding ding" again. One night after dinner, Bill was joking around about teaching our dog to "get the ding ding" if there was ever a bad guy around. Mind you this is a Labrador, who won't even bark when strangers come around, and would likely lick an intruder to death. Then realizing that he didn't want to give the girls any ideas, Bill told them "you know you should never kick or hit a boy on his ding ding." Of course the girls giggled. We told them that this was never OK and if they did this, they could really hurt someone. He said the ONLY time it would be OK., was if a boy was hurting them and wouldn't stop.
I kept looking at both girls to see if they were understanding this, and then thought to ask "you do know that when Daddy says "ding ding" he is talking about a boy's private parts, right?" Both girls just smiled at me and then Kiki said, "I know why they call it a ding ding." I said "Oh really? Why?" and she said, "because it just hangs down and goes ding, ding, ding, ding," all while waving her belt back and forth between her legs.
And that was the end of THAT discussion. . .
Weeks later we were shopping for a birthday present for him and walking through the men's department looking at clothes. She said "Get Daddy a ding ding!?" I was mortified until I realized she was pointing to the belts (and then I laughed my ass off)! I was more than amused that she had thought all of this time that the "ding ding" was the belt instead of the male body parts slightly below that area. Why would she know anything else?
Fast forward six years and somehow the discussion comes up about the "ding ding" again. One night after dinner, Bill was joking around about teaching our dog to "get the ding ding" if there was ever a bad guy around. Mind you this is a Labrador, who won't even bark when strangers come around, and would likely lick an intruder to death. Then realizing that he didn't want to give the girls any ideas, Bill told them "you know you should never kick or hit a boy on his ding ding." Of course the girls giggled. We told them that this was never OK and if they did this, they could really hurt someone. He said the ONLY time it would be OK., was if a boy was hurting them and wouldn't stop.
I kept looking at both girls to see if they were understanding this, and then thought to ask "you do know that when Daddy says "ding ding" he is talking about a boy's private parts, right?" Both girls just smiled at me and then Kiki said, "I know why they call it a ding ding." I said "Oh really? Why?" and she said, "because it just hangs down and goes ding, ding, ding, ding," all while waving her belt back and forth between her legs.
And that was the end of THAT discussion. . .
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Close Call
One of my favorite blogs is One Minute Writer, which challenges people to write on a daily basis. To help with this, a prompt is posted each day encouraging readers to spend one minute writing on that specific topic. Since writing is something I enjoy, but don't often have time for, I have been trying to participate at least two days a week, depending on the topic. I found this prompt yesterday to be particularly relevant - writing about a close call you've had in your life. I didn't have to think very long to come up with my close call, as it is something that I think about frequently.
Eleven years ago, on a sunny Sunday afternoon right around Valentine's Day, I was loading my car after a big grocery shopping trip at my local Meijer. I had loaded some of the stuff into the trunk and had just finished putting some stuff in the passenger side when a car approached, blocking me into my parking spot. I remember being annoyed at first, thinking I'd be stuck there for a while. Then a man got out of the car and approached me. I was a little taken aback, but actually talked myself out of being scared. After all, it was the middle of a Sunday afternoon, and I was in broad daylight in a busy parking lot. What could really happen anyway?
The man approached and asked for directions. I can't remember now the detail of the directions he asked, but I do remember that it didn't make sense, and I remember trying to clarify what he was asking. Then the next thing I know, he had grabbed me and was trying to take me towards his car. I screamed and he tried to cover my mouth, but I managed to get a few very loud "help me" cries before he did. As I struggled and tried to get away, I remember thinking "Don't let him take me! Don't let him hurt me please!" I saw out of the corner of my eye a person come running and the next thing I know, my attacker threw me to the ground, jumped in his car and ran. The person running towards me and another passerby, both tried to chase him down and managed to get a license plate number. Before I knew it, I was in a room at the store with security and police giving a statement. Later, my fiance came and picked me up as I was a little too shaken up to drive home.
Later we would discover this same man attacked at least four other women that same day, all in broad daylight, and all of us matching the same description, right down to the color of clothing we were wearing! This man was also suspected in other attacks, including a rape of a teenage girl. Eventually they did catch the man and the last I knew, he was in a mental institution.
I wonder sometimes what might have happened if this man had succeeded, how my life may have changed if I had been kidnapped, raped or worse. I consider myself so lucky because so many women in my same situation aren't so fortunate.
While this experience traumatized me for a while, it has also made me do something every person should learn to do. Trust my instincts. That day, my instincts told me that something was not right. Yet I ignored that, dismissing them, and told myself everything was fine when it wasn't. I was lucky. Could have been more than a close call for me.
Eleven years ago, on a sunny Sunday afternoon right around Valentine's Day, I was loading my car after a big grocery shopping trip at my local Meijer. I had loaded some of the stuff into the trunk and had just finished putting some stuff in the passenger side when a car approached, blocking me into my parking spot. I remember being annoyed at first, thinking I'd be stuck there for a while. Then a man got out of the car and approached me. I was a little taken aback, but actually talked myself out of being scared. After all, it was the middle of a Sunday afternoon, and I was in broad daylight in a busy parking lot. What could really happen anyway?
The man approached and asked for directions. I can't remember now the detail of the directions he asked, but I do remember that it didn't make sense, and I remember trying to clarify what he was asking. Then the next thing I know, he had grabbed me and was trying to take me towards his car. I screamed and he tried to cover my mouth, but I managed to get a few very loud "help me" cries before he did. As I struggled and tried to get away, I remember thinking "Don't let him take me! Don't let him hurt me please!" I saw out of the corner of my eye a person come running and the next thing I know, my attacker threw me to the ground, jumped in his car and ran. The person running towards me and another passerby, both tried to chase him down and managed to get a license plate number. Before I knew it, I was in a room at the store with security and police giving a statement. Later, my fiance came and picked me up as I was a little too shaken up to drive home.
Later we would discover this same man attacked at least four other women that same day, all in broad daylight, and all of us matching the same description, right down to the color of clothing we were wearing! This man was also suspected in other attacks, including a rape of a teenage girl. Eventually they did catch the man and the last I knew, he was in a mental institution.
I wonder sometimes what might have happened if this man had succeeded, how my life may have changed if I had been kidnapped, raped or worse. I consider myself so lucky because so many women in my same situation aren't so fortunate.
While this experience traumatized me for a while, it has also made me do something every person should learn to do. Trust my instincts. That day, my instincts told me that something was not right. Yet I ignored that, dismissing them, and told myself everything was fine when it wasn't. I was lucky. Could have been more than a close call for me.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Interview of a Mommy Blogger
Recently one of my favorite "Internet" friends, Liz from Eternal Lizdom, asked if any of her readers would be willing to be interviewed and post it on their blogs. I thought this was a great idea and gladly threw my name into the pot, so as to give my readers a little insight into who I am and my motivation for starting my blog. If you want to play along and be interviewed by me, please post a comment on my blog and I will email you some questions! Or if you'd rather learn more about me, feel free to post your questions and I will answer them in a future post.
The fun begins. . .
1. I know you through the Internet even though we live in the same city/area. How Internet savvy are you?
Thanks to my brother introducing me to computers way back in the 80's, I have basically spent the second half of my life around these ever changing machines. I also managed to marry a "techie" so I am always introduced to the latest technology as soon as he knows about it, which is often before the general public does.
Do you get online a lot? I spend probably way too much time on online, but as a stay at home mom, the Internet is my main way to communicate with the adult world; without it days would be much longer and lonelier.
Favorite online things to do? I love reading blogs and started my own back in May when my baby graduated from preschool. I love to write and this blog has been a great outlet for all of the thoughts clogging up my head on a daily basis. I only wish I had more time to write as I have so much more to say (which won't surprise those of you that have known me a while.) I also enjoy chatting with other Indy moms on Moms Like Me, a social networking website, which is where I "met" Liz! I hope to meet many of the other moms I interact with some day! I am also a Facebook addict (no joke!) and have connected with so many friends from high school and college since I joined. I swear if I did not have access to the Internet I'd lose my mind! I treasure my time with my kids (and they inspire me everyday!) but I feel I need these adult interactions to keep me sane! : )
The fun begins. . .
1. I know you through the Internet even though we live in the same city/area. How Internet savvy are you?
Thanks to my brother introducing me to computers way back in the 80's, I have basically spent the second half of my life around these ever changing machines. I also managed to marry a "techie" so I am always introduced to the latest technology as soon as he knows about it, which is often before the general public does.
Do you get online a lot? I spend probably way too much time on online, but as a stay at home mom, the Internet is my main way to communicate with the adult world; without it days would be much longer and lonelier.
Favorite online things to do? I love reading blogs and started my own back in May when my baby graduated from preschool. I love to write and this blog has been a great outlet for all of the thoughts clogging up my head on a daily basis. I only wish I had more time to write as I have so much more to say (which won't surprise those of you that have known me a while.) I also enjoy chatting with other Indy moms on Moms Like Me, a social networking website, which is where I "met" Liz! I hope to meet many of the other moms I interact with some day! I am also a Facebook addict (no joke!) and have connected with so many friends from high school and college since I joined. I swear if I did not have access to the Internet I'd lose my mind! I treasure my time with my kids (and they inspire me everyday!) but I feel I need these adult interactions to keep me sane! : )
2. Your daughters are beautiful. What is your greatest wish(es) for them? What are your goals as a parent?
Thank you! I love having two girls, which is funny because before I had kids, I always said I wanted boys. Amazing how things change as you get older! My greatest wish for my girls is that they grow up happy and healthy, well rounded, and confident. I had a low self esteem growing up (still do) and I don't want them to ever feel that way. I want them to feel proud of any of their accomplishments and be happy with who they are, no matter what. As a parent I hope that I can teach them to be as open minded, loving, and respectful of others, as my parents taught me to be. I also encourage them to always share how they are feeling and not be afraid of their emotions. I encourage them to tell me everything, even if they think they will get in trouble. I really want to keep the lines of communication open as I know that will come in during the teen years!
Thank you! I love having two girls, which is funny because before I had kids, I always said I wanted boys. Amazing how things change as you get older! My greatest wish for my girls is that they grow up happy and healthy, well rounded, and confident. I had a low self esteem growing up (still do) and I don't want them to ever feel that way. I want them to feel proud of any of their accomplishments and be happy with who they are, no matter what. As a parent I hope that I can teach them to be as open minded, loving, and respectful of others, as my parents taught me to be. I also encourage them to always share how they are feeling and not be afraid of their emotions. I encourage them to tell me everything, even if they think they will get in trouble. I really want to keep the lines of communication open as I know that will come in during the teen years!
3. Describe a regular day for you. Every detail. I want to feel what it's like to be in your shoes!
Oh boy are you ever in for it! Ha ha! I usually get up early, around six, so I can take care of Laci (the pup) and myself before I get the girls up. I have to get Kiki up first, as she gets on the bus a little after eight. Boo usually wakes up just before her sister leaves for school. So the first couple of hours I am awake is devoted to getting myself and the girls ready for the day. After things get settled, I try to spend one on one time with Boo. We cuddle on the couch and watch TV or read, play games, etc. Sometimes if she has a friend over or is happy playing by herself, I will sneak some time on the computer. After lunch it is time to get her off to Kindergarten for the afternoon and then it is Me Time! I use this quiet time to get things done in the house or run errands. Nothing too exciting. Some days I am very productive and accomplish many tasks. Other days I am tired and unmotivated and spend time "goofing off" on the computer. I try to use the quieter times of the day to write my blog. When I've gone a long time without posting it is usually because I am having trouble finding a quiet time when my brain isn't absolutely fried. After the girls get home from school the craziness begins! Some days we have after school activities, and of course there is homework, snack, taking care of the dog, making dinner, bedtime, etc. I usually end the day by reading books with the girls on our bed. This is truly one of my favorite times of the day as we are relaxing and cuddling together, talking about the day and what we will be doing the next day. After the girls are in bed, then it is time to hang out with my husband and the puppy. We usually are so tired we watch TV, but we also use this time to talk and have uninterrupted time together. I often stay up too late, but I think that is because I know when I wake in the morning, the craziness starts all over again. Two days a week I work part time, so those days tend to be a little more hectic.
Oh boy are you ever in for it! Ha ha! I usually get up early, around six, so I can take care of Laci (the pup) and myself before I get the girls up. I have to get Kiki up first, as she gets on the bus a little after eight. Boo usually wakes up just before her sister leaves for school. So the first couple of hours I am awake is devoted to getting myself and the girls ready for the day. After things get settled, I try to spend one on one time with Boo. We cuddle on the couch and watch TV or read, play games, etc. Sometimes if she has a friend over or is happy playing by herself, I will sneak some time on the computer. After lunch it is time to get her off to Kindergarten for the afternoon and then it is Me Time! I use this quiet time to get things done in the house or run errands. Nothing too exciting. Some days I am very productive and accomplish many tasks. Other days I am tired and unmotivated and spend time "goofing off" on the computer. I try to use the quieter times of the day to write my blog. When I've gone a long time without posting it is usually because I am having trouble finding a quiet time when my brain isn't absolutely fried. After the girls get home from school the craziness begins! Some days we have after school activities, and of course there is homework, snack, taking care of the dog, making dinner, bedtime, etc. I usually end the day by reading books with the girls on our bed. This is truly one of my favorite times of the day as we are relaxing and cuddling together, talking about the day and what we will be doing the next day. After the girls are in bed, then it is time to hang out with my husband and the puppy. We usually are so tired we watch TV, but we also use this time to talk and have uninterrupted time together. I often stay up too late, but I think that is because I know when I wake in the morning, the craziness starts all over again. Two days a week I work part time, so those days tend to be a little more hectic.
4. Tell me the story of how you met your husband and started a family.
I lived in Ohio for about six years after I graduated from college, and met my husband, Bill, when we were both working at a restaurant. We were friends for a long time before dating and spent a few years dating on and off before we got serious. He proposed to me during a vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, up in the mountains and under the stars. It was very romantic and completely caught me off guard. Just that same day we were chased by a very protective and angry mommy Black Bear while we were taking pictures of her cubs. Little did I know, Bill was carrying a ring around in his pocket that day. He told me much later that when the bear incident happened, he kept thinking of this headline: "Couple Mauled by Bear. Ring found in Man's Pocket." Definitely a story we will share with our kids someday! We moved to Indiana just a few short months after getting married and have lived here for ten years now. We were married just over two years before having our first daughter, Kiki, and then two years later we had her little sister, Boo.
I lived in Ohio for about six years after I graduated from college, and met my husband, Bill, when we were both working at a restaurant. We were friends for a long time before dating and spent a few years dating on and off before we got serious. He proposed to me during a vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, up in the mountains and under the stars. It was very romantic and completely caught me off guard. Just that same day we were chased by a very protective and angry mommy Black Bear while we were taking pictures of her cubs. Little did I know, Bill was carrying a ring around in his pocket that day. He told me much later that when the bear incident happened, he kept thinking of this headline: "Couple Mauled by Bear. Ring found in Man's Pocket." Definitely a story we will share with our kids someday! We moved to Indiana just a few short months after getting married and have lived here for ten years now. We were married just over two years before having our first daughter, Kiki, and then two years later we had her little sister, Boo.
5. Think about your life before you had kids and your life now. What's different about you? Growing up, I was quite shy and only had a friend or two. As I got older, I became more relaxed and social and made friends everywhere I went. Before I had kids, I went out with friends and/or my husband all of the time. I'd say what is different now is that while I am still a very social person, I almost never go out with friends. I'd also say that is what I miss most - having friends and a social life. My husband commutes so we both have long days and it is hard to go out. I don't like to leave my family and often feel guilty when I do, even though I know it is good for me to be out with friends. And even though I consider myself an outgoing friendly person, I am definitely shyer about calling people and setting up play dates and other social activities than I was before I had my children.
What do you wish you could reconnect with?
I wish I could reconnect with the adult world! I started working part time this year and that has helped some, but I so miss having adult friendships! I also would love to reconnect with some of my long lost friends. I recently reconnected with one of them and found out her son has cancer. I wish we lived closer so I could be there physically to provide support for her, but I do what I can via the Internet!
Or do you feel like you are fulfilled with life now? I don't feel completely fulfilled. I wanted more than anything to be a mom and be able to stay home with my kids. I got my wish, yet I feel like something is still missing and I am not sure what that is. I am rewarded everyday by having a wonderful family but somehow that is not enough. I never thought at 40 I'd still be trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! Surely I should know by now? I do know that I have this calling to work with sick children, especially those with cancer. I would love to be a Child Life Specialist someday but have a mountain to climb to get there. Meanwhile, I just have to tell myself to be happy with all I've accomplished and not worry the rest!
Thanks for interviewing me, Liz!
What do you wish you could reconnect with?
I wish I could reconnect with the adult world! I started working part time this year and that has helped some, but I so miss having adult friendships! I also would love to reconnect with some of my long lost friends. I recently reconnected with one of them and found out her son has cancer. I wish we lived closer so I could be there physically to provide support for her, but I do what I can via the Internet!
Or do you feel like you are fulfilled with life now? I don't feel completely fulfilled. I wanted more than anything to be a mom and be able to stay home with my kids. I got my wish, yet I feel like something is still missing and I am not sure what that is. I am rewarded everyday by having a wonderful family but somehow that is not enough. I never thought at 40 I'd still be trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! Surely I should know by now? I do know that I have this calling to work with sick children, especially those with cancer. I would love to be a Child Life Specialist someday but have a mountain to climb to get there. Meanwhile, I just have to tell myself to be happy with all I've accomplished and not worry the rest!
Thanks for interviewing me, Liz!
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