Game Time with Maya

So here's my new idea. When Mel's down for a nap and it's not a preschool day, I'm going to have game time with Maya. Today was candy land. It went well and I think she appreciated sitting on the floor with mom, pillows, a treat and a game. Of course, it's always better when she wins, right? I didn't even cheat. She won fair and square.

So far Maya and I have gotten along today. Keep your fingers crossed!

Back to School...

Today was Morgan's first day back. Here are a few pics.

It worked! It actually worked!!!!

I mashed some very well cooked cauliflower into the mashed potatoes for dinner tonight it and... drumroll please... MAYA ATE IT!!!!!! Maya ate vegetables!! I almost cried.

Videos as promised...

only posted for a short period of time... can be shown upon request... :)

Thanks!

Video later today....

Morgan had a good time and her meet and did so well. I was so proud of her. Nathan's capturing video from the camera and making a video so i'll post that later today. They didn't allow flash photography so until I can order one or two, this is the best I have so far.

Wanna See Something Flashy?

New competition leotards came in today.. think she likes it?

Invisible Woman

I hope this post means as much to someone as it did to me...

The Invisible Woman
It started to happen gradually¦

One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him,

"Who is that with you, young fella?"

"Nobody," he shrugged.

Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, "Oh my goodness, nobody?"

I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like "Turn the TV down, please" - and nothing would happen.

Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, "Would someone turn the TV down?" Nothing.

Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are." He just kept right on talking.

I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going¸ she's going¸ she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost
as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's
bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table."

That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Back in the saddle again....

Ok so it's back on the elliptical, but still. I got there about 20 mins later than usual and as I was getting there I got the comments "a little late, aren't we?" Talk about keeping me accountable!! Nothing like a day of eating whatever you want and feeling like you want to barf at night to motivate you to get up in the morning.

Losing Momentum

I went to bed last night and set my alarm for 5:30. I thought I'd have my shower at home and sleep in for 30 mins. I couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. My joints were a bit sore from Monday's workout so I skipped yesterday. I just didn't feel like it today. It's so not like me. I'm usually springing out of bed, happy to have some time by myself. This morning I was content to just lie there.

The other thing that bugs me... do you ever just want to be one of those people who can eat what they want to eat? I would like this for breakfast...



The fruit/whole wheat toast or fat free yogurt just ain't gonna cut it today. Tell me this is a temporary thing ok? I still have 5 pounds that are lingering....

The Week Before School.

Ok this was the first day LAST year but I'm looking forward to taking new pictures.



It's been a crazy week so far and it's only Tuesday!! Yesterday we had Physical Therapy for Morgan, scouting out of a new preschool for Maya (story to come later) and one of our twice yearly visits to the urologist for Maya's kidney reflux. Physical therapy was fine. We got Maya signed up for preschool and the great news is that it looks like Maya's kidneys are working well and have been pretty much infection free for 6 months.

On Friday we got a letter from the director of Maya's preschool saying that due to circumstances beyond their control they would not be able to run their school this year. We were sad because we loved her school. Morgan went there and I was planning on sending Melody as well. It was quite last minute to find a replacement but we found one that looks good and Maya will get to start in 2 weeks. Now if she didn't scream like a banshee while we were leaving it would have helped to make a better first impression I'm sure. She didn't want to leave the barbie computer. Oh yeah.. Melody was having an all out fit too. I'm sure they are fighting over who gets her in class. Not.

Today should be interesting with a visit to the dentist, another visit to the pediatrician for various Maya related medical issues. (sleep issues, skin problems, immunization records... etc.. it's always something), gymnastics practice and some grocery shopping items I missed. I have a feeling I'll be falling in to bed with a giant thud tonight. It will all be worth it when they're happily in class, right?

Sleepless nights are not just for newborns

2 year molars. Argh. the only benefit from being up around 1am is getting a snuggle from your otherwise hyped-up-almost-two-year-old. She sure is snuggly when she is half unconscious. A dose of motrin before bed didn't help much so she got some decongestant for her nose, orajel and teething tablets just in case the rest of the aresenal didn't work. Now I'm just waiting for Maya to come out and tell me about her nightmares. (it's usually about this time) The last few days have really felt like my baby isn't this big.



I think someone needs to remind her that she should be sleeping like a big girl. *YAWN*

Ok I'll Bite...

I was tagged by Melissa..
4 things about me you may not have known:
1. I always eat my fries before my burger.
2. I can't cut my own toenails.
3. I imagined as a kid that I was the bionic woman.
4. I am a sucker for plastic surgery TV shows.

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Student Assistant at PR office at Texas Tech
2. Barbeque Restaurant
3. IT Systems Security
4. Jack in the Box worker! woohoo!

4 Movies I can watch over and over again:
1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. So I married an Axe Murderer
3. Princess Bride
4.

4 Favorite TV shows:
1. Heroes!!!!
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. Monk
4. Hell's Kitchen

4 Favorite Hobbies:
1. Web Surfing
2. Watching Soccer
3. Exercising
4. Shopping

4 Places I have lived:
1. Sparwood, BC, Canada
2. San Antonio, TX
3. Aberdeen, Scotland
4. Mckinney, TX

4 Favorite Foods:
1. Cake! White with Vanilla frosting (Buttercream)
2. Fettucine Alfredo
3. Crab legs with melted butter
4.

4 Places I would rather be right now:
1. Alberta
2. Disney - either one would be fine
3. Hawaii (kid free!)
4. actually anywhere kid free... ;)

4 Websites I check daily:
1. various blogs
2. fitness board
3. google :)
4. lds.org

4 People I tag:
1. Natalie
2. Tiburon
3. Rachel
4. Jan (but i think you've already been targeted)

It finally happened...

We were trying to decide what to do this morning and couldn't come up with anything. I brainstormed and decided to take the girls to see Underdog. Would you believe we made it through the whole movie???? It's a short movie and we got there a couple minutes late (due to long lines at the popcorn counter!) but we lasted the whole way through. We saw an ENTIRE movie!!!! Thanks Underdog!!!

Young Women Activities

My opinion on YW activites is that they should not be held on weekends when I need a babysitter. Ok, so I'm mostly joking... but there was an incredible game at Pizza Hut Park last night (FC Dallas for those who aren't following Major League Soccer) and we couldn't get a babysitter. Priorities Ladies, priorities!!! We even had the option of getting 10 dollar tickets but not a sitter in sight. Boo Hoo for me right? We did watch the game on TV and it was a great one! The boys pulled out a terrific win in stoppage time to beat the Columbus Crew 3-2. What a nailbiter! My man of the match is Clarence Goodson. I haven't figured out why yet.. but they call him "Snacks" Goodson. He's the only guy that can make the name Clarence cool.

I know that most of you have stopped reading by now but congrats to FC Dallas for passing Houston to be the leader of the Western Conference!!!!

What to do when the gym isn't open yet but you are awake...

After lying in bed for a few minutes I decided that grocery shopping by myself sounded like a great idea. It felt pretty good to come home at 7am and already have the shopping done. Granted, it feels a little strange to try to steer the card around floor cleaners and stockers but it was worth it to breeze through the checkout. It also helps that your kids get excited when they've only been awake for a few minutes and they are presented with these...


Sad that this is one of the highlights of my day right?

Where oh where has my sleep gone?

Remember these days? This photo is 10 years old, in Scotland. (Note, it's light outside and i'm still in bed)


My kids have decided that it's cool to get up at night. Melody's the latest perpetrator. Last night she had to be left to her own devices for a while and now she's sleeping in. Let's hope this is a short lived trend. I am happy to report, however, that I was still at the gym before 5:30. It keeps me sane. I got a shower all to myself. No one asks to play in the drain at the gym. And.. If they did, at least I could have them hauled off by the cops.

Just a short post about my brother

I never thought when we were growing up that we would have anything in common. I'm grateful that smack in the middle of a bunch of girls the Lord saw fit to give us Adam.

Ok. Enough Mush for now. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

The Kindness of Strangers

I have debated whether or not to blog about yesterday and have come to the conclusion that I need to. A friend called us yesterday to go to the pool. I have avoided the pool this summer because Maya and Melody are both very adventurous and when they decide to go different directions I can't keep up. Add the dangers of a pool and it's too much. Well I decided that with another adult there I would give it another try. Maya likes to stay inside her swim ring and I hold Melody most of the time even though she tries to squirm loose.

Before I had children I had quite a few opinions. "How could that mother let her child out of her sight long enough for that to happen???" was one of them. This was before I had Maya. I was staying on top of her behavior. I really was. She would try to jump in before announcing to anyone that she was going to jump to them and I caught her. Over and over I said "Maya, you have to stay by Mom and you have to tell me when you're going to jump in!"

We wandered over to the baby pool to give me a break from holding Melody. I swear I took my eyes off Maya for only a moment. I assumed she was getting a drink from the table or was harassing Morgan. It wasn't until I heard a voice scream "Who's child is this???" that I noticed that Maya had jumped into the big pool and had been fished out by some poor woman who was fully clothed. What a horrible feeling. What would have happened if she wasn't there? All I could do was cry and thank her.

Last night Morgan did the lesson for family home evening and ironically she chose the parable of the good samaritan. I'm so grateful for the one who was watching out for my daughter.

This shirt pretty much sums it up...

I don't know how my parents did it. How you balance more than one kid doing extracurricular activities is beyond me. From here on out it's all gymnastics all the time. It's the start of competitive season and every weekend will be filled with meets, parties, etc.. If we're not at practice, we're at physical therapy. Yes that's right. My 7 year old gymnast has issues with her heels and has PT once a week..
Talk about a serious athlete. I'm going to need therapy in a few years when she decides she wants to take up basket weaving.

Following in my Grandpa's "foot"steps...

That's an inside joke Grandpa! The man seriously has the ugliest feet I have ever seen ;) He seems to think that they are a thing of beauty and constantly rips on mine because of his own insecurities but you KNOW my feet are model material!
Thanks for the idea to do an entry on Grandpa, Jan! Here's are some of my favorite pics..
We were being serious...


It's impossible. Truly.



I mean, really.


I have always been honored to share a birth month with him and we used to celebrate many of them together in Lethbridge. I remember quite a few birthdays there at Whoop-Up days going full swing. I can't imagine a more incredible role model to spend a birthday with. If I can be half the person he is I will be a happy woman. I love and miss you Grandpa! (you too Grandma!)

Supernanny Part 2

Yes it's no secret that Maya tests me. We can all see it. I sure love that kid. Really. What I've learned today:
1. The naughty step really works. Only 3 minutes and the child is actually repentant. No kidding!
2. If you make her your 'special helper' in the grocery store, she actually takes pity on her younger sister who didn't get the exact treat she wanted and gives her one of her peanut butter cups with no prompting from mom!!????
3. If you tell your kiddo who doesn't usually get all of her stickers on her job chart that a trip to chuck e cheese's is at stake, motivation suddenly appears.
4. You can't be patient ALL the time but if you can do it the majority of the time, it works wonders!
5. The Lord will help you if you do your daily family prayer and scripture study. I don't know HOW this works, maybe it's a reward for obedience? BUT.. it works. (ok this isn't supernanny, it's sunday school, but hey i actually learned something!)
6. Having two kids nap at once while the oldest one is at gymnastics is PRICELESS!

Boy am I glad i didn't have to watch myself on TV, screaming at my kids before I started this process....

Supernanny was right....

If you get down on a child's level and talk to them, authoritatively but respectfully, they actually respond well to you. I've been working on "Maya, are you upset?" instead of "Maya, quit the whining!" and it actually works. She stops whining and says "Yes, I'm frustrated." and then tells me why. We either then talk about how she can not be frustrated or try to get through what is frustrating her. Admitedly I have only been doing this sporadically until today when I made a concerted effort to be patient with her after a rough morning. She looked something like this..



but then after being calm and taking my time with her, she was more like this..

We even did ok with the drive to and from Morgan's gymnastics practice tonight. They kids even ate all their dinner! (insert gasping noise here) without complaining!
Now if we could only work out bedtime, that would be the perfect day.

The Big 33

33 years ago my mom was driving herself to the hospital while in labor. Love you mom!! Thanks for that! As I've said, we celebrated yesterday and it was a good day. Nathan got me a massage.. appointment and everything. We had dinner out the night before (see post below) and then we went to the game (also posted below). I had some cake, ate some treats... and now it's back to reality. So, for posterity.. here's me 33 years ago. Thankfully I have more hair now.