Glasses and mommy guilt

Had a conversation recently with a friend who is expecting her first child. She was very open about her feelings of inadequacy. She had doubts and fears. Also, she felt like in a way she had already made mistakes before the child has even been born
I knew I had to break it to her... I had to be the one to explain to her about mommy guilt. I had to tell her to recognize it and get used to it because it never goes away!!!
Case in point....M told me all last year that she felt like she squinted. Every once in awhile she would say she wished the teacher would use a new expo marker because she couldn't see very well. It DID cross my mind to have her eyes checked but sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the oil...and she just wasn't squeaking loud enough. Sure as the world at her 11 year old checkup she failed the eye exam which was followed up by a trip to the eye dr....results can be seen below

School's in

6th grade
4th grade
2nd grade
Where has the time gone?

Feeling old

It is not just the wrinkles making me feel older these days. Yesterday we celebrated one of my flower girls turning fifteen...

And worse... One of my flower girls heading to college...

Can't believe we celebrated n's 19th birthday. In just 19 years she has managed to cultivate a great ability to give grace. She truly thinks the best of people, holds loosely to their faults, and gives forgiveness freely. This is not easy...in fact it took a Savior to show us how it's done. Some people think these qualities make you weak, but it has made her strong. She really gives other people her love and loyalty.. that...among many others...and the fact that she just makes me laugh... Are the things that I love about my daughter...happy birthday Co!!

Stella

If you have been wondering what we have been up to....this picture says it all...Stella. Yet another girl in the house! She has completely changed our way of life. I never understood those crazy people who have to rush home to check on their dogs or buy clothing for them... Until now..

We have a love/hate relationship. I really do love her but I hate the way she rules over my life and house right now! However, watching m taking on the responsibility of caring for her has really shown me that she is growing up and can follow through on her promises. (she signed a contract stating her responsibilities)
So far the housebreaking ain't goin so well...it is a very good thing she is so darn cute!

Old Word/New Meaning



Having all girls left us in a sea of pink, tulle and tiaras for several years.  There was a time when I wondered if M and D would ever wear anything other than a princess dress or leotard and tights.  I can also remember wishing for the day when we could read a book with a main character OTHER than a princess.  Now we rarely wear pink and Jasmine, Aurora and Cinderella are barely mentioned.
The only time we really hear the word "princesses" is when our very special friend Miss Barbara (she deserves a post all her own) calls us or pays us a visit.  The term was coined when we were neighbors and the girls would make the short journey (usually dressed in princess attire) from our backyard to Miss Barbara's front door....plaster their noses against the window panes and ring her doorbell incessantly until she came out to play!

Notice that I am only referring to M and D in the whole princess obsession.  MJ never really cared much for those fancy girls in ballgowns and tiaras.  The only time she really wants to be a princess is when it means being included in special time with Miss Barbara.  So, it is ironic that it was her that coined a new meaning of Princesses.

The girls have quite the obsession with the show "The Voice".   Which involves the judge Christina Aguilera and her rather ample bosom.  This blessing of a bosom is ALWAYS spilling out of her clothes.  A couple of nights ago as the cameras flashed on Christina's chest, MJ said rather emphatically, "She needs to cover her princesses UP !"
I said, "Her what?"
She said, "Her princesses...you know..." as she looks down and pats her chest...
I said, "Where did you hear that term"
She said, "Just made it up...just thought it up..."
So there it is...we have entered a new chapter....a new meaning for an old word.  I pray when she's older she will take her own advice and keep thoses princesses covered UP!



Sometimes fun is messy....

                                                    MJ on book character day at school. 

M's birthday cake ended up more on her face than in her mouth.

D fishing gummy bears out of a mountain of flour at her bday party.

Dear Tim Tebow,

First let me say, I hate to do this.  I hate to ask you for one more thing.  So much is being asked of you already.  Because you have been so bold to share your faith with the world, the world in turn has turned a magnifying glass on your life.  They expect you to be perfect.  You have professed your faith in Jesus, but as a Christian, I know that doesn't make you capable of actually being Jesus.  Let me be the first to say that when you mess up (and you will) I will not accuse you of being a fraud or turn my back on you.  If I hear stories of you losing your patience in traffic, sitting in a hookah bar, or even a brush with the law....I will not question the authenticity of your faith. 

However, I do have a favor to ask of you.  Let me set the background for this favor.  There are mothers all over the world having conversations with their daughters.  We are telling them about the value of purity. We are telling them to value themselves enough to dress modestly....to hold themselves to a high standard.  We ask them to listen to what God says about love.  To figure out what the Bible says about a Godly man and wait for that man to come into their lives.  We tell our daughters that he is out there and that he is worth waiting for.

No pressure, but you are the "poster boy" for that man.  You share your faith unashamedly.  You share your time and talent with others.  You are showing the world that a Godly man is no wimp!  You are strong, passionate and capable.

So, I need you to do me a favor.  When you pick the girl who will be your wife don't choose as the world would choose.  I'm asking you to prove to these young girls staring dreamy eyed at you that they are not following an empty promise...that while they are rejecting what the world believes is beautiful....there are men out there like you who are looking for that kind of beauty.

Sincerely,
Mother of 4 girls

Lost and Found

Don't really know why I'm posting this--since I know that I will never forget it.  We were in the mall shopping for me a new pair of COMFORTABLE jeans---which if you have done that lately you know what an impossible mission that is....with the invention of the style "low rise".  I'm ready for mom jeans to come back en vogue.

So, you could see why I might be a little distracted picking between boot cut, skinny, barely boot cut....short, regular, petite....etc.

My kids have never been wanderers...even as toddlers.  They typically just stay around me like ducklings following the mama duck.  When I turned around and couldn't find D, I really wasn't too worried.

As I went all over the store for the second time...I started to feel the panic grab hold of me.

I knew it was bad when I resorted to yelling her name all over the store.

I knew it was really bad when I started to yell at the poor young man working in the store.

When he suggested maybe she just saw the playground and wanted to go over there...I responded with, "NO--- SHE WOULD NOT....SHE WOULD NEVER DO THAT...SERIOUSLY....YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...SHE WOULDN'T JUST GO TO THE PLAYGROUND"

As I realized that she REALLY wasn't in the store, I stepped into the main part of the mall.  I looked up one side and down the other...she was no where.....

I heard myself describing to people what she looked like....what she was wearing.....

I really thought I might fall out and die

I was in freak out mode....so I did what I always do when I freak out....I called G.  and just yelled, "I can't find D! I'm in the mall and I can't find D!  She is gone!" and then hang up because I start talking to someone that is trying to help me and realize that calling G isn't going to help (even though in most circumstances it always does.)

Finally, poor young man working in the store says, "Maam, here she comes...she is with the security guard."

Then....I thought I would fall out and die for the second time.   We found her.....Ugh the relief.   There is truly nothing worse than that feeling.  It is the most helpless feeling in the world....

After I rehashed it with everyone who was helping me....I realized that I might want to call poor G.  He of course was in the car headed to the mall....poor thing....

It is amazing how things can go from normal....to horrible....to normal again in a matter of minutes.  I thought how much hinged on the outcome of those few minutes.  The day could have ended very differently.  For this happy ending I am so. very. thankful.

credit

I wonder how many times I have heard the comment "She looks just like you!"  or "She looks just like G".  And many times I try to figure out which gene pool certain looks, mannerisms, or abilities come from.  But, as much as I want to claim some of their good qualities....and as much as G tries to claim them as his own...we both know that sometimes it clearly comes from neither.....

It is hard to claim responsibility for MJ in 1st grade remembering which day to bring her library book back to school......when I payed a 13.00 late fee at the library yesterday.

It is hard to claim responsibility for the fact that when M has a week to turn an assignment in she does it the first day.....when I found myself doing something I knew about for a month....10 minutes before deadline.

It is hard to claim responsibility for D keeping up with all test, projects, homework without any parental help.....when I had to go to the grocery store yesterday because I had no food to pack their lunches with.  Then I dropped M and D's lunch off at school, got all the way home before I remembered that I had a third child that needed a lunch, too.  I turned around and went back to the school to find MJ eating a lunch the teacher had provided for her.

I guess I will give credit where credit is due....and it is clearly due somewhere else!