The First Goal

Every week before his soccer game, Mark reminds Jaxon that if he scores a goal (most weeks no one on the team scores a goal) that Jaxon can get pizza at the concession stand.

So just now, Jaxon called me from his soccer game.
Here's the conversation.

Jaxon: "Mom, my soccer game is over and guess what? I kicked the ball in the goal!"

Me: "No way!"

Jaxon: "Yes! But, they're out of pizza so we're going to look for something else to eat."

Me: "Ok, well I'm so proud of you, Jaxon!"

Jaxon: "I know Mom, I'm really proud of myself too."


You know what, Jaxon? That's all that really matters.

She's Married!

My baby sister got married yesterday in a sweet and simple ceremony.
It was very beautiful and I used my new camera to get a bunch of great shots!

Check out photos of the wedding

Congratulations Cami and Cliff!

(I'll totally help you start a fab new married blog!)

This is one of the funniest pictures. Finn pulled down the candy dish and was helping himself to the M&Ms.

Asher to the Rescue

I wore myself out today at Costco, pushing my kids and all of our food in a heavy cart. My medication had me light-headed and weak, and my stomach felt unsettled. The lines were long and I was grumpy.

As I got back to the car and unloaded the kids and food, I buckled Finn into his seat, then went around to get Asher buckled. But, like always, Asher was wandering around in the car even after I'd asked him several times to get in his chair. In desperation I asked irritatedly, "Do you want a spanking?"

"No, no spanking." Asher replied and climbed into his chair.

Then as I buckled his top clip, he gently pulled my head into his chest in a soft but firm embrace.
And he held me in the hug for a minute or two (an eternity for a three year old).
It was so sweet that I melted.

As I let him hug me, my irritation and negativity just washed away and

I felt whole.

I really think love is a good cure for grumpiness.

Somehow I haven't learned that in 29 years, but Asher's had it figured out since the day he was born.


Here's Asher showering his love on the Glowbug.

It Turns Out, I'm Not A Bad Mom: I Let My Babies Eat Dirt

I admit it, sometimes I let my babies put dirt or other foreign objects in their mouths.

For example, Finn crawled out of the car today and paused to put something from the car's carpet in his mouth.
What was that?, I wondered. But, I didn't have the energy to fish it out and he'd probably already swallowed it.

Here's why that's not as bad as you think.

I Guess I Don't Really Need An Appendix

I posted about the last 24 hrs at my other blog, here.

I'm Every Woman!

A Day in My Life

5:45 AM Wake up stressed about: retreat I'm planning, Cami's wedding, book club meetings, Hemophilia Association stuff, babysitting planning, dinners for friends, finding babysitters, train park today, potty training, remembering infusions, etc.

6:30 AM Give into the stress and get out of bed. Check the computer for email about the retreat I'm planning, my sister's wedding invitations I'm creating, and the dresser I'm buying from the guy on craigslist.

7:00 AM Call my dad to see if and when he can pick up a dresser.

7:05 AM Call the guy from craigslist to arrange a time.

7:10 AM Call my dad back to tell him, "The guy says if you don't pick it up by noon he'll sell it to someone else." Then I hear the craigslist guy say, "I think you want to call your dad." (OMG! How embarrassing!) And it's not even 7:30.

7:30 AM Call Cami to request a photo of her and her fiance so I can create and order their invitations from the Walgreens website (they didn't like the first draft I did last night).

7:40 AM Call Danielle to tell her I CAN watch her kids, sorry it's last minute.

7:45-8:15 AM Yell at Jaxon continuously until he gets out the door, like always when he hears the bus pull up.

8:00 AM Do infusions for Jaxon and Asher (treatment for their hemophilia).

8:30 AM Attempt to eat breakfast, change diapers, clothe and feed children.

8:45 AM Danielle brings her kids over. I am in pjs with lots of mascara under my eyes.

9:00 AM Tweeze eyebrows to perfection

9:10 AM Shower and get dressed

9:30 AM Create wedding invitations online for Cami. They will be sent to a Walgreens near her.

10:00 AM Read stories to the kids

10:05 AM Put dinner in crock-pot. (Gorditas: 4 chicken breasts (frozen ok), 1 can each black beans and corn, 1 jar salsa, add green onions and cilantro after cooking 4 hr high, 6 on low. Serve in tortillas w/ all the fixings)

10:15 AM Danielle picks up her kids

10:20 AM Pack snacks for the train park

10:50 AM Feed crying Finn in the car, take an exit too early, why can't I remember where this park is? We go all the time.

11:00 AM Arrive at the park and welcome help from Emily unloading the kids.

11:15 AM Play, snack, chat with Emily and her sister, Rachel, who each bring their own two kids.

12:10 PM Lose Asher Curtis

12:11 PM Take Asher Steed to the potty where he pees on his underwear, yes, you need to pull them down further, son.

12:15 PM Recover Asher Curtis

12:20 PM Lose Asher Steed

12:22 PM Recover Asher Steed

12:30 PM Ride the Train (attempt unsuccessfully to get a good pic of the Ashers)

12:50 PM Leave Train Park

1:00-2:45 PM NAPS!

3:00 PM Read stories and cuddle in the rocking chair with Asher and Finn.

3:15 PM Chat with Sandrine (SiL) about fitness and diet tips, also how to cook the duckling I just bought. Push Finn on the swing.

3:40 PM Jaxon arrives home from school.

3:45 PM Take Jaxon to friend Vincent's to play.

3:50 PM Push Asher and Finn in the stroller to Tuesday Morning to buy baby gift. I'm happy to be walking, it's healthful and good for the environment!

4:00 PM Continue on to Fry's to buy additional ingredients for dinner.

4:30 PM Return home and begin assembling dinner to take to Brittany who just had a baby.

4:40 PM While I'm talking to Brittany about bringing dinner, Finn gets into almost empty Nutella container in trash can and smears it all over himself. Then Asher spills his Kool-Aid at the exact moment I'm cleaning Finn. I practically hang up on Brittany.

4:45 PM Kids are hungry so Asher feeds Finn yogurt and Finn wipes it all over his face, arms, chest, hair and neck.

4:46 PM Danielle calls and says she's picking up Jaxon for soccer.

4:47 PM Call Vincent's mom to have Jaxon RUN home.

4:49 PM Jaxon returns home accompanied by Vincent and his mom who asks me for a tissue because Vincent's nose is bleeding. I notice the fridge is open, how long has it been open?

4:50 PM Jaxon resists going to soccer practice but I get him out the door with a booster seat a water bottle, oh, and his soccer shoes.

5:00 PM Grab the gift, bag, and the food (forgot the homemade jam!) for Brittany. Put kids in the car, no shoes for Finn.

5:15 PM Arrive at Brittany's house, deliver dinner, watch as my children destroy the beautiful fountain in their backyard.

5:17-5:30 PM Hold the most beautiful newborn baby I've ever seen. Seriously. That part of the day slowed down just a little bit.

5:40 PM Say goodbye to Britt and the girls, and head back to pick up Jaxon from soccer.

5:50 PM Jaxon sees me at soccer and gets a frowny face. He's disappointed because he doesn't get to go home with his friend Ethan. He tells me I'm mean.

6:00 PM Feed kids dinner. Jaxon describes it as, "The most disgusting thing you've ever made." (Let's hope Brittany didn't think that!)

6:15 PM Mark sweeps in to save the day. He is welcomed by a disastrous house and crazy kids. I retire to the office for my meal, after graciously weathering Jaxon's insults on my cooking.

6:20 PM My dad and brother come to collect Jaxon's powerwheels toy to fix it. Dad asks for the cash for the dresser, I don't have it. But, I didn't know they were coming over.

6:30 PM Baths for the sticky haired monsters, and a few chocolates for me. Why did I buy that box? Of course, they were on sale.

6:35 Talk to BFF Leslie on the phone about her drive to AJ for a shower gift. What, you're going to be late? Not you! Never!

6:40 PM Begin the Herculean (and still unfinished) task of cleaning the kitchen (pause for a quick pic of me and the kids)

6:50 PM Kiss kids goodnight while Mark reads and prays with them.

6:55 PM Leave for Cubscout Roundtable

7:00-8:30 PM Overwhelmed with Cubscout info

8:35 PM Arrive home as Mark kisses me and walks out the door to set up chairs for a RS function at the church.

8:55 PM Sit down and blog about my day.


Reflections:
1. I didn't do very well in my interactions with Jaxon today. I want to spend more time with him, especially more positive time. We need to find Zen.

2. When my kids stop napping, I am in BIG TROUBLE.

3. I don't sleep well when I'm stressed. When I don't sleep well, I'm cranky.

4. I have great friends. The best. Ever. (and that includes all of my friends and family)

Embarrassing Personal Confession #3

I am easily persuaded by reverse psychology.

Today at the gym we had a sub teacher. She's like a chinchilla on crack. Or the Energizer Bunny in fast forward.
The woman never takes a break, a breather, or a drink of water. For an hour.
It was kick-boxing, then jogging, then squats with bicep curls, then plyometrics, etc. You get the picture.
And everytime I felt myself slowing down or giving up, she would yell like a drill sergeant, "Push yourself! Get out of your comfort zone!"

And I wanted to yell back, "NO! THIS IS TOO HARD! I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN YOU PUSH ME!"

Her hour-long class seems to last for three hours.

Contrast this with the regular teacher (a young grandmother) who gives high-impact alternatives and chats happily during her workout. She encourages and I work extra hard in her class because I want to show her I can work harder. I can do more than the minimum. She doesn't push, she encourages us to listen to our bodies, and I enjoy working out in her class. The time flies by.

Lesson learned: I'm not that much different than my kids. I hate to be pushed, I like a challenge when it's presented in a considerate way.

Application: My children don't need a drill sergeant, they need a cheerleader.