Keep Calm and Mommy On: {"Stuff-ing"}

Keep Calm and Mommy On: {"Stuff-ing"}: Hello Mommas! Have you finished cleaning up your kitchen or finally have arrived home from visiting with family and friends?  I have t...

{"Stuff-ing"}

Hello Mommas! Have you finished cleaning up your kitchen or finally have arrived home from visiting with family and friends?  I have to say this Thanksgiving was wonderful.  Now I'm not like a lot of Moms. I am not a Black Friday shopper... AT. ALL.  I went one year with my mother-in-law and after that I vowed to never go again. I was so hot, the lines were long, and my legs hurt. I now shop online from the comfort of my own home. 

Going from stuffing to 'stuff' 

I find it kinda funny that we go from stuffing ourselves one day to stuffing carts full of things the next. I will avoid any store from now until about February. I go into hiding from all the busy stores with long lines. I probably spend less money out of our monthly budget during this season.  My biggest pet peeve is how grown adults act like children during this time of year-why even do Christmas if your just going to be grumpy and ruine everyone else's around you. It's just "STUFF!"  No I'm not going to give the lecture of the reason for the season, but really your going to get all ticked off that you can't find Elsa? Surely with today's technology you or a family member could buy it online ... so while I'll be off tree hunting tomorrow with family on Black Friday, just remember, Mommas who are already shopping or going to be shopping -it's just "stuff!" If you have to do it, do it with some cheer!  Oh-and wear some comfortable shoes! 

Keep Calm and Mommy On!

Xoxoxo

Danielle

{Glitter Moments}

 Since becoming a mom I feel like I have become a more relaxed, let it roll off my shoulder kind of person. Now that's not to say my type A personality does not still exist. Some people would probably say I'm still not relaxed at all.  I've said this before, but my children have made me really see the importance in every day life and to 'not sweat the small stuff.' Landen and Caroline have especially made me appreciate, what I will now call, "glitter moments."

With today being the day before Thanksgiving break at school, we were having a little extra fun. The children were playing in centers and one child asked for glitter so I brought in a jar along with some glitter glue. I gave it to thechildren in art and noticed the rest of the children in the classroom were content and having a good time.  About fifteen minutes later, when I asked the children to clean up I noticed the Art center was especially shiny. From table top to the floor, stretching all the way to the bathroom and on the carpet, there was a glittery 'mess.' It was even up the leg of my boots at lunch time. The children were proud of their works of art and laid them on the counter to dry. There were swirls, names written, and even a little house that was drawn with glue and all covered with glitter. 

Before having children I would not have appreciated this glittery moment as much as I do now. With my Mom eyes on I saw todays situation completely different.  I was happy for the children who made the glittery mess,  they obviously had fun, were creative, shared-I mean come on it was only one jar of glitter!, were independently working, and they were taking pride in their work.  So there was glitter caked around the foot of the table-it can be swept up! So what it's all over the carpet-it looked like children truly existed in the classroom and were having fun! Looking at our new shiny classroom, all I could do was smile.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have to say I'm so thankful for not only my job and my students, but I am also thankful that I can appreciate moments like today's. I mean isn't everything better with a little glitter on it? 

What type of 'glitter moments' have you had recently? Are you moving to fast and need to slow down to look for them or do you find yourself sitting back and taking them in. I challenge you to just throw your hands up at the next mess or crazy situation and just take a deep breathe and  laugh. I assure you there will a little bit of joy that comes out of it. 

Xoxoxo

Danielle 

{Parenting: Manners}

Hello Weekend! I don't know about you, but I needed a break. This week has been busy and I have to be honest with you all, I've been going to bed when the kids went down...like at 7:30-yikes! Which is why there hasn't been many posts this week. Sometimes us Mom's just have to take a break and reboot to keep going! It's nap time in our house which means a coffee break for me! 

This past summer, I had ONE goal.  If nothing else got done, my children were going to begin learning their manners.  To my surprise, Landen and Caroline quickly picked up on saying "please" and "thank you." Yes, they didn't always know when to use them, but after a good six months of now practicing in our daily lives, we hear the pleases and thank yous all the time.

I do have the give the occasional "p-" reminder or say, "what's the magic word." But for two-years-old,  I have to say I'm pretty darn happy!  And the sweetest thing to hear is, "Thank you Mommy/Daddy" in that ever so gentle voice. It's music to this Mommy's ear!

Manners for me does not end at just please and thank you. I feel like manners encompasses more. I want my children to act polite. Yes sharing is still a lesson in the works, but I want them to use a kind tone of voice, pick up after themselves, and say sorry when they've hurt someone-and MEAN IT! Personally, I feel if I can raise children who are polite and kind hearted, they will have everything they need to go far in life.

 This afternoon, I was on parent.com.  I came across a little "parenting quiz" and decided to take it-why not right? Here is what I got:

"Optimizer: You're doing an amazing balancing act. Sure, you read the parenting guides, but you remain calm if you notice your baby starts teething (or crawling or talking) a few weeks later than the book says he should. You seek input from your mommy friends, your pediatrician, and your own mother, but you generally trust yourself to make good decisions. And although you aim to keep a schedule, you know missed naps and blown bedtimes happen. In short, you begin every day with a good plan and even better intentions, and when life gets in the way, you do whatever it takes to make the best of it. Brava, mama!"

I think this quiz hit the nail on the head with me. I'd love to do things a particular way all the time, but that is just too much for me and my kids sometimes. I certainly don't claim to be a know-it-all Mommy either.  I rather just ask a mommy expert or Dr.- Why should I waste my time trying to sift through millions of webpages?  How old is your child(ren)? What is your "thing" that you expect out of them. Do you expect them to sit at the table a particular amount of time? Do you make them do chores or pick up?  You may enjoy the  Parenting Style Quiz from Parents.com  to see what type of parent you are.

Keep Calm and Mommy On!

xoxox

Danielle  

{Night Off}

I've been debating wether or not to post tonight. Honestly I'm tired. Mostly emotionally, but also tired from a busy day and the anticipation of a big field trip tomorrow is weighing on me as well. A friend who is dear to our heart is having some major health struggles and I'm just not 'here' I'm mentally with him.... In the mean time..

Keep Calm and Mommy On! 

Xoxoxo

Danielle 

{Twice As Nice-Not Always}

Two-for-one,twice as nice, BOGO-this is always a  great deal right? Free coffee, free shoes, shirt, donut -what have you.  When we were first pregnant, we heard a lot of that. "A two-for one-deal!" "Wow, now that's efficient!" "Twice is nice!" 

{Being Thankful...and Not Just "Saying" It}

On February 13th, 2012 I went into my 24 week check-up around 4:00 in the afternoon after a full day of teaching kindergarten. I was excited to see how much my tummy had grown and I had a laundry list of questions to ask the doctor.  Shortly after the doctor came in, she asked if I was feeling contractions.  I said, " no," and she said you've got to go straight to the hospital.  Being naive, sometimes that's a blessing, I said to her, "well, I have a lot of questions to ask you." She told me they could be answered later and that I really needed to go.  

I had NO idea what all was about to happen. I did NOT even realize how serious things were-thank God, because I probably would have never made it to the hospital.  I jumped in my car, turned on my nav, because I had not ever once been to Good Sam, and called Aaron.  We had no idea what to expect. I was thrown on liquids and Magnesium that thankfully saved our babies after a three and a half month stay at the hospital.  I went to Labor and delivery around 28 weeks, but again, doctors and nurses were able to somehow calm my body until 35 weeks. 

Before Landen and Caroline, I would say I appreciated things. I also expected a lot of things too. I worked hard to get to where I was going and kinda just expected everything would fall into place.  Getting pregnant was not easy for us. These babies meant (and now mean) the world to us. Our struggle made us fighters for when we were in the hospital and now have made us understand what it truly means to be THANKFUL.  

I hate that it takes tragedy, struggle, and loss to put our life in perspective.  I treasure more and reflect more now after having gone through our experience with the twins. I hope, as Landen and Caroline grow up, I can show and teach them what being thankful is all about. 


Thanksgiving is coming up quickly. It's so easy to sit down at the Thanksgiving table and rattle off how we are thankful for "things, " health, and family-I'm not pointing fingers, I'm guilty of it too!  Have you stopped and really reflected on what you are truly thankful for? This Thanksgiving, head to the table with something you are truly thankful for-instead of just saying what we think we should .  I think our Thanksgiving will mean a lot more to us! 





Keep Calm and Mommy On

xoxoxo
Danielle