Just a couple pictures

She is my forever..

I love my child. She is everything to me. The way she smiles to the way she crosses her arms when she is mad at me. Her laugh is the greatest thing ever. I have never heard something so joyful. He eyes mesmerize me. Her sweet heart is the most amazing thing about her. We have grown together. Myself, learning how to be a mom.. how to take care of a person who's life is in my hands. She, learning how to do the basics, crawl and talk to add and subtract. She, learning who she is and finding her place in this world as a 5 year old girl. We make mistakes together, we succeed together. We are proud of each other. Together, taking on the world. Together, standing by each other's side.

She is defiantly a care giver. Helping people is/will be her gift to the world. From her stuffed animals to mom being sick, she lights up when she is able to help. She cares about everything.. big or small, alive or not, from bugs to baby dolls, even a dead leaf from a flower..  if she can see it with her eyes, she cares about it... if she can touch it with her hands, she cares about it.. She worries to much, yes, I know where she gets it from, and she wants everything to go perfect.

She may be slightly uptight about things but yet so laid back about most things. She struggles with patience, as most of us do. Her tummy hurts when it goes to the unknown but she still puts herself out there and doesn't let it hold her back.

90% of the time she is great. She doesn't do wrong often. She follows rules and uses common sense. Our fights are usually about food. She is a bottomless pit. When given the choice of what she wants to eat, she will choose something like a platter (different veggies and fruits) or sandwich. Really, anything that doesn't have to be cooked because she doesn't have the patience to wait. If I am cooking, she ask for a snack while she waits.. this is where the fights about food come in.

 She treasures Mady/Daddy time. Even ask me to leave so she can "hang out with Dad cause I haven't seen him much this week" But, she tells me she misses me every second I am not around. She does love each and every person in her life but the love she has for me doesn't compare to any of it. Being a mom and knowing the love your child has for you.. yea, that is the most amazing feeling ever.

Her excited dog panting sound drives me crazy and I hope she grows out of it soon. All her other sound effects are awesome though. She has a sound effect for everything.

I love that she has to run in and give me just one more hug before she leaves for school. I love that she waves to me over and over when I am in the car next to her. I love the way she says Hi to me when I haven't seen her for a few hours. I love that I am the person she wants when she is sick.

Currently, we snuggle 6 nights of the week (Dad gets Sundays). I know her favorite part of the day is laying next to me before she goes to sleep. It drives me crazy that she has to put her face directly in front of mine to snuggle and she is breathing her hot breath on my face. Yet, I let her do it most the time because that is when she is the most content. Laying next to me, snuggled up, face in front of mine, listening to her music.

Holding her hand is my favorite thing to do in my entire life. I dread the day we don't hold hands. I am obsessed with her hands and her sleeping. There is something just flat our adorable and sweet about her sleeping. I could make an entire book out of pictures of her sleeping. slightly creepy.. I know. and I could put her hand print on everything I own.

She has really weird toenails. They grow super fast and awkward. Nothing a pedicure can't hide. Her thigh's are still slightly chunky and I still squeeze them since that is why God gave them to her. I can't help but to rub her buddah belly. It isn't really flat, it's just the perfect bit of round. She doesn't have baby skin, it is just like her Daddy's. dry dry dry.. something she will have to live with forever. The cheeks.. goodness, I have to kiss them. It is impossible for me not to.

She is what I call a "not so smiley kid" not that she isn't happy. She is happy all the time. She just doesn't smile all the time. She laughs non stop and is super silly.. She just doesn't always look at you and smile. (especially when you have a camera in your hand). Maybe I would see more smiles if I stopped taking pictures of everything she does in life.

She gets her feelings hurt easily. A little to easy. She can cry at the drop of a hat. She takes everything personal and acts as if her world is ending if one thing doesn't go right. Time out works for us. Breathing in and out is the only thing that can calm her down sometimes. Although she is going to have a hard time in life if she lets everything hurt her feelings, I know she wont be the one hurting other peoples feelings. She doesn't like when someone is being mean to another person. She doesn't like bad words such as "hate" and "ugly". Her heart is kind and that is how she wants to world to be. KIND

She has the most intreging brain. The way she processes things and understands things is like she is an adult. It is like she has an old soul. She ask a question and when answered 90% of the time she nods her head like it makes total sense. The other 10% of the time she looks at you like your crazy and says "I don't get it" or "thats weird".  Science and math are going to be the subjects she excels in. I swear she knows more than I do. She loves art and music with all her heart. She is the best doodler of any 5 year old ever. I love turning over her work sheets from school and finding tons of little drawings. She could draw me 1000 of pictures and I don't think I could ever throw them away. She can craft like Martha Stewart. Give her some tape, scissors, and a pile of "trash" and she can create the world with it.

Without her my life would not be everything it is today. Sure my life would still continue on but the worth of it wouldn't be anywhere near what it is now. She is my best friend and at 5 years old she is the greatest most perfect best friend anyone could have at any age. God blessed me with this beautiful beautiful, smart and funny, loving person inside and outside beauty. I am so very proud of the little 5 year old she is now and the little lady she will soon become..

I love her forever.. to the moon and back.. She just has no idea what she means to me. She is the beat of my heart. I love her more than anything or anyone in this world.

whats going on right now.. Chica

As I sit here, looking on Pinterest for Valentine's Day food, my chica is not so quietly playing in her.. playroom? bedroom? I have had to pause for many seconds just to listen to her.

It is my favorite things to do.. ok, my 3rd favorite thing. (I love when she holds my hand.. I love listening to her made up stories)

Things I have overheard so far..

:::in a high pitched "lady" voice... followed by a low pitched "man" voice:::

lady- I am not a bad women
man- yes, don't call my wife a bad women. I love her
lady- and I love him
man- she is a great women. she is not bad. do NOT say that
lady- and he is a great man

________________________________________________________________________

another moment ::said in a smart tone::

I said I was going to do it in a second.. what do you think I can do it all? I mean, I am trying to put your foot back on and you don't believe me. I keep trying but it keeps falling off. I mean, how can I make your foot stay?

(I have no idea what she is talking about or WHO she is talking to)




________________________________________________________________________


my phone is sitting in the hall way.. recording her.. I am not sure what exactly will be picked up because I do not want her to see that I am recording her. ok.. I just got busted.. and I lied to her.. I know, please forgive me Lord.. I really did lie to her and acted like I had no idea the phone was there..


________________________________________________________________________

in a regular voice.. just super loud

It is about to be the best day of my life!! I am going to rock out!!

MOM, may I use your make up?
(me) yes, just the one book of eye shadow
OK!!

then I hear her singing:

Make Up.. Make Up.. gonna ROCK OUT

and then people.. THIS is what just happened..

________________________________________________________________________

So what is going on now?   she is back in her room or playroom.. rocking out on the ukulele.. singing

I wish there was a way to record her without her seeing or knowing!

It’s Time

 

Oh goodness, where do I even begin? I have not been a very good “blogger” “poster” “updater” for a while now. Mainly because I have just been busy, but also because I open it up to write and I go blank. Not that my life is blank.. it is far from blank.. but what to say, write, talk about, tell, update with.. it is all blank. I am hoping this changes though. I don’t post just for you to read about my life (although that plays a huge part in it) but I post for the future. So I can remember things, relive things, be able to tell stories without having to really think if I am telling it right. I post for Mady.. so she can look back and see who she was and where she came from.

So, to start off with:

SCHOOL for ME

The quarter is over.. 3 more quarters until externs! I am a quarter behind schedule but it isn’t anything that was my fault. Financial Aid people messed me up to start off with.. then when I found this out, I figured out a way to bump myself up a quarter but it would cost a bunch of “out of pocket money”.. so, a quarter behind.. no big deal! There is actually a bunch of reasons why this worked out for the best. So, YAY.. point is though

I STILL HAVE A 4.0!!

Next quarter, 4 days a week.. 8:30-12:30 with no breaks in-between classes. Chair side, Dentrix (a dental computer program), and Math..boooo   the class I have been avoiding. Yes, some how I was able to put it off for a year. Now, I have no choice.

 

SCHOOL for HER

Chica has been at her school for half a year now. I can not say that I am fully happy with it. I love love love her teacher though. The school itself, I feel has lied miscommunicated with me about a few things. Also, I find out here and there small little things that just bug me. Things that may not be a big deal but I remember doing in school and she doesn’t do it. I know times have changed but still.. I just don’t agree with some things. I am at peace with switching her schools for K though. The only thing that makes me sad is she has become really close with a little friend. It is amazing to see/hear my little chica talk about her “best friend” the way I talk about my friends. Wow, she is growing up. Remember about 7 months ago I gave up on trying to pick where to send her to school? I decided on this school for a few reasons. #1 being that they have God in their school. They pray. They teach. They talk. This is very important to me. Another being location, so so convenient. I gave up on decided what to do, it had me in a frenzy. I felt like I was making a decision that I wasn’t ready to make. Well people, here we are again. Getting close to time to make a decision. So, January rolls around and back to school tours/meetings/conversations.

Positive School for Her:  she loves it. She is learning lots of things (from what I bribe out of her to tell me) she has met some wonderful people and made some great friends. Her teacher is her hero. She also was chosen to represent her class at homecoming. They take a girl and boy from each class and at the homecoming BB game, they walk (dresses and tux) down the court. OMGEEE (yes, I said it. omgeee) She also gets to hand the homecoming queen her crown! {They let the youngest give it to the winner} Pretty AwEsOmE! Maybe this is the start to things like student council and such?! 

 

HUSBAND

The husband is good. Working as always. Giving it 100% to support his family. He hasn’t been working the long hours of 6am-midnight anymore.. That is amazing. He has had a few Saturdays off here and there too. Nothing really new with him though. OH, he won a rifle in a raffle. That he was excited about! I bought him a puppy.. that’s another post

 

Since Hawaii, other than buying our beautiful house, nothing is really going on. Mom, Wife, Student.. sister, daughter, friend.

so much going on

 

I am so busy this month.

Closed on a house

Selling other house

Moving in

Cleaning new and old house

Wine over water

Unpacking

School

Mady school

Dentist appointments

Unpacking

Housewarming party

Color run

Halloween party

Trick or treating

more unpacking

PLUS all the small daily details to life such as homework, cooking, driving, friends, family, bills, a crazy 5 year old child..

really my list goes on. If I had a monthly to-do list, It would be a 100 pages of detailed blah blah blah.. and I would have marked off everything so far (except return ATT equipment.. I must remember to do that this week) This week being the busy yet.. but at the end of the week, it is the housewarming party.. I am so excited to show everyone our new house. It is so pretty and inviting. I never had parties at my old house.. this people.. is about to change!

Zak has been wonderful I must add. A super help, he handled ALL the closing on new house stuff. He handled all the moving stuff.. (I handle the unpacking) He has been so calm and collective.. I have one amazing husband. I do have to add this; I have been very calm during all this as well. No stress. I am not even stressed or worried about selling our old house. It will happen.. God’s got it.. Ali’s got it (our relator) We are in our beautiful home as happy as can be.. THAT is all that matters..

Thank you to everyone that has helped with anything and everything the past 2 months! Yall are awesome and I love each of you very much..

p.s. If you don’t know, Florida is WINNING .. every game.. including that they beat LSU.. yep!  Go Gators!

p.s.s. I have yet to unpack a box (somewhere in the garage) with my cord to upload pictures.. My iPhone is/has been.. out of storage.. I have video and pics to show.. NOW if only I could find that box.. and the box with my passwords for paying bills.. I am sure these people want their money at some point. Does anyone want to help unpack, or loan me a cord, or even pay my bills?? Ok, how about just the help unpack part. I hate hanging clothes.. I have a few boxes of clothes to be washed and or hung.

Less talk, more video

 

My last fewish post have been a lot of talk.. a lot of blah blah blah de dah.. So now, it is time for LESS TALK, MORE VIDEO

 

and how about some Random August Pictures:

In the last picture, she is being a bike..?.. or so she said “take a picture of me being a bike”

The questions have begun

 

 

{Head Up:  this is a long post. It jumps around but all has a point. If you want to just read the Mady parts, scroll down to the purple sentences.}

 

Let me start off by saying, I grew up in church. Going on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, all children's and youth activities, Bible studies, G.A Camps, Passport, Family campouts, Family functions, fall festivals, missions around town, week long mission trips, and anything else in-between. Pretty much, my life was busy with all church things. With this being said, the older I got.. the more I started to resent it. Not God or my beliefs (although my beliefs have “matured” over the years) but when I turned 17, I pretty much stopped going to church. From 18 until about 21ish, I never attended another church. I did go a few times with my mom on Christmas Eve (mainly because the Eve service was so pretty) but I did not indulge myself in learning or studying or even praying very often. I was getting into things, doing my own things, trying to find my place in my life.. although I have never stopped trusting in God, I have questioned things, and the strength of my religion did head downhill for a little bit. (just being honest)

(-why I stopped going to church- mainly the people. I am NOT putting down people that are Baptist.. my family has always been Baptist.. and I am sure you see this with any religion out there.. but.. as I got older, I saw what was really going on. How judgmental they were. The gossip was crazy. Oh, don’t forget.. how they were “Christian” on Sunday’s but come Monday I would see them in public doing the complete opposite of what they were “teaching” or “saying” in Church. I started to pick up on the rudeness and how FAKE people were. Honestly, church is the first place I really realized what “fake” people were. Sad, I know.. With this said, there were a few wonderful people at my old church. I can not name names but I am putting this in here so that the few people that made an impact on my life and stayed close to me and my family regardless of if we were there or not get the credit they deserve. )

Then I became a mom..

I knew I wanted Mady to know God. To trust God. To believe in God. I also knew I wanted her to have God in her heart while being open to other’s beliefs as she got older. She does go to church with the in-laws (thank yall for picking her up every Sunday to take her.. she enjoys it so much) I have spoken about how God loves her from day 1. She has grown up knowing about God’s love, what Easter and Christmas are really about, and praying. Praying before dinner, before bed (most nights), and praying for things like, no bad dreams, or thanking for the day, helping someone feel better.

Then she turned 5, and I started her in a Christian based school. I knew going into it, sending her there, that the school is more structured  than other Christian/Private schools. Meaning, I knew they were going to teach their beliefs very openly. This was one reason I chose this school and another reason I was and still am nervous about the school.

It has only been 2 full weeks since she has started PreK-4 .. and oh the questions I have been asked.. the hard part.. how do you put what you know and believe into words that a 5 year old can understand. Again, I want her to be open to other beliefs but at the age of 5, teaching her my beliefs is what matter. I just don’t want push them on her to where she grows up and resents not being taught other things. At the age of 5 I don’t think she should be taught anything else though.

Questions:

What does Baptized mean?

What is a Christian?

When did God create me? Before or after I was a tiny cell in your belly?

How did God create everything out of nothing?

What happens when you make the Devil mad?

Some people want to go to Hell and some people don’t.

The list actually goes on but this gives you an idea of what is going on in my 5 year old’s head. I know I am answering these questions pretty good because the end results of the conversations have been:

Maybe when I am older I can be Baptized. Maybe they can sprinkle water on my head though because I cant go underwater yet. ( oh the way a 5 year olds thoughts work)

I want to be a Christian right now

Making the Devil mad is a good thing

I want to go where God is when I die.

No body loves God more than I do.

 

Also, these moments make me very thankful for Zak and the rest of my family. Zak has the answers.. he reminds me of his Dad and Mom sooo much when it comes to how smart he really is. You can tell he grew up listening to his parents and what they say about everything and anything. He doesn’t read, he doesn’t watch tv, he just listens to music. So how he knows everything, religious or not.. beats me.. I just give his family the credit.

Now, why I am thankful she is in her school and will more than likely continue in private schools over public schools.

Last night she started telling us that instead of going to Chapel on Friday (today) they were going to watch a movie. She was not sure what the movie was but the teacher gave her a clue.

“they didn’t have kids” that was the clue. Mady looks at Zak and I and says, I think I know what movie it is. The story about God promises a baby to… to.. I forgot their names. They have to leave where they are and they take his Dad and some family with them and they have to sleep on the ground. They ride on Donkey’s and it isn’t Mary and Joseph. A name starts with an “I” I think.  Zak guessed Abraham and Sarah. She wasn’t sure so we each grabbed a children's bible from her bookcase and started searching. It was Isaac that she was thinking about and it was Abraham and Sarah. Then I asked her what does her teacher read from, a bible or story books. She tries to explain what her teacher uses because it is neither a bible or book.. it is a thing with pictures and has stories on the back and she changes the pictures. (I still have no idea what she is talking about) then she starts naming off stories..

Mady: you know, Noah’s Ark, the burning bush, Adam and Eve..
Me: wait, you know about the burning bush.. what was that?
Mady: God was talking to him with the burning bush
Zak: do you know WHO he was talking to
Mady: I can’t remember
Zak: Moses
Mady: yea yea! Moses! and she turns the pictures and they have different stories

YAY!! She is learning more than she leads on!! Also, I was reading this post on Facebook from a mom who has preemie baby in the hospital. Her older daughter (I think 7) took 3 things in for show and tell that could fit into a plastic bag. She took her preemie sisters very small diaper, a picture of her sister and then a picture of her being baptized at church. She ends up telling the mom that a lot of kids didn’t know what it was to be baptized and how hard it was her on (the mom) to hear this. She then goes on to say how she was talking with the teacher and the teacher told her that if a child ask about the picture that was brought, she can not answer questions. The kids can answer questions but the teacher can get fired for “teaching” things about religion such as what it means to be baptized.

That right there makes me glad she is in the school she is in. This is why I want her to stay in private school. It is crazy to me when I think that a teacher can get in trouble for this. Mady’s class prays before they eat snack, during the day, and whenever else they want. Her preschool before this was a private church preschool as well and they too prayed or answered questions the kids had. This is how it should be in public school.

When you think about it. They are saying that you can’t teach bible or pray in class. WHY? because that is teaching other kids that don’t believe in the bible or praying, things they shouldn’t be taught? Well, isn’t that the same as teaching the kids that want to pray or have questions that they can’t do that. It is , IT IS, the exact same thing. I think that prayer should be allowed. Not forced. If a child doesn’t want to close their eyes to pray, they should not have to.. they can sit there in silence and color, or whatever. That is fine, but if a child wants to pray in class, on the football field, before a test.. then so be it. FREEDOM right? Freedom to choose if you pray or not. Freedom to choose how you answer a question about religion. (The Pledge should be said every day also)

I mean, think back when I was in school or when you were in school. Did you say the pledge? Did you pray before school started around the flag? Were you able to ask questions and get answers? Did you take a bible class in your public school? How did you turn out? Probably WAY better than these kids are turning out where none of this is allowed. And they wonder why kids are the way they are.. we are teaching them that they can get away with anything. Such as, if one person has a problem with prayer in schools, it is blown up into this entire ordeal and then banned. Honestly it is all bullcrap. Banning prayer and now the pledge because it has “under God” in it. At least (for now) private schools are able to teach, pray, and answer questions. I can’t imagine Mady not doing that in her day to day activities at school. I guess that made my decision about private or public schools for next year. (although you do what you have to do and if private school is not an option, then we will of course embrace all the other options.. just throwing that out there)

 

SlAcKeR

 

I have been such a slacker with my post the past month or so. It isn’t that I don’t have anything to share, I have TONS of things to share {in my not so exciting life}.. I just have not taken the time to walk to my computer, sit in the chair, pull up life writer, and type

so here is some updates:

• we celebrated Bobs birthday
• Mothers day was great
• we went to the indoor/outdoor water park for the weekend (again)
• School is getting harder
• Mady’s last day of preschool is TODAY (right now as I type, that is where she is at)
• I can’t believe she will be in PreK 4 next year (yes, we did decide to wait one more year to send her to kindergarten.. she will turn 5 two days before school starts.. so this means she will be 6 when she starts kindergarten, but I feel very at peace with this decision)
• I have been cooking
• I signed up for my first 5K (got tickets 2 days ago, the run is in October)
• Hawaii is in 50 days (or so)
• Speaking of 50, my mom turns 50 this year! actually this month!!
• I have stopped taking pictures with my camera and I now use my iphone.. this has to change though because I miss pretty pictures..

Life really just seems busy, maybe it is because I have school 4 days a week with homework homework homework.. I am not sure why but the past few months just seems like I run out of time to clean, blog, take pictures, play outside, and all the other fun stuff I enjoy..

since I mentioned cleaning, I think I shall say goodbye to the post and clean the house. Pictures are uploading from my iphone so I will be back with fun stuff at some point {today I hope}

It once was lost, and now it is found

A few post ago I was telling you how I misplace everything... well, all is found now!

Including the gift card that I was for sure I dropped in public and the sweater that made me want to cry when it went missing..

2012 is nothing but Good Luck so far!!

{I did not take this photo although I wish I did, I have never found a 4 leaf clover}

maybe I should play the lotto?

You get all the credit Mom!!

This is kind of a 2/3 part post. They all have to do with each other and all are just as important as the other.

Part 1.. I have had to learn how to have a man in my life..
Part 2.. My chica thinks she is lucky
Part 3.. You get all the credit Mom



Part 1
Over half my life I have not had any type of relationship with my "sperm donor" (what some would call a dad) This is not about bashing him because honestly... my life has been wonderful with just my mom. What this is about is the only way I can see not having a dad affected me in my life..

All my life More than half.. lets just say .. The important years of a girl growing up, I just had my mom. She was/is amazing. I watched her hold down the fort, give us everything we asked for, give up everything for herself, and be the rock of our family. Through pain, hardship, and loneliness, she is how our family survived. Let me add this, our family survived great! She didn't speak bad words, she didn't have melt downs (in front of us at least), she never put herself first in any situation. She did the right things all the time in our eyes (as children, and still as an adult.. I do not think she did anything wrong) With this said.. Because she was amazing, it has caused me to be amazing also. (true statement) .. back to my point though..

Watching my mom be.. well.. everything, and do.. well.. everything (on her own) and not having a dad in the picture made me a strong women/mom. Since Zak has come into my life I have had to work on a few things. Like, being in charge. I do think this is part of my personality but I also think it is because I was not sure how a man fits into a woman's life. I didn't have that to watch. I just saw a strong women/mom doing what she had to do. Taking charge of her life/family. In psychologe we learned about how we become our enviroment. My enviroement was an indipendant women raising 2 girls without a man in her life. (of course there is more to my enviroment than that)

When Mady was born, I was really unsure on how to do things. I mean, I let Zak be the amazing dad he is but it was and still is a learning process for me. I have had to step back and allow him to do the dad thing his way. I stepped back from the time she was born when it came to him being a dad but I struggle with little things too. Such as; bed time.. what time I think she should go to bed.. luckily Zak and I agree on how to parent our daughter, with this said.. we do have differences.. I am more routine or strict or uptight.. I guess you could say.. (but not in a bad way I don't think).. and he is more laid back and.. well.. fun.. (lucky him) For a more detailed example: when it is time to get ready for bed, I say.. it is time to get ready for bed. Potty, brush your teeth, pjs, books, hair, lay down, music on, water in sippy, lay with chica, and good night. Zak on the other hand, wants to play, take his time, get destracted, move slow, and again PLAY.. now this could be because he works so much and doesn't have the time with her that I have.. this could be because to him, bed time can wait.. he is laid back.. everything doesn't have to go to plan or be on time.. (with him at least) This is a small situation I find myself having to step back.

In my eyes, mom knows best and mom does best. This is because my mom knew best and did best. That is all I have to go by. Is a dad really that involved in a child's life? I mean, I know dads are involved but to actually see it with my own eyes, my own husband, with our own child. It is amazing really. I could sit and listen to them talk for hours. I could watch him dress up with boas, play dolls, and teach her things all day long. It melts my heart.

Part 2
Tonight, chica and I were talking about how some people don't have dads, some don't have moms, some don't have a mom or dad. (We were watching a movie.. Miracle on 34th street, and the girl said she didn't have a dad) So during this discussion (by the way.. I have only had one moment where she asked me who my dad was.. it was random, unexpected, and I changed the subject) during this discussion, when we were talking about kids that only have a mom and they don't have a dad, she looked at me and said

Mady: I am lucky
me: why are you lucky?
Mady: because I have the best daddy. He loves me. He does things I want to do.
me: aww.. so in other words you love your daddy?
Mady: of course (I wish I could spell the way she says of course)
me: well, you will have to tell him that you are lucky to have him
Mady: yea. he will like that. :::and she hugs me:::

Her heart makes my heart so happy!

Part 1 again
Back to the me having to step back part. I have done a good job I think, considering I don't really have anything to go by. I am thankful for my mom in every way possible. I am thankful that she did do what she had to do. Be the best. Know the best. Teach the best. Help me grow to the best. I just have to learn that Zak, a husband, a dad, he too knows the best and does the best. Because, he is the best  :)


Part 3
Also, I see parents now a days that don't know what they are doing. Married couples with one kid and they can not handle their child. They can not teach their child. Honestly, in my eyes (I hate to judge) they are not very good parents. I am always thinking.. Dude, you need to take some lessons from my mom. She never spanked us (I was spanked 1 time in FL when I was 5) She never cursed us, She never was really angry. It could be because my sister and I were perfect .. just kidding.. but really.. She taught us about respect and honesty. She taught us how to fit in the world and grow up to be the people we want and are today. She did it with 2 kids, on her own. She gets more than kuddos and a pat on the back. She gets credit for doing something that married couples cant seem to come close to doing.

What I do know is this: because of who she was/is.. I will be wonderful too. I believe that she was/is wonderful because of her parents and their morals/teachings/God .. therefore.. I have a wonderful life ahead of me! 

It is like the saying.. When you see a "crazy person" .. follow them home, you will find a more "crazy parent"
which can be reversed..
When you see an "amazing mom/person" follow them home, you will find a more "amazing mom/person"



To Mom: you get credit for who you were/and are as a person and as a mom. You get credit for the 2 wonderful daughters you raised. You get credit for who I have become. You get credit for the Mom I am being. You get credit for the mother AND grandmother I will one day be. You get all the credit for all of it Mom!!

Taught by the best to become the best! (This should be our family motto)

and so she says (and some random blogging)

I am not sure how I feel about this "and so she says" post.. read on and you will understand


Mady asked me to do something for her while I was in the middle of homework. I asked her to hold just 2 minutes and I would stop doing homework until she went to bed. Then my sweet little chica says this..

Mady: if you don't do it now, I'll break your arm

me: :::shocked.. staring at her::::  what? what did you just say?

Mady: if you don't do it now, I'll break your arm (with a little more attitude and head shake)

me: :::shocked.. still staring at her with wide eyes I am sure::: what? why would you say that? Where did you learn that from?

Mady: at preschool

me: ::shocked.. still staring at her, eyes wide open, shocked, not sure to get on to her or what to do::: umm, if that is what you are learning at preschool, maybe you shouldn't be going.. did you hear that from the boys? Is it little boys that say that? Girls don't say that do they? You learned that at preschool?

Mady: yes, the boy said it. It is funny

me:  no, not funny. Actually it is mean. It isn't nice. No one should say that. You don't want to hurt people you love do you?

Mady: ok. I'm sorry mommy


A few hours later, I am telling Zak what she said, with her sitting there..

Zak: :::shocked.. starting at her::: Mady. You don't want to break Mommy's arm do you? That isn't nice

Mady: but daddy, you can't really break a person's arm. It doesn't actually come off their body

Zak: ::a small smile from the previous comment and her train of thought:: well right, but you can break the bones in your body. That is called a threat. When you tell someone you are going to do something to them that will hurt them. That is a threat.

Mady: what happens if you break a bone? Does it grow back?

and the conversation goes into a totally different topic about bones, muscle, and the rest of anatomy..

This bring me to the realization of:

I can't keep her little. I don't let her watch much tv. If it isn't a learning show, she doesn't watch it. She doesn't watch any tv channels that have commercials. (commercial free tv: nick jr, disney jr, pbs kids) we actually don't even have cable now.. we have netflix.. so curious george, wonderpets, dora, and so one..

I don't want her to grow up and learn things like that. Just that saying hurt my heart. She is so Innocent. A beautiful sweet Innocent baby girl. OMG. I want her to go to an all girls school with kids who have parents that parent just like I do. I am going to break you arm.. WHAT? Plus, about 2 weeks ago she started hitting. Hitting to test us on how far she can go with being mean? Out of aggravation, anger, not getting her way.. she also does it in a playful way kinda of but she goes to time out regardless of the situation. That is going to get Xed out fast! No hitting.. no breaking people's arms, no saying mean and ugly things that a pretty nice little girl should not be saying.

Reality.. I have to let my chica experience this world. This world that scares me. It doesn't make sense what our society teaches kids, teens, and even each other. Out children are our future and if my sweet 4 year old is saying something like that.. Think about the other kids with bad role models in their life. It hurts my heart to think about other kids with parents that suck. It hurts my heart to think about what other kids see and experience in their own homes. I want to hold my chica close.. close to me.. never let her go. I don't want her to experience the world. Experience life, yes... learn and grow, yes... have fun with no worries, yes.. but experience the world? The horrible side of the world... no, no, no..  I don't want her to see the things that I know she is going to see, to understand the things I know she will learn way to young, to do and say things that a little girl should not say or do.

Random blogging thoughts:

This confirms that I am right about sending her to school a year later. Even though she is ready, even though being at the same school but for preK she will still learn from other kids the "bad" things.. I know that having that extra year of being little will allow me to instill a few more of my morals into her before she becomes to "grown up" on me.  Also, she will be going to college at the age of 19 instead of 18. That extra year of maturity. It will make a difference, I have been there.. at those ages.. I am so glad Zak and I decided to let her enjoy life before school for another year.

It also confirms that I am a wonderful mother. This is something I have never ever doubted since the day I knew I was having a baby. Honestly, I don't want to sound all stuck up but I really am a wonderful mom. I knew I would be.. I love how I parent. I love how Zak's parents. I am sure one day I will have my moments of "oh did I do this right? Could I have done this different? I should have done a better job at this" but for now.. as for a mom of a 4 year old. I am amazing at it. I would die if I ever found out my chica taught another child to say something so mean though! I would just die!

On days like today...

I believe people come and go in and out of our life for reasons. I believe that people are put in our life to teach us or for us to teach them. When the lessons are taught, then they leave our life. This doesn't mean that they don't care. This doesn't mean that they can not come back into our life. This means that the point of being in each others life is accomplished. Then you have special people that teach us lessons our entire life. You have certain people that stay most of your life because the lessons are never ending. Things such as love, support, encouragement, empathy, understanding, and giving are learned in the relationships we have with other people. Even relationships that turn out bad teach us something good. Positive comes from every person we have in our life no matter how positive or negative the person is. In a horrible relationship with a friend/spouse/family you can learn what you do not want in a person. You can learn how strong you are or how much you are worth to yourself. You can learn how to handle situations that will better prepare you for the future relationships you will have. Most people that come into our life are positive and good. No matter how long a person is in our life, there are lessons that are learned.


I have been very blessed with the people who continue to be in my life. I have people that have been there for me for 26 years. (Mom and Grandparents) Then I have my sister who has been a wonderful friend for 22 years. I met one of my best friends, Lauren, in the 5th grade, that was 14 years ago. Then I have my best friend from highschool, Kristen, who has amazing for 9 years. Her sister, Sonja, became one of my best friends also.. that's 9 years. My mom's husband, Bob, has been in my life for around 12 years now. Then I met my husband in Jan '05.. that makes it almost 7 years ago. With him came his best friend, who now is my best guy friend in the world, Blake, 7 years. The best party of my Husband is his family. My in laws have been standing by me for 7 straight years now. I was blessed with a wonderful sister in law who is one of my closest friends, Kelsey. Then there is Daris, Pat, Norm, Josh..  well the list goes on, there are a ton of in laws but each of them means everything to me. Then, the most amazing person came into my life 4 1/2 years ago, Madyson Jade, my daughter. (oh the lessons she teaches me. I think I learn more from her than she learns from me)

On days like today (My birthday, today I am 26 years old) you realize how many people you have in your life that you don't think about on a daily basis. On a day like your birthday, these people think about you. The friends from middle and highschool, the people you meet through other people, the people that you try to keep up with here and there but life gets to busy. Each of them takes a moment out of their day to say hello or happy birthday. Each takes that moment to say they still care, to remind you of the positive memories, lessons, influences that they had on you at some point in your life. They may not be in your life daily, maybe not at all, but you crossed their mind for that split second.

I am extremely thankful for the people in my life today. I am also thankful for the people that were at some point a part of my life. I am thankful that God puts people in and out of my life for reasons. Reasons I may never know or reasons that are clear.

Thank you to each of you that are apart of my life. That deal with the bad and enjoy the good parts of me as a person. Thank you for supporting me, loving me, teaching me. You mean so much to me I couldn't even explain it. I hope I can be as wonderful to each of you as you are to me!

Yea Mom, it looks like that here too

I am sitting here bored, waiting on my Husband to get home still. (it has been 13 hours now that he has been at work..) Anyways.. I am reading my Mom's blog and I look over to the right of me because I know exactly what she is talking about!


Yea Mom, it looks like that here too!!

Colored tape? OF COURSE

The most organzied/cleanest part of her craft table is this below

This is a ring pop holder thing taped to the desk. She takes EVERYTHING and "recycles" it. I have to hide things going into the trash because she wants to "use it for crafts"

My favorite part, the crayon taped to the string which is taped to the desk.

I guess incase it gets lots in that mess!

the number 26

My birthday is this week! I will be 26 years old. I am excited about this one. Not sure why though.. Maybe I am hoping that some type of new maturity will come over me.. maybe I hope that another year older will make me look at least one year older than 18.. maybe I hope that at 26 life will slow down. Although none of that will happen, I am a mature 18 year old looking 25 year old at this moment.. bahaha.. so maybe I am not always mature, maybe I have days where I look 16 but who cares right?

So I found a website that tells you about "yourself" based on the date that you were born.. I was born on the 23rd

Now to read what they have to say about me based on the 23rd.

 my opinions about what they say are in bold print.

You love change and excitement and need both to feel truly alive. change? excitement? this already is going to be interesting evaluation of myself.

For you, life is an adventure, to be lived to the fullest. You don't want to be cheated from having your share of experience. as for an adventure.. I guess all moments and experiences are adventures, living to the fullest? I'm not an exciting person my fullest and their fullest might be different.

You are highly adaptable, haha yea right.. which makes change a great deal easier for you than for others. change? don't mind it but I dont choose it. I drive the same rout where ever I go no matter what. If the rout changes, I freak out a little. (or a lot)  You have an easy way with relationships and generally get along well with most people you meet. indeed.. this is true

You have a gift for communication and promoting yourself. You possess talent in verbal and writing skills, and would make an excellent writer, editor, or salesperson. I hate sales! I like to write and talk though

You are quite affectionate and sensitive. they nailed the sensitive part. I can cry at the drop of a hat for no reason at all. You work well with others as long as there are not too many restrictions placed upon you. maybe true. I work well with others but I like direction and rules. You do not like to be cooped up in the same place for long; you get restless and bored easily. nope.. I don't get bored at all and being cooped up is enjoyable to me. restless? only when it is time to actually sleep

You are versatile and talented and there are few things you can not do. yea.. ok.. You have a very sharp mind and a fine understanding of the body, which makes careers in medicine or health both possible and rewarding. woohoo!! I do enjoy science .. math not so much!

You are very creative and witty. I am witty. I come up with things all the time, ideas... sayings.. heck, kristen and I even rap.. that could go with creative as well! Creative = crafts? Any day of the week!  But you can shirk responsibility and let your gift of gab get you through the tight spots. yes, true. I get the job done 90% of the time in every aspect of my life. I'd like to say 99% of the time but I don't want to let you in on my ego.. There can be a tendency toward sensorial indulgence, especially in food, alcohol, and sex.  that was random. You need to learn to focus your considerable energies. Discipline and order are necessities for you to be successful in life. yes, my life must have discipline and order!

All in all I think it might be true. There are a few things that are total opposite of me.. like the excitement part. I'd rather stay safe. I don't really like the feeling of adrenaline.. you know that feeling in your stomach when you are jumping from a Cliff.. nope not me.. not ever!!

Next I googled the number 26.. This is what I found

Wikipedia says:

26 (twenty-six) is the natural number following 25 and preceding 27.

In science:  The atomic number of iron is 26

In religion: 26 is the gematric number of the name of the God of Israel – YHWHAccording to Jewish chronology, God gave the Torah in the 26th generation since Creation

In sports The jersey number 26 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats

In other fields Twenty-six is:

A 2003 novel by Leo McKay, Jr..

The number of letters in the English and Interlingua alphabets,

The number of miles in a marathon rounded down (26 miles and 385 yards).

Often the number of episodes in a television program each year; this allows one new show per week for half the year, and one rerun per week for the rest of the year.

The alias of punk rock singer Doc Corbin Dart

The age at which males can no longer be drafted in the United States

The "joke throw" in the game of darts, where a player throws 20, 5 and 1 when aiming for 20 (or treble 20). In professional darts, throwing 26 usually results in sneers or laughter from the audience.

A dice game popular in the midwest United States from the 1930s to 1950s; players had to roll a chosen number 26 times or more, exactly 13 or fewer than 10.^[2]

In a normal deck of cards, there are 26 red cards and 26 black cards.

The number of Cantons of Switzerland.

The largest number of Oscars awarded to one person (Walt Disney).

The number of bones in the normal human Foot and Ankle.

God creates man in the 26th verse
of the first book of Genesis:
"And God said, Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness: and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

New International Version (NIV)

 ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

10 Facts About the Number 26

1. A Rubik’s Cube can always be solved in 26 moves or less.
2. In 26 B.C., Cleopatra Selene got married, so Augustus Caesar made her the queen of Mauretania as a wedding present (note to people wondering what to get me…).
3. In 1926, Route 66 was established.
4. Scientist Heinz von Foerster predicted that on November 11, 2026, technological singularity will occur – the point where we will reach a level of technological progress previously unknown to man. This includes the ability for machines to make themselves smarter, and, you know, finish off the human race.
5. 26 is the only number between a square number and a cube number.
6. 26 years ago (May 30, to be exact), Cal Ripken began his consecutive game streak of 2,632 games played.
7. In 1726, Isaac Newton told William Stukeley how he developed the theory of gravity.
8. Quincy Jones has won 26 Grammys.
9. Michigan is the 26th state to be admitted to the United States.
10. Asteroid number 26, Proserpina, was discovered in 1853. It is named after the Roman goddess, daughter of Ceres and the Queen of the Underworld. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Persephone.

  

Well, that is it for the number 26. I will let you know how I feel after Wednesday!!