To my 6 Year Old...

To My Precious Firstborn on her 6th Birthday,

It is almost 6 years on the dot that you were born as I write this. I wasn't a Mommy until 10:40pm on May 14th when a precious baby girl was placed into my arms. My heart would never be the same again. My heart never knew how much joy could it hold. Holding you in my arms, 6 years ago was one of the best things I have ever experienced in my life. You made me a Mommy. You changed me. You changed me into something I had always dreamed of....a Mommy, a caretaker, a nurturer.

I am so proud of who God is making YOU. And I remember His promise, "That He who began a good work in you, will finish it until completion!" What a great promise as I watch you grow up. You are the sweetest child I think a mother could have. Today as I was making your birthday cake, you came up to me and said something along the lines of, "Mommy, thank you for working so hard to make my birthday so special and making my cake so cool!" Wow...that comment made all the sweat and stress I had over that cake so worth it.

You are always so quick to help me. This year has been a huge year of transition. You transitioned from preschool to kindergarten. Going to school all day was a huge change for you. And for Mommy. Oh, how Mommy misses being with you all day. Then you transitioned into being a big sister again when Harper was born. Wow...have you ever been a God send to Mommy during that transition for Mommy. You were complete and utter JOY and helpfulness to me as I was adjusting to having a new baby in the house. I couldn't have gotten through it without you. God used YOU in my life for this, Reese Elizabeth. Thank you for filling my heart with joy and encouragement during this time for Mommy. Wow...who knew God would use a then 5 year old:) And then you went through the transition of moving...and then going to a new school. This was by far the hardest for you. Adjusting to the new school was hard...and it was so hard for Mommy to watch. But things quickly have changed...and now I see you once again thriving at school. I see the other kids asking to play with you at recess and my heart soars. They are beginning to see the Reese that I know. The Reese with the alluring personality, the contagious laugh, and the compassion for others.

This year you have learned so many new things. One of the biggest things you have learned is to read. I love listening to you read and see you developing a love of reading. It is amazing to me how fast you learn! You are also learning equations. Just think...at the beginning of the school year you didn't even know how to count to 100 by yourself. Now...well...that is a piece of cake. And then, even more important to Mommy, you have learned a lot of Bible verses and finished your first Awana book!! Learning God's Word is the most important thing that you could memorize and apply to your life. I love to see how excited you are about learning your verses and going to Awana. God will use this wisdom you learn in your life Reese. It is a testimony to you Mommy...I need to memorize more!

Happy Birthday my sweet Reesie Piecey. You mean the world to me. I am so proud of you and can't wait to see what this next year brings...and how my joy will even increase with you in my life! :) I love you!!

Love,

Mommy

You Know Your Old When...

• You have three children..
  
• You can't leave the house without visiting the potty...and that is for you..not just the kids..
  
• When you are in your pjs at 7:30 and in bed at 9pm and you consider that your ideal night....
  
• You have GINORMOUS purple bags under your eyes...that never go away. I could travel a long way with these bags....:)


• If you go out to eat, you tell your husband you need to leave and be at the place at 4:30pm because it just gets too crowded after that...


• you just can't believe "what high school girls are wearing these days..." ( boy, I sound like my mom!)


• the one night you stay up past midnight you pay for it the rest of the week...


• And you realize you have no life outside of Facebook. (Yes...I admit...sometimes I get obsessed with reading People.com or Facebook so I can read about other people having a life....ha!)
  
  

Ok..I admit it. It has taken me about 1 1/2 now to actually admit it. Here it goes....I.AM.THIRTY.YEARS.OLD. Wow...that was hard to say. I have been dreading this birthday for a long time. And it came on May 1st...and it has just taken me this long to come to grips with it. I had decided I will forever be in my 20's but then looking at my life and my list above, it appears I could pass for well.....an 80 year old!! Oh well...they say that the thirties is the new twenties. Let's hope that's the case.

I do have to say that my husband gave me the best birthday I have had in a long time though. I woke up, greeted with kisses from my 3 girls (that's enough to make my day!) and my handsome hubby. Then Steve gave me my cards with a schedule of my day. He had planned it all out...every minute and every dollar!! :) First up...a massage and facial that was to last all morning. He gave me a giftcard for those that even included the tip on it so I wouldn't have to worry about a thing. What man thinks of these things?!?!!!! The massage and facial was divine!! 2 hours of total relaxation. That hasn't happened in a long time. Then shopping with my sister in law for the rest of the afternoon. Shopping without kids...well that is enough to put me in heaven!! :) Then at 4pm I was to be back at the house because he had a little surprise party for me! He had it all decorated--balloons, etc. Except..it was all in black! :)

I kept calling turning 30 the day of mourning, and he, of course took it to the next level. Ummm...take a look at this cake he ordered for me:

A Coffin cake! How awesome is that?! And it was Red Velvet which is one of my very favorite flavors! It was so much fun! We had a great time, and Steve went over and beyond for me. I love that man so much. Now I have got to get thinking about his 30th birthday. Now that I am "his Old woman", I have a lot to live up to! :) HA!

In all honesty though, turning 30 has been a hard one for me. 30 sounds so old to me. And I really realized how quickly life is going by (not to be a Debby Downer or anything! HA!). I have heard that people generally feel a lot more "settled" in their 30's. And I am hoping that is the case. I have felt very unsettled these past few years. And I am not totally sure why. I sure love being a Mom to my three beautiful girls and I wouldn't ask for anything else. There is nothing greater then that. But to the outside world and those who have never been a stay at home Mom, they may feel that I haven't accomplished much in life (in material standpoints anyway). I am 30 years old...never have been incredibly established in a career, never have had the time to volunteer extensively, never had time to write my book (ha!), and don't even have the time to take a nap although every day I desperately want to! So what does my resume look like? Well...let's just say to the average hiring manager in this economy....well, I may barely get a second look. That's right...I have a masters in mental health counseling, a 4 year college degree, and a couple of years experience working in that field...but it has been many years. Now my resume would look more like this:

_____________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE:

To get through the day without losing my patience, getting poop on my hands, actually getting to eat a hot meal, and fitting a shower in somewhere.

EDUCATION:

Honey...I got as much education as I needed on these dates:

May 14, 2004

Feb. 25, 2007 and

Sept. 29, 2009

Passed these books with flying colors:

The Hungry Caterpillar

I Love You Forever

Good Night Moon

Llama Llama Red Pajama

WORK HISTORY:

2004 to present - COOK

I cook everything from hamburger helper to macaroni and cheese..and the occasional pacifier that I forgot I left in the pot. I have dealt with very difficult "customers" which in turn has made me very creative in "hiding ingredients" into your normal every day kinds of food. My philosophy..if you don't eat it, you go hungry. This realization and "rule" I set has helped establish consistency and order in my kitchen.

2004 to present - MAID

To avoid killing myself on Barbie's head on the foot of the stairs, I am constantly picking up toys that are flippantly thrown about the house. This goes from the occasional teddy bear to the maxi pad box that was found in the master bathroom that made it's way to the front door. I am skilled in all kinds of removal services: stinky waste removal, crusted boogie removal, grimy hand print removal, and the bad attitude removal. I do not specialize in dust removal, however. Nor will I have anything to do with an iron.

2004 to present -TAXI DRIVER

If you have a soccer practice, soccer game, or carpool for school, I am the woman to get you there. I have set a record for delivery time-Leaving with passenger for soccer at 5:55 and arriving 10 miles later to the soccer field at 6pm. Beat that Azar (my NYC Taxi driver's name!)!!!

2004 to present - NURSE

Rectal thermometer watch out. If my baby feels a little warm, I rush to my trusty friend, the rectal thermometer and check it out. My nursing ability ranges from kissing a "boo boo" to applying pressure to the chipped tooth that is squirting out an incessant amount of blood. I can accurately describle various forms of poop, including but not limited to myconium, diarrehia, and the "whoops I ate too much food coloring" poop. I do not do throw up.

2004 to present - REFEREE

With three girls, I am quickly able to call out an INTERFERENCE as I see one. Pinpointing face masking is another speciality of mine. Fair is my name and no bull crap is my game. I am quickly called into cat fights on a daily basis which usually includes scratching, name calling, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Many pentalities are given out during a given day.

2002 to present - FINANCIAL ADVISOR

My speciality lies in budget grocery shopping while being distracted with a runaway toddler and a crying, pooping baby. Trying to stretch the dollar with coupons and knock off brands is hard, but it is rewarding. I am still working on the old budget in the area of budget mall shopping though.....

2004 to present - STORY TIME LADY

I don't even need to look at the pages of the book, Llama Llama Red Pajama to tell you that story. I have even discovered the art of reading a "longer" book in 2 minutes by "speed reading"...HA!

2004 to present - HAIR STYLIST

I have three girls...need I say more? I have the pig tail and the french braids down to a science.

2004 to present - FASHION ABUSER

Ok, ok...I know it's not ok to wear sweat pants in public, but they are so comfy!

REFERENCES:

Reese - age 6

Finley - age 3

Harper - age 7 months

Please notify me if you will need to contact them. I'm not sure what they would say. I would need to rehearse their response in advance. Thank you!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

I talk a really good baby talk. I also can scream so loud in the house that the neighbors across the street look out their windows to make sure everything is ok.

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Ok...so soooo what that in "world's standards" I have not been career successful in my thirty years. So what that I haven't used my degree to it's full potential. So what that I don't make any money. I know that I will never...and I mean never regret this time I have with my children. It goes by so fast and it is something I will never get back. I can always go back to my career when they are older, but I can never go back to helping develop and train my children when they are young. My days may seem monotonus to some. My days my seem insignificant to others most days. But to me...they are fleeting. They are glorious. For God has given me the best responsibility I could have ever asked for in my 30 years. Raising children. Have I accomplished a lot in 30 years? That would be three YES'S--Those three sets of blue eyes that peer up at me and tell me how much they love me every day. I am a rich 30 year old woman!

Mother's Day

To my 3 beautiful daughters on Mother's Day:

There is nothing I treasure like being a Mother to you. It has been my lifelong dream to just be a Mom. God fulfilled something greater then I could ever ask or imagine--He gave me three little girls. I wake up with joy just thinking about you. Just the thoughts of you fill my heart with joy that I didn't even think was imaginable. Reese--thinking of your tender heart, nurturing spirit, and that little aggressive soccer player makes my heart melt. Finley--thinking of your witty sense of humor, your curly hair (or cuwley haiwr as you pronounce it), and your cuddles warms my spirit! And Harper--just the thoughts of those chubby cheeks and that sweet smile breaks my heart into a million pieces. I thank the Lord for all of you. You all make it so easy to be a Mother....(well on most days! HA!).

I love you!!

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Reese got me the best Mother's day gift that she made at kindergarten. She paper macheted a bowl and put coupons in it. Then she wrote on the coupons what I could redeem:

A Big Hug Coupon

Getting my Laundry done by Reese Coupon

One Day She will Listen Coupon (hmmm...?!?)

Making me some hearts coupon

Then she wrote me a card. It looked something like this:

To Mommy

My mommy is prite (pretty). My mommy helps me pic (pick) up my room. My mommy helps me when I get a boo boo. Happy Muthr's (Mother's) Day.

Love,

Reese

Can I tell you that is priceless to me!! That is way better then anything money could buy! :) It made me feel very special.

Another thing that made this Mother's Day so special is because I was able to celebrate it with my own Momma! :) I haven't been able to for the past 5 years because we were in VA. And then...well...after she had her heart attack it makes me so grateful for every day that I get to spend with her. AND I am so thankful that I got to spend this Mother's Day with her. She is my inspiration for a mother. I just keep thanking the Lord for being able to spend this Mother's Day with such special special people He has blessed me with!! :)

My Mom, my hero...

Although the title of this may sound a little cliche, this is truly how I feel about my mother. My mom has always been my best friend. She is my encourager, my cheerleader, my rock in hard times, and the best advice giver that a daughter could ask for. This woman as been through a lot. If you already haven't heard, my mom suffered a heart attack this last Sunday. It was very scary. And then if a heart attack isn't enough, they found a clot in her heart and then she was having serious complications with the site that they did the angiogram--with the main artery in our body! It has been an emotional week...a series of up and down emotions. Just like this...I got a phone call from her yesterday morning. To my surprise they were discharging her from the hospital! Then I get to the hospital and another crisis happens. They were worried about a possible clot or pseduo anyersym in her leg. More rushing around getting tests down...more waiting...more worrying. That just was how this whole ordeal has gone. Thankfully, my mom is home now trying to recover from this massive awakening----she is now a heart patient.

Now it just doesn't seem fair. My mom has had almost every thing a woman can go through in her life. She has had a brain anyersym, cancer, oestophorsis, 2 back surgeries, arthritis, and now a heart attack. She eats well, she exercises almost every day, and is so tiny! I feel so much for my mom right now. And through all this, she still is so positive...such an encourager...to me! I should be the one to encourage her. She is one strong individual...the strength I have seen in her is so inspiring to me. I love her so much and am so thankful God saved her in this situation.

A few weeks ago, I entered my mom and I into a mother/daughter look a like contest. Now..we get told we look JUST alike all the time. I am so honored. I hope I can not only look like her...but show the strength she has as a woman of God. Now..I don't think we will win as I looked at some of the other entries...we look a like but not as much as some of the pictures. But I want to honor my mom and post what I wrote into the contest what I love most about her. She is the best. Here it is!

Walking through the mall, stepping into an elevator, or even sprinting through the grocery store with my mom we are always greeted with the same response. The same stares. The same smirks. And then the same comment. I can even recite along with the strangers now. “Wow, you two must be Mother/Daughter.” Every once in awhile the onlookers will sarcastically greet us with a smirk on their face and with a “You two can’t be related, can you?” When my friends see a picture of my mom or meet my mom in person for the first time, they seem almost taken back. “Wow, Sarah! I can’t believe how much you look like your mom.”

I never knew what to think about this until it came to a head in the winter of 2000. That is when my future husband met his future mother in law for the first time. As the day was coming to an end, my new boyfriend and I were discussing his first impressions of my family. Thinking he would go on and on about how hospitable my mother was, he proceeded to say, “Wow..you are marriage material! You will be hot when you’re older!” I just shook my head and walked away knowing boys will always be boys.

But I now think about those comments and I am honored. I am honored to look like the person who has been my role model for 30 years. I hope I can only grow into half of a mother, wife, and human being that she has been. My mother has been my best friend since the time I was little. I can tell her anything. I can always look to her for the best advice. I can still call her when I’m sick. And she will still show me pity. As I have become a mother, I savor her wisdom and her advice. The best advice she has given me, I remember as a child her doing it with me. Her advice, “There will always be floors to mop and dishes to be done. But their always won’t be a 3 year old wanting to play princess with you. Savor playtime with your children.” I remember my Mom playing with me and stretching my imagination. She cultivated creativity within me. She allowed me to think outside the box. She knew that her time spent with me would do more for me in years to come then any new fangled toy for me or tip top clean house for her. I will always treasure those times with my mom.

My mother has showed me what being a mother is all about. She has been so selfless in giving of herself for her children and her husband. She always has time for me. She always has a listening ear. She always has the best advice. I am honored to look like my mom. It brings me hope that maybe..just maybe I can be a little more like her to my children someday.

A Day with Grandma

Yesterday, I took these two little ragmuffins up for a visit with their Grandma...

We got to swing on the swings with our Grandma...

We really concentrated on our pumping the swings with our Grandma...

No "butts" about it...we were having a great time with our Grandma...

We even got to play in her backyard for a bit..

And we got to feel grass for one of the very first times at Grandma's...

We can't wait for more days with Grandma!

When we got home...I made these for my nephew's Mario birthday party...Reese informed me they don't look anything like they are supposed to, but as long as they taste good...it's ok with me!

The Anatomy of a Bubble...

First you start chewing really good....

Then start putting it around your tongue...

Then keep it around your tongue and blow....really really hard....

Here it comes....watch quickly because....

...it doesn't last long!!!

Random Thoughts 101

1. My 2nd born never ceases to make me laugh. Today at the grocery store an elderly lady came up to talk to her and the little one. Now, I mean to say this in the most sincere way, but the lady was a little unkempt looking....a little overweight. I sound so mean. But anyway..as she was walking away, Finley blurted out, "Mommy? Does that lady sleep in the park??" I.about.died.


2. Does eating Weight Watcher and Lean Cuisine Meals defeat the purpose when I am constantly adding either loads of cheese or sour cream on the top of them? And I don't use reduced fat either...just the good old regular stuff. I digress...it must cancel out the Lean part in the title or the Watcher part to change it's meaning to watching the weight expand... Either way...I am not stopping:)

3. Going to Target is always an experience for me. The other day, we were at my favorite store when Finley informed me she had to go potty....really bad!!!! Of course, she needs to go about 50 times and day...and we just went! So I tried to hold her off for a few minutes to finish my shopping. I tell her..."Sit in the basket in the cart. Sitting down makes it feel like you don't have to go as bad. She sits in the basket and off we go again. A few minutes later, "Mommy..I just wet my pants". Great...I look beneath the cart. Sure enough on our water bottles I was going to purchase, there was pee on it. YUCK. I clean it up as much as I could. But we get up to the cash register...and that poor poor check out lady. She had no idea that she was NOT cleaning and touching up just water on those bottles.....and of course I was not going to tell her. What you don't know...won't kill you....HA!

4. Where we live, the closest Starbucks is about 12-15 minutes away. That.is.too.far. This little town in suburbia where I live...REALLY needs to get on the ball and get me my Starbucks. This is a staple I cannot live without...nor do I realize can I drive 30 minutes just to get one....but I still do. Starbucks...if you are out there...please...please...come out to my little suburbia town. thank you!

5. Why does my kitchen counters always look like this when I bake? Steve always calls me the tornado in the kitchen. I CAN.NOT. be clean when I cook. I'm a mess...

6. And why do my floors always look like this when I cook or bake...???

7. Is the mess really worth it? This is a cake I am taking to my friend who just had a little baby...the cake was the cause of my mess....

8. Ok so it was worth it. I love baking for new little babes!

9. My own little babe is getting to be one big girl. I swear she has been saying "MOMMA" when I pick her up. Steve thought I was totally making this up until he heard it last night. He told her, "Harper...say Dada!" Harper babbled a little and then said.."Momma!" It was too funny. I guess I know who her favorite is! HA!

10. Harper is also a rolling machine now! So now it begins...a life with a mobile little one. Oh boy...my life just got a little more crazy!