mothering

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all."

Julie Beck

if you give a dog a cupcake...

WARNING:

graphic photos are included

in this post!!

********

and, technically, the title is not quite right.

it really should read:

"if you give THIS dog a dozen or so cupcakes"

friday was an epic fail in the story of our household.

on a normal morning one of our girls will  kennel up the pooch.

but, last friday morning the girls & I had to leave about 15 minutes earlier than usual to go pick the 2 dozen donuts for Wren to take to school for her birthday.

The night before I frosted the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry cupcakes that Wren had requested for her birthday gathering with a few friends.  I put them on 2 containers, laid out a clean tablecloth and placed to 2 containers center on the table.  I did think fleetingly that the cat, puddy mcfluffkins, might mess with them...but i decided he was probably not strong enough to really do any damage.

anyhoodles, back the dog.  so, we leave and the daddy is still home & since one of the girls normally kennels up the pooch he did not even think about it.  probably because the pooch was hunkered down for a snoozer.  well...an unkenneled dog will get herself into trouble.

we were greeted at the door by the pooch.  odd, since she is supposed to be in the kennel.  (and, no, the daddy did not come home early)  as I picked up the pooch i noticed one of the cupcake containers over by the piano.  it was then i realized that the little dog had been naughty. 

very, very, very naughty.

very, very, very, very naughty

indeed!

after i put little dog into her kennel i returned to the kitchen and found...

no tablecloth on the table.

and no cupcake containers on the table.

the container by the piano was still closed as it was impossible for the "treat-seeking-missile" (aka the little pooch) to get into it. 

the other container?

not so much.

it probably broke when it hit the floor.

and then?

well, the "treat-seeking-missile" then helped herself to the cupcakes.

not all the cupcakes.

there was one left.  and some frosting.

and the decorative "7" picks.

it could have been worse.

(or i keep trying to convince myself)

she could have tried to eat the sharp picks.

(she did not)

she could've gotten sick from the dozen+ cupcakes she did eat.

(she did not - and yes, I did call the vet)

i am guessing she had zero restraint and devoured those cupcakes early in the day because the frosting smears on the kitchen floor were hard & caked on.

(she could've had her "party" on the carpet)

and, so, the fat-bellied "treat-seeking-missile" celebrated Wren's birthday all by herself.  well, puddy mcfluffkins might have observed the carnage, but for the most part it was "alice, party of 1" for that reservation.

and so..............

"if you give THIS dog a dozen or so cupcakes"

a few hours later she just might do this to this momma's favorite, handmade, one-of-a-kind llama named gunther:

poor, poor gunther.

now i have to do some

crazy, leg-re-creating stitching

to fix him up.

poor, poor llama.

bad, bad dog.

moral to this story: 

do not give THIS dog a dozen or so cupcakes.

ever.

things that make a momma's heart melt

my oldest is an amazing tender heart who is so caring and sensitive and genuine to others that it makes my heart melt!

my youngest is a spunky spitfire who is kind and funny and reads like she is much, much older and she also makes my heart melt.

these two are best friends.  that really makes my heart melt!

today, a "backseat" convo i overheard as i drove the girls home from dance classes:

nea:  so, wren, i thought that maybe i would talk to momma & daddy tonight about what i am getting you for your birthday - but you can't hear!

wren:  ok, i've got a bunch of things to do anyways...so while you chat with momma & daddy, i can feed junior and give her a bath and blowdry her scales...

nea:  perfect!  i'll let you know what we decide!

wren:  you can't tell me what you are getting me for my birthday!

nea:  i won't....i'll just give you hints!  i'm going to get you 7 presents BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE SEVEN!

and that led to high-pitched giggles.

my favorite lines above?

"and blowdry her scales"  (if you recall, junior is one of her lizards...)

"i'm going to get you 7 presents BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE SEVEN!" (how sweet is that sister?!?!?!)

life is good!

seasons

"i am not all introvert quiet

or all extrovert energy. 

i am small and big,

loud and quiet,

thankful. 

i am not just one thing,

don’t fit in the corner of a box.

live in your seasons,

take the breaths you need,

keeps eyes wide open when you can

and close them tightly when you need to.

this life is a gift and

the giver is God and

we live full in

each season

as it comes."

of lizards & reading and such

WE HAD A WONDERFUL COUPLE WEEKS OFF FROM SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.  THE GIRLS LOVED HAVING "SLEEPOVERS" IN EACH OTHER'S ROOM.  THEY CHOSE AMAZING GIFTS FOR ONE ANOTHER - LISTENING TO IDEAS FROM THE RECIPIENT TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE SOMETHING THEY WOULD L-O-V-E!  I LIKE TO GET OUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE BEFORE DECEMBER...THAT WAY WE CAN ENJOY ALL THE FESTIVITIES THAT COME OUR WAY...CONCERTS, PARTIES & GET-TOGETHERS, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, DANCE RECITAL, (& WHILE THE GIRLS ARE YOUNG) THE T.V. SPECIALS, ETC.  EACH YEAR I LIKE TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR THE GIRLS...THIS YEAR IT WAS JUMBO "BUTTON PILLOWS".  AND THE REACTION FROM THE GIRLS?  TOTALLY WORTH MY TIME AT THE SEWING MACHINE FOR SURE!

WREN IS GOING THROUGH A "LIZARD" PHASE.  SHE DID ASK SANTA FOR A REAL ONE, BUT MOMMA EXPLAINED THAT SANTA WILL NOT BRING A REAL PET WITHOUT GETTING PERMISSION FROM THE PARENTS.  WREN'S PARENTS (ERRR, MOSTLY MOMMA) SAID, "NO!".  WE REMINDED HER THAT HAVING A FURBALL CAT AND A POOCH WERE PLENTY FOR OUR HOME.  SHE WAS OKAY.  BUT SHE DID GET VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT KIND OF STUFFY LIZARD SHE WANTED:  A BLUE, GIRL LIZARD - NOT A CHAMELEON, BUT A LIZARD...AND SOME FAKE FLIES SO THE LIZARD HAS FOOD.  LUCKILY, NEA & I DID SOME SURFIN' O' THE NET AND WERE ABLE TO FIND:

CHICKEN, THE LIZARD, WAS A GRAND PRESENT FROM LIL SISTER

JUNIOR - THE NEWEST LIZARD

CHICKEN, THE LIZARD & JUNIOR 

AND WREN LOVED THE LIZARD FROM SISTER!  NOT SURE WHERE THE NAME "CHICKEN" CAME FROM, BUT IT FITS.  ADDING IN "JUNIOR" A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO AND THEY MAKE AN AWFULLY CUTE GROUP, EH?!

AND HERE ARE THE "READING CORNERS" IN EACH GIRLS' ROOM.  THESE JUMBO BUTTON PILLOWS ARE SUPER COMFY...I MIGHT NEED TO MAKE A COUPLE FOR THE BASEMENT, TOO!  A BIG HIT WITH THE GIRLS...THEY GET COMFY COZY AND DO SOME "ALONE READING"...OR TUCK IN A BUDDY OR TWO AT BEDTIME...AND IT HELPS THE GIRLS REALIZE THAT WHILE SHOPPING AND BUYING IS FUN, NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE BOUGHT...BEING RESOURCEFUL & CRAFTY ARE GOOD TRAITS TO HAVE. 

I THINK WREN MIGHT HAVE PUT IT BEST: 

"THESE ARE BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT BECAUSE MOMMA SEWED IN SOME OF HER LOVE INSIDE!"

NEA'S READING AREA

WREN'S READING AREA

OH, AND WHILE I HAD A FEW MOMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND...I GOT THE PORCH A LITTLE "VALENTINED"!

$1.49 GARISH WREATH, 15 MINUTES, SCRAPS OF PAPER & SOME HOT GLUE CAN BE PERFECT FOR THE VALENTINE'S SEASON ON OUR FRONT DOOR

for 2012...

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920

why ya gotta be so mean?

*sigh*

I knew the day would come.  The little girl giggles and silliness would go sideways in comes mean.  not in my girls.  but other girls.  perhaps these girls have not had "the talk" with their moms.  My girls have.  And we continue to have it.  I refuse to raise "mean girls".  I want independent and assertive girls, but not by meanness.  Luckily (?) the meanness from others is coming in small quantities.  And has happened when I am around - although that almost bothers me MORE - that these young girls are bold & brave enough to be mean in front of me.  And luckily the episodes seem to burst and be done.  I've had some good heart-to-hearts with both girls...trying to help them understand how a true friend treats you and you should treat others.  Gently reminding them to be friendly to everyone, not to leave someone out when possible, and not to talk about someone when they are not around.  Hopefully giving them a soft & safe place to land when they are hurt...Despite my initial reaction is to put those mean little girls in their place...I am pulling up my Big Girl Panties and biting my tongue and taking 3-4 deep breaths and kneeling to their level and explaining that their words/behavior was not appropriate or nice...trying to find out  "the why" behind what they did.  Sometimes easier said than done.  But at the ages of 5 & 6...no one, NO ONE, should start their day of school in tears.  I just wish that all parents took the time and patience to teach their daughters the importance of being nice.  And what being a friend entails...but of course, assumes the Moms know these things themselves, right?

On a *happy note*.........My girls have found a great liking of Taylor Swift songs.  And for the most part, her music is okay for their age.  They love "Mean" and lil miss Nea does a *mean* version of it - in fact, she often tells me she sings just like Taylor Swift (yes, if Taylor has a bit of a lisp and is merely 2.5 ft tall....but we got that long blond hair AND she does know the words AND does very similar dance moves as seen in the video The Daddy showed the girls...).