Kevin and I are in shock that we have a weekend with absolutely NOTHING planned. Nada. The only thing we have to do is go to church on Sunday - because we want to, and because we work in the nursery for the first service. That's it!
So we are toying with a few ideas about what to do...anyone have any cheap suggestions? So far my idea is -
Go to the big Burlington library for the morning on Sat, then pool in the afternoon, early bed for kids bc we'll run them ragged and then date-night-in for Kev and I. Sunday - maybe Philly for a museum or something? Maybe hit up the kids fave - Olive Garden - for dinner?
The world is our oyster.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What's something really weird that you enjoy?
So I know I am not alone in this...but one of my favorite things to do is pop zits. God help my girls if they have teenage acne, I will have to sit on my hands to not go at their faces. I LOVE it. The sound, the surprise of what's inside (ok that sounded twisted but it's true)...I love everything about it except actually HAVING a zit, at least where people can see! Kevin knows it's a big present to me if he finds a zit somewhere on himself and lets me go at it. Makes me SO happy. Sometimes when I can't sleep I imagine really great zits. (TMI? Probably. Definitely).
*a note about this link. First, I am proud of myself that I even learned how to do that. Yes, I don't have a clue normally. Second, I googled "picture of a zit" and this site comes up, with a video of a back cyst being drained. WHOA. Not only was that the biggest zit I've ever seen...but I am not as into zits as I thought I was. I feel a little sick to my stomach and I coudn't even finish watching it. Maybe it'd be better in real life. I also learned (from the video comments) that there's some really weird people out there that are TOO into it. Like in a weirder way than me.
So what's your freaky interest. Well, I guess don't tell me if it's REALLY freaky, I might not look at you the same. Or if it involves your significant other....this ain't that kind of post.
But really I'm curious....anyone?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Just checking
I have had a lot of really important and/or fun things going on lately, but all those things would take tired-old-me too much time to write about. I felt like writing a little something, but not too much.
So I thought about what happened to me yesterday at the McDonald's. It involves an old lady. Maybe some of you remember I had a bit of a run-in with another old lady at the ShopRite several weeks ago, who admonished my Hottie Tottie for not listening to me, and standing by my cart.
I'm not sure what this old lady admonished, but I felt it.
So yesterday morning I took Bailey to McD's for breakfast as a treat on our way to CHOP. Taylor was at my mom's camp, it was just the 2 of us. It was 9:45 and B was really hungry. So was I. I ordered and had on my tray:
2 egg mcmuffins for me (they were 2 for $3 and I was planning on saving the 2nd one for lunch - REALLY!!!! I actually didn't even end up eating it at all, it sat in our lunchbag all day.)
3 hashbrowns - Bailey asked for 2, I wanted 1
2 small cups, B got hi-c orange, I got water
1 order of pancakes.
So we are at our table ready to sit down and Old Lady stops and says, and I quote, "She's not going to eat all that, is she?"
It caught me off guard, and I explained who-was-going-to-eat-what off our tray.
I bet she didn't believe I'd save the 2nd egg sammie for later. That's ok, I wasn't sure myself.
Anyway, she responds, and I QUOTE, "Just checking."
Just checking what exactly? That I wasn't going to shove the whole tray of junk food down my kid's throat? What was she checking?
So as she walks away and my wits are coming back to me a bit, I say, "But you don't need to worry about that, do you."
She looked at me like how-dare-you and we dropped it. But I was mad.
She didn't know we rarely frequent McD's. ChickFilA...yes. Perhaps biweekly...sometimes weekly. But not McD's, it's a treat.
She didn't know Bailey was going to be having a checkup at CHOP that day, taking hours. If Bailey asked for McDs for breakfast, then my goodness, she is going to get it.
She didn't know that not only was Bailey spending her day at CHOP, but Bailey knew she was missing a day of VBS and that Taylor was spending her day at Nana's gymnastics camp, having fun, while she had a stick shoved down her throat, had to breathe forcefully over and over into a machine, and had to be examined by her dr, 2 nurses, the nutritionist and the physical therapist. She didn't complain once.
She didn't know that Bailey's supposed to be gaining weight.
She didn't know it's none of her business.
So that's my story. And guess what, Bailey had about 1/2 of her pancakes and hashbrowns.
I won't mention that yours truly finished said pancakes and hashbrowns. What....I was emotional eating, Bailey had a CHOP appt!!
So I thought about what happened to me yesterday at the McDonald's. It involves an old lady. Maybe some of you remember I had a bit of a run-in with another old lady at the ShopRite several weeks ago, who admonished my Hottie Tottie for not listening to me, and standing by my cart.
I'm not sure what this old lady admonished, but I felt it.
So yesterday morning I took Bailey to McD's for breakfast as a treat on our way to CHOP. Taylor was at my mom's camp, it was just the 2 of us. It was 9:45 and B was really hungry. So was I. I ordered and had on my tray:
2 egg mcmuffins for me (they were 2 for $3 and I was planning on saving the 2nd one for lunch - REALLY!!!! I actually didn't even end up eating it at all, it sat in our lunchbag all day.)
3 hashbrowns - Bailey asked for 2, I wanted 1
2 small cups, B got hi-c orange, I got water
1 order of pancakes.
So we are at our table ready to sit down and Old Lady stops and says, and I quote, "She's not going to eat all that, is she?"
It caught me off guard, and I explained who-was-going-to-eat-what off our tray.
I bet she didn't believe I'd save the 2nd egg sammie for later. That's ok, I wasn't sure myself.
Anyway, she responds, and I QUOTE, "Just checking."
Just checking what exactly? That I wasn't going to shove the whole tray of junk food down my kid's throat? What was she checking?
So as she walks away and my wits are coming back to me a bit, I say, "But you don't need to worry about that, do you."
She looked at me like how-dare-you and we dropped it. But I was mad.
She didn't know we rarely frequent McD's. ChickFilA...yes. Perhaps biweekly...sometimes weekly. But not McD's, it's a treat.
She didn't know Bailey was going to be having a checkup at CHOP that day, taking hours. If Bailey asked for McDs for breakfast, then my goodness, she is going to get it.
She didn't know that not only was Bailey spending her day at CHOP, but Bailey knew she was missing a day of VBS and that Taylor was spending her day at Nana's gymnastics camp, having fun, while she had a stick shoved down her throat, had to breathe forcefully over and over into a machine, and had to be examined by her dr, 2 nurses, the nutritionist and the physical therapist. She didn't complain once.
She didn't know that Bailey's supposed to be gaining weight.
She didn't know it's none of her business.
So that's my story. And guess what, Bailey had about 1/2 of her pancakes and hashbrowns.
I won't mention that yours truly finished said pancakes and hashbrowns. What....I was emotional eating, Bailey had a CHOP appt!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Real friends
Today I had the pleasure of being invited over a friend's house for a swim playdate, along with a few other friends and their kids. I went for a few reasons - 1. I love to spend my afternoons in a pool with mom-friends. Who wouldn't? 2. My kids need the socialization in the summer...both of 'em. 3. The last time we were in this particular pool, a few days ago, Tatie was stung in the head by a bee...so I didn't want her to be scared to go back and I thought if it was too far in between, she would be.
Earlier this week, my kids and I went to our community pool. I felt out of place, and the kids that were there didn't seem to want to play with my kids - they had other friends there that they just wanted to be with. It just left a bad feeling in my mouth, I don't know. Anyway, at our community pool, I was happy to leave.
Today, I didn't want to leave. In fact, it took my kid screaming for the millionth time for me to finally pull myself out of the water to get ready to leave. It wasn't just that I didn't have to suck in my gut, strutting around in my suit. It wasn't that us mom-friends have several years now of knowing each other under our belts, lots of stories and memories. It wasn't even the faith that we share. It wasn't that the kids -while they sometimes bicker and get mad at each other - seem to enjoy playing together.
It was being wanted. Wanted. Isn't that one of the best feelings in the world? Oh and we can't forget accepted. Tatie was in form...growling, being fresh, crying, screaming...and no one batted an eye. They just said, as we peered from the pool to the trampoline where we could hear crying, "Oh it's yours again Brynn..."
I guess it was just a stark difference from yesterday to today. I'm thankful. I have several REAL friends in my life, I am so blessed.
Earlier this week, my kids and I went to our community pool. I felt out of place, and the kids that were there didn't seem to want to play with my kids - they had other friends there that they just wanted to be with. It just left a bad feeling in my mouth, I don't know. Anyway, at our community pool, I was happy to leave.
Today, I didn't want to leave. In fact, it took my kid screaming for the millionth time for me to finally pull myself out of the water to get ready to leave. It wasn't just that I didn't have to suck in my gut, strutting around in my suit. It wasn't that us mom-friends have several years now of knowing each other under our belts, lots of stories and memories. It wasn't even the faith that we share. It wasn't that the kids -while they sometimes bicker and get mad at each other - seem to enjoy playing together.
It was being wanted. Wanted. Isn't that one of the best feelings in the world? Oh and we can't forget accepted. Tatie was in form...growling, being fresh, crying, screaming...and no one batted an eye. They just said, as we peered from the pool to the trampoline where we could hear crying, "Oh it's yours again Brynn..."
I guess it was just a stark difference from yesterday to today. I'm thankful. I have several REAL friends in my life, I am so blessed.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The funky smell
I am very discouraged that my Sunday afternoon is going to be all about trying to find the source of a funky smell in my downstairs. One of the cats have peed somewhere.
Why oh why do we have 3 cats. I know why.., but I'm not feeling it today. So much cat hair, expense, mess...and smell. I try so hard to keep my house from smelling like a cat-house, you know the ones where you walk in and immediately smell cat litter and cat food. Yuck. Friends have told me that it doesn't...and even my mother-in-law said it doesn't smell, and I think she would have told me if it did.
Today it smells. Oh well...I think while I'm down there I'll wash the curtains, dust, clean the windows and vacuum really well.
I'll also fantasize about ripping out the carpet and throwing out our old furniture, but like I have mentioned on here, I'm trying to keep my house-fantasies under control.
Once I get the house cleaned up, I'll remember how much I love those naughty kitties, and I'll be happy again that we brought them home last October.
Why oh why do we have 3 cats. I know why.., but I'm not feeling it today. So much cat hair, expense, mess...and smell. I try so hard to keep my house from smelling like a cat-house, you know the ones where you walk in and immediately smell cat litter and cat food. Yuck. Friends have told me that it doesn't...and even my mother-in-law said it doesn't smell, and I think she would have told me if it did.
Today it smells. Oh well...I think while I'm down there I'll wash the curtains, dust, clean the windows and vacuum really well.
I'll also fantasize about ripping out the carpet and throwing out our old furniture, but like I have mentioned on here, I'm trying to keep my house-fantasies under control.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Slipping through my fingers
Time is slipping away. It is mid-July already, how did that happen?! We have really enjoyed the summer so far, and the next several weeks are filled with pool party playdates, beach days, VBS, gymnastics camp and just hang-around-the-house days. My girls are at a really fun age and I am having what I think will be the time of my life.
There are so many moments that I stop for a second and realize how fast it's going. It really is true that before you know it, your kids are grown. Mine aren't of course, they are 7 and 5. But I can see how that will happen. I remember when they were bitties, that old adage would kind of piss me off. I thought the women saying it completely forgot what it's like to have little ones...all the stress, crying, lack of sleep, diapers and feedings...and they romanticized the past. I guess that's what happens...as soon as you start to sleep and enjoy being a person again, not just a busy, sweats-wearing, toddler-sitting-on-your-lap-crying-while-you-pee kind of mom, but a person...you realize it did go fast. I don't miss my kids crying, pulling at my legs, at the sight of me putting on my makeup because they knew that meant I was leaving...but I do miss them waving at the window, with little pouts on their faces. Who else loves me that much that if I go to the grocery store they cry?
They're growing, my girls. Not grown, but growing. I'm happy they still run to me with open arms when they see me...most of the time anyway. Sometimes they just say "hi mom" and I know that they aren't babies anymore, when I was their world. I don't want to be their world...there is so much beauty and fun out there I want them to enjoy. But I don't think anyone or anything will ever make feel so special and loved, as these little girls have. I'm not their world, but they really are mine.
Today, they are still kind-of little. And I love it. As I write, they have on their gymnastics orange and black leopard leotards, with purple butterfly wings, princess dress-up shoes and train conductor hats. Can you picture it? Cuteness. They are using their walkie talkies and doing a search of the house for princess treasure. I tried to get them to search out dust with "princess fairy dust wands" -aka Swiffers - but they didn't buy it. They took the Swiffers, but no dusting.
They may make me crazy sometimes, and some days still feel long and stressful. But I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything. What a gift.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Trying to change the way I think, one thought at a time...
Upon seeing my reflection, I wish I was thinner...
*God, thank you that I have an able body, that is whole and with all 5 senses. Thank you that I have a body that can birth and nurse babies, hold my husband, hug my mom. Thank you for the beauty which surrounds me that I am able to feel, see, touch, taste and smell. I am so grateful for this body.*
As I listen to my children bicker...
*Thank you God, that my children have each other. I pray they will always be close. Please help me teach them in a calm way how to share and enjoy each other.*
When I am frustrated with my husband...
*Lord, you have given me a precious gift in Kevin. Teach me how to respect and honor him. Please help me hold my tongue when I want to lash out, and help me put his needs before my wants. Encourage me to speak kindly and warmly, and to show him I love him.*
As I compare myself with others...
*I am thankful to have friends and family in my life with so many gifts. Please hold me up as I look to their talents, so I can learn from them, not be downhearted. Please open my eyes for me to see my own gifts, and encourage me to use them for Your Glory. Remind me that I don't have to keep a perfect house, make a lot of money or even maintain a thriving garden to be a "success." The person you want me to be, I know, has nothing to do with any of those things.*
When I lay my head on the pillow tonight, I want to ask forgiveness for the times today when I did not make the right decision. Whether it was reading emails instead of reading my devotional, or being impatient with my children...thank you God, that you so lovingly forgive me. I want to celebrate all of the good things that happened today....thank you Lord for precious time with my family and friends. Thank you for the beautiful day that we spent outside enjoying Your beauty. I am grateful for Kevin working so I don't have to - thank you for his job and Kevin's heart for his family. Thank you for another day with the people I love.
Instead of having regrets or guilt at the end of the day, I want only gratitude and a desire to live up to the person God wants me to be.
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