Craziness

I haven't done this in a while honestly because I was hoping my crazy kids would be listening better and fighting less...Well I am here to report that hasn't happened!

I have resorted to allowing the knock out drag out fights in the house on the rug not on the hard wood floors or near a wall; but be my guest. Since I was raised as an only child for most of young life I have no idea why they always fight but from what I hear its a right of passage and they will out grow it so in the mean time I sit back and watch and wait! Tick Tock...

Here are a few fun things that happened in the last few weeks.

1. I survived my first round of taking my own kids Christmas card pictures only a few melt downs and ugly faces captured on film, think I even got in an eye rolling or 2 from Caleb~ he was OVER it before we got started. 

2. We had part of the up stairs painted professionally painted this past week, so basically I had NO bedroom for like 5 days. Picture this 1 Mom and 2 crazy kids slept in the same room for 5 days...talk about NO personal space. I locked myself in the bathroom more this past week than I think I have there entire lives. So glad its over and my Master bedroom looks great. 

3. My kids were biting each other in Wal-mart!! Really?? They are 8 and 11, I normally don't care what happens in Wal-mart but I have to admit I was mortified as the people in the check outline stared at me and my crazy kids...seemed like a fail moment for sure! But then again I wasn't biting anyone.

4. Kylee got a spanking, the kind where my hand hurt.. but I was so mad and was literally done with the Tantrums. Pray for my sanity when she goes through puberty I may not survive.

5. Caleb asked me about Santa.. Felt bad that I have let it go for so long, I was pretty sure he didn't believe any more but I never gave him a good explanation.. even after he busted the Tooth Fairy. So we cleared that up and he was relieved to know the truth and has been pretty sweet with his sister on making sure she still believes in the magic of Santa a little while longer. Or maybe its that I told him kids that tell other kids that there is No Santa don't get anything for Christmas, yep that's probably it!

6. Didn't cook a meal ALL week.. in order to cook a meal you would have to go to the grocery store and that didn't happen...No worries I didn't starve them.

7. I am almost done Christmas shopping=SCORE!!

8. I organized Kylee's cheer squads participation in the Davidson Christmas Parade this year.. So fun, a great day was had by all and I only had a few 2 meltdowns in the planning process.

9. Caleb asked what Tampons were for....Ugh I really wasn't ready for that convo yet but I said well blah blah blah... and he was Mortified!! He was begging me to stop talking and I finished it off with how do you think Woman have baby's?? His response was "I don't want to know and I am NEVER having kids" followed by me saying I will remember that...I am dreading the next 7 years of his life :(

10. With all the craziness and chaos in our lives documenting with photo's has always been a strong suit of mine, however I wanted to give my kids more. I saw on Pinterst of course a post about journals with Mama. So I set out to find 2 journals one for each child. I wrote them each a letter explaining the journals and how we would write stories, memories, lessons learned and lots more in them and one day when they grow up they can look back and read all the experiences that helped make them who they are today. I wondered what the response would be but they both loved them. The first night I put them on their pillows with a note that said read me.. and when they wrote back they could leave them on my pillow and to much surprise I went to bed that night with 2 journals on pillow and words that made me cry. Life is busy but don't forget the important stuff and my hopes are maybe if they are afraid to tell me something someday that this journal will help them. I have also started a journal of stories from their childhoods. Memories are all we will have one day. So no matter how many failures or bad Mommy moments you have in a week or a life time for that matter, as long as your kids now that you Love them that's all that matters. We all make mistakes, and I have found great strength in knowing that God created my kids resilient to a degree that they are loving and understanding and are so quick to forgive when I make a mistake.

If you have a tradition with your children and you would like to share please do!

Happy Tuesday.

The Truth about Santa...

This is a bitter sweet post and I am sharing this to help other Mama's and Daddy's out there when the time comes to tell their kids the Truth about Santa...

I struggled with wanting to take away the magic, the twinkle in his eye, the vision of a blond haired blue eyed boy staring at the all the presents on Christmas morning were haunting me, along with his constant asking if I was Santa??? I held off as long as I could and kept thinking how would I tell him without ruining the magic and the holiday season.

So my search began, I was looking for advice from other parents, bloggers anyone who had been in my shoes; then I found it on 'Pinterest' the perfect letter the perfect way to tell my sweet boy the truth about Santa.

Sort of felt like I was cheating by using this ladies letter to tell my son, but her words were perfect and she shared the same thoughts I wanted Caleb to understand. So with the help of 

      Martha Brockenbrough; who's work can be found at marthabee.com

This is what I told my sweet boy in his 'Letters from Mama' journal. (More on that later this month).

My sweet boy, (Caleb)

I have not been looking forward to answering this question for you, but since you keep asking I think it only seems fair that I gave you the best answer possible. I wanted to choose my answer carefully and had a little help from another Mommy…but here is goes.

 Am I Santa? And is Santa real?

The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.

I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her.

I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

This won’t make you Santa, though.

It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.

Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.

With full hearts, people like me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So, no I am not Santa; Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too. So we need to help Sissy believe in magic too for just a little longer until she is ready to hear the truth like you.

I love you and I always will.

XO,

Mommy

I hope this letter can guide you in the right direction when the time is right for your child to learn the real magic of Santa. 

After he read the journal entry he wasn’t as sad as I thought he was actually excited to help keep his sister's magic alive. With the explanation I don’t feel that I have ruined the Christmas spirit and if anything I think he was happy he finally learned the truth about Santa.

Happy Holidays!  

Bowl Game Day

Saturday November 17, 2012

LKN Giants VS. Weddington Titans

This was the perfect chilly morning, a brisk 38 degrees, so we bundled up and headed to the football field at 7:30am. Caleb's football team got a bowl game and his little sister was out there cheering on her big brother.

Ready for some FOOTBALL..peewee style

Go Fight Win!

On the line

Get em' Caleb

My Boy!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!

Someone is a little excite!

Kylee Madison with her medal

Group Shot!

Was a great end to the football season, win or loose the boys had a great season, learned a lot, played hard, worked together, and even learned to give back to the community.

Caleb was sad to see it end, but I on the other hand was ready for a little relaxation but not too much basketball starts next week so with both kids playing and Kylee tumbling there is NO rest for me :)

Hope you enjoyed all the football and cheer pics it was such a big part of our lives since July.

Now lets cheer on those Buckeyes...BEAT big blue!!

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving Holiday

The first Thanksgiving holiday was held in 1863, Americans were waging the Civil War and in the midst President Abraham Lincoln spurred on by the lobbying efforts of writer Sarah Josepha Hale and proclaimed a national holiday in which Americans were to express thanks for their many blessings.

Today that Tradition holds true except we Americans added  a big Turkey, all the sides and lots of pies, along with family and friends as a day for us to express our Thanks for all our blessings!

Here are some of American holiday traditions:

1.Cooking

2. Eating

3.Watching OSU beat Michigan(My tradition :)

4.Football

5.Turkey Trots

6.Traveling

7.Watching the Macy's parade

8.Volunteering

9.Decorating

10.Mapping out your black Friday Shopping Trip

This year for Thanksgiving I will be out my biggest blessings my kids, but I will still be surrounded by family and I have so much to be thankful for! So if you are looking for some friends or need a place to share a meal you are welcome to spend it with us.

I am looking to volunteer on Thanksgiving but it seems I have missed the boat there, most places have all the volunteers that they need. That's a good thing.

To all you late night shoppers bundle up and be safe.

Hope you all have a great holiday no matter where you are or who you are with.

Please share some of your families holiday traditions!

Be Thankful!

Making Memories, Go Bucks!

This weekend I took Caleb to his first college football game..Ohio State vs. Illinois

It was a chilly 43 degrees and the wind was blowing but he was excited and so was I.

Born in Columbus Ohio I have been a fan for a long time.

Caleb has grown up in a house that bleeds scarlet and grey and until the past few years he was a Gator fan like someone else he knows. I think it started off as a force like but over time it has grown into the real deal.

He is just a boy that LOVES football.

We layered up in scarfs, hats and gloves and of course our OSU gear and we headed to the shoe with 105,000 other fans.

Not a great picture but my hands were freezing and to take a good picture from far away would have required me to take off the gloves!

My sister Britney and her friend Jenna came to the game with us. This picture was taken outside the stadium.

Watching the players warm up was exciting, we had great seats so no jumbo tron needed.

This was during the national anthem with the OSU band playing.

OH-IO

He was having so much fun waiving his flag and singing OooooooooOoooo!

Half time by the OSU marching band was awesome, here is where they made a submarine and had it floating on water if you look towards the top of the screen.

All smiles with an Ohio State victory 52 to 22.

He said he is now officially a College football fan and cant wait to go back I think we have a new tradition at the shoe in Columbus, cant wait for Kylee to join us, maybe in a few years.

GO BUCKEYE'S!

Tantrum Thursday!

Most of you are reading this title and thinking..her kids again?

Well not exactly, I had a Mama melt down in the middle of a CVS parking lot this week.

I don't mean I yelled at my kids- they weren't even there.

But lets be honest, I had let them get the best of me.

I yelled and cried and laughed and stomped by feet all by myself while (yelling) talking on the phone. The people driving down Hwy 73 and caught a glimpse I'm sorry you witnessed that, however I am not sorry it happened.

I am a single Mom with very little help from the man who helped create these amazing, awesome children of mine... Other than helping make them he doesn't do much in the way of helping 'raise' them. So I work full time, pick up the kids, run them to sports, make dinner and run to cheer them on at practice and pick them up, finish homework, make sure they are actually 'washing' in the shower(Caleb), trying to keep up with the piles of laundry, and keep the house clean..supposed to be dust free due to our allergies but let me honest that's just not possible.I am trying to teach them to be respectful and remind them to be sweet. I am trying teach them to own their mistakes and take responsibility for their actions Good and Bad, I am trying to teach them to use their manners without me asking. This list just sounds exhausting but then you add our weekends which are filled with minimal chores, sports games, slumber parties, play dates and special things to do. I always feel like I am trying to over compensate for what they don't get from their part time parent. In reality we are making memories and one parent or two I feel like my kids deserve fun memories. Its not always an expensive adventure but the goal is to just have fun together.

At the end of the day though I am one person, one blessed beyond words but I get tired I am only human I require sleep, energy and a little peace and quite every now and then!

On this night the kids were whinny and tired and point blank just weren't listening, each time I was repeating myself it was just making it worse and worse for me. I yelled at them and told them they were acting ungrateful and that they needed to realize all I do for them. Ha ha.. they were like uh? Kylee said "I cant wait to grow up and be mean to my kids one day"! And I said to her "I am not trying to be mean I just really need you to listen and try not to fight with your brother every ten seconds.

The point to this story is that I needed that tantrum in the CVS parking lot give me time to vent and let go and take a few deep breaths and admit that I was tired.. and more importantly realize that's it OK to be tired and frustrated as long as you can pick up once your done and keep on trying to be the best Mom you can.

I know God gave me this job and sent me down this path because he knew I could do it and he teaches me new things about myself everyday. Some days are just harder than others and that's OK because there is always tomorrow to try it again.

I need to keep reminding myself not to schedule all of our free time. I think this weekend I am going to grab a ton of blankets and pillows and we are going to make s'mores and lay around outside and star gaze for a while. Enjoy the air and the laughter and each others company.

Happy 'almost' weekend!

Football Saturday's

Football Weekends

From August to November our house is consumed with Football and Cheer leading and a night of tumbling. It is a crazy 4 night a week schedule but its so fun watching the kids improve their skills and have fun!

I cant believe how big they are getting and how much fun we are having.

I love fall for a lot of reasons, cute hats and scarfs, jeans, pumpkin lattes and OSU football.

These two and there sports have become my new love during these months, now that I think we are done sweating at the games we may get to break out the hoodies before its all over with. Here are a few shots of Caleb and Kylee having fun.

Cancer Awareness month has started and my girl is sporting her pink proudly!

                                                                      'G' for Giants!

                                                                            Cheese

Back flipping girl!

My boy on the line

Get em' Caleb!!

Watching the Offense Run the ball

Need Water!

Football Saturday's are a Staple in our house. We leave PeeWee games to go home and Cheer on our favorite College teams.

Right now that's the OSU Buckeyes and Caleb has become a Notre Dame fan.. OK with me unless they play OSU.

Happy Saturday's for another 4 weeks.



Who are we? GIANTS!!

This past weekend Kylee's cheer squad competed in there local Cheer competition in Indian Trail, NC. It was a combination of excitement and nerves from Cheerleader and their families.

We woke up at 7am so that we could have the perfect hair and bow in tow.

I went loaded with a fully charged battery and a fresh sd card ready to snap all that I could.

Note to self I need a bigger SD card! I took over 2,000 pictures in 6 hours.

Just imagine 300 plus girls ages 5 to 13 cheering, and chanting and stopping on the bleachers at a shot for that Spirit award. Needless to say it was loud.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures so far, have lots to go through still.

 SMILE!!

Here we go.

 No belly is not supposed to show we will need to wear an under shirt next year.

Cheese!

Cheering on team mates.

And the Winner Is......

Drum Roll......

1st place in the JR.PeeWee division goes to the Lake Norman Giants!!!

Whoot Woo!!

The excitement and the hard work is beginning all over again as we prepare for the Regional Competition in

Raleigh NC over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Tattling Tuesday's- Room for Growth!

So since the last time I was here writing about an out of body moment with my kids it been better..

I have started a new 1, 2, 3 Timeout method.

When one or both of the children is doing something they shouldn't; fighting, not listening, hands on each other ect. I simply say 1,2,3 timeout. 1, is simply a warning, 2 is more like a 2nd chance and you better now I mean business and 3 is an automatic time out, in the length of their ages, Kylee is 8 minutes and Caleb is 11 minutes. Kylee said " See Caleb being younger is better!" There is no more Mama raising her voice. When we first started it they were like whatever.. but In a week my children who were crazed animals last week have each only been in time out twice! We are getting there.

This week is going to be a little more about me and the little things that drive me Crazy

1. Leaving a dirty dish on the counter literally 3-5 steps away from the sink, I am not asking you to put it in the dish washer...Just the sink.
2. Laying dirty clothes on the floor right in front of the hamper, even Kylee common kiddos I have bought you nice containers for these just TRY please. (Caleb; the laundry basket is not a toy!)
3. Using literally 20 Towels a week for Showers= we are a family of 3! Not 19.
4. Throwing trash into the Garbage can after you have watched me take out the trash, I removed the bag and didn't replace it yet so please keep your suckers out of the trash can until there is a bag...PLEASE!
5. When someone finishes any food or drink and puts the box or jug back empty! Stop it, makes me so mad, especially when I pour cereal and think that there is milk and to my Surprise there is NONE!
6. Loosing water bottles, my kids have had more expensive save the planet nice water bottles to take to school everyday and they are constantly 'missing'! I am sure one day I will find a stash of expensive water bottles, until then we found some at the Dollar Store so lets see if they can keep these.
7. Caleb leaves his nasty smelly football cleats in my trunk and after a nice warm day when my car bakes in the sun while I am at work, I get into a car that smells like dirty feet!! He is lucky I have a traffic filled drive before I get to him that's how bad it smells.

All this said they are things I can live with, for one day before I know it they wont need me to pick up after them and hear me count to 3... But they will be out hopefully living all the things I tried to teach them and for now I am going to keep teaching and motivating them to be better people. However lately the kids have been constantly wanting more more more. They are hitting an age that is all about them and honestly it has me just about as over the edge as the fighting in the backyard. I want my kids to appreciate things, not expect them and most importantly be grateful for what we have. So I think its time to 'Up' the amount of giving we do and let them go somewhere and be reminded how good life is to them. Anyone who knows of any great shelters or organizations that will allow 11 boys to help out please let me know. We are ready to Volunteer our time and make a difference in the lives of others. That's what life is about helping others and being an example. I want my kids to remember everything I said to them but I know they will remember what I did with them more than anything. So here is to a new family challenge, helping others and seeking a non materialistic reward! Stay tuned for updates on our new adventure, I cant wait to see how the kids grow and change through this process but more impartantly how they are blessed and the blessing they gove others.

Tattling Tuesday:Brother, Sister Love

HELP!!

So most of you who know me are aware that I was an only child until I was 14,

So with that stated Sibling Rivalry and the constant fighting baffle me.
My Sweet, Precious, Innocent, Loving children have turned into Monsters lately.
They are constantly fighting; kicking, punching, scratching, pinching, door slamming, name calling and there is lots of screaming and crying involved!
So much so that I feel I may loose my mind, OFTEN! Yesterday all of these things minus the door slamming occurred on a short drive home from after school to get ready for football and cheer leading so after I myself screamed and almost cried myself so I locked them out back to hash it out in the backyard.(I live in a town home and my neighbors parents were visiting who are soon to be 1st time Grandparents and they thought this was genius!) This idea was given to me by a Friend who was not an only child :)
I didn't get a photo op of this glorious occasion because I proceeded to go to the front of the house and get some peace and quite. But I really sat out there and laughed as I could hear them screaming at each other.
After about 5 minutes I thought I should check on them and make sure there was no blood due to Kylee's screams! They were mad as ever at each other so not sure my plan worked other than It wasn't occurring in my living room. I then asked them to go get ready and round 2 took place at the top of the stairs. I thought I was going to pull my hair out. This time the doors were Slamming and I thought I was going to freak out.
Well I am pretty sure I did Freak out. I was upset they were still crying and I needed it quite I sent them to there rooms and Locked myself in the bathroom for ten minutes and cried!
Then I wiped my face and called them down stairs so we could leave, told them that nights like this would not occur often or they would become very acquainted with there door less bedrooms!
I am in need of some assistance with brother, sister fighting. It has me worn out!
I am contemplating family boxing night with a punching bag to get this all out at once and not on each other! I would love any advice you could offer so that I may try to keep some sanity, I am not asking to be totally sane but a little would be nice.
I did force them to explain to their coaches why they were late for sports.
Caleb told his Coach my Sister got us in trouble sorry we are late and Kylee said My brother and I were fighting in the backyard like animals so my Mom sent us to our rooms for 10 minutes, her coach said I didn't think you would fight with your brother like that, and Kylee says oh yes All the time!
I am hoping for a better night requiring less physical contact and screaming! And to think its only the Beginning!!
I am not so sure I will make it through hormones and puberty; that may require lots of WINE!

These are my sweet kiddos! I like them a lot more than those little monsters from yesterday.

Ready for Fall!

I am so Ready for Fall to Arrive!

I have been on Pinterest like a crazy person and I have just come to the reality that I will probably not get to try EVERYTHING that I pinned in one season, I wish I had more money because I sure would try!!

Here are a few of my favorites that I love and will accomplish for fall this year.

I am thinking we may get all of these in if we work super hard at having fun! We always go to the Pumpkin patch, the Leaf pile photo shoot is on the top of my list with my new camera. Pumpkin carving and now decorating are always a favorite in our house.

I had my first one of these last week at football practice when it was a nice 63 degree's outside and it was AWESOME! This Yumminess means fall to me and is worth every calorie!

And I am saving the best for last, I am super excited about this little DIY pumpkin that is going to look amazing on my fire place. I will post pictures as soon as I get it finished.

Its painters tape and spray paint, I love it!

Here is one of my new favorite recipes for fall, I just need to figure out how to make the adult version!!

I know you all have some fun Fall traditions what are some of your favorites? Do tell!

It's Tattling Tuesday!

So I have a friend that does Mid-Week confessions on her blog and sometimes I laugh so hard I almost pee my pants, so I am going to give this a go with what I will call Tattling Tuesdays!

1. Caleb finally realizes that I am a young Mom and says "Mom I could so Date you when I am 18 that how young you are, I mean if you WEREN'T my Mom!!" My Response "There will be NO dating cougars when your 18! Mom? Whats a Cougar? Me: Nothing, you will not date OLD woman.. he said but your not old!! Touche'..Smart boy :)

2. Never leave a Roll of toilet paper in a toilet for more than 24 hours...EVER! Short version someone who remain nameless dropped a roll of tp in my toilet at the crack of dawn on Sat morning and I was leaving for a long day at the football field and I say its OK I will deal with it later. Never again, the smell was so bad like no one had flushed the toilet in a year bad and I almost threw up in the sink twice trying to clean it out. GAG!! The next time ***** does that SHE will fish it out! I promise.

3. Had my 23 months nephew at the football field Saturday and by the end of the day, 8 hours later I was worn out and decided he could chase a ball up and down a ramp while I stood at the bottom watching, didn't think anything of it until some man was yelling.."Who's kid is this?" Super loud so everyone noticed that I was the person NOT watching the 2 year old even though I was and he was fine not crying actually laughing and having fun..Honestly! I never used one of those Child leashes on my kids but thinking I may go and buy him a Teddy Bear backpack with a leash for these long Saturday's! Just kidding Carter Mason, Kiki would never do that to you.

4. For those of you who don't know my daughter has been a thumb sucker since inutero, but recently we got some help from the Dentist and she is NO longer a thumb sucker(So Proud) and after a few more months of no thumb its going to cost me with a $60.00 Barbie RV totally a good trade off in her opinion.

5. We had a long day of  football and cheer on Saturday was up and going at 6am drove to Weddington, shlepped kids and equipment for hours and then did it again in the late afternoon. We  I decided we were going out to dinner on the way home from game 2 because I was to tired to cook. Once we arrived home I made sure everyone showered and laid on the couch to just Relax, I woke up 2 hours later with drool on my couch pillow and Caleb showing me his tooth that he pulled out! Super Fail! Got everyone to bed and when I laid in bed I realized YES, no more tooth fairy for Caleb!!! I had to tell him bc he caught me and thought I was 'Stealing' his money, then he called me cheap when I told him I was the tooth fairy..I will show him cheap I get to save my $2.00 for the rest of his teeth... :)

Those are my first round of Tattling Tuesday..each week will get better and better I am sure, its never a dull moment at our house. I will close with a picture of my Football player and Cheerleader for the week. See y'all next week.