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.