Good-bye 2009

2009 was a year of life changes for me, all of which I feel were great!

Looking back through the first 1/2 of 2009 my schedule was just jam packed. I was over-obligated and trying to balance a family with young children, a marriage, a career, and running a non-profit. As many of you know for about 6 years I was one of two directors of A Rotta Love Plus (www.arottalove.org). The demands of balancing all of these things left me tired, crabby, stressed, and always feeling like I was behind the eight ball and many times disapointing myself or others.

Around May is when this all started effecting my sleep and physically I was just reaching a point where I just could not get myself going. In June I officially resigned as a Director of A Rotta Love Plus. It was a hard decision but I can say now that it was a WONDERFUL decision.

In July, we bought our home! Our home was a "meant to be" home for us. We rented out our townhome (we use that as a rental) the same day that our home went on the market and we put in an offer the same day! Adam came accross a list that we had written out of all the things we wanted in a home...this was before we started our home search. Our home ended up having 18 of the 22 listed thigns we want, and many more posabilites that we would have ever imagined! This home was meant for us!!!!

In August, about 3 weeks after we moved in, Adam was up north with friends, a tornado went through our neighborhood. Thankfully my dad came over to be with us! I will never forget being under the stairwell with 2 kids and 2 dogs, me and my dad with no electrisity in the middle of the dark. It was VERY scarey. We had minor damage and a LOT of garbage to pick up. Chloe still is scared of the 'wind.'

Currently I volunteer in our church nursury once a month, I also volunteer at Pine Lake Pastures (horse back riding theraphy program).

In 2009, I learned how to "de-clutter" my life of all the noise and to focus on my family (my children and my husband). I have taken the time to entertain interests I have had for a long time, horses, my own personal dogs, sewing, and I have been learning how to cook! I feel more in touch with myself and those around me!

2010 will be a wonderful year!

Cheers,
Beth

Random thoughts

Last night Adam and I went over to a neighbors house, they are expecting their second little one in less than a month now! We had a wonderful time, after we left I just kept thinking about how blessed we are to live in the neighborhood that we live in and how wonderful it is to spend time with friends!

I am really excited about a curtain project that I am doing for the same neighbor we visited last night. Her sons new bedroom looks so great and I am glad that I can be a little part of making his bedroom a special place!

One thing I have been really wanting in recent months is a horse, I miss having horses so much. I felt SO blessed when the volunteer coordinator at the barn I volunteer at approached me and asked if I would help her get some riding hours on her horse! Isn't it funny how God answers your wants in needs, and in a way that is so appropriate to what I can handle right now!

Tonight we say good-bye to 2009 and hello to 2010!!! It amazes me how fast the years go by. We will be ringing in the New Year with good friends and neighbors of ours, Al and Amanda. We have grown close to them and I really enjoy their company!

Cheers,
Beth

Craft Project over nap time - Apron

I made my sister and mother in law apron's for their Christmas presents. They turned out really cute and I really enjoyed giving a gift that I made myself!

Now that I had made two aprons, I had the knowledge I needed to make a thrid one and to do so a lot faster! I decided while the kids napped yesterday that I wanted an apron of my own so I pulled out some scrap fabric from my grandma's house and made an apron. It turned out wonderful! It is a light pink and purple pattern and I used a white eylet (sp?) fabric around the neck, as ties and also to make a front pocket.

Here is a picture of my apron! I was so proud of myself, I had to share!



Cheers,
Beth

Christmas Presents

Santa was VERY good to my children this year! Thank you Santa!

Chloe amoung many other things got a little tent, of course with a matching sleeping bag and flashlight and compass. I set it up for her in her room and that is where she has napped and slept for the night since Christmas. SO CUTE!


Evan's highlight was a huge tool bench with tools, some of which are battery operated. He is VERY protective of his tools, here is a picture of him in his 'cars' slippers.


Christmas is so much more fun with kids! My kids I think get particulary spoiled since they are the first and only grandkids on both sides of the family.

We had a wonderful time with our families and are so thankful for everything that we have! Christmas is not about the presents, it is about Christ's birth...and that is the most important thing to keep our focus on!

Cheers,
Beth

Christmas Eve Church

Adam and I are so happy with the church we go to now. We have taken time to get more plugged in and have met a lot of new people we enjoy!

Our church has two campus's, one in Woodbury, MN and one in Hudson, WI. For Christmas eve service they combined the two campus's, which was so great! It was nice to see other people that go to the same church...just a diferent location.

We brought my mom and dad, and aunt Nikki with us to the service! It was a great time!



Cheers,
Beth

Macy's 8th Floor Exhibit - A Day in the life of an Elf

Every year in addition to going on a Chirstmas Lights tour we also go to the 8th floor of Macy's to see their exibit! They are always so impressive and fun for kids and adults alike! This year was "A Day in the life of an Elf," it was a repeat but when it is something you only see one time a year, I don't think that anyone would mind that!

We also like to go to the Holidazzle, this year we were not able to find the time which was a bummer.

Here are some pics of the Macy's exibit and the kids.



After we went through the Macy's display we brought the kids to see Santa. Chloe LOVED Santa and Evan was terrified by him. I kinda predicted that one!

Cheers,
Beth

Christmas Lights Tour

I am so excited to have some time to post about all the fun I have had this last week! I have so many post ideas, I can't wait to share!

On Friday the 18th we went on a family Christmas Lights Tour, Adam entered all of the addresses to look at in the GPS I got early as a Christmas present and off we went!

It was such a fun time! My parents came with us and the kids are at ages where they REALLY enjoy looking at lights and could get into it!

Here are some of the houses we looked at!


Creating traditions is something I think it meaningful...for us Christmas Light Tours are a tradition and something I really look forward to! It gets us all in the "Christmas" spirit!

Cheers,
Beth

So much to look forward to

I feel like a little kid right now!

I am SO excited about the next couple weeks. Tomorrow Adam, the kids, and I along with my parents are loading up in the Acadia to look at Christmas lights! I am SO excited, this is a tradition that Adam and I have done for years now…actually it is what we were doing when Adam proposed 7 years ago! Last year we stopped by this house and they had a man dressed up as Santa in the front yard giving out stuffed dogs! Evan and Chloe both got a stuffed dog, they were aw-struck and it just brought tears to my eyes!

Saturday I will be working hard to finish my Christmas gifts I am making. I am the queen of procrastination, which I HATE about myself but alas it WILL all be done before Christmas, I may just loose a little sleep doing it.

Next week I have a ½ day on Monday and Adam and I are Christmas shopping for the kids and finishing up everyone else. Then we are picking the kids up and going to the Macy’s Christmas display and to see Santa!!!! Oh it will be so much fun!

Wednesday I am SO excited about the possibility to help a friend exercise her horse in the morning and then Nikki (sister in law, but more sister than in law) and Terese (my mother in law) are going in the afternoon to a show together! I am excited.
Then comes Christmas with our families, we only do one family a day so we really get a chance to ENJOY the season!

It is a week FULL of fun and goodness and things to look forward to! This Christmas is a simpler Christmas for us and for many others, but for some reason…it is full of much more joy!

Oh and I have to mention, there is this customized Santa message that you can do for your kids. Adam and I did this for Chloe the other night and brought it to her in bed…she was beside herself! Check it out!
http://portablenorthpole.tv/home

Cheers,
Beth

Winter Time Fun!

Winter time can be such a hard time with young kids. You feel so cooped up in the house...sometimes for days at a time. I have been working hard to keep the kids busy with activities inside and to take time and bundle the kids and get outside!

Last Saturday I took the kids sledding for the first time! They LOVED it!!!! It was a lot of fun for me too. We lasted about 45 minutes and then we were done for.


Chloe and Evan have both loved coloring a lot and I have mixed it up with crayons, markers, pencils, and stickers!!! Today grandma T called and said that Chloe is getting an easel for Christmas...SO excited to see Chloe's reaction to that since we have been so into crafts lately!

Root-Beer Floats!!!

One of my goals as a mom is to make growing up a memorable experience. I want to create traditions and memories for my children to cherish and carry on when they are older.

Sunday, Chloe had a pretty good day so after dinner, we had a treat! I made root-beer floats for the kids. It was a nice little reward for a good day! I think little things like this create memories and are good motivation to keep up the good work.

I am a firm believer in goal setting and this includes being a mom. There seems to always be something that I feel I need to work on as a mom. Right now I am working on being more creative with my correction…rather than just defaulting to a time out all the time. Parenting, I don’t think you ever master this, you just learn and grow, each child teaches you something different. I love it!

Cheers,
Beth

My Wednesday with the Kids

My Wednesday with the kids was a great one! We slept in a little, woke up and made muffins for breakfast (the kids helped me), then we played play dough! The rest of the day was filled with playing, Disney movies, and a REALLY good afternoon nap! In the evening we decorated the Christmas Tree (pictures will come later) and hung the stockings!



After the kids went to bed, I worked on the home made Christmas presents I am making, they are coming along very nicely!


Today while Evan was playing, Chloe and I had Hot Coca together! I snapped a picture of Chloe enjoying her hot Coca, she could not get enough!



Today Isaiah, the little guy I take care of on Wednesday's was home sick (feel better Isaiah), so it was just me and my kiddos.

Sadly, my Wednesday's home with the kids after 1 1/2 years will soon be coming to an end. I am very sad about this, one of my co-workers has his own agency now (good job Colin- you deserve it) and so I have to come back to work 5 days a week. This is difficult for me, my time with my children is of utmost importance.

Cheers,

Beth

The Wal-Mart Tragedy

Whew, it feels like so long since I have blogged! I have to get back in the swing. I'll start by sharing my Wal-Mart Tragedy with you...

A couple Sunday's ago I decided to bring Chloe to Wal-Mart with me for a little mommy-daughter time, in hindsight this was not the best decision I have made as a mother as Chloe was really tired and had not napped well that day.

As we enter Wal-Mart Chloe announces "I have to go potty" and those of us mom's who have recently potty trained little ones, it is time for the mad dash to the bathroom. We arrive in the bathroom and all is well. Chloe proceeds to sit on the potty, and nothing happens, and she sits, and nothing happens, and she sits....you get the point. I sat with her patiently for about 15 minutes (longer than I probably should have). I finally announce that she needs to finish and counted down from 10 on my fingers. At the end of the 10 second count down and the "get off the potty" directions were given...they are met with a shrill...top of the lungs...SCREAM! I was mortified. After many attempts to calm Chloe down with absolutely NO luck I picked Chloe up and told her that was enough. I walked out to wash my hands thinking that the mommy walking away trick would work....and of course it did not AND Chloe KEPT screaming. This is not a little scream, it is top of your lungs....red faced scream. After my attempts to still calm her failed I walked out of the bathroom (just so it is said, Chloe is fully capable of opening the door it was light and the handle was low for her). And then....Chloe comes crawling out of the bathroom on her hands and knees and screaming!!!! I promptly proceeded to pick her up and walk out of Wal-Mart with Chloe kicking and screaming and making an absolute spectacle. I put her in her car seat and we drove home. I put on KTIS loud so I would calm down by the time I got home. When i got home, I brought Chloe upstairs and told her she needed to go to sleep NOW. Chloe cried herself to sleep, and of course after about 20 minutes I could not stand to hear her so I went and we took a nap together.

So, I was mortified and feeling like a horrible mom. I talked to a few people...my mom, my daycare lady, co-workers who all assured me that I am not alone and that events like this don't make you a bad mom! Thank you to everyone who encouraged me!! I needed it!

So, I was determined that GOOD things were going to come from this! #1, lesson learned, DO NOT TAKE CHLOE out when she is tired. I am just signing us both up for failure! #2, I have to start some type of rewards system for her to give her something to work towards! So I started a chore/behavior chart combined...Chloe earns stickers and after she earns 15 stickers, she gets a Prize, a Treat, or a Special Activity. I found customizable charts here (see below)...
http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/
#3, I need to get more creative with my correction so I am keeping Chloe in her toes.

We have been doing this chart now for about 1 1/2 weeks and Chloe is into it! She really likes the rewards and I have seen an improvement in her attitude and also her and I are working TOGETHER on her behavior since we both want her to succeed!

So, good things can and do happen from bad events!

Cheers,
Beth