Embracing Joy

I watched a Brene Brown video where she shared that joy is the emotion that scares us the most because we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. When things seem good, it can feel too good to be true.

Today I took her challenge and really tried to intentionally practice gratitude. I was grateful for teaching GCF today, a skill I think is fun, I even verbalized that to my students and they said, "yeah! It is fun." Gratitude and joy are contagious. 

Today, I was grateful many times for moments I had with the girls. Funny things they said.

Like Madeline said she was going to wear her toes to dinner tonight, not her socks. And earlier when I bought her a treat for good behavior, she said, " Mommy I got this because I was a good girl but I did sit on the table top at the Red Barn today." I was grateful for her sweet heart to be honest with me about that. She also just randomly looked atme tonight and said, " I love sitting with you." 

Anna Claire brought me great joy too. She was so excited to tell me that she and her Daddy made a deal that if she did all 16 of her homeworks this week she could finally try snails just like she saw on the Cooking Channel. If you polled 100 7-year-old's, I'm just guessing you'd be hard pressed to find one who has a snail dinner as an incentive to do well. 

The little things. I was intentional in trying to notice the typically mundane and ordinary things in my life that actually bring me joy, and there are a bunch: getting to campus before the traffic hits, the sound of my kids running downstairs. Walking into a nice cool building after being in the hot sun. The way the table looks when it's set for dinner. 

I feel like we do get so busy and caught up in our routines that we forget to just take in joy. And the key to it all is gratitude.

Here's the link to Brene's video (5 min.):

http://youtu.be/RKV0BWSPfOw

Cartwheels and Casts

Anna Claire was running and cartwheeling in the family room as usual, and I was in the bathroom when I heard a loud snap, then a scream and immediately knew what had happened. 

I ran into the room and saw AC holding her arm and crying and comforted her. Then I comforted Madeline who started crying too, worried about her Sissy. I left Madeline stroking ACs hair and ran to find Larry. I looked in the driveway and the car was gone. He had already left to get barbecue. I was gonna do this solo. 

But my phone was dead. Man. I plugged it into the wall and called Premier Peds, on hold for what seemed like an eternity. 

I wasn't sure whether to take her to the ER or to Premier. I have never had a broken bone or a child with one. So I was standing there totally ignorant shouting encouragement into the other room, chained to my phone. I kept hearing Madeline say, "it's ok Sissy!" And "Oh no!!"

I got a nurse within five minutes who confirmed my gut intuition to take her to Premier, and I'm glad I called because I didn't realize they had changed locations. 

Then Larry walked in and we both agreed Madeline did not need to go to the doctor. So I would take AC and he would keep the baby.

The next two hours went slowly. 

We got checked in, and the sweet nurse turned on Monsters Inc, special for AC. She loves that movie and it totally distracted her from her arm, plus I had applied diluted Panaway to her arm so she was pretty comfortable. 

I did start realizing as we were waiting and as I was helping her do basic things that the next few weeks was going to mean us giving her lots of assistance and a temporary new normal. 

We got called back by a nurse that I will refer to as Sarge for the rest of the post. 

She said, "Go that way. Get on this scale. Stand over here. No, not like that, like this. No. All the way back." 

I said to Sarge, looking her right in the eye and trying to keep it together, "She just broke her arm." 

Sarge was nice to us after that, but I seriously thought I was going to lose my religion watching my child's sweet eyes tear up as someone was barking orders at her.

We didn't wait very long before I swear I heard a faint choir of angels singing and saw a glow as sweet nurse Melanie walked in. We adore her and I knew things were about to take a turn for the better.

Her daughter loves gymnastics just like AC so they talked gymnastics and gymnastics movies and I explained that AC had been watching too much "Gabby Douglas Story" and had gotten overly inspired.

She explained that AC would get X-rays and then a little splint or cast and that she would be ok. She also said she could have Tylenol or Motrin to which AC quickly replied, "No, My Mom uses oils." 

Melanie smiled and seemed great with that. 

The gentleman that did her X-ray was also very sweet and gentle. That process didn't take long at all. 

Turned out she broke the lower bone in the forearm (ulna?) It was not a growth plate bone so it would heal more quickly.

Another sweet lady came in and wrapped her arm up in a temporary cast and ACE bandage and we go back in a week to an orthopedic doctor to get a more permanent one. 

Dr. Darke came in and gave his final

Ok and then we were on our way.

When we got home Madeline kept asking for a cast too, just like Sissy so I fashioned one out of some ACE bandage I found. 

I researched vita flex foot maps and made oily concoctions to help speed along her body's natural healing process. I look forward to seeing everyone's befuddled facial expressions in a week when they all gape at how quickly her bone has already healed. 

My Oil Droplet

Anna Claire told me she saw her teacher taking Excedrin at school and told her she should use Panaway essential oil instead, that medicine had harmful chemicals.

I said, "No, you didn't!" 

She said, "I love her. I don't want her to use harmful chemicals." 💕

Attitude of Gratitude

Every night I have AC tell me 5 things she was thankful for about her day so that she will not only develop the habit of looking for good, but so that when she closes her eyes, her thoughts are already on the very best parts of her day.

We've been doing it every single night for the past two years and if I forget, she make sure to remind me! 

 Tonight she was thankful for going back to school tomorrow, a bed, Netflix, fettuccine Alfredo and a house. ☺️ 💕 #gratitudeattitude

Working for a Day Off

This girl has her mama's work ethic: full throttle when she believes in something and sees the big picture outcome. 

Anna Claire has given us absolutely no, nada, zippo struggle when it comes to homework. Totally self-motivated. And recently she has taken it a step further and decided she would get all her homework for the week done two days in advance so she could have a night off and not have to do homework on gymnastics night. What an awesome kid! We are so blessed to have such a responsible little girl!

Summer fun with AC: Memories Made

Sneaking to the blackberry patch while Madeline napped

Cassidy's birthday at Frist Museum

Bowling with Cassidy 

Learning to ride bike at Greenway

Swim lessons at the ymca

Nashville zoo

Back to school shopping at Opry Mills

Inside Out and Minions movie

Dinner at Hananoki with grandma and fam

Going to Mommys classroom

Playing with Izzy during Bible Study Tuesday's

Yoga with Mommy MWF

Swim at Miss Dawns house 

Chocolate Pen Fun and Journaling

Today during Madeline's nap, Larry helped AC break in her chocolate pen that she got for Christmas. The chocolate was more like different colored white chocolate. And there wasn't much in the box, but she had fun.

She also is doing great keeping her new journal! I thought I'd need to remind her everyday, or that she'd use it to doodle in (which would be fine if she did). But she is taking her own initiative and loves the idea that by the end of the year she'll have a whole book. Love her love of writing!

New Year's Journal for AC

I took the girls to the bookstore this morning so I could buy a journal for the new year.

Anna Claire begged me to please get her one too. So we stopped in the middle of Books-a-Million and talked for a bit about  why I was getting the journal, what a personal journal was, and now it's different than journals she keeps at school. 

She found one she loves and as I am typing this she is writing away, working on her first entry. Day one of 365. 😍👍🏻

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Here's my Instagram post explaining why I NEED this journal!

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Jim Rohn, an amazing motivational speaker, recommends getting a journal each year and filling it so that the value of its contents are greater than the amount you spent on the empty book. AC and I just got ours. Here's hoping 2016 will be a year that we can fill the pages with greater value than the $12.05 we spent! #journaling #dayoneofthreesixtyfive #goodthings #journalsaregood #goodismyword

Anna Claire's Top 10 Favorite Things

I love doing these top 10 posts on the girls every December a) because it's neat to look back on and b) it helps me plan for stocking stuffers. 

I mean, I kill it when it comes to picking out stocking stuffers. And few things bring me greater joy to seeing those smiles on Christmas morning.

For AC I'm going with these as her current faves:

1) movie (prob will give her tickets to Star Wars or Chipmunks movie)

2) makeup or accessories. She goes ape for all that girlie stuff.

3) chocolate. And not Hershey's. Oh no, my girl takes after her mama. High quality dark chocolate. Add sea salt? Even better.

4) Christmas movies. She loves them all. I try to make sure and get her one every Christmas. This year she really likes Home Alone so maybe that one.

5) art supplies. Some things never change. My girl loves every medium. May get her a nice set of pens and one of those adult coloring books.

6) gymnastics. Gotta find a cute new Leo. She needs several.

7) clothes. Prob will find new socks, underwear, etc. she needs new tights too.

8) EOs. I will probably make her a little EO based perfume. She really likes mine. She's getting a new diffuser necklace too.

9) books. Anna Claire has just started learning the joy of independent reading. She loves Junie B Jones but getting a little anxious to try something else. I'm on the hunt for other series she would like.

10) funnies. Anna Claire has a great sense of humor. Gotta find some things just to crack her up. 

Anna Claire's 6th birthday party

This year I decided to scale way back on the Birthday party planning. I admittedly did things on to grand of a scale the past 3 years, but they really did turn out to be special days (core memories, they would call them in the new Inside Out movie).

This year AC wanted a sparkly sunset/Hawaii theme. I was looking through my newsfeed on Facebook and saw a place downtown called Horsefeathers was doing kids' painting classes. I wondered if they did birthdays, so I called and sure enough they did. It was such a sweet little party. No more inviting the whole class required so that took off lot of pressure. Just a few little friends.

Afterward we took her to dinner at Liberty Park Grille in hopes to actually see a sunset but it was very hot! It was a special evening nevertheless and AC was thrilled with how the whole day turned it. And that's what a mom is after, isn't it? Can't ask for much more.

Can't Help But Love Sister

Our first year with two girls was challenging to say the least. Anna Claire struggled sharing attention with the new baby and lashed out at us in many unexpected ways. 

Madeline has been a pretty easy baby, comparatively, and continues to love her big sis and want to be everywhere she is. This has fortunately, over time, had a positive effect. Anna Claire is coming around and loves having her little sis look up to her. 

We went through a phase that was really sad and difficult for us where Anna Claire actually did things to try and hurt the baby. It is hard to talk about or admit because I worry in some way it's a reflection on me as a parent. I'm just so thankful that we seem to be beyond that And that my girls are at a point where they love and enjoy each other. 

Anna Claire still gets frustrated with having to share with Madeline and when the baby demands our attention but she is leaps and bounds beyond where she was. She is starting to view herself as a caregiver and protector of her sister in a way that warms my heart.

I so want them to grow up having a close bond in a way I never had with a sibling. We are definitely working hard to promote it! 

What Anna Claire is into right now.

Anna Claire has developed several unique hobbies lately that are worth mentioning before they fall out of favor:

She wants to be a saucier. She loves, (i mean LOVES) making sauces, dips, condiments. If her Daddy is cooking and it involves a sauce, she's there. She also is obsessed with several cooking channel and food network shows.

She loves designing dresses and hairstyles. I've started putting award shows on my calendar so I don't forget about them. They really inspire her to create these amazingly intricate dresses and hairdos for someone who's only five. 

Anna Claire wants to read on her own. Bedtime routine has been extended by about 10 minutes to allow time for her to read to us instead of the other way around.

Report card: 1st semester kindergarten

Anna Claire brought home a glowing report card full of S's and M's. 

The only thing we need to work on is punctuation and writing complete sentences. That did not surprise me in the slightest. She refuses invent spell or to write a word unless she KNOWS how to spell it. That seems to be the holdup. Anna Claire is a little OCD like mom about language and grammar!

First Spelling Test

Anna Claire is so excited to take her first spelling test today! She's been talking about it all week.

She said, "Mommy, if we get them all right we get CANDY!" What that girl won't do for candy. 

Can't wait to hear about it this afternoon.

Update: AC made a 100 and got her candy! :)

First time using Easy Bake Oven

Anna Claire got her Easy Bake Oven from our beloved Mr. Ken. With her baby sister taking up much of my time and attention but after some begging and pleading, we got her oven out today and it was fun.

I will say the quality of their food products is not great and I question nutritional value, if any. Everything's a packet. We made the pizzas and the "egg wash" was dark brown! Needless to say we didn't use that.

Next time I'll just do like my mom and when I bake a cake or cookies, I'll let AC pat out little ones for her oven. 

Mommy-Anna Claire Time

Anna Claire always refers to time without Madeline as Mommy-Anna Claire time. 

When I think of all the intangible gifts I can give her, what she wants most is time and attention! Heck, I need it too! 

With Madeline teething for weeks on end and catching virus and virus, she has monopolized most of my time and Anna Claire has been extremely tolerant and understanding and SO deserved a little one-on-one time! 

Madeline is transitioning to the Chick's class right now so it is wise for us to take her in a little while each day so she can acclimate before I go back to school. 

This gave me the perfect chance to hang out with AC. 

Monday, we exchanged and returned some gifts and spent some of her Christmas money. She was so excited to finally get her Taylor swift cd. She also loved lunch at zaxby's. 

Tuesday she loved lunch with mommy at Cheddars and going to see annie the movie. We watched the original this weekend so it was very perfect and timely! 

I could think of a million things I should have or could have done instead but none that I would've enjoyed more. Which is probably why I won't see a lot of  progress professionally until my kids are older! They come first. 

New Years fun

As Anna Claire gets older she so desperately wants to be included in the New Years excitement.

With two little ones under five though, Larry and I have become homebodies. That doesn't mean we can't have fun! I have plenty in store for Miss AC tomorrow!

For one thing: We're gonna count down till noon instead of making her stay up till midnight and be grumpy the next day. She will love counting down till 12:00. I've blown up balloons for her to pop each hour to make it even more fun. I've printed off a time capsule form for her to fill out all about her favorite things from 2014 and a form for her to write her resolutions. We're also gonna play a Frozen scavenger hunt and make her mocktinis and blast silly string at each other. Good times.

Most of the ideas posted here came from http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2014/12/new-years-eve-party-ideas-with-kids.html.

New Years fun

As Anna Claire gets older she so desperately wants to be included in the New Years excitement.

With two little ones under five though, Larry and I have become homebodies. That doesn't mean we can't have fun! I have plenty in store for miss AC tomorrow!

For one thing: We're gonna count down till noon instead of making her stay up till midnight and be grumpy the next day. She will love counting down till 12:00. I've blown up balloons for her to pop each hour to make it even more fun. I've printed off a time capsule form for her to fill out all about her favorite things from 2014 and a form for her to write her resolutions. We're also gonna play a Frozen scavenger hunthttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7u0z9INCiFCbGNlRDh2Y0FYTFU/preview?pli=1  and make her mocktinis and blast silly string at each other. Good times.

Kindergarten Christmas Party

It's hard to find the silver lining when you have a sick baby, but for me, this year, it meant being able to go to Anna Claire's Christmas party.

Madeline had a stomach virus which kept us both home, but then she oh so luckily started feeling much better that afternoon so Larry kept her while I went to the party.

The look on Anna Claire's face when I walked in was so worth going. I underestimated how much it meant to her and it melted my heart to see that a simple gesture from me could make her that happy.

Here are some pics from the fun.

Famous Cooker, Like her Daddy

Anna Claire often tells me that one day she wants to be "a famous cooker" like her Daddy. We realized some time ago that AC thinks "famous" means really good. I guess we just never corrected her thinking that was pretty cute.

Anyway, she recently started backing up her dream with action. She's been asking Larry to help with dinner and he's been letting her... Much braver than me!

This week she has washed, peeled and de-rooted potatoes. And she has topped and tailed green beans. She has been so proud to have helped. She told me she made the meal and that Daddy just watched. Lol