Regrets

Memory Monday~

I hate regrets. Like the time Bippo the Hippo came to my kindergarten class to teach us how to brush our teeth and he chose me to get up and dance with him and I was too shy and said no. That has always bugged me. Really.


Some things I shied away from because I wasn't easily good at it or my friends weren't doing it. For instance, I grew up on a cattle ranch. You would think I would be a horse-whisperer or something. I'm pretty sure I could saddle one if needs be, but I didn't invest much time or effort in that arena.


I always ran track, hurdles, specifically. I had "my nerves are out of control" diahrrea before, during and after each track meet. A whiff of rubber from a track during springtime makes me want to find a wastebasket. My friends did it and the bus rides were fun and those two categories ruled my high school brain.


I've always thought that if I could go back and re-choose how I spent some of my time, I would choose to rope and ride (just like Toby Keith's song). During highschool, my dad bought a horse named Rita. He said she was for me. I mounted and started riding in the field behind our house and she took off. No matter how hard I pulled on the reins, she kept full-on sprinting to what I knew was going to be my death. I finally got her slowed down and made it back to the barnyard. I was not just scared, I was bawling and in hysterics. I started walking to the house vowing to never look at Rita again. My dad made me get back on.....that was not an easy battle I assure you. But, it was too late. I didn't feel super comfortable atop a horse. I wish I had been bolder and braver. I wish I had taken advantage of what was right outside my door.

The Maxster is One

He captured my heart the second I first saw him and he hasn't stopped since.




Yes, he really did lick his plate clean.

Crazy kiddos and less comparisons

(Mascara mishap)


(Z started gymnastics)


(Literally still on the phone with grandma, even after the crash)

(Max and cousin Andrew)
Comparisons are the worst. Comparing myself to others never made me happy, and comparing my kids to other kids is just as bad. I have left playgroups feeling lousy because Z didn't behave as well as other kids or Max isn't crawling as well as so and so, etc. So Z has mucho energy and I can't keep her off the top of our vehicles or from sneaking out the front door or from sneaking worms up into our rooms. What if Max loves the army crawl more than the normal crawl. I'm choosing to embrace it. Eat that.



What I know is: I'm one lucky Mama.

The truth hurts

Zannah and her friend Brayli were having a conversation which I didn't understand or catch the first half of, but it ended with Brayli giving Z the hardcore truth:
"Zannah, your mom is very mean to you." And let me tell you, the recipient didn't appear to be shocked with the news.


Today, Z, with one hand on her hip and the other hand pointing to me, said, "You go to time-out, you are a pain in my neck today."

I swear I have never told her she is a pain in my neck. On the other hand, "time-out" is in almost every other sentence I speak. Yikes, I hope my "how to deal with strong-willed children" books I ordered from Amazon get here soon.

To A Girl Who:

• Sleeps with her head at the wrong end of the bed EVERY night
• Is rarely afraid of anything
• Likes to dress up as a princess and catch the bad guys
• Thinks eating is a nuisance
• Loves to run anywhere, anytime and mostly at the most inappropriate times
• Gives stubborn a run for its money
• Says, "I missed you soooooo much" if we have been apart
• Could play with or in the water for most of the day
• Tells her mom or Max, "That's It!" when we do something she doesn't like (wonder where she heard that phrase)
• Squeezes and carries cats around, likes most dogs and wants the cows to lick her
• Is a socialite and asks to play with friends daily
• Loves nursery
• Calls Max "buddy-boy" and says she's going to get her "some Max" as she attempts to wake him up from his nap
• is not potty-trained YET
• Turned 3!!!!

Happy Birthday Zannah Mae! What tender memories your dad and I have of your miracle entrance into our family.

A Bully and A Queen

There once was a blue-eyed goose who was a Bully and a brown-eyed girl who was a Queen. The Queen enjoyed sharing her wealth of bread crumbs with the local pond-folk, until the Bully made his appearance, and he always did.

Using his scare tactics to challenge her majesty.

And for a few months, it worked.

Alas, the Queen does not allow disobedient subjects to abide in her kingdom. As the rest of the royal family well knows, we all eventually bow.

Holy Guacamole (for all but marcus's eyes)

I'm such a procrastinator! Instead of packing this week:

• I've baked cookies and convinced myself that it is less flour we have to move.
• Checked out the "Great Gatsby" and "King Arthur" from the library because I HAD to take advantage of the library while we are here, what if Idaho doesn't have one. About those movies, can't believe I haven't ever read or watched the Great Gatsby before......depressing and by that I mean wow that was depressing to watch. And King Arthur had me laughing hysterically at what Kiera Knightley is wearing in the last fight scene.
• I have 2/3rds of my visiting teaching done. Funny how even that is more exciting than packing.
• Got my hair trimmed, gotta look good for the boxes I'm too nervous to introduce myself to.

Marcus is out of town all week and is expecting to come home to a completely packed house. And really that good guy had 85% of the packing done before he left. He always makes things look so easy, sometimes annoyingly so. But, you know what, I work well under pressure. Some of my best homework assignments were performed at 3 in the morning. It builds character or something.