Being a Mom...

I read this on my friend Cherilyns blog and I copied it because I never want to forget his. It's great.

"I just realized that while children are dogs - loyal and affectionate, teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.

Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor.
"Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving. When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings.

"Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

"Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you can learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and your affection too. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it. One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say,"You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you. "Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again." (Author unknown)

Preschool Graduation!

On Thursday, May 20, Ashley graduated from her first year at Haymarket Baptist Preschool. We LOVE her school and Ashley adores going. From her projects she brings home, her learning, her socialism and meeting other girls, and most of all the way administration/teachers really take care of and Love the kids there.

So Ashley's part in the program, "We pledge to our flag everyday at preschool, and this is the song we sing after the pledge." She walked up to the microphone, had her lines memorized and smiled the whole time (while holding the dress at the crotch the entire time). So cute.

The whole theme was Patriotic, (I remember going to this for Austin 3 years ago!) Wow time flies. So Ash wore her red, white and blue. After the program, we went to her classroom for cake and punch and final goodbyes. Ash made a really cute father's day present and the teachers gave the kids a farewell gift (bag with the classes handprints on them) to take with them after they go. Ashley's teachers this year were Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Keiser. They were amazing. She loves Mrs. Liz up front and Mrs. Frasz.

We have one more year of preschool. Sniff sniff. Great job Ash! We are so proud of you!

Strawberry Picking

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We love living in Northern Virginia. One of the reasons we love it here is because of the great opportunities to go to pumpkin patches, pick seasonal fruit at orchards. Including Stribling and Hartland-which we just went to this week with our buds the Johnsons. I've never been strawberry picking before, and it was so much fun! The strawberries were super-sweet!!! The kids had a blast, I think I had more fun than they did though. That's always how it is.

Spring Growth

GiRls JuSt WaNt to HaVe FuN!!!

I've been really trying hard to have Ashley have playdates with Girlies considering all her of her friends are boys. The girlfriends she has are from Little Gym-Amanda, preschool-Brooks and our neighbor Maddie. Barbies, baby dolls, strollers, dress-up, princesses, Ash loves it all! She'll be going to preschool next year with Brooks and Amanda. Yeah! These are really sweet girls.

Mother's Day 2010

I'm so thankful that I'm a MOM. There is no greater job, no greater calling, nothing more important.

I woke up this morning with my 2 kids in my bed, their warm arms both around me. What a way to start the day. They both sang to me, danced on the bed and gave me big hugs and wished me a happy mother's day. Austin even gave Ash a happy mothers day because she would 'one day be a mommy'. French toast, church (we got a chocolate bars this year!), a nap, movie and dinner with my friend Ginger (her husband is deployed as well). What a wonderful Mother's Day.

Jonathan called many times and my mother's day gift this year is my new BIKE! A pink beach cruiser! With a wicker basket!!! I've wanted one for so long. I grew up with a pink cruiser (banana seat included) then graduated to a purple more sophisticated one in college. Now I'm back to pink and I LOVE IT!!!!!! Thanks honey! Now if I can just get Ash now on her bike to ride...then we can have family bike rides! We did that all the time growing up.

Happy Mothers Day to all of my dear friends and family. And mom, I'm so thankful for you! And to my mother-in-law, Barbara. I have wonderful relationships with both of you guys and I'm so thankful for that. Jodi, soon to be Reghan, and later on Jonny-I love you guys and appreciate your stories, parenting ideas, and you guys letting me vent about my kiddos to you guys and the advice you girls give me! I love my sisters!

To all my dear friends--you all have taught me so much about being a good mom. I love you gals!

Teacher Appreciation Week

I am so thankful for my children's teachers. Thankful for their patience, kindness, and wanting my kids to reach their educational, spiritual or extracurricular potential.

Thank you to my children's past and present leaders, church instructors, coaches, teachers, and others that have influenced their lives for good. You're irreplaceable.

For Austin's teacher this year, our class bought a brick for her that was paved and put in front of Mountain View ES. On the brick is her class mission statement. She loved it. And we love her.

Chik-Fil-A-We love you!

I heart Chikfila.
It's the only fast food restaurant I will let my kids play in the play place now (because they CLEAN it).
Their peachy milkshake is nirvana.
They're closed Sundays.
They always answer, "it's my pleasure"
They walk around the restaurant giving samples and free refills of your drink-talk about customer service!
They have cute managers working there
I'm a fan on facebook.
Their ice dream ice cream is divine
It's Jonathan's favorite ff restaurant-so whenever we go I think of my lovie
And who doesn't like Chicken? Especially a delicious fried white meat breast atop golden buttery buns.
They always send out coupons for free sandwiches
They always have family nights/drawings/incentives

Which brings me to my next point. What could be better for a little girl than a Chikfila themed PRINCESS night!
We went, dressed up and you get a free ice dream cone. We love you Chikfila!

Training Wheels

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This week, Austin learned to tie his shoes! His new favorite pastime is shooting Airsoft guns with the neighborhood boys. What is an airsoft? The gun shoots airsoft bbs, but supposedly isn't dangerous? Any thoughts on this?

Ashley, my sweet girl Ashley is having a rough week. First, I took off Ashley's training wheels, but she hates me for it! After one near spill when I let go and she was riding alone, she yelled, threw her helmet off and ran inside. I went inside and she told me she made me a drink. I looked at it and realized at once she had put tabasco sauce in it!!!! Little stinker!


Also this week, Ashley got strep throat AGAIN. This is 1 day after her last round of antibiotics. She's had strep 4 times this school year! Yikes. So Ash is getting evaluated by her ENT for her tonsils to be removed next month.

Critters

Spring has sprung. The weather is beautiful. Flowers have bloomed. The grass is green. The trees have green hearty leaves.
And, the bugs have bugged out! All the critters are now climbing out of their hibernation, peaking their heads out from under their rocks from the long hard winter. Austin loves picking up anything with his bare fingers-spiders, worms, mosquitos, anything. I haven't seen an insect or arachnid he's afraid of!

Welcome Spring!