Now I would like to think that I give my girls a nice balance of what they want and what they need. I want to teach them that you don't get everything you want, but as their mom I want to give them so much. I am not always talking about material things, but in this case yes.
Thanksgiving was great and we settled down that night to snuggle on the sofa, our evening routine. The first Christmas shows of the season were on and we were all excited. We watched Elf on the Shelf and thought it was pretty cute. I should have hit delete on the DVR. Over the course of the next three days the girls and I engaged in our Thanksgiving tradition....shopping Black Friday with Stacey, Christmas decorations getting put up, and lots of jammie time just hanging out playing games and watching movies. After watching Elf on the Shelve for perhaps the 20th time, I got asked the question of the weekend, "Mom can Santa send us an Elf on the Shelf?" I explained, like most parents, that you can ask Santa for whatever you want, but he has lots of girls and boys to make toys for and you may not get everything you ask for. To which my way to smart children responded, "But Santa is sending them to all the boys and girls." What is a mom to do? You try to explain that everything you see on TV is not real, but when it comes to Santa I am not giving that up yet.
As we wrote our email to Santa (yes we email Santa instead of mail...come on now with all the technology why write? I am really wanting for Santa's Facebook and then we can just post our list), and they both asked for Elf on the Shelf I began to see the genius in the cartoon developer. Make a show the kids love and they will ask their parents for the item. I am sure this Elf has great qualities and a base of Christmas tradition, but let's get real.
So this time the girls win and for $29.95 our Elf will be "Santa delivered" by mail this week and the Smith household will be the next proud owners of Elf on the Shelf. Truth be told he is a cute little guy and the idea behind it all is pretty neat. That being said...Marking scheme 1 mom 0.
November 29, 2011
November 21, 2011
Girls Night
Friday night mom and I took the girls on a girls night out. They had been looking foward to this all week. Not only were they going to see nana, but princess Belle as well. Friday morning I reminded them that today was the day and Grace asked if her papa could come to which Ella promply yelled at her that papa was a boy and it was girls night. At this point I was thinking maybe this was going to be a long night.
After work I got the girls and asked them what they wanted to eat for dinner. Taco Bell they yelled! Really, mom and nana will take you out to eat and you want Taco Bell. Not that I mind Taco Bell, it is actually one of my favorite fast food places to eat. I was just thinking of a little something nicer. After grabbing nana we headed to Hobby Lobby to take a look around and waste a little time before heading to eat. I actually got the girls to agree on a Mexican place that did not serve food on a tray.
The hightlight of the evening was taking the girls to the theatere to see Beauty and the Beast. Well ok it was technically a theatere, but the performers were Fort Osage High School Students. In my mind this production was going to be about an hour and a half, but I was told Friday morning that it was more like two and a half hours. The girls were so excited to enter the theatre. We had talked about how you needed to act and what would happen, but the looks on their faces were priceless.
After work I got the girls and asked them what they wanted to eat for dinner. Taco Bell they yelled! Really, mom and nana will take you out to eat and you want Taco Bell. Not that I mind Taco Bell, it is actually one of my favorite fast food places to eat. I was just thinking of a little something nicer. After grabbing nana we headed to Hobby Lobby to take a look around and waste a little time before heading to eat. I actually got the girls to agree on a Mexican place that did not serve food on a tray.
The hightlight of the evening was taking the girls to the theatere to see Beauty and the Beast. Well ok it was technically a theatere, but the performers were Fort Osage High School Students. In my mind this production was going to be about an hour and a half, but I was told Friday morning that it was more like two and a half hours. The girls were so excited to enter the theatre. We had talked about how you needed to act and what would happen, but the looks on their faces were priceless.
Ella before the show
Grace before the show.
They were great the entire performance. I would look over at Grace and she would have the biggest smile on her face. A few times I thought Ella would fall alseep, but they both stayed awake the whole show. The Fort Osage High School students did an amazing job and the production was excellent.
After the show the girls got to "meet" the cast in the lobby. Grace could not wait to see Belle and get her picture taken with her. The girl who played Belle was so good to the little kids and really made them feel special. The girls talked non stop about the show on the way home and wanted to know when they could take nana back to see another show.
All and all a successful girls night out!
The girls with princess Belle.
November 13, 2011
Reflection
Stacey and I have long been experiencing the man in the mirror. Take two four year olds and you can see and hear exactly what you do and say. I can hear Ella tell her baby that she is so proud of her and I can see Grace check her reflection in every mirror she walks by. Both of these the girls get from me. I can hear Ella yell "damn dog" and know that every morning Grace just needs a few minutes to herself and then she will be ready for the day and know with confidence that comes from Stacey.
Aside from the fact they act like you, they will tell you when you do something wrong. A few weeks again I called a driver dumb for the way they drove, and Ella and Grace quickly reminded me that we don't use the word stupid that is not nice. This weekend it was a hoot to hear Ella correct nana. While driving down Quivira with nana, she ran a yellow light (yes yellow not red). Ella quietly from the back seat said nana why did you not stop? Nana said it was yellow not red and Ella said, "nana yellow means stop." Nana explained that we had been stoped by about 3 red lights and she did not feel like stopping. Ella quickly told her that you need to slow down and stop when the light turns yellow. Nana was less then impressed with the knowledge and being told how to drive from a 4 year old in the back seat, but I was beaming. I know that she pays attention and is trying to keep us all safe.
Next time nana will know that when Ella is in the car she needs to obey all traffic laws and watch what she says and does.
For those who wonder, Grace decided to stay home with Papa rather then go shopping. Just more proof that I am raising a papa's girl. She would rather hang at home with him then go shopping with the girls.
Also for those who might wonder, nana was less then thrilled that I posted the story to facbebook and I am sure she is loving this post.
Aside from the fact they act like you, they will tell you when you do something wrong. A few weeks again I called a driver dumb for the way they drove, and Ella and Grace quickly reminded me that we don't use the word stupid that is not nice. This weekend it was a hoot to hear Ella correct nana. While driving down Quivira with nana, she ran a yellow light (yes yellow not red). Ella quietly from the back seat said nana why did you not stop? Nana said it was yellow not red and Ella said, "nana yellow means stop." Nana explained that we had been stoped by about 3 red lights and she did not feel like stopping. Ella quickly told her that you need to slow down and stop when the light turns yellow. Nana was less then impressed with the knowledge and being told how to drive from a 4 year old in the back seat, but I was beaming. I know that she pays attention and is trying to keep us all safe.
Next time nana will know that when Ella is in the car she needs to obey all traffic laws and watch what she says and does.
For those who wonder, Grace decided to stay home with Papa rather then go shopping. Just more proof that I am raising a papa's girl. She would rather hang at home with him then go shopping with the girls.
Also for those who might wonder, nana was less then thrilled that I posted the story to facbebook and I am sure she is loving this post.
October 28, 2011
Where does the time go?
Looking back on things I am not really sure what Stacey and I did with all our free time before we had the girls. These days it seems like there is little time to sleep let alone anything else. What did I do Monday nights before I had to take the girls to dance? Where did we go before we had to make plans weeks in advance to secure a babysitter? I think the days just must be getting shorter :)
Seriously, these days I don't think that I work any more then I used too, in face I know that I put in less nights at the office since the girls were born. Yet it took me an hour last night just to get some things put away and in order. Part of the problem is that the girls have way to many toys. 20 baby dolls is more then enough for two little girls (Just so you know Stacey and I will put out a hit on anyone who dares to buy a baby doll for the girls birthday or Christmas this year....think we are kidding, just try us. And no I don't really care that the girls keep saying they just want a baby doll). I did what any good mom would do after spending an hour cleaning up, I sat and read the girls a book, put them to bed, and had a glass of wine! Go ahead and laugh, but I have given in to my OCD and am learning to accept the fact that my house will never be the spotless envy of my friends. I have two kids, and well let's face it a husband, and so my house will be clean, but not spotless. If you come over you may have to move a toy or two around. I don't have to run the vacuum everyday and the beds may or may not get made.
Instead I will use my time having fun with family and friends. Just to prove my point the girls will enjoy an evening with Nana and Papa and Stacey and I will have a date night. The two dishes in the sink can wait until tomorrow and our closets are full of clothes so the mountain of laundry (ok maybe I am exaggerating a little there) can wait until Saturday.
Since I can't add hours to the day, I will just have to enjoy the ones I have. After all someone will clean it all up after I am gone :).
Seriously, these days I don't think that I work any more then I used too, in face I know that I put in less nights at the office since the girls were born. Yet it took me an hour last night just to get some things put away and in order. Part of the problem is that the girls have way to many toys. 20 baby dolls is more then enough for two little girls (Just so you know Stacey and I will put out a hit on anyone who dares to buy a baby doll for the girls birthday or Christmas this year....think we are kidding, just try us. And no I don't really care that the girls keep saying they just want a baby doll). I did what any good mom would do after spending an hour cleaning up, I sat and read the girls a book, put them to bed, and had a glass of wine! Go ahead and laugh, but I have given in to my OCD and am learning to accept the fact that my house will never be the spotless envy of my friends. I have two kids, and well let's face it a husband, and so my house will be clean, but not spotless. If you come over you may have to move a toy or two around. I don't have to run the vacuum everyday and the beds may or may not get made.
Instead I will use my time having fun with family and friends. Just to prove my point the girls will enjoy an evening with Nana and Papa and Stacey and I will have a date night. The two dishes in the sink can wait until tomorrow and our closets are full of clothes so the mountain of laundry (ok maybe I am exaggerating a little there) can wait until Saturday.
Since I can't add hours to the day, I will just have to enjoy the ones I have. After all someone will clean it all up after I am gone :).
October 17, 2011
Papa's Girl
When Dan married into this family he never knew that he would end up with five girls not just two (and that does not even count other grandkids). While Christina and I were a breeze to deal with :), these little girls are anything but.
Grace, more so then Ella, is a proclaimed Papa's Girl. We have had talks were Ella says she is a helper girl and a mommy and daddy's girl and asks Grace who she wants to be and Grace always, and I mean always, says "well I really papa's girl." If she get hurt, or sad, or in trouble, or really just anytime she can open her mouth it is always I miss my papa, I need my papa, can I call my papa. The last is by far my favorite. Most of the calls she makes Dan ends not having a clue what they just talked about, but really I guess that might just be that she is a girl and he is a boy. She will tell him about her day, what she wants to do next time she sees him, or how he gets to do something for her. Take her to nana and papa's and she can find papa's lap quicker then an Oreo can find Dan's mouth (sorry had to add that in there).
It should come as no surprise that when I told Grace we were going to see papa on Sunday that her face just beamed. Sunday morning came and she had to get all dressed up, after all it had been two weeks since she had seen him which was just torture in her mind. On the way she wanted to call and make sure papa would be home when she arrived. After jumping in his lap she only moved to have her dress hemmed (which papa had to look at and watch the process for her) and to get a book in which papa must read. Papa even got caught trying to skip pages (silly papa). After watching almost all the football game that papa was coaching I suggested that it was time to head home. If you could see the hurt in her eyes you would realize why we stayed another hour until papa was done coaching so she could give him a hug goodbye.
So there is only one question left, papa when does Grace get to see you again :)
It should come as no surprise that when I told Grace we were going to see papa on Sunday that her face just beamed. Sunday morning came and she had to get all dressed up, after all it had been two weeks since she had seen him which was just torture in her mind. On the way she wanted to call and make sure papa would be home when she arrived. After jumping in his lap she only moved to have her dress hemmed (which papa had to look at and watch the process for her) and to get a book in which papa must read. Papa even got caught trying to skip pages (silly papa). After watching almost all the football game that papa was coaching I suggested that it was time to head home. If you could see the hurt in her eyes you would realize why we stayed another hour until papa was done coaching so she could give him a hug goodbye.
So there is only one question left, papa when does Grace get to see you again :)
October 10, 2011
What every little girls needs
Children never cease to amaze me and there is never a dull moment when a child is around (trust me if there is something big is about to happen). So let me set the scene.
It is Saturday morning and Ella has gotten up at 6:00 a.m. and Stacey got her set watching cartoons and then came back to bed and fell back to sleep like the rest of us. The three of us get up at 7:00 and I started breakfast. We needed to leave by 9:20 for our 10:00 pictures (or so I thought). I waited as long as possible before showering both girls and getting them dressed. The only instructions was to spend the next hour not eating, drinking, or getting into anything. Anyone with kids is most likely laughing now knowing this is impossible.
Just as Stacey was getting ready to cut his hair and take a shower, I realized that our photos were at 9 not 10 and we needed to leave in 10 minutes. I will spare you the story, but we made it only 10 minutes late which is not bad.
We arrive at this nice studio and the girls have gotten over the idea that I would not let them color in the truck with markers on the way. They are both little hams so they are so excited when we get to choose the background and start getting set up. Like a good mom I take one last look over them before sending them to the camera. Grace reminds me that I was going to do lip gloss on them and I have to now explain that I left it at home and pray there is no meltdown coming. "Don't worry mommy I have it here in my pocket," Grace says. So as she is taking it out I realize that she has a few other things in her pocket. Now here is what every girl needs to take with her to a photo shoot: lip gloss, pink ribbon, hair clip, and oh yeah a pink handgun (fake of course). I about fell over laughing. When I asked why she brought this stuff, "You just never know when you might need to a gun or lip gloss mom." At least she will be prepared for anything.
It is Saturday morning and Ella has gotten up at 6:00 a.m. and Stacey got her set watching cartoons and then came back to bed and fell back to sleep like the rest of us. The three of us get up at 7:00 and I started breakfast. We needed to leave by 9:20 for our 10:00 pictures (or so I thought). I waited as long as possible before showering both girls and getting them dressed. The only instructions was to spend the next hour not eating, drinking, or getting into anything. Anyone with kids is most likely laughing now knowing this is impossible.
Just as Stacey was getting ready to cut his hair and take a shower, I realized that our photos were at 9 not 10 and we needed to leave in 10 minutes. I will spare you the story, but we made it only 10 minutes late which is not bad.
We arrive at this nice studio and the girls have gotten over the idea that I would not let them color in the truck with markers on the way. They are both little hams so they are so excited when we get to choose the background and start getting set up. Like a good mom I take one last look over them before sending them to the camera. Grace reminds me that I was going to do lip gloss on them and I have to now explain that I left it at home and pray there is no meltdown coming. "Don't worry mommy I have it here in my pocket," Grace says. So as she is taking it out I realize that she has a few other things in her pocket. Now here is what every girl needs to take with her to a photo shoot: lip gloss, pink ribbon, hair clip, and oh yeah a pink handgun (fake of course). I about fell over laughing. When I asked why she brought this stuff, "You just never know when you might need to a gun or lip gloss mom." At least she will be prepared for anything.
September 29, 2011
The Hunting Widow
Before kids my "hunting days" were spent watching my football games (ie not MU), girly movies, organizing parts of the house (yes I do enjoy doing that and yes I know it is a sickness), shopping with my friends and mom, and anything I wanted to do. Not too much has changed for my hunting days now that the kids have come along except to say that yes pancakes can be dinner and yes you can just eat noodles and butter and call it a meal :).
Now I look forward to the day when Stacey and the girls all go hunting and I will be the one to sacrifice and stay at home. Just imagine a whole day or weekend with everyone gone and just me at the house (hey a girl can dream can't she).
We will miss you this fall hunny, but good luck! Oh yeah and when are you taking the girls hunting :)
To all you hunters out there, best of luck this season and if you should get the big one I know a great taxidermist that can help you out :).
To all the hunting widows, enjoy the season and happy shopping, eating, or just laying around.
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