Snow Day

Today is a snow day for my oldest son. Although technically it is really an ice day since there is hardly any snow to be seen. But such is life in Texas. All the kids have been so cooped up inside for the last week that this day is just an extension of the cabin fever that we are all feeling. The three oldest have all gone outside to play and slide around on the ice and come back in shortly after soaked to the bone and begging for warmth. So now for the rest of the day they will stay inside where it is nice and warm. It wouldn't be so bad if we had the right clothes for them all to go and play in but since we don't I really don't want to risk them all getting sick. It really hasn't been that bad of a time for them. They are all getting along reasonably well and being pretty well behaved. It is just one more small grace from God to be thankful for. A small reminder for us as parents that yes they do have their good days and not only the bad ones. But then again I have been praying for patience in dealing with my children so I will take this to mean that my prayers have been heard and are being answered. So I am off to go and give thanks.

The Quest for the Perfect Haircut

We as women are constantly changing our hair style in search of the great "new" look. I currently have shoulder length hair which my husband says he loves but which I can not wait to get rid of at my next appointment. I am sure when I come home he will be sad to see my somewhat lengthy locks gone. I however will be glad to have no more hair constantly being pulled by my 9 month old and hopefully will no longer have as many "bad" hair days. And hope by getting a new look I will magically look younger and thinner (wink wink).

I think that for men having a wife with long hair is kind of like owning a Ferrari or a Porche. Once we women cut our hair we go from that top of the line sports car to the everyday sedan or perhaps even the dreaded "minivan". And let's face it most of probably did have long or longer hair when we were dating and in our younger days. But motherhood and necessity soon take over and we all normally end up with shorter hair. So for our husbands we go from these "hot chicks" to these "soccer moms" and sometimes it may be a little harder for them to adjust to that idea than it is for us women. So who knows maybe I'll surprise my husband by coming home with short hair but instead of being a brunette I'll be a redhead or maybe even a blonde. He can always hope right.

Such dedication

Do you ever wonder how people with strong self discipline get that way? Some days I am really good and some days I am really bad. Take exercising, I love walking and to me it's a very enjoyable way to relax. It doesn't matter if it's a slow stroll or a speed walk I always enjoy it. I will walk in the heat or the cold and have even been known to go out when there is a chance of me getting wet. I just dress appropriately. My question is how can I somehow channel that dedication into other aspects of my life? Do I really have to love cleaning my house in order for it to stay clean or can I just be disciplined and do it. I seem to have lost alot of my self discipline lately and am on daily search for it. So now I am off in search of my self discipline that I know I have in some areas of my life and will try and apply it into other areas of my life as well. Wish me luck in finding it!

The First Sleep Over

I remember having sleep overs at my friends homes when I was growing up. They were always alot of fun since it meant no parents and getting to stay up late talking and playing with which ever friend I was with. Well last night was my oldest son's turn at having his first sleep over and boy did it bring some memories back. The excitement both boys had when they realized that each of their mothers had agreed was such fun to watch. To them it was like winning the lottery. Now since the sleep over was at our house I didn't get to see the process of packing for the sleep over but I did get in on a little of the "planning" what to do that night. My son asks me at dinner "Mom, can you help me find something to wear for my sleep over tonight?" My husband and I just laughed and of course I did. (Who would think a boy would worry about what to wear) Then the issue of where to sleep came up. Silly me thought they would just sleep on the bunk beds but no they decided sleeping bags on the cold hard floor were a much better idea.

When the big moment arrived and my son's friend arrived there was a flurry of excitement and then nothing. I barely saw the boys the rest of the evening. I know they were here but they had holed themselves up in his room. They proceeded to trade baseball cards, play cars, make bugs with the bug maker machine and make a cool night light out of the Lite Brite. I told them I was off to bed and they had to have lights out at eleven and I think they were actually pretty close to that when they did get to bed. And naturally they were up by six in the morning full of energy and lots of whispering. Then it all began again except for a small break for breakfast. By the time lunch time rolled around I could tell my son was exhausted so it was time to call an end to the fun. So he helped pack up his friend and watched him walk back home next door. So now I am again reminded of another part of the sleep over I had forgotten about. The total exhaustion that follows one. My oldest is now curled up on the sofa under a blanket fighting to stay awake. But for him it was so worth it, "it was the best time he ever had." I'm sure that it definitely ranks up there for him and it was great to be reminded of the fun and pure joy a sleep over can bring to a child.