What are you teaching your children?

We teach our children all kinds of things, from the abc's to lessons on how to deal with life.
But what is sinking in, and how do you really know? 

I'm a firm believer that our children learn by example.  They learn what to do and how to do it, from the actions that we, as parents, take.  In a bad situation, which you hope upon no one - we want our children to make the right decisions.

Sunday - we had one of those situations.  And my children made me so proud.

The twins were playing down the road with their cousin who is only a year younger than them.  Running and playing in the snow as all boys do.  They were in the back yard where a narrow creek runs the property line.  Apparently all the boys were jumping back and forth across a narrow part of the creek.  Then my nephew said, and I quote
"Watch the Master," as he jumped across a wider part of the creek. 
He missed the other side, and was in water up to his neck.  He didn't know what to do and was treading water to stay up.
T1 and T2 jumped into action.  T1 went running back to the house as fast as he could while, T2 stayed calm and stayed with my nephew.  T2 told him how to swim with his arms to reach a level where he could get out of the water.  And my nephew followed directions. 

Because they didn't freak out, fight over who was going to do what. Because they thought fast, my nephew didn't drown, or get hypothermia.  Help immediately arrived, and he was safe.

I am so proud of our boys!  And the new rule in our house,
No one is allowed to say "hey ya'll watch this" or on their level "watch the master."

What do you hope your kids have learned?

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard

We got our SNOW!!!

We had the most wonderful weekend - such beautiful pretty snow. 

Disclaimer: if you don't live in the south, you don't understand our fasination with snow.  It rarely snows here, maybe an inch a year.  Because it is such an oddity to us, we are thrilled when it arrives, love to watch even the smallest of snowflakes and rush to play in it. We stock up on bread and milk in advance because we know we won't go out. Our roads close, because we don't have the equipment to clear them.  Schools close because of the roads.  Adults go out sledding with the kids to capture the moment.

And on top of the fact that it snowed 6 inches, it sleeted some, which made for the best sledding.  Of course little man didn't always think it was great when he kept slipping and falling, because he didn't weigh enough to crunch through.  We had a blast on our new sled, and spent hours outside.  It is so nice to get out and enjoy the day with your children- reliving the thrill from your own childhood.  Nothing beats being snowed in, with nothing to do but enjoy each other.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

5 reasons to jump for joy

So I've been a little cranky this week.  With good reason, but still.  I'm really more of a look at the bright side, optimistic type person and I've had about enough, so when I read Helene's post this morning, (which brightened my day!) I just had to join in on the fun!

The Girl Next Door Grows Up puts on Feel Good Friday's each week and has a few prompts to choose from that will absolutely make you feel better!  (a good idea for all of us in this winter funk!)  I chose

Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things.

So, here are my five things in completely random order!

1. It may really snow here tomorrow - a good 4 inches, with some ice, which means the kids will get to play in it.  AND my father, being the big kid that he is, bought us a plastic sled to replace the old red metal and wood one I have from childhood!

2. Report cards came out this week and the boys are doing above and beyond what is expected of them. I am so proud of my smarty pants!

3.  Little man has only had poopy accidents, he has got the peeing in the potty down pat!  Even wakes up in the middle of the night to go!

4. These fancy drugs that I am on have also killed the pain in my jaw that was driving me nuts.

5. Because I counted this morning, I know that in 76 days my bestest friend will be here instead of 708 miles away.

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. ~Benjamin Franklin

Frosty the Snowman was a jolly piece of sleet

So when you live smack in the middle of NC, you know you are going to get wonderful 4 seasoned weather.  It's never too hot, never too cold.  Plenty of rain, no real flooding, no fires, no earthquakes.  You expect cold in the winter without having to wear long johns, and warmth in the summer without needing sunblock to walk to your car. 

It is the nice middle area.

Until this year.  The year of  North Carolina UN-warming.  For 10 days straight we had the coldest weather ever, some kind of record streak.  Where it dropped to the teens every single night and we were lucky if it was 33 during the day.  Now for those of you in Minnesota and such, we are wimps down here, so bear with us.  When we expect a low of 33 and that is our high for 10 days straight, something is wrong.

And then they keep predicting snow. But of course we live in NC so the Mountains get snow and those of us in the middle get slushy sleet stuff.  School even gets cancelled for our slushy stuff.  Once a year we expect 1 inch of snow. We look at it, say ahh how pretty, and go back inside.  This year, there have been inches of snow in some parts and floods in others.  I've had enough already.

But here we are again, and they are predicting snow, again.  For my area 2-4 inches.  Now hear me weather people.  Do NOT predict snow unless it is really going to happen, my kids are excited for the third time this year and you better make good on your promises!  Because if I have to dress them up to go sliding around in ice one more time - I may lose it.  (although it is hilarious to watch and they really enjoy it).  I want our 2 inches, I want it nice and pretty and I want it when I wake up on Saturday morning.

I made myself a snowball
Just as perfect as could be.

I thought I'd keep it as a pet

And let it sleep with me

I gave it some pajamas

And a pillow for its head.

Then, last night it ran away,

But first . . . .it wet the bed!

Wednesday - ehhhh

It's Wednesday and I need to get a few things off my chest. 

For all those who want to know - physically it is easier to have twins than to have a singleton.  At least in my case.  Really, two five pound babies were much easier to push out than one over nine pound baby.  And what that one nine pounder did to my body.  Forget stretch marks-

When I first went to the fancy digestive doctor about a year ago - he looked at me and said
"You do realize that after having a nine pound child you are going to have problems.  You are going to have hemrrohoids."

Great I thought.  A year later I'm back at the same doctor. Again the same jokes.  Again my 9 pounder caused my issues, only now I'm on all these fantastic drugs for 2 weeks to solve my issues (which you don't want the details of).

So excuse me if I'm a little cranky.

On to you jerks who invented this latest spyware/malware/virus crap that is disguised as a antivirus program.  You are on my nerves.  Don't you have anything better to do?  I have now fixed two computers (one at work and one at home) due to your crap.  It is not in my job description and apparently you need a job.  If you can create that crap- I'm sure you'd make better money at some tech place fixing computers.

Lastly, winter I've had enough.  I'm ready for spring.

Christmas to do list

My list is long and today it got a little wacky

1. wrap presents CHECK (except for the ones to be delivered Monday)
2. take day off to go to kids school Christmas parties CHECK
3. send hubby to store for mint that I forgot for cookies CHECK (although they had no mint)
4. wait for school to be cancelled for incliment weather to come CHECK
5. incliment weather come NO CHECK
6. bake Mint Oreo Cookies found on Jamie Cooks it Up minus the mint CHECK (and boy are they good!)
7. bake Charleston Chews CHECK
8. bake meringue cookies IN PROGRESS
9. bake butter cookies
10. clean kitchen for fifth time
11. figure out dinner
12. take kids to see the lights at Zootastic

I wonder what tomorrow's will look like. 
How's your Christmas List going?