Quote of the Day

"I hate this camera...God ended it!"

--Asher after he finished the pictures on the disposable camera he found with 7 pictures left.

On another note, if you like the way the blog looks now, you can thank my personal blog designer, Asher. He chose all the new layouts and pictures himself. With the economy the way it is, I'm thinking of making him available for house calls per a small fee to afford his diaper fix. I suppose I could just really focus on potty training and not break child labor laws.

Survey Says...

So I was sent this adorable survey on Facebook to give to your kids. I decided it would be a cute post for all you non-facebookers (really, do you exist?). Obviously, Asher filled out the answers to the following questions since Avery has, shall we say, a select vocabulary. I would love to see what your kiddos say about you!


My Mommy: by Asher, age 3

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"something funny"

2. What makes mom happy?
"Going peep in the potty"

3. What makes mom sad?
"not peeping in the potty, pooping in the diaper" (can you tell we're potty training?)

4. How does your mom do to make you laugh?
"when you say funny things"

5. What was your mom like as a child?
"you had a sister like avery"

6. How old is your mom?
"two...you're very old"

7. How tall is your mom?
Pointed to my head..."that tall"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"play with toys, drink diet coke"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"goes to work"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
"driving a car"

11. What is your mom really good at?
"teaching kids"

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"not playing with toys"

13. What does your mom do for a job?
"you go to your school"

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
"diet cok"

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
"because I love you'"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Tasha and I will be Tyrone" (from the Backyardigans)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"Make banana bread"

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"we both like to make songs and concerts"

19. How are you and your mom different?
"your clothes are not matching and you put makeup on" (thanks)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"teaches mes, walks around with me, hugs me"

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
"you give a new kiss"

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
"the gym"

Gotta love a three year old

I love the phase that Asher is in. He's constantly learning new words, picking up phrases, and constantly making me laugh.

Yesterday he was playing in the loft with Avery when I managed to overhear them "talking." Avery had put Ash's car underneath the couch by accident, to which he replied in a very manly voice:

"Stand back Avy, I hope I am strong enough to push this couch."

To which Avery replied, "Yeah" in her deep raspy voice. I definitely laughed at that one.

On another note, Asher learned the hard way that cotton balls are NOT marshmallows. While unloading the bags from our trip the store, Asher held up the bag of cotton balls we had just purchased. He quickly exclaimed, "Thank you mommy for buying marshmallows!" I placed the bag on the counter and let him know they were cotton balls, not marshmallows.

Fast forward to 30 minutes later. Mike and I came downstairs to Ash sitting at the counter holding two cotton balls and wet cotton stuck to his chin. With disgust, he looked at us and proclaimed, "These are funny tasting marshmallows mommy." Luckily, he had only had a few bites. Maybe next time I should buy real marshmallows at the store for the poor kid.

Day Brighteners

So I've been in this weird funk lately. I know that everyone has them, but I usually don't, which makes it frustrating. Do you ever feel like a failure? I think part of my problem is that I feel as if I am never good enough, never quick enough, never on top of things. As long as I can remember, someone has always out done me in something. I am a people pleaser and hate knowing that I always come in second. People tell me I fail my children by working, but I fail my financial responsibilities by not. I fail at my talents by not taking the time I need to cultivate them to be the best I can be. I fail my duties at home by not constantly keeping up with my house. I fail myself by lacking discipline. I am always good, but never the best. I fail often.

It is frustrating to always strive to be perfect in the things you do, especially when we are only human and cannot attain perfection. I am thankful through it all that I do not have to the best in God's eyes. I can fail. But am I honoring Him by not being the best, or are the things that I thought I was good at not my true talent? I do know this: I will strive to be the best that I can in the situation I am in to glorify Him. I will be thankful for the day brighteners he has given me each day through my children. My children may not be the best at everything but they are mine and are precious to me. They are may day brighteners...and a reason I have not failed.

Sushi Baby

The other night Asher was at my in-laws, so Mike and I decided to take Ave out to dinner for a special treat (for us, really). We were heading up to Chili's when we passed this little Korean (I think)/ sushi restaurant that I always to go to with my fellow teachers. If you know Mike, you know that he has quite a taste for...shall we say...bland and boring foods. After convincing him that there was bound to be something he liked on the menu, he okayed the choice.

I have found a new likeness in sushi lately. No, I'm not having pregnancy cravings. I just like sushi.I love this restaurant's California rolls...I get them everytime I go. I think about them daily, crave them, and splurge every in-service day on them. Naturally, I ordered them. As quick as they came, they were gone! My little 18 month old hoarded and finished the entire roll by herself...seaweed and all. I jokingly guessed it was the Asian in her...even though it isn't her Asian parent that like them. Next time, I'll order two.

Who knew...?

Preschool. I can't believe I'm even blogging about that yet, but the time has arrived. I started exploring preschool options. After having a small mental breakdown (is my little guy really that old...AM I really that old!), I bit the bullet and started calling around. Now mind you, this is February and I'm calling for NEXT fall. February, people! Yet, much to my surprise, two of the schools recommended to me were full. Man, am I slacking on my child's education! Who knew that you had to sign them up for a good preschool program six months in advance...for a program that they need to be potty trained for even before they are completely potty trained...for a program I still don't know how I'm going to get him to three days a week. They definitely do not tell you this when you bring the child home for the hospital. I consider myself a planner. I was wrong.

Maybe I'll just sign Avery up too while I'm at it. It seems that is the age.

I'll keep you posted if I, I mean, Asher gets into the preschool I am wanting. Cross your fingers...

They just get better...

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, if you can call it one. I love telling my friends and family that I love them and showing it. Obviously, it's not just something I do once a year, but I love the idea of it. My Granny (yes, Granny..we are southern) always sends me a Valentine's Day gift/card. She always remembers us all. On Thursday we all received our cards, Asher and Avery included. Growing up my dad always bought me and my sister a box of chocolate or something special. I loved making the little mailboxes for the school Valentine's...and making sure to not give the boys one that said something like "to my honey" or "Be Mine, Valentine."

My husband is a hopeless romantic and always remembers my favorite things for this day. I LOVE tulips, and Mike usually tries to get them for me. On Thursday, the secretary walked in my classroom with a vase of tulips for me from him. I am very impatient and love getting things early (I know, you would never guess)...this was my early gift. So thank you hubby for the romance. I was envied my many at school. :)

But the real blessing was the actual day this year. I was supposed to take a class all day, but we could not find a sitter. I wonder why! So my day started with my sweet toddlers waking us up. Asher and I then made some yummy chocolate chip banana bread for our gift to daddy (even though he still has not eaten any!). While we were waiting for some ingredients, Mike surprised me with my favorite breakfast...Burger King. (I know, I have such expensive taste.) Mike went to work for the afternoon and me and my sweet babies got to just hang out and play. Matt stopped by to play with the kiddos for a while too, which was a nice surprise for them. After going to church on Saturday night, we went out to dinner at Moe's for burritos. Yes, such the Valentine's Day delicacy. We ended our evening all watching Ash and Ave's new Backyardigans movie that got for the special day.


Yes, I've had romantic dates with my hubby for Valentine's Day and, yes, this was not something that I would consider romantic...but it was a perfect day with my beautiful children and amazing hubby. I am one happy, blessed, and lucky person. I think family day will be the new Valentine's theme. There's plenty of time throughout the year for romance, but never enough time with my family.

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!