I have been sitting here thinking about the year 2011 and all that happened. A word that can describe 2011 for me is Roller coaster.
The year started off with my best friend getting engaged on New Year's eve. I have never been so happy for someone than I was her. She has been through so much in her life, that I was so happy for her to begin a new wonderful chapter in her life. I was the Matron of Honer while Mariah was the flower girl. We were both very honored to be apart of such a special day!
Mariah started Kindergarten. This was a very bittersweet time for me. I am glad she had two year's of pre-school. This allow letting my little girl go off into the world without me a little easier. The big change was she is riding the bus two and from. She has grown so much. The love for learning, I hope never end's for her. She is learning to sound and write word's, and beginning to read. I looked at her today and couldn't get over how big she is now!! Very proud of her.
Olivia and I got time together while Mariah was off to school. She has such a unique personality that I just love. Every time she can she will make you laugh. Her big accomplishment this summer was being potty trained!! She was so proud of herself and when she got the hang of it, pull up's were for babies in her mind. Big girl panties is what she wanted and did great with them day and night!! Her love for purses and playing dress up is a everyday thing. I am very proud of her also!
This year Ryan and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary together. We were going to go away but due to the rain we spend the day and night together without the girls. You often forget what it's like to go shopping without children. We spent the day shopping and had dinner at the Melting Pot. It was really nice for him and I to have some time together.
Then the year took a turn for the worst. I spent the month of July off and on in Lexington at the hospital with my Grandma. At the end of the month I had to say good bye to her. She wasn't going to give up with out a fight. The holidays's are approaching and it's really hard with out her with us. She always come up and spent a week with us around the holiday's. I would wake up with her and Mom on the Holiday's. She is such an amazing woman.
We had to say good bye to Ryan's cousin also a few weeks after Grandma. A very sweet guy who always had a smile on his face. Life was taken way to early.
Ryan and I had our ten year class reunion this year. It's crazy that time has gone by so fast. I didn't go to my reunion but we went to Ryan's. It was fun and loved seeing all our old buddies!! We always talked about where we would be in ten year's. I never would have dreamed of being so blessed as I am right now!!
After year's of praying I finally felt like reaching out to my Dad, whom I have never met before was something I was ready to do. What I learned from Grandma was that life is to short to not regret anything in it. I picked of the phone one night and gave him a call. You would think, what in the world would you talk about to a stranger. But we talked for about an hour. Not about the past but the present. He has cancer and they had a benefit for him. As expensive as chemo and doctor bills can be he was in need of one. I went out and showed my support for him and met him for the first time. I had my sister's and brother there to support me. It was very emotional as you can imagine. I couldn't get over how much I look like him...wow! Since then we talk on the phone every other week and just building on our relationship a little each day.
October came and Ryan and I decided we were ready to try for a third child. That month we found out we were expecting. The four of us are so excited to welcome a new member to our family in June. I never thought that I would have three children. But I felt God's calling along with Ryan. We just knew that it would be perfect for our family. Having a family of five plus our dog Lily seems complete!
One morning I woke up to my nephew getting hit by a car. I was very happy to hear that he would be ok. He had to have surgery on his wrist but would be ok. The what if's kept running through my head. I am very glad that he is all back to normal now. But at the time it was very scary!
As you can see Roller Coaster discribes my year of 2011. I have grown so much from the experience's I have faced. Looking forward to saying good bye to this year and to begin another chapter in my life. Good Bye 2011!!
Here is a song that hit's home to me this year. I am so blessed God gave me so many blessings in life. My husband and girl's are the best thing that has ever happened to me!!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Disciplining- To teach
Over the past months I have been faced with my girls not listening and doing what they want to do. They both have different need's in their age groups. So it's been overwhelming when nothing I am doing is helping the situation.
I never really had much of a problem with Mariah who is five. She would test her limits as any child. Then she started kindergarten. It take me five times to get her to do something and get a attitude along with it. Olivia who is two and a half has always been my little rebel. She is very strong willed and want's it her way. She will through tantrums in public and at home. A typical two year old behavior with her need of independence. When trying time-outs and taking things way from them. It still wasn't affective for them. I believe this is when I would yell to try and get their attention. All this has accomplished is them yelling to try and get what they want in return.
This is when I knew I had to do some research and find other way's to try and help us. I came across some really good websites with helpful advice. First off I found this solution.
Read More http://www.ivillage.com/discipline-makeover-getting-your-child-listen/6-a-128351#ixzz1ZAr7lQbo
I then found a princess sticker chart for the girls. Each day before bed if they have been good all day they will get a sticker to put on their princess chart. When it's all filled they will get a small treat. It's something to reward the good behavior.
With a few day's of positive attitude and faith that my two adorable daughter's will change their behavior around. It has helped. We work toward's our sticker chart with no yelling and following the rules the first time it was told. I just know they way children are today, I have to start early on what is the wrong and right way to act. They also are learning to use more manner's. I started to feel like I had been failing as a parent and was really upset about all of this. I turned to my prayer's and knew that putting more time and effort on helping them make better decisions everything will all work out! Looking forward to seeing where we are in a month. I will keep you posted.
I never really had much of a problem with Mariah who is five. She would test her limits as any child. Then she started kindergarten. It take me five times to get her to do something and get a attitude along with it. Olivia who is two and a half has always been my little rebel. She is very strong willed and want's it her way. She will through tantrums in public and at home. A typical two year old behavior with her need of independence. When trying time-outs and taking things way from them. It still wasn't affective for them. I believe this is when I would yell to try and get their attention. All this has accomplished is them yelling to try and get what they want in return.
This is when I knew I had to do some research and find other way's to try and help us. I came across some really good websites with helpful advice. First off I found this solution.
Think in terms of teaching your kids to listen instead of punishing them for ignoring you. I suggest parents teach their kids to listen using the A, B, C and D's.
A. Ask in a no-kidding-around tone of voice
B. Be clear and specific
C. Communicate your request in six words or less
D. Don't make not listening an option
B. Be clear and specific
C. Communicate your request in six words or less
D. Don't make not listening an option
Read More http://www.ivillage.com/discipline-makeover-getting-your-child-listen/6-a-128351#ixzz1ZAr7lQbo
I then found a princess sticker chart for the girls. Each day before bed if they have been good all day they will get a sticker to put on their princess chart. When it's all filled they will get a small treat. It's something to reward the good behavior.
With a few day's of positive attitude and faith that my two adorable daughter's will change their behavior around. It has helped. We work toward's our sticker chart with no yelling and following the rules the first time it was told. I just know they way children are today, I have to start early on what is the wrong and right way to act. They also are learning to use more manner's. I started to feel like I had been failing as a parent and was really upset about all of this. I turned to my prayer's and knew that putting more time and effort on helping them make better decisions everything will all work out! Looking forward to seeing where we are in a month. I will keep you posted.
Monday, September 26, 2011
It's been awhile...
After reading blogs of other family's, I have decided to start blogging again. Looking at my older post, I can't believe that it's been a year since I have wrote. So much has happened this year. This year has probably been the hardest year I have had to face. Along with the bad there has also been a lot of good. I will try to sum up in one post our year so far.
On New Year's Eve to ring in the new year we had my family over for the night. It was so much fun as we played games and ate some good food. I got a call from my best friend as she got engaged that night. I just knew this year would be great as we were off to such a great start.
Mariah turned five in March and we had her party at Chucky Cheese. Hopefully she won't want to do that again. She had a blast, which is what matter's most. But I just felt like it was so busy and everyone was everywhere that it wasn't like we were used to. I like having the parties at home, where I decorate and play games to match the theme. In March also my Mom turned sixty and my niece turned twenty. It was filled with birthday's of milestone's. Ryan and I were also very honored to be God parent's to sweet little Finn who was born in March.
The spring time was spent with Mariah playing soccer and Ryan the assistant coach. We had practices every Wednesday and games Saturday morning. It was fun watching four and five year old's get in there and learn how to play the game. Summer was approaching so we started planning our summer with concert's,Coney Island pass,a trip to Marco Island Florida with our family and Corrie's wedding in North Carolina. I just couldn't wait for summer to start.
June started off great with celebrating Ryan's birthday. I enrolled the girls in swimming lesson's at Coney four day's a week. They loved it and got a little more comfortable with being in the water and going under. Mariah even jumped off the diving board and Olivia would go under the water!! Ryan and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary. Then it all changed...
June 28 was a pretty day. After dinner Ryan and I were doing yard work and the girls were playing with the neighbor kids. Ryan gets a call from my sister that my grandma was going to the hospital and was unresponsive. My heart about fell out of my chest. My mother n law meet's us and get's my girls and the family rush's down to the hospital in Georgetown,KY. They used the paddles and brought her back and was on the ventilator in icu. All the family was by her side as they didn't think she would make it through the night. Well Grandma as very strong woman that she is held on for weeks. She got out of icu and in a regular room where she was off the ventilator and talking some. I got to look in her eye and tell her I loved her and she told me it back. From then she went to hospice. I spent July going down to the hospital in Lexington and being with her as I knew it was just a matter of time. We had our vacation planned for Florida when this was going on. It was one of the hardest decisions but we went ahead and flew down and tried to have a vacation. We ended up and flew back early cause she was getting worse.
It was the week of Corrie's wedding. Grandma was the same so we went on down to North Carolina for it. I was the Matron of Honer and Mariah was the flower girl. We were driving down the application highway early in the morning and it was just so beautiful and peaceful. I looked at Ryan and said "I wish Grandma would go have peace like this". The girls were waiting patiently to get to NC. We finally saw the sign and we get a call from my sister that Grandma is taking the turn for the worse and it will be just a matter of time. An hour later Grandma left us and went to heaven. As much as I wanted her to have peace, my heart just shattered.We attended Corrie's beautiful wedding and woke up early to go back to the layout. It wasn't a few weeks later we got a call that Ryan's cousin had passed away. We headed down to Atlanta to say goodbye to another precious family member.
Ryan traveled to New York and Vegas in August. I had just been in a funk. My birthday came around and I just wanted to do nothing really. Birthday's I love to go and celebrate and hang out with family and friends. I just remembered last year I was so excited that when I went down to visit Grandma she was doing good and looked like herself. I was born on my older sister's birthday and she turned forty. I knew that I wanted to through her a surprise party at my house luau theme. It turned out great! She was surprised and the family for the first time this summer relaxed, laughed and had a good time.
The summer has finally ended and it's Fall. Thank goodness this year is almost over with. With all of this my faith as grew stronger and I have learned a few lessons this summer. Life is so short to sit back and not open yourself up. It can be taken in a blink of a eye. From this
you will see how I have let go of grudges and have opened my life up. This will be continued....
forward
Mariah on her Birthday!
Mariah at her Soccer game!
Olivia driving the Barbie Jeep!
Mariah and Olivia on the beach!
My Grandma and I!
On New Year's Eve to ring in the new year we had my family over for the night. It was so much fun as we played games and ate some good food. I got a call from my best friend as she got engaged that night. I just knew this year would be great as we were off to such a great start.
Mariah turned five in March and we had her party at Chucky Cheese. Hopefully she won't want to do that again. She had a blast, which is what matter's most. But I just felt like it was so busy and everyone was everywhere that it wasn't like we were used to. I like having the parties at home, where I decorate and play games to match the theme. In March also my Mom turned sixty and my niece turned twenty. It was filled with birthday's of milestone's. Ryan and I were also very honored to be God parent's to sweet little Finn who was born in March.
The spring time was spent with Mariah playing soccer and Ryan the assistant coach. We had practices every Wednesday and games Saturday morning. It was fun watching four and five year old's get in there and learn how to play the game. Summer was approaching so we started planning our summer with concert's,Coney Island pass,a trip to Marco Island Florida with our family and Corrie's wedding in North Carolina. I just couldn't wait for summer to start.
June started off great with celebrating Ryan's birthday. I enrolled the girls in swimming lesson's at Coney four day's a week. They loved it and got a little more comfortable with being in the water and going under. Mariah even jumped off the diving board and Olivia would go under the water!! Ryan and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary. Then it all changed...
June 28 was a pretty day. After dinner Ryan and I were doing yard work and the girls were playing with the neighbor kids. Ryan gets a call from my sister that my grandma was going to the hospital and was unresponsive. My heart about fell out of my chest. My mother n law meet's us and get's my girls and the family rush's down to the hospital in Georgetown,KY. They used the paddles and brought her back and was on the ventilator in icu. All the family was by her side as they didn't think she would make it through the night. Well Grandma as very strong woman that she is held on for weeks. She got out of icu and in a regular room where she was off the ventilator and talking some. I got to look in her eye and tell her I loved her and she told me it back. From then she went to hospice. I spent July going down to the hospital in Lexington and being with her as I knew it was just a matter of time. We had our vacation planned for Florida when this was going on. It was one of the hardest decisions but we went ahead and flew down and tried to have a vacation. We ended up and flew back early cause she was getting worse.
It was the week of Corrie's wedding. Grandma was the same so we went on down to North Carolina for it. I was the Matron of Honer and Mariah was the flower girl. We were driving down the application highway early in the morning and it was just so beautiful and peaceful. I looked at Ryan and said "I wish Grandma would go have peace like this". The girls were waiting patiently to get to NC. We finally saw the sign and we get a call from my sister that Grandma is taking the turn for the worse and it will be just a matter of time. An hour later Grandma left us and went to heaven. As much as I wanted her to have peace, my heart just shattered.We attended Corrie's beautiful wedding and woke up early to go back to the layout. It wasn't a few weeks later we got a call that Ryan's cousin had passed away. We headed down to Atlanta to say goodbye to another precious family member.
Ryan traveled to New York and Vegas in August. I had just been in a funk. My birthday came around and I just wanted to do nothing really. Birthday's I love to go and celebrate and hang out with family and friends. I just remembered last year I was so excited that when I went down to visit Grandma she was doing good and looked like herself. I was born on my older sister's birthday and she turned forty. I knew that I wanted to through her a surprise party at my house luau theme. It turned out great! She was surprised and the family for the first time this summer relaxed, laughed and had a good time.
The summer has finally ended and it's Fall. Thank goodness this year is almost over with. With all of this my faith as grew stronger and I have learned a few lessons this summer. Life is so short to sit back and not open yourself up. It can be taken in a blink of a eye. From this
you will see how I have let go of grudges and have opened my life up. This will be continued....
forward
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)