The love dare

So Nate starts reading this book we got for Christmas called "The Love Dare" (the movie Fireproof was about it). The book is supposed to refocus your attention on your love one and teach you to put them first, do nice things for them, fall in love again, etc. Well, Nate reads the book out loud while I'm about to fall asleep the past two nights; each night you read one page and it is very short. Last night he read that the challenge for the next day was to do something unexpected and kind for your spouse. I get all giddy and wake out of my slumber; I start telling him how I know what I'm going to do for him but I won't tell him of course (I don't think the book was quite designed for us to do it this way). So I fall asleep for a few short hours to be awakened twice during the night by a hungry, chubby cheeked baby. When 6:30am yells at me I fall out of bed, shuffle into the kitchen, muttering hellos to my perky children, who are eating breakfast fixed as always by their daddy and I begin making lunch. Now let me tell you the night before secret...I was going to make lunch for Nate to take to work (which I never do and he eats like an apple for a meal and then comes home starving). But in my haziness I forget the LOVE DARE for the day and send my husband and oldest offspring out the door. After dropping off Ian at school I realize the forgotten 'unexpected act of kindness' and in usual Sarah fashion call Nate to give myself up. He then suggests I could make him lunch and bring it to him at 10:30 that morning where I quickly state, "I don't think so." I'm so into this book already can you tell?
The best part....at 1:00 today I hear the front door opening (it was hard to hear though b/c I had hard rock music blaring out the radio in the kitchen while I washed dishes and watched our young one absorbing the harsh language) and in walks Nate. You know what he was doing? He came home early b/c he knew I wasn't feeling good (another story) and he was going to pull the long car pool duty this afternoon, getting all the boys from school. I looked at him, a little embarrassed that he caught me in a bad mothering moment (you know I usually play classical music for our little child) and said "is this your unexpected act of kindness?" He just smiled.

Overcoming a fear

Don't laugh at me or roll your eyes...but, I overcame a huge fear today. Ever since I had Elizabeth (well almost 3 months ago) I've had this fear of taking her shopping by myself. When I say by myself I mean not meeting a friend somewhere or without my husband. I've done that lots but not anywhere by myself where I have the sole responsibility of caring for this young one in public with all eyes and ears to witness. So, I've done my shopping at night time or when family is watching her. But the cards were stacked against me today. We needed groceries something fierce and I really didn't care to trust my husband to the job, although he OFTEN gets groceries for us. The thing when your husband does it is he can't read your mind. I can give him the list and he does great, adding a few things to his liking but I JUST KNOWWWWW WHAT WE NEED by walking down those Kroger aisles and sometimes forget to add them to the list. So, today it is not too cold and I'm doing absolutely nothing of importance. I have no reason not to go, right? I have worked myself up so much about this with flashbacks of my baby years long ago with both boys in the grocery store and the baby screaming his head off and there is NOTHING you can do b/c you can't carry a head wobbling baby, push a cart and get your groceries. And for some reason fellow grocery store shoppers never seem very kind with their glares as you stroll down the frozen section - screaming baby in tow.
But I did it. I honestly prayed a whole lot before I got in the van, while I was driving and when I got there. I called Nate to let him know just how brave and insane I was at the moment. And I gave a big ol' pep talk to sister girl. SHE DID GREAT. She laughed and smiled at me for awhile then she went off to sleep (as long as I kept that cart moving back and forth) and didn't wake up until I checked out, in which she just looked around. I even made it home and put up groceries before she decided to have the biggest poop ever! =) I love that baby!

What does this momma do on a cold day?

Too cold for school??? PLEASE........ Thanks to a sweet friend who knew I was way disappointed in not getting to go to my one social activity (MOPS -Mothers Of Preschoolers) today b/c school was closed due to COLDNESS, she suggested we brave the weather and get our 100 kids out together. So at 10:00am 3 mommas and 9 kids along with 1 baby enter the Smyrna bowling alley. Let me just say how great that place is if anyone ever wants to take their kids there. First of all, if it is a day schools are closed they only charge $1.00 per kid for the first game and they donate it to the local library or schools? How awesome is that? And the manager was so patient with us and our little army of munchkins. He didn't even complain when he had to fix our lane numerous times from a crazy ball attack on the drop down thingy (my bowling terminology is lacking). And after that if we weren't crazy enough (one mom said we were birth control for the bowling alley that day) we then went to Toots where all the kids ate free b/c of a very smart momma who printed coloring pages from their website! And believe it or not all 10 kids did beautifully in the restaurant (after many threats and bribes from each mom in her perspective mini-van prior to entering the eatery). Too cold for the schools but not for us mommas! (Besides we have to find some way to stay sane with all these kids right?)

I hate technology

Well, I do appreciate technology but lately I realize that my life is too dependent (rather too easy with it) on all the appliances in my house. Why do I realize this? Because everything is falling apart. Our dishwasher has not been working right for over 2 months and good ol' Frankie has been to our kitchen three times in the past few weeks to replace our motor that is supposedly not working each time! What else? Our lovely computer that we bought in June and that I have become very addicted to since I can watch t.v. on its big old flat screen while I cook/eat during the day has crashed now for the SECOND TIME. Yes, did you even know that was possible. We even had the geek squad come and fix it the first time (yes, we lost some stuff but note to everyone GET AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE - it saved all our pictures and finances!) but after that it crashed again! Mr. Eric came back today for the second time to try and fix our computer but even he couldn't do it. So now we wait for Sony to mail us a box (a box??? they should drive over right now and pick this thing up and just give us a new one) for us to mail to them to fix! I've had it with these people. And then today....we got over 20,000 e-mails from the same person b/c of a bug in Comcast's system. Even their techies couldn't figure it out but still we can't get rid of them. So I now can't access our e-mail! At least my t.v. works in the living room and Nate's lap top works! And yes, my hands do work to clean dishes -
All this complaining to say I've never realized the depth of my love/hate relationship with TECHNOLOGY!

What was the view from today's Mini-van ride?

Well...after being awoken by our 7 year old at 7:05am and rushing around the house to get everyone dressed, breakfast ready to eat in the van, backpacks on and hair brushed there was no time for lunch boxes to be prepared (no, I'm not one of those 'got it together' moms who make lunch the night before - although I did that one night and it was great the next morning...go figure). What does my again 7 year old do? BREAKDOWN!! He's never eaten cafeteria lunch before, although his 5 year old brother does ALL THE TIME. Why was he upset? Because he ALWAYS sits in the same seat by a buddy of his who also brings his lunch box and if you get a tray then you have to sit at another table and then they can't sit together. I was not in the sympathetic mood this morning and wanted to look at him and say TOUGH simply b/c he was acting like a twit to me. I tried to solve the problem by telling him to ask his buddy to save him a seat (I've seen other 'tray' kids sit at their table)..."NO, Mom! You aren't supposed to do that!" Well...Eli, ask him to walk in line with you and eat at the other table. "NO, Mom! He won't do that b/c we always sit in those seats!" Who made this first born such a rule follower??? Needless to say, he walked out of the house with his hood over his head, a pouty face - swollen already from hysterical crying! I'm such a bad mom! I asked Nate how the van ride to school was? He said it got better right before Eli got out at school......I'm sure he'll be a bright ray of sunshine for Mrs. Cliche!

A preschool soap box

Watch out I'm about to jump on a soapbox...why is it moms these days (including myself at one time) think that preschool should be the new elementary school? Starting in the 2 year old class we think they should getting prepared for kindergarten. So, when they are in the 3 year old class moms think "my child already knows his letters he should be challenged more." Then when they are in the 4 year old class my goodness they should be learning to read and write; that way they can test in those Kindergarten classes at the advanced schools where they are writing essays in Kindergarten. Play time --- overrated...Free art --- everything has to look cute and professional or we throw it in the trash as unworthy to keep. I felt this underlying current when I taught 2 year old preschool as well as the fact that I promoted it I'm sure. What did those kids want to do? Really, just free play, dress up, scribble with a paint brush, run, scream and have fun. But we mothers say "well I'm paying for you to teach my kid something so SHOW ME what they learned today. Really, they are learning just by playing and having fun. Do we not realize that they have to learn all that letter stuff and writing stuff over again when they are 5 and actually at the real kindergarten? How bored they are now b/c we taught them to read when they were 3! Now, I'm just as guilty of this. But I realize how absurd it is recently after hearing moms talk about preschool and finding the right one and what they learn, etc. Do we not realize most preschools are filled with teachers just like I was...mom wanting some extra money who stay at home but also have a love for small children (and are a little insane). So, if your kid is a trouble maker - give the teacher a break. It's not her fault. If your 3 year old isn't learning to read yet - give the teacher a break....Let him/her watch Sesame Street more often! Trust me...they'll learn it all in Kindergarten! That is what it was designed for!

The 5K challenge

I've been dying to get back on this blog...after a semi-dramatic Christmas, some traveling, a crashed computer, the stomach bug, a leaky dishwasher & getting to know the dishwasher repair man very well (he's been here three times now), now getting to know the Home-Depot man as he is going to tare up our already new kitchen floor...I think I can settle down at the computer again.
So, what's the 5K challenge --- this is a SHOUT OUT to all my girlfriends out there who have said "I want to get in shape this New Years" and WHO AREN'T ALREADY RUNNERS (although if you are a marathon runner I guess I won't hold it against you...I just might have to talk about you behind your back out of jealousy) hee hee. I want to challenge myself, post pregnant body and all, to get into shape but to do something fun and new at the same time. I want to run a 5K this Spring. Why? Well, I did it last Fall for the first time and it really changed my perspective on what my body could do. All my life I've used the excuse "I can't run...my body just can't do it." Well...that is bologna! I've found out that ANYONE can run (unless you are hurt) and I have a personal fitness trainer I've met that can back that up with proof! I'm rambling....well it took me a couple of months to train my body to run (really I just jogged quickly) and I made it through the 5K with breaths to spare. It was hard work and I did almost hit my husband when he looked at me (he was my partner and cheerleader) and asked, "Sarah, do you think you could speed up the pace just a little?" (old women were passing us)!!!! But I made it and then sadly I never ran again because I got pregnant and lazy!
But it is a new year and I want TO TAKE BACK MY BODY. Everyone gets a piece of us women: our babies, our toddlers, our older kids, our HUSBANDS, we try to impress strangers at Wal-mart by not looking like bag ladies when we go out, the other school moms, other women at church, DEAR GOD WHAT ABOUT US? I want to be happy with my body and do something to challenge it! So...I want to run a 5K again but do it with my girlfriends who don't run!
Let me know if you are interested...I'm looking for a Spring race so it isn't too cold our lungs freeze and so we have plenty of time to get in shape. Note: there are some girlfriends already trying this running thing out so you better get on board fast!
Run...Walk...Run...Walk...that's the way to do this thing! And find a buddy to do it with! That always helps. Let me know if you have a race you've heard of. I'm sure there are 1,000s out there. Happy New Year - and HAPPY RUNNING!