Mother's Day

 It's an exhausting job isn't it, being a Mom?  We get up everyday and as sure as the sun will rise we care for our little ones.  We wake them gently and carefully because it is this one small step that sets the tone for the rest of the morning.  The difference between a getting to work on time with 3 happy faces and getting there late with a headache and tears hinges on this...on us.  We have so much more control than it seems.

It is hard to always remember that it is their best interest that we need to be mindful of.  They are watching us, our words, our body language, little sponges picking up all that we say and do.  You can be certain that even though they can never hear us when we want them to, it is exactly when we think they aren't paying attention that they decide to tune in. Selective hearing at it's finest.  There are so many things that they have to learn, and so much is through our actions as parents.  You know the saying, "Do as I say, Not as I do?" .  That doesn't work.  Sure you can teach them what is right and wrong, but if it is acceptable for you, why not them?  "Actions speak louder than words", now that one has a bit more impact.  

We do our best, I do my best. I want everything for my children, yet I want them to work for it. To appreciate it.  I want them to love and be loved and be in love.  I want them to happy, to have a reason to laugh and to embrace it. To be sensitive, caring and kind.  I want them to know they should never start a fight but by all means, they should defend themselves. I want them to be confident in who they are, no matter what. I want them to know how they feel and that they are justified for feeling that way.  To be able to cry when something goes wrong, and that it is always okay.  They should have a passion for something, for anything, just something that will always be dear to them.  I want them to try new things and give them a fair chance.  I hope that on most days something gives them butterflies in their stomach, something good is happening.  I want them to never be afraid to ask for help, to know they don't have to do it all on their own.  I want them to never worry about money, not because they have a lot but because they learned how to manage it, how to save.  I hope that they will always be kind to other children, no matter what.  I want them to be respectful of other peoples feelings and opinions and to keep an open mind.  I want them to smile and be silly and make believe forever. 

 Being a parent is a big job, you carry a heavy load but for the most part it is a heavy load of something absolutely positively wonderful.  If only half of my hopes sink into these two babes they will be well on their way.

I know Mother's Day is supposed to be about me, but really it is all about them.  Without them, I wouldn't be a mother.  And being a Mom, well that is really all I ever hoped I would be.

Dakota

Did I mention that I am not only a proud auntie, but a Godmother to boot?  How fantastic is that!  This is my niece Dakota Leigh and my sister Shyan.

A Horse is a Horse...Of Course of Course

I am just going to pretend that it hasn't been nearly 3 months since I posted.  I was busy! I have so much to say, so many photos to share.  I started this blog with the intent to use it as a living baby book for my children, to record the precious moments of their lives both good and bad.  But...life gets in the way of even the best of intentions.  All we can do is move forward right?  I can't look back because I'm not headed that way.

The 2012 Horse Expo was the weekend before last.  My mom goes EVERY year because well you know, horses are her thing.  When I was little I am pretty sure my sister and I went with her a few times but I am also pretty sure we didn't enjoy it as much as she did.  We were probably a pain in the butt to bring at all but she desperately wanted one of us to love horses as much as she does.  We both got a big FAIL.

This year when the Expo started she planned, as usual, to go alone and attend the events and seminars all 3 days.  My weekend was pretty free so I decided to take the kids for a couple of hours on Saturday to walk around and see the horses.  In my head I imagined lots of horses lined in stalls for viewing and petting, pleasant weather and few people wandering around.  Well I was wrong, oh so wrong.

It was cold and raining, gloomy and gross as we headed out the door.  My mom was already there and called to tell me that we didn't need to feel like we had to still go, it was okay to back out.  I am a girl of my word, as long as it is within my control.  I said I was going, told the kids we would see horses and darn it.  We were going!

On the way I stopped to get Caribou for my mom and I.  I thought it would be nice to have something warm on such a gloomy day.  I got our drinks and pulled onto the fairgrounds to look for a place to park near the coliseum.  I drove and drove, and drove and drove.  Who are these people?  Where do they come from!  The place was packed!  My mom called to see where we were and I tried to explain that I was parking very far away, that it may be awhile.

Finally I was able to park in a back lot at the end of a pothole filled gravel road. In the rain. With a stroller, 2 coffees and a tired 5 year old carrying an umbrella.  This was not a good mix of ingredients. We walked and walked.  Paige was near tears because she was cold and getting wet and didn't want to walk.  At her young age she is not yet skilled in umbrella etiquette and several passers by nearly lost an eyeball.  I had shoved twisted Kleenex sticks into the sip holes of each coffee cup in hopes of having something to show for my efforts but it wasn't much help.  

By the time we made it to the ticket counter I was soaked, the coffee was everywhere and the blanket I had covering Quinn in the stroller had fallen in a gravel puddle...and I drove over it. Oh, and it was raining even harder.  I stood looking at the people around me and at my poor kids and wondered what I was thinking.  Then I thought THIS BUILDS CHARACTER!  Things don't always go as you expect them to and you have to learn to roll with it.  My Mom taught my sister and I that.   Sometime you just have to pull out your warm Pepsi and banana and march on!  It is all about what you make of it, sometimes when you least expect it the best of things happen.

We limped through the crowd and made it to shelter, finally!  We found my Mom and everything was okay.  She had reserved the perfect spot for us with tables and everything for the kids to eat the packed lunched I brought (another lesson learned from my mom).  We watched a horse parade and a real wedding while we dried off.  We nursed our cold messy drinks and began to enjoy the day.  Everything got better from there, we got to spend the day with my mom, Paige and Quinn's grandma. And shared a little bit of her passion.

It was a really good day.