2014: page thirty-three

 

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

Aaaaah! I could hardly contain my excitement and my nerves! The Broncos played in the Super Bowl today! It's only been the last 12 years that I have been a Broncos fan, which means my team has never played in the Super Bowl. I've always enjoyed watching the Super Bowl, but it's never really meant anything to me (well, except to see the Patriots lose when they are in it. Ha!). Not this year!

We hosted the family Super Bowl party, which means that we were busy most of the afternoon cleaning up a little and cooking, etc. That also means we didn't have too much time to sit around and let our nerves get the best of us.

Well......

Then the game started. And it was ugly from the very beginning. The Broncos could never really get going against the Seahawks defense.

Sigh.

Oh well. What a great season they had leading up to the Super Bowl. Just wish they could have made a better game of it. I really did not expect the game to go that way at all.

As every sports fan says, "There's always next year!" :)

2014: page thirty-two

A much needed down day today. Ryan took most of the responsibility of taking care of B today, hauling her with him on all of his errands, while I did a little cleaning and organizing around the house (at a leisurely pace :)).

The two of them headed out on an ice fishing excursion, however, B fell asleep on the way out and took a good long nap of almost two hours in the truck. Apparently, it was a bit windy and chilly anyway, so ice fishing didn't happen. Maybe next Saturday. :)

I eventually decided to get out of the house for a minute with a quick trip to Family Dollar to get some plastic bins to help organize B's toys. Ryan thinks it's impossible, but I am determined to prove to him that toy organization can happen, even if it isn't perfect. Ha!

That about sums up our leisurely Saturday. The quiet before the storm of Super Bowl Sunday! Go Broncos!

2014: page thirty-one

The last day of the first month of the year. Man, it's flying by.

B found daddy's harmonica. :)



I got her umbrella out for the first time and she loved it. She had to put on some butterfly wings and headbands to go along with it.

2014: page thirty

Let's just say that today was a get-back-on-track day.

B and I have fallen into a bad habit. A this-is-the-easiest-way-to-mom habit.

TV.

If someone would have told me before B was born that I would let my child watch TV before she was 2 years old, I would have said, "No way. Don't you know kids that young aren't supposed to watch TV?"

Well.... real life happens. And B really, really likes TV. How easy it was to slip into a habit of watching more and more as time went by. First, it was Dora. Now, it's every show on Nick Jr. At first, it was just one or two per day. Then gradually she started asking for it more often and before I knew it, it was quite often throughout the day. Truthfully, it bothered me, but I could get so much more done in the day. So, I just let it go.

Finally, today, I decided that it's not how I want to parent B and while I don't think a little TV is bad (she's actually learned quite a bit), I don't want to let it be a babysitter or do it just because it's easier. I want to "plan" our days better with more assorted activities. Besides, the days that she watches more TV, the whinier she is.

Before the day started, I was a little nervous about how it would go, how rough of a day it would be. Happily, I can say it went well. Most of the time, she responded well after she would ask for a TV show (which was quite often) and I would tell her no and suggest another activity. We played a lot in her bedroom today and it was a lot of fun!

When Ryan got home, we were going to take a birthday present to his sister. (I am trying something new this year...getting people's presents to them on their birthday. :)) We stopped by her house, but her car wasn't there, so we decided to grab some dinner and try again later. After a mostly successful eating out experience with an almost two year old, we headed back to her house. Unfortunately, she had just left for a dinner date with her boyfriend, but we hung out with her kids for a little bit before heading home.

I am thankful for a great day while changing things up in our household.

2014: page twenty-nine

Today, oh, today. Today was not the greatest day. I struggled and did not handle today very well. A lot of ugliness in my heart came out. Selfishness, impatience, I could go on. Thankfully, I am covered by the grace of God! 

B, right from the get go this morning, was whiney and grumpy. I'm not really sure why, but I guess everyone has those day. So, I was glad that her auntie was going to watch her for a while this morning. :)

I took B over to her auntie's house later in the morning and enjoyed a trip to a couple of stores before heading home to continue tackling our guest room. Pulling out all the stuff that didn't belong (boxes, helium tank, box fans, a ladder), I was ready to hit the closet. Deciding which backpacks to keep and which to give away, stacking the suitcases inside of each other to make space on the floor, I was really in my groove.

The phone rang. The ugliness started. The auntie who had B was on the other end. Her 3 year old had fallen and hit her head leaving a big gash and a trip to the doctor was in order. While I was saddened that her little girl was hurt, my selfish heart was upset that my time to myself was over. No more progress would be made on what I had wanted to get done. I know. Poor me. Get over it.

Along with picking up B, I would also be picking up two five year olds. I need to learn to be more flexible and go with the flow. My quiet morning/early afternoon was ending.

Ever since B's fall while playing with cousins that resulted in a trip to the ER, I can't relax when other children are over playing. Yet, I know that I can't sit there and watch them the entire time they are playing.

Mom of an only child.

Trust Jesus.

After I got off the phone, I literally said to myself "don't cry, don't cry." It's just where I was at in that moment. I didn't cry. I composed myself and realized that I would have to put everything back in the room that I had stacked in the hall in order for the house to be kid friendly again. So, quickly, I did and hopped in the truck to go grab the kids. I said a prayer on the way over that I would let go of myself and be open to whatever came my way.

Let the stress begin.

The five year olds right off the bat tried to sneak to the basement which is a work zone and has nothing to offer kids. They knew better. Oh well. Up to B's room they went to play. Actually, for the most part they did great. They really did. Having fun playing and getting along well for the most part, I can't complain.

It's just me.

I don't handle chaos very well and it felt chaotic to me. And people wonder why I only want one child. :)

Deciding to let them be kids and play up there, I headed downstairs. After a bit, I decided it would be best to check in. Well, one look up the stairs revealed the bathroom door had been left open and B was in there. At the toilet. Seat up. Water everywhere. Splashing a baby in the toilet. Yuck! Then sucking on said baby. I almost gagged. I was mortified. Ugh! Cardigan off and gross toilet baby taken away. Door closed and we moved on. Still disgusted by it all.

Shortly thereafter, auntie came to pick up the kids and thankfully her baby girl didn't need stitches, just some glue. We hung out for a while and then it was time for them to go home and for B to take a nap.

For some reason this day just seemed to drag on and last forever. Seeing Ryan walk in the door was refreshing and uplifting for my soul. I love that man! Taking the cue that I needed a break, he grabbed B and the dogs and went for a walk. Aaah.

Then, we all hopped in the truck and went for a drive up to Neola to look at some land we may have the opportunity to buy. Living in Neola is something Ryan has talked about since the day we met. Being able to get some land up there now would be great so we can eventually build a house there. :)

My evening ended by going to Bible study at church, which is always great to be able to turn my focus off of me and to my God. Jesus is my Rock and I talked to Him a lot today through all my struggles. Without Him, my reactions would have probably been worse and I may have completely lost it a time or two. How amazing it is to me that I have a God who is personal, wants a relationship with me and who I can turn to in my rough moments (as well as my good).

I didn't like writing this page. Writing about this day. But here it is. I made it through and tomorrow is a NEW DAY! Thank you, Jesus!

2014: page twenty-eight

Well, Glenwood Springs didn't happen either. Seriously, I don't need more reasons to dislike the snow. Oh well, such is life and a part of me was prepared for this to happen, because, after all, it is still winter. Ryan still went for work, but just for one night as the snow is supposed to start tomorrow afternoon. I think we might try for next week. Fingers crossed for there to be a few snow free days so that we can make the drive.

B's cousin, Aryka, came over and watched/played with her for a couple hours after school. The two of them had a blast together and I made significant progress in tackling the mess in our guest room. B was happy and I was happy. I'll call that a win-win situation right there. :)

After B went to bed, I painted some shelves to put in her room and just relaxed. I enjoy a little time to myself every now and again, but I do hate going to bed by myself. I miss my hubby!

2014: page twenty-seven

I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little bit bummed. We were supposed to drive to Denver today for the week, but the weather has a different idea. Too big of a chance of bad weather through the mountains both today and on Friday when we were going to come home.

Seeing a couple of good friends that I hadn't seen for quite a few years was going to be the highlight and is the biggest reason that I am sad. Although, I was also looking forward to the shopping and yummy food, as well as, swimming in the hotel pool for those few days. Hopefully, we will be able to make the trip soon.

The silver lining is that we will still get to take a shorter 2 day trip to Glenwood Springs leaving tomorrow, which will be fun as there will still be shopping at Target, yummy food and the hotel swimming pool. I'll take it.

So, for today, we hung out at home. Since we weren't going to go anywhere today, B picked out what she wanted to wear. Usually on days like this she opts for just a diaper. :) Today, however, she picked out a few things to wear as she would see something she wanted to put on.

First, she started with shoes (she had socks on already) that she saw and liked, which turned out to be a pair of tennis shoes that are at least one size, if not two sizes, too big.

A little bit later, she saw her "Broncos" shirt hanging in her closet and insisted on wearing that. This is the Peyton Manning jersey Ryan and I bought for her on our trip this past fall that is a couple sizes too big so she can wear it for a couple of seasons. :) On went the shirt.

Then she wanted the pink "jacket" (hoody).

And while she won't wear head bands anymore, if she sees her Broncos one she will and must put it on...herself.

We never did end up with any pants. Oh well.

It was quite the outfit which you can see below. :)
  

2014: page twenty-six

The following conversation occurred this evening with B. She was all ready to go with her star sunglasses on and carrying her purse (phone and keys inside).

B: Lella (Briella) work later.
Me: You're going to work later? Where do you work?
B: Castle
Me: What is your job? What do you do at the castle?
B: Princess!

Oh my! Too funny!

2014: page twenty-five

Picture-less today, but we had another fun day of ice fishing out at Pelican Lake with all B's cousins on Ryan's side plus Uncle Jeremy, Auntie Crystal, and Grandpa.

B even caught a fish, which nobody knew until someone reeled in her line after she put it down and walked away!

While the younger kids enjoy the fishing for a little while, really they are there just to be pulled on sleds behind the 4 wheeler. Ha ha! Oh and to play in the warm hut. Having an ice hut is great, so they have a place to warm up after playing in the cold and snow.

A great day outside!

2014: page twenty-four

I had the sweetest moments with B today. She grabbed a giant blanket and brought it to me asking me to wrap her in it like a baby, which I happily did and plopped her in my lap. We just sat there, the two of us snuggling while I rubbed her face and prayed over her. Rarely will she sit in my lap and just sit not talking or wanting something or wanting to watch a show or getting up to play. This lasted for a good 10 minutes and I soaked in every minute of it! What a blessed time!

Then, it was DATE NIGHT! Oh, how I look forward to date nights! Time to just be with my hubby. I am so thankful to Ryan's mom for offering out of the blue to watch B so we could have a date. She was missing B as it had been a while since she last saw her. So, this worked out for all of us. B had time with her grandpa and grandma and Ryan and I had time together to enjoy each other's company over a nice dinner. So refreshing!

I actually did my hair in preparation for our date! Usually, seven out of seven days my hair is pulled up. Ha!

My date! (I have to sneak pictures...lol)

Salmon over polenta fries in a divine spiced salmon tomato sauce and topped with a parmesan crisp. Yum! I had to take a pic because you don't see food like this around here very often. :)