Trip to the Lake

So last weekend DH went on a men's retreat with our church.Its an annual thing (the ladies have theres in September).But I decided I didn't feel like staying home alone.I probably would have gone off the deep end.So I stayed the weekend at my dad's house (he was gone too)and spent time hanging out with my sisters.It was great.On the Friday we went to Peter's for supper.I know I know not exactly the healthiest meal in the world but it was good.Then we rented a couple of movies.Actual movies that were not of the animated kind,movies that had real people and interesting story lines.Whoo hoo!We watched "The secret life of Bees".Interesting but not a totally memorable one that I would just have to watch over and over again.Then on Saturday I felt the need for a road trip so we packed up the girls and headed to Brooks to go visit the Lake.I haven't been there in years.Its funny though,I spent a good portion of my childhood out there.Camping, picnicing and swimming, yet when I went there I felt like a stranger.I guess I have finally been "citified" and Brooks has lost its hold on me.I have no desire be there anymore.I am quite happy to be where I am small town feel close to the city.

Pumpkin loved the sand and the water but Monkey spent the whole time screeching and crying because bugs were touching her!It was still too cold for swimming but monkey insisted on having her "suit" on and her "balloon".I tried to tell her, but being three, the ears weren't exactly tuned in.So I did as she asked and she put her "balloon" on the edge of the water and them promptly complained "its cold!"*SIGH*.That was the end of that.She didn't start enjoying herself until we went and played at the park.We had to have ice cream.It wouldn't be the lake if we didn't have that.So $8.50 later we were enjoying a sweet treat.Then just before we were ready to go we had a rowsing game of "chase the gopher".

So it was back on the road again,singin' to jukebox music from the 50's and 60's and feeling fine.DS didn't think it would be such a good idea to roll down the windows and stick our heads out like they do in the movies .Party pooper! LOL! We finished the day off by watching the other movie we rented "Seven Pounds" (sad,but I really liked it).It was a great weekend.Just too bad it had to end.

New look yet again

Yes I changed my blog again.I kind of got tired of waiting for DH to help me get the comment thing working on my other one so I decided to come back to what I know will work!

Dancing to the beat of a different drummer

Motherhood seems to have challenges coming at you from all different directions and with so much "information" out there I find it so difficult to know which way to turn.You see,( I don't think of it as a problem), but it sure is a challenge....My "monkey" is very different in temperament and interests than you would expect from a little girl her age.She is not really a "girly-girl" but neither is she a "tom-boy".She has never really had interest in toys not even when she was a baby.She has some imagination but it is very limited.And I constantly struggle to find things that interest her.She loves puzzles.In fact I just recently upgraded her to 64 piece puzzles to keep her entertained.She completed her first 24 piece puzzle shortly after she turned two.She likes to paint but not so much coloring or crafts. She can hold a pencil or marker with great skill and print letters and numbers following the dotted lines. I have even started printing mazes off of the INTERNET and she has taken quite a liking to them.These are not the very very easy ones either.She does very well at them.

Please do not misread this as a "my child is better than your child".Its just I find this extremely difficult because she is every thing I am not.She is mathematically inclined,logical and loves to do what ever daddy is doing. I am more artistically inclined and I spent most of my childhood pretending and making up stories.Her interests are not mine and vice-versa.When I have conversations with others and I mention the fact that she is great with numbers but she has some difficulty with letters so I feel that she may be a little slower at learning to read, they just look at me with this strange look and say "she's only three!??"As if I am one of those freakish, overbearing mothers who wants her child to be a prodigy and graduate college at the age of ten.This is not my goal at all.My only goal is to try and take her where her interests lead.But there is so much advice out there and everybody has there own opinions about what is the best method .I often wonder am I trying too hard or am I not challenging her enough???

You never think (or at least I never did) you have expectations about who your child should be. But I am learning very quickly that I DO have them and sometimes I feel disappointed.Am I a terrible mom?I sure feel like it because now I tend to gravitate towards my "pumpkin" because she does enjoy toys and dolls and digging in the dirt with me.Its just so easy to slip into what comes naturally.But it is quickly followed by this overwhelming sense of guilt that I am picking favorites.*sigh* I wish my mom was here.I sure could use some motherly advice and perspective right about now.
But if anyone has any brilliant ideas of what I can do to keep her occupied I would love to hear them! (You will have to e-mail them to me because my comment thing is still not working)

Happy Anniversary

Wow has it been six years already?I can hardly believe it.Sometimes it feels like only yesterday and other times it feels as if we have been together forever (in a good way).Our special day will be quiet except for the fact that its also Mothers day.There won't be expensive gifts, elaborate five course meals or dancing until dawn .But you know what? Thats ok with me because that is just not who we are.We are hoping just to have dinner out in a place we enjoy with out two small children in tow and finish the evening with a movie.A movie at a real theater with actual popcorn and everything. Oh yes and don't forget the licorice.What is a move with out licorice.(Even if DH keeps reminding me that twizzlers are not real licorice) I can't even remember the last movie I saw.Actually if I remember correctly it was sometime last year!

So here is to many more happily ever afters........

Like mother like daughter

Its funny how I have never really taken the time to pay attention to how much my "little monkey" actually looks like me. Ever since she was born everyone has said how much she looks like DH.I can't disagree, because she does,I even said so the moment she was born.Then there is my "little pumpkin" she doesn't look like either one of us.She looks the most like my mom.Which in its self isn't a bad thing. Its just sometimes you hope to see something of yourself in this little person that you "created".

So I must admit , it was kind of cool when I came across a recent picture of my "monkey" and saw a striking resemblance to a picture of me when I was about her age.It gave me a sense of satisfaction to see a little bit of me in her.Like mother like daughter.

Oh, by the wayMrs.twomittens, that is you!