From the Mouths of Babes

My son said something to me yesterday that was so wise beyond his years and yet so simple that only a child could think of it that it brought me to tears. He is 12. He's at the age where he's struggling between hanging onto being a little boy and becoming an adolescent (bleh). He's very sweet, loves fiercely, and takes everything to heart. (He gets it from his mom along with splotching when we cry...sorry buddy.)

We've talked a lot this week about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. I allowed him to watch some of the news stories with me and I answered the questions that I could. We both cried looking at the photos and reading about the lives of the little boys and girls who were killed. He was particularly touched by the little boy named Noah as they share the same name. I think that with his age and the fact that he's in middle school with bigger kids (which terrifies me), it's important that he know about what's going on in the world around him. I obviously don't tell him the gory details of many things, but I want him to be educated and aware.

Yesterday we watched some of the coverage of the memorial services for the victims. Noah asked me afterward what I would do if something ever happened to him or to his sister. Instantly, my breath caught in my throat and I felt that panic that every parent feels at the mere thought. It's impossible to describe the love a parent has for a child to someone who isn't a parent but I told him the best version of the truth that I could, "Noah, if I ever lost you and Peyton, I'd probably want to curl into a ball and stay there forever." And I would. I cannot imagine my life without my babies...not even on their worst days (and there have been a LOT of those along the way). He seemed to accept that answer (thankfully...typically he asks more than his fair share of questions), I hugged him, and we moved on to talk about an episode of The Regular Show that he saw. Lol.

A little later, while we were out running errands, I made the comment that I wished we had snow instead of all of this rainy, dreary weather. Noah thought for a few seconds and then said, "Mom. Maybe all of this rain is God's way of telling us how sad he is that all of those kids died. It wouldn't really be fair if we all had a perfect, snowy Christmas while they get no Christmas at all. They may be in Heaven now, but their moms and dads are still here and really sad." Touche son, well said. While I'm grumbling about the crappy weather, those mothers and fathers are without their children. They won't get to hear the giggles as they watch The Grinch, Rudolph, or Charlie Brown. There won't be any plates of cookies and glasses of milk for Santa. They won't get to watch the joy on those little faces and squeals of delight as they open their gifts. Those adorable new Christmas dresses and suits chosen for the holiday church services will now be worn for a different service or not at all.

Thank you Noah for reminding me how caught up we can all get in the little, petty things this time of year. We don't need to dream of a white Christmas. This year, we are among the blessed to be spending the holidays together.

Photo Card

Funky Snowflakes Holiday

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Happy Birthday Noahbear!

Today marks my 12th year of motherhood. Even as I type this, I sit in total disbelief. Next year, I will have a teenager?! How is this possible? I used to read posts by moms in this position and think   how sappy they were with all of their comments about "time flying by." Now I AM one of those moms. Last night it was my turn to sit and look through old photos with tears in my eyes and wonder where the time had gone. How was I one day sending him off to Kindergarten and (seemingly) the next day he was starting Middle School?! Before I know it, he will be a Freshman and after that (OMG) graduation and college...I thought that the knowledge that I have another little one to enjoy these milestones with would soften the blow, but it only made it worse. Those thoughts led me to looking at Peyton's newborn pics and my sadness only snowballed. She's already three! She'll be the one starting school in just a few short years. *SIGH* After my blubber fest, I have decided to make a greater effort to spend more time really being with my kids. It's too easy these days to get caught up in our internet, electronics, and other distractions. Not just us parents but kids too. Less Facebook, Youtube, and Nintendo 3DS and more snuggles, family movie nights, playing games, and reading together, etc. These are the years for making memories.  These are the days that they will look back on someday with fondness in their hearts...as will I. 

Happy 12th Birthday NoahBear! Thank you for coming into my life and teaching me how to love someone more than I loved myself. To love so deeply that it hurts. Challenging though you may be (and God knows you definitely CAN be...lol), you and Peyton are the reasons my heart beats each day. <3 Thank you for letting me be your mommy.

Fabkids

Hey all! If you have a little lady who loves clothes like mine does, you should totally check out FabKids! If you use the link below, your first 3 piece outfit will be $25 shipped to your door. The quality is fantastic and the outfits are super cute. They carry sizes 2-8. There is no minimum to buy. You can cancel after your first shipment or you can continue your membership. If you choose to continue, you will be contacted each month with a suggested outfit selection. You may choose to receive that outfit or a totally different one from the collection. You may also elect to not receive a shipment for that month at all. We've received two so far and really enjoyed them box (as you can tell by the photos below). I have found their online customer service to be EXCELLENT. I haven't had to even try to contact customer service via phone, but I'm sure they are just as helpful. If you happen to receive an item that does not fit or isn't to your liking, you can return it to them at their cost. The company was started by actress Christina Applegate (Married With Children, etc) and has been featured on several media outlets. Also, for the month of October, they are donating 10% of the purchase price of certain pink outfits to breast cancer research. Cute clothes and a worthy cause? 

Just click my referral link below. You save and so do I. ;)
https://www.fabkids.com/join/pebevpphmh93rmgx

Little Miss declared to me today that she would like a My Little Pony birthday party this year. *GASP* Be still my heart. The first year that she actually requested a specific theme and it's something as marvelously girly as My Little Pony? Added score...something from MY childhood. My very own 5th birthday party was My Little Pony themed. YAY. After years of Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Hotwheels with my younger brothers, cousins, and Noah...I finally get to delve into the world of rainbows and unicorns. <3 After Peyton's request for a pony party, I started looking up some party and cake ideas. I was getting more and more excited as I pinned ideas to my Pinterest. I had gotten so into my planning that I had almost talked myself into attempting a cake on my own..UNTIL I stumbled upon the cake above. See it? The rubber duck/seahorse/pony looking thing? Totally brought me back to reality and made me realize a few things: 

1. I am not naturally artsy. Painting, drawing, and sculpting do not come naturally to me.

2. I am not a cake decorator. My icing is almost always unevenly spread and never perfect on even the most basic of cakes.

3. I'd rather leave the cake making to the professionals than have my friends and family laugh at (and my child be embarrassed by) photos of the rubber duck/pony/seashorse cake I made for years to come. 

Sooo...that being said. I think I'll stick with handling the party location, activities, decor, and goodie bags. :) My kids will thank me for it later. 

Goodbye Elementary School

Today my little boy completed his last day of elementary school. I am officially the mother of of a middle schooler. How is that possible??? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was dropping him off for his first day of Kindergarten?!  I blinked and here we are...The years truly have flown by.

 First Day of Kindergarten

 Last Day of Elementary School (with Mrs.Patton)

I can't express how proud I am of my guy. He's come a long, long way over the last 6 years. Some years were really rough and a few times I worried that he might not make it through, but he kept plugging right along. Today he got to read a speech at his graduation ceremony in front of everyone. I would have been scared to death, but not my Noah. He stepped right up to that podium and rocked that speech. He sounded so grown up...*Sigh* 

Wittlebee Fun!

I mentioned Wittlebee boxes in the previous post. I wanted to explain what Wittlebee is and show some of the super cute items that we've received from them over the last several months. Wittlebee is a monthly clothing subscription from which you get 6 brand new items from a variety of brands for $39.99 shipped straight to your door in a neat little package. If you sign up through this link http://curebit.com/x/4L1Wl , you can save $10 off of your first order. :) Upon joining, you will receive a referral link of your own to post on your Facebook page or email to friends, etc. For every friend who joins your referral link, you will receive $10 credit towards a future box up to a total of $100. (The customer also receives $10 off of their first order for using your referral link.) They currently carry sizes 0-3 mo up to 5t. I am really hopeful that in the future they'll begin stocking bigger kids so Noah can get a few boxes too, but for now, it's just the "wittle" ones. ;)