Thursday, May 30, 2013

Good Mom's have sticky floors???

I found a pin on Pinterest the other day that said "Good Mom's have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens and happy kids". Well, My floors are NEVER sticky, my kitchen is only messy when Ryan cooks in it, there's only laundry after a weekend trip or a shopping trip (guilty), never have a dirty oven-top at least-so does that mean my child isn't "happy"? And does this make me a "not good" Mom?

I've actually thought about this quote a lot, and I can't lie, for a while it bothered me. Why is that since I'm a "clean freak" my child isn't happy? Sometimes I think maybe the quote is right. I tend to get home from work and we usually eat as Ryan has made or is making dinner, we eat and then Ryan will play with Leah or now that we have a house she plays outside, while I sit inside and clean the kitchen. Then, I'll either throw in some laundry, clean the bathroom or sweep the floors. She then takes a bath and gets ready for bed. So it seems like I really don't spend much "time" with her after school.

I used to go in and see her during my lunch breaks at work, but now that I have a different break I don't get to do that-that will be changing next week as I get different hours and there for I will get that  break again. I felt like I was letting Leah's childhood slip by without my even noticing. That lady is my life, and it bugged me that I myself didn't think I was spending enough time with her.

On weekends, we get to be together more. We play outside, color or watch a show together in the mornings. Ryan and I each have our own day to get up with her in the mornings-I get up on Saturday's and Ryan on Sunday's-and it's just extra alone time we each get to spend with her.

But I worry that maybe I'm not spontaneous enough, and that I get too caught up in the things that don't really matter. Does it really matter that my floors are sticky? No, but do you want to walk barefoot on a sticky floor? My kid doesn't. Does it matter that my kitchen is a mess? No, but who wants to wake up to a dirty kitchen?? Nobody, that's who. And piles of laundry is just frustrating when you have something you want to wear and it's dirty day after day. Also, Leah only wears like 3 outfits so not doing laundry around here would mean Leah would go to school naked a lot. No, thanks! I feel like I can have all of these things done, and my child can still be happy-maybe even more happy than kids with a dirty house because who wants to live in a messy place??

So, today I thought I'd try and do something fun with Leah and not worry about cleaning or laundry. We got home from school and it was raining. It's pretty much rained everyday for the last week so she hasn't gotten to go outside and play much recently. I took her to go get the mail and decided that she and I should go play in the backyard any ways. "In the rain, Mom?" You bet child, in the rain. We ran around the yard, played in her water table and threw the water at each other. She got some play food and cups out and gave us both chocolate milk and candy. The smiles and laughs that I got from her were amazing, and something she'll remember for a long time-or at least until she falls asleep. We came inside and took a bath with bubbles and glow sticks. Then came a dinner of leftover pancakes, waffles and chocolate milk. Then Ryan, who had been out golfing, came home with a hot fudge sundae for her. Her night was perfect she said. I even managed to throw in some laundry, clean the kitchen and the floors after Ryan got home.

And what did Leah remember from this night? "Playing in the rain and throwing water at each other. She doesn't notice when I do laundry or clean, and she doesn't look it at it as a roadblock in her life, or something stuck between her and I. I think the people who write things like this are horrible multi taskers, are lazy, and probably don't sleep too well at night knowing their house is a mess. Me and my child? We are happy AND have a clean place to lay our heads every night.  

I have no pictures from tonight, as it was raining and Ryan wasn't home. But here are some pictures of an adorable, happy, 3 year old:)

 
Love,
Amy
 
 
 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Little Bro Brian Gets married

First off, I love my little Brother. I say "Little" and I laugh as I write that because he's not very little. He's not a giant or anything, maybe 5'10" or so, buff like a bouncer, and sweet as can be.

Brian has always had a special place in my heart, probably because we got into enough trouble together as kids over the years. There was that one time we were fighting over the Internet-90's kid problems-and he started to chase me around the house. I shut the door on him and he may or may not have, but definitely did, run though the middle of the door knocking down the middle section. The door stayed closed, except for the massive hole in the middle. We were sneaky, and we rigged the broken piece back in and made it so that when Jenn came home and opened the door the piece would come crashing out, making Jenn believe she broke the door.

There was that time when my Varsity basketball team was scrimmaging his JV boys team. I was a senior-him a freshman. I took a shot and Brian blocked it into next week.

Those 4 softball games in high school that Brian came to-because he got out of school to go to them of course.

There was that time he won a state championship in high school, and I was so proud.

I love my baby brother to death-and I am so proud of the man he's become. Last weekend he got married to his love, and it was beautiful.

The details aren't important. Well, they are, and they were beautiful, but I'm choosing to focus on the people, and the memories made.

I spent the morning a little stressed out-I know, it wasn't even my wedding right? But I was. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be doing, Leah was in the wedding and I didn't know how to do her hair, if she would walk, if she could cry, anything. And then I was helping the photographer out too, and I didn't know where exactly to be. So I was feeling a little out of funk, until Brian came and needed help getting ready. And I was there. Just him and I..... and Ryan, but let's be honest, he doesn't really count here:)  I helped him get ready, and spent some time with him on the most important day of his life. So far :)

I helped Molly-the photographer-take pictures and then we went to the park. Leah walked maybe 10 steps down the aisle and freaked out. So I walked down with her. As I watched Paula walk down towards Brian, I cried. I was so happy and just so proud of him at that moment. It was a moment that I will never forget, and I will never forget how I felt.

I didn't get a chance to dance with Brian at the wedding, but that's ok. I know that someday we will get that dance. It might be at a wedding in a few years, or maybe even Leah's wedding some day in the future-way in the future. Who am I kidding, that kid's never going to be allowed to get married:)

I'm so proud of you little brother, and I look forward to having another person help us create chaos. She even beats you at Uno. And that's a BIG deal to us.




I love you Brian and Paula, Congrats on your special day!

Love,
Amy

Florida!!!!!

Wow, where have I been. I feel like I do so well with my blogging and then something happens to put it all on hold. So much has happened since my last post about Leah's casting off party-which was actually back in March-Hello, it's almost June. OK, so I'm not the best blogger ever. I'll get there:)

April started off in a hurry with us planning our vacation to Florida with the Siebert side of the family. I'm not one for flying. At all. I never have been too keen on the idea, even though I've flown maybe 20 times in my life. It seems to be getting worse as I get older. Anyways, I almost didn't even go on this trip due to the flying, but I'm so glad I did.

Leah, who was previously known to us all as "the world's WORST traveler EVER" has apparently outgrown that amazing title. She loved flying, well I think she just liked having all of her favorite people in one place at one time where they couldn't escape from her. Plane ride down was so easy peasy!

We stayed at a cool little rental place with a pool. It was great because we used a company that we rented cribs, toy's for the twins, toys for Leah, beach toys, pool toys and anything else we could've needed. It was so great to not have to worry about bringing toys and stuff for Leah to play with as its not cheap to take extra bags anyplace.

We went and spent some time with Leah's Great Grandpa Siebert, that was the reason for this little jaunt to Florida. He's looking so great, and it was awesome to get to spend some time with him. Even though Leah was shy and didn't really want to hug Great Grandpa, she talked about him at night and worried about where he was when she couldn't see him. She cares so much-she just pretends not to:)
We took a boat cruise with Grandpa which was fun. When Ryan and I got married in Florida 4+ years ago we got married on a boat down in St. Petersburg, and we took a cruise this time with the same company. We were secretly hoping to get the same boat we got married on, but that boat has since been "moved up coast" as we were told. Sad, but still so much fun! Leah only broke 1 plate, so we consider that a successful outing:)




We went to the beach one day, too. I though Leah would love to go walk in the water and the soft, white sand. look for seashells with me, and even build a sand castle. My kid? Yeah right. We walked her down the water and she freaked out. Pulling as far away from Ry as she could. I showed her the shells-she didn't care. The soft sand? No, thanks. She wanted to play about a mile from the water in the hard sand with broken shells. Seriously?? I didn't get it at the time-but looking back that Gulf must've seemed like the biggest thing ever and it was probably pretty scary for a 3 year old. She did build castles, though, with Aunt Melissa.




The next day was what I'd been waiting almost a full year for. DISNEY! When we first talked about Disney, Ryan and I were a little conflicted. Leah hates characters. She's terrified of them. We went to see Bucky Badger once and she screamed at the sight of him. I thought princesses would maybe be ok as they are actual people and not dressed in a big animal suit. So Ryan and I decided to take the chance and take Leah to Disney. I just couldn't go all the way to Florida and not take her there. After all, its the place "Where Dreams Come True".

Ah, Disney. Where to start? When I went to Disney 10 years ago-yes as a senior in high school, I remember Disney having 1, maybe 2 parades. Well Disney these days has a parade every 4 seconds. We got there just in time to see the 2nd parade of the day and I was so happy. I was almost crying as the floats came around with people singing and kids so happy, until I looked down at Leah and saw complete fear in her eyes. She in hysterics at the sight of that many characters all in one place. So we tried to stay away from the parade for a while. We got a few pictures, bought Leah a Minnie Mouse hat with ears and started on the rides.


Dumbo, classic Dumbo. Amazing! They have 2 Dumbo rides along side each other, so more people can go on the ride at a time. The best part? The waiting area. You go into the Big Tent and they give you one of those little restaurant beepers that goes off when it's you turn and then they have indoor play place for the kids to play with they wait. Air conditioned. Best. Thing. Ever!! I wasn't sure how Leah would do with the ride itself, because she's so hit or miss on rides, but she loved it! The smile never left her tiny face!

We also hit up the carousel, It's A Small World, A big Paddle Boat, The Jungle Tour Ride, Aladdin, and a train ride around the park to end the day. As we were leaving, there was another parade going on. This time Leah stopped and yelled, "Mom! The parade! I want to see the parade!" So we saw about 4 minutes of a Disney parade. We had such a great time and I couldn't have asked for a better experience with my little lady.

With the Florida trip ending, I realized something. She may not remember this trip to Disney, but I will always remember the look on her face when she first saw Cinderella's Castle. The look on her face every time a cast member would say "Smile, Princess" to her as they took our picture. The look on her face when got to ride in a stroller for the first time in 2 years. And yes, even the look on her face when she was terrified of the parade. Those little things are a memory and I will have with me forever and ever. She was so happy that day. Disney made all of my "Dreams Come True" for my little angel.



Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Siebert for making this trip amazing for ALL of us! We couldn't appreciate it, or you guys, more! Love you!!!


Love,
Amy