The pleasures of being a mom,

33 little things that we really love about it
Copied from an article printed in Redbook Magazine, May 2002.
By Veronique Vienne


Parenting can be a tough job, but the rewards are endless. In the spirit of Mother's Day, we thought we'd name just a few of the ways little people enrich your lives.
12 REASONS TO HAVE CHILDREN: Why go to the trouble of having kids? Consider the following:

1. You wish to pass on to posterity the best qualities of your mate.
2. You wish to pass on to posterity your sense of humor.
3. You need a good excuse for baking chocolate-chip cookies.
4. You need an excuse for being broke.
5. You love children.
6. You love major disruptions.
7. You'd like to give your parents a grandchild.
8. You'd like to give your in-laws a chance to treat you as their own child.
9. You want to be the mother of his children.
10. You are ready to settle down.
11. You are ready to learn to blow someone else's nose.
12. You are ready to experience pure joy in your lifetime.

MOM-ISMS THAT REALLY WORK: Your kids will respect you if you tell them the truth. When they ask you why you want them to behave a certain way, don't try to bribe, threaten, or deceive them, or lose your patience and declare, "Because I say so." Try these fresh answers instead:

1. Because we'll both feel better when it's over.
2. Because I'm running out of ideas for getting you to put your socks on.
3. Because I'm bigger than you are.
4. Because I really need you to help me get out of the house on time.
5. Because I don't want the lady across the street to think I'm a bad mom.
6. Because you don't have a better offer yet.
7. Because you I don't feel like getting mad at you right now.
8. Because you don't want to give people who don't like kids more reasons to be right.
9. Because you are my best friend on earth.

CUTE NAMES TO CALL YOUR KID: Kids are so cute, we sometimes say, "I love you so much, I could just eat you right up!" Need more inspiration for putting your love into words? Then in addition to the nicknames you already call your little one, try these sweet and silly terms of endearment. They will establish a delicious bond of affection between you and your child, bringing you even closer.

1. Angle Cake
2. Pumpkin
3. Gumdrop
4. Sweetie Pie
5. Dumplin'
6. Cupcake
7. Peanut
8. Honey Bun
9. Sugarplum
10. Sweet Pea
11. Muffin
12. Butter Bean

From the Art of Expecting by Veronique Vienne.

Fourth Grade Writings - The Headless Rider

The Headless Rider in the City

On halloween I will a headless rider. I will run around a subdavison and shout "I am the headless rider of Denham Springs." Everyone will come out and get so frightend they'll run back in a jump under the T.V., Their beds, couchs, hide in their gun cases and all that, when they come out on the porch they will run back in and start all over again. My Daddy will race after me on his mule, but he'll never catch up. But I know one thing, I'll stop at people's houses and get some candy and run as fast as I can. Oh, I forgot to tell you I'll be riding my horse. So long!

Fourth Grade Writings - The Haunted House

The hauted house that had a Ghost.

One night I went to an old, old, old house. behind it was a cematary. I had a freind with me. It was very haunted. My freind's name is Penny Ann Ballard. Well lets get out of that part. That night we were walking in the cematary. The wind was blowing, "Whoosh" the wolves were howling, "A-r-r-r-r-r-r-r". As we walked we saw a knife glittering in the moon-light. I thought we should go and see what it was. Then I said, "No we'd better not go, unless we want our heads choped off". In an hour my freind wanted to go over and see what it was. so I had to say "Alright, you go and I'll stay here". She wnet and looked she hollard, "Ra-Ra-Ra". The knife swung at her and chopped her head off.

I ran to get her mother, but the man got me and tied me up. Then he put me in the haunted house and when Goofus saw me he untied me and saved me. Thank to Goofus Ghost. Three cheer for Goofus, "Haray, Haray, Haray for Goofus".

The End

Fourth Grade Writings - Honk! Honk!

Honk! Honk!

Hi! My name Cynthia Twenty-two, my freinds names are Sonya Eighty-four and Carolyn Ninty-three. We each live in the country. One day they came to spend the night with me. When we went to the living room to watch "Spiderman" we had to turn it off the very minute we turned it on. We went to bed about an hour later. The next morning we made a plan to go hiking. We packed our stuff and started out the door. We didn't know it but we found out the street we lived on turned into a super highway. We went back in then we came back out and we were in the country again. I was glad to.

The End

Fourth Grade Writings - The Deadly Cave

Here's another one.

"The Deadly Cave"

One day my freind and I went in a cave. We thought it was an ordinary cave so we went in. My freind, Darla, and I Cynthia, were not afraid. But an hour later our batteries ran down. We didn't know but there was a door on the end of the cave. The door shut and we were traped. We were afraid then. We heard some spooky sounds. We went to see what it was. There was another vally called "Weirdo". Some little people were daning around a king. The(y) shut us up and never fed us for ten years.

The End

Fourth Grade Writings - New Worlds to Explore

New Worlds to Explore Underground

One of the most interesting discoveries was in Lascaux, France. There, in the year 1940, four boys were walking across a field, as they often did. With them was their pet dog. Suddenly, he disappeared as if he had dropped into the eart. They shouted and whisteled, but the dog did not come. They looked and looked but still no dog. Then at last they found the answer to the puzzle: there, beside a bush, was a small hole. The dog really had dropped into the earth. Down they went after him, and found themselves in a deep cave. One of them had a flashlight. Immediately they started to explore. Almost at once their flashlight showed them stags and herds of horses painted on the walls and on the ceiling.

Fourth Grade Writings - That Burn Me Up

Here's another of my 4th grade essays from 1977.

"That Burn(s) Me Up"

What makes me made is my sisters and my brother. My brother always hits me, he thinks he's smart. What I do is I take his knife away from him. He tries to get it back and I kick him down and I run away from him. He gets up and follows me to hit me. I climb a tree. He doesn't look in tree's cause last (year) I couldn't climb trees. He still thinks I can't climb tree's. I hide in trees and I sist all day in tree's and it's fun.

The End

Fourth Grade writings - My Horses

I was digging through some old boxes tonight and was excited to find some writings that I did in the 4th grade (many, many years ago). I'm stunned that the paper held up so well! This one is titled "My Horses". Just in case you can't read the photo, I'm going to type the essay here; complete with misspellings, after all, I WAS in 4th grade!

But before I do, let me share a thought or two. As I was reading these, and doing a little time travel, I was astounded to remember and know exactly what it was I was writing about! The other thing I noticed was how my handwriting changed so much in such a short time period. I thank my mom for keeping these papers for so long!

I'm gonna share an essay a day for the next few days. And now, My Horses:

My Horses

I love to ride horses it is fun. I have one myself, and her name is Gypsy. She is a good horses. She does not kick. You can walk up to her she will not run away.

I love her she loves me. My brother and I we ride her a lot. We have mule and she is mean. Her name is Sugarfoot. We like her but she hates us. Yesterday she kicked someone. My Daddy goes coon Hunting on her.

The End

Well, there ya go. My Horses. :D

Christmas Gift Ideas

I'm posting some pics of some ideas that I'm thinking of for Christmas gifts. I hope I have enough time to get it all done!! These cute ideas come from You Can Make This.

Here are some adorable washcloth puppets.

A CUTE Fabric Christmas Busy book.

A card game that you make on your own computer! This might come in quite handy for my family since it is soooooo large! The kids only see the long, lost relatives once a year during the holidays. I'm thinking this would be a great way educate them on just who their Uncle Steve and Aunt Mary is!

These are Monkey Blankies.

A Felt portable game book.

A crayon holder art tote.
A child's apron.

A chalkmat

There are some more lovely ideas over at these ladies blogs. One of my favorites is the fabric dollhouse at UK lass in US. Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog also has some adorable pillowcase PJ pants ideas. If I get busy right now, I might just be able to give my girls a decent Christmas without having to fight the crowds at Wal-mart!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

Easter Sunday 2010

Happy Easter everyone! Christ is Risen - He's alive!! He is not dead or in the grave but ALIVE!!! Hallelujah!!!

We celebrated at our church today where my girls looked so pretty in their new little dresses.

Then we went to eat dinner with my mom and stepdad.

Now it's time for me to update some other posts.

Easter Dresses

I finally finished making the Easter dresses for my girls! Actually, I finished them last weekend before we left for our Spring Break vacation. Aren't they cute? I can't wait to see them on my girls in the morning.

Guess what I woke up to this a.m.!

On Friday morning I noticed that Kangaroo had a little redness to her right eye. Thinking it was allergies or even a bit of something in her eye, I ignored it. Bad move! By Saturday her eye was swollen from all the rubbing and stuck closed. Fast forward to this morning, and guess what! I wake up with the same dadgum thing! Yay. (Hear the sarcasm?)

We have doc's visit scheduled for this afternoon and I'm hoping he'll be generous and give a family sized prescription to knock this stuff out.

The last time we had conjunctivitis in the family was when I was still nursing Kangaroo (about 3 1/2 years ago). I had heard that a drop of breastmilk would cure this monster. So, I tried it and lemme tell ya...that breastmilk is a miracle elixir! However, since I'm no longer breastfeeding, I have none available. :(

That being said, I called the doctor and left a message. I was thinking that I would save myself a trip by describing the pink eye to him over the phone and then have him call in a prescription for eye drops. Several hours later and he still hadn't returned my call.

Then Kangaroo starts complaining about her ear hurting. She hadn't said anything prior to this so I didn't know what to think. I called the doc's office again and told them, "Never mind the message to the doc. I'm bringing her in."

It's a good thing too! Kangaroo has a double ear infection in addition to the pink eye! After fighting the evening traffic, we finally arrived back home with a week's worth of antibiotics and eyedrops.

Hopefully, she'll feel better very soon.

Was Broken Heart, Now DQ Update #1

Sometimes it amazes me how quickly we adapt to stressful and trying situations. I'd like to give you an update on the situation here. As you know, we received the news, not quite a week ago, that there will be a new family member joining our household. At first, I was disappointed in my daughter (age 22), but now I'm slowly looking forward to sharing this experience with her and helping her as she adjusts to single motherhood. She's got a lot of growing up to do in a short time.

My husband finally warmed up enough to speak to me about the situation and we were able to have a productive discussion. He's still upset with DQ and hasn't spoken to her yet. She expressed to me how hurt she's feeling by his silence. When I brought it up to him during our separate conversation though, he explained that he's just trying to get his thoughts together before he speaks to her. He wants to say it "just right".

Yesterday, we had a discussion about what she's going to do in order to make a living and support herself. He did have some input there that she REALLY listened to (for a change).

She currently works as a "beverage server" at a local casino...not a job that's really conducive to pregnancy and impending motherhood. We took a few minutes to pray about the job situation. I specifically reminded the Lord that when He created me He gave me a visual learning style. Then I reminded Him, that in order to communicate with me He will have to literally write on the wall (in really big letters surrounded by flashing lights).

A few hours later, LITERALLY, a friend of mine (who didn't yet know of my impending grandmotherhood) called me up and asked if my daughter might be interested in a temporary job paying $13 per hour!!! It's only a 4 - 6 month position but it's closer to home! I told her, without hesitation, a huge YES! Then I told my daughter, who was also very excited about it and at the same time learned that God is really there and listening.

As for now, she went to the Health Unit for a pg confirmation followed by an application visit to Medicaid. Next week, she'll be meeting with a counselor (or helper) at the Women's Hope center. I've told her several times that I love her and she is not alone. I have also warned her that the next couple of years are gonna be real tough but she just has to pull up those boot straps, dig in, and she'll be fine.

Keep praying for us. We have a long two years ahead of us but I'm getting excited to see what the Lord has planned.

My Heart is Broken

My 22 y.o. daughter lives in my home with my husband, The Teen, Little Bird, and Kangaroo. She's currently working as a "beverage server". It isn't the best job around. Her hourly wages are only $2.75 and she gets to keep whatever tips she makes. Basically, she's driving all the way to the job (71.2 miles round trip) for tips. The vehicle she drives is not hers. It belongs to my husband and I but we allow her to use it until she can save enough money to get her own car.

She has no ambitions to go to school or anything. She likes this job because it offers all the perks of a "real" job.....i.e. 401K, health insurance, etc. She really doesn't want to leave this job.

Then, I got the phone call this morning. It looks like I'm gonna be a grand-mother. She had stopped on her way to work to get a home pregnancy test. When she got to work and took the test, it was positive. She called me immediately, crying and blubbering and saying, "I didn't want it to be this way" and "Momma, I'm so sorry".

I told my hubby about it and he just clammed up. Didn't say a word to me all day. Kept a chip on his shoulder. When he came home and I said to him that I needed to discuss it with him, he replied, "I don't care and I don't want to discuss it. There is nothing to discuss."

I'm really feeling torn apart right now. This is my daughter! My child! My first born! I can't just throw her to the wolves! She needs me!

I know there aren't many people who read this blog, but if you're out there....please add my family to your prayer list and add a specific little ditty there for some extra enduring strength for me. Thanks.

Date Night: Catfish Charlie's

NightOn Thursday evening, our family went to a little restaurant out in Hammond, La called Catfish Charlie's. It's located at 14256 W. Club Deluxe Road. Their specialty is seafood...mostly fried. However, there are a few healthy selections on the menu. We started out with a little appetizer of Gator Bites and salad. The waitress then brought the rest of our foods. The kids weren't in a seafood kind of mood so they all ordered standard kid's fare.....fried chicken tenders. Hubby ordered the Soft Shell Crab platter and I ordered the Grilled Shrimp and mushrooms dinner. Yummy stuff!!!

The food is good but the prices......well, not so good. For our family of 6, our evening out set us back $110.00!!! Maybe they'll come down on prices but I don't think it'll be any time soon.

Catfish Charlie's decor

The best part of enjoying a meal at Catfish Charlie's is the duck, turtle, fish feeding experience. The restaurant provides buckets of leftover biscuits for the kiddos to take out to the back deck and throw into the water to the wildlife.

And here's a shot of the wildlife! Before we even exited the building, they heard the footsteps on the hardwood floor and came running....or swimming ....or flying. They wanted some biscuits!


Does this look like a duck? At first my son yelled "Otter!" but it is in fact, a nutria rat. They are not native to Louisiana, having been imported in the 1930's for the fur farming industry. They were release, either accidentally or intentionally into Louisiana's coastal marshes.

Where do babies come from?

My girls asked me that question last night while getting ready for bed!!! Can you believe it!!!? I was stunned. I'm not ready for this sort of "Facts of Life" lesson yet!

DQ (my 22 y.o.) was listening (i.e. eavesdropping) from another room as I explained to them that when Mommy and Daddy show each other how much they love each other, God gives them the gift of a baby and puts it in a special place inside Mommy's tummy. They seemed satisfied with that answer. They looked at me with their big eyes and this "Oh, OK!" look on their faces.

DQ laughed at me when she heard the explanation.

I shore wasn't prepared for the "so, how does the baby get out?" question, even though I knew that it was inevitable and would definitely be next in the line of questioning.

I chickened out. Changed the subject. Just decided it was bath and bedtime and who wanted to get in the shower first. They followed blindly and I was able to avoid it for the time being.

They're so sweet and innocent. Must they begin asking about the bird and the bees at such an early age? For I am NOT READY!

From the mouths of Babes

Hubby and I have been sitting around just relaxing today. He has finished a bookhe's been reading and I've been researching our upcoming summer vacation. It was just us here .... and Kangaroo.

Kangaroo rose wide eyed and bushy tailed at 6 a.m. this morning and boy, was she raring to go! She ran and played all day! So sweet! She eventually pulled out her make up kit that she received for Christmas from our babysitter.

She sat and primped and got herself looking all pretty. Then she presented herself to us. Well, to her daddy anyway. Not to me.

She approaches her daddy, blinks her sweet little blue eyes, and coyly gushes, "Daddy, do you think I look pretty?"

He chuckled and responded, "Yes, honey, I sure do! I think you look just like mommy!"

Kangaroo is a little takin aback and says, "Mommy!? You gotta be KIDDIN' me!!!"

I wasn't sure how to feel as I sat here listening to this little exchange. I recognize that hubby was paying me a compliment...in a way. But her response? I don't know if it was taken as a compliment or an insult from her daddy. Is my own appearance so horrible that my child doesn't want to look like me?

Oh well, she's a sweet little cherub anyway and I love her bunches! :D

Count Your Blessings

On Friday night, I went to a movie with my sister. We went to see Blindside. Now, as I sit here at my lovely little computer on Thanksgiving Eve, I ponder the blessings in my life. The hymn "Count Your Blessings" is going through my head right now. You know the chorus:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

But have you spent time to ponder the verses?

Verse 1:
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Verse 2:
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

Verse 3:
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think the Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Verse 4:
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.....Have you done that today?

Broken Tooth

My Little Bird began losing her baby teeth in January of this year. Right after Christmas! Eleven short months later, while climbing down the slide ladder during a park play day, she slipped and hit one of the steps with her permanent tooth. This was her second tooth to give to the Tooth Fairy when she began losing teeth.

It broke. I felt so bad. I should've been right there to catch her...but I wasn't. As we exited the park, I was on the cell phone with the dentist informing them that we were on our way in for tooth repair....mud, dirt, and all. Little Bird would not even close her mouth for the entire ride. When she spoke, it was quite funny as she didn't want to close her mouth or use her tongue to form words.

The dentist was great! He took us right in and got us settled into the chair. His assistant came in and got Xray's of Little Bird's teeth to see if any damage was done to the root. He tells me that the tooth is still forming and that the root hasn't finished developing yet. It is because of this that he can't put a "cap" on the tooth. He chooses instead to put a filling on it. The same sort of filling that they use to fill cavities.

He explained every little thing to Little Bird. Every time he touched a tool, he explained to her what it was used for, let her examine the tool, and even let her touch the end of it. I was severly impressed!!!

Since he had to numb her mouth in order to work on it, he explained to her that he would use a special numbing gel that tasted like bubble gum. As he placed that on her gum, he talked to her the whole time! I was concerned that she would go ballistic when she saw the needle but he had a system all worked out so that she never saw it!

He had turned to get the syringe, but held it down below her line of sight while at the same time, reaching up for the light above her to adjust it so that it was in her eyes...causing her to close her eyes. At the same time, he made his move.

When I brush her hair at home, I encounter tangles that are sometimes so bad it causes her to cry. Sometimes she'll even scream. So, we've developed a technique where she will squeeze my knees with her hands when it hurts instead of screaming out loud. As the dentist was giving her the novacaine injection, he was talking to her the whole time. I was holding her hand and also telling her to squeeze when it hurt. She was so brave! What a trooper!!

To make a long story a little shorter, she now has a little filling on that gap you see. It looks just fine, like nothing happened but because it isn't a real tooth, it isn't as strong and now we have to "baby" it. No more biting right into an apple or baby carrots and such things. :(

Field Trip: Pumpkin Patch

Today was my Kangaroo's Field Trip day to the Pumpkin Patch. We joined up with a different homeschool group from our usual group. This was our first outing with this particular group. We met some new friends and just enjoyed the day out in the country at the pumpkin patch.

Getting pumpkins painted on the face.

See the green shrubs behind the pumpkin coach?

Turns out that it's cotton! Wow! This is a big pumpkin!!

Lunchtime!

Yum! Yum!

After lunch, we went to the corral where there were some animals to touch.

Photo op!!

Nothing says "Autumn" like a bunch of pumpkins!