Maddie/Mommy date

So...last Thursday Dustin took Ty to the Dayton Dragons baseball game for a little father/son fun time. Maddie and I decided that we needed to have a mommy/daughter date night. I told her we could do whatever she wanted...and after thinking for a little while...she decided that she wanted to go and get her nails and toenails painted, "like a big girl"!! So...off we went to the nail salon.

She sat very still and enjoyed every minute of it. She was super excited when the lady asked her if she wanted sparkles on top of her pink nail polish!!

She even got sparkles on her toes!! (Sorry for the fuzzy pics...I took them with my ancient cell phone!)

Once her nails were dry we were off to dinner. Subway was her choice (well...actually McDonald's was her first choice...but I easily talked her out of that because the Subway kids meal came in a pink "purse") We ate inside Subway and talked about school...her friends...her favorite colors...her favorite people...jewelry...making headbands...and SO much more!! After dinner I told her for dessert she could have Ritas Italian ice or Starbucks. Without hesitation she said, "definitely Starbucks". So off to Starbucks we went. Maddie actually loves the flavor of coffee...even if it doesn't have a lot of sugar and cream in it. My dear friend Kate was working that night (which made Maddie even more excited because she LOVES Kate!!) and she made Maddie's "special" coffee. (Kate made it up for Maddie...it is an iced DECAF latte with 2 shots of caramel and 1 shot of vanilla. Then it is topped off with whipped cream...it is super yummy!!)

She likes to eat all of the whipped cream first (a girl after my own heart!!)

She finished every last drop. Then we headed home to pack for our fun-filled weekend (we were able to tag along with Dustin to a Jr High retreat that he was leading worship at. They put us in a wonderful log cabin and we had a weekend full of nature hikes...laughing...arts and crafts...and fun. I will post about that soon!!) After we packed we went out to the front porch swing for some cuddle time before she went to bed. She brought out her blanket and she sat on my lap as we talked about the fun "girls only" night we had. After a few minutes...her eyes were getting sleepy and I just held her...in the silence. It was a perfect end to a perfect night.

I got a feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night...

So...Dustin left for MO early this morning and he will be gone for the rest of the week (We are going to miss him!!) I got the kiddos ready for school and loaded into the car. It was a rushed morning because I was trying to get the babes and myself ready for a long day...full of field trips and errands. As we got into the car I heard Maddie say that her tummy hurt. I figured she was saying that because I had put blueberry jelly on her waffle because we were out of strawberry. I told her she was fine and she needed to eat her breakfast. Off we went..until I heard the sound that NO mother wants to hear while driving in the car...the sound of projectile vomit hitting the back of my head rest!! I looked in the rear view mirror to see my sweet babe (and her side of the car) covered in gross-ness! I quickly pulled the car over and called my friend Ginger to let her know that I would not be there to pick up her boys for school (we car-pool). She was wonderful and totally understanding! Then...I told Ty to get into the front seat of the car. I took off Maddie's shoes, coat and jumper...then I put her in the back of the SUV (her booster seat was covered and disgusting). I opened all of the windows and headed home to clean up the car and the sweet babe. After the car had been disinfected, cleaned, and re-cleaned...I put Maddie in the shower and threw her clothes into the washing machine. I then remembered that I had to call the school to tell them that Ty would be late and that I would not be able to drive for Maddie's field trip. After Maddie was clean and changed...we all got back into the car to bring Ty to school (along with some plastic grocery bags in case we needed them for any future puking moments!!) As I was driving to school...I was thinking about all of the plans I needed to change for the day and I was trying to figure out how to make everything work. Then I realized that my babes were singing to a song on the radio..."I got a feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night. That tonight's gonna be a good, good night..." I just started to smile. The morning had not been the greatest...so the night would have to be better...RIGHT?!? I dropped Ty off at school and headed back home with Maddie.

She has been feeling great ever since the "incident" this morning...and I came home to this...

Isn't she just a thing of beauty?!?! I have wanted one for these for SOOO long!! My husband found it...in the aquamarine blue color that I have always wanted (even though it is discontinued)...and he got it for over half off!!! (it was a refurbished by KitchenAid on eBay)

So...tonight will be a good night...full of some baked good that I will make in my beautiful mixer. Now here's to hoping that the rest of my day is puke-free!!

The glass IS half full

The last week and a half have been very difficult. I love being a very positive and upbeat person...but sometimes life can still be difficult...and I am learning that is ok. For those of you who don't know...my dad has had some health issues this year. He had 2 strokes prior to this year...and before Christmas he had 2 more. That is the main reason that I went to NY after Christmas with the babes. He seemed stable when I left NY...but I just found out last week that he had to be taken back to the hospital. Since Christmas 2009...he has had 6 more strokes. They are considered to be minor strokes...but because he has had so many of them in such a short amount of time...they are having some huge side affects. His speech is slurred and it is hard for him to use a lot of the left side of his body. Right now...we are trying to figure out what care we can get for him and what we need to do to help and try to fix what is happening in his body. It has been really hard for my brother and I to try to talk through decisions that we thought we would not have to be talking about for a long time (my dad is only 59!!!) So...as I am trying to deal with the emotional and mental stress of that...I have definitely been under the weather this last week. I had a really yucky sinus infection and the antibiotic has made me VERY sick to my stomach. I am not quite sure why...but being sick made everything seem even worse! So...I sat down last night after everyone was in bed and just took a few minutes to reflect on the week. I cried for a little bit (which seemed almost therapeutic in itself) and then I tried to find a positive for every "negative" that had happened. Here is what I came up with...

- I felt nauseous all week....what a great weight loss jump-start (6 pounds and counting :)!!!)

- My babes were on spring break and I didn't get to take them out every day because I wasn't feeling well...I got some great cuddle time with them and we had a couple of amazing pajama days

- My brother and I had some really difficult phone conversations about questions for my dad's health that we didn't really have answers to...we also had some great conversations about our lives, about how much we meant to each other, and about how much we would always be there for one another


- I got very sick of being cooped up in the house...the weather was BEAUTIFUL this week and I sat on the front porch swing while the babes got to ride bikes and blow bubbles


- I was not a very patient momma because I wasn't feeling the best...my kids totally understood and they taught me even more about grace. I am blessed!


- I didn't get to spring clean the basement...my upstairs stayed pretty "spring cleaned" and I am pretty sure the basement will still be ready for a cleaning this week :)


- My husband was SUPER busy this week at church planning and preparing for all of the Easter services and I missed him...I am so proud to have a husband that is the most creative man I know...the services he planned were AMAZING! And...in just the first 2 services on Easter...there were over 40 people saved!!!! (and we are still waiting for the final count of all 4 Easter services).





Had it been a rough week? O MY...yes. But even in the midst of some hard situations and some questions without answers...I realized that my glass IS half full and I am very blessed. Just look at some of my biggest blessings...


I just love them!!

Car Ride Conversations (Part 2)

I am thinking that my "Car Ride Conversations" might have to become a weekly post. I love the car ride home from church Wednesday nights...Maddie normally falls asleep pretty quickly and my little man and I get a chance to talk about his life....with no interruptions...just me and him. I love it! This is how our conversation went this week...

Me - Hey Ty man...what's new in your life

Ty - Well...I still like video games

Me - Anything else?

Ty - School is good and everyone was nice to me today.

Me - Awesome bud. So...what do you want to do this weekend?

Ty - Maybe we should go to Bailey's house

* Bailey is the girl that Ty says he is going to marry. She is the daughter of Dustin's bass player. Dustin and I love Danny and Becky (her parents) and my kiddos love Bailey and Brookelynn (yes..they are twins...and are some of the cutest/sweetest girls you will ever meet)*

Me - Why do you wan to go there?

Ty - Well...it has been a little while since we have been over there and I miss her

Me - Are you still going to marry her...when you are 35?

Ty - (laughing) You are silly mommy...and yes...I am still going to marry her

Me - Are you sure?

Ty - Yup

Me - How do you know that?

Ty - Because she told me I was going to marry her

Me - (chuckling to myself) That is a good answer

Ty - Can we have a sleep over with them?

Me - Well buddy...you are getting older...and you probably won't be having sleep overs with them

Ty - Can Maddie still sleep over at their house?

Me - Yeah...but that is because she is a girl

Ty - Well why can't I?

Me - Well buddy...boys and girls aren't really supposed to sleep over at each others houses when they get older

Ty - Why?

Me - Well...Sometimes they can get into trouble...and it is just better to not do that.

Ty - O...I get it (and he seemed like he was deep in thought)

Me - What do you get (I am now a little concerned that he might be understanding what I am actually saying...and I really don't want my little man to know some of these things yet...)

Ty - They can get into TROUBLE....you know...like big TROUBLE

Me - (hoping that we are not even closely thinking about the same thing) Yeah buddy...what type of trouble are you talking about? (Now I am starting to get a little nervous)

Ty - They can start to hang out...and get a little hyper...then...(his eyes are getting very wide at this point like he has something HUGE to say)

Me - Yeah buddy....

Ty - They can break things...like a lamp...because they are not paying attention and they are hyper because they are playing super heroes.

Me - That is EXACTLY it.

Ty - And I don't want to break any of Miss Becky's lamps because that would make her sad...and I don't want to make Bailey's mom sad.

Me - That is a good point bud...we can definitely go and hang out with them...just no sleep overs

Ty - Sounds good to me...can we stay late?

Me - Sure bud...I think we can do that.

O how I love my little man!!

Those silly boys

This is the conversation that Maddie and I had this morning as I was doing her hair.

Maddie - Boys are kind of silly

Me - (chuckling to myself) What do you mean babe?

Maddie - Ty and his friends talk funny and they always talk about star wars...and they tell jokes that they think are funny...but they're really not.

Me - Well sweetie...they are just boys

Maddie - But I am not like that

Me - Well that is why girls and boys are different

Maddie - You mean girls aren't weird like boys?

Me - Yeah...kind of (still chuckling to myself) Girls just sometimes like different things.

Maddie - Yeah...I like princesses and I like to talk normal...and I like to tell jokes that are actually funny.

Me - Yeah babe...I know. I guess that is why boys and girls need each other

*Maddie now has a look on her face like she has just figured out the answer to the world's hardest questions*

Maddie - I get it now Momma!! That is why we have to marry them. They would be just silly boys without us...but when we decide to marry them...we help them be better!

Me - (trying to contain my laughter...and trying to think of a politically correct response) Well babe...as boys grow up...they usually grow out of some of their silliness. And if you find the right boy...he can help you be better too!

Maddie - (looking at me with the cutest little grin) Is that one of those things that mommy's have to say?

Me - Lets just talk about marrying boys when you get older...A LOT older

Maddie - Sounds good to me...they are too silly now anyways

SO...I have been a TERRIBLE blogger these last 2 weeks!! Work has been a little crazy and I think life in general has been non-stop. SO here is a little re-cap of what we have been up to and I promise I will get back on the blogging bandwagon soon (that bandwagon includes posting pics)
- Ty lost ANOTHER tooth...and he pulled it out himself (Oh Happy Day for his momma!!)
- Maddie and I have been feeling a little yucky...but we had a great sick day at home together this week (super cute pics will be posted from that day)
- Maddie is all better...I still feel a little yucky (but this is my first time even getting sick this winter...so I am VERY thankful for that!!)
- Ty and I had a date night last Tuesday. We went to McDonalds and thrift stores...it was wonderful!!
- Dustin wrote a new song last week and he had a great night of recording some of his newer songs...I LOVE them!!
- I just adore my church family. They are amazing and I can't even imagine my life without them.
- I started a new work out at my gym...I kind of want to die...but the pain means it is working. (or at least that is what I keep telling myself)
- I might be a soccer mom soon...we are trying to find a place to get both of the kiddos into. If anyone knows of a good local group...please let me know.
- I love Trader Joes (I didn't figure that out this week...but I was reminded of it)
- I had a date day with Dustin yesterday...it was wonderful!!
- Hopefully tonight will be a family movie night...full of cuddling on the couch...eating yummy food...and doing a whole-lot-of-nothing!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Tooth Fairy

(This picture has nothing to do with this post...it is actually an old photograph. But I just love it...and this post is about Ty...so I used it.)

I have learned that there are many positions a momma fills during her day. I have been a nurse for boo-boos...a teacher for homework...a baker for little sweet tooth's...a cuddler for teary eye babes...a chauffeur (just a side note..I totally had to look up the spelling on that one) to school and other various activities...and so much more. Yesterday...I was able to to fill another position...one that I love and hate...the Tooth Fairy.

Here is a re-cap of how the day went...

Ty - (after I picked him up from his class at church) Mom...my tooth is really loose!!

Me - Awesome buddy! (not thinking too much about it because he had never said that it was loose before)

Ty - Maybe we can get it out before Daddy gets home today so I can show him

Me - Well buddy...it would have to be really loose to get it out his afternoon (then I kept talking to people as I was walking out of church and to the car)

Ty - (in the back seat of the car with Maddie) Maddie!!! My tooth is really loose...do you want to see it?

Maddie - (After looking at his tooth) Wow...that is gross...how does it wiggle like that?

Ty - I know...it is weird huh?

Me - (thinking to myself) Wow...it must really be loose...I hope Dustin gets home before Ty wants it out.

*After we get home...have lunch...and are now sitting on the couch together*

Ty - Mommy...I taste blood...and my tooth is bent forward...can you try to get it out?

Me - Sure buddy...go get me a paper towel. (now that is what I said...but what I was thinking was...Crap! I have to try to take his tooth out...and it totally makes me feel a little queezy when I have to try to pull it out of his mouth. Well...Jess...you had to do it once before...you can do it now) (Yet another side note...does anyone else ever give themselves mental pep talks? Because I totally do)

Ty - Here is the paper towel (he then lays his head on my lap and opens wide)

Me - (taking a deep breath) Alright buddy. Mommy is going to try to wiggle it a little. (I then wiggle it for a little while...a little more blood comes out...and he says that it hurts a little) Alright little man...stay really still...(I think to myself...please come out with one tug...I am not sure how much longer I can feel it wiggling in my fingers...ewww...gross)

Ty - Mommy why are you making a weird face?

Me - No reason buddy...let me see if I can get this...(one big tug...) I got it buddy!! Go to the sink...I will get you some salt water to rinse with. (we both run into the kitchen to take care of the new hole in his mouth)

Ty - (After rinsing...he looks up at me with very serious face and says...) You did good mom...I think you should win an award for the best tooth puller!

Me - Well thanks buddy (as I think to myself...this is the only 5th tooth he has lost...we still have a lot to go)

Ty - Can I have my tooth?

Me - What buddy

Ty - (looking at me like I am totally not thinking straight) MOM...I need it for the tooth fairy!!

Me - O...of course!

*We bring it upstairs and put it under his pillow*

Ty - Is the tooth Fairy real?

Me - Why do you ask?

Ty - Because a kid in my class said that she woke up in the middle of the night one time and she saw her mom putting money under her pillow

Me - Wow...that is crazy!

Ty - Well....is she real?

*At this point Maddie walks in and she has obviously heard some of our conversation*

Maddie - I bet the tooth fairy is beautiful...just like Tinkerbell

Ty - Well mom....is she real?

Me - Well Ty Man...do you always get money under your pillow after you loose a tooth?

Ty - Yeah...but do you put it there?

Me - Do you really think I wait until the middle of the night and come into your room and put money under your pillow (Yes...I am totally trying to get out of this conversation without lying to him)

Maddie - Yeah Ty...

Ty - Well maybe I will just stay awake tonight and act like I am asleep so I can see who puts money under my pillow (he says with the cutest little grin...the kind of grin that lets me know that he is pretty sure that the tooth fairy is his momma)

Me - Alright buddy...we'll see if you can stay up that late (knowing that he will never stay up and also knowing that he is just trying to get me to admit to him that I am the tooth fairy)

Me - Well...who wants a popsicle?

Ty and Maddie - ME!!!

*I head downstairs and I can hear the babes talking in Ty's room)

Maddie - Don't touch your tooth...you have to leave it for the tooth fairy!!

Ty - I'm just looking at it...I will leave it under my pillow

Maddie - Are you really going to stay up to see the tooth fairy? If you see her can you tell her that I think she is beautiful and I love her?

Ty - Maddie...I might not see her tonight...but I know she is beautiful...and I am pretty sure she already knows that you love her

I love that little boy...he just melts my heart!!