Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Where have the last five years gone? My baby girl, Marissa, turned five today. We had a Purplicious Party yesterday and everything went well. The girls painted, danced, bounced on the moonbounce, ate pizza and decorated cupcakes! Perfect day for a purple party!

It feels like a lifetime ago when I brought her home from the hospital and I just sat there in our living room staring at her. She was the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen. Her skin was the most beautiful shade of olive and she had these tiny angel kisses on her eyelids. I loved to watch her breathe, sleep and dream.

It is bittersweet watching her grow. On one hand I am so excited to see her reach each milestone, on the other, I am saddened as she inches farther and farther away from me. Marissa has grown to be such a lovely young lady. She is smart, funny, frilly and sincere! She is just a darling and I know that she will grow to be strong and independent.

I could not be more proud of her and I am so thankful that God gave her to me.

Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Siblings

I have been blessed with two beautiful children. It was early in my life when I realized how badly I wanted to have children. I think some women are just programmed to want to be mothers. I believe that my children are my greatest accomplishment in life.

We had Marissa our first year of marriage and after many conversations, pleas, fights and realizations, we had Christian 3 1/2 years later. I believe that our children have made us better people and have at many times made our marriage stronger. As parents, Marty and I have learned to rely on one another and support each other through the not-so-easy parenting moments..

My children are as different as two people can be; they have many moments when they do not see eye to eye. However, as I have watched them grow and connect with one another I realize that they have developed a deep love and friendship that only siblings can know.

Seeing my children together reminds me of my relationship with my own brother, Michael. We have an unspoken language of love and understanding. I couldn't have asked for a better brother and friend. I hope that my children continue to grow and nurture their friendship and will recognize that no matter what, they will ALWAYS have each other!

Beach bums...

We decided to head to the beach on Friday. Marty spent the weekend with us, but then he went back to work early this morning. The kids and I are staying down until July 6th. This should be fun!

We'll get our fill at the pool, beach and boardwalk; thankfully the kids are pretty laid back and easy to entertain. Today has been a relaxing day of painting and movies. We'll probably head out to do some shopping shortly, but its just nice to not have anything planned.

It is so peaceful here. I'm glad that our house is sort of on the outskirts of town. We have the luxery of the beach feel without the beach traffic. I couldn't be happier.

So I guess we're having a lazy week, but I'm really loving having the quality time with the kids...

Tough Decisions

I have found that any time I am experiencing great personal growth, it usually involves having to make a tough decision. Either with work, marriage, child rearing, friendships, money, life is all about choices and most of the time they aren't easy. I guess if everything were easy, I would not really grow.

So many times you hear those tired quotes and cliches about growth and accomplishment; "mistakes are not failure, but a chance to learn and grow"... What does that mean? Are there really any wrong answers? Are we all just floating around in chaos and occasionally bumping into opportunity and good fortune? Is all this planning and thinking honestly getting me anywhere? Who truly wins in the end?

I feel that I often struggle with what my heart wants and my head knows. I'm sure I'm not the only one that finds myself in that predicament. I'm always battling with internal conflict. I'm either always winning or always losing. Its tiring.

So for today, I'm faced with the questions: Should we plan that trip? Did I do the right thing by having Marissa at horse camp? Do I need to let someone go? Do I really need a housekeeper? Should we hold off on the home renovations? Should I invest in this business opportunity? The list goes on and on! I'm filled with doubt, guilt, hope, anxiety and excitement. I guess sometimes you just have to make a choice and hope for the best. I take comfort in knowing that I'm not alone...

Its Raining, Its Pouring...

We have rain on the forecast for the next 10 days... We're not going to let it "rain on our parade" though! The kids and I are planning out some great activities that we can do as a family. Here are some of them:

1. Build a Fort: We've turned our living room into a fort using bedsheets and attaching them to all the furniture! The kids play, have snacks and read books. It takes up a great amount of time and energy! We also pull all the cushions and pillows off the furniture to set up walls and barriers! Its so much fun!

2. Kids in the Kitchen: My kids LOVE to cook and they love to EAT even more! I've got some awesome, kid friendly cookbooks (Snack Attack and Kid Favorites Made Healthy from Better Homes and Gardens and Disney's the Magic Kitchen Cookbook to name a few) This is a wonderful way to get kids involved in meal planning, excited about eating healthy and it also provides some great math and science lessons!

3. Making Movies: Marissa is quite the drama queen and Christian is a pretty good supporting actor. We have lots of fun making home videos. They will act out a story, perform songs and dance for the camera. Then we make popcorn, set up on the couch and enjoy the shows on the big screen! They laugh until they drop! Its a silly and creative way to teach children about self-expression!

4. Dancing in the Rain: If its warm enough, we put on our swimsuits and play in the rain! Who says you can't play outside when its raining? Its like having sprinklers on all around you! They don't even need toys, they just love to run around and play in the puddles. Throw some towels in the dryer so that they are nice and toasty when you come inside! The kids will have expended a ton of energy and they'll probably want a nap afterwards!

5. Playing Hide and Seek: Both my kids love to play Hide and Seek. I usually do the "seeking" and I make it really silly by pretending to be tickle crazy! This game can go for a good hour or more, and I usually have to be the one to stop it.

6. Books: For some quiet time, we snuggle down with a big blanket and a stack of books. Thankfully, both my kids could listen and read books for hours. Make sure you have a bottle of water, reading a lot can make your voice tired. Sometimes, I use puppets or flannel boards!

7. Arts and Crafts: We love to create gifts for grandparents and friends. Get out the crayons, paint, glue and scissors and spend some time being creative. These projects don't last very long so be sure and have PLENTY of supplies! This week, we'll be making tote bags and decorating them with fabric paint. Then the kids will also make cards decorated with various sparkles, stickers and colors!

8. Bubble Baths: Kids love to play in the bathtub! Bubbles, body paint, toys and fun towels can make this activity so much fun! I also get a bubble maker and have it on in the bathroom so that they can float all around the room. It really creates a "bubbly" atmosphere filled with giggles!

9. Make Musical Instruments: Kids love to make music. So we take "junk" from around the house, empty paper towel tubes, rice, strings, tape, rubber bands, etc and we make instruments. Then we put on some fun kid music and pretent to be the band! This takes up a lot of time and give the kids a fun way to be creative and move!

10. Exercise: There are some awesome kid exercise videos. We love Kid Yoga too! The kids get on their "exercise gear" and we exercise together. We talk about our muscles and being healthy! Be sure adn exercise with them so that they build confidence in their own physical abilities!

Enjoy! "Rain, Rain, its ok, You can't spoil our fun today!"

Recharing my batteries

We're at our beach house in Delaware this weekend. Its been too long since we've been here and I was very much looking forward to the "down time". The drive was pretty easy, we made it here in about 2 hours, not counting our stop for lunch at this great little Mexican place where I seriously had the best chimichanga outside of Mexico!

Yesterday afternoon, we went to the pool and I quickly learned that taking two children under the age of five to the pool by myself is not really something that I would like to do again in the near future. Marissa has always been my cautious child; she's not a big risk taker and she tends to be more timid of her physical abilities. Chrisitan, however, is a different story! Within two minutes upon our arrival at the pool, I watched in disbelief as my 20 month old son JUMPED into the pool! Thankfully, I was right there! We played for a while until the kids had their fill of pool fun and we headed back to the house for snacks and quiet time (wishful thinking!)

Today has been more laid back, the kids and I did a little shopping while Marty "worked" on his car. Is that what men say they are doing when they just want to admire their toys? When we returned to the house, Marty was applying a final coat of wax on his convertable and going over every inch inspecting its perfection! :::: rolls eyes ::::

Marty decided to take Marissa to the pool this afternoon while Christian and I settled into a FOUR HOUR NAP! I am not generally a "napper", but I must say, that was just what the doctor ordered! I feel so refreshed and relaxed. Its probably not how most people would choose to spend their time on a beautiful sunny day at the beach, but I definitely feel great!

So now that my batteries are recharged, I wonder what's on the agenda for this evening...

Staying Positive

Last night I was reflecting on the day's megrims (like how I used the word of the day?). I respectfully realized that I really should count my blessings. Times are hard, there is no doubt about that. My husband's business is being greatly affected by the economy and he finds himself in constant battles with investors and project managers. Everyone is paranoid and all the work is being watched and inspected with white gloves and magnifying glasses. My own business has seen better days. With the rise of costs and inability to raise tuition rates, I struggle to be sure that my last penny is stretched to its maximum ability.

Our daughter is going through some health issues concerning her colon, kidneys, bladder and intestines. Things seem to be progressing, not without major discomfort, but we seem to be working towards a healthy goal. I won't lie that this has not contributed to high stress levels and anxiety in our home. A parent's greatest weakness is not being able to "fix" whatever is bothering/hurting their child.

There are days when I just want to crawl back in bed, pull the covers over my head and pray for a new day, but that's not very realistic. Is it? So what keeps me going? I am very thankful for my relationship with my husband. He is a unique individual, to say the least. Even with all this turmoil, he keeps a level head and maintains a constant focus on the goals set forth. He is logical and has the will to persevere through any endeavor. He's smart. I don't mean "book smart", which he is, but he's smart in that he realizes that life is cyclical. That is something that I have learned from him and I have realized that when times are hard, we let down our anchor and wait out the storm. We hold steady, work hard at maintaining our strength and try not to rock the boat any more than we need to.

I look around at my life and I'm thankful for what I do have, which is a lot, and I remind myself that there are people out there that are not as fortunate. I have a wonderful family, great friends, my health, and the ability to work. Sulking will not get me anywhere.

I suppose that this is why I volunteer in my community. I find that when I help others, I realize that there is so much that I can give that improves the lives of others, even for a brief moment in time. With the Junior League of Annapolis, I connect with other women and we work together to strengthen each other and our community. I find a significant amount of value in my time that I devote to this organization and its cause.

So when you're feeling low, don't invalidate your feelings, we have all been there and our feelings are very very real! However, try to look at things in a larger perspective...here are some tips for staying postive from lead motivational speaker, Craig Harper:


1. I hang out with like-minded people who energize me and I avoid the energy vampires.

2. I learn from, and get inspired by, successful people.

3. I ask myself the right kind of questions – the “what can I learn from this experience” questions, rather than the “why does this happen to me” questions.

4. I regularly get excited about possibilities – sometimes too excited!

5. I don’t focus on negatives – I invest my emotional energy where it will give me the best return.

6. I change the stuff I can and I let go of the stuff I have no control over. (I struggle with this one!)

7. I am constantly setting goals. Big and small.

8. I dedicate time every day to ’switching off’ and having fun for fun’s sake. Strategic silliness.

9. I express myself creatively. It makes me happy.

10. I let myself dream. Sometimes my mind keeps me awake all night!

11. I invest time into others. People who are completely self-focused tend to have more downs than ups.

12. Whatever most people my age do, I try and avoid.

13. I regularly take stock of my life and consciously appreciate everything in it and about it. I am always acutely aware that my life is great and that I am blessed to be where I am.

14. I set high standards for myself. I want to be exceptional and do exceptional things, and I will. Not because I’m particularly talented, but because I am prepared to work harder than most. I love to explore and push the boundaries of my potential.

15. I love swimming against the tide. I love doing what most people don’t or won’t. I love being unconventional and throwing ‘logic’ out the window (now and then). Sometimes logic is a synonym for fear and ignorance.

16. I look after myself physically. I don’t smoke, drink or use drugs and I never have. Ever. Being physically fit and healthy, helps me stay focused on a mental, emotional and creative level. It’s very hard to be ‘up’ when you’re physically unwell.

17. My self-talk is positive. I don’t beat myself up. I don’t feel sorry for myself and I don’t indulge in ‘pity parties’.

18. I get great feedback and support from lots of amazing people – like you. Thanks.

19. I keep stimulated and challenged by doing lots of different stuff! I thrive on variety and change – private coaching, corporate speaking, professional writing, TV, radio, blogging, business coaching and every so often, I make an appearance at my gyms. If I had to do the same thing day in, day out, I would be in trouble. I have made a career out of my passion. I get paid to do what I love.

20. I spend quiet time alone recharging my batteries. No phone, no internet, no TV, no people, no noise, no distractions. I connect with the fat eight year-old for a while and see what he has to tell me. Sometimes the only person we don’t listen to is ourselves.

Keep Your Chin Up and STAY POSITIVE!

The Power of New Shoes

I love shoes. I probably love shoes more than any normal woman should. Shoes have a wonderful way of brightening any day. No matter how my weight may fluctuate (or as of late, stubbornly stay at an extremely uncomfortable status) my shoe size is forever consistent and faithful!

Yesterday I found myself at Nordstroms shopping for my children. Marissa needed new flipflops (with straps) for the summer and then of course they had a wonderful sale on boys shorts and polos! I made it halfway out the store when that glorious women's shoe sale rack summoned me! How I love to see dozens upon dozens of shoes marked down to reasonable, some not so reasonable, prices!

Three pair later(sandals, stillettos, and ballet flats) I find myself exiting the building with a big smile and a sense of triumph! Hey, I got a deal! At least that's what I told my husband when he asked me in an annoyed tone if I really needed MORE shoes.

Today, as I sit in my office, admiring these darling platinum strappy sandals, I feel like a million bucks! That in itself, makes these shoes worth every penny!

Kindergarten Readiness

With my education background and working with my own preschool and children, I have learned, created and implemented many strategies and practices that focus on Kindergarten Readiness. I have spent countless hours and endless amounts of energy doing everything I could possibly think of to provide a learning environment that fostered growth and development for young students.

Over the years I have researched curricula and worked diligently to ensure that my preschool and ultimately MY child would be equipped with the tools necessary for her to succeed in elementary school and further more as a life-long learner. This is what we call, "Kindergarten Readiness". Marissa will go to a fantastic Kindergarten in the fall and I could not feel any more confident that she is beyond prepared...however, I. AM. NOT.

How does a parent even begin to cope with the idea that their child will enter the big world of institutionalized learning?!?!? (Ok, so I know I can get through this, like all parents do; perhaps I'm being a little dramatic) My child will trot off into the morning horizon, toting her pink with purple polka dot back pack and this will be the first of many steps she will take farther and farther away from me.

So how does a mother go through "Kindergarten Readiness"? I have visited the school, met the administration, met the school nurse, the teachers, etc. I've requested that they put me on speed dial (half joking) and I have assured them that I will volunteer for anything that they may need me to do to assist them in my child's learning. Maybe this would have been easier for me had she attended a preschool program away from me. I have always felt that I was able to provide both her and myself with the best possible situation being that I own and operate the child care center and preschool where she has attended since her birth. I wonder if I only convinced myself that out of selfishness for not wanting to share her with the world. I have no doubt that Marissa will not only adjust well into Kindergarten, I am certain she will excell. I guess the only thing I can do for myself at this point is be happy that I had her with me during her early years and remind myself that no matter what she will always be my baby. I guess it wouldn't hurt to suggest a little more sternly about being added to the school's speed dial...