Happy 2017! New Years' resolutions? I made a few. I usually avoid them due to the fact that I jinx myself if I say I'm going to do something. If I don't say I'm going to do something I usually end up being able to do it. Maybe it's just my "don't even try if you're not going to do it really well mentality". 

My husband and I made a joint resolution to not talk about the future this year. He and I tend to spend most of our time together talking, hashing, worrying, and getting depressed about the future. It generally is not helpful because at this point in our lives we are not prepared or ready to make any big changes. Last fall we made a vision board for our lives and on it out some of the things we tend to hash. The biggest thing on our board was "bloom where you're planted". Not novel, but helpful.  For some reason we ended up here in Texas. God has given us friends (who like us, I think), a church, a cozy cottage to live in with our 5 kids, a big back yard where we can create our dream of an urban homestead, and a job for my husband where he is making a real difference in our community. We have been so blessed.  

So far we are doing well with our resolution. I know I feel less stressed living in the here and now. 

Family Vacations

We don't go on vacations. The last real family vacation we went on was about five years ago. We decided to drive up to Maine from the little town in Massachusetts where we lived. Looking back at the pictures it seemed like we had an idyllic time! We drove through Kennebunkport, we saw Longfellows home in Portland, and got pictures of the beautiful seaside towns, but in reality our daughter (then one) got sick and puked all over the car, we didnt pack enough warm clothes and we were generally stressed out the entire time. I think we were traumatized by that experience because since then we only do day trips and tell ourselves we are practicing for when we really go on a family vacation. Now we have two more kids so the prospect of things going wrong has doubled...or would that be tripled?
We have had our share of bumps in the road, things that have made it difficult to travel, but this summer we're hoping to push past those things and take a trip or two. Anyone have pointers on what works and what doesn't? We realize that it is not going to necessarily be a "vacation" for Matt and I, but we're determined to not just sit around. We want our kids to have memories of family vacations. We're thinking of keeping it simple to start with. Maybe a couple nights in San Antonio. Pointers?

Saturday Fun

Try as hard as I could, last week was a "no go" on blogging. I was having trouble with my internet, Matt was out of town for most of the week and I was potty training my two year old. Excuses, excuses, I know. Believe me, it sort of felt like the Twilight Zone! It was unfortunate, too, because I was so excited to share with y'all what we did last Saturday (April 2). 

I'm going to share it with you now even though it feels like it was a lifetime ago! 

We thought we'd check out this Folk Life Festival here in Katy. We heard about it from one of Matt's fellow teachers. It sounded interesting and at $1.00/person there was nothing to lose. What a great historical, educational and fun experience! I know from this picture it looks like the kids didn't have fun, but we begged them to pose for us and the sun was in their eyes. As you can see from the stickers on their clothes they got to touch a baby alligator and snake. They also got to paint gourds, make rag dolls, watch old-fashioned guns being fired, eat campfire donuts, listen to some old-fashioned instruments being played, etc. That was just a fraction of the events! I highly recommend this festival for next year to all my Houston friends. I know we are going to make it a tradition. Matt and I kept saying how much we would have loved it as kids.

Now this Saturday was a little different. I had the kids by myself so I had to do things a bit more strategically. I am super-mom, but I knew I had to monitor myself or there was no way I was going to survive! I heard about an egg hunt going on in our neighborhood park so after breakfast we packed the Easter baskets and headed to the park to see what we could find. The kids scored loads of eggs filled with candy! They also had a chance to meet the Easter Bunny, but they both declined that photo opportunity. I think my fear of clowns or anything in a costume was passed along to them. Before the sugar high wore off, we headed to the YMCA. Our membership includes 4 hours of child care a day. I just love that place. I go most days. I get to pass over my darling children to the well-trained staff and have a little alone time on the treadmill. The kids love it, too. They get to go to the playground or do some sort of art project or just play with the other kids. By the time we were done at the Y it was almost lunch and nap time, but I wanted to make sure they'd sleep. So on the way home we stopped at another park just to make sure all their energy was out. After nap the kids got to watch one of their library movies, and eat dinner.  Phew! We made it. We had another great Saturday. 

Texas Forever!

I am so excited for the final season of Friday Night Lights! Apparently it has been airing on DIRECTV, but will be available on NBC soon??? Does anybody know? Matt and I started watching this amazing show last summer via Netflix and quickly became obsessed! It was filmed in Austin and it epitomizes life in Texas. They do such a great job making this show that I wish I could go down to the local high school and talk to Coach Taylor or sit in Principal Tami's office and get some advice. I think that I love this show so much because the main character's lives are not polished or perfect. There is a sense of reality and the hardness of life that I enjoy watching much more than the contrived fictional characters of other mainstream shows. The main characters, Coach Taylor, and his wife, Tami, love each other and work together to make a life for themselves in small-town Texas. Of course a lot of the show is focused on football which is really fun, too!

It makes me feel like living in Texas is cool.

Anyway, if you get a hankerin' for a little lesson in Texas culture check out Friday Night Lights. I know part of the first and fourth seasons are available on Hulu.com right now!

The Good Mom

What makes a good mom? I started thinking about that question this morning after Matt announced that I was a good mom. I quickly replied, “I am a mom, but I don’t know if I’m a good one or not. I don’t think I will know until the kids are grown.” He said, “There’s your topic for today. Write about it.”

So it got me thinking about the moms I know and hang out with. The first one that popped into my head was my sister. She is such a good mom. She genuinely cares for and loves her boys and is always doing the little extra things that make childhood magical. I feel like she goes above and beyond the normal daily things to make their lives exciting and interesting. Whenever I call her she tells me about an outing that she took them on or that they just went to the library or that she’s letting them run around and play outside! Now we’ve talked enough for me to know that every day is not magical, but she seems to love being a mom. Correct me if I’m wrong, Megs!

I love my kids, but I don’t LOVE being a mom. In fact lately I sort of resent it. Yes, it’s true. It is such hard work. I just want to go get a regular job so I can have a break! Anyone hiring?!! In all seriousness, though, I keep coming back to the fact that I do love them—enormously—and I don’t want anyone else to raise them. I want to be the first one to see them walk and talk and learn new things. I want to be there when they get home from school and be available when they need me. I want to feel their little arms around my neck when they hug me and hear their little voices tell me they love me. I know not everyone has the luxury to stay home, and I am so thankful that I do have the option.

Maybe just loving them and telling them I love them is the first step to being a good mom? I know that was one thing my mom did all the time when I was little, and it made such a difference! I remember every morning when I’d wake up she would say, “Good morning, Jenny.” And then give me a hug and kiss. I try to do that with my little ones, too. But is love enough? I’m not so sure.

I have to set BOUNDARIES. I’m not going to jump at their every whim. I’m a little lazy that way. Matt and I decided early on that we wanted our kids to know that they came to live with us. Not the other way around. That meant that they were going to follow our rules and act how we saw fit. I’ve seen so many parents bamboozled by their little ones and they’re constantly running around trying to make their kids happy. I don’t do that! However, this doesn’t mean my kids don’t try to get their own way. The terrible twos have come and they are teaching me many lessons. Having boundaries is teaching my children to be respectful of other kids and adults. I don’t know if I’m a good mom by doing this, but I know how I want my kids to be as adults so I have to start training them now.

I’ve also seen that having traditions are important. Matt and I teach our kids about having a relationship with God. We read them a Bible story every night and pray with them before meals and before bed. It is something the kids ask about everyday and look forward to. We find that if we are acting on our faith then they will see it and want to emulate it, too! I think part of being a good mom is taking a step in leading your kids spiritually, and part of doing that is by making traditions. One of my friends, Cindy, is so good at this! She is always sharing creative ideas she has had for teaching kids more about God in real tangible ways for them to understand.

Another thing I’ve had to learn is to be an advocate. No one else is going to fight for my kids the way I will. Whether it is in a medical situation, at school, or just in regular life, I am the person (along with Matt) who cares the most about their well-being. Sometimes “Tiger Mom” has to come out. I met my good friend, Mileydy, when we lived in Massachusetts. She has been the one to remind me when I need to take a step and say something for my kids! She kicks me in the butt a lot! I’m so thankful for a friend like her who has kids a little older than mine and can give me some pointers!

I know being a good mom is mostly about all the little things that you can’t really pinpoint. Praying for your kids, being there when they need you, loving them through hard times, talking to them. I just want my kids to grow up to be responsible, caring adults. And I hope they still want to talk to me when they grow up!

I’ve only covered a few of the things that I think make a good mom, so, I’m sending off this question to y’all…What makes a good mom? Ideas???

A Day in the Park

One thing I absolutely LOVE about Texas is Spring! The weather is warm and the big Texas sky is blue. After living in Massachusetts for five years with the potential for snow storms through May I am soaking up as much as I can of this beautiful time of year!
On Saturday morning I decided to pack lunches, put sunscreen on the kiddos, get everyone in the car and head to the train park in Old Katy. This is a new-found favorite! It has an amazing play structure with climbing ropes, a bumpy slide and plenty of space to run and explore! The kids had so much fun! Here is a little peek at them on the climbing structure!

After we played, ate all our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and got all the sun we could handle for one morning, we headed home! It was really only about two hours in all, but it was rejuvenating!

Livin' Large in Texas!

I'm jumping on the blogging bandwagon! After the necessary time of hemming and hawing and sufficient urging from my husband and sister I've decided to go for it. I'm not a writer. I don't really have a point of view. I don't know what I'll write about, but I'm going to try. Is that better than not doing anything at all??? I don't know.

One thing that I've been thinking about lately is the fact that I live in Texas. I moved here almost two years ago and I NEVER EVER thought this is where I'd end up. Not only is everything BIGGER here, but the culture is so foreign to the West and East coasts. It does feel like we're in a different country most of the time. Over the past year and a half I've grown to love a lot about it! The BBQ is amazing, the people I've met have hearts as big as the Texas sky and it is a great place to raise a young family.  So for now I'm going to enjoy my time here and the first way I'm going to live large is by getting over my fear of blogging!