I am slightly excited about the Royal Wedding.  Not excited enough to wake up early and watch it....but I will set the DVR to record it and watch it later.  I think it is fascinating that a country has such a tradition!!! This week in our country, our president is proving whether he is a citizen...but in England they are getting ready for the biggest event many people over there have ever seen! 

I completely understand that some people are tired of hearing about it, but I think it is pretty awesome! 

I remember thinking Princess Diana was beautiful and seeing her dress was breath-taking!  I also remember the drama the Fergie caused (not Black Eyed Peas Fergie, but Sarah Ferguson).  Diana and her together, they were always getting into trouble...or at least I think I remember that correctly.

I hated when Charles and Diana split.   I also remember when Princess Diana died...so sad!  Harry putting the letter on his  moms casket!  :(  I also remember when Elton John changed the song Candle in the Wind from being about Marilyn Monroe to being about Diana!  I loved that version!

I know the TV will be crazy with coverage on the wedding tomorrow....but it will be for a fun reason and I think that is great!   Nothing like watching princesses!!!  Enjoy Friday!!

Here are the lyrics....you would sing it of course to the tune of Candle in the Wind...you might not care, but I think it is neat! 

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will

Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
Goodbye England's rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And you footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will 

What can we learn from Winnie the Pooh??

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.
Winnie the Pooh


I've always been a fan of Winnie the Pooh.  I know I had some stuffed animals and a cute little dress with him on it when I was little.  Autumn's nursery was Winnie the Pooh, the girls both had Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals. 


I think sometimes we can learn from Winnie the Pooh and his friends.   I really like the above quote.  I think sometimes we make too much about us, when really it could be about the other person.  Using a nonsense example, I get frustrated when I tell the girls to do something and they don't do it.  However; they usually aren't doing it because of ME...they simply aren't doing it because it interferes with something for them.  So, when I turn off the TV, they usually do what I ask...simply removing the "fluff."

Winnie the Pooh is also always with friends.  Eeyore....sweet Eeyore...always seeing the negative, but he is still always there for them.  I love my friends.  Some of my friends I wish I was closer to....both in distance and in actual friendship.  We all have different types of friends...the ones that bounce in and out, the ones who are always sad, ones who know it all, ones who are sooooo cautious.  What type of friend are you?  When it comes to friendship...remember to remove the "fluff" every once in a while....be patient....say something nice/do something nice for your friend......just be there for them.  :)

Happiness...it can be contagious!

I was reading an article in the May edition of my Parenting magazine and it really got me thinking....It is entitled....The Secrets of Happy Families.  Of course I read it, and was happy to see that we have a lot of the traits listed....however sometimes I need a new perspective.

These are the 6 things to remember:

1. Happiness is basic.   This is so true...it is the littlest things that make me happy.  An unexpected hug, chocolate milk for breakfast, seeing the laundry is already folded....the little things.

2. Happiness changes over time.   When I first had Autumn...I was ELATED, then I knew I would be happier when she slept through the night, then when she was eating real food, then, when she could talk, etc.  What makes me happy is something different.....as we grow.

3. Happiness is contagious.  I LOVE this one, it is SOOOOO true.  The happier my girls are...the happier I am.  It is so sad, that one upset, or negative person can have so much control.  When my morning starts with an upset child....it makes it harder to have that happiness.

4. Happiness can't be controlled.  There are times we're just not going to be happy.  We have to punish, we have to say no, to something wanted.  As much as I love my family...sometimes we are going to face tough days, and that is okay.

5. Happiness doesn't always make you happy.  This is also very true....hurrying my girls from school to gymnastics, can sometimes make me crazy...but when they accomplish something they have been working hard for....the result is pure joy!!

6. Happiness just happened...and you missed it.  Sadly enough, sometimes it is after the fact that I realized how wonderful something was.  Then, I just want to talk about it for the next 2 weeks so that it won't go away.  We have to remember to stop and actually enjoy what is going on around us.....the dishes will wait, it's okay to sit and snuggle with my girls.

I consider myself a pretty optimistic person....but sometimes I feel that I am becoming more negative.  The truth is...no one really wants to be around someone who complains ALL the time.  It is time to be happier....recognize the happy moments, embrace them, and remember them after they have passed.

Enjoy the sunshine this beautiful Sunday!!!

People Pleaser....yes...that is me...if it is okay with you...:)

I am a people pleaser....and that is hard!!!  Now, don't be mistaken...I upset people daily I am sure.  I know I say things that aren't right, I hurt feelings, I ignore something I should have acknowledged, but you don't have to worry...within minutes of doing it, I will feel bad about it.  In fact, if I think I have hurt someones feeling or offended them...I will typically try to make some type of contact with them just to test the waters!!!  Ugh!!!  In some ways I wish I could change.  I mean, I think it would create less stress in my life, but at the same time I like making people happy.


I am also one of those people who feel like I should check with people before I do things...you know make sure it is okay with them.  I justify things that need no justification.  As crazy as it sounds....I tell Mark everything I eat in a day.  Yes!!!  I'm a FREAK!!!!  He could care less that I ate a cupcake...but I tell him and then feel the need to tell him, I was hungry.  Why can't I just eat a stinking cupcake??  The other day I went to sit outside, I walked into our bedroom and said to him..."I'm going to sit outside, is that okay?"  WHAT???  I am an adult...why do I do that???  I am the worst about missing work....you can ask coworkers and family...for me to miss work, everyone will know it is happening and I will have justified my need to miss...and then feel bad about it for the next few hours!  UGH!!!!  I need help!  :)

I see some of these traits in my girls.  Both are pleasers...Autumn will say the things that need to be said so you will be pleased.  Allie can't handle disappointing us.  It's hard being a kid sometimes, it's hard being an adult sometimes.

Two of the people that please me the most!  I love them so much!!!

Thanks to those of you who read.  I hope your enjoyed and don't think I am too crazy!  :)

Reflections.....

I love weekends!  They are "down time" with lots of running around, but usually it is filled with things I love to do!  This weekend, well actually Thursday and Saturday, both girls had soccer games...they both won their games and they both scored their first goals!!!!!  I could not have been more excited!!!  However, the best part wasn't their goals.....it was that when they came off the field after they scored, they both ran straight to me with arms wide open knowing it was time for a hug!  How cool is that?  I mean, I LOVE being a mom!!!!

I love this picture...Allie in the goalie spot with Autumn behind her!!1

                      

We went to church this weekend....this isn't uncommon, but we don't make it every week.  Church was good this week, we actually tried a new church.  It got me thinking about how a church becomes your home.  Growing up my family always went to the same church.  Grace Episcopal Church.  My mom still goes there and we go with her when we go up there.  There are still so many people there that I know....lots of new ones, but still a lot of the same.  That church was my home.  I babysat lots of the kids that came through there....was confirmed there...and got married there.  I loved it.  It is difficult finding the right church.  I don't mean that I don't like churches that I have attended since I've moved away from home, just that it is hard to find a "home church."  I want a place where my kids can grow up.....and always know people are there for them.  I've learned a lot about church since becoming an adult.  I've learned church can be political...which as a child I had no idea.  I've learned that not all churches are friendly...who knew!!!  I've also realized people expect to hear something at church...basically that they are doing a good job.  I don't necessarily think that church should be all about that.  Now, I don't want to be yelled at  for an hour as people tell me how awful I am, or how I will never make it to heaven.  However, I think we should hear to keep trying hard, prioritize your life, and that God is always there.  A church home should be a place that you visit more than an hour a week....not that you physically have to be there more than that...but you should spiritually be there more than that.

Well, that is enough ranting....it has been a good weekend, a hard weekend...but good.

The girls swam this weekend....too chilly for me, but they loved it!  Mark got in with them...me I laid in a chair that I hope to spend a lot of the summer in!

The cold did not bother Autumn at all!!!

Mark is such a good Dad...in the pool with them!!

Yep!!!  My spot!  :)

Mark has helped me celebrate my 1/2 birthday today....we've never celebrated that before (I will have to remember his), but I think he knew I needed it.  I am lucky!

Back when I was a kid.......

I was thinking today (I'm sure the adult term is reflecting) about my childhood today.  I mean, it was an AWESOME weekend, the weather was great and we were outside tons!  The girls played and played.  They rode their bikes, their scooters, played in mud piles, climbed trees, it was great!  I love that they love being outside, especially since so many people, don't play outside anymore!  There was a family that used to live in our neighborhood and they had 2 boys, one was very book smart and the other an athlete.  One afternoon the "book smart" boy was running up and down the street.  He came over and asked me if he was sweating.  I said, "No, not yet...why?"  His response, he got in trouble and was told to go out and play.  He was not allowed back inside until he was sweating!  WOW!!!!  Talk about parenting for a specific child!

I can remember as a kid, when things were a lot different, doing lots of things outside!  My brother and I used to ride our bikes all over our neighborhood...and we had some massive hills!  We would even ride before school!!!!  We got AM radios for our bikes one year from our grandmother and we would listen to the radio as we rode.  We were SUPER COOL!!!

Oh my goodness....I think this was exactly what we had!!!

We also used to play a game called "Swinging Statues."  My brother introduced that game to my girls the last time we saw him!  I remember chasing fire flies and playing on my swing set.


I can remember staying out in the yard, past dark while my dad threw pop ups to me in the yard.  It would be so dark and I couldn't even see the ball and he would tell me I had to catch 10 in a row!  UGH!!!  Thank goodness mom would come out and save me!  :)

I also remember being at the softball park...not like now, where you are there year round, but just from maybe March until July.  We didn't play year round softball.  I started with T-ball.  We didn't go to pitching until we were like 8 or so.  Now, girls start with slow pitch!

I can remember having Kiwanis Kids Day...where we all got to try like a variety of sports....track, softball throw (Jamie always beat me at that), long jump, etc.  It was a GREAT time!

My memories from when I was kid almost always involve being outside, which I think is GREAT!  I hope my girls remember how much fun they had outside!  I hope I remember to stop and just play outside!  It's funny....I picture myself enjoying a lazy day on my patio reading a book and then the weekend ends and I wonder why I didn't have time for it.....the truth is I did.  Instead, I sat on my patio drinking my sweet tea playing on my iphone.  Hmmmm......back when I was a kid we didn't have iphones!  :)