Summer Hiking

One of our favorite summer activities is going on hikes.  There is a group in our county that has joined with the library's summer reading club that offers thirty scavenger hunts at different parks all over the county.  We get a booklet that has directions to each park and then directions on where we need to go in order to find the rubbing, which is a post that has a rubbing on it.  We take a sheet of paper that comes with the booklet and hold it over the rubbing and rub the picture through the paper.  Once it's all complete we hand it in to the library so the kids can get a prize and then go into a drawing for another prize.  We have done this for the last three years but have yet to complete all thirty.  I'm not sure if we'll get to all thirty this year but we are sure trying. 

Last week my husband took off of work to do our bathroom renovation.  After a week of hard labor he wanted to do something fun so on Monday, which was also Independence Day, he joined us on one of the hikes.  It was the first hike he did with us this summer.  It was at a place I had never heard of before - which is why I love doing these hikes.  I learn about places we didn't know existed before.  This particular hike was labeled "hard" since the path went up hill for over a mile.  There were some waterfalls along the way.  In the midst of our hike came some rain but we were in the woods covered with several trees and barely got wet.  It was a nice way to spend the day but after the hike was complete my four year old became exhausted and the plan to do another hike didn't happen.  She had a few scratches on her leg from brushing up against some sticks and even though she handled it like a tough girl over time it started bothering her.  I think the whining and tears mostly came from being tired. 

The hike was located at an Indian Museum.  Someday we'll have to go back to do the tour. 

 

 

Sloppy Waffles

My kids are huge fans of the Nickelodeon show Sam and Cat, and yes my husband and I enjoy it as well.  The show has been cancelled but they still air all the old episodes.  In one episode, Cat (Ariana Grande) mentioned her idea about Sloppy Waffles, which is Sloppy Joe's but with waffles instead of bread.  My husband loved the idea and I said I would make it some time. 

Months passed and we still hadn't tried Sloppy Waffles. 

Last Thursday, the day before the boys were to leave for camping with the scouts, I had the idea of making a fun dinner.  It was a very bad week, much like today, and I just wanted to do something fun.  So I made Sloppy Waffles. 

I was expecting a better reaction from my husband but he seemed to enjoy them.  My daughter does not like waffles or pancakes so she just ate the Sloppy Joe part.  My son liked it.  I may make them again.  I have to say, it was really good.  I'm impressed. 

Not A Good Start To Summer

Hello ... it's the first day of summer.  I can't say it was a good start of the season.  It was rather ... terrible.  Aside from the kids' swimming lessons in the morning we stayed home.  I was looking forward to an action packed, fun summer but so far it's not working out that well.  We do have many plans scattered throughout the summer months but so far it's just this and that and not much of anything.  Also, because of the kids behavior lately I've had to do a lot more punishing and disciplining than anything.  I hate it.  I really do.  Today was a very bad day.

My kids are not good listeners.  They also break the same rules over and over.  I tell them not to do something and within minutes they are doing exactly what I told them not to.  It's an every day thing and I'm just at my wits end.  I cannot take it anymore.  I've raised my voice more times than I can count.  I don't know what else to do.  Calmly speaking to them, time outs, sending them to their room, nothing works.  Screaming at the top of my lungs and scaring them ... that works.  And I hate that it works.  I always said I would never be the mom that yells but here I am.  I am that mom.  It really makes me wonder if I have the patience to be a stay-at-home mother.

The sad part is in just a few months my youngest daughter will be starting kindergarten and those days of spending all day everyday with the babies and toddlers will be over.  I will have two school aged children and it will be time for me to look for a job outside of the home.  I know that once I have that job I will look back on these years at home with my kids and I will miss it and I will regret the attitude I had when things got rough.  Sometimes I think to myself I am not cut out for this motherhood stuff and it hurts that those feelings could even cross my mind.

The days are rough.  Today was especially exhausting.  At the end of the night when my son gave out a sigh about reading I threw my hands up, stood up and told my husband to take over.  I stayed in my room while he helped them get ready for bed and tucked them in.  That's how exhausting the day was.  Don't judge.

I've really been having trouble lately.  My husband and I got into a huge argument today because he just couldn't understand my frustration towards the kids.  He came home and after knowing what a day I had he asked, "Why are you angry?"  I wasn't angry.  I was tired.  I was frustrated.  The anger came soon after, though.  It was a bad day.  A very bad day.  A let's forget this even existed kind of day.

My husband and kids are asleep and as much as my tired eyes would like to go to bed too I need to take some time for myself.

I'm certain those who followed me are now wondering why my blog says blog removed.  I kept the same blog but decided to change the URL.  It was time.  I may even change the title so it's no longer going to be A Little Bit of Sunshine.  I'm not feeling so sunshiney anymore.  

My Ballerina's First Recital

Last Saturday was my little girl's first dance recital.  I always wanted to have a girl who took dance classes so it excites me that my wish has come true and that she enjoys it so much.  The entire show was great.  It was titled "Night At The Art Museum" which is a story that takes place in Paris with two girls who are artists and get some inspiration from a famous artist.  They view different art pieces which come to life.  My daughter was in the youngest class so when they walked onto the stage there were a lot of "awwww" coming from the audience.  She did great and I was so proud.

 

 

 

 She's eager to continue with classes after summer vacation.  I'm so excited for her.  I took ballet when I was younger but only lasted 5 1/2 years.  I was bored with it but now as I look back I wish I would have continued.  I will not pressure my daughter to continue if she decides to no longer pursue dance but I really, really hope she keeps going.  

 Here I am before my first ballet recital as a "butterfly." 

School's Out For Summer

I have been fighting a cold for exactly a week.  I don't think I've ever been sick this long and I don't know why it won't go away.  It seems to be worse at night time.  I haven't slept well at all this week.  This is why it's passed midnight and I'm sitting here on the couch trying to stop this continuous cough.  I can feel the mucus draining down my throat.  Gross!  I just don't know what to do to get rid of this annoyance and I'm trying hard to avoid seeing the doctor.  I just want sleep!  Last night I slept on the couch because my coughing was driving my husband insane and kept him from sleeping as well. So, I sat on the computer and did some writing.  I have always wanted to be an author and have been working on the same novel for many years, struggling to get through the first chapter.  It's mainly because I lack the time to get it accomplished.  Someday my dream will happen.  Someday.

In other news, today my son finished his last day as a second grader.  I can't believe it.  He has done so well thus far in school.  He is above grade level in math and reading.  He does need to work on spelling and handwriting but he will get it eventually.  I truly do believe that the English language is hard and not everything is spelled as it sounds.  It's so tricky.  As for handwriting he's a lefty, as am I, and I never seemed to be able to write eligible.  These things that he has trouble with I plan on working with him during the summer in preparation for third grade.  I cannot believe he is now entering the third grade.

My experience in third grade was horrible.  My teacher was the meanest person I had ever met in my life.  She called me stupid and told me I would never amount to anything.  I wasn't the only student she treated this way but it did hit me hard.  I believed it and from that point on I came to hate school and didn't see a point in trying.  It's a shame I allowed one ignorant teacher to effect my entire outlook of school and learning but unfortunately I did.  Now my son is entering the third grade, a year I hated so much.  I'm sure he will not have a teacher like mine.  Oh, I won't allow it!  But academically speaking he is going to be faced with more challenges.  I believe in him.  He's very smart.  I still worry.  Doesn't every good mother?

Now summer vacation has started for both of my children and I have many, many plans to keep them busy. 

Mommy Got A Crown

I had a dentist appointment this morning to get a crown put in.  As I was getting my daughter ready and told her why I had to go she said with amazement, "you're getting a crown?"

Well, yeah, of course!  I am a princess, you know.

Okay, so I'm not a princess.  I'm just your average person ... with a history of having not so good teeth.  Gah!  This was my third root canal.  Not cool.

My husband was at work and my son was in school so I had to take the little miss with me.  She sat so quietly and nicely as I was getting the work done.  The dentist couldn't get over how well behaved she was.  He had told me awful stories of other kids who have visited before.  One kid poured soda into the fish tank while his mother just sat there and laughed.  The poor fish didn't make it.  Another kid threw toys at the wall leaving dents and marks.  My goodness.  We discussed how horrible some parents can be.  I mean, I don't like to judge another parent but come on, laughing while your child dumps soda into a fish tank?  So not cool!

The entire time I was at the dentist he just kept going on and on about how great she is and how great kids come from great parents.  He even let her pick a toy from the prize box and gave her a $1, which is something he has done for both kids in the past whether it was for their appointment or mine.  Geez ... these kids are getting rich from going to the dentist while I go broke!

It really feels good when someone compliments my children on their behavior and also on my parenting.  I know I'm not perfect ... not even close.  My kids can and have been out of hand at times.  Hey, they are kids. Kids will be kids.  There are times when I feel like I'm losing my mind because they just won't listen.  However, for the most part, they do very well when we are in public.  I'm thankful for that.  My son's teachers and classmates have told me numerous times that he is very quiet in school.  I asked him why and he said, "because we're not supposed to talk in class."  My kids do listen, maybe even too good.  At home it's another story.  Sometimes I feel like a broken record when it comes to having to tell those two to stop doing something.  It's nice to know they are behaving when they are supposed to be and it's nice that others are noticing. 

Preschool Graduation

Well, our youngest has graduated from preschool last week.  It was definitely an emotional time for me and she didn't take it so well either.  She loved going to school and loved her teachers and classmates.  She made lots of friends and most of them she probably won't see ever again.  The year went by so fast.  Sending both our kids to preschool was the best decision we could have made.  She went from knowing so little to knowing so many things.  She has learned how to write the alphabet and numbers.  She knows the days of the week and the months of the year.  She can spell her name and also spell MOM and DAD.  She also knows how to spell her brother's name.  This summer I plan to work more with her before entering kindergarten.  Kindergarten?  Ugh.  I am not ready to see my baby enter the world of public school.  Time goes by so fast and it's not fair.  In our district kindergarten is full-day and I know it's going to be long and exhausting for her but she's a social butterfly and will do well.

I am so proud of her and how far she's come since the beginning.

Aside from learning she also went on many field trips and I was able to join her for each one.

The fire station where she learned about fire safety and had the chance to see the different equipment used during a fire and a tour through one of the trucks. 

Story time and a tour of the library.

 

A hike through a local park getting educated about different animals and trees by a tour guide.

 

A tour at the dairy where we learned how milk is made and even got to meet a few cows and goats.

There were also a few concerts.  Halloween, Christmas and graduation.

 

 This milestone really hit me hard.  I was in tears throughout her last day of school.  I'm an emotional person and can't handle change very well.  I am also struggling with the fact that my kids are growing.  Of course, the growing is going to happen and I am very proud of both my children.  I want to be able to keep my children little forever but also can't wait to see them grow up too.  

So, we have another graduate from preschool.  I am so proud.