Growing up!

      I try to be a good mom, and my husband...he's a fantastic father.  So imagine our surprise when we finally took Clarabella to the optometrist and discovered she needed glasses. We had been putting it off because there were only two weeks of school left and our yearly appointments are "summer" things. However, when Clara came home two days in a row with severe headaches and then stopped dancing in ballet class one evening we knew we couldn't wait anymore. Yep, we felt like really delinquent parents when she came back with a prescription. She looks adorable in them though. Now Jak thinks he needs some too.

"I Did It My Way!"

So we know that it is important to allow your children to express their "individuality," and I whole-heartedly agree; for now; at this point; in this moment in time, etc. But how will I feel later on in their lives?

Will I agree with their self-expression if it involves pierced body parts other than ears? Will I agree with various colored hair that leads people to believe my children are some mutant humans that have ties to the peacock family? Furthermore, will I support my children if they rally against something I'm in favor of? Will I support their choice of profession? Will I support their faith, if they decide to follow a different denomination than that in which they were raised?

My answer for now;

I honestly don't know what I'll do, or how I'll react.

I do know that I love them with all my heart. I know that my world revolves around them. I know that I have made mistakes and will continue to do so, but not without the best of intentions. At this present moment in their lives I can say, "I did it my way." However, I am well aware of there being a time when they will look at me, smile in that special way, and say, "Hey Mom, I need to do it MY WAY." I pray that I will have the strength to accept that with a smile. I pray that I will have raised them to make the best decisions. I also pray that their father can accept it as well. You might need to pray for him too.

Look Honey...I rigged it...

Yes, this may be a long story.

The week of Christmas my mother, aunt and I were doing some last minute shopping and stopped at a local educator store. They had a cup of caterpillars on the counter and I inquired about them. The lady behind the counter said that the company had sent them a box-full accidentally. What??? Really??? She asked if we wanted them...so of course I thought sure, why not? Clara would loved to watch the metamorphosis take place and Jak may be interested in some part of it so sure, we'll take the cup of "callapittars."

My family and I finish up paying for our presents and then get ready to leave and the lady behind the counter comes out from the back room with a box; a rather large box. I managed to peek inside before I got it to the car and voila; there were seven little cups of caterpillars. Wow...we are going to have a LOT of observation going on and a LOT of metamorphosissing going on. (Yes, I know that isn't an official word; but I liked it.) Today we had some of our first friends arrive...so we had to make their house up quickly. I don't know about you, but I don't have a lot of butterfly habitats hanging around my house so we had to rig something up pretty fast. And so we did...

Like it?

The hatchlings seem happy and we have lots more to go. We'll keep you posted on their progress.

I Make No Apologies....yet...

PROMISES, PROMISES!!

Here it is the new year and many people are in the midst of making their resolutions. So what kind of resolutions are you making? Are you promising to do something more or are you resolving to quit doing something else? Are you going to lose weight? Are you going to take less for granted? What shall it be?

I don't honestly know where to begin for my "new me." I have many things I could improve upon and the one I will begin with is my apologies. I find myself "sorry" too often for too many things and quit often there is nothing I should be apologizing for. I have sincere thoughts and a sound mind so why should I apologize for expressing my opinions when asked for them? So therefore....I will NOT.

YEARLY PHOTOS

We finally got the children to the photographer. I love taking their Christmas pictures and seeing how much they've grown throughout the year. This year we decided to do some more casual looking pictures and I think they enjoyed it. I know that I did. We really got to see their personalities this time as well.