hockey, hbot, and her majesty

soooo much hockey this week!

2 Hockey games- yay! for smarty - he did great
I gave xbox NHL 09 to funny- he and smarty have been playing like mad
Funny and smarty are at a hockey game right now- go preds

sassy just put a tiara on my head- i am now queen mommy and i intend on wearing it as long as i can tonight.


we got an hbot- short for hyper-baric oxygen therapy for our chronic co issue- we will be spending many hours to come in this submarine looking thingie

more to come... my laptop is kaput. must decide to fix said dell or move on to new one... hmmm....

Real Relationships....More on Authenticity

I feel the need to clarify. I have awesome relationships with a number of people- not just those that I go to church with :)- I have great friends from "home" J, B, L, M, N and we are honest, open, and jokingly kid each other all the time. We have a great bond and don't act like we are something we're not. I love that. J has also gotten me involved with a number of other moms in a MOPS group and from the moment of hello- I knew that I was going to really need and enjoy my time with these moms. The very first meeting that I attended was open- to say the least. Need it, love it and wait for it. So, I hope that there are no hurt feelings. Without the above and before mentioned gals, I would be very sad.

Authenticity

We are studying about authentic relationships in our church small group. Within the last 4 years of my life, I have had to come clean and be transparent in my relationships. No longer can I hide under a "mask" that I created that everything was peachy-keen. I grew up in a small town. Many people from that same small town read this blog. Some because they know and love me; some maybe not so much. I don't really blame the latter group, I wasn't always the super-sweet girl that I am now (just kidding- I'm not that arrogant). Growing up, I was raised in the church by wonderful parents. We went to church every Sunday, sat in the second row, I was involved in youth group, etc... but I didn't truly have a daily walk with God. I searched for authenticity within myself. I partied (moderately- this girl has always been drug-free!!!) in high school, in college, in my early twenties, and I renewed my relationship with God at about age 25. However, I didn't truly know an AUTHENTIC relationship with God (where I wasn't trying to control the outcome of prayer) until a few years later when I quit trying to control my life and let Him do what He does best.

Then, we found ourselves in another storm this past year. I won't go into the particulars as this isn't the forum, but God brought us back from the brink of disaster. God knows the true you. I feel that this is a struggle for so many young moms today. We are supposed to be able to handle it all, right? We need to do everything that women/wives/mothers are called to do (yes, Ms. Independent, I said "called"- read Proverbs 31) and keep up with the societal expectations of adorable children in adorable clothes, photos sessions, blogs, scrapbooking, room mom, over-the-top birthday parties, working out (hello, I wanna) and keeping it all together, all the time. Well, I tell ya- I worked my tail off caring for my hubby, young children, discipling said unruly children, cleaning and cleaning and cleaning this house with no end in sight (same with the laundry- not complaining, just sayin...) and I don't have it all together. I was exasperated by the time I got two of our children, myself, my book, Bible, and brownies to small group last night(Hubby had an event). But, I could show that to my dear friends in small group as there are not many pretenses or facades that we put up in our group. I love that about our church. We aren't comparing coa ch diaper bags and bragging about our latest and greatest adventures (yes, I covet their iphones & imacs- i want one- can't help it, but I am in a contract with another carrier and am too frugal to pay the disconnect fee...) I honestly don't believe that there is any "catty" behavior in our church. I don't see jealousy or comparison- I see authenticity. The AUTHENTIC you that you probably don't want the world to see as you feel that it is the ugly side of the truth. No one is perfect. If someone has one area of their life together- I can betcha that they feel that another side is completely falling apart. So, I ask dear blog readers (all 44 or so of you)- can we be authentic?

Choo- Choo, Cutie is Two!

Cutie is TWO! T* homas the t * rain was the theme as our Cutie Pants is obsessed! I love planning parties! The wind was whipping last weekend, so most of my outdoor balloons ran away before this outdoor photo. We had "Cutie" (real name omitted) Station, Gift Station, Color Station, Chugga Chugga Cheese, Choo-Choo Chips, Gordon Grapes, Mavis Mix, Percy Pizza Rolls, Cranky Cookies (all kiddo food) and more... Cutie had a blast and I am so thankful for our guests! Not pictured due to lack of photos are meme and boppa, papa, aunt ann (whom I am so happy got to attend!!!), Uncle Steve. Thank you all for coming!

Sweet daddy helped take photos all day and helped with the set-up the night before. Thanks Funny!

Cutie wanted nothing to do with this cake at the time of the above photo. I love how mom and I are trying to get him excited- look at our faces!

Mom, Aunt Jen and Me!

Color Station

Cutie is paci-free and on his way to three..... now- what about those diapers??? Potty time!

It's Garbage!

That's right! It IS Garbage!

Cutie pants has made a life-altering decision. He is now a big boy.

Last night, he decided that he wanted his most-prized possession, his "paaccciii" to be trash. If you follow our blog, you know that I have tried hard over the last few months to banish this paci. Cutie turns two in 9 days and I really wanted him to stop using the paci at around two. Soooooo, we had made paci only a nap and night-night thing. He found one last night and put it in his mouth (he stashes them) and we told him "no, you're a big boy! Daddy doesn't have a paci, "brother" doesn't have a paci! Why don't you go throw that paci in the trash" He said "YEAH!" and went and did it! Now, I should say that he HAS thrown it away before and we were finished, but then he found one in his secret hiding spot and we were back to square one. But,this is really it! He cried for it when he went to bed last night and he did wake up at about 4am, but he slept for the most part. He hasn't asked for it yet today, so we're good. I am strong. This will last. I put together a quick slideshow to show Cutie's affection for his best friend, his paci, but I have no idea how to post it b/c it is a pdf. If anyone knows how... please let me know... P.S Cutie does have a security blanket and two stuffed animals that are must-haves in his bed, so I am not a terrible mother. He still has his other favorite things...I am a little sad. He is so grown up already. It went by so fast.

I did a favor to us all and covered up the actual "trash" in the trash can with a paper towel.