What happened to simple days?

Today was just a nice relaxed day. I had my sister (in-law) over, and she made some BOMB vegetarian chili, as well as some mouth watering banana bread. Ooooohhhh..... yah, it was gooood! I haven't had banana bread in forever! 

It was nice to have her over and not feel like I had to entertain her. She and I just chatted while she was raiding my kitchen baking. Then a little later we sat on the couch together and played Scramble With Friends, as well as Draw Something (apps on the iPhone). She attempted to make paper stars with me, but we quickly figured out that construction paper isn't the paper you want to use to make those lol! We then cut up vegetables for her chili, and she threw it all together. It was fun! We were even wearing *GASP* sweatpants and t-shirts! Yes. We were not wearing jeans, we were not wearing makeup, and we barely did our hair (she had a ponytail, and I had mine barely brushed lol!). We did have brushed teeth though :) Hanging with my sister was like going back in time... when being with your friend was all about being happy with the simple things.

What happened to those days anyhow? Do you remember going over to your friend's house just to hang out and watch TV? Or maybe just to braid each other's hair and do each other's chores together? My sister and I were just talking about that. Now that I'm all "grown up", it seems like those days of simplicity are no longer here... If I were to have a friend over, it would be really hard for me not to attempt to make my house look like a showroom. I mean, yah I picked up and swept before my sister came over, but... I dunno. For some reason I think us women freak out before company comes over while we go to great lengths to clean our house like there's no tomorrow! What's with that? Enough with the games ladies. Let's be real. We have kids.... our house is constantly a mess, dishes do get piled in the sink, we have piles and piles of laundry hidden in our closets (because that's the only door you can shut away so much stuff), our substitute for dinner is cereal on busy nights, we don't open our mail which creates a pile of papers on our counter, and our dinner table is usually cluttered with a project we are working on! Please say it's not just me!!

Ain't too proud to beg

For God's forgiveness....

Leonidas does BMX racing (yes, at 5 years old.. don't get me started). So this is the last month they are having races. Wednesday the sun hit the sky nice and bright, so I thought... perfect! After school the boys and I went down to the race track to practice. Don Juan can get around the track on his walmart bike while Leonidas races around the track on his arm & leg bike. I say arm & leg because that's what it seemed to cost us. My hubby thankfully decided to sacrafice his summer football camp earnings to cover the cost, but I consider myself fairly frugal... spending that much on a 5 year old was a tough decision. What convinced me was his constant prayers since he could ride his bike w/o wheels @ 3 yrs old.... "Jesus Lord, please let me ride my bike... Amen!" He's been praying that same prayer for 2 years straight, & he doesn't EVER miss saying it.

So anyway! We raced that night & Leonidas took 1st place! I was so proud of him. He didn't stop for anything. He raced hard & totally earned it. He went to get in line where they offer a trophy, a medal, or $2 back from what you paid to enter in the race. I reminded him to get a trophy (you know... because it's bigger and all..), but when he stepped off of the platform I saw him holding a medal. It did have 1st place on it, but for a split second I was disappointed. I thought, why not take the bigger item? HA! Like I even earned the trophy, let alone the right to tell my son what he should pick.  Then ugliest thing came to my mind.... Angel... that was PRIDE! *Shiver* Yech! Do you see how easily that snuck in? I wanted the trophy for him. I thought it was better than the medal, but you know what? If getting the medal makes him happy, then I am good! This wasn't my choice to make! Thank goodness the thought was only for a second, but I am still acknowledging it as a moment of weakness.

This society has caused us to look for the bigger and better each time. Whatever happened to simple things? Cell phones for example: If it doesn't include internet, it's considered out dated! When I was younger, cell phones used to look like bricks!! Even before cell phones we had pagers (I totally aged myself with that... didn't I?). I mean, seriously... I remember when I was 11 years old. I walked home alone, I had to wait until I got home to call anyone, we didn't have call waiting, didn't have caller id... heck, we didn't even have an answering machine there for a while! During dinner, if the phone rang... you let the answering machine get it. For goodness sakes, my mother traveled with my brother and I (he was 10 & I was 7 years old) ACROSS the country MANY times WITHOUT a cell phone.... we are still alive today. Now, people go back home if they forget their cell phone, they answer it (or text) when they're driving, check their emails obsessively, and if someone doesn't answer their cell phone we wonder why they couldn't answer our call.... it's all just a mess!! Instant gratification does not teach us patience!! Can I get an AMEN?!

All the children who independent! Throw your hands at me!

WOW! At some point in every mother's life there has to be a time when she looks at her kids and thinks, "Are you already able to do that all by yourself?!" Yah, I'm at that point.

My older son (dang I should make a nickname for him.... how about Leonidas ) is 5 years old, and is a strong willed boy. At times he has the most gentle and caring heart ever. He's willing to do anything and everything for his brother, his father, or I. Then, there are those other times when he's more like a "leader". You - know, that fiery 5 year old boy who thinks he's head of the household. It's really fun.

My younger son (our little guy who we will call Don Juan) is an absolute heartthrob! You could have his hair long, medium, short and he will look just as adorable as ever (by the way... we have done all of those hairstyles on both boys. People thought we were insane. My hubby and I thought it was fun). He's 4, but seriously the size of a big 3 yr old. He probably gets his size from me. I'm short & petite. By short I mean like "middle-school-girls-are-taller-than-me" short. Well, actually....  everyone I meet is taller than me.

So my Don Juan is a laid back kid with a pretty much go-with-the-flow kinda attitude, and my Leonidas has a I-need-a-schedule-and-nothing-should-be-out-of-order kinda attitude. Leonidas is very independent, where Don Juan takes his time learning stuff. Don Juan would much rather have Leonidas do things for him, but he will participate when he feels like helping. It's so interesting to see 2 children so close in age (12 month and 5 days apart), but be so different.

The reason I have to point this out is because now Leonidas can get his own bowl, pour his own cereal, and pour his own milk. I gotta say... it's really, really, really nice not having to do everything, but fairly sad at the same time. Look out world! Here they come :)

Love & Hate

Anyone have a love & hate relationship with their computer? I should say more love/hate towards the internet. I love the fact that I have an endless amount of information at my fingertips. I love that I don't have to use any money to develop pictures, get an envelope, and pay for stamps so that my family can enjoy the pictures that I take. I love that I can look up recipes with just the ingredients that I have in my pantry, & the wonderful internet will drum up something that I can make for dinner  (thank you supercook.com). I love the insane ideas I get to repurpose items in my house. I love all the free advice on sewing & crafting... I could go on & on, but I'll stop right there. Now, I don't allow my kids to use the word hate because that's just too strong of an emotion to express at a young age... Heck, I don't even like saying hate... but let me tell you I really do hate how time consuming it can get!!! I'm finding myself addicted to searching for crafts, checking my emails, checking craigslist, looking for good recipes... ugh! I know... fine time to start a blog right?! Whoever thought of the iPhone was a evil genius too! I don't think I use my phone to make very many phone calls. Most of it is txt msgs, emails, or using safari to search the internet. How did I get sucked into this vortex of instant gratification? I can only thank the flesh and sinful side of me to allow such a dependency. I am going to start limiting myself & my time on the internet. I do this with my kids & how much TV or video games they're allowed to play. Why? When they continually play video games or watch TV, they are less likely to engage in conversation, or even listen to me. They get so engulfed with visual stimulation that when it's time to sit down and be quiet it's almost impossible for them to do so. Same with me. I lay down for bed, and instead of allowing my mind to clear itself enough to fall asleep I grab my phone & pass the time on pinterest (which is highly addicting). Next thing I know a hour has passed by & I'm still not asleep!! So today it stops. Most of my posts will be in the afternoon time (during my boys nap). That way I can think, have time to relax, and write about what's on my mind. I still curse the internet, but love it at the same time. I just need to ween myself off the addiction :) Anyone else with me?

The ants go marching one by one

You know what's really funny? Ants don't really march one by one... Can you tell I'm bored? I'm at Costco & I'm watching people who showed up before 10am (opening time for Costco), and I'm wondering to myself.... Why the heck are people getting out of their car to line up outside like it's Black Friday?! Do you really need to be the first one in the store? I mean really. What if someone is a faster walker & they get out of the store before you? Did you save that much time? I find our way of competing daily interesting, don't you? Like when you're on the freeway & someone is next to you.... Do you find yourself pressing on the gas so that they don't pass you? No? Just me huh? Well next time I see you on the freeway.... I'll let you pass :)