Hand Print Flower Pots

I'm taking a small break from Halloween decor to share a flower pot my Little's and I made for Grandma.  So simple, and Grandma adores it, of course! 

What You Need:

Any size Terracotta pot and base (we used a medium size)

Paint designed for outdoor use (found at any craft store)

Paint brush

Sealer

Little hands and feet

Potting Soil

Plant




1) I choose to paint the outer rim of the base plate and the top rim of the pot. This isn't necessary, but I think it makes it all look nice and neat. Let this dry.


2) Paint little hands and feet and press on to the pot in any design you like. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

3) Spray sealer. I did two coats, letting it dry between each one. This may not be necessary, since we are using outdoor paint, but it can't hurt! Allow to dry completely, according to directions on sealant used.

4) Plant your chosen plant in the pot, and enjoy!

Ignore the bottom of the pot... this one has been outside for the last month, and obviously needs a good cleaning! :)

Linking up to:
Get Your Craft On Thursday, Cheap Thrills Thursday, Transformation Thursdays, Strut Your Stuff Thursday, It's Party Time, A Crafty Soiree, Make It Yours, Hooking Up With HOH, I'm Lovin It Fridays, Weekend Waunder

Teaching About Life... One Medicine Cup At A Time

Life. Isn't. Fair. 

You don't always get what you want.  It's not always rainbows and lollipops.  Sometimes you just have to do things, because you have to, whether you want to or not. 

We don't really want our kids to know this though, do we?  We secretly want them to live in the world of rainbows and lollipops as long as they can, because truthfully, it's a long fall down from the world of perfection. 

That's why, this morning, as I stood over my daughter feeling frustrated and sad and (I admit) even a little angry I found myself struggling to explain WHY my little girl HAD to TAKE HER MEDICINE.  At four, there are reasoning skills... and reasoning skills expect explanations.  But at four, our explanations will never really be good enough. 

 

 

I explained as best I could about the allergy monsters that were living in her nose and throat and chest. I explained that the clear, sludgy, strong smelling liquid would make her feel better, and that it would keep her from feeling worse.
And so, in exasperation, Gator mumbled in the most dramatically groggy voice she could muster at 7am that "This just isn't fair". And my brilliant, make it all better answer, you may ask?
Life. Isn't. Fair.
Because, well, it isn't. And it won't be tomorrow morning, or the one after that. But with those simple words I felt a few lollipops fall from the sky and crumble at my feet.
Growing up is happening every day, all around me, and even within me if I'm totally honest with myself. And it all hinges on life lesson number #1.
Life. Isn't. Fair.

Preschool Mornings

Can someone please tell me I'm not the only one?!

This morning was hell a little crazy around our house.  Seriously.  Quick summary....

I woke up a half hour late (thank you Boo for crying all night, poor things gums are killing him).  Gator thought it would be fun to not listen to a word I said.  After being forced to listen, Gator thought doing things as slow as possible was a great idea.  Boo wouldn't wake up... refused... changed his diaper and had him fully dressed and he was still snoring.  Dante the doggie refused to go out in the rain.  Gator refused to sit still for me to put her hair up...

It was just one of those days. 

I strive to send Gator out the door every day with a smile.  I started this long ago when we would have Monkey (my *extra* child) to get off to school.  I can't see sending my Little's off to school knowing that they are already having a bad day... how could school go well then?

So this morning, as I pulled Gator from room to room in a desperate attempt to get her teeth brushed and her shoes tied and her put up, I cringed when I heard my own voice sounding... so... mean.  Was that me??  I'm not a yeller.  I'm not usually even a mean voice mommy.  But this morning I was at my breaking point... and there was no walking away to calm down... there was only a "get your backpack and get in the car right this second!  Stop poking your brother!  We're late!  Why did you take your lunch box out of your back pack?  Get in the car now, now, now!"

I almost cried after the kids were strapped in their carseats (and I had run back inside to retrieve my forgotten lifeline cell phone). 

As I pulled out of the driveway I looked over my shoulder at Gators miserable little face.  "Hey Gator, I love you." "I love you too, Momma."  "I'm sorry this morning was so crazy, and I'm sorry I had to get on to you."  Silence... "I wish I didn't have to get one to you... we'll have to try harder to help each other tomorrow morning, ok?"  Silence...

I let it go.  I turned up the music, I sang along, and I watched her little face.  A few minutes later, out of no where, a voice from the backseat began to sing along to the music as well.  When the song ended, she started to tell me about her day.  I heard about her new partner at school, and which centers she hoped to go to.  I heard about how excited she was to turn in her scarecrow project (which needs its own post).  And by the time we pulled into the school parking lot (and parked in the muddy grass because there were no spots left), she was her chatty self again. 

She skipped down the sidewalk, bounced into her classroom, and made her way to her seat with a smile.  We were late.  She didn't even care.  As I kissed and hugged her by SHE told ME to have a good day, and I laughed.  Oh how we are two different people!  At her age, this morning would have left me wounded all day long.  My Gator though, sometimes I think she's invincible.  And she always makes me smile. 

Ten Things to Smile About from September

1. My baby boy turned one, and wore his cake perfectly!

2)  We found our new home in Texas (just a matter of getting us to it now)!

3) Beautiful weather and beautiful places to enjoy it in.

4) Time with family that loves us and who we love dearly.

5) A wonderful pre-school teacher who Gator can't wait to see every morning. 

             

6)This hair.

7) Starting my very last class in my degree program!

8) Thoughts about this man, oh how I miss him and can't wait to be in his arms again!

9) Boo's first hair cut.

10) Gator's dance classes starting up again, and she's loving it. 

Join in on the monthly smiles. 

My Greatest Joy

Lately the sense of heaviness has settled on my shoulders.  Life has been so crazy lately, and everything just keeps flying by.  My baby girl, my tiny dancer, my Gator... she's a preschooler now.  When did that happen?  I drop her off at class every morning and while I'm trying to hold on for an extra second she's trying to push me out the door.  She doesn't always hold my hand anymore, but runs ahead, ready to take on life and everything it throughs at her.  I'm still trying to protect her from it all.  She wants to go off with Papa every Saturday morning.  I still want to cuddle in front of the cartoons.  She wants me to wait in the waiting room at dance class, because only babies need their moms.  I still peek through the door, unable to take my eyes off of her.  She's growing up so fast.  How did I never notice this before?  How did I miss the changes?  It seems like over night the baby girl turned into a little woman.
 
I'm seeing these same changes in my baby boy.  I think it's harder this time because I know we plan for him to be our last.  He is my baby, and every milestone he passes by is one less thing I'll get to experience again.  I feel a little silly looking at it all this way.  I want my babies to grow and thrive and live life to the fullest.  But watching their little lives fly by is all but breaking my heart.  My littles are my everything. 

So now I have a preschooler who is off to take one the world, and a toddler who is wobbling around with a cool new haircut.  And I smile, because i adore them, but inside a fight back a tear every once in a while, because I know I can't hold on forever.  They will always be my babies, but they just aren't really babies anymore. 

On a side note - Oops!  I missed Share a Post Saturday completely!  My Gator has been so sick and yesterday was devoted to her and to school work.  Hopefully I'll be back into the swing of things next week! 

The perfect day for a stroll...

I was quite overwhelmed last Sunday.  Finals were due for my psych class on Monday, ALLLL of the clothing and baby items I hoped to drop of this week for the children's consignment sale still needed to be ironed, hung, labled, and entered on the computer (I didn't get that done, by the way), both kids + my teenage brother were running around the house like crazy people, the house needed cleaned, the clothes needed washed, you see where I'm going here...

As I stood looking out the front windows I noticed the trees swaying in the wind, and the leaves drifting to the ground... and I realized what a beautiful day we were missing out on.  It was 11:30, and we were all still in pajamas, what was I thinking?  So we quickly changed clothes and the four of us, Gator, Boo, the little bro, and I, headed out the door for a stroll.  We are so blessed to have property that backs up to this....

And that looks out onto a beautiful field where we wondered around and took these....

And when we finally made it back home we were loving being outside so much that we played in the yard for a while....

And all I can say is we really needed that!  We're beginning to just barely get a taste of the Fall weather here in Florida.  It's still hot, but it's not HOT, and the breeze is always a welcome change.  By the afternoon I just couldn't help myself, and I dug a couple containers out and started to put out the fall decor. 

My favorite season is right around the corner! 

But I just want to say I love you...

I tucked my Gator into bed last night, snuggled her up, kissed her forehead, and told her I loved her.  She laid there quietly while I was walking away, and then I heard a little voice call out, "Mommy?"  I knew if I went back in the room I might not get away without tears running down her little face, so I called back from where I was and asked what she needed. 

The little voice responded with, "I need another hug". 

I almost told her she was fine and to go to sleep.  I almost said not right now, I can't come.  I almost just said no.  But instead I had a thought.  I thought about how blessed I am to have that little voice calling out to me.  I thought about how absolutely perfect the little owner of that voice makes my life.  I thought about what it would be like to not have the chance for that hug she was asking for.  And so I climbed up from my chair and walked back to her.  She looped her arms around my neck in what could only be called a bear hug, and left a slobbery mark on my cheek with her kisses.  I once again tucked her in, kissed her, and walked away.  Moments later, the same little voice called out once again.  I again asked what it is that she needed, and reminded her that she needed to go to sleep or she would be too sleepy to get up for school in the morning.

The little voice responded with, "But I just wanted to say I love you". 

There have been too many times when my child's wants have gone unrecognized, because I'm too exhausted, too busy, too overwhelmed.  She calls for glasses of water when she is trying not to fall asleep.  She begs for another book when she wants someone to sit with her.  She complains of itchy sheets when she wants an excuse to get up.  And I always say no, say go to sleep, say not right now. 

But how could a mommy say no to that little voice, when they just want to tell you they love you?  I am so blessed to have this little girl in my life.  She makes every single day a challenge, sometimes she makes me crazy, she is stubborn and feisty and a little bit chaotic.  But she makes my days worth waking up to, and my nights worth making that extra trip to her bedside. 

Because really, I just wanted to say I love you one more time too. 

Go on, try not to cry!

I'm going to call this one a Must Read for Parents.  I was lucky enough to chance across this post, and it brought tears to my eyes.  Maybe it's just me and I'm just at one of those points in my life where these words truly spoke to me.  But whether that is true or not, the words that Fonda has written here are true and touching.

So go read Holding On and Letting Go over at tweenstoteens.  :)

A small exert:

"But you only get this part...this holding on...by letting go.
And it's scary because you are never sure that if you let go, they will come back to you.  There is a moment of free choice where they could choose to run far and fast.
But you hold your breath and take the risk.  And their turning to you is so much sweeter than your holding on."

On a side note - I think Saturdays are from this point on going to be "Share-a-post Saturdays".  There are so many great bloggers out there, and I'm always finding posts I want to share with others!  So thanks Fonda for inspiring something new! :)

The Family Tree Project...

It was due today... We've had all week... we did it last night.  Can someone say slacker mommy??  In my defence, I did have a plan in my head for it by Tuesday!  This is my preschoolers 2nd project so far this year...  we were given a tree cut out, and had to make a family tree, being as creative as possible.  Now, I've got creativity.  Extra time is all I'm a little short on at the moment. 

Anyway, I think it turned out cute... the kiddos are the bugs crawling up the tree and everyone else are leaves on the tree.  We kept it pretty simple, considering how huge are family is and all.  I was nice (trust me, I was Nice with a capital N) and included my mother-in-law.  We have had our issues over the years [I swear I don't hold grudges ;)] but at the moment she seems to be playing nice... may be the whole we don't talk and are living half the country away thing though, who knows.  I did not choose to include my brother-in-law... some in-law behavior is simply not to be forgiven.  My brilliant husband never even questioned my decisions about who to include though.. love him! 

Piaget, self-actualization, and how I love my babies...

So Jean Piaget has been dead for how long?  Not the point though I guess... what matters are the physiological theories that he has left behind...

Self Actualization.

It's an interesting thing really, and relates a great deal to the way I've been feeling lately.  Well, not the concept itself but the way that it relates to parenting really.  You see, I've decided that it is impossible (almost) for a parent to strive for any type of self awareness while having young children.  At least not when we consider good parents.  I'm sure the parents who choose to put themselves before their children are able to think of themselves and move themselves forward in the world...

As for those of us who adore our children, and (whether intentionally or not) always put them first, we often loose ourselves after our babies are born.  I patiently (and boredly) sit in the waiting room of the dance academy every week while my little girl twirls and taps her way to happiness.  I sit quietly holding my son while he nurses to sleep, ignoring my thirst or need to use the bathroom at times.  The closest I've come to a mani/pedi since my daughter was born was given to me by said daughter.  I used to schedule my bi-monthly nail appointments weeks in advance, now I find myself far too aware of the waisted money and waisted time that the appointments will cost me.  I used to write, and read, for pleasure. Now I color and read children's books six at a time.  I use to stay out all night... now I'm just up all night.. at home... cuddling a teething baby or soothing a sick child. 

I'm a completely different person now.  I can't say that I'm striving to find myself and achieve self-actualization... at the moment, my only true calling is to be Mommy, and those of my children late at night when they awake, scared, in the dark.  I may not be achieving monumental success at the moment... and I may not achieve self-actualization in this life (I doubt I will!)... but I do
 know that I would rather love every minute of raising my babies then find the real me in the mix. 

Maybe one day, after my kids are old enough to wipe their own noses and buckle their own seat belts, I'll find a little time to think about just me...

But as much as I try to carve out a little time to write here or a little time for a manicure there, I will never again be the self-absorbed individual of my high school days.  And I don't mind that at all.  My purpose in this world is no longer what it once was.  I am not here to achieve only my goals, I'm here to help my children achieve theirs.  I'm still working toward mine, I'm just working down a different path these days.  I'm still getting a degree, just a couple of years after my friends.  I'm still going to make a lot of money one day, but right now my only personal income comes in the form of hugs and kisses. 

So Piaget, I don't need your theories... I'll choose my babies over fully understanding myself and achieving my full potential any day.