Art Night

Claire's elementary school held an Art Night fundraiser recently, and the kids and I braved the crowds and bought our tickets (25 cents each), ready for a good time. Claire was very excited to show us around her school, pointing out what the "big kids" get to do, the library, and where her kindergarden class had their art displayed. The school was very festive and colorful - you could tell a lot of work had been put into the night. My favorite part was seeing Claire holding Miles' hand and showing him around the school, telling him about all the things he will get to do in a few years. Her love for school and learning is rubbing off on him, I am happy to see.

Library Trip!

We have rediscovered the library lately. We get there too late for most of the story time or reading events since Penelope naps and Claire has school in the morning, but there are always cool things to check out every time we go. The latest art exhibit at the library had these metal sculptures, some using very interesting materials. The peacock is made entirely of silverware.  Claire seemed to like the bird more than Miles cared for the suits of armor - he looks a little nervous. 

Penelope practiced her cruising in the early reader section - we start them young! 

Puppet Show!

Month 3 Results - New Clothes!

Four more weeks of my weight loss plan have gone by already and I am trying to focus on non-food rewards again this month. So far, I have started wearing three "new" pairs of work pants that were waiting for me in my closet - best clothing store ever, because the clothes are free! I can't believe how I was cramming myself into my pants before. I am basically looking better in my current clothes, with a few new pieces to add into the rotation of my work "uniform" of black, grey or brown pants. I have decided my weight loss goal will always be to focus on reaching the next ten pound increment - keeps it realistic but somewhat aggressive at the same time, just my style. :)

In the sugar department, I did have to eat a treat but it was for a good cause - I was the baker for Betty's birthday cupcakes. I was making a new recipe for frosting and I had to taste it to make sure it was good before serving it - it was fresh strawberry cream cheese frosting and it was delicious! But then I quickly got back on the wagon, didn't eat the cupcakes at the party, or the plethora of Easter candy that is still hanging around our house. I don't want to take it away from the kids and Matt if they want to eat some, especially since they all seem to have way more self-control with sweets than I do.

I am going back to Weight Watchers with a friend in a few weeks, and have stopped purchasing the protein shakes, bars and meals that I used when I first started in January. I am still focusing on protein and several small meals a day, but counting the points and adding in more fruit and low-fat dairy. I would love to exercise more, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day. I guess I could wake up at 5:30 am... I will have to think about that one.

Week 9: -1.6 lbs
Week 10: -2.0 lbs
Week 11: -1.5 lbs
Week 12: -2.0 lbs

4 week weight loss: -7.1 lbs
Total weight loss (12 weeks):  Down 32.7 lbs and reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race!

What Not to Say to Working Moms

I appreciated this list of things to avoid saying to a working mom from a recent article in LDS Living:

I was a stay-at-home mom for seven years. Then I became a full-time working mom with an unemployed husband and two children at home (and I continue to work full-time now as a single mother). Having experienced motherhood from both sides, I understand the challenges each set of circumstances presents. Neither situation is easy, and insensitive comments can make things even harder. So, here it is: my personal list of seven things not to say to working moms.

1. I love my kids too much to let someone else raise them.

This jab is a sure-fire way to break a working mother’s heart. To imply you love your children more than I love mine is incredibly unfair and simply not true. And to suggest that I am not “raising” my children because I am not with them 24/7 is treading on dangerous ground. I do everything I can to make sure my children are well-cared for while I am at work. Maybe the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I’m doing the best I can.

2. We gave up the luxuries in life so I could stay home with the kids.

Then are you suggesting I’m living in the lap of luxury? I’m sure there are women out there who are working to maintain a lifestyle that their families really can’t afford. However, most of us are not working so we can buy a sports car or a condo on the beach. We are trying to help pay for heat and food and health insurance.

3. I could only get to the gym three times this week!

I wish! After getting up at the crack of dawn to get kids ready for school, fighting traffic during the hour-long commute, putting in a long day at the office, and then coming home to help children with homework and keep the household running smoothly, getting to the gym for a yoga class or a good weight-training session seems next to impossible. Sometimes there just isn’t time in the day.

4. You look exhausted.

Yes, I’m exhausted. Thanks for noticing the dark circles under my eyes (that I’m very much aware of, by the way). Unless you are offering to bring me dinner or watch the kids while I take a nap, it’s better for you not to point out my less-than-perfect appearance.

5. I’m surprised you went back to work. Your husband seems so successful.

The reasons why I am working are probably much more complicated than you imagine, and it may have nothing to do with money. Maybe my husband is anticipating a layoff. Maybe we are on the brink of divorce, and I am trying to find a way to support myself. I might even enjoy working. Or, maybe you’re right, and we are already in financial trouble. If we are, then I don’t need to hear you speculating about it.

6. I’d give anything to have a break from my kids all day!

Not all working moms are lucky enough to have a job they enjoy. Even if they are (like I am), it is certainly not a “break” by any stretch of the imagination. I am merely facing a different set of demands and challenges. And just because I am not at home doesn’t mean I stop being a mother. Don’t talk to me about wanting to be away from your kids when I am agonizing over the fact that I am away from mine.

7. Don’t you feel guilty for missing all those special moments?

Yes, I do. Thanks for reminding me that I couldn’t make it to the Halloween parade or Christmas concert that took place on a Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. while I was in a mandatory meeting. But please know I also do my best to create special moments when I am with my kids. Sometimes they are special outings, but more often than not, special moments happen unexpectedly when we are eating dinner together or reading a bedtime story. Whether I am a stay-at home or working mother, I am a mother, and those moments with my children are what carry me through the hard times and make everything I do worthwhile.

I have heard every single one of these, except since Matt is in school and not working, #5 doesn't really apply except for in the way that our finances are complicated. It gets even more interesting when you consider the LDS culture where typically men are the breadwinners and the women, whenever possible, stay home with the kids. I had someone tell me #1 and #2 in the same conversation - needless to say, we didn't become fast friends. I am sure I have said insensitive comments to my stay at home mom friends and family members in the past, but I hope I can be as sensitive to their challenging situations as they are to mine. Either way, it is hard being a mom sometimes. Am I right or am I right?  :)

Easter Sunday

Spoiled rotten and loving every minute of Easter Sunday. And lest we think that Easter is all about the candy and the eggs, I will include the song that Claire wrote about Easter at the end of all of our family photos. It was reminiscent of the tune to "A Child's Prayer" but with her own words. 

You can really see the resemblance between Matt and his brother Nick now that Nick shaved off his long locks for a St. Baldrick's cancer fundraiser.  Miles even went up to Nick a few times thinking he was Matt from the back. 

Going above and beyond on her first Easter Egg Hunt, Penelope had some help from Aunt Leah. 

Claire's Easter Song:

He, He is there, 

He rose from the dead,

When I died my body went in the ground,

My spirit goes in the sky. 

Ward Easter Party

Best church Easter Egg Hunt ever - short and sweet with a cameo from the bunny himself. The kids had a great time with a playground near by, plus the weather was overcast and not too warm. Great way to start off our Saturday! 

MeMa's Birthday Fiesta

We had a gluten-free Mexican fiesta for Betty's birthday earlier this week and it was dee-licious, if I do say so myself. Betty makes us dinner just about every Sunday, so it's only fair that for her birthday everything on the menu is safe for her to eat. I just consider it practice for when one of my kids ends up with Celiac Disease and we have to go gluten free too (it's hereditary).

Claire was very concerned that we make sure MeMa could eat everything, asking - Is that gluten free, Mom? Are you sure? We went to Brighton for some jewelry and Claire asked if that was gluten free too. I think we were safe with the earrings. :)

The kids were in sport court heaven in Jonelle's backyard - almost an acre lot in Vegas? Unheard of. But their house was built in the 80s so they actually have some room to play. Jen said that Miles would shoot the basketball and get about half way up to the basket, and each time he would say, "Oh, so close!" Someday you will be dunking the ball, buddy.