Jasey's 2nd Birthday

Sorry for the delay. I finally have a new cord so i can upload photos.

On 1/20/11 my sweet baby turned two. Hard to believe she's getting so old. We let her pic her theme and she chose princesses.



She had a great time. Even dressed up as Cinderella.


Every year her daddy buys her red tulips. Every little girl should be so cherished by their daddy.

Heaven

I made a post on facebook about something my 4 year old son said, this is what I posted.

"In my attempt to explain the greatness of Heaven to my 4 yr old I said, "It's like the greatest thing you can think of." He thinks for a moment and replies, "Oh, it's like McDonald's."

I was taken aback by the responses, both on my Wall and my Inbox. Yes, I am a believer. Yes, I believe in Heaven. I have never hidden this fact, but I am amazed at how many people feel the need to correct my beliefs or shoot me down for them. In a world where I feel we are being forced to accept anyone and everyone for anything and everything they do. Where we are being told to be open minded, non-judgmental, give it a chance, and so forth, I can't believe how so many of what I considered 'friends' can't do the same for me.

I would never hate my child for not doing what I feel is right. I may not like their discussions or agree with what they chose to do as they get older, but I will always LOVE my kids. But, like almost every other parent in the world, I feel the need to install moral and ethical values in my children about how they conduct themselves, and treat others.

I do not apologize for my beliefs. This is part of who I am.

My questions for other parents (not for debating) but out of curiosity. How is religion addressed in your home? What values do you wish to install in your children and how do you go about doing so?

Frustrated!!!

Should my taxes support something, I then have to pay to use???

Woodland Park wants to open an aquatic center. I get it. They want to raise our property and sales taxes to accomplish this and then still charge us a membership to use it.

Honestly I feel that the city officials are acting like children, they want something and can't afford it so we pay for it and then pay again to use it!!! If we can't afford something of this scale, then maybe we don't need it.

I'm a parent and it would be great to have a pool, but they are not just asking for a pool they want a center to include fitness, workout rooms, childcare etc...

Why not just put a pool in the 24-Hour fitness center? We have pools we can use near by that don't charge a membership or raise our taxes? Golden Bell, Country Lodge, Green Mountain Falls and Manitou Springs. Two of which I know offer swimming lessons. We have to my knowledge 4 Gyms/Fitness centers. All of which seem to run fine without our tax money.

This is why I'm pissed off! The city wants to raise taxes to build an Aquatic Center, but we have one of the lowest paying police departments. The city want's to raise taxes for a swimming pool, but our ambulance department has to bill patients, because they don't receive enough taxes. Yes, they are privately owned and receiving tax money.

They just cut our bus's and combined routes. Some kids have to walk quite a distance to reach a bus stop and NOW the parents have to PAY for their children to ride the bus.

Sounds to me like the city wants to skimp on their responsibilities. If we already don't receive enough tax revenue to cover the expenses we already have why are we trying to tax more to cover entertainment?

I am not a business major, I just manage my own finances and it seems to me. You shouldn't spend money you don't have. When you do get money pay your bills before going out to play.

Feburary!

I know it has been almost a month since I have posted. How can I write when the words escape me. I can't...not yet. This is a month of irony's that I don't feel quiet comfortable sharing, yet. Bear with me, I will resume my posts soon.

Unsure

Once again here I am unsure of my next step. With Kindergarten round up right around the corner. I'm wondering if my son is ready. I "know" I can to an evaluation, but it's really difficult to be objective when it's your own child. I understand they can complete a readiness evaluation at the schools to see if he is ready for kindergarten, but I hate their system. Why you ask? Because judged against EVERY kid in Colorado I know my son would look good. I already go back and forth with them about his speech, they say he's fine he doesn't score low enough to receive help. He would have to score below a 7th percent before he qualifies. I don't see the sense in waiting until he falls that far behind to help him. Similar with the school. I'm feeling he would have to score so low to be considered not ready. Yet, what they consider ready in my mind would not be so. So here I am on another journey to try and find a place or a person who can do an academic and developmental evaluation, that's not associated with the schools.

Why is it every time you questions how things are done, or seek further information, you feel as if you get written of as "one of those moms". I really don't want to be difficult, I just want the best for my child.

Minimizing

While I'd love to post a picture, one of my lovely dogs has chewed my usb cord so no uploading pics today.

I love reading my friends blog's, they have so many fabulous ideas and it not only encourages, but inspires me to try new and different things. After reading several posts about my friend who is minimizing her life, letting go of all the unused and unneeded items. I started looking around and suddenly I was amazed at all the stuff I keep because one day I might need that or use that.

This past weekend I have gone through closets and boxes, and drawers, I got rid of like 10 garbage bags full of stuff and I feel great. It really is nice when everything has a place, when your life isn't cluttered. I felt slightly ill at the amount of stuff that I had that I didn't use, knowing there are many people out there who need it and don't have it. So I donated it to a church! I'm not done, yet.

Next step is to let go of all the things from my past keeping only a few that have strong meaning. Then going through the millions of photos I have updating all the albums and baby books then throwing away the rest.

If you know me this is a big deal, because I'm a bit of a pack rat. I come by it genetically.

The tooth

It's official my son is growing up weather I like it or not!

He has his first loose tooth. I for sure thought there was something wrong, after all he's just a baby and can't possibly be old enough to lose teeth. I called his dentist and he assured me, he is a little young, but at that age non the less.

Now he walks around the house wiggling his tooth and talking about all the money the tooth fairy is gonna bring.

We did however, have to have a talk about not letting our friends wiggle our tooth.

(sigh) I'm not ready for this.

An excerpt from my life...

I will never understand the complete awesomeness of my master bathroom. My kids however, think the coolest thing is to pee in my bathroom. They look at it as a room of hidden treasures. Honestly it's where I store extra toilet paper, soap and such.

Typically they are not allowed in my room without me. However, on more then one occasion they have gone in there and to the bathroom.

It never fails, they lock themselves in the bathroom. Thanks goodness I can pick the lock.

Love

Mu husband brings me home flowers and champagne, just because he loves me! My son watches me smile and thank daddy with a kiss. C.J. tells us "I'm gonna do that when I get older." Once I again I realize what an impact how Chris and I treat each other has on our children, and if my husband bringing me gifts teaches my son to be a little romantic, then bring on the gifts.

Dryer Lint!

If your like me, you throw it away. You have that one little trash can next to your dryer, that collects that fluffy blue gray matter.Trying to be more earth friendly, I am searching for ways to reuse things instead of throwing them away.

My husband used to be a fire fighter, and he reminded me how flammable it is. SO, the next time I tried to start a fire, instead of using a ton of newspaper. I used one sheet of newspaper and then stuffed drier lint between the logs.

WOW!!! It worked, it burns hot and lit my logs easily.

Because it is so flammable, do not store next to your fire place or wood burning stove.