Beautiful Heartbreak - Hilary Weeks

Each of us has our own personal heartbreak
and if we allow it, our own personal triumph.

What is your sign??

Long Time, No Blog!

Ummm, it's probably time to clear out the cobwebs, dust a little 

and get this little family blog going again!

This may be a little random and a little nonsensical but I have ALOT of catching up to do!

*Ben and Emma are 23 months old as of the 16th. 

(Wendy picks herself up from the floor!)  

I am officially in mourning of the impending arrival 

of the terrible two's!

*But let's be honest, they are already here and swinging!

*I am in full birthday party planning mode and loving it.  Ben and Emma have recently discovered Mickey and Minnie so we changed our theme from "The 2nd (and hopefully last) Sesame Street Party" to a Mickie and Minnie theme.  It will be alot like last year with lots of family, games, cupcakes and hopefully, 

a good time for everyone!

*Anyone else out there surviving on 4 or 5 hours sleep?

*Ah sleep.  Reminds me that my poor Dad has had a rough couple of months.  Starting at the beginning of August, he started having alot of back pain and bad stomach issues.  He was miserable enough to actually go to the doctor.  If you know my dad at all, you know he is highly suspicious of contemporary medicine and prefers to go the homeopathic route.  Anyway, after alot of tests, a biopsy, and his first ever hospital stay, they have discovered that he has degenerative spinal arthritis which they have yet to find a medication that helps to control his horrible pain.  He is unable to sleep for more than an hour at a time and for the past few months has been living on very little sleep.  Because of his stomach issues, he was unable to eat much of anything for at least a month and lost a dramatic amount of weight which he really could not spare in the first place.  In the past few weeks, he has been able to eat more but is still painfully thin.  The funny thing is, he has regained a taste for things he hasn't eaten in a long time.  For the past few years, he has experimented with vegetarianism and most recently became a (95%) vegan.  But last week, he went out to dinner with my mom, aunt and uncle to Sizzler and ordered his first steak in 30 years and Malibu chicken and ate it all!  So proud of him!  He has a long road ahead, but my dad is tough 

and he will get through this!

More randomness coming and a few pictures from our summer.  Just a little tease.  I MAY have put on a swimsuit and gotten in a pool for the first time in almost 20 years

and let Patrice take pictures!

****There you go, Mom.  Something new to read, finally!

Mama Loves: Music

  Today I am participating in "Mama Love" with Julia and her blog

pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com

What is a Mama Love?

Simple. It's what you love. Whatever makes "mama-ing" just a wee bit easier.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective-changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (this leads to good naps--every mama loves good naps!)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• a sassy nail polish color that makes you feel like a million bucks
• whatever else I might have missed--creativity welcome!

I am a worrier, a regreter (I made up this word!), a questioner.  I question every decision I make, every action, every word, every move I make wondering if I am damaging my children.  (BIG SMILE!)  I have been given permission to fail and I have, many times.  But there is one thing that I am so happy that I have succeeded at~ Ben and Emma LOVE music.  From the day they were born, I played music for them, even in the hospital.  Classical, soft rock, New Age, Mormon contemporary and of course, toddler music.  They love them all!  We even have a future conductor in our home.  Ben waves his arms like he is conducting a world class symphony when we watch the movie, "Fantasia".  He calls it "Ba Ba Ba!".

We have many favorites:

We love the soundtrack just as much as the movie.  We let Ben and Emma watch most of the movie except for the last segment which is called "Night at Bald Mountain" and shows the devil dancing with all of his minions and is a little inappropriate for my kiddos!

I am a big Harry Connick, Jr. fan and we all love this CD.  With his usual big band sound, he sings songs from movies like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz and Annie.  The big band sound really gets Ben and Emma moving and shaking their little booties!

One of my favorite CD's!  It includes songs like "Pure Imagination", "All the Pretty Little Ponies", "The Rainbow Connection" and "To-Ra-Loo-Ra".
I love this CD because it is soft and relaxing and I like Kenny Loggins!

We like the Baby Einstein series of music CD's but I like the Brainy Baby series better.  The music is less "tinny" if that makes sense.  It sounds more like classical music than Baby Einstein.  Their CD's have titles like "Peaceful Baby", "Sleepy Baby", Cheerful Baby", and more.

But the #1 family favorite is (Drumroll please!).....

We are BIG Sesame Street fans in our home!  I like this CD because it is not all about Elmo!  It has all of the classic songs from when I was a kid and includes some "new" stuff.  I still consider Elmo "new"!

We have too many favorites to mention but here are a few more:

Sharon, Lois and Bram

Celine Dion "Miracle"

Jewel "Lullaby"

Barney (Hmmmph!)

Kenny G

Mormon Tabernacle Choir (yes, really!)

Raffi 

Anything and everything on the radio as long as it has a beat!  These kiddo's love all music!

I've found a local radio station that Mama is comfortable listening to in the car!

The main reason this Mama loves that her children love music is that it calms my active children, it brings a soothing spirit to our home and when the music is loud and has a good beat, 

gets us all moving and grooving!

And now for your listening pleasure.....

http://youtu.be/p5H86uFQuBA

and

http://youtu.be/BpXUYIOoFzM
Be patient through the commercial, it's worth it!

Oh, and this one!  It makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it!
http://youtu.be/gOx2tumeqZo

What do you love????