Just to make life interesting- Add poop

Whew! What a day! Got up later than usual, which is good, since both of my kiddos had a tummy bug of sorts yesterday and didn't sleep because their butts were sore (literally). Had breakfast, and headed out to the movies with Devin, little Scott, and Luke, then to the park for lunch (which was not eaten) and lots of play. Now, my kiddos are typically down for a nap around 12:30-1ish. So when we got home at 3:30, you can imagine that they just dropped to sleep in their beds. I had to wake them up to get them to VBS tonight, which Bishop was over the top excited to go to, and Cadence was still thinking she should be in bed. Regardless, we went to VBS, a good time was had by all, and back home we came.

9:15 and my kids are a combination of exhausted, whiny, and COVERED in dirt. So I dump them in the bathtub, and start gathering bed time supplies (pjs, towels, diaper, sippy cup) when I hear Cadence screaming. Thinking she is just being whiny, I poke my head back in the bathroom, and what do you know!

She pooped in the tub.

AWE-some.
Not.

So they both get out, stand on the rug until the tub drains, which seems to take about 8 hours, and Cadence continues to scream and demand to be picked up, which I refuse because...uh, yeah, I love you, but don't want to cuddle you while you are covered in poop/water. There's a line there...

So I get the poop out of the tub, clean it, then I do the fast dump-water-over-your-head-while-you-stand-in-the-tub-screaming-and-I-scour-the-poop-off rinse, get them out, diapered and in bed.

Because when you have a long day, a headache, and it is waaaaaaaaay past your kids bedtime, nothing screams fun louder than your toddler covered in poop water. Other than the toddler herself, who is prone to screaming anyways.

I am going to go hide in my bed.

Night All.

An open letter to Christina Perri

Dear Christina Perri-

As big of a fan as I am of your music and talent, you have crossed a line with your recent video "Arms." No, I am not referring to the strange bed sheet that carries you away, the balloons the pick you up off a boat in a rain storm (I usually just let those babies float past. Rainstorms+balloons never work out well), or even the fact that you are driving my dream car.

Christina, I was willing to look past the many similarities that happen to occur between my life, you, and this video except for in one instance. That guy at the beginning? The tattooed Kurt Cobain looking guy with long hair? THAT'S IS MY TATTOOED KURT COBAIN LOOKING GUY*. I am happy to share similar interests in many areas, but when you start using men that look like my husband in videos, that is where I have to draw the line.**

So, Christina Perri, just because we share the same name with a different spelling, have tattooes and great taste in clothes, you CAN'T have my husband. Because he is mine, and I have the license to prove it. And it has a real seal on it. I know that there are many traits of mine that you might want to emulate, but I feel like husband stealing has crossed a line, Christina Perri, a line that you just don't come back from. So you can be expecting to hear from my lawyer about this blatant copyright issue. ***

As a side note, while I love the song, this video is not my favorite, because...who sings while they are sleeping? I get the dream part...but the singing while sleeping gets me. Oh, and the fact that you stole my husbands image to use in your slightly sad attempt to gain fame through others. Others being me, mainly. And my Kurt Cobain look-alike.

*The man in the video is not mine, clearly, by has a close (er, similar) resemblance to my husband, who happens to look like Kurt Cobain, sometimes.

**The line in question here is not a literal line, it is a figurative one. So I didn't ACTUALLY draw a line. It is more of an emotional line. The line was never actually drawn anywhere. Except my heart.

***I don't know if using someone in a video that resembles someone who resembles someone else is actually a copyright infringement, especially when you may or may not have the actual copyright for the image...this is being carefully looked over by lawyers. Who you might hear from. But probably not.

Almost 100 things I want to teach my daughter

(Almost) 100 Things I Want to Teach My Daughter

(Yes, I borrowed some of these from a different blog, but I love this!) 

1. Beauty is a state of mind, not a state of body.
2. The benefit of the doubt is sometimes the best gift we can give our friends.
3. There will always be mean girls – that doesn’t mean we find a tower and Rapunzel ourselves away from the world.
4. Your daddy has loved you better and longer than any boy ever will.
5. Your brother will teach you how boys should treat you.
6. You’re always welcome in my wardrobe.
7. The world needs your point of view.
8. Food is a joy.
9. Your body is strong and capable of more than you can imagine right now.

10. Ice cream is a love language.

11. Cook, decorate, clean, organize because you love to, not because someone tells you you’re meant to.
12. Music makes everything better.
13. Dance – especially when you’re doing the laundry.
14. You’ll never be too old for me to rock you.
15. Nothing you tell me will ever make me want to stop hearing from you.
16. We need your story.
17. No prayer request is ever too small, too silly or too embarrassing to share.
18. Washing your face every night is the best kind of beauty routine.
19. Sunscreen – you got my skin :0)

20. Mr. Darcy and popcorn make for a perfect evening.

21. Blue eyes really do melt hearts.
22. Never let others preconceived ideas about you change your self-image. 
23. A good movie can change how you understand someone else.
24. Words can build bridges between people, or tear them down. Be careful when you speak.
25. Home is not where we live but who we love.
26. Your name holds a special meaning for us.
27. Inevitably I will hurt your heart, but we will fix it together.
28. You taught me how to feel beautiful.

29. Staying up late to read a good book is never time wasted.

30. Good girls aren’t boring.
31. Great makeup is worth the investment.
32. Your daddy and I have loved you long before we ever met you. 
33. The “mommy wars” are a myth; we’re all in this together.
34. The best way never to worry about anyone gossiping about you is never to gossip about anybody.
35. Saying sorry first is a sign of strength not a weakness.
36. I’m on your side; especially on the days when it doesn’t feel like it.
37. Your body is not just yours. It’s a gift for your husband. I promise it’s worth waiting to unwrap together.
38. Sex for the first time will require a beautiful sense of humor and a partner who’s in it for life.

39. The movies lie. Passion isn’t a contorted exercise on a marble staircase, it’s doing the dishes together and lying with your feet touching in bed at the end of a long day.

40. Marriage is an act of courage, commitment and sacrifice. It’s also the most fun you’ll ever have with your best friend.
41. Always fight fair. But don’t be afraid to fight.
42. Long hair requires a really good conditioner.
43. God says He has made ALL things beautiful– that includes you, my love – no matter how you feel about your body
44. Never change how you look to follow a trend, wear what you like, what makes you comfortable and confident in yourself, even if it isn't the cool new thing. 
45. I love the curves you and your brother added to my body.
46. A good cry is great therapy.
47. Christian women aren’t immune from cliques. Love on regardless.
48. Bad hair days are inevitable.

49. A strong man is never threatened by a strong woman.

50. Go big even if it means failing big. Especially then.
51. Be the friend you wish you had.
52. Travel. Lots.
53. You can’t control what others think about you. Let it go.
54. A first kiss should be toasted, treasured, savored.
55. I will be your best friend. But I will be your mother more.
56. Your dad will teach you about music, he has the most interesting taste 
57. You can’t go wrong with black. 
58. Stop for sunsets.

59. Prince Charming isn’t a fairytale, he’s a myth

60. Daughters teach us about our mothers. 
61. Jesus loves you for you.
62. Husbands need a wife. Not another mom.
63. It’s true what they say about childbirth, but nothing in your life will be more wonderful or empowering than having children.
64. Love waits.
65. Patience is never wasted.
66. Don’t just Instagram your life. Live it.
67. Dad will be the one helping you with math homework.
68. Don’t be afraid of a broken heart.

69. The only thing holding you back from making a difference in the world will be yourself.

70. You are a miracle that was prayed for before you were born. 
71. Girlfriends are the best kind of free therapy there is.
72. Don’t be afraid to be foolish.
73. Real life is always better than online.
74. A good friend loves at all times. Period.
75. Read everything written by Dr. Seuss and Jane Austin 
76. Eating too much nerds candy will be something your teeth make you regret in your thirties.
77. I’m more interested in your growth than your happiness.
78. Your hurt is my hurt too.

79. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t do it, wear it or say it.

80. Challenge yourself..
81. Learn at least one other language.
82. We need each other.
83. Bad haircuts grow out eventually.
84. You will love again.

85. The painful truth is always easier than a messy lie.

86. Jesus loves you
87. There’s no such thing as perfect.
88. You can always come home.
89. Nothing will make me love you less.
90. Nothing will make me love you more.
91. The mirror is not the boss of you.
92. You’re the most brave when you’re the most scared and keep going anyway.
93. Womanhood is a gift.
94. I’m never tired of being your mother.
95. You will always be my baby girl.
96. I will always be here for you, even when it's scary or embarrassing to talk to me. 

Cost compared to gallbladder

As many of you know, I had my gallbladder taken out over a year ago. It was a fairly traumatic experience all around, and has had several lasting effects, not the least of these being that we are now $30,000 in debt thanks to my handy gallbladder and our lack of medical insurance at the time.

Sidenote: It is cheaper to pay out of pocket monthly for insurance than upfront for an emergency surgery. Especially when you make too much money (HA!!) to qualify for any kind of aid, but too little to actually pay the bill. Sheer awesomeness of middle class life. So.

I have recently discovered that I have begun comparing things in life to my gallbladder. For example, we could have gone on SEVERAL family vacations for the cost of my gallbladder. Or we could own 2 VERY nice vehicles for the cost of my gallbladder. We also could be 100% debt free (with the exception of our house, of course), and have about $25,000 in fun money for the cost of my gallbladder.

The more alarming trend is when I do this just by route as I come across something. I often think, "Wow, that's a quarter the cost of my gallbladder!"  Or, "I could buy 8 of those for the cost of my gallbladder."

Which is sad, because honestly, I would happily just take my gallbladder back if we could wipe the slate clean. It is oddly funny and slightly off kilter to randomly be in the store and have the "I could buy 14 of those TV's for the cost of my gallbladder." Put's things in perspective a bit.