30 days

Absent for good reason

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I myself can’t believe that it’s been so long since I’ve written anything.  How is it May 1st already?  I’ve been absent from this blog and I didn’t intend to be neglectful, life just got in the way. So here it is May 1, 2016.  Our girls are on countdown mode for the end of the school year and today they announced 29 days, WOW, really?? So yes life is happening.

We are feeling some growing pains in our family with our girls turning 10 and 8 years old this summer.  Yes I did say 10 and 8 – where did the time go?  They are very strong, smart and independent and I am trying to become a better parent as we go.  I don’t want to argue fight or spat with either of them, something that does happen from time to time.  I prefer harmony among all of us and not discord but my pre-adolescent daughters and I do find ourselves at odds on occasion.  We are ALL a work in progress.  Any suggestions of what has worked for you would be greatly appreciated.

My year of #renew #itsaboutme is still in full swing.  In February I started the 30-day Arbonne Healthy Cleanse.  I lost 14 pounds during that time with changing my eating (my family some too) and adding a regular walking regime to my routine.  I have gone on to lose another 6 pounds and am going to begin the Healthy Cleanse again tomorrow. I found that I am in the right state of mind this year to be about #renew #itsaboutme! I want to look and feel better for me.  I am finding it’s not a quick fix, it’s truly a lifestyle change. I have found that Arbonne works for me and the lifestyle it represents suits me.  Because of that I am becoming an Arbonne Independent Consultant.  I feel strongly about how the products have helped me with my goals and now I can help family and friends reach their healthy lifestyle goals.  I will keep you posted how this endeavor and my continued personal goals mesh.

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I am hoping to get back to regular updates and writing here.  I hope you are all well.  There is more to share but for today this is my start back.

Tell me how you have been.

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waking up to a new day

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Terrorists use violence in an attempt to achieve political goals. Their intent is to bring about political change by creating a climate of fear within the society they oppose. The targeting of innocent victims and symbolic locations for a high-profile attack has long been the preferred method of terrorist organizations. As defined by Kids Encyclopedia – Kids Britannica

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This morning our girls asked why my husband and I were looking at a photo album.  The album filled with photos from our honeymoon in the Fall of 1999 and pictures of our stay in Paris.  We shared with them the news of events in Paris yesterday, and the acts of terrorism.  Also sharing we were looking to find our pictures to share in solidarity with the people of France.

It was just this past September that we were open in sharing to our now 9 and 7-year-old daughters the history of September 11, 2001.  Up until now it has been a day that we have given thanks to first responders, the people who enter into a situation whether they are fire fighters or police as its their job. We shared more about the history of that day in terms of why we were so thankful for the first responders on that day and what they did that makes us so thankful to the jobs they do each and every day.  It was the first time our girls heard us discuss terrorism in 20th century terms. Both girls know both my husband and I grew up on the East Coast near to New York City.  Like the explanation I shared above from the kids encyclopedia, we shared the history of the day in terms not to scare them, but to have them understand what has happened and if at school they were to hear anything in remembrance of the day it would have been from us they heard it first.

Today we shared again what we know in terminology they would understand from the news, where these attacks took place and that there were lives lost. Again we referred to the kids encyclopedia definition to give them a way to define what happened yesterday in Paris.

We do not share this with our girls to create fear or anxiety.  At their current ages we believe they should have an idea of current events even those that are sad and upsetting. We want them to hear it from us and allow a discussion before they may hear it from others.

Our discussion was thoughtful and through their questions brought about the discussion of 9/11 again.  I believe we are giving them the foundation to understand what can happen in our world today.

Locally we pass on the freeway a hillside in Lafayette filled with crosses that is updated with the number of deaths from our armed forces from the Iraq/Afghan war.  This is something we discuss as we drive past now and again.

So it was this morning that we woke up to a new day in our world that was changed yesterday by the acts of terrorism in France.  It is with solemn hearts we stand with the people of France together as a family.

Day 14, #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer

Thankful to be raising readers

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I am so thankful for books and the tales and adventures we enjoy as we read .. I am enjoying hearing Ally read and watching her and Jess’s ♥ of books grow… this comes both from school and from our reading every night and day … thankful for the teachers who have touched our lives as they have expanded our girls minds with reading too!

Story books have been part of our girls’ lives since they were babies with night time book time.  As toddlers they had easy access to piles of board books to look through on their own and choose for us to read to them.  This love of books is part of our family life.  I too am an avid reader and am so excited that my girls are sharing this love of books too!

 

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 Day 13, #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer

Mom’s a taxi

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Not surprising that I feel like a taxi.  I think that is one of the many jobs a stay-at-home parent does.  I was sitting tonight on my way to dropping both girls off at ballet knowing in an hour I’d be right back to pick one of them up. I am the driver to and from school, to and from ballet, to and from girl scouts, to and from swim practices in the summer, and to and from camp in the summer too.

I think instead of tracking my daily footsteps, I should be tracking my daily mileage.

I am happy to be able to be the driver for my girls.  It is something that is just part of our daily routine and what I signed on for those 9 years ago when we first became parents.

It’s been almost 2 years since we got the minivan and boy have we put it to use. I may be the primary driver for my girls but there are days you will find my car loaded with their friends.  I am always happy to help a friend out with getting their kids to and from the places we are going too!

My husband jokes that in 7 years our oldest could get her learner’s permit and eventually her driver’s license.  I’m not sure I’m ready for that but maybe in another 7 years I’ll have changed my mind.

I dream sometimes at the stoplight of the car I will have when my children are grown, just a bitty one maybe a beetle convertible for just my dogs and me. After all, I will only be carting us around by then 🙂

How do your children get to and from school or their activities?

Day 12 #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer