Vacuum Wars

I like to clean.....let me rephrase that.... I USED to like to clean before I had a nearly two year old that enjoys making a mess precisely where I just scrubbed, vacuumed or dusted. Now cleaning feels a little like a never ending battle. What is that quote that all good meaning much older people than I say about cleaning and children.... I think it goes something like 'cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it is still snowing'! Well people let me tell you it is like the PA Blizzard of 2010 here everyday, all day.

In order to make my cleaning experience more enjoyable and productive I decided to try to involve Carter in anyway possible. So under the tree this Christmas was a play vacuum, cute to boot, with real life vacuuming sounds and a little canister that has yarn and such in it. I thought it would give him something to do while I vacuumed. Nope! Instead every now and again when it catches his eye he will run with it around the house as fast as he can doing I am sure irreversible damage to the hardwoods. Then he drops it and goes back to his cars or what not..... until one day he decided that he might make this toy more interesting after all. When I was vacuuming about a week ago he grabbed his vacuum, stood facing me and my big vacuum and proceeded to ram his vacuum into mine as I swept the area rug. Then he would laugh like a banchie and continue to do it. When I pulled the vacuum back attempting those oh. so. straight. vacuum lines he would charge me with his miniature vacuum and ram right into me!! You know a little like this..

And his face looks like this every time he succeeded in bumping me..... like "Whoa Mom watch out"

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As a side note taking pictures and vacuuming.... UBER HARD!!!

Just a looksie

Some Sunshine!

Bright and sunny and 55 degrees, is the perfect weather for dump truck driving, ball bouncing, stick tossing and a little exploration!

I am currently borrowing my mother in laws Canon Rebel. It is glorious compared to my point and shoot. I am just learning the ins and outs of the camera but I can not believe how much clearer the photos are!! I love it!!

Funny Friday and Football Slippers

Carter received these football shaped slippers for Christmas

He never really took notice of them when he received them, I did not mind because they were 2 sizes to big so they were more of a 'put away for someday' type of gift. But on Tuesday he 'discovered' them when I was hanging up clothes. He sat for a good ten minutes examining them, and saying 'bootball' over and over again. His excitement grew when I told him he could.... gasp....wear them!! So for two solid days he has been wearing these (still 2 sizes to big) slippers around the house, and to bed. He cries and yells 'bootball on' when one falls off, which is quite often, (remember 2 sizes to big)! So I have let him wear them, no use fighting him. He left them behind today when we headed to the YMCA for little gym and his art class,which I am grateful for, but this afternoon as we were heading out to see both his great grandmas he was not feeling so cooperative. He cried and whined that he wanted his 'bootballs ON!' So I did what every good, exhausted, and stressed out mommy would do and I let him wear them. Normally this is out of my character I 'try', 'try' is the operative word here to dress him nice when we go out and about. He has so many clothes he would not have to wear the same outfit twice and has almost as many shoes. I love dressing him like a little man, but today I let it go....did I mention I am exhausted and stressed out. So the slippers did not bother me until the gas light came on ten miles away from home and I knew I would never make it. I pulled into the gas station, and realized that my wonderful husband had the debit card so I had to go in to pay. My face looked a little like this

when I went to unbuckle Carter and I realized the footwear he was sporting.
Now this was not any gas station but the BIG brand new sheetz which is always PACKED (high class I know). I had no choice but to unload my slippered son and head in. So these (2 size to big slippers) had a big day,

they saw the inside of Sheetz, and meet both of Carters great grandmas. I am hoping the slipper thing subsides by church on Sunday or these footballs might be hearing the word of God preached Pastor Mike style :)

After a fabulous visit with both of his great grandmas. Carter spent the rest of the night acting like his normal goofy self. Snacking and watching choo choos in his brumm brumm jammies and have I mentioned that he says well over 100 words now and some of those words include monkey, purple, and truck which I think are all pretty hard words! Here is some to cute not to share photos from tonight

What kind of mom do I want to be?

For me this wonderful journey of motherhood is my life, my career. I get no raises, no promotions, no one puts my picture up in a frame with a gold plate underneath that reads "Employee of the Month", no pats on the back, no 'at a girls', not a corner office or an expense free business trip. The pay for my full time job comes in the form of words learned, manners used, smiling faces, sounds of giggles, cuddles and kisses. Though the 'pay' might not be much for someone looking to use their job to buy a home or save for retirement. I know with all that I am that I have a super important, God given, full time job in being a SAHM!!

Being a SAHM comes with no employee manual or company training guide. I have no 'boss', well except God, to answer to at the end of the day. I think this makes my job quite interesting. I am writing my own manual I am making up my own rules. Though I may not have a 'boss' to answer to. The things I write, the rules I make, and my choices will effect the lives of my kids for years to come. I feel like I have a choice to make I have to choose what kind of mom I want to be. I realize it is certinly not just stay at home moms that have to write the manual of motherhood. I get that! But I am a SAHM so that is the perspective I have to share.

I do not feel like there is a OSFA (one size fits all) way to parent or that there is one right way, but there are choices. Choices galore! I have to make a choice on what kind of mom I want to be. I have been blessed and truly inspired by this post! It made me realize and reevaluate what kind of mom I want to be and what I want my parenting to teach my son.

First and foremost I want to parent with God in for front. I want Carter to see that I am trying to mother as God had commanded. I want to be a mom that practices what she preaches. I want to be a mom who admits when she is wrong and is humble when she is right. I want to be a mom that praises my kids for their rights and teaches them through the wrongs. I want to discipline with firm but loving intentions. I want to be a mom that enjoys her kids. I want to experience new things with my kids and laugh with them. I want to play first and clean second. I want to be a mom who knows how to let go of the small things. I want to be a mom that my kids can count on.

Wanting to be that kind of mom to be is a daunting task. I am sure I will fail at more than a few on most days. But everyday I want to strive to be the mom I want to be! Because even though no 'boss' will be checking my stats, I know that what kind of mom I am, effects who Carter will be in the future!

Resolution Check-up!

So I wrote about some of my new years resolutions here!
Two months have passed and I feel that I am in need of a good old fashion check up. I think it would help more for someone to light a hot fire under my hinny! I had five solid resolutions and added a sixth resolution (showering everyday) a few days into the New Year when I realized not showering had become a small issue for me. So lets see how I am doing, here we go.....
1. Get a financial plan and spend more wisely -well we are getting a financial plan with a handy dandy notebook, calendar and all, I have actually kept my checkbook balanced for 2 months.... spending more wisely...eh.....I mean depends on your definition of wise.
2. Reading the entire bible front to back - well I read the bible everyday, but my goal was to read from Genesis to Revelations. Which I am not sure my attention span can handle. Instead I have been reading through an entire book. I am done with James 1 ......not that it deserves applause.
3. Starting Carters scrapbook - nope....
4. Having date night with my hubby- nope...not in the new year at least
5. Doing something I enjoy everyday- Only one I can check off with a big fat red take a whif marker!!

Oh yeah and also on the list was to blog once a week and shower everyday which I am failing miserably at both. No judgment please.