Monkey Monday: A Friends List

Yesterday the boys and I went to Priest Pointe Park for the afternoon….to make new friends.  Finally, Amanda and my schedules worked and we were finally getting to meet face to face.  The boys were excited to meet new people and have some fun…my little extroverts. It was a beautiful day, a fun afternoon filled with yummy snacks, sunshine, and new friends.

On the way home Jakob suggested we make a “Friends List” to keep track of all of our friends.  And while that seemed like a good idea for them, it got me thinking about my own “Friends List”.  Are there people on my list that I need to erase?  Are there people who got left off the list that I need to put back on?  Definitely, on both counts.  I need to work harder to put those people back on it….desperately.  And those that need to be erased…need to do that too…don’t need the negativity and stress that comes along with it.  I am exhausted from trying to keep those people on the list when they don’t make the same effort.

Do you have a Friends List?  Do you need to do some housekeeping to your List?  What do you do to help rebuild a damaged friendship?

Monkey Monday

 

I got my “craft on” yesterday.  I use to be a big crafter.  I would obsess over scrapbooks, card making, knitting (failed miserably), attempted to crochet, quilting, stamping….you name it – I have the supplies for it.  Seriously, I have enough crafting supplies to open a small store.  When we lived in CT I would visit the JoAnn Fabrics so often they knew Jakob by name!   But baking and cooking have temporarily taken over my creative brain.  I really should sort through all the crafting supplies and sell some of it…to pay for new baking pans and sprinkles. 

I saw a picture of this on Pinterest (if you love to be inspired by all things beautiful you must check out pinterest) and thought it would be a fun thing to make for the students in Jakob’s class.  A cute little incentive to do some reading.  And it involves gummy candy…come on, we all love gummy worms.

So easy.  I took little cellophane bags (the same ones I use for my cookies), put in three gummy worms, and staple on the cute little tag.  I downloaded some free tag templates, glued onto red card stock and folded it over the top of the bag. 

Jakob was SO excited to take them to school and hand out to his friends.  And they were all pretty happy to receive them.

Are you allowed to take in treats like this to your child’s class??  If so, what do you like to take in for a special treat?  Ideas and links always appreciated!

Military Monday

I guess I should have posted these over the weekend for 4th of July inspiration….whooops.

I made these cookies for a bake sale on Fort Stewart this weekend.  The proceeds will be going toward Jason’s Brigade….including the Brigade Ball in December.  I decided to do the stars for the 4th, and the yellow ribbons to represent those waiting for their loved ones.

 

 

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Monkey Monday!!

We went to meet Jakob's First Ever teacher today! She is quite nice, seems to know what she is doing (LOL), and her accent wasn't as thick as I had remembered on the phone! Jakob was a little nervous at first, but he settles right in, started talking to the other children, and then didn't want to leave! He has his first real day on Friday and then goes full time next week! I cannot believe that my little boy is in school! Where did the time go?

Good luck to all those starting school this year...it is a huge accomplishment...and wonderful experience.

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday CAKE!

When I was living in CT and participating in weekly playgroups, I was always making something fun for the kids for snacks....this is one of the special cakes I made....it's a red velvet!

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday - School Shopping

Jason and Jakob did some school shopping this weekend. Jason will be leaving for NTC (training) before Jakob starts school....so he and Jakob had some bonding time getting all he needed for school. Way to go Daddy! You did good!

Take Care,
Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday

So....need a smile today? Check out Aiden....he likes to lick his lips and slurp when he sees something that he likes or thinks might be tasty....or just for grins! This kid makes me laugh!

Happy Monkey Monday!

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday meets Military Monday

There are a lot of people out there in the blog world that have dedicated Mondays to remembering those in the military, both past and present, and remembering those that gave their lives. YoYo over at Topstitch.org is working her way through the way too long list of those that have lost their lives in the current Iraq war. Recently, she listed Cpt. Joshua Byers who lost his life when Jason was with him in 2003. I thank her for doing this....no one should forget those that have lost their lives. But I digress....

Today I decided to combine my "Monkey Monday" with the "Military Monday" theme...I dug up this old picture of Jakob with Jason in uniform. It was taken in June of 2005....so that makes Jakob only three months old....and absolutely adorable!

I am trying to remember if we have pics like this of Aiden....I am searching and when I find one I will be sure to post it on a Monday.

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday

Had a kinda crappy but enlightening end to our day today. I know that my "Monkey Mondays" have usually been light and fun...but not today, ok?

Jakob and I have been fighting a lot lately. Little things, silly things really, things that "wont make a difference tomorrow" (as my friend J says). Jakob gets his stubbornness from both Jason and I, and he has been exerting this inherited trait in excess this past week. It has been a rough week, with Jason gone to the field it gives me a chance to see what it is like to be a single mom, and is good practice for when he gets deployed this fall. And I am very sad to say that I am not handling it very well. My temper has been at an all time high, and my patience at an all time low. And I really hate myself for it. This road of motherhood is rough, and bumpy - very bumpy. I can only hope that at the end of this journey, when I am no longer behind the wheel on this road, that they are well adjusted, happy, generous, secure....everything - men.

Back to tonight. I have been getting very frustrated with him about going to bed. He just will not get up and go to the bathroom, brush his teeth, and get into bed. It's a battle each night. I shouldn't have to beg, bribe, or threaten him to do it. He needs to do what he is asked/told, as it is the same thing that happens each and every night. And it doesn't matter if he is tired or not, he battles it. Once he is in the bathroom it is smooth sailing, but leaving the living room is where we run into problems. And tonight I lost my cool...I had to literally drag him into the bathroom hoping that he wouldn't wake up Aiden (who goes to sleep like a dream). I hate it. I hate that I did that. And part of tonight's confession and truth is hormones, that time of the month, and part is because by admitting my shame I can bring it to light and truly deal with it. Raising my voice and seeing that scared look on his face shocked me into realizing just what I was doing, how I was treating him, how I was letting his stubbornness and "four year oldness" get me into a state of such uncontrol. Truly made me dislike myself.

It was rough to talk to Jakob about how sorry I was that I had hurt his feelings, that I didn't listen when I should have, and that I may have physically hurt him when I took him to the bathroom. He then started to cry and say how sorry he was for not listening. I apologized for all the fights we have been having, and he did the same.....and then there were some more tears, and more tears, and some more tears. But then there was some giggles, some talk about doing better and listening to each other, to "not do it any more Mama", to be nicer to each other. All this with a four year old...did he get it? I really believe he did.

I need to get a grip on the extra unnecessary stress in my life and get back to focusing on what is important. And that is my boys, and my relationship with them. I need the laughter to get back to being as contagious as it was in our house. Laughing heals. I have missed some of the 100 kisses and 50 I love yous of each day. I want to be proud of my parenting at the end of the day. I want to stop saying that "tomorrow will be a better day" - why can't every day be a great one? I need it to be. I am going to make it so.

So I am here promising to do better by my boys. They deserve it. And maybe I am being a little hard on myself, but if I am not, who will be? I want to be able to go to bed at night knowing that my boys had a great day and that they love their Mama not because they have to, but because they want to.

So there it is....my Monkey Monday for this week. I love my Monkeys. They are just down right awesome.

Hug your children, tell them you love them often, and smother them with kisses.

Take care,
Tania
Love BIG!!! Bake Often

Monkey Monday....Big Brother Love

Jakob is a great big brother. When Aiden was born, actually even before he was born, Jakob would talk about "Baby Aiden". Jakob would hug and talk to my belly....talking to Aiden. Quite cute. And then when Aiden was born Jakob was all over him, some times the hugs were a little TOO tight! And they quickly became fast friends. Aiden loves his big brother....he follows him around and tries to do everything that Jakob does, and usually succeeds. Jakob does have his moments...especially when Aiden touches certain toys or blocks the TV. But he really loves him. He waits patiently for Aiden to wake up in the morning and after his nap...being quiet as he can be (which isn't very quiet). And then shows such joy in seeing Aiden - lots of Hi's and hugs to be had! It warms my heart that they are so close now. I hope they stay that way once Jakob goes to school this fall. I hope that Jakob continues to teach his little brother all about great food, bugs, dinosaurs, cars, books, good TV shows!, computer games, crayons, playdoh, etc, etc, etc. There will be so much for him to teach Aiden, and I think he is already doing such a great job.

Keep up the good work Big Brother Jakob...you sure do ROCK!!

Take care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Flowers instead of monkeys!

No pics of the boys for Monkey Monday. I was totally taken in by the beautiful flowers in our garden. We can't take any credit for them, they were here when we moved in...but I give Jason all the credit for keeping them alive! He is the gardener in the family. The plants will miss him when he is deployed!

What do you think....pretty gorgeous eh?

Take Care,
Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday

Unfortunately our children sometimes inherit habits from us that we wish they hadn't.....

My boys have inherited the ability to totally space out and be unaware of the world around them as they get sucked into the TV, a.k.a. the boob tube, they become absolute zombies. And Aiden has started young...copying his big brother.

Ridiculous, right?

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Monkey Monday

That's all I got tonight!

My own peersonal rock stars!

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often