Moodiness

My mood directly effects my kids.
And I know this.
But sometimes I forget.

After getting my health under control*,
I've noticed that my mood has changed.
I'm not angry, frustrated, or depressed
As much anymore.

In fact,
Most of the time
I'm pretty calm, rational, and level headed.

IF you would have asked me this a year ago--
It would have been a different story.
(Actually ONE year ago this week!!)

But of course,
There are still some days that I struggle.
I do admit this.

And I see it in my kids.

The days were normally
I would let something roll off my back.
Instead, I say or do something wrong
And see my kids react to me.
I can think of two tantrums this past week
(one from each kid)
That I know I kinda helped induce.

If I would have acted differently,
The outcome would have been different.

But I am human.
And not perfect.

Learning from my blunders.
My mishaps. 

And understanding that this parenting gig is a tough one. 
And my biggest critic is myself.

But each day is new.
With a NEW opportunity to do it "right."

 *Candida.  Look it up.  A yeast overload in/on your body.  It was horrible.  Looking back, I didn't see or realize that all the issues I was having were related to ONE thing.  

Top 10 for the week:
October 28th, 2013

10.  Week 2.  This past week marked week TWO of Jay being sick.  Seriously.  I felt it was like a record for the cough/cold.  I'm SO glad it's finally OVER.  Having your significant other sick is HARD.  Knock on wood--I never really got it.  I started feeling a bit yucky this week....but with the help of a few homeopathic medicines, I'm already feeling back to normal.
 
9.  School Parade.  The kids and I headed down to my old stomping grounds to see the Halloween Costume Parade.  Great to see the kids and teachers.  Our kids truly enjoyed it.  It was fun seeing their smiles. Mal was always for going to "my" school.  But now that she's been in Paw Paw for awhile, she's having second thoughts.  She has an opinion on everything you know (just like her Momma--at least I admit it!).

8.  Bride @ Dance.  This past week the dancers could wear their costumes to dance.  Mal was SO pumped!  And it also gave us a trial run on her costume--which I appreciated!  Sometimes I truly wonder how I would handle it all if I was working.  There is NOT enough time in the day to get everything done...and there is ALWAYS something to do.  Anyways, she loved it and loved seeing the other costumes.!

7.  Carving Pumpkins.  The kids were hilarious.  Mal was a bundle of energy and excitement!  She dug in and took over--emptying all the guts (and her brothers!).  She wanted a heart face--and was very insistent on getting the right look.  She drew on her own mouth and pushed out the pieces after Jay cut them.  Her thrill of the whole thing was contagious.  She is at THE perfect age of enjoyment right now.  Clay on the other hand, was not impressed at all.  He did NOT like the stringy guts and in fact kept asking for something to wipe his hands off.  It was hilarious and didn't really surprise me.  The boy who eats mud off of his boots (yeah--that just happened today) is weird about slimy pumpkin guts on his hands and arms.  However, he did love the fuss over it all.  The lighting of the candles--which he couldn't stop looking at--and the lid to the jack-o-lantern.  Jay tried using one of his tools to cut the pumpkins but unfortunately it didn't work.  The handy dandy pumpkin tool we bought a few years back still seems to be THE best tool.  Next year, we'll need another.

6.  Mall SUCCESS.  I lucked out.  BIG time.  Jay went to cut wood on Saturday morning so I decided to take the kids to the mall.  I'm usually stressing over this.  Just cause I know how the kids can be.  But it was GREAT.  Seriously.  Our best outing of the YEAR.  They were SO good.  We started at  Sears for our humidifier filters (the whole reason I went to the mall), a visit to the carousel, food market, and then home!  I could not stop commenting to them how great they were!  Especially when I was witnessing kids crawling under the tables and running around at lunch--when mine were just sitting there eating.  And because I know reality.  And NEXT time, mine will probably be doing that! A MAJOR highlight of the week for me. 

5.  Just US.  One day this week, I decided to just stay home with the two kids.  No errands.  No play date.  No real agenda.  Just us.  And it was another great day.  I'm beginning to believe that my kids need a day every week like this.  To just play at home, enjoy each other, with no real direction.  I wish we had more days in the week.  And I'm realizing more and more that next year Mal will be in school full time.  So terribly sad about this.  I enjoy our lazy mornings and days.

4.  Sunday Funday.  Finally made it to our church this past Sunday.  Kids did GREAT in there classes (NO cries from Clay!!!).  Afterwards we went to Meijer and then headed home to get a few things done.  It's crazy to me how much work needs to be done in "winterizing" our house/property.  And we STILL have a few things that need to be done before that snow starts falling!  We also put up some of our Christmas lights in the DARK.  You know it's a successful day when the kids go directly to sleep with no hassles.

3.  Clayisms.  Sometimes I concentrate so much on getting him to say words and phrases that I forget about colors, shapes, and other learning skills.  This week, Clay proved to me that he STILL is "getting" these things even though I don't enforce them.  I had him point to the colors in a ladybug book.  He got 4 out of the 5 correct.  Honestly, I was shocked.  And it made me realize that he does understand everything we say and do...so this makes me realize too that I need to be refraining from talking about him in front of him.  His speech has consumed me this week.  So much that that's all I've been thinking about.  And it's taking a toll on me AND him.  I just don't know what to do.  At all. 

2.  Malloryisms.  Oh Mallory Jayne.  She was "extremely excited" (direct quote from Mal) this whole week.  Everything to do with Halloween was extremely exciting!  Her love of being social and doing things is contagious.  And so sincere.  A few funny things about her this week.  First, this past weekend I made oatmeal and put chocolate chips on it for them.  Well, she had a little on her middle finger.  And she kept showing us in front of our faces.  Yes, she was flipping us off.  Over and over and over again.  She did it like 4-5 times.  We were both laughing and she honestly had no clue.  Her "rest" time activities tend to be more quiet play time activities around me--AFTER Clay has fallen asleep.  This week she had a princess doctor Barbie.  Doesn't everyone know you can be a princess and doctor at the same time?!?!  Her obsession with Barbies lately is due to my mom giving her some of my old ones.  She can't get enough of them.  I also noticed this week that she sings songs for everything.  Which is also a characteristic of her Daddy:o)

1.  Halloween.  Was great!  Even with rainy weather, the temperature was perfect!  Kids were able to wear their costumes and still be warm!  We didn't make it to many houses--but we got enough candy:o)  I went on like a three day candy eating binge...and then for some reason have not wanted anymore.  Kids haven't really asked for it either.  So it sits in our cupboard.  Clay walked almost the whole entire way saying trick-or-treat and thanks (we practiced the week before).  And I realized that the time of trick-or-treating is short with your kids.  Only like 10 or so years.  So, I'm taking it all in.  And enjoying the excitement that comes with this crazy holiday. 

Well, that's a wrap.
Hope all of you are doing well.

It's Wednesday.
And I leave for my sewing retreat on FRIDAY!
So pumped.

Have a great rest of the week!!
Until next week,
Mrs. Newell

P.S.  And for my teacher friends--enjoy your long weekend! After conferences you deserve it!!!!!