This "bytes"...

We try to do the right thing around here when it comes to parenting.

You know what I mean...have our kids eat healthy, do physical activity, read books, and stay away from too much technology.

I want to talk about technology today.  On my blog.  Oh, the irony.

Anyway, we have tried to limit the role technology plays in the lives of our kids.  Sure, we watch some Nick Jr. around here.  And yes, perhaps for longer than the recommended 30 minutes.  There are times I like to shower and make dinner in peace.

I just reread that.  I don't make dinner while showering at the same time.  Just so you know.

Anyway, they don't own video gaming devices, we don't have kid games on our iPhones, etc.  I know those things will come, but for right now they are only 4 and 15 months old.  We can color, read books, or play "I Spy" when we have to wait somewhere.  They love this, and so I feel like we are doing a good job. 

And then I saw this...

My daughter thinks she's an Apple product.

Steve Jobs-1/ Shene'-0

Family and Friends

Whew.  It's been too long since I last blogged.

I have been busy doing two things:  sweating and checking things off of our summer list.

One of those things is a lot more fun than the other.

We really started our summer by visiting Corpus Christi, our hometown.  It is also the hometown of Whataburger.  I felt like I needed to mention that because that is CC's claim to fame.  And Whataburger is delicious.

We went down for the weekend to celebrate our mothers, who are both now unemployed and fancy free!  After 30+ years in education as a Speech-Language Pathologist, my mother-in-law, Lynda, retired. 

Her fellow SLP's threw a wonderful luncheon to honor her (and three other ladies that were retiring).

  

Hayes was clearly worn out from all of the excitement. 

My mom, Glenetta, also retired from teaching for 21 years at an Early Childhood Center.  Both families celebrated at the famous King's Inn in Kingsville, TX that night. 

 My dad and mom

 I was brave and tried a frog leg.  I definitely prefer shrimp.

Andy and I are very proud of our moms.  We are excited that they can be ladies of leisure and enjoy late lunches and pedicures whenever they desire. We are also excited about having free baby sitters, which explains our expressions in the picture above. 

The next morning, the kids and I got up to have breakfast with my friend, Krystal.  I met Krystal in the 7th grade.  We were friends all through school.  We took Driver's Ed. together.  As Juniors, we skipped 7th period to go get Chinese food together on a Friday (which my parents found out and they took away my car and my precious 17 year old self had to ride the school bus for two horrible weeks). Krys and I were roomies at Baylor.  We were in each other's weddings.  We have known each other for seventeen years.

SEVENTEEN years.

We. are. old. 

I wish I had a picture of us from back in the day, but the technology department here at Not Before My Coffee does not own a scanner.  Remember, we are old and our growing up pictures were taken on cameras with, gasp, film. 

The best part of our breakfast was meeting this beauty:

 

Emory was born in November and this was my first time to meet her.  I was in love.  You better believe I spent a lot of time kissing those sweet cheeks. 

Krystal also got to meet Hayes for the first time. 

He was a bit too busy checking his email on my iPhone to pose for pictures.

Bella was more than happy to pose and hug on Krystal.

Bella also couldn't wait to get her hands on Emory.  She knows cute when she sees it. 

My daughter, holding her daughter.  It makes me get all sappy and emotional.

It was a great breakfast and a special treat to get to see Krys and Em.  As she put it, it was the kind of thing that we don't do often, but it feels like we've been doing it every Saturday for years.

I hope we have many more times like that.  Maybe we will drink our Ensure together after we go to the beauty shop to get our hair curled.  Then we'll really be old.

The Heat is On!

Summer is here.   How do I know?  It’s  97 degrees y’all.  I get sweaty walking to my mailbox.  Welcome summer, welcome.

I do love the start of every new season.  There are things I love about every season, things that just belong to that short time.  It feels new…special…every year.

Unfortunately, these seasons can really pass too quickly.  Time is funny like that.  Now that I stay at home, there are some days that seem so long, so similar.  Days filled with making beds, doing laundry, pretend play, and wiping off the highchair over and over.  Before I know it, weeks will have passed and those “special” things I meant to do are not done.

Enter my number one weapon…a list.

I made a summer to do list.  It’s filled with big and little things that I want to do for myself and my family this (super hot) season.  We all brainstormed and came up with tons of ideas.  They are listed in no particular order:

This idea is not unique.  I saw it on someone’s (can’t remember whose) blog last year.  An idea doesn’t have to be unique to be good.

I can’t wait to cross things off!

And since another season is here, I also cleaned out my closet today.  Here are my observations:

1.  Gap, Inc. should thank me.  I have single-handedly kept them in business.  At least they could send me a free gift card.  (Hint, hint.)

2.  I have an obsession with black shirts. One can never have too many.

I also went shopping today.  It was remarkable for two reasons.  First, I went ALONE.  Thank you to my fantastic husband who stayed home with the kids. Second, I went shopping for something crazy…SHORTS.

Yes, shorts, my friends.

You should know that I have been really against shorts for several years.  Why?  Well, have you looked around?  90% of the population doesn’t look good in them.  Really.  It’s scary.  I don’t want to be one of those people. 

(Feel free to disagree with that statistic.  But you should know that it was based on a very scientific study called "My Opinion".)

 Why the change of heart about shorts?  See the top paragraph.  It’s 97 degrees.  In May. 

My shopping was good and bad.  The dress and three shirts (one black) I got on sale (all purchased with a gift card=FREE to me!) were great.  But the shorts search…ugh.

90% of the shorts in stores have a 3 inch or less inseam.  And remember, that looks bad on 90% of the population.  Count me in that population.

Where is the store for the “I’m a 30 year old mom who has to bend down to pick up her kids, yet I don’t want to look like a dorky mom” store?

Yes, I know Banana Republic would qualify.  Problem is I am still waiting for my kids to pay me six figures a year to take care of them.   I think I’ll be waiting awhile…

I did buy one pair.  I am taking them back.  When I got home and walked in them, they bunched funny in the front.  I didn’t walk in the dressing room.  Who knew walking would be important?

I guess I’ll add “finding fashionable, affordable, and age/lifestyle appropriate shorts” to that summer list. 

What I Miss...

I have figured out a major thing that I miss about working.

Oh, you say...is it molding the young minds of America?  Is is teaching children to read?  Is it making a difference every day?

No, that is not what I am referring to here.  Today, ladies and gentlemen, I miss disposable income.

And by that, I mean the ability to go to Target and buy whatever I want. 

I know, I know...totally shallow and ridiculous.  But it's nice to have the ability to throw caution to the wind every now and then.  For me, that means throwing things in that pretty red cart.  I live dangerously.

Target was amazing extra difficult today.  When it comes to knowing what I will like, they really hit the bullseye. (Go ahead and laugh at that.  You know it's funny.)

Here are some GREAT things that made me stop, and obviously take pictures:

 Target has this awesome blue and white stuff right now.  I have ALWAYS loved this and have similar decor in my living room and kitchen. 

 Yup.  Love it.  The reflection of Hayes and me really adds to it.

 Don't worry, this pillow is neither 69.99 or 49.99.  I moved it to a different shelf to photograph.  It's really on sale for $15!

 And speaking of sales, this duvet cover is half off!  I love the way it's gathered so you would never have to iron it.  It's supposed to be wrinkled.  This bargain almost did me in.

 Cheap.  Cute.  Comfy.  Would go with a Cardigan.  The 4 C's of perfection.

So...what did I buy?

If you are disappointed, you're not the only one. 

No living dangerously today.  When it comes to our budget, I've got to walk the straight and arrow, I mean, narrow.

Two Mother's Day Letters

 To my beautiful children, Bella Kathryn and Hayes Ryan,

It's Mother's Day, and I am sure you (with Daddy's help) have something planned for me, I wanted to take time to write you a letter.  This letter is going to have a couple of lists (love them) and it's going to start with a strange one.  Keep reading until the end.  Obey your mother.

Being a mom changes your life.  A lot.  That leads to list one:

Things I don't have since I have children:
- a clean car
- a clean kitchen floor (Which isn't really fair to blame on you.  It's white tile and it's impossible.)
- a fishing boat (That one's for your dad.)
- the ability to stay out late and sleep late the next morning
- a toy free living room
- peaceful time to shower without someone coming in to talk to me or play in the toilet (Ahem...Hayes)
-rockin' abs

But oh, my babies, you have brought me so many other things.  Some of them things I didn't even know I was missing.

Things I have since I have children:
- more patience
- the ability to multitask at an Olympic level
- the knowledge that you can trade in the toy at Chick-fil-a for ice cream.  Score.
- a pantry door that is covered in artwork
- the excuse to go shopping for clothes every season because you've outgrown the ones from last year
- a reason to use my camera everyday
- the opportunity to look at the world in a different way, as you ask questions and discover things for the first time
- a moment daily, where you rest your head on my shoulder, and I am so happy I forget to breathe
- a paper that says "Mama" taped to my mirror, because it's the first time you ever wrote my name and I want to look at it every day for the rest of my life
- a better understanding of who God, my Father, is and how much he loves me
- a scar, that I love, because it reminds me of where you both used to be

You see, the two of you have brought so much into my life.  Most of all, you have brought me joy, a heart that is overflowing with love.  I have tears in my eyes as I type this because I can't find words that are good enough to explain how much I love you.

When I rock you late at night, I look at the cross that says, "For this child I have prayed."  You both have them in your rooms.  It's a reminder for me.  It's a reminder for you.  You were prayed for.  You were so very wanted.  And God answered my prayer.

I am so very grateful. 

"Worthy are you, O God, to receive honor and glory, for you created all things." Revelation 4:11

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Love,
Mommy

And I cannot close this post on Mother's Day, without one more letter...


Dear beautiful woman who is longing to be a mother,

You are not forgotten. 

There was a time, just a few years ago, when I could not write the letter above.  I had been trying, and failing, for two years to have a baby.  I was in pain.
 
I had a doctor, fantastic as he was (and still is), who couldn't give me answers.  Pregnant women followed me around Wal-Mart.  I cringed when I had to listen to other women complain about their pregnancies.  I was the girl at the baby shower with nothing to talk about. 

And I hated Mother's Day.  It was a celebration of everything I was not.

I would avoid church on that day, because bursting into tears when they ask all of the mothers to stand isn't really a socially acceptable response.  

I remember.  You are not forgotten.

If you are waiting to be a mother, I am thinking of you and praying for you.

And you should know that I will still cry in church today.  For me.  For you.  For a God who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

Love,
Shene'

Resurrection Eggs

 Easter is here.  I love it. 

The Easter Bunny.  Eggs hunts.  Those sugary bunnies that taste like circus peanuts that I may or may not have already sampled while hiding in the pantry where my kids couldn't see. 

However, Easter is so much more than a holiday.  It is a holy day.  I want my kids to experience all of the fun things listed above (even the sugar). But more than anything, I want to teach them about the true meaning of Easter. 

Jesus died for us.  He rose again on the third day.  He is our Hope.

I want their hearts to be filled with truth more than I want their baskets to be filled with eggs. 

So, I decided to start a special tradition with Resurrection Eggs.  This is not my original idea, by any means.  I have seen these at Christian book stores.  I really wanted some, but didn't want to pay $20 for an egg carton and some plastic eggs. 

I made my own!  It was easy, FREE (I already had everything I needed), and even more special to know that each year, between Palm Sunday and Easter, we will use the eggs made by my own hands. 

Here's what I did, in case you feel inspired to do your own:

1.  I googled "Resurrection Eggs".  There are lots of different versions.  I went through several and picked the 12 symbols/verses that I thought would work best.

2.  I typed the verses (one for each egg) and printed them on cardstock. 

3.  I went through our Easter eggs and picked 12.  Then I sharpied them up. 

4.  Next I got my egg carton.  I didn't like all the print on it, so I decided to spray paint it.  DO NOT DO THIS.  I learned a valuable crafting lesson-spray paint doesn't stick to egg carton foam.  It kinda melts it. 

Well, when paint wouldn't do, I decided to cover that thing up with paper and stickers. 

5.  I gathered/made the symbols to go inside each egg.  I did bread, coins, purple cloth, thorns, rope, a cross, a sign, sponge, spear, rock, spices, and the last egg is empty.  I had everything at home and only had to work on a couple-the sign, the cross, and the spices.

I made the cross with a wooden bbq skewer, twine, and hot glue.  I put the spices in a baggie, cut off the baggie to make it smaller, and tied it up. 

6.  Finally, I stuffed each egg with the symbol and verse. 

We have been doing two a night with Bella during her story time before bed.  She looks forward to it and is learning about the true meaning of Easter.

Happy Easter!

He is not here, he has risen!  Matthew 28:6

The "highlight" of my day...

This is my son

 throwing a highlighter

in the toilet.

**Hands were thoroughly scrubbed after this bathroom adventure.