Eclipse!

When the Twilight novels first started getting popular, I thought 'Really?? Vampires?? Woo hoo....' but then my sister Amanda read them and said they were great, but I still wasn't convinced enough to read them. However, then, my friend Laurie, who is an 8th grade English teacher, read them and loved them and said I just HAVE to read them. So I started in on Twilight with doubts but fell in LOVE in no time! They are WONDERFUL!! And then, I was ecstatic when they started making them into movies!! So far I have been to all 3 premier nights and I plan on being at the next 2 (I am VERY bummed they are breaking the last novel into 2 movies, just because I have to wait longer! but hopefully that will mean they will leave less out!) Anyway, On June 29, 2010, I headed out for a 'girls night' in the craziness of premier night! I must say the movie was GREAT!! I just cannot wait to see it again!! There were a few small parts that they left out that I didn't like, but such is life. I'm not the director!! I still seriously enjoyed it! Here are pics from the night (they were taken on my cell phone, so they are of seriously poor quality. I can never remember to take my camera!)

This is my sister-in-law, Kara. They were handing out vampire teeth while we were waiting in line! :)

Kara and Jacob Black (still hot, even in card board)

Ok... Maybe I'm team Jakeward!

Here's my group of girls!! From L to R: Lisa, Laurie, me, Kara, Amanda, and Amy

Lucky Lisa won an Edward cut out!!! And got to take him home with her! We were all so jealous.

We ended up sitting on one of the side rows so Lisa set Edward up beside her and they watched the movie together.

On Mommy Guilt

If you're a Mommy, then I'm certain at some point you have experienced mommy-guilt. If you're not a mommy and don't understand what mommy guilt is, it's when a no matter what a mommy does, she feels guilty about it!!

This is something I struggle with on a very regular basis. I beat myself up about almost everything I do!

Examples from today alone:

• I felt guilty for letting my kids watch lots of TV while I cleaned (this house is scuzzy and it was getting to me)
• I felt guilty for ignoring the kids while I cleaned
• I felt guilty for giving my kids ravioli for lunch, and then macaroni/beef casserole for dinner - I mean only a bad mom would give her kids redundant meals like that, right?
• I felt guilty that Joey threw a fit in his Sunday School class and I was not made aware by the teacher until I picked him up from primary (because that's my fault, right?)
  
• I felt guilty for not having exciting activities planned for the 4th of July, even though we've seen fireworks shows the past 2 nights in a row.
• I felt guilty for not taking the kids to see Kris ride on the fire truck in a parade but having them nap instead (they have been up LATE too much and needed a nap!)
• I felt guilty that I made dinner a tad late and the kids were STARVING (although miracle is the kids actually eat dinner when they're hungry for it!)
• I felt guilty that I had put savanna to bed, and then took Joey out front to watch the fireworks that neighbors were putting off. I mean, Savanna's not even 2 yet, but I felt bad she was missing out on the fun.
• I felt guilty they didn't have more out door play today
• I felt guilty we forgot to say a prayer at dinner
• I felt guilty we're almost out of groceries and had slim pickin's for fruit today.
  

This is seriously just a SMALL list of the things I feel guilty for on a regular basis. And it's not just passing guilt - it really bugs me. I mean, deep down I know I'm a good mom - my kids are healthy and happy, played with and cared for. But it's all this stuff on the surface that truly gets to me, but I swear, no matter WHAT I do, I find some way to feel guilty about it!

So this is a shout out to all you Mommas out there... how do you deal with your own mommy guilt?? It seems sometimes I can reason my way out of it because I know it's not rational, but sometimes I can't! So what to do. :) I'd love some advice from all the other moms! Or at least let me know I'm not alone in this!

Recent fun

Had to take this one of Joey! He takes his cars to bed like any other kid would take a stuffed animal or blanet. He cuddles with them and holds them all night. :) That's my future race car driver!

Here are some recent pictures of my BEAUTIFUL kids! They're random, but enjoy anyway.

Savanna has a thing for corn - It is SO fun to watch her eat it!

A few years ago when we were looking to get a dog, I knew it had to be one that would be good with kids - since we had Joey and there were lots of kids in and out that I babysit. So we got Ace! He's definitely got some not-so desirable qualities (like his aversion to Kris) BUT we couldn't ask for a better dog when it comes to kids! The kids can do just about anything to this dog and he endures it well! And he even protects them if he feels they are in danger. What a sweet puppy!

My Joey on the far left and Savanna in the middle in the pink and some kiddos I babysit, Carlie, Maggie, and Ethan, enjoying the pool!

Joey and the little neighbor girl, Landynne. He is always excited when he sees her outside and always wants to go play with her! So fun!

I like to play with Savanna's hair. Can't wait til it gets longer! My recent fav is to do double french braids. Above is her with wrapped pig tails. Below I did double french braid down half way, then tied them together with bows. Turned out really cute!

And since I always wear flip flops, I figured it was high time to get Savanna her first pair of flip flops! Just like mommy! :) Gotta love target and their '2 pairs of flip flops for $5' sale!

Joey is so big!

Here is Joey, pictured on his first and last day of school. It's amazing how much he grew in that short 9 months!! I love this lil' guy!

September, 2009

May, 2010 - notice he's like 4 inches taller?!? Crazy... before I know it he'll be all grown up. :(

Joey Chatter - Don't erase it!

After goofing around before bed time, I gave Joey a final kiss on the cheek and out of habit wiped it off with my thumb. He looked at me and very matter-of-factly said:

J: MOM. Do it again and this time don't erase it!

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J: Mom, how do they make eggs out of chickens?

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J: Hot wheel cars are faster than race cars. I bet you didn't know that!

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(When looking at a sunset)

Me: See Joey? God is an artist and paints beautiful sunsets for us to see

J: Does God think the sky is his paper??? (incredulously)

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There are lots more but I need to be better about writing them down!! I intend on writing them down but then I always forget them. He is so clever and comes up with the funniest things! I love this little boy...

Shooting

Today the farrier that I use for my horse took some of his guns to Amy's house for her to try out because they are considering getting a gun and wanted to try some out. I've only shot a gun once or twice before as a teenager at a gun safety class I went to. But I figured today I would try some out, too! It was actually really fun albiet kind of scary! Some of those guns were just wicked. But fun! Anyway - enjoy the pics of the day!

Me with a big gun. It was HEAVY and hurt my shoulder with the kick back!

Getting ready to shoot...

This is Kelly, our farrier's wife. She is great with a gun!

This is Josh, my horses' farrier with one of his cool guns.

Sort of a group shot. Pete (Amy's husband), Brandon, Joey, and Amy.

Amy with my favorite gun. I really enjoyed shooting that one!

Some of the guns.

Brandon (Amy's son) with a gun!

Pete with what I thought looked like the 'noisy cricket' from Men in Black.

I had alot of fun today being outside in the wonderful weather!! :)

Time Out For Women!

A couple weeks ago I went to Time Out for Women with my sister, my mom, and my sister's friend, Amy in Indianapolis. It was SO FUN!! And so inspiring. Unfortunately I waited too long to do this post so I don't have lots of details to divulge, but I thought I would at least post the pictures so I would remember the good time!!

Here's our group shot!! I'm on the left, then my sister, Amanda, then my Mommy, then Amy! It was such a fun group of women to kick back with for the weekend. :)

Aaaaand what do women do when they have a night out together? Facials!! Amy brought this cool Aztec Healing Clay that we mixed with raw Apple Cider Vinager and it made a really cool clay mask. And my skin felt amazing afterwards!!

Here is my mom with one of the presenters, Mariama Kallon. She was AMAZING. Long story short, she was raised in war-torn Sierra Leon and witnessed her parents murdered. After that she ran away with her sister, but they were caught by rebels and her sister and many other women were murdered in front of her and she was next in line, but the UN soldiers came and scared the rebels off. After a LONG hard road, she came to the US to serve a mission for the church, and in turn got to stay here after wards. Just to listen to her talk of her struggle and the struggles of her family.... it truly made me thankful that I have healthy kids and a warm house and a full kitchen. I take so much of that for granted.

Here is Amanda and Amy enjoying lunch.

Here is Diane Crankson and I. Diane served a mission in our area when I was in college. It was so neat to run into her again after all these years!! She just had the baby she's pregnant with in this picture - a healthy little girl! This is her 3rd.

All in all it was a GREAT weekend full of inspiration and HOPE. The theme of the TOFW was Infinate Hope. It was nice to be reminded that no matter what is happening in your life, there is ALWAYS reason to hope. :)