How I Spent My 27th Birthday - Randome Acts of Kindesss

Today is my 27th Birthday ! Yep my birthday is on Christmas Eve  , and No it doesn't suck. I LOVE being a Christmas Baby. My mom and family has always gone out of there way to make my birthday feel special and not get swept away with the Holiday Season.  And to show how thankful I am i decided to spend my birthday doing things for others. I was inspired by http://tsjphotography.com/blog/rack-download-edition/ advent calendar . Plus she has really nice Christmas and blank print ables!

The started out great with Breakfast in Bed, from my Hubby and Girls <3

Next it was time to shower and get everyone ready for our day out spreading good cheer !

My first act was to send a mother who I saw posted asking for help on a facebook page I 'like'. They had just moved to a new state and she missed the deadlines for toys for tots and felt bad asking for help at their new church since they had only been there a short time and so many others needed the help. Her neighbor had donated a tree and gift for the little children. She was sad she couldn't afford a gift for her 12 year old daughter. So I mailed off $20 so her daughter could go to a teen consignment in town and pick out a new outfit or two.
 
 

Next I sent my Friends daughter $5. She is collecting stuffed animals to send to the Sandy Victims . Shelley is a 9 years old Girl who already loves thinking of ways to help others. Earlier this year she also donated her hair to locks for love.  






 

Then to the laundry Mat.

Where we left a bag of laundry soap packets with a note that said "take one and leave the rest for the next guest" . Here are my Girls excited to start this adventure.

 



My Husband who had the privilege of driving us around :)





 

The after a quick stop at the bank for change we went to the ER waiting room at the Hospital and left change on the vending machines

 

Next Stop was the .99 cent store to leave a couple bucks for kids in the toy aisle . This was the first time someone noticed us and she chuckled and gave me a smile.





The kids were loud ! So excited for all the nice/ fun things we were doing and the promise of a happy meal at the end of our random acts of kindness.



 

Who wouldn't be surprised when they pulled up to the car wash and didn't have to pay? I know washing your car usually isnt the happiest moment in life but maybe this will make someone smile :)

  While on our way we almost hit a puppy !!! I jumped out of the car and tried to save it but it ran off the busy street and into a neighborhood where someone else was chasing it. Thank god that little pom didn't get run over !!






 

For our last act . We bought coffee and gift cards for a nice hot meal.  The Man and women we gave them to were very thankful. I hope they can find a save dry place for the night and have at least one warm meal this Holiday Season.

With all the horrible acts of violence and sadness happening around our country and the world I encourage you to take the time and print out one sheet of the RAOK cards and do 4 kind acts for people in your area or life. If each person on my facebook does 4 acts of kindness that will be over 400 random kind things done !!! There is no need to spend great deals of money or even that much time. Our 10 acts cost less than $50 and not more than 2 hours of our time. Some of our RAOK cost only $1 and there are plenty of free ideas all over the Internet. Like helping someone with their groceries or mowing your neighbors lawn . Remember a little love goes a long way.

 

 Happy Holidays from our Family to Yours



This was Madison first week at VBS and her first week at school. the first day was rough, in hind sight it was probably cause she got lost that am and of course had never been there before. She had a brave face on as I left she said good bye and kissed me , but as I watched from the window she wasn’t very happy crying in the arms of one of her teachers. And as I sat in the car I was conflicted if leaving her crying with strangers ( and her cousin ) was best decision for her .

Worrying if I had my instincts all wrong (or now as it referred to attachment parenting) was my daughter was overly attached to me, was she spoiled , and had she been manipulating me the entire time. I reflected on the bed sharing , extended breast feeding, not forcing her to hug or kiss anyone , not spanking , practicing baby led weaning, staying home with her and only entrusting her care to me , my husband , grandmothers and a few close friends /family if needed. Had I totally messed her up by not sticking her on a sched and leaving her in a room to cry alone like all the books suggest?

Then I thought But wait I parented Alexis the same way, I fallowed my instincts with the guidance of my mom of course. Alexis bed shared till 2 years and room shared till she was 4years old! She was always with me , my mom or her amazing car provider until Billy entered our life. Alexis is fine. She’s more than fine , she’s a beautiful and loving child , very interested in theater and performing. She has been sleeping over at grandmas forever and spends entire summers with her grandma in MI. she’s well adjusted and has what I hope is a secure attachment to me, and other family. I was attachment parenting before I even knew it was a thing. I’m not the perfect parent sometimes I’m frustrated or exhausted and I make mistakes, but still was ALL my attachment parenting all wrong ? Did I luck out with Alexis?

When I picked Maddi up that day and as we continued through this week she was sooooo happy and excited to share all she had learned with me. She’s excited about her Preschool starting in the fall. And I realized I wasn’t wrong , I hadn’t done her any great disservice. She is securely attached to me and by me waiting till she was ready to be on her own was the right choice. Her knowing her mommy (or daddy) will always be there has created this amazing little person who is so caring and wild. I parented by my instincts, I listened to them, I respected them.

Attachment parenting doesn’t look the same for everyone, that’s whats so great about it. Its about listening to our children , to our babies . Its about not forcing societal norms on them. Its about letting them be who they are going to be, not trying to fit them in our schedules. Its about creating peace and teaching. Its about unconditional loving. I’m sad that America has made children an inconvenience that needs to be trained. People talking about how children now a days are spoiled brats and its cause their parents don’t hit / spank them enough. A women cant even breast feed at a Zoo with out flak for Pete’s sake. Children and babies are people too . Yes they are small and don’t always make the best choices, they are loud. messy and sometimes their communication skills are a bit hard to decipher , but still they are people. This type of parenting worked for our family. Do you fit your self into group or fallow a type of parenting ?

Alexis' Birth Story

In honor of Birth Week I decided to write My Girls both stories first up Alexis who is now 71/2 years old !! I cant believe it seems like only yesterday I was a scared 17 year old who had to tell my mom I was pregnant. It was hard for me i felt like i was going to disappoint her. But my mom was (is still) awesome and supported my decision to carry this baby and keep and raise her myself. With out my mom Alexis and I wouldn't be where we are today. I wouldn't recommend having a child that early in life , it made of a lot things more difficult especially when her father and I decided not to stay together but i would trade her for the world <3

At first I didn't want to believe what was happening but after everyone knew I was ready to start this process. I got a great referral for a OB/GYN who had a mid wife on staff (the same midwife who at the beginning of her career delivered my youngest brother). She was awesome i loved her. I watch a million Baby Stories on TLC . I knew i didn't want the whole neighborhood in the delivery room just my mom and alexis' dad. i know i wanted and epidural and i knew i wanted to breastfeed and i had a great birth plan. My pregnancy started off rough lots of morning sickness but was over all very easy. However on Feb 23 i went for  my weekly visit and stress test and review of my ultra sound . Alexis' fluid was low and she did not pass the stress test. I trusted my midwife and she said an induction was necessary and they had an opening the night! ahhhh was I really going to be a mom in the next day or two?? I got to go home eat dinner pack my bag tell everybody and head off to the Hospital .

I was given cervidel to ripen and soften my cervix. they gave me some adavan (in hind sight i should not have taken it) to relax so I could sleep and they would start pitocin in the am. everyone said goodnight and my mom left to go home and would be back in the am I asked her not to leave and an hour later my contractions started . apparently i fall into a small % of women who cervidil starts labor without the aid of pictocin. My contracts came on HARD and FAST . I begged for the epidural !! the wicked nurse (as i call her ) told me to go in and take a warm shower cause it would help , which is true, but she wouldn't let anyone come in with me "because I was naked". Hellllooo lady they are gonna see it all in a few hours. I remember sitting in that shower stall 18 years old scared and along going through these Horrible pains.

So I came back out to get into bed. My mom and Alexis' dad rubbed my back , i paced the room, anything really that would give me some relive. I threw up (the adavan) and  then finally the sleepy doctor came in and put in the epidural, finally some relief. My entire labor was very burly and haze due to the medications they gave not exactly how my birth plan was written out.

Finally it came time to push . i don't really remember it at all ! At some point my mom told me my blood pressure and baby's pretty much disappeared but my mid wife got it back up. My mom also says that it was raining and cloudy and right as Alexis was born the sun came out. i remember her saying it was like a flower blooming. It didn't hurt just lots of pressure. she was born into a very quite and loving enviorment.

 After less than 12 hours start to finish my beautiful baby girl was born and put up in my chest to breast feed <3 my birth didn't go exactly as planned but it was overall a great learning experience, and very successful. Alexis and I went home the next day and carried out a very successful breast feeding relationship. She is now a happy and healthy 7 year old who enjoys playing outside singing and doing art projects.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

 We marble painted out Giant Very Hungry Caterpillar and he looks awesome !

First off you need a box i used a box that has a lid since we did this inside and then all the kids could dance wiggle and shake with the box .

 So i took box with a lid , and put one caterpillar segment, some pain and a few marbles and let M shake and shimmy with the box !



M shaken the box

                             

this is what they looked like done

Here is a picture of the box i used

and here is all finished up on the wall !

with some beautiful butterflies the child made.

Christmas Trees

Today we made Christmas Trees !!!

They make a wonderful decoration for the holidays .

you will need:
Thin Card board
scissors
glitter or glitter glue
mini ornaments
green paint




I cut out trees out of a thin card board , like a cereal box.

I painted them green ahead of time but if you wanted to extend the project the children could paint them in in various ways. ie finger painted marble/golf ball painting ect.

Don't forget to leave the trunk brown!

Next i gave glitter glue to the girls and let them go to town.

After this i helped them glue on mini ornaments, the ones you get from the craft store .

The girls loved it and they look Very cute !

The Bis.

So i have been making these for friends and now have SOLD  a few !!! I am so excited !! Right now i am speaking with a girl who will hopefully make me an awesome product tag that will be able to explain what these are at a glance. And tmrw I am going to Blooms Consignment store to see if they will sell these in their shop!! So wish me luck !!!!  Also check out my FB page Cause I make lots of other cool things like Soft Wipes Cases, Baby Cakes & Hooter Hiders and remember EVERYTHING IS CUSTOM !!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynn-Marie-Boutique/128170220545937?ref=sgm

Bad Mom

Ok so i feel like a terrible mom sometimes, as im sure everyone does. But with school starting all these mommies are posting how they cried and feel like they should be there helping or watching and how they keep checking cell phones, or how they made big breakfasts and bought speical clothes... Me on the other hand not so much. I dont belong to the PTA (i barley have time for the "have too" in life) , im not a room parent, i dont make alexis lavish breakfasts before school ( and if i did she wouldnt eat them) and I didnt spend $100's on new school clothes ( however she did get new shoes)
For us the firts day of school went something like this...
*7:00 wake up everyone
* Got dressed
* Ate breakfast (well shes not a morning eater so she more like picked at her cookie bites lol)
* combed hair brushed teeth (got maddi ready)
* snapped a few pictures
*7:30 left for school ( yeah not really sure how that happened either )
So we get to the school, we park, walk around till we find her class. She meets her teacher (which takes 2 min tops), sees brooke is in her class ( very very great thing that was) and then the teacher kicks us out to the playground and off she goes barley a kiss, but maddi wont let her get away that easy "sissy sissy kiss bye bye" shes says. So alexis drags her self back for hugs and kisses . Maddi and i walk back to the car its only 7:45 !! We escape just before all the cars pile into the parking lot. Which is a fantasic feat casue our school parking is less than desierable. But wait there were no tears?  I wasnt crying...  my little girl was in first grade and i felt ?  well i felt ... HAPPY ! Happy she was going to be busy playing with friends and learning new things!! ( and not fallowing me around saying im bored lol) ! So who else out there doesnt get all wrapped up in back to school ? I need somepeople i can realte with LOL