It's the Little Things...

Last Friday was my birthday. It was a nice day...nothing terribly exciting. Matt had a baseball game for the school he needed to attend that was an hour and a half away. He asked me and the girls to go. So we did (yeehaw!). By the time we got there, it was chilly and raining. Now, I love sports as much as the next girl (wink, wink...it is a MUST that I love sports since my husband is an Athletic Director), but sitting in the chilly rain watching a high school baseball game...not really my cup of tea. So we dropped off Matt and the girls and I went to the only nearby store...Super Walmart (ugh...does it get any better than that!). Once we got there, I took Avery out of her car seat, put the diaper bag in her car seat and bent down to tie her shoe. Britlyn, in an effort to help me, closed the door for me! The only problem...I had already locked the doors and my keys were in the diaper bag...sitting in the car seat...inside of the car...the car that I already locked! I watched as she closed the door. It was like it was in slow motion. The door closing as I am realizing that my keys will be locked in there. Not only were my keys locked in the car but my wallet, cell phone...everything! Now, we do have emergency roadside service through our auto insurance...which is great if your wallet with the card that has all of the phone numbers, account number, etc. is not locked in your car! So, I go to the pay phone...remember those? I dial 1-800-555-1212 (since that is free) to get an 800 number for Allstate so hopefully someone can direct me to the right location. They want to know what location I want!!! I don't care...just give me a 800 number to Allstate! They give me a 800 number. Guess what? The number is out of service! Great!! So I walk into Walmart and explain at the service desk that I locked my keys in the car (I didn't tell them Britlyn did it as she is easily embarrassed these days). They tell me, call the police...they will do it for free. They even dialed the number for me (I should quit bad mouthing Walmart...they are good people!). By the time I got back out to the parking lot, the police were pulling up and had it unlocked in seconds!

So we then wasted an hour and half in Walmart. I gave each of the girls $4.00 to spend...that took FOREVER (that is a post for another day!).

By the time we got back, the game was almost over and the rain had let up. On the way home, we stopped at Outback for a birthday dinner. Yum, Yum! I ate WAY too much and went to bed 3 1/2 hours later feeling like I had just eaten Thanksgiving meal! :(

Although I just spent way too long describing my birthday, that is not what I remember most about the day. What I remember most are the little things. Matt got Britlyn up for me and let me sleep in a little. She got dressed by herself and came in to wake me up with my birthday card while Matt made us cinnamon rolls. There was no begging her to get up...no fighting over what to wear. Just a sweet, sweet girl! When she handed me the card, there was a line in it about about thanking mommy "for teaching me to do things on my own, and believing in me when I try". She wanted me to remember the day before at the park when she was trying to do the monkey bars like all of her friends were doing and couldn't do it. I gave her a little "pep talk"and told her she could do it...I knew she could...sang "Go Britlyn, Go Britlyn" as she tried, and cheered for her when she finally made it across. Then we bragged to Daddy when we got home. That is what she wanted me to know meant the most to her in the birthday card! It made me feel like I was doing ok...even though some nights I go to bed and think I must be the worst, most impatient mom there is!

Those are the "little things" that meant the most to me on my birthday! Matt is really good at doing those little things for me and I think he is passing that on to Britlyn. I am so thankful for them!

Next year, though, I think I will skip Super Walmart for my birthday and go to the spa!!

32 Going on 13...

It all started a few weeks back when I found myself downloading onto my ipod a Miley Cyrus song. That's right...tween sensation Miley Cyrus...Hannah Montana...the same show I wouldn't let Britlyn watch! I can't help it...it was a good song! What can I say!?

Well that got me to thinking...why do I not allow Britlyn to watch that show. Is it just because it's a Disney show, because it is VERY popular, because I know other people who don't allow their kids to watch it? I really wasn't sure why I told her "no" when I haven't even watched the show. So, I told her I would watch it with her and see what it was like and then make my decision. Well, I watched it. Other than being VERY cheesy, the show was absolutely fine. No boyfriend/girlfriend stuff (which I think Brit is too young to get into), no bad language, nothing. Needless to say, Britlyn was extremely excited that I was going to let her watch it. I told her I wanted to watch it with her the first several times until I was confident that I was ok with it and there would be no Hannah Montana t-shirts or posters going up in her room! So, we have watched it several times over the past week. I actually think it is a cute show. It is like the "Full House" of my day.

The other day I was watching it with Britlyn and I looked over at Matt to find him staring at me with a smirk on his face. When I asked "what?" he pointed out that I was REALLY into the show...laughing along. I was a little embarrassed.

But I'm telling you...that Billy Ray Cyrus is a great actor...and funny too!

NKOTB Rock!!

If you are anywhere between the ages of say 26 - 36 or so, you remember just how COOL New Kids On The Block were back in the day! I had to "sneak" and listen to them because I wasn't allowed to listen to that kind of music (sorry Mom or Dad if you are reading this...I made it through ok!). I loved Jordan!!!

Well this morning, I turned on the Today show and guess who was making their debut comeback performance? You got it...Joey, Jordan, Jonathan, Donnie & Danny!! And yes, they were singing "Right Stuff", "Step by Step", "Hangin' Tough" and all of the other greats!!

It's good to see that good quality music is coming back! :)

P.S. My honest opinion is that they really didn't sound great this morning. Their voices didn't blend well. Could have been that they were singing outside in the rain or could be that their voices are different now that they are older. Anyways, I will pretend it was great as any loyal fan should do!

I LOVE that Girl!

In honor of Mother's Day, Britlyn had to do a project at school with words that describe me. She brought it home on Friday and read it to me. Here are some of the words she used to describe me...hugging, cooking, smiling, skinny, pretty, working. DID YOU READ THAT 4TH ADJECTIVE??? She thinks I'm skinny!!! I love that about a 7 year old...I hope she never grows up!

I WILL Pick My Battles!!!

The other night when I was putting Avery to bed, she insisted on wearing these...

I have learned that I will pick my battles!

Holding my hand while walking in the parking lot...a battle I will win!

Taking an afternoon nap...a battle I will win!

Wearing bunny ears to bed...go for it!!

In other news...

A couple of months ago, Britlyn came home from school and informed us that there was a speech contest in her class. They had to memorize a poem or Bible passage and recite it in class. Four people from her class would be chosen to go on to an area Speech Meet to recite along with 4 other schools. Britlyn really wanted to win from her class and worked really hard and made it to the Speech Meet in April. She was awarded the Superior ribbon...the hightest you could get! We were SOOOOO proud of her!

When I mentioned to Matt afterwards that maybe sports wasn't going to be her thing...maybe she would be more into the Arts, the look he gave me was all I needed to know that she WOULD be participating in sports as well. Synchronized swimming...here we come!