Labels!

Labels! What are your thoughts on labels? I am talking about childhood labels such as adhd, autism, mentally retarded, even being known by a dissorder like being the child with the cleft palate. Obviously there needs to be names for problems in order to have the research done on these. However, is it healthy to label so much? What effect does it have on that child? How does it make other peers react to them? Does it make adults give them more slack? Is giving them more slack going to deter them from reaching their potential? These are just my thoughts of the day. Maybe it comes from me having taught in special ed. for three years or maybe because Lily is labeled adhd. Any thoughts on the subject? Since I am on here, I will just add some beautiful spring pictures!

St. Patrick's Day!

Lily has honestly been waiting all year for St. Patrick's Day! She even asked at Christmas if it was almost St. Patrick's Day! Why does Lily love it so much? Well Lily loves the challenge of trying to catch a leprechaun. This year she made a really neat trap. She wanted it all green b/c that is a leprechaun's favorite color. She also wanted a four leaf clover on it b/c that is his favorite plant. She also put coins b/c she knows that he loves money. The design is that if you move or untie the coins then the top part falls down on your head! So did Lily catch a leprechaun?
This is how we found the trap this morning. It looks like she might have caught him this year!!!!

There was a note with it and Lily started to read that. Unfortunately she got some bad news. He had gotten away! :( But the good news is that he didn't get away with the coins and he left her a treat!

Oh and she did catch his shadow!!!! His black shadow was inside the tube so atleast he didn't get away fully! ;)

Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us!

Oh vacation, how I miss you!

Our vacation was exactly what we needed!!!

Leaving on an adventure!!!

Relaxing in a hotel room! (No need to wake up early, clean, or think about anything!)
Playing on the beach as a family! I love playing with these girls!

Going on a "fun" date with my husband and getting to act like kids!

Hanging with my childhood friends!!!

Relaxing in the pool with my favorite girls!

Watching my girls experience the happiest place on Earth! Disneyland is the best place for watching your child light up with excitement!

I think coming home from a vacation is always a difficult situation. At first you are happy to get back to your home. Then reality sets in and you miss the relaxing and the excitement of vacation! We also made that leap even bigger by taking a foster child in on the day that we got back. That was crazy!!! We made the best memories on our vacation and I can't wait for the next one! Yes, everyday life is great, but vacation is the best! :)

Proud Mommy Moment

Some morning are just wonderful!!! Lily woke up early and came in and asked if she could get up. I said, "What time is it? She looked at the clock and said, " the short hand is on the 6 and the long hand is on the 10." I said, "okay!" But then a second went by and Lily said, "That means it is 6:50!" I was still pretty asleep, but I was saying, "Yay"...in my head! Yesterday, we were working on telling time and I just didn't think she was getting it! I love waking up to a wonderful surprise! The best thing ever is seeing it click for your own child! I even went and tested her with a pretend clock when I got up and she really has got it! Yay! There really is nothing like seeing your child doing well and knowing that you have helped them get there! I love homeschooling, especially today! Also yesterday, she was successfully counting pennies and nickels together! Love it! Math is not her strongest area so it is great to watch her accomplishing hard tasks!

Just thought I would share a proud mommy moment!

The Perfect Life!!!

Lately I have noticed how much people compare themselves to others. Maybe it is impossible to not compare a little, but we (especially women) seem to do it way more than we should.

I think possibly the Internet has only made it worse. If you are around other mothers in person than you see the parts of their lives that are great and the parts that they struggle with. You also see and can talk with them to find out how they juggle their schedules and what things they sacrifice. Things like facebook only allow you to see part of a person's life. I have noticed that some people are very honest and share everything about their lives: good or bad and sometimes it is tmi! ;) Others like myself probably share the fun parts. I like to dwell on the good parts of my day and stay busy....now you probably don't see the part where I hate cleaning bathrooms (that would be boring) or the part where I struggle with missing out on playdates (I absolutely want to be at every single event and I beat myself up when I miss one). Others probably use it as a bragging tool...you know who you are. JK! And others seem so worn down and like they are struggling all the time. Facebook is an interesting place. I really do enjoy it simply b/c I love people!

So mainly what I am trying to get around to saying is that I wish that everyone would stop comparing themselves and really be happy with the great parts of their lives and accept the parts that aren't perfect as just that and it is okay!

"Make a careful explanation of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that....Don't compare yourself with others." Galations 6:4 MSG
Well I have to add a few pictures from my perfect life! :) Here are my beautiful kids all cuddled in bed! Don't they look perfect! You can tell that they never fight! Oh just ignore the claw marks on Valerie's pretty little face...no clue how those got there!

Oh and I only feed my girls healthy food...I would never give sweets before they turn one.....Oh wait, what happened to Daphne's face! I think that Lily and Valerie were very proud of giving her some FUDGESICLE! The first or second child never would have gotten this, but Daphne is very lucky to have big sisters! ;)

From one perfect mother to another, have a fun filled day!