Makeup

My girls sure love doing their own makeup.  I thought Morgan was girlie but Sophie loves girlie things [I think] more.  She is always bringing shoes for us to put on, she loves clothes, and she spent hours by herself in front of the vanity in her sister's room doing her makeup and looking at herself.

(This one looks kind of like a scary clown so we had to take another.)

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with my family.  They brought me breakfast in bed and gave me a book they had made, The Book of Mommy.  Morgan drew the pictures and daddy helped write the story.  I went to church by myself since Mo had been sick.  It was the first time in a long time that I got to listen to the speakers.  

Dance Recital

Morgan had a dance recital on Saturday and rehearsal on Friday.  These are horrible pictures but all I have.  

She did so great even though she started throwing up on Friday night and all day Saturday.  We made sure to wash her hands right before she danced.

In Which I Got Called An Unfit Mother

This isn't going to be another post about how hard it is to be a mother (well, kinda -- but that's not the purpose).  It's about how I'm sick of people judging other people.

When I was in college I went to something with my parents and I remember seeing a morbidly obese woman driving a Jazzy (you know, like a motorized chair).  I am ashamed of myself to this day but I said something along the lines of "if she would get out of the chair and walk (exercise) maybe she wouldn't be so big."  Yeah.  I'm not proud of it, but I am proud of what my dad said to me after.  He said, "you don't know the situation so do not judge."

Yesterday I went to McDonald's after Morgan's dance class with a couple of the other dance moms and kids.  It was the first time I have ever done anything other than during dance with them and I was excited to get to know them better, have some friends for my daughter, etc.

I also took Sophie.  I figured it would be frowned on if I left my 18-month-old in the car watching Hop while her sister got to go down slides and jump on things so I took her in too.  Oh, and I bought them chicken nuggets and fries -- NOT apples.  They get apples at home -- this was an opportunity to have something fun.  I do not need to explain that.

So you'd think that this post is about eating at McDonald's, huh?  Nope.  While they were eating (between breaks and with germy hands) I let them play in the play place with a whole bunch of other kids.  Yes, even Sophie-the-18-month-old.  On a play place that said it was designed for children ages 4 and up.  Heaven forbid an 18-month-old (or baby, as she will soon be called) play on anything not designed to strap her in or slide 2 feet.

I sat with my new friends and talked and watched my girls and theirs all help Sophie climb up the 1-foot tall landings.  When all 4 5-year-old helpers couldn't get Sophie down from the top, I climbed in there and got her out myself.  I was watching.  I did not see an issue or any danger (certainly it's safer than climbing on tables/chairs/couch/ladder/fire place at home, which she does, by the way).

Pretty soon (like 3 seconds later) my squirmy little Sophie wanted to get out of my arms and climb around again so I set her down and she went back to the girls and up the play place.  A few minutes later some random lady (I just LOL'd at the word "lady." She was not a lady.  Woman.  A scary cat-eyed woman) came up to where I was standing and said, "I don't think that baby should be climbing in there.  You're not paying attention to her."  I looked at her uncomfortably and said, "I'm watching and think it's fine."  Then she said, "that is for children ages 4 and up.  You are an unfit mother."

I was literally so shocked that someone would say that to a person they don't even know over such a little thing that I could not say a word except something like "um...er...your opinion" as she walked out of the play place to fill up her drink (which was probably a soda but I'm not judging her for that!).

I mean, please!  The McDonald's play place?  Unfit mother?!  Throw me a friggin' bone!  Does she know that I have not scrolled through Facebook or Instagram this whole week so I could spend more quality time with them?  No.  Or that I was up twice in the night with Sophie and once with Morgan, who ended up sleeping in my bed?  No.  Does she know that my husband was out of town and I was a single mom for a few days doing everything I could to keep my kids safe and happy?  No.  Does she know that I got 2 hours of sleep (that one is my fault, sure -- stinking book) but still managed to get up early with my kids, get them ready (and looking cute!), feed them something good for them, take them to ballet and then to McDonalds so I could let my daughter make friends in our new town?  No.  I am just that "unfit mother" who let her "baby" play in the play place designed for 4-year-olds.

I told my friends what she said and their jaws dropped.  They said stuff like "no you're not," "I can't believe she said that" and other insightful things to make me feel better.  By then I was shaking.  I don't know if I was mad or what but I was literally shaking.  When she came back in to the play place room I started thinking of things to say.  Finally I went up to her.

The kids she was with were lying on the ground so I looked her and said, "do you know how dirty that floor is?  You're letting them play there?  You are an unfit citizen" (she was obviously too old to be their mother so it had to be "citizen."  Not "person" or "human" or anything most people would think of.  My word was "citizen").

A woman she was with started shaking her head and said, "it's not bad" and I said, "You're right.  It's normal for kids to get dirty and play on floors.  But," and I looked at Cat-Eye again, "how dare you judge a mother like that?  How dare you?  Would it be better if I just strapped her into her carseat so she couldn't move and play?  No!  You must not remember what it's like to be a mother."

Then the woman she was with said that she doesn't have kids and I kept going off calling her an "unfit citizen" (gah!) and other such things that I can't think of now but were pretty great.  I was just really thankful for the soda break so I could think of things to say to this evil, evil woman who is Satan incarnate.

Eventually I gathered my children, put them safely in their car seats, called my mom and started bawling my eyes out.  Then, of course, I had to explain to Morgan why I was crying, which probably scarred her for life.  I should just start taking them to a counselor now.

It's funny.  One of my new year resolutions was to not judge people -- like even celebrities and former popular girls from high school who were so mean (who honestly never read this blog so it is not you).  I just feel like everybody judges everyone too much when the world would be such a better place if we built each other up.

So think about that next time you see the "fat little girl" being pushed in the stroller by her parents.  You don't know that she has a brain tumor and a side effect of her medication is extreme swelling.  Or that this is the last outing she can take before she dies.

Think about that when you hear of someone who has just declared bankruptcy.  You don't know that the father and provider just went through a major medical emergency and his insurance refused to pay and that the mom is working 3 jobs to pay all the bills she can.

I've heard the saying about if you knew everyone's story you would love everyone (or something along those lines).  It's true.  It's hard to judge and hate if you have an understanding.  So just don't (unless it's Ted Bundy or the Unibomber -- then judge away, my friend)!

In closing I'd like to quote the poetry of the very talented Salt N' Pepa and say: "There's only one true judge, and that's God.  So chill, and let my Father do his job."

Morgan's 5th Birthday

Morgan's favorite number has been 5 for years.  Years!  It is magic to her.  Like pink, and glitter, and eating at restaurants.  Five.  And that's the birthday she celebrated this year.  It had to be special.  

She woke up and I made her crepes with sprinkles.  Then I let her just eat sprinkles.  

The first big thing she wanted to do for her big day was go to the library (I know!  She's smart too!) so I took her and Sophie to the Star library and she played with the subpar toys and confusing computer games, but she loved it.

Next we dropped Sophie off with Tom and I took her to Carl's Junior for lunch-slash-to-play-in-the-play-place.  She had a great time and played for about an hour.

After lunch we had the local cousins come over for some hot tub swimming.  

We got a babysitter for Sophie so Tom and I could take her to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  I didn't get any pictures of this part but we had a yummy dinner and, most importantly, Grandpa, Grandma, Shyanne, and Emery surprised her there.  They came all the way from Utah!

That night we had cupcakes and ice cream. 

 It was a wonderful birthday, and just the beginning of her celebration.

Dear Morgan

Dear Morgan,

Happy 5th birthday, sweet girl.  I have to say that 4 has been the best so far.  You have grown into a loving, kind, caring little big girl and I am so proud of you.  

You do so many things that I love to watch.  You enjoy putting on makeup with me.  You even ask for mascara and I let you wear it.  You also put on tons of pink lip gloss, pink blush, and pink eye shadow.  

Sophie is starting to play with you and you make her laugh like no one else can.  She really looks up to her big sister.  You usually make sure she is included in your games and forts.  I love watching you with her.  She will always look up to you.

Your favorite Disney princess is Sleeping Beauty, although you were on an Elsa kick for a while when Frozen came out.  You like to play Barbies and you have almost all of the Barbie movies.  You ask me to play Barbies with you a lot and now you are starting to do their hair.  

Your favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese but you love to go to restaurants to eat.  Your favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse.  We went there for your birthday.  

You like helping me do chores or make food.  You’re such a good helper.  You are really good at cleaning the mirror and you like cleaning the toilet.  You also can make your bed all by yourself, although it takes a lot of prodding from me to get you to do it alone.  You stir and pour things when we are cooking.  You even know how to make Mac and Cheese by putting a bowl of macaroni and water in the microwave (with just a little help).  

We play a lot of games like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Uno Moo, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Sorry, and sometimes Monopoly (we do a super fast version).  You also like to play a game that we have that is dice with pictures and we have to tell a story with the pictures that we roll.  It’s fun to see your mind work.  

Almost every night you want a story told to you before bed.  Daddy tells you stories about Morgan and the Candy Machine and I read you books or tell you the story of Morgan Pink Riding Hood.  You are also getting good at telling stories.  The other night you told us a story about a good little monster who brushed her teeth when her parents told her to but one day she didn’t so she had to go to the doctor and the magic was taken out of her heart.  Then she brushed her teeth like her mommy and daddy said and she was a good little monster again.  It was adorable.  

You are getting excited to start kindergarten in the fall.  You can read but you don’t think you can yet.  You’re reading books that we got from your preschool.  

Your best friend is Ruby Hart from church.  She is a little nervous to play at houses other than hers but you are always happy to go there to play.  

We spend a lot of time with Mari’s family so you get to play with Meg and Tanner often.  You really look up to Meg and always want to sit by her when we eat together.  

You are in a ballet class and you love it.  Your recital is coming up soon.  You are so excited, and so are daddy and I!  

You get an inquisitive look and we know when you are trying to figure something out.  You are so smart.  You really do figure things out.  

Morgan, I love you.  I love your hugs and kisses.  I love that you are sensitive to people’s feelings.  You never want to see me sad.  I love your blonde hair and blue eyes and red lips.  I love your little fingers.  I love that you love pink and makeup and all girlie things.  I love that you make friends easily and that you are nice.  I love you more than anything.  I love you most.

Mommy

PS  “I love you most” is a reference to the movie, Tangled, and we say it to each other all the time.  

Dear Sophie

Hi Soph.

You're almost 17 months old and nothing is more fitting that saying that you are a bundle of curiosity and entertainment.

You were such an easy baby.  Where Morgan was not very nice to other people when she was little, you were so happy to go to anyone.  And now you are still so happy, social, and likable -- albeit a little less easy because you are always on the go and would rather be walking or running than being held or in the stroller.

Your vocabulary is growing every day.  You say the names and sounds of lots of animals (doggie, kitty, horse, cow, sheep, elephant, etc) as well as their sign.  Baby Signing Time is one of your favorite shows so you have learned a lot of signs, starting with the show's theme song that you sing and sign.  You can tell us if you want water, a bottle, food, to go outside, night-night, momma, daddy, grandma, grandpa, books, and Barney (and lots of other things that I can't think of right now).

You love books and to be read to.  We have a book called Baby Boo that you like.  It was Morgan's when she was little and there is a certain page that says, "do you want to play?"  Morgan's answer was always "yes" and yours is always "no."  It's funny how you two are so different and such good friends.  Nobody can make you laugh like Morgan can.

 

You are a daring little girl.  You'll go down the big slides by yourself (usually on your tummy but sometimes on your bum).  You aren't afraid to get your face wet in the swimming pool.  Just now I watched you climb up the latter into the playhouse with a cup in one hand and a crayon in the other saying, "slide."

You absolutely love going outside.  Your morning routine lately is to wake up around 7:30, have a bottle while watching a show, then going outside to play -- all before Morgan is even awake!  Your favorite things to do in our backyard are go down the slide, play in the sand box, sit in the electric car, sit in the rocks on the side of the house, try to ride the scooter, and eat sand and sidewalk chalk.

You love to eat at the table like a big girl and I can get you to eat more there than in your high chair.  Your favorite foods (besides sand and sidewalk chalk) are eggs, meat, freeze-dried yogurt chips, Go-Gurt, and chocolate chips.  You love your milk (2%) and we make a lot of smoothies.  I also catch you drinking toilet water as often as someone leaves the door open.

  

We have been pretty good about keeping the bathroom doors shut and the toilet seats down but the other day someone forgot and I found you in the bathroom with your pajama shirt half in the toilet, toilet paper strung around the room, water on the floor, and a big bath-toy cup in your hand, full of toilet water.  You looked at me, took a sip, smiled, and said, "ah."  I couldn't help but laugh through my gags.

You are the most thankful person I know.  Every time someone gives you something or helps you do something you say thank you.  I really appreciate that.

You love to dance and march.  You especially like to dance on the coffee table.  When you march you say, "ma, ma, ma."

When you drink your bottle (and other times as well) you like to rub your belly button.  If you can't get to your belly button because of your clothes, you put your hand down your shirt and rub your nipples.  It cracks me up!

 

Dogs are your favorite.  You especially love Mari's dog, Daisy, or "Day-ee," as you call her.  You call other dogs Day-ee too.  

 You LOVE your Morgan!

You play well by yourself too.

Sophers, I love you more than you could ever imagine.  You are a little miracle in our family.  I wouldn't trade you for anything.  Now please stop drinking toilet water.

Love,

       Mommy