Today

Today was one of those days where at the end of the day, with my kids all tucked in and sleeping away, I can sit here and say, "I was a good mom today."

We made a quick stop at the grocery store this morning and then headed to the park. It was a gorgeous day and we were the only ones there! The kids had a blast and all they wanted to do was swing, which was fine with me. I pushed them until I could push no more and then we left.

We had a snack and the kids played with toys together while I read a magazine. This was followed by lunch and naps.

After naps we took a walk up and down our street and got the mail. Then we had some coloring time (Peyton on the chalkboard on her easel and Damon on a Toy Story 3 picture with some colored pencils). After that we watched a movie and I let them eat some skittles.

Daddy took Damon with him to run an errand at Home Depot and Peyton and I cleaned up the toys and her room.

Finally, they played some more while I made dinner (pancakes, which Peyton was so excited about, she hugged me and said thank you!). After dinner clean-up we headed upstairs to get ready for bed. Teeth were brushed. Songs were sung. Prayers were said. Kisses were given.

It was a good day.

The Face

Gotta love it.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Summary:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My review: The only reason this didn't get a 4 star review would probably be just because the subject matter was a little iffy. Teenage girls who's biggest goal in life is to get paid to have someone else's baby?? I thought it was really interesting spin on all the dystopian novels though. There is actually a sequel (and supposedly it's the only sequel) coming out in April, and I will probably read it (not buy it though).

Why?

Is anyone else in the "why?" stage with their kids? Or remember it very well?

My 4-year old has recently been asking the Why? question. A. LOT.

While we're watching a movie:
"Mom, why is she singing?"
"Mom, why is she laying in the grass?"
"Mom, why did she fall out of the tower?"
(We were watching Tangled, by the way)

And then there is always the Why? that inevitably comes when I ask her to do something.
"Mom, why do I have to pick this up?"
"Mom, why do you need that?"
"Mom, why can't you do it?"

And lastly, there are the Why? questions that just come throughout the day:
"Mom, why do I have to brush my teeth?"
"Mom, why can't I eat marshmallows for breakfast?"
"Mom, why do I have to share with Damon?"

I'm sure you get the point. It's never ending. And of course, some of my answers end up being "I don't know" or "Because I said so."

But I do try my best to answer most of her questions (I have been working on my patience, and this is excellent practice).

I just heard some great advice, and if it's something I think she already knows or can figure out herself, I am going to start asking her why SHE thinks it's that way.

Any other suggestions/tips about this stage?

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Summary:
Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty—rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar—pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. STOLEN is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare—or die trying to fight it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My review: This book did something very interesting. I actually ended up feeling sorry for the man who kidnapped her! Also, without spoiling the ending, it made me wish it had turned out differently. **SPOILER ALERT** Ok, so it ends with Gemma getting bitten by a snake and Ty ending up having to take her to a hospital and basically turn himself in so that he can save her life. I was so sad that they didn't end up together, even though you learn that he had been stalking her since she was a little girl. I don't know what it was, just the way it was written I guess, that made me feel that way. I know it ended how it should, but it kind of made me sad. Weird, I know.

At the moment

I am typing this from my awesome laptop that my hubby gave me for my birthday last month. I use this thing so much I think it has paid for itself in usefulness already.

My hubby is watching the Justin Bieber documentary "Never Say Never." I guess we need to get TV again since Netflix is obviously running out of things for us to watch.

I am texting my amazing little sister. She is seriously the best. I must have been first in line to get a sister because she is the cream of the crop.

My kids are bathed and sleeping in their beds. I am so grateful I have been smart enough to sleep train them. My life is so much more peaceful because of it.

I have some serious writer's block. I have been wanting to post more but I can never think of what to write about. I don't think very many people read this anyway, but I usually write for myself anyways.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Summary:
Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried....

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My review: I am usually pretty lenient with books, but I guess I haven't been feeling so merciful lately. The summary in itself bothers me, especially the last sentence because I honestly feel like it led you into thinking it was a different kind of book. I don't think it's true at all, and I thought the way it wrapped up was really weird. **SPOILER ALERT** I liked Kendall's character, but just the whole idea of a haunted desk that possesses kids to bury themselves alive was a little too much for me.

Better

Is there anything you wouldn't do for your child when he/she is sick?

The other night (well, I guess it was morning since it was 4am) I held my sick, feverish 18-month old boy and wished that I could just take his pain away and be sick for him.

I prayed and prayed that he would be able to be comforted and get the sleep his sick little body would need to help him recover.

It is in those moments that I can truly get a glimpse about how our Heavenly Father feels about us all the time. I'm sure that he just wishes sometimes that he could just take our pain away because he loves us so very much.

It is also in those moments that I realize how much I need to let the little things go. I realize how much I say no, when I should just say yes. I realize how much I yell much more than I praise.

Those moments give me the reminder I need to try a little harder to be a little better. So as much as I hate those moments, they teach me and remind me where my priorities are and how I can do better.