High Praise

We very rarely drink anything but apple or grape juice in our house.  Yesterday, however, we tried berry juice.  At breakfast yesterday morning, I poured Carter some of this juice.  As he watched the red liquid flow into his glass he said  "ugh!  what is THAT mommy?"  I told him it was berry juice, and to try it.  He took a big swig and said "hmmm, that is not gross mommy!"  I said "wow!  That is high praise, Carter".  He said "high praise?  What is high praise?  I think I am allergic to high praise!"

A perceived allergy to high praise...what does that say about my parenting???

Volunteering...my quest to say no for Lent...

I gave up volunteering for Lent.  So far it has been pretty good...I have had a slip up here and there, had to revision and refocus, but all in all it is going well.

I do keep getting asked, however, "will you do this for me, after Lent then?"  I think they have missed the point...

and I hope I have received the message of this endeavour loud and clear...but I am sure it will be a process, with lots of revisioning and refocusing along the way.

What did you give up, or bring into your life this Lenten season?  I would love to hear from others about their journeys through Lent.  Are you struggling like me?

Where Procratination Can Get You...

Yesterday morning while I was in the bathroom downstairs, Maya was in the bathroom upstairs unrolling a brand new roll of toilet paper into the toilet.  I came upstairs to find this and promptly closed the bathroom door.  The kids needed breakfast and to get dressed, this could wait...I thought.  So, I went about the morning routine of our household, forgetting about the problem in the bathroom.  Forgetting until I heard Carter call from the bathroom..."uhhh"  (as if he has never made a mess in his life exasperated sigh) "what a mess Maya made, I'll help clean it up" as he flushes the toilet 5 times.  I run to the bathroom...the water is rising, the toilet is running...its not stopping...water is creeping across the bathroom floor, coming fast toward the hallway...I wade across the quickly rising mess lift the back off the toilet...the floater has caught the flap for the opening making the water run continuously...I lift the floater, close the little flap thing (yes those are technical plumbing terms) and begin the process of cleaning up my bathroom floor.  I finish up and take the mass of wet towels down to the laundry room to find that half the water had leaked through the floor onto my baskets of clean clothes...more mess, and more laundry. 
The whole time Carter is following me repeatedly commenting about the mess Maya made but "I helped".  You helped alright buddy!  You taught mommy a valuable lesson about procratination!

Best Feeling Ever!

Maya called me Mommy today! 

First time she said mommy...not mama, or mommm...so I am sure she was actually talking to me, not just stringing sounds together.  I know that she has called me mama for awhile...but it still feels good to hear that first mommy!

Best feeling ever!  Love!