As mothers, we all know how important it is for our kids to play with other kids. We set up playdates, shuttle them to and from summer camps and school, enroll them in dance, soccer, and Gymboree. We encourage our kids to find out their passions and follow them.
I even set up playdates for my husband to make sure he has friends outside of work.
But on my way home from dance class the other day, going over the week's meals, listing everything that needed to be done before I went to bed, I realized something.
Why don't I get playdates?
How am I supposed to meet people? How do I find MY passions to follow?
The next few posts will be all about finding things to do for US, as moms. If you have any other ideas that we haven't talked about, leave a comment.
. . .
Right before Claire was born, I decided that I wanted to good camera. I had a little point and shoot that worked well, but I was looking for something that I could learn.
I bought a Nikon D40 and am so glad I did.
The camera takes much better pictures than my old Sony, even on automatic mode. I learned Photoshop (kinda), I took pictures everyday.
And, this January, I took a photography class at the Leasure Learning Center. They have a ton of classes, and they're not that expensive. In fact, Addie and I are taking a class next week, "Self-Hypnosis."
Yes, it should be hysterical.
The classes are once a week, usually for a few weeks.
This is a great way to meet people, to do something just for YOU. For a few hours a week, I wasn't worried about what we were going to have for dinner, or what laundry needed to be done. I didn't care if Claire was up past her bedtime, or if the kitched wasn't clean.
I was learning more about something I loved doing.
So check out the LLU. Which classes would you take?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Resolve to do WHAT?
I never look forward to January. We all have those friends, you know the ones that are going to "change the world" starting the first of the year. It is a lot of pressure...pressure that I don't think anyone deserves or needs. So, I boycott. I deliberately avoid my husband's requests to sit down and set family goals. I longingly admire people who start running in the super cold January weather. And, I keep adding half and half to my hot chocolate despite my knowledge of not only my lactose intolerance but where that half and half goes (straight to my you know what).
But am I alone in feeling this way? We asked the experts! (We mean you...moms of the world...or at least CUMC MOPS...)
Two of our members were brave enough to tell us like it is, let us know what they think about this whole resolution business and give us some insight into how they are going to live their lives in 2010.
Megan Drake, who you may all know survived 2009 as a nearly single mom (while her husband worked overseas), was just begging to be quizzed about her resolutions (or lack thereof). She's got to have some mad skills to make it through last year, so what's in store for Mrs. Drake in 2010? She's not afraid to admit that she isn't keen on the resolution business either (yay! partner in crime!). In fact, Megan shares that "mostly I think about eating black eyed peas, shooting fireworks and trying to remember to write the correct new date." (yay again!).
She is going to work on her posture this year, and has some family members helping her out who are hoping to work on the same thing. After writing this here, she also has 49 of her closest friends ready to call her out on it every other Friday.
Our next willing participant in the publicity committee's study into the tradition of the resolution (should we trash it or flash it?) is Lauran Helms. She DID make some resolutions! More power to you sister! She has already started waking up earlier than her girls to start her day, have some devotion time and/or do some quiet reading. I'm so happy to report that it is totally working for her! Her second resolution is to exercise and she explains that she's "failing at it." It's okay...that's the crazy pressure I'm talking about!!!
As a nice coincidence, both girls have Francine Rivers books to recommend as great reading material to start off 2010. Lauran recently read Redeeming Love and highly recommends it while Megan is reading Lineage of Grace and is enjoying it. Megan also gets a lot out of her new daily devotional book, New Life New You by Joyce Meyer.
I would love to hear what you have on your agenda for 2010! Exercise? Less yelling at the kids? More time with the Lord? Less gray hair and cuter shoes? (sorry, I put a few of my own in). Whatever you do to help you have a little more peace, a little more fun, a little more happiness, I think it is worth it! How do you do that? If I knew, I'd be rich (and have less gray hair and cuter shoes).
I think that Megan does a really good job of summing up what she hopes she sees when she looks back on 2010. She hopes she is a "good wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend." I think we can all agree with that one.
Good luck girls! I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store...with or without resolutions.
Dani
But am I alone in feeling this way? We asked the experts! (We mean you...moms of the world...or at least CUMC MOPS...)
Two of our members were brave enough to tell us like it is, let us know what they think about this whole resolution business and give us some insight into how they are going to live their lives in 2010.
Megan Drake, who you may all know survived 2009 as a nearly single mom (while her husband worked overseas), was just begging to be quizzed about her resolutions (or lack thereof). She's got to have some mad skills to make it through last year, so what's in store for Mrs. Drake in 2010? She's not afraid to admit that she isn't keen on the resolution business either (yay! partner in crime!). In fact, Megan shares that "mostly I think about eating black eyed peas, shooting fireworks and trying to remember to write the correct new date." (yay again!).
She is going to work on her posture this year, and has some family members helping her out who are hoping to work on the same thing. After writing this here, she also has 49 of her closest friends ready to call her out on it every other Friday.
Our next willing participant in the publicity committee's study into the tradition of the resolution (should we trash it or flash it?) is Lauran Helms. She DID make some resolutions! More power to you sister! She has already started waking up earlier than her girls to start her day, have some devotion time and/or do some quiet reading. I'm so happy to report that it is totally working for her! Her second resolution is to exercise and she explains that she's "failing at it." It's okay...that's the crazy pressure I'm talking about!!!
As a nice coincidence, both girls have Francine Rivers books to recommend as great reading material to start off 2010. Lauran recently read Redeeming Love and highly recommends it while Megan is reading Lineage of Grace and is enjoying it. Megan also gets a lot out of her new daily devotional book, New Life New You by Joyce Meyer.
I would love to hear what you have on your agenda for 2010! Exercise? Less yelling at the kids? More time with the Lord? Less gray hair and cuter shoes? (sorry, I put a few of my own in). Whatever you do to help you have a little more peace, a little more fun, a little more happiness, I think it is worth it! How do you do that? If I knew, I'd be rich (and have less gray hair and cuter shoes).
I think that Megan does a really good job of summing up what she hopes she sees when she looks back on 2010. She hopes she is a "good wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend." I think we can all agree with that one.
Good luck girls! I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store...with or without resolutions.
Dani
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My GO TO Girl
So, I have a girl - a "go to" girl. A girl who can answer any, every, all crazy things I throw at her (or at least she's that good that I don't realize it if she can't).
We met 15 years ago in college (and yes I know it is hard to believe that I could be old enough to have a college friend for that long, I use great skincare) and I can't remember a time when I didn't think she was the coolest thing ever. Then, in college that is, she made good grades, was a role model at work and had plans. You know, she knew where she was going to be, who it would be with and how to get there.
She is a teeny bit older than me, so she went through all the milestones before me...marriage, first house, kiddos. I got to experience all that vicariously for a while (awwww, yes, I would love to hold Jackson, he's the cutest thing ever, uh, why does he cry so much and are they all like that?) and then I got my own (husband, house and kiddos).
She wasn't just a work role model or a smart chic anymore. She was a MOM. A mom before me. A wife before me. She had a double stroller and an SUV. And she's my mentor.
She's the one who can straight up tell me that my two year old is running my household and that it has to stop NOW (and put the book to help me in the mail the next day to get me started). She empathizes with my struggles with my younger daughter (who she swears is really a middle child without a younger sibling). She was proud of me for sharing my faith story with MOPS a couple of years ago (and I'm Catholic...there's no Catholic testimony girls). In fact, she encouraged me to join MOPS - a part of my life for the past five years that I cannot even imagine surviving motherhood without.
Here's the thing about having a mentor mom...you gotta admit you aren't perfect. You can't be afraid to ask advice, you can't be ashamed of your failures. I'm sure even my mentor mom has her moments (although I venture to guess they are spaced a little further apart than mine). And I am sure all the super moms out there have someone they call when they can't take it anymore.
This week's meeting will have our mentor mom panel. My mentor will be there (she's the one with the skinny butt and good hair...just kidding!...but she really does have good hair and she is thin) and I'm sure you'll have some lovely piece of wisdom to take home to your families (or you'll at least get a good laugh).
If you have a mentor mom...let her know how much she means to you. If you need one, don't be afraid to ask for help. Let's get sentimental here - what have you learned from your mentor mom?
Dani
We met 15 years ago in college (and yes I know it is hard to believe that I could be old enough to have a college friend for that long, I use great skincare) and I can't remember a time when I didn't think she was the coolest thing ever. Then, in college that is, she made good grades, was a role model at work and had plans. You know, she knew where she was going to be, who it would be with and how to get there.
She is a teeny bit older than me, so she went through all the milestones before me...marriage, first house, kiddos. I got to experience all that vicariously for a while (awwww, yes, I would love to hold Jackson, he's the cutest thing ever, uh, why does he cry so much and are they all like that?) and then I got my own (husband, house and kiddos).
She wasn't just a work role model or a smart chic anymore. She was a MOM. A mom before me. A wife before me. She had a double stroller and an SUV. And she's my mentor.
She's the one who can straight up tell me that my two year old is running my household and that it has to stop NOW (and put the book to help me in the mail the next day to get me started). She empathizes with my struggles with my younger daughter (who she swears is really a middle child without a younger sibling). She was proud of me for sharing my faith story with MOPS a couple of years ago (and I'm Catholic...there's no Catholic testimony girls). In fact, she encouraged me to join MOPS - a part of my life for the past five years that I cannot even imagine surviving motherhood without.
Here's the thing about having a mentor mom...you gotta admit you aren't perfect. You can't be afraid to ask advice, you can't be ashamed of your failures. I'm sure even my mentor mom has her moments (although I venture to guess they are spaced a little further apart than mine). And I am sure all the super moms out there have someone they call when they can't take it anymore.
This week's meeting will have our mentor mom panel. My mentor will be there (she's the one with the skinny butt and good hair...just kidding!...but she really does have good hair and she is thin) and I'm sure you'll have some lovely piece of wisdom to take home to your families (or you'll at least get a good laugh).
If you have a mentor mom...let her know how much she means to you. If you need one, don't be afraid to ask for help. Let's get sentimental here - what have you learned from your mentor mom?
Dani
Monday, November 9, 2009
More pictures.
Thank you Kathleen for your adorable picture of Mark.
All aboard!
Here's the sweet Shultz children...
Fancy Nancy. Thanks Kelly Hunter!
And who could forget Lily "Awesome" Delahoussaye and Jane the "Butterfly/Ballerina/Cowgirl/Fairy?
Aleah and Andrew are the cutest little mice ever! Thanks for sharing their smiling faces Allison!
Have you ever seen a cuter...bear?...and genie than Luke and MacKenzie Harrison?!
Rebecca Read! Your kids are adorable!
Thanks Erin Reed!
Here's a gang who can come to the rescue...it's the Lira girls!
All aboard!
Here's the sweet Shultz children...
Fancy Nancy. Thanks Kelly Hunter!
And who could forget Lily "Awesome" Delahoussaye and Jane the "Butterfly/Ballerina/Cowgirl/Fairy?
Aleah and Andrew are the cutest little mice ever! Thanks for sharing their smiling faces Allison!
Have you ever seen a cuter...bear?...and genie than Luke and MacKenzie Harrison?!
Rebecca Read! Your kids are adorable!
Thanks Erin Reed!
Here's a gang who can come to the rescue...it's the Lira girls!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Pictures.
For some reason, I couldn't get my pictures uploaded on the last post. So I thought I'd just put them in a new one. Besides, my kid is so adorable, she deserves her own post!
Thank you Lauren Merkel. Look at how adorable her kids are!
Here's Dani Herrera's girlies (Isa is Velma from Scooby Doo, I think you can figure out Francesca)
Just kidding.
Sort of.
Email us your pictures, and we'll put them up.
Thank you Lauren Merkel. Look at how adorable her kids are!
Here's Dani Herrera's girlies (Isa is Velma from Scooby Doo, I think you can figure out Francesca)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Happy Halloween!
The first year JR and I dated, we had plans to go to a show in downtown Austin for Halloween. I don't know if anyone has been to 6th street in Austin for Halloween, but it's nuts. So we wanted something that really stood out in the crowd.
It was JR's idea to go as Britney Spears and Madonna, and kiss the whole night (Remember when they did that at the VMAs?).
Not many of you have met my husband, but just imagine Addie with facial hair. He was Britney.
We were a huge hit. People kept asking us if they could take our picture. It was, by far, the most successful costume.
The past two years, Claire hasn't really "gotten" Trick-or-Treating. This year, she did. I might be a little biased, but she was an ADORABLE Tinkerbell!
The publicity team has decided to do a little contest. Send us pictures of your kids' adorable costumes. We'll put them up on the blog and pick one at random.
So let's see them!
[cori]
It was JR's idea to go as Britney Spears and Madonna, and kiss the whole night (Remember when they did that at the VMAs?).
Not many of you have met my husband, but just imagine Addie with facial hair. He was Britney.
We were a huge hit. People kept asking us if they could take our picture. It was, by far, the most successful costume.
The past two years, Claire hasn't really "gotten" Trick-or-Treating. This year, she did. I might be a little biased, but she was an ADORABLE Tinkerbell!
The publicity team has decided to do a little contest. Send us pictures of your kids' adorable costumes. We'll put them up on the blog and pick one at random.
So let's see them!
[cori]
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