Sometimes parenting just plain SUCKS!

I knew that having a teenager would be a difficult task - trust me, EVERYONE told me so. It was not all that long ago that I was a teenager, no smart age jokes at this point, so I still remember some of the tricks that are played. Well, a certain teenager, who we will remain nameless, got busted for breaking a rule. With rule breaking comes punishment.

I've have definitely been in on the receiving end of punishment, I have been in on some punishment with Meghan, I've been in the middle of punishment for Meghan, but to be on the giving side of punishment -- that is tough! Here you are, looking at this person that you love so much, but yet you are so angry at them. You question to yourself WHY? What made this person do this against me? Why would they deliberately break my rule. When you ask the person WHY? you rarely get the answer that you are looking for -- I did learn that.

This particular situation was tough. It involved my house, it involved my exchange student who is considered my child and it involved another friend as well. I knew that I was forced to do what any other mother would be forced to do and I had to call the other mother. Yes, it pained me to get the other person into trouble, it really did. But my child broke the rules and was paying for the crime, should the other person not have to "pay" as well? I don't know about you, but that is how it was in my house when I was growing up.

I remember one particular situation... there was a guy. Doesn't it usually always involve a guy? Guy liked girl and girl definitely liked guy! The girl's parents did not like the guy so much and would not approve of her dating him, AND girl also had another guy. Guy and girl decided that it would be ok for them to "date" and not let parents know about it. Guy and girl never made it "out in public" together because too many people knew who they were. Guy and girl would casually meet in different places so that they could talk without parents knowing. Let's just say that it was not good for girl when someone saw them and recognized them and knew what girls parents thought about guy. Not good at all!! The "little birdie" had let the cat out of the bag and the girl was in major trouble! Girl lost her phone (this was long before cell phone days -- girl lost house phone!), girl lost her car, a junior in high school and she had to be taken to school by mommy -- not cool!! And girl could not go out, she was grounded for 1 month, lost car for 2 weeks but could drive to school only after 2 weeks, unless otherwise told to go somewhere by her parents. Tough punishment for someone who had just turned 16!!

You have guess right - girl was me. I learned a valuable lesson -- in the end, I learned that my parents were correct. Yes, I did admit at a very early age that my parents knew what they were talking about. I only hope and pray that my certain teenager knows this as well.

So, I decided last night that sometimes, parenting just plain sucks. It is tough to throw a fault in some one's face. After the "big" discussion came love and tears. I never knew that I could love this person SO much. I definitely explained my love and told them that these rules are there for a reason. They are there out of love - to protect them and their friends.

Now I will go to bed with this person's phone beside my bed for the next week and he will just about go everywhere I go for a week. I just pray a valuable lesson has been learned and we will not have another conversation like that.

~Randi

Noah, buddy, you better watch out!! Mommy will remember the tricks when you become a teenage boy!!!

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday -- OCD - ya think??

Welcome, friends!!! I hope this Wednesday finds itself to be a b-e-a-utiful day for you. It is absolutely gorgeous here in Birmingham. I had to leave at lunch and take Ahmed his soccer stuff to school and let me tell ya - it felt great to ride down the road with the sunroof open! I hope Spring is finally here!!

I am linking up today with Daphne at Flip Flops & Pearls (and today is definitely a flip flop day!!!)

Today's {Semi} Wordless Wednesday is definitely about Noah. The picture below is how I found his trucks when I got home from Weight Watchers on Saturday......

What do you think this means??

I have noticed him doing this for a couple of months now but I have not noticed them lined up like this. Normally they are lined end to end like a train. But this?? By size and almost by color. Oh, and have I mentioned that he will be 2 a week from tomorrow? I'm in trouble aren't I?

The next picture is his fridge toy that is on the door going into the garage. Again, he has them lined up but this time he even has the largest magnetic piece on top. 

Someone at my mom's work, who is some kind of psychologist says that he is "gifted" and that he will probably drive me crazy one day. She says that he will be the child that will have his closet organized. Oh great! Are you kidding me? My child is gonna be the one that organizes me?

I did not include a picture of his trucks lined end to end in the fireplace. Believe me - I tried to take one but I could not get enough light to make the picture work. I'll try again though because he just did it yesterday and they were still in the fireplace this morning.

What do you think??? Am I in trouble?? Does your child do this? Have they grown out of it?? I would love to know what you think!!!

~Randi

Home Tour Tuesday --- Noah's Safe Haven

Oh, I was SO excited when I first saw that this weeks Home Tour Tuesday was showing off our children's rooms. I am so proud of my baby's room!! There was a lot of blood and sweat put into this room!! The other thing that makes this weeks tour so much better is the fact that 2 years ago right now, this room was all ready for the arrival of my sweet Noah - linens on the bed, stuffed animals in the bed, everything put into the proper place, diapers stashed, clothes washed and hung, and even had the hospital bag sitting in the crib so it was easy to grab!! Let me tell you -- it is far from that now!! HAHA! Noah's clothes are washed SO often that (and I even hate to admit it) but they rarely make it hanging anymore before he is wearing them again. Ok, now that sounds like my child has no clothes and he has TONS of clothes, but, seriously!! Am I the only mother who does not have all of the time in the world to hang every piece of clothing my child has?? Well -- that could be another post for another day!!

So, back to it -- here is my sweet baby boy's room! I hope you enjoy it!!!
**Disclosure - please excuse the mess. I was 8 months pregnant during the construction of the room!!! And the "completed" pictures were taking with my phone - so please excuse the quality!!!**



This is the finished product

I wanted to make sure that my baby's room was nice and bright and happy and cheerful!

I am pretty sure that I accomplished that!

His room is inside the master bedroom. So before his room was complete, it looked like...



...extra attic storage. And believe me, it was filled with "junk".

Well, not really "junk" but it had tons of wedding stuff left in there, suitcases, old clothes!

This is the view from inside our bedroom.

*Notice that there is 1 single door!

Keith and GrandDanny (my FIL) even had to put plywood down to walk on the floor.

View inside back towards my bedroom.

Again... single door...

and now....

FRENCH DOORS!

(well... no doors yet!)

GrandDanny had the bestest idea with the french doors!!

Some neighbors, who are good friends and have the same floor plan

were building a nursery in their attic storage the same time that we were.

We looked at their construction and liked a few of their ideas and did not like

a few of their ideas. They did not do the french doors but it makes all the difference

in the world. The room is such a small space to begin with and the french doors open it SO much!



Yay for blue walls!!!

The view back to my bedroom

*again - ignore the mess. think - 8 months pregnant AND construction in my bedroom!!!

AND NOW

FOR THE FINISHED PROJECT......

TA-DAH!!!

I wanted to make sure Keith used every inch of valuable space!

Including the little "inlet" where the chair is!

Our Reading Corner

-or as Noah says "I wead"

(Notice all of the books on the floor!

I want to remove the chair and make a bench on the wall

so that we have a perfect reading spot!!)

His CHUCKLES Clown Light

I know -- judge me for putting a "scary" clown light in my

infants nursery. My GrandDaddy put this light in my

nursery when I was a baby -- it was very important

to me to have it in Noah's room. AND it will be in the

room for any upcoming children that we may have - which is no time soon!

His name (obviously) above his changing table.

Yes, the ribbon on the "H" did look a lot better

but that was before 2 year old hands played with it!

And this would be..........

The WORLDS SMALLEST HALLWAY!!

But I am so proud of my little closet area.

I was SO determined to have a little place where I could hang up clothes.

I had a vision for the little cubby and it took forever for me to describe my vision to the boys.

Fortunately for me, my GrandDanny finally figured out what I was attempting to describe

and they were able to create it for me.

I will say ... when the room was completed and I was 9 months preggers trying to hang baby clothes in the closet - yeah.... that was a sight to see. My belly barely fit in there. It was funny though!!

It is very deep so I actually have lots of hidden storage in there.

When we either get ready to sell the house or finish with the nursery (sniff, sniff) we will make it into a reading area or home office. I'm not sure what we will do with my little "closet" but I am sure I can come up with something.

We LOVE our added area in our house. I knew there was NO way that I could have my bedroom upstairs and my infants downstairs. NO WAY! I could not imagine my little buddy sleeping anywhere else than right there. And his room turned out so much better than I ever imagined it would!

I am so thankful and grateful for a wonderful husband, father and father-in-law who put many hours of work (and blood and sweat) into creating the most perfect room for my baby boy!!

Now it's your turn!! Link up with Daphne and Shannon and show us your children's rooms!!! 

~Randi

Samantha's Accessories - GIVEAWAY TIME

I just love blog giveaways -- not that I always win because I have only won once, but they are so much fun to help fellow bloggers get their word out.

I don't remember how I originally found Samantha's Accessories but I instantly fell in love with her accessories. She makes them herself!! She also sells some of her patterns and I completely plan to purchase some so that I can make items for my family members. AND - if I totally win this giveaway, I want one of her aprons. They are SO precious!!

So, hop on over to her blog and join in on the giveaway fun! AND - if you win and you are a "sewer", please make me an apron!! HAHA!!

~Randi

Five Question Friday!! 02.11.11

Welcome, Friday. How I have longed for you all week! I thought that you would never get here!! I am so glad that it is Friday! Not that we have great plans this weekend, but just for the fact that it is Friday, I get to spend the day with my family tomorrow AND the hubs and I are supposed to go to dinner tomorrow night for V-day. Don't know if that is still in the plans, but... we shall see!!

I've decided to participate in Five Question Friday. It has been a while since I have participated in a "link up" but this one looks too tempting - and too much fun every Friday. Who doesn't need humor on Friday?

So, here we go:

1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?

2. Do you have any tattoos?

3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up?

4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up?

5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?

Hum -- that honestly is a tougher question than it should be. My first thought was Home MakeOver - new furniture for my house, top the line appliances, a new bathroom - OMGosh the thought of an amazing bathtub... but then I seriously started thinking, new clothes, new shoes, new accessories for my new clothes. The thought of someone dressing me for my body style seems incredible. I admit, I am not the easiest to dress. My body size definitely does not go with my height - I am 5'10".

I seriously think, in all honesty, I would have to go with the home makeover!!


2. Do you have any tattoos?

That's a funny question!! No, I do not. But I REALLY want one - really I do! I don't know what I would get - it would definitely be something small and would NOT be initials for anyone I know - even though I love my child very much!!

Jonica and I were actually talking about this subject last Saturday. We both really want one but don't have the guts to go. I turn 30 in a little over 4 months so I am very tempted! My mother would KILL me (literally) if she knew this ... good thing she does not read my blog on a regular basis, if she does .... I'm about to find out!! HAHA!

3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up?No I do not - that was easy! BUT - my child is only 2 (almost) and so that does not work for him right now. I do tell Meghan what I have done but I definitely do not tell her everything!

4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up?What does every female driver do?? I speed up - for the most part. It does depend on how far away I am from the light, how fast I am going, if there is a car behind me and it depends on if I have my most precious cargo in the car with me!

5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips?
CHOCOLATE - hands down - without a doubt!! I am a sweet-a-holic and I need to go to SA meetings (sweets anonymous!) My ultimate weakness is chocolate chip cookies - oh my goodness. Give me some Great American Cookie Company Double Doozies - HEAVEN!!!! And... this is why I am starting Weight Watchers tomorrow. Fortunately I will still be able to have a cookie or two from time to time, but I will have to write it down.

Ahmed loves and I need to emphasize LOVES Publix chocolate chip cookies. It is really bad that you can buy 2 dozen for only $2.50 - we we continuously have a box on the kitchen counter. I told him the other night that he is a bad influence to have around! HAHA!

I know I am so late on joining in on the link up, but jump on over to My Little Life to join in the fun!

Have a great weekend! HUGS!!

~Randi

A Picture Perfect Marriage

Why is it so often we look at other's lives and wish and ponder "what if I had that life." I am VERY guilty of this. I read other mommy blogs and wonder what their husbands do to allow them to live where they live, to drive what they drive, to take the trips that they take, to stay home with their babies. Am I envious of them? Kind of. Kind of envious of what it appears that they have. I also read facebook and see so many husband and wives writing back and forth on each others "walls" "I love you" or "I have the greatest husband/wife in the world" or "I can't wait to see you tonight." But we never know what is actually going on. Everyone wants to paint the picture perfect life. We want everyone to think that our life is perfect - when so often, we are crumbling on the inside.

We have just recently learned of some friends who have separated from their marriage because of infidelity. We were so shocked and hurt at the same time. This would not be couple that we would expect this from. They truly painted THE picture perfect marriage. Showed affection all the time - breakfast in bed for each other, depending on who got up first, facebook comments, sweet pictures together - you could feel the love when they walked in the room. There was so much love the day they got married. It honestly made you "wish" that your significant other could be a "little more like them."

These last 2 days have truly opened my eyes. What appears on the outside may not be what is on the inside. We never know what is going on in the hearts and minds of those others. No, Keith and I do not live the perfect marriage. Though, we, like others, try to paint that picture, we are far from the perfect marriage. We may have or have had financial struggles and we may have our quarrels but I would not want to be anywhere else. I know the foundation that our marriage is built on and I can only pray that my friends marriages are built upon the same foundation.

~Randi

Just Life.....

I was looking back at my blog realizing that I have not done a "life update" recently. Actually, I don't think I have ever done one, so - here it goes!

My baby boy will be 2 in 2 weeks. I can not believe it! Just 2 years ago I waddled (literally) into my store, so miserable with every step I took. Every trip to the doctor I waited to hear good news that I had progressed, but nope, didn't hear that too often! I remember begging and pleading to try to have my baby on February 15th - that was my GrandDaddy's birthday and I wanted it so bad!! The male doctor gave me all kinds of home remedies to help trigger my labor - nope, nothing worked!! But my sweet boy came on his "birth"day and I am so grateful to him. (I'm gonna do a larger, more in depth post on his birthday!)

So we are planning the big 2 birthday. He is having a barnyard birthday and I am so stinking excited!! Yes, I planned his birthday around his inflatables - what else would I do??? We are actually having 2 inflatables because we have such a mixed age of kids. The largest inflatable in the Barnyard 3/1 combo. It is a giant barn (with a slide coming out of it!!) The smaller unit is a farm toddler combo - just for the smaller kids. It has different obstacles in it, a little pit area that I plan to fill with balls and a slide. I've ordered all of the plates and napkins and decorations and favors and everything else that there is for a birthday. Aunt Rinda is helping me with the surprise goody-favors -- I'm almost more excited about those!!

My baby had a wonderful 1st birthday last year and there is not really much that I would change about it but I am definitely going all out for the 2nd birthday. Why? I'm not real sure. Maybe because I couldn't go further out last year. One thing is for sure - I am not buying birthday stuff the day of the party this year!! Noah, Keith and I all ended up with the stomach virus last year and it kept throwing off my bday shopping plans. It came down to buying what I needed the day of. I am also praying that sickness stays away from our house for this year. My mom missed Noah's first bday party because we had so graciously shared our stomach virus with her! So we are hoping and praying for a great day this year!!!

Life with Ahmed is good. He finally made a contact with his family last week and was able to skype with them last night. The German exchange student was able to make it home safely. For all of this, we are grateful!! I think he has settled in very well with us and we are so thankful to have him be a part of our lives! He learns from us every day and we learn from him!! I do chuckle at watching him learn English. Have you ever thought about explaining sinus drainage to someone?? Kind of interesting! He was sick and missed school yesterday because of some sinus issues which turned into a migraine. Keith gave him some "awesome" medicine as he said, but he still had a "headhack" when he shook his head! Boy, I just love him!! Lol! I'm still figuring out his favorite foods. Last night I cooked him yellow rice - which is very common in Egypt and I don't know if he has had it since being in America. He said "the yellow rice is awesome!" Life is about to get really crazy with soccer games -- but I am so excited about them!! He keeps calling me his "soccer mom"!!

Keith and I are still prayerfully considering another student next year - for the full school year! It's crazy to think that it is time for the applications to start rolling in for us to choose a student who will come in August. Such a wild thought to think that I am "choosing" a child almost. We must quickly decide whether we want male or female and from what country. Hum.....

We are also still praying for a position to come open for Keith. We both feel the call for him to the ministry but we are just waiting on the right door to open. I know it will in God's time. Some friends (and neighbors) of ours just relocated from Clay to New York for a church ministry position. We were so excited for them yet sad to see them leave. Stephanie put on fb one day that it is an amazing feeling to be living in God's will. What an awesome feeling!! I know that we are where we are supposed to be right now, but what a blessing to know the potential that is coming! And I tell you, Satin so often knocks at my door trying to pull me down. There have been several times that he has almost conquered me - but NO, I will not let him!! I will defeat him because I know WHO I have fighting with me!!

~Randi