That's All Folks...for 2010 anyways

What a year! I think it is safe to say that I'm glad it's over, even though some pretty fantastic things happened in 2010:

1) Farris turned 2 years old!! She continues to be the greatest joy I have ever known and her personality is really starting to shine.

2) Daniel and I got married on October 9th!! We had a great time celebrating with our friends and families.

3) I graduated from college with my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Special Education!

Even though 2010 was a great year, I am so ready for 2011… I just need a change, a new chapter, a new book, new beginnings and just about new everything! Everyday I feel a little different. Some days I want to have another baby, some days I just want a “real job” and other days I just want to get up and move away. I feel like I am going through a mid-life crisis 10 years early. HAHA. I suppose feelings like this aren’t THAT uncommon, but for now I better play it safe and focus on some smaller things:

These are the things that I want to do...resolutions if you will...but since I have never been very good at resolutions, maybe I'll just call them goals.

1) Pray more!

2) Get healthy (lose weight, eat right/better, exercise more)

3) Budget (I am wanting to see just how much money we can save this year and where we can cut back—I am thinking about cutting coupons =))

4) Get domestic (don't laugh, but I want to cook as much as possible and make sure that we are actually sitting at the table eating meals together)

Negligent Blogging

Thanks for all the emails reminding me that I need to blog...I have been itching to blog for several weeks now, but my conscience has been telling me that finishing homework, writing lesson plans, grading papers, and getting to bed before midnight is more important. However, that will soon be over (well, the homework part anyway) I will be done with school in 7 school days...woohoo! I promise a blog will be posted very soon!!

Farris and Mommy day!

I know this makes me sound like a kid, but I was so excited to hear those three little words…”School is canceled!” My first thought wasn’t even to ask why; in fact, I really didn’t care I was just excited that I would have a whole day to spend in my sweats with Farris. Okay, I lied; I was a little concerned why school was canceled in September. I knew that this area had some bad storms with powerful winds, but to think that the power went out and wouldn’t come back on at the school I work at was crazy, but again I do live in the “cave” and I rarely hear or am bothered by bad storms.

After hearing the great news, I instantly started thinking of how Farris and I could spend our day. I thought about taking her to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard, but then I decided that staying in and spending some much needed quality time together would be perfect. We opened the windows, let in some fresh air, and started baking! Farris LOVES to help me bake, and she is getting really good at pouring in the ingredients and being my #1 taste tester. We made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (Aunt Lindsey’s recipe) which filled our apartment with the aroma of fall and put me in the best mood.

**It is truly the little things that make life worth living, and getting to spend the entire day with Farris was absolutely wonderful!

Fall is approaching...

which means summer is coming to an end and life in our house is a bit crazy again. I just went back to school this past week- I am in my final semester, and so far my student teaching experience is going really well. Dan is still learning the in's and out's of his new job while preparing to start back up on his masters degree (which makes me ultra proud). Farris just started at a new daycare, and is learning to adjust to the new environment and new faces-she seems to really enjoy it! On top of all of our regular routines, we are also trying to finish up loose ends with the wedding, which is quickly approaching--49 days!!! (but who’s counting?)

Since Dan and I are both well aware that life is soon going to be busy for all of us, we decided to have a much needed family day…yes, just the three of us (it was SO nice)! We started the day off by taking our time to get out of bed. Farris doesn’t sleep with us, but we brought her into our room after she woke up to cuddled and talk about what we wanted to do with our day. We decided that we were going to take Farris to the Children’s Zoo in Lincoln. So, we packed up the car and off we went. Farris enjoyed feeding the goats and riding the train at the zoo. Dan and I both really like the zoo in Omaha, but this one is nice because Farris can run around and be a little more independent. After leaving the zoo, we were all hungry and even though Dan was craving Red Lobster, Farris and I convinced him that Chuck E. Cheese was a better choice =) We played games, won tickets, and ate disgusting pizza…hahaha! After leaving Chuck E. Cheese we decided to finish off the night by running to TCBY for some frozen yogurt…yummy! Once we got back home, we were all ready for baths and bed (but not before blogging).

Days like today are what I live for. No matter how stressful life can get I know that I am truly blessed to have such an awesome family-I love them both with my heart!

Well, it has been a long day (and now the wedding is only 48 days away)…jeesh…Good Night and Sweet Dreams!

"Why do you blog?"

That is the question that Dan asked me as I sat at the computer frustrated with the fact that I just didn’t know how to put my thoughts into words. After pondering that question for a while, I realized that I blog because it preserves memories, and it allows me to make a permanent reminder of all of the little things that have happened in my life that I wouldn’t normally take the time to think and reflect on. Even though I sometimes get irritated at myself for not knowing how to get something to sound the way I want it to, I still find that blogging is a great stress reliever, and a great way to keep family members updated…

Which is why I blog today:

Last night Dan and I took Farris to the Sidney, Iowa Rodeo. She loved it! She has always been an animal lover…well, kind of… she has always loved making animal sounds and looking at animals from a far, but getting close to them has been a little scary for her since we have never owned any pets (other than our fish Mickey that lived for 2 weeks). So, when I saw the pony rides at the rodeo last night I didn’t think it would amount to much fun, but I would at least encourage her to go for a ride. Much to my surprise, she had a blast! I sat her on the pony of her choice, and she acted as if riding a pony was second nature to her. I can honestly say that I have never seen her so excited about anything! She is such a little sweetie, and I am so thankful that Dan and I are able to do these kinds of things with her!




This is her "say cheese" face



Showing off her new hat!



Loving it!




She kept saying "ride horse again"...this time it was daddy's turn to get dizzy

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall...

Today Dan and I will be heading to the Niobrara with a group of friends-well, actually we will only know a couple people from our group, but we both are pretty easy going and enjoying meeting new people. Anyway, while I am so excited to do something I have never done before, I dreaded the fact that I had no suit in which to tube in. There are few things in this world I detest more than shopping for this particular garment, although I must say that bra and jeans shopping are a very close second. Humbling, is a word that comes to mind as I think of staring at my pasty, squishy, post-baby body. Really, standing one foot away from a full-length mirror under horrid lights is not my idea of fun. However, it was necessary.

First stop: Old Navy. I figured my anatomy had shifted in such a manner as to make shopping for a suit at your “standard” store impossible. However, I managed to scrape up a couple of suites that I could at least try on. As I entered the dressing room, I hear "Hi! Did you find everything okay” from a salesgirl who maybe wears a size 2 on her fat day. I answered with an embarrassed nod, and then followed her into my designated ‘stall’.

After undressing and then redressing, I looked in the mirror and I actually felt okay-mostly because at this particular moment in my adventure, my attitude took a shift. As I gazed critically at myself in the harsh mirror, two things were very clear in my mind.

1) I was out of the house.

2) I was ALONE! I love Farris, but having the luxury of being indecisive and making many trips back and forth between the sales floor and the fitting room was fantastic!

These two facts jumped to the forefront of my mind and caused me to smile at my unclothed less-than-perfect self in the mirror. Don't get me wrong, I tried on many ill-fitting and less-than-flattering suits. The pain was simply lessened by these small blessings.

I ended up walking out with one suit. I had planned on finding at least two new ones, but lets be honest…I didn’t want to push my luck!

I have no pictures to accompany this blog, but I think that you will not be saddened by that just this once.

Proud to be a Bobcat!

In the past weeks, Dana College has been in the public eye; unfortunately, they have had to close their doors and send their students packing to another institution of higher learning. This does not personally affect me, but it has gotten me thinking about the school that has been my home for the last 4 years: Peru State College

When I was in high school deciding on a college wasn’t a huge deal, Peru State was an easy choice for me. I liked their small class size, their beautiful campus, and their reputation of being one of the best colleges for teacher candidates. However, I am sad to say that there was a time when I was almost embarrassed to say that I was going to Peru. I grew up in a small town very close to Peru, and many of my peers thought of Peru as a “crappy school” or “the college that kids go to if they can’t get in anywhere else.” I would just like to set the record straight-Peru is a regionally credited college that just awarded over 450 degrees in May 2010, and I can truly say that Peru’s professors care and expect their students to succeed.

I LOVE going to school at Peru State! It is so easy to get involved in campus activities and even though the community of Peru is small, I have made some big memories there. I had the opportunity to work at the local bar/restaurant Cotty’s Place-this was an awesome job, where I met and waited on some really great people. I was also introduced to my future husband while going to Peru, and even though we decided to move (to be closer to jobs, family, etc.) we still love to visit our Peruvian friends!!

I will be graduating from Peru State College in December 2010…yes, only 5 more months!!!!! Although, I am excited to start a real job, I am sad that my days of eating in the Bob, sleeping in the library between classes, and driving the 7 mile are limited.

**On that note: HOLY COW!!! I start student teaching a month from today! Get ready Syracuse, Dunbar, and Avoca public schools!




Farris and I sporting our Peru State sweat shirts




Farris with Daddy's diploma from Peru



This picture was taken the day I met Dan in Peru...crazy he just happened to be in the picture



Cotty's Halloween Party



Cotty's Place

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep...

When I became a mother, people often said things like “kids, they grow up fast” or “next thing you know there will be boys knocking at the door for her.” At first, I really didn’t take people seriously; in fact, I found these types of phrases rather annoying, but I am quickly learning that there is some truth to these clichés (I heard them often enough to make them clichés). For example, just last night Dan and I decided that it was time to make Farris’ crib into a toddler bed. {Crazy, I know!} We thought it would be a fairly simple task since she has one of those overpriced 4-in-1 beds that start as a standard crib, convert into a toddler bed, then transform into a day bed, and finally become a full size bed (thanks to grandma and grandpa Swinton). However, it ended up being quite the little project.

1.We took off the side of her crib…this part went well

2.Then we lowered her crib mattress…this part went well

3.Then we attached the little side railing...this part went well….until…

4.We realized that the bolts that hold the little side railing up are different then the bolts that held up the side of the crib.

5.So, we had to stop working on the toddler bed because we, of course, didn’t know where we had put the bolts for the little railing.

6.After looking long and hard-we still didn’t find the missing bolts!!

7.Luckily, my dad had the exact size bolts that we needed just laying around in his tool box (my dad has just about anything you could ever want hidden somewhere in his tool box…very handy)

8. Finally, we securely attached the little side railing to Farris’ toddler bed…just in time for her to "hit the hay."

Yes, there was a point to my story. The point is that when Dan and I got the crib as a gift, when I was pregnant, we stuck the extra bolts in a “safe” spot because we thought it would be a looooong time before Farris would be big enough for a toddler bed. Needless to say, she has grown up a lot faster then we both thought was possible or as some people like to say shes “growing like a weed.”

…and even though I am getting used to these clichés I do not expect boys to be knocking at our door anytime soon!!

BTW: Farris loves her “new bed” she even managed to sleep in it all night without getting out (that may be because she hasn't figured out how to get out by herself...yet)




She is so proud of her "new bed"


She can get in it all by herself


Getting ready for bed



I just had to capture her first night in her big girl bed

Update

Just wanted to update those of you who have been following my blog, and can recall the blog titled “Mother knows best.” In that blog I talked about how Farris was having a hard time getting used to daycare, and wasn’t warming up to the kids as well as I had hoped. Well, I am pleased to write that Farris LOVES going to daycare and spending time with her newfound friends. I suppose she just needed some time to get used to it. Yes, I know many of you told me that (including her daycare provider) and I probably deserve an “I told you so.”

Well, that is it for now...enjoy your Tuesday!

One day at a time

I bought a calendar today. Yes, a 2010 calendar. Yes, I realize the year is already half over with. In my defense, calendars are cheaper in July and I am usually very good at remembering important dates (mostly because I have a boring life and there isn’t much to remember). However, I recently ran out of room in my head to keep track of everything going on so I decided that it was necessary to get a calendar-I even got a “mom calendar” one with extra large boxes so that I can fit everything in without having to abbreviate words. Anyway, this got me thinking about all of the things that are going on in my life and I have realized that I sometimes have a “lets just get it done and over with” attitude. When I really should be enjoying life and taking pleasure in doing all of the things that have taken over my calendar. So, my goal for the next couple of months is to stop freaking over everything I have to do, enjoy each event as if it is the only thing I have to do, and to take one day at a time.

I will start off by sharing a few pictures of the most recent event on my calendar…Farris' 2nd Birthday!!

Life's Blessings

Have you ever felt so blessed, that you actually feel guilty? I often lie in bed at night and wonder what I have done to deserve such an amazing life. Don’t get me wrong, there are things in my life I wish I could change; for example, I would love to get out of “the cave” (our basement apartment I have mentioned in previous blogs), I wish my student loans would disappear, and it would be nice to have at least a little money left over after all the bills are paid each month, but those problems are so minuet compared to all of the wonderful things I have in my life…

I have the most amazing, wonderful, caring family that some people can only dream about, and I am not just talking about my immediate family either. My grandmas, my uncles, my aunts, my cousins, and my in-laws are all a huge part of why I am so blessed. I know that I can count on them for anything. They are my supporters and also seem to know what is going on in my life (family gossip-I guess it isn’t all bad) and even though I don’t see them often I know that their love for me is strong and endless. The bond that I have with my extended family is something that I value and want to keep going generation after generation.

Another thing that God has blessed me with is health. I know that there are many people in the world that struggle every day with life threatening illnesses and live each day in pain. I am so very fortunate that I am able to wake up each morning and go to work/school, and that the only time I have to remember to take medicine is when I have a screeching headache.

I know that I already stated that I have an amazing extended family, but my real strength comes from my dad, mom, Webster, Lindsey, Madison, Paxton, Daniel, and Farris. These eight people are the greatest blessings that anyone could ask for. They pick me up when I am down, they encourage me to do the right thing, they love me unconditionally (even my many faults), they make me laugh when I am sad, and even though they may not understand my crazy emotions-they accept them!

I guess what I am trying to say is that in many ways I feel guilty. I feel this way because it isn’t uncommon for me to complain about something in my life on a daily basis, but I rarely talk about how God has blessed my life in so many ways-I don’t feel deserving of many of these blessing, and I sometimes wonder why I am so blessed when there are people in this world who seem much more deserving. I guess until this question is answered I will just continue to be thankful!!

**I wanted to add that Farris is my greatest blessing. She is healthy, beautiful, intelligent, and my very own earth angel. I am thankful that God has chosen me to be her mommy!

It is hard to believe...

that my baby girl is going to be {2} on Sunday!! I have no idea where the time has gone, and I want it to slooooooow dooooooown!! I used to say things like “I can’t wait until Farris can walk” or “I can’t wait for Farris to say her first word” but now I am realizing that I can wait. In fact, there are some things that she is doing that I am just not ready for. Don’t get me wrong, it is comforting to know that her ‘Miss Independent’ attitude means that she isn’t completely helpless, but it is also a reminder that my baby girl is now a…Toddler!!!!

Here are 10 of this year’s milestones:

1. She took her first step…and is now running!
2. She has down the names of her family:
Daniel=Dad/Daddy
Kira=Mom/Mommy
Grandma Karen/Treva=Ma
Grandpa Rod/Larry=Pa
Dickie=Dickie
Sheena=Eena
Webster=Webbie
Lindsey=windsey
Madison=Maddie
Paxton=Pax
3. She can go off the diving board at the pool
4. She is excellent at animal sounds
5. She knows her colors
6. She can count to 10!! (I am awful proud of this one)
7. She knows how to fold her hands and pray (also especially proud of this one)
8. She knows all the words to Barney’s ‘I Love you’ song
9. Her favorite food is broccoli (steamed)
10. She is able to tell mommy and daddy….”love eww”

Happy 2nd Birthday Farris Loree!!

You didn't ask, but I will tell you anyway!

Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi…but it has to be diet

Desk: messy or organized?
ORGANIZED….everything has a place

Pet ownership – which is better? Dog or Cat?
I had a cat growing up, but never again….Dog Please!

Are you always early or terminally late?
I can’t stand being late… in fact, I have been known to skip things (like class) because I hate walking in late!!

Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving…I am a ‘people pleaser’ - Although, I enjoy both!!

What is your least favorite word?
I don’t like it when people use God’s name in vain

What sound or noise do you love?
I love it when Farris says, “love ew”

Name a couple of T.V. shows you watch a lot?
The Hills, Law and Order SVU, and Dog The Bounty Hunter (when Dan has the remote)

Do you have tattoos?
No, but I would like one someday

Do you have siblings?
I have the three most amazing brothers

Webster
-25 years old
-lives in Chicago
-works as a physical therapist

Madison
-20 years old
-lives in Nebraska City/Peru
-going to Peru State College pursuing a degree in social science/education
-manager of the Nebraska City Pool

Paxton
-17 years old
-lives in Nebraska City
-lifeguard at the pool and is good at being an ass

Ever been in a physical fight?
Yes

Ever come close to death?
Not really, but giving birth to Farris was the closest..hahaha

Sweet Summer Time

Have you ever noticed that the world just seems a little happier in the summer? Personally, summer is not my favorite time of year, but that might because I spend most of it pealing dead, burnt skin off of my shoulders-gross, I know. Anyway, I have just been noticing that people seem to be more stress-free and relaxed during the summer months. I supposed the fresh air, cold beer, and the warm sun beating down on newly tanned skin might be what makes some people chipper, but for me it is something else.

** I thoroughly enjoy watching Farris splash around in her pool that has been carefully placed in the far right corner of my parents ‘new’ deck to ensure maximum sun exposure. I also really get a kick out of the fact that she has not one, not two, but three motorized Barbie cars that she sits in talking on her cell phone and honking the horn, but refuses to push the petal and actually drive. **

I guess what I am trying to say is that summer is slowly becoming my favorite time of year because it is the one time when Farris can get out of our basement apartment (that we have so cleverly nicknamed ‘the cave’) and enjoy being an independent toddler with popsicle stains around her mouth and dirt in her beautiful pink polished nails.

"Mother knows best"

I used to some extent believe the saying “mother knows best” but now that I have entered motherhood I realize that saying is a load of crap. I am a mother and I don’t think I know what is best; in fact, I find myself asking both mothers and non-mothers for advice on the simplest things regarding my 23 month old daughter. I usually know how I want them to answer when I ask them a question, but I am constantly questioning my ability as a mother. After all, if for some reason Farris doesn’t turn out to be a “perfect child”-it will be my fault…Willy Wonka’s Umpa Lumpas even believe so.

I guess I started thinking about all of this just recently when Farris started daycare for the first time. Originally, I had wanted to stay home with Farris as much as I could so Dan and I worked out our schedules so that one of us could always be home with her. This worked out very well at first, but now I am working a full-time job and I will start student teaching in the fall, which left us with no option other than daycare (hiring a nanny is not in our budget). The first week of daycare went very well! Farris would come home and talk (it was choppy, but I got the gist) about who she played with and what she did. I was feeling quite well about my decision to get a job, and I was overwhelming happy that Farris was making new playmates.

Unfortunately, the second week didn’t go so great. She spent the majority of the days sitting with her blanket clutched tightly in her arms whimpering “mommy, daddy.” This broke my heart for many reasons:

#1: No mother wants to hear that her child is sad and discontent at a place where they spend 8 hours of their day.
#2: I felt sorry for her daycare provider. How painfully irritating and frustrating it must be to have a child that can’t settle down and wants to be held all day.
#3: I knew it was my fault!

Yes, you read right…my fault! I used to think that I was doing the right thing by staying home with Farris, but now I am realizing that I didn’t do her any favors. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED being home with her and I very much enjoyed being the one that she depended on. However, I now realize that I might have hindered her ability to interact with kids her own age. She is great with adults, and also loves kissing and hugging babies; however, put her in a room with another toddler and she doesn’t quite know how to act.

Despite the guilt that I feel inside, I will have to admit that if I could go back I would still choose to stay home with Farris. Nothing in my life has ever felt so right, and I am so thankful that I have as many memories as I do of her infant years. However, with our next child, Dan and I think that a few more playdates are in order.

The best thing about me is...YOU!

My fiancé’s (wow, that is weird sounding) 26th birthday is coming up!! Therefore, I would like to take this time to wish him a Happy Birthday and tell him that I love him! I am extremely lucky to have him in my life. I spent the first 19 years of my life being unhappy about something unbeknownst to me, and taking it out on my family and smearing a fake smile on everyday for the rest of the world. Then, I met Daniel, and over the past three years I have learned to love life and to stop taking everything so seriously. He has shown me how to sweep my worries to the side and focus on the things that really matter. Although, we have had some tough times I know that we are a team, and can work though anything.
Daniel=Mental Stability

I am not the blogger type...

I have always said that I am not the type of person that can easily sit and write my thoughts down…especially for the world to see…yet, here I am. I suppose I have Farris to thank for this. I want her to be able to read these blogs someday, and know that there wasn’t a moment in my day that I didn’t think of her. I know I won’t be able to remember every important detail that I want to tell her, but hopefully I am able to record a few important things on my new blog
…The Swinton’s…

(Clever name…huh?)