Jenny's Sunday Feature

I am featured on Jenny's blog! Your know the one I always talk about?
Check it out here!
Happy Mother's Day!

Holi

Last month Josh took the kids to a Holi festival. Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrating the coming of spring. It is often referred to as "the Festival of Colors."

 Josh was invited through a work friend and the invitation warned to bring old clothes and be ready to get painted! When they got to the house they were welcome with a hug and a smear of what can best be described as powder paint. Haley LOVED it and ran straight to the yard where kids were running around. Ryan...skeptical. He did not like the greeting and stayed a bit hesitant of the free for all.

As you can see, he warmed up and enjoyed himself. They all did! I love that we live in a place where we can all be exposed to so many cultures and traditions. I feel sorry for people who reside in places that don't have the same luxury.
Happy Holi (belated)!

Our Newest Thrill Seeker

 Haley and Camryn zipping around!

For the last year Haley has been loving faster rides. Except for the spinning rides (Those are all Josh. She loves them- I will throw up), I see my new partner on coasters in the near future (about 3 inches from now). It is so fun to hear her cracking up and see her running off a ride yelling, "AGAIN! AGAIN!"

Validation

As human beings we all need validation. Validation can come through words, actions and other signs.

When we were younger we got feedback all of the time. I knew when I made my parents proud (reward/celebration/conversation). I also knew when I disappointed them (grounded/silence/conversation).

As a student I got validation through 21 years of schooling through grades and reactions of teachers, through coaches and winning/losing games, through performing and competing.

It seems like now, when I have the most important roles I have ever had, the validation is a bit void. I had not been thinking about this until yesterday, when I got validated in 3 areas of my life. I wasn't looking for it. I wasn't particularly needing it. It just happened.

A complete stranger stopped what he was doing and commented on the way I was interacting with my children. That was nice.

A friend made a commment on Facebook that something I did a year earlier had a positive impact. That was nice.

A new teacher I have worked with for the last 2 years expressed how she felt working together.

In one day I got positive feedback about being a mom, a friend, and a professional. It felt good. It will stay with me. It was unexpected yet VERY welcomed.

I was telling Josh about this while eating dinner and he replied, "Yes. And you are an amazing wife! See? Validation for that too." Hmmm...not so natural, but I'll take it. :)

I won't go into the fact that this morning, when we woke up, Ryan showed us that he colored all over his wall last night...no, I want to hold onto my little gems.

My Happy Place

As I have written before, my friend Jenny has a blog that I love. I love it for so many reasons. If you visit it, you will see why. A few posts ago, she wrote about her favorite places. It made me think about my happy places and this is what I came up with. In order:

1. The first thing that came to mind was being in a tent with my family. There are many reasons why this would be my favorite place. First, it means that we are camping. I grew up camping and when I camp it brings back a flood of wonderful memories. I am so happy to be making more memories with a family of my own. Second, it means that we are all sleeping snuggled in our tent, all together. It means that we are breathing fresh air. It means that we are unplugged. It means that we are with friends. Being in the tent means that the kids will snuggle in the morning before we get dressed and unzip the door. Must I continue or aren't these the best things?

2. My second favorite place is our bed. Get your minds out of the gutter. I love being in our bed because it means our kids are tucked in and peaceful. I love being in "our" bed because it reminds me that I chose the perfect person to share it with. It means that we have finished a day and will start a new one soon. It means I will rest. It also has an awesome mattress and mattress pad making it the most comfortable bed on the planet.

3. Las Vegas. Yes. I love Las Vegas. I have so many pictures in Las Vegas, but this was the first I could find that had the strip behind it. Being in Las Vegas means it will be a mix of high energy and pure relaxation. If you have not been to the lazy river at the MGM Grand, you are missing out. It means the best people watching in the world. It means enjoying cocktails. It means dancing and anyone who knows me knows I can dance for hours on end and be extremely happy about it. Las Vegas means fun clothes and make up. It means laughing. Hard. Being in Las Vegas means the possibility of hitting it big and that fantasy of walking away with major cash is just so fun to play out. Being in Las Vegas means I am with some of my favorite people on the planet. Time means nothing. It's outrageous and it's a glamorous time.

Where's your happy place?

Slipping

I have been writing about total health in some recent posts. There are reminders all around me that health is everything. Total health is having healthy mind, body, and soul.
For many years I worked hard in getting myself in a good moral place. When I was 19 I remember having a serious talk with my high school friends stating that I would no longer be part of talking behind backs, etc. I would listen and if asked, give advice, but that was it. I have never liked being a part of the drama, but I must say, it was sometimes interesting hearing about it. Even so, I knew I was done with it and didn't want it at all.
As I entered my work world I feel I did a good job of being the person who walked the walk by talking to people directly if something was bothering me.
In another area I worked hard at not letting people get to me. I realize it's ok if not everyone likes me. There were a few people who were successful at nailing my in the gut with my insecurities and made me feel worse about myself. It took hard work to not have those people affect me.

Each year, since my early twenties I have gotten better about all of this. Now, at 35, I feel myself slipping a bit. I have found myself talking negatively about people and having it not be what I would say right to them. I have found myself being affected by negativity, when I know, intellectually, that negative comments made by people are based on their own issues or insecurities. I need to keep reminding myself that it shouldn't bother me that (fill in the blank) or I should be offended by (fill in the blank) when I don't respect that person.

It's easy to gossip. It's easy to be bitchy or judgmental. I have been better than I am now. I need to walk the walk again. It feels better and I know it's healthy.
Total health means everything. Does Hollywood gossip count?

Easter

Another beautiful Easter at the beach! We flew kites, played with our cousins and cracked confetti eggs (so much more fun than candy filled eggs) on each other.