Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Abigail's 1st pony ride 2008

Mason's 1st trip to the Pumpkin Patch

My1st time on a horse... never again
Honeymoon 2005

We had such a great time at the pumpkin patch. Of course the one having the most fun was Abigail. She went on a pony ride, into a big jumper, slide, and so much more. For me watching her on the pony ride was my favorite. I wasn't sure she would even want to go on a pony, but she walked into the carousel area with such confidence. There were 4 ponies and of course I was going to put her on the smallest one. She wasn't going to have any of that, she wanted to go on the white pony (largest). It brought me back to my honeymoon where I went on my first and last horse back riding adventure. We were in beautiful Maui and got tickets to go horse back riding. I was so nervous but I trusted that many people have gone on these trips and I would do just fine. I think I was in a blissful honeymoon cloud!! I think the guides could sense that I was new to the whole horseback riding experience. Looking back I wonder what could have given it away, that fact that I was sweating bullets, shaking uncontrollably, or possibly me not wanting to go near the horse.... anyways they gave me a horse named Will Smith. This horse I was told was on Maui time and he would be perfect for me. Well, Will Smith was a bit crazy if you ask me. He bolted forward twice, once while we were on a ledge. When he bolted forward it caused the horse in front of me to buck, then of course my horse brought up it's front legs. Just typing this my heart is racing!!! I survived, but it was the longest 50 minutes of my life. I could not get off that horse fast enough and of course I was the second to the last horse in the group. What does that have to do with seeing Abigail up on the pony? It makes me want to make sure my children experience life with no fear. Of course I want them to be smart and safe, but I don't want them to have the fears that I have. This is difficult because in order for them to experience certain things in there childhood, I must experience these things along with them. I have a huge fear about camping, but what a great thing for children to do. I have a fear of the ocean, but Abigail love water. I have a fear about hiking (mountain lions, wild life) but Abigail loves outdoors. Why am I so afraid? I think partly it is just who I am, but mostly it is the unknown. These are not things I grew up doing. I think having a husband who loves being outdoors is going to help and me just giving it to God, He is after all in control .. o.k. back to the pumpkin patch. I took Abigail into the petting zoo, which wasn't her favorite. She had a blast in the jumper and on the big slide, her and John went on it for 15 minutes. I wish I would have had my camera out while she was on the slide, because she made a little friend. She would wait at the top, and grab onto his hand. Together they would slide down to the bottom, actually they were half sliding and have tumbling. Seeing John come down the slide was quite amusing too. Mason, didn't have as much fun. He pretty much just hung out with mom, observing all that was going on around us. Next year little man! We left the pumpkin patch without any pumpkins, but the kids didn't notice... What a fun day, or as Abigail would say "Fun at the pumpkins, mama"

A little of me lost, but a whole lot more gained.....

I got a new phone yesterday and I needed my 14 year old daughter to walk me through it. Now I wouldn't say that I am a technology savvy person, but this was to much! Why was this so alarming to me, after all many a mom has needed help figuring out electronic gadgets. I think it started in August 2005 when I married my hubby and started an amazing journey as a SAHM. In the last 3 years we added 2 more "Moos"(more on that later) to our clan. Before marrying my hubby, I worked at a car dealership. I loved my job and I was good at it. My job in short was to know everything about these technologically filled cars and teach it to the customers and occasionally to a sales person. I was the go-to person, if I didn't know it I figured it out. So here I am 3 years into my SAHM life and I can't manage to work a more complex phone!!! What is that about? Um, I would have to say I have gotten lazy (tired) . I haven't lost the ability to learn, although I do have full blown mommy brain a good portion of the day. But really, why figure it out when my 14 year old can just tell me....
This has been very humbling and I have taken a brief but closer look at myself or rather who I have become. I love being a mommy and of course if you do the math, I was a mommy well before my wedding 3 years ago. I was a single mom and boy was that a journey. I had to grow up, discover who I was, all the while raising a child. It was heartbreaking at times, but it was my life and we survived. As the years (as a single mom) went on I became a person I could appreciate a little more. My job allowed me a little extra income to get my hair done, nails done and buy nicer clothes and make-up. I always felt put together even when I wasn't feeling so put togethr on the inside. This baecame part of my identity, a part of me, and I enjoyed looking nice. So here I am a mom of 3 beautiful and amazing gifts from God and boy have I changed. I never put make up on, I wear sweats and workout clothes ( um, I don't exercise), I can't remember the last time I got my nails done, and well my roots are about an inch. As I type this wondering what it all means I realize that yes, I am not so put together on the outside, but none of that stuff before could come close to the trade off. I may still go put some lipstick on and buy a nice pair of jeans, because after all I need to still look good for my man......but when it is all said and done, and I am sitting here with my son drooling all over my face giving me baby kisses, when my 2 year old daughter wants me to sing to her, and I can pick up my 14 year old from school everyday....... I may not be dressed to the nines anymore, but my heart sure is...