Who will stand?

A friend of mine wrote this today on her facebook wall. Although I do not have teenage sons, the impact of what she said it profound. I will stand with her and teach my daughter how she needs to be viewed, and embrace her divine heritage.

Dear Mothers of Teenage Boys:
Society has been degrading womanhood for quite some time now, teaching our daughters that it is more important to be hot than to be beautiful, more important to be desired than to be cherished, more important to look a certain way than to BE someone of value. Having raised a teenage daughter, I can tell you that these societal forces are strong, they are coercive, and... they are difficult to overcome. Now that I am raising a teenage son, I recognize that he has a huge responsibility to shun these societal messages and show his (girl)friends that he will respect them, even when they do not respect themselves. Yet this is not something that society is teaching him to do. It must be ME who teaches him this. He does not understand how much power he has to influence the mind and countenance of his young (girl)friends; I have to help him learn this. I have to be willing to say the hard things, correct the wrong comments and actions, teach him over and over how he SHOULD be treating these young women. Unless I tell him what is appropriate, he will never know, because EVERYWHERE ELSE he goes, he is receiving a different message. Young women should be recognized for their beauty, both inside and out; 13 year old girls are never hot, sexy, or fine--no matter how much they may WANT to be those things. Our young men need to help our young women recognize what is of REAL value inside of them. They need to compliment their (girl)friends on their intelligence, their creativity, their compassion, NOT their bodies. They need to help these young women recognize that they are so much more important than the way they clothe (or don't clothe) themselves. Young men are naturally drawn to all the physical things about young women. That is the way they were created, and it is a strong force. The rest of it MUST BE LEARNED, and if we aren't willing to stand up and teach our sons...who will? So to the mothers of teenage boys, will you stand with me? Will you teach your sons of the power they hold, the power to influence young women? Will you teach them to respect and honor the virtue of women? Will you monitor their facebook accounts and their cell phones, holding them accountable to a higher standard? Will you hold MY son accountable when you hear him saying things he shouldn't be saying? Will you stand with me so that MY son will not be the ONLY ONE who is trying to do what is right? Will you teach, over and over and over, the RIGHT way to compliment a young woman, thus allowing our young women to learn to believe in themselves? Can we begin today to instill in this growing generation just how amazing they can truly be, so that when they reach the age to marry they won't have allowed Satan and the world to degrade them? Who will stand with me and shout the world down? Will you?

the joys of mother/wife-hood

I love what I do. And what I do is try and keep a happy husband and raise some cute kids. However, I must say, today I am not loving my job as much. There has been more vomit and poop today then I have dealt with in a while. Isabel woke up with a weird 12 hr flu. She threw up 8 times from 7:30-11:30. Then she was all done. Mike started throwing up about that point. Stella was doing ok then just threw up on me at 8pm tonight and had some awesome exploding diapers. So here is to hoping that by tomorrow all of this funk will leave my home and we can get back to normal.
To add to all of the excitement around here. My Dad flew into town for a quick visit. He flew in Saturday night and will leave tomorrow (MOnday) at 1. He has yet to lay eyes on Isabel or Mike. Stella still loves him though. So here is to a lot of prayer and hope and everything crossed that I will not be sick and that Dad can see Isabel for a few hours in the morning before he flies out. :)

Some new cute pics

First up, Dresses from G'ma




new skirt from G'ma



Bubbles after church one day.

Holy February

I can not believe that 1. it's already Feb. and 2. that I have worn capris the last three days. It's been 60 and higher all this week. I just have a hard time believing Puxatawny Phil. This isn't really an overly exciting post for most. I just can't seem to write in my journal all the funny things Stella has been doing lately so I'm going to do it here...that way my sister can read it also.
(ok.. this one is Isabel but it was pretty funny)
when asking about her vitamins she wanted to know if Costco made her dinosaur ones.. yes they do.. "well do they still make the cave man ones?" What cave man ones? "you know, the ones with the man in the cave". Me: Oh! you mean the flintstone ones!

Stella.
- Dances.. or just turns randomly.. around in circles to the left until she gets tired or too dizzy.
- tries to jump while playing peek a boo off the bed.
- signs please with both hands rubbing her belly when she sees smokoes
- tries to blow raspberries on cheeks and hands
- points to everything she wants and says mama... apparently that means she thinks momma will get it for her
- goes insane for peanut butter. squeals, begs, whines
- likes peanut butter on anything
- if she is trying to play in the bathroom, I have to call for her and keep eye contact with her until she gets to me (like in runaway bride), otherwise the second I lose contact, she is turning right back towards it.
- she likes to claw faces.. and leave marks
- loves to walk around with one shoe on. She will bring a shoe to me and beg and beg until I put just one said shoe on.
- scrunches up her face and nose and then squeals in laughter when playing any game with her.

I think that's about it for now. I feel like I am missing one or two but I'll add them later. So that's Stella my 24lb baby that feels like she's 30lb.

Fun month part 2

On the 10th Mike flew in and Mom and I were at a cookie decorating class. It was a lot of fun! I'm not amazing yet.. but watch out! We really just hung out for the first week. We did get to see Niki and Ray. Niki is one of my closest friends from high school and we have stayed close through out life. We went over to their house for dinner and took them some our awesome cookies. Isabel was asking for a cookie and Niki said they have a rule at their house... you have to ask "may I please...." or you must wait 5 min before asking again (I LOVE this rule.. we are incorporating it in our home) so she needed to wait. Isabel turns to Keegan (their 6 yo son)and says "you ask". So Keegan asked correctly. Needless to say they got their cookies, and props for using teamwork. :)

If you only knew how often this took place. Stella would squeal or scream for a cookie if she saw anyone else with it. Then she figured out how to take the lid off the tupperware to get her own.. these were not small cookies people.



We took the girls to Seattle and walked around the Seattle center area. HOLY COW... I forgot how fortunate we are here in St. Louis...everything is either free or really cheap. The zoo=free, science center=free botanical gardens=$6 the arch=free to see the museum and a nominal fee to ride to the top. Seattle= NO FREE. We went up to the Space Needle and ate lunch at the 360 degree restaurant. Isabel LOVED it. The food was delicious. It was really a fantastic family date. Afterwards we went to see the troll under the Freemont bridge. I just love my little family!

We found the toy soliders

Love this picture of Daddy and Stella!


It was so cold!


Bunny ears when they don't know are the best.




Troll under the bridge, and no, I have no idea why on earth I am standing like that.


Izzy spent most every morning out feeding the horses, Stella did go one time but it was so cold. Leslie even indoctrinated Isabel on how to properly climb to the top of the hay bales and camp out.
The girls feeding



We played with the Bonnell's again. We got a picture of Averi and Stella hanging out in the swing together... they were not too amused.


This was taken one night after we got back from seeing Eric and Amy Radimak. I forgot to get pictures with them.. but Stella loved her Grandpa.
Stella talking with Grandpa


We did an advent calender while we were there. It was not as fantastic as I had hoped, but it was a start... and more importantly got me FINALLY using something I had pinned on pintrest. :) So the activity one night was to make smore's. So downstairs we went in front of the fireplace. We let Isabel roast her own marshmellows this time. She was pretty excited.




We did have a great visit the Great Gpa and Ma.. Aunt Sue and Uncle Jerry along with the rest of the McLees family. It was been too long since we have really visited with everyone and 8 Christmas's ago since I was there. Leslie and I each received a newspaper from the Seattle-Post Intelligencer from the day we were born. Pretty cool.
All the men on my Dad's side.
Gpa Gerry, Uncle Jerry, Jacob, Dad and Mike

And the Ladies.. I had to get on of my mom smiling. We were all laughing at how hard it is to make her smile with eyes open
Grandma Donna, Mom, my, Aunt Sue, Leslie and of course, Isabel and Stella


One tradition many of my friends do with their families is to have matching pajamas for Christmas. So I decided I would make them for my family... then added mom and dad since it was just two more.. then added Leslie and Jacob because I thought it would be fun. After MANY tears and frustrations and a few laughs all eight pairs of pajama pants were made. most didn't fit right but everyone wore them and at least pretended to like them!
Here are all 8 pairs of pajama pants I made!!! Oh and my awesome family.


This was Christmas eve... hanging out and Leslie and I reliving life when we were kids.





Isabel's favorite cookie she left for Santa.


Christmas morning we woke up with this.


The following moments were so fun... Isabel was able to finally join the tradition of the littlest passing out gifts.. she got sidetract a few times and wanted to just start opening her own. We got a couple of great pictures of Gma smiling and looking happy... just imagine for those that might know mom.... eyes open AND smiling. IT's A MIRACLE!!!




The girls enjoyed their matching glowing rings... Stella was pretty much done after opening this... and it was in her stocking.


Isabel was SO excited that she received all four boy barbie dolls that she wanted. Flynn is her favorite.


And after Christmas... mom and dad played a board game with us.. yea my parents playing pictionary is PRICELESS.. especially for a dad who thinks so technically.


We had such a great trip and can't wait to do it again.. although Mike may not be able to stay for as long! :)
And saying goodbye to Auntie Leslie!

The wild month part 1

Oh Goodness!! Where do I start. Isabel had her 2nd dance recital on the 1st of December. She did awesome. She was pretty upset that she didn't get any flowers... like major meltdown upset. I tried to explain that we were leaving the next day and she wouldn't get to enjoy the flowers but it took a while to sink in.
I was traveling with both girls that day out to Seattle. The girls did A.MA.ZING on the flight. Part of the reason we were heading out so soon (and Isabel missing 2 weeks of school) is because Leslie and I were throwing our parents a 40th Wedding anniversary party. I have to say that for all the things I remember my parents going thru as a child, they toughed it out. I am so grateful for two people who loved each other thru it all and are still together. Come to think of it, all of their closest friends are still married also. Leslie made some AWESOME food, as usual. All in all it was a very fun party. Leslie got to tell everyone (including Mom and Dad two days before) that she is expecting!!! I am so excited for her and Jacob.

We took Monday off and Tuesday the girls and I left to drive down to Eugene, OR to visit more with Leslie and Jacob. We toured The University of Oregon campus, Isabel and Leslie saw Santa Duck (the mascot dressed up as Santa), met Leslie's friends at school, played twister (a pregnant lady and me with Isabel spinning....)pretty entertaining and hung out. During this week Stella was teething so my calm, happy baby was anything but. Most memorable was the night she screamed for an a hour (35 min of which she wouldn't calm down enough to get medicine in her mouth), come to think of it... most nights were that way for the first 1.5-2 weeks.

We came back on Friday and then Daddy came to us on Saturday!

So I didn't have my camera during the first week of vacation so part 2 will be really picture intensive!

So the only picture I have from about this time is with Isabel's crown from burger king... she loved it.

Thanksgiving

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!! We had a fun Thanksgiving this year. It started out a bit sketchy with a little girl who is teething and also had a cold. She forgot to sleep on Wednesday and when we got her home after our date, she woke up every hour from 1 am to 8:30. It was rough. We went to Mike's uncle's house for the big family gathering and ate and played some games. We left from there and went out to some friends house for another dinner. The smoked turkey was amazing and her potatoes... TO DIE FOR!!! I must get her recipe, something about white and gold potatoes with a sweet potato and turnip thrown in and of course butter, cream cheese and milk. OH MY!

Friday we all stayed at home and lounged, watched some TV, slept, ate some leftovers then went to another friends house for some leftover food and great conversation. We were so blessed and so stuffed at the end of the two days.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving here are a few of the things I am thankful for (in no particular order).
1. Family. I love my small little family.
2. Health
3. Heavenly Father
4. Jesus Christ
5. Alabama football
6. a warm home that keeps me safe
7. Amazing friends near and far. (and too many are far away)
8. My sister... she is pretty awesome
9. laughter from my family
10. the internet
11. Food. We have been so blessed with awesome cookbooks that make me a pretty darn good cook
12. A husband who does dishes so I don't have too...
13. A mom and dad who bring us home to spend a whole month with them.
14. teething tablets and children's advil.
15. Men and women brave enough to go out and fight for their country, people like Mark A. Forester.

I hope everyone out there had a fantastic Thanksgiving!!