Our Little Valentines

A tradition that began years ago, when our family was half the size it is now, has been for Justin and I to wake up early to make our girls a special Valentine's breakfast. School was cancelled today because of snow and ice, so we didn't have to wake up quite so early this year, which was an extra special treat!

Things I love about these pictures...

1. Maryn has on her old lady shawl because the girls were having a proper tea party with their stuffed animals while Justin and I were cooking. I love that my 10 year old is still a little girl, in no rush to grow up. She also has her much loved 70's mug she bought  with hard-earned "music bucks" in music class back when we were living in Oregon. I swear she will pack that up and take it off to college with her someday, she loves it that much!

2. I love Lulu's expressive antics! She was pulling faces at me even behind her cocoa mug. Last night we got a bag of hand-me-downs from a friend. She was THRILLED and did a twirly fashion show, showing off all her new clothes! This morning she made sure to scour her new clothing options for the perfect Valentine's outfit! She wanted to make sure that she was feeling sufficiently fancy at our family breakfast!

3. Devy said the prayer over breakfast and Justin and I couldn't help but crack our eyes at each other and silently chuckle! Our littlest is just getting so big! It still is so weird to hear her doing and saying big-kid things! We were joking at breakfast though that the way you spell Devyn is D-R-A-M-A! She was cracking me up with her Popeye grin, complete with a scuffed up face that was the result of taking a tumble out of a moving Power Wheels yesterday. That child is a force of nature!

4. Brynnie loves a good dose of silly! There was no shortage of her signature laugh as we all took turns speaking in British accents, having tongue curling contests (Brynna is my tongue-twin!) and doing bird calls to each other. (Sometimes table manners have to take a back seat....) Justin especially gets her in stitches, whether he is acting like an Australian or a Brit....but our favorite is his Michelle Duggar impersonation! ;)

I feel so very blessed to have such an awesome, little family to love! They truly have my heart!

Buffalo Gals

We had a handyman come out to the house once to look at our downstairs lights. It seemed like there was always at least one bulb in our light fixtures that was always out, no matter how often we replaced our lightbulbs. I was tired of feeling like a cave dweller in half-lit rooms and was sure it was some wonky wiring job that needed to be fixed.

The handyman looked at our fixtures after having the problem explained to him and said "Where are your kids' rooms in relation to the lights that keep going out?" Puzzled, we answered directly above them. He said that was our problem. Our girls are so dang rambunctious that their constant jumping, stomping and horse-playing was breaking the filaments in our lights.

And people say it's the boys that are rough on things.

I just sent the girls upstairs to get jammies on and teeth brushed...it literally sounds like a herd of wild buffalo are running recklessly through the halls; stomping, jumping, yelling and loud-talking. On nights where Justin is gone, like tonight and what seems like so many other nights, where I am running this ship all alone while buffalo gals run amok, I get tired at the sheer responsibility that my life requires of me. But then I can't help but think that it will all be over before I am ready for it to be. When responsibility will wane and these halls and stairs will grow quiet. When lightbulbs will glow, undamaged by the ruckus and I will wish for the days that the sands of time didn't slip between my tired hands.

So tonight, I will grasp this moment. I will gather my fading energy. I will muster another push of patience and I will go hug and kiss my wild, rambunctious, wonderful, little herd of buffalo gals.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 304

After Trunk or Treat last night, I was feeling pretty low-key (a.k.a. tired) tonight. So I let the girls get themselves ready for Trick or Treating. I joked with Justin that the old me would have obsessively spent hours on Halloween hair and make-up, making sure everything was just right. The new me, well she goes with the flow a little bit more and is content to let the kids work their own versions of magic on themselves! ;) We walked to the cul-de-sac, collecting candy along the way, and hung out with our friends around a bonfire for a little while before heading back home just as the rain was starting to blow in. It was delightfully windy and Fall-ish!!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 215

Maryn adamantly refused to get her haircut or even trimmed a little bit. But the other girls all wanted haircuts before school started again and both Lauryn and Brynna wanted quite a bit taken off! I procrastinated making appointments to take them to a salon, so tonight I grabbed the scissors and got to work doing it myself. I think the styles the girls chose turned out pretty cute!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 213

Today the girls went to their Open House at school to find out who their new teachers are! It was especially exciting for Lauryn, who was really wanting to check out what Kindergarten was going to be like. She walked into the room shyly and was warmly greeted by Mrs. Yllescas (sounds like Eee-yes-cas), her new teacher. Sensing Luey's hesitance, Mrs. Yllescas quickly distracted her with a tour of the classroom, while I filled out classroom paperwork. By the time I finished, Lulu informed me that she absolutely did not want to leave! It did my heart good to know she will be excited to come back on Monday, when school starts.

 

We then headed over to Brynna's new classroom and met her new teacher, Mrs. Hill. She seemed like a really fun lady, who had an easy laugh. She piqued Brynna's interest when she told her about their classroom economy where students earn credits or debits, by behavior or work, to use in the class store! Brynna also discovered one of her good friends from first grade, Laurel, was in her class this year as well. The first day always feels a little easier with a familiar face to see!

 

Our last stop was heading upstairs to visit Maryn's classroom in the fifth grade hall. We were greeted by Mrs. Bobo, who seemed very sweet and said she was really excited to have Maryn in her class this year. She explained that in preparation for Middle School fifth graders change classes for each subject. So Maryn, throughout the course of the day, will get to spend time with all of the fifth grade teachers, which will be fun for her. Maryn also discovered her good friends Alex and Dominick are in her class as well!

 

All in all it was a success and the girls are excited and ready for Monday! I can't believe the end of summer is actually here!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 201

It's sad, but pretty much almost every weekend this summer has been spent flying solo in the parenting department. The girls and I miss Justin a lot, but are trying to make the best of it. Today on the to-do list was back to school supply shopping with four kids in tow. Let me just tell you, I was crazy exhausted by the time that was over!! But about three hours and $400 later everyone had their allotted amount of glue sticks, pencils and all that fun stuff.

We didn't enter the trenches of Wal-Mart on Saturday to battle our list unprepared though. We decided full bellies are happier bellies and stopped by our favorite girls-day-out spot, J. Christopher's, together to fuel up first. I live for these moments with my kids. When we can just hang out, connect and enjoy being together. I am a pretty blessed momma that amidst all that is required of me, that I have such incredible kids by my side.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 180

I swear Brynna is going to be 6 feet tall someday! Today the girls and I went to Target to see what some options were for school shoes. (I can hardly believe the summer is already halfway over!) As we were heading to the back of the shoe section, we passed through a clearance rack of ladies high heels. The girls, just wanting to have fun, pulled some on to teeter around in. Brynna pulled down a ladies size 7, slipped them on and they fit her just right....a ladies size 7 at 8 years old! I am a full grown adult with larger than average feet at size 9 1/2! My 8 year old is only two and a half sizes smaller than me! It was so crazy to me how fast these daughters of mine are growing up!

Maryn immediately started razzing Brynnie about how she had gigantic feet. You better believe that I nipped that in the bud pretty dang fast right then and there. I told Maryn sisters don't ever talk down to one another like that. That if sisters do anything, it is build each other up. That her sister's feet are the perfect size for her and that she can walk proud in them and in who she is.

Brynna grinned and took a couple laps around the aisle. She said "I like being tall because then I can always reach high things!" I hope Brynna, and all my girls for that matter, always feel comfortable and confident, despite what sets them apart or makes them different, in who they are. That they will always humbly know how beautiful and smart and capable they are and never let anyone diminish that. That God made them perfect just as they are.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 173

Justin was gone again today. I have been feeling stressed by the sheer responsibility of life lately. I knew if I trapped myself in the house with four girls, piles of laundry and never-ending to-do's I was going to get grouchy. Saturday is MY day. The one and only day I get where I can clear my plate and just relax. So I ditched to-do's, I shirked responsibility and I loaded the Little Women in the van and we took off to hike up the Vickery Creek Trail at the Roswell Mill. It was a slice of heaven I so needed. The girls had a blast and it did my soul good to be under a canopy of leaves with dirt under my feet and fresh air in my lungs.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 166

Justin is out of town today and the thought of being cooped up in the house all day was making me grumpy. So at Lauryn's suggestion, I took the girls for a hike up Kennesaw Mountain this morning. Devyn's shoes were bothering her and so she had me carry her the whole way up. Lauryn decided on the way down she was pooped and also needed to be carried the whole way down. So needless to say I feel like a worn-out mule at the present moment. But I wouldn't trade the time with my ladies for anything!! (And it made me feel a little bit better about skipping out on the gym yesterday to catch a few more winks!)

Makin' Pancakes

 

When we got home last night we discovered that while we were away Nana had sent the girls a fun, new Halloween cookbook. Maryn and Brynna have been taking cooking classes once a week after school and it has helped their cooking confidence and desire to get in the kitchen increase. So this morning they were eager to pick out a recipe and give it a try! Since school is out this week and I didn't have to go to work, we decided to pull out the griddle and let them whip up some ghoulish pancakes!

 They didn't turn out exactly like the picture in the book, but I think they did a pretty good job! We substituted the  recipe in the cookbook with Ma Young's pancake recipe (Ma is the girls' great-grandmother, their Gramps' momma). That was Maryn's call since she felt like cooking with family recipes would be more meaningful.

 The girls have been semi-obsessed with "Cake Boss" lately and the concept of the importance of "la famiglia"! In fact as Lauryn dug into her pancakes she exclaimed "Hey Maryn, these are good! You really are Buddy the Baker!" It was pretty funny!

A Real Heart Squeezer

Maryn has a heart the size of Texas. As I have previously mentioned my Nana, Maryn's Great-Grandma, passed away this past November. As a family we decided to invite everyone to contribute whatever they felt they could towards Nana Mary's headstone, which will be placed at the head of her grave this coming Mother's Day. After all Nana did to show love for all of us, we felt it would be a meaningful gift each one of us could give to her to show our love in return.

The girls have been saving all the change they could find in a special 'Nana Mary' jar. Maryn even contributed checks I had written her for chores and such. All the girls generously contributed, but Maryn didn't want to keep any of her money for herself. She wanted it all to go to Nana Mary. In a short period of time they have managed to scrape together over $50, which I felt was a sweet and generous contribution for such small children.

The other day another thing happened that made me realize what a sweet girl my Maryn Elizabeth is. She was daydreaming about birthday parties and told me "Mom, wouldn't it be fun to have a birthday party at the animal shelter?" I sat there thinking for a moment, because I had never really heard of such a thing. Then she said "And instead of people giving me presents they could bring little gifts or supplies for all the dogs and cats in the shelter instead!"

My heart wanted to burst. Here was this sweet girl who's greatest joy would to be to do something kind for someone else, even on her special day. It made me think of the scripture, "And a little child shall lead them."

Brynna also recently told me that even though she really thought it would be great to be an artist when she grew up, she had decided that she would like to be a teacher instead because she wanted to help people. Knowing Brynna, I think she would make a wonderful teacher. She has a beautiful brain, happy smile and silly ways that could win any class over! If I were a kid, I know I would want to be in her class!

Lauryn has hopes of being a "baby doctah" when she grows up and wants to go to Africa to help sick babies. (I have sat down with the girls before and showed them pictures of sick African children. We took the opportunity to discuss blessings, gratitude and wants vs. needs. I have told them many times "Don't think that the way things are here in America are the same way they are all around the world." I think this conversation is where this desire came from with her.) As we were sitting in carpool watching some construction work being done on the school the other day Lauryn said "Oohhh, I want to be a baby doctah AND a buildah when I drowed up! Den I can help build a doctah's office for sick babies!" I just wanted to squeeze her!

Devyn has many blank pages of life yet to be written. Dreams to be dreamed and hopes to be hoped. But I know as long as she keeps going with the determination and happiness she has now even at 20 months old she too will find ways to be fulfilled and make a difference in this world.

I am grateful every day, to have been blessed with such great daughters. One's who each, in their own way, teach and inspire me. I can truly say, with every piece of my heart, that I feel so blessed to be their mother.

School Choice

An Associated Press photographer took this picture of Maryn and it was featured as Good Morning America's Photo of the Day. Pretty cool if you ask me!

This morning I had the opportunity to attend the School Choice Rally at the Georgia State Capitol. It was the first ever rally of any kind I have ever attended and it was such a great experience.

We were so grateful for the blue skies we got after so much soggy rain lately!

I am not a very politically minded individual. (I know, I should be better informed, but raising four kids...some things get put on the back burner.) But education and specifically my children's education is something that is very important to me.

Our friends, Asa and Ivy Speidel, Maryn, Brynna and Brynnie's buddy Olivia

Which is why Maryn, Brynna, our friends the Speidel's and I made the trek to downtown Atlanta today; to let politicians in the state of Georgia know that we, as parents, want to be able to choose what we feel is the right educational fit for our children.

Maryn and Brynna attend a charter school, so it is important to me to protect our right to be able to continue with a charter school education. In our area the public schools are actually pretty good (although that is not the case elsewhere in Atlanta.) I have many friends near us who are very pleased with their public school experience and some who are not. I also have a handful of friends that Homeschool. I love that despite our different opinions, needs or expectations, each one of us has had the freedom to choose what we deem to be the right environment for our children. To me that is something worth protecting and worth speaking out for.

Brynna and Olivia, those two are just a hoot together! I love the silly looks they get on their faces!

If you haven't watched the documentary 'Waiting for Superman', put it in your Netflix queue and watch it. (Watch the trailer here.) It really resonated with me because growing up I didn't realize there were or should be choices. I did have a handful of good teachers, but overall I was grouped in with a herd of teachers who really didn't care. I didn't realize then that I shouldn't have to settle for that. I didn't realize that I had potential that no one was willing to see or nurture.

I had a great teacher, Mrs. Minor, in the 5th grade who was thoughtful and really helped encourage my strong suits. But it wasn't until my Senior year in high school that I again encountered a teacher who made a difference in my life. A teacher who saw something in me and went out of her way to tell me so. She was Mrs. Schmidt, my Dental Assisting instructor at a vocational school I was attending in addition to my regular high school. (I was receiving dual credits.) I was so sick of being overlooked at my high school. So sick of no one caring. Then out of nowhere, Valerie Schmidt noticed me and made a difference.

This choir of kids from a local Atlanta academy were simply amazing. Their voices were so moving and I was privileged enough to be standing right next to them!

That vocational program was a godsend for me. It got me out of my crappy high school for half of the day and put me in an environment where I flourished. I was actually challenged and learning new things as opposed to being disregarded by teachers who were happy to read a newspaper rather than instruct. Most importantly though for the first time in a long time I felt valued and encouraged. In retrospect I am so thankful that I had that choice. To leave the school that wasn't working and find something better for me. I had beat myself up for many years after graduation for only having a vocational education. However, recently Justin showed me a Congressional testimony that Mike Rowe gave on vocational occupations that really changed my thoughts on my perceived inadequacies in my vocational education.

The bottom line is, I want my girls to do or be whatever they want to. Whether it's a lawyer, a doctor, a journalist, an artist, or even a dental assistant. I want for them if their desire is to go to college, for there never to be a question of that being supported. If they choose a vocational education, I hope they will know it was by choice because it fulfills them and not because they were made to feel they weren't good enough or prepared enough for other options. I want them to do what makes them happy. I want them to feel the stream of encouraging support throughout their entire educational journey. Not just in brief patches here and there. I want them in a place that holds teachers accountable. I want them in a place that is only open as long as it is producing good results in the lives of it's students. I want to have the peace of mind as their mother in knowing that I did everything I could to give them the tools necessary to achieve their ambitions and that is why I rallied today to have a CHOICE.

Watch local news coverage of the event here. I was caught hootin' and hollerin' in the crowd in one of the shots!

One would think that raising girls would keep me from the tittering joys of bathroom talk that people expect with a passel of boys. Not so. The girls are huddled around the breakfast table in the next room saying "Poopface!!" and then erupting into giggles. Kids....

Morning Tantrum

This morning Brynna came stomping into my bathroom in her uniform pants, upset that I had made her change out of her skort because it was dirty. (A little background, Brynna hates wearing the uniform pants, she only likes the skorts. But she had already worn her skorts for the week and pants were the only clean options left.) She scowled at me and said “You know what hate about my school….”

I cut her off there. Maybe it was rude, but I was in no mood for ungrateful tantrums. I said “Brynna, I am not really interested in listening to a tirade of what you hate.

Do you want to know that there are still little girls in this world who don’t even get to go to school, because their society says they are not worth it.

There are little girls who will never learn how to read because there are people that see no value in educating a girl.

There are little girls who have no say in what they do, who they marry, or what they become.

YOU are a girl born in America. YOU are a girl who is not told if she gets to learn, but you are a girl who gets to decide if you will choose to learn. YOU get to choose to be whatever you can dream or imagine and you live in a place where if you work hard enough you can make that happen. YOU get to choose the man who you will marry someday. YOU get to choose what you will do with your life. YOU live in a time in history and in a society where your thoughts as a girl are valued and matter.

If you want to waste your time pouting and crying about the fact that you didn’t get to choose your skirt today then shame on you for having such an ungrateful attitude. YOU have every choice that really matters in life, Brynna. Be grateful and quit whining.”

Maybe I was a bit heavy on her, but dang it I won't have my kids growing up like so many spoiled brats out there who's parents soothe and appease their every whim and demand in life if they cry loud enough or scowl long enough. I love my kids with all my heart and the last thing I want them suffering from in life is an ungrateful heart. I hope my kids know that I expect them to do and be their best not because I am a battle axe, stick-in-the-mud, but because I love them and want to help them be the people they were sent to this earth to be.

I hope they always know that I think that they are smart, kind, talented and beautiful. I hope they know that I am always here to assist them in all that they do. I hope that when they doubt themselves they will know they were raised to push past that doubt. I hope they will know that they are Young's and because of that they can do hard things and need to strive to have grateful hearts.

I hope in the long run a little sternness will be interpreted for what it really is...a heavy dose of love.

Growing up...

When Maryn and Brynna were little we used to watch "America's Funniest Videos" almost every night together as a family. We loved it, but then the routine got dropped for some reason. A few nights ago we re-discovered it on Netflix. This time though with two more kids who are now the same ages Maryn and Brynna were when we were last regulars to the show. It was so cute seeing my Little Women lined up on the couch; snuggling, laughing, yelling at the screen and when it was all done re-enacting their favorite clips.

Devyn has officially become one of the big girls. Which really blows my mind because it seems like even in the last week she has grown leaps and bounds. It makes me wonder what one more week might bring! She got the jokes, jumped in on the wrestling match and huskily marched around the room yelling, laughing at everything and pulling crazy, cute grins. Tonight we asked Brynna to call Maryn and Lauryn down for dinner. Instead Devyn marched to the bottom of the stairs and hollered "Maaaaayn, Yahhhh, iiiinnnn!!" ("Maryn, Lauryn dinner!") with perfect inflection. Justin and I traded glances as if to say "When the heck did she start talking?!"

It's so weird how our family is growing up. When you are in the thick of your labor-intensive years of raising small children you think it is never going to end. You think it will last forever. But lately I have seen small glimpses of new phases on the horizon. It's exciting and sad at the same time. Maryn told me the other day "Mom, I don't really want to grow up....but I do feel like I am becoming a young lady." I had to stifle a chuckle at her choice of words because she was so serious. But hey, if they have to grow up I'll accept their goal of becoming young ladies!

I know I can't stop the steady hand of time, ever progressing forward. Some days it makes me a little sad to know that our time as parents of young children won't be around forever. But seeing how the girls have grown already, and seeing how proud they make me to be their mom, I find peace in knowing that whatever phase of life we are in, it will be fulfilling as long as we are all together.