Your Mom...

Somethin' for the Kiddies....

Saturday, January 14, 2012

What it Looks Like Today...

Today, I am grateful for Tommy's cuteness, a fun husband, Lucy's sparkling personality, and listening to Mumford and Sons with a glass of wine on a Saturday night with nowhere to go.

Our days have been filled with learning, basketball, soccer, Brownie cookie sales prep, Laughfest Comedy shows, being #2 sales rep in the company, Weight Watchers and exercise plans, and counting down to Disney World (in 10 days! 10 days!!!).

I was realizing the other day that I am so sad that I only have pictures of my childhood bedroom and parts of our house I grew up in as snippets in pictures or memories in my brain. I decided to take some photos around the house right now...January 2012 - when you were 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 years old...







Monday, November 28, 2011

The Daily Hug

I just wanted to make sure I let you both know this story, in case you forget when you are grown-ups.

This is a really magical year, with Tommy as a Kindergartener and Lucy as a 2nd grader, they get to share the same playground for morning Recess each day of school.

It began on the first day, when I asked Lucy to make sure and find Tommy, say "hi!" and always watch out for your little brother on the playground.

Without any of my doing, you have continued to not only find each other each morning to say "hi!" but you also stop to hug each other every time. I ask every day and you never miss a day.

I always imagine a playground full of 100+ kids running around in mass chaos and you two Cavanaugh kids stopping and finding each other, and then giving each other that special hug each morning, just because you love each other and you are brother and sister.

You are so lucky to have each other!

Friday, November 11, 2011

What's Happening Now...

Geez, I have sure neglected this blog for the past six weeks. We've been chumming along, enjoying fall, the end of soccer, the start of girl's basketball, a wonderful Halloween, ending jobs, looking for new jobs, earning and taking care of a hamster, school activities, and just rolling along at a pleasant pace.

Over the past couple of days, I have felt a blog entry brewing in me. I wanted to write something really great about how fast time flies and how much fun I am having with you guys as a 5 1/2 year old and almost 7 1/2 year old. But instead, I think I'll just throw out some moments I remember over the past six weeks, in no particular order.

*As I was walking out of Lucy's room last week at bedtime, I heard her say to me, "Mom, I REALLY love you." I could tell she really, really meant it.

*Looking at Lucy's long legs over Daddy's when she first came downstairs in the morning. Remembering, like it was yesterday, when Matt used to hold Lucy in his arms and rock her little head to sleep in a similar position.

*Secretly wondering how much longer she'll tell me a secret, sit in our laps, ask for a kiss in front of friends, believe in Santa and ask me to pick out her outfits.

*Matt and I laying on either side of Tommy in our bed on a movie night. Tommy proclaiming, "I am lucky."
"Why, Tommy?" I asked.
"Because I have you guys on each side of me."

*Tommy suggesting and writing a letter to the star of the East Grand Rapids football team. Delivering it to the high school secretary. 4th, 5th and 6th grade boys actually wanting Tommy on their football team and not thinking they are "just playing with the little guy" because he actually keeps up.

*Loving that Tommy feels COMPELLED to yell hello to any classmate he sees on the streets, even if he has to yell it across a street and over cars. He really seems to care of about everyone...even the girls. ;)

*My girl and I doing fun things together like playing basketball, doing our nails, curling our hair, and laughing our guts out. I'm also very aware that I'm the one person that makes her feel the safest, least anxious, most comfortable, and most "taken care of" in the world. I like that responsibility.

*The kids and I spending a day together seeing "what adventure we will find" when they had a day off of school. Leaving the house at 9 a.m and coming home at 3 p.m. and all the fun and giggles we have along the way. It's like I get my little kids back from the teachers for a day and it's the best gift in the world.

*Cleaning out the basement and finding myself sad. Sad that it seems like "toys" are fading out of interest. Superheros, cars and Legos have made way for Ipads and football games. The Jasmine outfit is finally too small and writing songs is how she spends her time now. I found one lone Princess sandal in a box, from the summer Lucy was four years old. I remember everything about you at four years old and the summer you wore those sandals. So that went into a "save" box, along with an old Snow White bib I also couldn't bear to throw away.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Safe.

Tommy is definitely going through a phase of "worshipping" his Dad. Understandably, Dad can throw a football better than me. But, tonight, while brushing his teeth, Tommy said this:


"Mom? I like when you walk me to school. Just you, not Dad. We hold hands, and you give me a kiss and hug at the door."

"I love it too, Tomma. It's one of my favorite things to do."

"Will you always do that?"

"As long as you'll let me, Tommy, I will always take you to school."

"Thanks. It makes me feel safe."


What a guy.
I guess we all have our roles to play...

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Challenge...

I have been more than challenged in the job of being Lucy's mom, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I found this the other day and it really spoke to me...

Three Keys to Bringing Out the Best in Your Strong-Willed Child
(Discover Your Child’s Heart by Dr. Tim Kimmel)

1. View Them Positively-as hard as it may be to acknowledge, being strong-willed is a gift. A beautiful trait that needs to be refined, but appreciated. They should never feel like having a strong personality is a negative thing.

2. Draw Clear Boundaries-“Clear moral standards draw boundaries within which a strong-willed child can flourish.” They need consequences, regimentation, traditions, routine, rituals and rest.

3. Give Them Some Say-most battles can be avoided, if you maintain authority, but also give your child some say…from eating to napping to keeping their room clean, you can work together to accomplish the goal.

Monday, September 19, 2011

"Once They're Both in School..."


When this picture was taken, I was thinking...
Thank the lord I get a break.
I hope Tommy learns to potty train soon.
These 2.5 hours of freedom will be the best of my life.
They sure are cute little people.
I can't believe we have to pay $365/month in preschool tuition.
I am sweating.
Can I do five loads of laundry in 2.5 hours?


When this picture was taken, I was thinking...
I can't believe they are both in school.
I can't believe what big kids they are.
It seems like they were just born, but then again, not really.
I hope this all goes o.k.
I hope they don't forget everything we have taught them.
It's hard to let go.
How will I stay busy and not go crazy.
This is my favorite job and I just went part-time.
I can't believe I will never have a preschooler again.
I will miss them so much.

Two weeks later, and I am still missing them SO much.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Together...

Summer 2011 wrapped up with a big, fun, new adventure to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a visit to Mackinac Island.

We all felt that hovering feeling of summer almost being over. We all knew our long summer days together were coming to an end.

So we packed it up, got outta town, and embraced the "Last Hurrah!"







And then we came back, and got ready for school. We laid out our clothes, and talked about our worries and our excitement. We talked about all the new adventures the year would bring. We talked about how big everyone was and how we couldn't believe we had a Kindergarten boy and 2nd grade girl.

We talked about the new challenges we were faced with, even the scary ones. We held on tight.

And we all headed out, still together, even though we weren't next to each other with long, summer days in front of us.

Still together.



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I'm a 37 year old stay-at-home mom. I have a 7 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. I have lived in the big city and in the mountains, but am happy to be back in the Midwest, raising the fam. I enjoy laughing, wine, bad karaoke, US Weekly, running, cemetaries, cheese sticks and short hair-dos. In my previous life, I was class-clown and a wanna-be comedian. In my professional life, I'm a journalism major with 10 years of marketing and PR experience. I dream of being a cast member on Saturday Night Live and working at Disney World as Snow White.

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