Confessions of a stay at home mom

I feel like I need to write some “confessions of a stay at home mom” in here. I am really trying my best to be creative, fun, entertaining (all the time) with my boys. The main thing that is lacking here are OTHER children to play with! I think Wesley will average a play date once a month. That is not right! I can’t seem to find other kids for him to play with, let alone myself….if I have friends, that will give Wesley some friends. Since we are both struggling in that area, the boredom drags on day by day.

I feel like I really do give 110% to my boys, but there is only so much I can do until I am burned out as well. I need some more interaction for my children! I just keep telling myself, “take it day by day. Hour by hour.” I hate not having plans for my days…when I look at my calendar and see NOTHING, it makes me feel like a loser. Like I don’t have a lot of purpose besides staying at home, feeding my boys, cleaning and entertaining them.

I really do feel blessed with my life; I have a great husband, two healthy children, a wonderful home, excellent health, a running car, food in my fridge and the internet…so, why do I feel so down sometimes? Why do I feel like my life is the same everyday? This time in my life will “pass by,” and before I know it, I will be missing those toddlers tugging at my feet…but, until then…how do I find that inner peace and the happiness that I crave?

Suggestions?

Where to start?

I was asked to speak in our Ward Conference THIS SUNDAY...just me, the bishop and Stake President!

I actually really enjoy public speaking, and so I gladly accepted the invitation.

The only problem...where to begin??

The subject: Heavenly Homes and Eternal Families.

You would think it'd be a breeze to write out some ideas...but, I want to be able to reach everyone; newleywed, singles, grandparents, teenagers, etc.

I need some ideas por favor!!! and soon!!!

Poems

I made up some Haiku poems to describe my last couple of nights/days with sick kids ALONE (while Jared has been in Phoenix since last weeK):

Me
up and down all night
non stop liquid medicine
swapping beds/pillows
Exhausted

Flu
hot hands and fingers
cold towels on crying faces
scary dreams and short short naps
Cruel

Cough
deep, wet, disgusting
too much kleenexs' for us
dry lips, chapped noses
Germs

House Ridden
bored, long days, movies
never a minute for me
longing for fresh air
Help us!

Oprah's Big Give

As a lot of you know, I am a HUGE Oprah fan ( I went and saw her a year 1/2 ago in person!!!)

I watched her new show, "Oprah's Big Give" tonight and it just brought me to tears to see how much a little good in this world can go a long way. Isn't it about time that they show some positive influences and the true GOODNESS in each one of us on tv? I feel like this show just provides us with a bit more insight to what people go through each day...

It has inspired me to try and look outside of my own Wilson bubble to see what more I could do with my own life...service, charity, love, etc. It really does make a difference one person at a time. I don't know what all I could do within my community...volunteer work with illiterate children, or serving in a soup kitchen are things I would LOVE to do but can't with my toddlers in tote.

Do you all have any ideas or things you have done from home???

Even though I probably will never raise $5K for a charity, or donate a car for a family...I think it's that pure love of Christ that is so valuable to our fellowmen. That's something I can definitely work on.

I made some cookies tonight with the boys, and I think I will just go out now and give them away!

Prayer Request

Jared's dad, Glenn had a heart attack two days ago...they rushed him to Phoenix where he then underwent a triple bi-pass surgery. Jared immediately left yesterday to Phoenix to be with his family. I am holding down the fort here with Wesley, who is conquering the flu and Austin who misses his papa. Glenn's surgery, up to this point, has gone well...I don't have a lot of details yet. Just keep Glenn in your prayers please!

Midnight Monster

Jared got home late last night (10pm), and so we were just chatting about our days over some ice cream, etc. Austin comes running out of his room, still red cheeked from his warm bed, matted hair and with his footsie pajamas. Who wouldn't want to just scoop him up and snuggle for a bit? Well, that is what Jared did...for a good 15 mintues.

After Austin had been put back to bed, he was up AGAIN at 11pm....over to mama this time while I was doing some nightly reading in my own bed. We chatted about why he was up and how he had to go back to bed. I thought he understood....

Light are out, and Jared and I are FINALLY getting to bed at 11:37pm......we hear a noise....who is it....of course, it is Austin....

We hear some noises; his footsies running across our tile floor, what sounds like a medicine bottle, running to his room, and slamming the door shut.

Who could sleep after that, not knowing what their two-year-old is up to? Goodness gracious!

It's Jared's turn to see what is up. Austin had pushed the stool over, climbed up on the counter and grabbed his favorite animal vitamines off the counter to take to his bed. Jared retrieves them...and then the real fun begins.

Let me tell you that I was in NO mood for games! Austin had already avoided his nap that day and so I knew he was extra tired. After the vitamins he then proceeded to go for the refrigerator. I remember walking out and seeing the bright light shining on his face from the fridge and him reaching up for the cheese sticks! I gave in, hoping that he would go back to bed afterwards.

So, a cheese stick in hand and his blankie in the other...he was all snuggled in tight ready for bed. Not 10 minutes later (now past midnight), he is back in the fridge...looking for his milk, apples, more cheese, etc. You have got to be kidding!!!

I was so onry and tired by this point...lots of threats in a hushed whisper voice did me no good last night as Wesley and Jared peacefully slept and I bargained with my two-year-old.

By 1am I finally let him come and sleep with ME to avoid him getting up and wandering around our house anymore....funny thing is though, is I woke up this morning and he had extra sippies in our bed! That means he had climbed out anyway while I slept and did who knows what!

Well, by 5:30am Wesley was awake and very MAD that he was left out from the slumber party in mama and papa's bed...so to be fair...I did more bed hopping. This has to stop!

I quiety climbed out of my soft and crowded bed to climb into Austin's vacant and cold bed, so Wesley could at least share a room with Mama. Wesley did not want to go back to sleep and for the next hour I was convincing him that we could get up as soon as Austin woke up, or even better, at 7am.

To end this little story; Austin was up by 6:30am....Mama and Papa got up as well...we are all overly tired...and Austin is enjoying a well needed nap now at noon.

I must love my little bichito quite fiercely to let him push me over like this!

A crazy month of February

I am catching up from this hectic month...we have had visitors for a month straight!

A few words to describe the events:

Leslie Boley (Surprise, AZ)
Beautiful, creative (we spray painted my silver curtain rods with a "oil rubbed bronze spraypaint"), hard working, listening ear, supportive, happy, decorator, specific, genuine and sweet with my boys...














Next came the visit from my mother (SLC, UT) and brother Gavin (Provo, UT). We celebrated his birthday, made an arrollado, read books, went to "Mexico" (Downtown El Paso) and drooled over my mother's recent Argentina trip...while we prepared an Argentine dinner of Milanesas





















Next came my dad and his dear wife Olga (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico) who came to take care of our kids for a week....
They loved to hear Austin's latest word, "Marshmellow." Lots of bike rides, books, clean up, naps, spilled sippies and family dinners...
















April Ashton made a quick weekend trip with her DEAR baby Titan...one word: baby hungry! They were so low key, flexible, refreshing, up to date with any topic and happy!












Off we went to Los Cabos San Lucas, Mexico for a week with our DirectBuy people...a reward given to our center here in El Paso for "Market Efficiency." We were thrilled to be chosen. Whale watching, SUNBURNS (now blisters and skin falling off all over my body!!!!!), snorkeling, cold nights, windy sunsets, homemade guacamole, gorgeous sunrises, I will mention my extreme SUNBURN again, smooth taxi rides and yummy virgin daquiris.


We are back at home...trying to get caught up in our pantry, cleaning, emotional health and spending time with our boys.


We have a lot of things coming up in the near future, so we are grateful for a chance to relax for a few days.