Future self

While packing away some of my children's too little clothing, my
daughter came across her old, very worn, Hello Kitty light up shoes. She immediately grabbed them out of the pile and began chattering away about all the wondrous qualities they possess. She reminisced about how "awesome" these shoes once were and all the "amazing" things she achieved while wearing them... She finalized her memory moment by saying, "we need to keep these shoes for my future children. I'm sure they'll love Hello Kitty just as much as I did." Being the nostalgic self that I am (who kept all of her early 80s toys), I gently took them out of her hands and placed them into our tote of all the specific items we are packing away for my children's future self -- because you never know if my daughter's future child will in fact like Hello Kitty too.

A walk in the park

I love the way you both squeal as you swing higher and higher towards the ocean blue sky. I love when you sing all your favorite songs in unison, while the wind blows through your long flowing hair. I love watching the incredible amount of joy you both display for the simplest things... How you both race across the grass towards the slides, then say, "on your mark, get set, go!" as you compete down them. I love the free spirit you indulge, when you both spin in circles for what seems like eternity. Then stopping to rest your backs on the soft green grass, gazing up towards the object filled clouds... Also, the amount of love you both have for each other and the vast amount of imagination you both posses. I love the way you both support each other and coach each other through tough obstacles... Most of all, I love our beautiful fall days and our memories being made. Thank you both for making my life unimaginable.

Mid Week Revelation: Too much talking?

I've discovered that sometimes there really is a such thing as too much talking in one day. Especially when it's from your children... And it's on repeat... All day. And it's about wanting a different drink versus the one provided... Or a different snack... Or asking where is a certain pencil.. Or where is the mail truck matchbox car... Or where is the blue colored block... Or why is it only lunch time... Or why do horses live on the farm and run wild... And sometimes, I just want to go back to bed.

Hiking adventures in the fall

We pulled our car off to the edge of the road, with two of the wheels resting on concrete and the others on gravel. As soon as we stepped out of our vehicle, we were overwhelmed by the breathtaking views and peaceful quietness, with only the occasional chirp from a hovering bird. The cool fall breeze rolled across our bodies and the crisp autumn air entered into our lungs.

Oh fall, how you captivate our souls with your serene views, calming breezes, and bountiful cleanses. It's humbling to look up and see a vast array of colors among the crystal blue sky. The photogenic scenes that play out in the forefront, like an art gallery on opening night. I could listen forever to the sound of leaves crunching beneath our winter boots as my children and I walk along the trail in search of our favorite spot, to throw rocks into the water.

We hike together, as our hands graze the lower hung branches that drape over parts of the trail, hopping and skipping over raised established root systems. My children pretend monkeys are in the above trees and they crouch down in the underbrush, hiding from tossed bananas. They sit on the dirt bank, watching the water ripple from the wind and they help each other find the perfect rock to make the biggest splash; and they try really hard to beat mommy's record of making a rock skip five times across the water.

We sit and talk about all the wondrous beauty that is in eyesight. My son names the colors he sees and tells me his favorite view. My daughter discusses why the leaves are changing and that the yellow leaved trees should be called banana trees, "because they're yellow."    

We packed ourselves up and followed the trail back to our car, watching the sun peek through the thick trees as it lowered itself down beyond the earth. My daughter grabbed a hiking stick off the ground and made sure to find another perfect one for her brother. Then, hand in hand, they made their way through the narrowing trail and out onto the pavement, where our outdoor adventures ended for the day. 

Saying goodbye for the night... But hello to another soon adventure.



***Remember, if you like reading my stories, please vote for my blog to increase my ranking over on Top Mommy Blog's website. To vote, go to my main page (www.jackyhappydays.blogspot.com) and click the Top Mommy Approved icon in the right side column. Once clicked, it'll redirect you to their website. That is all you need to do. Thank you all for your continued support!

Mid Week Revelation: Why not just let the quiet child be?

I've realized, if one child is off playing nicely by themselves, it's only a matter of time before the other child begins a search and rescue throughout the house, with the goal of finding the quiet child, just to annoy them. Motherhood, the land of predictability. 

Fall-Tastic Day

The smell of popcorn filled the air as we stepped out of our car, crunching the dried leaves beneath our feet. Apple cider was stacked in unison in tall glass bottles, eagerly waiting to be purchased. Mounds of hay was tied neatly together in the distance and corn fields sprawled throughout the acres. While the cool crisp air blew through the vibrant colored trees, knocking several leaves off as they swayed back and forth.

My children quickly exited the car, as they were very excited to spend the day at the pumpkin patch (cue the Charlie Brown music). Walking in a single file through the grass parking lot, we made our way towards the cash register where we purchased our necessities to enjoy the most out of our day. 

Our first stop was the corn maze, where we twisted and turned around every corner trying to find our way out. My daughter tried her hardest to use her "leader" skills and guide us through the pathways, as she pretended to pull out a map to show us the correct way. But my son, who wasn't taking the leading seriously, was cutting through the corn stalks and making his own paths. Which would cause the response of, "mom! he isn't following my path" from my daughter. Then I explained, everyone is entitled to find their own way. After many wrong turns and over an hour on all three corn mazes, we finally made our way out -well, the last and hardest maze resulted in my husband bailing out through the corn stalk wall earlier than us. We eventually followed his lead about 5 minutes later, after we took more wrong turns than correct ones and my son and daughter thought playing among the stalks was more fun than walking around them.

We walked back down the dirt pathway to the child's area to allow them to play in the shade and for a break in between the day. They had many activities for them to utilize, which were all fall season friendly. Both of my children climbed to the top of the hand built wooden tower, then jumped off into a pile of fluffy hay and played in bailed hay mazes. The first jump off the ledge resulted in my son holding tightly onto my daughter's hand and asking for her to not let go, as they plunged into a comfy landing place. There were also tables filled with corn and sand that had many toy construction vehicles resting on the top. Of course, prying my son away from the toy vehicles was the hardest part, as the tractor pulled up beside the table, waiting for people to file into the hay ride.

We sat in the front corner of the flat bed, waiting for the ride to begin. We took our family photos and chatted about how much fun the day has been and what kind of pumpkin both of my children would pick. My daughter and son both kneeled on the edge of the bailed hay seats resting their chins on the wood rails, as they watched the beautiful scenes around them.

The hay ride dropped us off into a pumpkin patch with many large and small pumpkins still attached to their vines. Both my children thanked the lady who drove the tractor as they squealed their way off the flat bed. My husband took my son in one direction, as I followed my daughter into another. While walking around, they had to find the perfect one, which resulted in many, "hmm, I can't decide which one is more perfect than the other" speeches. My son was able to pick out the pumpkin he liked the best within a few steps into patch, then pleaded with his daddy to take him back over to the toy construction vehicles, which of course daddy did. I was left to follow my daughter around for at least 15 minutes or so, before she found THE perfect one. 

And I think they were the two most perfect pumpkins I have ever seen (My son's on the left, with my daughter's on the right).

Today was another one of those beautiful family filled days, which I adore so very much. Those perfect days that will remain within my brain for many, many years. The days that keep me sane during those not so good days. The ones where I could close my eyes and see my children's gorgeous smiles as the bright sun rays glistened off their faces, leaving me with a heartwarming yearn for today. The memories that are forever etched in time. Their giggles and laughter echoing in the background as we couldn't find our way out of the mazes, my daughter singing her favorite songs while riding on the tractor, and my son working up enough courage to jump off the ledge into the hay, all by himself. As a mother, I live for these moments, these days. The days where I'm able to snuggle up with my children and explore new and exciting moments together. 

I know I said this past summer was the greatest memory thus far, but I think today is a great start to a whole new season and I cannot wait for our next outing.

**Don't forget, if you enjoyed this post or any of my other ones, please go to my main page (www.jackyhappydays.blogspot.com) and click the Top Mommy Blogs Approved icon in my right hand column. Once clicked, it will redirect you to their main page, that is all you need to do -the vote will be registered. With the more votes I get, my blog will raise in rankings, which will result in more traffic to my site. Thank you all again!

2 year Blogiversary

Two years ago, I begun my journey in this mommy blogger world. At that time, I had a newly 3 year old and a 9 month old. My life wasn't easily adjusting to parenting two children as I had hoped.

In the beginning, I had difficulty dealing with extreme mom guilt. I never had a problem taking care of anyone, just finding the balance of how to eliminate the gut wrenching ill feeling when your two year old cries because mommy had to stop playing, in order to make a bottle for her infant brother or quietly rock him before his nap. First, I had this one child, who had my undivided attention, life was smooth and untouched. Then, I had two children who yearned for that same undivided attention.

Most days, I felt as though I was free falling, but never reaching ground. I felt more in survival mode, versus, living the day.

I am a very hands on parent and I take helicopter parenting to a whole different level. I play with my children, pay attention to my children, and teach my children. At that time, I needed to find a way to spend all my time with both of my children, not just one at a time. Because the thought of leaving one of my children out, was heartbreaking to me.

Within weeks, life became routine. My daughter realized this little baby boy wasn't leaving and she became more inclined to have him around. She then wanted to participate with helping the needs of her little brother. Then, I allowed her part of those moments, instead of having her occupy herself, while I took him in another room. Our days were just the three of us and we did everything, just the three of us.

That's when the idea of creating a story of all the best times of my day, instead of seeking the negative ones. If the day was focused on crying and no sleeping (from either child), I would find the solitary moment that made me smile. That one moment that would help me make it through that day. 

Once I started living in the moment instead of trying to figure out the future, life became easier. I didn't feel so overwhelmed.

Life is not all rainbows and roses, but it very easily can be something magical. 

There is always a silver lining.

I choose not to consume myself with all the stressful parts of being a full time mom, with little outside help. The lack of sleep, the tantrums, the whining, the fighting, the potty training difficulties, the homework, and whatever else can be thought of. I never want to lay in bed and replay the day over and cringe at the images. I never want to feel like I could have done better with my day. Instead, I want to breathe in all the wonderful, little moments that make this life so worth while. I want everyday to count, everyday to be magical. I want to enjoy my life as mom and not try to have it be something else. I want to look back upon these years and think how glorious they were. I want to yearn for this today, when my children thought I was the most amazing individual on the planet.

Because after all, these are our Happy Days. 


**Thank you all for your support over these past two years. I really enjoy journaling all my amazing, adorable moments with all you dedicated readers. If there is one thing you take away from my blog, I hope it's to enjoy the moment you're in. Find that moment that makes your heart skip a beat, and focus on that. Even if the days seem hard and overwhelming, know that your role as a parent/guardian is the most amazing and important moment in your life. Life is as simplistic as you make it. The stress you have, is the stress you create. So, try to limit the stress by focusing on your best days, your best moments, and your best experiences. Thank you...

**Also, as some of you already know, The Happy Days blog was selected to be featured on Top Mommy Blogs website (I'm in the family life category). You can vote daily to raise my blog's ranking on that page. How to vote? On the right hand column of my main page, you'll see a Top Mommy Blog Approved icon (under my new The Happy Days banner). Click that icon once and it will redirect you to their main page. That is all you need to do. By going to their page, it'll track the votes through my icon -You can only vote by clicking that icon. I would appreciate any votes I could get. More votes = higher ranking and higher ranking = more blog traffic.

Thank you for celebrating my 2 year blogiversary with me!