100%

What was your favorite food when you were little? Do you remember? My son is devoted 100% to chocolate. I have never seen anything like it. He is the best kid at a birthday party. You put a plate of chocolate cake and ice cream in front of him and he will not move until every drop is gone. My dad loves to give him a little chocolate and let him get wound up. After being teased that someone was going to eat his cake at Madison's party last year he took his plate and went off by himself in the yard to eat his chocolate in peace. Any guesses on the only movie he has memorized? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Words, songs, actions that accompany the songs, you name it. Do you think a 3-year-old knows what it means when he sings about Augustus Gloop being vile and infantile? Last time I cleaned under his bed there were close to 10 Hershey's kiss wrappers under there! Christmas morning he ignores his gifts until he gets what he wants from his stocking. There has been only one chocolate form he did not get excited about. I recently helped with a Relay for Life fundraiser that included Antiquity Photos for kids and as a bribe they gave the kids Tootsie Rolls when they were finished. He ate one and gave me the other to put in my purse. He said, "You can have this, Mama. I want some chocolate in my candy and some candy in my chocolate!" He thought it was fake. It is the only chocolate I have ever seen him surrender willingly. He is a boy who knows what he wants and does not accept imitations. He cracks me up. Needless to say, the Easter candy is in hiding so we can dispense it in moderation.

My Best Qualities

I was putting on my makeup this morning when I heard, "Mama, when I grow up I want to be just like you!" My heart began to melt before freezing up with panic. My personal strengths were pushed to the background and my weaknesses and mistakes were flashing before my eyes! All I could think was, "No, Madison. You will grow up to be better than me!" I know children learn by example more than words but it is good to be reminded that those little eyes and ears see and hear everything we say and do. I prayed, "Lord, help me be the best mother, wife, and person I can be so I can be a good example to my children!" Nothing compares to the feeling I get thinking about how my daughter believes in her heart that my good qualities are my only qualities. Her faith in me is beyond measure. In her eyes I am the best mother a girl could ever have! I realized that my best qualities are reflected in my children. I just hope their eyes always light up when they see me. I hope at the end of each day my actions and words are a blessing to them both and their expectations are never lowered! My Madison Rose is such a sweetheart!

Recording the Moments

I have been told I am a crazy scrapbooker. I am not crazy. I am only saving memories one page at a time. I have an APS camera. I have a digital camera. I have a video camera. There is a camera on my phone. I currently have four finished scrapbooks, four scrapbooks in progress, and plans to start a few more. I feel like this life is such a gift and privelege that I want to remember every moment. One of my biggest fears is forgetting my treasured memories. I love my little life in podunk with my little family in my little old house. I love making pages from the everyday lives of my children. I love telling their stories. Ask anyone who knows me--they already know them by heart! I thought maybe my own blog would be another way for me to record those moments. I want a way to look back for my scrapbook journaling. I want to stay connected to the people I love. Who knows? Maybe there is someone who has not already heard about my children and their many adventures. This is my attempt to save memories one blog at a time.