Game Plan

Okay, Team Rouse.
On 4...
Grandma take Ella to dance
Mom frost cupcakes
Grandma take Avery for nap
Dad take Ella to Nutcracker Rehearsal
Mom take Claire to swim meet
Grandma, Dad, Mom head to end zone for birthday party
On 4...
Hut, hut, hut, 4!!

Oh my, there are days when I think I can't handle this game of life. Too many places to be, too many things to do, too many kids to care for. But then I remember, I'm not alone.

I have a great team! I have parents that are always there to help. I have friends with a shoulder to lean on, a phone to cry into, and an extra booster seat in the back of their van.
I have a husband who is actively involved in the care of the kids and house. A husband who gets up early to make breakfast and pack lunch boxes so I can get a few extra minutes of sleep. A husband who empties the dishwasher, just because it's full and makes the beds just because they need to be made. Yes, we are a great team.

But, the most important part is our coach. When I can remember who is calling the shots, who has the game plan all laid out, and who knows exactly how the game is going to end, I don't have to worry so much. I can just focus on my part of the action. If I can spend a little more time in the huddle, in prayer and meditation, my game is definitely better.

Dear Lord, Thank you for being my coach. Thank you for surrounding me with such a great team. Lord, help me to remember that you have the game plan. That you are my defense, my offense and my cheer squad. Lord, help me to be a kind and loving team mate. Help me to be an example of your love, both on and off the field! Lord, I put all of my teammates in your care. I ask that you love and protect them and bless us all. Amen.

They'll make fun of me...

Congratulations to the Rouse girls on filling up their marble jar!

We have a Positive Behavior System at our house that entails a jar, some marbles and good behavior. Every time we catch the girls being respectful, responsible, safe or caring they get to throw a marble in the jar. Once the jar is full, they get a special activity with mom and dad.
Now, before I get too much "great mom" credit, I should tell you this is straight out of their classroom. It works there so why not at home too!

Anyway, the girls filled up their jar and chose to go to the new Waukee YMCA swim park for their treat. Sunday we packed up the swim bag, threw on our swim suits and headed for the door. Until this....

"Mom, I need to change my swimsuit", says Ella, a little teary.

"Why? You have your favorite suit on. Let's go!" I respond.

"I can't wear this. They'll make fun of me." Replies my sweet, innocent 5 year old. Pointing to her Disney Princess pink swimsuit with a tutu ruffle.

I can't tell you how quickly my heart fell. How low I felt. How sad I felt to hear my sweet girl tell me such an ugly truth about our world today. "They'll make fun of me."

Uhg, I hate that! Where does this come from? Why have we become people that A. worry so much about what others think of us and B. make fun of people or judge them based on how they look or what they wear!

I of course tried to reassure her that people wouldn't make fun of her. That she looked great. And then I turned to the important point: we don't care!

I reminded her that the only people whose opinion we care about are mom, dad and God. I reminded her how beautiful she is, inside and out. I reminded her that God loves her and made her perfectly the way he wanted. I reminded her that people that make fun of us aren't worth worrying about and certainly aren't our friends. I told her to keep that suit on and wear it proudly....

Ella looked at me, smiled, and said, "um, I'm going to go change my suit now, okay?"

Oh well! I tried!

The only other thing I can do is try to surround her with people who are kind and loving. I can make sure that I know her friends, that I know who she plays with. I can be present, whenever possible, to listen to how they play and how they treat each other. I can make sure that she stays active at church and in it's wonderful fellowship. I can make sure that she continues to have her special times with grandparents. That she gets treated with all the love she deserves.

Thank you to our good friends and family for always loving my girls no matter what. For being such great examples of love, tolerance and kindness. It really does take a village, and a couple of busy minivans!

God bless you!

Oh boy! Are we in for some trouble....

Here is the latest shenanigan from our dear Aves.
Where do you suppose she learned this? : )

Tell me what you really think

God has really blessed Avery. He has given her so much strength, courage, perseverance, determination, intelligence and a whole lot of attitude.

Here she is climbing into her high chair by herself. I had been taking pictures of the big girls dancing so I was lucky enough to catch her in action.

Enjoy my lovely child's attitude in all it's glory!

Rub a dub dub, my baby in the tub: Avery style

She may scream, she may hit, she may pout, she may spit. She is loud, she is tough, she is spirited, she is rough. But she is my Avery. She is sweet, she is funny. She is loving, she is my honey. I love her spirit. I love her smile. I love her sense of humor all the while.

I love you Aves!

My favorite time of year

Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year. I love the weather, the leaves, the start of school, the end of hot days, the smell, the memories, the upcoming holidays.

The best part: Halloween. I love celebrating this spooktacular holiday. Now, I know what they say about ghost and goblins and yada yada yada, but I love it anyway. And not for the spook part. I can't stand haunted houses and I've never summoned a spirit, well except for that one sleepover at Lisa's house in 5th grade, but no spirits were listening that night. No, what I love is the season. The dressing up and running around outside eating candy and having a grand time. What other time of year do we do that. What other holiday allows me, no requires me, to buy candy by the pound? Yes, Halloween is the holiday for me.

Enjoy our pics from this year's trip to Living History Farms, one of our favorite Halloween traditions.

I'm sorry, who are you???

There are moments, when I am doing something with one of my kids, or I'm watching them play and I think, "who is this child? Where did my little girl go?" Today was one of those moments.

The Rousehouse was busy, as usual. Showering the two little girls, and mom and dad. Making beds, flipping pancakes, reading books (Ella read an entire book on her own today for the first time, Clifford at the Farm boardbook, we are so proud!!).

During the hustle and bustle, Claire is snapping pictures of the family on her DSi and making them look all funny, thanks a lot for that feature Nintendo, no help needed to make my bedhead look funny. Anyway, I sat down for a breather, or more honestly, I hid under my covers for a few minutes of peace. However, during my brief escape Claire comes over to show me a funny pictures and says to me, "hey Mom, check this picture out. Let's post it on Facebook!"

"What?" I say not sure I understood her.

"Let's post it on Facebook, mom" she answers.

"Facebook? What do you mean?" I ask. Still not understanding this teenage talk from my 7 3/4 year old.

"Facebook, mom. On the computer. You can just click on this F here and go straight to it. We can post it on your page." Answers my daughter like that's a totally normal thing for a second grader to say.

"How do you know about Facebook!" I ask. Ready to call the school and complain.

"Mom, everyone knows about Facebook. You know, you're on it all the time on your Blackberry!"

"Oh ,that Facebook" I say. Busted!!

They just don't miss a thing. So, I punched in my parental code to access the internet on her DSi, thanking those great people at Nintendo for that handy feature, and we, my daughter and me, uploaded our first picture together on FB.

"I'm sorry, but who are you??? Where has my baby gone!"