It's all good

New favorite

 

We've got a new favorite cake in our house to take to potlucks, parties and such...Butterfinger cake. I got the recipe from a bible study I had done a while back and gave it a try a few months ago and now it's my go to cake.  So without further ado...

chocolate cake mix

1 can of coke

1 egg white

2 Butterfingers (King size or 10 mini size)

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 small can of sweetened condensed milk

cool whip

13x9 pan (greased pan)

In a mixing bowl combine the dry cake mix, 10 oz. of coke (drink the last few oz.) and egg white.  Mix and follow baking temp of 350 and whatever time limits are on the box. 

With the last few minutes of baking, Crush Butterfingers in a bag and divide into two amounts. 

Over the stove, combine sweetened condensed milk and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to warm mixing till smooth.    Once the cake is done, take out of the oven and poke holes in it with the end of a wooden spoon.  Pour peanut butter mixture over cake and then cover with 1/2 the amount of crushed Butterfingers.  refridgerate to cool. 

Once cool, spread cool whip over cake.  Then add the last amount of crushed Butterfinger over the cool whip.  Keep refridgerated until served.

Oh, so awesome!

 

Season opener

Last night was Fin's t-ball season opener.  He looks so darn cute in his little baseball outfit I could just eat him up.  I'm a sucker for a Stern in a sport uniform.  Surprisingly he is one of the older ones on his t-ball team...he sure towers over them but that is nothing new. 

As we pulled up to the field last night he asked if anyone would see him hit.  I said "yes, the mommies and daddies." He didn't want anyone to watch him....he's got a bit of social anxiety and I said a little prayer that he would be fine and low and behold he was the first one to the plate to hit and of course he's a natural.  He wouldn't have the coach pitch to him like he has at practice...he didn't want to stick out...wonder where he gets that from? 

I only got to take one video and that was of his first at bate.  You might notice Griffey crying in the background...hence the reason for one video.  I'm hoping tomorrow with Nick there I'll be able to get some pictures and more video.  5 year olds playing baseball is the cutest thing. 

 

Brothers

I love this picture. It’s their relationship in a nutshell; Griffey wanting to be like brother and Fin wanting to be right there for him.  It’s so darn cute.  I’m savoring it. 

The boys almost worship each other.  I say almost because they are boys and still fight over toys.  Toys that Griffey wants to play with because Fin has one or toys that Finley hasn’t played with in 3 years but all of a sudden wants to play with because Griffey is….usually it’s the later of the two.  It’s human kid nature…but so is the loveable brotherly bond.  And of course I’m a sucker for the brotherly love. 

Griffey is a little like Fin and loves to give and get kisses so there is a lot of affection around our house and to see the boys giving each other kisses, it’s so cute.  Griffey gives those cute open mouth kisses sometimes and looks away just like Fin use too.  Fin just giggles then.  Oh, I miss when Finny was Griffey’s age. 

Fin is doing a great job sharing with Griffey, but mostly sharing food…not toys.  They share their snacks that I bring them when I pick them up but Fin is not a fan for sharing the fire truck that Griffey got as a Christmas gift.  Still working on that one…it’s going to be mine pretty soon.  I think pretty soon we are just going to have cushy balls all around the house because they love playing catch and if either one of the boys has a baseball or football in their arms they are happy campers….hmm….don’t sure where they get that from? 

Driving home the other day from daycare, I looked in the rearview mirror (yes, I did take my eyes of the road but I was at a red light) and saw them having a little conversation (even if it was a little bit one sided).  My heart did a little leap seeing them so happy with each other.  I couldn’t help but think a little into the future in what their relationship will hold. 

 

Keep praying and going

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  –Matthew 6:34

Friday- Nick overnight

Saturday- t-ball pictures, Nick umpire, date night (thank you)

Sunday- God's day

Monday- Nick has a game, I have bible study

Tuesday- Nick has a game, Fin has a game

Wednesday-breathe

Thursday- Fin has a game

Friday- Nick has a game

Saturday- Nick has a game

Wow...it's the beginning of a crazy week and the one thing I would really like to do is panic but I'm not...at least I'm going to try not to. I just don't think I'm a good parent without Nick.  We are a team and I do feel one man down when it's just me.  And people think we should have more kids....I don't think so..I'm mentally capped.  Anyway... I got my daily devotional sent to me and of course it came in perfect timing.   

Friday night I laid down next to Fin at bedtime and felt I aced the day.  Granted it was mac and cheese for dinner and the movie Beethoven for our family movie night so one really couldn't go wrong.  I still continued to pray little prayers to stay with God.  I prayed them all weekend and I wouldn't say that I failed Saturday but I also didn't do my best.  I'm not sure how single parents do it.  Every day is a new day but man there are days I get capped out.  I'll just keep on praying and keep going.

Who says they don't like Saturday cleaning day?

Note to self

I'm that mom aren't I?

I’m that mom…and Fin is that kid.  I don’t mean to be but we have a ton of Columbia baseball shirts, sweatshirts and we normally wear them proudly.  Only thing is that I’m actually embarrassed when Fin wears them to t-ball practice.  It looks like I’m trying to one up the parents or brag that my husband coaches high school baseball but I’m not…I swear.  Its t-ball for crying out loud…it’s not like we are in the big leagues. 

I can’t wait until games start on Tuesday so he has a team shirt and cap to wear so he doesn’t stick out.  Is that bad of me for wanting my child to blend in…not to show how proud he is of his dad? Maybe it’s the whole, mentally passing judgment (I think I’m being judged when I’m actually the one judging) on the coach while I try to watch Fin out of the corner of my eye while I try to coral Griffey into one spot with trucks, baseballs, food...whatever it takes. 

I’m hoping that with the games that I also relax and enjoy t-ball.  I love watching Fin hit the ball and run to first with a HUGE smile on his face.  There are times that I think he has gone to heaven on the way to first base he’s so full of joy.  Its t-ball and who doesn’t love watching kids have fun without the worry of what other people think…that unfortunately comes later.  Ashley is going to come so maybe I can get her to video Fin playing tomorrow when I’m coraling Griffey so I can post it.  no promises but oh, I just love watching that guy play…just not sure where he gets it from?

Must do:

'If God is for us, who can be against us?'- Romans  8:31

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself.  Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut).  This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a spiritually enlightening book with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life..
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot.  Try to nip small problems in the bud.  Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.  GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

In the blood?

Griffey's favorite thing to hang on to...a baseball.  Not a soft ball that looks like a baseball so he doesn't hurt himself or someone else...nope....a true baseball.  He'll hold or play with other balls but he prefers a baseball over all others.  Nick and I thought it was the size becuase he can palm it but that's not the case.  He has that love in his blood I guess. 

Where ever we happen to go we must have a baseball in tow...or else there will be a meltdown or two.  Last night for Fin's t-ball practice, I made sure to not only have a baseball but to have a bat (his size and soft) as well as a tee for him to hit the ball off of just like the rest of the kids.  Man he soaks up the environment around him...the kids are out in the field and we are behind the fence doing the same thing.  Well....looks like I know where I'm going to be spending most of my springs in the future...the baseball fields??? hmm....

You can’t have it both ways.

Griffey is a daddy’s boy and it bites.  Fin is a mama’s boy and I’m cool with that…I’m the mama.  There was a time where it did drive me crazy…those days of following me everywhere, can’t go to the bathroom alone, or I was the only one that could tuck him in or cut up his food.  Now, it’s not bad…he just loves to dote on me…just love it.  Why can’t I have that from both my boys?

When Fin was at that stage of “I only want mom” I had hoped that my second child would give me a break and let Nick help him/her.  Little did I know that I didn’t want that to actually happen.  Now that Griffey is a complete daddy’s boy, I want it the other way...you can’t have it both ways.  Mainly, I want the snuggling back...the rest I’ll share with Nick.  I can share; I just want my snuggler back.

For the past two weeks, Griffey wants nothing to do with me at bedtime.  This is problematic when Nick has baseball and is gone for the evening.  I pretty much get the cold shoulder when I want to cuddle.  Then since he doesn’t want to cuddle, I lay him down in bed and he just cries.  He has such a sad cry.  I give him a kiss and walk out of the room to hear crying for another minute and he’s done.  Does he do this to Nick?....nope.  He loves to cuddle with Nick and lays down like he use to for me.  Griffey has boycotted me.  It hurts.

Why did this have to happen so suddenly…one day poof…I don’t want you anymore.  I’m trying to think of the positive in this but he’s my baby.  I do like not having to do everything and getting help from Nick so that is a huge bonus and I now get to go to the bathroom by myself again so there are positives.  I just want it my way and Griffey won’t have anything to do with that I guess.