Life Lesson while getting spoiled.

This little girl of mine had a WONDRFUL Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday her Papa brought over the BIG GIANT two story bed he had been hand crafting for the last two months.

Mia has been smitten with it every since! Loading it full of her stuffie friends, putting her reading nook below, along with her art desk as well.
Then on Tuesday she was taken up to Chicago’s famous Water Tower Place to shop at the American Girl Place store.

Where she was able to pick out accessories for her American Girl doll, Kit. They now both have their ears pierced, matching glasses, Kit has a tote bag, and new shoes. Of coarse they wore matching dresses there. And this picture was taken in their excusive American Girl dining room.

We enjoyed the day, full of family, laughter and memories. While walking outside, freezing in Chicago’s 30 degree weather, on Michigan Ave. Mia saw her Gigi walk over to a man and give him some money.

Mia said “Why did she give that stranger some money?”
I took this as my cue to give Mia, a life lesson.

I said “Mia, do you see where he’s sitting?”
She said “Yes. But it’s cold outside. He should go home.”
I said “That is his home.”
She looked at me… confused. And said “I mean his bed, in HIS home” I then said “No Mi. He doesn’t HAVE a home. He doesn’t HAVE a bed. He doesn’t have ANYTHING. THAT is where he will sleep tonight, he won’t lay down, it’s too cold. He only has that thin blanket to keep him warm.”
She looked at me. Sad face. She said “But I HAVE so many things, and I can sleep anywhere in our big warm house. Where are his toys?” I said “Mia all he really wants is simply things. Food, water and to stay warm.” She bowed her head. As if she felt bad for having all the nice things we did.
I said “We are SO lucky. A home. Heat. Water. Food. Clothes. And our families that love us so much. We need to remember how lucky we are. Toys are just an extra thing, and this man only wants the things that we assume we will always have. And Gigi knows this, so she is giving money to him. Because she can.”

We walked away hand in hand. She smiled and said “I sure am lucky. I’ve got you.”
If only she knows that I am the lucky one, and that I’m thankful there was that moment in her spoiled loved weekend that she was able to see that not everyone has it as wonderful as she does.

I can’t help that Mia and Alex are the only two Grandchildren that the four grandparents will get. That everyone loves to spoil them. That is fine with me. My job is to raise them to appreciate everything. To respect their toys, and the people that give them things. And to know that they are lucky to have this kind of life. And to pay it forward to those who are less fortunate then they are.

JCat McGack

Thankful

In just this one picture I can count SO many reasons to be thankful.

First the obvious. My two children.
I’m blessed to have been able to have them both, when I wanted. I wanted two spring babies approx. two years apart. I was rewarded with one June baby, Tink. One April baby, Buzz. And they are 22 months apart. THAT I’m incredibly thankful for.

Seeing my children, makes me thankful for Blue. My husband of over 11 years. My best friend, the one person I love to laugh with, dream with, and spend my life with all while enjoying watching our two beautiful children grow into amazing little people.

I see a fire, in a beautiful fireplace.
That resembles home to me. This is my parents, Queen and Carrots, beautiful home.  A place where we are welcomed, fed and loved. I have both of my parents, alive and well. For that I am thankful.

I am thankful to have my sister and parents living so close to us. It’s not the 45 second drive like it used to be. But I’ll take 20 minutes, and enjoy the ride.

I’m thankful for our families and their selflessness to take care of each other. Ed’s family is just as giving, and welcoming. We were both raised by amazing parents. Loved by them. Taught by them. And no matter how dark and cold the world may be. We both know we have family that reminds us of home and comfort.

We are both grateful for what we have. We live with in our means, and remember to be thankful for what we have, not complain about what we don’t have.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and happy thanksgiving. Full of food, friends, family, loved ones, and something to be thankful for.

Gobble till you Wobble!

JCat McGack

Shopping for food and bigger boobs

Today is the 4th day of our “Eating Healthy and working out” life changing event. I’m way less stabby.

I posted a few days ago about how motivated I was… I still am. I have to be honest the first day was one of my lower moments.
I cried. I sat in front of the open fridge drinking Boones Farm Sangria to numb my pain of not being able to eat pasta for every meal. My food heart was broken. I went to my Pinterest board of “Work It Out” and looked for inspiration.

So instead of caving, I went to bed at 9:30pm. The next day was ok… I ate a lot. But all snacks. So eggs for breakfast, then a few hours later an apple, after that lunch was a measured cup of pasta (I NEED carbs) snack was pretzels, dinner was pork chops, corn and apple sauce.

I was wearing thin again that night. It’s our tv munching that gets us. So the next morning I dropped Buzz off at school and Blue and I went to shop for food. Aldi and Walmart later we came home with food we loved to eat. BUT was healthy. A variety of fruit for snacks, pretzel chips, yogurt, fish and chicken for dinners, and now we’ve added Hummus to our snack foods.

Work out routines for me haven’t started yet. No good reason. Soon… maybe today I’ll do the step routine I found in Shape’s recent magazine.

So yesterday my MIL called to celebrate my Christmas with her. It’s been YEARS since I’ve done this with her. It includes a day of clothes shopping and dinner afterwards.

My MIL was hesitant of buying me clothes, if I was going to loose all this weight. HA. I’ve been saying that for 4 years now. I need new clothes. At least feel good about clothes that I know fit me now.  I’ve got to get to that smaller size, before I start worrying about having to big of clothes. New clothes that fit THIS me, inspires me to loose weight, so I can fit into even smaller and cuter clothes!

Starting in Victoria Secrets Pink store. This is my SECOND time EVER in this store. First time was a few weeks ago, my best friend took me. She had to pay a bill… omg. I FEEL IN LOVE. HARD. Bright colors, comfy clothes, cute clothes, things I WEAR everyday!! I spent a good amount of my Christmas present in that store.

Now we ALL know how mean florescent lighting is. Those evil mirrors and all in a tiny room full of static electricity! Gah! It was an awakening to what size I fit in, and what I look like in it… almost like looking at myself through other peoples eyes. Gross.

I’ve had good self esteem most of my life. (thanks to my parents for ALWAYS boosting me up) I’ve got tough skin, but this was brutal.

I’m SUPER inspired to purge the HELL out of my closet. Donate, donate, donate. Again, the new years resolution of 2013, Simplify.

NOW onto the good news. I had my Pink girl, Cassie, measure me. FIRST time ever to be actually measured for a bra (sad I know) I was always a small B. Had kids, kept the big boobs… figured I was a small C now… Cassie said (and I’ve read this before) that 70% of women are in the wrong size bra. Well I walked in wearing a 36 B bra. She measured me. I had her measure me again. And still I doubted her… a 36D!?! WHAT?

ME?

Yes. She showed me on the measuring tape. She wrote it on the little boob card so I can keep it forever. Ah, if I could time travel and show this card to my 12 year old self, and say “You’ll get there someday”

The girl who for 16 years of her life prayed for nothing but boobs. I’m NOT kidding. Church every Sunday? boobs. Mass every morning before classes? Boobs.

I wanted boobs. Everyone else had them, I was tired of being made fun of for not having them. 16! I was 16 when I finally got them! Now don’t get me wrong, I know they are bigger due to my weight. I’m sure when I loose weight, they will get smaller too. I’ve enjoyed my big boobs, and living in big boob land. But I’d be MORE then happy to be my little self again with little self boobs… well not LITTLE boobs. You get my point.

Cassie might as well have said “You aren’t a large, you are a XS!” it was such a compliment… now if I could be an XS again, AND have boobs… life complete*.

JCat McGack

*Amazing that the world paints a picture for what we should be. Not saying I’m gullible and HAVE to fit a stereotype, if that is what my blog post reads as. I want to be healthy, but still have the curves.

Mr. Weaky Man Buzz is Four

Our daughter, Tink was just 22 months old. I had her stay with Queen Gigi and Papa Carrots for a few days.

Blue and I checked into the hospital at 6 am. At 4:16 pm Buzz was born. 7 lbs, 10 oz. 21 1/2 inches. Blue eyes, and a full little Mohawk of hair light brown hair.

When I had Tink. My GIRL, 22 months prior, I was besides myself with happiness. I thought if ALL I have is girls, that will be fine with me! I mean I wasn’t raised with boys, I have no nephews, I have just Frances and me. Girls ruled in my book.

And then all of a sudden… this little man showed up. And he stole my heart. I mean I was worried when I was pregnant with him. Would I love another as much as I love my Tink? And how will this go with a boy? I don’t know much about boys.

And it all makes sense now. How people say that they love their children the same. But different. You’ve captured my heart in a way that only a mother with a son could understand.

And then all of a sudden you turned one… your hair blonde as blonde could be, eyes still blue as the sky.

Summer 2010 came and you were just two and already kissing girls! (LOVE this one D!)

Three was here before we knew it.

Here you are with your Aunt Jen, enjoying your 3rd birthday party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then we have this last year… where you’ve been nothing but ALL boy. NOISY, dirty, and SILLY!

Enjoying your face painted at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago…

Your first scissors… yes in a cat tower… in your underwear.

Your first video game. A LeapPad, your cooler then me at this point with your technology!

You LOVE all things Halloween (and even though it’s April 25th your STILL asking how many days till Halloween)

Seriously?! Big boy underwear and Dego-T shirts?! I LOVE it. Not only are you grown up, but you dress like a little man. And I can’t get enough of it.

Pudding face.

This next one… well it’s probably hands down my all time favorite black mail picture.

LOVE it.

And NO you’ll never live this one down…

Or this one…

How about this one? Tink looks MESSED up in this one. Like that pair of underwear is too tight on her head, messed up.

Around our house we have the VERY famous photo,

it’s on the fridge and it makes our day.

We titled this one

“Epic Fail”

Now this is where I’m starting to go a bit crazy. That wee little baby in that first picture. My tiny little man…

Who now when I hold all 32 lbs of him (and he’s still tiny for 4) your huge. It take all of me to hold you like this any more, and this morning when I played our song, ‘Smile’ by Uncle Kracker, to dance with you, I could barely hold you through it.

It’s been a while since we danced to our song, and you asked me what song this was. You said you liked it. I laughed and remembered that we need to do this more often.

And then this happened… we went to check out your new Preschool. You won’t start till September. But you are all registered and the first payment has been made.

Preschool.

… so before I totally loose it. We can come back to that in a few months. I can’t deal with that right now, baby steps.

Birthday first.

Oh and lets not forget about your new best friend. I love you two together. She’s in love with the fact that your rough, you play tug of war together everyday, you lay in the sun and read with her. I think you made loosing her sister Maggie, last year a bit easier by being there for her.

Alright… I’ve been avoiding it. Going down memory lane, skirting around the topic.

You. Are. Four.

Christ that’s a hard one. I’m sure I’ll loose it at 5. But I know that 4 means Preschool, friends… well one this is for sure. You will ALWAYS be a momma’s boy.

Happy 4th Birthday to my handsome little man. In his new big boy tent bunk bed.

After last weeks back to back Darth Vader Birthday parties with family, we have an exciting day of Library with your teacher Miss Sarah, then some shopping with your birthday money, with Aunt Frances today.

Love you Mr. xo…

Mom

Who’s getting socks this year?

Sunday was the big day for our little Village of 12,000 people to light the big tree. It was an all day event where they had a bunch of great activities for the kids, cookie decorating…

 

 

 

 

 

A very cool project that all the kids said “Shrinky dinks? oh…OK”

While all of us parents squee’d  “SHRINKY DINKS!” while our minds instantly raced back to the happy days of the 80’s where everything was simple. Wishing for My Little Ponies, or Easy Bake Ovens. And while lost in our nostalgic time warp it’s quickly interrupted by a whiney kid. Bam. Back to reality.

There was a new addition this year, and it was Frosty the Snowman. The kids LOVED him. Seeing that they JUST saw him on tv the night before. LOTS of high 5’s for this guy!

Buzz was not so much into Santa, more concerned for Frosty, and those cookies he was guarding.

Tink however was ALL about Santa, she didn’t so much want to sit on his lap (creepy anyway) so I went with and we sat with Santa, she chatted away about the “Sleeping Beauty Castle” she’s been asking for for months. Thankfully I was up there and said “How about you ask for something that is NOT $70 for yet another castle to add to your princess castle land you ALREADY have”  “What else do you want?”

She then thought of her new love for LalaLoopsy toys, (phew, that’s what she’s getting… Santa told me that) she giggled at the teeny tiny candy cane he gave her. Gave him a big ol’ high 5 and said see you soon!

“See you soon” started a few questions as to “Why do we see Santa SO much? Does he live close to us"?”

I said “Santa has lots of visits to make, needs to KEEP checking on you and ALL the other kids around the world. LOTS of face time.”

I have to say this is my new favorite of Tink and I. Both smiling, both with our new hair cuts. Love it.

Wished we were there a bit earlier for the horse carriage rides! But the line was long and the kids wanted to do the events inside. Next year!

We all went outside for the lighting of the tree. A group of about 40 or so people were there. Santa and Frosty, Village President, and some other political must have’s.

Little Miss Channahon and the two runner up girls were there to hit the switch for the lights.

We had to say 40 degrees was one of the warmest for the event

A good night of hot chocolate cookies, crafts, and reminding the kids about Santa and just enjoying a night of being together as a family.

Happy that the Elf on the Shelf is doing his job around our house, and so are the Santa Camera’s (simply said Smoke detectors. Think about it. They are EVERYWHERE. Schools, restaurants, stores, and everyone's homes and up ALL year for full watch!)

Enjoying them believing so whole heartedly about Santa Claus. I hope it last for a long time… rule is, when you stop believing, that’s the year you get socks.

JCat McGack

Merry, Happy, Blessed… whatev

Tis the season to be Jolly… until you wish the WRONG person the WRONG greeting this season.

“Merry Christmas” makes the masses happy. Even those who don’t follow the whole Christ part of Christmas go along with it to please everyone who does. Even those who celebrate Hanukah or Kwanza don’t seem to bark at you when you say the wrong phrase to them, it is SO many (not all but still to many) “Christians” who get their tinsel in a tangle over this one simple phrase.

Me personally I say “Merry Christmas” BUT I also say “Happy Holidays”  but what I really mean to say is “Please enjoy your holiday with your loved ones WHATEVER you celebrate” If it’s a small baby in a barn, at midnight mass, or spinning your dreidel.

So PLEASE stop with the obnoxious “Christ in Christmas” or “Jesus is the reason for the season” crap. I’m amazed that it ALWAYS seems to be ONE religious group that shoves their point of Christmas down everyone's throats.

And while it may seem that I’m picking on just one religion (in which all honesty I am) know that I believe there is NOTHING wrong with religion, it’s wonderful. It keeps people at peace, makes their soul happy, and comforts them. Good for them.

BUT for me personally, I’m agnostic. I believe in Santa Clause and for that much the Easter Bunny. I’m NOT religious (was raised Roman Catholic) NOW I do put up a tree, a few for that matter, and I call it a Christmas tree. I put up Christmas lights, and Christmas decorations, and well for the last 33 years it’s been CHRISTMAS everything, so JUST because I say ‘Christmas’ doesn’t mean I believe in a immaculately conceived baby in a barn.

I believe in the spirit of Santa, and that drilling the idea of this fake man in a beard with elves and Santa Cameras all over the house will make my children behave better so I can spoil them with toys and gifts.

I believe in family coming together, baking together, just enjoying the season of love and joy. I love singing songs that I have for the last 33 years, and YES many religious, but the comfort of my youth in the Catholic church, and the fact that these songs bring back happy memories are why I love to sing them.

I’m NOT angry if you’re a devote Christian who believes in Christmas with Christ in it. I’m truly not. I’m all for whatever makes your heart happy. But understand that there are SO many of people like me who just. do. not. want it shoved SO far up our asses it makes us uncomfortable to be around you.

This post stems from the town I live in, and the mayor saying “In this town we STILL say Merry Christmas” and the ever so annoying villagers are all joining in ranting about how CHIRST is in THEIR Christmas, and if it’s OK to say “God” any more or “Amen to that” PLEASE stop harassing others with your religion. You are NOT a Christian when you bully others with YOUR ideas.

You’re a Christian when you treat others with love and respect, the way your Christ would want you to.

Happy Holidays to you and yours, may your holiday (whatever it may be) be filled with love, joy, friends, and family,

JCat McGack