Birthday Parties stress me out

So, Miss Rose is turning 4 on Saturday. When I was growing up, I maybe had 4 actual parties with people other than my parents and siblings there. Birthdays usually weren't celebrated with extended families. I never remember going to my cousins' birthdays either.

But, I guess in the last 10 or 15 years things have changed. Birthday parties have moved up a whole notch or 12. So many people I know throw parties for their kids every year with many invited. Sure, it's fun. But it's also a lot of work. And as a parent--and this is just my own thing--I feel pressure to have this perfect party. Not that my 4 year old knows, and probably not that others are judging my party.

I had a draining day at work on Tuesday and found myself at Party City and Target at 8pm that night. I found out that...

1. Toy Story is not a popular birthday theme right now. But Miss Rose loves Buzz Lightyear. I ended up with bright green party gear to match Buzz. It's the best I could do.

2. All party favors are CRAP. We have so many little toys around and I know I don't need more, so I figure others probably feel the same. Not to mention the fact that party guests range from 1 year to 14 years old! I wandered the favors isle for 20min trying to find stuff that wasn't crap and wasn't expensive.

3. Target isn't stocking the art easel I want for Miss Rose. Neither is Toys R Us. What is that all about? Seriously now. Thankfully I found it at a local toy stoy. I guess after Christmas the stores don't have it.

4. Birthday parties give me ANXIETY! I drove home a MESS!

In the end I know that we are going to have fun. I'm thankful that my daughters have a healthy, functional extended family that want to be around and share these special occasions with us. I need to take a lesson from my dear husband and just relax.

Now...what am I going to do for Miss Gracies 1st birthday in 3 months? AHHHH. Breathe Corrina, just breathe. :)

So far so good

So, January is close to being over. Let's see how I'm doing on those resolutions.

-I am eating pretty healthy and exercising. Haven't gotten to the toning part yet though.

-we are breaking the TV addiction and Miss Rose is doing pretty well with it. Her new thing is pbskids.org so I have to be sure to monitor total "screen time."

-I'm doing 50% with planning meals

-doing better with cleaning, organizing etc. I could always do better though.

I've been focusing on speaking more seriously with Miss Rose and not raising my voice. I think I'm seeing some results with it. She is understanding that I mean business and she is expected to obey. Hopefully over time it will result in better behavior and following through the first time!

Here's the rest of 08.

The New Year

It's a new year. It's been a while since I made new year's resolutions. It just seems so trite and trivial most of the time. Everyone makes them, but who really keeps them? But, for some reason, I'm motivated in my life right now to make some positive changes, so I've made some resolutions this year.

My resolutions...

1. Keep getting fit (exercise, healthy eating). I need to tone up majorly!

2. Less TV for my 4 year old. She kind of has a TV addiction at certain times of the day. She freaks if we are out at night and her "shows" are over when we get home and she goes straight to bed. I'm okay with her watching some TV when the time is right...but not okay with a temper tantrum when I say no.

3. More planned meals for the family. With hubby working a 2nd job and me with the kids 4 nights a week alone...planned meals aren't happening too often. But it's important to me that we eat balanced meals and my girls learn to eat at the table.

4. Stay more organized. Put things away. Less clutter.

5. Don't sit down at night until the house is under control. Too often I sit for a breather once the kids are in bed. But I never get up again! I lose the motivation to do what needs to be done (dishes, clean up, prepare for work next day).

Resolutions I SHOULD make

1. No more Diet Coke. I'm addicted. It's better than it used to be. I drink about 1 can a day. I was drinking 3 a few months ago. All that aspertame cannot be good for me!

2. Make my bed every day. Hubby would LOVE if I did. (I'm last out of bed). But it's just not a priority for me I guess.

3. Less time on the internet. HA HA. I'm here right now!! It's become my nightly unwinding.

4. Read intellectual books. I am addicted to cheesy Christian Romance novels. Especially those set in previous centuries. Give me a romance novel on the prairie, or in Amish country and I'll read all night.

5. Only organic, wholesome food for my family. Honestly--I'd love to do this...if I could afford it and if I had the time. But, I don't on either count. So, I'll do the best I can. I make a lot of my own baby food and I'm buying cage-free organic eggs among other things, but I still buy my daughter Cheez-its because we both love them!!

Hope your new year is all you hope it will be. It probably won't be, but you'll do the best you can with it!