Twenty-Five

As crazy as it is to believe, this past weekend I turned the big 2-5.  A quarter of a century.  Half way to fifty.  No longer in my early twenties.  Goodness, does this mean I'm getting old?!?  Ok, so I'm not really that concerned about getting old, even though my husband may beg to differ, but this weekend did make me reflect on the past 25 years I have lived and the goals I want to achieve.  Some I am satisfied with and others I feel like a complete failure.  Oh well, I guess that's a part of life.

Growing up I always tried to picture my life and tried to plan accordingly for certain ages and how I expected my life to be at that particular age.  Twenty-five went a little like this:

*Be married. (Check! Going on six years, baby!  I was hoping for a year or two at this stage in my life, but have loved the extra four or five years.)

*Thinking about having my first baby. (Check!  Not only have I thought about having children, I have been blessed with two beautiful boys.  They are my everything and make life worth living and rather interesting.)

*Finish college (Fail.  There are days that I do regret this, but at the same time would have found it extremely difficult to finish with a baby and a husband who was in school and then career.  I always get asked if I will go back one day.  Honestly, I don't want to.  I don't know exactly what I want to do in life so for now, I feel like it would be pointless.  I know I get judged for that response, but so be it.  My focus in life now is my kids and family.  It is not "what degree did you get" sort of thing.  I don't want to spend 3 years behind textbooks when I could be spending those years behind children books reading and enriching my own child's life.  Most people don't know that this is a tender topic for me, but it is.  I never like giving up on things and at times I feel like I did.  Unless I become passionate about a career, I will not be returning to school.  I would rather save the money for my son's educations, spend the time with them vs. in a class, or behind the computer on an online class or studying in a text book.  Don't like that answer, tough.  I will find a job once the boys are in school, but it doesn't have to be a fancy title.  I'll save that for my husband.)

*Have a successful career.  Either a lawyer (those were the early years), a Spanish teacher or an elementary teacher. (Fail/Check!  While I am not a lawyer or teacher I still don't find myself a complete failure on this one.  I do feel like a failure in the sense I never did finish college and never got a degree, but I still feel like I am a lawyer and teacher.  I am always pointing out what is right and wrong about life, helping kids argue their cases, finding out the truth to a true mystery (like who made that mess) and I am definitely a teacher.  I teach my boys about life and all it has to offer.  I teach them colors, numbers, letters, how to read, how to use their imagination and so much more.  Although I'm not officially a lawyer or teacher, I feel ok.)

*Think about buying a home. (Check!  Hard to believe we have had our house for almost 2.5 years.  It wouldn't have been possible without my husband's hard work and dedication to saving money.)

*Be fit. (Fail.  But hoping to change that.  After having the boys, I feel like I let myself go and eat whatever my little heart, er stomach, desired.  But, I'm ready to change it!  I have now gotten a personal trainer and have been working with her this past week.  I try to work out at the Y regularly and try to eat as healthy as possible, which is easier said than done.  Why do the unhealthy foods have to taste so good?  So, I'm hoping to change this fail into a check.)

*Be a good friend. (I can't be the judge of this, but I hope it's a check.  I have multiple relationships that have lasted for years.  Some dating back to 2nd grade!  To me friends are like my family and I feel like a good friendship gives you a strong foundation on life.  They will build you up when you are down.  I know my friends do this for me so hopefully they can say the same about me.)

Ok, so I'm not exactly where I pictured myself in life at this time, but I think I'm doing all right.  I love the way my life is, well, most days, and I feel like everything that has happened these past twenty five years (both good and bad) have molded me into the person I am today.  I'm not perfect, I know it's hard to believe (kidding!) but I try to be the best I can be.

Well, I guess I am officially on my way to 30.  EEK!  I wonder what the next 25 years of my life will bring.  Or where I will be?  Crazy thing to think about.  Especially knowing that I could very well be a grandma (Hunter will be 30 almost 31, so it is totally possible).  Scary.  But for now, I'm just going to enjoy life and take it one day and year at a time.  Life truly is a beautiful thing, even with all of it's struggles.

Pushing Limits

Brody is at the age where he is learning what is right or wrong, how far can limits be pushed before he is in trouble.  It can be a difficult stage, but at the end of the day it's kind of funny to remember what he did and how far he pushed.  Other nights it is not very funny and I am on the verge of tears, if not in tears, questioning how could one day go so wrong.
Once again, Brody was pushing the limits tonight.  Surprised?  I'm not.  I can't remember exactly what he was doing and I know it wasn't horrible because it doesn't stick out in my mind, but Brody's words definitely do.  Because that was a lot funnier than what actually happened.  He said, "I'm not being naughty, I'm just being silly."  He then proceeded to run off and continued to play. 
Funny how naughty and silly can look the same through the eyes of a two and a half year old.

Table Talk

You never know what topics will come up at the table during supper time.  Usually we talk and reflect upon the day or talk about what the next day may hold.  You know, typical table talk.  But every now and then, life with two boys will throw you a curve ball and something completely unexpected will come out.  Like tonight.

Hunter: Mom, how would you feel if you heard this.  "Brody Zappe, you are under arrest.  You are going to jail!"

Me: I would feel very sad.

Hunter: OK, just checking.

Let's hope and pray I never have to hear this conversation again.

Some Clarification

Tonight as I was on the phone with Craig, Brody came up to me.  He had something he needed to clarify.

"Mom, I'm not robot. I'm a boy."

Good to know buddy.  He also made it very clear today as we looked at our family picture that Craig is Hunter's dad and I am Brody's mom, but I'm not Hunter's mom and Craig is not his dad.  Hmmm...we may need to work on that one!  But for now, it's pretty funny.

Happy Spring

Happy First Day of Spring to all my Peeps!

I made these cute litte bird nests for Hunter's preschool class for snack today.  They were a huge hit!

Loose Tooth!

Breaking News!  This morning as I was brushing Hunter's teeth before church, I noticed that a permanent tooth was pushing up behind his bottom baby tooth.  (Is he really this old already?!)  Sure enough, I checked out his front bottom tooth and it is a little loose.  We still have some time, but I can't wait to show you a picture of that toothless little grin!

Modeling

Last night, while Craig and I were in bed, he started talking about retirement and what we should do when we retire-because we're getting so old and really need to make those plans ;).  He told me, "Janel, when we retire, I think we should go into modeling."
I burst out into laughter and asked him if he was serious and what on earth makes him think we are model material?!
His response, "You know, like model trains, model airplanes...modeling.  We will make models of things and collect them."
That is his dream, not mine, but if that's what makes him happy, maybe we will go into modeling in our retirement years.