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the one where I wax poetic

September 1, 2010 by Kelli

Just kidding. I’m not going to wax poetic about anything. I actually am going to partake in a little verbal vomit. See? Vomit. It’s not a very poetic word. I should change the title of this post, but I don’t want to. Maybe I’ll be inspired as I write and maybe I will begin to wax poetic about life and it’s deeper meanings.

But probably not.

I really don’t have much to say these days. Probably because I’m old and my high falutent weekend in New Orleans has made me feel a bit like I got beat with a rubber mallet then tossed to the side like a rag doll. This mama isn’t used to seeing 2:00 am unless it’s to administer medicine to fevery babies or fill hungry tummies.

I’m tired.

Speaking of last weekend, I must say that there were moments when I looked around and thought What in the world am I doing here? I felt very…how shall I put this…midwest. I was surrounded by all of these interesting, funny, stylish, green, city folk and here I was, the minivan mom from the suburbs. I tell ya, I had to fight from saying things like, Well Golly Gee, or Aw shucks. I think I may have had an I declare or two in me, but I held back. And upon my return I had a strong urge to sell my car and start using public transit and to keep all the lights in the house turned off and check my carbon imprint (or is it my carbon print…or footprint?). But, well, shucks guys, that would make this suburban mama a little less comfortable so I think I’ll keep trucking along as I’m going in life.

‘Cause it’s swell.

Speaking of swell…um, I really don’t have anything else swell to say. I was looking for a transition. That was a poor effort. Did I mention I’m exhausted? Sloan told me yesterday that he no longer wants to be a policeman when he grows up, but he would like to be a shark trainer instead. When I informed him that he would have to be very brave because that’s a dangerous job he gave me the look that only a 7 year old going on14 can give. You know the one, right? It’s that look that says, Duh, Mom. What are you, like, some sort of midwest hick?

“I’ll start working with the sharks who are already trained. Then I will move on to their friends that need to be trained.”

Right. What was I thinking?

“Hey mom,” he went on. “You remember that time when I was a baby and I met that shark?”

“Um, no.”

“Yeah, remember? I was a little baby. It was my first time to Florida and I met a shark.”

“Sorry, bud. I don’t remember that at all.”

“Oh. Well…I might have made that up.”

Gee willikers, my kid is super neato.

I should get up and get moving. The dog is laying at the foot of my bed and I can hear her stomach growling quite fiercely. I had all these lofty goals to get up early and get a lot of work done (because I have a lot of work to do) but I had the migraine of the century last night and didn’t sleep much. Thank God for modern medicine, eh? I may have overdosed slightly but I knocked out the headache so I win. I offer my deepest apologies to my liver which is now working over time to rid my body of toxins.

So on that note, I offer you this:

May your day today be filled with joy, headache free and super duper swell.

The end.

p.s. I’m categorizing this post as random. That sounds about right, wouldn’t you say?

Filed Under: Family, funny stuff that happens, Kids, Life, Minivans, Motherhood, Random, Sloan Tagged With: kids say funny things, midwest hicks, random blog post

New Orleans: Food, Music and Inspiration

August 30, 2010 by Kelli

I spent two and a half hectic days in New Orleans this weekend and it was truly inspiring. The music, the food, the survivors, the fellow bloggers, the hot HGTV hosts…

It really was a great trip. It wasn’t without a few glitches and a few things could have been a little more organized, but I’m certainly not complaining. I ate a lot, slept very little, met some great people and saw just how much work still needs to be done down there. I think the highlight of my trip was talking with a homeowner in the Gentilly neighborhood named Brenda Wheeler. She was amazing, so encouraging, filled with faith and really blessed my heart. Despite the horror of the last five years (after Katrina her marriage fell apart, her mother died, she was displaced and she suffered serious heart problems) she was the most peaceful person I’ve ever had the privilege of speaking with.

I will be sharing her story over at 5 Minutes for Mom this week. I can’t wait for you to read it. I’m even putting together a short video of our conversation so you can see her and hear her words first hand. It was such a blessing to hear her talk about how God has blessed her life and given her strength to endure despite the hardships.

I was able to see the goodness in people as hundreds rallied to help rehabilitate homes that remain in disrepair so that New Orleans residents could finally come home. The average income in the neighborhood where I worked was roughly $16,000 a year so it is no wonder that most houses remain uninhabited, or in a state that is not healthy or safe for the residents. That region still needs help, they still need support, both financially and in basic labor. It was eye opening for me.

I got to drive throught he lower 9th Ward, where I did not see Brad Pitt (Sad Panda) but I did see the houses he built. They’re beautiful and amazing, but they sit next to wasteland. Overgrown lots and dilapitated homes leave a stark reminder of the destruction that happened. And the day I drove through it was pouring down rain. It was almost eery to see the community in the rain like that.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend, including one with me and Carter Oosterhouse who, I must say, is more adorable in person than on TV. I’ve never watched his show, but I know who he is because how can one not be aware of someone who looks like him?! Just sayin’…

And now I’m off to edit video, write a few more posts and get some coffee. I’m at the gym using their free wifi. The gym has become my office as of late. The kids get to play, I get work done and everybody wins. Well, except for my body which is just getting soft and squishy…

These women are three generations who have been displaced since Katrina hit. Their house should be completed and ready to move back in in just a few weeks. The older woman, Lula, lived in an apartment or “ghetto,” as she put it, her whole life. Her daughter Lois bought this house in 1998 because she wanted her mother and children to know what it was like to live in a home and in a safe environment. She wants to bring her aging mother home.

Many of the abandoned homes still bear the water marks from the floods. The X on the front indicated where the water peaked. The numbers are the date that the house was checked and on the bottom the number indicated if any bodies were found. Thankfully this one bears the mark of 0.

I helped build a fence with a group of kids from the Americorp. They were all between the ages of 19 and 23 and when they asked how old I was one of the boys literally let his mouth drop open. “You’re 32?!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, I know right?” I replied. “I’ve got one foot in the grave.”

“No! It’s just that I thought you were one of the college helpers.”

I almost kissed him, but I resisted. Instead I asked if I could adopt him. Then it got awkward. *sigh*

I was interview by the 2nd City Comedy Troup film team who were working with Sears to capture some of the events of the weekend. It was very awkward. I didn’t know if I was supposed to be funny or serious. I felt like Ricky Bobby. I don’t know what to do with my hands. Good times.

Chris Grundy of HGTV’s DiY, blogger Greta, Hotty Mc-hot-erson Carter Oosterhouse, and me. 🙂

One of Brad Pitt’s cool looking homes in the lower 9th. But no Brad Pitt. I know, right?!

Finally, I leave you with a compilation of clips that I took the night that I explored Frenchmen Street with two of the other bloggers. I harkened back to my college days and stayed out until 2:00 am. It was awesome. I’m totally paying for it today, though. The music in New Orleans is everything you hear. It’s amazing. Enjoy…

Filed Under: Blogging, Life Tagged With: Brad Pitt, Carter Oosterhouse, Katrina five years later, Make It Right, New Orleans

…but I always remember to brush my teeth

August 25, 2010 by Kelli

When Lee and I were first married, I lived the good life as a freelance writer/gymnastics coach. I realized early on that the typical 9-5 job wasn’t for me. It cramped my style.

Such a Prima Donna…

So I got a sweet job coaching gymnastics at the top gym in the nation, where I didn’t have to go to work until 3:00 in the afternoon and I spent my mornings ghostwriting and editing books, writing corporate newletters and walking the mall that was .2 miles from our Frisco, Texas apartment.

That was the good life. I miss that life some days (read: many days).

One of the more productive ways I filled my time was meeting every Tuesday morning with an amazing group of women from our church. Most of them were stay at home moms, save for one other woman (my dearest of friends) who had no children like me but worked as an actress so she also had a flexible schedule.

I’ll never forget one Tuesday morning as we all began our time of study and Allison, a new mom, threw open the door, her hair all askew, her eyes wide, her clothes wrinkled and a look of total bewilderment on her face.

“Getting out of the house with a baby is hard!” she exclaimed. You had to know Allison to understand how sweet and cute this moment was. We all laughed and I shook my head, totally not getting it. I mean, how hard is it to get a shower and change your clothes, right?

Fast forward three years when I myself became that wide-eyed, bewildered new mom. I would wake up each morning resolved to be cool and smooth and put together, and inevitably by 10:00am I could still be found in my wrinkled pajamas (which, of course, weren’t really pajamas but rather the clothes I had been wearing for the past several days because who had time to change her clothes on a daily basis?), my hair knotted and gnarled in tufts around my head, my eyes bloodshot and red and my bladder full because I couldn’t figure out when I was supposed to go to the bathroom.

You know…first baby syndrome.

Was I supposed to put him down and let him scream just so I could pee? But then it would take all that time and effort to get him calmed back down and God forbid the kid wants to nurse again because there’s a good chance that certain necessary parts of my chest might literally fall off if he nurses one more time…

And so I stood and bounced for hours on end. Not because he needed to be bounced, but because I needed to pee and because it kept me from thinking about the grungy state of my appearance.

It took a few weeks for me to snap out of that daze. It took some time for me to figure out that it was indeed okay to put the child down for moderate stretches of time. Good Lord, when I figured out that I could put him in the bouncy seat for 2.4 minutes of quiet and jump in the shower, I became a different woman.

One with hygiene.

Within a few months, we had settled into a nice little schedule of two solid naps a day, which allotted me all the time I wanted to make myself presentable. Glory day! Until child number two entered the picture. Then, gasp! There were two of them. If I got the baby to sleep, I still had the two year old to contend with. I don’t think I showered for a month.

But again, thanks in part to Tia being a freak of nature and sleeping roughly 19 hours a day for the first six months of her life, we eased well into a schedule that allowed me to at least pull a brush through the nest on my head and run a toothbrush over the fuzz on my teeth.

Enter kid number three.

I gave up on showers all together. Because when you shower, crazy things happen, like kids cutting each other’s hair, or small children taking a Sharpie to the walls, or any number of unimaginable craziness that can happen in the few minutes I leave them unattended.

So if you run into me in public and I look…questionable…just nod your head, smile and take heart in the fact that I always brush my teeth.

Almost always, anyways…

Filed Under: Family, funny stuff that happens, Gross, Life, Motherhood Tagged With: craziness of motherhood, finding time to take care of mom, mommy is crazy, Motherhood

The one where I want to be cool

August 24, 2010 by Kelli

So I’m leaving in two days for New Orleans and I’m starting to have a small panic attack.

Whatever for?! You may ask.

I’ll tell you what for. It’s not just because I have to interview CEO’s and CFO’s and Presidents of large corporations, including Sears (although I am nervous about that, but I’m pretending I’m not because if I think about it too long, my hands start to shake). It’s not because I might get to hob nob with influential public figures or meet other fantastically talented writers, because chances are I won’t actually be hob nobbing with much, although I like to pretend that when it’s all said and done I’m going to be BFF’s forever with all sorts of artsy creative folks.

Oh no. I am nervous because I don’t know how to pack. I don’t know what to wear. This is serious stuff, folks. I have to look cool and put together. What do I wear when I’m in a position of working as a volunteer while simultaneously being listed as part of the Press Corps?

I have literally googled the phrase photos of Extreme Makeover Home Edition to see what the ladies on that show wear when they’re working. I’m that desperate for ideas. Pitiful, yes?

I have dug through my wardrobe and have questioned all manner of clothing and have come to the conclusion that I could really benefit from a stylist. Darn Hollywood stars who set the fashion bar so high…

I need functional cute clothes for working and casual cool clothes for evening events and fun party clothes for going crazy on Bourbon Street.

Just kidding…not that last part. I don’t think I’ll be going to Bourbon Street. Or maybe I will – I dunno, actually. I have to get up at 3:00am on Thursday morning and be ready to go by 4:00 when a car service will pick me up. Upon arriving at my New Orleans hotel, I have an immeditae meet and greet with the PR company putting all this together. So I need to look presentable. Something tells me that I’m not going to up for late night galavanting after a long day of working and travelling.

That and the fact that I’ve never been much of a galavanter, anyway. I’m not even sure if I know how to galavant…

So what are your suggestions? How should I dress for something like this? Literally, my itinerary suggestions casual and cool clothing. Um…I’m not sure what casual cool means or looks like. I’m heading to the mall now in the hopes that there will be some wicked sale racks filled with clothing that screams CASUAL COOL.

Wish me luck…

Filed Under: Blogging, Life, Random Tagged With: Dress for Success, Fifty for Five, Katrina rebuilding, New Orleans, Rebuilding Together

Methinks it’s time

August 23, 2010 by Kelli

A little over seven years ago we installed a crib in a little bedroom in our home. In seven years that crib hasn’t moved. It’s been warmed by three tiny people and has rarely seen it’s sheets stand cold. Sloan stayed in the crib until he was a little over two years old. I was pregnant with Tia and we decided to move him out of the crib a little early, anticipating a long adjustment period to his new, big boy bed.

He never climbed out of bed once. And wouldn’t for many months to come. And I regretted transitioning him so early.

Tia wasn’t two yet when Landon was born and the plan was for her and Landon to share a room with him sleeping in a pack and play and her in the crib. Little did I know that he would be the noisiest sleeper on planet earth and Tia would start climbing out of her crib the second we brought Landon home therefore throwing all of my well laid plan out the window.

We put Tia in a big bed in the hopes of keeping her from breaking her neck as she spilled over the side of her crib each day and, for the most part, she transitioned easily. She never came out of her room, but we would often go in to find her laying between every shoe and toy she owned.

And then there’s Landon… My free spirited child tasted freedom for three weeks this summer when he slept on an air mattress in Florida. I won’t mince words – he was a nightmare. Putting him to bed made having a root canal sound fun. And when we returned home, I gladly plopped his little behind back in his crib and did the happy dance out of his room.

It’s never occurred to him to crawl out. And I’ve threatened the other two with their lives if they show him how.

“I’ll tell Santa and the Easter Bunny if you show him how to climb out and it will be a slow holiday season for you guys…”

But the thing is…*sigh* Here’s the thing. The poor child appears to be ready to transition to a big kid bed. Sleeping has been a bit of an issue in the couple of weeks since we’ve been back from vacation. He is scared in his room (we’re going to buy a night light today) and is waking up through the night and, in general, seems to be restless.

And suddenly the idea of taking the crib down has caused panic of massive proportions in my heart. So much so that I’ve wondered if we should go ahead and have another baby just so I don’t have to take down the crib.

That’s just crazy talk…

So we are slowly, but surely, plodding toward the task of disassembling the crib. I’ve already warned Lee that I’ll probably blubber inconsolably, then I’ll need a stiff drink (or five) to get through the process. We likely won’t pull the trigger on this until the end of next month because with Lee and I going out of town for ten days, I would feel terrible leaving our parents with the task of getting that child to stay in bed at night. It would be cruel and unusual punishment for them, and I won’t do it. No I won’t. I’m not gonna do it. I’m not taking that crib apart!

Plus, I’m (clearly) just not ready. I’m not ready to say good bye to babydom and I’m not ready to deal with the mischevious little fox that is my third child.

I will survive this milestone, right?

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Landon, Life, Motherhood Tagged With: kids and bedtime, mommy is crazy, Motherhood, taking down a baby crib, transition to a big kid bed

A blogworthy path

August 19, 2010 by Kelli

When I started this blogging thing a few years ago, I had no idea what blogging really was. And I didn’t get it. It seemed like a terrible waste of time (and it sometimes can be) and I didn’t see how it could be interesting at all for someone to read about my life. I mean, my life isn’t much to brag about.

Then Tia ate Landon’s umbilical cord.

I realized right then that I was going to need some support in this motherhood thing because if I didn’t have people to laugh with I might cry, or you know…vomit.

As I delved deeper into the world of blogging, I somehow found myself a part of a blogger’s guild, where I got to know some wonderful people, like Dana, creator of Mamalogues and radio talk show host extraordinaire. Or Gregg, who is hysterical and fun and has a multitalented family. Or Melody and Lisa who would ultimately become my partners in the joint venture that is STL Family Life. And many other wonderful and interesting people along the way.

Most recently I’ve joined forces with the St. Louis Women in Media group to develop more of a community among St. Louis women in all aspects of media, be it traditional or online social media. There is so much to learn and there are so many interesting people to meet! I love it.

It’s been a fun journey, this blogging thing, and I feel like I can finally call this my job, if you want to call it that. I’m sitting here in my pajamas with a cup of hot tea, so you know…

I confess that sometimes I have a hard time taking seriously the notion of blogging as a career. But I’m not really a blogger so much as a writer who has found a voice in the online world. I’m okay with that. Because it lets me develop my craft in my pajamas with a cup of hot tea.

Right on.

Blogging has given me a confidence in my writing that I didn’t have a few years ago. The people I work with are so encouraging and so quick to build others up, and it’s been an honor to work alongside them. Blogging has also afforded me some fun opportunities. From book editing to public speaking on writing to free swag that comes in the mail, like chocolate. Sometimes my job can be yummy.

Last week, I was contacted by Janice from 5 Minutes for Mom where I do a bit of contributing. The subject of the message said, “Do you want to go to new orleans?” Fast forward to this week when I received my itnerary in the mail for an all expenses paid trip to New Orleans next weekend where I will take part in a Katrina rebulding commemorative project alongside hundreds of volunteers, celebrities (pleasebebradpitt, pleasebebradpitt, pleasebebradpitt), and families who are still in need of help and repairs. The project is being head up by Rebuilding Together and Fifty for Five and their aim is to repair and renew fifty homes in five days in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans.

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I am extremely excited and equally nervous, mostly because I have no idea what to expect. But I look forward to a new opportunity and to stretching my wings a bit. For those who know me well you know that being alone in a crowd of people I don’t know and being expected to talk, conduct interviews, take photos and essentially make my presence known is scary for me. We’re talking so far outside my comfort zone it might as well be a different planet.

Lucky for me I’m good at faking it and pretending I’m comfortable.

That’s what she said, that’s what she said!

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

So inappropriate.

So that’s what’s happening next week. I leave in the middle of the night on Thursday (actually it’s a 6:00 am flight, which is practically the middle of the night) and I will be back on Saturday night late. I am really, really excited and honored to take part in this event and to be able to use my skills in writing to document it. This little hobby of mine is providing great life experiences while still allowing me to pour time and energy into my family, which is my first passion. I’m feeling immensely blessed.

Now I just have to figure out what to wear.

Oy.

Filed Under: Blogging, Life, Motherhood, Random Tagged With: 5 Minutes for Mom, blogging as a career, Fifty for Five, Motherhood, Rebuilding Together, writing

This I Pray

August 18, 2010 by Kelli

With first grade in full swing, I’ve found myself impressed this year more than ever to be bathing my children in prayer. This is something that I’ve always known was important, but if I’m being honest I’d confess that I haven’t been faithful in daily lifting them up. But for some reason, this year, I can’t really brush aside or ignore the need to send my son out under the protection of God who is able to keep Sloan in ways that I cannot.

I pray that Sloan is a light among his peers. I pray that he is a bold leader. I pray that he is an encourager to others and a helper to his teacher.

I pray that Sloan has fun. I pray that he laughs often, learns much and finds joy in each and every day.

I pray that Sloan will be strong in the Lord and that he will be filled with wisdom as he grows into a young man of stature.

I pray that waking up in the morning gets less painful every day.

I pray that his relationship with his brother and sister doesn’t suffer despite the fact that he will be absent seven hours a day. In fact, I hope that the separation makes them appreciate each other more.

I pray that he never forgets how deeply he is loved and that he can always seek refuge in our home.

Most of all I pray

that he always remembers

he’s under the watchful eye and faithful protection of a God who never slumbers. (Psalm 121)

I pray that this first grader has the best first grade year and makes memories to last a lifetime.

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Life, Motherhood, Sloan Tagged With: First Day of School, First Grade, Sloan

Ice Cream Surprise

August 16, 2010 by Kelli

*update – if you’re having trouble with the video constantly stopping and buffering, click on the numbers in the bottom right hand corner. I don’t know what they mean but if you click it it should change from 360p to 480p and then the video should play without stopping. At least that’s what worked for me. I think it has something to do with pixels, but I dunno really…

I got this idea from my friend Nicole a few months ago.

We put the kids to bed early last night. Sloan stomped and groaned and bemoaned the fact that the summer is over and school is starting and “why won’t you let me stay up and enjoy my last night of summer – WAAAAAAHHHH!” About five minutes after laying them down, we went into their room and flipped on the light (only to find them both sitting up in the same bed…so much for them actually going to bed) and told them we wanted to go get some ice cream.

“Would you like to come with us?” we asked.

Their reactions were priceless. And you can see them for yourself.

*a quick disclaimer: Lee got a little ahead of me and flipped the kids light on before I had the camera going so I missed a little bit of their reaction. Bummer.

I think my favorite part of the video is when Lee begins talking about third nipples (nubbin’s) and Sloan starts laughing so hard he almost wets his pants.

Welcome to crazy town. So glad you came. Leave your shoes at the door…or leave them on. Whatever. We talk about third nipples. You can do whatever you want.

Have I mentioned lately I love my family?

Yay for the Ice Cream Surprise!

And now I’m off to shower so I can take Sloan to school to meet his teacher. I’m taking my kid to meet his first grade teacher. I’m taking my child to his elementary school where he’s going to be spending the entire day at school. I’m having a panic attack while I think about taking my kid to see his first grade class.

I’m feeling old.

Filed Under: Family, funny stuff that happens, Kids, Kids do the darndest things, Landon, Lee, Life, Motherhood, School Tagged With: Dairy Queen, Ice Cream Surprise, Kids, Kids and Ice Cream, Kids are Funny, Summer's End

The Wedding

August 9, 2010 by Kelli

We ended our vacation with a stop in Mobile, Alabama, where we watched and participated in the wedding of my cousin, Whitney, to her new husband, Jordan. It was beautiful and emotional and perfect and I’m so glad we got to be there to see this union take place.

Whitney has overcome more hardship and pain than most people will see in two lifetimes. She is a true picture of beauty from ashes. She’s not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well. When she was five, she and her brother and sister spent a year living with my family. I was thirteen at the time and I adored having a little “sister” to dress up and play with. I curled her hair, put make up on her and doted on her daily. I learned her tap dance routines and taught her silly songs to perform in front of others. I don’t know if it was fun for her, but I enjoyed having a real life baby doll.

Whitney asked Sloan and Tia if they would serve as flowergirl and ring bearer. It was an honor for them to take part and after they got over their initial trepidation at standing up in front of a lot of people (and having to watch the bride and groom kiss – Ew!) they had a great time.

And the number of times that they’ve played bride and groom since the wedding? Five. And counting.

I was so proud of how great the kids did before, during and after the wedding.

Whitney’s mom died in February of 1991 when Whitney was only 5. I was twelve and I don’t remember much about my Aunt Joy. There are snippets that come to me periodically, like flashes in time. I remember her laugh and her smile and I have a CD of her singing, but other than that, the memories are vague. But my mom and my other aunts and uncles remember well. And all of them say that Whitney is so much like her mom it’s frightening.

She’s the life of the party.

She’s got an infectious laugh.

She loves people and she loves Jesus.

I’m so proud of her.

My cousin Randy’s little girl joined Tia in the role of flowergirl. Can you tell these two are related?

I do believe that Sloan developed a bit of a crush on Whitney. He followed her around like a puppy dog all day long and asked to have no less than fifty pictures taken with her.

“She is so beautiful, Mom,” he told me.

Tia has become enamored with playing “bwide” since we got home. She puts her fancy shoes on and taps around the house saying “I Do.” I’ve drawn the line at her and Sloan kissing. They’ll thank me one day.

I wish that my aunt could have been there on Saturday. She would have been brimming with pride at the young woman that Whitney has become. I know that in heaven there are no more tears of sorrow so I doubt that those who have gone on before us can literally watch and see what’s happening to the loved ones left behind. Because if they could, then surely they would experience sorrow at the pain that is ever present on this Earth.

I do hope, however, that in moments of joy, such as Saturday’s wedding, those who dwell in heaven experience an extra measure of joy, peace, love and contentment. And since one day on Earth is like 1,000 years in heaven, I hope that Joy experienced 1,000 years of extra happiness and joy over the union of her daughter to such a wonderful man.

Sloan was such a little man.

And Tia was a great helper to little Hayley.

And Whitney beamed with such force as she walked down the isle that I worried her face might split in two.

Sloan, of course, got a little bored during the ceremony. It gave him plenty of time, however, to smell the roses. And, of course, when the bride and groom kissed he giggled and blushed and shook his head. Because just…ew.

Tia got to hold Whitney’s bouquet during the ceremony. It weighed easily 5 pounds. She was a real trooper. Doesn’t she look like she’s having the time of her life?

Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Van Matre. They have a rich heritage to uphold and continue. I have no doubt that they are fully equipped and prepared to carry on the rich legacy of this family.

My Aunt Tammy made a lot of sacrifices to raise Whitney alongside her own four children. And she and my Uncle Cletis did a great job making sure that this little girl, who was a broken, scared 9 year old when they got her, grew into a confident woman of God.

Equally, my mom and dad also made sacrifices, pouring energy, wisdom and hope into Whitney’s life. They also raised Whitney’s brother and supported Whitney’s older sister as they grew. My Uncle Dusty, the oldest of the Cooper siblings, was also a pillar of support. As the male head of the family, he has been a constant for all of us. I am honored to be a part of such a unique and loving family.

It was a time to reconnect for my cousins and I, and for our kids to begin making memories together. My cousins’ girls and Tia all lined up for the tossing of the bouquet. Emerson, my cousin Sean’s daughter, ended up catching it, much to her delight. Girl shrieks abounded.

Look closely everyone – this could quite possibly be the future President and First Lady of the United States.

It was the perfect end to our vacation. Now we’re home and it’s back to reality. I went to the store this morning and gave them my right arm and right leg for groceries and school supplies. The house appears to have been hit by a tornado and it smells quite a bit like rotten dog.

*sigh*

To be a newlywed again.

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Life, Marriage Tagged With: Family, Jordan and Whitney Van Matre, kids in weddings, wedding

A Mom is Born: Let’s Celebrate!

August 5, 2010 by Kelli

On August 25, My Mommy Manual and KMOV are hosting A Mom is Born. This is a virtual baby shower with a cause! Using the transition into motherhood as a platform, A Mom is Born will raise funds for the Missouri chapter of The March of Dimes while also celebrating new life. This is only the second virtual baby shower and this year’s celebrant is Virgina Kerr, the anchor of Channel Four’s early morning program, Awake.

Becoming a new mom can be daunting and overwhelming. I remember well being pregnant with Sloan and walking the aisles of Babies “R” Us, thoroughly terrified. What would I need? What would I want? What if he was permanently and irreversibly damaged because I chose the wrong sized bottle nipple?! Gah!

So I did what any self respecting, hormonal first time mom would do – I sent a mass email to every mom I knew asking for advice. It saved my life, that email…okay that might be a little dramatic. It did save my sanity, though. And those mom friends have continued to pour into me and reassure me along the way. So now it’s my turn (and yours!) to pay it forward and share your bits of mom wisdom with a new mom to be.

There are several different ways to participate in this exciting event. The first is to simply attend. You can watch a live stream of the shower online at www.MomIsBorn.com. There will be opportunities to interact with Virginia and the shower hosts via a live chat room. Viewers (guests) will also learn how to personalize a Holding Hands bracelet. This bracelet is a sweet gift for all expectant mothers to wear during labor and delivery as a reminder of the support that she has from her closest family and friends.

A limited number of Holding Hands bracelets will also be available for purchase online with a portion of the proceeds going to The March of Dimes. You can also donate directly to The March of Dimes via the Mom Is Born website.

The virtual shower will be filled with fun, laughter and wisdom as other mothers will pass on pieces of wisdom to Virginia. You can share your own tips or advice on the website prior to the shower and earn an entry into the Raffle for that day. Raffle prizes have been generously donated by the shower sponsors: Build-a-Bear Workshop, Kolcraft, Goodnite Rooms, Pixie Posie Photography and the venue sponsor, Overlook Farm.

Overlook Farm is also offering an amazing special for all moms. From now until October 15, which is when Virginia’s baby boy is due, you can spend a relaxing night in one of their luxurious inns for only $125/night. All you have to do to receive this rate is become a fan of Overlook Farm on Facebook. If you mention the virtual shower on their fan page, you will be entered to win a Girl’s Weekend getaway for four where you can unwind on their 200 acre farm, relax in their greenhouse hot tub, explore their many gardens, or enjoy a glass of wine as you watch the sun set over the Missouri River Valley.

Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

No matter what, I hope you’ll take the time on August 25 to tune in to this special and unique virtual shower. To find out more information, or to submit your piece of mommy wisdom and be entered to win the Raffle, visit http://www.momisborn.com You can also participate by donating to The March of Dimes through the PayPal button provided below.

Maybe we can all convince her to go ahead and buy a minivan. After all, we know what they are, right?!

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