Category Archives: growing up

Enough with the pink already!

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I am about to lose my damn mind over here, people.

Rylee has been all about a bike for the last few months now, so Andy & I decided Santa would bring her a bike for Christmas. I figured I’d start checking out our options.

Holy mother-trucking pink-glitter-unicorny decorated bikes. I about threw up in my mouth just browsing toys-r-us’s website.

I mean really, every single girl bike is either decorated with bright pink dolphins, or minnie mouse or dora or disney princess froo-froo crap. And they have names like “Shooting Star” or “Morning Glory” and “Ocean Mist”. Seriously…who in their right  mind wouldn’t throw up in their mouth when seeing names like those!?

So, naturally, I took a peek at the “boy” options. Those weren’t much better…it was all hulk, spider man and crap like that.

Who cares you say? Just get her a “girlie” bike you say? She loves Dora you say?

Well I say…

But she probably won’t love Dora forever.

And She doesn’t even know who the disney princesses are.

Not to mention if we bough her a pink, glittery unicorn bike our luck, our next kid would be a boy and, well folks, we just don’t have the money to be buyin’ new bikes for each of our kids. So, there will be hand-me-downs. {I didn’t get my very own new bike until I was in the 5th grade and it made it that much more special and awesome thankyouverymuch.}

Oh and there’s the little fact that I JUST DON’T WANT TO!

There are just no real options for “gender neutral” little kid bikes.

Don’t get me wrong, over the last few years, I’ve grown to love pink-ish girlie things a wee bit more than before I had a daughter, but too much of it still makes my stomach churn.

To get around all of this? We’re no, I’m  We’re spending $30 more than most any other bike available and buying her a red Radio Flyer bike.

Not girlie, but it also doesn’t scream “I’M FOR A BOY” either.

Perfect.

Now I just have to find her a decent little helmet.

{Don’t even get me started on those!}

Veteran’s Day

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I didn’t grow up particularly patriotic. I mean, we lit fireworks on the 4th of July, I always proudly held my hand over my heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. My grandad, grandpa and even one of my grandmas all served during WWII and I remember thinking how great that was. But I never really “got” patriotism. I was always just stoked I got an day off of school on Veteran’s day.

It wasn’t until I was out of college that I really started to “get it”.

I started working for a company that had deep seeded patriotic roots. Every single product was built proudly in the USA. We even had a product that was dedicated solely to the troops and proceeds from every single one of those items sold went to TAPS. We had product names like the Patriot, Old Glory, Allegiance, Defender, General, Admiral…seriously, I could go on. We had American Flags as the background for our company banners.

One year, between Veteran’s Day and Christmas, we put together a program where we sold heavily discounted product to the troops overseas and actually shipped the product to them in time for Christmas so they could have a little extra piece of home during their R&R. We continued the program beyond that initial shipment, and I ended up as the main point of contact for the troops for the next 2 years.

That’s really when it all hit me. These service men & women…real people. Calling in, sometimes keeping me on the line for well over 45 minutes, just because I was a “real person” to talk to. The handwritten thank-you letters sent from the “sandbox”. The platoon photos of the troops proudly sporting their branded hats we sent them. The folded flags they would send us that had flown in battle as a token of their appreciation.

Their appreciation? They were the ones sacrificing their lives, missing their families and they were thankful for a discounted product? It blew my mind.

We are the appreciative ones… I am the appreciative one.

I have so much respect and admiration for our service members and their families for all of their sacrifices.

Anymore, I can’t help but get teary every time I hear the National Anthem. I even get the chills. I know the true meaning of those words.

I am proud to call myself an American.

I am truly thankful for all the men and women, past and present, who have put their lives on the line so that I am able to have the freedom to do the things I love.

So, for those of you reading this that have been/are in the armed forces…THANK YOU…from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

For those of you reading this that aren’t…make sure you take two seconds today and THANK THEM.

This Kid…

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Oh my, this kid has been killing me with the cute lately!

I mean really…what a little ham bone.

I’m loving her sense of humor too…she’ll tell me one thing and then yell out “JUST JOKING!” with a big grin and giggle.

The other night during dinner, Andy said something and Ry looked over at him, sighed a little and said, “Oh Dad, you’re hilarious.”

She regularly looks at me and says, “Really mom? Really?”

{Ummm…when did she start calling us mom and dad!?}

She’s so silly and giggly and just all around awesome.

Happy Friday!!

Looking Ahead to Your Teenage Years {Halloween}

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Dear Rylee,

We had so much fun the other night. It was so amazing to watch you be so brave and walk up the steps of those houses that were dimly lit with eerie music playing. You have grown so much since last year yet; you are still filled with the wonder of it all and still so innocent.

There will come a time when you’ll want to venture out and trick-or-treat with your friends. Believe me when I say that I’m ok with that…but convincing your father may be a different story. I’m guessing that day will come sooner than we’d like, but when it does, I want you to remember a few things…

If you’re going to go out trick-or-treating, no matter how old you are, you will be dressing up. End of story. It doesn’t have to be some big fancy, expensive costume, but seriously…put a little bit of effort into it.

Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not just an excuse for girls to dress likes hoochies and get away with it. Seriously. Plus, it’s the end of October…it’s going to be cold out…bring a sweater! If you must, at least save that for your college years when you’re over 18 and out of the house.

If you’re going to go out trick-or-treating, you better not think you’re “too cool” to actually say “trick-or-treat”. None of this knocking on the door and just holding out your bag business…that’s not gonna fly.

After you knock on the door, in your costume, say “trick-or-treat” and get your candy? The words “thank you” {or some variation of} better come out of your mouth. I don’t care how much of a hurry you’re in to get to the next house, those people didn’t have to spend who-knows-how-much-money to buy candy for total strangers and you need to appreciate it.

Be mindful of the little kids, because it’s really for them, not you. Be mindful of the adults taking the little kids around from house to house. If they’re trying to drive down the road, just get out of the way, you are not “holier than though” or owed anything. Be respectful. Watch your language.

I sum all this up with 3 words: don’t be an asshole. 

Hugs & Kisses,

Mama

P.S. These words of wisdom, go right along with the first “looking ahead to your teenage years” letter I wrote you. Trust me, as you grow, there will be more.

What it’s really about…

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Dear Rylee,

I’m not normally one for writing you letters, but I wanted this to be about me sharing a special memory with you and not just documenting it for the sake of sharing it with others.

Last week, you asked me if you could go hunting with me. You see, ever since I got my deer last year, you have been so curious about it.

So, last Saturday, your grandad and I took you out on your very first hunting trip.  The days leading up to the hunt, we talked about it a lot. You asked me if you could shoot my gun. I told you maybe next summer when you were bigger. Your eyes twinkled. You were shocked to hear that you already had your very own gun. We talked a lot about safety after that. What you can and cannot shoot. Where you always point your gun. What colors we wear when we’re out hunting. Things like that. We want you to be safe, my love.

When the day finally came, you were so excited. You got to drive the gravel roads with Grandad. You glassed clear cuts with binoculars right alongside Grandad and me. You carried your ear protection with you…just in case. For the most part, you were quiet. At one point, as I was walking ahead of you and grandad, all I could hear were your little boots pounding on the gravel road and you whisper-yelling “wait up!, wait up!”. I turned around and squatted down and you ran to me with a big smile. We’ll continue to work on that as you get older. :) After a while, you were ready to be done, but you were such a good sport when we kept going.

We kicked up a few doe that day…but like you said, “no antlyers”. You know what though? That’s ok. As you grow, you’ll learn that going hunting isn’t just about killing something…

It’s about getting outside. It’s about breathing in the crisp fall air after a rain. It’s about seeing the sun rise. It’s about being a responsible hunter and practicing your shots. It’s about respecting nature and all of God’s creations. It’s about respecting your quarry enough to only take a clean shot – no matter how big the antlers are. It’s about keeping as much meat as possible to help provide for your family. It’s about spending time with those you love – even if it is in silence. It’s about passing on traditions and passions. It’s about realizing what a blessing it is to have the ability to enjoy all of these things.

Some of these things you’ve already learned…some of it will come with time. I’m looking forward to teaching you and showing you more. I hope your excitement never fades and that the twinkle in your eyes never dims.

I am so proud of the person you’re becoming.

I love you so much, sweet girl.

Love,

Mom