Family | Askbecca

Happy Mother’s Day

May 10, 2009 By Becca 3 Comments

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a very happy Mother’s Day. the-girls-5-21-07

Becoming Mother:

As I came to there she was, this baby who had come to me. Her entrance into the world was not an easy one. I remember looking at her and the emotions that ran through me were too great to bear. I sat and started. I was in awe that this tiny thing had come from me. She was beautiful. She was mine!

I almost died having her. I could not walk for about 6 months after but none of that matters. My first baby opened a place in my heart that I had never known existed. It went beyond unconditional love. It is a feeling that you cannot describe. It is the magical moment of becoming a mother. I will never forget that first moment that I met my princess. I think about it each time I am upset with her, proud of her and even when I just look at her.

That same feeling of magic certainly entered into my heart the second time I became a mother. This time my heart felt even more magic when I introduced Abigail to her sister. It was as if God was in the room and blessing us with this new baby. She was tiny just as Abby was and all of a sudden my first baby did not seem so small any more. She was growing right before my eyes!

By the time we had our third I had thought that there was no way that the magic would still be there. How much magic can one family have? It was there. The girls felt the magic the day that Analiese was born but not that mother magic.

I think that when you become a mother whether for the first time or the tenth time it is always magical. It is something that leaves you in awe and warms even the coldest hearts. Wether the baby is planned or not you feel that blessing from the first time you see that little baby that your love with your husband or partner have created. That love lives on and on and never dies.

I would like to wish you all a happy Mother’s Day. Take a moment today to remember when the magic entered into your heart.

Becca

Mother’s Day With Gear Diary (geardiary.com)
Inspirational Women (momblognetwork.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: Abby, Abigail, Analiese, Arts, Baby, becca, Becca Dean, Eye, family, heart, Kids and Teens, leaves, Magic, Mother, Mother's Day, Performing Arts, planning, Time, Unconditional love, world

10 Happiest Countries: Not the USA

May 9, 2009 By Becca 3 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

I read the following article about the 10 happiest nations to live in. I was in no way to see that the great United States of America ddid NOT make the list. I think that it falls back to the great American dream. It is in Americans blood to work too hard, for too many hours. I think that it started with our ansestors that came here from all of the various other nations. They came here to live a dream. Many of them failed but the ones who really made it worked and worked hard.

So here we are a nation of unhappy people so that we can struggle to live the dream. The trouble becomes that as we are trying to reach the dream we forget to enjoy where we are. We do not look around us and just think that we are blessed. We tend to want more and more. Perhaps it is because we are a society driven by money. Perhaps because all of us who work so hard see the people who are profiting off of our work and think that we could achieve such greatness. The trouble often becomes that we are just the worker bees. We forget that we are here with other purposes.

I know that there are so many of us who want the new car, the house, 2.5 kids and a dog. The trouble comes in that none of these things are making us happy. We do not have any time to enjoy any of it because we are struggling to hold on to it all. I think that it is really a sad day when we cannot enjoy our lives. I know that many people are currently out of work and feel so depressed. We as Americans have tied our entire worth as a person to our current job and the salary that comes with it. This makes it life shattering when that job is taken away!

I also think that it makes it hard as a stay at home parent. I know that each day I look at what purpose I have. I think that my children have had some benefits to my staying home. The trouble comes when people talk to me about what I do. I am judged based on my lack of making money and my lack of working. There are people who look down on me. There are people who think that they are better then me because they have a job. It is a constant struggle for me to stay at home. It means that Rob has to work 2 jobs to make ends meet. The trouble comes with my identity in this society. I am viewed as less. I am viewed as uneducated. I am viewed as lazy. The trouble is that I am rather educated. I even finished college in the amount of years that you are supposed to! I am not less and I would love to have a lazy day!

I know I am babbling but perhaps this is why we as Americans are not able to be happier. I am not happy because I know that others think badly of me. The people working their tails off are not happy because they are too tired to know what happy is and the people who are now jobless and homeless are feeling like there is nothing to be happy about.

The thing is that happiness comes from within. I think that the more we act happy and really think about being happy the happier we will be. Trust me I am not one of thos happy go luck people. I have actually struggled with unhappiness many times in my life. I just think perhaps the greatest nation in the world would be much happier if we all tried a little harder and worked a little less.

Becca

Human Rights for ALL people – regardless of skin color (thepetitionsite.com)
First Swine Flu Death Reported In Costa Rica (news.sky.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: family, Home, Homelessness, Kids and Teens, Nation, Parenting, United States, United States of America

Birthday Quandry: Birthday Party For Three

May 8, 2009 By Becca 7 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

So here is the question for today…

My nephew, my neice and Analiese all have May birthdays all within two weeks of one another. Each year we do a family and friends party for each kid. This year we thought that perhaps we should combine all three of them and do one family party. This means that family will only have to come to one party. This means that it will be one day in the full month of May to have to donate to these birthdays.

So here is the problem. Rob thinks that it is wrong. He thinks that then friends and family will be strapped having to buy three presents all at once. He thinks that it is just wrong and has told me to back out of the idea. The trouble is that it was my idea and I still think that it is a nice one. The other problem is that we have already mentioned it to people and how do we cancel now. I am not worried about gifts. Analiese is turning 2 and already has all of the clothing, toys and stuff that any two year old could need.

I want to know what you think? Is this party a bad idea?

Becca

Surprise! (momblognetwork.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: Birthday, birthday party ideas, Business and Economy, Children, family, Holidays, Home, Parties, Shopping

Swine Flu: First American Life Claimed

May 6, 2009 By Becca 2 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

The news is sad on this day. The first American to die of swine flu has been reported! I always think that it is sad that people pass but this woman was a remarkable woman. Judy Trunnell was only 33 years old when swine flu claimed her life. She was about to embark on a new stage in her life. She was about to have a baby. Her daughter was born after she slipped into a coma. From my understanding of what I have read she did not even get to see her new baby girl!

Judy Trunnell was a school teacher, from Texas, who had dedicated her career to children with disabilities. She was admitted intot he hospital yesterday and died yesterday. Her family is greiving as I can imagine.

I would like to take this chance to send my prayers to Judy Trunnell’s family. May they share in the joy of what she has left behind; a beautiful healthy baby girl. I know her husband must now be having mixed emotions and I pray that he find a way to keep his wife Judy Trunnell alive in his heart. I pray that he is able to show is new born baby girl all that his mother was. I pray that this family work through this.

The flu this year has truly been a killer flu. I hope that we find better ways to fight this flu before next flu season. I am asking that you please keep Judy Trunnell’s family in your prayers. I do not know her but all I can think about is that baby without its mother. My heart breaks just thinking about it all!

Becca

First Swine Flu Death Of US Resident Confirmed By Texas (huffingtonpost.com)
Texas confirms first flu death of U.S. resident (ctv.ca)
First American Swine Flu Patient Dies (abcnews.go.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases, family, Health, Infectious disease, Influenza, Judy Trunnell, killer flu, Swine influenza, Texas

Spring Break Survival

April 9, 2009 By Becca 8 Comments

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Oh my… I woke up this morning and remembered something. IT IS SPRING BREAK. Now, the words that are to follow are meant with the most love and affection. I hate Spring Break. It is not like Winter Break where we all get involved in Christmas. This Spring Break thing stinks unless you are going away which we of course are not this year! I remember back in high school and college when I went away with friends. We had a blast. One year was Ocean City another year was Disney. Now I am home with restless kids, a house to unpack and no plan! So what is a stay at home mom to do with three kids for eleven days? I am compiling a survival guide in order to make it though. I need you help though. Here are a few questions to get started with:

What is there to do that is free?
What can I do with no car?
Is there any activity that you can think of that a 1 year old, a 5 year old, and an 8 year old? I am drawing a blank!
Is there a magic potion to give children that makes them not whine?
How much is it a mother can drink without it being a problem?
How can I avoid hearing, “I am bored there is nothing to do.”
What fun things can you think of to make the kids tired enough to still go to bed on time? Oh and I have to be able to do it with my not healed correctly broken foot!

I will spend the day developing a survival guide. I hope that it works! Today, I am just going to wing it. So far we have had 5 fights, Abigail has bitten Emma, Emma has scratched Abigail and the baby is a whining mess! HELP!

Becca

Easter Traditions (askbecca.com)
Too Many Toys… (askbecca.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: Abigail, ask, Baby, becca, Children, Christmas, Drink, Easter, Emma, family, free, Hearing, High, Home, House, kids, Mother, Party Ideas, Recreation, s, school, Spring, Spring break, surviving break, Toy, tradition, Travel

Family Easter Traditions

April 4, 2009 By Becca 7 Comments

: Image by thivierr via Flickr

I became so interested in Easter traditions this week because so many people visited. It is a shame that more people did not leave their family Easter Traditions in the comments section. I was really hoping to post all of the great ones that I hear this week. I know that one that was mentioned time and time again is dying Easter eggs. Today is our big Easter egg dying day and I am so excited! I think that we are going to have a blast. I know that the smell of vinegar can turn some off the the entire thing but I think that it is important for people to give it a try!

Another tradition that people mentioned is spending time with family. This is what the holidays are all about. Being in a room with the people who share your gene pool. I know that for a lot of people this can be the down side to a holiday but I think that without the mother who wants to know when you are going to have another baby, the stinky grandparent and the kid who is eating dirt there are no memories. These are the people who have formed us into the person we are today. They really are the fabric of our lives. If we love ourselves then we have to love them. It is a guilt by association thing.

The Easter bunny is a tradition that I had forgotten to mention. I cannot believe that I left him out! Here is a little bit of Easter Bunny History! It is said that the Easter Bunny has been around before Easter. I know this is hard to believe! He is said to have originated in Germany in the 1600s. The Easter bunny can either just leave a basket out in plain site or he can hide it. In our house he is always hiding it here and there. The kids have a blast trying to find it and figure out whose is whose. I wish he had more time to write a name or two down.

There is one more tradition that I forgot to mention. The Easter Bonnet has always been my love of Easter. There are not many times in this day in age that a lady can wear a hat without people looking at her funny. I think that the hats and the white gloves just make Easter what everyday used to be. I wish that we all still dressed to the nines like this for church. I think that it is sad that it is now acceptable to wear jeans and a tee to Church. You should be in your Sunday best. That used to mean a hat and Gloves. Now it means jeans? What are we thinking people? Either way, Easter is a time when we can dust the hat off and slip the gloves on and walk a little taller! Oh and do not forget to play the song Easter Parade when you are walking down the street in your bonnet and gloves!

Becca

I would still love to learn some more about what Easter traditions your family has. Please let me know in the comment section. I think it adds to the fun!

Easter Bonnets – easy but expensive (essexroundup.wordpress.com)
Easter Eggs – A History (frugalwahmstalkradio.com)
Easter Traditions (askbecca.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: Basket, becca, Dress, Easter, Easter Bonnet, Easter Bunny, Easter Bunny History, Easter Parade, Easter s, Easter traditions, EasterEgg, family, Germany, holiday, Holidays, Holidays and Special Days, kids, Kids and Teens, People and Society, tradition, traditions

The Stomach Bug Returns

April 3, 2009 By Becca Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

As I was saying last week I hate stomach bugs. I had thought that I had escaped its bite but I spoke too soon. Abigail spent all night Tuesday sick, Emma and I woke up sick and Rob is the only one not infected. So I will not tell you about this horrible experience. Yeah right you know that I will!

Abigail did not get sick in 5 places before making it into the bedroom.
I was not the one who did the laundry that she created.
I did not sit there and help her while she was throwing up.
Emma did not wake up the next morning covered in stomach flu remnants.
I did not throw up all day that morning.
I did not call my sister in law to take the baby because I could not take care of her.
I did not sleep all day.
I did not ignore my older kids all day who were also sick
I did not wish I would rather be dead!

All in all I hope that this stomach Flu or bug as I like to call it has worked its way through my family. I hope that it never comes back. I am not sure when you spend a week cleaning it all up that the bug will not bite you. I took the bleach idea and washed my hands obsessively and yet the bug still bit me. I am amazed by its sneaky ability! I cannot wait for warmer weather when the mosquitoes are the only bugs biting!

Becca

Update: Rob was bitten last night! Now we have all had it… Hopefuilly it will GO AWAY!!

Is My Baby Blind??? Part IV (askbecca.com)
Sick (askbecca.com)
Stomach Bug (askbecca.com)
Recovering from a Stomach Bug (mdjosephkim.blogspot.com)
Puke-Streak: Ended (yesbutnobutyes.com)
Chef: Virus could have caused Fat Duck illnesses (cnn.com)

Filed Under: Becca's Babblings, Main Tagged With: Abigail, ask, Baby, becca, bug, Conditions and Diseases, Emma, family, flu, Gastroenteritis, Health, kids, laundry, Mental Health, Sick, Sister-in-law, Stomach, vomit, Vomiting

Webkinz Deluxe Membership

April 2, 2009 By Becca 15 Comments

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Webkinz has a new membership. The key is that it costs more money. It reminds me of Club Penguin and I am a little annoyed about it. Isn’t it bad enough that I spend a ton of money on mini stuffed toys to get new codes? Now Webkinz wants me to pay a fee each month for added features? Don’t the know that we are in a recession and that many parents are hurting enough already? Do they really think that we need to be begged for more? It is one thing to reward your child with a Webkinz pet when they have gone above and beyond but now Webkinz wants me to pay each month for these special privileges but what if the kids are not good that month? I am still rewarding them! Some of the features that are featured are:

A gift box including an amazing exclusive piece of clothing, available ONLY to Deluxe members
Special access to a Deluxe activity page in the Today’s Activities section of Webkinz World
Access to the Deluxe members-only GOLD channel on the Webkinz phone
3000 eStore Points to spend at the Webkinz eStore (awarded to the purchasing eStore account)

Oh and lets not forget that they will give you a hat as well. This hat is to provide free marketing for Webkinz when your child wears it all around town. Did I say free? What I mean is that when you pay for the membership you get a hat.

Now the annual membership is a bargain at $45. I do not think that you are getting all that much for your $45. Do not forget that it is $45 plus any pets your child wants in the real live store. What a completely huge scam! For those of you who have read my blog for a while you know that I love Webkinz. I enjoy playing it myself, the kids love it all and it is good clean fun. the thing is that for the performance of their site I do not feel like I should pay $45 a year! I just feel that they are getting a little too big for their britches.

Becca

Are Webkinz One Year Subscriptions An Unethical Ploy To Sell More Toys? [Toys] (consumerist.com)
Webkinz News (askbecca.com)
Webkinz Snowflakes are back (askbecca.com)

Filed Under: Webkinz Tagged With: Club Penguin, deluxe membership, family, Kids and Teens, Marketing, School Time, Toy, Video game, Webkinz, webkinz deluxe membership, webkinz games, webkinz world

Spring Family Fun

March 25, 2009 By Becca 2 Comments

: Image by Dan Phiffer via Flickr

Spring is a time to awaken again. Just as the trees are budding and the flowers are sprouting it is a time for us to be active again. I tend to stay home in the Winter and am very under motivated. Now that it is Spring I have been thinking a lot about all of the fun things we do as a family in the Spring months.

Hiking: Typically we start hiking in the Spring. It is a great time to go out and hit the trails with the kids. I love showing them all of the new life sprouting all around us. The kids love hiking as well. It is so fun and exciting and it is good for them.
Letterboxing: Letterboxing is a fun adventure that the entire family can enjoy. We went a few times last Summer and the kids LOVED it. It was like a treasure hunt. I know that there are many different letterboxes all over the world. We visit letterboxing.org for box locations.
Gardening: Last spring was the first time that we had a garden and the kids were really into it. They loved watching all of our plants grow into veggies. It was something that we could spend about 15 minutes an evening. It was a nice time that we had with the kids weeding and watering the garden. The kids each had a basket to place their ripe treasures.
Spring Clean Up: This is the best. It is when we rake all of the dead grass away, much the garden and prepare for the summer months. We get all of our Spring out. It should be fun!

I would love to hear all of the fun things that you do with your families in the Spring. I think that this year it is important that our family keep Spring family fun lo in cost. I know that with the economy we have tightened our belts some. I also know that we are not alone!

Becca

Gardening Green with your children (jerichooncbs.blogspot.com)
Spring Fever (askbecca.com)

Filed Under: Main Tagged With: ask, ask becca, askbecca, becca, family, Family Fun, Flower, Garden, Hiking, Home, Letterboxing, rebecca, Recreation, Spring

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