Unique Like Snowflakes

"A man is not what he thinks he is, but what he thinks, he is."

Max R. Hickerson

Children are all unique just as there is no snowflake alike! It is what makes us all special and who we are. When I began teaching this was one of the first things I knew I wanted to encourage bringing out in my students. Having gone to private schools all my life, where everything was cookie cutter, I really did not feel like I thrived educationally until I was older and could have a voice. I realized that I was much brighter with the books and had a lot to contribute. One style of teaching all those years held me back from reaching my highest potential.

I believe we have the experiences we do in life so we can learn and grow from them. I had a dislike to how my grammar school years had made me feel academically and because of this I became an inspirational teacher to my students. I wanted them to know from the start that they all carried a unique gift that made them incredibly special. I also made sure that I taught my students as "individuals" and not as a "whole" group. Each child learns differently and if I had to do a cartwheel to get my message across, I would!

I think we become shy of our unique qualites as we grow in our society today. Many times people might hold back because it is not what others are doing or would consider "in". I want to teach my daughter to embarce her uniquness and to show its brilliance to the world. As I have mentioned before, we are on this ride one time, and I want to make sure we live our lives fully!

Come and join me for Smile Sunday! Just grab my Smile Sunday button in my left sidebar and write about what makes you happy! Let me know so I can add your link!

Mama Hen's 100th Post Celebration!

"The more you praise and celebrate your life,

the more there is in life to celebrate."

Today is my 100th post! This is exciting! It seems like just last week that I started blogging, not quite sure what I was doing. However, along the way the past few months I have learned quite a bit about blogs, HTML, buttons, codes, Blogger and Wordpress! The list can go on and on. Happily I just got my Top Mommy Blog vote button (so please vote :)But the best thing that I have found through blogging is my magnificent blog friends. This blogosphere is made up of absolutely spectacular women and I am so thankful to have met all of you!

Through blogging I have learned that I am not alone. That there are women who are experiencing similar things who inspire me and others to go forward with a fresh and strong attitude. There are some amazing recipe blogs that can leave your mouth watering. Not going to be easy to start my diet, but I will make do. The support that mommies give to one another is priceless! The women in blog land inspire, care, listen, encourage, love, laugh, cry, lift one another up and simply lend a helping hand where it is needed.

This is a world that I am proud to be a part of! I want to thank all of the beautiful blog friends I have made and I can't wait to meet more!

Happy Mama Hen and Beautiful Little Chick say thank you blog friends!

Thanksgiving Thursday

"A man's indebtedness...is not virtue;

his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude."

I love Thanksgiving Thursday! There is so much to be thankful for on this beautiful earth! I feel as though I have written those exact words before, but I don't mind because it needs to be said as often as I can say it! This week started off with a spectacular celebration of life - my beautiful daughter's birthday. I can't think of anything greater to be thankful for in my life. She is my precious gift from God and I am forever grateful! Here are the five things I give thanks to this week:

1.) Little Chick and my family.
2.) Birthdays and being able to celebrate them with family, friends and many super presents!
3.) Plenty of clean drinking water, nutritional food and being able to live without knowing the struggle and anguish of hunger.
4.) For the ability to love fully and completely.
5.) For the seasons! I love all of them, but Autumn has always been my favorite!

The celebration continues!

We headed to Six Flags on Tuesday and had a fun day!

Leave it to Grandma Hen to find Pooh Bear juice!

Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

More people giving thanks: Jinnia Low.Com, A Drama Queen Housewife's Tale, Mommy Spirit, Wilborn-White News, Cassiopeia Chats

It's Time

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor."
~Henry David Thoreau

So it has been a long time coming.....

I am sure we all noticed in the pictures I posted from the past few years.

Mama Hen is getting rather, well, hmmmmmmm, how shall I say this?

Well, Mama Hen is getting heavier with each birthday!

I have been athletic all of my life and very into nutrition and watching what I eat! But with each birthday since Little Chick was one, I have gained about 8 pounds. Well, I am sure I don't need to do the math for you, but that is a lot! Especially because I have always been really fit! Sure, I would jump up and down within a ten pound margin, but that ten pounds was about 35 pounds ago!
Anyway, this week Crystal at We Aren't' Perfect gave out a new award called the Foxy Mama Award! Thank you so much Crystal! I am so excited and really happy to receive it. But I really have not felt "foxy" in a long time! Let's evaluate this.... I am really contientious about what Little Chick eats and I make sure that she gets as much nutrition as possible! But somewhere in mommy land I lost the structure I used to have for myself when it came to working out and eating right! You would think that with all the running around and climbing jungle gyms I do with Little Chick that I would be rather fit! Well, it is time to take the love handles and start taking much better care of myself. So I am going to begin a new regime after we get through all the birthday cake! Shall we say Monday?

Mama Hen before a few too many cakes!

Foxy Mama!

Mama Hen after a few too many, hmmmmm, things in the cake family! So if you are in the same boat, and want to join me on this journey to "get healthy" then keep me posted! It is always good to have a partner!

I pass the Foxy Mama Award to:

Karli at The Bonnie 5, Wanda at At last We Are...Family, Kami at Yellow Kisses, Jinnia Low at Jinnia Low.com, Mommy at Twenty Little Toes, Carol Knee Deep in Mommahood, Lisa at Korean American Mommy, Adventures with Three Girls, Hannah at Our Happy Home, Our Precious Jas, Ella and Zoe, I'm a Full Time Mommy , Ingenue Mom, Maxabella Loves, Making Memories with the McClellens, Wilborn-White News, The Gruneisen Family News, TV's Take, A Practical Mom, A Drama Queen Housewife's Tale

You Foxy Mamas deserve this award! I could go on and on with adding super foxy sensational moms! The blogworld is filled with them! But now I have to spend some time with Little Chick.

Come join me for Thanksgiving Thursday! Grab my button and let me know so I can add your link!

What a fun day!

What a fun birthday Little Chick had yesterday! The day started with lots of surprises and the fun continued throughout the day. Then we had a family birthday party at night! We like to celebrate all week (why not?) and on Sunday Little Chick will have a party with all of her (unfurry) friends!

Little Chick wakes up super excited! Happy birthday my beautiful girl!

Little Chick puts on her birthday dress!
Little Chick sees her birthday surprises!
Little Chick loves all of her balloons! OOOOOOOO! Little Chick loves her teddy in the box!

Kisses for teddy!

Blow out the candles!

Yummy!

Silly Grandma Hen!

Silly Mommy!

Silly Little Chick!

Happy Birthday!

Little Chick is excited to drive her new car!

Yahoo! Look at Little Chick!

Happy Birthday my beautiful Little Chick!

Happy 4th Birthday Little Chick

Happy Birthday Little Chick!

Dear Little Chick,

I waited a lifetime for you my dear sweet girl! You have filled me up with such complete joy and happiness. Your beautiful smile radiates the room and always cheers everyone you see. You are incredibly smart and full of life! You are compassionate, loving, kind and so beautiful my love! You are my gift each and every day and I love you with all that I am! Happy birthday!

Love,

Mommy

Little Chick last year on her 3rd birthday!

At Little Chick's birthday party!
Little Chick pooped out after her 3rd birthday party at The Little Gym!
Little Chick getting ready for today!
She sure loves balloons!
This morning when Little Chick wakes up, this is what she will see. All her friends are ready to celebrate. Surprise!
Happy Birthday!

More people sharing Cherished Moments Monday: Cassiopeia Chats, Etcetera Etcetera, Milestones, Articles from Addington,

Little Chick's 2nd Birthday

"Celebrate each birthday with excitement and lots of fun! You are God's birthday present to family and friends!" ~Mama Hen

Here is Little Chick on her 2nd birthday and at her birthday party! She loved Elmo! Tomorrow my beautiful daughter turns 4! Have a great Smile Sunday!

More people spreding smiles: The Scoop on Poop, Small and Simple Things, Milestones, Soaking up the Sunny Side of Life, Cassiopeia Chats,

Come and join me in Cherished Moments Monday! Just grab my Cherished Moments Monday button, write about a cherished memory and let me know so I can add your link!

Little Chick's 1st Birthday

"Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the "gift" of you to the world."

Little Chick turns 4 in a couple of days and I thought I would share some birthday pictures from the past! Here are some pictures from when Little Chick turned 1. I wanted her to have the biggest teddy we could find! She loved it! Come and join in Smile Sunday! Just grab my button, write about what makes you smile and let me know so I can add your link!