Videos From Yesterday

Here are the videos I promised you guys! I promise, they are pretty short-all right around a minute each! Sorry for the sideways version of one of the Riley videos-I thought I was making a vertical video, and didn't realize that I couldn't rotate it! And they aren't in much of an organized order!

Enjoy! :)

Snow, Round 2! Riley Comes to Play!

Riley brought her Mommy and Daddy over this morning to play in the snow! And she POUNDED on the door while Jason and I were putting our boots back on, saying "Come on FENNY!!!!"

In the snow with my seester-the last time I played in the snow was with her at probably around age 10. We just don't get this type of snow very often.

My beautiful niece let me pick her up long enough for this picture, and then said DOWN!!!!!!! I can't believe she will be 2 soon.

Snow angel.

She loved that sled!

This picture of Fenny chasing Riley on the sled cracks me up!

Jason threw snow at me, and his aim was off and he hit me in the face! I had to get him back!

Riley and her Mommy. :)

Riley getting her mitten put back on. It was so wet and heavy that it kept falling off!

Jason showing Riley how to smash down the snow.

Someone was ready to go home and get warm.

She was laying face down, smashing the snow.

She was also using her arms to scoop as much of it up as she could.

Snow bunny loved to fall down in the snow and go, "UH! I STUCK!"

The whole Crowe family.

Off they go, back to their house!

Riley shouted "See ya later!" and "Bye-bye!" for as long as we could hear her.

Happy first BIG snow day, Riley!

Videos to come in a bit! :)

Snow! Round 1!

Kentucky got hit by the snow storm that many of the states in the U.S. did over the past few days.  Our area ended up with around 6" of snow! I haven't seen this much snow in YEARS!  I hope you are ready for a few posts FULL of photos!

Our home.  We've been here almost a year now!!!!

Look at this crazy snow drift on our front porch!

Up PAST my ankles! It's nuts!

Jason decided to look like a ninja while he shoveled our back porch, to give Fenway a place to shake off after he does his business.

Fenny really didn't like it that we were outside in the snow and left him inside.

So we let him out! Without his sweater...we had to fix that!

He LOVED running around and burying his face in the snow! Don't worry, I have videos! They're coming!

LOTS of running!

My sweet little family. :)

A close up shot of Fenway's face.  He was frozen!

I love my sweet puppy!

I adore my husband! :)

After a lot of fun and running, we had to put Fenway in a warm bath to melt all the snow off his belly!

Stay tuned for Round 2 to see the fun we had when Riley brought her parents over to play in the snow, and for videos! :)

Fenway's Tricks

I haven't updated you all on Fenway for a while! I thought I'd share some videos of him doing his tricks. The first video he is so excited that a camera is on him he doesn't want to listen at first. His latest trick, closing the door, is my new favorite! :)

Award

I promise to tell you guys about the Giveaway that I mixed up the swap with, but I got an award today from two of my favorite bloggers, Brittney @ Back to the Quarry and Jorden and Kristin.  Both of these beautiful women are pregnant with their first child, a boy and a girl, respectively. I can't wait to see the beautiful faces of their new bundles of joy, and love following their pregnancy journey.  It is definitely giving me some tips on pregnancy when my time comes!  Thanks for the award, ladies!!

So the rules of this award are to list 10 things that make you happy, and then pass it on to 10 of your favorite bloggers!

1. Hearing my sweet niece talk.  She's so funny! 

Side story: Riley was taken out off church service yesterday for throwing a toy.  As my sister was taking her out, she reached back to the pew and shouted: "HELP ME GRANNY!!" Haha.  

So cute.

2. Fenway sleeping on my head at night.

3. Holding hands with Jason.

4.  Busy work days where I get to see a bunch of my clients.

5.  Warm weather.

6.  Terrific friends with the greatest advice.

7. Spending time with my parents.

8.  Any snack that I can eat in bed while watching TV with my husband. haha!

9.  Date nights in front of our fireplace.

10.  Laughing.  At everything.

And I want to tag:

Jess @ All-American Jess

Jax @ The Roaring Twenties

Shannon @ Fort Cox

Annie @ Chapters of Our Life

Caroline @ Simply Smithwick

Katie @ The Mathis

Heather @ Live. Laugh. Love.

Laura @ Our Crazy Adventure

Rachel @ Beautiful Life

Amy @ the Un-Housewife Life

Swap

Error Correction! I was in such a hurry, I mixed this swap up with another giveaway I was going to tell you about! Head over to join this SWAP! :)

So I know I'm way late, but you still have a few days to head over to Katie at Loves of Life to join her really awesome Simply Love Swap!!

Confrontation

Thank you all so much for your input on this post here. I promised you all my thoughts, but I definitely appreciate your opinions!

I find it very easy to talk about everything with my husband (a reason why I married him!). I find it very easy to approach him with things that may have hurt my feelings, and break it to him in a way that won't his feelings in return. We never intentionally hurt one another, although we sometimes miss a step and do cause hurt feelings. He and I have never had difficulty communicating anything.

I do find it difficult with friends to confront them sometimes. I know that my truest friends have never intentionally done anything to hurt me, so I find it difficult to discuss these things. I fear straining a relationship that I really don't want to strain by speaking up in situations that could just be looked over. Although I do find fault in this, because looking over these small things often continue to build, and then the friendship goes beyond repair.

I'm usually pretty good at letting things go. Sometimes, it may take me a few days, but I can overlook a lot. And I have definitely overlooked a LOT over this past year. But I have also realized that most friendships that I have overlooked unfortunate circumstances usually causes more damage in the long run.

I also feel like my comfort to confront usually says a lot about how I value the relationship. With my relationship with my husband-I WANT things to stay as healthy and happy as they are. I've often noticed that I can determine the friendships I value most by wanting to make sure they remain healthy.

I definitely don't bring up every tiny thing, because I am aware that I can sometimes be oversensitive and take things the wrong way. But on the things that really hurt my feelings, I can usually find a way to bring it up. I may even just bring it up in a small conversation and brush over it. It may never turn into a large discussion. I don't find it necessary to make every bump in the road a long conversation. Sometimes just throwing it out there, even lightly, is enough to make me feel better. :)

I've Come to Realize...

I borrowed this from Jess, at All-American Jess.  I just love Jess's blog, and she is one of my sweetest bloggy friends.  Thanks for letting me steal this Jess!

I’ve come to realize that my job. . . is exactly where I want to be.  I love getting paid to encourage children and their families.

I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I love to sing along to really cheesy music.

I’ve come to realize that I need. . . to live a bit more for "now" and stop planning for the future.

I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . . hope for a friendship that was always one-sided.

I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . it's cold outside.  The static, the dry skin, the feeling of never finding warmth.  I hate the cold.

I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . . I just paid a lot of money to sleep.  It takes a lot to get me drunk, and all it does is make me sleepy.  I love my glass of wine, but not an expensive nap.

I’ve come to realize that money…should be used wisely, but also enjoyed.

I’ve come to realize that certain people. . . just weren't meant to be in my life-and that's ok.

I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . .spoil my niece rotten!

I’ve come to realize that my sibling(s). . .are very different from me, but that it is a good thing.

I’ve come to realize that my mom…spends a lot of time focused on others, and rarely ever focuses on herself.  Thankfully, we've been able to give a little bit of that back to here over these past few months since she hasn't been able to drive from her hospital stay.  (She's SO excited to drive next week, I told her I was making her pick me up and take me out!)

I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . . is used more for texting than it is for talking.

I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . . I felt happy to go to work.

I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . .that my favorite way to fall asleep is with my forehead against my husbands.

I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . .that my dog is incredibly cuddly.

I’ve come to realize that my dad. . .is a man of value.

I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . . I spend an excessive amount of time there.

I’ve come to realize that today. . . was a blessing.  I got to spend time with 5 of my wonderful clients.

I’ve come to realize that tonight. . . was a simple night, but so wonderful.

I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . . is another chance that I have to give a child the opportunity to have someone not give up on them.

I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . complete my Masters degree.  

I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to repost this is. . . probably someone I wouldn't expect.

I’ve come to realize that life. . . is beautiful.

I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . . was spent almost completely in my pajamas and fabulous.

I’ve come to realize that my friends. . . are the truest friends I will ever find.

I’ve come to realize that this year. . .is the first full year I get to spend as a wife.

I’ve come to realize that my husband. . . is completely perfect for me.

I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . show appreciation to my husband every chance I get.

I’ve come to realize that I love. . . completely and fully-once you earn it from me.

I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . . parents that don't put their children first.

I’ve come to realize my past. . . was the best learning experiences I could have asked for.

I’ve come to realize that parties. . ..are better with only a few people.

I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . . of all bugs and rodents.  This is something I must overcome due to home visits for my new job. Any advice anyone?

I’ve come to realize that my life. . . is everything I have ever hoped for.  I've always lived for the future, and am currently so happy to live for right this moment.

The Bachelor

Oh dear.  

I swore this show off after Jason did what he did to Melissa.  Of course I've been suckered into this new season.  Why oh why do I watch this silly show?!

This set of girls are NUTS!  This year The Bachelor is named Jake, who is a pilot.

Some of my favorites are Tenley and Corrie.  I'm not really sure why I like Corrie, I just think she is extremely adorable and not catty.  Tenley is so sweet and genuine, I hope she doesn't get her heart broken again!

But then they show a girl who speaks to Jake in her native language.  I was thinking "Oh, how sweet." Before I could even finish that thought, she translates her statement to say: "Jake, you can fly your plane to my landing strip any time."  Um. Wow.  Weird.

But seriously.  Really.  Who in the heck has a pretend fiance?!  In case you didn't tune in, allow me to fill you in.  One of the girls tonight was wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring.  So Jake asked her about it, and she goes on to tell him that she has kept a "pretend fiance" and it was a "pretend engagement ring."  She proceeds to take off the pretend ring, and give it to him and say "I don't want to pretend anymore, I want a real fiance."  No lie.  Really.  Who does that?!?!!

This show is insane.  How did I get suckered in again?  Tell me, did you give in and watch tonight? Thoughts?

Confusion

All right bloggy readers, I want to hear from you!

In a very constructive, respectful debate with a dear friend of mine, we arrived at a question. To confront or not to confront?

Sadly, we tend to hurt the ones we love the most, usually unintentionally. So what do you do when you are the one that is hurt? Do you bring your hurt to their attention, or do you let it go? Is it better for a strong relationship to call attention to the small things that hurt us, or better to overlook them and understand that the action was probably unintentional?

I definitely want to discuss my argument for this topic, as well as the opinion of my friend, but I want to hear from you first! :)

Peace with Ourselves

"Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have."

Lately, I've been doing a lot of listening. It's my job now. It's my job to help children learn to cope with sadness and anger, and to help their parents relate to their children. It's my job to help parents realize they should not to expect their children to act like tiny adults, and how to teach responsibility that is at their age level. It's my job to connect these families with services that might help make their lives a bit better.

One thing I've heard lately is the struggle of financial stressors. Many have expressed their thoughts of this situation. Many feel that if their financial stress would lessen, they could control their other life issues. They would be more willing to work with their children, more willing to speak instead of yell at their spouse, more willing to bond together as a family. It is difficult to explain that they must reverse that mindset, and to make peace with who they are.

I have seen families with low income and minimal material belongings that couldn't be happier with their lives. They know who they are, they have their faith, and they have the peace within their hearts of what truly matters. And on the other end of the spectrum, I've seen families with high income and many material belongings that are not happy with their lives. It is easy to try to fill a void with material belongings, only to realize that the void is still there. People look out into the world instead of looking within to find happiness.

I have also found this to be true in relationships. Many attempt to find their contentment within someone else, and continue to find disappointment. It is difficult to have a healthy relationship with another individual when you do not have peace within your own heart. You cannot expect changes in a relationship until you begin to make changes yourself. You can only change yourself. We cannot expect anyone else to do this for us, nor can we attempt to do this for anyone else. It must come from within.

For 2010, I hope that we can all continue to find more peace within ourselves, so that we can be reminded everyday of how blessed we are. I've learned over the past few weeks that you cannot change anyone's priorities, no matter how out of line those priorities may seem. If we can continue to grow the peace within ourselves, we allow our contentment with what we have. For me, it is to continue to grow with the peace that God always lives in my heart. For you, it may be something different. I hope that you find, or have found, what makes the peace within yourself to be content today.