How do YOU see me?

I read something on Facebook the other day that really had me thinking. It had me thinking about how others saw me as a mother. And it sort of scared me.
Now normally, I'm not one to care what others think of me. Actually, I DON'T care what other people think of me as a person, but as a mother? That's totally different.

And here's where my concerns lie.

To the people behind me in the checkout line, staring at me and my two year old son who's literally dragging his legs and crying because I said he couldn't get the candy as I'm trying to pull him away to pay for our things with tears in my eyes because I'm just frustrated and feeling alone: What kind of mother do YOU see me as?

To the people who hear me quietly say to my children that if they walk away from me one more time or pull something else off the shelf in the store that they are going to get a spanking: What kind of mother do YOU see me as?

To the people who realize I had my first child at the age of 19, and my second at age 21: What kind of mother do YOU see me as?

To the nurses in the hospital room who see me burst into tears just from utter exhaustion after telling me that my two year old son needs to stay still to keep his oxygen levels up: What kind of mother do YOU see me as?

To my friends and family who see how stressed I get after a long day of tantrums and back talking and just plain aggravation: What kind of mother do YOU see me as?


I really want to think that the people who see me (and my kids) at my worst, can still see how much I love my babies. I hope they can see through my messy hair, ugly "mom" clothes, and tired eyes, and see that I'm trying my best. I hope they can understand that raising children is the hardest job in the whole Earth and Mothers are the most under appreciated beings.

I can't even explain to you how it feels to be a mother. It's fun. It's horrible. It's not glamorous. It's breath taking. It's pure. It's magical. It's stressful. It's crazy. It's love.

Most say pregnancy is hard. But oh my goodness, being pregnant is just the icing on the cake. Even labor doesn't top the hardest part about being a mother. It's the actual raising of the children that can just down right bring you to tears.

I'm scared to death of being a mother, but it's a little late for that.

I just pray I can raise my children to be wonderful, loving, funny, caring, smart individuals. And I hope the world can see that that's what I'm trying to do.

Mini Pool Time!

Hey people with children, otherwise known as parents! Let me tell you a little secret.
If you buy your kids a $9 baby pool from Wal-Mart, they will be entertained for hours and they will think you are awesome.

Seriously ya’ll. The way they were splashing around and laughing, you would’ve thought I had put in a in-ground pool. See, you don’t have to have fancy things to make your kids happy! (Thank the Lord).

I pulled up two lawn chairs and tanned. It was pretty hot outside, I think like 91. So I had the kids bring me a bucket of water when I got hot. #itsnotchildlaboriftheydontminddoingit *wink wink*

I actually got a decent amount of sun without burning! GO ME! I used to never burn easily until after I had kids. Put THAT in your “Pregnancy is a glorious happening” book. If there’s a such thing. Crazy hormones.

And seriously. Where are my boobs? Oh yeah, pregnancy did works on those, too. I hope Kenzie reads my blog when she’s older. Maybe I can be an advocate for teen pregnancy. “Look at my body! Look what happens!”. #sorrynotsorry

I tried to take a picture of Tucker and this is the face I got.
Then I asked him to smile and THIS is what I got next:

All I could think of was Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.

The kids had a splash war going on.

I think Kenzie won.
I’m not even sure if Tucker was participating.

Dobby got in on the action.
That dog loves water.
He tried to eat the water hose.
Have I told you how special Dobby is?

After some relaxation, we headed in for showers.

And that’s how we entertained ourselves one day with a $9 pool.

PS – The kids are getting a BIG pool for their birthday soon. They just don’t know it:)

Short & Sweet Post!

Since I've gained 500+ followers on my little blog, I feel on top of the world. Like, for real. It makes me so happy that people WANT to hear my ramble lol! 

  

So for reaching 500+ followers, I'm hosting a giveaway next month. But of course, I couldn't do this on my own! I've already got quite a few bloggers & shop owners who are contributing, but I figured I'd make a post about it in case I missed someone.

I decided to do the giveaway in July because it's just a big month of events for us. Tucker's birthday/4th of July, Kenzie's birthday, the kids birthday party. It's so exciting! Might as well throw a big giveaway in there, too!

The deadline to send in your money & fill out the form is June 29th (I wrote the wrong thing on the picture and I'm too lazy to fix it haha!). BUT, if you NEED an extension, please let me know! I'm more than happy to work out any details with you.

laurenkloeffel@gmail.com or just click the little email button under my picture up there.

2 links = $5

3 links = $10

4 links = $15

OR

If you own a shop or sell products, you can also contribute! I just ask that the item you are contributing is equal to $10 or more, to be fair. 

 So if you are interested in growing your blog or shop fill out this form here.

I'm so excited about this! But I couldn't be excited if it wasn't for you guys:) 

So thank you! For real. Thanks!

Do you know Henry Cavill? Let me introduce.

Gosh. This was like a week ago.
I’m so lame.

Anywhoooooo.
If you have been a reader of this blog for awhile, then you already know I love me some Superheroes. And I’m not alone. My husband is the biggest Superman fan I’ve ever met. (In case you were wondering, Wolverine/The X-Men are MY favorite in the world. And Thor. And Batman).

So of COURSE we went to the midnight premier of Man of Steel. And not only was it a midnight premiere, it was also a block party! We had time to spare (see above pictures haha!) so we went out to eat and walked around Wal-Mart for awhile. And tried on children’s masks. #wewillnevergrowup
We got to the “party” at around 10:30 and got our raffle tickets. I was crossing my fingers for the $100 gift card to the local tattoo shop, but of course, neither of us won anything haha!

But there WAS cupcakes and cake balls. So in the end, we did win. We won deliciousness.
Ya’ll. Those cake balls were SO amazing. I can’t even. They just mmmmmmmm. <----that’s the best description I can give you.

Just look at my husband’s face. Bless his heart. He was just so excited. About the movie AND the cupcake.

See, a local law office provided FREE tickets to anyone who "liked” and shared their FB page. How generous is that?! There was a live band, old time Looney Tunes playing in certain theaters, and of course the cupcakes from a local bakery. There was even face painting for kids. And I’m not talking little ladybugs on the cheek type of face paint. I’m talking your whole face is painted. I saw a Spiderman, a fairy, and bless his heart….I saw a kid with a Mike Tyson tattoo painted on him. His parents should be proud…..I think it’s amazing that a small town comes together like this to provide a fun event for the community (even though it’s not OUR community lol. We live 15 minutes away).

Duck face with our 3-D glasses. And I kid you not….this was my husband’s idea. HAHA!! I love him.

The movie was amazing. I loved how they made this one more “Sci-fy-ey” than the others. I mean, Christopher Nolan directed it. Of course it was going to be a great movie.

Henry Cavill made an excellent Superman. Am I right ladies? Or am I right? Or perhaps this is more your type:

Oh yes. Henry Cavill with a BEARD.
I just have a thing for bearded, rugged, manly men.

That’s my man, Logan.
AKA Wolverine.
AKA back off because you can’t have him because I love him.

Phew.

I’m sorry. This post was supposed to be about Clark Kent, but somehow I lost track.

Us in our Superman shirts.
There’s a saying for people like us: “A couple that loves Comics together, is the most awesome couple in the world.”

I’m sure someone famous quoted that.

I’m totally sure.

GO SEE MAN OF STEEL!
Seriously ladies. Quit dragging your man to soppy lovey dovey movies. I promise it will make him happy lol.

PS- Sometimes I watch soppy lovey dovey movies. So I’m not downing you romantics out there.

Come link up! The Bloglovin' Collective

<center> <a href="http://peacoatsandplaid.blogspot.com/search/label/bloglovin%20collective"> <img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/bre916/bloglovinhop200_zps1f5121c1.jpg" border="0"/> </a></center>

Welcome to the weekly Bloglovin' Collective party! 

There are many out there like it, but this is the Bloglovin' blog hop you do not want to miss.

Not sure if this is the blog hop for you? Check out what other bloggers have to say:

"I'm having so so so much fun with this blog hop, it's seriously the best one I've been involved with.  I've met some seriously awesome new bloggers, and there is so much HOPPING going on which totally doesn't always happen!"
-Ashley, Modernette

Host:

Bre from Peacoats & Plaid

and my co-hosts for the week:

Emily @ Designs by Emily F
Lauren @ Tennessee Honey
Eva @ Snappee Turtle
Megan @ Home Sweet Homa

Interested in co-hosting? Send an email to peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com to get on the waiting list.

An InLinkz Link-up

Working On Myself.

Along with trying to eat right and get healthy for my body, I am also trying to work on becoming a better person emotionally.

I’m human. I have flaws. I switch emotions like a light switch. And since I’m a woman, those emotions are multiplied about five gazillion times. AND since I’m a mother, those emotions and hormones multiplied times infinity. In conclusion, I’m a wee bit of an emotional train wreck. And by train wreck, I mean the B word. bitch.

First of all, I would like to say I’m sorry to anyone who I’ve hurt because of my emotional craziness. Sometimes I say things that I shouldn’t say out loud. Most of the time I say those things because I’m angry. So I’m sorry for that. I’m trying to change. And in order to change, I have to look at WHY I act the way I do.

#1. I have a hard time feeling happy for people. I think most of the reason is because of jealousy. I’m jealous of the blogger who has won 56 giveaways in the past week. I’m jealous of the girls rocking all these cute boutique clothes that I can’t afford. I’m jealous of pretty much anyone who has it “easier” than I do because I want things and I want them now. Hey, I’m working on it.

#2. Sometimes people just get on my nerves and I tell them and then they don’t like me. So there’s that. I’m working on not letting my nerves “got on”.

#3. There’s a certain time of the month where I just shouldn’t be allowed to have any type of communication with the outside world. Girls, you know what I mean.

#4. Sometimes I turn into a six year old and I get mad because someone “copies” me. Like, I don’t mind when you get “ideas” from me because let’s be honest, sometimes I have these super amazing ideas. Not. But I hate when someone’s all “I love your owl tattoo! I’m gonna get one JUST LIKE IT in the same EXACT spot!!”. No, rude. No you are not. Finding “inspiration” in someone is perfectly acceptable. But copying is a no no.
This was just a made up example. I would be extremely pissed if someone actually said that to me.

So there you have it. Four reasons why I can be the big “b” word. And I’m working on it. I seriously am. I’m trying to help out other bloggers when I can, even if I get nothing from it. I’ve been keeping rude comments to myself….mostly. AND I gave a sandwich to a homeless man the other day.

I know, I know. Don’t be too shocked. Tone it down a bit girls, k?

 

So here’s to being nice!

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s……

SUPERMAN!

Saturday, we went on a mini family getaway to Metropolis, Illinois for the annual Superman Festival! Doug is a HUGE Superman fan. He loves Superman like I love Wolverine. And Norman Reedus. The kids are superhero nerds, too.

We were all so excited for this trip! It was a little rough on me because of the medication I’m taking for a kidney infection, but I toughed it out as best as I could. It was so exciting to see all of the other Superhero fans out there!

The weather wasn’t too bad either. Yes, it was warm, but I know it could’ve been worse lol.

We saw all sorts of costumes at the festival.

Doug and I almost got attacked by a zombie, but Rick saved us. (Even though Rick looked more like Shane).
And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you might want to start watching the best show on AMC…The Walking Dead.

I think Doug enjoyed himself a little much…

After meeting and greeting, we went through the Superman Museum.
It had tons of historic Superman novelties.



Overall, it was a fun experience. Next year, we will be better prepared (and hopefully I won’t be on medication) and we will do a little more.

We ended up in Murray, KY to meet up with some friends for lunch. Chinese, duh. The kids ate very nutritiously….

To end the night, we watched a movie as a family. Guess which one we watched?
You guessed it, Superman Returns.