BAD MOMS (no spoiler)

I have been wanting to see this movie forever. A bunch of us planned on seeing it at our own screening but that feel through because well....we are moms and everyone is busy. I did end up seeing it thought two days in a row. Yes...I saw it twice. I laughed just as much the second time as I did the first!!

The first day I went with my friend Christy, MIL and she invited some fun friends as well. We went to Mexican and then the movie. It was GREAT! Laughed so hard I thought I might pee myself.

The second day I finally talked my friend Megan into going. Cassie and I went and picked her up and away we went. It was interesting because the first time I saw it I was not going to take Cassie but then I realized I have to let go a little because in a month she is 18. She probably hears worse at school. Actually I know she does.

I laughed just as much the second time as I did the first!

Now lets get to the nitty gritty of this blog!!

I loved this movie because it really showed that no mom is perfect. NO MOM!! That everyone has dirt on them in some way or another. It also shows how much us moms care about our kids and try to do our best. Not the "best" of someone else's standards but to OUR best! It shows you no matter what your kid is doing, even when they drive you crazy... that we still love them very much! It even showed that realisticly  we should be not judging others. We don't know what's going on in their lives.

Now this may not be a God movie and maybe a lot of Christians wouldn't go to this movie (or maybe they would....I am not judging) but it really showed me some similarities.

Who knows I will probably be judged for writing this but just know that we all have different views on things. I took some of what I saw and laughed at it because I could relate to it in the movie and thought about it in the Christian sense too.

Treat others as you would want to be treated. Lets try and stop judging. I know I do it too and I am always working on it. Does it matter if you bring donut holes to a bake sale or you spent hours making cupcakes yourself? As long as the money is going to your kids right? I am not saying that those beautiful cupcakes didn't take you a long time and that you aren't awesome for it but the person who is working a lot and maybe who doesn't have time to make cupcakes instead  grabs the donut holes is just as amazing.

Lets stop judging. I mean seriously none of us like to be judged. We all know how it feels to be judged in life. None of us has escaped judgment I assure you.

Being Vulnerable and Real and Raw is okay! Personally I love my friends who can tell me their real stuff. It makes me feel more normal. I feel more connected to them. I even feel like I have a deeper friendship because they are willing to share with me their REALNESS and RAWNESS. If you aren't that way though....I get that too. Not gonna judge!

We all love our children. We all do it in different ways too. If you think about it though and look at all your friends whom you love dearly and who love you dearly......they ALL came from different backgrounds and were raised differently. That's what makes us unique. We love our children we just love them in different ways. Even if its the ones who loves them enough to give them up so they can be loved by someone else even more so.

I really loved the message in this movie. To be honest I loved that I could laugh at situations too. I saw myself in so many of them. In the end though....we are all bad moms. In the sense of NON of us are perfect. Its just not going to ever happen. I know I will keep trying my best but that's all I can ever do is MY best.

Hope I don't get judged just by this blog:)

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Zero to 18 in no time flat

Zero to 18 in 22 seconds. That is truly what it feels like when my oldest child is now OFFICALLY an adult. I am one lucky mom. Even today he asked me “Does it feel weird we are all growing up?” My answer was……DEFINITELY.

He has always been a dirt biker

I have been struggling with Jackson this year. Not with him but the fact that he is now 18 and a senior. The fact that my oldest kid is going to join the Military after Graduation. The fact that he isn’t a little boy anymore with big ears and an even bigger smile.  I guess every parent struggles with the fact their kids are getting older. I sometimes look at him when he is speaking and can see WAY down the line when he has a family of his own. I see the growth. I see his caring nature. I see his joking side. I see how much he has grown. I see him turning into a man.

Me and my Adult Son

For Jacks 18^th bday he wanted to go to an All you can eat Sushi place. There is nothing like that around where we live although we do love us some sushi. His Mom and I talked and decided we would bring him to Reno so both sides of the family could meet up. We wanted him to have a big birthday with her and her side of the family plus Ryan and I and our side of the family. It was going to be great! Sushi, bowling and staying at a Casino. Cousins everywhere. I think Jackson was worried it was going to be a little babyish but in the end he said he really liked it.

We did the all you can eat sushi with 21 of us. Everyone chatted and had fun. It was all for Jackson and he was the star of the show. I wished I would have gotten a picture of him when the whole restaurant sang to him. The embarrassed look on his face was classic. We all laughed, ate and had a good time. After filling our bellies full we went over to Grand Sierra Resort to do Black light bowling.

A whole bunch of us

 

Jack with his mom on left and MIL on right

 

Cassie, Josh and Aunt Kelly loving Sushi

 

 Jen and some of the younger Cousins

 

Ryan and I loving Sushi

Ok I am going to stop for a second and say something important to me. I may not be Jackson’s biological mom. I am technically his step mom and have only been in his life since he was 10 but I love him like he is my own. He has my heart. I am thankful that his Biological mom and family understand that. They even call me the “other mom” as I am just that. The other mom. I am not the wicked step mom in Cinderella. I love Jackson and have since I laid eyes on him and his brother. Ryan and I have never treated the four kids differently. They get loved the same and punished the same. We are very blessed they get along so well and they view each other as brothers and sisters. My heart aches when any of them are hurt and is over joyed when something happens good to any of them. I am also very thankful that you can take two families that have been through a divorce and still be there for the kids. And have fun mind you too.

Ok so back to my kid turning 18. We all went bowling for two hours. It was a blast. Not only was it fun for the little kids but it was fun for the adults too. I laughed so many times. I laughed when my dad took off his shoes because he was afraid to slip. I laughed when Jacksons Uncle John told me how he was a great bowler but only on Wii. I laughed when any of us would get a strike and see the ultimate joy in our faces or rather surprised look that we did it actually. It was a good time. I loved getting to know Jackson and Jason’s Mom side better. Everyone was really nice and never made anything awkward. I loved seeing my nieces Kylie and Mariah bowl with their bumper pads and thinking to myself maybe I would do better if I used those too.

Jacob and Jackson going head to head

The thing that I hope Jackson saw in the end was there were so many people there who loved him. So many people who wanted to share in his bday of turning into an adult. He had Uncles and Aunts from both sides there, His Grandma Sally, His Papa Vaughn and Grandma Andy and then he had a slew of cousins from young to old there plus his siblings and all his 3 parents. I think that is how every big birthday should be. Full of fun and love for your child. Not many divorced families can pull that off but if you truly love the kids....you will.

It was an amazing night. Lots of laughs and lots of love. Jackson later went out with his older cousin Jacob to have a little one on one time too. Also shout out to Jacob. I like that kid (whelp technically adult) and I promised him if he won in bowling I would give a shout out! HI JACOB!

It was a good night. My son is finally 18. The skies have opened up for him and he is an adult. Just a couple more months and he will be graduating too. I love you Jackson. For the next couple months I may hug you a little longer and a little tighter…..you just have to stop growing up.

Homecoming, Senior, Sadies Fun

It was going to be a big night. Not only was it Jason and Josh last JV game of the season but it was also Homecoming and Senior night. I knew before it even started it was going to be a long day of fun and maybe even the occasional tear.

Homecoming at our school happens twice a year. Its not just during Football Season but its also during Basketball Season. I think that is pretty cool that they do it twice a year. Gives more opportunities for the kids to be on Homecoming Court.

This year we were lucky enough that two of our four teenagers were on the Homecoming Court. Jackson, our Senior, was prince this year for his grade and Cassie, our Junior, was princess for her class. We were proud to see them. Here are a couple pics of them with their dates for the night. I love that Jackson rocked the  bowtie and I thought that Cassie looks so beautiful.

It was also Senior night. Senior night means its the last home game of the season for well Seniors. They got to be announced over the intercom and also come up to shake their dads hands and give their mothers a hug and a rose. I am glad this time I didn't cry. Football Senior night I did however.  cant believe Jackson is a Senior and in just a couple months he will be graduated. Heck I cant believe he is going to be 18 in less than a week. I am SO OLD! He has grown so much and we are so very proud of him.

After all the games and festivities the kids had Sadie Hawkins dance. Did I tell you it was a long night haha! Lots of fun and lots of things for the kids to do. Sadie Hawkins is the dance where the girl asks the boy to go. Instead of dressing up all fancy they buy matching shirts or couples shirts. Cassie had asked her friend Chad to go with her. She did it in a unique way since he loves Tacos so much. Even gave him a Chocolate Taco Ice cream along with the invite. Man kids are clever these days.

Jackson was asked by his GF Kayla. She asked him at a previous basketball game and got all the kids to help with it. Too cute. She even gave him his favorite Reece's snacks. They didn't last long in our house. Thankfully Jack shared.

So the events started at 4pm and ended at 1am. It was a good day of a lot of memories. One that we will continue to do for the next three years with the kids. Josh next year will be our Varsity Basketball player and Jason wont be the newbie anymore on JV. I love seeing them play and thankfully I have a couple more years of watching it! Love all my kids.


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Happy New Year!!

Its has been a crazy week! Let me tell you that it will probably take me a full week of blogs maybe just to get it all on here ha! I just wanted to say a quick HAPPY 2016! This is going to be a year of BIG changes in our family.

Here are some highlights of the kids Christmas break! Thought I would do it in pictures. We were at home for Christmas but after it was a whirlwind of Mil, My dad and step mom surprising us and treating us for days to come......This is not in order.....:)

Whew! It was a long and awesome last five days with family and friends!

The Nutcracker and my GREAT Christmas Idea!!

When I look back on my childhood the one thing I remember about the Holiday season is going to the Nutcracker. I still think I could be graceful and a ballerina. Trouble is I am too accident prone and lets be real...I would be feeling pretty bad for the guy who had to lift me! Ha!

About 5 months ago Mil and I went to Dancing with the Stars. After the show my eyes got so big when I saw a poster saying the Moscow Ballet was coming to the City. Uhm!! The MOSCOW BALLET!!!! I didn't even care what they were going to do at first but then when my heart started to slow down I saw it was the Nutcracker. Someone...STAT...I need some heart medicine or something!

I knew at that moment that I was going. Ryan however didn't know, or MIL for that fact. I researched prices and seats. I knew the kids wouldn't be with us for Thanksgiving so it would be just Ryan and I or Mil, Ryan and I. I talked to Ryan and as usual he said ok if it was something I really wanted. Its kind of spendy at 65 dollars a ticket. Its worth it though. The ballet so beautiful. So Graceful. So Amazing.

I am sure not everyone feels the same way as me on the ballet. You have to kind of snow the story. The sets were really cool and the dancing amazing. I just kept thinking of when I was a child and I would watch The Nutcracker when we lived in Germany. When we left I knew I wanted to be a ballerina. I remember my mother touching my back to scoot me out the door because I was trying to dance down the aisle. I miss my mom. Going to the Nutcracker made me think of her and put a smile on my face. I am thankful I had parents who really took us to places, had us try new things, and tried to give us culture. That is not that easy to do now a days but I try to do the same with my children. Its important......open your eyes to new things. Go and SEE things. Have great memories or even so-so memories haha! I mean everything you go to you might not LOVE! You will still have the memory of it. I am sure Ryan didn't LOVE the Ballet. He enjoyed going and see something new though. Take a chance! Get out there.....go DO something:)

This Christmas I have set up the 5 days before Christmas. I want each day before Christmas to be something WE are doing as a FAMILY. We have already bought tickets to enjoy an event with the family. I cant tell you what yet as the kids might see this. We have three events planned and then one day we are going to go bowling as a family. The kids really wanted to do that and its been a long time. I cant wait till Christmas break.

Do they have presents under the tree? Yep...! Will they probably get everything off their list from us and all their family members? Probably! Will they remember that though in 20 years...doubtful. We will however remember going places as a family, seeing things and being all together to open those presents. This year I plan on making a big Christmas dinner of Turkey and Ham. Its going to be a family event as each child is going to help with the meal and a dish. Those are good memories.

As usual I start talking about one thing and go to another. Like I said in my disclaimer of my blog however. This is Everyday Rae Rae....you get what you get:)

The Nutcracker was amazing. I am so thankful that my husband and MIL went with me. Its a memory that I have tucked away now along with the memory of my mom pushing me along as I am dancing down the aisle. I will remember looking over at the end of the Ballet to my husband and MIL and they had a subtle smile on their face. All dressed up and trying something new. Love them! Love they always go along with my antics. I am truly blessed.

Just as I am so blessed and thankful for my mother and father who ALWAYS made us try new things. Traveled with us and opened our eyes to more than just our little town. Thank you! You raised us well! Love you!

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