Mama of 2 P's in a Pod

I have never been one to wish time away. I don't care what day of the week it is. (Thursday has always been my favorite, not sure why) And I do not like to say I can't wait for this or that, because I think time is such a gift and wishing it away is not fair. But with that being said, 2015 can kiss my ass. There I said it. Whew! There are a lot of blessings that have came our way in 2015, I will not deny those. But overall, the past month or so, has truly left a dark cloud on this year. In fact, the cloud goes back now several years, but I can not change that nor do I want to undo any of the good that has come in our lives these past several years. However, I am ready to put that behind me and make 2016 a year to reclaim what has been taken. For the past several years, we pick a word or a phrase that we make our theme for the new year. I have decided mine will be reclaim. I have a lot of ways this word will be useful for myself, and my family. But at this present time, I will

Today marks the first day our 10 year old doesn't have a ball team to call her own. She made a very big decision this past week, one that we fully support. She has "enough" trophies and wants to focus on learning the game more and above all, having fun. She had a great 3 year run with her team, but they were going a direction that just didn't fit. It was tough, it is still in some ways, as we made the mistake of mixing friendship and business in one area. But, that will work itself out or it won't, but either way, our little girl decided to make a big change. So as of right now, she is a "free agent", hopefully guest playing for several teams to see what fits. This will also give her some time to find her strengths in other areas, most importantly, school. Lots of good changes going on there for her this year, thanks to a very good teacher who truly has taken little P's learning challenges on. So far, she is thriving. I am very proud of her and can&#

A new school year has begun. Both girls are enjoying it so far. Thankfully, some of the issues we've experienced with little P have found some resolve. Her teacher this year has truly gone to bat for her, and we are going in a different direction. One I know will help her in so many ways. Thankful to be part of such a great school. Big P is enjoying 6th grade so far, her class has gotten pretty small with boundary changes and kiddos leaving. Less girls = less drama mostly. Although her competitive streak gets the best of her sometimes. I do enjoy it though, she is strong willed and stands up for what is right, nothing wrong with that. I just have to remind her sometimes, that she needs to chill out, just a little. Life is slowing down some as it often does when fall ball comes to an end. Of course I am typing this on our only sunday off this month. But, tis the life and it's a life we love, for the most part. Finding balance is what we are working on, and both girls a

This is the highlight of my week! Kris and the P's came down to see me. Kris is exhausted, the city is a hot mess and he's been busy on the firetruck and the ambulance. So while daddy slept the girls and I walked around camp today. I can not wait to go home! Mostly because I am ready for a couple summer days with these girls and with Kris. I think I have truly learned to appreciate them more these past 4 months.

Day two of my little mom get away. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy getting up a little later. And let's be honest, by later I mean like 7 at the latest. Apparently I have hit that age where sleeping in is 7am. I woke up like 20 times leading up to 7, but being actual awake and coherent was at that time. My girls are currently being spoiled with pedicures and manicures and face masks. All of this leading up to them hopefully cleaning and organizing their bedrooms. I'm glad they're having fun. I wanted my time away to be a smooth, good week for them. I know the last camp I worked, it was a very hectic week at home and it stressed all of us out. I feel almost guilty for being here though. I literally follow my campers around with my camera, shoot a couple of pics and move on. Right now I am in my cabin enjoying the quiet. Trying to pace myself so I can get a lot of good pics but not all in one sitting. So, here I am blogging, again. I have learned a lot abo

I am away again, my last week in the Child & Youth Coordinator position. A mom vacation really, as this teen camp is me being here just in case, to make sure the teens are behaving and having fun. But the stress isn't where it was with Operation Kids Camp, at least not yet. These are teens after all, they can add as much stress as possible in a moment's notice. That does have me a little on edge, but I am still able to take in the scenery and the quiet time here. Quiet before the chaos of going back to the classroom and back to the hustle and bustle of the school year. Both girls are ready for school to start. But what a bittersweet year! Big P is in 6th GRADE! Little P is right behind her in 5th! Time seriously needs to slow down some. It's ridiculously fast. They are both downstairs in our building this year. Which of course, they are excited about. Now if they could just get along long enough to get down the stairs. It has been a different kind of summer for our

So I'm at camp this week. My girls could have came with me, but I didn't want to take away from any military kiddos. Next year, they will come. They will love it, and they won't have such a hard time with me here. They are of course having a blast with Kris, and their cousins who are watching them while Kris is on duty. I am so grateful for the smooth transitions. It is good to know that they are in good hands and getting where they need to be. Softball moms have jumped in and helped as well as they still have practice, have games etc. The shuffle is usually handled by me, but with me working summers it may be a "it takes a village" kind of thing. Of course come November, that may change back but we will see. I will not lie though, it is hard to not be missed. I'm sure tonight, there will be water works if we get to FaceTime. I've been here since Sunday. But the service is pretty sporadic and my time with the kids comes first. It is my job after all. But t

It's been a year. Does it ever get easier? Not even necessarily needing easier, just real. Nothing has felt real since I got the call about our motion detectors going off. Nothing has felt real since I ran down the hallway at SHES when my boss told me my house was not being broken into, that in fact I needed to go home because it was on fire. Nothing has felt real since I watched my husband try to breathe life into our sweet 4 legged boy and got sick realizing that very easily could have been one of our girls.  Nothing feels real now, a year later. Tomorrow marks a year. Please tell me that life can be felt again, be real again. I need to find a way to make that possible because the pain of the reality of it all is breaking my family.

Sheesh! Mother Nature has some mood swings but not a single snow day? I'm tired. Very tired. Long weekend but I don't feel rested one bit. I know there are crazy budget cuts, but can we get a snow day? Hello March 2015. May you be kinder than the last March.

A year ago, I was recovering from my first non baby related adult surgery. It was painful and I was weak and at times felt alone. That was probably the pain killer talking, but our life at the time was lonely. A major rift in the family just about did all the Dodds in, and sadly without our doing, Kris and I were in the middle of it. It was hard. Very hard. I had cleaned and organized the house in anticipation of not being able to do it for awhile. But my sweet P's, they took advantage of mama, and made it look like a hurricane hit their play area and rooms. That choice of mine, to over look and not exert the energy needed to clean it back up, haunts me to this day. Their possessions may have been saved had I not wallowed in my own self pity and cleaned them up. All of those toys they had loved most of their childhood, were lost because mama didn't insist on getting them back in totes or where they belonged. This is fresh to me, because we are in the process of finishing our ba

Most of my blog is about my family. I mean come on, it is called Mama of 2 P's in a Pod. But after some recent thinking and chatting with people close to me, I've decided to blog about myself for a moment. I seem to have lost my center. Perhaps I've never had it in my own possession. I am after all, a people pleaser and a fixer. I want to help everyone and anyone who will let me know. I devote so much time to my family that when it comes down to it, I don't have much for myself. It is not their fault, it is only my own. I can't change overnight, but the time has come to find myself. I know I am around here somewhere. I need to find a way to be true to me, but still be the giver I am. That will be hard. I want to fix some things so very bad, but they aren't mine to fix. I have to step back a little and let those who need to fix them, find their own way. I know we are at 11 months since the fire. And most of everyone we know is over it and expects us to be. I

2015 is here. Much like last year, we were asked to chose a word rather than a resolution to guide our year. Each of us have selected a word. Kris is Better. Piper is Courageous. Parker is Shine. Mine is Best. So I will do my best in all I do this year. So far, I've done my best at staying in PJ"s all day and watching Friends from the beginning on Netflix. We have all been extremely worn down and tired. The girls both have colds that seem to zonk all energy. So we've spent the first two days of this year in PJ's and watching movies, shows etc. Kris came home this morning and went straight to bed, after fighting a big fire downtown. I know it wasn't just physical exhaustion that sent him to bed. Fighting fires has taken a whole new meaning now. Speaking of fire. Our fire still haunts this house. I know we are at the 10 month mark, but being home is strange. It is a house, it isn't quite home yet. So part of Operation Best, is finding my best way to make ou