I can't weech it, too Big

I was having an amazingly fantastic day...Timothy and Aidan were finished with their school work and ran off to play outside. I was getting caught up on editing, Chris was FINALLY getting some overtime and all was right with the world!
       Kateline is 2 and LOVES to play dress up...well really she loves getting dressed and undressed all day long. She found a dress and her sister Madeline's purse and she announced she was going shopping!
So playing along, I waved bye and told her to have a good time...and she headed out to the back yard to go "shopping". I heard Timothy ask her if he could go shopping too. They are so cute and sweet..*sigh* how I love my kids!

Aidan came inside red and sweaty from the trampoline..asking me if he could play one of his math games because they were playing "baby games".  Sure, I mean he was done with his schoolwork and it is educational.

Then I hear Timothy saying " Come quick, it's an emergency".
I run into the front of the house, to the front bedroom. I see Timothy standing outside the bedroom door....no Kiki.
As I walk towards him he starts talking..."We were playing dress up and shopping and I left for work because I am the Daddy...so I locked the door". I see little fingers under the door....

I realize he locked her inside the bedroom. It's one of those twist locks that locks from the inside.
"Kiki it's ok mama's going to get the key and unlock the door...ok baby girl". I run to my purse to look for my keys...moving the empty gum wrappers out of the way...my hands move around frantically inside..searching the pockets...no keys. I turn to Timothy and notice he is chewing my gum...
"did you guys get into my purse?"
"We needed stuff to fill Kiki's purse for our shopping trip"
"What about my keys? Did you take my keys?"
"Kiki has them, she was going shopping"

Kateline has them....KATELINE HAS THEM...
I run back to the front bedroom, "Kiki do you have Mommy's keys?"
"I don't hap them"
"Look in your purse Kiki, maybe they are in there?" I hear some shuffles.
"No Mama I don't hap your keys"
"Kateline can your reach the door knob?"
"I can't weech it, too big"
I run around the outside and try all the windows..locked.

So I call Chris.."hey can you come home? Timothy has locked Kateline in the bedroom"
"I guess I have to, maybe I can get there and back and still get some overtime"
"I am sorry Chris..."
I walk back to the bedroom. Madeline, Aidan and Timothy are singing Itsey Bitsey Spider to Kateline through the bottom of the door.

I start cleaning up gum wrappers...MY KEYS!!!!!!
Just then I see my neighbor Ken about to knock on the door..."I brought you those suitcases you wanted to borrow"
"I have to unlock Kateline, Tim locked her in  the bedroom, Thanks Ken" I grab the suitcases and close the door. (He must think we are so weird).
I unlock Kateline and call Chris."Hey I unlocked her, you can turn around and go back to work"
I hug Kateline close. I give her a kiss. Then I see...THE GUM.

American Idol

My Madeline loves to sing,she hums little tunes and sings all day! She memorizes songs at the drop of a hat and is always writing her own songs and singing them.
She has told me that she loves walking up and down our driveway because that is where she gets her most creative ideas.
I LOVE hearing her sing, her voice is just so beautiful...and really quite remarkable coming from Chris and I! We are both the worst singers ever( we are just so FLAT)...we also LOVE to sing! We have Karaoke night on the weekends and have been known to coerce innocent dinner guests into a duet. Singing is just FUN and we love to do it.
So tonight when Madeline asked me "Mom do you think I will ever be good enough for American Idol?"...I didn't know what to say. Flashbacks of the people on American Idol tryouts whose parents had never told them that even though their child's singing was music to their ears...the world would not feel the same way shot through my mind. My husband and I exchanged "knowing" glances.
 So I did it,
I burst her bubble...
I told her.
"Madeline, I love your singing it is the sweetest thing ever. I could listen to you all day, and you are a really good singer...but not for American Idol, for your family.  You would not make it on American Idol."
"Oh"
My heart was breaking....
"but as far as this family goes you have the sweetest voice! Your Dad and I still can't figure out where it came from"
"Really? How? when your voice is so beautiful mom...."
See love is blind and sometimes tone-deaf!
"Mom...I think ...I will just have to be the best songwriter ever!
Now that I could see happening!

Madeline on our driveway<3

Redefining Beauty *contains nudity*

This photo shoot was one of the best things I have ever done. I felt the support of the wonderful women in my community and it empowered me. I really believed in the project that "beauty" as defined by our media is not really beauty at all, it is the work of many a talented artist who's skills at photoshop are unparalleled.

On a personal level I wasn't sure I would be in a place where I could put myself "out there" . I mean I am fat, I have stretch marks and although I seemed to easily see the beauty in others I had a hard time seeing it in myself.
The women in the video helped me see myself differently, they are amazing and courageous. The camaraderie and support I felt was unbelievable...made me feel like nothing is impossible!

One of the mother's in this video is also a breast cancer SURVIVOR, she has battled for her life and come out victorious. Her spirit was strong, vibrant and her body is truly beautiful. I think you will see her warrior spirit shining through in the images. Photographing her brought me to tears, she was just so beautiful.

Mother's united standing together, everyone matters and everyone is important. Love yourself in the NOW not the you 30lbs thinner but the woman you see in the mirror.
         Every line, wrinkle, stretch mark and scar tells a story of your life. Embrace your body.  Don't let the media dictate how you should feel about yourself, know that whether you are a size 2 or 22 you are beautiful.

Thank you ladies, you are so brave and beautiful<3