Happy Mother’s Day 2007

Posted May 13th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there!

B has given me a perfect day. I am being reminded of what life was like before kids… (B gave me the day off to do exactly what I wanted to do!)

This morning I slept a little late and got up to give the kids a bath before getting them ready for church - while B was getting himself ready for church. After B and the kids left for church, I got myself a bowl of honey nut cheerios and sat down on the couch to watch tv. After finishing my breakfast, I went back to bed and dozed until 11, then got up to a long and hot leisurely shower. The kids got home as I was fixing my hair.

J brought me home from church a pink flower. Let me describe this flower… originally when B picked it up with J from his class, it was a long stemmed beautiful pink flower. By the time B and the kids got half way down the children’s hallway, the flower was missing a large petal. By the time they got to the end of the children’s hallway, the stem was broken in two pieces. Almost home free to the car and J falls down and crushes the flower. No, J wasn’t hurt, but he was devastated at crushing the flower that he was holding in front of himself. B said J kept screaming: “I wanted to give Mommy the pretty flower.” “Flower is broken.” “Want to give Mommy the flower.”

I thanked J for the pretty pink flower (that by the time B and the boys got home, the flower only had 3 petals left on the broken stem) and placed it in a small vase of water and put it on the bar in a prominent position of honor. What a sweet boy for it to be so important to him to give me the pretty flower. Thanks, my love!

The boys each gave me a bangle bracelet for Mother’s Day. C’s is orange with a pearl finish and J’s is pink with a pearl finish. They are both really pretty and will be used this summer a lot. I also got Michael W. Smith’s worship CD and my current favorite perfume - Juicy Couture.

After celebrating with the boys, I went to my parents and gave my mom her Mother’s Day gift and visited with my parents for awhile before going shopping - alone, by myself, quietly, while listening to MY music in the car as I drove. And this evening, I am going to go to the theatre - by myself - to see a chick flick, “Georgia Rule” as the conclusion to MY Mother’s Day.

Don’t get me wrong. I love being a Mom. Just every now and then, I need to be reminded of what a rested human feels like. I am refreshed and the house is picked-up. The boys have left for C’s choir practice this evening and I have done a little housework. I enjoy being a Mom. Knowing that the house is organized and the kids are clean and happy, because of me, is vital to my self worth. Just the day-to-day routine can get monotonous. Picking up the same toys and doing dishes doesn’t seem important sometime, but I have a day like today to reflect and realize how important I am and how important my role to B and to the kids is.

Thank you, B for letting me have today to remember why I wanted to be a Mom and for letting me get refreshed for another year of loving you and C and J!

Happy 5th Birthday, C!

Posted May 12th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

Yesterday I was busy preparing our home for C’s birthday party. Nana called at just the right (or wrong) time to hear the boys creating quite a racket. She called to see what we were doing. I told her I was in the mist of painting C’s room (part of his birthday present), cleaning house, and general pre-party stuff. She generously offered to make C’s birthday cake for me. Thanks!!!

C requested a green iced cake with chocolate layer in the shape of a star. Quite specific. When Nana got over here to pick up the cake pan (I already had the star shaped pan), the boys were energetic, so she brought C home with her to make the cake. Once the cake was cooked, Nana placed it on an antique fostoria cake platter that had belonged to my paternal grandmother. What a treat for C to know that his Great-Grandmother played a part in his birthday party. This little fact should please him one day. Nana iced the chocolate cake in a mint green icing (white icing tinted with green food coloring). I rudely commented that it was the ugliest color I had ever seen - I’m so sorry! Like you said, C liked it and that is all that mattered. Just because I don’t care for mint green, I could have been more appreciative - and I certainly am. You took a huge burden off of me by generously making C’s birthday cake (a fact that he will remember forever!). I’m sending Mega apologies your way. Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to spend time with C and make his cake. He loved it!

Once the cake was home, I wrote on it in darker green icing “Happy 5th Birthday C—” and trimmed the bottom of the cake in the green also with an overlaying layer of blue icing. Daddy B added m&m’s to the top of the cake to make it more festive as well. Team effort!

Tuesday will be C’s 5th birthday, but we celebrated today. Nana, Pop, Grandma and Grandpa came to watch C’s t-ball game this morning. C did a really good job playing center field for one inning and short stop the next. He also hit the ball off the “t” really well, too! One time when he was up to bat, we were all cheering him on and he looked at the ball and said, “I’m gonna be mean to you!” I guess this meant that he was going to whack the ball really hard.

After the game, we all came back here for pizza, birthday cake and presents. Uncle D and Aunt L, W and A also joined us. C opened his presents to find a wrecker, legos, bicycle horn, car transporter truck, road grader and other construction vehicles. Awesome Birthday! So far, C and J are sharing the toys nicely. J was also treated to a few new toys care of the Grandparents as well.

I’m off to finish cleaning up the kitchen. The boys are resting. I think B has fallen asleep on C’s bed while putting him down for rest time. I haven’t heard from them in awhile. I just put J back in bed. The phone rang and J ALWAYS has to find out what is going on outside of his room. Inquisitive little kid! Hopefully he will go to sleep soon. After cleaning the kitchen, I plan to rest, too. I couldn’t get to sleep until about 4 this morning, so I’m really tired. This afternoon after rest time will be spent watching the boys play with their new toys.

Eeeewwwww! You ate that?!

Posted May 10th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

I got home from Girls Night Out this evening (thanks Lisa for hosting a great time!) and cuddled with C for a while. After putting him in bed, I went into the living room to chat with B. B let me know that he was hungry and wanted a snack. I followed him into the kitchen to see what he was going to get. His usual favorites to solve a mysterious craving are either cornbread or orange juice.

B picked up a bowl of popcorn that I made for J for an after-preschool snack. I told him to not eat that. B showed me that the bowl was almost empty (when I last saw it, it was mostly full), and I busted out laughing hysterically. B told me that when he, C and J got home from C’s t-ball game this evening, J wanted the popcorn. J said it was “ewey,” but B told him it wasn’t and they proceeded to munch on it.

What B didn’t know is that this afternoon, J dumped the bowl of popcorn on the couch (I’m sure J remembered that and the mess it made). I cleaned it up by picking up the big kernels and sweeping all the crumbs back into the bowl, including crumbs that were under the couch cushion and a few miscellaneous pieces of garbage that were on the floor, with the intention of dumping it all into the trash when I later cleaned up the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher. I didn’t expect anyone to eat leftover popcorn - it gets stale too quickly in my opinion. What do I know?!

After I finished laughing, I explained to B the icky nature of the popcorn. B said that he guessed that’s why J didn’t eat much of the popcorn and why B’s mouth “felt fuzzy.”

I’m sure B will be more careful about munching on food without asking its condition and the next time B wants popcorn, he will make it himself!

A Slice of Heaven

Posted May 8th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

This afternoon Jill, my dear friend and neighbor, brought me a really sweet birthday card (one that is a “keeper”) and a homemade chocolate and peanut butter pie in a chocolate graham cracker crust (that will be devoured within the week!). She obviously knows me well to know how I love peanut butter. I sneaked a slice after dinner this evening while the kids played. It truly was a slice of heaven!

I must admit that while he kids might get a little slice of the pie, I’m going to be selfish on this one and keep it mostly for me. I so often make foods and desserts for others, even family members, but I rarely make a treat for myself that I would really love. Especially as much as this pie. I need to get this recipe - it is one that will be covered in contact paper to preserve for a lifetime!

Thanks Sweetie for my sweet pie!

Water Fight!

Posted May 7th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

This evening after I planted my flowers, J helped me get the water hose out to water the flowers. As J said, “they need a dwink of water.”

Not too much later, B got home from work. Being the wonderful husband that he is, he brought me a beautiful bouquet of pink roses mixed with other pretty flowers. He also got me the one thing that I had ask for - “The Apocalypse Code” by Hank Hanegraaff. We heard him speak recently and it was then that I leaned over and asked B for the book. Good memory, my love!

C helped me water the flowers. After B went inside to change clothes, he came back out and he enjoyed spraying the water up in the sky and letting it fall on the boys. C and J’s laughter was contagious. Before long, we all were laughing and having a great time!

At one point, C got the hose away from Daddy and started spraying towards me and J. At that time, J had gotten a little tired of running from the spray with his brother and was taking a rest in my lap. C sprayed at us, and at Daddy. We were having lots of fun running around the lawn until C happened to spray at a neighbor that was walking by on the sidewalk during her exercise time. Oh no! She laughed it off, but I’m sure she will remember where we live (and will cross the street next time to avoid us!)

Happy Birthday to me

Posted May 7th, 2007 by Mom | Comments (0)

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday, dear me,
Happy Birthday to me!

Today I am 33. Getting older, and enjoying life more. I read an article over the weekend that said that answering “I don’t care” to questions was in essence the same as “potty mouth.” Everyone has opinions and if someone asks yours, tell them. They can choose what to do from there. But above all else, be nice. Having an opinion doesn’t mean that you can be rude. In this next year of my life, I am going to be more honest and answer questions. Watch out world!

Last night, we had dinner with B’s parents. Grandma made a delicious meal of salad, with lots of whole black olives just for me, spaghetti with meatballs and two types of bread - one for dipping in olive oil seasoned with spices and also garlic bread. B provided a cake with a white and chocolate marbled layer and white icing trimmed in purple. (C told me that B wouldn’t let him get the cake with the truck and trailer on it for me. I wonder why?)

During dinner B asked C to count to 33. C counted on his fingers 1-2-3 and then held up another hand with 3 on it. We all busted out laughing. For reference, I used to hold up 3 on one of my hands and then 2 on the other. C improved it to represent 33. (He also counted on his fingers from 1-11. No, he doesn’t have 11 fingers. It was an interesting counting evening for him!)

Ju and Ke (Grandma and Grandpa) gave me a really neat crafting bag kind of a cross between a purse and backpack that has A LOT of little pockets that was filled to the brim with supplies to make homemade cards. Really cool gift. Last night C had a hard time getting to sleep because he has a cold and kept coughing. I let him get up after J fell asleep and C helped me unload the bag and checkout all the awesome stuff. I don’t know what everything is or does, but look forward to finding out. Last Christmas or the Christmas before, Ju and Ke gave me a book called “Simply Cards.” Lets see… well the copyright date is 2006, so it was last Christmas. Anyway, I got the book out where it has been on my desk so I can look through it often and daydream and C and I saw how “we” (according to C, “I” according to ME!) can use all the cool stuff to make cards. I especially liked the cut out of different papers in the shapes of flowers and the lady bug stamp (it is SO me!) I see how my evenings, after the kids are in bed, are going to be spent! Having fun. When B went to bed last night, he kissed me and asked if I was going to stay up a little longer. I replied with short affirmative answers to his questions that I was going to stay up and play with my new toys and he stated that “you sound content. I’m glad.”

Yesterday morning, my church handbell choir played 2 songs in the worship service. It sounded really good. I was very proud of us. I wasn’t as nervous playing this time, since we played at Easter and I knew the routine. After church, C told me that he, J and B got me a surprise and that it was in his room if I wanted to come see (I didn’t). I asked why and C told me it was because it was my birthday. I told B and he feigned shock that C told me anything. B got me a painting to go over the couch in the kitchen. It will look great once it is hung this afternoon or evening. If I don’t get to it this afternoon, B said that he would hang it tonight. C and J each got me a candle in a glass container with a glass top. C’s is beautiful coral-red and scented of juicy pomegranate. J’s is bright yellow with a hint of orange and scented of ginger peach. I can’t say that I would have chosen these smells (they put me into an asthma attack after I took a whiff; my favorite candle smell is mulberry). But the colors are great and look awesome on my kitchen table on my Southern Living at Home glass and metal serving tray that is the current centerpiece! Thanks boys. You are so sweet. I will remember that C gave me the red candle and J gave me the yellow candle (the glass is still sticky from his sticky fingers after they boys got doughnuts and then went to the store with B!).

So far I have received only one birthday card. It was from my parents on Saturday. They came over to watch C and J while B and I went to see Spiderman 3 as part of my birthday present. What a great gift - a date with my husband. It was really nice to hold B’s hand and not be worrying about the kids. (I enjoyed the movie. B said that it had too much romance and not enough action. Typical - any movie that I pick is destined to have too much estrogen!) Before going to the theater, my parents gave me the new hardback Mary Higgen’s Clark book (I love her books!), a kitty cat candle snuffer, magnet that says on it “Always my daughter, now too my friend,” and an Oreck cannister vacuum that I wanted that will be perfect for cleaning the stairs and under the kitchen table. Awesome! I walked out of my bedroom this morning just in time to see C plugging it up under their little table and then showing me a spot on the floor that “needed vacuuming.” Such a little helper. I hope he still wants to vacuum when he gets to be a teenager… I’ll remind him of this. But at least for now, I will get some help.

Today the phone has been ringing off the hook with well wishes for a happy birthday. Thanks to all my dear friends. Even my wonderful boss and friend, K called and sang Happy Birthday to me (in the correct tune and tone!). I am also enjoying emails from long distant and very busy friends.

For breakfast, I took the boys to a local bakery and got fresh blueberry muffins. Then we went to the local home improvement store and got flowers to plant in the front yard. While there, I got a call that J was being moved off the waiting list for preschool next year (the boys are changing schools in the fall to the preschool at our church. C had already been registered.). YEAH! Wonderful birthday gift as well. R told me that I needed to come in before Wednesday to complete the registration. I told her that it was my birthday and I was picking out flowers to plant today. She laughed and told me to have fun. We’re friends, so she understood. I’ll go tomorrow.

First thing this morning, I called C’s pediatrician to see about getting a refill for his cough medicine. I just wanted a cough syrup that was a stronger than the over the counter medicine. Wow- I just put the kids to rest time and gave C his medicine and saw that this prescription that I picked up, after getting the flowers, has hydrocodone in it. C will definitely sleep for rest time today!

Lunch today was Chick-fil-a. I will return to my Weight Watchers diet tomorrow. Today I celebrate. May my afternoon and evening go as well as this morning. When the kids awaken we are going to play out in the front yard. I can plant my flowers with their assistance and then watch them water the flowers. Life is good. 33 is going to be a good year.