Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tooth Attachment

Kamden's second loose tooth has been loose for a really, really long time. He's been asking when, oh when is it going to fall out already. On Friday he took a bite of a cookie and it nearly almost came out. But not quite.

Hanging by a thread it was.

Monday morning aroud about 8:45 am (how I love stat holidays), we heard him calling from his bed, "Mommy, mommy!"

I got (read dragged my sorry @ss) out of bed and ran to see.

Second Tooth Fairy visit

The tooth, it finally came out.

Into the tooth box it went for that evening's visit from the tooth fairy.

Fast forward to bed time. Jay hears him sobbing. He wants to keep his tooth. He wants it right in his mouth where it is supposed to be.

I stood out of sight, watching this tender moment between father and son. I soaked in the sweetness of my boy and the tender love of his Daddy.

It about made me cry.

The tooth fairy came but he/she (I can't help but picture The Rock in a dress whenever I think of the tooth fairy, darn movie) left the tooth.

You know, just so my sweet boy wouldn't be too sad. This is the stuff of memories and why I just had to write (type?) it down. It seems like just yesterday he cut his second tooth. Now it done fell out.

Whoosh. Did you hear that? It's time going by so quickly I can't keep up.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Abstractual

Kamden painted this flower pot for my Mother's Day gift at school.

Mother's Day Abstract



(Click on the picture, it will take you to Flickr where I have added notes to point it out)

Upon further reflection, Jay pointed out something.
Do you see it?

Maybe kind of like me working away at a desk, you know, with my halo shining bright.

Abstract can look like something a 5 year old painted! (Kidding. Kind of.)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I Am A Soccer Mom

At least until June when this soccer season ends, anyway.

This one is for the memory books and the Grandparents.

He's got moves


This year, Kamden was finally ready to try a sport other than gymnastics. He picked soccer and gets to play with his best bud, Logan (totally planned and excuted) as well as a friend from school (complete chance and fluke but well, YAY).

Hmm, who do I pass to?


Our Kamden loves to run and often runs and lunges up the hill with Jay and I at our hill boot camp Saturday mornings. So soccer, what with all the running, is a great sport for this little man.

Before his second game, Monday night, he said that he hoped he could score his first goal this time.

He gets the ball

Early in the game, his chance came. He got the ball and dribbled (is that right, that just sounds so wrong) it towards the net.


He dribbles (?)

Look at that fancy footwork. Beckham, eat your heart out!

He shoots!

He shoots!

He scores!

He scores! He's hidden behind the number 8 but that's his fist growing out of his head.

And he scored at least one more time. Also of note was the happy dance Jack did each time his little brother scored. Next time I will have to focus the camera on him instead of the game. It needs to be documented for future black mail or wedding slide show purposes.


High Five

Logan is either high fiving Kamden or keeping track of the goals. Either way, I love this shot with Jay looking on.

For now, I am a proud soccer and touch down dance mom.

Monday, May 10, 2010

A Weekend of Celebrations

I had this post all ready to go last Friday, I was just waiting until the boys got home from school for a (not so) improptu photo shoot. However, when I sat down to post it later that night I found the sweet words that Jay had written instead. Am I lucky, or am I lucky? I thank God every day for bringing him to me.

May 7th, 2010 marked my 36th year here on Earth. It's been a ride full of joy, laughter, love and a few tears.

Every year is a blessing. This year, I am not hung up on the number in the sense of, oh my heavens I am getting old. Rather, I think being healthy and happy for 36 years is a gift that I must cherish. It could change in a heartbeat.


Hot date with my boys


May 8th, 2010 marked 11 years of wedded bliss with my one and only. Another beautiful ride that I hope won't end for decades. Lots of them.

To Jay, walking beside you is where I am meant to be. It's been a privaledge to be your wife for the last 11 years. Thank you for so many things, more than I could ever put adequately into words.

Anniversary



May 9th, 2010 marked my 9th Mother's day as a mommy. To say that I am blessed to have the title "Mommy" or "Mom" as it is, in time bound to become, is an understatement.


Huh?



And my Mom celebrated (we hope!) her 40th year as a mother. She has the grey hair to prove it. Naturally, I blame my brother for most of it but those three on her left temple are all my fault - age 16 - 20, need I say more?

Mom, thank you. You have been there for me, always. You have encouraged, supported, pushed, disciplined, and stepped back and let me fall when you felt it right. I am blessed to call you Mom.

There was much to celebrate. I am blessed beyond measure.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Some time ago

Sometime ago (it is not proper to reveal a woman’s age right?) a little girl was brought into this world. I was a four year old boy getting into trouble but I distinctly remember pausing for a brief second. It felt like there was a major disturbance in the force. (oh Star Wars had not come out yet. I guess that may give away her age oops. I shrugged it off and went back to playing with my GI Joe doll or was it Capt. Kirk? Who am I kidding it was probably Lt Uhura. I did have a way with the ladies. The girl dolls were just attracted to me what can I say. They thought I was a righteous dude.

19 years later our paths crossed and life has never been the same since. At that time she was a shy teenager but over the last 17 years she has become an incredible mother to 2 wonderful boys, a loving wife, a devote supporter but above all truly my best friend.

It is not an easy life to be surrounded by males. Sometimes your buttons get pushed to the limit but always remember that you are and always will be our number 1 girl.

I am not one who is good with words so I will take an excerpt from Ms Shania Twain instead and her song you got a way.

You've got a way with me
Somehow you got me to believe
In everything that I could be
I've gotta say-you really got a way
You've got a way it seems
You gave me faith to find my dreams
You'll never know just what that means
Can't you see... you got a way with me

You've got a way with words
You get me smiling even when it hurts
There's no way to measure what your love is worth
I can't believe the way you get through to me

Oh, how I adore you
Like no one before you
I love you just the way you are

This is your weekend, Happy Birthday, Happy 17th Anniversary and a very happy Mother’s day. You are life and we love you.

The boys.

PS: It is time to change your password.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

The Piano Man

Going Live

Jack began piano in September in the Music for Young Children program. I cannot say enough good things about this program although it is rather on the expensive side. However, it is so much better than just sticking them in private lessons (depending on the teacher obviously) because they get a well rounded music education. Learning to play the piano is only a fraction of the learning. Let's just say that music makes a whole lot more sense to me now and I played piano as a kid and was in band. Yes, band. I knew barely enough to read the music and barely was able to play. I actually didn't blow into my clarinet when we did competitions. I didn't want to be the one who squeaked during a competition. I would have died of embarrassment. Yes, I was 15, why do you ask?

How did I start talking about myself? Sheesh. This is about Jack. He has worked really hard and required a bit (OH my word am I exhausted) of encouraging. He is a bit of a perfectionist and if he can't do it 100% right the first time well you would think someone died. No idea who he gets this from (looks around innocently).

He progressed leaps and bounds in mere months and is now playing two handed songs in several keys.

This last Sunday was the Spring recital and he had been practicing his piece for over a month with great success. However, due to a printing error he was thrown off a bit by the addition of some chords at the last minute - as in less than a week before said recital. However, despite all the practicing (and oh my word the encouraging) he mangaged to play it as if he'd been doing so for the last 8 months.

This mommy had tears in her eyes when he finished.

Jack, you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it. We are so proud of you!

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Finding Me Again

My last post sparked another post, funny how that works. It seems that some of you can relate to my ramblings about finding myself on the other side of the mommy trenches. In fact, someone asked how I have gone about that.

I don't really think I did it consciously.

I realized that couldn't be the mother of small children forever. I think we all to often don't visualize beyond the early years of motherhood when we dream of becoming a mother. Once that phase passes, we wonder what we are supposed to do with ourselves. We lose what has defined us for so long, dare I say, even before we actually became mothers.

I always knew I wanted to be a mother. I was 4 years old and pretending with my dolls. Of course, being me, I was realistic about it, fully thinking that the only thing that might stop me is not finding my one and only. At age 19 I did find him and he, too, wanted children. It was no longer if, it was when.

Blue



And then I blinked and my baby was starting kindergarten. I remember feeling a bit lost and torn about the approaching first day of school. My days as a stay at home mom to little boys were over.

I wallowed in that for a bit and then like I always do, I moved on. The truth is, yes, that part of my life is over but my life is no where near over. In fact, when I sit down and think about it for 5.2 seconds, it is full, full of blessings.

Family time with boys that no longer need their butts wiped but instead can have intelligent, funny and deep conversations with me. We can play the adult version of Monopoly. Easily. There is much less screaming and crying and more laughing and joking (I know, I should be over the crying part but it takes time, you know).

Now that Jack and Kamden are almost 9 and 6 (gasp!), I have much more time for me. I get the impression that some mothers consider me time incredibly selfish. I never have but perhaps that is because I am a bit on the selfish side. Or realistic. I prefer to think it is the latter. Without me time, I get grouchy, resentful and down right awful to live with. I have never believed in being resentful, instead I make things happen. I prioritize. I make me as important as laundry, cleaning and work afterall I am a many things, mother being one of them.

This is how I found me again.

I watched other moms who worked from home. I took a risk, tried it out and made it happen.

I watched other moms who were fit and active and I wanted it too, so I made it happen.

I watched others take amazing photos and post them on their blogs. I was inspired. I picked up my camera and played. It's become a hobby that I love. There is no pressure, only joy because I can pick it up and drop it as wish. My aspirations are only to capture the memories for me and my family.

I watched (and still do) other moms and people be good friends. I am still working on being a better friend, mother, wife, daughter and sister. It's a life long journey. But again, it won't happen unless I make it happen.


Table arrangement



I have always been a big believer in the fact that I am in charge. I am captaining this here ship and it goes where I choose. Naturally there are storms and waves that rock the path but that just gives me different choices and opportunities. I have to roll with it.

I think that I began to find me again when Kamden was only a baby and I made the decision to work from home and it's been a process and a journey since. That decision and each decision I have made since has been made with my heart.

When I was a kid and the song by Whitney Houston, "The Greatest Love of All" was popular, I remember my mom saying to me that she wished someone had told her to love herself when she was a kid. I have never forgotten those words and have tried to live by them. My philosophy is that if I don't love something about myself then I change it. Granted this is easier said than done but I have come to learn that never trying is the biggest disservice I could ever do myself or my family.


My dudes

I am, and always will be, so many things, one of which is Mommy to these two incredible beings.