A Good Read

I picked up "Hattie Big Sky" at the bookstore a few weeks back, just on a whim. It's a $6 paperback about a sixteen year old girl trying to "prove up" on her uncle's land in the early 1900's. I found it a good, wholesome story on hard work, friendship, and finding home. Give it a read!

Birthday Wishes

I blew out 35 candles on my birthday cake last night. Technically, it was not a cake though...it was a tower of chocolate mini-cakes, dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with red strawberries, served cold, just the way I like my cake. I pretended to make a wish, but truth is, I felt like I could not ask for anything more.

Of course, I would love a pedicure, new chandeliers and french doors...but my best wishes have already come true. For instance, my husband Brian is perfect for me. I love that he was "this close" to spending $100 (after overnight shipping) on a pair of duck covered footie pajamas to surprise me for my birthday...just to give me something comfy that I wouldn't buy for myself. I also love that I can tease him about the fact that he almost bought footie pajamas for me.

Next wish come true: my children. They woke up early, so they could bring me breakfast in bed. I heard clanking, bustling, and a bit of crying (Keaton fell off the chair) for about an hour. Next came the soft sound of Kate gently playing "Happy Birthday to You" on the piano. Finally, I heard a sweet chorus of the same song, sung by my three eldest, clutching a tray filled with scrambled eggs, oatmeal, corn muffins and grapes. When Weston finally roused from his cuddly slumber (in my bed, of course) he rubbed my arm and in a gravelly, morning voice sang me his version of the birthday song one more time. I experienced a bit of heaven in that corner of my bedroom where the five of us were gathered.

That's enough--I don't need anymore--I've got all my wishes...but more came. My sweet cousin sent me a gift from her heart. Good friends brought me gifts and flowers and another cake(yummy breakfast-thanks Tina!)...and a miniature bottle of real maple syrup! I received thoughtful phone calls and warm hugs. Stephen and Rachel made me Tahitian Chicken for my birthday dinner as well as the stack of cakes--I couldn't wish for anything more...so I closed my eyes before the blazing candles and just smiled.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I was shopping at Dazzle today (ran in for a minute to get a birthday present)...FUN store! Anyhow, I was just wandering around the store for a minute before making my final purchase when this lady stops me and says those all too familiar words,"Excuse me this might sound strange but..."

Now I am pausing here in the story to emphasize that I have heard words like these countless times over the years and I still continue to believe that something genuine is going to follow...I fall for it every time! The end of the phrase was "...you have the most interesting eye shape!"

I respond, "Thank you".

Once again she reiterates what a unique and interesting eye shape I have then continues on about working for a cosmetic company and would I like to be a face model?

Okay, finally the pieces are coming together for me. I graciously decline, but then I start to wonder how bad I must look if the best she could come up with was eye shape...and it wasn't even a pretty or exotic eye shape...it was interesting. She must have been desperately digging deep for that one. Is it even a compliment? I'm not sure that it is.

Next time, when a stranger stops me with a contrived compliment, instead of saying thank you, I may just pull out my empty wallet and say, "Thanks, but no thanks!"

Hubby "Tag"

What is his name? Brian
How long have you been married? almost 14 years
Who long did you date? our first date was about a year and a half before we were married...but we weren't "dating" that whole time.
How old is he? 38
Who eats more sweets? that is a hard call...I guess he does. he wastes alot of his sweet treats on yucky things though like burned cookies, chips ahoy and toffifay. i eat quality sweets.
Who said I love you first? he did.
Who is taller? he is...who isn't taller than me?
Who can sing better? depends on the song...his voice is really cute when he sings "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band
Who is smarter? i think our smartness is pretty equal, but in different things.
Who does the laundry? me...(he sometimes carries down the laundry hampers for me though)
Who pays the bills? he does...all online. i would still be writing out paper checks and using envelopes and stamps if it were left to me.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? he does (he sleeps to my right...he is my right hand man!)
Who mows the lawn? Manuel Claro and his crew.
Who cooks dinner? me... unless I want "Beans-on-Toast" (did you know a little cumin in the baked beans disguises the fact that they're from a can?)
Who drives? he does.
Who is more stubborn? i don't think either of us are very stubborn.
Who kissed who first? he definately kissed me first, after I taught him the words to Copacabana
Who asked who out first? i asked him out first. girls preference dance. i passed him a note in church, sealed with chewed gum, asking him to go with me. he slid his finger in to open it and ended up with a bad case of gum-finger. he almost said "no" because of it ;)
Who proposed? he did with the ring box stashed in his sock.
Who has more siblings? me...I have 9...he has 1.
Who wears the pants? if the question was who wears the "cuter" pants I know that the answer would definately be me.

Thinking Out of the Box

I realized something about myself today--I have a slight addiction to pretty packaging. Now, I have known for quite some time that I do enjoy making a gift look good. I have a stock of tulle ribbon, organdy ribbon, clear cello bags and white chinese food boxes so I can doll something up at a moments notice. It was not until today, however, that I realized how deep the feeling runs through my soul.

I was at Michael's craft store (I was just going to be in there for a minute to grab plate hangers) when I happened down an aisle filled with assorted sizes of gift boxes, gift bags and patterned chinese food boxes. Literally, my pulse quickened as my eyes scanned the merchandise. I wanted to grab at least two of everything. My mind started creating all sorts of pretty packages with ribbon and tulle and flowers. I felt excited as I stood in that aisle for at least 20 minutes. I could not walk away and leave it all there. I had to buy a box...or maybe two.

It was probably a good thing that I did not grab a cart on my way in the store so I only ended up with six printed chinese food boxes, one package of cello bags, five spools of ribbon, and one sweet, small white box. I think I might need some professional help!

Happy Birthday Shelby!

Shelby turned 9 years old today. Brian and I took our girl out on a date to celebrate and we watched the clock for the exact minute she was born, nine years ago. She was such a beautiful baby and her beauty has increased, moment by moment. She is sweet and tenderhearted. She nurtures and she gives. She is so dedicated and practices her dream of becoming a teacher everyday in her little classroom under the stairs. She spent her birthday allowance at Lakeshore Learning, a teaching supply store and couldn't wait to set up "class" for her brothers. She always shares what she has to help make others feel happy. She exudes femininity and charm and it is a priviledge to call her daughter. We love you, Shelby!

Toothless

A couple of weeks ago, as Keaton climbed into the car after school, he was bursting with BIG news--he had his first loose tooth!

He asked Brian to pull it out that very night. Bri gave it some good tugs but it just wasn't ready. So, Keaton worked on that tooth and asked his Dad to pull it out almost every night.

Finally, Tuesday night it was ready. Brian gave it a good yank and got it out. Keaton shrieked with excitement and ran to look in the mirror. Wrong move! He got one glimpse of the blood and suddenly felt sick. He went pale and started staggering around. I gathered him in my arms and felt his little heart racing. Brian brought a cool cloth for his forehead. He laid there and weakly mumbled, "I got the wind knocked out of me."

I was trying not to laugh at his plight, but I know this kid is not a wimp! He has fallen out of a tree on his head, got seven stitches in his foot without so much as a wimper, but here he was "man down" at the sight of a teensy bit of blood. A few minutes of soothing and the anticipation of the tooth fairy brought back our excited boy, but I will always remember this face....

Six Quirky Things about Me...

My good friend Tina "tagged" me on her blog and I thought it would be a fun thing to document, so here we go with just a taste of my quirkyness...

1. I do not like to use the heel of a loaf of bread for regular consumption. I believe it is there to keep the rest of the pieces fresh...otherwise referred to as "the freshmaker" and I actually think the words "the freshmaker" everytime I skip over it.
2. I do not like to wash the bottom of my feet in the shower. I fear that it is going to make them extra slippery and I will end up with my feet skyward in the shower. I quickly wash one at a time and rinse it off before I set it down to avoid any injuries and/or bruises.
3. All the pillows in my life (and there are lots) need to stand tall! No slouchy or deeply tilted pillows!
4. Hair, once it leaves the scalp, equals disgusting!
5. When Brian is out of town I save all of his voicemails until he is home, safe with us, so I always have his most recent voice.
6. It is very difficult for me to serve a meal that is all the same color (unless, of course, it is purposely all green for St. Patty's Day). So if I happened to have chicken, rice-a-roni, and corn I would not rest until I rummaged up some orange slices, strawberries, or anything non-yellowish!

There you have it, just a few of my quirks! Rachel, let's hear some of yours...I know you have some! (p.s. Tina, I don't think there is anything quirky about being a Manilow fan!)

Do Unto Others...

Monday was a busy day. Seems like Mondays are often just busy days. So when Brian called from work around 3pm saying he did not know when he was coming home, but don't count on him for dinner, I figured that I wouldn't see him until past bedtime and way past Family Night.

There was no lesson planned and usually on the nights where we are winging it I let Brian take over. He is good off the cuff. But as I was cleaning up the dinner dishes I knew I would need to come up with something.

I looked through this little book on simple lessons and I ended up talking with the kids about The Golden Rule. I talked with them about being kind to your family and friends and even people you don't know. I pointed out kind things that I saw each of them do that day and how nice it is to get along. I concluded by telling them that when I was their age I always liked it when my Mom made chocolate chip cookies for me and so, in return, I made chocolate chip cookies for them.

Excitedly, we finished up Family Night and as I was taking the cookies off the cookie sheet I suggested that after cookies, if they were quick getting ready for bed we could meet back in my big bed to watch a short show together. Keaton happily squealed, wrapped his arms around my waist and exclaimed, "Mommy! Thank you for living the Golden Rule!"

Talkin' Trash

After lunch today, Weston went into the pantry looking for a little something to eat. He emerged from the pantry clutching a Stackers fruit snack (how the manufacturers feel good about calling rainbow color disks stuck to wax paper "fruit" and why I buy them are topics for another day).

He peeled the wrapper off and sort of flung it in my general direction while saying,"Mom, will you put this in the garbage please? Because you are my garbag-er."

Now, that is something I have never been called before...but, truth be told, I am sure that I am responsible for about 97% of the garbage that makes it in to the cans of this house.

So, Weston was telling the truth, even though he was talking trash.