Monday Mumbles

Hi ho. Hi ho. It's that time again. Speaking of....we're one dwarf member shy of pulling off the clan. Maybe we can recruit a 7th next year and force Hubs and Till to dress up too.

1. It's that time of year where holidays are crammed down your throat, and you're forced to either "participate" or look like a bum parent. But how much can you really get into body parts and gore, blood and guts, when your babies are 1, 3, and 7?

2. I AM trying very hard to just play along and see it for what it is (and not for what it isn't) - I have even borrowed my brother's Captain America costume. That's right, I'm going to dress up when I walk around with the kids. And not in some girly choice costume.

3. Hubs and I went to a wedding Saturday night. Sometimes weddings feel so staged and planned for show. And while this one had the traditional staged activities as well (bouquet, garter, money dance, cake cutting, bubbles photo op), I really enjoyed the smitten nature the bride and groom clearly possessed for one another.

4. We also took advantage of the kids staying overnight with my dad, and did some holiday shopping (to help Santa, you know) Sunday morning. At least we've started, and have some good ideas brewing. It can be fun to cap off the end of the year with some well-deserved and needed gifts.

5. How in the world do you find time to help all of your children turn out to be superstars? It takes so much time and attention to cultivate their minds and help them realize everything they can accomplish. I always feel like I'm shorting one or more than one.

6. Speaking of, we waited too long to carve up Owen's festival parade pumpkin. I cut into it Sunday night, and it was rotten inside. :(  Oops.

7. Turner's been talking back and generally being argumentative lately. At least he knows when I've hit my limit and shuts his mouth.

8. Owen has taken to tears and mournfully stating, "But I just want you to love me, Mama. Do you love me?" when he gets scolded. It's taken me about 3 weeks, but I've finally realized he really is punking me. When I didn't fall for it last night, he immediately ceased crying. And here I thought I'd made him feel unloved all this time.

9. Evelyn is such a bully, and if anyone punks people, it's her. She's a trip and I'm in trouble. That's all I know.

10. Till's teenage years continue to be tumultuous, but we've decided to take them one day at a time. We're trying different tactics to stress the importance of developing a love for school and learning and achieving in a general sense. Time will tell how we've done. For now, I just know I'm tired. Very, very tired.

The Annual Festival Weekend - Part Two

During the parade, a truck had its bed full of pumpkins and handed them out, free! 

Sissy giving her best pirate eye as she watches the parade with Grandpa.

The weather was gorgeous all weekend, and the family enjoyed hot dogs on the curb.

We were the first waiting for the super slide, and they asked Turner if he'd go down as a "test rider", for free again!

I was excited that Turner agreed to ride the boats with the kids so I could capture all three together. He refused to go on the merry-go-round.

This ride didn't actually go down like this. Dad thought he'd get to ride along and take Evelyn, but the height max was 52". Sorry, Pops! As soon as he got out, Evelyn wanted nothing to do with it...even when we switched her next to Owen. OJ had a good ride though!

Dignity - article found

Nothing I've written today, but thought I'd point you in the direction of an article I did find. I liked it. I found it thought provoking. I shared it with Hubs. I think it helps us set some personal goals for our family and our behavior and our accountability to one another.

The article can be found by clicking this link

Monday Mumbles

Phew. Long weekend. Good weekend. Tiring weekend. You?

1. TOOJE and I packed up the car and headed to my mom's house for the weekend, leaving behind Hubs and Till. While it can be tiring to be alone with the three little ones, it's also relaxing to be away from the grumpy teenager and sometimes difficult to please spouse.

2. For those of you who know Hubs and do not believe my previous mumble, suffice it to say IT'S TRUE. Of course, it's also true we can all be difficult to please at times. I get this. I didn't say it wasn't relaxing for him to be away from me, but hey....these are my mumbles. Not his.

3. (If they were his, there were be spelling and grammatical errors all over the place.)

4. I'm doing my best to get revved up for running again. I joined boot camp because I couldn't get motivated to run, but now boot camp has me wanting to run. But how far do I want to run? Am I interested in getting into long distances again? I just don't know.

5. I'm getting old, folks. Sometimes I get too tired to eat dinner.

6. By the way, I forgot to tweet #dorkysisbadluck yesterday. She wished my sports teams good luck and both were beat down. It was a rough weekend. I think it's safe to tell Dorkys - please keep your good lucks to yourself.  ;) We'll try it on our own next time!

7. I showed you how much OJ loves the Target balls. Well, here they are again....still loving Target.

8. And a photo of sissy that I love and didn't share last week.

9. This darn weather has been messing with Turner's allergies and asthma, and now he's got a good, hearty cough that will require doctor's attention I fear. I thought we were handling it okay, but it took a turn for the worse Sunday night. Blah.

10. You know how I have complained (shocking) about the faux bull balls that people so delicately place on the back of their pick-up trucks? This is the ONLY place I deem bull balls acceptable:

The Annual Festival Weekend - Part One

The first part of the festival weekend didn't actually take place AT the festival. It wasn't actually on the weekend days either. It took place Wednesday at my Granny's house. My brother and SIL came to visit from Florida, and we gathered mid-week for dad's family to get a chance and meet the newest addition to the family.

My nephew Nobu - 5 months old and kissable as can be.

Sister-in-law Asako - new mommy glow!

Cousins!!

Evelyn did a great job of sharing Grandpa with Nobu. 

Brother Paul and Asako - congrats family!

Monday Mumbles

Another Monday, one that I conveniently took off from work. Yea!

1. Yup. Took the day off. I had Friday off as well. Ain't that something?

2. This morning, we already had an Owen in our bed between us. When Evie woke up, I attempted to bring her into the bed as well, hoping she'd go back to sleep. My hope was weak, though, since she's never gone back to sleep in our bed. She usually bounces on our heads, tries to climb the headboard, giggles and makes a ruckus until we get up. This morning? She went back to sleep!! I snuggled her tight.

3. Sissy loves the action figure wrestling men. In fact, she snuggled and kissed one this morning. This is not a surprising revelation.

4. The kids and I went to my hometown festival this weekend. It was the usual parade, arts and crafts, carnival. My siblings and I jokingly (but not joking) call this weekend our dad's favorite weekend of the year. It's also the weekend where he eats normal sized portions of food for an American.

5. We decided to throw in the early Saturday run as well. I didn't get a chance to run the 5K since we were running late, but we entered Turner into the kids 1 mile fun run. He ran an 8:45 and got a 2nd place trophy for his age group of 8 and under!!

6. Yes, I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have ran an 8:45. If I had run at all, I would have been aiming for a 9 minute mile.

7. I've been unpacking the bag from the weekend stay at my dad's, and Evelyn has been putting "deodorant" on with both the actual stick tube AND the mini hair spray can. Apparently she's only worried about her smelly hygeine right now. But do I really spend that much time wiping on deodorant that it's the only thing she copies??

8. I'm thinking that with another day off, I might have to make a trip to the mall for some more pretzel bites. Can't help myself.

9. I skipped out on boot camp this morning. I feel a little guilty since we didn't have it on Friday either, but this weekend pooped me out. I plan on going running sometime today to make up for it, though. Before or after pretzels, I'm not sure.

10. I finished reading The Help last night. I.....think I might be at a loss for words. I loved reading the book, but I don't know how I feel. The ending left me sad, but I'm not sure that was the intention. I guess I'm sad knowing how much further they still had to come, still HAVE to come. I sat there holding Evie this morning, and thought to myself, "For so long, we had black women taking care of white children and now...here I am, a white woman taking care of MY black baby." Because despite how much things have changed, there are some things....that are still the same.

Funny Faces Friday

Someone (or people) love the big red balls at Target. Can't say I blame them. They ARE fun.

She actually left her headband like this for almost ten minutes. Got such a kick out of the fact she could see through the loopholes.

Ummmmm.....itchy much?

My cousin had these little scooters and a concrete garage to play in. I may or may not have gotten on myself....

Monday Mumbles

Guess what time it is? That's right...bank holiday time!! Another Monday where I get to sit at home and hang. There are some perks to being in this industry.

1. Let's get this out of the way first. Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders, passed away Saturday at the age of 82. Yes, my family went into mourning. Okay, not really, but I truly felt a sadness that I've never experienced before as it relates to deaths in the sports world. He created an image and a love for a team that surpasses all others in the league. That's not my bias either, those are words spoken by sports figures, media, and retired players all Saturday and Sunday. RIP, Big Al.

2. A friend of mine ran the Chicago marathon this past weekend and did great! I love getting to say that, too. Strange that I feel so connected with friends who accomplish such feats, yet I didn't have a part in it. Maybe because it's running.

3. My friend Emily gets induced today! She decided to wait until birth day to find out the sex - so excited someone else chose this way too. It just brings it all together in one happy moment. The baby enters the world healthy, it's identity is discovered, and can begin it's journey as part of a family.

4. I think I like having that pregnancy-in-the-womb life just between baby and mother. To me as a mother, the sex never mattered, and baby and I could just "be". No one hassled about "what is it", forcing me "decorate properly" and determine its existence here on Earth before it was truly HERE...on Earth. I never could explain WHY I preferred not to know, so that's the best I can do. Take it or leave it. Just don't argue with it. I don't argue when you find out - I DO, however, celebrate when I find out that OTHERS aren't finding out.

5. A friend of mine entered her daughter into Girls On The Run. Ever heard of it? I hadn't. It sounds fantastic, though. I am contemplating the 5K they will be doing next month. Such a great cause, and I of course love the idea of getting girls to fall in love with running and exercise at an early age.

6. I just realized all of these are pretty lengthy today. My fault.

7. I wasn't a big fan of taking videos but Hubs was. And then I realized it really was a good idea. You're probably going to be seeing a lot more random videos 'round these parts. I apologize in advance for any random screaming, scolding, bossing, or swearing you might hear.

8. I have been approached by a couple different people who have a need or interest in blogging. I say need because sometimes you have no other outlet for creativity or venting. Guest blogging with anonymity is ALWAYS WELCOME here. Take me up on it, and you'll love the feeling of release. Promise! :)

9. I've just started reading The Help. Can't wait to get into it and make it another "book I can't put down".

10. You know something else I can't get enough of?  Them.

Funny Faces Friday

The kids went to a local alpaca farm with my dad last weekend and were fortunate enough to be given some sheared, pressed fur. I've been asked to make it into a pillow.

Power

Last night, when the kids were asleep, I snuck into the boys’ room and lied down with Turner in his bed. It was nice and dark, with their glow in the dark stars dimly lit on the ceiling. Turner was wiggly, tossing and turning. I tried putting my arm on his body to calm him and help him sleep more soundly, to no avail. And it was then it hit me…as it’s done before, and as I’ve blogged before….


I made these people. They are walking around on this Earth solely because we MADE them. Holy crap, are we given power.

And all their joys and sorrows and trials and triumphs are primarily occurring during these early years because of how we treat them. Talk to them. Touch them. Love them. Teach them. Reprimand them. Direct them. Follow them.

Holy crap, are we given power.

Not only is our direct one-on-one interaction their primary source for knowledge, but so is our indirect interaction. The behavior of the parents speaks so loudly yet we often ignore it and dismiss our own behavior as a catalyst for good, or a catalyst for bad. Behaviors like how we speak to one another. Touch one another. Love one another. Forgive one another. Struggle and survive with the help of one another.

Holy crap, are we given power.

There is nothing quite like children (for whom you are responsible) to make self-reflection such a priority. I never spent so much time looking in the rearview mirror, berating myself, coaching myself, making promises to myself. But in the end, the responsibility bestowed upon me has ultimately made me a better person and I am thankful.

More importantly, however, it’s made me realize to never take for granted the ability to change, seek opportunities for betterment, and treat one another more kindly than the previous day. It’s difficult and I fail constantly. But I’m aware now, and I’m trying. It’s what I ask of my children, and am constantly surprised with success.

Holy crap, are we given power. Over ourselves. Make the most of it.

Who's Chasing You?

My Best Friend's Wedding. Who's seen it? Julia Roberts....Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney, Rupert Everett?

There is a scene in that movie, nearer the end, where Julianne (Roberts) hops into a catering van and chases Michael (Mulroney) all over town. Michael happens to be chasing Kimberly (Diaz). George (Everett) not so gently asks Julianne, "Michael's chasing Kimberly! You're chasing Michael! WHO is chasing you???"

And therein lies the problem.

We sometimes get so consumed by the relationship we used to have, we think we could have, or what we wish to have, we forget to truly READ the other person.
Their feelings
Their glances
Their body language

Julianne was so convinced what she and Michael used to have was RIGHT, she failed to see she was alone.

I wondered if I had done that with some Facebook friend requests. I had, for so long, wondered what happened to college acquaintances and fondly recalled happy moments that I might have misjudged our relationship. And it was then I realized it's okay to have been impacted by someone more than I impacted them. I used to fret about such discrepancies - why don't they feel our friendship was worth the effort? Didn't they know I was genuinely interested in getting to know them?

Not any longer. And not in a malicious, spiteful, "FINE THEN" tantrum sort of way. There are times when your life is truly FULL. I believe you can be at capacity and unable to absorb the responsibility and effort that a new friendship, or rather, lasting relationship would require. I've been there and I totally get it.

I also understand when I'm on the receiving end of the short stick, so to speak. Lack of proximity, lack of commonality. It can all lead to dissipation. It's this wash of relief and maturation that makes it okay when I've been de-friended or when I de-friend. It's what makes it okay when friendships at work dissolve. Because along the way, new and different relationships are built, and new people are brought into my life for their own special reasons.

Nothing specific prompted my ponderings, before you start showering the "what happened?" and "you're so fantastic, who doesn't want to love you?" (okay, I might have gone too far there) comments. I was just sifting through photos I have, and photos on Facebook....smiling at common people and realizing....I turned out okay. And so did they. And we haven't talked in umpteen years.

What makes it even better is that I looked at another set of photos and saw a face I didn't speak to for nearly....gosh, 6 or more years? And I couldn't imagine not talking or seeing her every month now. I just hope I don't lose that much more time with anyone else who makes me smile. We are getting old, you know.

Monday Mumbles

That time again. Did anyone else's weekend just speed by? Productive? Fun? Sunshiny good?

1. I tend to forget about our windows being open when the weather is so nice. Not a bad thing, right? Unless you happen to need to yell at your children a lot, and by the end of the night you worry your neighbors will be calling in reinforcements to secure the children's safety.

2. Holy crap. I saw a commercial last night for Wendy's. They brought back "Where's the Beef?" And I went roller skating yesterday! Life is repeating itself.

3. I am very tempted to show you the pain that boot camp has put me through, but it's really more PG-13, so I will refrain. I took a photo of the top of my rear just to have proof of what the 300 sit-ups in the Killer 1000 workout did to me. I literally rubbed the very top of the inner side of my butt cheeks raw. I still cannot sit without adjusting for the pain.

4. Instead, I will show a great photo of TO and his grandma who came to watch them last weekend while Hubs and I went away. She made it up on Friday in time to see him play some ball before we left town.

5. And how about a photo of an ultra-evil looking EJ? I'm telling you, she's up to NO. GOOD.

(and for the record, she's only using a bottle because her sippy cups were dirty. she doesn't use a bottle anymore.)

6. And one more....of Hubs and I actually liking one another at the Mall of America!

7. I am considering NOT teaching OJ how to tell time, either standard hand clock or digital. It really does you no good when they learn this little trick. I tell TO it's bed time, and he tells me "nuh uh. I still have 2 minutes!" With OJ right now? I say it's time for bed, and he says OK! Well, except for the times when he says, "I just don't like bed times." Lose-lose, huh?

8. I am finally going to start reading The Help. I know, I know...I'm really behind considering the movie probably isn't even in theaters anymore. Blame it on the rain.

9. Oh, that's right. We're having sunshine, 80s, and no rain all week!

10. There are some nights I look around our house after the little people are in bed, and sigh in frustration. We have SO MUCH STUFF cluttering every single wall/corner/room/floor space that it can be overwhelming at times. But last night? I looked at the tackle box, guitar, and talking garbage truck Stinky, all of which were in front of the tv, and was thankful. Thankful that we have family and friends who love our kids and like to see them happy. Want them to have toys and clothes and gadgets that make childhood so special. Thankful that we can provide the things they need and despite all the dirty dishes, we have food. Thankful I have a washer and dryer downstairs to take the stink out of the dirty clothes sitting at the top of the stairs. So in fairness to the Mumbles, I will say I could have used TO's help in putting his cup away instead of him leaving it on the living room floor. BOYS.