A Day At The Lake

A Day at the Lake...

After a swim...all shivering and cute

Austin toes, mommy toes and Andrew toes

Looking for snacks

Building an imagination

3-0

Ok, so it happened. I turned 3-0 yesterday. Nothing cataclysmic happened. I didn’t need a cane to get out of bed, my face wasn't stricken with wrinkles and I still have all my teeth, so I am thinking surviving 30 will be a-okay.
Sure there is a slight gulp when I have to admit I am actually 30, no a longer a twenty-something, but like an official grown-up or whatever. I take solace in the fact that all my friends have already surpassed this mark or will encroach upon it within the next year. So, we all take this leap together. I don’t mind.
I was thinking yesterday, would I go back? If I turned the clock back just one year, I would have to give up this entire year in which so many things have happened. If I go back five years, well then that would be my life without two amazing children. If I go back even further well then I would have delve back into the angst of high school. I loved high school, I loved my friends, but not enough to rewind and do it all again.
I might rewind for a little while and enjoy college life for a week or two, but once again I would not choose to stay there indefinitely.
So, 30 it is. I had someone ask me, " so how are you handling it? Don’t take it too hard. It’s not so bad." I looked around. "Who? Me?" I didn’t think there was any "handling" it. Was I supposed to be facedown in my bed crying begging for time to reverse? Should I be kicking and screaming in a tantrum begging time to stop? Nah.
I also love the glances of those great high school kids that we work with. They find out its your birthday and simultaneously raise the eyebrows when its announced, yup, 30. I remember that glance myself when I was 17 and someone I thought was relatively young said they were 30. WHAT!? But, 30 is so old!
Yup, I’m 30 and I can’t say I am really all that depressed, I spent the entire week eating various birthday cakes, opening presents and went out to dinner on three different occasions. The only thing I might be sad about is the post-30, non-celebratory week. No more cake, presents and impromptu surprise dinners. Oh well. Bring on 30! I can handle it.
Btw…I got a birthday card from Rocco!

Perspective On Craziness

Ok, so 15 minutes after I posted my last blog and effectively embraced the craziness in my life. Austin, who is near perfect in his potty-training announced he had pooped. So, like a good mom, I checked his potty only to find out that he had decided that a secret place in his playroom was much more accomodating. I looked at him, he looked at me...and said, "I showed you my poop."
Yup, you did. Craziness continued, time to clean the carpet.

A Blessing In The Craziness

It was one of those days when I really thought God has somehow mistaken me as someone capable of being a mother. By the third food spill and the eighth tug-of-war argument over some toy that had not been touched in a year, I was ready to crawl under my blankets and await the storm of motherhood to pass. Austin has quickly realized how to antagonize Andrew and Andrew has garnered the talent for provoking little brother all resulting in a whirlwind of craziness.
Exasperated, I just closed my eyes and waited for the morning to pass. It did. For those who are parents, there is no need to explain that even the hardest of days does not challenge the depth of love you have for your children.
I was reminded of that driving home the other day when a radio station was having a "radiothon" for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. No, surprise where this is going. The stories were heart-wrenching and left you ready to empty your bank account right there to help some child you didn’t even know. It took all of two minutes to cry and I continued my sob fest for at least 15 miles as I listened to mothers and fathers talk of their child’s battle against cancer. I knew some days my boys challenged me to the brink of insanity, but they are precious and bring more smiles than frustration to my life. For an instant I placed myself in the shoes of one of those parents dealing with a sick child. I could start to fathom the pain and I really thought I could suffocate under the idea of my child having to fight such a disease.
So, that night we prayed together before bed and I realized I was more than happy to soothe a couple of disagreements and wipe up the spilled cereal. I was relieved that at night I was tucking them into their own beds just down the hall from mine and we weren’t in some hospital room trying to keep the lights low to get some sleep. God has been good to bless Andrew and Austin with health and I pray that it stays that way for them. Though, no one knows what is in store down the road, I am more thankful today for the energy those two boys possess and for the craziness they bring to every day.
So, bring on the craziness!
By the way, fair warning, if you are going to listen to something on the radio about St. Jude’s while you are driving, its wise to pull over.

Idiosyncrasies

Saying the word idiosyncrasy is just a fancy way to say… I have uncanny, weird, nerdy traits.
Ok, well this isn’t really a nerd alert for those people that know me well. Albeit, some former roommates, family and a close friend or two will only validate the fact that what I am about to say is initiated by truth.
There are certain things that everyone does that they have to smiles and wonder “if anyone knew”. Why, because we are all capable of being completely idiotic. For instance, I made several of cousins pose in pictures demonstrating the not-so-sexy pouty faces we all possess (my dear friends Lacey, Cheryl and Sarah know this face all too well). It was laughable and they cringed under the umbrella of nerd-dome I provided for them, in the end…they all wanted copies of the pictures.
Or there are those of us who I know have actually watched High School Musical (1 and 2) or have sat through entire episode (or 2) of Hannah Montanna…with no company under the age of 15 present. You pretend that you have no idea who Miley Cyrus is and you have never heard of the Jonas Brothers…ok. Not me of course, but some of you know what I am talking about.
Or how about the fact when back-to-school-supplies come out you wish you had a reason to buy new Crayola markers or the coolest notebooks on the shelves. Not that I think this way, but some people I know find that new colorful, shiny, well-organized trapper keeper fun…totally nerdy if you ask me.
I also know some people who would spend a little too much time in the Hallmark store reading the funny cards and laughing, causing other people around them to make that side-ways awkward glance. Get a grip you guys, pick a card and move on.
Or how about those people who post crazy weird status messages on their facebook pages? Only the nerdiest of nerds would put exactly what they are doing when they are doing it. Facebookers all around have nerdy compulsions…have you sent a flair lately or about a super-poke? See. Nerds. On the topic of the Internet communication…if you type LOL and you don’t really LOL…that’s just wrong.
If you have ever curled up with a group of friends to watch Golden Girls…well…I can’t even imagine who would do that? Nerd Alert for sure.
Some people I know actually have a library card, a Borders Rewards card and has earned crazy points for books bought through amazon.com. I just shake my head.
I even know someone who buys Lucky Charms cereal and when they eat a bowl of it, they eat the cereal first and save all of the marshmallows for last. Can you imagine? I know someone who is secretly happy when her children want the latest release from Disney..that way she has a total cover-up for watching them.
I would also define being nerdy as someone who would actually take the time to write about it and post it to a blog….