Quote of the Week

You can't deny laughter. When it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants. -Stephen King

Happy Birthday to Me

I have to tell you, I secretly just love birthdays. I love a day that is just for you, a day of surprises, a day with poppy seed cake. I have been told, on more than one occasion, by more than one person, that I am incredibly hard to shop for but whether or not that's the case, John Nathan came through in fine form. On July 10th, I get to see Sister Hazel in concert at the House of Blues in Dallas. Normally I would say, oh you shouldn't spend that much money on me, but the thing is...I just really want to go. I love Sister Hazel...LOVE. They have had a couple hits in the mainstream but their best work never got radio play. There is no other band where I can honestly say that I enjoy every single one of their songs. So, all that to get across that I am crazy excited to see them live and bonus points to John for surprising me with a better birthday gift than I could have imagined.

Out to Dinner

Saturday night Laura did not feel like cooking and so we decided to head to Irma's for burgers along with Jessi who had stopped by. It is strange because with Joshy, I remember following along with the books and trying to figure out what he was meant to be capable of at each month of infancy. Perhaps it is being more busy or more tired because a 3 year old is in the mix but with Ben, he was just all of a sudden six months old and I thought, hey he can eat food, hey, he can sit, hey, he can sit and eat food. We pick him up from daycare and he is playing in a high chair and I just think...are you that old? So we had our first meal WITH Ben at a restaurant. He dined on green beans and us on burgers. Well, except for John who ordered chopped no name steak which should have been more properly titled, burger patty on a plate. Congratulations Ben on another milestone that you were probably capable of months ago. Your mama sure is proud.

A Day at Jessi's

What started out as a quick trip to Jessi's house in the morning became a day long stay including two trips to the pool, a movie for two parent's hurting for a date and pbjs as far as the eye can see. We rolled in at 9:00 to old fashioned donuts and a large cup of coffee. Three spoonfuls of sugar and plenty of milk. Our first trip to the pool was a little after 10 and before the rush of people or heat. Joshy hopped right in without issue but was a little hesitant out of the gate with swimming without a hand to hold. Then we found the thing that revolutionized Joshy's life as a swimmer. A floating ball. Oh yes, it sounds simplistic, but that thing was a better teaching tool than a thousand of us jumping up and down, cheering him on. He would throw it and then swim to it before anyone else could get their hands on it. He was concentrating so heavily on the ball that he forgot to even try to hold our hands. By the time we had to go, he was still just paddling around on his own. In fact, after Jess and I had gotten ourselves out of the pool, he jumped from the stairs back into the water and just said "leave me". Sure Joshy, let me just pick up our things and head back to the apartment while you swim your way into DHS custody. Now in case you haven't caught on...we found the ball floating in the pool and while we are fairly certain that it belonged to a family that was playing in the pool when we first came, they left without picking it up and if ever there was a time that finders keepers applied, we figured it was then. So, yes, I basically stole some child's ball and gave it to my son. The adage of do as I say and not as I do is becoming so much clearer.

After a lunch of PBJ, John and I were able to sneak away and see a movie while the boys took their naps. We saw Get Smart and I have to say that I haven't watched many movies that have made me laugh as consistently throughout as this one. It was one of the best movies I have seen, not just lately, but ever. In other words, go see it. It has been a long time since John and I have made it to the movie theater to watch a movie together, so this was a wonderful treat. Usually when we can score some time alone, we choose dinner over a movie where you really have no occasion for conversation and if you try to tack on a movie with dinner, it keeps you out too long. You don't want to wear out your welcome with the free babysitters aka the only babysitters aka your mom and sister. Consider this an invitation for any available 16 year old girls...scratch that, 18 year old girls in the market for a good babysitting job to give me a call. You know, I was babysitting for people when I was 13 and 14 years old. Seriously, what were these parent's thinking?? I mean, I was watching three kids at a time including an infant. You trust me to handle your baby when the government doesn't even trust me to get myself to your house by car? They clearly did not love their kids.

After the movie, Jess, Joshy and I went for another dip in the pool. We have promised Joshy that whenever he goes under water for the first time, we would take him to Wal-mart and he could pick out a new toy of his choosing (as steered by his price conscious mother). So, as we're leaving our second round of swimming in a people packed pool, Joshy decided that now was the time for him to go under because he really wanted that toy. Still it took quite the negotiation and several times in and out of the pool but guess what...HE DID IT! Our little superstar (as the man called him who swam by as Joshy was screaming that he didn't want to get his hair wet) finally held his breath and went under. I really was so proud of him for facing something that made him afraid.

As we were walking back from the pool a second time, Joshy pointed down one of the sidewalks and asked, "Is that way left?". I told him that it was right and illustrated by saying this is your right hand, while grabbing his right arm, and then this is your left, with a tug to the other. He repeated me confirming the two directions and then asked if we were walking left. I told him that we were walking straight and the ensuing silence made me think the questioning was over. Then, after a minute had passed, Joshy looks up at me and says "Where is my straight hand?" I just laughed. Good question.

Playing with chalk is fun!

This is definitely not a molehill...

Over the last few months, be it my change in birth control, be it stress, be it increased chocolate intake to soothe said stress, my face has stolen a page right out of adolescence, breaking out unceasingly, one blemish after another. This is exactly what you need when working your way up the ladder at work. Hello Mr. Banker, me and my blemish have arrived. Yes, I am 13 years old. Make-up only goes so far and with my limited make-up knowledge/capability... even less. So it has been, one disappears, another one takes it place. I, as most of us, can't keep my hands away, messing with each until it becomes a scab, less coverable by make-up and even more the billboard for bad skin. All the build up to say, this time around, I determined to not touch this new addition creeping up on my chin. I knew that I had a lunch with some bankers today and prayed that if I played by all the rules, washing my face morning and night, religiously keeping my hands away and cleaning all linens that could even chance an encounter, it would at least be dwindling in time for lunch today. Well good news...apparently all the "rules" are a bunch of crap. Yes, crap...as in rubbish, lies, opposite of that which is true. When I woke up this morning my blemish had become a mountain on my chin. MOUNTAIN! It was so far under the skin that there was no hope of even trying to mess with it and all my cleaning had made the skin on it so taught and shiny that it practically reflected the light like a bald spot protruding from my chin. As I am messing with it in the mirror, trying to figure out how to attack the camouflage situation, I am complaining to John about how I keep breaking out and I just don't get it. He of course is offering his sympathies of "I am sorry that you are breaking out" "It is strange that it is happening one after another" "It really isn't as bad as you...oh my goodness, that is huge, let me see, it is like a boil." Thanks John, I feel so much better. Great, so now I am the super professional grownup complete with shiny boil under heavily make-up'd chin. Yes, me and my own personal Mt. Rushmore are going to go far. What makes it worse is that I have been fighting against the fact that I apparently look much younger than I am. My boss thought I was only 24 which I thought was ridiculous until I got carded on my way into the balcony at the Warren Theatre. Am I 21? Yes, I'm 21. Doesn't my humongous pimple give it away??!! I tried toothpaste, cold, heat...everything I can think and it only grows. It is the hulk of blemishes, the Hercules of pimples and is doing everything in it's power to take me down. As I type it is throbbing, probably from the toothpaste attempt that I am pretty sure burned off a layer of skin. So, I give up. If you need me, me and my 18 year old self will be accepting the award for largest blemish ever, chin category and torching that sucker with fire. CSI: Miami and chocolate ice cream, here I come. Well...we come...dang pimple.

Dogs and Horses and Cows, Oh My...

This morning we drove down to Blanchard to visit a friend of mine I worked with at the bank. I loved working with Pat and, in fact, grew to love her. She was there when I needed to vent, when I hosted my first Thanksgiving and always had a story that would crack me up. Plus, it is nice to be able to work with someone who doesn't blink when you look at them and say, "Seriously, what the crap is a roux?"

Pat owns 86 acres filled with horses and her son, 40 acres down the road with horses and cows. Ben, as always, didn't even blink with a horse 23 times his size snorting before him. Joshy showed a little more caution, not unlike his mom and dad. Oh, I think horses are beautiful and I have always loved cows but there is a big difference when you and them are on the same side of the fence. Hoppy brought over Wilson, their 24 year old horse, for the boys to see. He was gentle...or at least hungry. The grass seemed to interest him more than curious boys and a girl with a camera.
As I said, it is easier to be brave when there is a fence at your back.

By the time we were ready to go see the cows, Ben was ready to sleep. So Pat made a nice pallet on the ground and Hoppy pulled baby duty while we headed down the road.
Houston's land is less than a mile away. He has a pasture full of cows that were ready to be fed and we were just in time. When you first pull up you can see Jody penned up near the house. Joshy ran over to say hello and she peeked over the fence.

The key to being on a farm is that everyone pitches in. So John and Joshy were put to work filling up the buckets with feed for the cows. They worked together to fill and they worked together to carry.

As we headed towards the cow pen, the horses took notice and headed our way. Since we were in their pasture, there was no longer a fence to keep them at bay and by the time we arrived at the cow's fence, waiting while Pat poured the food, we could feel the horses nodding against our back and let's just say the 75% city kicked in. When they started playing with each other and kicking up their feet, well that was the point Laura almost scaled over the top of the fence to the sound of Joshy crying and John's surpised yell . Trust me, from inside the cow's pen, it was three relieved city folk looking at the horses we were certain wanted to eat us alive.

There were several new baby calves but while Pat thought there should be 6, we could only find 5. So we took off through the pasture searching for baby number 6. We stopped off at the watering hole where the cows had migrated after eating to cool off in the blazing sun. My sweat drenched self was starting to think that brown muddy water was looking pretty good too.

We never found the final calf but Pat planned to revisit the pasture tonight and do another search. As we walked back towards the house it dawned on us that meant a trip back through the horses. Again, it is not that they are scary, just incredibly close and completely unrestrained. Did I mention big?

As we brought the cow's feed buckets out through the gate, one of the horses wanted to make sure that there was nothing left inside and of course, we let her as, well, she's stronger.
Walking towards the house the horses were literally a step behind. It is a strange feeling being trailed by a horse. I say strange, I think Joshy was going with unsettling.

Joshy just took to Pat, following her wherever she went in the house. By the time we made it back to her house, he was a thirsty boy, sitting in her lap and gulping apple juice. What you can't see is his mom and dad in the background downing cups of tea with a fervor. It was freakin' hot and do we need to revisit "city folk"? I thought that I was outdoorsy because I loved to be out in the woods camping and exploring but man, that is different than baking in an open pasture being charged by cows. Well, I guess if there were woodland creatures charging me and it was 140 degrees, I might not be rejoicing in the woods either.
Right before we left, Hoppy and Pat gave Joshy one more chance to pet Wilson and this time, he walked right up and stroked his belly, no fear or hesitation involved. I was so proud of bubba and so thankful for the hospitality of my friend. Pat will always be dear to my heart and visiting her home made for such a great day.

Quote of the Week

I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends. - Walt Whitman

I can't help but love him...

John and I were sitting at the table munching on a quick lunch. As we wound down I, in my normal fashion, just began singing the song currently bouncing through my head. It is very rare that I don't have a song floating around in there and when everything gets quiet, without even realizing, it tends to squirm its way out. I hardly have a "sing in public" quality voice but when I hear music, it fills up every inch of me and I can't help but sing and tap along with the beat. All that to say, it was not abnormal for me to just fill a quiet moment with a portion of the song of the day. Thinking about it, I began to talk to John about how I loved this new artist I found and what the song was talking about and mid-sentence, he jumps up and runs to his computer. "Listen to this Bowling for Soup cover of Hit Me Baby One More Time..." I looked at him and said, "Way to ruin a moment. I was singing and sharing my thoughts about the song and there you go". So he hops back out of his desk chair and back into the dining table chair across the table from where he had sat previously. "No, the moment is gone". "The moment is gone from that chair, see the moment is still here in this chair". "Nope, sorry, it is passed" And then he breaks out in his falsetto singing the song I had sung earlier, of course knowing none of the words but mimicking the tune. I couldn't help but laugh which of course caused more messed up lyrics and a bolder falsetto as I smiled and laughed along. He is so easy to love and I feel so lucky to be the one he loves in return. Of course, ask me about it the next time he has placed my only pair of black shoes at the bottom of a bin of clothes when cleaning and I am frantically searching for them at 8:05 the next morning and you might get another response...

I just needed a good smile...

Veggies Make A Boy Grow Strong...

As stated previously, Joshy is not the first to jump at a serving of vegetables when they are of the green variety. Getting him to eat a portion of what he is served often involves some sort of barter or bribe. What I discovered tonight is that I have an untapped power at my disposal when it comes to Joshy and all things green. Joshy was eating his hot dog, peaches and yogurt at the table while I was in the living room feeding Ben. Joshy, curiosity setting in, comes wandering over to see what I was up to. Asking, I told him that I was feeding Ben his dinner...green beans. Of course, Joshy's response was..."I like green beans". I just nodded my head because we had gone through this with squash and had discovered each time that he in fact did not like squash. Still, the pull of sibling rivalry is strong and Joshy is already clear on the fact that he must have a hand in everything his brother does or gets. So, as expected, he asked for a bite. Here is the unexpected part...he loved it. He wanted more but I explained that was Ben's dinner and so he asked if he could have his own. I opened up a new one thinking that he would just mull around in it but the boy dug in. That baby food was flying off the spoon and before you know it, he had eaten his entire serving of green beans. It was insane. I have battled with him over eating one green bean off his plate and here he was downing an entire container of them. They weren't even warm or covered in butter. That must have been my problem. All along I have been trying to give him buttery, well seasoned green beans and he just wanted room temperature, mushy green bean paste.

Things I am Thankful For...

As I was leaving Walmart this afternoon with my trunk full of groceries, I noticed four or five people waiting with their Walmart sacks at the bus stop on the far end of the parking lot. I had never really thought about those who did not have a car and how much extra time and effort had to go into just a trip for groceries. Not only do they have to plan it just right with the bus schedule, they could only purchase what they could carry which means a return trip in far less than two weeks. There are so many things in this life that I just take for granted, even having a trunk in which to put my over stuffed cart's worth of sacks and boxes. I have been so stressed about finances these past couple of weeks and have found myself wishing for some magical money tree to sprout up in the midst of that backyard jungle I have yet to tame. But you know what, I can afford a car to drive and two weeks worth of groceries and the house of my dreams over my head. We all have our areas of obvious blessing and our areas of hardship and like those people at the bus stop, when it comes to the hard parts, you just do what you have to do because three bags worth of groceries are better than none.

.

With a grateful heart I drove out of that parking lot and began to think of the many things in my life that have given me the gift of laughter and smiles. I have so many things I am thankful for...some serious...some more frivolous but smile inducing all the same. Here's just a few...

• I am thankful that I was there the first time Joshy caught a joke on a TV show and laughed out loud.
• I am thankful for a husband who will stand out in the backyard and help me wash our 85 pound dog and laugh as we get sprayed by him shaking his coat and draw straws over who gets to wash the area around his "peepee".
• I am thankful for Antique's Roadshow. Whenever there is absolutely nothing on, you can always count on roadshow to be there. Yes, the pieces of history are amazing, but it is the study of people that makes it so addictive. Nothing beats the look on someone's face as they think "I don't give a flip why this teacup maker was considered American although actually French, just get to how much it is worth" while trying to hide it with "Oh, uh-huh...interesting...".
• I am thankful for how well Ben eats green beans. He just swallows every bite and doesn't spit any out. I fought with Joshy to eat anything green. He had a radar for green veggies since the moment he was born.
• I am thankful for the tree outside our dining room window adorned with purple flowers. Everyday I look out at it as we eat and it just reminds me again of how fortunate I am to be in a house surrounded by green and bathed in sunlight.
• I am thankful that I get to wake up in the morning to Joshy having a mech battle next to my head. This morning it was Snooker vs. Platus. I was personally a fan of Platus who protected me several times, at my pleading, from Snooker's attacks.
• I am thankful to be married to a man who can wrap his arms around me and make me feel small and safe.
• I am thankful for Ben's smile. His whole face smiles along with his mouth and it makes my heart melt.
• I am thankful for an extended family that loves to laugh. Every family get together I can remember is full of laughter and love. And food! Man I could do with one of Grandma's homemade cheesecakes or Pop's ribs...
• I am thankful for a handful of people in my life who really know me well. Know the little insignificant things that make you feel important and loved.
• I am thankful for caffeine. Props to God for the forethought to know that parents of infants can't live on love and determination alone.
• I am thankful that Joshy happily goes along with me when we sing everything instead of saying it. Before you know it, we have an full on opera over whether or not he likes his grilled cheese or if he has to go to the bathroom.
• I am thankful for foot rubs and a wonderful man who is willing to give them.
• I am thankful for people who wear a fanny pack in all seriousness. They will never know how much they make my day.

Your turn. What are some of your "thankful for"s?

Sunday won't be the same...

Tom Brokaw said it best - "He will be missed as he was loved - greatly." There will never be a time that I cry hysterically in a bright blue fuzzy sweater and not think of him. I was, and still am, a big fan.

Rozelle Reunion 2008

Day one consisted of waking up at 6:00 to Joshy bouncing on the bed asking to go and wake up Jessi. We had to be up at the lake at 8:00 so I scurried and woke up the other two cabins before heading back to my own to suit up for swimming. By the time I made it back outside, I was a little startled to see this deer just wandering around, walking up to people with no fear at all. Now, I am not an animal person and so swimming with the sharks, running with the bulls, and touching disease carrying deer does not come natural. Still, I was determined to stretch my Snow White roots and bond with the forest creatures as only a fairy tale princess could. For starters, the 75 deer ticks on that back of his head did not exactly scream fairy tale and somehow, every time I got close, all I could see was him going rabid and taking a chunk out of my hand. You know, I am not even sure if it was a him. Huh. Anyway, at first I would just slowly walk up to him with my camera and tried to get some good close up shots. This was before I realized just how little "fear of humans" this guy/girl had. Before I knew it, he was practically charging me, as seen in the picture below. You can just see vicious all over that expression...

After a few instances of me creeping up and then chickening out and running away, it turned its interest to others. More specifically, others with licorice.
Tina, of course, has no built in fear of all things wild and I suppose once you have dealt with sea lions and cranes, a passive, friendly woodland creature does not seem that intimidating.

I finally decided I was going to touch it. I couldn't let Tina show me up and let's not forget the Snow White vision. Attempt 1: Failure. Every time he walked closer, I would jump back a little further as attested by the blurry picture.
Attempt 2: Success. This of course was post lake boating/swimming but success none the less. Sweating girl with fro'd out Monica hair from severe humidity one moment, freakin' snow white the next. All the moment lacked was random bursting out in song and a flowy dress in a springtime breeze...

Back to the boating/swimming. Each year we rent a pontoon boat to go out on the lake as a family. Okay, I say each year but actually, last year was our first. This being our second year and having all the boating experience that we did, we knew that it would be a good idea to bring the fishing poles because the lake is only so big and once you have taken a good spin around it, there is only so much relaxing you can do. Also, we made sure to look for a ladder this year as nothing quite makes one feel so...um...large as having to have three people hoist you up out of the lake when there is nothing to use to climb back into the boat. Last year Joshy cried when we jumped into the water, so it was great to have him willing to get in himself this year. I have to credit Jessi here as she has slowly progressed him from "I don't want to get my swimsuit wet" to dog paddling on his own in his life vest at her apartment pool.

I can do the treading water thing, but the whole time, I am secretly worrying about the fish biting your toes thing. I just don't like not being able to see my feet. Plus, after a while, swimming in place becomes hard work. I much prefer the floating technique. Your feet are far away from carnivorous fish, you don't have to do any actual swimming and you get to feel the sun on your face. The downside: popping up and realizing that you now have to swim half a mile to get back to the boat.
My dad always lets Joshy and now Ben help him drive. There I go with the always again. Each time my dad has let the boys take part in the driving. Much better. Of course last year there was just a boy and not boys...you know, whatever. Joshy has a blast steering and watching the boat adjust course. Ben...well he just likes being held.

As the law states, you have to have life jackets on all children when moving. At least until you have moved out of the view of the dock anyway. Of course, they don't make many life jackets in six month old size...so baby burrito had to settle for child size.After our Tour de Greenleaf Lake. Hmmm...you know, I don't know what lake it is. Greenleaf is the park but I don't know if that is the lake. Pause while Laura researches... Aha...it is Lake Greenleaf. So, after our Tour de Lake Greenleaf, we broke out the fishing poles and tried our hands at fishing. Joshy was a pro in no time, reeling his bobber in and then casting it back out. The poles with bobbers were taken by the time I got to pick a pole, so I was left with the dumb fake bug thing that I had to keep casting and reeling in. I am convinced no one has ever caught a fish like that. Seaweed, yes, but fish...no.

The champion of the day was Tina who was not only the sole fish catcher but somehow managed to catch two. Of course we threw them back because what you are going to do with two fish. I mean, that is the official reason. The unofficial reason is that fish are just gross.
As we were heading back to the dock the motor was seeming to run a little more sluggish than we recalled prior to the fishing. Then about half way back, it quit altogether. None of us had cell phones and even if we did the reception was nonexistent. The first plan involved swimming to the dock. Tina and I willingly took the short straws figuring Dad could keep messing with the engine and we were the next strongest swimmers. As Tina put on her generic issue life vest I turned and laughed. Reference Tommy Boy as the flight attendant. In other words, lets just say the neck room was less than adequate. So we hatched a new plan of tying the vest to our ankles as a precaution and then swimming sans life vest to the shore. Just then we hear salvation in the form of an outboard motor. A small boat was headed our way on their route back from fishing. So, my dad and I start waving and Jess, in her own unique embarrassing way, starts yelling "SOS, Help Us!" as loud as she can. Finally my dad lets out one of his show stopping whistles and the boat turns our way. We tell them we are dead in the water and ask if they will notify the boat dock. Sure enough, as soon as they speed away we give the key another turn and the engine starts. Of course it does. So we take off towards the dock, 40 minutes past our boat return time, hiding our faces from the fishermen who went out of their way to help the boat that drove itself in 3 minutes behind them. Classy.

After resting, following our boating adventure, we headed down to play some softball in the park. I was impressed by how good we all were, considering most of us hadn't played softball since the Memorial Day picnic at Warm Springs. I hit far more than I missed and when not beaning the pitcher, managed to hit a few quite a ways into the outfield. The downside was that it was hot. Extremely hot. All it took was a couple of swings and you were pouring sweat. Batting and pitching were the most desired positions...outfield was a chore. It was like basting in an oven between sudden exertions of running and throwing.

Tina had the right idea...

Saturday night is the pool party. Families bring pots of chili and we eat and swim until it is too dark to play. It is fun to see the same kids each year, so much bigger it seems than the year before and tons of other people that you have no clue who they are. It's a big family. You just assume they are related somehow and try to keep the conversation general.

By the end of the party we had two exhausted and naked boys.

Sunday is the potluck lunch and this year Jess and Mom decided that we should wear matching t-shirts. The adults were in navy and Joshy and Ben in white. It is ridiculously hard to find a plain navy onesie.

This year 106 people showed up to squeeze into a room cooled only by two window units that fight against a constantly opening door. The lunch is followed by raffles and group pictures and somehow our family always seems to win. By our family I mean Jess, my dad and mom. I have no luck as it was all wasted on a purple dinosaur in 6th grade but that is a story for another time. Our family picture included two wiped out boys. Well, to be completely honest, two wiped out parents too. Still, I look forward to this weekend every year and am already anticipating 12 months from now when we get to do it all again. As I curled up in bed Sunday night, sore and exhausted, all I could think was how happy I am.