Saturday, January 27, 2007

5 o'clock Hawaiian Punch Shadow

"Nathan, you have a red punch mustache on your lip from the birthday party today."

"I know Mommy, I forgot to shave."



I love that kid.

Monday, January 22, 2007

The One With the Stink in the Fridge


About 5 days ago, a mysterious and pungent odor came to live in my fridge. What could it BE? It was a day before I was able to give the fridge a good cleaning. I mean, taking shelves out, wiping mustard bottles down, soaking drawers in a baking powder/H2o solution, changing out the Arm and Hammer Fridge Pack...when it was all reassembled, I admired my gleaming white fridge, thought about how I was the most awesome wife this side of the Mississippi and closed the door.


When getting dinner ready, I opened the door only to have the mysterious odor reach out of my fridge and slap me in the face! Then, as I cooked, it followed me around my small kitchen teasing me with it's presence and clinging to my leg like a 2 year old. I don't reward bad behavior with attention so I simply did my best to ignore it. It was all out war when it invaded the chicken I made for dinner that night. That was IT.


I took apart the fridge again, wiped it with antibacterial wipes, dumped all the ice in the ice maker and cleaned the freezer as well.


IT WAS STILL THERE.


Each time I opened the fridge, the smell would hide and not appear until the door was swinging closed and then it would jump at me and stick its tongue out. Before I could catch it, it darted back in and I could never find it's source.


When I came home from a meeting last night, David told me, "I found that smell in the fridge."


WHAAAAT?!?!

"Yeah, I figured it was the veggies leftover from Lucy's birthday party. You had a whole Ziploc bag full of broccoli and cauliflower that was, like,  2 weeks old so I threw it out."


I flung the door of the fridge open and took a deeeeeeeeep breath. Nothing. Just the smell of about a million gallons of milk and slight hint of alluminum from my Diet Coke cans. Ahhhhh.


I thanked my Sweet Husband (who had also fed 3 kids dinner, bathed them all, and loaded the dishwasher while I was gone) and opened the door another time to breathe in the clean.


"If you really miss the smell that badly, the bag is still in the trash, just take a whiff from there."


Um, no thanks.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

10 Things I Have Noticed Now That I Am (Suddenly) a Mother to 3 Toddlers


10 Things I Have Noticed Now That I Am (Suddenly) a Mother to 3 Toddlers


I am not late anymore! Instead of being 15 minutes late, like always, I am 30 minutes early for everything! I am so afraid I won't be there on time, I leave myself a ridiculous amount of time to get everywhere.


Where did this mess come from?


1 loaf of bread=1 days worth of food.  Between the breakfast toast eating and the peanut butter sandwiches, I am going through bread like crazy. Oh, and don't forget Nathan the Morning Bread Thief.


Whose cup is this? Why are there 6 milk cups on the table?


When 3 kids are all asking for milk/food/toys/a bath/the park/Daddy/a different TV show at the same time, the sound is similar to the roar of the ocean. I search for peace in that roar. And how do they ask for all those things when there are only 3 of them?


Hang on a sec, I have another load of laundry to do. You know, ANOTHER LOAD.


I think a dog might be a good idea. A sheepdog that can herd the kids where I want them to go. And for recreation, I will strap them in roller-skates and have the dog run....for blocks and blocks.


Remember the solo trip to Target? I had one of those to Costco today and it was woooonderful.


Nothing wrong with a 45 minute bath each night, right?


And finally……………………….


I never knew my heart had this much room in it.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

January 10, 2005 ~ 4:00pm

Your smile is love.

Your smile is joy.

Your feet carry life into every room

and your voice delights all with it's laughter.

I see in you the potential to change the world.
To spread joy to those around you.

You push the boundaries you are given-your curiosity knows no bounds. The world is your oyster and new experiences are the pearl.

What will you bring next year? What will each day offer for you? What will you take from the people you meet and love and charm?

I pray that your self confidence will be a constant presence in your life. I pray that you can always find the love that people have for you and share it with others in your life.

I pray that music will stay with you forever. I pray that you will find a way to take the beauty in this world and bend it, shape it into something that is your own. I pray that you will find salvation in the beauty of this world. For all beauty, all things inspiring, wonderful, magnificent, awe inspiring and amazing are from a Father who loves you even more that I ever could. He is the one who created you to be the little girl you are.

And it is my honor to be your Mommy.
I love you My Baby Love.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

And If I Remember Nothing Else From 2007, It Will Still Be a Perfect Year


When we entered his house, it was like going to a whole new world. We wound around each room, hallway and door looking at everything, taking it all in.


With each step, I became nervous. What if it didn't go well? What if we didn't get the right picture? What if he didn't like him?


It was our turn. We walked into a small, quiet and peaceful room with one other family.


Nathan walked up to Mickey Mouse, gave him a hug, and said-in a muffled voice-"Mickey! I missed you."


That is when I started crying. My son was Believing.