'Til Next Year!

This video is proof of what an amazing daddy Daddy really is. Take a look at his latest creation. Be sure to mute my playlist first at the bottom of this page.

'Til next year!

Spirit of Christmas

Hope all your days are sweetened with the spirit of Christmas!

How Old They Are

So often I look at your faces and I think to myself, I'm going to miss you so much when you're grown. When you're standing right in front of me and you're an adult and I'm so proud of you and all that you've accomplished. I'll miss the little you. But I never tell you because I know you won't understand what I mean.

But  last night, Lil' looked right at me and said, "Mama, I'm gon miss you when I go up." She was talking about when she has a house of her own and she doesn't live with me anymore. But I think on some level, we get eachother. She loves being little and I love that she is.

These are the days, we'll look back on and miss. The little yous. The little runny noses. The times when children in our house loved Christmas and believed in all that is possible. It must have been a sad day for my Mama when we all grew up. I guess from that day on, you wait for your grandbabies to crawl around your house with their simple perfect belief in magic.

It's here now and we're all wrapped up in it like a big thick blanket. I'm so thankful for my babies and their wild-eyed view of the world. I know that I will miss this one day but I also know that there is a whole other chapter of babies that will fill me up with the wonder and joy of the season. May we all see Christmas the way our children do, no matter how old they are.

Pass The Glass

 "I'm not doing as much this year"
has turned into
"I did a little more than last year."

We added a new thing to the outside lights. Daddy "hopes this enhances your holiday spirit". We've been watching a lot of Christmas Vacation which is the BEST Christmas movie ever but a little tricky during the pool fantasy part when the model gets naked and your 7 year old is watching.

Our tree...

Our den...

Our porch...

Our Santas...

Big and Lil' show everyone this picture because they believe this Santa was the real deal. Not an elfie imitation.

This makes my heart race because I'm not done with it yet. I'm not done with the season, I mean. I'm a child of a Christmas believer. The thick, soupy, magic of the season and the joy that it brings was poured into me when I was child. And I hope that I'm pouring into my own and that they will pass the glass.

That Time of Year

Man, we've been busy. But that's the way I like it. Singing. Movement. Twinkles. Oooos. Ahhhhs. It all can only mean one thing...

Iiiiiiiittttttttttt'sssssssssss thaaaaaaaaaaaat tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime of year.....

Slushy-Bellies Unite!

There's some funny business happening at our house.

Big has started having a dance party pretty often in our den after supper. Considering that he is the longest, stringiest, 7 year old that man has ever known, the sight of him throwing himself around the room, makes me almost wet my pants. We never let him think that we're laughing at him though. That would be devastating. It's better that he believes we're laughing out of pure entertainment. His choice in music is particularly interesting. It's instrumental and illogical. Don't worry. We've been video taping him. And the giggle in my belly that can't wait to release this video when he's 15 or at his wedding rehearsal dinner is a very excited but hushed one. Oh lord, it's gonna be good.

One of my earliest memories comes from when I was in pre-school. I'm guessing I was in the 3's or 4's class. I was sitting on the floor next to my teacher and she was wearing a short sleeved shirt. I was sitting on her left side and I obviously really liked this lady although I can't remember her name. I can however remember that because of her, I discovered what old lady arm fat was. And for a span of time on this one day, I made that fat jiggle. I can remember slapping it around and watching the ripples while the other kids were singing "Jesus Loves Me."

This memory came rushing back to me last night when I was in the shower with Lil'. She found my left-over-baby-weight-beer-slushy-belly and she turned it into a person. Who talked. And sang. And made faces. I guess that's the price you gotta pay for having a child with a wild imagination. But on the upside, it's just another reason why I shouldn't go on a diet! Who am I to take away Lil's shower friend? I can't be the one to stomp on her creativity.

Who would have guessed that the greatest lesson I would learn in pre-school would be to embrace the slushy-belly?

Slushy-bellies unite!

The Goo and The Glop

When I was 19, there were several things that I said I'd never be when I became a mother.

I would never be the Mom at the beach pulling the wagon of ridiculousness behind her.
I would never be the Mom with the stickers stuck to the inside of her back windows in the car.
I would never be the Mom who yelled at her kids in public.
I would never be the Mom with the kid who's pants were too short.
I would never be the Mom with the carpet that had fingernail polish stains on it.

And well, here's the thing, I've become that Mom. Here's what I want to tell that 19 year old me who was reading "People" magazine and drinking a beer, judging that poor 34 year old me on the beach that day.

Look sweetie....

You bring along that wagon behind you because you'll do anything you can to stay at the beach for more than 2 hours when you have kids. You'll bring along snacks, towels, swim diapers and wipes. Toys, lotion, juice boxes and minnow nets. You're gonna need coozies and blankets, umbrellas and chairs. And you can say all you want to about how you want to keep it simple and your kids won't need that much but guess what? You won't and they will.

You let your kid put stickers on your car windows because you know what? It keeps them quiet for 1.1 seconds and it lets you jam out to that Tears for Fears song you haven't heard for years. Goo Gone can get rid of it with the help of a straight blade so just get over it already.

You're gonna yell. There's no doubt about it. The "Can I have it's" will come and they will get you. They will crawl up your back and into your ears and you'll take all you can until you just explode with a big fat "No!!!!" You'll turn around and see the 19 year old you looking at the 34 year old you with the stinkiest face and you'll want to flip her the bird. But you won't because you're a lady now.

You'll find out that these kids of yours grow like weeds after 3 days of rain. You won't be able to keep up and neither will your bank account. And that's how it happens. You'll send the Big one to church looking like the biggest dork you've ever seen but the 34 year old you won't really care that much because at least he brushed his teeth.

You're gonna learn the lesson of "give them an inch, they take a mile" real, real quick. What's that 19 year old me? Why do I let a 4 year old have nail polish in her room? Because, again, it keeps her quiet for 1.1 seconds and that's all the 34 year old me needs in life. Just a moment to catch a breath, take a sip, read a paragraph or fold a towel.

So you can sit there all you want and judge me and think about how you're gonna do it all different but you know what? You won't. You're gonna be all those things you said you'd never be. But then you'll be other things too that you thought you never could be. You're gonna learn what it's like to wear "your heart outside of your body." You're gonna sit and wonder and watch and plan and figure and hope. But it's not for yourself anymore. It's all for them.

Who will you be? Who will you love? Will they ever love you the way that I do? What will you do? Where will you live? How many grandbabies will you give me?

What will you grow? What will you build? What will you miss about being little?

The 34 year old me dreams about the 19 year old you but is drinking in every single second of the now, the present. The stickers, the nail polish, the goo and the glop.

Your Squeeks

Mmmmwaaaaaaa - I missed you and your squeeks.

A Catch

Grandma Mabel always had an aquarium when we were growing up. She was and still is the fish-whisperer. She had all kinds of stuff and it was so cool. She just caught her little critters in the creek outside her door and then they would live or jump out or...well, you get the picture.

Since we live at the beach, I wanted to let Big try to keep one of these too. My dream cast-net catch would be 1 sea-horse, 1 squid and 1 angel fish. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we could possibly catch something that I believe is related to a mermaid.

Brace yourselves. This is magical.

That, my friends, is a catch.

Grow

Whenever I see this near our house, I know that fall is here. It's just a place that I pass on the way home where the marsh grows a glorious little patch of pink and if it's possible, makes my heart grow a little bit bigger for this place.

Happy Halloweiner

I don't care what anybody says.
"Happy Halloweiner" is funny.

It's been funny since I was 8.
And it's still funny.
Lil' thinks its funny and so does Big.
So there.
Happy Halloweiner everybody.

Here's who Big was trying to be: Phil Robertson from the Duck Commander.

Pretty close.

"List" Worthy

Man, it feels good to check one off my "list". Have you made your list? You must have a list. A list of things you gotta do before you wrap up here and move on to the next place.

I've got big things that may never be able to happen on my list. And then I have things that are probable but not likely. This was one of those. But it actually happened. It's hard to make "list" things happen. But this one really did and it was awesome.

Seeing my favorite, favorite band with 5 of my favorite, favorite people in a place that is ridiculous. And crazy. And ridiculous. I'll never forget Saturday night of this past weekend. It was fantastic, harmonious, and check off the "list" worthy. 10/23/10.

A Beautiful Concept

I believe that in life, there are people who help mold you like a big ole' oak tree helps mold a road. Or like a river carves a mountain. These people...they guide you. They help you go left when you want to go right. They are there, even when they aren't. They sweeten the blood that is in your veins and pumps your heart. These are people who you create a whole new label for. A God-Sister - what a beautiful concept.

Lemovine, If You Will

Pound cakes are great. Aren't they? My Mama can hit you with a pound cake that will make your head spin. Her's is a little almondy flavored. It's good. Real good. It reminds me of funerals though. Not sure why, it just does.

I was recently introduced to this little treasure. It is light. It is lemony. It. Is. Divine. Divinely lemonly. Lemonly divine. Lemovine if you will.

Lemon Cake / Barefoot Contessa

2 (8-inch) loaves
Ingredients 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons)
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


For the glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired. Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.


Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook
over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.


For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

Catching Fish With It

One of the strangest experiences I've had as a parent is seeing myself through the eyes of my parents. Sometimes, I'll look at my kids but I don't see them. I see me. And when I look at me, I see my parents.

It happens when I hear Big say something familiar or when I see Lil' do something sneaky. It happened this weekend when I saw Big throwing a cast net for the first time off the same dock and into the same water that I threw mine off of for the first time.

I was thinking, "Don't get too close to the edge. Put the weight in your front teeth. Errr, side teeth, since you have no front teeth. Reach way down the neck of the net, use your whole body, watch the edge, watch the edge, watch the edge!"

He was thinking, "Let me catch one. Please,  just one, just one, just one. Let me show her I can do it."

The circle wasn't perfect for him but it was perfect for me. And as I watched him, I figured out that life really is very much the same way. You teach them what you know. You teach them what you were taught. It's not always perfect but they can still catch fish with it.

Big and The Donut Maker

Lil' has decided that she wants to be a donut maker when she grows up. She used to want to be a Mama but I think she's seen my c-section scar one too many times and now she's had a change of heart.

A donut maker. Really?

Big got super mad at her yesterday. We had to go in to his classroom to do a little volunteer work and we were only in there for 2.2 seconds, but it was long enough for her to seriously ruin his day. Apparently when she saw him, she got so excited and she yelled out "Woooooookie!!!!" Everybody started laughing and Big was furious! Are you that old now? Do you really care? Please don't care yet.

That's this week's installment of "Big and The Donut Maker."

The End.

Thank You

You both told us "Thank You" every single day. We didn't ask you for it. You just did it on your own. Nothing makes a Mama more proud than that.

You took your very first hike. And you won! You beat the mountain that day Lil'!

You fell in love all over again with hiking.

Thank You.

Thank you Daddy.

Thank You Mama.

Thank You.

A Complete Baby

Well... You're 4.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
wa wa wa
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

My baby's no baby anymore.

This year, you deserved your own space. A little place to call your own. A little house for our little Lil'. (And remind me to tell you how much I love craigslist when you get older!)

Ummmm. Some perspective on the size of the house - not the hiney.

She loves. Not likes. She loves.

I may or may not have gotten a teensy weensy carried away.

Nothing to see here folks. Keep it moving...

It was Candyland...Get it?

Bounce it out kids. Bounce it out.

Loves. Not likes. Loves.

All photo credit and chocolate fountain efforts go to my sistas. Good girls!

My little Lil' turned 4. And now, I'm a complete baby.