Giggle, Giggle

Bang . Boom . Bing .

giggle, giggle

Ahhh . Oooof . Fake Cry .

MOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Whack . Smack . Slap .

giggle, giggle

I'm tellin . Don't tell . Watch this.

Woosh . Bam . Boof.

giggle, giggle

Let's play . My turn .

MOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Crash. Splat . Phwap .

giggle, giggle

We'd Better Hurry

Hello lover. It's been a while.

Here comes a kid!! We'd better hurry...

22 Ba Jillion Reasons

Your Daddy was born 35 years ago today on February 22. It was a Saturday and he came into the world at 2:22am. Because of the time and date of his birth, his lucky number has always been 22. So. Here's a list of 22 things we love about Daddy.

1 - His heart-shaped birthmark in his right blue-green eye.
2 - His hands.
3 - His sillyness.
4 - His love of a fire in the stove.
5 - He takes me to basketball games.
6 - He plays with me in my dollhouse.
7 - Sometimes he smells like sour milk. Sounds gross but smells like home.
8 - He was and is still a superior athlete.
9 - He loves to hunt even though he is a Yankee.
10 - He loves that he is a Yankee.
11 - His chisseled chin.
12 - He surfs.
13 - He loves Warren.
14 - He always wakes up happy.
15 - He loves me.
16 - He loves them.
17 - He takes care of us.
18 - He is a good friend.
19 - He loves his parents.
20 - He loves my parents.
21 - His laugh.
22 - His poots sound funny.

There are moments in time that you can look back on and know that day was extra touched by God. That day in January when I met you is one of them for me. That one day changed the course of my life and I'm so thankful for it. I love you for 22 ba jillion reasons.

Stock in Right-Guard

I've got a secret about Big and it's too funny to forget. Perhaps he's channeling his inner-Italian. I don't know. But this much is true... That boy smells good when he goes to bed.

Since Christmas, he's started his own little ritual after he takes a shower at night. He towels himself off. Then he wraps up in the navy blue robe that he begged for and Santa brought. Then he goes to Daddy's drawer, pulls out the deodorant and goes to work. Seriously. He goes to work. By the end of it, you could catch a whiff of him outside on the street while he's tucked into bed.

It's so hard not to laugh when he's laying in bed with arms behind his head reading Star Wars books. I'm dreading the day I walk in there and he smells like that but he's reading Playboy. I know it's coming though. Guess I'll have to prepare for that but in the meantime I think I'll go buy some stock in Right Guard.

Mabel

Her name sounds as sweet as she is. Why don't I call her Grandma? Sometimes I do. But I adore her name so much. Its absolutely lovely to me and I think it sums it up the best. So I call her Mabel.

She is why I love birds and necklaces with birds. She is why I love to try and root different plants. She is why I love the ocean and throwing a cast net. She is why I love satin pillowcases and Thanksgiving dressing.

She is why my Dad loves the outdoors. She is why he can be so sensible. She is patient. She is kind and thoughtful. She is creative. She is sweet. She is so sweet that God gave her to us on Valentine's Day.

And she loves her Man. No matter what. She loves all three of her boys too. And their wives. She loves their kids too. And their wives and husbands. And their kids too.

She's one of those women that a statement like this generally follows..."Never heard her say a bad word about anybody" or, "God broke the mold when he made her." She says things like, "Such ugly words out of such a pretty mouth" and "Remember, bridges ice before roads."

She just turned 80 so we had a party. We all went to the beach where she lives and we celebrated. Her friends and family who have already passed celebrated with us. I know this is true because it snowed. Her friends that have passed always send her good presents through nature. Rainbows, snowstorms, beautiful birds, long-living fish. They always know just the right gift to give.

Everyone who has ever met her, loves her still. She's truly, wonderfully, pleasantly Mabel.

Not Over It

Here was my Mama's house. I'm still not over it...

Pure Magic

Oh Good Lord it was better than I expected! We went to see Grandma Mabel and Papa Clyde to celebrate Mabel's 80th birthday. The snow made seeing all the family even better. Watching my kids play in the snow while eating oysters with my uncles and cousins at the beach was a combination that was almost too much even for me. My head almost popped off. It started snowing Friday night. And the snow combined with this...



led to a snow-ball fight for the books between "the girls (me, Mama, Sister and Sister-n-law)" vs "the boys (Daddy, Brother and Brother-n-law)". The kids were all in bed but we played in the snow until midnight and we couldn't feel our fingers anymore. When we woke up, we saw this and it was magic. Pure magic.

A Little Sprinkle

AM Rain / Snow Showers High 43°F
Precip 60%

Please, please, pretty please?????
Just let them see one flake this weekend.
Please, please, please.

I'm not asking for this although they would love it....



Just a little sprinkle will do.

My Sweet, Sweet Big

You're 6 1/2 now.

You're 48 lbs.

You're 52" tall.

You're a string bean.

You love macaroni and cheese.

You love basketball and reading.

You love Fruit Roll-Ups and Trix cereal.

You absolutely hate your "fat" winter coat.

You love to wake up early and hunt in the woods.

You still don't want a girlfriend. And that's ok with me.

You love football and Star Wars and playing video games.

Just when I think you aren't listening, you remind me that you do.

You're my Big. My sweet, sweet Big.

Wouldn't Want Her Any Other Way

Lil' is copying me. She started it this weekend and it's really freaking me out. She mimicks my every move. Laying a finger to my mouth while reading something... Yikes! She's doing it too. Laughing out loud at something funny... Yikes! She's doing it too. Playing with my hair... Yikes, you get the picture.

She's really into saying things like, "C'mon Mommy. It's just me and you. We GUUURRRLLLSSS." My parents tell me that she acts just the way I used to. I'm not so sure cause she's soooo girly but she has an unbelievable wit about her that keeps me and Daddy and Big laughing constantly. How can someone so small be so funny?

She'll crush you though so be careful. As soon as you think you're on her good side, she'll snap you back around and break your heart. She'll sit on your lap all day and then refuse to give you a hug. Then 10 minutes later, she'll run up to you with arms wide open.

I'm so terrifically happy that she's weird and funny and fickle. We wouldn't want her any other way.

Escaping My Naps

Today is a sad, sad day for those of us who are "Days of Our Lives" fans. I've watched "Days" since I was little enough to still need a nap. My little brother and I would come up with any excuse to sit with Mama on the couch so that we could stay awake instead of nap from 1pm-2pm. Mama liked for us to rub her leg so we would so we could stay up.

Now looking back, I realized that Mama just needed that break for a spell and it just so happened that she coordinated that break while "Days" was on. It was during those moments that an affection for Mama Horton was born. She was the matriarch of a huge family filled with gorgeous women and smart doctors. She always gave the best advice and I know Hope is gonna miss her terribly.

Rest in peace, Alice. Thank you for helping me escape my naps.

Hold Them Close

In my life, I've been lucky with friends. I have an unbelievable collection of good people who sincerely love me. These relationships are like air to me. I have to have them. Besides my sister, most of my dear friends are old but there are a sprinkled few who are new and equally important to me. My point here is that your life will be easier, simpler, clearer and more meaningful if you value frienship. So... I hope when you grow up, you'll have a good group of friends.

I do and they've been there for me too many times to count. In good times and in bad. There is a circle of 5 of my old friends who have been through much with me. We started as roommates in college. We've been in eachother's weddings. Stood by for eachother's labor. Counseled one another during break-ups and make-ups. It's an odd pairing no doubt, but the love we have for one another has not and does not change. We get together as much as we can. To breathe in and breathe out. Recharge. Review. Push forward.

It's a good feeling when you know that someone has your back. To know that someone will tell you the honest truth. To know that no matter what, you'll always have someone to call. All my girls, old and new, give me this.

Find some for yourself. Find them. Keep them. And hold them close.