Perfect Lips

Big's becomming quite the little arr-teest. For someone who couldn't be bothered with crayons and markers until the age of 5, I'm loving his latest masterpieces.

Castles are his favorite thing to draw. I'm partial to the ones of fish. But the portrait of the dude with the glowing eyes (he says its not him) is pretty cool too. I think he has the most perfect lips I've ever seen.

Really?

Um, okay. Some of us think of flowers, warm weather or baby animals when we think of Spring. Not my son. Not my husband's son or my dad's grandson. No, no. My son thinks of this...

Really?

A Quick Little Blink

Dear Life,

Why are you in a such a hurry? Is it because you think if you went slower, we wouldn't notice you as much? If you would just slow down a little. I promise we would still appreciate you.

I blinked and you went from this....

to this.

How did you change so much? It was just one, quick, little, blink.

For Pete's Sake

When I was 12, I wrote in my diary that I wanted to make out with the following people:

The lead singer from Mr. Mister

"Take. These broken wings..." You know you loved it too.

Both of the guys from Tears for Fears

Whatever.

And this kid named Jon-Eric Sullivan. Who was H . O . T . I think my Mom even had a crush on his Dad.

Things have changed slightly. Now, I only want to make out with this guy.

And if I'm being honest, sometimes this guy...

                     

Just kidding...

If I kept a diary now, which I guesss I kind of do through this site, I'd write about places I want to go.

Provence, France

             

For its wine, cheese and lavender. I do love lavender. And wine. And cheese. And wine.

New Zealand.

Does it need an explanation?

And Greece.

Cause I want to go fishing.

Oh and here. Tibet. I have to go to Tibet.

Because I think the people sound super nice.

I think it might be possible too. I did make out with Jon-Eric one time for 2 seconds playing spin-the-bottle for pete's sake.

Simple . Perfect . True

So yesterday, I'm perched in my usual place, behind the kitchen counter, facing the windows looking at all the leaves that are back on the ground after a weekend spent raking (you are a tricky one Mr. Oak Tree), slurping my afternoon Diet Coke. Homework is done. Supper is decided. Laundry is going.

Big comes in, walks over to me, and gives me a huge, stinky, outside boy smelling hug. For . No . Reason . He didn't want a snack. He wasn't bribing me for gum. He didn't need anything. Except for his Mama, for a second.

"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Ummm....ok."

And there you have it. A small glimpse of the sweet baby that once was there. The one that could be soothed by the sight of you. Here one minute, gone the next. But then every so often, you'll see them. Out of no where, they return. Simple . Perfect . True .

I Promise.

Is that you old friend?

I hear a gentle tippy, tippy, tap, tap on my front door.

Could it be?

Could it possibly be?

Oh I've missed you.

Desperately missed you.

Thank the lawd you came back safely.

You've been gone too long.

But now you're back.

And I'll never take you forgranted again.

I promise.

The One That Holds It All Together

Has it really been 25 years since I met you? The night they told me you were here seems just like yesterday. I remember everything. Every single second. Standing on the left side of the bed. The comforter was cream and there were dark, almost maroon pillows on the bed. The light was on. I was up late - it was after 10pm. I twisted the phone cord (it was cream too) in my hand while they told me you were here. A girl? A sister? Are you sure?

Well this is just great. I'm the girl in the family. You were supposed to be a boy! That's how I felt for the first 10 minutes of your life. But, I've been so happy you were a girl for the other 13,148,709.2 minutes. How cool is it that I get to remember the night my best friend was born? That doesn't happen everyday. It just doesn't.

Thank you for being born. I can't imagine my life without you. You are a piece of me. Like the middle piece of a puzzle. The one that holds it all together.

The Word Chef

Another one for my pregnant peeps...

Not a big fan of the Chicken Spaghetti name. I like the Mexican Chicken one better -

It's in my oven now and I think it's gonna be mmm mmm good.

Tonight  might be one of those nights I hear, "You're the best cooker ever Mama." I think its so cute that they say that, I haven't taught them the word chef yet.

Worlds Colliding

Man, this guy makes me happy.

Big made him for my office and he makes me smile every morning.

I love his floppy feet.

And his purple scribble suit.

He makes my worlds collide every day.

A Real Good One

Big and Lil' -
It's high time I introduced you to two of my oldest and dearest friends. I know you've met others, Bob, Jerry and JB but here are two that you really should know about and know what I learned from them.

Carly -

I know every word to most all of the songs on the Reflections record thanks to one summer spent in my bedroom hating my ex-boyfriend. Seriously, the actual record, here's a definition for you:
A vinyl data storage device used for recording (storing) information (data).

Annnn - tiiii - ciii - paaaa - tioonnnn and Nobody Does It Better. Please roll down your windows and blare it and think of a young Mama at the tricky age of 16 someday. Thinking of Carly and James and a love between them that just always seemed to taxi instead of take-off - sniff, sniff, tear, tear - it got me through....

Stevie -

Now she is a fisty one. But loyal as the day is long. At the end of a session with Stevie, you will have cried your eyes out but then picked yourself up, put some make-up on, and fixed your hair. She'll pull you out of the trenches, that one. She'll teach you how to not be embarrassed and how to keep on keepin' on. "Get your ass up and get dressed. He sucked anyway." That's what she taught me.

Good taste in music is essential for survival. I think you'll both be alright. Your Daddy was once in the radio industry for pete's sake; and that's a different story for a different day but a real good one.

What Life Is All About

Life most certainly has its ups and downs. And those ups and downs are completely invisible to a 6 year old or a 3 year old. Children appear to be the most consistent creatures on earth. As adults, we ingest so many things throughout the day that are good and bad that sway our moods and alter our mental and physical state. A child only wants 2 things at any point: to play and to eat. So simple, isn't it? Play and Eat.

On the days when I found myself a little down in the dumpsters, its my children that remind me of life's simple blessings. They bring a smile to my face when its almost impossible. They bring a giggle to my throat when there is a lump. They can smooth over most any wrinkle and sew together people so tightly that unraveling is completely impossible.

Daddy and I are so thankful for the Big and the Lil'. We are grateful for the lessons they teach us and for the people they encourage us to be. They push us to be better. To work harder. To be happier. To play more. To eat more.

Children come to you in a complicated explosion and then spend their early years teaching you that life really is simple. You play. You eat. But then you find yourself loving them so purely and dearly.  And this is the bond between young and old. This is the union between generations. This is what life is all about.

F . B . P .

He's not very flexible anymore but he'll still do this...

He's seriously one of the smartest men I know. He can build this...



He loves these...

and these...

and me...



My cup runneth over is a phrase that took me a long time to understand. For some reason, I couldn't get "it". I thought it was literal. I said to myself, "So hold it straight. Then it won't spill." I get "it" now and that's how I feel about my Dad. It's his birthday today so I'll give him a break when he eats the cake he shouldn't and chews the chew he shouldn't. He's my Friend, my Buddy, my Pal. My FBP. Always, always.