I Want a Hippopotomous for Christmas

Okay, I'm not (too) ashamed to say that my favorite non-religious Christmas song is this one. I just had to share it....The radio NEVER plays it, at least that I've heard.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Girl

Today is E's birthday (well, it was when I originally wrote this on 12/11...). Just like many moms in my situation, I woke up this morning thinking of the first time I got to see her face!! Wow! What a miracle. I also woke up thinking of the events that lead - very quickly - to our first introduction. I'll save you all the gorey details (like my water breaking in the car on the way down Boulder Canyon...or that I was only in the hospital about 45 minutes before E appeared') But I will tell you that part of it included a one-eyed Irish Medical Technician wheeling me up to the 3rd floor of the hospital, all the while crooning to me in his Celtic lilt, "It'll be alright dear...just breathe through it love...we're almost there now..." I will also tell you that I was in the hospital for less than 60 minutes before she appeared, and we went home less than 24 hours later.


There was nothing ordinary about her birth...it just stands to reason that there is nothing ordinary about that girl either! As you know from a previous post, she is a dearheart...but she's also courageous and creative. She is constantly drawing on her magna-doodle, or creating crayon masterpieces. She loves Dora the Explorer, her white blankie, and singing. She also wants to be a superhero. So, naturally, she wanted a superhero cake. When I asked what superhero she wanted on the cake, she said, "Super Me"!



I responded, "You want a Super E birthday cake?"



"Yes. Red and blue. With rocket boots."



So, my darling girl, you got your cake. It's a good thing Daddy decorated it...who knows what you would have gotten if I would have ended up in charge!!!!

A Tribute to my Girl

I need to shout it out loud and clear. My 2nd child, my "I'm-4-next-week" little girl is awesome. All my kids are great, but let me tell you about E.

I woke up yesterday morning with the biggest, nastiest migrane headache I have ever had. It only got worse as the day went on. I was supposed to drive into Boulder to pick up something from Jeremy, but called him to say I couldn't even see straight. It's a miracle that I got J to school and the rest of us back in one piece. I frankly can't remember how it happened. But it did. Thank you God!

I went to bed as soon as we walked back in the door from school drop-off. I "turned on" the Babysitter with strict instructions to the girls to be good. Over the next hour, I heard bangs, I heard clangs, I heard E saying, "No A! That's naughty!" I yelled, I pleaded...finally E came to tell me that she was cleaning up A's mess. I said thank you, and things quieted down.

Thankfully, and to my great surprise, my Hero arrived home from work a few minutes later, with a can of soup, crackers, and grapes. He's awesome...but this post is not about him. (Although he certainly does deserve it!!) It turns out that E was indeed cleaning up A's mess. My little stinker of a 2 year old girl, somehow, got the butter out of the fridge and proceeded to butter the kitchen floor...the cabinets...and my little handi-vac. Nice, huh? When Jeremy walked in the door, weilding his shield and armor to come save the day, he witnessed first hand, my sweet, wonderful E wiping up the mess.

That little darling knew I felt horrible. She knew that A was very naughty. She didn't even come and tell on her sister (small miracle!). In her sweet caring way, she was taking care of her mommy. I am SO proud of her. I call her "little mama", because she sincerely cares about others. She wants to help when someone doesn't feel good, or when someone is sad. More than once, when something has touched my heart - for good or bad - and my tears are flowing, a small warm hand is on my face, saying, "It's okay mommy". Wow. I don't deserve this wonderful little girl!

Please, Dear God, Please! Protect her sweet and wonderful heart. Help us mold her innocent compassion and kindness to continue to reflect Yours. Let us not trample her tender spirit! Most of all...THANK YOU for my sweet daughter. Please bless her as she grows!

Okay, lest I sound as if I'm playing favorites...let me assure anyone who may stumble upon my thoughts...I love all of my children. They each have wonderful and noteworthy characteristics. I will plan on sharing more about each of them at a later time.

Pumpkin Patch Potties

Well, yes, I thought I'd treat you all...all of my what, zero, avid readers out there to my thoughts from today. Yes, it has been months since I posted anything, but Hey...I've not been thinking very creatively lately. I'll just take what I can get!

Today I took my 3 kiddos to the Pumpkin Patch (www.andersonfarms.com). Yes. All by myself! (Jeremy is out hunting the Great Wild Antlered Elk this week, so I'm single-momin' it) We really had a great time: We looked at the goats(I really want a Pygmy Goat!!); we looked at the chickens (I am so glad we don't have any anymore!!); we rode out to the pumpkin patch to pick out a nice sized, overly priced, warty pumpkin to take home. And, we only had a couple of disciplinary issues, so all in all, it was good.

I did experience a couple of moments of anxiety centered around the provided "facilities". Let me start by saying that I hate Port-o-lets. Port-a-john, sani-privy, port-a-san, porta-potty, tidy john, John To Go, toi-toi, (and my personal favorite) sh*t-shack. I hate 'em all. They're disgusting, putrid, nasty, and stinky, and often one leaves the potty wagon with an education in gutter-minded limericks. However, this post is not a rant about plastic outhouses.

We took two trips to the lovely orange potties during our visit to the farm. I almost didn't take the children to the farm for this very reason. I have a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 2 year old. We don't all fit in these cabinets together. When we're out and about, we always go for the handicapped stall where I can keep an eye on them all. (It's our "special" place to practice the ABC's & 123's! I digress....) Well, they don't have the ADA approved handicapped johns at the farm.

So, what's a mom to do? Hold it for hours and hours? I don't think so. In my need, I spoke very seriously, and very quickly, to my eldest son, to watch over his sisters while I was otherwise "indisposed". I told him to scream and yell and go crazy if someone tried to touch them or whatever. I don't remember exactly what I said...I wasn't thinking too clearly at the moment...those bright orange cubicles were looking mighty inviting at the moment. Once in the potty, I began thinking over my instructions to my son. I began imagining what I would actually do if he did, in fact, start screaming his head off. Really! Would I finish my "business", tidy myself up and step out the box gracefully to save my children? I'm so glad that my son didn't decide that the moment was ripe to play a joke on mom. I would have burst out, pants down, with all of my glory hanging out. Wouldn't you?? I flatter myself that the mere sight of this mama bear busting out of the den to save her precious cubs while in a state of undress would stop the would-be evil doer in their tracks. Perhaps it would just shock the surrounding onlookers into a state of disbelief, that while I tripped over my pants, the villain would take off.....

Well anyway, I'm just glad that scenario didn't play out in larger-than-life reality...for more than saving my delicate ego the humiliation. I'm just glad that my children are safe and were only an arm's length away from me while I was cloistered. But, I have to say, I will be writing a letter to Anderson Farms requesting one or two of the family-sized sh*t-shacks (sorry! couldn't resist) for those of us Moms that are brave enough to bring our young brood to their establishment by themselves!

P.S....did you know I LOVE potty humor??

Need a laugh??

Okay, so I saw this on a friend's blog...thanks Aaron!

I needed this laugh...what people won't do for money and/or fame!!

A Mother's Day

What a sweet little mother's day I've had!

I awoke this morning to the sounds of a very busy kitchen down the hall...crashes, bangs, slicing, doors opening and closing...all punctuated with the sounds of children laughing, whining, talking, asking questions...and the best part? I wasn't in the Kitchen! My dear Husband was in control of it all. I was able to lay in bed and savor every sound, every laugh.

Finally, I was able to rouse myself from the bed and I ventured out...my poor sweet little "Buddy" looked at me with such surprise and disappointment as he whipped around to his daddy and said..."she's awake!" I had ruined his surprise! Poor little guy! However, Daddy was able to explain that I was still, infact surprised! I felt so bad for him...it was too sweet! After my wonderful homemade breakfast, a quick soak in the hot tub, and dressing children...we went off.

We drove the "back" way to Estes Park so that Buddy could see "Long-est" Peak up close. We stopped for lunch, a playground escapade, where Looney Goons conquered her fear of the really big twisty slide (...you know...the kind that they NEVER put up anymore...they're all at least 20 years old...steep and slick!!!) then got back in the car and headed around and about, just admiring the amazing beauty of the area! What a glorious day it was...until...

Constant whining coming from the back of the Suburban...more whining...then a virtual flood of "sick" came out of my poor sweet Monkey Bones. Well, we mopped her up and headed back down the mountain...only to experience it AGAIN! Fun stuff...

It was a nice day...just me and my little family...and all I had to do was mommy stuff...reassuring a 4 year old that yes, I was indeed surprised and excited by my breakfast...cheer on a 3 year old as she conquered that slide...and clean up a river of vomit from a 2 year old (with the help of my dear husband!!). Looking back on my day, I wouldn't change a bit!!

Okay...Okay...Amber...this one's for you!!!

Last night, I had the pleasure of spending 5 hours in the company of fellow scrappers at church...(one of whom is a total "bff"...and she has been hounding me for months to update my little blog here. ) It really was a wonderful time to laugh and look at my life and my current circumstances through the amazing lenses of laughter!

I began regailing my sweet friend with all of my latest crises...let me fill you in:

1. We're in the middle of financial crisis...selling vehicles, J's toys (jeep, motorcycle, lawn tractor, etc...) If I actually owned anything worth over $100, I'm sure that would be on the auction block too! We're trying to remodel the house to sell...but then where do we live? Why isn't God showing us a sign? Do we move from the area? Do we live in an RV? Do we...what will we...what if....blah blah blah...all those great "grown-up" questions that seem a whole lot bigger with the responsibility of 3 kids.....(Thank you Mom and Dad for buying us groceries!!!) Both J and I agree that a "burning bush" from God would really be helpful right now!!!!

2. My sweet baby dog, Dash, had a moment of uncharacteristic viciousness and disemboweled a neighbor's weiner dog. Poor "Felix" was put down 2 weeks ago, and Dash was quietly and quickly moved to New Mexico to live with J's Granny. He was my baby...not even 2 years old. I cried. So, now we're down to one dog...our faithful doggy companion for 9 years, Sunshine. She's already starting to put on weight...poor thing. Thankfully our neighbor relations are okay...we paid for the vet bill to put Felix to sleep (thank you Jeremy for selling your Jeep!)

3. Lastly, for now, is that a week ago, some poor little ol' lady at church got my Pappy (grandpa) confused with another older man and she started spreading the word that Pap had died. Good Grief! Needless to say, that lead to some very uncomfortable conversations...seeing how Pappy is still alive and well! I think Grandma has even received a couple of Sympathy cards.

While discussing these latest happenings with my friend last night, I was able to laugh. What a gift right now!

Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

The Beginning of "The Blog"

I have finally entered into the world of "The Blog". I have been inspired to write down and chronicle the chaos which is our sweet family, and my sweet life. I don't have a good memory, so hopefully this will help me cement those memories and things I wish to remember!

We're right in the middle of making financial decisions! Yuck. There are some days when I am so thankful for where I am in life; days when life is "easy", I'm happy with being a mom, a wife, etc...everything I see is beautiful. Then, there are the days when I wish that I was 12 years old again. No decisions, except what eye shadow to wear, or if I really want to try shaving my legs again! These days, the decisions are more along the lines of, should we sell the trucks? should we take out a loan from my folks? should we sell the house? if so, do we buy again, or rent? Good Times, Good Times!

So, this is a New Year...2008. I've not made any resolutions, but I do hope and pray for a few things for the coming year. Firstly, I am praying that J will be filled by God. That his hopes and dreams and life will be filled with the things of God. That he would look only to God for his source of Joy. Secondly, I am praying that God will bless the life changes we are going to be making over the next weeks. Thirdly, I am praying that our Children will be blessed, and continue to grow healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Well, here is to the beginning of the new year, and the new blog. Cheers.