Maybe to you "neighborhood drama" means loud parties or a risque yard sale (actually saw one of those today) but not in our 'hood...I'm talking drama, as in theatrical. A third grade neighbor has decided to write a Christmas play and wants all the kids on our street participate. It's turned into quite the situation as my two refuse to participate leaving the parts of one wise man and a cow un-acted. Today in our mailbox we received a typed script and a marker drawing of the necessary costumes. Again, Lily and Luke refuse to participate but she's not giving up. She conned them a little today by asking if they'd just stand in for other children who weren't available for "rehearsal" hoping they'd decide to join the fun. Her plan backfired when her older brother came out and informed her that her script isn't Biblically correct, causing a front yard screaming match. Tis the season. My two little ones, who dread confrontation, high-tailed it home. No Mary and Joesph baby-mama drama for them.
I've been thinking a lot about laughter lately...trying to figure out why I don't laugh as much a I used to. There's this dull headache I get at the base of my skull when I laugh really hard and my mascara smudges on my cheeks because, well, I have big cheeks that touch my eyes when I laugh. Seems like I haven't had many make-up smudging, headache causing moments lately.
Now, I can't say I don't remember the last time I laughed really hard because I do...Monday night, I made a dumb comment about a radio show I used to listen to...a dedication request...a Boys II Men song...wasn't that funny, but it must have hit Jess just right because she really laughed, which made me really laugh, and then we both just laughed to the point of tears. Along with the 4 other women in the room...not sure if they were laughing at the comment or us, either way, it was the kind of laughter I've been missing. The kind of laugh where I pinch my nose to avoid a snort and hope I don't pee my pants. Yes, I said it...laughing, sneezing, trampoline jumping...a couple pregnancies can do that to a gal.
I have much joy in my life...sweet kids, a hubby I adore, good friends...I'm not lacking things that bring me joy. But it just seems like I don't laugh like I used to, at least not lately. Either I'm not as funny, or the people I'm hanging around aren't. Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a season for everything, laughter included (vs.4). Apparently, I'm just not in a season of laughter, but one will come again, soon I hope. In the mean time, I'll just turn on an episode of The Office and get my jollies that way.
Now, I can't say I don't remember the last time I laughed really hard because I do...Monday night, I made a dumb comment about a radio show I used to listen to...a dedication request...a Boys II Men song...wasn't that funny, but it must have hit Jess just right because she really laughed, which made me really laugh, and then we both just laughed to the point of tears. Along with the 4 other women in the room...not sure if they were laughing at the comment or us, either way, it was the kind of laughter I've been missing. The kind of laugh where I pinch my nose to avoid a snort and hope I don't pee my pants. Yes, I said it...laughing, sneezing, trampoline jumping...a couple pregnancies can do that to a gal.
I have much joy in my life...sweet kids, a hubby I adore, good friends...I'm not lacking things that bring me joy. But it just seems like I don't laugh like I used to, at least not lately. Either I'm not as funny, or the people I'm hanging around aren't. Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a season for everything, laughter included (vs.4). Apparently, I'm just not in a season of laughter, but one will come again, soon I hope. In the mean time, I'll just turn on an episode of The Office and get my jollies that way.
I have several things floating around in my brain to post about today, and maybe I will a little later, but with yesterday's post, I thought sharing this morning's backseat conversation was appropriate (and cute!):
As we drove past the VFW on the way to Lily's school:
Luke: Lil, that's where I went to see the um...um...what is it, Mom?
Me: The memorial?
Luke: Yeah, the memorial, for people who died.
Lily: I know Lukey, you've told me a hundred times.
Luke: It's for the war, Pa was in the war, he's a ve...ve...
Me: Veteran.
Luke: Veteran.
Lily: So he's old?
As we drove past the VFW on the way to Lily's school:
Luke: Lil, that's where I went to see the um...um...what is it, Mom?
Me: The memorial?
Luke: Yeah, the memorial, for people who died.
Lily: I know Lukey, you've told me a hundred times.
Luke: It's for the war, Pa was in the war, he's a ve...ve...
Me: Veteran.
Luke: Veteran.
Lily: So he's old?
Yesterday, Veteran's Day, was the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Wall in DC. I recently took Luke to the "Moving" Wall when it traveled to our town. I explained to him, as best I could, the significance of the wall, and how his Pa, my dad, was a Vietnam Veteran. He told me he was glad his Pa's name wasn't on that wall.
We are blessed to be born Americans, but we did not acquire our liberties without cost. Someone paid our price. Such great love.
To all veterans, to my veterans: my dad, my brother, my husband, and to the men and women serving today, thank you.
I know NC is known for mild weather, and most would consider our current temps to fit just that description but to this Florida girl...It is cold up here, y'all!
This week our morning temps have been in the 30s and the gas logs have become my new best friend. David has probably noticed a decline in my "good morning" phone messages because my RAZR is too darn cold to put to my ear to give him a call!
This week our morning temps have been in the 30s and the gas logs have become my new best friend. David has probably noticed a decline in my "good morning" phone messages because my RAZR is too darn cold to put to my ear to give him a call!
As I was signing Luke into his preschool yesterday, I overheard one mom (dragging in two boys) saying to another mom (accompanied by a precious blond girl) It must be fun to dress little girls, to which the mom replied enthusiastically, Yes, it is!
Ahhh, I remember those days! We didn't find out the sex of our first baby until the moment she popped out...and although it wasn't the first thing on my mind, it didn't take long for the excitement of dressing a little girl to build. We had packed only unisex things for the hospital and had received mostly unisex items at the showers (I say mostly because a couple people bought "girl" because they had a feeling!) but within hours of her birth, gifts of pink began pouring in. I believe Rhonda, (see two posts down), takes the prize for Lily's first dress, dainty pale pink with matching bonnet, accompanied by her first baby doll, all while we were still in the hospital. In her first few months, I would often change her clothes 3-4 times a day just to get use out of all the adorable outfits she was quickly outgrowing. Not only was she fun to dress, she was fun to buy for...pink and frilly or denim and trendy, either way, I, like many moms, took great pleasure in dressing my daughter. I knew a week in advance what she would wear to church. I knew months in advance what she would wear on a holiday: Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day. Oh, how I wish it was like that today!
Lily allowed me to pick out her clothes until this school year began. I don't know exactly what happened when, but she has stopped letting me use her as my life-size doll. The nerve! Today, as I dropped her off for school, I just shook my head to watch my mismatched daughter head into the building...fuchsia tights with a black shirt, not too bad. Add to that white socks, brown shoes, a turquoise hoodie, pink gloves and suddenly, I no longer want to take credit for her attire. She's always had a flair for the mismatched...when left to choose her own clothes she would put different prints together and snow boots would complete the ensemble. But she has always let me pick the "important" stuff...you know, the out-in-public wardrobe. This school year started off on the right foot. Mimi took all the grandkids school shopping and Lily picked out cargo capris, embellished denim, cute tops. Weeks one and two of school she wore each outfit, selected daily by mom, with no fuss. Then week three rolled around, fatigue was setting in, and I think she just decided enough was enough...she was dressing her way, take it or leave it. And "soft clothes" became the new phrase in our home. Soft clothes: cotton leggings, elastic waistbands, roomy shirts. A couple Hanes legging outfits from Walmart, a few hand-me downs from Gymboree, some Old Navy fleece that still fits from last year...we're making this "soft clothes" thing work. I'm hanging on to the embellished denim and cargo pants hoping she'll add those back in soon but in the mean time, we're piecing together outfits that don't itch or bind...some days successfully, other days, not so much.
But here's my confession, as much as it makes me want to bash my head into the wall, I'm also really proud of her! Kindergarten is not too young for peer pressure and you don't hear many kids at school saying "soft clothes are the coolest" nor do you see Hannah Montana sporting Hanes on stage, so despite our current trends and role models, Lily is choosing comfort. And I'm just trying to help her balance comfort with style.
We've got a long road ahead of us...tween years, teen years. It's actually funny to think that the same things (outfits, clothing, shopping) that bring mommies such joy in the early months and years will bring such strife as our daughters grow.
Ahhh, I remember those days! We didn't find out the sex of our first baby until the moment she popped out...and although it wasn't the first thing on my mind, it didn't take long for the excitement of dressing a little girl to build. We had packed only unisex things for the hospital and had received mostly unisex items at the showers (I say mostly because a couple people bought "girl" because they had a feeling!) but within hours of her birth, gifts of pink began pouring in. I believe Rhonda, (see two posts down), takes the prize for Lily's first dress, dainty pale pink with matching bonnet, accompanied by her first baby doll, all while we were still in the hospital. In her first few months, I would often change her clothes 3-4 times a day just to get use out of all the adorable outfits she was quickly outgrowing. Not only was she fun to dress, she was fun to buy for...pink and frilly or denim and trendy, either way, I, like many moms, took great pleasure in dressing my daughter. I knew a week in advance what she would wear to church. I knew months in advance what she would wear on a holiday: Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day. Oh, how I wish it was like that today!
Lily allowed me to pick out her clothes until this school year began. I don't know exactly what happened when, but she has stopped letting me use her as my life-size doll. The nerve! Today, as I dropped her off for school, I just shook my head to watch my mismatched daughter head into the building...fuchsia tights with a black shirt, not too bad. Add to that white socks, brown shoes, a turquoise hoodie, pink gloves and suddenly, I no longer want to take credit for her attire. She's always had a flair for the mismatched...when left to choose her own clothes she would put different prints together and snow boots would complete the ensemble. But she has always let me pick the "important" stuff...you know, the out-in-public wardrobe. This school year started off on the right foot. Mimi took all the grandkids school shopping and Lily picked out cargo capris, embellished denim, cute tops. Weeks one and two of school she wore each outfit, selected daily by mom, with no fuss. Then week three rolled around, fatigue was setting in, and I think she just decided enough was enough...she was dressing her way, take it or leave it. And "soft clothes" became the new phrase in our home. Soft clothes: cotton leggings, elastic waistbands, roomy shirts. A couple Hanes legging outfits from Walmart, a few hand-me downs from Gymboree, some Old Navy fleece that still fits from last year...we're making this "soft clothes" thing work. I'm hanging on to the embellished denim and cargo pants hoping she'll add those back in soon but in the mean time, we're piecing together outfits that don't itch or bind...some days successfully, other days, not so much.
But here's my confession, as much as it makes me want to bash my head into the wall, I'm also really proud of her! Kindergarten is not too young for peer pressure and you don't hear many kids at school saying "soft clothes are the coolest" nor do you see Hannah Montana sporting Hanes on stage, so despite our current trends and role models, Lily is choosing comfort. And I'm just trying to help her balance comfort with style.
We've got a long road ahead of us...tween years, teen years. It's actually funny to think that the same things (outfits, clothing, shopping) that bring mommies such joy in the early months and years will bring such strife as our daughters grow.
Happy Anniversary, Harry and Rhonda! I'm going to say 24 years?? Yes, or 25? Don't they look way too young to have been married that long!? I wouldn't believe it myself had I not been there...I was their flower girl!I grew up lovin' on their three children and it's been fun to watch their not-so-little-anymore children (ages 14, 17, 19) love on mine. It's a sweet circle...they were a part of our daily lives in Florida.
We miss you all so much. Hope you have a wonderful anniversary!
Firemen really do rescue cats from trees! Really! And the half dozen children standing near by clapped and cheered as if a little old lady had just been rescued from a raging inferno. Our tree, not our cat. I felt like I was living in an episode of Higglytown Heros and expected Pizza Guy to show up at any moment. 
And would you believe this was the second time within a week that this cat had gotten up a tree and couldn't (or wouldn't) get down. The first episode lasted days. Days of cat cries and upset children. The fire department attempted a rescue but couldn't quite make it work so an ambitious neighbor with a saw got the job done. This time, the neighborhood wasn't up for days of cat calls or worried children, someone called the FD after about 24 hours.
I don't know what happened to the cat. I had a few suggestions.
Today I'm just hanging with my main man Luke (still in rocket PJs) and our friend Gideon, the mighty warrior napper. The air is cool, the sky is "Tar Heel" blue and a pot of chili is simmering on the stove. The fact that it's Friday is just icing. The fact that an extra hour will magically appear in our weekend schedule is almost more than I can stand.
Here's a Friday funny that may turn into a Friday fight if this embarrasses David, but he didn't even flinch at the pom-pom pic so I'm thinking he's just cool like that...
Have you seen the KFC commercial where the guy runs over the speed bump to test the new KFC triple dip chicken strips pack? (Three strips that come with 3 sauces that neatly tuck into a box for maximum portability) To the relief of everyone in the car, the triple dip pack withstands the bump and remains spillproof. Anyway, as the commercial played last night David said, barely audible, I love chicken so much that commercial makes me happy. That makes me smile. Look, I'm smiling.
I hope he went to KFC and got that pack for lunch today, he's worked hard this week, he deserves to eat a lunch that makes him smile :)
Here's a Friday funny that may turn into a Friday fight if this embarrasses David, but he didn't even flinch at the pom-pom pic so I'm thinking he's just cool like that...
Have you seen the KFC commercial where the guy runs over the speed bump to test the new KFC triple dip chicken strips pack? (Three strips that come with 3 sauces that neatly tuck into a box for maximum portability) To the relief of everyone in the car, the triple dip pack withstands the bump and remains spillproof. Anyway, as the commercial played last night David said, barely audible, I love chicken so much that commercial makes me happy. That makes me smile. Look, I'm smiling.
I hope he went to KFC and got that pack for lunch today, he's worked hard this week, he deserves to eat a lunch that makes him smile :)
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