I Love Playdates!

Playdates... Are they really for the kids, or are they for the moms???

Every Monday when I pick the kids up one of the first things they ask me is, "Who's coming over to play today?" Many Mondays we do not have playdates, but the last three Mondays we have and it's been great!

Today we had a playdate with one of Little A's friends. The kids were SO excited when I told them they were having a playdate, and so was I! I think playdates are as much for moms as they are for kids. We get adult conversation while the kids wreak havoc on the house play quietly in the other room!

One of my friends and I have agreed that we need to set a standing date for once a month dinners/playdates. Who else wants to join me?? Anyone up for a playdate?? Have your people call my people, we'll set something up!

Happy Birthday, Big A!

Five years ago at this time I was reveling in the joy that comes with holding your firstborn (or second, or third or fourth, for that matter) in your arms and enjoying the constant stream of visitors and well wishers... Or maybe I was so overwhelmed, overjoyed and exhausted after 2 1/2 days of labor and 3 hours of pushing that I can't remember what I was really feeling, but I so know that it was exciting.

Yes, Big A turned five yesterday. I'm a day late and a few dollars short sharing this with you, but I was just TOO tired after his party yesterday to come home and blog about it. 20 kids aged five and under will do that to a person!

This year Big A wanted a John Deere themed party. Do you know how difficult it is to find John Deere party supplies without ordering them online and paying an arm and a leg for shipping? So we improvised... We lucked out in finding a John Deere pinata and some generic tractor posters (they just HAPPENED to be green and yellow tractors) at a local party store. We got plain green and/or yellow balloons, party bags, plates, napkins and a table cloth and decorated the table with toy John Deere tractors, dump trucks, semis, etc. And last but not least, I convinced Big A to serve cupcakes (rather than a $32 cake that I knew wouldn't get eaten) at the party by agreeing to make them yellow and green. I ended up making a small round cake for Big A to use for candles and the obligatory, "Happy Birthday, Big A" and 36 cupcakes with handmade John Deere 'decorations' in each one... And do you know what made it ALL worth it? When I finished the cake I said, "Big A, I'm done with you cake. Do you want to see it?"

Big A ran into the kitchen, took one look at the cake and all of those cupcakes and said, "MOMMY! THAT IS AWESOME! I LOVE YOU!" And my five hours of work melted right away into his arms... I love that boy!

We lucked out with GREAT weather yesterday! We had the party at Grandma and Grandpa's house and the kids were able to play on the play structure and teeter totter, play in the dirt pile, ride the Gator and Arctic cat and just plain have fun. We had two games and a pinata and only ended up doing one game and the pinata because the kids were having so much fun just being kids.

Big A's "Present Delivery Vehicle"

The results of "Pin The Wheel On The Tractor"

"Johnny Tractor" pinata - Those kids were STRONG! Based on past experience and the last party we were at, I fully expected the pinata to be hard to break but after the first 4 or 5 kids hit it, we were having to retie it so that it wouldn't fall too soon!

The Gift Table

CUPCAKE TIME!!

PRESENT TIME... Talk about chaos! All of the kids were crowded around Big A and I was trying to write while he opened so that we could assure that the correct people are thanked for the correct gifts... It was madness!

After all of the cupcakes were eaten, gifts were open, goodie bags were handed out and friends had left we had a family dinner and the grandparents and B and I gave Big A his last few gifts.

New Bike!

Family Dinner

And one last round of "Happy Birthday"

This is the first time that we've invited the entire class to a birthday party and there were a LOT of kids here but it was a great day! All in all, a good time was had by all.

I can't believe how quickly time passes, before we know it he'll be off to college!

Happy Birthday, Big A! We love you!

Quote(s) For The Day

"Patty cake, patty cake, Baker's Square!"

- Little A

_______________________________

We took Little A to the doctor because she was having some pain when she urinated (turned out to be nothing). When the doctor asked Little A what she was being seen for, Big A immediately piped up....

"She's here because her penis hurts!"

What's Love?

I have a morning routine... Get up, check on the kids, check email on my iPod, check Facebook on my iPod, brush my teeth, shower... You get the idea, right? One email that I count on EVERY morning is KLOVE's Encouraging Word. This email is like a scripture verse for the day and I look forward to reading them every morning.

Today's verse was from John 13:34. Jesus said, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

This verse really got me thinking... WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? I think part of why this touched me so much is that I've had a rough week. There are things going on at work that I'm having to work through and things are going on in my personal life that I'm having to work through, and without going totally off track, people are doing things that I just can't wrap my head around. And yet here is a scripture where Jesus is telling me that because he loves me, I should love others.

I get that to a point... I understand and agree with the golden rule of do unto others as you would have others do unto you, but when it comes to love, where do you draw the line? What's love? And should I love these people in my life who are doing wrong? Do they need my love in order to do right? Is the meaning of love in this case interchangeable with support? What's love? Am I bad person for not loving every human being I meet? A rhetorical question, of course, but still... It's really got me thinking (and understanding more how B was feeling a few months back when he was struggling with a similar question)!

How do YOU interpret this scripture? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Wordless Wednesday - Family!

The World's Next Great Teacher

Tonight the kids were coloring at the dining room table while I was fixing dinner. I could tell that they were getting restless, and Big A was starting to give Little A a bad time about not knowing her letters.

Needing to buy just a few more minutes to finish dinner, and not wanting to hear them argue about who made better letters and who knew what and didn't know what, I reminded Big A that when he was two he didn't know his letters either. I told him about the first Sonoma State student who'd babysat them and how she used to work with him on his letters all the time.

Then it struck me... I didn't know what would happen, but I suggested that he teach Little A how to make her letters. GENIUS! He was SO into it!

He even tried to hold the paper up and write so she could see what he was doing... TOO CUTE!

Practicing the letters...

The happy student!

They got to 'G' before Big A decided they'd done enough for today and that it was time to start a rock band. By then dinner was ready... Another great Mommy idea, if I do say so myself!

A Different Kind Of Going Away Party

On Saturday evening we attended a going away party for a very special individual, though this was not your typical going away party. A month and a half ago my Great Uncle was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that has spread to his neck and liver and has been told that he has less than six months to live. At his request, the family threw a 'Going Away Party'.

You see, Uncle Roy would never want to miss a great party (and our family DOES like to party). He wanted us all together now to celebrate his life, rather than getting together to mourn after his passing.

It was a beautiful party with family and friends from all over. We shared food, drinks, stories, memories, laughter and love. Unfortunately Uncle Roy wasn't feeling well and was only able to make a brief appearance at the event but it was wonderful to see him one last time.

I think about that and it seems strange on many levels... So odd to know that when you see someone it will probably be the last time you see them. So odd to know that the end is near. So odd to have a number put on the days you have left to live. Of course I realize that any one of us could go at any time, but to KNOW... I'm not sure I could do that.

With that, please say a special prayer for Uncle Roy if you would. Please pray that he is comfortable and does not suffer in his final days, that he has a few good moments left with his family and that he will enjoy his last days on this Earth.

We love you, Uncle Roy, and thank you for so many good memories!