Best. Day. Ever.
Best. Day. Ever. – February 13, 2010
We celebrated Henry’s 8th birthday with a Bowling Bash, and the entire night he was a whirling dervish. If he were a cartoon character, he’d be a blur of color flitting across the screen. He was beyond happy. And as any parent knows, when your child is feliz, you’re inherently happy too. After his friends went home, after the pizza and cake were devoured, after the flurry of wrapping paper strewn about the living room floor, Henry turned to me with a hug.
“Mama, thank you for my party. This was the BEST. DAY. EVER.“
Mini Me
Mini Me, February 12, 2010
Last night the kids and I put together their treat bags for their Valentine’s Day exchange, and in an effort to save time, I whipped up these personalized stickers based on my Little Pals bookplates. I especially love how Kate’s turned out. The lavender dress, the turned in feet, the glasses! Oh, it’s too perfect! So the kids stuffed their treat bags, and then slapped one of these stickers on. Easy peasy.
And in case you were wondering. Yes, we ate the left over candy.
Sweet Tooth
Sweet Tooth, February 11, 2010
Candy connoiseurs will recognize that white sugar stick from a packet of Lik-M-aid Fun Dip. A little secret someone (I won’t mention any names) was super sneaky and broke into the Valentine’s Day loot a few days early. There’s nothing like a portable packet of sugar for the girl on the go. Okay, okay. I admit it. I ate one too. I tried to keep it a secret, but the green lips were a dead give away. Oh well.
Be Strong. Have Faith
Be Strong. Have Faith. February 10, 2010
As I’m busy burning the candle at both ends….as I dart to and from each end of our city….as I collapse into bed each night completely exhausted, I always say a prayer for a young friend. Currently Jalen is heroically battling cancer, and seeing him fight on with such strength and grace, well it just blows me away. He inspires me every day. Pay him a visit and leave a kind message, won’t you? It’d mean a great deal to him.
The Third Wheel
The Third Wheel, February 9, 2010
Those who know Kate well, know this face and this attitude. The attitude with the angry eyes, the chin tucked firmly into chest, the arms akimbo. Yes, that’s the one. The one where mama throws her arms up in desperation and daddy sighs with frustration. This is the Kate we enjoyed yesterday.
It was Henry’s birthday, you see. And what that entailed was hugs and love. And yummy food. Lots of attention. Oh, and gifts. Yes, can’t forget about the G-I-F-T-S. All showered on her brother. And really. What fun is that?
The other day I took the girls shopping for sweet Henry, and while Alison happily helped me choose the perfect N!ntendo DS, Kate was busy writhing on the floor. She emitted strange sounds from her mouth, much along the lines of:
“MamaWhenIt’sMyBirthdayCanIGetaDStoo?”
Usually this was followed up with:
“OMGMamaIWantOneSoBadICan’tWaitForMyBirthday!”
Too bad her birthday isn’t until June. That’s a lot of waiting, little lady.
8 is Great!
8 is Great!, February 8, 2010
My little guy turned 8 today. Whoa! Really?
I made a yummy Red Velvet Cake (thanks Paula Deen!), and after dinner we gobbled it up. ‘Twas delish.
Déjà Vu
Déjà Vu, February 7, 2010
Nope, it’s not déjà vu. The dress ensemble Kate wore yesterday for the ball? Yep. She wore it again today. Too bad it wasn’t ground hog day, because she’d fit right in!
Primping + Preening
Primping + Preening, February 6, 2010
Totally blurry, but totally cute. Kate was getting herself ready for the annual Valentine Day Ball…so cute!
When Life Gives You Bananas
When Life Gives You Bananas, February 5, 2010
“Are you going to eat those squishy bananas, Mama?”
Kate was exploring the kitchen for a snack when she found the three over-ripened bananas. The stars were aligned as I had just purchased some fresh walnuts and eggs. She helped me squeeze out the fruit from their blackened cases, and after adding all the remaining ingredients, voila! We had banana bread. Oh yum. There’s nothing like a slice of homemade banana bread with a layer of cream cheese. Heavenly, I tell you.
Note to Self
Note to Self, February 4, 2010
My car is a bona fide traveling office, complete with file folders, extra pens, breath mints, hand sanitizer, kleenex and important school fliers. Juggling three kids with varying (read: crazy) schedules has my mental filofax bursting with information. My newest little trick is to leave myself notes on the dash of the car. It’s akin to tying a string on my finger or writing a note on my hand, only better. Every time I’m dashing around town, I will always remember that, yep, we have to bring cheese for Kate’s valentine party.
***
Today I arrived early at one of my many destinations, and with time to burn, I decided to do something I hadn’t done in a long time. I dialed my father’s cell phone.
My mom kept his number live for at least a year after he passed, and every now and then I’d dial his number. Sometimes it would be out of habit; other times it would be just to hear his (recorded) voice. Today I called his number hoping to hear his recorded message, but instead was greeted by a stranger’s voice:
Voice: “Hello? Hello? Hello!”
Me: “………..”
Voice: “Yo, who is this? Who calling me?”
Click.
I knew that my father’s phone number would eventually be recycled, but I never expected it to happen just yet. A few minutes after I hung up, my cell phone rang.
Me: “Hello?”
Voice: “Yeah, um, you called? For D’Angelo?”
Me: (stammering) “Um, no. I…I, uh…no, I’m sorry I must have misdialed.”
Click.
Dad, I was just calling you to say hello. And to tell you I’m fine.
