Weary

Nighttime thunderstorms
Rumble through my weary mind
Keeping me awake

Thoughts wash in and out
I can't focus long enough
to clear out my head

My brain is too full
A dryer of tumbling rocks
Banging and shifting

I can't shut if off
They tumble out of my ears
Onto my pillow

Rain taps at the glass
And lulls me to sleep at last
Oh but not for long

Inspirational

Last night after bawling our eyes out throughout the Idol Gives Back episode on American Idol (oh the suffering in this world) my hubby and I watched Primetime with Diane Sawyer and bawled our eyes out some more. She interviewed Randy Pausch and his wife about his now famous Last Lecture that has gotten over a million and a half hits on YouTube. You may have heard this story already, I even saw a short clip of the lecture on Laura's blog Lunatic Fringe last month. Still, hearing them talk about their life and how they are choosing to spend their days really hit me. Actually, it hit me and my hubby. It hit us. It makes you want to do better. It makes you want to love better. It makes you want to be a better parent. It makes you so much more aware.

In case you don't know the back story Randy is a Professor who has three young children and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was given 3-6 months to live. He decided to give one last lecture on how to make your dreams come true. It turns out that the lecture is more than that. It is a manual, of sorts, on how to live your life. It is inspirational. It is funny. And, it is wise. His upbeat attitude is amazing.

I still haven't watched the entire lecture, but I am including it here so you don't have to run on over to YouTube to find it. I don't expect you to watch the whole thing, although at some point you should. For now, watch the beginning. Then, maybe skip to the end. And, get some of the middle too. Okay, just watch the whole thing when you get a sec.

And then ask yourself. Am I a Tigger, or am I an Eeyore.

I apologize, but you will have to scroll down to the bottom of my blog and mute my music before you play this video. Thanks!

WW- Breaking Ground

Liar, Liar

Is 5 years old known as the lying stage? I am asking, because Joey has become a bit of a liar and I'm hoping it is just a stage. He lies to get what he wants. He lies to stay out of trouble. Sometimes he lies because he feels like lying. I think it is probably pretty typical of kids his age (I think I was a little liar when I was his age, too), but we are still trying to nip it in the bud.

The other day Todd and I were putting our over-tired little monsters down for a nap when Joey started whining about taking his toy dragon to bed with him. I told him that I would set the dragon on the post at the bottom of the stairs and it would be waiting for him when he woke up. He wasn't happy, but he knew it was no use arguing with me. He went to bed.

Todd went down to the basement and played around on the computer while I decided to take a nap of my own. Half an hour after I laid down I heard the boy's bedroom door open up. I thought Joey probably had to go to the bathroom again, and sure enough a few minutes later the door closed again. I dozed off for an hour or so (blessed sleep!), and then decided to get up while the boys were still sleeping to have a little reading time. No sooner had I sat down on the couch next to Todd than the boys came bounding down the stairs, Joey with the dragon in his hand.

Todd said, "Didn't we put that dragon downstairs here before he went to bed? Joey, how did you get that dragon upstairs?"

Joey said, "I don't know."

I asked him, "Joey, did you get up, grab the dragon and go back to bed? I heard your door earlier. Was that you getting your dragon?"

Joey's eyes widened and he replied, "No. I didn't get the dragon."

I reminded him, "You know you shouldn't lie, Joseph. You won't be in trouble for getting your dragon. I just want to know how the dragon got up there. If you tell me the truth you won't be in trouble."

Again he said, "I don't know how it got up there!"

I started to get confused, "Well, how did it get in your hand? It had to get upstairs somehow."

Then he says, "Well, maybe it just grew feet and walked up the stairs by itself!"

I had the most difficult time not laughing. I mean, come on! That is funny! Todd had to hide his face to stifle his laughter. I made Joey give me his dragon and go up to his room until he could tell me the truth. It was about 20 minutes later when Joey finally decided he should tell the truth. He told us that he had indeed gotten out of bed, went downstairs, grabbed the dragon, and went back upstairs to bed.

We all clapped and danced around at how good it felt to tell the truth. I told Joey how proud I was of him for deciding to tell me the truth.

Still, there had to be a punishment for lying. He is not allowed to have his dragon for the rest of the week. I made it clear that he is not being punished for getting out of bed, but for lying about it. I hope he understands that. It seemed that he did.

So tell me, any little liars in your family? What do you do? Give it to me, people. I need some advice.

"Would I lie to you?"

"Yes. Yes, I would."

My Weekend In Pictures

It was a fabulous weekend. The weather cooperated and we were able to enjoy the weekend to the fullest.
On Friday afternoon after the boys got up from their naps we all went outside to soak up the sunshine and get some exercise. It was so cute to watch Ben's reaction to the grass. I set him down on it and he stood in the same spot, squealing and laughing, but not moving, for about 15 minutes. I don't know if it was the fact that the ground was uneven, or if he just wasn't sure what to make of the grass, but he would not move. I kept offering him my hand, and he would grab it, but keep his feet firmly planted. After some time I touched the grass with my hand and he followed suit. He would bend down, pick up the grass, show me, and laugh and laugh, but he wouldn't walk. It was so funny! I couldn't believe this active little kid was just standing in the same spot for such a long time. I ended up sitting on the grass with him for the remainder of our time outside, and then right before we went inside he started walking on the grass. So cute.

We also decided to take the training wheels off of Joey's bicycle. And he got on! Sure he cried and he was nervous (that's my Joey), but he got on! I thought he was going to have those training wheels on until he started asking for the car keys.

He seemed to do pretty well, and got the hang of it, but got off after a couple trips up and down the street. I was so proud of him for giving it a try.
I guess he thought it was time to play in the dirt again. Tommy would do the digging and Joey would take the cement roller and smooth it out. What a team! I must remember to put up a little fence there when I plant my flowers.

Then on Saturday I went with the in-law ladies for our overnight getaway. This is just one of the three adjoining rooms that we stayed in. It was fabulous! There was also a parlor room with a bar, three bathrooms for four ladies, and we each got our own bed. So nice!

We went shopping all day long (and I didn't buy ONE THING!?!), relaxed at the hotel for a while, and then headed out for the evening. We ate at one of my all-time favorite restaurants, stopped at a couple of bars, and then saw a great comedy show. We had a blast. When we got back to our rooms this was waiting for us.

Only after we were in our pajamas stuffing our faces did I realize I didn't get any pics of us all dressed up and spiffy. Doggone it! I hate it when I do that! Well, we looked good. Take my word for it.

On Sunday we got up, relaxed a bit, took long showers, and got dressed. We ate a big, delicious breakfast and headed out for more shopping. I still didn't find a nice spring jacket to buy, but I did manage to get two really cute purses. Here is one of them...

By the time we got back home on Sunday afternoon I was exhausted. I remember when I was younger I would go out, have some drinks, go dancing, stay out until 3 A.M., get up for work the next morning and be fine. Now I go out for a night, have half the amount of drinks I used to, go to bed a couple hours earlier and still need a couple of days to recover. I'm still tired! Sheesh! I guess I'm just getting old. Or, maybe I'm out of practice. Yes! That's it! Out of practice!

Anyway, it was a fabulous weekend. Todd did a great job holding down the fort for me. The boys had a blast having daddy all to themselves. They played outside all weekend and did "manly" things like taking trips to the hardware store. They loved it. I was afraid they were going to be disappointed that I was home so soon but they were very sweet. Joey said, "Where were you all this time, mumma?" and Tommy said, "I'm so glad you're here with us, mum." Little Ben kept sitting on my lap all night. It was very sweet. And, truthfully, I missed them. I wanted to hug and kiss and cuddle them all night.

Sometimes the best part of a relaxing getaway weekend is coming back home and remembering how much you love your life.

Time Away For Good Behavior

The ladies time off,

All day and overnight too.

A gift from Todd's mom.

*****

A day of shopping,

dinner, and comedy show,

even a few drinks.

*****

Then to posh hotel,

Sleeping in and long showers.

Can't wait to relax.

*****

Todd stays with the boys,

And I'm sure they'll have fun too.

Time with just daddy.

*****

Tomorrow morning I will be heading out with my mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law for an awesome day of shopping, restaurant hopping, a comedy show, and some relaxation at a posh hotel. It was a gift from Todd's mom to all of us girls for Christmas, and I have been looking forward to it ever since. I can't wait to go shopping where there are some decent stores. We have so few trendy clothing stores in the small town I live in, so going to a couple quality malls will be very exciting. After a day of shopping we will head back to the hotel and relax a bit, head out to dinner, eat, have some drinks, and then mosey on over to the comedy club that I used to hang out at back in my young, hip, and carefree days. Then it is back to the fabulous suite in the swanky hotel to sleep, uninterrupted, for AT LEAST eight hours. It is just so exciting!

Do I have the coolest mother-in-law, or what?

These Cookies Smell Funny

My Tommy sure is a sweet boy. A tender heart. Caring and kind. Always there to give a compliment and a hug. He is a charmer and a heart melter. A real schmoozer. But at the heart of it he is still such a boy.

Yesterday was a dark, cold, damp, and rainy day. I thought it would be a good idea to have the boys help me make some cookies to lighten everyone's mood. The boys helped me carry the flour, shortening, brown sugar, raisins, oatmeal and all the other ingredients from the pantry to the kitchen counter. Then, as I hauled out the big silver mixing bowl, Joey climbed up on the chair, Tommy hopped up on the counter, and Ben sat on the floor playing with the measuring cups that we weren't using.

Joey dumped in the brown sugar, and Tommy dumped in the white sugar. Joey got to pour the vanilla in the bowl, and Tommy sprinkled in the baking powder. Both of them got to sift in a cup of flour, and then they took turns stirring. When all the ingredients were mixed together in the bowl I gave the boys a pile of raisins to munch while I plopped big spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the baking sheets.

Just as I was finishing up the last sheet, Tommy, with his butt still on the counter right next to the baking sheets, let out a loud, rumbling fart. After all of my baking etiquette reminders to turn your head if you have to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth in the crook of your arm, wash your hands, I never thought I would have to tell the boys not to fart on the counter when the cookies are mere inches away. Now, why hadn't I thought of that? Living in a house of all boys I should have known that it would come up eventually.

I looked up at him and said, "Thomas John! What do you say?"

Without looking up from his raisins he answered, "Scuse me."

"That was icky, Tommy. Sit your butt on the stool, please." I scolded.

Tommy slid off the counter onto the stool, continued to eat his raisins, and said, "Sawry I fahted on ohs cookies, mom."