Like Mother Like Son

I have a horrible memory - I really can't remember much from my school days or even Jr. High days . . . but once in a while I'll have an experience that will trigger a memory - this was one of those moments.

I remember back when I was about 8 or 9 - I was in my friend, Jodie Cushing's basement - she had the "Grease" record and we'd play our favorite songs over and over while singing to them. Well - fast forward 26 or so years and here's my son, with his little buddy, listening to the "Star Wars" theme and "singing" along - I got caught taping so the entertainment ended, but I wish I could have gotten the more dramatic re-enactments and the more energetic display of their musical experience. It's hilarious to me - that these boys have their own method of "singing along." Check out the goggles and fedora . . . and they both had weapons - 

So back when I was doing my impression of Sandy - and singing to my make-believe Danny, I would NEVER have thought some of the boys in my class were putting on their own music and grooving to it. Just makes me realize that although there are huge differences between the sexes, there are, in fact, some things that are universal - although in application we display them slightly different.

I'm a Soft-y!

Photo by Ronalyn Barut September 19, 2008

So have you ever just told your kids, "Stop touching me!" ? ? ? Well, I have to admit that at times I have had so many little grubby hands touching, poking and smearing at me that yes, I have told my child not to touch me. A couple weeks ago Jack was busy bugging me and I said, "Can you please just not touch me right now." His response melted my heart!!!

"But mommy, you are so soft." 

He then proceeded to stroke my arm - and I enjoyed every second of it!

Happy Birthday, Love!

Photo by Ronalyn Barut 9-19-08

Happy Birthday to my best friend. You're old now - as old as me! And I want you to know how much I love being your wife. I'm still head over heels - and grateful every day that I am the one you want to spend forever with. I've got a list of blessings so long I could never be able to list them - so here are just a few . . . 

*Although it's true that you're a guy . . . in that realm, you are the best communicator I know! I'm so grateful to be able to talk . . . about everything and anything! I've never felt afraid, or that certain topics are off limits - you let me speak my mind (even when it's slightly swayed by emotions) and you always try to decipher my girl-code. Most chicks I know just aren't that lucky!

*You not only let me be me . . . you love me.

*Tenth anniversary ring . . . 'nuff said!

*You're not a big forgiver (in a good way!) . . . that's because you don't let your feelings get to the point where you have to forgive me . . . you don't get mad at me and you never hold a grudge. I wanna be more like that, so you don't see me angry - workin' on it dear!

*You keep the OCD, stress-case, orderly, uptight me to a minimum. Really - where would I be without you???

*You're taking me to Hawaii in a few weeks! {without any little people of our genetic mix!}

*You're a great partner in every aspect of life . . . as parents, as budgeters, as decision makers, as disciplinarians, as entertainment seekers, as dinner eater outers, as mac enjoyers, as interests supporters, as life balancers, as letting each other be and do what we want-ers. You get the idea!

I love you loads - and hope you have a great birthday - request for your favorite better-than-any-you've ever tasted creamy chicken enchiladas granted! I'd suspend my diet for you anytime. (Hmmmmmm I think I just stumbled on a personal a-ha moment!!! Maybe that's why I'm just not back in my smallest jeans!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Poop relief, Vomit alert!

No poop this time . . . yet.

But I've been up all night almost on the hour - Jack's been throwing up. Poor little man - he's to the point where there's nothing but bile - actually after the first two bouts it was all bile from there. He's wiped out - I'm wiped out - poor Dan, he's wiped out and had to go to work. Vomit is the A#1 thing I hate most about being a mom. Smelling it, cleaning it up . . . you get the point - so I'm off to take care of the little bug - and hope that he doesn't spread the bug he's caught to his brothers and sister - and parents. Ick!

Bull's Eye!!!

Oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh yeah!!!!

I know it's silly, but I'm as giddy as a kid on Christmas. We now have a Target. I made my second trip there today - and it only "officially" opened yesterday. No - I didn't go on Sunday - but I went on Thursday - the day after the "unofficial" opening. And I have to say that I felt for the brief time I was in there that I was in the lower 48. {A term we use to describe the 48 states that are down there - all mushed together in the same land mass . . . Alaska and Hawaii are not part of that 48 - thus the term} ANYWAY - I felt normal. That's not to say that I don't feel normal up here. Hmmmmm - how else can I put this? I no longer felt deprived - maybe that's it. For as long as we've been up here in the Last Frontier {yet another term . . . hey, what can I say, we have a long winter to huddle inside and think up new and interesting terms to describe things! Haven't you heard how many words the Alaska Natives have for snow??? Look that one up!} ANYWAY - Since living up here in the last state admitted into the United States of America, I've felt like we lack quite a bit of commerce. But in these last 7 years we've managed to get an increasing amount of national chain stores. We now have a couple Bed, Bath & Beyond's, a Best Buy, upgraded Michael's and JoAnn stores, and more. So now that we have a Target - I just can't complain. This is the store I always wanted. When any other store was announced to come in, we'd say, "Yeah, but I wish it were a Target." "Oh, I wish Target would come up here." Target Target Target. So now our wishes have been granted. We are no longer deprived. Although because of crazy Union issues - they couldn't make it a Super Target - now that would be heaven! Oh - by the way, another Target is being built even closer than the current one that's only about 20 miles away! 

Darse Vader

So as I'm dressing Jack the other day I catch him picking his nose again.

"Jack, please don't pick your nose." 

"But mommy, Darse Vader does it sometimes, too!"

Will this kid ever stop picking his nose? Or at least stop passing the blame to others? When will he run out of justifiable allies? Must say that my 3 year old has no holes in his cognitive development! If he did . . . he'd probably pick that too!

Not just a mere dusting!

Alright! So we were hit a bit more with snow. I think I really am in denial - except that yesterday morning - after opening the blinds and waiting for the shock to subside, I went out and built a snowman with Jack. Dan had been shoveling the driveway and Jack kept running out in his thermal jammies without shoes - Dan took pity on him and helped him get on boots - then went out and played for a minute. They started rolling a big snow ball - and Dan had to leave for work. Consequently, I had to deal with a grumpy child with no other objective than to get back out in the snow. So we bundled up. Poor little Aidan. He couldn't sit in all that snow gear, and he couldn't walk in all that snow gear and the large boots that fit over his feety-jammies. So he ended up laying in the snow most of the time - until he figured out how to take off his boots - then he struggled to a stand and soaked his feety-jammies. Fun morning - but we left the snowman sans accessories until the older kids came home and they added a few meager branches. Days like this shock and please my husband. What with me getting outside in the snow and allowing the boys to just run free. What can I say? Keeping the marriage alive with a little shock and awe sometimes! No - really I do enjoy doing it. It's just the getting ready, and the getting undone that has me less than thrilled. 

Unfortunately the snow man is no longer standing. I guess Harrison mis-interpreted Jack's desires when he told Harrison he wanted to break down the snow man. Apparently, he didn't really want to break down the snow man. Hey, with a three year old, there's a lot of mis-interpretation!!!