Sometimes life hands you sweet moments, and in that instant, you slowly unwrap them, savor the flavor and enjoy the moment.
That first missing tooth...
My dad and I "geeking out" with all things comics at a school presentation...
Family game of baseball...
A real baseball game for the boys...
Carter wanting to thank his principal at his school...
Coleman thanking his teacher...
and a sweet little treat from my favorite froyo shop, Yogurtini with my sweet kiddos on Mother's Day.
Early days with my mom, the things I only remember in pictures. My mom looks exhausted and crabby, much like I feel most days. I draw strange comfort in this, knowing that my own mothering journey is similar to hers. There is the utter exhaustion and exhiliration with having a newborn. There are the combing little girl's long hair battles in the morning. My mom was real and so am I. She loved us fiercely but made sure we minded. She kept us in line but was always there on the sidelines cheering us on. She made our birthday cakes, Halloween costumes and made sure we wrote thank you cards. So even in the middle of the mundane, we share those moments where it makes it all worth it.
The newborn days...
The fun ones...
and the proud ones.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, whether here or within our hearts. May your day be filled with all the mundane and wonderful things that make up this thing called motherhood.
There was life before Monster Jam trucks and life after Monster Jam trucks for this now 6 year old.
The family invite:
The birthday pancake breakfast:
The Monster cake:
Presents:
Carter's first monster truck instructional video: (Carter: put it on youtube, mom)
We love this not so little guy. He's the one that starts the bathroom floor slip and slide. He loves to use the stairs for a monster truck launch pad. He recently learned to suck in air and burp. He got excited when he started to read his Hotwheels early readers. He likes to show people how he rides his bike without training wheels and is trying to convince me to let him ride his bike to school for Earth Day because it's good for the environment. And he has his first loose tooth- finally, he's been waiting a long time. I love that when I go check on him at night, he's got two monster trucks sleeping next to him.
Coloring our Easter eggs and loving the daffodils in the vase- it just says spring time!
This year, we decided to keep it simple- the good 'ole white crayon and basic dye.
Jake came up with this great idea for Amelia to dye the eyes using a wire whisk! Before...
After...
I had to give it a try... Amelia liked my flower design.
Easter basket goodies...
Happy Easter to all, rejoice in the good news and may your day be blessed with family, fun and plenty of beautiful sunshine.
Before there was kids, before there was cancer, my mom and I went on trip to New York to see a friend of mine. I was six months preggo at the time with Coleman.
New York was our kind of city- busy, noisy, colorful and full of drama.
So much to do and see it could be difficult but being who we were, nothing was going to stop us. We took a boat over to the Ellis Island and I remember laughing with mom. It was so cold and windy- we looked like garden gnomes with our jackets on our heads, our hair whipping around us.
We looked for names of my dad's family on the granite walls. I remember standing inside the Statue of Liberty and look up, way up. I remember being facinated with her copper feet.
We took an elevator and then climbed many stairs until we made it to the Sears Tower. The city glittered at night.
I remember that night walking home by the projects and huddling close together, walking fast.
Mom had the idea we were going to be on the Today show so we got up really early and headed out into the cold. We stood in line with our glittered sign, AZ Gals Love Al. Later, we saw ourselves for 2 seconds on the TV, we were famous!
We went out on the town and saw an off Broadway show with Brooke Shields. I don't even know what it was called but we loved it.
My mom will be gone three years tomorrow. It's not a day I want to remember but for right now where I am in this journey of life after mom, I think about her on this day and I'm sad. I share this story because it was so long ago, before her first grandchild was even born. I want my kids to know her and her story, what she was like and who she was. They will find there are parts of her in them and that's how we learn to carry on, how she is always with us.
Carter asked me recently where heaven was. I was hard pressed to answer but managed to tell him it wasn't in the clouds like the movies. His reply: "Heaven is in our hearts." Wise words from my wise little man.
Carter is playing basketball this year. He loves the Phoenix Suns and even wrote a letter at school to Steve Nash telling him to come back to the Suns. He's number 6, if the orange shorts weren't a clue.
What can I say? The kid is a natural, I'm expecting a call from the Suns any day now. What the other two do to pass the time...
Coleman turned 8 on January 14th. It was his first friend party that we celebrated at a place other than the house. I must admit, I liked the no prep, no clean up party but knew we entering a new era. My first born is growing up, becoming a big boy, one who says "Mooom" with an annoyed tone when he's embarrased or thinks he knows more than his parents. Fun times ahead.
The family party:
We gave him his new bike early in the day so he could test it out.
Brent is the International school in the Phillipines he went to for nursery and preschool. So funny he thinks of it like a college.
His birthday party at Wazee's World where they played two games of laser tag and some arcade games.
The kids had a blast comparing their scores. Coleman got second place, even beating out Daddy!
We've been busy (obviously since I haven't posted about 2 months, not to mention the purchase of a new computer!).
Recently though, we were busy making Valentines for the boys' classmates and Amelia for her friend at daycare. Last year and this year, I let them pick something they wanted to do from ones I've pinned on Pinterest. After I realized they both picked ones that had me doing most of the work, I think we agreed to do store bought next year. They did turn out super cute though...
From Pinterest inspiration...
Source: familyfun.go.com
Rockets for Carter and his special shuttle he wanted me to make. Some chalk and glue guns- I think ours turned out even better.
Then here's what Coleman wanted to make...
Source: Chez Beeper Bebe blog- she even has printables ready for download!
His turned out pretty easy and I learned how to tie a slip knot!
Then he wanted to create a dragon box to keep his Valentines in... that was mostly him and me with the hot glue.
The dragon has wings, feet and even a tail.
All the kids made one of these for their teachers...
Source: Spoonful (used to be Family Fun)
Here is Amelia's for Linda at daycare...
May you feel the love from those around you here and from those who have grown angel wings. There is a saying, "Danger is my middle name"- well love is our last name, and we give it to you today.
