Bubble-Bath-Taking Elephant

I haven't taken a bubble bath in forever. Let's face it, what mom actually has time for a bath? A bath takes entirely too much time. I hardly have time for a 5 minute, all-business shower.

I'm also a paranoid, freak...I believe we've covered that, right? Right. I can't take showers when no one else is here- they're too loud I can't hear what's going on in the house. (Yep, with 3 dobermans and a chihuhua- the shower is what's loud.) Why do I even need to hear every creek or crack our house makes while I'm in the shower when I have 3 dobermans and a chihuahua? Because if you came into our house with a vaccum cleaner- the dobermans would throw their paws up, point you to the jewelry and beg you not to switch that satanic-monster on. Vi-cious. So tonight, I decided I'd take a bubble bath- complete with lavandar candles. It was the most relaxing 20 minutes I've had in weeks. Ah-mazing

Naturally, while relaxing my mind raised through some not-so-relaxing topics. I thought about my mother. She's gone through so much health stuff this year. The surgery she had back in January kind of...didn't work, in a round-about way. She will have to have a hysterectomy in a few weeks. She has a specialist who I'm more than confident in- but this is my mom we're talking about, I'm not confident enough in anyone to perform surgery on my mom. Ontop of that, Mom broke her ankle right after the hurricane & has pretty much been on bed rest since. (She's the absolute worst patient in the world b/c she's so considerate of others. She doesn't want to ask for help or have anyone do anything for her. I've caught her doing laundry and trying to figure out how to hop and drink coffee at the same time.) I am so thankful for my mom and for everything she does for our family. She doesn't stop with just our family- she treats everyone she comes in contact with like they're hers. She worries about them, she prays for them, she helps them in any way she can. It's been wonderful to see those people she's tended to, worried about, prayed for, etc, come by to return the favor. Her cast is full of signatures from family, co-workers and friends. (Oh, and I drew some leopard on her cast. A girl can never have too much leopard.) My thankfulness turned to anger when I thought about those who haven't even picked-up-the-phone to say hello. Whether it's a co-worker who's gone from seeing her everyday to not seeing her at all, or friends from way back that my mom would drop everything for, no matter how many years had gone by...the phonecalls and visits that didn't/haven't happened seemed to be screaming at me. I know I shouldn't focus on that- and if it was me, I probably wouldn't. I tend to be more protective over my loved ones than I am over myself.

I gave up on my relaxing bubble bath- but my mind wouldn't stop spinning.

The irony is- my mom would never bring up any of the negative. It's not her style. She won't bring up who didn't call or come by- and when she's healed, she won't hold it against them. I understand that everyone has a life to live, and many don't have much spare time...but you have to learn how to make time for those who make time for you. My mother will stay up way too late to accomplish her obligations, after she's spent all afternoon helping someone else accomplish theirs. It's just how she is- she is the most giving person I know.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to those of you who've called or visited my mom. It means as much to me as it does to her. And to those of you who haven't...think of me as the bubble-bath-taking elephant in the family- I never forget. ;-)

Preschool!

Little Miss started her last year of preschool today! She was to-the-moon with excitement until we got ready to walk out the door.

"I don't know...Ummm, I am a little nervous and I think I should go back inside and go back to sleep for a little while," she told me.

She totally knows the way to her mother's heart- sleep. Offer sleep & see what happens.

Once we got to the school, I saw this adorable little sign- welcoming us back to preschool. I asked Little Miss if she'd like her photo taken & of course, she was all "umm duh, mom!"

I backed up, lifted my camera and this happened....

...those poses were totally unprompted. I did bring her personal wind machine though, in case you were wondering.

In we went, Little Miss was greeted by her BFF and I became slightly invisible.

Painting As...I was moved to tears that she hopped right to it. (No, I'm not exaggerating- that's why I brought the big camera- to capture memories and hide tears.)

      

Now she's home and ready for day number 2 tomorrow!! I'm so proud of my lil gal!!

The Split

So...here's what happened.

I meshed my two blogs together a while back- you know, I thought that would be easier to accomplish timely posts b/c I'd only have the one blog to worry about. Then, I realized that I didn't exactly want to write about my personal, personal life on my 'business' blog because- well, because I can be kind of opinionated at times. Not that I'm not open to hearing others opinions, but it's difficult to get that particular point accross when you're only expressing your own opinion. So, I split them again...and then I got to busy with work to even tell my husband about my day, much less post on my blog.

I miss writing. I've said it before, it was my first love...er, one of them. And I will tell you, the crazy stuff that goes on in this little life of ours? It's worthy of a few blog posts here and there. I think you'll laugh, I really do.

Why do I have time to write today, you may ask? I hurt my back. Yes, me and my rap-sheet worth of back problems are adding on. Yay, me. I'm not sure what exactly I did to deserve all this, but it has literally knocked me on my butt.

Let's not dwell on that.

Last night, after Little Miss had pretty much pulled out all the stops to avoid bedtime. I gave up. I kissed her head, took my pain pill and came to my own bed. A few minutes later, my presense was needed in her room. She let me know that her new baby bear, Daisy Mae, was sad. She missed her friends at Wal-Mart and needed to sleep with me. Although it was cute, it didn't win me over. I kissed her goodnight & came back to bed. She called again- I got up...again. She told me she had to tell me something.

"Mama, when I get older, I'm going to have kids...and I'm going to make them sleep in their own beds, too," she told me.

"That's good, baby. Goodnight," I said.

"No, wait. And when they get older...they're going to have their own babies too. And I think they're going to make them sleep in their own beds too."
"Uh huh," I said.

"And then I will be old. Very old........and rich!!"

I was taken back a little. Rich? I don't think I've ever said that word in her presense, much less to her. To be sure she meant she'd be rich b/c she'd have all these healthy babies and love and happiness....

"No...rich means with money. So I can buy whatever I want and stay up past my bedtime," she corrected me.

Well...apparently when she's old- she can pay me off to stay up late? That's what I took from that. See? Not necessarily the opinion I'd like future clients to read prior to meeting me.

The split was a good decision.

More Than A Fundraiser!

This past  Thursday was one of my favorite dinners of the year. And yes, it's partly because I don't exactly have to cook.

Little Miss's preschool had their annual spaghetti dinner- which funds the preschool/after-school program! The teachers start working on this even months in advance because it's profits are what helps buy supplies for the upcoming school year. The day-of, parents, grandparents and well, anyone who will agree to help, join together to cut vegetables, stir sauce, boil noodles and cut vegetables.

...and did I mention cutting vegetables? I think we should all take a moment to bow down to the largest carrots I've ever seen- much less cut!

 

 Only minor injuries were endured in the making of the above salads.

That is not my hand...but I can assure you that my hand looked no different by the time I left- thanks to the extra-sharp knives of some fisherman. (Sucker sliced through glove and all! Yowsah!)

Thankfully, my daddy was available to take over my shift so I could run home and bake my dessert for the evening. (He left with less injury, you'll be pleased to know.)

Not that we were lacking in the dessert department. Let me tell you something, these parents can bake! It was worth the money for the dinner just for the desserts! Did I mention they're all homemade? Yes, even mine...and to my knowledge, I didn't make anyone sick. (Score one for me and my cooking skills!)

This night is about more than noodles, sauce and desserts. It's more than just a fundraiser. This event brings our small community together. We're able to really visit with our neighbors, who we may only see when we're rushing to work or to run errands. It gives us a moment to look around at those who share this space with us and be thankful for their presence.

We're able to look at our children- and laugh together at their silliness. We're able to look at how they've grown since the last spaghetti dinner. We're able to take a moment to share a story about our crazy dogs. (Okay, so I was the only one sharing. But the mayor did inform me we can now have chickens in the town limits!)

While I'm sure a great deal of money was raised on this special night, nothing could be more valuable than the memories made while preparing and eating the delicious meal. Thank you, Shon & Scarlett for all your hard work all year- and particularly for the spaghetti dinner. We love you.

Straight from the horse's Miss's Mouth

"Mama, do you know what wee-wee means?"

"Well, I think it means..."
"It means pee-pee in French!"

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"I love you more than the ocean, Mama!"

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After a friend heard Little Miss say this:

"In your face!! Peace out, yo!"

The friend told me:

"That's hilarious- I guess you don't have to worry 'til she says In your face, sucka!!"

To which Little Miss replied:

"In you face, LOLLIPOP!" (I seriously almost wee-wee'd on myself.)

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"Mom! Mom! Mom!" (puts hand up to her mouth) "I have to tell you something!"

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"Mom, what was your favorite part of today? Mine was..."

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"I'm going to dream about unicorns and mermaids, tonight...goodnight!"


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 "Mom? Do you still love me when your face turns red? Like...when you're mad?"



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"Look!! A Piggly Wiggly shirt!!!!"
(5 seconds later)
"Wiggly your Piggly!!!!!!!!!"

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"Mom, I want to go to Australia and steal back Papa...let's go."

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"Well...that lady was mean to me and you just need to karate chop her, Mama"

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*singing* "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly....I don't know why she swallowed the fly.....UGH!! I can't work under these conditions!!!!!"

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Oh, you just never know what my Little Miss will say. ;-)