Princesses in the Family

I post an awful lot on my boys, but actually had the opportunity while traveling for work to stop at my sister's for the afternoon right outside Chicago.

I spent the afternoon with her and her girls, spent the night there - then got up the next morning, got ready, and headed off to my meeting. It was a good time - and it was so fun to see the girls. They are such hams, and remind me so much of their mother (my sister) it is scary!

Dear Lord

Please give me the strength to get through the day with these animals (um, I mean, boys). Please let there not be a circus going through town which might just tempt me to sell them (or donate them) for the side show - or better yet, the petting zoo.

Please give me the strength to get to nap time, as it is 7:42am and I am already praying that someone crashes - soon. Because if they don't - I will. I'm pretty sure DHS would be fairly disappointed to find my boys, one running around outside naked and the younger one walking around the house bashing on it with a bat - while mommy sleeps on the sidewalk.

Please let me not scream at Tyler at one more time "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? WHY DO YOU NOT LISTEN?!?!?!?!?!" so loud that I'm sure the neighors are wondering what in the hell is happening in that house.

And one last request - if somehow, sometime this week, you could arrange for my husband and I to BOTH get 8 hours (I would LOVE even 6!) hours of unbroken sleep - I would be the happiest person on earth.

I swear I will be forever grateful to you for these (seemingly) simple requests.

Amen.

Pay it Forward Friday

Happy Pay it Forward Friday!!!

Title Of Blog I Would Like To Feature Is:

URL To That Blog: http://corporatemommy.mu.nu/

I Like This Blog Because: It it totally me - and her advice at times is priceless!

Here Is A Post I Enjoyed: http://corporatemommy.mu.nu/archives/127390.php
and
http://svmomblog.typepad.com/chicago_moms/2008/06/the-secret-la-1.html
(Elizabeth is also featured on "Chicago Mom's Blog")

Who is this boy and why does he keep calling me Mom?

Ever since I picked Tyler up from daycare tonight, he's been an AWESOME kid. Seriously. He's followed directions, hasn't thrown one fit, accepted my "no" when he asked for McDonald's for supper, and didn't touch, hit, or try to spit at Connor even once. Even better - me!

Tyler definitely has his ups and downs. Tonight is definitely one of his "ups". I wish I could just bottle up whatever it was he has done/eaten/drank, etc., over the last 24 hours so I could have this kid all the time.

It's nights like these when I can do this. This is great - and I love being a mom. Even a working mom because nights like this make it all worth it. There have been weeks in the recent past where I think I have to give this up - having a 3 and a 1 year old and trying to work this rediculous schedule is either going to kill me, or put in the nut house. It's nights like this that make me love this little boy just that much more!

Tyler sharing his blueberries with Connor. This NEVER happens! (by the way, that isn't beer Tyler is drinking - it's Pellegrino. I'm trying to keep him on the most "pure" diet possible, and he thinks sparkling water is his "pop"!)

Why we are going to win the "Parents of the Year" Award

It's called www.dailynoggin.com! It's all the shows that are on Nick Jr., on the computer. In this particular picture, I believe Tyler was watching a show about Diego and his cousin Alicia helping an Alligator. How exciting!

I think I did lose him for a while - he was so fascinated with this. He watches Diego on TV every once in a while, but having his "own TV" was just that much better!

Dad

This Father's Day I wanted to take a few minutes to thank my dad for everything he's done for me in my life. I'm pretty sure he doesn't think I remember all of these moments - but it is these moments and more that shaped me as a person and made me who am I today.

• I bet he doesn't know I remember the day he took time off of work to come to my state fair when I was in 4th grade. We had all made boothes out of refridgerator boxes (I was Delaware), and because the girl that I shared my booth with was pure evil (seriously - she's probably in prison today - no joke), I just ended up in the bathroom crying. I remember him being there though, and giving me a hug when I cried.
• I remember the day he took my training wheels off my bike. I think he was even more excited than I was.
• I remember him taking bike rides with my sister and I, along a path, all the way into a neighboring town - just to get an icee at a gas station. I realize now after putting in 10 hours at work that day, he was probably exhausted, but never let on that he was. He also followed my sister and I so he could keep an eye on us - probably going 2 miles per hour.
• I remember him coming to every band concert I had, even though I know he has never been fond of cassical music - at all. I even remember the time he and my mom came to see me play in Des Moines - that was huge. I was so excited - it's like every note I played was for them.
• I remember the time when I was a junior in high school and he drove me to Iowa State for an Honor Band competition. I remember when he dropped me off at the hotel I was staying at, and I remember the tears in both of our eyes as he left.
• I remember him moving me out of my 84th apartment (okay - an exaggeration), in the summer of 1999 - while it was 100 degrees out (no exaggeration). We hauled every piece out through the picture window that we removed into his pickup truck. He then bought me Dairy Queen when we were done.
• I remember my dad teaching me how to drive in the parking lot where he worked. We drove his Bivouac Van in circles - and probably scared the crap out of him - but I swear that's why I'm a decent driver today.
• He also let me learn to drive on the rental cars that were delivered every Sunday when he was working far out of town. He had to leave Monday morning at 5am or so - but after the Rental agency dropped off those cars at 3pm on Sunday- they were MINE! (Yikes!)
• I then remember the day I wrecked the 1974 Ford LTD that was his dad's car. It originally was my grandpa's car, and when he passed away, we received the car - and I wrecked it in the snow. I remember sobbing on my bed because I KNEW he was going to kill me. He didn't.
• I remember being 8 years old and him taking me to softball and basketball games while I was trying out sports. He coached me in everything, and had so much patience. I don't even have that much patience today.
• I remember him taking my sister and I to the grocery store and letting us pick out sugary cereal. We NEVER had sugary cereral in our house - so this was quite a treat. I remember my mom was always mad when we got home because she never bought that - but we were all happy. I think my sister and I ate that for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it was gone!
• I remember being in the hospital after Connor was born, and I couldn't even tell my dad what Connor's middle name was, because I knew I would burst into tears. (Connor's middle name is Charles, after my dad).

Most of all I appreciate him for always being there. I talk to him more than I talk to anyone - even my husband sometimes. Working at the same company in the same general area, gives us a lot to talk about at times. Before he retired (and I went on maternity leave) we would walk to the Coffee Cafe in the morning to get the "good" coffee, and end up talking for about an hour. It was wonderful.

You never realize how much your parents mean to you, until they aren't there sometimes. This Father's Day I can't see my dad because of the flooding. I know we'll make it up next weekend, but I've thought about him all day. I owe him so much. I want him to know that I think about him every day, and every time I sit in my office at work and look around (especially at the picture he left me), I am thankful. Thankful for having such a wonderful dad that was always there for me, and made me who I am today.

Thanks Dad.

Dad and Connor

Pay it Forward Friday

Title Of Blog I Would Like To Feature Is: 7 Acres of Heaven

URL To That Blog: http://7acresofheaven.blogspot.com/

I Like This Blog Because: I love hearing K'Man's "first time" stories with his little girl.

Here Is A Post I Enjoyed: http://7acresofheaven.blogspot.com/2008/05/remembering-grandpa-andes.html

FOR MORE PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY'S, VISIT AN IOWA MOM.