Mommy plus Five

My 365...

Today would have been a perfect day for snow, but for the first time in weeks the temperature decided to go above freezing.  It has been a day of misty drizzle instead of floating snowflakes.

A perfect day to snuggle up and read a book, and I have done just that.  I am reading The Hunger Games, and so far it is really good. 

In this last week of 2011, I have much to be thankful for.  My sons have brought me love, and have made me very proud to be their mom.  In a world full of evil, judgemental and hateful people, they are sincere, honest, accepting, and above all, tolerant, and that makes my heart sing.  <3

The most important lesson we should teach our children is tolerance....

My photos of the day...

Enjoying some cartoons on his favorite squishy recliner, and a snuggle with Miss Lilly.
Music I am listening to today...Solomon Keal



Random Link of the Day...It Gets Better

Until next time..."Judge lest thy be judged." 

It is a sad day when you realize someone you know has completely lost their moral compass.  Until you realize that they never possessed the intellect to have one in the first place.  I hope you are able to find it before the entire world sees your true self. 



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Hello Tuesday.

I have a confession to make.  Something that I am ashamed to admit.  I really, "really" like the TV show Gossip Girl.  There I said it!  Garrett's girl friend Kori told me about it several weeks ago, and as of last night I am on the 5th show of season five!  Yes, I have been through almost 5 full seasons of the silly show in 5 weeks.  "It is all your fault Kori!"  (Just kidding, I love you honey.  <3)

It is ridiculously entertaining, however, as a mother I can not condone such horrendous teen behavior!  Oh Hollywood...shame on you.  I suppose only in Manhattan can a 16 year old belly up to the bar and order a martini.  Lovely. 

I will admit, I have thoroughly enjoyed the characters and story line.  There, I said it.  Now I can move forward. *snicker*

Speaking of teenage angst, Casey thinks he is in love.  *sigh*  Sixteen and in love, remember those days?  He is free to be in love as long as it is on Facebook, telephone and text messaging only.  Thank God and T-Mobile for unlimited texting.  And thank God for geography as this young lady lives a few hours from here.  In all seriousness though, I told him school first, career goals second, love third, dating at 40.  Thankfully he agrees to that order of things...up until the dating at 40.  Okay, okay...25.  :P

My photos of the day...

A light dusting of snow this morning.
An afternoon with my grandson Cooper...

Hanging around with daddy.

I can help you grandma...
Oh, sock monkey!
And an afternoon conversation about life and love with son number 3.  :)

Music I am listening to today...Jim Brickman


Random Link of the Day...Holiday Wassail

Until next time..."Always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Happy Monday, happy first day post Christmas, happy "relaxing" day.  :)

That is my plan this week, plenty of much deserved rest.  The boys are looking forward to a week break from home school as well. Work is really busy, but I am thinking I may call a vacation week for myself.  I am the boss, so I can do that.  Sounds good!

The weather is bitter cold outside.  The high today is 38 degrees, and we get into the 20's at night.  I love it, but it does mean we are stuck indoors.

Blake, Casey and I will enjoy some computer games, Netflix movies and a whole lot of nothing.  Sounds perfect to me.  :)

My photos of the day...

My sweet, silly, amazing son...

Random Link of the Day...*click*

Until next time..."I hear you are talking behind my back...go ahead and kiss my butt while you are back there."  *grin*

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

I love my boys...they are as crazy as mama is. 

We had Christmas in our normal fashion...completely "our" tradition...a fabulous free-for-all.

It was almost 7pm last night, and Blake decided to open "only one" present.  That is how it starts.
 "Only one", turns into a gift opening extravaganza!  Takes about two seconds and we are done.  lol
The boys stayed up until 2:00am playing with new stuff, and requested some hot cocoa.  I went down to the kitchen to make some for them and they were getting louder and LOUDER, so mama had to separate them so the rest of the world could get a little sleep.

Casey went downstairs to his computer, and Blake up to his to play some computer games.  That lasted until approximately 4:00am.  I begged them both to try a little sleep, but no...they were not quite ready for that. 

Finally at 7:00am, Blake said he was hungry so we went down to the kitchen so I could make some eggs and hash browns.  Casey was still awake so I made some for him as well.  By then, Blake and I were deliriously silly, so I started a game of "I bet I can make you yawn!" 

Mommy:  *Yawn*

Blake:  "Mom, stop that!"  *Yawn*

Mommy:  "Okay, I will stop....."*yawn*

Blake:  MOM!!

He started chasing me around the kitchen and we were both laughing so hard.  We look over to see Jack coming up the stairs looking less then entertained.

Mommy:  "What's wrong honey?"

Jack:  "The downstairs toilet just over-flowed on to my feet...grumble...grumble...grumble..."


Blake and I looked at each other and started laughing hysterically!  Jack was not amused.  LOL!

We had our breakfast then went upstairs to try to settle down.  Keyword here "try", but by then we were way too hyper and silly for sleep.

Casey came upstairs showing me that he could get FM radio on his new cell phone.  He was listening to some 70's and 80's rock classics and he said, "Mom, do you know this song?"  I recognized it immediately and started singing along.  Casey looked at me and said, "My God mom, you are so old!"  LOL, he is always amused that he can listen to old songs and I start singing along. 

Finally sometime after 8:00am I was able to settle down and try to sleep a little. 

A few hours later I hear the dogs all barking like mad.  The "I am about to eat a stranger" bark that will blow the roof off the house.

I am thinking Santa came back or something!
  
Then I hear, "Frank, come here Frank!"  Who the hell is Frank?  I look outside to see Jack and Blake chasing some strange dog around the back yard.  The neighbors had a visitor canine named Frank who managed to jump the fence and found himself trapped in our yard.  Dozer, Ducati, Ray and Lilly went nuts!

Damn you Frank.  ;P

Casey fell asleep about noon, followed by Blake at 1:30pm.

Now the ham is ready...the boys are asleep...and I need to get this Christmas dinner going. 

Cooper's mommy decided that Cooper would spend the night with her last night.  Which is great, because a baby should be with his mommy.  Brandon was up at 7:00am so he could walk over to their house and watch his son open presents.  He walked over there in 20 degree weather that awesome son of mine.  He is such a great daddy.

Garrett and Supra should be here soon.  Kori went home to Sun Valley for Christmas.  "We miss you Kori!  Merry Christmas honey I love you!!

I need to get dinner finished so we can enjoy a nice Christmas dinner...my boys and I.  Jack's got a fire going in the downstairs den, and my boys and I are going to enjoy an amazing evening together.  I love them so much!

What a great Christmas this had been!  Crazy silly but memorable and fun.  Hope yours has been wonderful as well!


My photos of the day...

Delicious Christmas dinner.  Jack made a great ham, and I made all the fixings.
  My favorite Brussels sprouts!
 Brandon got home just as I was serving dinner and Garrett and Supra were driving up.  Perfect timing!
  Brandon was pretty tired from his long day, but enjoyed a visit with Garrett.  :)
After dinner we went down to the den to visit for a while and just enjoyed each others company.  It was wonderful.  :)
Supra and Blake enjoying a little horsing around after Christmas dinner.  He loves wrestling with Supra the wonder dog.  :)


Music I am listening to today...



Random Link of the Day...Merry Christmas!

Until next time..."Happy Birthday Jesus."


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

I remember that special feeling I used to get on Christmas eve as a small child.  The butterflies in my tummy, waiting with excitement for Christmas morning and all the magic that it would bring.  Here I am, Christmas eve in my 50th year, and I am experiencing all that excitement again!  As I was wrapping the gifts for the boys and placing them under the tree, singing Christmas carols to myself and feeling so much love in my heart and spirit I realized..."I am so blessed!"  We are so blessed. How amazing is this?

"Eeeeeee!"  <---that is a mama squeal of joy!  :)

"What do you want for Christmas this year mama?"

A home, a warm loving safe home.  -  Check!

Food to feed my family.  - Check!

My children to love me as much as I love them.  -  Check!

A steady job for me and daddy so we can keep the lights on, and food on the table.  - Check!

Being blessed with four amazing sons who love, respect and cherish this family as much as I do.  - Check!  Check! Check! Check!

To be able to call my nana and tell her how much I love her.  - Check!

To tell my sister Cathy how much I love her, and to tell her no matter what life may bring, I am on her side.  - Check!

To instill in my sons the reason for the season.  -  Check!

To have Cooper here with us.  - Check!

To be thankful for all my friends who are the most amazing people in the world.  Thank you all for being my friends.  I love you!  -  Check!

To tell certain relatives in this world who speak poorly about me and my beautiful family...we feel sorry for you, and we forgive you.  Merry Christmas.  :)  Check!

To have all my boys here with me tomorrow...including my grandson Cooper.  Check!

To let mom and dad in heaven know that I love them.  Check!

Wow, Christmas is perfect this year.  *sigh* Thank you!  <3

My photos of the day...

Spending some time with Cooper this afternoon before he left to go to his first family Christmas party.


 "Oh, what is this paper grandma?"
 "I want some of this for Christmas."  :)




Music I am listening to today...Just 1 day until Christmas!  For Cathy.  :)


Random link of the day..."Twas the Night before Christmas"



Until next time...."Love and peace to the world."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

On this two days before Christmas, I am thinking about my sisters.  There was a time, not too long ago, that we were all the best of friends.  Three sisters who had each other's backs.  Sure we had squabbles as all sisters do, but we never lost sight of the fact that we were sisters.  Born from the same wonderful mom and dad.  Raised in a very close family.  Sharing weekends, holidays, birthdays, all days together. 

Now we have grown apart.  Some would say "worlds" apart, never to be on the same ground again.  "Never" is a long time.  We have grown apart, we have become our own person and sadly in this instance, becoming our own person meant no longer seeing eye to eye, heart to heart. 

I would be lying if I said I did not miss them, or did not care that we are no longer friends.  I do care.  Can I fix this?  Probably not.  Should I fix this?  I would not even know where to begin...

So on this Christmas, I will share a memory...

I remember one Christmas morning we all woke so excited to see what was under the tree.  Mom depended on dad to do the shopping that year, and sadly...he depended on his secretary.  There under the tree were beautifully wrapped gifts for my sisters and I, and we were so excited.  As we began to unwrap the packages, you could hear a pin drop.  Box after box, the contents of which brought a *gasp*, and not one of glee or happiness, but of pure horror. 

In box after box we found the most hideous dresses we had ever seen.  Very tacky, very grandma 70's, very obviously picked out by someone who had no clue of fashion or of us.  Even my mom would not be caught dead in these clothes.  I think back now of that Christmas and I laugh.  Poor daddy, he was so mad at us for not loving what his secretary had picked out for us.  And we were mortified, trying to figure out how to hide our complete disappointment of a Christmas bust! 

I don't remember much of the remainder of that Christmas, but I am sure in true family fashion...we pulled it out of the ashes and had a good day...with family.

To my sisters, Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year.  I love you both from the bottom of my heart.  And I wish you both nothing but the best.

Your sister...

V  <3

My photos of the day...

My sisters and I used to exchange a special Hallmark ornament every year.  This was one that I received.




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

One of my favorite authors is Iyanla Vanzant , and I read something of hers today that reminded me so much of someone I love.  She wrote...

How long have you been living with the fear of being hurt? Being abandoned? Or, being rejected? What have these fears motivated you to do?  More important, what have they motivated you not to do? When you live with the fear of being hurt, it is difficult to experience peace. When you hold back in fear of being abandoned, you will not find peace. When you move through life avoiding the fear of being rejected, you also avoid the peace of love.

The average human being will go to any lengths to avoid the experience of being hurt, being abandoned or, being rejected.  In order to protect themselves, there are people who will not indulge in personal contact or closeness.  Some of them will go so far as to strike first, hurting others before they can be hurt. When you are afraid to be hurt, you can spend a better part of your lifetime on the lookout for hurt, expecting to be hurt. There is something you must remember. What you expect you usually get!
  
You cannot experience the fullness of your authentic self or life when you live to avoid hurt. You will never know the joy of love or the peaceful satisfaction of being loved if you hide from hurt. When hurt is the focus, the heart closes.  When your heart is closed, your mind fills with every idea about hurt, every belief in hurt, what hurt can do to you and, how hurt happens. Get out of your head!  It is your fear of hurt that is destroying your peace of mind and your chance to be loved.
   
Until today, you may have believed that if you could avoid being hurt, you will live a peaceful life. Just for today, consider all of the life, love and peace you are missing out on in your attempt to avoid being hurt.

Today I am opening my heart to the fullness of life and love with no expectation of being hurt!

From Until Today! 
by Iyanla Vanzant

This is so true!  "What you expect...you usually get."

My photos of the day...

 "Diva Dental Hygenist!  I have to make a run for it..."
  "Smack!  Too late....she got me.  Argh!"
 Music I am listening to today...Only 3 days until Christmas!


Random Link of the Day...The oldest Christmas cake.



Until next time..."Remember, when hurt is the focus, the heart closes.  Don't let your heart close.  Open it to love and possibility."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,