Feel the Love

Why is it during this time of year I feel like hugging most everyone? I want to change the world, conquer my fears, and be the best I can be. Is this what Christmas spirit is all about? Even though it scarcely felt like Christmas this year with the 30-40 degree temps and NO snow, the celebration was the same, and the feeling is still there. I love New Year's, too. What a great thing, a new begining, everything you did or didn't do last year is in the past, you have a clean slate and can start anew. Perhaps I'm just feeling more philosophical then normal, or something, but I think big and great things are in front of me in 2007. My biggest goal, (I won't call it a resolution because those tend to fade into the background on about Jan. 5th) is to get back to my pre-baby size. I've put it off too long and fallen prey to every excuse I could think of. We have a cruise booked for the end of April, and I want to, correct that - I will be fit by then. I can hardly wait. Bring on 2007!

Too Creepy...

This past Friday night Cary and the kids and I all went out to eat at a small, local pizza place. We'd never been there, and decided to give it a shot. It's a smallish diner-type setting, cozy, with the grill right out in the middle of the restaurant, and tables rather close to one another. The place was packed with families, mostly tourists, and a familiar face or two. Sitting at the table right next to us, was a family consisting of a mom, dad, Grandmother, and two boys. One of the boys had a rather large head and tons of wild, curly hair, he was probably about 14-15. The other was very skinny - bony would better describe him- but otherwise appeared to be normal, and probably 14 or 15, as well. Now here is the creepy part...the skinny kid spent the ENTIRE time we were in the restuarant STARING at Halle. And when I say staring, I mean STARING. If the waitress would come stand at the end of their table to check on them, he would stand up and peer over her so he wouldn't lose sight of my baby. It was awful. He had the creepiest look on his face, too. His parents didn't say ONE WORD to him about it, and it had to have gone on 30 minutes+ (the poor waitress was running her tail off; a cook and dishwasher had walked out earlier in the shift, so the food was slow in coming). He could barely eat his meal he was so mesmerized with her. After finishing up, his mom told him to wait outside, so out he went, and stood outside looking in the window staring at her. The whole thing still gives me the chills. I can only hope that the boy has some type of a mental condition, that prevented him from knowing how creepy he looked, because if he was of sound mind, and looked the way he did at a 14 month-old baby - he's destined for jailtime.

Several times I wanted to say something to his parents, but thought that if he did have a mental condition I would sound like a huge bitch, so I bit my tounge. When the family left (not a moment too soon!) Cary turned to me and said, "That kid was a FREAK - I about went over there and punched his lights out" - so I knew I wasn't just imagining things. Bastard ruined my entire meal... We decided right then and there we are teaching our children self defense.

Family by Chance, Friends by Choice

I am so blessed. I have discovered one of my favorite things about being a parent; it is watching my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins and siblings with my children. This past weekend we held a birthday party for Brendan and Halle; since their birthdays fall during a busy time of year for my dad, we had it at my mom and dad's house so they could be there. People came from ALL OVER to attend the party. How cool is that? People showered the kids with love, with gifts, and with hugs and kisses. The kids ate it up. Halle, who is normally reserved, went willingly to each and every person that wanted to hold her. She cuddled with everybody and watched everything in awe. Brendan had a great time just running around and playing with all of the other kids. The coolest part is although we are bound together by family ties, we are friends first. We want to see one another, we enjoy family get-togethers and we revel in one another's company.

Family by chance, Friends by choice, what a concept...

The McDonald's Playland...

...a little piece of Hell on Earth. I've never been in a McDonald's Playland as an adult, and don't recall visiting one as a child (though I may have blocked it out to preserve my sanity) - nor would I have chosen to go on this particular night, but circumstances prevailed and there we were.

Let me just start by saying, if the hooligans I saw last night are any indication as to where our country is headed (parents included!), we are all in BIG trouble. There were two of us amongst the 30 or so parents crammed in that room that were normal - we wore the same "deer caught in headlights" expression and scanned the room continuously just waiting for the riot to break out. The others - most there for a birthday party- looked content as they watched their children kick, bite, scream, yell, shout, vomit, push, shove, and spit at each other. I, of course, didn't realize that there was a "Nice children not invited" birthday party going on, which was my first mistake. My second was allowing Brendan to see the play area - once he spotted it, there was no way we were leaving without trying it out. Now, I have to admit, the sheer gleam in Brendan's eyes and his utter excitement clouded my better judgement, and in we went. Brendan stripped off his shoes like an old pro, and with the help of cousin Cameron, entered the mayhem. Halle and I sat on the sidelines and prayed.

Brendan and Cameron became one with the deviants, and at one point I heard a little girl screaming, and a little boy growling, obviously chasing her - as they came into view, it took only a moment for me to realize that it was MY little boy growling and chasing the little girl. Oh, how proud I was - my little deviant in training.

At last, the party ended. When the parents came in from their smoke-break, it was time for them to round up the troops and head out. During this process I discovered even more reasons to never step foot in a playland again...I saw one mom put her daughter's shoes on at least 3 times, only to have her daughter run over to say "goodbye" to a friend, remove the shoes, and get back in the brightly colored child magnet. I saw kicking and screaming, crying and pleading and a whole lot of threatening - "We will NEVER come back here again if you don't get down here right now!", "I'll leave without you!", and my personal favorite, "If you don't come down here, I'm coming up to get you!" (Now that would have been funny to see) . Finally, after 15-20 minutes of bargaining, begging, and ultimately carrying screaming, kicking children out to the car, it was down to Cameron, Brendan, Halle and I. It didn't even take much coaxing to get the kids out of there, I think they were completely worn out.

Unfortunately the experience was not forgotten, for Brendan asked me this morning, "Mama, when are we gonna go back to that fun place?" Fun?

It's Only a Phase...

Phases. Why do all kids go through them? To make us crazy? I've got two kids, with totally opposite personalities, going through two totally different kinds of phases as we speak. And, the real kicker is the phase that Halle is currently in, Brendan never went through - go figure. Halle is in a very clingy, very whiny phase which I think (HOPE!) is being caused by her teeth; she's currently sprouting 5 or 6 new ones, and they all came in within the last week or two. Brendan, on the other hand, is entering a defiant/sassy phase, another surprise for me since he's been completely obediant up until now. So, I end up with one kid that's crying because I turned my back and she could no longer see my face, and one kid that turns his back on me and calmly does exactly as I just instructed him not to.

There are little glimpses, here and there, of my old children, though. Like last night, while Brendan was taking a bath, and out of the blue he turned to me and said, "Mama, I'm sorry for talking back to you yesterday." Or on the way to town this morning when Halle was dancing up a storm in the back seat, just enjoying the music.

Phases, I suppose, occur so that when the little monsters go back to normal, you appreciate your angels that much more.

Spoiled?

Are my children spoiled? I ask myself this question from time to time, especially as I walk through my living room, or their bedroom and take note of all of the toys, games, puzzles, cars, trucks, dolls, stuffed animals, and various other forms of entertainment that line the floor, sit on shelves, and fill their drawers and closets. I also wonder as I'm shopping when, much of the time, I have to resist buying yet another "thing" for one of them. The thing is, I really enjoy buying the kids things; I love their excited little faces and hilarious reactions. I love seeing them learn from the gadgets (i.e. these two placemats we bought Brendan - one has letters on it, the other is a map of the United States; he can now point out where several states are, knows which state - by name, and location on the map - we, and all of his Grandparents, live, and knows most of his letters by site - which I think is pretty good for a little guy whose only been three for one week!). I love seeing them having fun with, or cuddling with, something I picked out. I love the feeling I get when they are sooo appreciative and literally shaking with joy. I love everything about giving them something they adore... Perhaps this is more about me then it is about them!

If I were to honestly answer the question though, I'd have to say that I really don't believe they are spoiled. You see, despite them having a lot of "things" I don't feel they have any sense of entitlement for these items, nor do they beg uncontrollably when shopping, nor do they not appreciate the things they have. So, for now, I think we're ok.

The Art of Multi-tasking

I've always been pretty good at multi-tasking, juggling (no, not literally!) several balls in the air at the same time, and staying sane while doing so. Nothing, though, compares to the amount of multi-tasking that comes second nature when you are a parent.

I really, really enjoy it though, as crazy as that may sound... It's as though I have a little daily challenge that I can conquer, and at the end of the day, when I lay down in bed knowing that the kids are fed, and clean, and happy, it makes all the hustle and bustle worthwhile, and I wouldn't change it for the world.