Chel-Fish

I have so much built up to write about... and not enough quality time with my keyboard. Adagio goes my blog posting rhythm... it's summer-time. I am trying to keep those dear boys of mine busy. Tonight though I am having a short date with my dear keyboard I have craved. The topic is of a valued friend of mine I just love... I really enjoyed spending some time with her as she visited my hawt State.

Chelsea loves Jesus, her family, the people around her, odd old music, her sweet son, and cooking. I share some of those same loves and we shared some together this past week. We played a rushed game of TV's "Chopped" in my kitchen on a busy day. I had built up enthusiasm to see one of my best friends, a houseful of 7 children, basketball practice in 60 minutes, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ready-set-cook! Exactly 30 minutes to compete against each other and make a tasty dinner out of mystery ingredients. The egg-plant stumped me for a brief second, but I had a plan. It was all coming together... My roasted peppers and eggplant over toasted baguettes complimenting some delicious lettuce wraps filled with chicken, drenched in sweet teriyaki sauce and crunchy caramelized cashews. Yum... guess who won?! Chel-fish was close, but sorry, not close enough. If it wasn't for that eggplant scramble she frantically came up with at the very end, she may have taken the prize. I caught some anxiety at the end watching the clock, which I was late... big surprise-surprise. As I was rushing in the end putting things together Tosh.O pops up on the TV screen from my scheduled TiVO recording. I am shouting out to Stink to turn the dang thing off as Chels and I whip our creations on plates... and he suddenly doesn't remember how to work the remote. Then he turns the channel to the next recording which is no better for all the little eyes in the room, Sex and the City. Mom's dirty "after the kids go to bed" shows were exposed. My blood pressure rose, veins popped out, our scrumptious dishes got done and the TV got turned off. All in time for our 7 judges to sample and then head off to basketball practice.

Chel-fish... I just gave her this rotten name during her visit. It all started when I meant to bring chicken boullion over to her place long ago and instead I accidentally picked up fish bouillon from the grocery shelf. There really shouldn't ever be such a thing. She made fun of me so I stuck a few cubes in her undergarment drawer and mailed her a T-shirt with the "Chicken of the Sea" logo on it. I'm sure she didn't like it. She liked it as much as I liked the shirt she brought to me this visit...
I won't ever wear it... But I will certainly wear a smile when I see it.

We go way back... high-school back. We both adored Miss Britain in Spanish 'clase', telling us to sweetly turn our 'paginas' in our Spanish books. Her and I have done some silly things together in our young. We were also pregnant together and watched each other raise our families. My most favorite memory is walking in the rain with her once a long time ago. It started to sprinkle on our walk, we were close to home but stuck it out in the rain instead of turning toward home. It was fun. It poured, we were drenched and the wind blew. It was a moment she and I won't forget.

I will miss my Chel-fish. All the boys enjoyed catching up, playing Wizard 101 together and having sleep overs. We had a day of fun at some of our favorite places: The Science Museum, Pita Jungle, and Swirl-It. I had the honor of taking care of Chel-fish after her surgery she had here. She had the honor of helping my old girl get to a better place (much needed)... Thank you... I love you... will certainly miss you...

Dry Tears

The babes are getting big... they will always be my babes to me, always. Teeth are wiggly, email addresses are made (parental controls on), moments alone outside, pets, and... a girlfriend. The independence has started with them.

Let's tackle the easy first: pets. Stink started it with a fish. A good chosen betta that has now lived for over a year. Benny wanted to step it up and get a pet bird after seeing the ease of the Mr. Betta. I tried the thought, just couldn't do it. We had everything ready but the actual bird and I had to back out... I knew I would be the sucker caring for it and this was about them and responsibility, so... no. Benny got his very own Mr. Betta... lessons were taught on tank maintenance not being too clean or dirty, they are getting it and doing very well.

The girl.s. My boys are way too handsome, I know. Benny has got the hair, skin, and heart of gold... Stink has the drive and swagger. I will be seeing it all I know. It has begun! It really started last year with Stink. This girl who was into hair, socks, belts and as much as you can get into with school uniform. Stink really liked her... but he came home and told me one day she is "giving up". This year he told me she's into 3rd graders. So-be-it, he moved on to the smarty in the class who liked him. He got teased by Benny because she wore glasses, which brought out a defensive bone in Stink. Then she told Stink she was a vegetarian and he crossly told me he caught her eating chicken nuggets at lunch-time. Then someone caught his eye and heart. Here is what she wrote:

She gave him a pillow, picture, and phone number. So we framed the picture (heart frame) and he called her. I along with anyone else who touched this pillow she gave him was chewed out, I felt the hostility when he set the boundaries. I accidentally ripped it and he ripped me... sorry honey. He asked for my culinary favors of having her over for dinner the very day after school... but we started with a short afternoon play-date and I Incorporated her favorite snack per Stink, Pirates Booty. It is cute... she is sweet. Pretty, smart and gets dirty playing soccer with the boys. I see why she caught your attention my boy. I love you and I hope you won't accept anything but the absolute best and set the example for brother bear- as his first experience is right around the corner. Be a respectful gentlemen at heart. My job just got tougher. I wasn't expecting this starting at age 8... but I guess it comes with territory of having cute and amazing boys. I (heart) you along with all the other girls, your Aunty, and whoever else comes to meet you... ;)

Love,

Your protective, guiding and supportive Mumz

Je t'aime

It's here! My family and I are at such a sweet and special place together, the three of us. We are tight, bonded, honest, and open... and I feel unbreakable, and so very thankful for that. It's amazing when your minus certain muck what values in you mature, when you can be you. I thought I would never think this but it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. True happiness is developing. I've never felt so balanced and so good on the in and out about myself. It's within everyone and I have found it. :) We will always have trials ahead of us just as the rest, but it's our created Foundation we have as our strength and at the end of the day to hold it all together and help us smile. I'm in love with what we are creating! So in love I wanted to have some pictorial memories of our state. Here is a thirty pic sample from our family photos courtesy of talented DK (plug below):

What also holds things together is the humor in this household. There were a few things in this photo shoot I would like to share. We are missing important hair... but I don't think you can tell thanks to a good forming creme and brush pencil. S. Stink decided to give himself a new-do with his desk scissors in the very middle of class nonchalantly... two days before our pictures with two chops in the front. Thankfully Miss Alicia, Stink's stylist, did some magic blending and teaching of how to cover this up. Then I, at the end of some ten hour work day find myself waxing my eyebrows... which is not an attempt a tired mom should ever partake in. Then I noticed too much hair on the muslin strip after the great and painful pull. There went pretty much the width of the left. Arg. I don't care though, we look good, and what's an event without a story anyway?! There's a solution to all.

Which brings me back to my story. Benny and Stink got quite fresh with mom during the photography session and our sweetest moments were captured. Some of them... Stink's admiring eyes he always gives me as he looks up at me, and his favorite spot on my lap, my favorite spot on his face. Benny's head on my shoulder as he is in deepest thought, his wondering stares and loving arms. The best for last... the purest darn kisses!!!!


Je t'aime... I love me... I love us...

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