Monkey Business

When I was a little girl my best childhood memories are from the summers that I would spend with my grandparents at their lake-house. I remember I would pick out my most favorite clothes at the current time with shoes and lay them out days ahead before I went on the plane to visit. I couldn't wait.

I couln't wait to run around in my jammies at night on the deck in the cool dewy breeze and catch fireflies. I would wake up early when the peace in the air only captured the naturous sounds of insects, wind through the trees and water sloshing from the lake to the shore. I would catch night crawlers with my Grandpa. We would jump on his fishing boat and fish with the poles he used to make me out of bamboo. My Grandma would make delicious food... and I still to this day remember the very comforting smell of her cups in the cabinet. She would give me the best tickles with her gorgeous natural nails that put me right to sleep.

I would ski... jet ski... ride in a tube on the back of the boat and be frightful about going over the white edge. If I fell off any of those I would be afraid that a giant fish with teeth was going to nibble my toes or something else, until someone came to the rescue. My brother and I would bury each other in the sand. I pranced around in my swim suit all day... never really liked to wear too much clothing.

There was one more thing a bit scary to me located in the basement. There was a stuffed Gorilla just randomly laying around. I never knew his purpose or where he came from, just that he creeped me out. Anytime I needed to go down there I would pause then holler from the top of the stairway to my brother, "Come on Dustin!"

My Grandparents had picked up a replica at a garage sale recently and left him with us before they set forth back home. He puts the same scare in the boys as I had once. They tried to dunk him in the pool for a swim. Great Grandma said it was going to have little gorilla babies now that he got wet. So the boys have decided the only place for him is outside. He has now become a family joke with the hint of spook that won't leave. We would find him hanging out in the chair in the back of the yard... found him on a wall... he's welcomed the boys home from school in the driveway. 

I haven't seen him for a while. This was up until I went to trim a bush in the front yard yesterday morning. Benny hustled outside barefoot digging at the bush and I raced him back into the house to finish his morning routine. I went over to see what was so great about this bush I had just cut back and there our frightful friend was... someone had stuffed him in that hidden foliage for all this while. The boys fessed up at breakfast who locked him up in the branches. Scarlet and I kissed the muffins goodbye for school and a few minutes later the doorbell rang. I honestly didn't think it was my babies. It wasn't, but I have a feeling they may be behind it in some way. Only because this is who was there. ;)

My Day, as Sweet as a Nif-Kiss

Mommy needs a vacation... amongst a few other things.  Times have been an accumulated tally of tough lately. I have been adjusting to the dark side of management at work. Every position, every job has an ugly alley and I'm tasting mine in the current moments. I still like it. I developed a back injury I think from trying to keep up with a new fitness instructor prancing around with a bad form and too much stimulant in her system. Let me state that back injuries affect EVERYTHING. I'm stiff and feel trapped with having to constantly think about how I move. I'm slow and it's irritating. I have been a sweet low without my running endorphins. In fact, I was told I couldn't run for a while. I felt like I was breaking up with a good boyfriend, seriously. So I have decided to work out smarter and get back to cycling, then pick up Bikram Yoga for a while. The only positive thing out of this deal was the five pounds I gained to get my badonkadonk back. My children have noticed. The Sergeant ran up to my backside today and acted like he was pounding on the conga drums and Benny remarked how it jiggles... He even goes, "Look Mom!" like it was some sort of show. Those boys of mine have been treading on thin water with Mom. It's creeping towards the end of the school year and they are feeling summer freedom around the corner.

I made the mistake of taking them to the salon recently to get my hair done. I thought it would be okay. After all they were getting theirs done as my new beautiful dark richenend in color. I prepared and brought homework and books to keep the two occupied. I even separated them in the hall. Benny forgot his AR book at school and brought a preschool level reader in place, which didn't fly by me too smoothly. Benny kept running down the hall touching and teasing his brother, shouting out "No" to me as I sat helplessly in the salon chair. He even called me a monster when I declared his punishments as I chased him in my cap when I was loose. As if that and the stylist's looks he gave me while my naughty acting children continued on wasn't enough, I was hit with a doozy before walking out. I approached my son Stink, who is one of the most well behaved and self disciplined children I have ever met. And there it was... he had over-doodled in pencil the words "Poop and Pee" on the salon sofa. I was pissed. Mortified. Mostly... disappointed. He had to confess to the stylist what had happened and I walked out with my dark head a little lower than the height it was entering. My boys were silent on the ride back. Benny went straight to his room reading a real chapter book when we arrived home. I cried a little out of disappointment while my Sergeant became patchy and held back tears of his own watching me. I marched S. Stink back up to the salon with a bucket of water, soap and a rag. He scrubbed with a happy little heart until the marks were gone. I get it- not a place for any kid during any lengthy period of time no matter what materials are brought. Lesson engraved.

Times are now better, will be best after vacation, and today was yet another magical Mother's Day. Saturday I let my heart rate and body run loose in the midst of my workout without fear of injuring something. Sure sign I am feeling better. My boys told me that they have surprises and that I couldn't come out of my room on Mother's Day morning until they said so...

I awoke, before my muffins and just as I thought I was going to have to run the show this morning the boys got up and whipped out a carb-loaded breakfast for mom... in bed. They drizzled the waffles in syrup and me in their love with kisses, a poem, mommy coupons, and earrings. I knew a sappy poem was coming because as I was putting curls in my hair when Stink yells through the door, "How do you spell violets mom?!" I joked with my two handsome men that they need to do this every morning because they actually had breakfast done quicker than me. Their secret: freezer ready foods. My breakfast was delicious only because it was made with true love. What really snagged me is that they put on cologne before their presentation... I so love those two.

I shooed them into the big church service with me. Benny always compares my hands to his during this time... they are getting closer in size and before I know it his mittens will be bigger than mine. I massaged those little hands of my boys while I still can and soaked in the Mother's Day message. Every so often I would lean over to give them what I call a nif-kiss. It's where I smell their sweet scent as I simultaneously give a little kiss. Benny's prime spot is right on top of his head... The Sergeant's is right by his left ear. As we left Benny opened the car door for me... he did this all day. I taught my boys to open doors for people especially women. He got it, and I didn't even have to ask today. We had a delightful picnic after church at the school park and played back-stop together. I finished my book under a shady tree in the breeze. Scarlet puked up a sandwich and got ants on her nose from getting into things we had thrown for the birds. We got home tired and I wanted to go to the movies... but instead got an even brighter idea to put on a movie at home. We all piled into my bed for snuggles and sprawling you can't get in theatre chairs. I still worked in motherly duties even on a day such as this... dishes, laundry, school project.

I told my boys that I don't ever mind doing these things, but please just let me know I'm appreciated especially today and every so often. Which, I am. I went to mow the lawn and Stink stopped me, told me it didn't really need to be done. I think the boys were ready for our next adventure. I listened to my dear son and we came in from swimming so the muffins could put together their Annual Mother's Day Pizza. Mom loves her pizza. This year the kids wanted to try and replicate my BBQ Chicken Pizza. I set them up for success... just as any mother should for her kids in any situation. Help your babies with the things you know they could struggle with and encouragement in all the rest. The day before I chopped the cilantro, sliced the onion, grated the cheese and marinated the diced chicken. All ready to go for them... my Sergeant actually helped and declared his delight in this creation. Big difference from last year.

It came out delicious.

Just before I had to take them to their Dad's they wanted to make Sundae's for dessert. The ice-cream wasn't quite thawed enough just yet and they had a hard time getting scoops out of the carton. My nails were drying from my freshly applied polish so my assistance wasn't an option. I could feel their end of laborious day frustration at this point just as I sometimes get. I threw in a couple of tailored requests for my dish as my son hurried in his makings and gave me the eye. As I kissed them bye, it was a good heartfelt one with remarks of how nice our today was. It really was. No where else I would want to be other than home... with my family. Where our love and comfort rest, and sweet memories are made.

I came back home and saw that my baby forgot to put his pillow away and there it was, still on my bed. I already missed them. So I smelled it, clenched it and slept with my head on it... all night.

 

The Blog & Basil Are Still Alive

It's a beautiful gorgeous day. I had some time today to buy a new outside corn broom that has been on my list of things to do for underestimated months. My old nubby one was worn down to the cross stitches. I decided a few hours ago even though I have some other things I would like to do,  I would instead create some time to blog today.... it is on my important list.

I will post my updates of each muffin below, but haven't gotten to write as much because I have been engrossed in an incredible book, The Glass Castle. I can't both read and write wholeheartedly on top of my other requirements... it would leave me in total seclusion. My book is about a girl who grew up in a way of living she couldn't wait to get out of and seldom look back upon. This bringing up showed her what she never wanted to be, but instead became something incredible that SHE chose. I was at the chiropractor today undergoing spinal decompression when I got to a part that I knew would bring tears so I had to stop. Her father, an alcoholic who loved her dearly and promised a castle made out of glass to her as one of his ongoing drunken stories confessed his days were numbered. The two shared a special love for one another despite his problem. That's where I left it... and little now to continue until the end. I thought that I would actually have it finished by now. I planned on completing the pages I had left during the lengthy bus ride to the Grand Canyon chaperoning for Stink's field trip. Which, by the way rocked. The bus didn't have working lights on them at night along with the broken TV's.  So I huddled with my phone light and book until the battery went out on my phone and I had to stop.

The Sergeant had never been to the Grand Canyon, and I don't really remember ever going now that I was there and viewed it's sight. Ranger L lead the class at the start to the view of the gorge in two linear lines with a few rules: The kids were quiet with eyes closed and a gentle hold onto the person in front of them. The class didn't know where they were going. Some peeked. When the Ranger said to open their eyes they were in front of Arizona's top state sights.

Wondrous! We were about to dig into that wonder and learn about the different rocks and Canyon development with activities. I was worried about the kids getting too close to the edge and during one part my mother mode kicked in around a particular corner. As concerned as I was I think someone else was even more so. Stink kept his eye on me the whole time, held my hand and around this narrow corner told me that he didn't know what he would do without me as he gave me his friend's souvenir walking stick for protection... which wouldn't save me but he thought it might.

I have always respected the honesty of children. 
On our class hike I listened to a clever song about farts in the wind developed by one in my group and another that broad casted the zits on this mans chest that walked along by with his shirt off. I really felt old during the bus ride home when I fell asleep, then awoke to the girls passing around notes as I once did. So I decided to pass something along myself from back in my childhood day. Jacob's Ladder string trick. The girl behind me had a string and I told her I would show her. Before I knew it her seat was replaced with another that wanted to learn... then another.... and another until there was a girlie group together trying to master the trick. By this time my fingers and body were tired... It didn't help that my DTaP vaccine decided to spark my immune system this very evening. I was ready as I took my old self, Sergeant and my third son home to where Benny awaited.

Benny is out of tape. This became a crisis when he wanted to build a fort in the living room yesterday. He resorted to building a back-seat car fort instead. Benny found a blanket in the car and rolled the window up on one end of it while doing the same to the other side on the other end of the blanket. His skills are still alive even without tape and so is something else of his... Benny's Basil! We all thought that this hardy plant was a goner during the winter freeze. I got rid of the remains with sad emotions quite some time ago and it was nothing but a large, dry, dead bush. I found the green sprout a week ago. Our homemade pesto days are NOT over.

So here my day continues in it's weatherous delight...

my children are going to come home
I will kiss their mouths then fill them with lemon snaps
take the frozen cranberries off of my back
go on a tape run to the store 
BBQ some baby back ribs
watch my babies as they swim and play

 

Battles... and the Bunny

If my confidence was to lay in one thing, it would be in my mothering. My son attempted to test this, as if he had some sort of chance here. We were going through clothes, making sure we are ready for our hot-weathered attire we will soon be expressing. The Seargant spotted a book on his bookshelf during the process... Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? He grabbed it and decided to drill me. I saw the premature look of defeat in his eyes as I proudly said, "ok, go for it". Before we started I gently reminded him that this was my favorite book I read to my babies. Sometimes I read it more than once in a day to them. He picked up the toddler beaten book that is stained and falling apart all in the name of loves. "What comes first?" he asks. "Red Bird" I said, unhesitated. As Stink's eyes got bigger and he flipped the page with a big grin, "What's after Red Bird?" Oh my Sweet Lord... I didn't know... I forgot. Even worse, I missed the next one. Just as S. Stink thought he had me, I sealed the won deal with the White Dog and Goldfish. I would always get crazy at this part and totally exaggerate the Goldfish page in a very animated way to my kids. Then as my first born knew I had this, I followed it with the Teacher and Children segment and recited the whole bit over... and correctly this time. I earned the 'mom, I love you' stare he gives me, and gave me. Then we went back to fighting about clothes. :)

Speaking of fighting... I didn't share this year's Easter Egg hunt yet. There is always some quarrel with the boys. One person got too many eggs... he got the easy ones... he stole mine... he kept grabbing the ones I saw first... he peeked and planned it out... I had it first. I hear it all, and it's all equally amusing. The boys informed me that the Easter Bunny does things differently at Dad's house than he does at Mom's. Before I could come up with a quick and made up explanation, my Sergeant and Benny went on and on about the logistics of it all. They were very much in belief and deep into it. I just let them answer their own questions, and they did before I could even get a thoughtless word out. Mom makes our Easter baskets so the bunny takes a break at Mom's house and just saves them for Dad's. They go on, "But if you decided you didn't want to do them mom, that's okay, the Easter Bunny would just do it. What you could do is get us the stuff for the baskets, then hide it and trick the Easter Bunny. That way we get another basket full of stuff and you can give the other one to us later!" In addition to the hunt my boys and I found this gigantic egg laying out in the open one day in the neighborhood and we took it home. The boys really wanted to keep it but I made them "egg" a loving neighbor with the message, "It is better to give than to recieve".

Oh, Easter... I love it. That and Christmas are my favorites. They are so perfect with peace yet full of Spirit to me. The traditions are such a blast to the boys and always accompanied with a meaningful and Christ filled message that we can all learn from.

 It was a beautiful weekend and just the three of us in our family all together. I made a great big and delicious dinner... cooked carrot cake for the bunny and left it out for him/her so she had energy to hide all those eggs to have good fights over. My men wore their ties and me, a beautiful dress with my new dark hair. We went on a hike with Scarlet... her first one. Took one of my favorite drives. Snuggled.

L.O.V.E.

Spring Break 2013

The babies were in rare form... a Spring Break mold to be exact. They giggled and filled in the blanks of their Mad Lib stories from the back seat of the car as we went from excursion to excursion. Most of it consisted of vulgar little boy words like poop, ugly, and hairy. I got not only the delights of my children during this time, but nourished my olfactory sense with a few favorite smells... orange blossoms and the pages of library books. What a sweet break it was. I didn't get as much time with the boys as I usually do, but it felt like just the same. The boys told me tonight over limoncello gelato how great it was to them, as their eyelids were half shut because of how tuckered out they are.

This evenings sleepiness could account for the lengthy skating today and football practice, but I have a feeling it had to do with a little something else as well. Their last night of Spring Break hoorah they decided to have. The boys got one last sleepover with their good friend and what I like to call my third son. After church the creativity and melty beads came out of the game cabinet which they all decided to make swords out of. This developed into making personalized emblems and keys to go with. The kids made-up a game of some kind with their creations that incorporated bases... and I still have one taped to the wall somewhere around here.

They chased girls afterwards outside and played basketball until their feet were black, then took a pause to eat Mom's grill goodies. I thought they all went to sleep, they were at least when I went. About 3:30am I flew out of bed with a high heart rate. I heard my son faintly- it was a muffled wailing cry that sounded very far away. I ran fast across the house barely dressed and flung the door open not knowing what the heck was going on and if everyone was ok. There sat the guilty three of them behind the closed door, sneaking and playing a little midnight Wizard 101 when they should have been in bed. Some how the Sergeant's fist bumped into Benny's nose during this sneak event. I didn't care to figure this one out at this wee hour and the boys sensed it after I demanded a quiet and sleeping house as my heart rate came down.

When the boys weren't having a sleepover with friends they made lazy headquarters in Benny's room consisting of fluffy blankets, many pillows, all of the stuffed animals, Kevin, and Calvin. This is where they slept at night and took any necessary breaks during the day. They made interesting late-night snacks. I found evidence of popcorn covered with melted cheddar cheese and salt in a bowl.

We had a visit from Laura, her charming finger and family. I think she was trying to show me how we were twinsies with our glitter polish...

This paired with the pool and mommy drinks made for fabulous girl time while the kiddos played. I always look forward to the season of slipping into my bikini. The sun was so spirited this break we actually got many pool days and the babes were able to head down numerous water slides already. Coming from the pools one day I had a popular song on and a car full of boys who thought they would school me on the lyrics as to what poppin' tags meant. I said, "skin tags?" They looked at each other puzzled and I already knew they had no thankful idea what that was, but it was funny to me. It means, shopping.

One of my best spring break moments was at the movies. We were at my favorite theatre watching Jack and the Giant Slayer, a twist to Jack and the Beanstalk. I couldn't decide if it was because they served me my favorite glass of wine with delicious pizza or because I was relaxed with my baby boys snuggled nearby. Then I decided it was a cumulative effect, topped with all of us thinking the movie was great.

It is time for the kids to go back to school... I'm feelin' it. I know this because Benny told Stink today to quit looking at him with chinese eyes at the table and if he could please stop breathing so loud at night. They are sick of one another. But how wonderful it is to spend time with each other to get them to this very point... and have a blast along this Spring Break way.

Love is in the Bear Hair

Valentine's Day 2013 was right around the corner and I had two men after me this year... the lucky girl I am. I didn't have my loves on the very day, but that didn't stop me from making it as special as I could. The boys and I were in the store one day picking some random things up when they spotted the holiday aisle that was full of pink, red, sweets, hearts and big huge stuffies. The boys love their stuffed animals and the bigger they are, the bigger their eyes become for them. I had to get not one but two... and later as a surprise, for them. My wheels started turning to figure out how to make this just right.

I decided to dress these big bears that were about the size of my sons in little gifts. Most were practical. I determined that in light of what I found folding the laundry one day:

I put 5-10 pairs of boxer briefs on each bear butt, and then padded them with new socks. One wore a church shirt and the other some uniform shirts... and both were over a few under shirts. The back side's were also packed with Valentine Chocolates. In place of the heart, I stuffed a box of the classic heart shaped candies with messages on them. I topped it with a sappy card from mom and a huge mylar balloon scribbled with love graffiti... tied to each paw.

The presents were only half of the scheme, the other piece was the presentation... just as important. I wanted something fun. They had no idea what was coming, especially because it wasn't quite Valentines Day yet. I kept the dressed up giants crammed in a closet until it was time.

The boys were playing like boys should be... out in the sunshine, grass and on playground equipment with others. I picked them up and Scarlet ran to fetch them. Before they got in the car I whipped out blindfolds and tied them tightly on each head as I watched their little faces smile trying to see what Mom was up to. We drove home and when they finally found their ways through the door they had to find their surprises. They needed to locate them using the verbal hot/cold hints around the house. I know Benny peeked because he was looking up and through any bit of the blindfold... and mysteriously drifted right to where his bear sat. Pickle.

They absolutely loved them, and the process of getting them. Taking all of those boxer briefs off of the firm bear butts slowed them down a smidgen. Once it was down to bear and all bear hair they were snuggled, played with and named. The Sergeant named his Kevin. Benny named his Calvin. Calvin and Kevin have since joined us for dinner... and breakfast. I hopped in the car one day and the boys had belted them in to take along with. They have brightened their rooms, complimented the beds that are made and taken up half of the couch. Mostly though, they have made snuggles over our end of the day talks and prayers much warmer... my favorite perk. I think theirs too.

Happy Valentines Day

Love,
Mama Bear

Piano VS Football

This glorious day has come that we have a piano to call our own... a Rudolph Wurlitzer beauty! Just when I thought our home couldn't possibly squeeze this level of charm in... it gets cozier around here. This upright has been loved on just like everything all around it in the place it sits... and we shall carry on in that theme, in our style.

We got it from a very sweet Mr. & Mrs. far, far away. I thought that choosing a piano was going to be the lengthy and meticulous process, but it was actually getting the piano from travel point "A" to travel point "B" that was the trickster. After three set dates and a few companies later, the day had arrived. I was really tired actually. The Sergeant was up literally all night with waves of crying from the culprit of double ear infections. There was nothing that I did that helped, but the snuggles that drifted us both to sleep at wee hours of the morning... finally. Then Benny wakes me to remind me it is the day... and we nest for our delivery that will be coming. We found the perfect spot. It's where you can feel the breeze when the door is open, see the candle I like to light, against the wall to focus and most importantly hear from wherever you are. See, it's perfect, every darn bit.

Between a doctor visit for my Sergeant and some cat-naps, it came. I got the joy to welcome it first... after I inched it just where I wanted it of course. Stink played some chicken-pecked classic songs in his underwear like he wasn't even sick.  And I knew Benny was going to fall in love for it.

Benny, my son that has a more developed side of the arts has always eyed pianos and gets right up on them to play, without knowing what he is truly doing. There is this one summer image that I won't ever forget of him at a beach house... I took a picture to keep memory of it:

It's how Benny's nickname started. He looked proper, like a proper boy with the name of Benjamin should. He sat tall as his hands spaced just right towards the keys, eyeing everything he was doing with wonder... and turns to me with those glowing eyes of his and creates the sweetest of true smiles. Then starts playing, but turning his smile to what he was doing. I wanted to attack him with a million kisses. But I held back, for the moment anyways, and captured his curiosity. I saw another one of those 'looks of interest' recently and it was time to really dive in to this and see where things go.

Benny came home from School and ran right to our perfect place where the piano awaits... and yes, love for it is where he fell. He and I are taking lessons together to build our talent and continue to grow our mommy-son relationship. My sweet boy that loves his quality time. I can't wait to play with him. The Sergeant likes to play as well- but his version is more like short sessions of pounding, followed by running outside. Benny's touch of the keys are much different than brother's, and he is focused. Benny was ambidextrous in preschool... wrote with his left as he dotted, crossed and switched with and to his right... until I made him choose a hand which was recommended by his teacher, because he wouldn't. So, he uses both hands equally wonderful as he plays the piano.

The Sergeant, who would rather be on the football field knocking people down, running and catching a ball started tackle football today. Even though his talents are different... he is just as gifted. He has been running around the house in his tackle gear getting re-acclimated, but between home conditioning did make a song for mom on the piano I will share.


I am going to wait to share Benny's work until he says it's okay.... What I can tell you is that the sound of my child playing the piano is the most sweetest sounds I have ever cooked to in my very kitchen.