Mother of the Year

So, I meant to create this post the night before Mother's Day as a celebration of my skills as a mother. But, I ended up too busy being, you know, a MOM to get them posted before now.

I submit this fact as Exhibit A in my quest to win the title of Mother of the Year.

I now give you Exhibit B:

When we arrived at OSH on Saturday night, this was how Big Sis was attired. I didn't even really notice until we got out of the car. Arrrrg, Matey!!

No worries. At least Lil' Sis has proper clothes on, right?

Um, sadly, no.

Which brings us to Exhibit C:

I didn't realize until we were getting out of the car that she hadn't gotten her shoes on like I had commanded at least FIVE times before we left the house. What makes it even better are the black paint marks all over her legs and her wildly frizzy hair, all paired with the delightfully mismatched yellow/green top and pink/purple skort.

Yep. That Mother of the Year award is in the bag.

Oh, it's one of those....

Wanna know what kind of a week it's been already?

Tonight I had cookies for dinner.

At 11:20 pm.

Spring Broke

We just had our "Spring Break." It was 6 extra days of having my beloved wild animals home from the blessed structure of school. They missed their friends, I missed the silence. They got sick of each other on the first day. By the 2nd day I was frantically setting up as many playdates as I could put together from the small group of friends that were still in town. Somehow I managed to keep them from bodily harming each other for the full 10 days of family togetherness. I think my ears are still ringing from the screeching and howling.

To this happy Spring mix we added a teenager who has come to live with us. Shake gently.

Nearly a week and a half later I seem to have caught my breath enough to have a thought other than, "aaaargggghhhh!"

What, you ask, did I do with my first break in two weeks?

I went back to bed.

Hoppy Easter!

I love Easter.

I love the bright colors after a dull winter.

I love the food:

chocolate bunnies, Reece's peanut butter eggs, jelly beans,

little smokies for breakfast, and ham and funeral potatoes for dinner.

I love dyeing Easter eggs.

I usually spend more time messing around with the pots of color

and a white crayon than my kids do.

This year sort of crept up on me, though. Took me by surprise almost.

The Easter Bunny still found us.

Thank goodness, I've been craving a good peanut butter egg...

A little catty

This is my cat, Buster

His Royal Highness knows exactly how gorgeous he is.

The other day I found him waiting patiently in the sink.

He wanted a drink.

Fresh from the faucet.

He's a little spoiled.

"Enough pictures, Woman."

I hear him sigh.

"Can I please have my drink now?"

I'm sorry, buddy. Just can't resist one more.

Check out that look of patient suffering.

He's such a martyr.

Don't be fooled. He got his drink. He always does. Right before I brush my teeth every night he jumps up and hogs the sink with his furry behind while I patiently wait for him to drink his fill. Then he hurries and hops on the bed to spread out and hog as much of the foot space as possible before we get there. Yep, it's good to be King.

A little Sunshine...

My how time flies. It's been many moons since I posted, and it's been 6 years since a little ray of sunshine landed in our lives. I won't say all the cliche things I want to say, but just know they are in my heart today as my baby girl turned 6 years old.

"Mom, last night I said 'goodbye' to 5!"

It's one of those laugh with tears in your eyes kinda moments.

I think I've known from Day One that this child was a force of Nature. Just as sunshine can be warm and cheerful it can also burn you with it's flaming heat. She's fire and light, warmth and energy. We're lucky to have her. Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

Love,

Momma

Is it a sign?

So, these were our fortunes from tonight's Chinese dinner:

Big Sis:

"The current year will bring you happiness."

Awesome. Can't wait!

Little Sis:

"You have a unique personality."

Smirk. You got that right!

Me:

"Be willing to admit that you may be wrong, you're only human."

Stupid Chinese food.