From another Mom

So, this blogging world has really surprised me.

I have "met" people online, that I, more than likely, never would have otherwise "met". I have been able to keep up on stories and lives that I never would have even known about. Learned crafts, and recipes from complete strangers and gotten photography opinions from other amateurs!

There are a few blogs that I read that have touched me...some because of the heart-wrenching stories, others because I feel like they are living my same life, telling my same story, thousands of miles away, and as I read their daily, boring, everyday ramblings...that are exactly like mine, I feel like we could be best friends or like I have known them forever. As a SAHM, like so many others, that is just what I am looking for.

We, as moms, as dads, as parents, as people do the best we can with what we know, and as we strive to learn more everyday we can become very close to, as it turns out, complete strangers. It gives us the chance to put ourselves in anothers shoes, whom we don't even know, yet feel an intrinsic connection.

So about a year ago, I was reading a blog that belonged to someone I didn't know...but found that I enjoyed looking at her photography from time to time...so I was. And on her blog she posted pictures a friend had taken for a man and his baby. I loved the pictures, so I then clicked on his blog name which was highlighted. That man was Matt Logelin...if anyone hasn't heard of him (which most now have) here is his blog site... http://www.mattlogelin.com/. I have read his blog most days since. I have felt a connection with his story, his baby...and a need to continue reading. The world, as it has turned out, has since enveloped him in their "stranger" love that the blogging world has allowed.

A while back, on Matt's blog I found the Spohr family blog, http://www.thespohrsaremultiplying.com/ Madeline Alice Spohr, a little girl, born very prematurely to an everyday mom and dad, Heather and Mike. Now, almost 18 months old Maddie was rushed to the hospital for some breathing problems...this was not the first time that this had happened. What was not expected is that beautiful curly haired Maddie would pass away, very unexpectedly on the 7th of April. I feel so empty in this situation...because in the end, though you feel like you know them, you feel like you are neighbors in this cyberworld, you aren't. You don't really know them, and all you can do is send prayer, and wishes across the miles. And that, I do. Spohr family, I am so very sorry for your loss, and can only hope you find comfort in knowing Maddie touched so many lives...thousands of lives...from thousands of miles away. Her spirit lives on with you, and in each of us because her relentless smile is forever etched in our hearts! You are in my thoughts.

As an idea of what this cyber world (and all who actually knew them) can come together and accomplish...the family has asked for donations to the March of Dimes in lieu of flowers etc...and they have raised almost $30,000... This is in addition to thousands in donations that have been given to the family to cover costs. People have made T-shirts, bracelets...hundreds have signed up and formed teams for the March of Dimes walk, all over the country. Many have turned their blog backgrounds purple in memory of Maddie, and to tribute the March of Dimes. People are talking, people are crying...Strangers? No, not really.
**There is a button to the right if you would like to donate**

This is what I mean...We are just a bunch of moms, dads, parents, people...doing the best that we can...and it is so nice to form connections...even if just over the miles, so as to support each other, in these times of need. These times, when really, we simply don't know what to do, or what to say...but the true, raw definition of the human spirit miraculously comes out.

This, is why I write, why I read, and why hang on to the lives of complete strangers whom I feel are my friends...
This is why I blog.

Ahhhh...Sweet Spring!

So.....

Snow, and 33 degrees on Friday the 3rd....


76 degrees on Sunday the 5th..... (no joke!!!!)



Hmmmmmmmm......
Must be SPRING in Seattle!




Rain expected tomorrow...seriously???...
(good thing we washed the car) :)

Spring, SWEET, Spring

In a Fast Paced World...

Tyler and I were having a conversation the other day while we were on our way to sign up for T-Ball.....Here were a few of his questions.....My answers can just be imagined.... :)

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Tyler: Mommy, when do you think my teeth will come out?

Tyler: Yesterday I was thinking that I could climb my tree fort all of the way to the top...but I probably can't do that until I am like 7 or something. So I can't wait to turn 7.

Tyler: Do you think I could have my birthday party at the water park? 'Cause I think my friends would like to see me turn 6 while we play in the water.

Tyler: When I came out of your tummy did you think I would ever be almost 6?

And my VERY favorite!!!!!!!!............

Tyler: Mommy, do you, like feel it in your body when you turn 6?

Seriously...this was the WHOLE ride...sentence after sentence about this exact same thing...

Anyone who has a child in this age range knows, that they live and breathe to get older right now. Tyler asks ALL OF THE TIME "how long til June". He is excited to go to his next dentist appointment because...It is in JUNE. He is excited for Kindergarten to end because that happens....in JUNE. He can't wait for summer...because it happens in JUNE.

It is all about getting bigger...doing more things...achieving what, right now, seems like an impossibility...an eternity away.

For me though...

I wish I could put him in my pocket and keep him just as he is now. I wish I could, more then, protect him from this world and it's realities. I do LOVE watching him grow, and I LOVE what he is growing into...but sometimes, for just a fleeting moment, I do wish for time to stop.

For a little boy, in a very big world, time goes so slow...but for the mommy and daddy watching that little boy, get bigger, every single day right before their very eyes....

It moves FAR TOO FAST!

Mommy: "You will be 6 soon enough my little boy."

A "Flower" For MOMMY

It was just ALL IN A DAY...

Wake up, pull out some clothes...Tyler gets dressed...Makylie still needs a little help. Do hair. Pick, make, eat breakfast. Brush teeth, wash up. Let the dog out. Get together all of the things that should have been together the night before. Shoes on, coats on. Let the dog in. Find the keys. Walk, or drive if we are running late, to school. 2 1/2 hours to run errands. Back to school, right on time. Pick up Tyler.
Make one peanut butter and jelly sandwich, one strawberry cream cheese sandwich, cut up an apple, grab a snack, pour some water. Eat lunch. Play a little. Kiss Boo-boos. Wipe noses. Discipline. Smile and laugh a lot! Snuggle.

NAP TIME/Quiet time! ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Put away dishes, clean up kitchen...make my lunch. Eat lunch. Read email, write email. Dinner in the crock pot (I am all about the crock pot) Let the dog out...and in.

My short amount of quiet time...

Up from nap. Pick up Karman. Any homework, stories, playtime, color time. Clean up playtime. Kiss boo-boos and wipe noses again. Break up sibling arguments. Prepare dinner sides, trying to have everything done at the same time so that dinner can be ready when hubby gets home. Clean up as I go.

Prepare three kids plates, pour milk, get silverware and set at table. Get my plate ready...sit down only to have someone need something, so get back up to get it....more then once of course. Eat dinner. Fight to feed the slowest baby girl on Earth. (Either myself or Kevin) do dishes and pack up leftovers.

Bath. Pajamas. Brush teeth. Help with homework, argue about why it has to be finished tonight, instead of waiting until tomorrow. A little Wii. Read Stories. Snuggle. Hugs, kisses, tuck in.

Bedtime......ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Finish cleaning anything that needs it. Shower. Feed the Dog. Check email, read blogs, write blog, write email. Just in time to watch a couple of our favorite shows..

Then off to bed. Wake up a few times for whichever child is demanding my mid-sleep attention on that particular night.

Broken sleep, tired weary eyes, only to start again tomorrow.

BUT today...AMIDST IT ALL...

my son brings me a "flower", actually a sad little dandelion (as he does all of the time) and says, "this is for my best mommy." Then he comes and hooks it in my hair clip that holds up my tired, messy "mom-hair" and says..."I thought it might be just what you needed."

And IT was!

It was all I needed to remind me why I do all of the big, small and in-between monotonous things that I do. The thankless, routine, everyday things that go, seemingly, unnoticed. The things that, for the most part, make me MOM! I don't need constant thank yous or pats on the back...I don't need approval or compliments...but just knowing, in any small brief way, that I am the "best mommy", that I, above all others, was most worthy of that "flower"...well,

It makes it ALL so entirely worth it. Who knew...a dandelion could say all that.

Departure day....

The kids took the last opportunity to play before heading off for the airport.

They had so much fun together, and I know Tyler is very sad to see Tanner go.

He held it together all of the way to the airport, and even said goodbye just fine. We drove home and were just about to get off of the freeway and I looked at Ty in the rear view mirror...and he looked SO SO sad...and I said...honey, what is the matter, and he said...I don't want Tanner to go..and BURST into tears.


Oh it was so sad. He cried like that when his daddy left the country on business last year. I find it to be a very mature emotion for a five year old...to show sadness like that.

Losing his built in buddy proved to be very hard for the next 24 hours...

He now just keeps asking when he is coming back!

Just a Little Bowling in the Livingroom!

While My sister and Nephew were here, they were turned on to the JOY that is the Wii!!!!

What a wonderful, friendly, cousin filled evening...

What a wonderful bunch of competitive, smiley children...

Memories!

I find the Wii to be platform for a myriad of wonderful family memories...

We challenge each other to bowling, golf, and baseball...we can compete in the Olympics...and right now, the favorite, all around, is car racing in Mario Kart.

When else could my, just turned, three-year old, five year old and my sixteen year old play on the same level of a game, and laugh, and roll on the ground in pure belly laughs.

Where else would a daddy be able to play right next to his five year in a round of golf...AND...get his pants beaten off of him!

When else might you see a husband and wife compete in an Olympic Race (in their living room) running as fast as possible and laughing and squealing the whole time as though they were back in Middle school, for the pure competition of it all.

I have never been a proponent of video games, EVER...but...in it's very limited quantity that we allow...this has been nothing but GOOD in our living room!

Ahhhh...and...it is a great bribe for bedroom cleaning...staying in bed at night...and a great reminder to stay well-behaved at a store.

A Long Awaited Visit

My sister, Sandy and nephew, Tanner came and visited for a couple of weeks! They live in Arizona, so we don't see them often.

Our boys are 18 months apart, so it is really fun to let them, and watch them play together.
(Posing, of course)

The evolving of time is right under my nose, when I think back to Tyler's birth and Tanner being 18 months old...they seemed like worlds apart...but now, as a kindergartener and a first grader they play wonderfully...as if they lived next door to each other forever...

Truth is, they have really only seen each other about 8 times in their entire lives. You would never know it though...they interacted like brothers...and Tyler was SO sad when he left.

Tyler has some great friends, and plays with Makylie amazingly well...but having a built boy in the house to play with 24/7 was so much fun for him!

So the weather was a little bit "Seattle" while they were here. They flew in to snow on the ground, with another 2 inches to follow that night. School was even cancelled! Tanner has more-or-less never seen real snow, so it was GREAT for him, he LOVED every second of it!

So even though they were here for a visit, Tyler and Karman still had school, Karman a full day, so she couldn't join us for our outtings, and Tyler only goes for a few hours, so we could work around it and make the most of the time we had available...because of that, some of the days were just going out to lunch or to the mall...we squeezed in a couple Target and Kohls runs as well! :)

(FYI: Not only school for Karman though, they happened to be here right at her final two weeks in debate. She had her last two tournaments at that time. She also went to state while they were here...so she was pretty busy with her commitments and missed a lot of what we were doing.)

We did go get our pictures taken one of the evenings as well!

(these are pictures of the pictures...)

We did have TWO whole sunny days...so we took advantage of those, and took the kids to the Zoo, and then to Pike Place the next day...

(Here is my sister and the kids at the zoo)

(Makylie and an otter)

It was cold, but actually turned out really nice! It was a couple really fun days filled with great memories! The kids had a great time, and I know mine at least, have not stopped talking about it...especially the zoo!

(web climb at the zoo...)

We went bowling one afternoon. It was really fun, but it is quite a slap-in-the-face, when your kids kick your can all around the block. Next time, I want the bumpers up too!

On one of our last days together we took the kids to the Children's museum. That was a lot of fun...they had a few new exibits since the last time that we had been there, and it was great for the boys' age group especially! We also did Makylie's birthday party a little early on this evening.

One night my sister and I got to enjoy a night out alone...Kevin offered to keep the kids and do a family movie night. They watched Madagascar2 and got pizza...and we went out to dinner and then SHOPPING...

We had a great time, and we miss them terribly, already. I so loved having my DOUBLE-FISTED mocha partner...another TARGET junkie, and someone to teach me the beauty that IS KOHLS...Of course having someone to talk to late in the night, complain with, contemplate with...there is nothing better! I so wish that we lived closer, so our kids could really experience everyday life together, and so that the good time that we had, could be anytime instead of only once in long while. The trip felt far too short...but that is how the story goes...now we just anticipate next time!

I do miss my sister though...