Lady In Waiting

So..... We FINALLY had Lil' Miss' portraits taken a few weeks back. And being the "bad mommy" that I am (LOL!), this was the first time I'd had her portraits taken in OVER 4 years.

Blame it on lack of money. Lack of transportation. Lack of drive. Or just plain old laziness. But the only pics I have of her for the past several years are from our personal pics, nothing professionally done.

But we did it. And for the most part, they came out great. One particular picture came out really GREAT! I've gotten some really nice compliments on this picture, and I wish I had ordered more up front. (It costs more now.)

Well, we went to pick up the pictures Wednesday night. Pay and pick up only. Never mind the fact that it was 7:30pm and the studio "officially" closed at 7:00pm. Or that it was the night before Thanksgiving. The girl who had taken the pics was finishing taking pics of another family and seemed to have no problem with us being there after closing. As she got ready to start their order, she asked us if we were in a rush. "No" we said, just happy she was willing to service us when she didn't have to. "Good, because I wanted to talk to you about something. Not bad, though." "Oh, OK."

So we waited a little bit longer and Lil' Miss played with the little boy while his parents looked over everything. The photographer finally handed us our package minus one picture. "I'd like to know if y'all would be interested in having this picture entered in a photo contest?" (It was our favorite picture of Lil' Miss, but then we're kinda partial!) "REALLY? Cool! Yeah, that would be GREAT!"

Glenn asked, "what would she get if she won?" "Babe! It doesn't really matter," I said. The girl said she wasn't sure of all the details, but she believed that if her picture was chosen, she'd likely end up with it displayed in studios across the nation, at least.

SWEET!!!

Now, again, I've always been partial to my daughter, as any parent would be. But I've always believed she would be a great model/actress. I could see it in her from the time she was born. But images of Macauley Caulkin and other spoiled little rich kid stars kept me from even exploring that idea. While getting an oil change earlier this year, I was stopped by a man who told me I should seriously get her into modeling, if for no other reason than to pay for college.

Hmmmm, very enticing, but I just can't bring myself to throw her into something she hasn't asked about doing, even if I see it in her. Am I wrong here? I want her to have the best that life can offer, but not at the expense of her being a normal child. If, when she's older, and shows a desire to do something like that, I'd be all in it for her. Just not right now. Thank you anyhow.

Miss Independent

Lil' Miss has continued to surprise me this week with the little things she does.

I know, not a big surprise, as this is an ongoing part of being her mom, but I just finished laughing my butt off so hard that it just gave me warm fuzzies to watch and listen to her.

I have stayed up later than I should this week, visiting with a friend, and have not wanted to get up when I needed to. Well today, before my alarm ever went off, there she was, standing next to my bed talking to me.

"Mom. Could you brush my hair for school?"
"Yeah baby, in just a few minutes."
"Mom, I brushed my hair. Is it time to go yet?"
"Not yet, honey."
"Mom, I put all the juice boxes in my backpack."
"Well, that's good sweetie."

About this time, my alarm goes off, as does the phone, with Glenn calling to make sure I'm awake.

"Y-Y-Y-E-E-E-S-S-S-S....I'm aw-w-wake, but suddenly I'm fr-fr-eeeeez-zing," I said through chattering teeth.

Lil' Miss comes in and hits the snooze alarm for me, after asking if it was ok.

I notice she is still in her pajamas, but eager to get ready to go to school. I tell her where she can find the clothes I just washed last night, and off she goes in search of them. I'm still shivering wildly, which is so weird and now my ear hurts and my head aches. I crawl out of bed, find some sweatpants and turn the heater WAAAY UP!

Then it hits me...she put ALL the juice boxes in her backpack?????

She's out of school all next week and her class is having a feast today as part of their lessons on the first Thanksgiving. We got picked for juice boxes for 24 kids. How I wished we only had to send popped corn, but oh well. I go check on her backpack and it's so doggone heavy. I take them out and tell her I will drop them off at school on the way to work, later this morning, much to her dismay.

She brushes her teeth, alone and without complaint, then grabs her coat and is ready to walk to school. "Do I get a hug and kiss today?" She laughs and runs back to me, rolling her eyes at how silly she is to have forgotten. "You sure you'll bring the juice boxes?"

"Yes, in a few hours, before I go to work. Don't worry; your feast isn't until this afternoon."

"But MOM! I really want to take them now"

"They're too heavy."

"I can carry them, Mom. PLEASE!"

"Oh, ok." And I put the two bags of juice boxes into her backpack. 6.75 ounces each. 24 boxes. Just over 10 pounds on her skinny little 47 pound body. I watch her begin to waddle down the drive way, urging her to hurry up and not play or she'll be late.

She makes it one house down before she stops and stoops down to examine a new ant hill. I holler, (YES HOLLER) "Get a move on or you'll be LATE!!!" She looks at me like I'm crazy, then makes an effort to stand up, but falls down. She tries again; same results. She tries a third time, and we both just start laughing so loudly! "MMMOOOOMMMM! Can you help me get up?" Thru tears, I manage to put a jacket on and get over to her to pull her up, the weight of the backpack winning this battle.

She starts to walk off and I notice the pulled backpack has her butt nearly fully exposed as it has bunched up her dress under her jacket. I laugh and stop her to fix her "wardrobe malfuntion" and then notice she has obviously grown these past three months because her dress doesn't even touch the tops of her knees anymore. Gee, hope the Principal doesn't stop and harass her.

Lil' Miss was waddling and wavering, and I just knew she wasn't going to make it to school. So I grab the keys and drive around the corner, to find she is basically walking at a snail's pace and hasn't made it but a few houses. "Mom, I think I'll take a ride to school today." The juiceboxes in her backpack were just too much and she couldn't even get into the car. "Take off the backpack, put it in the car, then crawl in." She barely gets it in and onto the floorboard and then slides in.

We laugh the entire 1/4 mile to her classroom, where LUCKILY there was a "Smiling Dad" (who had stuck around after enjoying the annual "Donuts for Dad" that Glenn sadly missed this year due to work) helping kids out of the cars. He was surprised at how heavy her backpack was and helped put it on her as she explained to him about the feast and all the juiceboxes she had brought. He just laughed and got her on her way. THANKS SMILING DAD!

I'm thinking, if I had NOT had a car today, she would STILL be walking to school, if not sitting on a sidewalk along the way, unable to stand up unassisted! LOL!

She cracks me up!

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden...

....but I did promise you a happier post, didn't I?
;)

So anyhow, about a month ago I told you I had a storm of ideas running through my head that I wanted to write about and turn into blog posts, but I couldn't seem to get any words to come out to expand upon. I didn't want to lose these ideas, so I began many draft posts here so that when I had the time or felt the urge, they would be close at hand. Yeah, and I have them all written down in one of my notebooks that I carry with me all the time...LOL!!!

Being the Queen of Procrastination though, I've done nothing with any of these ideas other than look at them. Until now. I'm feeling the urge to write. To work on getting past this low I've fallen into this past week. And the only words I can think to write are far from happy. So maybe it's time to do a reality check and remember some things that don't make me feel so crappy.

Things that make me feel Happy!

* Hugs, especially from people I love, but hugs just feel good
* Kisses: soft warm kisses laid gently upon the nape of my neck; wet sloppy kisses planted on my cheek & kisses blown across a room from my kids; hot passionate kisses that meld us into one
* Smiles: BIG bright welcoming smiles given freely and without expectation
* Babies laughing: pure, unadulterated innocence at it's finest
* Fresh Cut Grass: this is especially true at Spring's beginning or near a baseball field
* The sound of rain upon my window
* The smell of fresh brewed coffee, not too strong
* Vanilla candles burning gently
* Birds chirping gleefully
* Cats purring and kneading (as long as the claws don't get too close)
* Warm towels from the dryer after a nice long shower
* Talking to my boys on the phone
* Seeing my boys in person
* Enjoying a newly developed roll of film with pictures you've forgotten about
* Finding money in a jacket or purse you haven't used in a long time
* New toothbrushes
* Cold brisk air while driving down the freeway in an overly warmed car
* Dark rich chocolate that melts in your mouth
* Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings
* Finishing "that" book you haven't had time to read
* Getting mail: email and snail mail
* Being able to buy that something special you've had your eye one, that just went on sale
* Talking to friends online
* Visiting with friends at home
* Seeing the underdogs win
* Orgasms: mine, his, and hers
* Seeing Tigers
* Winning a little something at Bingo or from the Lottery
* Watching the kids discover something new, that we take for granted
* Getting paid
* Clean windows and glasses to see clearly thru
* Knowing and feeling I am loved
* Watching the kids open gifts
* Being able to watch my favorite show without interruptions
* Paying off a lingering debt
* Doing a job well done
* Thinking about MOM
* Body surfing at sunset
* Sand in between my toes
* Listening to the ocean waves crash against the shoreline
* Picnics in the park
* Rollercoaster rides, especially when the lines are short
* Splashing in mud puddles
* Massages: especially "butt" massages when my back and hips hurt
* Shooting stars
* Watching planes take off and land
* Long hot bubble baths by candlelight
* Warm sunshine on my face on a cool wintery day
* Crawling into bed after washing the sheets and blankets
* Breakfast in bed
* Fragrant Star-Jasmine outside my open window
* Learning something new
* Holding hands in public
* Finding a "George"
* Getting a Freebie in the mail, I had forgotten I requested
* Silky soft legs after shaving
* Flowers received unexpectedly
* Listening to a new CD all the way thru
* Freshly painted walls
* Hearing an old favorite song on the radio
* Getting a new haircut
* Playing with other people's hair
* LOVE

Surely, I've forgotten plenty of things, but that's ok; I feel much better already.

Pumpkin Seeds

I grew up in the late 70's/early 80's just as all the Halloween Candy scares began to smother what used to be a ton of fun for neighborhood kids, one night a year.

I don't remember crowded streets on Halloween night, such as what was depicted in the movie E.T., but our streets were pretty busy. Busy enough, that in later years, MOM didn't have to take us out, and we all looked after one and other. We knew our boundries and what houses to avoid and how long we could stay out before having to come home to check in and drop off some of the loot from our heavy pillowcases.

I don't remember really having to have my candy checked before eating it, but I know my little sister did in her final years of trick-or-treating. I remember making a final stop at Grandma and Grandpa's house to show off our cosutmes and TONS of candy, while awaiting a special treat.

I remember eating most of the GOOD STUFF before a VERY LATE bedtime, while the cheap candy seemed to last forever.

I remember running smack into a thick strong wire, anchoring a new tree when I was Lil' Miss' age. In the dark. Across my neck. Feeling totally unable to breathe. Cursing out loud for the first time in front of MOM.

I remember my older sister and her hoodlum friends stealing bags of candy from younger, unattended kids. I remember me being the reason she got caught and grounded by MOM. And her hating me.

I remember MOM and Grandma trying to make Kim and I look as much like Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, even though we couldn't afford the actual costumes. I remember having to explain who Electra Woman and Dyna Girl were to EVERY adult. And why "our" versions had me (the blonde) playing DG, while Kim (the brunette) played EW, which was backwards. And hating that.

I remember big Halloween Parties at school, followed by a HUGE parade of costumes on the blacktop by all the students who had worn their costumes to school. No matter how scary they were.

And I remember the excitement of scooping out the guts of our pumpkins, to see who would have the most pumpkin seeds to roast. This was by far, one of the greatest treats of Halloween, no matter how old I got. I just assumed EVERYONE did this.

Until four years ago, when I left Glenn and his mom in charge of the jack 'o lantern carvings while I got Lil' Miss ready for her FIRST trick-or-treating experience.

When the dust had settled that night, I asked about the pumpkin seeds and did we have a lot this year? I was looked at like I was crazy or speaking a foreign language. I explained again, "You know...the seeds INSIDE the raw pumpkin...did we have a lot?" "Dunno, we threw all that away."

That rang through my head with great confusion as I pondered whether they were pulling my leg, or had really THROWN AWAY THE BEST PART OF HALLOWEEN!!!! Nope, the seeds were history. They had never heard of saving the seeds and roasting them.

OK, I may have grown up in California, and not the backwoods, hilly-billy parts of rural Texas and Arkansas, but surely they had seen pumpkin seeds sold in the stores next to sunflower seeds, right? Yeah, but they didn't realize they actually came from the insides of pumpkins.

WHAT? OMG! They were dead serious. And I was out of luck.

Not to be robbed of my pumpkin seeds that year, I went out and bought more pumpkins, and then taught them how to save, clean and prepare the seeds. It was "interesting" to be sure.

And just another reason why I love Glenn and his mom as much as I do. They're great.... FUN!!!