The Little Things

I was working on my article today for the March issue of the local magazine I write for, when I heard my son talking in his bed. Our computer is in our bedroom, and I had his monitor on...

He was talking to his toys, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and telling them that he loved his "Sissy" (EJ), his Mommy and his Daddy. Then he would make the toys talk back to him, and they said they loved us too!

He is using a lot of new vocabulary now, but many times I am the only one who can understand him so far... really, EJ is even better than I am at knowing his language, and when I can't figure it out I will ask her to translate for me!

EJ is becoming much more inquisitive about everything. I am now getting a lot more of the "Why?" and "How?" questions, and she soaks up the answers like a sponge. On the way to school the other morning she began counting, and she went all the way to 100 without much help at all!

These are the little things in life I want to remember... with my best friend and cousin having babies last week, suddenly I realized how quickly children grow up ( it seems like yesterday sometimes that mine were so little...), and I want to take in these precious toddler and pre school days while they last.


Like the pink boots that she insists on wearing even when they don't match at all, or the little smirk he gets when he knows he is going to get in trouble. I love it when I go into the play room and they are sitting in the same chair, all hugged up together, and when they play dress up. She is always the princess, and Cub is always Buzz - but the scenario is usually a little different each time. I love their expansive imagination, and how they make up the best stories when trying to get out of trouble, or get each other in trouble!

So, for now I am the one trying to soak it all in and live in the moments, though some of them are more trying than others!

Living in Oz

Oh. my. gosh. yall!!!

Rick Springfield was on Oprah yesterday!!!!

I watched him on General Hospital as Dr. Noah Drake when I was in the fourth or fifth grade... My Grandma watched this soap opera, and I would stay with her sometimes in the afternoons.

Later, as a younger teen I plastered a million posters of him on my walls and ceiling, and wrote his name all over my school folders... my best friends and I squealed like the teens we were when his songs would come on the radio, or his music videos came on Night Tracks.

Does anyone remember Night Tracks? Since we live in the country, and Momma didn't want a big satellite in her yard, no MTV for me... We had 3 or 4 good television stations to watch (without static!), and were lucky enough that the one from Atlanta had a video show on the weekends, so I could get my Rick fix! We would stay up all night if we had to - waiting on his latest video to come on, and then belt it out and dance all around the living room...

Once my girlfriends and I went to Albany to see him in concert, and I cried real tears as we got closer just thinking I would be in the same stadium as he was....

We've even been to see him in concert since becoming married women and Mommies... and screamed just like we did when we had big hair and braces.

Ahhhh, memories!

Family Pizza Night

Sunday night we all went back to BB and Reynie's for homemade pizza and some family time together...

With our expanding family, we decided to start having these get - togethers once or twice a month. Believe it or not, living on the same farm doesn't always mean you get to see your loved ones on a regular basis... sometimes we only wave as our car/truck drives on down the dirt road in a big 'ol hurry!

Okay, maybe we do see each other more than some folks, but we just like to make sure we get to see each other on a regular basis - we all enjoy it and it makes Momma and Diddy very happy.

The other "20" times we may eat together are all spontaneous!

Momma and Cub's pizza made together..

Reynie's pizza crust is really, really good yall, and she also made an awesome sauce from tomatoes grown in their own garden last summer.

(The recipe for this pizza crust is found on her blog... I'd make it a direct reference to that post, but I do not know how to do that! It was about a week ago?)



Topping off the night of good fun were coke floats, with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. (The kids were in heaven!) We really do enjoy our family time and all the good food, laughs and tall tales that come out of it!

Momma is renovating her kitchen, so the next one will be here at our house... I have no idea what I could do to equal the pizza/sauce, but I look forward to another night with all of us there.

My new favorite picture of Uncle BB and EJ!

A Beautiful Baby Girl!

Welcome to the world Addyson Dale!

My cousin Renee delivered Addyson yesterday at 1:10 p.m. by C-section. The sweet little bundle is 9lbs, 3ozs and is 22 1/2 inches long!

Whew - She is gonna be tall like her Mommy and Daddy!

Congratulations to Renee and Evan - She is beautiful!


Here are the kids in the waiting room... EJ and Cub were sad they couldn't go back to the room to meet their new cousin, so instead they each wanted to send a balloon with their love!

Just Because...

I love this picture of our little ballerina!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Starr!

Welcome to the world Baby Starr!

One of my best friends in the whole world had a 8lb 6oz baby boy this morning a little after 8am... I think I know what they will name him, but will refrain from telling until I get the okay!

She delivered with no epidural and a local. Ouch!

Congratulations to Alan and Jenny, and siblings Drew, Paige, Jacen and Alana!

A Loop and a Roll

Friday did not turn out to be my day. As I posted earlier that morning I felt like it was going to be one of those days... I couldn't have been more right on. The house was a mess, laundry went on forever, the kids were fussing and fighting, and every time I turned around someone was calling for "Mommy" with big ol tears running down their face. How do I explain to a 4 and a 2 year old to please just get along? I was so frustrated I wanted to cry.

And I did just that. It really did make me feel some better, but it scared my children, which is the last thing I wanted to do. Sometimes this whole motherhood thing takes me for a loop and a roll.

Then Momma called with an fantastic idea ... Diddy had called her to see if all of us might like to go out for supper - at The Olive Garden. My most favorite place to eat!

So, that evening we all met at the restaurant... Momma, Diddy, BB, Reynie, Geoff, the kids and myself. It was the perfect way to end a rather rough day in the life of this frazzled Mommy. It was wonderful to sit with my family and enjoy a great meal (I just love the salad and soup!), a few glasses of riesling (!) and just being with everyone.

Of course, when the kids decided it was fun to get up on the table it was time to go, but it had been such a nice night I almost didn't have the heart to discourage them. I'd fussed at them enough that day!

On Saturday I continued trying to clean up the house from my unsuccessful attempts the day before. (Anyone know how laundry can multiply so quickly, and how two little ones can bring out so many toys in the flash of an eye?) I seemed to be making much better progress though, and it was nap time when I heard the sound of an airplane buzzing the house. I knew it was Geoff as he had called earlier from his cousin's home/airplane hanger, and laughed to myself that he had confiscated someone's plane for a jaunt.

The kids were so excited... Daddy's flying! So, outside we go to check it out...

I am used to seeing him fly in a J3 Piper Cub (yes, that is where we got Cub's nickname...) or even a Cessna 172 that we sold a year or so ago. The Cub we have now is wingless, waiting to be redone. Geoff sometimes flies his cousin's Piper Cub, but as EJ, Cub and I looked out over the field behind our house I thought the plane looked a bit different. As he came closer and he wagged the wings I knew exactly what it was - an acrobatic plane called a Pitts. He flew over the house, turned around and did a roll and loop.

My heart did the same.

I have so many mixed emotions when I watch him fly like that... a pride so big I can't describe it, a scared so big I can't describe it, and about a million things in between. It's even changed from the excitement and fear I used to have as a 15 year old teenager, standing outside my parents house (across the same field he was flying over yesterday), watching my boyfriend/future husband buzz our house in his Daddy's Cub... but that is because I have grown up with this man, we have many, many years together, and I love him more than ever.

That, along with the fact that we now have children who might want to experience this "craziness" as well. Judging from their excitement and gigantic smiles, I didn't detect any fear in them yesterday... which gives me great pause. It's in their blood - on Geoff's side. Yes, I was a flight attendant for 12 years, but when I fly, I want the plane to "fly straight". I always tell Geoff when he takes my flying "No curves, no bumps, no loops or rolls, no turbulence - thank you very much!"

I have had my share of turbulent flights, strapped and clinging to a jump seat - praying to God as hard as I can for calmer skies ahead...

Come to think of it, I have traded in turbulence in a Delta jet, headed to another city in some far away place for the best ride of all. Motherhood has it's own style of turbulence (laundry, dishes, crying babies, no shower days, unshaved legs, etc.) but its a beautiful life that I am proud to be living. Raising our children is an honor I won't take lightly. The emotions it brings run from a pride so big I can't describe it, to a scared so big I can't describe it - and a million emotions in between.

Hello?!

I am still here... never meant to be gone for so long, but things just got busy. Well, more busy than normal, which is hard to imagine...

Anyway, I plan on posting some pictures of the kids yesterday at EJ's Valentine's Day party a little later.

But first, a big day ahead of house cleaning and laundry...

And keeping the kids from hurting each other, as it seems to be one of those kind of days!

A Conversation with Cub

It goes something like this:

"Hey Cub, let's talk about something... sometime soon we are going to have to leave the paci in your bed." (Well, it's still a crib right now, but soon to be a toddler bed.)

"No way Mommy!!!!!" he says, with the assuredness of a confident two year old.

"Yes way, Cubby... soon you can have it at night and naptime, but we need to begin going through the day without it." I explain, trying to be gentle and caring of his feelings, which can be hurt very easy.

Grabbing my face in his little hands he looks me straight in the eye and says " No Mommy. I need paci. No,no,no go without it. No be mean to me!"

Now how do I respond to that?!

For the time being I just hugged him, and then repeated that he was going to have to begin giving it up sometime soon. He was okay with that, as it didn't seem as if I were taking it from his mouth right now...

It's going to be a struggle, but he is getting too old for it I know. I think we need some prayers for this one...

For the both of us!

Our Adventure to the City

It doesn't happen much.

On Monday the kids and I went to Atlanta with a friend of mine, and her two boys. Her children are very close in age to EJ and Cub, and they have become very good friends.

I used to go into Atlanta a lot... and yes, I do mean before we had children. It was much easier to do back then - all I had to worry about was myself, and I could go shopping for hours, or meet a friend or two for drinks in Buckhead, when there were bars there. (I hear that is all a thing of the past now - see, I haven't been there in awhile!)

On Monday, though, we took the kids to the Atlanta Children's Museum. It is downtown, near the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke. CJ, my friend, is a freelance writer for an Atlanta children's magazine, and was doing a story on an exhibit at the museum... we came along for the fun!

Driving there was a bit nerve wracking as I am just not familiar with the streets in downtown, but we made it. CJ, who is not from here and is less familiar with Atlanta than I am, actually led in her car. If you know me you aren't surprised. I am not good with direction, and not afraid to say it. I am really bad, and prefer to let someone else find the place... at least we will get there!

We really had a great time. The kids loved it - so much to do and play with they were running around with big goofy grins on their faces the whole time. Cub really enjoyed painting, and was kicking and screaming when I tore him away from the paints to go to another activity. EJ was thrilled with the moon sand and made lots of cakes and pies for me. She also had a great time pushing around a tiny shopping cart full of play food - "just like you do Mommy!"


I think she had more fun shopping for "groceries" than I do...

All of that was exciting, but the best part of the day was getting to go to The Varsity to eat, and seeing Daddy! EJ and Cub were thrilled to know that Geoff was going to come meet them and their friends for lunch, and ran up to him when they saw him in the parking lot... of course, I was glad to see him too, for many reasons... but as he had been on the phone with me since leaving the Museum, coaching me on how to get the few blocks over to The Varsity, I was glad to see him in person too!

After a lot of grease with my onion rings (ugh!) and a Frosted Orange (yum!), I was really ready to get home. It had been a long morning. But before we left, Geoff went and got all of the kids a chocolate ice cream, and that was the perfect topping to a great day for them. Chocolate always is, right?



I think we will have to venture back up there again soon.... Atlanta really has a lot of great kid friendly options, and it is "only" an hour away. As long as someone else is driving, or knows the way, I am ready to go!

Daddy's Chair

This is what Geoff and the kids were doing on Sunday afternoon... Daddy was Buzz and Cub was Woody. They had a whole conversation as the characters... it was really cute!

I know, I was surprised too ... usually the only person who can be Buzz in this household is Cub, but he was just having a cowboy moment I suppose. Here is the "Green Buzz" as Cub calls him... we also have a "Big Buzz", a "Little Buzz", etc., etc. - to infinity and beyond!

Disney is making a fortune just from this little boy.

EJ is in the picture too, but she is hidden behind the toys... she was right in there with the boys, loving every minute of being in Daddy's chair. I need to find her a Jessie doll, or a Bullseye. And if you just understood what I said, then you must have a Toy Story fan at your house too!

LOST, Potty Training and Miss Hollywood

The season premier of LOST came on last night, and I loved every minute of it... I think Geoff thinks I have "lost" it myself, but I was sitting on the couch trying to take in every. single. thing. I want to know why Jack's Daddy was in Jacob's rocking chair? Is HE Jacob? Somehow I really don't think so... and who was that really creepy guy who came to visit Hurley in the mental institution? When Hurley got suspicious of him, the guy asked him if "they" were alive... I guess the remaining folks from Oceanic 815, but where are they? And what is it that the Oceanic 6 not telling? I have lots of questions, but am looking forward to finding out the answers! I can't wait until next Thursday!

This morning the kids were in the playroom when EJ pranced into our room to ask if she "looked like California?"


Now, where did she hear that?!
(the scratch on her forehead is courtesy of her brother... not on purpose, but it came with lots of tears and drama...)

She is our little Miss Hollywood... most every day you will find EJ dressing up in her princess clothes and shoes, to dance about - talking about her Prince and the fairytale castle. She has a huge imagination and makes up great stories to go along with whatever princess she is portraying at that moment. I love every minute of her dramatic stories. Okay, maybe not every single minute, but she comes up with some of the most interesting things! One exception is when she tries to get Cub to be the prince... then the struggle ensues and the fussing begins. He isn't into being anything but Buzz Lightyear right now!

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but Cub is holding up a Buzz sticker. He got this yesterday when he went in the potty instead of his diaper! For Christmas, one of the things Nana (Geoff's Momma) got him was a potty training box full of Buzz Lightyear pull ups, stickers and incentives to learn how to use the big boy potty. He has been interested since a little after his second birthday, but it hasn't been a regular thing... I am hoping to begin making it a regular thing, so by his third birthday he will be diaper free. These Buzz stickers are great because if you have been reading, this boy loves his Buzz!

EJ practically potty trained herself. We got her a potty at 2, but didn't begin in earnest until she was 2 1/2 using it. Cub was born two weeks after her second birthday, so I was a little overwhelmed initially. I think having two little ones in diapers was enough of an incentive (!!!), so after Christmas I began getting her to the potty. It didn't take long at all and she was done with "baby diapers" and wanted "big girl panties". I hear it takes boys a little longer to give up the diaper, but I am ready for this transition!

The paci will be next... and that will be the hardest milestone yet.