Dear Mama

Dear Mama,

I think it is appropriate that on this day, my birthday, I thank you. Afterall, without you, there would be no me.

Thank you for giving birth to me today. About this time you were probably still knocked out and dreaming that you'd had two baby girls (I was so big my mama thought she had twins).

Thank you for raising me right (or correctly for those who believe in good grammar).

Thank you for being the best mama a little bitty (or a big girl) could ever want.

Thank you for being the best Mother-in-Law ever.

Thank you for teaching me how to be the mom I am.

Thank you for being the best Gram in the world.

Thank you for being my best friend (even when you drive me crazy).

Thank you for always being there when I really need you.

Love your best (and only) daughter,

Lizzie

Max & his awesome grammma...Everything is better at Gramma's

Crab Fest 2009

Each year we throw a Crab Fest for some of our nearest and dearest. The crowd has grown from a smallish group of maybe 10-15 to this year's epic high of 31! I won't lie and say there weren't moments leading up to Crab Fest '09 where I thought why the heck do I do this to myself. I worry...can I fit 30 on my deck?, I need more chairs, I need more tables, what will I make?, will the French Silk turn out ok? (alright I don't really worry about that one), and on and on ....

Well, midway through the evening I remembered exactly why I do it. There is little in life that can beat a unseasonably cool, humidity free evening in July, on the deck, with a few cold ones, and a belly full of crabs with friends and family from every stage of my life. This year my uncle put in a surprise appearance, all the way from Indy and my long lost sister from Tennessee flew in just for the event. I suppose since I had a friend come to my wedding from Japan, it is only fitting! I hope it was worth it for both of them!

It was perfection! I hope everyone else had as nice a time as I did! The best gift, in addition to bringing these super cool priate flip-flops for me, was photographic evidence that the shin-dig existed provided by my friend, Vicki! Thanks, VIVI. Here you can enjoy some of her great photos!




Love the new Flip-Flops (got these plus about 8 other pair from Vicki!)





Thirsty, anyone?



Just because its crabfest doesn't mean there can't be meat!







Ready to go!



Happy Puppy...please give me some food!



Worker Bees, sorry I worked you guys so hard




I have absolutely no idea what was so funny, or why I am the only one who looks crazy here!


The proper implements, thanks to KK!

A Bouncing Baby Barbolicious

Ok, so I know his last name will be his daddy's but the thought of a tiny, weeny, itty, bitty little Barbo Boy is so exciting to me! Two of our dearest friends are expecting this November. I am not sure what I am more excited about, having a baby to snuggle again - that I myself don't have to BIRTH -or witnessing these two awesome people raise a wee one.

Barbo is one of those chicks who the moment you meet her (in my case, while interviewing her for a job) you just know you want to be her friend. I am not sure if its the twinkle her eye or the slight bit of mischievousness in her smile. She is probably one of the naturally funniest people I have ever met. What I love about her most though is that though she is very light hearted and hil-HIL-arious, she has a depth and seriousness of soul that many really "funny" people lack or don't reveal.

I have endless great memories of her, from our summers working together in Williamsburg, to her taking me to meet her parents and all the YUMMMMY food her mom filled us up with, to hanging out in Philly for a visit before I even had kids, to vacationing together with her sister in St. John, hanging on my deck just relaxing, playing on the floor with my then 6 month old baby girl when she stopped on her way to her parents for Christmas, to visiting her in her new home with her new husband.

She and I have gone from carefree college girls just having a good time to women with responsibilities and husbands and kids!

Her husband is the definition of awesome. Girls like us can be a bit of a challenge and I can honestly say I have never known a man to be any more in sync with his lady. You can see the love and devotion he has for her all over his face. Beyond that, he's one of the most genuinely nice guys I've ever met. When we vacationed on St. John I don't think the smile ever left his face. He has a curious spirit, is a great artist and has more patience than Job himself! (He's going to need it!) They are perfectly suited and perfectly in balance and they will make the best of parents.

November just can't come soon enough. One lucky little baby boy will be coming into this world! Genetically speaking, it will be impossible for this to not be one cool little dude!

Best of STJ 2009

Because I am too lazy to post an entirely too long trip report here...here is the best of STJ '09 in photos. Suffice to say it was a great trip, like the others and I can't wait to go back. Yes, my life basically is what happens in between trips to St. John.

Less than 48 Hours

So we have a looose idea of what we'll be doing on our vacation. It goes something like this.

Wake up

Eat breakfast

Go to the beach

Eat lunch

Put Max down for a nap/Ella Movie time/Mama poolside at the house

Dinner

Bed

Wake-up

Repeat yesterday.

Or as my good friend says: Eat, drink, swim, sun. Rinse. Repeat.

We have a built-in sitter this time for a few of the nights. KK's cousin is coming along and will watch them in exchange for spending $$! A good plan. And my mom is joining us for the 2nd half of the trip and we will be getting an entire kid-free day to go to Jost Van Dyke (aka The Barefoot Island).

Good Friends....

...have your back.

Great friends leave drinks waiting for you in the islands! Of course, I am Flip-Flop!

Thanks, VIVI!

Like It!

....(or the one that will get Child Protective Services called)

Some day I will learn that aversion therapy doesn't work on Max. He is the OPPOSITE of his sister. With Ella if we had something that we thought she'd find icky but she wanted to try it we'd let her try it. She'd do the requisite "Ewwwwww, yuck!" and never want to try it again.

Worked with beer, worked with soda, worked with most anything ... other than chocolate.

So the other evening I was chillaxing on my deck with a cold beverage, enjoying the night air, watching the kids play.

Max comes over and looks at my ice cold bottle and says, "Max some!"
I reply, "No bud, you won't like it."
To which he says, "Mmmmmmm" (the noise he makes whenever we are eating or drinking anything that he wants some of - its pretty freaking irresistible).
Me: "No its mama's"
Him: "Mmmmmmmm pease (that's please).
Me: "You aren't gonna like it!" as I tip the bottle to give him a tiny taste.

Him: "LIKE IT!"

So now Hung and I walk around going "Like It!"

Ellaism #2343

....(Or the one one she'll talk to her therapist about.)
Ok, so a few weeks ago out of the blue Ella says to me, "Mama I have a question." To which I say, "What's that Ella?" She lifts up her shirt, points to her belly button and says as seriously as possible, "Is this my period?"

Oh the temptation to take the easy way out and just say, "Yep, Ella that's your period!" But I made a promise to myself that I would always openly answer any of her questions about anything. So I tried to explain to my newly 7 year old in simple terms, her reproductive system. She got it for the most part.

Fortunately, for now, she didn't ask how a baby gets in there but she did ask how the baby got out. For me, that is simple, "Mama had an operation both times where they opened me up and took out the baby." Her, ever so precocious says, "I know that, but what about people who don't have an operation to get their baby out." So I explained it to her. Her eyes got THIS BIG and she said, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?" And I concluded with, "And this is why you don't EVER WANT TO HAVE A BABY UNTIL YOU ARE AT LEAST 35."

Where oh where did my baby go?

Routine

There are few things in life as precious to me as a routine. I am not one who deals well with transition. Two of my current favorite routines (both of course involving my kiddos):

1. Each morning, Hung has the early/Max shift (waking him, changing him, getting him ready for Jeannie's). I have the late/Ella shift (waking her, getting her dressed, packing the backpack, getting her on the bus). We never discussed this routine we just kind of fell into it. Anyway, my favorite thing is that part of Max's routine (he is like his mama and LOVES a good routine) is to give me a kiss and hug bye bye and tell me he's going to Jeannie's "Go Nee-Nee, Mama!" Some mornings I hear him as Hung's getting him changed and ready saying "Kiss Mama, Kiss Mama, Kiss Mama" other mornings I just hear a smooching sound coming at me through my bleary eyes. Without fail, every morning I hear those not so little feet running down the hall to find me, still tucked into bed, smacking his lips, ready for his smooch and "ugggg" (that's Hug to those who don't do Max speak).

2. Nights are not as predictable. Sometimes I bathe them, sometimes Hung does. Sometimes I put them to bed, sometimes Hung does. Sometimes we split them up. Lately however, as Max's gotten a bit older I've taken to reading to both of them in Ella's room before bed. They both pile on the bed, Ella picks the book, I read the story and then Max tucks her in. Makes sure her blanket is up, her music is on and her light is off. He gives her a hug and a kiss and then runs to his room to "ock a minute" before going night-night himself. It's about as perfect as 8pm can be.

Then mama gets to go put on her pjs and relax for the rest of the evening!

STJ Prep Begins

In anticipation of our trip to St. John we have started training. Also known as ... going to the pool to get the boy used to wearing his hat and rashguard. He has virgin skin. The Caribbean sun is HOT. He will wear a rash guard for most of our 10 day trip. :)

I don't want to jinx it but with the exception of the first day he's been great about keeping his hat on. The alternative is we leave and he doesn't want to leave the pool. He is my child afterall. The last trip to the pool he came over to me and said, "Hat ON!" 17 DAYS.

A Girl, a Boy & a Canoe

I'll let the video speak mostly for itself. For our 10th anniversary my hubby planned an entire weekend (ok a day and a night) away for us. ALL BY HIMSELF! My inner control freak had to take a vacation. So my mom, who knew the plan, kept looking at me a giggling. Finally, I found out when we got to Waller Mill Pond we were going to revisit and cleanse our memories of one of the worst fights EVER between the two of us. Literally it marked the beginning of a 4 year "break" for us. Within 2 months of the original incident, on his birthday no less, we were finito. FOR 4 YEARS.

I'll let the video explain the rest...

29 Days

And counting. We are under a month ... so I will let the countdown begin (publicly - the private countdown has been on for a year)!

Ex-HAUST-ed

Man ... I am tired. I had my annual (2nd) girls only beach get away this weekend and though it was awesome it left me tired. Very tired. The kiddos and daddy kept busy and out of trouble and I thank him for the time away from "mama. Mama. MAMA!" It was much needed and much appreciated. My bud, KK, mostly kept me out of trouble. To her I am eternally grateful.

I can't believe this weekend is MEMORIAL DAY! I say, Summer, bring it on!

There are less than 5 weeks until Ella is out of school. We leave for St. John the next day! Perhaps I will have recovered from my weekend away by then!

My Son LOVES Dora

Every night Max has to sleep with his Dora book. Every night. DOOOOORA. DOOOOOORA. MAMA, DOOOOORA! I am putting this in writing so I will remember and be able to torment him by sharing this knowledge with his future dates.

Do not confuse this with a love of DORA the show. He won't watch the show. PERIOD. End of statement.

He likes only baby EinTEIN. There is no s in his Einstein. EIN-TINE like tine of a fork. Even then, he is so unlike his sister who would watch any one of them over and over. He is PICKY. I'll put one in and he'll say, "diffrent eintein, nother show" ahhhhhhhh....drives me crazy.

10 Years is a Long Time

If you don't believe me, just ask my husband. Today marks our 10th anniversary. Though if you'd asked me back in 1999 I would have told you I was getting married on May 9th. For some reason I had the 9th stuck in my head. Its the 8th he'd smile and say to the person we were talking to, whoever it happened to be ... the caterer, a friend, family. Whatever.

Wow, 10 years is a long time. Almost 20 years is even longer and that has how much time has gone by (almost) since we first met in 1991. We have known each other our entire adult lives. I barely recognize the people we were then and I know we are unbelieveably lucky that we still happen to like and love each other! That is nothing short of a miracle. I chose wisely. I only hope he feels the same.

When I married my husband along with him came this large extended family. 4 older brothers, eventually 12 nieces and nephews, an entirely new culture to embrace. I don't actually remember much about our wedding day except I was afraid it would rain and that I could have taken off the head of someone who shall remain nameless but was slacking on his duties. Luckily my Jen was on it and prevented me from having to kill anyone. The ceremony itself was short and sweet and to the point, the reception was fun and long. The way it should be.

Over the years we have transitioned from carefree teenagers, to working individuals, to a working couple, to parents. Essentially at our core, we are the same people even though we have both grown up a lot and all for the better. He is patient beyond my ability to comprehend. It may come as a shock, but I can be a difficult person. I know! Shocked aren't you? In all honesty, we have had good days and bad days, we've even had whole bad years, but what we have never had is any doubt that we ultimately had each other's best interests at heart.

So thanks honey. Thanks for putting up with me. Thank you for the two beautiful little (hard headed) children you have given me. Thanks for having my back, no matter what. Thanks for the love you have brought into my life. Thanks for being the man you are. I could not ask for more.

Dear Ella

Dear Ella,

I simply am unable to believe that you are turning 7 years old today. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was waddling around falling off of curbs because I could no longer see my toes or find my balance. I have had many, many great days in my life, but I have to say that the day you were born holds many of my most precious memories. The worry that you would be ok melted into blissful warmth when you came out screaming at 6:06 am on that spring day. You made me a mama, and for that I am eternally grateful to you.

I want you to know 5 years from now, or 10, or 20, what kind of girl you were at 7. To know that for your birthday this year you decided that you wanted a few friends to join you in a birthday tea at the Pink Bicycle Tea Room. Your gram had taken you there over a year ago and you fell in love. It is old fashioned and looks like most furnishings came straight from a yard sale. You LOVE it. As a matter of fact you love anything old fashioned. I decided to start taking you to my dentist because he is bare bones and old school and you absolutely LOVE him. You are a very unique girl. You have an old soul.

Recently we received your school pictures. We decided to get the composite picture with you and all of your classmates. You are the girl who when asked to name your favorite person in the picture, points to your teacher. Even though she is kind of tough on you. I won't lie and say you are the most focused child, you are after all your father's daughter, but I will say I have never met a kinder girl than you. You love your friends with all your heart and you were more excited to give them their little goodie bags than you were about the potential of getting any gifts from them.

You are my girl. Through and through. My partner in crime. You love the beach and St. John and flip-flops and pretty things. Flowers and animals. You are also very much your daddy's girl. Your favorite show is called "Weird, true and freaky" and you love dinosaurs and science and slimy stuff. You are a loving and patient big sister who puts up with more than you should have to from your little hard-headed brother. You are so smart and so intuitive and so beyond your years. You are pure. You are sensible. You are funny. You are light-hearted. You are lovely. I thank you for gracing me with the privilege of being your mother. If I could construct a little girl from scratch you would be that girl.

Before you were born, I had no idea what it meant to be a mom. I had images in my head of lullabies and the scent of baby powder and cute little pink dresses. I didn't know that there would be endless sleepless nights, terrifying illnesses, frustrating meltdowns (very few thank you) and endless questions. I didn't know the patience or energy I would need or the neverending worry I would endure upon taking home the sweet tiny bundle of you. I am grateful every day that you are you. That you are in my life. That you are my daughter. Thank you.

Love,

Mama

It's Like Watching the 700 Club and the Weather Channel at the Same Time

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Colbert Coalition's Anti-Gay Marriage Ad
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor First 100 Days

Reasons #3354-3367 that I am not a Republican

WOW. Just wow. I am all about free speech but I am also all about when your hate is what inspires your criminal act you should be punished even more harshly. I just hope they keep at it with this issue because it will more and more marginalize them from the mainstream. Michelle Bachmann. Keep her talking please. Isn't she the one who coined the "real" America vs. other America term?

Getting my hopes up....

So my neighbors have recently embarked on a home renovation project. From the debris it appeared to be a bathroom. From the debris as well, it appeared to be a low end project.

Today they have about 10 yard workers here cleaning out the jungle that is their front yard. (Don't worry both junked cars are still in the driveway).

Now, typically I would think their recent interest in the aesthetics of their home is a sign they've caught Spring fever. But my neighbors are not typical. I really truly am unable to imagine that they care about how their yard looks to do anything to it at all. UNLESS....

They are planning to sell. PLEASE or dear Lord if you hear me ... Please please please let this be the case.

A girl can dream right?

Highly Recommend

If you are at all a fan of Dave Matthews or classical acoustic guitar, get Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City (this is not the actual cover).

Several tracks otherwise unavailable - like Sister (written for his sister who was murdered).

Just get it ... Now. I promise you will thank me.

I could not say it any better

I have posted before about my opinions regarding gay marriage. In a nutshell, WHY THE HELL DOES ANYONE CARE if two loving individuals want to commit themselves to one another legally?

As a result of the recent Miss CA flap, a former Miss CA is speaking out. I could not say it any better myself. So...what she said.

Nicole Lamarche, Miss California 2003 and now an ordained minister at Cotuit Federated Church in Cotuit, Mass:

"As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject. I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.

In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, 'It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.' While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.

Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!

In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.
The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”

He has a Chin!

He has a CHIN! Just 1! When did this happen? Who did this?

And enjoy a little video of my kiddos and bubbles. Ignore me sounding like a fool. What is it about bubbles and kids? They all love them!

Progress

Have you ever had a Saturday so chock full and productive that by the time you settle down for the evening it feels like Sunday night. Well that was the kind of day we had today.

It started with Ella's first softball game of the season at 10:30. 2 hits! Go Ella. After the game we had a quick lunch and a quick stop at Iceberry (I think the east coast version of pinkberry) and I highly recommend it. I had honeydew frozen yogurt with blueberries and it was amazing! Lowfat and low sugar but you would never know it.

Post-lunch and yogurt it was to home to get Max down for a nap. Ella and I decided to head out to get a few flowers to fill the boxes and one of our big planters. We returned, we planted. We cleaned out the garage. Hung spread "weed and feed" and mowed the grass.

Next on the list was installation of a very big new full length mirror in our bathroom (God Bless IKEA) and curtains in our master bedroom. (7 years is a long time to remain curtainless but I am both indecisive and lazy when it comes to that stuff ... so 7 years it was ... no worries we had blinds just no decorative curtains). Nothing fancy ... again thank you Ikea.

A little before















and after...

Spring is springing...

Ella asks...

Mama you just need to tell me one thing. How is a telescope different from a microscope?

I am pretty sure this thought NEVER crossed my mind at 6, or 16, nor would it have by 36 if not for her.