Embracing Life

I wanted to write a moving and inspirational post about celebrating my two-year post-transplant milestone. (I also wanted to post a nice family picture, where everyone was looking at the camera, the twins did not have to be separated because they were hitting each other, the shorter boy on the right was not squeezing his brother's stomach too tightly, and I did not have a glowing bulb of sunlight shining brightly on my lady parts, but well... you know... that's life.) Instead I will share one of my favorite pictures of this day. We had wanted to do an outdoor autumn photo shoot with my family (grandparents included). It was scheduled for the end of September in Chicago. So of course, I bought (matching) long-sleeved shirts for the boys, had a pretty (color-coordinating) sweater picked out for my girl, Keith was going to wear his grey pullover, and I lovingly pulled out my tights and boots for what I thought was going to be a cool and beautiful fall day. It was 88 degrees...

T-minus 8 days until the start of school! And to get back in the routine of school, homework, and just the general busyness of life, I thought I'd post about some things we are doing at home to help make the transition from summer to school a little easier this year: Prepare the night before: Lunches and backpacks are ready to go.  Clothes are set out for children and mom!  Set the timer on the coffee maker.  Double check your cal endar to make sure you aren't forgetting a treat or permission slip.    Here is a picture of the wall/counter right by our back door.   Under the counter , Keith built cubbies for coa ts/back packs.   We use the old shutter for bills/ permission slips/important papers. Hover over this picture to see the "Pin it" button! Hug I t O ut: I've read this in numerous parenting mags, so it must be true... right? Sometimes kids are especially needy in the morning because they've been away from ph...

http://darkfaeriecreations.blogspot.com/p/my-illustrations.html I grew up in a world of Princesses waiting for their Prince Charmings to save them. A land of mystery and make-believe. I didn't see these princesses on tv (as my kids do today), but rather through words.  I devoured books like chocolate, constantly reading (and re-reading) a never-ending supply of books from home and the local library.  No one told me I couldn't, no where was it stated that in my land of make-believe, with princesses and horses and murder and secret clocks, my life would be outwardly affected.  You know, the way it is today.  As quickly as Disney creates a new princess movie, the media and people around me complain about how we need to stop the princess syndrome, we need to teach our little girls independence, we need to show them that it's not necessary to wait for Prince Charming to ride up on a white horse and slay that dragon. Now I hear about how inappropriate Barbies are be...

...when this is what your work bag looks like this! Items include: Eucalyptus tea for my sinus infection Peaceful Parenting book to read at lunch Colin's Spider-man lunch bag because I couldn't find mine Keira's special unicorn that she put in my bag Way at the bottom are my datebook and notebook with the story I'm writing In the comments below,  share the things in your bag that remind you that you are a mom!

13 (lucky 13!) years ago,  I met a boy with an orange mohawk and tattoos.  (My parents were thrilled.) I didn't like him.  He was kinda annoying and talked a lot. When I ran into him at a party, he poked me. And annoyed me some more. Then one night I met a friend at the drive-in movies. The boy with the mohawk was there. We sat in the back of his truck and watched Shrek. On our first year (dating) anniversary,  he gave me a sunflower just like Shrek gave Princess Fiona. On our second year anniversary,  we rode a carriage through the French Quarter  and went on spooky ghost tours. I told him I was going to get married  on Halloween 2004. Would he be there? If so, he should get to proposing. Nine years ago today, we had our spooktacular wedding: See my skeleton bride and groom over on the left? I love those guys! Seven years ago, we added a little pumpkin to our family: A...

We had a busy weekend: Legoland on Friday and the firehouse open house on Saturday. Keith was gone a lot, and I didn't feel good. My plans for Sunday included the mountain of laundry and a week's worth of house duties that I didn't have time to complete during the busy week. I also thought I'd stop by the library, let the kids get a couple of DVDs and books to keep them busy, pick up lunch, then hurry back to the chaos I currently call "home". Get books, get lunch, get home was my mantra for the day. Once at the library, the kids were finding books and playing (the boys like to have a contest to see who can build the most blocks with these connector-things they have.)  I got my three books (Nora Robert's Blood Brothers trilogy for some spooky October reading). We got our DVDs, books, and a couple of CDs.  We were good to go. Until the librarian asked if we were staying for the craft/story activity at 1 p.m.  I sighed as I looked at the clock....

Imagine driving past a park one chilly November morning as you are headed to drop your kids off at school.  The sun is just bursting out of the clouds, and the cold frost twinkles on the grass. You pass a park and see a minivan. It's side door is open, and overflowing with open boxes and bags of clothes.  Two small children play on the swings in school uniforms, as a woman picks up the picnic table and walks to the garbage can with the remains of breakfast. A man walks out of the park bathroom with a pile of clothes in his arms. You think to yourself how odd it is to see a family at a park at this time of morning.... especially on such a cold morning. Then it hits you. The boxes and bags in the van are the family's entire belongings.  The children are spending time playing in the only backyard they know. The woman served her family breakfast on a cold metal picnic table. The man had washed up and changed for work in a park bathroom. Over and over, this scene re...

In honor of Fat Tuesday, and my love for everything New Orleans, I finally fixed my charm bracelet last night. The beads and charms were bought the first time I visited the Big Easy. Keith and I went back two years later for our honeymoon.   When re-doing the bracelet last night, I decided to only use my favorite memories for the charms - reminders of our special time together - visiting St. Louis Cathedral, a carriage ride around the French Quarter, a streetcar ride to the Garden District (and Lafayette Cemetery No. 2), and a mask reminiscent of Bourbon Street. I just wish there was a charm for Cafe du Monde! My love for New Orleans began with a book in 1994. Interview with the Vampire. I had seen the movie first, but it was the book I fell in love with. I truly felt at home there more than any other place I've traveled to. I'm so glad I have been able to share that love with the man I love.    Laissez les bons temps rouler!

This is my little girl. She is full of spunk.  And has an outstanding fashion sense. The way I look at it, I had 3 years to put my twinkles in coordinating outfits.  That time has since past. Colin sticks with his favorite 2-3 t-shirts or Mr. Hugh Hefner wears pajamas all day long. Keira Princess Rose (the name she gave herself),  has more eclectic tastes when choosing her outfit for the day. That outfit, minus the sweater and velvet hat, was what she choose  to wear to my uncle's cookout on Mother's Day. Who am I to argue with fashion? Or maybe I'm just smart enough to pick my own battles. If she wants to wear the same shirt and skirt for 3 days in a row (I do wash things at night if she will take them off long enough to put on pjs for bed), then so be it. And when she twirls around in her favorite skirt and asks me: Do I look pretty, Mommy? I respond with love each time: You look beautiful baby girl.

Today over at Mama Kat's , one of the writing prompts is: Something unique you love about your significant other. There are lots of things that I love about my husband: He builds me whatever I want - credenza, book case, clubhouse for the kids.... He doesn't complain when I buy pretty things. He does the dishes. He makes dinner. He gets up at night with the kids. He does home improvement projects without complaint - example: new kitchen cupboards, because one day I decided I wanted new ones. He built us a second bathroom! The list could go on and on. But one unique thing that I love about him is........ He voluntarily takes all three children grocery shopping, so that I can have some quiet time at home! 

I've said before that my kids are weird. Lately, after baths, I will take Colin into his room (he's usually the first one who wants to get out of the tub).  He is wrapped in a towel and has learned from his older brother that if he tells me he is cold, I will snuggle up with him to warm him up. Well now, he also says: "baby".  Which means, I get to hold him like a baby and rock him, while singing "Rock-a-bye Baby".  But instead of baby, I have to use his name.  And at the part of the song where the bough breaks and the cradle falls, I have to make a largely dramatic impression of me falling over on the "baby".  Odd, but he loves it.  And Keira and Connor line up patiently for their turns as well.  Of course, like a minute later, they stop being babies and start running around like naked, screaming banshees while I'm yelling at them to get back in the room and get some clothes on. However, for that one brief moment of time, I get to rock...

Last year's professional picture session was awful. No one would sit still, the entire session was one filled with chaos, and Colin looked stoned the entire time because he would only stare blankly at the camera. So this year, I went in with no expectations whatsoever.  And look what I got: Could they  be any cuter?

Mother's Day began with whispering in the next room. I heard it through the walls.  Then I heard the door open.  In walked Connor with a sippy cup of milk.  Keith carried the twins - Keira with a plastic mickey mouse bowl and spoon, Colin with the box of Chex (taped shut to keep hungry hands out).  Breakfast in bed.  Toddler-style. Perfect. Of course it was easier to actually go downstairs to have breakfast.  Especially since Keith then went to get my favorite breakfast - McDonalds' sausage/cheese mcmuffin and an iced vanilla coffee.  :)  The twins made me presents at school: Connor made me this card:  (It says 'love you to pieces') Keith gave me money and a note that said I can have a couple hours to myself.  Hmmm, what to get???  I am getting a Kindle soon.  Perhaps I will use the money on books for it, and then spend sometime at Starbucks all alone... drinking a dark cherry mocha frappacinno.  Have you ...