Archive for the ‘family’ Tag
December 29 2009 ·
3 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
Christmas,
family,
motherhood The kids have had many toys over the years. Every now and then, I pack away a few they no longer play with or that are especially irritating or that we have simply run out of room for. 3 kids’ worth of toys can quickly take over a house.
One such example were the mega blocks Jedi acquired when he was little(er). He didn’t creatively build much with them, preferring the momentary cheap thrill of dumping out all hundred pieces day after day then leave them be. And there they would lay, lifeless, with nothing more than a passing poke in the foot. I never liked these blocks. I didn’t want to deal with picking them up any longer. Thus began a gradual easing out process. And when the blocks were finally all stored away, no one gave a second glance. Good riddance.
I’m a horrible mother, I know. I don’t let my kids play with childhood essentials. First, crayons. Now, blocks. It’s a wonder I let them believe in Santa.
I haven’t had a block in my house for 2 years. Many, many other irritating toys, but free of blocks.
Until now.
When my mother bought Buzz a brand new set of mega blocks for Christmas.
There is a pile of them simply littering the floor, waiting to be stepped on. They’re just as much fun to pick up now as they were then.
Thanks, Mom.
December 15 2009 ·
5 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
conversation,
family Today is my mom’s 64th birthday. In celebration, I thought I would share a phone conversation we recently had. Because you never know quite what you’re going to get when talking with my mom. Also, this is the reason why I don’t tell my family about my website.
In a hushed tone, my mother begins, “I think your brother’s shaved.”
Now, I know she’s not talking about his face, because he shaves that every day. So at this point, I’m wondering whether I really want to further this discussion. I take a cautious step forward. “What?”
Still almost whispering, she continues, “Your brother. I think he had his back and chest shaved.”
Since it could be worse, and I’m slightly amused at her reaction, “Did he have a lot of hair on his back?”
“He had hair everywhere. Then he took off his shirt the other day and it’s all gone! I must be getting old, because it shocked me! Doesn’t that shock you?”
“Not really. Back hair probably should be shaved.”
She concedes, “I guess so. I’ve just never known anyone to shave like that before.”
Yes, Mom, you are getting old. And I now know more about my brother’s body hair than I ever wanted to.
She then told me that I couldn’t tell ANYONE. She made me swear. As if my brother’s newly shorn back is a matter of national security. That’s fine, Mom, I won’t tell ANYONE. I’ll just tell the ENTIRE INTERNET. Happy Birthday!
November 27 2009 ·
6 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
family,
food stuffs,
holiday Our first hosted Thanksgiving dinner wasn’t nearly the chaotic catastrophe I had envisioned. The turkey was done with plenty of time to spare, the stuffing was delicious and inhaled. A few other dishes didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped, but nothing was disastrous.
We even managed to keep our good humor in check. For the most part. Strangely, our one argument throughout the day involved the cranberries. Not a recipe regarding fresh cranberries, because that might make a little more sense. No, my family is the simple sort who prefers the canned variety. We weren’t even adding anything extra to it. In fact, I don’t even like cranberries.
No, we argued on how to present the cranberries. And it wasn’t really an argument, it was a “this is my way” “well, I don’t like your way”, kind of thing.
Maturity, people. We own it in abundance.
J believes that once free from the can, the cylindrical cranberry gelatin should be sliced into wobbly circles. I didn’t realize this. My mom never sliced hers; she simply opened a can, put it in a bowl, smushed it up. Voila! Thanksgiving side dish staple at it’s finest. I was even laughing at how ridiculously lazy the whole thing was. That’s when I began to smush. And J began to wrinkle his nose.
You’re kidding me, right? I’m storming out of the room over cranberries? I DON’T EVEN LIKE CRANBERRIES. Stupid cranberries.
Other than that, dinner went off without a hitch. I wish we had a bigger table, but we managed. Our pleasantries returned, the food was good, conversations were loud, and the bowl of smushed cranberries was heartily devoured.
November 25 2009 ·
6 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
family,
food stuffs,
holiday For the very first time, we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
(Insert insane laughter here.)
In our teeny tiny house. At our teeny tiny dinner-for-4 table. In our teeny tiny kitchen. With teeny tiny children running underfoot. Wearing our teeny tiny, miniscule even, chefs hats. We have never cooked a whole turkey before. Hell, we’ve never cooked a whole chicken before.
This should be interesting.
(Insert more insane laughter.)
I know they say it’s not about the food, it’s about the family. But my family really likes their food. Thankfully, my husband is going to help. He will be the one to wrestle the bird. He is also going to remove the giblets, because ew. We have a general idea of the sides we’re going to prepare. We’ve planned this far. The end result is a whole nother story. We have extras of everything possible for experimental purposes and/or in case of a catastrophe. Unfortunately, there is only one turkey.
This could go one of two ways: either not that bad, or it’s all gonna blow to pieces. Honestly, my vote is for the latter. Both J and myself tend to become overwhelmed easily. Put us fretting in a teeny tiny kitchen, fighting for space if not our lives, and our marriage may be at stake. At least I should get a good story out of it.
Pray for us.
November 05 2009 ·
5 CommentsPosted in:
Favorites,
The Kids · Tags:
Abby,
family,
life Every time I talk to my mother, she’ll ask what the kids are doing. The response is usually the same: “Jedi’s on the computer. Buzz’s in the back, probably destroying something. And Abby’s back there with him.”
Most days, Abby wants to wear every article of clothing she comes across. This particular day, her fashion choices consist of an orange oversized skateboarding shirt which hangs past her knees on top of a blue Spiderman tee. Both from her brothers, of course. Underneath all of that, however, are pink stripes and socks with red bows.
Inevitably, a few moments later, there are cries from the lone girl of the group. From either standing her ground, or getting knocked around a little too rough. For the most part they all get along well, but when they don’t. You have to stand up for yourself around brothers. Especially a brother like Buzz.
She’ll come toddling in, voicing her frustration the only way she knows how. If she could talk I’m sure she’d let me know. 9 times out of 10, someone took her toy. It’s usually a toy that she wasn’t supposed to have anyway. A too big for her light saber or headless action figure. We have yet to fully embrace the pink section of the toy aisle.
My mom, still on the phone, listens in on Abby’s intent wails. “She’s gonna be a tomboy when she grows up”, she’ll voice without fail. “Although when you grow up with two brothers like that, you almost have to be.” Says a woman who grew up with only sisters.
Believe me, she usually gives just as good as she gets even in her small size. Who says girls can’t be tough while still being girls? If it needs to be, though, the pink stripes and red bows can remain our little secret.
