COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!

I woke early today, went down stairs, grabbed my Primary manual and sat at the kitchen table to prepare my lesson. Yes, our church starts at 9, and no I hadn't looked at the lesson until then, but it was just one more thing I put on the back burner last week. My mind began to wander...it's Sunday, this is my last day of spring break, life continues as normal tomorrow, the weather is going to be cold and cloudy all week, I have so much to do.......on and on and on.

Next, that turning, almost panicky feeling took over my insides and made me sad, heaviness in the chest, water in the eyes, sad. YUCK! I don't like feeling this way. Bob meandered downstairs, hair in serious disarray and eyes straining to open, "How ya doin', " he asks. "Not good." I answer. "I am sick inside. My life resumes tomorrow, and I am not ready!"

You see, I spent the last week doing nothing. I had NO work to do. My kids had NO school, piano, swimming or soccer. We didn't help watch friend's kids or have friends over to play (despite their pathetic pleading attempts). It was just me and the kids for one whole week. I loved every minute of it (minus a few moments...I mean lets be realistic!). We played outside, grocery shopped, went to lunch, hung out at the mall, rode the many escalators, held every whining puppy in the pet store, cleaned out closets, made pot pie for dinner, rented movies, watched a lot of basketball, and even weeded the yard. This is how life is supposed to be.

Robert dropped himself down on the couch and held out his giant, monkey arms to me. I snuggled up to him, and as he patted my back he said,"Just two more months. You can do it." He's right. I hadn't thought of it that way. There is light at the end of this (Calgon take me away) tunnel. Two more months and it's SUMMER. Two more months and he will be more acclimated to his new job, thus getting him home at a decent hour. His big race will be ending, thus having him home with us more often instead of him out swimming, biking and running. And as for me, I am taking the summer off...TEACHING HIATUS, I TELL YA! It will be three months of bliss, no work, me and my kids, sun shining, no school, piano, swimming, or soccer.

Luckily, the sick, heaviness in the chest, eyes slushing with tears, sad feeling, began to slowly subside.

And so I say, "Bring it on Mr. Tomorrow. Throw a million THINGS TO DO at me like you're slinging mud, because I can take it!

But, don't think for a slim second this anxious mama isn't...

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!

Much Better

It was late one night and Bob was working on his computer, frustrated, he kept running his hands through his hair....thus the outcome below.....I got such a kick out of his BIG hair that I had to snap a photo, or two or three. So, Robert just came in the kitchen and let me know my last post was lame. I deleted it. I think this one is much better.

Hey Bob..........How do you like me now?!

"Mom....me three today!"

Yes, you are my baby boy.......sniff, sniff..........oh, how they grow so fast, too fast.

It is hard to believe he's only been in our family for three years. Maybe because I just can't imagine life without him now.

Owen has been such a joy. He was the sweetest, best baby, and has continued to be that way today. He is shy but kind, loving and sweet. His heart is as big as the moon, and so is his smile.

Owen is all boy. He loves to play ball. He spends his days shooting hoop, throwing the football, hitting the hockey puck, fighting with swords, and wrestling. But, he has a feminine side too. He loves to have his finger and toe nails painted. Today he is sporting blue fingernails, and orange toe nails, Boise State colors, of course.

Owen is my buddy and when Pay and Aves are at school it is our time. I love having him around, and wish I could freeze him, so he'll stay my baby boy, side kick, attached to my hip, forever. Because when he asks me if he can have a blue alligator (gatorade) or if I will shamPOOP his hair, it makes me smile, and nothing makes me happier than grinning at my sweet boy.

So, hap, hap, Happy Birthday, Owen boy!

We're going to make this day super special.........just like you!

Love, love, love you much, my baby boy......Mama

I thought it was safe

...but it wasn't!

I needed a book to help pass the time while Bob is away, so, after the kids were long asleep, and I didn't want to lay in bed listening for prowlers or scaring myself with every creek, crack, or movement of the house, I picked up Nicholas Spark's novel, Dear John. I must admit, his novels aren't usually my first choice for a read, but I thought it would be light, quick, easy and harmless. By harmless, I mean, it wouldn't have an effect on me. Because you see, I have been known to get too involved emotionally with a book. I get attached to the characters and actually feel their pain. That sounds ridiculous, and it is. A perfect example is that after reading, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, I cried for three straight days...pathetic, I know.

So, Nicholas Spark's books are pretty predictable. They're a little cliche as well. You know, the sweet, innocent girl meets the rough, rebellious guy, they fall in love and everything is great until some giant obstacle comes between them and their relationship. Dear John followed suit, but as I turned the pages, reading away.......I could't stop reading. I was HOOKED! I found myself really liking the characters, and even though the romance was a bit cheesy, it was exciting too. I must give credit because I think he does a fine job capturing just how giddy and nervous we all are when we fall in love, when we find that certain person who makes us weak, flushed, and incredibly happy. I loved reading about this young couple doing just that, and enjoyed thinking back at my own life, reflecting on the fun and excitement I experienced while falling in love.

So, I finished the book last night and it happened. I layed in my bed and cried. DAMNIT! I didn't want it to get to me, but it did. The book was sad and didn't end the way I wanted it to, but at the same time, it ended perfectly. I loved how the characters were so good, how they loved each other so deeply that they were completely un-selfish, which is so rare. I loved that book for the very reason that it reminded me once again that nothing in this world, materially, matters. It is only the relationships we have in this life that will bring us real joy. So, to work on them and devote ourselves to our loved ones (family, friends, neighbors, etc. ), should be our only concern.

This reminder was good for me. I needed it.......and it is something .......I really want to work on! I think I started too, because today on the phone Robert asked me why I was being so nice to him. I didn't tell him it was because of the sappy, romance novel I just read, which heightened my feelings for him and reminded me how lucky I was to be in love.

....but I think he knows!

We Out'

Well, it isn't the Bahamas, and it is probably colder than it is here, but it is a little trip away. We are headed to Salt Lake City in just a few hours. I can't wait to come upon the Wasatch mountains. When they are snow capped......simply amazing! Mason, Robert's nephew has a hockey tournament there. Since they live in Denver, and we rarely get to see him play, we are excited for the opportunity. My kids have been anxiously waiting all week, "When do we get to go to Mason's hockey!?" Avery even included it in her prayers last night! So, if we can survive the 6 hour drive with the kids, I know we are going to have a screaming good time cheering for Mason and his team! Most of the McBride clan is coming to support him, even Danette is flying in from Michigan. We're happy to get to see her too! Oh, but I don't know, a bunch of us competitive, intense, rowdy, family members at a hockey game for one of OUR OWN.......it could get ugly! Hopefully there won't be any fights broken up off the ice!

Good times to be had.....

Me's Busy

My life is a bit overwhelming at the moment, and I am sure you can ALL relate. It's up at 6 to run, go all day long keeping up with the house, laundry, kids, pre-school, piano, swimming, soccer, dinner, and bed-time routines, and everything else life is throwing at me. Then it's on the computer, up late, working away........ Avery, who thinks my camera is a toy, snapped this photo. It is the epitome of my life right now........

SERIOUS MULTI-TASKING AND COMPLETE DISARRAY!Oh, and mother nature isn't making things a whole lot better either. Here in Boise, the weather is bitter cold, and we've had quite a bit of snow lately too. Spring and warm weather would sure make things nice around here. So, I was browsing through old photos last night and found these. I couldn't help but to think, "How utterly fantastic would it be to be there right now?!"In the Virgin Islands, on St. Thomas, with him....Enjoying those views....Napping here, on a warm, white, sandy beach...

Breathing in fresh, floral scents...

Hanging out there....

Golfing here...or should I say, having fun driving the golf cart and losing a LOT of balls in the ocean!

Watching and enjoying romantic sunsets there....
Basking in the warm sun and cooling off in the picturesque pool here.... Chowing on delicious, tropical food and sipping on lots and lots of virgin pina coladas and strawberry daiquiri's!

Doing a little island shopping there....

Wandering, oh so aimlessly here....Having fun dressing like fools there.... (Winning a monetary prize, I might add, for the best costumes! Obviously the competition wasn't too stiff!)All because he worked hard and won a big award! Oh, I can promise you.......There isn't a trip like that planned in our near future. I do have a few lucky friends who are on their way to Hawaii this month. All I have to say is, "Hooray for you, Angie and Steph!"

....because even though this girl LOVES her life and wouldn't trade it for the world,

She's currently....

BUSY, COLD AND SO WANTING A VACATION!

Paying my debts

I did it. Today I payed my debts. I thought I could continue to take the kids to story time, craft time afterwards, and let them play on the computers too, and they would be satisfied with our visits to the library. Nope. They wanted books. Each and every time they begged for books. Well, books would be great too, but their mama had a big, fat, gigantic late fee she was avoiding. I avoided it for almost a year. Then I decided today I was going to be clean free of that debt. It wasn't going to be weighing on my shoulders like a monkey on my back any longer. So, I did it. I payed the outrageous late fee and one lost book fee and the kids were ecstatic checking out there many, many, many books. This is a new day. This is a new me. There will be no late fees, and I am holding myself to it!

Oh, and if you haven't read Enemy Pie to your kids, it's a great one! We seem to be going through "friend" issuses here in our household, so this was very fitting for our second grader.

Sick

I'm sick. So sick .......my head aches, eyes are hurting, nose is running, throat is burning, SICK. I've blown my nose so much the ends are red, swollen and raw. I must not be looking fabulous either because Robert keeps saying, "Man, you're sick. You look awful."......and that makes me even more sick. So, sickness is surrounding me. I am a little, tiny parcel in a giant tornado of SICK.

But, you know what was even more sick, the sickest of all, by far? The season finale of The Bachelor. Did you see it? Are you disgusted with a capital D? Hmmmm........I would love to go off right now on how upset it made me and how ridiculous it was, but you know what, I am not devoting any more of my time to THAT show. I am done with you, yup, just like all your contestants are done with who they choose. You think you can just throw people to the curb because your feelings change? Well, guess what, my feelings have changed too, from a fun form of entertainment, to just plain........YOU MAKE ME SICK!

Adios, The Bachelor.

She's Having a Baby!

Karrie Jo and Aaron are having a baby boy in the next few weeks. It is their first baby, and we couldn't be any more excited for them. Karrie is my sister-in-law, but has been, since Robert and I started dating, one of my close friends. She is one of the most adventurous girls I know, and by far one of the "coolest!" Baby Beckham is one lucky, little dude. He'll enter the world soon, fortunate to have Karrie and Aaron as his peeps! So, with his arrival soon upon us, Mikkel and I threw Karrie a family baby shower. Great Grandma McBride, who has the perfect party house, allowed us to gather for the festivities in her home. We chowed on delicious food and enjoyed these silly but scrumptious cupcakes. For those of you Tip Junkie blog admirers, like myself, yes, I found this idea on the blog itself!We played a few fun games.
.....and had some excited winners!

Karrie was given soooo many great gifts. This onesie is one of my personal faves.

....and this onesie is hers!

It is always fun to have a reason to get all the girls together and party. Thanks Karrie, for giving us that reason! Beckham will be here before we know it, and oh, how your life will change.......for the absolute better, that is! We ALL couldn't be more anxious for his arrival, and we know he is going to be one OVERLY adored, if that's possible, BABY BOY!