Cheers to 38, ain't it great?

Well, my birthday has come and gone and I am now officially 38 years old. I'm another year older, hopefully another year wiser and still in Size 5 jeans! But it's kind of surreal! When my Mom turned 38, I was already living on my own in Phoenix and she had her whole adult life ahead of her to do whatever she pleased! I, on the other hand, still have a babe in diapers! Does this bother me? No. I wouldn't have it any other way. I would have never had the patience for motherhood in my 20's and I'm glad I waited until my 30's to embark on this journey, even if it was an unexpected journey. Which hopefully means I'll have even more patience to deal with teenagers in my 40's! I'll have to let you know about that when the time comes!

Now am I thrilled about being nearly 40? Not particularly, but then again, I'm not really too worried about it either. The passing of time is inevitable, so what could I do to prevent it? And since it can't be prevented, why should I worry so much? I am having a good time. I am loving my kids. I am still married to the same great guy. I have one helluva good 'ol dog. I have a nice house and a good car. I have a pretty damn good life. So I have a few gray hairs, well who am kidding, I have ALOT of gray hairs (that I dye any chance I get) and a few wrinkles I'd like to have lasered out of existence, and boobs that aren't as perky as I'd like, but other than that, I can't really complain.

Sometimes I feel a little twinge, when I think of the things I haven't done yet and I start to worry. I've never been to Europe or Australia, I've never zip-lined through the Costa Rican rainforest, I've never seen the east coast, I've yet to finish one of my children's books, I've never won the lotto. But then I try to take a deep breath and look at what I HAVE done in the past 38 years. I spent LOADS of time with grandparents who are now gone and I treasure every single moment I had with them. Luckily I still have one left and although I don't see her as much as I'd like, I talk to her at least twice a week! I have shared my life with countless little critters, mice, rats, snakes, ferrets, fish, cats and dogs and I loved everyone of them deeply and did my best to make sure they had good lives and I cried when they left this world. I have always been my mom's best friend, especially after the divorce, it was just me and her against the world. I met, loved and married my soulmate! How many people can say that? And in doing so, I was welcomed into his family, where I proved that a girl CAN love her in-laws! I have met, lost, and re-discovered great friends. I have given birth to 2 beautiful babies which are now the foundation of my whole life and although I would have never pictured myself as "mama material" it for some crazy reason worked. So, I haven't yet traveled to exotic islands or seen an elephant on the savannah, or walked on the Great Wall of China, but I have tried to fill my life with love. And maybe, just maybe, that's what it's all about.

So cheers to 38! I want to make every single day count. I want to make sure I write everything down. I want to make the memories that I can fondly look back on when I'm 92 and tell them to my great-grandchildren, just like my grandmother does today! I want to look back and know that although I may not have been rich with money, I was rich with love and it doesn't matter how old you are, when you've got the love, age is irrelevant, because love is forever!

A song for my birthday...

Please sing along to the traditional "Happy Birthday Song"

Happy Birthday to me,
My kids are screaming!
They're being punk-asses!
Happy Birthday to me!

Birthday wishes

I'll be celebrating my birthday later this month, and all I'm saying is I'm still 30-something! Anyway, I was pondering what I might enjoy doing for my birthday, or what silly little thing might amuse me. At first I thought of new jogging pants and some new sneakers, just because that's what I wear 90% of the time and the ones I have are getting old and sad, then I thought I might like some new bamboo utensils to use on my non-stick pans, I have some but one broke, or maybe a couple of good books, I haven't had anything new to read in awhile. Pretty simple stuff, I'm an easy-going girl, you don't have to buy me diamonds to make my day. Honestly dinner out and a cool punk rock t-shirt sounds awesome! But then, about 2 hours ago, my hopes and dreams for my birthday changed entirely. I heard a horrible noise upstairs, so I ran up and what did I find? The Monkey Man barfing his brains out! Of course my first worry was for him, poor little guy, it breaks my heart! Then I slowly began to notice the aftermath and all I can say is HOLY SHIT! He obviously started off in his bedroom, then left a contribution in the hall and proceeded to hurl again before he could lift the lid of the toilet! Egads! So two hours later, after being on my hands and knees scrubbing copious amounts of vomit out of the carpet and off the walls, I have decided what I REALLY want, more than anything in the world, is new carpet! And if I can't get that, I'd settle for a serious visit from Stanley Steemer or Kiwi!!! It may not be romantic, but after the puke, the dog piss, the wine and more puke, this carpet can't take much more! It's getting so bad that even the dog is offended by it! Sigh.

Flaunting my skills!

We celebrated the Piglet's 2nd birthday last night. Just a few friends and family and one of her little friends. We had a wonderful time, hanging outside, drinking beer and enjoying some good food! But the highlight of the night was cupcakes! Big Daddy and I made up the cutest batch of "McDuff-cakes" which were fashioned after her favorite book character, a little West Highland White Terrier named McDuff! Check out the mad skills hubby and I have! How the hell are we gonna top these bad boys next year!?!

Hella Hogwarts cont...

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! Or as one of the little party-goers said, "Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble???" Kids and toilet talk! Anyway, this was our "magic powder" with the "enchanted water" and the subsequent reaction. Needless to say, the kids LOVED this!

The Hella Hogwarts Party

The Monkey Man is turning 6 this week, so we had a big 'ol birthday bash last Saturday! My mom was able to come out that weekend so we decided to do the party early so she could participate. I think I might have gone a little ballistic! I am such a nerd about this shit! I researched Hogwarts parties and science experiments and all sorts of stuff. I will be honest, alot of what I did, I found online. I am very creative in certain aspects of life, but party-planning ain't one of those areas! I am learning though and I am inspired by all the crazy parents out there who come up with some SERIOUSLY mind-blowing crap!

It all started with the invitations. I bought this great translucent paper and went through about a million different fonts to find the perfect one. I used all the best Hogwarts language that I could. I then rolled up the paper like a scroll and tied it off and we delivered them all by hand. The next week I made up directions to our home that resembled The Marauder's Map (that took a chunk of time out of my day!) but they were cool to look at! All the moms were VERY impressed!

The day of the party we hung up this huge black, plastic tablecloth that we had shredded and painted to say "Platform 9 3/4" in front of our door. Once the children arrived and gave the proper password they were given student robes (which I made out of LARGE black t-shirts that I decorated with a glue and glitter Hogwarts emblem). I looked for the stupid gold, sparkly "puffy paint" at Hobby Lobby as that stuff is washable, but I didn't find any, that sucked. They were each allowed to pick a wand (dowels that we cut into 12" pieces, sanded down and painted with metallic colors and dusted with glitter). Each child was also allowed to pick out their own "Sorcerer's Stone" (smooth rocks that I painted with all sorts of wild stuff and dusted with glitter of course). Are you getting the picture that my house was FILLED with glitter?

Once the children were robed and given wands, we went outside for potions class. Each child was given a little plastic goblet. I provided them with loads of "magic powder" aka baking soda and they also were given "enchanted water" aka vinegar. They put a couple of spoonfuls of powder into their goblets then were asked to pour in the vinegar. The reaction was a great, bubbling, foaming mess and they all had to do it again and again! Now I actually had planned on doing invisible ink, but in all honesty, it was such an unexpectedly beautiful day that I sent them all off to the trampoline for "flying lessons". This of course was a huge hit! While they were "flying" my hubby and brother-in-law decided that foaming vinegar and baking soda was not at all good enough, so they bowed out and ran to Walgreens to get Mentos and Diet Coke. Now THAT is a volatile reaction! And of course anything that involves liquids spewing at high speeds out of coke bottles is BIG FUN! After all the potions and flying, we opted to come in for cupcakes, which I decorated with sugar cones that I dipped in chocolate and decorated with white icing. Once massive amounts of cupcakes were consumed it was back outside for more games. We played "Dementors and Werewolves" a game where I allowed the older children (and the adults on occasion) to chase the littles around the yard. They had to "defend" themselves by casting charms such as "Immobulus" or "Expecto patronum" which rendered the werewolf or dementor motionless for a count of five or so. It was fun, although a couple of us got accidentally whacked by the wands and they smart! Sadly, the Sorcerer's Stones ended up just being party favors. The intent was to hide the stones and allow the children to seek them out, but it got just too late and the kids were fading fast after 2 hours of potions and charms and flying! It was a brilliant success! I took a "class photo" of the kids in their robes and included the photo with the thank you notes I had the MM hand make. One more party down and one stressed out Mama who has no clue how I'll top this next year!
Invitation and Marauder's Map
Marauder's Map First Opening
Marauder's Map Second Opening
The "Great Hall"

She's growing too fast!

My baby recently celebrated her first birthday and of course I was overjoyed. She is learning so much right now, it is almost hard to keep up with her. She wants to know what everything is, constantly pointing and demanding answers, exploring every aspect of her world. She has quite an impressive vocabulary already and it increases daily. She knows more than she can say, when asked where something is, she'll point to whatever object you're asking for. She isn't walking yet, too busy trying to talk to worry about it, but she is cruising. Actual play is happening now as well, she likes to roll a ball back and forth, she genuinely gets and enjoys Patty Cake, she understands that when you count to three she's going to get tossed up in the air or dipped back or something fun, you can see the anticipation and excitement in her eyes! I seem to remember this being a wonderful age with her brother as well. There is just something awesome about witnessing the transformation from helpless, little being to mobile, verbal, interacting toddler!

But... there are the times that I realize I will never see this stuff again. Once she moves on to the next stage of development, that last stage is gone forever. It wasn't so bad with my son because I knew I would have another child one day. I'd be able to experience all of those wonderful things at least one more time. Then, after the birth of my daughter, I was sure that I had fulfilled my biological need to procreate and fixed myself. I don't necessarily regret this decision, it was the responsible thing to do. Two kids work for us, anymore would have us strapped financially and I want to make sure I can afford the children I have. I want to make sure I can provide college educations and family vacations, not to mention put food on the table! That being said though, sometimes there is that slight pang that I'm done. I'll never have my own tiny little baby again, I'll never witness that first smile again, or that first time to roll over, or see the reaction to tasting a lemon for the first time. It's heartbreaking in a way. There is part of me that is happy she is past all the "teeny baby" stuff, the colic, the 4 times a night feedings, the 10 diapers a day and all that, but then there is part of me that will miss this tiny little person, snuggled up against me at night or riding against my chest in her sling, or the awe at how small and delicate her little hands and feet were. And there is that feeling with a newborn, I think only a mother can understand, where you know with all your heart, mind and soul that you are "THE ONE", you nourish that baby with your own body, you warm her with your warmth, and you love her like she is an extension of you because SHE IS! So, I would be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that I am sad I will never have another one. I KNOW it was the best decision for our family and I am so AMAZINGLY in love with and happy with the two I have, so there are really no major regrets, just lingering memories that sometimes make me long for another. I'd be willing to bet I'm not the only mother that ever felt this way, am I right?