My hero

For Christmas my in-laws gave us a Wii and the Fit. Also for Christmas, my parents gave us Guitar Hero World Tour, with 2 guitars. Their family (which still houses all four of my siblings, ages 7-20) received GHWT with all the bits. You know, microphone, drums and both guitars. Needless to say, it was one of the most fun Christmas days ever!

My son, 7 years old, was unsure about the whole thing. He is so self conscious about everything that it has taken Dustin and I YEARS to get him to stop racing from the room, in tears, from embarrassment. So, getting him to participate in the GH festivities was a time consuming process. He started with the drums. Then tried a guitar. But really, he was so frustrated at his inabilities that he refused to play more, until he could practice at home. So, in desperation, I tried the last bit. The microphone. But he was hesitant, so I said I would sing with him. The boys (because, in my family there are a lot of them) chose Linkin Park's song, What I've Done.

A side note: You know how I said I was nerdy? Well, my whole family is, meaning husband, son and daughter. We love movies and specifically superhero, fantasy, sci-fi, action. So this song? Yeah, it is THE closing song for Transformers (which if you have not seen, you should do so before you do anything else, ever). My whole family loves Transformers. But my son LOVES Transformers.

So the music comes on, and he goes all, "Hey, I know this song....." As the lyrics come across the screen, I begin to sing into the microphone he is holding. He starts to warm up to it. Reads the words (OMG!! He is reading the words without trouble!!!!) and then, suddenly, with the crescendo of the chorus, goes all rock star on me! He is totally belting out the words, head banging and adding dance moves during the guitar solo, hogging the mic! RAD!

My grandma, who was watching the whole thing called me over to tell me how proud of him she was. That she knows he is unsure of himself but that she is so happy we work hard to pull him out of his shell.

And wouldn't you know it? He kept on trying other instruments for the rest of the evening.

Oh yeah.....

My son got the hankering, after breakfast this morning, to draw a picture.

See it says Nice But (because he is 7 and doesn't know it has two t's yet). This is his title. How classy!

What is that? Why yes, in fact those ARE hairs!

This is a very proud day for me.

Like being vaccinated but BETTER

Ring Around the Rosy
as sung by Brea (AKA Girl)

Ring around the Rosy
a poppet dull da dosey
Run around in a circle
Everyone falls down!

They are onto me

My children know me all too well. Today my daughter clomped over to me, wearing an "evening" gown and clear, plastic dress up heels. She laid her head on my lap and begged for lunch. Poor starving girl! Of course I will feed you, child who ate less than 3 hours ago!

The following is what occurred:

Me (internal dialogue): Lunch, okay, to the fridge for the cheese..and...oh, hey! My white board is empty. Isn't there something that belongs on there? Sure, yeah, gallon sized baggies. Oh, and I forgot to write down the dinner plans for each day this week. I can just do that now! I love the way this pen writes. Don't I have a bunch of other colors, somewhere? Okay, so quiche for Thursday, but oh, no wait, we changed our plans, so we will have to change it out with Friday and then, oh shoot, what are we doing for the weekend? Oh right we have that party, so we will all be doing THAT........

Girl: "Mom? Moooooom?? MOM!!! No! I. WANT. LUNCH."

Two years old and this girl already knows her mom is easily lost.

Countering your Zen

Several weeks ago I made a trip to World Gym, the only gym worth going to (in my area) if you are a mom, and signed myself right up! Several locations! Tanning! Classes! Pool! Kid's program! FREE CHILDCARE. And that is the best, right there. Seriously, I can make my way to the gym as many times a week as I like, leave the kids in good hands and exercise with other adults, tan and take a shower all without yelling, 'WHO IS BANGING??" It is possibly one of the best investments I have ever made in my life.

Tuesday and Thursday I go to yoga (assuming the kids are healthy and have clean clothes to wear) and contort myself into the most delicious poses. I am rediscovering my flexibility and strength and I feel so alive! But I am, in fact, a yoga n00b and feel a little self conscious about unwritten yoga etiquette. Everyone is so focused and limber. And I just don't want to screw it up!

Something my husband and I have talked about it the fear in the unknown. How when you talk about those fears, you take away their powers. Today, I took away the powers of one fear and possibly created another. There is a pose that involves getting into a squatting position, placing your hands on the floor in front of you and resting your knees on your elbows. Then, then, you lift your feet off the ground and balance on your arms. Of course I could do this when I was six. Very simple. But sometime between six and the age I am now (oh-ho! you thought I would let that little secret?) I have grown a couple of feet worth of legs. Lots and lots of leg. So this is not so easy anymore.

Today I was pushing myself a little more to try the poses I have, in the past, shied away from due to the extreme chance that I would fall on my head. Today I felt so alive and so strong! I balanced! And I pulled my feet off the ground! And it was exhilarating! But mostly because I fell on my head. Loudly. Very thumpy falling. And then I laughed. Everyone was still, focused on this position, breathing, gaze to someplace tranquil and then an elephant hurtled to the floor and lol'd.

I am simply grateful they didn't kick me out or worse, talk to me after and tell me it was okay. Everyone pretty much pretended it didn't happen. Much like farting in polite company.

Not that I have ever done that.

Death by Christmas

I have always loved Christmas. But then I was always the supporting role. The one who helped set up the tree and decorations and then helped take it down. Helped with cooking. Helped with eating. Helped with shopping and then wrapping.

But not now. Now I am the mom and I am responsible for the family's Christmas Cheer. You would think that since my son is 7.5 years old that I would be used to this but really we haven't had a "normal" year, ever. Not a single year where it is just us and the kid(s). Where we aren't expected to make people happy or people aren't visiting or we aren't traveling *shudders*. This would be, in fact, our first real Christmas as a family. And if I had my way, there would be no trees and just some yummy cookies and gifts (because those are easy! and fun!).

How does one get to the point where they are wondering what the very smallest number of days is required for the Christmas tree? I don't even want to pull out my Christmas music and that is weird. Once upon a time my husband actually had to make a rule that I wasn't allowed to pull out the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Christmas cards? Count yourself lucky if you get one from me because Scrooge has taken over, my friend! Once I was little like Walmart: Christmas was fair game after Halloween (well, I did have the common decency to wait for Thanksgiving but it was not a patient wait).

I could argue that now, since I am responsible for EVERYTHING, I am feeling overwhelmed. But I think that would be a cop-out. I think mostly I just want summer back and so I am protesting the season. Ice? Freezing rain? lumpy jackets? The only good things about cold weather are: fires in the fireplace (they are less fun out of the fireplace), sweaters (the soft ones, not those scratchy torture devices) and scarves (my new love). Other than that? Okay, maybe snow. I will concede on that one. But other than THAT? blech.

With ALLLLLL of that in mind I have made a decision: Christmas will not be about the lights, gifts and pleasing people. It will be about the time I get my family all to myself. It will be about watching the kids' wonder at the lighted tree. It will be about the bounty, abilities and grace we are blessed with. And it may, in fact, include a vast number of cookies.

After each meal....

You know how when you were a kid you would go into the bathroom and suck the bubble gum flavored toothpaste off your toothbrush and call it done? I miss those days.

When I was a teenager, I was an adamant 2+ a day brusher. No less and more if there was a social engagement. I stayed this way until I was preggers with #1. Then, every time I put that toothbrush in my mouth, I would gag my way through my hygiene ritual. I was so confident about everything in that pregnancy, that I knew the reflex would go back to its old abilities. And you know what? It did!

Then I had baby #2.

My gag reflex went berserk again and I soldiered through it but this time, everything was different. I was having a girl, I was much smaller and I actually had weird pregnancy aversions. Like bread grossed me out hardcore. And some of those weird pregnancy things stayed (fear not, I devour bread again).

Needless to say, I don't like to brush as often. I still aim for 2 times a day, but there are times when my husband will ask, "Um, aren't you going to brush your teeth before we go to sleep?" And I seriously have to weigh the consequences. Because gagging for 2 minutes is really no fun.

Maybe I should just go brush with the kids. They have this Fruit Punch flavored toothpaste that smells so tasty!