Some of Us & Me

Me & Benny

Benny

Ricky

Matt's D&D dice

Six Great Men In My Life

Pop and Baby Danny 11-2012

There are six great men in my life. These men have taught me many things. Things that are good, bad, funny, necessary and even heartbreaking, but all very worthwhile and important to the woman I am this day.

I'm only including the men that are alive. While I could include my Grandfathers and a Step-Dad, I'm not writing about them today. Today is for the living.

Me & Pop - 1970

Starting with Pop. My Pop is in the photo above. He's holding my nephew, Daniel - Danny to me and forever.  This was taken yesterday, 11.3.2012.  Pop taught me how a woman should be treated. He taught me this by not only treating me the way a woman should be treated, but by treating me the way a woman should not be treated.  He didn't do anything immoral with me - don't go there! LOL YIKES!! I'm a total Daddy's Girl, but he was young and made plenty of mistakes with parenting. I love him all the same. Pop and I have a crazy telepathic bond. I kid-you-not. Pop just knows when I need him and I never fail to call, just when he is thinking of or needing my shoulder.  I'm a smart cookie and I don't sugar coat, I know he's a rascal of all kinds, but he's my Pop.  When I have cooking questions, depending on what I'm making, I'll give him a call.  If I need someone in my corner, I call Dad. If I'm crying and heartbroken about my mother, his first wife, I call him. He is the only other person on earth (besides my Auntie) that knows her like I do. Actually, I don't think my Auntie knows her the same way Pop and I know her, but she knows LOTS. Anyway! My Pop - the first man I ever fell in love with - the only way a Daddy's Girl can fall. He'd sing me to sleep and give me butterfly kisses. When I had a nightmare, I'd go to Dad. He became Pop when he stayed with us for a while - we needed a different title for him, for the boys. Pop it is!

Matt. My hubby. He taught me that just because we argue - doesn't mean that someone has to LEAVE. That's what I learned from my parents I guess.... every time they argued, Mom would leave.  Matt taught me to stay.  You hear the phrase, "Real men don't leave."  Well, yeah, okay, but what about women? Strong women know when to stay, when to leave and when to get her "Black-Chick Swag" on and take off her earrings!! LOL "Don't make me take off my earrings!"  Matt treats me like a lady. Matt treats me with love. Matt is AWESOME!!! He loves me in my Love Language (acts of service). That means he takes out the scary, smelly garbage when it's dark and scary outside.  That means he will help me with things when I'm too tired or hurting. Take a bullet for Matt? Drink poison for him? Wash his dirty underwear? YOU BET!!!

Me & Mario - 2009

Mario. My little brother. Mario taught me all about nature vs. nurture. Mario and I, at most, have had approximately 10 months of our lives in which we have lived together.  We are so alike! It's a crazy and creepy kind of thing! I mean, I don't mind people knowing that I'm alot like my brother, but I bet he isn't so crazy about people thinking he's like a girl - even if it is his sister! LOL When Dad had Mario with Claudia. I didn't want to be with my mother, I wanted to be with Dad and my little brother. It broke my mother's heart. At the time, I'd drink poison for him. Now, I'd just SLAP it out of his hands and say, "What the FUCK are you doing!?!?!! That's POISONED for crap sake!!! Don't drink that!!" LOLOL

Rick, Mario, Benny - 2009

My sons, Rick and Ben. I knew that I would love my children, but I did not know that I would fall in love with my children. I never knew that I could love another being as much as I love my sons. I love my brother alot - and I would have taken a bullet for him. Then I had children. Before my sons were born I didn't know I could love someone even MORE than I loved Mario. Then along came Rick and Ben. I didn't know I was capable of that much love!!!  I'd take a bullet for my boys. I used to say I'd take a bullet for Mario, but now that I'm a mom, I'd just shove Mario out of the way and duck myself. LOL My boys though - I'd lay my life down for them.

Mario and Baby Danny - 2012

Then! Along comes Baby Danny. I have yet to hold him physically in my arms. It's all virtual. I'm all about Auntie tears and tons of love. How can I love one tiny little man so much without holding him in my arms??!!! Baby Danny is teaching me all about loving someone that really isn't mine, but is related. Baby Danny made me love my Sister-in-Law more than I ever dreamed I could love her. I mean, if Mario loves her, that's enough for me - I love her too. Unconditionally. It's just that now she has expanded my family. Family is everything to me. She has given me a gift - the gift of being an Auntie. I ADORE my Aunties! I never thought I'd be an Auntie. I was my parents only child until I was 13 years old.  I'm a big sister and I love Mario with everything a sister who lives 1500 miles away can give.  Now he has made me an Auntie!!

I didn't know, growing up, that I could love with such ferocity.  I didn't know I could love so unconditionally.  I didn't know I could love.  I was loved growing up. I am a loving person and always have been. I've worn my heart on my sleeve my entire life, but these six great men have stretched my heart in ways I never knew existed.

Thank you guys - I love you.

ABC - More Time

bloomingtonbirth.org

It isn't that I wish I had more time, but if I could ever have time back again, I would wish for the time when I was trying to breastfeed my sons. I didn't try long enough. I didn't have any support. The hospital pushed for formulas. I wasn't educated enough to know better.  

However, now I know better and if there is one thing that I could do over again, it would be for breastfeeding my children.

ABC - Best Photo I've Taken

Oscillococcinum & Laughter

Just so you can see how tiny the Oscillococcinum beads are - here are a couple of pictures to help you figure it out...

They are pretty tiny & powerful.  The laughter part comes in when I tried to give them to Rick. He only wanted to take a few tiny beads at a time - and then hand them back to me.

I promptly dropped the tube onto his stomach and bedding!!!

Tiny beads all over the place.  I laughed and laughed, but Rick is too sick to laugh, so I laughed for him. I told him he could just pick the beads out of his bed one at a time and take them. At least he'd be taking them slowly!

***I did pick them ALL out of his bedding and put them back into the tube...

His Second Day of His Senior Year

Apparently, his first day of his Senior year didn't agree with him because he has been up since the wee hours of the morning barfing his guts out. Now it's the dry heaves and we are well on our way to mid-morning.

He said to me, "Madame Teacher, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend classes today."

My response: "Apparently. Now go lie down and get some much needed rest." Then I brought him a stack of videos - the one on top was a Science/Environmental Awareness video. That brought a smile to my student's face.

Ever the homeschool Mom.

First Day of His Senior Year

It's his first day of his last day of school. I'll just write about this one change, for now. We have always homeschooled the boys. Every year I give them the choice of whether or not they want to continue homeschooling. They have always told us that they want to stay home. It wasn't always that I gave them a choice. When they were little, they didn't have a choice. Around 7th/8th grade, I asked them. Then in high school - we asked them every year.  I am ever so thankful for the time we have had together.

They know how good they have it. They get to pursue studies of their choice. Focusing on what interests them versus doing seat work and waiting for 20 other students to catch-up or shut-up.  They were also able to read their Bibles at any given time.  We didn't start homeschooling because of any religious reasons, but it certainly deepened our faith.  Anyway, in addition to the subject  matter  that  they  are  interested  in,  there  is,  of  course,  the   required  Algebra,  Geometry   and  dah-dah-daahhhhn Biology.

As for my Senior, he wants to fly. He wants to read more. He is very tired and naps alot!  I told him to read good books, not the immature 'filler' books. "Read something with substance." I told him. He is in the non-fiction section now. He is also digging further and deeper into his faith.

As for me, I'm in the initial stages of a joint graduation part - for both sons. For one, it will be a few months late; for the other it will be a few months early.  A necessary adjustment because my family is coming from 2,000 miles away and I want them to be able to plan and BE HERE.  Initially, we surprised the boys with the plan of taking them and our overnight guests out for a paint ball war! It should be great fun - just need to coordinate it all, but I think the facility will do most of that.  A big cake, THEIR own band, my brothers and cousins playing along with them - I can't wait for the fun.

Now.... to just get me through this final school year of my oldest. I'll be going through many tubes of mascara. Maybe I should just invest in a good waterproof brand for this year and then again for next year when my "baby" graduates...

Ten Things That Make Me A Happy Momma

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Raising a Modern Day Knight - Pondering #6

Your son's desires are written on his heart. When was the last time you listened to his dreams for the future? Have you helped him set the goals he'd like to make for himself? Have you encouraged him to pursue his interests? What specific things have you done to focus him in the areas which he's naturally gifted?

I know that Rick has always been musically inclined. However, I think he is alot like me - once it's "conquered" he's ready to move on.  None-the-less, we've helped him with his instruments - violin, drums and guitar, practices and exposed him to musical venues and opportunities.

Rick also likes planes. He wants' to be a pilot. So, we've introduced him to pilots we know, the EAA, the Young Eagles Program, Dodge Co. Airport had a seminar and Matt took him. We have helped him with some initial planning to save up for flight lessons and a basic timeline of how things should/could turn out for him with regards to money and schooling.

Baking is another thing that Rick enjoys - I taught him all I know, get him what he needs and let him have at it.  He's pretty dang good with the breads.

Benjamin has always had a vivid imagination and at first we thought it was more artistic, but it turned out to be creative writing. So he's writing his novel.  To encourage this we bought him a netbook for his birthday, helped him earn money towards a full sized laptop, focused his education on English and writing and found all sorts of different authors to read for exposure to different writing styles.  The biggest thing I found for Ben was NaNoWriMo This site of forums and young authors has helped to expand his horizons tenfold!

Ben is more introverted than his extroverted older brother, so finding things for Ben was a challenge. However, we found, early on, that Ben is also very musically talented.  Once this was realized we showed him different instruments, got a few lessons in him, introduced him to all of my musically inclined family & friends. His biggest achievement was being a part of a Worship team at an area church we briefly attended. That led to playing (very seldom, but playing none-the-less) at a local Christian coffee shop, in front of STRANGERS!!  He does extremely well.  He was even able to get his bass guitar autographed by a Christian band, The Afters.  This autumn I will be organizing a youth band with practices out of our basement on Saturday mornings. The goal being to play at the Vineyard (above mentioned coffee shop).

One of my final goals for the boys is to play several songs at their joint graduation party next year! I'm so excited!

Raising a Modern Day Knight Pondering #4

#4 - What do you love to do with your son?

I love to do practically everything with my sons!

I don't mind doing chores when they are with me. I love to go hiking with them. Bowling is great. Eating together is wonderful.

Life is just that much better with my sons in it!!

When they were the same height!

2010

Raising a Modern Day Knight - Pondering #3

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. " - Jim Valvano

#3 - Does your son know that you believe in him? How does he know it? What words or actions have you shared that communicates it?

Yes, Rick knows that I believe in him, so does Benny.  How do they know that?  Well, I asked them and we decided that just the fact that we are having this discussion shows that they are aware of my faith in them and that we are communicating about it! LOL

Such a bundle of men I have! Honestly, I say things to them. Things like, "I know you can do this."  or "You'll do great!" or "You always say you don't want to, but then you do and you love it!" That one always "gets" 'em! ahahaha

Raising a Modern Day Knight - Pondering #2

#2 - "What do you love to do with your son?" Today, ask your son what HE loves to do with YOU. Then put it on the calendar and commit to go do that.

Benjamin - "I love to hike with you in Door County."

I do too! We decided that we will be going to Door County this autumn to get in some good hiking - leaving Matt and Rick behind us on the trail, since we hike faster than they do.

Ricky - "I love to be in the kitchen with you."

I love to cook and so does Ricky. Fortunately, we love to be in there together! LOL  I taught him everything I know about baking bread and he has taken off with that. Now we are venturing into the world of gluten-free breads!

First Interview

Rick had his first interview today. It was with Kwik Trip. I was a wreck. Rick, only slightly so.

We found some books at the library to help with answering some of those tough interview questions and practiced at home.  He also had a practice interview with the Assistant Library Director - better than 'just Mom' doing it.

He was as polished as he could be with a three day notice - practice, practice and more practice, a hair cut and a nice shirt.  That's about all a young man can do.  We will see what comes of it all.

What They Messed Up The First Time....

In response to the First Born (Rick) saying that he had it 'going-on' in the looks department; Second Son (Ben) said, "What they messed up the first time, they perfected the second time."

Gotta love that Brotherly Love!!!

Knitting A Hat For Rick

Nice stitches!

I started to knit a hat for Rick, but I didn't like the rim, so I started over.  I tried a second time, but I didn't like the pattern, so I started over.  The third time, I liked the rim and the pattern, but it wasn't a tight enough weave for him, so I started over.  The fourth time it still wasn't a tight enough weave for him, so I started again.  I used the same pattern as I did when I made Ben's hat - Ben's hat was too big for Rick, so I made it 6 stitches smaller.  The fifth time around, I was halfway completed when I asked Rick to try it on for size.  It was too small.  I hadn't accounted for the smaller weave and smaller needles.  So, I had to start over.

I have now restarted this hat 6 times. I have to knit a few more rows before I can have him try it on for sizing again....

I'm hoping it fits this time.  Just my luck, it will be too tight of weave and the hat will be too hot for him to wear unless he is working on a ship in the Arctic Region!

Hat Mess

 Starting over

 

Our video.

I had some done, but had the sneaky suspicion that it wasn't going to fit him. So, we tentatively tried to fit it around his head, while still on the needles. It was way too small.  You may not understand much of what I'm saying thru my shrieking giggle mania, but at one point I say, "A nice neat pile, not a big ass mess." Another time, while I'm ranting I'm saying, "All my beautiful counting, counting, counting...." of course, with lots of laughter.  Laughter is extremely common in our home.

Funny Puke In The Night...

Benny posts on facebook: Went to bed sick. Had a high fever and my stomach felt terrible. And of course the major head ache had to join in fun. But I'm better now

My Reply: yeah...he's all better now.....

he's up all at the wee hours and then in the morning he's all perky and I'm half dead. Matt was up all night, can't breathe. I get him all settled and breathing - then he's snoring, but at least he's sleeping.

Then back to Ben - puke warning.

Wake up Rick - screaming... "RICK!!!! You gotta puke bucket??!!!!" He's all dead to the world, but at the mere mention of puke, Rick is WIDE AWAKE!!! "Huh?!!!! NO!!, No bucket Mom!!! Sorry" and he collapses back onto the bed, again, dead to the world shortly thereafter.

I'm FLYIN' no... ZOOMING down the stairs looking for an empty ice cream bucket. They are all full of fricken christmas candy. I finally find one with pecans in it!!! YAY!!! DUMP go the pecans onto the counter! I scared the hell outta the cat, tripped over the damn living room table, scared the rats, go flyin' upstairs to give Ben the bucket.

Get back to Benny and he's laying down again like he's SLEEPING!!! I ain't having any of that!! WAKE UP!! Are you gonna puke??!!! No, not right now.... FINE!! here's your bucket honey. Put his hair in a pony so he doesn't puke in his hair and tell him: Call me if you need me.

Slept with one eye open, both ears full of SNORING and one foot on the floor.

He wakes up all kinda happy and perky and Matt and Rick are laughing at me....... I kinda wanted to smack the patients this morning!!!

Another Pet Rat Dies

11-16-11

Rick & Baby Mojo

Awww... Sleepy baby.

Good Boy, eat your veggie.

Check-in out his new tube house!

Baby Moj' and Momma!!

We think Little Moj' died from a twisted intestine.  He was quite the acrobatic rattie.  He would greet you by doing back flips!  Such a sweetheart, all full of energy. He was happy just sitting on your shoulder, peeking out from under your hair.

He'd gt real still while watching the cat, but when the other ratties were out and visiting, he wanted to get out and play, play, play! Such a sweetheart. 

We were only able to enjoy him for 16 days! That hardly seems fair.  Watching him die was painful. It would be painful watching any pet die. It would be painful watching anything die.  He died while being held.

17 months to 17 years

I find it just incredible that you are 17 years old.

I swear that not too long ago, your foot was as long as my thumb. 

Your tiny round head fit in the palm of my hand. 

We swayed to the music of Sting so you could fall asleep.

Our first home was a second story apartment.  It was cozy and warm.

You were tiny enough to sleep on our chest.  You slept that way alot with your Daddy.

You were sick alot until I finally took you out of daycare.

Daddy and I worked opposite of eachother from almost day 1.

We bought our house so you could have grass and a sandbox to play in.

You were so happy and small - you "sat" on the real estate SOLD sign under a big maple tree.  Benny was there too, but we didn't know that yet.

You fit inside the laundry basket -- with laundry still in it!

We were all yours for 17 months... and then we added baby brother to keep you company.

17 months to 17 years.

Time flies when having fun - and we certainly do have loads of fun!

Hey Mom just testing to see if this works

Coolness! hahaha. I'm done with school for today just letting you know that!

Can you hear me now? What did you say??!!

We just bought Benny a new MP3 player for his birthday. I told him to open it up to make sure I bought the right one.  Upon trying to read the foreign language directions, he said, what Matt interpreted as: "Three whores and an empty dwarf."  Which was REALLY supposed to be: "...durante al menos tres horas antes del primer uso."  We have no idea really what that says specifically, just a general idea based on the English directions.

Anyway!! Benny tried. Matt said, "WHAT!!!???" Benny smacked Matt. Ricky almost chocked on his cake roll. I laughed hysterically.