Of Ice and Men

It was only a month ago. I was listening to all of my friends (both in real life and on facebook) extol the virtues of a winter storm. Everyone, myself included, was bristling with anticipation for the approaching snow. "A white Christmas", we all decided, "would be beautiful, nostalgic and fun!". Just like back home, I thought. Well, the love is gone. The ship has sailed. The fat lady has sung.

Like all things good or bad, this, too shall pass. I just thought I'd go on the record to say that I am ready for Spring. I enjoyed the winter, snow and ice, but I've moved on. Time for mother nature to catch up. Sadly, my spring bulbs had already decided to poke out of the ground. I hope they make it!!

So, with the snow falling outside, school cancelled for the day and my excited children pressed nose to glass I would like to say I'm thankful for the warmth and shelter of our home and grateful for the electricity that did not fail. But I am ready for the sun. How about you?

The House Guest

We had a visitor! Her name is Linda and she was quite charming. She was very sweet, though kind of clumsy. She was also a pretty big girl, but that's okay. She was very accommodating and didn't mind that we asked her to sleep in the garage. She kept the kids entertained and took quite a liking to Jonesy. Jonesy liked her pretty well, too, but tired of her endless flirting after a while. Before you think I am rude for making our guest sleep in the garage, I should tell you that Linda is a dog. No, silly, a CANINE!! Here is a picture of Linda and Jonesy trying out her sleeping space.


See all that drool in Linda's mouth? She ALWAYS had that going on, and would rub her head on you or shake her head, jowls foaming, spraying saliva...yuck! She is most definitely an outside dog! Have you seen Marley and Me? Yes? Then you know what I'm talking about.

I wish I had pictures of the two dogs outside playing. They were cute. Jonesy is not a small dog, but looked little next to Linda. She is honking big! I took a few pictures on my cell phone, but I don't know how to upload them, so, there they stay!

Oh! Did I mention she was in heat? Yep. What an interesting experience that was. FYI...neutered males still...um...enjoy female dogs in heat. They try to, anyway. Poor Jonesy. Anna kept saying, "Look! Jonesy is hugging Linda!" and "Jonesy is trying to dance with Linda!". Oy!

So, Linda stayed for a week. She really is sweet, and I kind of miss her. My pants are dry, though, and free of slobber for the first time in a week. That I do NOT miss!!!

Loneliness

I've been thinking about loneliness lately.

Sometimes it is a good feeling, to be alone. At the end of a hectic day, to be able to have a quiet moment, the kids safely tucked in, it can be nice.

Whenever I have out of town guests, taking them to the airport or watching them drive away always brings tears to my eyes and an ache to my chest. It is a temporary loneliness that is heartfelt, to be sure, but quickly replaced by the bustle of typical daily happenings.

A dear friend is experiencing the loss of her husband...this feeling of loneliness I cannot even imagine. To know that he will never walk through that front door again must be the mother of all heartsick feelings. How does one live with that hurt? Do daily happenings ever make it go away?

Another friend experienced the loss of a husband to divorce. Spending holidays alone because the kids are with their dad. My heart hurts just trying to imagine it!

I am lonely for Mike. My heart hurts knowing he is lonely, too. The kids keep me busy and he WILL be walking through that door. And soon! It is a different kind of loneliness, because it is tempered with anticipation and excitement.

I have been thinking about loneliness lately. And I can hardly wait for Mike to return to us. I am blessed and I am thankful. I need to remember that and reach out to my truly lonely friends, especially during the holidays. Have you hugged a lonely person today?

Where's Half Pint?

Maggie had a delightful 10th birthday. Highlight? We set up skype and called Mike, who sang and clapped along as Mags blew out the candles from her cake. Ain't technology amazin'?

When we went to see Wicked last July, the playbook announced that in November a new musical, Little House on the Prairie starring Melissa Gilbert would be coming to Tulsa. We thought about it, couldn't inagine it, laughed about it. I mean, HOW could they make a musical based on the Little House books? We couldn't imagine. A quick glance to Maggie, who was suppressing a grin. Later that evening, she confessed, "I REALLY want to see that show! And my birthday is in November." She and her friend Lauren enjoyed the first couple of Little House books and last Christmas we gave Maggie the entire collection. They love watching dvd's of the tv show. They think Melissa Gilbert is awesome. So, I bought tickets to the show for Maggie and Lauren to celebrate her birthday.

Here they are, excited to see the show, super excited to see Melissa Gilbert. The announcement at the top of the show then explained that we would be enjoying a great show and that Melissa Gilbert would be replaced by her understudy. BOOOO!!! The girls were sad, but I am proud to say, both of them said that they were sad to not get to see her, but even more worried about her and hoped that she was okay. Sweet girls, I tell you! The show was fun, the musical numbers cute. Nellie Olsen stole the show and Almanzo and Laura's story was adorable. I think when I have a chance, I'm going to revisit the old books. Honestly, I loved the tv show, but it

kind of warped the true story of Laura Ingals Wilder into Hollywood melodrama. I want to revisit the prairie and find my inner half pint. She's still there somewhere, and looks nothing like Melissa Gilbert!

Big Time

Okay, so I blew it. I really enjoy writing this blog, and even had a few people following it. Then I hit a wall...Mike got deployed, we went to Illinois, I went to San Diego, we came home, and now I'm doing this pseudo-single mom thing. No one probably checks for updates. Have you all given up on me?


I blew it! I stopped posting. Well, I'm back now. You can all exhale that sigh of anticipation and relief!

So, how shall I begin to blog again? Should I tell you about Mike's and my San Diego trip? I'd share pictures, but they are in Mike's camera, which happens to be in Iraq. Sooooo....I'll tell you it was amazing. I spent three weeks with my husband while my children were given the royal treatment with their grandparents. (more on that later!) I flew by myself, didn't die in a horrible plane crash, saw beautiful architecture, the ocean, museums, wine country in the mountains, more homeless people in an hour than I've seen in my life, wealth beyond comprehension, real life surfer dudes, a tree with 20 hummingbird feeders hosting hundreds of hummingbirds, a dude going down the street on a skateboard wearing nothing but a green thong, green converse hightops and a fannypack (yes, I took pictures), and a beach with sand flecked with gold. We ate at an amazing Mexican restaurant called Old Town Mexican Restaurant (what the name lacks in imagination, the food makes up for in deliciousness), lots of sea food restaurants and at over priced places in Little Italy and in the ghetto. We learned the ins and outs of In-N-Out Burger and Mike was brave enough to order off of the "secret" menu..Animal style! We drank wine outdoors in the mountains. We spent an entire day at the zoo, and still didn't see it all. We saw a guy get tackeled by a baywatch crew for...um...inappropriate behavior on the beach. (luckily, we didn't see the ...um...inappropriate behavior) We shopped at the military px. We went to mass in some interesting churches. We rode the trolley into town the last day of Comic Con and didn't see any celebrities, but saw more freaky people than I've ever seen before. I held a bird on my arm. I saw other people with their kids and died a little inside with longing for mine. But, the best thing about this trip...the thing I'll remember always, is this. After 21 years of marriage and six kids, Mike and I found out that we STILL like each other! We still make each other laugh and love nothing more than to just hang out together. For that, I am truly thankful. I am very blessed.


So, I blew it..big time. But I'm back now! I have a couple of pictures in my camera, but we switched to Mike's camera and, well, you know where they are. I know you are dying to see skateboard dude! Trust me, those pitures will be on here as soon as I can get them! For now, you'll have to make do with this handsome man...

Here is Mike in the grapes in a town called Julian. Sigh. I miss him.

Out of My League

I am out of my league with this one.

I am not one to primp. I don't wear make-up, though I am sure I could use it, and I have only gotten one mani/pedi in my life. I choose clothes based on comfort, and the cheaper the better. It's just not my "thing". So, why did God give me four girls? Who knows?

It's funny how they are all so different. Mary loves to dance, but dreads the make-up and hair thing. Her nails are typically dirty and ragged. Clare is a reader who enjoys looking cute, but affords no real effort and is pretty satisfied with the status quo. Maggie is a little artist and a little bit of a primper. She doesn't LOVE dressing up, but has a definate sense of her own style.

This one, however...

...loves all things girly. Make-up? The girl has been caught in the recital make-up more times than I can count. She has special hair-do requests daily and says, "Hairspray, please!" when I'm finished.

We were at the mall last week (a place I avoid like the plague) and she thought she had died and gone to heaven. We passed by the huge Sephora store and she stopped at the door, eyes wide and said (most dramatically), "Oh. My. Gosh!!!" I had to drag her away.

I am glad she has dance to fill her need for girlish fluff. She is certainly in her element at the studio. I'm afraid she is on her own at home though. Please pray for us during the teen years. If this is her at four, what does the future hold?

I am way out of my league!

Remember When

Remember back in high school how much you hated geometry? How about writing compare/contrast papers? Or reading poetry and plays in olde english and having to discuss metaphores, symbolism, motifs and the like?

Well, guess what? When your children go to high school now-a-days, the teachers "let" you experience all of those wonders yet again!

I like the history, though. I didn't the first time around, but am enjoying it now. That's something, right?