I had a birthday, shout hooray

I turned 38.

My bestie Charlene was in town and was brave enough to spend the day with ALL of us! We spent the day in Sarasota and had a great time. We ate outside for lunch, stopped by the exotic car show on St. Armand's Circle (Gary was SURE I would like that for my birthday).

We had big honkin ice cream.

On our way out we found a shop that sold macaroons!! They were really good!

Aren't they gorgeous?

On Sunday we got together with my family, and I had a gluten-filled cake.

My family and friends gave me some sweet, thoughtful gifts. My body gave me a zit. Thanks, body!

As a side note, Jack developed a humongous crush on Charlene. He has been talking about her on and off since she left. Tonight he had this message for her:

And I think he wants a message back....
He wanted me to MAKE SURE you saw this.

Happy 11th to my emma!

What a wonderful day.

We had lunch together at the cafe of her choosing.

(A French/American sandwich with brie--I'm so proud.)

We shopped together.

We laughed together. 

It was a great day. 

Happy Birthday Emma!

(And how cool is it that the year is always her age! 2011=11!)

Two

What makes the perfect day?


A birthday shirt.


A balloon that cracked him up.

Three little friends (all girls, Jack would add) to help celebrate.

Later that evening, a Mimi to help give birthday kisses at a birthday dinner.

A fabulously ugly cake. But it tasted good, seriously. This is what happens when you don't get the lumps out of the frosting and then decide to throw his favorite candy--"meems"--on top.


A two-year-old digging in.
Told you it tasted good.
You were judging.


Getting a birthday song phone call from cousin Rebecca.

Miss Kymmie, the maker of the fabulous crocheted pumpkin hat.

One Grandpa, putting together his birthday present.


The debut ride.


Again, might I add that it tasted better than it looked.
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Halloween is in 12 days. Rats. That means I am trying to figure out costumes for Gary and I. The theme this year for the annual family Halloween party we attend is, "movies." Last year, as you remember, was "eighties."

So what to do, what to do? Any ideas from you creative geniuses out there?

I already have the kids covered. No coordinating costumes as a family this year. My kids know their own minds this year, and it is not a unified one, that's for sure.
***************************

I forgot to add that I crack myself up. I dream of parties like this:


*source: HipHipHoorayblog.com

But my big decoration was a dollar store "Happy Birthday" banner that was still hanging on the wall from Emma's party at the end of July. Awesome, huh!! And yes, I finally took it down. Like a week ago.

Night at the Great Movie Ride

This was done REALLY well. I worked at The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World in the late 90s while in college. It was not always easy working here, but much better than working a mall job! The best part of the job was behind the scenes, having a lot of fun, pulling pranks, and being silly. Sometimes I miss it a lot. It was definitely a surreal experience to ride it twelve years later with kids in tow. Very, very surreal.

Jack's birthday is Friday. The big TWO! I have his birthday shirt all ready for him. TWO!!!

Stuck in the Middle

This past week Laura had to turn in a photo timeline of her life so far. She needed photos of certain ages, and examples of things she's checked off on her life list. In searching for these pictures I came to the depressing conclusion that it's not our youngest who got stiffed on the pictures, it's our middle child. I was embarrassed that I don't have as much as the other two. Emma being the first and Jack being the last, I've got them covered. But poor Laura.....

The worst moment was when I needed a picture for her 6th birthday ( JUST LAST DECEMBER). I couldn't remember what we did, nor could I find any pictures of whatever it was. I asked everyone in our family what we did for her birthday. No one could remember. "Laura," I asked sheepishly, "what did we do for your birthday last year?"
She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "I don't know," then ran off to play. Well, I thought, at least she doesn't seem too upset about it. I called my mother. She couldn't remember. I called my good friend Kymmie, and thank goodness SOMEONE on this planet remembers what we did. We went to an ice cream parlour with their family. And where are the pictures? On my old, dead computer. That doesn't work anymore (Insert commercial here for carbonite or mozy).

Feeling shame and remorse, I asked Laura where she wanted to go for her birthday this year (in December). "Do you want a party at home with your friends or something," I asked, willing to throw the biggest birthday bash ever to make up for the fact she's never had a birthday party before. "No," she replied. "I want to go to North Carolina and see snow."
"Laura, we can't go to North Carolina for your birthday, honey. It's too expensive and besides, it might not even be snowing then."
"I really want snow for my birthday, Mom. I want to make snow angels, snow men, snow women, snow things. Things with snow."
Then I remembered why we hadn't had birthday parties for her. She never wants them. She always picks the adventure over the party with friends. We've gone camping, had a day at Disney, seen a show. All at her request. I felt a little better.
But I sure wish I had the pictures to prove it.
I am resolved to do better.

belated birthday post

So our little Emma is now big Emma...she is ten. For her birthday she decided she wanted to get her ears pierced. The only holdout was Daddy. He just felt like it symbolized her growing up and was not dealing well with it. So I reminded him that we promised her that she could make the choice when she was old enough to handle taking care of her ears and choose for herself. He reluctantly agreed. But we did not get out the door without a serious Daddy/Daughter talk. He talked to her about how this was her first choice she was making when it came to her body and how to treat it. He gave her good advice about always thinking first and being responsible and making wise choices. I think I might have even seen a tear in his eye. Maybe.


Big hugs (aren't good fathers a powerful and wonderful thing?).

So Emma and I set off on her birthday for Mommy/Daughter day--just us. First stop was the ear piercing. She got a little nervous. I told her she could do it if she wanted to, or not do it if she didn't. It was okay to back out.



In THE CHAIR.

They give you a teddy bear to hold. I almost ruined the moment by wondering aloud how many germs were on it. I managed to keep my trap shut, though.


I insisted we go when there could be two workers to do both ears at the same time. By the way, it's much less scary than when I had it done decades ago.

Here it is! My baby has big girl earrings!

We had a lovely afternoon shopping and talking and she was so excited to eat lunch with me at Starbucks. We shared a calorific drink (non-coffee, what kind of mom do you think I am??)

That night we met up with our family and went out to eat. She chose the restaurant--Carrabba's. For some reason, she thinks this is a super fancy and grown-up place to eat.


Here they are singing to her.


I was very upset because they were out of their chocolate dessert. Seriously, what the crap?


Emma and her spoils.
She got a bookstore gift card, so we headed over there with Aunt Jennifer. Daddy and Jack went home.

We each looked at books we were interested in. Emma chose Ella Enchanted, The Lightning Thief, and The Meanest Doll in the World.


I chose a book with a naked guy on the front, of course. He will make all my dreams come true and take away all my sadness. "The Cat," me-ow.


My sister is already swooning.



Happy Birthday, Emma!
And she is still taking good care of her ears!

Double Digits

Today, ten years ago, Emma Elizabeth was born.
Emma because we liked it, Elizabeth for a long line of strong, amazing women in my family.

The summer she was born was a tough one. Within three months, both my grandfathers were diagnosed with terminal cancer and had passed away painfully and terribly. The day we buried my last grandfather, we found out my mother had breast cancer. Within two weeks she had had a radical mastectomy and was facing long rounds of chemo. I would sit in the hospital with her while I was (seriously) humongously pregnant. Humongously is not actually a word, but it is definitely how I felt. The day Emma was born my mom sat next to my bed, still with drains attached to her body. And we rejoiced.

Babies are wonderful. Babies heal.

Emma, what a joy you have been to me. You have helped me to reach places in my soul I didn't know I had. I was terrified to become a parent. Terrified I didn't have what it took or I would screw you up. But it has been a wonderful journey.

Emma wants to get her ears pierced today for her birthday. I am completely surprised that I am having a hard time with it. Why in the world, I thought, would this be such a big deal? I think I am realizing it is because it symbolizes some sort of rite-of-passage, a big growing-up-thing. I am afraid she will get up from the ear-piercing chair and look like a tween. There are lots of times I wish I could slow down her childhood. But I can't. So I am trying to enjoy every moment I can.

Emma, I am far from a perfect parent and there are lots of things I am always working on. But I can tell you this much: you are loved.

Emma at three

Happy tenth birthday.

gary's bday

whether we like it or not, care or not, we are getting older. gary is heading into the forties faster than I am, and the latest milestone for him this month. 39. hang on to your thirties for twelve more months, baby!

for his bday we went to c'est la vie in sarasota and gorged ourselves on french food. jack enjoyed himself as well. we made sure to take home a bag full of pastries. we sat outside and listened to the french language.

then i went home and sang a french lullaby "Fais Do Do" (I like the Lisa Loeb version) to jack as i rocked him before his nap. I will say to jack, "Fais do do?" And he will shake his head NO! (It means "go to sleep." Other favorite songs to sing (look them up on itunes) "Thanks a Lot" by Raffi, and "A la Claire Fontaine." I also catch myself singing songs from Peter Pan and Mary Poppins. Now someone tell me how this post went from gary's bday to lullaby recommendations. Ah, that's what happens when your brain is broken.

anyway, I would post links to the songs, but I don't know how.

also, hoping to see the shuttle launch friday (only three left!) in cape caneveral so when you see it lift off you can think of me. or the astronauts. or what you're going to have for dinner. whatever works.

The month of Looooove

Valentine's Day went off without a hitch.

We made Valentine's.
This is SERIOUS work.
(mostly for me)


Laura used the Inchmark valentine idea.


Emma loved the mad lib idea from Design Mom.
(what? You thought I thought of these myself? hahahahaha)

Laura made yummy valentine's for her two teachers.


A few days later we went to Disney.
This is the Speedway at Magic Kingdom. See that little white thing in the roadway?
Look closely.
THAT is the binky that Jack CHUCKED over the rail down below. A nice custodian retrieved it for me since I am too cheap to just let it go.

Finally,
this was my sister's birthday present idea for me. Isn't it clever? I loved it. I want a bike. Not an expensive one, just a cheap retro looking thing from Target. So she made me this bike fund jar, and put the first donation inside. I love it.


Next to it is the name plaque that my friend Kymmie got me for my birthday. How cute is that? I love it. Kymmie also gave me another priceless gift: a night out with Gary. She watched the kids while we went out for dinner and a movie. I don't know who had more fun, Gary and I, or the girls. Probably not Kymmie. Just kidding!

I feel loved.

(I just want to add at the end of this post that blogger is doing some weird things with my fonts. So I'm not really THAT crazy about large fonts. But apparently blogger is today. Sorry!)

Please make room for me at the cool table.

Well, my birthday was yesterday. Apart from having to attend a funeral, it was a wonderful day. I woke up as a newly thirty-six-year-old feeling a bit sorry for myself that my hands are a little more veiny and I have lines appearing around my eyes, and those are only the places I will refer to online. But there is something about going to a funeral for a twenty-year-old that immediately snaps things back into perspective. How grateful it has made me that I can enjoy another year, crows feet and all.

My husband and I don't typically get each other big gifts for our birthdays, and we are fine with that. So I was shocked and awed when I got a MacBook for my bday!!! You have no idea how much I have drooled and coveted one of these. Couple that with our new AppleTV, and I feel just like I might actually be the slightest bit cool. I feel like I did in fifth grade when I got my first Trapper Keeper, or sixth grade when I got my first Limited Express shirt! AWESOME!

So now I just have to figure out how to make it work. My only problem is that right now I should be changing a diaper, putting a load of laundry in, nagging my husband, or throwing out V-day candy while my kids aren't looking. Instead I am trying to figure out if I know anyone I can ichat with. Just call me an iNerd!!

Happy 6th Birthday, Laura

We celebrated Laura's sixth birthday on Monday. She is a Pearl Harbor Day baby.

Laura was born early...a surprise, since Emma was VERY late. We lived across the street from the hospital at the time, and had just moved back from the Berkshires a few months before. Our life seemed to be in a state of transition.

I woke up from a dead sleep at exactly four a.m. I was instantly awake and coherent. I felt something deep inside almost suck in, and then I swear I felt something "pop."

Within seconds my water gushed out, and by the time I got to the bathroom my pants were soaked around my ankles. I know, I know. Quite a visual. I tried my best to wake up Gary, but if you know Gary, you know he does not wake up easily. He is like a bear coming out of hibernation.

{I am going to insert a public service announcement here to always buy a mattress cover. We had a BRAND NEW MATTRESS and were waiting to buy a cover. I still have a large stain on my mattress where my water broke. Grrr.}

"Gary, my water broke."
"Are you sure?" he mumbled into his pillow.
I flushed the toilet behind me as red water just kept coming.
"Oh, I'm sure."
I was frightened. I didn't know what to do.
Gary stumbled into the bathroom and was awake quickly. He was scared, I was scared. There was so much blood, and I was pretty sure there was not supposed to be blood. He called my sister, our Emma-sitter, but unfortunately she had taken a sleeping pill and it took many many calls to rouse her. We stared at each other. We didn't know how much time we had, or if things were okay, or what we should do.

We were about to wake a neighbor when she arrived. We rushed around the corner to the hospital and I was admitted.

Now, I have to tell you, I enjoy epidurals. Very much. I have never, ever had a moment where I wanted a natural delivery. It has never even been a desire to me in the slightest. So you can imagine I began to panic when they happened to have a huge accident somewhere in town and both on-call anesthesiologists were in the OR with surgeries to monitor. There was a long hallway full of unhappy, very volatile pregnant women. I had taken enough lamaze classes that I sort of new what to do. But, panic set in. I tensed, I didn't breathe, I began to cry. "My bones are breaking," I said, "why won't you listen to me? I can feel it!" I also said a whole bunch of other things that didn't really make much sense. When I am in pain, I get very, very quiet. So I sort of turned inward, writhed around a bit, didn't breathe, and cried. Pregnant women, don't do that.

To my relief, a nice anesthesiologist whisked in before I hit the Point of No Return. I looked at him with stars in my eyes as he explained the necessary risks and side effects. "Look," I interrupted, "I don't give a rat's butt if it gives me a brain anuerysm. Just give me the epidural now. Please."

There is a moment when the eppy hits that is just wonderful. My body relaxed, my muscles unclenched, and in thirty seconds I was asleep.

Laura was born at 12:30 in the afternoon. My teeny little girl was 8'14". Due to low oxygen and some other complications, I didn't get to see her for four hours. But Gary stayed with her, and when they finally wheeled me in there, and I caught a glance of her, I had to laugh. And it was such a beginning clue to her personality. There she lay, in a diaper, spread out and totally relaxed under this warmer. Other tiny babies cried in other corners of the NICU. But Laura was cool as a cucumber. She just radiated this feeling of, This is my domain, I am queen of all things here, and all is well. I knew she would be okay.

I had a horrific hospital stay. The worst I have ever had. Not that I've had tons, but, you know. Seriously, you will drop your jaw when I tell you what happened. But it will have to wait until tomorrow. I am beat. When I had the stomach flu last week, I didn't take my thyroid for a week. It has hit me this week. I can barely function. I feel like I am in the ocean, trying to walk against the waves and getting nowhere. I am about one level higher than a slug. But I'm back on my thyroid so I should be back in the groove pretty quickly. Amazing how these things can affect you.

So part two tomorrow, I'll tell you the story behind someone else's blood all over the bathroom floor and a nurse telling me, "if you want it cleaned you can take care of it yourself." It's a lovely story.

a post with a lot of pictures

My first birthday.
by Jack Schmeichel

A year ago when I joined this family already in progress, my mom cursed c-sections. But not really, because she got me nice and healthy. And that's worth a big smile on her belly, right?

I was very handsome. My mom says I have big, juicy lips that all the girls are going to love. Ew.

The only downside is, I kind of cried a lot. You can't have it all, though.

Did I mention I cried a lot?

Anyway...on to my rockin' first birthday.
My mom decorated.

That's me, the birthday boy!


Yum, lasagne. my mom is the best cook evah.



This is the first birthday cake I've ever had. It is a two-layer dark chocolate cake. My mom is a whiz with chocolate. Okay, she told me to say that. I don't even really know what that means, but it was good.





I kept sucking the chocolate off my fingers. Sweet.


That is one big chunk of cake. See how I am sliding to the side? That's because I was falling asleep while eating. I'm a man, dude. That's what we do.


It's 8:00. 15 minutes past my bedtime. Put a fork in me, I'm done.


Saying good-night and thank you to my family and friends.

And here's my gift to you...

I'm naked! Whoo! Good times!!!