My Moment...

I had insomnia last night, so I didn't get much sleep. I think by the time I actually fell asleep until I woke up was only 3 hours. And the sleep I got was not "quality" sleep.

I really hate when that happens!

I was really expecting today to be me completely knackered, while trying to keep Sam entertained and not loose my cool. However, things didn't go so badly...

It was Josh's end of year school party today. Sam and I went up and met him for lunch, then attended the party. It was really fun! The kids all sang songs they'd done throughout the year in "LIFT" -- Learing Is Fun Times. The songs were so cute and the kids all sang and danced and really got into them! It was fun.

And Sam entertained himself with the dolls in the "home living" corner -- which was good because all this took place at his nap time!

Josh's teacher this year was absolutely wonderful! I keep asking her to move to First Grade, but she won't do it! All the kids got an award of sorts. There was the "Happiest Student" award, the "Daydreamer" award, the "Math" award, etc... I think Josh got one of the best ones. He got the "Qualities of Good Friendship" award because he's everyone's friend in the class! And she said in her eight years of teaching, this was the best behaved class she's ever had!

The teacher also gave us all packets of work for the kids to do over the summer to prepare them for First Grade -- worksheets and sight-words and such, each packet was made specifically for each student and their skill level! She really was a wonderful teacher!

We are going to miss Mrs. Laird!

She also gave us all a CD with pictures of our kids throughout the year so we could see how they'd changed.

Here we are on the first day of school...

... and here is Josh near the end of the school year -- just a few days ago.

I can't believe how he's matured and grown!

So, my moment this week came just a few moments ago when I was looking through the CD of the pictures and the workbook his teacher gave us.

Each and every day, I am in awe of this child. I'm amazed at his thirst for knowledge, his joy in learning, his ability to APPLY what he's learned to his life -- something some adults I know have difficulty with.

This little boy, just 6 years old, has completely captured my heart more and more each day.

It seems just yesterday we were putting him on the school bus.

I can't believe he's going into First Grade soon.

On another note, today was the UEFA Champions League Final. Liverpool played AC Milan and lost 2-1. Apparently, Liverpool out-played Milan, but it just wasn't Liverpool's day. So some of us are in mourning tonight!

As Our Worlds Turn

Last night as I was checking on the boys, something my mom used to say popped into my head. I don't know why, it just did.

When we were being particularly demanding, messy, or just selfish, she used to say, "The world does not revolve around you, you know!" Of course we either didn't know or we didn't care!

I don't know why that popped into my head when I was checking on my kids. My first thought was, "well it may not revolve around me anymore, but my life revolves around these kids."

As a mother of young kids, so much of what I do is for them. As they get older, the less they need me, but I'm still their mom. Everything I do affects them. Yes, I am "more than a mom," but being a MOM is so BIG! It's so much responsibility! It's my number one job at the moment.

So, does the world revolve around the kids? Would that make my mom wrong? Surely, that's not right.

I must be missing something because Mom is never wrong!

I then started thinking of Jamie Lee's post When Nice Gets Tough and how this related to the world not revolving around any particular individual. About how if we Pay it forward the world may somehow become a nicer place.

Then, I started thinking about how our lives all intertwine and the affect we have on each other. It's amazing to think that a chance encounter with someone may change their life. A butterfly effect of sorts.

Do we really ever know the affect our lives and interactions have on another person?

There is a man that lives around the corner from me. I don't know his name. I call him "The Nicest Man in the Neighborhood." He has two Lhasa Apso's that he walks around the neighborhood and every time I see him, he smiles and waves. It puts me in a good mood for the longest time when I see him. Just this nice man, out walking his dogs with a wave and smile for everyone he sees.

Or when I run into someone crabby, it puts me in a bad mood. I have to work extra hard to find my "happy place."

It's easy to see the effect we have on our kids' or spouses' lives and the affect they've had on ours. Even close friends. But what about the "chance encounters?" The person at the grocery store who you let go ahead of you in the grocery line? The car you let merge in front of you? Or the smile you gave to the postal worker?

I came to the conclusion that the world, in fact, does NOT revolve around me (phew, Mom was right after all!), but the world is affected by me.

How I choose to interact with the world, affects it. One encounter at a time.

Life Is Wonderful

Once again, I steal an idea from Chrisanne over at Life As I Know It.

This is 10 things that make my life wonderful -- in no particular order....

1. Loving, healthy, happy family.

2. Loving supportive parents -- this goes for mine and my in-laws!

3. Getting into bed with nice fresh clean sheets!

4. Friday nights.

5. Summer time -- vacations to visit family, going to the pool, BBQ's, and all sorts of fun summertime activities.

6. Hugs, smiles, kisses and giggles from the boys.

7. Reading -- both on my own and with the boys. Now that Josh is reading, bed time stories are much more interesting! And to see how much he loves reading is fantastic!

8. My first cup of tea in the morning.... or when I am able to go out and get a Latte!

9. Maya's Mom -- great parenting community!

10. Watching Josh play (and enjoy) soccer.

What makes your life wonderful?

Elizabeth, Laura, Crazedparent, & Sheila -- this includes YOU!

Today's Samisms....

After I got him dressed in a t-shirt and shorts: "Mommy! I look just like a Princess!"

When I asked him what he wanted to watch on TV: "I wanna watch eeehhhh!" I have no idea what "eeehhh" is!

He's got a bit of a stuffy nose and was up quite a bit last night. By 4:30, he was up but I made him stay in bed. All I heard was "I wanna get up! I wanna go downstairs! Mommy, is it time to get up?" Finally, at 6:00 when we "got up" he said, "I don't wanna get up. I wanna go back to bed." Nope, sorry, time to get up!

He stands in the middle of the room and screams at the top of his lungs. When I asked him why he said, "I don't know." I believe this is what Grampa would call grandparents revenge!

Sam was playing with a toy and a piece fell off, "Mommy, look what Joshie broke!" Josh was at school.

He likes to put his glasses on top of his head and says, "Like Mommy's sunglasses." I don't know how we'll survive 2 weeks without a trip to have the glasses readjusted! We can't even make it a week!

Sitting on the potty -- "Mommy, look what I did...." The entire roll of toilet paper is unrolled on the floor, again. "Just like [Curious] George!" That ____ monkey! I know I've said this before, but he keeps doing it!!!!!

The blessing for pre-snack they learn at school is "God our Father, God our Father, We thank You, We thank You, For our many blessings, For our many Blessings, Amen, Amen." When Sam does it at home he sings, "God our Father, We are Blessings, Thank you, Amen!" And gets upset when you try to sing with him! That's right Baby, you are blessings!

He was dancing or something... I asked him what he was doing. He stops, looks up at me and says very matter of factly... "I'm wiggling my whole body Mom!" and continues on wiggling his whole body. Of course, please continue...

And my favorite: "Mommy, I love you!" I love you too Babydoll!

****edited to add: Now he's crawling around the floor on all fours saying, "I a doggie -- ruff ruff " and then licking me on the leg! Gross!! Kids (boys) are weird!

Fire Station Tour

Sam and I had a tour of one of our local Fire Stations yesterday. We went with the Local Mom's Meet-Up Group I belong to. We had a GREAT time!!!

Jack (Mary's youngest) and Sam sitting on a fire truck. Jack was not happy to be sitting still!

Mary's Jack -- not afraid of the fireman as he's getting his gear on.

Sam -- watching the fireman get his gear on. Sam was not too quick to touch him all done up in his fireman suit. I did hold Sam's hand and brought him up to touch the firefighter.

I know, the picture is a bit blurry, but I thought it was cute anyway!

Sam in the firestation.

Sam checking out the gear in the truck.

Sam and Jack planning their escape!

Cheese!

I'm so cute!!!!

On another note, Josh had his field day (sports day) at school today. It was lots of fun! I didn't have my camera with me as I was helping out, but the teacher had hers. I'll try to get some photos from her. The class was divided into four teams and Josh's team came in first place! Not only did they earn points for winning an event, but also for sportsmanship and cheering! Several times we were told that his class had the best sportsmanship of any class that came through!

After lunch the classes had a tug-of-war competition. Josh's class did not win, but still had fun!

On Friday, Josh has a field trip to a local park. Sam and I plan on attending and I'll try and get some pictures!

Jumping on the Good Parent Bandwagon

There's something going on with parenting blogs in the almighty Blogosphere.

It seems to have been started by Girl's Gone Child. And it's spread like wildfire! It's a fantastic trend for us parents to stand up and admit we're good parents! So, now it's my turn.

I'm a good parent because....

... I had good teachers. My parents are wonderful parents. They showed me love, so I learned love. After I became a parent, my dad said to me, "Now you know!" and boy do I ever... I now know the love my parents had for me. It's awesome!

... I don't have to do it alone. I'm so fortunate to have a wonderful husband to help me. He is an amazing support system for me. This gives me the break I need to refresh and recharge my batteries. (He had good teachers too!)

... I believe that as a parent, it is my job to raise my children to be responsible adults. This means sometimes I have to be the "Mean Mommy." I am not my children's best friend, I am their mother. My kids have chores that they are responsible for. We have rules in our house and when the rules aren't followed, there are consequences.

... In spite of me being Mean Mommy, we do have fun. We bend the rules; stay up late sometimes, stay in our PJ's all day, have candy or cake for breakfast on special occasions. We play.

.... I love my kids. When they are sick or hurt, it breaks my heart. When they are happy, my heart swells. I am so proud of their accomplishments. When Sam says, "I did it!" and when Josh comes home from school having scored a "5 of 5" on yet another AR test. Or when Josh reads to me, or Sam sings his ABC's or counts, and how well he did with his potty training.

... But most of all, I know I'm a good parent when I see how wonderful my boys are. I see it in the way they act with other children and adults,.the way they treat each other (most of the time), and how happy they are. And, the love I have for them is returned to me. I am so proud of my kids!


Yes, we have our "moments." It's not easy, it's not all good all the time, but that's for another day.... I thank God everyday for blessing me with a such a wonderful family and for helping me be the parent I am!

Oh Happy Day, oh happy day!

Well, today has been interesting at the very least.

Last week I went to have my oil changed and tires rotated at Jiffy Lube. Ever since, my car has been making funny noises when I braked. So today, after I dropped Sam off at school I checked my tires to make sure there was no flat -- that's just what it sounded like -- and lo and behold, one of the bolts/lug nuts was missing from my driver's side front tire! Needless to say, before getting on the highway, I stopped at Jiffy Lube so they could "fix it!" Hahahahahaha! When I told them what happened, the guys at Jiffy Lube said (and I quote), "Oh Shit!"

They were very nice and sent me to have the car fixed at their expense to another service station. Apparently, they had overtightened the lug nuts when they rotated the tire. Everyone at both Jiffy Lube and America's Service Station were very nice and helpful!

So disaster averted!


But, we are celebrating at our house for more than one reason.

First, Liverpool FC have made it to the Champions' League final by beating Chelsea in Penalties. The final to be held on May 23rd against either Milan or Manchester United.





Go Red Men!!!!

But, depending on who you talk to, the bigger news is WE HAVE A LOST TOOTH!!!!!

After a very, very long time, Josh's tooth finally fell out! We even had a trip to the dentist yesterday where she told Josh to wiggle his teeth as much as possible!

And Mission Accomplished!!!

We expect more teeth out in the next few weeks!



The Tooth Fairy is on Alert!

Bloggers Choice Awards... Go Vote

I'm quickly posting this to tout my favorite on-line community... Maya's Mom.

They've been nominated for a Bloggers' Choice Award.

Go check out Maya's Mom, then Vote!