to your mother

THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING A MOTHER AND LOVING A MOTHER...FROM A MOTHER OF TWO.







Sunday, December 9, 2012

Bobbledy Books

Be sure to check us out here at Bobbledy Books, click on the link to the blog on the left side of the page.  Such a cool program, sign up today, we love it!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Such a Beautiful Place

in which we live.  What a blessing.
 


Friday, October 12, 2012

Glenwood Firehouse

Joseph has watched the new firehouse in Glenwood, across from his elementary school, being built literally from the ground up.  Last winter we watched the steamrollers tamping down the earth, this fall we watched the walls and roof go up, the concrete being poured, wires being connected, sod being laid.  We stopped by so much that this fall the general contractor finally approached our vehicle and asked if we wanted a tour before it actually opened.

Hence, Joseph and I attended the opening dedication service this past Monday.  When Joe caught sight of the huge scissors for the ribbon cutting at the end, he begged to cut the ribbon.  He asked a couple of firefighters who kind of giggled and replied "You are going to have to ask a bigger-wig than me".

As Joseph squirmed and giggled...a gift from above.  Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive, looked into the crowd, saw a smattering of kids and said "Hey, who wants to help me cut this ribbon?"  Joseph looked up at me, eyes in awe, and I nodded "Go ahead".

Now.  Joseph didn't get to actually hold the scissors, but he held onto the ribbon.  Check out here to see the pure joy of a boy living his dream.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Batman In Da HOUSE

This Batman guy? 
 
He's fast.

 
 
He fights evil in the kitchen with his mighty powers.
 

 
 
He flies across the hardwoods with ease.

 
 
Don't blink and eye, cause then he's gone.

This episode brought to you by Uncle Paul and Naomi, big thanks!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Thinker

Joseph, this boy, is always thinking.  I left the "bump medicine" in his room tonight to get a q-tip.  When I returned, I found this:
 
 
 
"Joseph, what will we do with this?"
 
"Mommy, dis can HELP you with the bump medicine."
 
 
 
Yup, he built a holder for the bottle.  No more fumbling with the bottle, putting it down, knocking it over.  Ready. Steady. Go. Genius.
 
He wanted to be sure he got in the picture, to show his idea,
 

then graciously moved aside so one can see the shape of the blocks he used.

 
 More and more, Joe reminds me of my dad.  Always thinking, asking questions, trying to figure it out, maybe try a new way to do something, or discover a way to just do the unknown.  When I mentioned to Dad in a past conversation that I thought Joe thought a lot like he does, his reply was something like:

"Oooohhhoooo," (Dad's jolly laughter when he is amused) "that boy is in for some trouble."


Monday, September 24, 2012

Last Swim

Neighbor Jim closed his pool Sunday, so Saturday was our last swim for the season.  The water temp was 64 degrees.  These kids, they are fish.








To swim with such abandon, in such chilly water....ahh to be young and thick-skinned again.  Then again, I'm pretty happy being 41.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

My Favorite Moment From Today

We went up to Mom and Dad's today to celebrate Joe's birthday.  Although there were many joyous, fun moments...this one, unprompted and out of the blue, was simply magical.
 
 
 

This boy (and his grandma) I love.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

A Healthy Snack

In this house, we often talk about how eating healthy foods can make a healthy body.  Sometime in the recent past, Joe decided to make himself a snack while I was showering.  I'm not sure what his thinking was when he put this feast together,
 

 although I will tell you that the box of raisin bran is on the very-most-tippy-top shelf of the snack cabinet. I don't want to think about how my boy got that one down.

Lots of carbs for this boy, lots of energy-boosting carbs...and a small bowl of non-dairy hazelnut flavored powdered creamer.  Oh, and ketchup. Oh, and those two plates?  We never use them. They are housed in the very-most-tippy-top shelf of the corner cabinet where the non-dairy creamer is housed.  That boy, he is all about presentation.  And climbing on the counter tops, I suppose.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Julie...Well, Just Read On

Yesterday I served Julie her pretzel sticks and cream cheese for breakfast and went to the laundry room to do, well, laundry.  When I came back to the kitchen, I saw this:
 
 


Yes, Julie was wearing safety goggles, as if they just arrived by themselves on her wee face.  She was sitting with a plain face when I left.  When I came back, goggles had appeared.  No laughter, no pittering of feet, a total shock to this Mama.

When I replied "Oh, those are nifty," Julie calmly replied "Mama, I didn't want to get PWETZELS in my eyes!"



She ain't no dummy, gifted and talented I tell you.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

We Are Famous

at least in the Bobbledy Book world.  Check us out HERE !

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

This Boy is 5 Today

 
Happy Birthday Joe!
 


Friday, August 31, 2012

This Girl

started pre-school yesterday. 
 
After a half-hour of screaming "I not go to SCHOOOL!"  I threatened to take her new backpack away. 
 
 "I can take it to friend's house. I no need to take it to schoooool."
 
"No, the backpack is for school, you take it there or you take it NO WHERE."
 
pause...voice brightening "Mommy? Can I wear my purple socks?"
 
She realized and accepted her fate.
 
 Still not too happy.


 Drama, people, drama.

Joseph, on the other hand, calmly told Julie that she needed to go to school to learn.

Thanks, Joe, for your wisdom and support.


 
 Day Two of Preschool:
Classic, people, classic.

(note: She did NOT take all those babies into school with her...they were just along for the ride.)
(Her purse was holding a baby diaper, a hat, and a flosser from the dentist...reminds me of Mom, always prepared for any situation.)

Monday, August 20, 2012

Cell Phone Pics Episode 6: Blast from the Past

The house that we grew up in in Woodbine was put up for sale last fall.  Our dear friends the Parkers met us there for the open house one Sunday.  Here are Joseph and Brody standing on a stump with the old homestead in the background...a cell phone pic taken for prosperity reasons.




The house that shared our driveway was for sale also.  Chris Parker's, longtime friend from elementary school, best friend Eric lived in this house.  Colleen, Chris's wife, and I thought it would be groovy to get our pic taken in front of the fireplace in the kitchen.  I spent a lot of time in this kitchen growing up and later Chris spent time here with Eric in high school.

The old homestead was auctioned off this past spring, Eric's house still sits empty and owned by the bank.  Times, they are a changing.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Cell Phone Pics Episode 5: Big Machines

Mom and Dad receive a tremendous amount of help from the German Baptist community in their area.  A favorite is Dennis North who does Mom and Dad's landscaping around the house.

Here Dennis is removing some bushes from the front beds.  The kids were fascinated with the walk-behind loader/grabber machine that Dennis used to get the job done.  I cleverly placed them in the back hatch of the van so they would be safe...and not pester Dennis too much.


 This episode was a couple years ago...I don't remember why Julie was shirtless.


Two summers ago we went to Cape Cod to visit Mike's Mom's side of the family.  In the background you can glimpse the beautiful, refreshing cove in which we swam...but who really cares about that when you have an excavator doing some work.  The driver took pity upon the boy who would sit and watch him work and asked me if it was okay to give him a ride.

This fortunate boy...living his dream.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Cell Phone Pics Episode 4: Two Kids = Lots Of Fun

Most of these pictures were a quick and dirty way to let someone know we are thinking about them...be it a thank you or we miss you or hurry the heck home before I explode upon these children.


Thank you Phillips Family for the Valentine's card!
(Then I sent it out to various loved ones to say Happy Valentine's Day)


Hurry home Daddy!




 I forgot my regular camera and thought this episode with Mom was too precious to lose. 
Note Julie's socks pulled up to her knees...Mom did that then waited (a long time) for me to notice. 
We laughed a lot about that.




Thank you Sara for the hula-hoops!



I didn't bring my camera to the last soccer class...4 weeks of Joseph playing his hardest and Julie whining more than, well, more than any whiner you have ever heard.
Really.  Don't let her joyous smile fool you.



Thanks for letting us use your trampoline Kayla!




Texted to Daddy to let him know we missed him at the Mall carousel.  Joe - 3 years, Julie 2 years



Not Halloween, just dressing up.  Julie will secretly don this mask, then jump around a corner yelling "Piggyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"...funny throughout the day, not so much at 6 A.M.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

Joe-isms


This kid cracks me up...here are a few of his recent thoughts:

Sitting on the toilet: "When I was in my bed, I stuck my butt up in the air...and I had a POOP signal!"

During a discussion about going to the fair: "What's that thing at the carnival?  That sweetness?  It's pink?  (If you think you know that answer, respond in the comment section below...you may win a prize.)

After finding some laminated paper monkeys from a past library art project:  "Why are those monkeys trapped in plastic?"

This boy, he makes me smile.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

What I Learned On My Vacation

1. MaMa and PaPa's beach house is a magical place.
2. Spending time with family is truly a blessing.
3. 7 cousins (ages including 7, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 1) can have a great time doing just about anything.
4. Balloons can be a blast or just plain evil, it all depends on your age.
5. A week of eating most meals in front of the tv can be a relaxing break from day to day structure.
6. A week of "meals" meaning eating cheesy poofs from the bag or a hot dog on the fly can be fun.
7. Expecting all this fun to last into week two is unrealistic.
8. Accepting defeat and coming home before week two is complete was a fantastic decision.

We are recovering well from vaca; gobbling local fruits and veggies, snuggling into our own beds at night, playing with our toys as if they are long-lost friends.  Peace.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Cell Phone Pics Episode 3: What Was That Girl Thinking?

 "Safety first"


 "My legs were feeling a wee-bit ashy."


 "I think there may be a photo op today, better wear my fancy digs."


 "Why? Why does she do my hair like this?"


 "I said throw the ball THROW THE BALL.  Why don't these knuckleheads listen to me?"


"Look, it's Auntie Lisa in da MUD!"
"I'm darn cute.  Now buy me a Harley."


Stay tuned for Episode 4: Two Kids = Lots of Fun