I did it! The laundry.

Laundry. Can't live with it. Can't live without it.  The video is from a year and a half-ish ago.  T is so much bigger now, but I still love his face while he is dancing. So, if you dread laundry like I do (even if I just quite near a laundromat), here is something to brighten your laundry loading day! :D

Happy Mother's Day

 Dear Mothers and Grandma's. We love you so much. You ARRRR the Best! We love you so much you're tattooed to our arms (and hearts). 

Temple Work

I made the graphic. In paint. {-)  It's the LDS Manhattan Temple.

S and the Newsletter

S is in the school newsletter!  The music teacher was happy S came to the class and played and talked with them about the violin.  She wrote in the school-wide newsletter:

"This month class ---- treated to a wonderful violin demonstration by S VDG. S brought her violin to school and played some beautiful music for us.  She also explained how she uses the bow, how she holds the violin and where she places her fingers. For a young violinist, she was very poised. Thank you, S!"

S was so delighted to see this! It is definitely going into my scrapbook. . . if I ever make one. :)

S, you are my sunshine! I love you more than air!  I am so thankful Heavenly Father gave you to me! Love, Mom.

Mom Challenge

Motherhood. Challenge. Understanding. Misunderstanding. Dilemma. Conundrum. Soft words. High voices. Dirty feet. Cute toes. Gales of laughter. Tears. Pumpkin seeds at Halloween. Fluffy dresses. Braids. Cars. Trains. Dinosaurs. Children's time at the library. School entry. Panic. Extracurricular activities. Music. Sports. Bedtime. Snores. Tickle monsters. Kisses. Ruffled hair. Happiness. Despair.

These are a few of the words that come to mind when I think of motherhood and these are just the stages I have personally experienced.  I thought it would be fun to write about my experiences as a mother while completing . . . the Mom Challenge.

Imagine the deep announcer voice: "52 weeks. 52 mini challenges. 52 happier days. 52" . . . well you get the idea.

The idea is to try to accomplish one part of the challenge. As I am just beginning I will start with week on. Eating dinner together.

Yes! Did that tonight.  Chicken cordon bleu; green beans; spaghetti is what we ate.  We talked and laughed a little.  I think I need to make a more concerted effort to ask about school and their friends. I love to hear them talk about everything. Dinnertime is when I can take a moment, breathe and then listen with my full attention.  It lasts about twenty minutes and then I need a little break. :)  But then there is bed time and we/they chat some more.  It says I need to do it at least three times a week.  I can do this. I can do this.

Yes!

Take the Jane Austen Character Quiz here!

Took it awhile ago and ended up being Elizabeth Bennett.

Just retook it and got . . .

First Stitches

R got his first stitches today. We went to the park after school and he saw a ball beckoning him to save it's life on the boring side of a fence. So he decided to rescue it. He climbed up only to have his hand catch on the fence as he fell. Thank goodness there was a dad watching and he ran over and rescued him.

We took him to the doctor. The nurse called the doctor over and the doctor said that we needed to go to the hospital because he needed stitches.  Sorry, but it seems to me that doctors should be able to stitch up a gash in their office. But, oh well.

I called W and he said come on in and we'll fix it.  An hour later they came out of the hospital and R was very proud of his stitches.  He was helped by the fact we promised to get him a new DS game.

Eight years with children and these are the first stitches.

Ten Year Anniversary

W  was so sweet. He told me that he wanted me to get a special piece of jewelry for our tenth anniversary.  He's never said that before that I can remember.  So we walked to the stores near where we live, but I didn't find anything that seemed to jump out at me.

But I did get hungry and we decided that we were going to go out to dinner.  I'd never been to Outback Steakhouse and so that is where we went. They had a special going so we got two specials and some mac n' cheese (and a blooming onion).  It was so good and it was lovely not to have to do the dishes.

I know going to dinner with the whole family on our anniversary may or may not seem like a big deal to some and W's co-workers would probably call him cheap, but let me assure you, it was Heaven. Plus, the place had a parking lot (extremely rare in NYC). It made it feel quite suburban.

I told the kids about the day we got married, when and how W and I met, and they listened and I felt so blessed.  I looked into W's sparkly eyes and felt so in love.   I am so glad I have him!

We came home and watched a movie together.  It was a great anniversary.

 
Here is to ten years with my best friend, ever. And then to eternity! I love you, W!

My Favorite Funnies

From here.

Also from here.

From the geniuses at nickmom.

Not sure where this is from, I got it from Pinterest.

From here.

Found it on Pinterest, if you find the original source let me know and I'll change it. I'd like to thank them personally for lifting my days. :)

I'm so excited.

Today, as I walked from the gym to my friend's house I pretended all the leaves on the trees and bushes were cheering for me. I imagined they all had little faces and green hands that were clapping wildly.  They were cheering and I practically started bowing and waving, but refrained.

Then, I dropped my screenplay off at my friend's house. He is a cinematographer and I hope, hope, hope that he likes it and will give me some good ideas for improvement.

Then, I hope he and his amazing wife say, "M, you should make this movie. Kris will film it. It will be good."

As I walked away I got some bananas.  I'm pretty sure they were complementing me all the way home. And, the applause was practically deafening, of course that could have been the wind giving me it's two cents worth.

Gulp, pray for me. :)  If they don't like it, then I will re-think it. It will all be great.  I feel so grateful to live in a place where I have access to amazing people like that.