Hippo Birthday

35 is gonna be a good year. I was surrounded by the people that I love and who, fortunately for me, love me right back. There were wishes of love and gifts of great thought and I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Because I forgot I needed to renew my license this year, we spent over an hour at the DMV before dinner.

I had a big lunch with my momma, so I had fries and dessert with Ted.

Then we went to Satan's Den... aka Walmart, to buy ANOTHER fish, an aquarium, light bulbs, contractor trash bags, birthday gifts for parties. We were unable to locate a fish net or car charger. Whatever will we do?! LOL

The romance continued with a trip to the shoe store where I bought an identical pair to the ones I was wearing, just cleaner and newer. Then off to Target for expectorant...

Came home... visited with Mom and Dad, who had kindly cared for 2/3 of our motley crew and sent them safely on their way home. Broke open the Tropicana bottle and mixed a nightcap, listened to sappy songs and waddled off to bed like a fat sassy cat full on the rich cream of my life!

Bring it 40!! I dare ya.

Hippolings

Recently, Daniel was asked to clean his room... ok, maybe he was told approximately a hundred times. After his final warning to go back and get it done, he sort of gave me the stink eye and slunk toward the stairs, muttering to himself as he went. Innocently, I asked him what he said. Imagine my surprise, when my sweet boy rushed into the room, clenched fists at his side with the devil in his eyes to declare, "I HAVE RIGHTS!" What rights do you have, I inquired. "THE RIGHT NOT TO BE FORCED TO CLEAN MY ROOM EVERY DAY!!" Well, son, you have the right to get your happy hind end up to that room and clean it before I have to start taking things away. AND I might just add that I won't be talked to that way in my house... Thank you. "JUST KICK ME OUT!! I WANT YOU TO!!" Well, since you are nine years old and GOOFY... let's don't. Just go on up to your room before I get up and it will all be fine. " YOU DON'T SCARE ME!" One... Two... Three.... Mom stands up and the brave Daniel runs like a jackrabbit and locks himself in the bathroom. Mom strongly suggests he unlock that door before Daddy has to come take it off the hinges and Mommy decides to institute its use during some heinous corporal punishment. That door flew open in a flash. Apologies were had and the day ended without bloodshed. That guy is SILLY.

His sister, A-dog, on the other hand has some issues I may need to seek treatment for. After I received a sweet little hippo cookie jar (in a pink bikini and a swimming tube), Aurelia was overheard by her biggest brother saying " I hate you", as she strolled through the kitchen. Thinking she had aimed it at one of them, I sent her to be with her daddy until dinner was ready. When she came back in to eat, she was weepy and declared, " I wasn't talking to CORY, I was talking to your hippo!" Dumbfounded, I asked her why she hated my cookie jar. "I can see it's boobies!" Um... no... she is wearing a bikini, pink and white polka dot... see.... " What is a bikini?" It's a two piece bathing suit. She sits, ponders it over, gives the jar a sneer and mutters under her breath "I hate it." Perhaps we will just appreciate that her modesty may keep her from the pole dancing future we fear!

Kiddos

Yesterday Aurelia swam all by herself... She has thanked me profusely for being proud of her, but it is really my pleasure.

Daniel forgot the name of his swim instructor, so instead asked if he could just call him "Treasure". The instructor, whose name is Forrest, oddly enough agreed.

Daniel wants me to make Sloppy Joes by adding shredded Slim Jim's to the ground meat... I love him, but that is so gross.

Aurelia's angel food cake smells like socks. Yuck.

I am debating if Cory Adam still qualifies as kiddo... my verdict is yes. But he refuses to do anything bloggy funny... dang him..

:0)

The simple taste of sunshine

This weekends lovely display of sun has started up the engines that lie idle in the winter months.... A crank, hiccup and then the roar of imagining how to spend my wonderful warm days...

Perhaps on our forays into the backroads and hidden trails in search of treasure this summer, I may find a rock suitable for sunning myself. It must be a large rock.. smooth and friendly, with a dip on the top. Once found, I will return there many times over to absorb the suns rays and let my bones and muscles lengthen and loosen and feel even the teensiest bit close to their former glory. That is the treasure I seek.

But what we will likely find is many afternoons together, sharing a bagged lunch and communal water bottle. Giggles at who finds the treasure first, wildflowers plucked for hair decorations, discussions over what tracks go with what animals. Stumbling across the wild berry bushes for an unexpected natural dessert.

Time will be spent recklessly, with wild abandon, with each other. AHHHHHH.......come on with it, I am ready for you summer!

Well alrighty then

Since my kids were traumatized yesterday by the tragic and not so pretty death of the fish Daniel was allowed to bring home from school (Goldybones), I was trying to think of ways to lighten their little days. I asked Ted to get some more fish (at a quarter a pop, let's balance the scales with MORE) and he did... Four... Then Daniel wanted his friend to spend the night... not my first choice, but I said AOK..

This morning, I fixed waffles. They LOVE waffles... with peanut butter... cause they are cool like that. Filled their little bellies full of the yummalicious waffles and peanut butter.

Then I thought it would be a good day to watch ET together. A little throwback from my days as a young person, in the land before electricity. I gathered together on the couch with the cretons and Daniel was the first to speak up...about fifteen minutes in.... " I think I am going to throw up.." He clearly understood what it was going to take to be excused from this family together time... About ten minutes later, Aurelia took her cue and announced that she may toss cookies.... I started to catch on... I said you'll be alright... To which she responded... can't I just play on your Ipod? This movie is BORING....

See if I try to mend their little hearts again... ingrates! :0)

My babies

I spent a lot of time this week uploading pictures of my kids on Facebook. It was easy to get started with Aurelia, there are so many images of the kid. She catches sight of a camera and feels compelled to strike a pose. And all we have really ever had since she was born was a digital camera.

Daniel is a bit more reserved, even though he actually likes his picture to be taken. He wants to appear as if he doesn't... But he is four years older and we didn't have as many baby pictures in digital form.

Then there is Cory... that big manchild who is barely seen these days. Like a Yetti. When he was born, digital photos were either on the horizon or not available to the public at large. Fortunately, I had already scanned some younger photos in for another project, but as I got started on his album it strikes me how vividly I can see him in my mind. And this is really for all the children, but he's the oldest, baby years far behind, and I can still feel his wispy hair tickle my nose as we snuggled, I can feel his hand in mine as we crossed streets. I can smell his baby breath when he fell asleep in my arms and I had no heart to put him in the bed. I can see him collapsing in fits of laughter and dancing with me in the living room with no shame. Sigh....

No more babies for us, and man am I relieved, but looking at the pictures of the baby fat cheeks, the pudgy hands, the compact little beings that they are growing so far away from... doesn't break my heart... just bends it real hard...