A BUNCH OF PICS!!

How Old is Too Old? Right Now, 33 Seems Too Old!

So, a friend of mine and I were talking on Monday about how tiring it is having three young kids. And add to that: sickness, yours and theirs, and the fact that the world doesn't stop spinning EVER so how are you ever going to be able to recuperate?!?! I said, "Yeah, I was all about maybe having another child at some point, but now, NO WAY!! I can't even imagine having another kid!"

She agreed. She has three young children herself and said something to the effect of they would have to institutionalize us if another one was to come along! Bring on the straight jacket this woman has gone certifiable!!!

That topic, and my recent realization that I am getting OLD, got my mind going. I started thinking about kids and age, and how I think it is INSANE to have a child late in life! Now, no one get offended here. I do not think it is wrong of anyone who decides to live life in this fashion, I just think, for me, I would be NUTS to have a child later in life, like after the boys are already almost out of the house and what-not. But, hey, I am me, so it is very possible that I will change my mind. I may just decide at 45 that I am ready for baby number 4. Now, I will most definitely have to go out and buy the male component necessary to have this baby, because it would be then that my husband would find the nearest door out of this loony bin saying, "You can take on that mid-life crisis all by yourself! I'm OUTTA HERE!!!"

That being said, I am pretty sure I won't be changing my mind that late in life. I do enjoy my husband's company therefore no more babies past 35! (or maybe 36, or 37, okay 38, but that is the latest, I promise, unless I get pregnant at 39, then maybe my limit will be 40.)

So, I started searching the internet for just how OLD the oldest woman to ever give birth was. I thought I remembered reading when I was younger about a woman in her late 50's having a child. But, I had to assume that that number had bettered itself with all the advances in medicine we have had since then, and I was right. The oldest woman to EVER give birth, did so this year in July. She was 70 and her husband 77!!!!! They had already had two daughters and 5 grand children, and now, they have twins, a boy and a girl. (On a side note, apparently they would have been much happier had they not had the girl. They only went through Invitro to get a male heir, but got a girl as well. As they told it to one news agency, she is a "burden". Nice! Love you too Mom and Dad!!)

It would seem that I was very timely in my questions into the age of a woman at birth, because today it was reported that another 70 year old Indian woman gave birth just last month. The oddity of this story is that the woman was married to her husband for 50 years without a child and then went through Invitro to conceive. And through this method voila, they now have their very own Burden, I mean, Girl Baby!

But, my point in all of this rambling is this...... How the heck will they be able to keep up with this infant? Holy Cow!! (And in India cows are) I can't even imagine being a septuagenarian and having a baby! Mine! Not my long lost cousin's. Not my great-grand daughter's......NO.....MINE! My kid. My responsibility. A child I will have to teach about things I have long since forgotten. And help with things I can't bend down to do.

And I know that some people are in really good shape at 70. And that is Wonderful. Miraculous! Stupendous! But, at that age I think I will be thinking when am I going to sleep?!?! I'm old, I need naps!

Little babies need naps too, but then they grow up a little and become toddlers. Which is when they run their buts off, and they scream at the top of their lungs, (probably not such a bad thing for a 70 year old parent, hearing loss does usually come with age) And, toddlers hit.... HARD sometimes! And Kick, too! And old bones are brittle bones, you know!

Anyway, I just found it VERY amusing that two couples in their seventies were consciously choosing to have babies, while I, in my 30's wish desperately for some hours of unconsciousness making it possible for my brain to make a decision!

Domestic Bliss

My favorite time of the year is upon us. Fall. I love it! I love everything about it! The changing of the leaves, the crispness in the air, the need to always carry a jacket or sweatshirt, and most of all it means Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

I LOVE Thanksgiving! It is, from my point of view, the best holiday of all! It is turkey, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, etc, etc, etc!!! Oh glorious food from the Gods! How I love each and every one of you!! Can you tell I like food?! Oh yeah, food and I have a great love affair! I love to eat it and it loves to be my constant companion. I think my left thigh is still holding onto a serving of mashed potatoes from 1992!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite because it is a holiday gathering that is not about presents, it's about FAMILY!! Being thankful for the family you have, the family you've gained, and for the ability to gather and enjoy one another's company.

It's a laid-back festivity. You don't have to dress up. Growing up, we usually did, but me, now, no way! I'm lucky to be showered and out of pajamas by the time the food hits the table! It's a meal that's all about gluttony! You almost feel like a caveman with a turkey leg in your hand, "Ungabunga, me love this fooood! Marrumm-umm-umm.....It good....Marrumm-umm-umm.....Me needs more!!"

And every year you set a time to eat, or a time for everyone to be at your gathering spot, but your meal is not typically ready. No, usually the meal will run an hour or so late, at least mine typically go this way! But, if anyone complains, you're gettin' a Smack-Down, WWE style! Seriously, this is a cardinal sin! Don't complain about eating a meal you will soon have the pleasure to fill yourself full of! Snack on anything you can find, and wait patiently because the pay off is a meal, a feast, that is so decadent it only happens once a year!

I have been a married woman for many years now and have grown a great fondness for cooking. It's something that I have found I do well and something I put a lot of heart into. So, Thanksgiving has always seemed my perfect venue. It's a time for my family to enjoy being together and a time to eat a meal that was prepared out of love and gratefulness for those whom I will sit down with at the table.

Don't get me wrong, the Thanksgiving meal is a huge undertaking, but it just seems so worth it! To place a feast upon the table, to look at it with pride for all of your hard work, and to then watch with pleasure as the ones you love the most enjoy the fruits of your labor. It is my Tour de France, my World Cup, my Olympic event!

And never in my wildest dreams did I think, growing up, that I would find pleasure in toiling over a meal from the wee hours of the morning til it's presentation later that afternoon. In fact, I would say being a domesticated woman was more of my antithesis, back then. It was NEVER something I thought I would find pride in! No, I was going to go out and climb the professional ladder! Shatter the Glass Ceiling! Make a NAME for myself!

Funny that what I have found years later are the names I enjoy most are Mom, Wife, Friend.

How about you? Do you find you gain more satisfaction in your domestic role than you ever thought you would? Have certain domestic tasks become sources of pride for you? Or is there some event in your life you look forward to more than any other because it gives you the chance to show off your skills? Let me know. I'd like to hear!

Can You Explain The Word Can't? I Don't Think I Know That One...

*****Pictures have been added, enjoy!!!

Are weekends a whirlwind of activities for you? Man, sometimes I get back to work and am still feeling dizzy from the previous two days!

This weekend was, of course, no exception. Halloween was Friday night. And I must say I had three very cute Trick-or-Treaters, a Power Ranger, a Farmer, and a chubby little Pumpkin!
They had such a fun time going from house to house. Grant and Wyatt stayed in the wagon for the most part, oh where Griffin's water bottle apparently turned over and soaked their little bottoms! Though, neither one of them complained. I mean not a peep! It wasn't until I picked Wy Wy up out of the wagon to burp him after he finished his bottle, that I noticed he was soaked! Poor thing!!!! Good for us that it was a really pleasant evening. A bit cool, but definitely not cold. But, we did cut our candy hunting short since Griffin's boots were hurting his feet, Grant wanted me to hold him, while holding Wy Wy, and Wyatt was just plain starving! But, again, no one was really complaining that much. They just wanted to go home when we got close. They saw the mother ship and it was calling them back!!

Here's Grant out in the Wagon by himself. He was ready to go WAY before the other two!

Oh, he is SO cute!

You like my sucker Wy Wy?

Wy Wy says, "I want to eat!" Griffin says, "First you have to let Mom take all these silly pictures." Grant says, "muhmmpfhh....mo cahn-d."

Wy Wy says, "Get me outta here!" Griffin says, "No more pictures!!" Grant says, "I got a little room left in my right cheek, More candy, please!!"

Ahh, now we're all happy!!!

I had to throw these in here so you could see how I have recycled these looks from one to the next. Griffin as a farmer, and Grant as a Pumpkin (Griffin was the Pumpkin too, but I don't have a digital pic of him in it.) But, pretty cute, huh?!? They sure do look alike!



And did everyone know that Griffin will be 6 on Tuesday?!? New age for him, new elected official for our country.....

So, with that said, Griffin has suffered without a birthday party for two years now! I know, I am one un-loving mother, aren't I?!?

Well, this year, I decided I did want to do something but not anything too over the top! I can't stand to hear about people who go out and spend lavish amounts of money on a party for a child because "Oh, he deserved a party, it was his birthday!" If you're not with me, check out this article on MSNMoney.

Excuse me, what?!?! I get a birthday every year, and I usually have to work on mine! Psshhhhaaaww! I know. It's inconceivable! Working on your birthday?!?! But, it happens and guess what? The world keeps on turning. No devastating natural disaster cripples the city because there was no party for me. And no reporters come knocking on my door asking me, "Why was there no party on your birthday? Have your parents forgotten that your birthday demands a party and presents from all?"

Though, I do believe that you should be treated special on your birthday by the people who love you, as I documented in a previous post. So, I do agree with that. But a party just really isn't necessary in my mind. Especially when kids these days already have WAYYYY too much!!! But, of course, they are fun to go to for Griffin, and he had been without for two whole years!

So, I decided to go ahead and have a true birthday party. Something that involved other kids, not just Mom and Dad. And, since Griffin is at the age where sleep-overs are just starting, I figured I would have a sleep-over party. Complete with the usual fan-fare pizza, soda, games, movies, and other assorted goodies!

I was later told by several RSVP'ing Mothers that I was brave! I had no idea that hosting a sleep-over signified bravery! Who knew! Watch out Superheroes, there's a new Fear Fighting Force in town, SuperMom! I'll take on your 5 year old, OVER NIGHT, and he won't get the best of me! Any fit he throws I will handle with my Spatula of Re-Direction, helping him to forget what is so upsetting by interesting him in something else. And, any restlessness he exhibits at bedtime will be calmed by my Book of Reason, eliminating his desire to call you in the middle of the night by explaining that the party will still be going strong in the morning! Sleep is just an intermission!!

Oh, my powers are amazing! My powers are miraculous!!! My powers can be EXHAUSTING!! But, if you never test your limits how will you ever know what you are or aren't capable of?

And, really, how hard is it to entertain a group of 4-6 year old boys? Give 'em a truck, a trunk full of dress-up attire, food and drink, and they're good to go! Boys are easy! Or at least these boys were!

We ate pizza, played games, they won prizes, we opened presents, they played outside, they played inside, they played with all the opened presents, they ate brownies, they drank sodas, they laid-out their sleeping bags and put their jammies on, they watched a movie, and for a brief moment they even slept! When they woke up they were laughing and replaying the events of the night before. And were back up and horsing-around in the wee hours of the dawn.

It was a morning of doughnuts and chocolate milk and playing, again, with the new toys . But all while dressed up as different characters, Spiderman, a home depot guy, Darth-Vader with a toy leaf blower, a construction man, and whatever else they decided to switch out as upon finding something even more cool in the dress-up trunk. And then, it was time to go home. It was over so quickly!

How hard was that?!?! They practically did all of the entertaining! We had to do the refereeing, at times. And there was some reasoning and redirection that took place but not enough to make the whole thing scary. Not enough to make it so I wouldn't do it again. Enough, though, to make me grateful for the friends Griffin has. And enough to make me feel like my party efforts were worth it when the boys left with great big smiles on their faces.

Yep, a very worthwhile effort on my part I will have to say. I'd do it again, for sure! Just let this SuperMom re-charge her powers, she's not as young as she used to be, you know???!!!

Thank You Paul!

Thank You Matthew!

Thank You Jen Jen and Jason!


Thank You Kyle!



Thank You Colton! (Grant says Thank You too! Since he has taken this toy over!!)

WOW!!!
Thank You Mom and Dad!!

Thank You Nanna and Poppa!!

And Sunday, oh my! I had to teach Live BIG, and we had a birthday party for Kyle, one of Griffin's best buds. So, there was a lot going on Sunday, too. But, everything went great!

My class was a hit! The kids were so well behaved, and I had some GREAT parent volunteers! Man, you just cannot tell people enough how great they are when they've never seen the other side of the coin. I said, "Oh gosh, thanks soooooo much for your help today! You really were such great helpers, you just don't know!" And the couple was like, "Oh it was nothing. You did it all, we just helped." Umhmm, yeah, you're right, but you HELPED, and I mean, HELPED, and did more than I could have asked! You were engaged and willing participants in all that we did! You get an A+, a Gold Star, Your names in lights as the BEST PARENT HELPERS ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET! Seriously, I know the difference, and you win for being the best helpers I have ever had! So in case this couple will ever stumble upon my blog, Thanks!

And, how could a birthday party be any better for a boy turning 5 than to have all of your friends attend a costume wearing party where the Red Power Ranger was in attendance?!? Huh?! Yeah, good thing we had Griffin's party before this one, b/c our party was small potatoes compared to this one! Red Power Ranger came with his own assistant who got all the kids playing games and certifying them as "superheroes"! Oh yeah, it was a knockout party, and now with all these certified superheroes I got some younger competition! But, fear not, citizens of our great town, for a certified superhero is bound to live on your block!

Well, if you have a minute, post a Happy Birthday Comment to Griff! I know he'd love to "hear" from you! He hasn't gained my super sonic hearing yet, unless you send messages that sound like an ice cream truck! That's a sound he can hear from two cities over, I swear!!!

Your Weekend Update

**Disclaimer: I am not a person who finds it funny to pick on others. And the reason I am committing this to the blog, is only to record the innocence of children.**

Griffin doesn't always know that sometimes when he says things they can be taken poorly by the other person. He just thinks he is being matter of fact and telling me how it is. You know, it's the truth.! But, sometimes pointing out the truth can hurt the other person's feelings. And we have had this talk before but, in this instance, I know that it was not hurtful. It was a sweet interaction that was also quite hilarious to this adult on-looker!

There is this little 3 year old boy at our church, Jon. Who has had to have several surgeries on his hands and feet because he has that Lobster Claw syndrome. Anyway, his hands and feet look much better, now, and he is the cutest boy on the planet (next to mine, of course!)

So, Saturday was the Fall Festival at our church and the boys had a big time! It was all child centered so how could they go away not having a good time, eh?!?

We were winding down the day when we finally went into the church hall where they were having a Cup-Cake Walk. I'm not going to explain what this is, I didn't know what one was before this weekend myself. But, I found a blog that explains a Cake Walk, so if you want to read about what a Cake Walk is go here. Our church did this a little different from the traditional. They asked people to donate cupcakes, and asked for no money from anyone who wanted to do the walk. But, the winners did win a cupcake of their choosing, yum!

Well, Griffin had Cup-Cake-Walked a couple of times and I was just in the hall gabbing with some of the other folks. Grant and Dan went to the bathroom and we were waiting for them to come back. Wyatt was just hanging out in his stroller when Jon came up to him.

It seems Jon loves babies because he was sweetly patting Wyatt and saying things to Wyatt like, "Sweet baby. Hi Baby. Oh, he's cute." And just smiling and cooing at him. It was adorable!

Griffin came over to where we were and says, "Isn't our baby cute? His name is Wy Wy."

Me: "That's right."

Jon: "Oh Hi, Wy Wy!"

Griffin: "Mom, did you know he only has like two toes?"

Me mouth gaping, "Oh please God do not let Jon's mother hear Griffin!!!"

Me: "Well..... Griffin....stumbling for words....That's okay.......It is okay....We're diff..."
Griffin cuts me off

Griffin: "Yeah, it's okay buddy" patting Jon's shoulder "You're gonna get some some day. I have like 10! You'll get some too."

Oh, if I would have had anything in my mouth it would have been spewed everywhere on everyone around me! I just burst-out with a laugh, and then contained the chuckles that wanted to follow because I didn't want to make the scenario funny to the two of them, I wanted them to just see it as a moment of friendship. Sweet boy interaction.

But, oh man! That brought tears to my eyes when I replayed the scene in my head later!

Griffin had no idea what he was saying could have hurt Jon's feelings. And I was trying to get him to understand that having two toes doesn't make him less of a fun boy to be around. But, I guess I really didn't have to do that, he realized it on his own. Griffin didn't shy away from him, he embraced knowing someone with only two toes! And so much so that he wanted me to know about it! And who knows, according to Griffin, Jon could maybe get more when he gets bigger! What a sweet boy I have. I love that little man.

And I can't tell a sweet funny story about Griffin without adding how sweet Grant is too (of course Wy Wy is as well, but he doesn't talk much at 7 and a half months, so not so much to share on his utterances!)

Grant woke up from his nap on Sunday and like a ninja, came walking into the kitchen and scared the poop out of me!

Me: "Oh hey buddy! You scared me. Are you awake now?"

Grant: "Mummmmhppppfffh"

Me: "Are you hungry? Where are you going? Are you still tired?"

Grant: "Mummmmhppppfffh"

He just glided through the kitchen in his little socked feet, rubbing his eyes, his nose, his hair, and said practically nothing.
I stood in the kitchen waiting for him to come back around, and soon, he came back through.

Me: "Hey buddy, do you want something to drink? What's the matter?"

He looks over and just glares at me, as if to say, "You're not making things any better!"

I watch as he moves from the kitchen through the living room and out the door to the garage.

After a second, I realize he's not coming back, and walk outside to be with him.

I find him standing up against the bathtub we have in our driveway, don't ask. But, seriously, we do live in Mississippi so this is perfectly normal, you do realize this, right?!?

Me: "Grant, what's the matter? Do you want me to hold you?"

Grant: "Dahh-dee. Dahhhhh-deeeeeee!"

Me: "Oh sweetie, Daddy had to go to work. He'll be home in a little bit. Do you want some juice?"

Grant: "No, don't wan-it. Dahh-dee!"
I'm feeling so bad. Poor guy. Then, I remember that I have baked cookies while he was asleep (and Wy Wy was napping as well! Amazing what can get done when the little ones are snoozing!!)

I run inside, and get a cookie for Grant, thinking that maybe he would follow me in.
Fat chance.
Now, when I return to the garage there's no Grant!

I begin yelling, "Grant......Grant, Where are you? Graaaaaaannnntttt! You want a cookie?"

Off in the distance, I hear, a little voice whining and crying, "Dahhhhhhdeeee.......Dahhhhhhhdeeee"

I can tell from where his voice is coming from that he has gone into the back yard looking for his Daddy.

When I walk around the outside of the house, and into the backyard, I see him walking towards the other gate of the fence, crying "Dahhhhhhdeeeee, I wan my Dahhhhhhdeeee!!!"

It was such a sweet display. Grant searching for Daddy. Where could Daddy be? And he didn't care that all he had on was a shirt. He had no pants, no shoes, just a diaper, socks, and a shirt, perfectly fine attire when looking for your Dahhhhhdeeee!

Me: "Grant. I'm sorry, Daddy is working. He'll be home in just a little bit. You want a cookie?"

Grant: "I wan my Dahhhhhdeeee!"

I go over to him and scoop him up in my arms.

"I'm sorry little guy, Daddy will be home in a little bit. You wanna cookie?"

Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle......

Grant: "Mmmhhmm, Googie."

He took the cookie from my hand and sank into my arms. My sad little explorer, off to find his Dahhhhhdeee. Heartsick that Daddy wasn't there when he wanted him to be. How dare he!

When Dan got home, Grant was fresh out of the bath, when I saw him pulling up. So, I said, "Grant, come here, look out the door, who is that?"

Grant: "Ohkaaaay. Hhhmmm, ahhhhhh, Dahhhhdeee!!!"

And he jumped and pranced with delight!

All was back right with the world when that little naked boy finally felt the arms of his Dahhdeee holding him tight!
What a wonderful life I have!

Boys, I Have a Definite Lack of Understanding!

So, I was walking towards our hallway from the kitchen when I hear that sound everyone can recognize, the sound of a liquid streaming out onto a surface. I'm looking around, "Where's that coming from, what's leaking????" I push the bathroom door open and no one was in there. 'Course, it was a liquid being poured onto a surface sound, not into the toilet. So, I knew before looking that I wouldn't find the culprit there.

As I round the corner, I see Griffin in the doorway of his room in the "Peeing Position" and I scream, "What are you doing?????"

He turns around, and says, "I just couldn't make it to the bathroom, Mom!!!"

What?!?!? You couldn't make it the 6 paces from your bedroom door to the bathroom?

"Griffin, you know that isn't true! You just decided you wanted to pee on that towel, for some reason, and so you did. It had nothing to do with not being able to make it!!!!"

"Mom, I couldn't make it! I just couldn't make it!"

I will never understand boys. Never. Not going to ever understand how peeing on a towel in your bedroom, just feet from the bathroom is an option over going in the toilet!!!

Maybe I should should just squat down on his pillow and say, "Oh, sorry, I just couldn't make it, Griffin!"

Of course we made him pick up the towel and put it in the dirty laundry pile, but what else could we do? Rub his nose in it?

I tell you, one of the hardest things about parenting is knowing how to punish your child fairly. You know the punishment should befit the crime, but what do you do when they've run into your car with their bicycle for the 8th time knowing they were to stay away from it, or when they have marked all over some important papers but YOU were the one who left the pen there for them to mark with?!? It's hard I tell you. Because sometimes you have to hold the mirror back on yourself. You have to think, "Well, I guess he didn't know it would make me mad if he got into the pantry and pulled out the cereal box upside down, draining it of its contents, he thought he was HELPING!"

But, you don't want them to do it again! So, what's the right way to handle it? Put a padlock on the pantry door? Tell him only Mommy is allowed to pull the boxes down from the shelf? Have him make sure he is asking BEFORE he is getting what he thinks he needs? Choices, choices!

I usually go with the latter since I can't be in three places at once! I've found that one of them is always going to need me and, inevitably, it will be at the same time the other two need me as well! So, I have to encourage them to be independent. Their Independence equals more time for me to see a task through from beginning to end (or at least that is my hope, my prayer, the result I wish to someday attain!!!)

But, punishments are hard, or at least it seems they can be. And, especially when you are seeing this latest transgression as something that needs to be punished while your spouse is laughing his head off because, "C'mon! You KNOW that's funny!" Well, of course its funny! But we can't let him think that! Then he'll do it again!

So, my whole philosophy on punishment has become this, tell him it's wrong. Let him know you expected a better choice, and if he does it again, he will have to be punished. But, let the punishment be something he conjures up. Just say something like, "If you do that again, we are going to have a SERIOUS punishment for you. So do it again, c'mon, do it, and see what the punishment will be!" Oh if he doesn't know what it could be his little mind will go wild!! It could be ANYTHING!!!!

I think the more varied the punishments, the better chance you have of your child heeding your word. He'll think, "My misbehavior could warrant anything!!!" He doesn't know what could be coming at him! He can't pinpoint what punishment will be bestowed upon him, therefore he cannot pre-identify the pro's and con's of his behavior.

If he were to know that every time I do X my Mom gives me a spanking, well, he might determine that a little bit of pain is worth the pleasure he feels while doing X. But, if he has NO IDEA what the punishment could be, there can be no scientific analysis. It's more, "She might kill me this time! She looked really mad the last time. Yep, she could kill me, she probably wants to!"

I had these same thoughts go through my head growing up. I'm sure we all did! As a child, you think it is entirely possible that your parents could kill you, and maybe even sometimes want to! Man, making them mad was taking your life into your own hands!!!!

I always wondered why some of my friends growing up, didn't have this fear? Now, as a parent, I think it is because of two things. One, their parents threatened but never followed through (BIG NO NO, in my book!) Or, two, they gave the same punishments no matter the crime. So, getting spanked was no big deal, you'd had a million before, they're not so bad. Or you've been grounded from the TV before, you survived, it wasn't THAT awful.

So, a lesson for sure, that I will someday pass on to my boys is to be a varied punisher. Think about punishments, get creative with them because punishing can be a difficult task, and you want to make sure that you're choosing well. And then, let your child stew. Tell him he IS going to be punished, just do it again and SEE what happens! And that's when your child will contemplate death.....theirs.....at your hands.....Oh you gotta love the active imagination of a child!!!!

Now, here are some cute pics from the weekend. Rebellious, but Adorable!

Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Me Fat WY WY!!!

Oh, but you gotta admit, he is one precious little chunk!!

And here they all are playing nicely with their blocks.

Had to commit this one to record, playing nicely, a sometimes rare occurrence for us!!