Mothers Day

Hi Mom.
Happy Mothers Day.
Thanks for loving me the way only a mother could.
Thanks for never giving up on me even though when I know there were times when you really wanted to and, maybe even more importantly, teaching me to never give up on myself.
Thanks for helping teach me how to be a Mama to my sweet babies.
Thanks for teaching us that we are here to leave the world a better place-not just take from it.
Thanks for taking me to church so I could learn about God and Jesus-you gave me the gift of faith.
Thanks for teaching me the golden rule and making me write thank you notes.
Thanks for modeling kindness, love and respect in our home.
Thanks for all those silent sacrifices you made for us everyday,without ever getting a proper thank you.
Thanks for giving me the priceless gift of a wonderful childhood.
(I am not going to thank you for making me eat fried chicken liver though)


They say that you don't really appreciate your Mother until you have children of your own and that is so very true for me.

I wish I could be there to fix you a big plate of runny eggs and burnt toast this morning..and then eat off your plate. :)

I love you. I love you. I love you.

Humble Pie

My mom used to say that kids can humble you like no one else can.
She is so right.
I swear God sent me Hollis to help keep my feet on the ground.
He sure does have a good sense of humor.

Just a few weeks ago, Hollis was with me in the bathroom getting ready and she turns to me and asks, "Mama, why does it look like you still have a baby in your tummy?'

Um, maybe it is because Mama does not remember where the elliptical machine is since I have lost all remaining few brain cells I had after giving birth
 or
maybe  it's because your Mama has never met a carb she didn't like(where did she think all those Peeps in her Easter Basket went??).

Then there was the day 2 months ago I was bringing a dinner to a new mom in my Bible study. I was really excited about the dish  because it was new and easy and I thought I had found a winner.

Just as I rang the doorbell to deliver the dish to her, Hollis looks at me and says," I'm so glad you are getting that thing out of the car-that really smelled bad Mom."

Lovely.
Here you go, exhausted, sleep deprived new mom.. have fun eating your stinky pasta dish I just made you.

Last week Hollis asked if rode in a covered wagon when I was little-you know the one.
The one Laura Ingalls was fond of.

Two days ago she asked if I knew any pilgrims growing up.

Um no, not that I can remember-but memory loss is a sign of aging and I've been wrong before.

Here is a short video for your friday...you might want to pause my playlist music   so you can hear.
I think I have been doing it all wrong...I haven't been lifting with my thyroid...but I do have a weight with a onesie.
Happy Friday, ya'll.

Bliss

The title of this blog is a bit misleading.
I feel no bliss right now.
I am really sad, a little depressed and slightly lonely and daresay grumpy.??

My parents were here for a (too short) visit this weekend
And they left this morning.
Oh, and I am also mad .
Mad that NC is 10 hours away and I am stuck here.
Mad that I always feel like a little baby watching them pull off and turn right at the end of the street.
I mean, I am a 36 year old mother with chlidren of her own for goodness sakes.
GET A GRIP, ALLIE!!!
I don't think I will ever stop missing them-ever stop needing them.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our visit...hence the title of this blog...
Thanks Mom and Dad for the visit...it was pure BLISS.

Easter Good Cheer

Thank goodness this photo is not indicative of the way the day has gone...

I wanted to get the girls together in their Easter finest.

Collins wanted a nap and some milk.

I thought my camera was broken for the first several times I tried to shoot because when I pushed the button nothing happened.

Then I realized I had the setting on "smile finder" and since there weren't many smiles to go around, the shutter was locked.

But wait, I did get some shots of her after a little catnap and some warm milk in the tummy...

Awwww, that's ok, babygirl.
Mama is a cranky pants when she is hungry and tired too.
Happy Beautiful Blessed Easter,everyone.
May your crankypants moments be few and far between today

"Don't be afraid", he said.
"You are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
He is risen!
He is not here."
Mark 16:6

Egg-stravaganza

Hello World...
Nothing new here to report.
It's been one of those typical weeks for our family.
Church, School, Playdates, Work.
I'm ok with typical. That means everyone is well and healthy and life is good.

We dyed the Easter eggs tonight.
I thought 10 would be more than plenty for the "dyeing committee"  but I always underestimate.

These people above are VERY serious about egg dying.

Especially the one in the black shirt... :)

If you are interested in  the position of "egg inspector", I'm sorry but it has been filled by the newest member of our family.

By the way, there was not brown Easter Egg dye.
That color was created when the eggs were dipped into every color 10 times.
Who knew?

Mom, do you remember singing this song to us every Easter? The Easter Bonnet Song?
I can never hear it without smiling and thinking of you.
And now I sing it to my babies.
And now, I have to "hop" off to bed to tuck my little bunnies in for the night.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist).
Good night, all.

Friday

One would think I could be a little more creative with a blog title.
I don't have it in me today though.
I am not feeling so hot...maybe a touch of a stomach bug?
Yuck.
And annoying too.
Doesn't this bug know I have a house to run and children to attend to??
A child who (no names mentioned here) takes a flying leap into my car every day at 11:30 and asks,
 "Whatta we goin' to do today Mom?"
I will have to put a creative spin on my answer- which will be -watch tv all afternoon or until Mommy feels halfway decent.
Anyway, the real point of me blogging today is to share with you these pictures...
DISCLAIMER: This is what happens when you turn your back for 5 minutes to fix dinner and put your 6 year old in charge of a baby:

Sue, are you having flashbacks yet? :)

City Skipping

Hello Chicago...

Meet Miss Hollis....

She has been waiting an awfully long time to meet you...

Actually, the more I think about it, the two of you were made for each other...
Full of boundless energy...

Bursting with dreams...

And growth...

We were even able to pick up a new family member while visiting...

See this little stinker?
I snapped this shot at 10:00 at night.
Wide awake.
And wide awake at 12 and 2 and 4 and 6 too.
I think I found her kryptonite..Hotel Rooms.

If you do not like to eat, Chicago is not the place for you.
Our family does like to eat..and eat we did.

Garretts Popcorn, Ginos East, The Rosebud, The Dog House.
We left no stone unturned and took no prisoners.

If you asked Hollis what she liked most about Chicago, she would probably tell you, "Riding In a Taxi."

She asked us every 5 minutes to go for a ride in a taxi.

At one point  I looked at Jason and said,"If she asks me that again, I am going to flag the first taxi I see, put her in it, and send it home to Zionsville."

WOW.

I will tell you that going to Chicago with kids is a WHOLE lot different than going to Chicago without kids.

I'll let you read between the lines on that one.

When we were leaving Ginos East, I ran into a old family friend from Winston-Salem-right there in Chicago!!

It took my breath away.

And then I ran into my OB doctor and her family at the aquarium the next day.

I love serendipitous moments like that.

It is a small world, isn't it?

Thank you Chi-Town for enduring our family for a couple of days.

You helped create some wonderful memories for us.

You are,indeed, our kind of town.

We will give you a couple of months of some much needed respite...

But we'll be back before you know it.