"Hate"

Is it just me or does it bother any of you when your kids say the word "hate?" I really don't like it. I'm I just over reacting?

Don't go in the street!

I was unloading everyone at the Children's Museum today, and when I looked up Cole was gone! I yelled for him several times...no answer. I asked Alex were he went. No luck.
I left Alex, Mr. Oober Responsible, with Randi and ran down the parking lot towards the door of the museum shouting, "COLE!"
To my horror, Cole was standing in the middle of the street with cars honking at him.
When he finally heard my call, he ran back. I was so relieved he wasn't hurt that I just kept saying, "Don't go into the street without Mommy! You could have died!" (Way to keep it cool, huh, Mom?)
When we got back to Alex and Randi, Alex gave Cole a big hug and said, "I love you, Cole. Don't go into the street."
Cole's only comment, "I will not go into the street because I don't want to get squashed like a pancake."

This ranks in the top three scariest moments of my life. I just knew I was going to witness my 3-year-old son get hit by a car. Thank God, I didn't.

Wordless Wednesday

"Alex"
Donald Alexander
5 yrs.

"Cole"
Coleridge Lee
3 yrs.

"Randi"
Miranda Belle
18 months

Memorial Day

Thank you.

Grateful Sunday

I am greatful for the hugs and cuddles that waking children so freely give.

Mom My Ride

I miss my friends

I miss my friends, and some are not even gone...yet. A bunch of my new found friends are leaving Houston because Med. School has ended. They are all going off to live their "real" lives. I am happy for them, but I really hate to see them go.
Love you guys.

Highlight of our trip to Austin

This was the best part of our trip to Austin.
Cole saw his Daddy sing karaoke, and I am sure you can guess what happened next. That's right, Cole sang his ABCs with an encore of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
He received a standing ovation from an audience of about 300.
That kid has no fear!
AWESOME

My Computer

I borrowed this graphic from Leslie's blog. Thanks, Leslie.
It explains so perfectly how I feel at home with 3 kids under 6 years old. My friends and I can't get together, for some reason or another, we can't talk on the phone, unless we are in the car, and we have split attention when we are at the kiddo's events. SO, I do feel like my friends are in my computer.
We all write, when convenient, about the things that are important to us. Everyone checks in on her own time, and there ya go, virtual friendships. Perfect...for now.
I have to say that I do look forward to the day when we can again get together for real lunches and conversations.

"Oh, I remember that!"

"Sometimes the feeling is like a memory. We first learned the gospel in our heavenly home. We have come to this earth with a veil of forgetfulness. And yet lingering in each of our spirits are those dormant memories. The Holy Ghost can part the veil and bring those things out of their dormancy. Often my reaction to a supposedly new found truth is, "Oh, I remember that!"

Elder Glenn L. Pace
General Conference, 2007

This is why I decided to be a LDS.
In other denominations, I had questions that could not be answered. I asked...believe me...I asked. No matter whom I talked with, their answers just didn't sit right or were not complete enough. When I pushed, I usually got, "I don't know. We just have to believe." Well, that didn't feel right either.
With not much of another option, I just skipped words in prayers or phrases in songs in order to stay true to what I knew in my heart.
Then, I started asking those "hard" questions of an LDS Bishop. The whisperings of my Spirit were confirmed. I could hardly believe it! The ideas I held so close, the principles that couldn't be explained, were basic teaching in the LDS church.
I can now ask questions, and I know there will be an answer. It may come from counsel with others, but most likely it will come from trusting the Spirit.

Just Coloring

Cole was playing on the computer. He asked me for help, so I made my way over to fix whatever had gone wrong. The problem was that he couldn't find another picture to color. He had colored all over the computer screen. I asked, "Why did you color on Mommy's computer?" He responded, "It was a coloring page. I was just coloring."
So it was, Cole Baby, so it was.
How could I be mad?
I love that little trouble maker.

Wordless Wednesday

Ni Ni, Ma Ma

Ok...I have to document how cute Randi was tonight. I tucked her into her crib with her soft puppy (Thanks, Grammy Ann), her blanket, and her pillow. She looked up, waved and said, "Ni Ni, Ma Ma."
OH, there, steal my heart!

Vacation

We are headed out for Barton Creek in Austin this weekend, courtesy of BCG.
I hope Don doesn't bring his BlackBerry.
Thanks, Mom, for watching Randi!

Mother's Day Notes

Best Mother's Day gift brought home from Pre-school: stationary cards "customized" by Cole

Q & A from Cole's Mothers Day card:

My Mommy's name is "Mommy."
My favorite thing that Mommy cooks is "oatmeal."
If I could take Mommy to any restraunt, I would take her to "the donut place."
If I could buy Mommy a present, I would buy her "a cake."

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Q & A from Alex's Mothers Day card:

My Mom is "5" years old.
My Mom likes to wear "dresses and clothes."
The best thing my Mom cooks is "macaroni and cheese."
My Mom likes to "cook and play with me."
My favorite thing about my Mom is "she makes food."
Why did God make mothers? "because mothers like kids."

Wordless Wednesday

Don's New Ride

OK...I couldn't stand it. I got a new car, and Don was still driving my old car from 2001!
He is 6'4", and that Honda Accord wasn't quite his size.
This is. It goes with the boots he got for Christmas.
He is in for quite a surprise when he gets home.

Don't worry, he doesn't read my blog, but if he starts today...I just blew it.

Happy Mother's Day to Me

I got a new van. Really, I just got the new version of the van I already had.
Last week, in my old Odessey, the stereo started smoking on the way home from church...that could have been caused by the quarters Alex and Cole put in it a few years ago. I love kids.
Also, it was almost time for new tires considering the 78K miles I put on it in the past 4 years.
Because I didn't want to spend the energy or time to get everything fixed, Don said I could get a new one. YEA, new car!

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for my Mom.
My Mom gave to me even when she didn't have. My Mom supported me even when I didn't deserve it. My Mom loved me even when I pushed her away. My Mom blessed me even when I angry. My Mom cherished me even when I wasn't very honorable.
Thank you, Mom. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for being MY cheerleader. Thank you, Mom, for being my greatest teacher.
I love you.

Wordless Wednesday (another one)

Wordless Wednesday

Early, but so what!?!?!

Real Simple Questions

1. What makes you laugh?

The Daily Show with John Stewart

2. My first kiss was...

in a school hallway. It was after cheerleader practice with a football player, Mark Wells.

3. What celebrity crushes did you have as a teenager?

Vanilla Ice & The New Kids on the Block (all of them)

4. Fill in the blanks: "I cannot leave a ______ store without spending less than $______ ."

Ann Taylor Loft--$50

5. Name three things you've survived.

1) Child molestation
2) Parents' divorce (not related to #1)
3) Childbirth without drugs

6. The big decision I'm currently wrestling with is...

NOT A THING! Can you believe it? I can't.

Cracked Eyes?

Alex says, "Mommy, why are your eyes cracked?"
Apparently, my fatigue is showing through the red lines in my eyes.

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for modern medicine. I couldn't imagine not having it. They pretty much have a fix for anything these days.

I am also grateful for our health plan. Get this, we pay nothing per month, co-pay is $5 and prescriptions are $2. I just couldn't be anymore thankful.

Nose Picker

Wordless Wednesday

Maw Maw Zou

In my eyes Maw Maw Zou is not mortal...she is a permanent fixture. She has been there from my beginning, and she should be there to comfort me when I am 90 and in a nursing home...right? That is what she does. She cares for people.
Maw Maw Zou and I are two peas in a pod. I really think God just made Maw Maw again, then, named her Jodie. We look alike, except I didn't get her great cheekbones. We also act a like. It is really kind of neat to myself in her.
I wonder if she were in her 30s during 2007, would we be friends? I bet we would. The only big difference between us is time.
What I most admire about her is that she is a "go getter." I have never seen someone as motivated to be the driver in her own life. She focuses on making her life what she wants, and does it how she wants. She doesn't let anything get in her way. Maw Maw is strategic, innovative and ever hopeful.
What I love most about her is her generosity. She truly tries her best to help anyone in need. Her generosity shows me who she really is inside. No matter how tough she tries to be on the outside.
Mom says Maw Maw is getting tired. She says her friends are passing on, her husband is gone, and her body has multiple ailments.
I say, “Maw Maw, you are not allowed to be tired! I still need you.”

Cole's Nose

"Mom, I can't wiggle my nose."
I love that the most he worries about is whether or not he can wiggle his nose.