Sweetheart's Dinner

We loved with a love that was more than love. ~Edgar Allan Poe

Lest you think I am a bah humbugger about Valentine's Day, here is proof I am not. Last night we had a lovely dinner with our little brood. The Fab Five. We had a wonderful dinner with some of everyone's favorites, real china, candles, and lots of laughs. We called it the Sweetheart's Dinner, and it really was... yep, sweet. Each boy had a small gift, wrapped, and a handmade by mom-valentine at their place. (the cards even had a made up poem for each boy the back.) I think my favorite part was going around and telling each one, including my Micah, something I LOVE about them. When he asked them to return the favor, Hadji's responses had me wanting to cry one minute, and laugh the next. Typical. Here are some pics. I put the camera down at dinner. I didn't want to spend Valentine's dinner coaxing proper smiles. It was a good decision.

These are the doilies we painted and strung from the chandilier. I loved this. Loved that my boys all had SO much fun painting them. Loved how festive it made the dining room look. Loved sitting at the table looking at them turning as we laughed,ate, and made a memory. Plus, no one burped, hit, or used utensils as weapons at dinner. They must be magic doilies.I may never take them down.

This... Oh my word. Alden got his stool and gave the cupcakes a talking to. "Pupcakes, we gonna fwost you and EAT you!"

I think he felt bad, he gave them a goodbye kiss.

But he was still going to enjoy eating them anyway.

The Poor Cupcakes. Decorated by small hands, lots of love and spit went into those sprinkle decorations.

That is how we celebrated Valentine's Day with the wild boys. I love those knuckleheads.

Going Retro...

It is February 14th. That means Valentine's Day. Lest you think this will launch into a narrative about my husband, and be some sentimental post about our love, well... it's not. I am here to ask... What gives with the kids Valentines?

When I was growing up, you decorated an envelope, or a large can if the room mother ate enough beans and corn, and decorated it. That was hung or sat on your desk, and at the appointed time, classmates dropped in little notes of sweetness, and in some cases, puppy love. I remember distinctly agonizing in the first grade over which card to give a certain boy. I graduated with that boy and I bet he never knew the 7yr old torture I went through. Anyway... cards in a bucket. If you were lucky there were a few scratch n' sniff ones. (see above photo)Then we had cupcakes, juice, and maybe some chips. Done. Happy Valentine's Day.

Now? Now guess what we get? Goody Bags filled to overflowing with candy, party favors, pencils, and more. Huh? I thought we sent Valentine CARDS. I have caved to the pressure in years past and given the boys lollipops to hand out with the cards. This year though, I was in Target and was overwhelmed at the packaging and card "plus" items available. Oh, you can give a spiderman card... and a small gift. I decided...enough. We would set the new-old trend... Valentine CARDS.

At home that night I realized though... we are being cheated. Where in the hades are the little white envelopes? They are no longer around! We are forced to fold over the cards and close them with heart stickers that are about as sticky as say... oil. LAME. No wonder these moms are sending all this crap... BRING BACK THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPES! Kids write the names on them, perhaps add a sticker or drawing. Then we can all rest easy, stop giving away starbucks gift cards and iPod shuffles with each Valentine, and get back to being... well, normal.

The point of Valentine's Day is, wait for it... THE VALENTINES!!!

That is it. Little white envelopes would make me happy. For today... ;)

I leave you with a relic of the cards I sent as a child...

Me and my BFF, Lysol

I am not a mom who complains when her kids are sick. Until now. It started with Hadji, almost three weeks ago. The flu. We stayed home from church, school, birthday parties, and all other activities. He got better, and then... Alden got it. Not the flu, but some disastrous stomach bug that allowed for some violent toilet time. Yes, there it is, I said it. Violent, I tell ya'.
Now, it is Lincoln's turn. We went to church, because he was merely sneezing. I thought it was my fault for adding a chicken feather down throw pillow to his bed ensemble. Apparently not. And I hate that, because it is a huge pet peeve when people bring sick kids out. If your child is sick, stay home. Period. End of story.

So, we are now on week three of cabin fever, I mean, patient care. If my butt hits a chair, someone, somewhere, in this home, will need something. A tissue, a puke bucket, a sip of sprite, a video started, a snack, a new pillow, a new game, a toy, a book, a blanket, a brother removed, or something... In short, I am sick of being needed so much.

How does one remember to be loving and consciously make taking care of others, a pleasure? (1st Corinthians 10:31) Well, it is not by waiting and then snapping at your sick spouse when he wants some crackers. Not that I know that from say, personal experience or anything. Not that I may have begrudgingly made him some food while mine got cold and gotten all snarky and self righteous about it. Not me. Well... eh, maybe it was... I had to re-group.

Mom's Sanity Remedies:

1. Pray. Pray hard.

2. Remember how nice it was when your mom took care of you when you were sick? Do it.

3. Your child does not want to be sick, they didn't plan to drag it out, passing it along carefully amongst themselves through the weeks. Don't treat them like are doing so on purpose. (even though it may feel that way at times!)

4. Have at least four games of Words with Friends going at any given time. Trying to use that Q can be a great distraction.

5. Hot tea. Drink lots of hot tea. Scalding even. A burnt tongue is less likely to snap at sick children. I am on my second pot today, fyi. Just kidding. Sort of.

6. Try and get out of the house, even if it is just to the grocery store. Seeing other humans, that can make you feel less savage like when you re-enter the jungle of germs.

7. Lysol. Then Lysol again.

8. Allow yourself some drama. Crying out ala Mommy Dearest, "I SAID NO MORE TISSUES ON THE FLOOR!" really did make me feel better. My children looked up from their electronic daze and noted me with little concern. Maybe I play the Joan Crawford No-More-Wire-Hangers card too often???

9. Finds lots of amazing DIY projects and crafts online, and then relish in the legit excuse of your sick children for why you do not dye your own felt with vegetable juices.

10. For the love of all that is holy, do NOT even think about the fact that you are once again, missing date night AND the PECAN CRUSTED TROUT WITH BOURBON GLAZE! I may call and plead my case for take out...

Oh, make sure your self portraits document your tylenol laden journey. (even if you are wearing your old man sweater and have no make up on. Click it.)

Until then, I leave you to go bleach something... or someone...

For Martha...

My dear friend Martha, who is gorgeous, funny, and sweet as can be, tagged me to do a list of seven facts. I am a boring person, so these lists are always hard for me, but since Martha is also growing a baby in her adorable little belly, I will attempt the list, just for her. Who can say no to a cute pregnant girl???


1. I have stuck with the photo-of-my-funny-looking-face-every-day-goal so far. Is it cheating if I let Micah take the photo sometimes? Last night Alden and I fell asleep together and before he woke up, I whispered fiercely for Micah to come snap a photo.

2. I have not had any salt and vinegar chips since New Year's Eve. I am an addict, and quitting cold turkey was the only way to go. Can you go through salt n'vinney withdrawal? Cause I am.

3. I finally found a place here that makes fish fry to rival Buffalo's. I have always missed that, especially during Lent. And yes, leave it to Buffalo to take a healthy food like fish and make it yummy and bad for you! Woot woot!

4. Micah threatened to take away my txting plan. Apparently, he is not a fan of my inability to pick up a phone anymore. I am a fan of a "conversation" via txt that can occur whilst kids are crying or bums are being wiped. (theirs, not mine.) I think that is a whole blog post in and of itself. Coming soon...

5. I finally bought a used copy of and started reading, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Oh.My.Word. I love it. I am about halfway though it, and am already sad that it will be ending soon. That my friends is how you know a good book.

6. I tried to stretch the taco meat this week by adding black beans. I was very quiet and just made up everyone's tacos in the kitchen. I thought I was in the clear, when at the almost last bite Hadji picks a bean up and says, with great disdain, "What is this? A bug?"

7. Things I never thought I would say, but have... "Please, please do not come ask me any more questions while I am using the bathroom. Unless you, your brother, or the house is on fire, do not come near this door. " I also may have said that the house fire should be out of control before I am interrupted. Shameless, poor, mothering, tis true...

See, I am not good at these lists. Maybe you can get a refund on the 4 minutes you have invested here?

Confessions of a Date-In FAIL...

Sometimes, you just have to know when to throw in the towel. After writing that lovely and positive post about the "Date-In", we attempted our first Date In of 2011. It was an epic failure.

It all started as a carefully planned evening out. We were going downtown to a lovely restaurant to feast on a pecan crusted trout with Bourbon glaze. It was the restaurant's special that night, and I had been dreaming of that yummy pecan crusted goodness for days. (only kim will get this advanced meal planning. you appreciate it don't you kim?)

Then we got socked with some snow. Snow topped with ice. Ice which meant we could not ask our lovely babysitter to come drive out here to the casa. It's ok, I tell myself, that despite the fact that we are on day two of school being cancelled, I can handle not leaving the house. I declare to my Micah that we will Date-In! I shower, I make up, and... then I broke the first rule of the Date-In. I put on long johns. In my defense, I was FREEZING, very freezing, and...I think I can rock some long johns. That my friends is not prideful fashion bragging... more like a confession of embarrassing long john love.

I try to think of what take out My Micah can bring home from work that will keep until bedtime... um, yeah...there isn't one. When we typically get take out, he goes back out for it after the little ones are in bed. I could not send him out onto the ice laden streets to satisfy my pasta needs.

So, I call him at work to chat. I offer snack and dinner options. Apparently, a husband who is very busy at work, he is not wanting to think about his dinner options. I need to remember... if I put hot food on a plate, he will be happy 98% of the time. So... we decide on nothing.

I am busy re-clothing the boys who are sledding, and searching for dry mittens, making hot chocolate, and whatnot. In short, I was quickly losing my planning focus for the Date-In. I had no candles ready, no romantic music keyed up, and no game/movie picked out.

I should also point out that someone may not have greeted her spouse in a perfect fashion upon his arrival home. I asked him to stop at the store and instead of saying "Thank you", I questioned his purchases. Oops. See, my Micah saw bread on sale for a $1 a loaf. And bought 10. Yes... TEN. That is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Now, on another item, I would have been elated, but this picky gal has decided frozen bread is not good. It gets soggy when you thaw it. I don't care for it. So, instead of praising my frugal husband, I screwed up my face and questioned his shopping skills. This did not help set the tone for date in either. I should add, "Don't rebuke your honey on his way in the door" to the list of rules.

By the time we got kids fed, the news that school was cancelled the next day had slipped out. (I shant say which over bread buying parent let that cat out of the bag) Well, every mom knows, once kids know there is no school, due to snow, their ability to fall asleep quickly and quietly disintegrates right before your eyes.

The evening dwindled down...
The next morning we had a good laugh and both declared that once the TV had stayed tuned to The Biggest Loser, we knew it was time to throw in the towel...
Man boobs do not inspire romance. Ever.
The moral of the story is... know when to persevere, and know when to park it on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, and call it.