Monday, April 27, 2009

Surprise!

So I am sure most of you are awaiting a great recount of my trip to DC, this is not it... but it is coming soon.

Today Maddox asked if he could have a pencil. We had the conversation of what are pencils used for, where are we aloud to write, what happens if we choose to write on the walls instead (I have several walls in my house colored on in pencil). He knew all the right answers and knew exactly what would happen...

A few minutes later I thought Maddox had forgotten about the pencil, and he was helping me in the kitchen. So I started a load of laundry and thought it was rather suspicious that he was still in the kitchen... and silent. So I peak around the corner and he is leaning against the wall with his hands behind his back with a look of "maybe if I look really cute she won't notice" on his face. When I asked him what he was doing, he jumps away from the wall and yells "Surprise!" showing me his art work on the wall.

Did he seriously think that if he gave me a surprise and looked at me with those heart melting eyes he would avoid the consequence... Not a chance, but it was sure a good effort.

Learned? I will always be tested and kept on my toes with this one around the house.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Growing Up

I am only sharing this with my daughter's permission...

On Saturday I took Madison to buy her first bra... yep, she is that old and I am and SO not ready for all this...

Learned: I am officially the mother of a prepubescent daughter.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Son...Serously?

Last night Brian and I went out to dinner, and my brother came over to hang with the kids. When we got home Madison informed me that my room was very "fragrant"; I immediately assumed dog dodo or something of the like. I open the door to a wall of Febreze. Maddox had taken the Febreze bottle and sprayed it all over my room, concentrating on the foot stool- soaking the entire side. Maddox was so excited to tell me all about "making (my) room nice".

The Febreeze bottle is empty, my room smells, and Maddox is pleased with his work... Seriously son...


This morning Maddox got in trouble and was sent to his room, while there he says (cries)"No body loves me..." He's TWO not thirteen, so enough with the dramatics! Seriously son...

Learned? This boy never ceases to crack me up, even if I don't find it funny at the moment.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Six-Word Memoirs

I am borrowing a book from my coworker and it is amazing! It is a bunch of 6 word memoirs written by "famous and obscure" writers. The history behind the 6 word memoir, according the the editor, is Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in 6 words. His story:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

WOW! That is one POWERFUL story.

Since then other authors have taken the challenge, and their stories are pretty durn good too.

It is not a book that needs to be read from beginning to end, so I will sample it for a few days and possibly share some interesting or enjoyable ones...

So far I have liked:
"Inside suburban mom, beats urban heart." Julie Goss

"Found true love after nine months." Jody Smith

"Can't read all the time, Bummer." Rina Bander

"Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda; a regretful life." Joe Maida

"One tooth, one cavity, life's cruel." John Bettencourt

I am sure there are many, many, more.

Learned? Brain's dead, can't think of one...

Sunday, April 5, 2009

The Alchemist


I just finished reading a book that has many layers of meaning. I am still trying to wrap my brain around them, so this may seem a bit random.

The alchemist is a story about a shepherd boy who decides give up the security of the known in pursuit of his Personal Legend and plunge into a journey of the unknown.

When I first began reading, I was a bit turned off because it seemed "new age"; a reoccurring quote from the book is "When you want something enough, the whole universe conspires to help you achieve it." While to some this may be the overarching message, I looked a bit deeper.

This wonderfully woven tale of a shepherd boy gave light to the truth that persistence pays, you should never give up, never loose sight of your dreams and goals, especially those that are inspired by God.

The author, Paulo Coelho, brings light to the complex topics of creation, life, and heaven with simple conversations such as: "The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and copy paradise. The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exist a world that is perfect. God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand His spiritual teachings and the marvels of his wisdom." Reminding me that in everything around me I see the face and love of my creator.

Coelho, just as poetically, discusses the role that man plays in God's creation and the importance of love in our existence: "It is we that nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse." and it is love that gives us our reason to become better, to continue to improve.

The greatest "ah ha" came at the very end when the boy finally found his treasure, I won't spoil it here for you, instead I suggest you read the book.

Learned? It is the journey,the things we learn along the way, not the destination, that make life worthy of living.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Lovely Bones



I finished this book about a week ago and I am pages from finishing the current one, so I thought I better get my review done...

I enjoyed reading this book about a girl who is killed and watches her family friends, and killer as they deal with her death in the days and years after. It explored a lot of different aspects of relationships. Though it was enjoyable, I never felt like i just HAD to keep reading; and even now I am struggling to elaborate much more.

So I give it a rating of,2.5 , between "read it, finished it, that's that" and "Enjoyable, not a total waste of time.

Learned? I should write my review immediately after finishing, I would have much more interesting things to say.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April Fools

Today at work someone brought in a bunch of brownies and left them for the staff in the lounge. They were so great I thought I would bring some home to share with the kids.

I was so excited to give them to them, when I walked in the door I said, "Kids! Do you want some brownies?" To which they replied an exuberant "YES!"

This was their reaction:




Learned? Middle School, teachers and students alike, have reminded me how fun April Fools Day is!