Dear school peeps...

 Dear people at A's school,

        Please stop looking at me funny when I drop off and pick up my kindergartner. Yes, I understand that at 5 years old he is 3/4th's as tall as I am. I understand that while I'm carrying him in or out of the school his legs are dangling around my knees. But you see, I also have a 3rd grader so I know that soon, very, very soon not only will I not be able to physically carry him any more, he won't want me to. Soon, too soon, it'll go to only being able to hold his hand as we walk in. Then it'll drop down to not even being able to walk him inside. Shortly after that it'll be no kisses in the van before drop off. One day while I'm in his class room volunteering he'll give me a big smile and move towards me like he wants a hug but will stop short as he sees his classmates looking at him.

      So, until those incredibly sad days come I'll continue to walk up and get my 3rd grader while everyone else lets the kids run to the cars, in hopes of the occasional hand holding on the way back to the van. While my back screams at me to put him down, I'll continue to carry my 5 year old to and from school. I'll continue to walk gingerly so his long legs don't trip up my short ones. I'll keep holding him tight and deeply inhale the sweet smell of his breath as he nuzzles his face into my neck. Please stop looking at me like I'm doing a chore, like he's being difficult. Stop looking at me like I'm babying him, stop giving me a disgusted look. Instead, hold the door open for and smile for us. Smile because not only am I getting another day of touching and holding my sweet boy in public, he's getting another day of it too. The happiness his love brings to me every morning and afternoon far outweigh any protest my back may give.


       Sincerly,
      A grateful mama

25-28

March 30th

Soooooooo happy that I have a reader!!! 

March 31

Mama, if you come here I'll cuddle you for a little bit before we get up. (We were closing our eyes cause the flash was BRIGHT!) 

April 1

This made me snort. 

April 2

HAIRCUTS!!!!!!!!!!

Days 20-24

March 26

OMG this is awesome sauce. Vanilla, banana, wafers, frozen, heaven.

March 27

Having a sink that works, WITH a sprayer. Spoiled!

March 28

I'm NOT thankful for the lack of sleep all this OT is causing, but I AM thankful for the little extra cash it's bringing!

March 29

Thankful for things to pass the time during a long shift!

Catch up

I keep getting behind! The upside of that is one big post instead of a small one every day. Enjoy the last 4 days....

March 22

These two bring me happiness every day. I'm so blessed to be their mama. 

March 23

Soooooooooooo, soooooooooo thankful for helpful, handy friends. It's just an added bonus when they're good looking. :)

March 24

I've been craving an ice cream cookie sandwich for about a month now. Got one from DQ about 2 weeks ago and it was just gross. Was getting to the point where I thought I might have to break down and make some. Walked to the TNT on break and decided to see if they had the banana pudding ice cream everyone has been raving about. No pudding ice cream but they did have one of these. I tentatively opened it and took a bite. yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm  Happiness!

March 25

Funnies=happy

Sugar and Caffeine

In the middle of a long, long 12hr shift, some sugar and caffeine make me very happy.

Work Happy

Today I'm thankful to have a job. Period.
I'm extra thankful that it is a job I actually enjoy, it pays well, and offers benefits.
I'm incredibly thankful that I have a schedule that works with being a single mom. I work weekends, which really sucks, but working 8 hour night shifts help. I take the kids to school, sleep for a couple hours, get up and do what needs to be done, pick up the kids from school, do what needs to be done, and then I put the babies in bed. This is a big deal to me. For a while I didn't get to put them to bed and that's a special time for us. It also gives me enough time to take a nap after I put them to bed, if need be. Life is pretty good in this area right now.

Friends

Today I'm thankful for friends. The kind of friends that understand sometimes you have a spell of dumbness and need time to find your way back. Friends that will talk smack with you but also know when to keep quit. Friends that laugh, cry, hug, drink, and support us. 

I'm blessed enough to have a few of these friends but today I'm thankful for one in particular. This girl has stuck beside me through so very much. She seems to know exactly what I need and when I need it. I go to her quite often to get advise on becoming the kind, courteous, funny, straight forward, and graceful woman I want to be. 

'

This pic is unfortunately about 4 years old. I think a new pic of us together is in order!!!!!

Day 12

Both boys got their second stripes on their belts today. Happy Happy Happy!

Double the happiness

Today I have a little bit of a heavy heart (that will probably be a post in the future). Before heading to work I thought, I don't know what I'm going to post today, nothing spectacular happened. Then this happened.

These two always bring joy to my life. Blessed.

Work happy

This doesn't really make me *happy*, but in the middle of a looonnngggg 12 hour shift caffeine and sugar sure does help!

PS. If you feel like getting me a little something, TNT gift cards are now welcome!

100 days

A hilarious adult card game. Even better if the players have a dark sense of humor. No wonder it's such a hit in the dispatch center. :)

Happy Pi day!

Stinkin me forgot to snap a pic of the kids eating their pie for pi day. That actually wasn't the part that made me happy though. After dropping off the sitter I explained to them what pi is and why today is pie day. Once I was pretty sure they sort of, kinda understood I told them, "So I'm going to make a pie, p-i-e for dessert for pi, p-i day." They both gave a good hardy, but short laugh and Alexavier said, "that was kind of funny mama!" Like I'm not ALWAYS funny!!! The second happy moment came when they finally got to eat their pie and the same little one kept saying "we're eating pie, p-i-e for pi, p-i day." He learned to spell two new words!

Geek happy

Today and tomorrow's 100 happy days post is full of awesome nerdiness.

We were able to meet Sean Casey and the TIV. I have to say I was a little jealous of the boys I, wanted to climb in there and push buttons myself! 

According to Casey, this thing isn't a chick magnet at all. He said it's more of an appeal to the middle age motor head type guys. Personally, I think he's just living in the wrong area. I wouldn't want to pay to fill up the gas tank, but I'd love to drive around in this thing! 

:::crickets:::

Today's post doesn't really have a picture either. Today sitting in the dark, silent living room getting caught up on shows makes me happy. Being in a room with ringing phones and commotion all day, this is so nice.

No pic happiness

Today I'm not just happy, but thankful for a sitter that the boys adore. 

 As I was pulling out the drive to go to work the kids were running around laughing and smiling with Cora, our sitter. Waves, and kisses were sent from the yard as I drove away. It was a very sad moment for me. One of those moments where your heart hurts and you just want to jump out of the car and hug them. The thing that saved me calling into work (aside from getting fired) was that they were so happy to have her there and spend time with her. They were practically shoving me out the door, asking over and over how long until I go to work. Tonight they asked if tomorrow was another spring break day, and said "YES we get Cora again tomorrow!" when I informed them it was. 

 Not only do the boys adore her because of all the fun stuff they come up with together, she also helps by feeding them, doing the dishes, vacuuming and today she cleaned the boys' room AMAZINGLY. The three of us are oh so grateful to have her around!!!

I meant to get a pic of the three of them today but forgot. I will take one soon and add to this post...

Oh, so happy!

Alexavier drew I love you with a heart around it, and me underneath. Unfortunately, he knows I'm not tall and those AREN'T really long legs, those are my boots.

Day 3

Recently my hard drive died. I got it fixed but lost about 1/4 of my pictures in the process - the only thing I wanted saved. :( Even more recently my phone updated and I lost all pics from the beginning of December. Very, very sad time around here. That being said I am so thankful for pictures. I'm working on a project and looking back over the last year. I'm remembering things I forgot, putting dates to things I remember, and getting all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings looking back.

Day 2

Today's happiness post is a layered one... After a long 12 hour shift it feels AMAZING to crawl into a warm bed. So thankful for the little luxuries I'm able to have. Here's the multiple part... Not only do I have the electric blanket, I have the bed it goes on, the electricity to run it, the roof over my head to have the electric go to. This was a Christmas/thank you gift from a friend of mine's parents. I cooked for his family and mine for Thanksgiving and Christmas. His mom wasn't feeling well but he didn't want her to miss out and go to Furrs or something of that sort. Each time was a wonderful day for everyone involved, especially me. It was so nice to have more than just two little ones to cook for. It made my heart happy to see him and his parents interact with the boys. I'm thankful that I have friends that include the three of us in the things they do. I'm grateful to have friends that not only care but want to show their appreciation. I'm also thankful for friends who know what I want and pass the info along to the people who want to get me something. ;)

1 of 100....or more?

Some of you may have heard about this happy challenge. If not, I suggest you check it out. I'm not going to post to their website or anything like that, but I am going to try to post on here something that makes me happy for the next 100 days. I'm doing this for a couple of reasons. The main two are A) it may get me back in the habit of blogging, and 2) who couldn't use a little perspective?! I may not post every single day. But I will make up for it when I miss.... So, here is today's happy moment.... The boys were able to meet, and have a brief lesson with Master Machado today (Here and here if you're out of the know). This was a pretty special thing for both of them, and made me very happy to be able to provide this for my children. I know in a world with never ending activities and technology I sometimes feel that we're doing too much. Other times I feel like I'm not doing enough to keep them busy, or expanding their horizons. Today this made me very grateful, and happy. PS - yes, the little one does have stuff on his face. This week was Dr. Seuss week at school - today they had a cat nose and whiskers. He didn't want me to take it off because it was "like my army paint."