we learn something new every day

Greg and I have been married 11 years.

And for all of those eleven years, my favorite meal in our home has been taco night. I love tacos. Taco night was my favorite dinner as a child growing up, and the meal I still request for birthdays.

So last night, I did what I always do.

Thawed the meat.

Grabbed the shredded cheese, lettuce & tomatoes.

Browned the taco shells.

And like usual, the boys ate everything but their tacos, claiming they weren't 'all that hungry.' As history repeated itself, Greg ate his dinner, but didn't ask for seconds. And somehow I found myself asking if Greg had enough, and the smile that he forced told me everything.

He didn't like tacos.

How did I miss that? More importantly, how did I miss it for eleven years? E-lev-en. That's a lot of taco nights in this home. In Greg's defense, he tried to soften the blow with these words: 'It's just not my favorite.' And then he smiled with hesitation as if to say, 'Please don't be mad.'

Taco Bell, here I come.

one of these days I'll get it

A big thanks to my neighbor who gave the boys a snack after school while I attended a meeting.

Upon picking them up, they grabbed their backpacks and headed to my car, parked in the neighbor's drive, for the long and exhausting trip home...two houses down. Yet, they didn't hop in.

Me: C'mon guys...get in.

Griffin: That's okay, I'll walk.

Me: Are you sure? You don't have to.

Hayden: Yeah, I'll walk, too.

Me: Okay, whatever you wanna do.

Griffin: I mean, we're MEN, Mom. DUH.

the perfect timing of a 6-year-old

It's a new year.

New things to do, new friends to see, and new memories to make.

Funny how with each new endeavor, thoughts of my father return and I wish he was here to share it with me. To tell him about Greg's job that he loves, the kids shirtless wrestling matches, or that I found our cordless phone folded up in a blanket. And so as I watched Hayden dress in his Elvis costume, followed by a mini-performance in our living room, I wondered what Dad would have said about his grandson with the curled lip and gold sunglasses. Hayden noticed I was lost in his thought, and here's the rest:

Him: Mom, what...you're not watching!

Me: I was buddy...I just thinking about your Papaw.

Him: Yeah, I miss Papaw too. He was the best.

Me: You wanna see a photo of him? I keep it in my room. It's of me, Papaw Mike and Mamaw Charlotte on vacation.

Him: (Taking a glance) Ummm, what's up with Mamaw's hair? It looks weird.

And off he went.

weeks should start on tuesday

It's back to work today.

My first day of work in 2011 has not gone accordingly, and for no other reason than I expected it to. I'm out of sorts. Not on a routine. A bit discombobulated. And hey, how often do we get to use THAT word?

Here's the lowdown, in a nutshell, and keep in mind the day's not over:

I was awakened by one of my sons who simply couldn't sleep, about an hour before my alarm was set to blare, later arrived at work to find my keyboard and computer mouse locked up, so I scrambled to search news on my cellphone, noticed I was leaning to the left due to an uneven chair, grabbed my coffee in the drive-thru at Starbucks and was given a half-filled cup, though they certainly didn't charge me half the price, my resolution for the new year to no longer say the phrase 'Long story short' was broken during the first ten minutes of the show, as I caught myself repeating those very words to the guys, and despite the mental note at 10 pm to bring my cell phone charger to work, I forgot it.

Let's hear it for Tuesdays!

Courtesy of my 6-year-old

What every mother wants to hear: Mom, may I have a napkin, please?

What every mother doesn't: I have a booger on my finger.

couldn't go home if we wanted to

I'm happy to report we had a great time sledding as a family last night. I'm also happy to report that I'm not the one who lost our car keys.

On the sledding hill.

In the dark.

It happened alright, and Greg realized it as we stood on top of the hill, watching the boys do belly slides down the now half-melted muddy snow. They had fallen out of his pocket 'somewhere on the hill,' according to him, which translated to 'they could be anywhere.' He realized we had no way home about the time I realized my thighs were like two giant popsicles and momma needs some hot chocolate.

Stat.

So we began our search, combing the snow, while I thought to myself A) I'm gonna kill Greg B) It's a loooong walk back C) I'm gonna kill Greg, and yes...all in that order. Yet, Greg came through and after 5 minutes of me panicking, he found the much-needed keys at the bottom of a hill. And we all lived happily ever after.

Even Greg.

letter to my 5-year-old

Dear Hayden,

Soon, you'll be turning six.

And though you don't like to sit in one place for long, I watch you when you do, taking in your little quirks that bring a smile to my face. Like the evening you colored diligently, making sure to stay within the lines, with furrowed brows and a tongue peaking over your bottom lip, pausing long enough to look up for reassurance. Your shy smile gives no indication of the bold personality you possess, the one that says, 'That's what I'm talkin' about,' when you learn I'm making breakfast for dinner.

I love the questions you ask me, like why the male host at the restaurant is wearing guy-liner, how Santa lost weight from the time you saw him a week ago, and if we can ride around the neighborhood to watch a movie on the DVD player in our new car. Sometimes my answers aren't satisfying, and instead of the usual 'Why's that?', you often rattle off phrases of disgust, as in 'Well, that makes no sense,' 'That's just stupid,' or 'Really...mom?', as if to say...that's all you got?, then you dash off to find a football helmet that you will inevitably wear indoors for the next thirty minutes.

The little things in life are what make this world go round, and you live for 'em. Gumball machines near the exit doors at restaurants, couch time with your Dad, and a sucker from a Meijer employee are all grounds for a good day in your eyes. Simple things aside, you're the only boy I know who likes a ziplock bag full of bacon in their lunchbox, will happily skip dessert, and who blushes when the waiter asks to take your order.

I am proud of all you've accomplished over the past year, and wish you a bright future full of happiness. Much like the happiness you bring your family, including your older brother who giggles at your silly ways, like the time you snuck his sports glasses to school and wore them all day long. You're the bounce in this shindig called life. Here's to you, Hayden.

Happy Birthday, blue eyes.

how an almost 6-yr-old thinks

Him: Look, Mom...it's President Obama's wife on tv.

Me: Yeah, that's her. That's the First Lady.

Him: The First Lady?

Me: Yep.

Him: She was the very FIRST one ever born?