A Letter to Laura.....

This is my daughter, Laura. She is 25!!! today. Laura is my most independent child. She is strong and vibrant, smart and sassy, lovely and loving.

In honor of her birthday, I decided to write her a letter:

Dear Laura,

Thank you.......for 25 awesome years.

Thanks for the countless soccer games....in the rain, snow, stifling heat of a Georgia summer......I miss those days.

Thanks for the adventure of watching you grow...from a willfull wild child to a tough look-out-world-here-she-comes teenager to the lovely young woman that you are today.

Thanks for the memories that come flooding back when I think of your growing up years.....I know that we had our challenges, but looking back all I can remember are the good times. And there are plenty of those to remember!!

Thanks for being an awesome daughter. I am proud to be your mom and be able to claim you as my own. I love you, my dear, and I hope you have an AWESOME birthday!!

Love Always,
Mom

Video Games.......

Okay, so I got this package in the mail yesterday. My birthday is on Sunday. I figured that it might be a birthday gift so I briefly considered not opening it until Sunday. That lasted about 15 seconds. After all, maybe it wasn't a birthday gift, maybe it was.......umm.....ummm...... something else that needed to be opened immediately.

Turns out it was a birthday gift. From my brother, Peter. He sent me a Wii Fit. I have been wanting to try one for a while now, and oh, my gosh, is it ever fun!!

I realize, of course, that I'm old, and that video games are typically for the young, but I happen to like video games. To me, video games are the great equalizer between me and my kids. I mean, really, I used to be able to run faster than my kids, beat them at arm wrestling, do more sit-ups, push ups, etc. Those days are long gone. They can outlast, outrun, outplay me anyday. Not so with video games. In video games I can actually challenge my kids on a level playing field.

I'm really good at Brain Age (a mother's day gift from two of my boys), pretty good at Mario Kart (one of my favorites!), not bad at the 'old school' Sonic games, and I've been working on my drumming skills on Rock Band (I've still got a ways to go on that one!)

Now that I (we) have Wii Fit, we have even more challenges to do together. We've had it less than 24 hours and so far Jacob has the high score on the Ski Jump and Ski Slalom, Sam is best at Soccer Heading and Tight Rope Walk, and I hold the high score in Table Tilt and Hula Hoop. Yes, we've already logged quite a bit of time on the Wii Fit.

Now if I could only find the time to get the laundry done.

Sunrise, Sunset.........

I'm feeling very 'Fiddler on the Roof' today. I seems like just recently I had a houseful of little ones. Today, my youngest daughter and my youngest son had a birthday. Mary is 21 now, and Peter is 16. (Yes, they share a birthday. We couldn't figure out what to give Mary the year she turned 5, so we gave her a brother. They call each other 'birthday buddies')

When did this happen!?

How did this happen!?

Oh, I know that people told me it would happen.

'Enjoy them while they're small.' '

They grow up so fast.'

Of course, I didn't believe them. Those toddler years seemed to last forever. I had 6 children in 10 years. Chaos was status quo back then. It was like living in the eye of the storm. Looking back I'm not sure how I survived it. My life today seems almost boring.

I miss the days of little ones underfoot. I miss the sticky kisses and the skinned knees. Nowadays, my boys tower over me and I'm dealing with broken legs and collarbones. (Trust me, the skinned knees were easier!)

But they grew up, with or without my permission. So, Mary....Peter.....this song (or at least a part of it) is for you......

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday

When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

Happy Birthday, birthday buddies! I love you bunches and bunches! Hope you have a great day!

Happy Birthday!!

While today is Groundhog Day, and the world is focused on whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow (here in SC, he already has - 6 more weeks of winter for us!) at our house we are focused on this adorable boy......my grandson, Sabian.

Today is Sabian's birthday. He is now 4 years old. Just so you know, Sabian is awesome. He has such a sweet spirit. He is kind, loving and generous. If there were only one cookie left in all the world, he would give it to YOU. He is also snuggly, has a great sense of humor, and gives great back rubs.

Happy Birthday, Sabian!! I love you bunches and bunches!! I hope you have an awesome day!