Growing up and eating "S'ghetti"

While I was growing up in a large family of five there was a lot of things that became tradition just because my parents enjoyed seeing us doing something at a certain time in our life. Our first spaghetti experience for example started getting recorded as soon as my parents got a video camera. For them the spaghetti experience was right up there with our first birthday cake experience. When I got older I enjoyed taking time to watch the family videos from the times that I was too young to remember. It was like meeting a new person and gaining knowledge from their past experiences. But, when it came to the taping of my spaghetti experience the only knowledge I gained from it was that I could NOT wait to video my future children's first spaghetti encounter.

By the time I had purchased my first video camera my oldest son had already experienced this, so I ended up doing a memory log of it instead. But for my second child i got the whole 10 minute video on our first home DVD. Well, now came the time for my third child's encounter and I made sure I had the video camera ready to catch her enjoyment of the saucy noodle fun. Watching her do what I did almost 22 years ago gave me a flash back to watching myself in my parents home videos and also a realization that in no time my children will be me. With their video cameras in tow and aimed on their children to make sure they capture those special moments that will forever be timeless.

At this current point in time I am a mom of three (four if you want to count the ol' ball and chain), people ask me all the time, no rather they make the statement to me all the time, "I hope your done having kids." The fact of the matter is, its not their business if I am or am not. This is my life to fill with joy and happiness the way I see fit. So, I really hope I'm not done having kids because I've never, NEVER had anything in my life make me as happy as their lil' smiles when I feel like my world is going to end. My life may be less then perfect and hard at times, but I have my family that makes it all worth while. And although the growing up time for my kids seem to be flying by, it is by far the best time I've ever spent.

AWESOME MOMENT OF THE DAY: While typing this blog, my seven month old took a break from playing to crawl over to me to be picked up. Once in my arms she laid her head on my shoulder and simply said, "mama."

The Unmatched Beauty of the Childs Mind

Today was a good day in my household, after my children being gone for 2 days (with their grandmother so i could go on a cleaning spree). I was filled with joy and excitement to get them back in time for our family Christmas with my father, sister, brother, his wife, and their wonderful son. Upon picking them up I found them excitedly captivated by a Maltese puppy that my mother-in-law had. Whilst commenting on the bonds they formed with the puppy all the way from my eldest to my young 7 month old daughter I realized I would love nothing more then to bring this animal into our chaotic life. That is when my MIL responded with take him, please, take him now! I was all to happy to want to oblige but animals coming into our household is an absolute must discussion with my husband. So when my son's looked at me with pleading eyes i told them they had to talk to daddy. So we loaded up in the car and off we went. As we were going down the road I spotted a 27 inch TV set out for garbage pick up... now seeing this triggers many memories of my mother dumpster diving for tables, rugs, TVs, blinds, really anything you could name... So my knee-jerk reaction was to speed up, but i surprisingly found myself more willing to slow down, inspect the item, and then proceed to load it into the car with the thought... "maybe it works."
When we made it home, kids in tow with a 27inch TV and dreams of a puppy dancing in our heads, we were greeted by my father and sister bearing gifts a plenty and a very tasty lunch. When my brother arrived with his wonderful family we sat down to eat with a good movie in the background and warm conversations to pass the time. Although the whole time we were eating my oldest kept asking, "can we open presents now!" It kept us entertained in a slightly annoying way, but it was a situation you could not help but to make the best of. But when the time came to open presents he was so excited he handed out all the presents while opening his own. The thoroughly enjoyed unwrapping all the gifts with pure looks of interest and curiosity as they were anxiously tearing through the paper to see what goodies lie beneath. Once all the mysterious presents were revealed there was a awesome count of toys from remote control cars to a baby gym, from that to a Nerf gun (BTW OUCH DAD), and then on to gifts for us adults which included a wonderful screen print from my extraordinarily talented brother to very comedic and brightly colored t-shirts from my dad.
Once our family Christmas was over, my son asked for the puppy, and although my husband immediately said no, I later talked him into curiosity and interest over the animal and instead of the stone cold no, i got the answer we'll see, which in my hubby's speak means yes but on a trial basis... i can swing that ;)
SWEETEST MOMENT OF THE DAY: That evening as the kids and I were baking cookies for Christmas, my youngest son was helping me cut out ginger bread men and as he gazed at them he had a light bulb moment and proceeded to point and say, "this ones mommy, this ones daddy, and this ones me dilly" Nothing can warm a heart quicker then that ;)