Enough Love and Gifts to Last

I didn't cancel the water slide for Matthew's party, but I did tell Matthew Friday night to include sunshine in his evening prayer. 

On Saturday at 11:30 am., 16 guests arrived for the water party and the weather was overcast, windy, and cold. I wore a sweatshirt, but they came wearing swimsuits (and one wet suit) begging me to turn on the water. The water balloons weren't enough, and finally I gave in.

Before I turned the water on the slide, the 15 boys and 2 girls (one sister and one special girl, Cierra) jumped on the trampoline, slid on the dry slide, played pool, air hockey and foosball, ate cotton candy and popcorn (thanks to a last minute delivery from a friend), ate pizza, and...

... decorated and not necessarily ate cupcakes. 

Later, I realized I didn't have any right throwing a party with 17 boys. 

I had no control of the water balloons being launched from 2nd story balconies, or the soaked carpet upstairs from the retaliating attacks, or the kid who kicked another kid in the head, or the kid who punched another kid in the nose. 

And even though 4 moms stayed to chaperone or rescue me (however you want to look at it), I still kept having thoughts of missing kids and sorry explanations to the worried parents who would be there at 2pm for pick up. 

I make it sound more like free baby sitting than a party. But it was a party and a perfect one. Travis helped Matthew blow out 4 of the 11 candles on this cake. (It was a last minute, pathetic cake ring which I embraced because I knew I forgot to plan and I was tired the night before.)

Travis turns 4 in a few days, so this party was for him too. Not everyone at the party knew this and those who did made sure not to give him unwanted attention. He did like the gifts from Ewan and Conner, and he let me take this picture.

Matthew was showered with enough love and gifts to last through the summer. He'll be building star wars and sponge bob lego kits, making candy and bubbles, learning how to yo-yo, watching movies, reading books, making airplanes, and spending his cash sporting his new star wars shirt. 

When I asked Matthew if he'd like to take just a friend or two to Disneyland next year for his birthday, he declined saying on a scale from 1 to 10, this party was a 10.  Oh. I suppose I'd vote the same way. Thanks friends and family (especially my MIL for letting us destroy her house and flood her yard) for a fabulous celebration!

Call Me Privileged

favored /adj. v./  Treated or thought of with great kindness. Endowed with special gifts, talents, or advantages. Privileged. 

1. I might possibly be favored in the site of most. This morning I ran 5.6 miles and with each step practiced gratitude for my children and husband, which gave my spirit permission to celebrate. These blessings sometimes hide behind resentment, frustration, and defeat, but not today.

2. Makayla laid next to me this morning and asked, "Which kid do you like the most?", as she prompted me by pointing to herself. I remember knowing who my mother favored most. But I don't find favor in one more than another.

But tomorrow, we recognize Matthew as favored and celebrate his birth 7 years ago.

3. Matthew is a favored son to me and especially to his Father in Heaven. I created his Birthday Honor Board with appreciation and gratitude for being trusted as his mother. 

This past year he has lost teeth, innocence, and manners, explored butterflies, dinosaur bones, and powers, learned intention, patience, and courage, played soccer, hero, and father to his dogs, and taught faith, creativity, and determination. 

Happy Birthday, Matthew.

Words that describe you at this time in your life: dreamer, satisfied, excited, brave, explore, destructive, content, creative, strong, defender, and faithful. My birthday wish for you is to always feel favored for who you are.

Literally Random Thoughts and Laundry

I finally put away the 2 loads of laundry that had been glued to my bedroom floor for days. I heard the clothes' thoughts of disappointment as I placed them back into their proper places. 

Maybe the clothes heard my thoughts too.

1.  Missing Tom as I made the bed; appreciating the ease when there are 2 people. 

2. Sadly realizing it's getting more difficult to separate my clothes from my 12 year old daughter's.

3. Frustration because I couldn't kill the little green caterpillars climbing all over and eating my tomato leaves. 

4. Glad because the smaller sized clothes are finding their way back to the front of my closet.

6. Wishing parenting was rewarded based on the number of times a parent has to repeat a simple family rule. I'd be a freaking hero by now.

7. Worried that I need to up my game with my kids. Certainly the yelling and bad cooking can't be earning any points. What do I have to keep them coming back after they are grown? Put a pin in that one and come back to it later; remember, maybe laundry.

8. Chastising myself because I wasted time on facebook filling out the 'what is your purpose in life' questionnaire. 

9. Feeling victorious because I just became aware that renting library books could really save me money with Travis. He thinks he just bought 5 books. 

10. Feeling proud because the new parenting technique, you know who you are...fix it, actually works!

And yes, my thoughts are about as organized as the missing number 5. 

A Mother's Day With No dh

This Mother's Day was perfect for me and I'll tell you why.

Mother's Day technically started on Friday when Matthew brought this home from school. It's a tea pot...

...with an Iced Tea packet inside along with this poem:

Happy Mother's Day 

When you are tired,

and weary as can be,

Just sit right down and

Have a cup of tea.

A random gift followed by an answer to his question: Is this the good tea or the bad tea?

Sunday morning just the kids and I were home.  I heard whisperings at my bedroom door and was surprised by what followed. Matt and Makayla came in singing Happy Mother's Day to You to the tune of the Happy Birthday song and gave me the following:

1. This card by Makayla

2. A hug by Matthew

3. A book reading from Frog and Toad by Matthew

4. Chocolates by Makayla (She claims she drove the car to get them. Thanks grandma!)

Makayla made this card at church during a sharing time activity. The boys and I left a little early to continue celebrating Mother's Day at home. ;)

Travis refused to join in the morning singing. He didn't even look at the camera for my mother's day surprise preschool picture. And at Mother's and Muffins he didn't serve me a muffin, dance or sing me his rehearsed song. (Although, I had already heard parts of it during the week while he sat in his car seat serenading me)

But he did stamp this cute bag that held the preschool picture and...

...his hand print. Pictures don't capture when Travis gives me 'love pats', (gentle hands patting my cheeks) or butterfly kisses, or the thumbs up with a kissing noise, which happens daily and not just on Mother's Day.

My dh usually gives me a day off on Mother's Day by making sure I get a Sunday nap and by doing all the cooking and cleaning up. I usually get breakfast in bed, but this year Tom was gone and the kids honored me more than I could have imagined. 

Thank you, all three, for accepting and loving me as your mother. And Makayla, you are an angel.  

Spring Tan Lines and "Story of My Life"

All last week, I was talking to myself in 'blog posting' language, thinking of all the clever things I could write once I was through with my busy week. Now, it seems my thoughts and feelings are vain and removed from what I am currently experiencing. 

Some things are still noteworthy:

For instance, last Tuesday I hosted book club, and as I prepared my house for the arrival of the guests, I kept reminding myself to stay focused on the simple tasks of  food preparation and clean bathrooms and to leave the baseboard painting and bookshelf reorganization alone.

We discussed The History of Love, and I would like to mention I felt accomplished after everyone left.

Or take the conversation between my left and right brain regarding the semi-surprise birthday gathering. The lack of decorations or even balloons would give you a vague idea the left brain may have dominated or even won. 

Fright overtook my feeling of excitement as I emerged from finishing the DVD cover exclaiming, I didn't even get balloons.

My friend Mandy, who arrived first (and unfortunately left before this picture), reassured me that even though Karalea is predominantly right-brained, birthday balloons would have been an exaggerated accessory for such a fine celebration.  

The impromptu Happy Birthday banner still sits behind the door unseen and unneeded; the evening was a success.

(left to right: Cia, Peggy in front, Me, Karalea, Jenn and Susan (from Carlsbad)

Saturday I was invited to go hiking with Karalea and Mandy to Solstice Canyon in Malibu, CA. I took pictures of the burnt ruins along the way and great company.

This picture reminded me of certain moments in my life, when everything around me is beautiful and I am conspicuously standing there isolated, burnt...no charred.  

Being in nature always allows me to remember important life lessons and connects me to my spirit and to divinity. 

Once, we were climbing rocks and Karalea asked me, right or left. Without looking or feeling I confidently decided left. My decision to choose the harder route was great feedback reminding me there may be an easier way to accomplish the same thing if I would just look up.

I didn't take pictures of us sitting on a rock snacking on pop-rock, cayenne pepper chocolate,  gourmet licorice, or dried  hibiscus flowers. Or of us looking for the hidden Virgin Mary. Or even of the 'creepy' butterflies we saw and the life lesson to go along with them; just BE yourself. 

But oddly, I did take this picture, which is evidence of spring tan lines before flip-flops and of gardening, soccer games, jogging, and a perfect day of hiking.

Challenge #2 - Honor Board

Is it time for you to show up for someone special in your life? Create an honor board and take on the challenge issued here. I've done so many of these, and for me, it has always been therapeutic and grounding.

Thanks for checking it out.