I believe this sums up the way I’m feeling today quite nicely.
Pardon the video…it’s the only way I could get the song here.
June 11, 2011
June 10, 2011
Friday Funnies
I LOVE the humor of these people willing to correct their “friends.”
June 9, 2011
Mama Tears
I spent a lot of time, yesterday, thinking about Baby Monkey heading to kindergarten in the fall.
I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time with this particular transition.
I’ve already blogged about how difficult it was for me when I simply registered him for Kindergarten.
Now, he’s really going to be going soon.
Monkey Girl went to Kindergarten and I survived.
Monkey in the Middle took his turn, as well, and all was fine.
Yet, the idea of Baby Monkey going to actual “school” seriously does a number on my heart.
There is a certain maturation that occurs in Kindergarten, and while I know that it is developmentally appropriate, it makes me sad to imagine it happening to Baby Monkey.
When kids go to kindergarten, their conversations are different.
Dinner-talk won’t be everyone chatting about their day and Baby Monkey butting in with worldly observations like “Pigs don’t do anything,” or “God takes care of us…and Batman.”
Instead, he’ll talk about school and work, which I’ll be more than happy to listen to, but I know how much I’ll miss the spontaneity and silliness of the nursery school mind.
I know that Baby Monkey will always be a character.
He will always be the silliest of the bunch and will, most likely, wear his “Class Clown” badge proudly at his high school graduation.
But he’ll never be “baby silly” again, and for that, I cry.
June 8, 2011
Packing
This is what we’re doing, these days, when we aren’t at work/school.
Right now, I’m feeling pretty good about it.
I’m a consistent declutterer, so we don’t have a lot of extra “stuff” laying around.
This is a good thing.
Yesterday, we packed up my books and Monkey Girl’s books.
As I said on Facebook, we probably need a whole truck for her books, alone.
I figure I’ll do the boys books today to fill up another truck.
Truly, once the books are packed, there isn’t that much more to go.
Clothes, toys, pots and pans.
Even with the paucity of clutter, however, I’m finding moving to be the best motivator to get rid of the excess.
I keep asking myself, would I really pay someone to move this item from one house to another?
It’s a trick I use often, but now it’s got a little more oomph behind it.
So far, we’ve given away 75 articles of clothing and 50 books (a blend of my books and Monkey Girl’s books).
Of course, I’m pretty much a “if it ain’t nailed down, let’s get rid of it” type of girl to begin with, so it’s not a tricky process.
And as we pack, life goes on…school plays and concerts, graduations and picnics, birthday parties and the pool.
Transition is good and life goes on and we all survive and become stronger because of it.
So, wish us luck in the process that we don’t come down to the night before the move in a mad dash of “toss it in a freaking bag! I don’t care anymore!”
It’s been known to happen. 🙂
June 6, 2011
Hate to Break it To You…
…but the best part of waking up ain’t Folgers in your cup.
It’s this:
June 4, 2011
My Little Gonk
All of my babies have reminded me of Gonk.
In fact, Real Man and I talk about Gonk every time we have a baby (which, apparently is more often than most).
The way they can’t reach the top of their heads with their short, little arms.
Seriously, one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.
I love little baby arms.
Oh, and in case you don’t remember Gonk, let me refresh your memory.
Those of you who are my age will probably remember.
15 Weeks
Is it possible that in the course of 15 weeks, Tiny Monkey has gone from this
to this?
June 3, 2011
Friday Five
Wanna just write? Without wondering if it’s just right?
The Friday Five is taken from The Gypsy Mama. 5 minutes of pure, unadulterated writing.
Today’s topic is:
Every Day
Every day I get a million things done and put off the laundry. Every day, I say to myself, “You gotta do the laundry or it’s going to pile up and up and up until it’s more than you can handle.” Every day I say that and then I let it wait until the next day anyway.
Every day I wonder if I’m the only one who rethinks conversations they’ve had and wonder if they sounded as stupid as they think they sounded.
Every day, I am grateful for what I have and wish I was doing more for those who have less. Every day I think this and then I think that wishes aren’t actions and I need to quit wishing and start doing.
Every day
Stop
June 2, 2011
Favorite Times
My favorite time of day is my morning shower.
The kids haven’t woken, yet, Real Man is exercising, and it’s just the shower walls and me.
As I stand there, slowly waking, I think about everything and nothing. I just relax and let the moment be, because I know that the minute I emerge, it is as if some house-wide alarm clock has gone off and everyone wakes and stumbles down the stairs, looking for me and wanting to know what I can do for them at that moment.
My favorite time of day is standing in the hall as the students come in to the building.
As a parent and a teacher, every day has to be brand new.
Every kid needs a fresh start with each new day.
You need to let go of whatever happened the day before and be willing to be as excited to see them as you were on the first day you saw them.
It’s what kids of all ages need.
Some come in half-asleep, some chattering away.
Some come in with their noses in books, bumping into everyone and everything as they make their way down the hallway using every other sense but sight.
Almost all of them will say “Good Morning” with a smile, which is no small feat for a building that houses over 1,000 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
It’s the signaling that a new day has begun and it’s full of possibility for us all.
My favorite time of day is when the monkeys all get home from school or daycare.
When I pick up Tiny Monkey, he just smiles and giggles and is so happy to see me.
There are no tearstains, no residual crying-hiccups, or anything to indicate that he’s had a tough day.
In fact, he seems to be having a delightful time at daycare, which makes me all the happier when I pick him up.
It’s like his life is just laughter and smiles all day and when I get him, we get to continue the love.
When I pick up Baby Monkey, he drops what he’s doing and runs across the room to give me a big, squeezy hug.
Then, it’s just chatter, chatter, chatter in the car, as he tells me about his day. Good stuff.
When the bus drops off Monkey in the Middle, he races for the house, and I’m just so thrilled to see him.
He gets taller every day while he’s at school, and I swear he changes in the 8 hours we are away from each other.
And, finally, when Monkey Girl comes home, she flops onto the couch next to me and I love to listen to her tell me about her day. The drama that comes with being 10. Wanting to be so big, and yet still desperately clinging to being a little girl. Makes my heart burst.
My favorite time of day is feeding Tiny Monkey before bedtime.
He snuggles in against me as he eats.
One hand wraps around my back and gently opens and closes, like he’s rubbing my back in time with my hands rubbing his arms and legs.
As I look at him, his eyes are closed, but every now and then they open, and as we make eye contact, he can’t help but smile and lose his grip on his snack.
We smile at each other, like two fools in love, until he remembers what he was doing and waggles his head around until he is back in place to resume his greedy little suckling.
I love how he falls asleep as he eats, laying perfectly still, until he is jiggled or breathed on, and then his little mouth works, chin opening a closing once, twice, three times, and then is still, as if he is trying to trick me into thinking he is awake.
I love the rise and fall of his chest as he sighs and breathes against me, and the way his hair softly falls back into place as I run my fingers through it.
I mourn the fact that the little body that once fit completely against my body now has sprouted legs that fall off of my lap. He’s supposed to be tiny…how is it possible that he is this long?
My favorite time of day is when I put Tiny Monkey in his crib.
I lean down and kiss his sweet head and watch for the rise and fall of his chest.
Then I creep into his brothers rooms and kiss their sweaty little heads and whisper “I love you,” as they sleep, so differently; Monkey in the Middle, sprawled across his bed, sideways, backwards, upside down, while Baby Monkey is under every cover he can find, no matter the temperature, and his face buried in his blue blankie.
Finally, I tip-toe to Monkey Girl’s room and no matter what time it is, my gentle kiss wakes her, and she groggily reaches out for one more hug as she whispers “Love you, Mommy,” and my life is complete.
My favorite time of day is when the house is quiet and Real Man and I get a moment to ourselves.
We snuggle up and talk and laugh and enjoy spending time with our very best friend.
Despite my best efforts, I begin to fall asleep and Real Man whispers, “Take off your glasses,” and I say “But, I’m not sleeping,” and he laughs.
Every night.
And life is good.
May 29, 2011
One Hell of a Week
Haven’t written in a week.
Here’s why:
Sunday
Baby Monkey’s long-awaited 5th birthday party.
SuperHero Themed.
Monday
Real Man took the day off and we went to the Mother/Father celebration at Monkey in the Middle’s school.
There were happy tears for his great performance and sad tears as we dropped the baby at daycare for the first time.
We also took Baby Monkey to the diner for lunch after the show.
Tuesday
I went back to work.
It was great to be back and Tiny Monkey seems to be enjoying his time with the woman who is watching him.
Wednesday
I’ve downloaded the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone and am loving it!
Thursday
We got to see Monkey Girl as Mrs. Potts in her 4th grade production of Beauty and the Beast.
So ridiculously proud of her.
Friday
I had professional development at work, and afterwards, Tiny Monkey went for a swing!
Saturday
We hit the diner before the Memorial Day Parade, then headed over to the parade.
Burgers and dogs for dinner and then it was definitely a Dairy Queen type of night!
Sunday
And now we’re back at Sunday.
It was one hell of a week, in a very good way, and now we begin the next week.
Now that I have a week of back to work under my belt, I think I can definitely get back to my regularly scheduled programming here, at the blog.
Hope you all had a great week as well!
