Sweet, sweet baby girl!

      HAPPY 6th birthday to our sweet baby girl! I can hardly believe that she is six today!!
      She came into my life when she had just turned one year and half. How time goes by too fast.
      It's so hard to believe that ten years from now she will be driving! LOL
      She has brought so much joy to our lives. Her smile sends the sun to shame. Her laugh grabs you by the heart. Her genuine love melts you into a puddle. She is most definitely our sweet, sweet baby girl!

Mama, that's me!

     Mama's Day. I find it to be a bit of an oxymoron this year, good grief :)
     It's sad to be away from my oldest and youngest on this day, as my kiddos are my world.
     Cody did call me this morning to tell me how much he loved me and that just made me happy and sad because all I really want is a big old hug from him!
     My little one, now that's complicated. We have joint custody, but when Mother's Day happens to land on her bio mom's week, well, I don't get to see or talk to her at all on Mother's Day.
     In the world of Mother's Day, step-moms don't count, at least not if you ask bio-moms. Thankfully that's not the case when you ask the kids!!
     My little girl is soooo stinking cute! She made me a Mother's Day present and invited me to her Mother's Tea at her preschool. I wasn't able to attend because I was in Seattle on a field trip with kids, but I was just so touched that she was so emphatic about inviting me.
     Her teachers told me that she was just so matter-of-fact about having two moms and needing to make two presents and have two invitations. That touches my heart.
     In the end, I had mixed feelings about missing the Mother's Tea, but I know it was probably for the best because even though she wanted both her moms there, her bio mom wouldn't have been real happy about my attendance, and I know my step-daughter would've felt that negative energy. So, it worked out for the best. And, it matches the old adage that it's the thought that counts!
     I appreciate that Rick has gone out of his way to make this day special. He was so cute when he told me how much he loved me for being such a good mom.
     So between Rick and Jordie this has been a relaxing and good day in which I feel appreciated!!
     Overall: Quite a bit of good and a tad of grief, Mother's Day 2008.

Welcome, Buttermilk, to our family!

     We just bought a mule!! She is white, thus the name, Buttermilk. She is HUGE, but a big old lover!
     She is very sweet-tempered and affectionate. I was so excited when Rick found her because I want to learn to ride more than anything. It's definitely on my list of things to accomplish this summer.
     She is gentle and sturdy, sure-footed and mellow, so I hope that she is a good match for a novice like me.
     Our real goal is to ride horses and pack in to camp out in the middle of nowhere with our kids.
     I am excited to progress with Miss Buttermilk this summer, and so far she has been fun getting to know!
     I will keep you updated on our progress.

My baby is not so much a baby anymore :(

     Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear, CODY. Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!!
     Could it truly be? Can my BABY be 19 years old today? SIGH. I don't feel like I am old enough to have a young man that age.
     Boy, we have come a LONG way since he was born back in 1989 just five weeks before my graduation from high school.
     This is the first year that I have not been able to be with him on his birthday. I was telling him on the phone how that made me sad, and he just laughed and reminded me that he is growing up, and that's what kids do!
     It doesn't make it any easier!!! My kids are such precious gifts in my life. I have been so lucky to have such incredible human beings with whom to share this life.
     So, we sent cards out last week, so hopefully he will receive those in time for his b-day. Of course, we enclosed gift cards to some of his favorite places to eat!
     The really cute thing is that my little one picked out a card, and she was writing Cody's name, and then I reminded her to write her name. She finished and handed the card to me, and I opened it up, and before her name she wrote LOVE. I told that was cool, and she informed me, "Well, you know I know how to spell love, and I love my brother so that's why I wrote it in his card."
     Just so matter-of-fact. I love little ones.
     I was going to send a big package, but he still hasn't receive the BIG one I sent right before Valentine's Day. Gotta love the military mail. Although now he has more of a permanent address, so it seems like mail is ending up where and when it is supposed to be!
     I have some special things that I will send in a couple of weeks, and what will be cool about that is that he will think his birthday is all finished! Tee hee!
     Also, I deposited birthday money into his account, so he could have fast access to it without having to rely on the snail mail.
     Then yesterday I found a special florist who focuses their business on the Marines at Camp Pendleton. I will use her service often, I imagine! So, I sent him a little something special.
     He was a little worried that he would receive some extra PT for that, but he said he is willing to take his chances.
     I have included a pic of my baby, not looking so much like a baby! It's a bit fuzzy because it's a cell phone pic. Enjoy!

BRAVO!

     Many of you know that I am a bit of a reality tv junkie. And, I have recently figured out that for my entire life I have liked documentaries, so it makes some logical sense of the connection between the two.
      Anyhoot, currently my favorite tv channel would be Bravo! I love many of the shows on there.
      My absolute favorite is Top Chef. I think I like it so much because I love to cook, and I have a passion for learning new things about cooking. I would LOVE to take a cooking class regarding some of the chef techniques I see on the show. I am self-taught in the cooking department, and it would be fun to shadow an expert.
     I also like that they move locations, and I am digging this season's Chicago homebase. I would love to go to Chicago someday!
     I like Project Runway, as I am also interested in fashion, and I enjoy watching the process (probably another reason why I dig Top Chef).
     I also like the Real Housewives of Orange County and NYC. The deal with both of those shows is it feels like a glance at what life is like for people who have TONS of money.
     Work Out provides some drama. I do catch it occasionally, but not a big fan necessarily. Same goes with Step It Up and Dance; I think I have watched that twice. I also didn't watch too many episodes of the Make Me a Supermodel show either.
     I did like Millionaire Matchmaker, same reason as the Housewives, I suppose.
     I like other shows that they have, too, like Inside the Actors Studio and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
     I even like their little logo, and how they made it green on Earth Day!
     I am actually considering watching the Bravo A-List Awards in June. Go Bravo!

Survived!

     Busy weekend, indeed. We had a bowling birthday party on Saturday, and then I rushed down to Ephrata to watch Jordie's second baseball game of the day.
     They won both on Saturday, and now they play on Tuesday. I love watching Jordie play, and I can hardly believe that he is only a sophomore.
     Then today we were busy enjoying the outside! Yeah baby, bring on the warm weather.
     I also caught up on laundry and our grocery shopping. I am so ready for this week (yet, another busy one).
     WOW! We are only a month away from summer break! I can't wait!!!

I love birthdays!

     This weekend we had our little one's friend birthday party. We did the whole bowling thing!
     It was a blast! We had nine little bowlers (and, some older siblings and parents). Fun times!
     I used my friend's idea to make sure I had something for the little ones to do while they waited for their turn to bowl.
     Thank goodness for the $1 store! I bought coloring books, and the kids thought they were pretty cool to have their own books. What an easy party favor and something definitely to keep them occupied.
     We also brought out an idea that I did with both of my boys when they were little. I bought them all shirts (again, thanks for the $1 store), and they each decorated them!
     I took adorable pics fo all of them together in their creations.
     All in all, it was a fun time. I enjoyed seeing my big step-daughter, who is due with our first grandson in just weeks.
     We still have lots of birthday business ahead of us! First off, Cody turns 19 on Tuesday, and I am bummed because it will be the first time that I will not see him on his birthday. I guess I need to get used to that; it's called our kids growing up. SIGH.
     And, of course, our little one's real birthday is next week, and the day after her birthday is Rick's! Woo hoo!
     I think birthdays are a big deal. I love to make people feel very special to be alive! It really is a celebration!!!