Tag Archives: memories

If Life was a High School Football Game…

4 Oct

I guess I would be in the second quarter of my years.  Happiness would be winning over anything else I’ve experienced in life and I would have a penalty for that one time I jumped out of a moving car.  Right now though, I’m calling a time out to review some years gone by.

The last time I spent a Friday night at a high school football stadium, I was in high school.  That’s why I was excited to go catch our local teams compete last night.

I loved the atmosphere, the game, the bands, the people watching and the smell of all of that football stadium food.  I really had a blast and the kids loved it too.  It brought back so many memories and feelings, but also added a new feeling – my youth is gone.  I got that feeling when I saw all those teeny-boppers in their cutesy little outfits – their only care being who they’re going to hook up with that night or did they see/talk to so and so.

They are just so young.

What really put it in perspective for me is when I saw a woman, probably in her mid-30’s, surrounded by a bunch of teen girls. The woman was attractive and, I thought, stylish but she seemed to be intimidated and was definitely uncomfortable suddenly face to face with all that youth.  I wondered what she was thinking.  She tried to keep a look of confidence on her face but I could see the thoughts going through her mind.  “Girls, you don’t have anything on me.  Been there, done that – way before you.”  It made me realize how precious our time is.  Before they know it, those girls will soon become us.  After all, many of us were once them.

It’s not that I’m jealous of them or want to go back to that time, it just made me nostalgic and well, basically, feel old.  I know I’m still “young” by many standards but I’m certainly not young enough to:

  • Paint all of the skin visible outside my skimpy shorts and tank top, (That’s another “I’m old” indicator – when I was their age, I would never have considered them “skimpy” shorts.)
  • Act crazy even when I’m just standing in a group of people. (Well, I guess I still do this.)
  • Walk around with my chest out, trying to portray all the confidence in the world. (My posture is getting worse and worse, Osteoporosis?  I drink my milk!)
  • Chill in the Student Section of the stadium. (Man, were we like that?)
  • Not care where I sit, stand, stop, walk.  Being oblivious seems a lot less stressful.

The other feeling I had that made me aware of my age – the fact that I was worried that the players would get hurt.  I’m such a mom!  This one play had five guys tackle one guy and I said, “Oh my!  Did they really need to be that rough?”  Andrew’s response?  “It’s tackle football!”  Man, I hate to see what I’m going to be like if Nate plays!  I’ll be an even older mom then!

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Whirlwind Wedding Weekend

12 Feb

Beautiful Princesses

Wow.  What a weekend!  It really featured a little bit of everything – some of the usuals (being stuck in the car for hours, angry little man fits, arguments over nothing and plenty of fast food) but there were also lots of firsts (taking in the Philly sights, a beautiful little flower girl, dancing with my sexy husband on a “Grand Ballroom” floor and enjoying fancy food that you certainly can’t get at the Applebee’s).  Looking back on it all, I realize that I witnessed some wonderful things about my family.

1. Andrew is a saint and an incredible “baby-daddy”

I would have to say that poor Andrew had to suffer through the worst time of the whole weekend.  He had to struggle with Nate during the entire wedding ceremony.  (It was a Catholic mass so that meant he battled it out for a little more than an hour.)  By the end of the ceremony, Nate’s bow tie was off and Andrew had drool/tear marks all down his tux jacket.  As soon as we realized Nate was not going to be quiet through the ceremony (about 5 minutes into it), Andrew took him outside and stuck it out – only occasionally getting a glimpse of the wedding through the back doors of the church.

I know he was really bummed because he would have liked to see his cousin get married and I would have loved for him (and Nate) to share in the beauty of it all with me – but what can we do you know?  I think what really made it all ok in the end was that an older couple came up to Andrew at the reception and told him he was a saint after what they watched him go through at the wedding.  They told him they couldn’t believe how calm he remained and that they wanted him to know he did a great job.  It brought tears to my eyes because it’s one of those things where you think everyone must think we are such horrible parents – I mean, why can’t we get control of our kids, right? Those few words of praise will go along way and I will always remember how great it made both of us feel.

2. Nia may be tiny but her heart is HUGE

"City of Brotherly Love" for sure

Nia did such a perfect job as flower girl princess. Her Lola fixed her hair in a beautiful French braid that circled the back of her head and she told me that she felt like Cinderella. She even said she would put her hand on her heart when she bent over (bowed) just like Cinderella does.  I’m so proud of her – her personality and her ability to spread happiness amazes me every day. I couldn’t believe how many people kept asking her to do her “dance” and she would do it because it made her happy to make them smile.

Most Requested Dance

3.  Nate – is actually a happy little man

I know, it’s so crazy to write that after reading what I wrote earlier but he really is happy.  His smile is contagious and he always has one to flash at people.  Even if he is in the middle of a fit, if someone walks up to him and talks to him or smiles at him, he smiles back and he still manages to say “please” and “thank you” – even if he’s crying!  He loves to dance and laugh at silly things (like people at our table making faces at him).  He loves to play Hide and Seek and Duck, Duck, Goose (which he tried to do a few times in our hotel room).  He puts his head on my shoulder and says, “Hi Mommy” when he wakes up in the morning.  He says the lines of movies while he’s watching them.  He flirts with the ladies with just his eyes!  He happily yells “PAPA!” during a rehearsal dinner toast and makes everyone laugh.  He finds joy in simple things – Andrew put a quarter, two dimes, a nickel and four pennies in a small box and he didn’t want to let it out of his grip.  He kept saying, “My money.  My money.” That little boy.

Chick Magnet

 

I’m just glad that we got to be a part of such a fairy tale wedding.  Erin (the bride) looked straight out of a bridal magazine and even changed into the prettiest pair of hot pink high heels for her reception which I thought was the cutest thing.  Our extended family is such a caring, fun group of people and it was so nice getting to spend time with all of them. And speaking of family, we would be lost without Lola and Papa.  Not only did they come to our rescue and help take care of the kids (letting mommy and daddy have a few hours of couple time) but they also covered all of our hotel costs!

Valles Moms

This trip also gave us another first.  Our first “official” Philly Cheese Steak.  We had no idea where to get one so we, of course, turned to the internet and discovered “Pat’s King of Steaks.”  Andrew punched in the address in the GPS and it led us to a busy neighborhood complete with kids playing basketball and soccer in the cold and crowds of people surrounding two cheese steak shops – both claiming to be the best.  We ordered ours “one wit whiz” and “one mushroom wit wiz” – one with onions and cheese whiz, one with mushrooms, onions and cheese whiz.  I’m happy to say that the sandwich held its own in comparison to the sea bass, red snapper, beef tenderloin and amazing deserts we were treated to at the wedding events.  Even the kids’ chicken fingers were fancier!

What a weekend!

Goofballs

 

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Never Too Old for Slumber Parties

16 Nov

It’s funny because if we still lived in Savannah, I would be able to enjoy the company of good friends whenever I wanted.  I would be able to call them up on any random day and say “let’s meet up for dinner.”  I would be able to spend any weekend afternoon at the park with them or brave the mall with babies in tow.  As much as I would love to be able to do those things, one thing living several hours away has done is require SLEEP OVERS!

I have always loved having friends stay over my house.  My mom spoiled me by letting me have anywhere from 5 to 12 pre-teen/teen girls keep her awake with our giggles and screams and New Kids on the Block song renditions (choreographed dances included).  Now that I’m older, the sleep overs have changed – we sure don’t stay up very late (1 am was insane!), we are now legally allowed to drink as much alcohol as we dare to, our conversations are about kids and money instead of which boy is cute and clothes/hair/weight – oh wait I’m wrong about that last one – weight is still a topic – but anyway – some things never change – like the comfort and security and sanity that good friends provide.

I loved getting to spend so much time with Ginger, Lee and Cami last weekend.  We didn’t even have to do anything and it was fun.  Watching the kids play – fun.  Sitting on the couch and chillin’ (often with laptops) – fun.  Heading out to Winder’s Fall Festival without knowing if it would be lame or not – fun (actually lots of fun).  It was just so awesome getting my “friend fix” for 4 days straight and being able to celebrate Ginger’s birthday with her.  I can only hope that we always try to do our best to share as many special events as we can together.  After all, Ginger was part of one of the most special events in my life (Nia’s birth) and it just feels so natural to have our families grow up together.  (And maybe even be able to watch our girls share more sleep overs!)

So Comfy

 

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Growing Up

4 Nov

Beautiful Birthday Girl

Yesterday we drove to Savannah to celebrate Baby Ella’s birthday.  I cannot believe she is 2!  Our other little niece is also growing up too quickly!  Gabbie-Goose (as Andrew loves to call her) will be 3 in just a few weeks!

I wish we could be there to celebrate with Gabbie but we’re just too far away to make the trek.  Going to Savannah for Ella’s still meant we had to brave the Angry-Man-Who-Gets-Really-Peeved-on-Road-Trips (aka Nate) but we knew it wouldn’t be as rough on him (then us) because it’s a much shorter drive.  It was so worth the little bit of anger Nate did scream at us though because Ella was very happy to have Nia there and I know Nia and Nate both had a blast!

Such Sweet Girls

It’s so hard having to watch the kids grow up from afar.  I wish I could be there for them and their mommies and daddies to help them get things ready for parties, to babysit, to watch movies, to play, to hug…WHATEVER!   For now though, I look forward to the special times we get to share and the happy memories we make while we’re together.

LOVE YOU FAMILY!

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Where Did Bean Go?

24 Sep

It seems like she was just here and now I only get a glimpse of her every so often.  Our precious Bean is growing up so quickly and it wasn’t until I looked at her baby pictures and videos that I truly realized how much she’s becoming a little person.

She’s so funny.  I can’t believe how goofy she is sometimes.  She cracks me up with the crazy faces she makes.  I’m so thankful for a goofball daughter.  I can be so exhausted at the end of the day – just going through the motions – when all of sudden she starts doing a silly little dance.  It makes both of us laugh out loud.  It is the best thing.

She’s so sweet and caring.  If you look sad or mad she will ask you why are feeling that way.  If Nate is crying she will make her voice high pitched and say, “It’s okay Nathan.  Nathan, you’re all right.”  If I’m in a bad mood she will tell me, “I love you Momma.  I think you are the best Momma – even when you are mad.”  She also always thinks of Nate.  If we go shopping without Nate or Andrew, she will pick out a toy/book for Nate or if she sees something he will like she will tell me we need to get it for him.

She’s so smart.  She amazes me every day.  She can write really well and I can’t believe how good she can color.  She stays in the lines and for the most part keeps her crayon moving the same way so her pictures are always so neat and perfect!  She’s also starting to figure out math.  She will hold her fingers up and say things like 2 and 2 makes 4 and she also can subtract too!  I’m not sure what a typical 4-year-old is supposed to know or anything but it just seems like she’s a brainiac to me!  (And I’m not just saying it because she’s my kid – I already know I won’t be saying this about Nate when he’s 4!  I hope he proves me wrong though!)

She is such a jabber-jaws.  She talks ALL the time.  One day I asked if she talked like that while she was at school.  She said yes but that she wasn’t the only one who did.  She said her teacher sometimes has to turn out the lights to get them all to be quiet.  Her teacher told me, “they’re 4 – that’s the way it is when they’re 4.”  For some reason though, I don’t think Nia – the non-stop talker – will just be silenced when she turns 5 or 6 or 7 or 8…  I mean, look at who her mother is!

She’s already watching “big kid” movies.  Andrew was watching the “Lord of the Rings” a few weeks ago and she started watching it with him!  I objected but she begged to watch it. Andrew said he would watch the trilogy with her and she LOVED it.  I cannot believe it didn’t scare her!  (I know it did me!) We kept telling her it was all pretend and that the good guys win but I was still worried it would traumatize her.  If anything, it hypnotized her.  She says she liked “the guy with the curly hair” (Aragon) and “the elf with the arrows” (Legolas) the best because they were nice.  She keeps asking to watch more “Lord of the Rings” and doesn’t believe us when we tell her it’s all over.  It’s just so neat to think of all the cool movies I’ll be able to watch with her now.  So far, we’ve watched, “The Wizard of Oz,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Neverending Story.”  “Lord of the Rings” is her favorite though. I’m hoping she’ll like my main wizard “Harry” too.  We’ll see as the story of Nia growing up continues..

 

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Farewell French Braids (for now anyway)

16 Sep

Today, Nia and I had an afternoon at the beauty salon.  It was so sweet.  She was such a big girl and sat so very still during her haircut and waited very patiently during mine.  Here’s how her super cute cut came out –

Loves Her Hair

Some of the people in there made me nervous because they asked me, “what made you cut it all off?” It was like I had done something wrong by having my little girl’s hair cut.  I liked her long hair too (especially when she had French Braids in) but it desperately needed some scissors and a trim wouldn’t have been enough.  I love her new ‘do and I can’t wait to watch it grow.  She’ll get to sport so many different looks!  So grown up!

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Beach Memories

7 Sep

Beautiful Beach
Where to begin? I just really don’t know. Right now, two days after leaving Tybee Island, the adults are pooped and the kids are sick.  I kind of feel like a need a vacation from the vacation. It’s not to say that I didn’t have a great time – I did – at times. At other times – well, it’s just hard being away from the comforts of home. It’s so hard to write about the negatives when, looking back on it all, so many positive things happened and some of them even came out of the negatives. That’s why I’m going to take a somewhat easy way out and basically summarize the entire trip (the good, the crazy and the yuck) through my experiences.

  • Great quality time, conversations and laughs with loved ones – especially sitting outside until 1 am-ish just hours before the storm rolled in and playing games (BUNCO! RULES and Nia and I totally need to stay away from Guitar Hero)
  • Getting to visit with friends – Paul, Karen, Brian and Baby Andrew – thanks for coming all the way out to share smiles!  Miss you!
  • Sharing the beauty of the beach with Andrew’s parents and my mom – Nia loved looking for sandy treasures with her Papa Dave – very special
  • Watching Nia and her BFF Avery play like they’re together all the time
  • Getting to see how much our niece (Baby Ella) is growing up – she has the cutest little voice and pronounces words so precise – it’s adorable!  The word “yes” is especially cute.
  • Getting to see (sort of) our other baby niece who is now comfy and cozy in her mommy’s belly (the prettiest pregnant lady in the world!)
  • Screaming children (Nate) in confined spaces
  • Screaming children (many) in awesome waves
  • Leaky roof, pots filled with slimy, brown water (when we called the rental agency, they told us there was a mop in the closet! ha!)
  • Laughing about the leaky roof and the
  • No power for an hour on our first morning
  • Andrew acting giddy because we have no power
  • Soaking rain for our first two days
  • Playing in the rain (Ginger and I being carefree and braving the rough waves)
  • Taking advantage of the sunny spots during the rainy days (we didn’t miss a day on the beach!)
  • Sick children (3 children diagnosed with strep – 2 of them also have ear infections and Nia is struggling with a high fever and sore throat now – so far no strep but she still has something!)
  • Happy children – (before, during and after the illnesses) – it was so hard to tear them away from the beach
  • Bad eye luck – Ginger was forced to bury a contact in the sand (she was on her last pair at the time) – Nate the Destroyer got his mitts on Andrew’s glasses at the same time one of his last contacts was unwearable – my mom accidentally dropped her glasses on the concrete and now has two chips right in the middle of a lens
  • Getting to go on a hot date with my husband of 7 years – we’re so glad we could share our anniversary with so many people we love
  • Eating my very own crab legs for the first time – I can’t believe I cracked them all by myself!
  • Can you say yum?  I certainly did thanks to Breakfast Chef Ginger.  (Eggs, bacon, grits, sausage, biscuits and gravy – I just had me some more of ’em grits today – I’m hooked!)
  • Four scoops of ice cream that ended up hitting the table before Nia could even taste it
  • Daddy making it all ok and telling both of his girls not to cry over spilled ice cream
  • New dents for Nate’s skull – I think he hit his head something like 3 times in 3 hours.  And don’t even get me started about one table that was the perfect toddler/infant height!  3 kids had bruised heads!
  • Speaking of heads and dangerous objects – this is all I have to say – ceiling fan. Those who know what I’m talking about will understand – those who don’t – you’ll have to ask me one day – it’s just too hard to describe on here without coming across as a complete jerk
  • Being on WSAV – I thought I quit?!?!  Paul – that was all for you buddy
  • Running after Nate as he chased birds on the beach yelling “B”
  • Witnessing the immense joy and excitement the ocean stirred up in the kids – their happiness topped everything
Hitchin’ a Ride
Getting Sandy
The chase is on…
The Happy Heidels
Givin’ Hugs
Death Grip on Daddy
Waving Bye to the Ocean
Addicted
Loves the Waves

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Thanks for Liking Me

30 May

I am feeling pretty great right now.  I just had a super fun weekend with my good friend Julie and her mom.  Julie’s the kind of friend you don’t need to talk to all the time or see (haven’t been together since we lived it up in Atlanta in 2005) to know you’re friends.

We were practically inseparable while our husbands were at war and I treasure every minute I shared with her during that time. I know we both helped each other through all of the uncertainty and stress and I couldn’t even imagine what it would have been like for me and the Bean without her.

I have so many fun memories because of her (and a really awesome set of pink high heels) and I feel lucky to be able to call her my friend.  I look forward to the next time we can watch t.v., go shopping, drink yummy fraps or play a board game (even though she wins all the time) together. (Julie, this means you need to call me and book your next trip to Resort Valles!  I will leave fancy chocolates on your pillow next time! Miss you!)

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Missing: My St. Paddy’s Spirit

18 Mar

Before living in Savannah, I never really thought twice about St. Patrick’s Day. I’m a quarter Irish so I would try to pay tribute – you know, in the truest sense of the heritage, by wearing something green, a shamrock or that said “Kiss Me, I’m Irish.” I never really celebrated or anything like that though.  Then, I moved to Savannah.

I only really “partied” (translated: squeezed on River Street twice with thousands of others and tried not to get peed on here and there) and I never got to see a parade in person.  I always had to work.  I even got in a car accident on the weekend of festivities one year because I was trying to watch out for any partier-drivers. Turns out, I was the threat just getting off work. Even though I missed the live parades, I still felt a little more Irish just being in that city on that day.  I really respected and enjoyed the tradition of it all and now that I’m not there to experience it (even if it was just through the tv) I feel like I’m missing something.

I have my decorations up and I love to see all the online pictures from Savannah showing the celebrations, but it’s making me a little Savannah-sick.  It seems I left the spirit of the day back where the fountains flow a festive green.

Photo Courtesy: Savannah St. Patrick's Day Facebook

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So I Never Forget…

15 Dec

So far, mommyhood has already given me many sweet memories – moments I don’t want to forget. Since some of them have faded from my memory, I want to share some of the ones that have happened since we’ve lived in the “new” house (as Nia keeps calling it).

– After about an hour of bouncing back and forth across the room and tearing into the boxes I was trying to sort through, Nate makes a turn my way to crawl under my arm and wiggle into my lap so he could cuddle up next to me letting me know – hey mom – I’m worn out – can you put me in my crib now?  The warmth I felt from his affection was so amazing – he never acts that cuddly – he’s usually such a fighter and tough guy – I guess he has a soft spot after all!

– Nia telling me “I love you a lot Momma.”  Or the day she told me I had a big heart. I’m not sure if she meant because I’m bigger than her or not – it really doesn’t matter – it was so precious and innocent.

– The first time Nia did something cute/funny with her brother or the dog and told me “Take a picture Momma.”

– The giggles I heard when Nia put on Nate’s Flounder Halloween costume and used the nose to bump Nate’s head.  Why this was so funny I don’t really understand but she did it to him like 20 times and he kept laughing out loud every time.

– Right now, as I’m trying to type this Nia is sitting on my lap and moving the mouse around and trying to push buttons (I mean she .is pushing buttons) ..this means it’s time to make more memories away from the computer!

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