The Birthday Party Blog!

Caleb had a birthday, as so many of us do. He turned 5. My BABY turned FIVE! He drives me crazy. Absolutely bonkers. But he also made me realize how much love you could have for another human, even when I sometimes think he isn't. Which is why he got a Superman birthday party this year. Well, that and because it's all he talked about for a month.

We started with a telephone booth for the tiny superheroes to change into their capes. Grown Ups got a Daily Planet Press Pass.

 Then they tested their super strength by knocking down a brick wall. 

Some simple decorations and goody bags, yummy Superman cake and cupcakes, and even REAL kryptonite! (green rock candy). We finished it off with, of course, Superman ice cream. 

Everyone seemed to have a great time and Caleb was thrilled to have all his friends there. Thank you to everyone who came and made his 5th birthday so special, and to my sister-in-law for helping me make 15 tiny superhero capes. He's already told me that next year he wants a robot theme with real robots. I think I better start now.

Hello, Kettle? This is Pot...

Remember my rant about not RSVPing to an invitation? Remember how I was all up in arms and on a soapbox about how rude it is and inconsiderate and how the downfall of society is eminent if we don’t lend ourselves to common decency?  (that may be an exaggeration)

Diagram:   1: Foot. 2: Mouth.

Directions:  Insert.

Caleb got an invitation to a birthday party from a little girl in his class. I’m pretty sure he only got it because we invited her to his party, but that’s moot. The invitation said “RSVP regrets only.” Caleb said he wanted to go so I never sent any correspondence.

The party was today and when I reminded Caleb about it last night he was all upset about it and really, really didn’t want to go. I’m not going to make my kid go to a birthday party that he doesn’t want to be at for a kid he’s not really friends with. Plus now I can return the obligatory gift we got.

So, hi. I’m a hypocrite. But in my defense I thought we would be going and she said regrets only!! I mean, she didn’t come to Caleb’s party either. But she did RSVP…

Zombie Land

I don’t sleep. I think most moms of little ones can relate. But my little ones aren’t so little anymore and I really feel like I should be getting more sleep than I do.

Megan wakes up at least once, usually twice, every night. Caleb wakes up and wants to come into our bed probably 4 nights a week. I’m trying really hard to break him of this and walk him back to his own room. But that means getting out of bed and at 3am when I’ve just gotten back INTO bed from taking care of the girl it’s just easier to scoot over and let him in. Criticize all you want, but is it really so bad that my son wants to snuggle with me?

And why me? Why not Dad? I understand that kids are needy, especially when they honestly can’t do some things for themselves. But why do they always need ME? Why is it always MOM? I love my kids. I really, really do. But I just need a break sometimes. And you know what I want to do? Sleep.

Someday when the kids are older and I have less responsibilities, when life settles down and I’m not so stressed, I’ll be able to sleep all the way through the night. I’ll get to take naps (which the husband does every weekend) and these bags under my eyes will diminish.

Right?

**Coming soon: Caleb’s 5th Birthday Blog!

Just Text Me "Yes" or "No"

Do people not RSVP anymore? Is this a thing of the past? Am I too old fashioned to think that this is still something we should be doing and teaching to our children? (Along with hand written thank you notes).

Caleb’s birthday party is in less than a week. We sent out invitations to family and put some in the mailboxes at school of his closest friends. I think that was around April 13.  I asked that people RSVP by April 30 for a May 9th party. That’s more than 2 weeks to look at calendars and schedules and figure out if you can make it. Or rearrange schedules if you really, really, really, REALLY want to come to a 5 year old’s Superman themed birthday party. I think that’s reasonable.

But do people respond? Some. The people I knew would be there. Papa, my sister, the usual family. Everyone else?

…

Seriously I just want to know if you’re coming so I can make sure I have enough food and a goody bag for your kid. So now do I buy and make enough bags for ALL the kids he invited and waste most of it if they don’t show up? Or do I only make enough for the kids I know are coming and if the others show up I say tough luck, Chuck, your mom should have RSVP’d.

Ugh. Turning 5 is hard.

Life is Not a Giant Game of Frogger

My day didn’t initially start off so bad. Caleb was good this morning, we got off to school, Megan ate breakfast and we had a normal morning. Then I got her ready and we left the house for her 18 month doctor’s visit.

That’s when it happened. I saw it coming. There was nothing I could do. I tried to swerve but he was too fast. It was like it happened in slow motion….. he was running and I was breaking and….

I ran over a squirrel.

IT WAS AWFUL!

This is the third time in my lifetime that I’ve hit an animal while driving. One time it was another squirrel. That was much more traumatic. Did you know that squirrels can scream? I heard it. The person in the car behind me told me they heard it. I can’t unhear it.The other animal was a coyote. They’re a lot smaller than I thought… still horrible.

Why does a little squirrel have to try to run across a busy road?! I tried to zig but he zagged. I’ve thought about it all day and can’t get the rear view mirror image out of my head. Poor little guy…

You're Not Funny

I’ve been told I should start blogging again. I asked why. Answer? Because I’m funny. You think I’m funny? Sure, let’s go with that.

Let’s start with why I stopped blogging in the first place. Two reasons: I had no time and I’m not very good at it. Honestly, though, if I try hard enough there is time. I was trying to post a new blog 3-4 times a week and that’s just not realistic when you have two kids, a job, and a husband, and a house, and… ugh. I’m tired now. But I think once a week is doable. And if I can’t find a few minutes to myself to write a blog once a week then I need to reevaluate my life choices. And the not being good at it part? Well, I’m not sure how great of a writer I am, or how interesting I am, but if I’m being asked to do it again then somebody likes it. And that’s good enough for me. Plus she called me funny.

So set up an RSS or RRS or whatever it is (do I have to make a button for that? I don’t know how these things work), or notification, or pay your co-worker to check back often for you. Here’s to the start of a beautiful new relationship with my old blog (which I will have to rename because we’ve since settled and bought a house). Cheers!

Elle Bird

There is something that I want to share with you that I really feel is worth your time to read and be involved in. It's called Elle Bird. If you've seen my facebook you've probably seen the link already. But I want to share it here too.

Carrie Stanley is the founder and creator of Imprints of the Heart and Elle Bird. On her website she tells a tiny piece of the story of how these companies came to be and why they are so important. It's just the tip of the ice berg.

I went to high school with Carrie (wow, a long time ago). We sang in the same choir, went to the same church, and double dated to prom. We both married boys from our home town and had children. But then I moved to California and we live separate lives. Still, I feel connected to her as someone I shared so many of my growing up years with. And as a mother I share a compassionate heart.

Carrie's daughter Leiryn was diagnosed with a terminal illness before she was 2 years old. I followed her Caring Bridge site as Carrie updated with new tests, new struggles, new hope, lost hope, and I cried every step of the way. No one, and I mean no one, should have to go through what Carrie and her family have gone through. And yet, they are so positive. They are still smiling. And they get through one day at a time.

While I cannot begin to compare my own struggles with what the Stanley family has been through, this cause touches a special place in my heart. There was a time when my own daughter was in the NICU, weighing only 3 pounds, that I wasn't sure we were ever going to bring her home. To look at her lying there in an isolette with IVs, a feeding tube, and monitors broke my heart and often my spirit. But eventually we did bring her home, something not all mothers get to do.

I have a necklace that Carrie made for me two years ago with my son's fingerprint on it. Every time I wear it I place my finger over the little indentation that was made by his tiny finger and I remember how blessed I am that he is healthy. I cannot wait to get one made with my daughter's fingerprint. It seems so small, it's just a piece of silver. But it's a piece of my child that I wear over my heart. And for families who have lost a child that piece is all they have.

Carrie has an infectious laugh and contagious spirit that I can see in her daughter's eyes when I look at pictures. She started Imprints of the Heart and Elle Bird to help other families who are dealing with similar struggles, illness, and the loss of a child. It's important. Please, please read her story, watch the video, and support Elle Bird. Every dollar is one step closer to helping a family receive  a precious keepsake. www.ellebirdstudios.com