Flirty Thirty Birthday!

Today was my birthday. Technically it still is, but most of the day is over. It was beautiful. I want to share all the wonderful things that I witnessed today on my birthday.

But first, let me tell you how much I've loathed this day coming. For weeks I would moan when I so much as glanced at the calender. Then when it came time for me to remove the Febuary page and mark in all the appointments in March I grimaced everytime I came across my birthday. I never did mark my birthday on the calander. There's a reason for all of this groaning and pouting. I've turned 30. Ok, so today hasn't been bad. But the days leading up to it just about drove me crazy. I went through all the thoughts of "ok, I'm 30. What have I done with my life?" I thank God I have such a wonderful, tell-it-like-it-is husband. First he told me to stop whining and pouting. It wasn't getting me anywhere. {that didn't exactly make me feel better} But then he proceeded to tell me the things I have accomplished. I'm a better cook. I can veggies and such. I can bake bread. Plus I make a mean eggplant parmesean. (Mmmm...)

He also informed me that he knows that I do all the laundry in the house and he really appreciates it. We joked that at one point I wasn't always the best at doing laundry. I didn't even seperate the colors. One time, when had been dating for about a year, I shrunk one of his favorite sweaters. It wasn't one of my proudest moments. But it's laughable now.

I can also crochet. I'm still building on that skill. But I love to do it when I'm feeling tense. Something about sitting in a chair {or bed} crocheting something makes all my worries go away.

I'm also a budding photographer. I'm still unconfident and shy about taking other peoples pictures. But I'm working at it.

So yesterday, Matt affirmed me that there are a lot of things that I have accomplished. He also said I just need to quit beating myself up. *sigh* He's right. It's just so easy to compare myself to other people. But I've come to realize, that I'm me. That's all who I'll ever be. And I'm ok with that.

Birthday:
We woke up to our toddler, David (2) climbing on top of us. {as is his normal routine} Saying "Hi!" and giving us both big cheesy smiles. It's a pretty good way to wake up if you ask me. Next Matthew (10) came in and gave me a hug and a kiss and told me Happy Birthday. After that it was time for him to go to school so we bid him farewell and sent him on his way.

It is well known in my family that I do not move very fast in the morning. I'm more categorized as being a night owl. So anyways, I laid in bed for a little bit, revelling in the fact that Matt was home for the morning. (he only gets Thursday mornings off) Matt popped out of bed and took David with him. I didn't really know what he was up to, all I knew was that I had the whole bed to myself. Does that sound selfish? Hmmm... Either way, it was lovely to just lay there in the quiet and sleep a little longer. A while later he comes in with a stack of pancakes and I get breakfast in bed. {insert ooey gooey love about my husband}

He left shortly after that to go take care of a job he is helping a friend with. So I just lounged in my bed until it was time to start getting ready.

I am the Activity Days Leader (8-11 yr. old girls) and Matthew is in Cub Scouts. They both meet at the same time. So Matt came rushing back to pick us up. We drove into town, dropped off the necessary people and I headed to the church. I was first greated by Auburn. She is turning 12 tomorrow which means she is moving on from Acitivity Days to Young Womens. She is a very sweet girl and she brought me a present! It was so adorable. A necklacke with the letter A and sparkly stud earrings, fuzzy socks and CHOCOLATE!!!

I was next greated by Lucy (age 8) she presented me with a sweet card and a bottle filled with sand. I was a bit confused at first but then she explained to me that it's called a "find it". Basically you have to turn the bottle all around and find all the things she has hidden in there. What a cute idea!

So after we had our little gift exchange I wanted to teach the girls how to play Yahtzee. It's by far one of my favorite games. I fully expected to not finish the game, I just wanted to make sure they understood the rules at the end. About 30 minutes before it's time to go we hear the door open and the girls start squeeling. All I can hear is "BALLOONS!! BALLOONS!! AND CAKE!!

My dear friend Amber Galbraith had brought roses, HUGE balloons, and a delicious chocolate turtle ice cream cake. Sooo good! I ran over and gave her a hug, That was the sweetest thing anyones ever done for me. The cake was gone lickity split and we all left soon after that.



Back at home:
When we got home Veronica (Matt's Mom) Megan, Talina, Alexis (Matt's sisters) were waiting for us. I sat down and let the cooking begin. Matt started grilling the meat. Megan made a vanilla cake from scratch and put it together and iced it. Talina and Alexis got the drinks ready. It was a family effort. I felt very loved.

As for my present, Matt got me the most amazing thing that he knew I would love. It's a one hour Swedish massage! I am constantly having back problems, so I will be making my appointment post haste!!

So after all that moping and pouting this day has been wonderful. I know that many more wonderful days will be coming. 30 isn't so bad. I feel more confident in myself at this point. I'm not just a 20-something, I'm now a 30 year old woman!! I've finally come to terms with that. Is it a bit silly or crazy? Maybe. But this is the path that I had to take to come to terms with my age.

Food Offering

Today something funny happened. And then I almost immediately forgot about it.

It wasn't until I was talking to my friend Gina and she brought it up that I remembered.

I think it's hard to focus on the small cute things our kids do with all the chaos that surrounds us on a daily basis. So I decided to share this cute, funny story.

It involves David, which is no big surprise considering he's currently phasing into the world of pretend and is a constant source of entertainment.

I went over to my friend Gina's house to chat and visit, we hadn't seen each other since before Christmas. As we were sitting and chatting David is wandering around and happens upon a box of Cherrios on the dining room table. He brings it over to me with a smile that reads "look at this amazing bounty of which I have stumbled upon!" I have him ask Gina who knows and always teases that refusing food to David will result in very dire consequences.

She very kindly led him into the kitchen and filled a sandwich baggie with Cherrios for him to enjoy on the ride home. As we were leaving we passed by some nativity scenes she had out. In front of them was a small empty glass bowl. David saw such bowl and deciding that no bowl should be left empty, placed a small handful of cherrios into the bowl. Gina started laughing and saying that he was very kind to leave a food offering to baby Jesus. He just went on his way, adorably stuffing Cherrios into his mouth like only a 2 year old can.

These are the little stories I need to remember when he's using me as a playground and I'm wanting to find the cloak of invisibility. Those things don't REALLY exist...do they?

Matthew's Christmas Concert

Matthew had his Christmas Concert at school this past Monday. He was really excited to go and sing which is unusual. He usually loathes going to these things and just kind of does it because he feels it's his duty. But you can see him up there, sighing and mouthing the words to the song. Never really singing and looking utterly bored.

That wasn't the case this year. It was a major turn around and I owe it all to a little thing called a BOW-TIE.

As he was getting dressed he asked if he could wear his Dad's bow-tie. (Matt got it when he was in the Choir one semester at college.)

When he got to the school and sat with his fellow classmates they all instantly complimented him on his "fancy tie". You could literally see his confidence explode.

When it was time for him to sing, he got up there and was the biggest ham. I wanna say he stole the show, but that may be a little biased.

He was all about holding onto his tie and wiggling his eyebrows and looking real smug as he sang. I had never seen him act like that...at least not during a performance. Now, if he was at home? Sure. All the time. Seriously. All...the...time.

It made me think that he would do great in theater when he gets older. But then again, my mom said the exact same thing about me. But unfortunately I couldn't get over my crippling stage fright. It still haunts me to this day. But he does have some of his father's personality, so we'll see. Either way, he always has a way of putting a smile on peoples faces.

Did we ever stop eating?/Cub-Scout-Deputy Shoemaker

I received an email from a friend a few months back and came across it today. It made me laugh then and I got a good giggle out of it again. I even called Matt over and he read it and just shook his head with a big grin on his face. That Matthew of ours is something else. He's funny even when he doesn't know he is.

Here's what she wrote:

Matthew was so cute today, He comes in and I ask him how he is doing, he says great. Mom and Dad had a fight I think it was about food but they made up and everyone is eating again.

This is just so funny, l felt you had to know. He's such a cute little guy, you both must be doing something right. So glad to hear you are all eating again.

He has the funniest ways of explaining things sometimes. I wish I could be a fly on the wall every time he tells a story from home. Because sometimes his perception of what happened is way funnier that what actually happened.

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Totally off subject:

For Cub Scouts a couple of weeks ago they were visited by a Deputy Sheriff. He came and talked to the boys. (didn't get to hear any of that) But afterwards all the boys wanted to see his super cool police car. He even let them climb in and turn on the siren for a split second. (so we didn't scare the locals) Right before we were getting ready to leave I requested a picture with the Police Officer (can't for the life of me remember his name, and I should.)

The only 2 boys around were my Matthew and his fellow cub-scouter who is also Matthew. So they got behind the car and hammed it up while I snapped pictures of them.

Deputy Sheriff's in training? We'll see...

Craft Time with a Toddler~Success!!

Today I finally had some success with doing some crafts with David. We did it without him eating it or becoming instantly bored.

I will say it wasn't without some whining when I put the apron on him.

I got that sudden crafty itch today and decided, on a whim, to make my very own finger paints. It wasn't hard at all really. I'll include the recipe at the bottom for my fellow crafty parents.

Like I said before, he whined a little when I put the apron on and then presented him with the paints. But then I showed him how to scoop up some with his finger and swirl it on the paper. It was an instant hit!

The only thing I've noticed so far is that he doesn't fully commit and get his whole hand dirty. It's only the pointer finger and then he complains until I clean it off. I suppose so that he can get another color.

But he had a lot of fun so I deem this crafting activity a SUCCESS!!

Cornstarch Finger Paint Recipe:

3 cups water

1 cup cornstarch

food coloring

bring to a boil, 2 cups of water. In separate bowl mix 1 cup cornstarch and 1 cup water until combined. When water comes to a boil, remove from heat. Add the cornstarch mixture until combined. Return to heat and let boil for about 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat and separate into individual bowls. Add food coloring and let cool. Get messy!!

Love Found a Way

Let me just start out by saying how honored I am to have my story told. My wonderful friend Connie offered to do my story and I was more than thrilled.

This subject is very close to my heart. I thank my parents every day for all they do. For the unconditional love they show me on a daily basis. The part at the bottom always chokes me up. Both of my parents proudly show off all 4 of their grandchildren. No one would suspect they are not biologically theirs. But they might as well be.

I typed out the entire article at the bottom.

Amber Hughes Shoemaker, Parnell, is very aware of the positive effects adoption can have on a child.

Shoemaker was born March 3, 1981, and was brought to her adoptive parents' house on March 12. She was just eight days old. Shoemaker and her brother Steven were both adopted through the Edna Gladney Center for Adoption.

Jim and Tanna Hughes had a deep desire for children. Although they had tried for years, Tanna was seemed to be unable to conceive.

They went to a fertility doctor. Tests were administered. Treatment was prescribed. Nothing was working.

"When the doctor told my parents they wouldn't be able to have their own children, he had tears in his eyes," Shoemaker said. "My parents adopted my brother shortly after that--in September 1976."

When Shoemaker was 7 years old, she remembered asking her mother questions about babies. Had she really been a baby in her mommy's tummy?

"That's when my mother told me about being adopted," she said.

She told me my birth mother loved me enough to give me to someone who could take care of me.."

Shoemaker grew up knowing she was adopted. It just felt natural.

"That's how it was and how it's always been," she said, "We were their kids. My brother is my brother. He picks on my like any other brother would pick on his little sister."

Shoemaker's was a closed adoption. When she became an adult, she realized nobody in the family looked like her. "Matthew looked identical to my husband," she said.

All the information Shoemaker has about her birth parents is in a manila envelope. A few medical details are inside. She knows eczema runs on her mother's side of the family. Both her birth mother and father wear glasses. There was also a list of some of the activities her birth parents enjoyed. She knows her birth father is Irish.

But that's where it stops. Shoemaker has no medical history about her birth parents. She worries about her sons, Matthew and David. What if they were to have a medical concern in their future?

She decided to look for her birth parents; however, she has discovered she can't get any information about them. The records are closed.

Shoemaker said she has talked to people who have considered adoption but were concerned they wouldn't connect with a child that is not their own.

"My parents never had that problem," she said.

"When I had our second son, David, my dad went around at work showing everyone his picture.

People were telling Dad how much David looked like him. He didn't tell them any different. My mom and I both have green eyes. My dad and Steven both have brown eyes.

Editorial Note: November is National Adoption Awareness Month

Monsters and Marios

We had a fantastic time Trick-or-Treating in the Maryville Square this year. We had a pretty tight budget when it came to costumes so I tried to be as creative as possible.

Cookie Monster and Mario…a.k.a. David and Matthew

 

David is our little Cookie Monster, he lives up to this name on a daily basis. So when we found this shirt at the store one day, we just HAD to get it for him.

I tried to make it a little more “costume-y” by drawing horns on him. Matt insisted they were eyebrows since the original Cookie Monster doesn’t have horns. Either way, he looked pretty stinkin cute.

 

 

 

The tale of Matthew’s costume: One day I went to St. Joseph and stopped by this awesome thrift store. I always find lots of clothes for the kids at super cheap prices. I was stoked when I found these red overalls. I immediately thought of Matthew and how he had been raving about wanting to be Mario for Halloween. I couldn’t wait to get home and show them to him. I just knew he would love them…and he did. But then later, he gently broke it to me that Mario actually has blue overalls and a red shirt. He even gave me a reassuring pat on the back, saying that he was completely ok with it. He said he would just be “reverse-Mario.”

I think about these times when I’m pulling my hair out with him. Because in the end, he’s a pretty amazing kid.

So, Matthew loved his costume. I added a mustache with liquid eyeliner and he pulled it off amazingly. He posed up and down the square so that I could get an adequate amount of pictures.

 

 

He posed…

…and posed…

 

…and posed…

…and posed some more.

Funny story:  While we were walking down the square, Matt scooped up David and put him on his shoulders because we were getting ready to go through a big crowd. A few minutes after we passed them, Matt stopped and said with a frightened expression “Wait…where’s David?” It only took him a second to realize that he was on his shoulders. Of course I took a picture as a reminder of the hilarity. 

 

The kids got plenty of yummy goodies that Matt and I thoroughly inspected and tested. (as only a good parent does.) A good time was had all around. I can’t believe that Halloween is already over. Where did the year go?

Did I mention that Matthew posed a lot?