Happy Birthday, Daddy Bear

OK, OK, I haven't learned how to rotate photos yet, but you know who this is.

Tony's 63rd birthday was Wednesday and we decided to take the day off to celebrate. This is something we should have done years ago and made it a tradition. What a great time we had! We had a nice brunch, went to an early show and saw Avatar, went shoe shopping (for him, not me!!) and then had dinner at J Bella's. We laughed, zinged each other, and really enjoyed the movie. Although, I had to tease Tony....he didn't ask for the "senior" priced movie ticket!!

Avatar was terrific....better than I thought it would be. It's one of those movies that's a mixture of present and future that, if done, wrong, can be a very confusing story line. But this worked. The special effects are fantastic. If you haven't seen it, go--it's even better than the hype.

Of course, the best part of the day was being together. Thanks to all for your cards and calls to Tony and a special thanks to Ben for his "happy birthday" phone message. That made Tony's day. From the minute Tony took Ben's first photograph at the hospital, they connected. Those big blue eye looking up in the camera seem to say, "hello, Papa, I don't feel good now, but I will."

Thanks also to Marie for updating Tony Jr's Olympic blog and giving us a call on Wednesday. We are both so proud of the job Tony is doing in Vancouver and are very glad you were there to help and support him.

And so, that was Tony's birthday. He is another year older...and at this point, I'm not! (Another zing!!!) On this snowy night, Daddy Bear is making comfort food and taking care of me. Tomorrow we will watch the Olympic hockey game just like we watch the Brown's--cheering them on and eating "fun" food.

Happy Birthday, Daddy Bear....I hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did.

My Funny Valentine

Sweet, comic Valentine...

You make me smile with my heart.

Don't change a hair for me--

Not if you care for me...

Stay little Valentine, stay.

Each day is Valentine's day.

When is Enough, Enough???

Those of you who know me well, know that I quite frequently ask..."When is enough, enough???" It's an interesting question that I have applied to many situations, but now I am applying it to the weather. I'm so tired of this weather. Oh, I know, it's Cleveland....stick around for 15 minutes and the weather will change....what do you expect, it's winter....chill out, only 2 months until spring...yeah, yeah, yeah...I got it..but when is enough, enough? It's snowing when I get up....it's snowing througout the day...it's snowing when I leave work...I heard today that Texas and Atlanta, Georgia got snow. I want to sit in the rock garden, listening to the water in the fountain. I want to hear birds. I want to complain to Tony that it's hot outside. I want to walk gingerly on the pavement because I'm barefoot and the sun has roasted the ground. I'm done with the beauty of winter. I've seen enough deer in the front yard looking for food. When is enough, enough? NOW!! Think spring, my body can't take much more of this!!

If You Listen Real Close, You Can Hear Elvis Singing, Memories, In The Background

And Then, It Was Bath Time...

The day went too quickly by. Ben and Papa went to the grocery store....we watched Toy Story, we saw Elmo 3 times, we played with toys and looked at the snow. Again, both boys ate very well. Ben picked out a "kid" TV dinner for himself (based on the colors) so he had chicken, corn, mac and cheese and a cookie. Sammy did well with turkey and mac and cheese.


Ben didn't take a nap today and Sammy was only down for an hour. Both boys were rubbing their eyes during dinner, so after dinner and more Toy Story, it was bath time. Both boys enjoyed throwing golf balls out of the tub and laughing at Papa.


Sammy was still a little afraid of the bedroom--there are so many things in there he doesn't recognize. I put him down after his bath and he closed his eyes and sucked on his binky. But, 5 minutes later, he was standing up beating the little bear heads that hang down from the pack and play. BAAA, GAAA, BAAA, he said, as he whapped them. He said "Papa" 4 times this weekend as well as up, doggie, again and I. I was hoping he would be walking by the time Jenna and Jon picked him up, but that didn't work.

Mommy called at 8:00 and was surprised to find that her babies were already in bed. They had quite a day!

At What Price, Elmo?

I learned today that Ben doesn't love me. Yes, it's true, he said. He doesn't love me. Sam loves me and Ben loves Papa. Now, how did we get to this point? Well, it all has to do with Elmo. As you have read from various blogs, I am a systemic illerate. I try, but the buttons just dont' do what I want them to do. Tony presses buttons and amazing things happen. I press the same buttons and absolutely nothing happens.

It was that way alot today. Tony put in the Elmo DVD and made it go on. Ben was enthralled, although he has seen the same DVD 30 times. But today, we were looking out the sliding glass doors in the family room watching Papa run the snow blower over the deck. Papa is making snow, as Ben said. I had Sammy in my lap and Ben at my side and I was a happy woman. "I love you," I said to Ben, "do you love me?" Wrong question to ask. "No," he answered frankly. "You don't love me?" I questioned? "No," he repeated, "Sam loves you, I love Papa." Well, this threw me. "How come you don't love me," I asked Ben. "Because," he responded simply. "But you love Papa?" I clarified. "Yes," he stated, "I love Papa." Hmmmm, I needed to get to the bottom of this, so I did what every other grandmother in this situation would do....I fake cried. "Oh, I'm so sad," I said to Ben...."Moe Moe loves you so much....how come you don't love me?" Seeing me cry, Ben cozied up to me and said, "because you can't do Elmo and Papa can." Elmo? Being a systemic illerate is costing me the love of my grandson???? I don't think so. "Do you love Mommy," I asked? "Oh yes," Ben said. "Do you love Daddy," I ventured further...."Oh yes," Ben replied again. "And you love Papa?" I asked again. "Yes!" Ben stated firmly. "Can Mommy do Elmo?" I asked, "yes," Ben replied. "And Daddy can do Elmo?" I asked. "Oh yes," Ben said. Well, I was on to something. "Ben," I questioned, "If I could make Elmo come on, would you love me?" I asked. "Oh yes," Ben said, "if you could do Elmo I wouldn't have to wait for Papa." Ah....the dawning of reason.

So, tonight, when the boys are in bed, I'm up for Elmo lessons. No short, furry, high pitched red puppet is going to get the best of me. If that's what it takes for Ben to love me, I can learn to do Elmo.

"How come Sam loves me," I asked Ben. Poor Ben, this weekend has been challenging for him....so many times he has had to explain the obvious to me...."because, Moe Moe" he said, "Sam doesn't know Elmo yet. You tickle his belly and he likes that." Ah--so as soon as Sammy gets to know Elmo, I'm at risk again. I better bone up on this DVD, start, play and pause stuff. The price may be high, but it's worth it.


"

A Mommy and Daddy Update

We survived the first night. I was a little concerned because when I put Sammy down, he didn't recognize the room and started to cry. I turned the big light off (the night light and hallway lights were on) and sat down next to the pack and play. I sang to him and rubbed his head and he finally fell asleep. Ben was next. He had Papa help him with his pajamas. We brushed his teeth and away he went. I was a little concerned about him falling asleep too, because after he said his prayers he just layed there with his big eyes open. I took the phone out of the room but as we all know, you just can't get anything past Ben. He saw the empty holster and said, "where's the phone?" I told him I didn't want Sammy to wake up if it rang and he said, "but what if Mommy calls?" Good point. I told Ben that I would bring the phone back up if she did...and she did. So after having a conversation with Mommy and Daddy, Ben was fine and out like a light.

Sammy woke up at 8:00 a.m., but when I reached down to pick him up, he put his binky back in his mouth and layed back down. He was out until around 8:40. Ben helped me cook breakfast. Each of them had a whole waffle and some snacks. Ben asked me to say grace for breakfast, so I did. I said, "God is good, so is our food." Ben opened his eyes and let go of my hand and said, "That's not right, Moe Moe." I started over. He took my hand again and squeezed his eyes shut tight. "God is great, God is good. Amen." I said. Ben sighed and said, "Moe Moe, you didn't say thank you for our food." "Oh," said I...."thanks for the food." Ben was highly annoyed. "No, Moe Moe, you still didn't do it right." "Well, I said, maybe you better do it." Ben agreed and said grace the right way. "That's how you do it, Moe Moe, " he said....Wow...I learn something new everyday from Ben.

We got around 10 inches of snow, so Papa went out to clean off the driveway. We watched him from the window. If the city plow comes down the street Ben may go to the grocery store with Papa. What fun that will be.

We have some cooking planned for later today with Ben. He's so great in the kitchen. Today is all about Elmo. Thank God for Elmo and the music DVD, although when I was singing along yesterday Ben told me I couldn't sing because they were his songs. Hmmmmm.....maybe I was off key! But he was singing with gusto and lots of fun to watch.

More later, Mommy and Daddy.

Babysitting - Day 1 - The Car Doesn't Start.....

Well, here we are....the big event. I picked up the kids around 3:00 and the adventure began. As I was driving away from Jenna and Jon's house (like I got seven houses away), Ben screamed from the backseat. "Moe Moe, stop the car!!!" What in the world....was he already home sick for Mommy and Daddy? Did he hear about the Toyota recall? Did we forget his favorite toy? I hit the breaks and Sammy laughed. "Ben, what is it?" I called frantically to the backseat. "Moe Moe," said Ben, "your seat belt isn't on." Well, I knew that. It never is. I hate to be confined and I don't wear a seat belt. I calmed down. "I know Ben, but that's OK." I started to drive again. "Moe Moe," Ben said with even more fright in his voice...., "Stop." I take direction better from a 3 year old than I do from Tony--I stopped. "Why Ben?" I asked. "Moe Moe," he said in his most patient voice, but I got the sense he thought he was talking to a real moron....."the car doesn't start until we all have our seat belts on." It was that simple. I sat there for a minute on Lincoln Avenue and realized that it was going to be a very long drive to Strongsville if I didn't put on my seat belt. "OK, Ben," I said, "you're right." I put my seat belt on. "That's good, Moe Moe," Ben said, "we can go now." Of course, when I got home, I forgot I was wearing it and almost hung myself trying to get out of the car.....but, I got home safe. Thank you, Ben.

We had a great time. In minutes, the family room, or as Ben calls it, the other living room was a mess. Toys were everywhere and airplanes were flying. Sam is also into aviation--he sat on the kitchen floor with one of the airplanes in his hand, waving it around and moving his body in a circle. He was flying and loving every minute of it.

Ben enjoyed himself too. I let each boy take three pictures and they had chocolate milk as a treat. But for Ben, it was all about Papa (no surprise there.) I swear, he asked me no less than 56 times, "where's Papa?" Well, Papa finally got home and Ben was very pleased to have someone to play with. And, talk about Ben's memory, when Tony drove the new SUV into the garage, Ben said, "where is Papa's little car?"

We all had a nice dinner. Ben said grace and asked to be excused from the table when he was finished. He had chicken and macaroni and a donut with sprinkles for dessert. He has excellent manners. Mommy and Daddy called once, but hey, Papa was home, I don't think Ben even noticed--sorry, guys!

Well, Sammy has been helping me type, but he is rubbing his eyes....it's time for bed. Enjoy your time, Mommy and Daddy because we are certainly enjoying ours!!

New Baby

No, not Jenna and Jon's...ours. We have a new addition to the family--a 2009 Mitsu, Outlander. Yep...we are an SUV family. Ok, it's a dark picture, but it's really nice. Our life goes in stages. When the kids were all home, a mini van was best....when we felt free and sexy, it was the Eclipse....now, when we think of retiring and moving all of our stuff--well, it's an SUV!

No, really...it's a nice car. One of the best things that Tony and I do is buy cars. And, usually, we do it separately. We each drive our own car..oh, yes, we trade off and on, but when it comes to what we individually want to drive, we don't mess with each other. It's not unusual for either of us to call the other one from a car dealership and say, "I just bought a....." We have faith in each other that we won't put the other in jeopardy of buying something we collectively can't afford and we know that each of us will strike the best deal we can. I find it quite liberating not to need Tony to negotiate my deal and I think that he is somewhat proud that he doesn't have to. Do I know about anti lock breaks and gears? No, but I read enough to know what I don't want and I know what I can afford. I know what I want from a car and so does he.

So, our beautiful, deep green (so much so, it looks gray at night) SUV will be with us when we move to North Carolina and I can't wait.

On other car news, yes, my Toyota is one of the recall bunch. If I don't get my letter in the next few days, I'm going to call the dealership. Although, I find it odd....OK Tony, don't read this part....when I am late for my hair appointment or meeting Tony, I have moved that car up to 98 miles and hour with no sticking gas pedal (and no speeding ticket, either!!!)....so, I really don't think I have a problem...but, will get it fixed anyway.

Tomorrow, I pick up Ben and Sam for the weekend. We can't wait. I feel like an athlete in training...."I can do this," I keep saying to myself...but then I realize that Jenna does this every day and she's a heck of a lot younger than me...hmmmm....well, my mom kept Jenna when she was 54, so I think we will be OK. We have lots of things planned and "safety valves" built into the day. Ben will go shopping with Papa so I can do the laundry. I will have church here for Ben, so Tony can attend regular Sunday services. This is teamwork at it's best and we are up to it.

Tony and I had a date night this evening--as if in preparation for the weekend. It really wasn't, but it felt like it was. That calm before the storm. The looking into each other's eyes and saying "I love you," before the tidal wave hits. That's what it's like with Ben and Sam...loud, exciting, never boring and so oh wild. We hang on while it's happening and then lay down, hearts pounding, when it's over. We survived. And we will do it again....bring it on, Mommy!!! Learn lots about adopting our little girl, and Tony and I will take care of our boys!