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.