The Bells of Christmas

My favorite holiday decoration has always been the sleigh bells that my mother would hang on our front and back doors. The moment I heard them chime as they were pulled out of the box, you knew it was Christmas. It was such a beautiful sound, and I can remember getting excited every night hearing them chime as my mom and dad would get home from work.
This Christmas was no different. We helped my mother take her decorations down from the attic and brighten her home with the Christmas spirit. I was sitting at the table when I heard my beloved bells get pulled from their box. I smiled at my sister as I heard them shaking loud as one of the kids carried them into the house..."It's official... Christmas is here...." The kids helped decorate Grandma's tree with lots of excitement. My heart is bursting because they get it.... they understand the excitement of Christmas.
We had such a lovely weekend. We ended the weekend with family movie night. Mike and I had picked up Polar Express, a movie that combined all of our favorite things...Christmas for me and trains the boys. We had never seen it and were very excited to snuggle up after a long weekend. From the moment the train pulled into the front yard of the little boy's house, Max was hooked. I have never seen my son so involved in every detail of a movie before. He talked about the train, the little boy, how the little girl helped the little boy, the Christmas tree and Kanta Claus (we haven't quite mastered out "sss" sound yet). Ben was just as engaged. He loved the pictures and danced to the music. At one point they were so engaged in a song the children were singing, I started to weep. I looked over at my husband and he too, was just as moved. Just when I thought that the excitement couldn't grow anymore, Santa arrived. Max was almost out of his skin with excitement. And when I thought I couldn't take anymore, the little boy was chosen to get the first Christmas gift. And what did he ask for?.... a sleigh bell.
On this weekend of anniversaries, Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am thankful for a wonderful husband, my beautiful boys, my amazing mother and sister, my adorable niece and nephews, and my extended family of friends. I wish you all the beauty and spirit of the upcoming holidays. I thank you for all the wonderful memories this year and look froward to making new ones over the next few weeks, months and years.

Sleigh Bells ring.... are you listening?!?!?

Five years and counting.....

I went to a psychic in Little Italy right before New Year's Eve, 1999. She told me that I was going to meet the man I was going to marry but we would not start dating right away.
New Year's Eve 1998-1999
I was working at the Olive Garden in Times Square, so some friends and I went to the party there. I was greeted at the door by this good looking tall security officer from Brooklyn. He opened the front door of the Olive Garden and said "I was told to let this pretty lady in". I smiled and blushed and turned my attention to my manager who was standing next to him and gave him a hug and went into the party.
Monday, February 8, 1999
I had the morning shift. I basically fell out of bed, threw make-up on my face and my hair in a head band. I was downstairs in the cafe and this very good looking tall security officer from Brooklyn comes in the front door walks past the hostess stand, and up the escalator to the main dinning area of the restaurant. I walk up to the hostess stand.
"Who was that?!?"
"Becky, you know him...he is in here every Monday"
"I have NEVER seen him before"
"YES you have... "
"NO, I would remember him" (of course I didn't remember him from New Years)
So I go on with my lunch rush. About a half hour later, I am standing at the computer putting an order in when I hear:
"Rebecca.... I would like you to meet someone....."
Oh my God... she didn't...I have about 5 seconds to flash my brightest smile and look up from the computer which I was now clutching on to.....
Later that week, he came back.... we exchanged very casual pleasantries and then I found an excuse to bolt into the kitchen....
Allison.... my very dear friend who I followed to New York shortly after she and her husband moved there, comes to the back.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"You know me ... I don't DO that kinda stuff well..."
"Well, get over it..."
"I can't ... is he still here?"
"NO!!!.. Do you like him?"
"Yes... I do... I really do...."
"Good ... cause I gave him your number and told him that you would be home around 5 o'clock today and you better ANSWER the DAMN PHONE!!!!"
We talked for hours that night and agreed to a date on Saturday, February 13th. Our first date was a walking tour of Lower Manhattan and dinner and drinks in Brooklyn.
A month later on a date celebrating his birthday, he took me to Coney Island. It was a beautiful, clear cold night and we walked along the beach. We held hands and I finally had the courage to tell him, "This would be a perfect opportunity for you to kiss me" and we shared out first kiss under a full moon.
The following Christmas, he asked me to be his wife.
November 25, 2000, we were married. It was a wonderful day that I will never forget. My favorite part of the ceremony was right before we exchanged rings:

Hands of the Bride and Groom

Rebecca, please face Michael and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you.

These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family

These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Michael, please hold Rebecca’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go

These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Happy Anniversary, my love....

Fall Fever

There is no coincidence that I plan everything in the Fall...

I moved to New York in the Fall and had about a month off to "explore" the city and find a job.

I got married in the Fall which required several long weekend trips followed by 2 weeks off.

I moved back to Houston in the Fall, again a long respite to get my southern roots planted again.

I had both of my children in the Fall which of course gave me several weeks off for maternity leave.

I have done absolutely nothing the past few days at work... I have major Fall Fever.

Happy Birthday, Max!

My dearest most precious Max,

My first born, my angel , you are still mommy’s baby boy even though you are turning 3 years old today. In so many ways you have been the most life changing experience I have ever known. Even before I was pregnant, I could not wait to meet you. I always knew you were going to come first. A little boy who would teach me more than I could ever imagine teaching you. You came early and I was not ready for you. I cried when the doctor called and told me to go to the hospital. I thought I was supposed to become this super mom before you ever arrived and I knew that my super mom license had not arrived yet. It was a long labor, but well worth it! I eventually had to have a c-section because you had no intention of leaving my warm safe belly. The first thing the doctor said was “It’s a boy… WOW look at that red hair!”


RED HAIR!!! We still have no idea where it came from. The crazy part is that I had a dream a week or so before you were born. It was about a little red haired boy and I thought I was dreaming about your Aunt Al’s baby, because the idea of having a red headed child was just never a thought in my head. Everywhere we go people stop and tell you what a handsome boy you are. You are even more striking when you are in the company of your brother. The two of you turn heads and bring smiles everywhere you go.

Three years old! My heart is already bursting with love and memories. I just don’t know how it can grow any larger…. But at the same time I cannot wait for more! You are so different from me and yet sometimes it is like I am looking in a mirror. You are an exact carbon of your daddy. I tell people all the time that other than carrying you for 9 months, I had very little to do with your genetic make-up. That is of course until your perform your infamous, incredibly dramatic temper tantrums. You first try to reason with me and explain why what you want is really the best idea. When I disagree, you then become firm, and demand that it be done your way or the highway. When you realize I am not only your superior officer, but one tough cookie, you melt into a blob of goo on the floor, begging and pleading with me as we gently walk over to the naughty wall to reflect on the past few minutes and why we didn’t get our way. It is a performance that only your mother could love, mostly because it is exactly how she has performed on many occasions.

You are going to be an engineer… I just know it. You don’t really play with toys. You spend most of your time figuring out how it works and why we should play with it in the first place. You insist on doing everything yourself, which I must admit, you actually do very well 90% of the time. When you can’t get something to work, it must be broken.

You worship your brother and he worships you. We are so blessed that from the 1st time you met Ben, you genuinely thought mommy and daddy made him for your entertainment. You are so protective of him. You don’t like it when he cries and try to move Heaven and Earth to get him to stop. On many occasions you have climbed into his crib just to get closer to him.

And all of a sudden you have become quite the snuggle bunny with me, and I am LOVING IT!!! Even when you were born, you already had a strong neck and looked around at everything. You used to try to climb up and out of my arms so you could see what was going on, Mr. Independent. But lately you have become very attached to me. Lots of love, lots of kisses, lots of snuggling on the couch watching Rolie Polie Olie. You give me kisses for my pocket and we exchange kisses for under our pillows. When I do not get home until late, you beg for daddy to let you sleep on my side of the bed until I get home. Then I lift you up, hold you tight and whisper my parting ritual, “I love you, I’ll see you in the morning, I miss you already”.

I love you, baby boy… more than you will ever know……Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

Pre-birthday slumber party

Kameron ( my nephew) is over for a pre-birthday slumber party. So far we have had Burger King with Star Wars kid toys, bath itme in the dark with light sabers (glow sticks), we have watched Stars Wars (the original or episode IV, however you care to acknowledge it)and participated in fight scenes with our light sabers (again, glow sticks). Max has already informed me that tommorrow's birthday party cake should be a Star Wars cake (too bad, we picked Incredibles when we ordered it 3 days ago) and it is now 10:50 and we are starting Star Wars 2, or Episode V....
We have had lollipop rings, popcorn, cheetos, soda and mandarin oranges...
... let's see how far we get into this movie.....


update per village idiot
first one (max) went out at the beginning of the battle for hoth
second (kameron)was out by the end of the battle
guess we'll have to wait for their recreation of the luke vs vader light saber duel

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is an incubator for good ideas, it just takes a while for them to develop. But when you think of something, watch out! Your thoughts tend to be huge, and they come on quickly - like an explosion. You tend to be quiet around others, unless you're inspired by your next big idea.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Walgreen's

So apparently in "Perfect" you have to get a credit check and prove you have never been in rehab before you can get cold medicine for your 11 month old.

Since when did "over-the-counter" medicines go back over the counter to the Pharmacy?

Last night I stopped for some pediacare, I went to the normal section where I find children's medications, but this time I find a little card; "Please see pharmacy to obtain this item".

So I take the card and stand in line behind the other 5 people who are standing in line with cards and puzzled & pissy looks on their faces. It is finally my turn and I preset my card and she asks for my ID. Excuse me? I know I am not ancient but I surely do not look like some spring chick-a-dee either. She takes my ID and pulls out this huge binder and flips through to some secret section follows down the many names over several pages while looking at my ID. She does not find my name so she gets to the end and starts to write my information down and the information concerning the medicine I am picking up. She then turns the binder around and slams the pen down and says, "Sign here". So I start looking up to the top and she gets pissy with me and says, "I said SIGN HERE" I informed her that I am not going to sign anything without reading what the hell I am signing, and by the way you could show a little customer service and explain whay I must go through a 5 minute process to get childrens' cold medicine! "Oh, we have been doing this for months now" "No, you haven't.. I live 4 blocks from here and I am in here all the time"

So turns out, you now have to be 18 and over to by cold medicine. You can only purchase a small amount and only over a certain time period.

I realize that we need to crack down on the meth houses and creative teen addicts, but perhaps we need to come up with something more effective than writing down driver's license numbers and pissing off the rest of us who don't abuse the system. I am sorry, here is a little of my "Right" side coming out. I feel for all those with addictions and life struggles, but I am not willing to sacrifice my time when I know that addicts will get their fix anyway they can... this little speed bump just makes them have to think a little harder or stop at a few more stores. And last time I checked, no one was writing down ID for cigarettes or alchohol.

I do love a whip....

You scored as Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones is an archaeologist/adventurer with an unquenchable love for danger and excitement. He travels the globe in search of historical relics. He loves travel, excitement, and a good archaeological discovery. He hates Nazis and snakes, perhaps to the same degree. He always brings along his trusty whip and fedora. He's tough, cool, and dedicated. He relies on both brains and brawn to get him out of trouble and into it. Indiana Jones 79% Maximus 75% James Bond, Agent 007 71% William Wallace 71% Batman, the Dark Knight 67% Lara Croft 67% Neo, the "One" 67% Captain Jack Sparrow 58% The Terminator 46% El Zorro 46% The Amazing Spider-Man 38% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Is it sad?

Is it sad that I have the most recent published posts of my favorite blogs memorized so that I can quickly whip through my list and know who has updated and who has not?

Is it even more sad that I get a little adrenaline pump in the bottom of my stomach when I realize that that they have updated with a new post?

Is it even more of a problem that I get pissed at Blog Rolling when it tells me there is something "NEW" at a particular site and there is nothing new?

.... issues .....

ROCK ON !!!!!!

What does your future hold? You will have an apartment entirely furnished with Ikea Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Here is the sad thing: If I could have my choice of any shopping spree type store, I would choose IKEA... I just like to wander through IKEA and come up with decorating ideas for rooms that do not exist with money that I do not have!
mmmmmm....I...K...E...A..... I love that little Swed.

I love my boys...

I mean, I freakin' love my boys....
I just keep looking at pics of them and I just grin from ear to ear.
I know I am having a private mother peacock moment here, but I just love them. They are hours of entertainment for me.
And I love that I am "in the moment" with them. I cannot possibly imagine that it could get any better than they way it is "right now" and then the next stage comes and I think, "No, this is the best time!"
I freakin' LOVE my boys!!!