Two of my Favorite People!

Liz and Bryan. What can I say about these two individuals? Lots! My sister is my best friend! Despite the 10 year age difference, we are so close! I can still remember the day my Mom and Dad brought her home. We couldn't be there because Stevie was sick. We were staying at Grandma Inman's. Grandma brought us over and we got to see her through the screen door. So beautiful!! Liz and I shared a room growing up. She had to put up with my big sister attitude (don't move on the bed when I am trying to sleep!) and I had to put up with her little sister attitude. But thinking back on it, I rather enjoyed it. We used to go to sleep at night listening to Kenny G or some other CD. We used to go to the mall together and I would take her in Limited Too and we would try on all sorts of clothes! She truly was and is a princess to me! Again, despite growing up in two different worlds -- I was getting married while she was learning to drive -- I was having a baby while she was graduating from high school -- we have remained close. She knows a lot of my secrets, my dreams and desires and I know hers. We have a song that we call ours...it's called Come Some Rainy Day by Wynonna Judd. The first line in the song says..."what goods a dollar, without your baby sister"! Wynonna wrote it for her sister. This song definitely speaks truth to our hearts. But, she's not only an important person in my life, she is important to Alex and Olivia. Alex and Olivia really love their Auntie! She is so good to them. She was in the room when Alex was born and was there right after I had Olivia. She loves to spoil them. Every October, we go to the pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin together. This tradition has carried on since Alex was little and is still strong today. She was there crying right next me during Alex's preschool gymnastics performance. She's been there rooting for Alex during soccer and basketball games. She's picked Olivia up from Jane's to lend me a helping hand. See, how much she means to me?

Now, my baby sister is getting married. She is marrying a truly awesome man! I am so glad she found him because it showed her that despite some bad relationships that there really was a Prince Charming out there for her. I can't wait for these two to become husband and wife and start their own family. I really love Bryan (and his sister loves me too)! Alex and Olivia just love him and he loves them, which is so awesome. You can see it whenever he is around! It just melts my heart whenever I see him playing with Olivia and Alex. He drove Alex to basketball camp for a week. What an awesome uncle and brother-in-law!! But most importantly, my sister loves him. I wish them many happy years of marriage. My wish is that they will still be smiling like the engagement pictures above 10, 20, 30, etc. years from now.

So now, my sister is beginning a new life where I have settled into mine. I am truly honored to be her matron of honor and be there to celebrate this next phase in her life.

Thank you Liz for just being You! I love you!!

My two favorite people...my sister, Liz and my future brother-in-law, Bryan!

Hairspray!

No, not the movie...what my daughter sprayed in her hair! She is getting into the whole "doing your hair" thing. With it getting long, we have to pull it out of her face every day. She has been asking me to spray it when it's done. Well, last night, she was upstairs in my room watching a movie or so I thought. She came down and she had taken her hair out of the ponytail it was in. She walked up to me looking so proud. She said, "Look Mom, I sprayed my hair." She definitely sprayed her hair. Can you see that slick, stuck together spot on her head? She must have just held the can there and sprayed it. It was so funny, I just had to share!

My Babies!

Baby Girl! That's what we call Olivia sometimes. She's not spoiled is she? Just look at that face! Those big blue eyes melt your heart. She definitely has her Mimi's big blue eyes. I love that!! She's trying to show me her art work in this picture. She loves to draw, paint and color! I know that little girls love to color but I think she likes to do it more than the average. She is actually very good too. At 3.5, she can color in the lines and her painting is awesome! Her Great-Grandma Morgan would be so proud! Of course, I'm a little biased but it's really sweet! My dad is actually very good at drawing. I took up drawing in high school but ended up hating my teacher and therefore, hating to draw. It became a chore to draw rather than a passion. I hope Olivia keeps her passion for art. That's my baby girl!

I call this picture "Freckles". Look closely, can you see them peppered on his nose? Ever since Alex was little, we have played a game where I try to blow the freckles off of his nose. He just cackles whenever I do this. While playing this game with him recently, I noticed that he has acquired a few more freckles on his face. You might not notice it unless you are right next to his face but they're there. So cute! Check out those eyelashes. If they get any lighter, he will look like he doesn't have any!! ;) People always ask me where he gets the red hair from. He proudly proclaims, his great relatives. It's probably more like a strawberry blonde. Our hairdresser commented one day while cutting his hair that his hair gets lighter the shorter it is which is opposite of most people. Most people tend to have darker hair towards the scalp and lighter on the ends. I just love his red hair highlighted with all that blonde. He was comparing his newborn picture next to Olivia's and commented on his lack of hair. I told him that the minute I saw him, I noticed his red hair! Red hair, blue eyes and freckles...that's my boy!!

Pop Its!

Olivia and her bag of Pop Its!

Stompin' on the pop its. Olivia loves to throw them on the ground and then stomp on them to make them pop. I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not!

Go get your own brother! She did relent and give him a few.

Last year we picked up a pack of Pop Its at Wal-mart for the kids instead of fireworks. These were a huge hit. They sailed through the pack. When we went to get more, they were already gone. A few weeks ago while shopping at Wal-mart, we saw them...they must only bring them out for the 4th of July holiday...and grabbed 2 boxes. 1 for Alex and 1 for Olivia. The kids absolutely love them and it seems like harmless fun. However, they leave a big mess on the patio...look closer at the photos and you can see the popped ones all over the ground. Oh well...my kids love them and what's a little mess compared to making a great memory!

How Sweet is this?

Last night, we watched a little of America's Got Talent. Yes, we love reality tv in our house! Anyway, I was completely moved to tears regarding Kaitlyn Maher's act (yes, I am a complete sap). She is a 4-year old who sang the song Somewhere out there, from the American Tail movie. She blew the judges away and got to move onto the next round. Heck, I don't even know her but I am so proud of her. I am such an empathetic person and kept thinking about how I would feel if that were Olivia. This beautiful, little girl went out on that stage and did something she loved. The smile on her face at the end when the audience was clapping and cheering for her is priceless. Such innocence, such beauty, such love. Go Kaitlyn!!

I try to teach both Alex and Olivia that they can do anything they want to do. All it takes is a little bit of passion for what you are doing, dedication, determination, self-confidence. and practice. I am and always will be their biggest cheerleader and support system! I try to teach them that they can achieve anything they set their minds too. That is what my parents taught me. For that, I am grateful. Keep reaching for your dreams. Even as I get older, I still have dreams and goals that I wish to accomplish. I think when you stop reaching, you become stagnant. Never stop reaching for those stars!!

Kite Day/Father's Day!

Yesterday was a fun day. Not only was it Father's Day but it was also Kite Day! So we went to JB park with my family-- the spot we used to go to when I was a kid -- and had a picnic lunch and tried to fly our kites. There wasn't much wind but we managed to get the kites up a few times. We really wanted to get Alex's pirate ship kite in the air but you really need some good wind for that. This was Bryan's first time ever flying a kite. Too bad there wasn't much wind so he could get the full effect. I think he still had a good time though. Also, Jimmy didn't get to fly a kite because he always lands them in the trees. (Hence the picture of him just looking on.) I didn't get to fly but once. We bought Olivia a new kite -- Tinkerbell -- it was so cute...however, when we got to the park we noticed no string in the kit. It was a glider not a kite so there wasn't an extra kite to fly. We bought Stevie a Bat kite and it wasn't discovered until the end of the day that it was put together wrong. He couldn't seem to get it in the air but when he and I got together, we figured it out and got it up once but ran out string. You had to get it pretty high up there in order for it to stay up.

We had a great time together. I love the moments I get to spend with my family. They seem too far and few but it really is a joy to me when we can get together.

I also want to take this opportunity to wish Jimmy a Happy Father's Day! He is a wonderful Dad to Alex and Olivia. Olivia made a bookmark with her picture on it and a card with a Golden Trophy (as she calls it) for Jimmy. She let him open it and then quickly claimed it for herself -- just like she did with the Mother's Day picture frame she made me. It is the cutest thing. I can't wait to tell her when she gets older. Alex gave Jimmy a coupon book with all sorts of coupons...mowing the grass, wash the car, breakfast in bed, homemade cookies...he loved it!! We had taken him to a new Mexican restaurant on Saturday for a Father's Day lunch...but it wasn't that great. Oh well. Jimmy said something to me yesterday that was really sweet. He told me that yesterday was also my day because without me, he wouldn't be a dad. Very sweet and very true. We love you Smooch!

To my Dad. He is the world to me. My first love, my hero! He has influenced me to become the strong, independent woman I am today. Thanks Dad, I love you! Also, Alex and Olivia love their Paw Paw.

To Jim. Thank you for being such an important person in our lives. You are always there for us. You are an awesome Grandpa to Alex and Olivia. They definitely love you!! You mean the world to us and despite the distance, we love you and miss you!!

Happy Father's Day.

My thoughts today

Today, my thoughts are so negative, I wish I could escape my own mind. Maybe it's because I am so exhausted and overwhelmed that these thoughts just keep creeping up on me. I don't like it. I hate these moments when nothing in my life feels as it should or seems as it should. I have so many blessings in my life. I am grateful for each and every one. But somehow today, even though I keep trying to push that curtain back to see the light, all I can see is the dark. (Funny thing, as I just finished typing that last sentence, the light in my office went out. It's one of those sensor lights and when I sit at my computer and type for awhile, it goes out automatically. Guess you had to be there!)

I have always been the victim of worrying about what others think. Last night and into today, that feeling is ever present and I wish it would go away. I sat in my car before walking into work to listen to a song that just catches my heart. Celebrate Me Home by Kenny Loggins. I sat back and just listened wondering if all my loved ones who have passed away would rejoice in hearing this praise. I know I would definitely Celebrate! But instead of making me feel rejoiced, I feel just sad.

Now, it could just be that these feelings have surfaced due to it being "that time of the month" (sorry, I know, TMI) but I despite all my blesssings, I look back on my life and feel...like a failure. I see so many lost opportunities, so many wrong decisions, some unhappy times. I have a saying that I love...

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles one has overcome while trying to succeed.

I have this posted to the wall right above my computer and read it daily. As a way to help me realize that I can overcome or change all that I feel is not right in my life. Right now, I am just too exhausted, too overwhelmed to think of all that I need to change, want to change. I guess I should follow Stalin's quote:

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."

Let's hope that tomorrow's day is a little brighter. At least I get to go home after work and not have someplace else to run to. But I just groan at the thought of the piles of laundry and dishes that need to be done! Blessings! I need to remind myself that these are all blessings and stop my moaning.

Allergic Reaction, Bar Louie, Bridal Shower, Basketball Camp

That about sums up what's been happening in my life lately.

Last Wednesday night after getting home from our softball game, I felt itchy. I noticed that an area on my back was broke out in hives. I thought maybe it was just dry skin. On Thursday morning, I had a few patches of hives on my arm, my stomach and my back. By the end of the day on Thursday, I was broke out in hives all over my body. The last time this happened to me, I thought it was because I ate something with Splenda in it. That was so painful. I got no relief last time. I can't take a full dose of Benadryl because it knocks me out - completely. But I tried anyway. No help. On Friday, same thing, all over my body. I called my doctor and they said to take Zyrtec. Let me tell you, that was like a wonder drug for me. It took all the hives away AND it didn't knock me out. I am still taking it to keep whatever is in my system away from erupting on my skin! I have an appt. with an allergist on the 26th. Hopefully, she will be able to determine what the cause is.

Thursday night was the most fun night I have had in a long time. Liz got all her bridesmaids together for the "you are officially in the wedding" gathering. We went to Bar Louie in Kirkwood. Despite the hive breakout, I had a blast! We gabbed for hours from wedding plans to how do you keep things exciting once your married. Of course, Shayna and I, as her matrons of honor were asked for our insight into what married life is like. We were happy to oblige. Really though, I had so much fun. Anyone who knows me, knows that no topic is off limits for me to discuss. And we had some great discussions!!! Thanks Liz for one of the most fun nights!!!

Saturday was quite a busy day! My mom and aunts hosted a Bridal Shower for my cousin Ryan's soon-to-be wife Susie. They are getting married next month. Of course, there were lots of laughs as always. It was a lot of fun. Plus, the food was great and we got to have a Grandma Glo cake! My uncle's mom is an Amighetti and she makes the best home-made cakes!! I have had many Grandma Glo birthday cakes in my day and they are fabulous. Check out the picture. She made it just like the invitation! OK, so enough about the cake. Susie got some great gifts. Olivia was so excited when she saw the gifts. She said it was a birthday party. She helped Susie with the gifts. She would give her a present to open and then run to sit on the stairs where Aunt Pammie was sitting. Then, when Susie was ready for the next present, Olivia would run back down the stairs and hand her another present. Then, she started taking the gifts and setting them off to the side. She told her "I'll take that for you". I told her to take it right to Mommy's car! Susie got some great stuff. I think every 10 years or so, married women should get another bridal shower to get new stuff. How fun would that be? I snagged these pictures from cousin Lori -- thanks Lori!

After the shower, we dropped the kids off at Auntie's for the night. Jimmy and I got a night out to ourselves. We haven't been able to go out together since New Year's. A friend of mine was celebrating her 40th birthday. Her husband planned a surprise party for her at Lucas Park Grille. Everything was paid for - the drinks, the food. It was fabulous. We had a nice time there. After that, we went and spent some time at a friend's bar. We hung out there until 11:30 or so. How pathetic is that? We get a night out and we are so bushed we are home before midnight!!

So, here we are again back to another week. Alex is at De Smet this week for basketball camp. Since Bryan teaches there and is also hosting a running camp, Alex is riding out to De Smet everyday with him. He got a cool De Smet basketball jersey and Bryan gave him a pair of De Smet shorts. He loves it!! He had a great time. He is buying his lunch today because they can buy food at the cafeteria and he gets to pick what he wants. So cute!! So, since Alex is at her house in the afternoon, Liz is picking Olivia up from Jane's this week. Olivia thought because Auntie was picking her up that she was staying at Auntie's house again - like Saturday night. When I got there yesterday to pick her up, she closed the door on me. When I came in, she said she wasn't going with me, she was staying with Auntie and proceeded to wrap herself around Auntie's leg. So cute! I love that my kids love their Aunt and soon-to-be Uncle!

So, tonight is tap (dancing class) night! Let's see what Mrs. Rita has to say tonight about Miss Olivia!!

Magnolia!

Happy 11th Birthday to Maggie -- our dog. Maggie has been a great dog to us! Jimmy and I got her over Labor Day weekend in 1997 when we went to visit his sister in Little Rock. We thought she would be a great companion for two newlyweds. She rode home on the floor of Mary's little Cavelier. From the beginning, Maggie has been a great protector. We have taught her to sit, speak and take treats only on command. She's a great running partner for Jimmy. Maggie's also been there for the birth of both kids. When I was pregnant, she loved me. I mean really loved me!! She loves Alex and Olivia as if they are her puppies. Both kids have tried getting on her back and riding her. She just lets them do whatever they want to her. But if she thinks you are hurting one of her puppies, she kindly reminds you that she can rip your head off. She will lay her head in your lap and get between you and the kids and look at you with those big brown eyes as to say "Please don't make me do it!" She loves to go for rides in the car. Though I'm not sure why because it should mean she's going to the vet or to be groomed but either way, if you ask her if she wants to "Go", she gets so excited. She's scared many a delivery person in her day as well. But really, she's just one big lovable pup who loves to be scratched behind her ears and catch all the falling food the kids so non-chalantly give her. She's been a very loyal companion and we all love her so much!! So off to the store, Alex wants to buy her a new toy for her birthday. Maybe we will even get her her favorite treat Frosty Paws!

Happy Birthday Mags!

60 years

Today would have been my Grandma and Grandpa's 60th Wedding Anniversary! Unfortunately, we don't get to celebrate this momentous occassion with them but I know that they are both together celebrating. I found this poem on What is an Anniversary. I really like it and think it sums up everything my grandparents were and shared.

An anniversary is a marked time to reflect

Upon a journey we have traveled together,

Waypoints charted along a romantic voyage

Of two people sharing the same experience.

An opportunity given to reflect upon memories

Of great times and poor times in richness and sacrifice;

And to measure the distance between our hearts' Convergence.

An event to commemorate what has been,

And looking forward to that which will be new:

But most importantly, it offers another opportunity to say,

"I love you."

I really miss my grandparents. I was so blessed to have my Grandpa in my life for 17 years! I have cousins that have never gotten the chance to meet this awesome man. And, Alex and Olivia never got to see the joy their great-grandfather would have bestowed upon them. He loved his kids and grandkids. I loved going over to visit him. Even though it's been 18 years since he passed away, I can still remember that day like it was yesterday. When he got sick and put in the hospital, my mom asked me when I was going to go visit him. I told her I wasn't. I knew deep in my heart that he was never going to come home and I didn't want the memory of him hooked up to machines. I just wanted to remember Grandpa. Afterward, whenever we went to Grandma's, you always expected him to come walking down the hallway or expected to see him in the kitchen shaving. Through the years, I have felt his connection even though he is no longer physically present on Earth. We've talked. He's helped me out in times of need. One event that really led me to believe that we can communicate with those who have passed on is when my aunt Debbie Do was pregnant with CJ. I went to bed one night and had the most amazing dream or premonition, if you will. In my dream, my parents picked me up from someplace and told me to get in the car that Debbie was having the baby. As I went to get in the back, my dead Grandpa was in the backseat. Yea, I freaked out. I asked my mom, why Grandpa was in the back. He looked as if they had just dug him out of the ground. My mom said "He wants to see the baby being born." So I got in the car. As we started to drive, something amazing happened. My grandpa started getting younger and younger. He got to a point of age, that I had never witnessed. We arrived at my Grandma's. Now, something that struck me, is that no one was communicating with him and he wasn't communicating with anyone either - even Grandma. I asked my mom if everyone knew that Grandpa was here. She said "yes". At that time, the phone rang. It was my aunt saying she had the baby. Now, in real life, the phone was ringing...this is what woke me up. The phone call was from my aunt...saying she had had the baby. I know, so Twilight Zone. But totally happened!! I felt like he connected through me. Ever since then, we have had a connection. The night my Grandma passed away, we were talking about him. My mom made the statement that whatever I ask Grandpa to do, he does. After a long day and night sitting by my Grandma's side, a few of us were getting ready to go home. I went up to Grandma and got in her ear and told her I loved her and that it was OK for her to go. I told her to be sure and tell Grandpa and Mary "hi and that I loved them". I told her she was an awesome Grandma and that I will always cherish the memories I have of going to Penguin Park in Kansas City, of her making me sing the bumble bee song to everyone we met when I was 5, and of her teaching me to do this certain dance move that I don't know the name of but it involves moving only your feet and that I can still do to this day. After that I kissed her and left. As I was driving home, I was listening to a song by Diamond Rio called I Believe. During that time, I asked Grandpa to "take her" and end her suffering. Shortly after that, I felt this wave come over me. Almost like someone or something brushed up against me. I had a feeling Grandpa heard me and that it was him telling me it was OK and that Grandma was with him. No sooner did I get home, I received the call that Grandma had passed away. Of course, I went rushing back. Of course, as soon as I saw my mom, I burst into tears confessing that I had asked Grandpa to take her.

Anyway, I guess my whole reason for going into this was to explain that after my Grandma passed, I felt...happy. Not happy for the loss of my Grandma who I had the pleasure of knowing for 32 years of my life but happy that finally, after 14 years of being apart, Grandma and Grandpa were finally together again.

In 1988, my mom and her 6 siblings threw my grandparents a surprise 40th wedding anniversary. They only made 1 more anniversay together after that. So today, I honor my Grandparent's. I have such great memories of the two of them and miss both of them terribly! I know that they are smiling down on all 7 kids, 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren today. Reflecting on the journey these two shared together. So proud. And that there is no distance too great to measure the love we have felt and feel for these two awesome individuals and their life together. 60 years. WOW!

Happy Anniversary!!

Y-M-C-A

Last night started a new session at the YMCA where we belong. One of the perks of Jimmy being a lifeguard at the Y is reduced fees in classes and reduced fees in gym membership. It's also right down the street from our house - gotta love it!

So actually, let me back up, Monday night was swimming class. Alex moved up to the next level...Minnows. He loves going to class. Jimmy teaches a few of the swim classes too and is one of the most requested teachers. Awesome! We decided not to sign Olivia up for swim class because while she loves to swim, she just wasn't that into swim class much. We ended up skipping it every Monday because she was always too crabby.

However, we did sign her up for preschool dance class. She was so excited to tap!! We had tried the dance class last fall but it was taught by a high school kid and I'm sorry, she just wasn't cutting it for me so I pulled Olivia out of the class. But there is finally a new teacher - Mrs. Rita and she is wonderful. She danced for 20 years and then quit dancing for awhile to raise her 3 boys. She tried out for The Muny recently and made it so she is dancing again and decided she wanted to teach dancing as well. So, we finally got to break out the new outfit and dance bag that Auntie got Olivia for Christmas and now attend dance class on Tuesday nights. We got there a little early and Olivia insisted on putting on her tap shoes. She tapped around the room for awhile and then the other girls started to arrive. Mrs. Rita announced that they were going to do ballet first. Olivia hated to take those tap shoes off but with the promise that she would be putting them back on in a little bit and Mrs. Rita putting out pictures of ballerina's to color, she relented. I was allowed to sit in on the class for the first day but I am not allowed back into class until the last day when they do a little recital. Mrs. Rita feels that parents in the room distracts the kids from learning, which, I have to agree. Olivia would look over at me and wave or come over to tell me something. But overall, she did well. I cringed a bunch during class when Olivia was off in space or running out of line to give Mrs. Rita a hug but overall, she followed direction well. Mrs. Rita encouraged me at the end of class by saying Olivia did really well for her age and for her first time. Now, one of the cool things about Mrs. Rita has already been mentioned, at the beginning of each class she has the girls color pictures. This helps them relax and get in the mood to listen. Another cool thing is at the end of class, Mrs. Rita will blow bubbles for the girls. Olivia loved this. However, when Mrs. Rita stopped blowing bubbles and said class was over and I tried to change Olivia back into her crocs, she threw an all out fit!! Mrs. Rita came over with another picture and asked her to color it and bring it back to class. This helped calm her down through her disappointment.

After dance class, we went down to the pool to watch Alex in his Wet Ball class. It's basically water polo. Jimmy plays with the adults and loves it. Alex was really looking forward to it as it was the first time the Y offered it for kids but it ended up that only 3 kids signed up and only 2 were there last night. So just him and another boy played against each other. After 35 minutes, they finally gave up and quit. They were exhausted!! This class might get canceled due to lack of interest. I hope not. It's great exercise and Alex was really getting into it and loved it.

Needless to say, it was a very long day. When we left the Y, I had 2 crabby kids and 1 crabby mom!! Today is another marathon day. Alex has baseball practice at 5 p.m. and Jimmy and I have a 6:30 p.m. softball game. Whew...

Brendon's Tattoo

Saturday, my friend JJ went and got her tattoo in honor of her son Brendon. I wanted to share with you how awesome of a tattoo this is. She got this on her right foot to signify Brendon’s Right Hemiparesis as a result of his stroke. I told her that getting this on her foot can signify that every step she takes, she takes for Brendon. JJ has done an amazing job raising awareness for childhood stroke. Brendon is the sweetest, smartest, cutest little boy ever and he was so blessed to receive JJ as his Mom. I am so proud of her. She has been fighting an uphill battle with physicians and therapists since Brendon's diagnosis but through perserverance, she has truly shown that a mother is a child's best advocate. So amazing, so strong, so fearless - my dear friend.

Please help in raising awareness for childhood stroke. Please visit Brendon's website located under Links on the left and pass the word that children can suffer strokes too.