40 Years of Marriage

We had a very special weekend! My aunt and uncle, Jerry & JoEllen, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. WOW – 40 years!!! Anyway, the local mental institution gave everyone in my family a weekend pass so Alex and I headed back to the Twin Cities for the party. My cousins (more like their wives) planed a surprise party for them and I have to say…they did a great job! Leave it to them to plan a SPECTACULAR party.

The evening started off with, of course, the big surprise. My cousin Joel and his fiancée Becky were in charge of getting Jerry & JoEllen to the party. They told them they would be picking them up around 5:30 for supper, but had no idea of what was going on after that. Jerry and Jo were COMPLETELY blown away – they had no idea of what was in store for them. Jo’s friend Joan made sure they had NO idea by calling Jo Saturday morning and asking her what their plans were. Jo just said they boys have something planed….maybe a train ride or something. Jo called me last week wondering if I wanted to come up for their church clothing sale (this is a sale that seen 26,000 people in the first two days) and reluctantly I said no telling her that I had other plans. heheheh. They were so stunned when the seen all of us at the party!

What a memorable party. I know that when my family gets together, there is an abundant of laughs, music, laughs, beer, food….and more laughs. I feel so blessed to have a family that doesn’t take life too seriously and I feel TONS better about myself and life after I get together with them. K – That didn’t come out exactly like I wanted but you get the picture. My stomach seriously hurt the next morning from laughing all night. We had an impromptu jam session to start the night off – another reason I’m blessed (some may say cursed rather than blessed) is that so many people in my family share a passion for music. From the time I was in diapers (no Dave/Tim/Joel it wasn’t last week) I remember music always being around my family. We played a few songs, had a few laughs, then the DJ started. The Horazuk gang sang Sweet Caroline (or something like it) in a key that had never been heard by human ears before. Way to go guys! Then we danced all night....waltz, polka’s, Texas two-stepping…and whatever it is that Cori and Lauren do (j/k girls). Alex was break dancing and doing the worm....he and I get bored at home way to often. I think the highlight for me was watching uncle Jer get up on the chair and dance to “I’m too Sexy for my shirt”. HA – and we got Jo out there for “I knew the bride when she use to rock n’ roll”. The night went by WAY too fast and soon, we had to say goodnight but not without dancing to what many describe us as…. B*A*N*N*N*A*N*S

Jerry and Jo have been such wonderful people to so many. I don’t even know where to begin when talking about how much the mean to me. They’ve picked me up so many times when I needed it and I could NEVER express how grateful and blessed I feel to have them in my life. They’ve always opened their home to whoever needed shelter, generous beyond belief, never took life too seriously, and always more concerned with everyone else then themselves. Jerry mentioned that JoEllen just always let him be himself in their marriage and I think that is what makes them such a special couple. On my way back to MD, I thought a lot about their marriage and all the years and what makes them work. I think what makes them such a great couple is that they are to each other what each one lacks. I hate quoting sappy movie lines… but they really do complete each other. Neither tried to change the other….they just lived.

I miss you guys more than you know and I just wanted (one more time) to say congratulations Jerry and JoEllen and here’s to many more years. Just please – no more reproducing. The world can’t handle another Tim, Dave and Joel!

Entrepreneur

Meet the next contestant for the Apprentice television show. Future entrepreneur Mr. Alex thought he could earn some side cash by selling sticks of gum for $2.00/pieces. I'm forcing him to give the money that he received back to the kids and according to him, some of the children had to write an IOU to him because they wanted a stick of gum. He is also forgetting those debters. I'm going to stop complaining about gas prices because if Alex were in charge, we might all be paying $20/gal.

God's Vision Through The Words of A Child

I had scheduled a portrait session for Alex and me at Estelle’s photography on Sunday. She was doing a mother’s day special and I had not had my portrait taken with Alex since he was two months old.

Well, his dad called on Thursday to say that he was heading back to the cities for work which means he won’t be able to see Alex as much so he was wondering if Alex could come down on Saturday. I agreed to it but explained to him that I would be picking Alex up pretty early Sunday morning since we had these pictures scheduled. I used to cry my eyes out when his dad would call because it was terribly difficult to be away from him for twenty-four hours, but to be honest; the break is sort of welcomed now. I knew I was ready for a bit of a break a few weeks ago when Alex was brushing his teeth in the bathroom and I barged in and stepped on the scale to weight myself. He (very innocently I understand) looked over and screamed “holly cow mom – you weigh like 1000lbs”. I just smiled and walked out of the bathroom but thought to myself “I wonder when your dad is going to call”.

Anyway – Sunday morning came and I picked him up at his dad’s and was surprised – no….more like horrified to see that his dad buzzed his hair. It wasn’t even a good buzz cut since he left the top all shaggy. It sort of resembles a really bad mohawk cut (as opposed to a really good mohawk cut?). I was disappointed because I wanted to pictures to turn out perfect. When I received the proofs, I was impressed with the quality of pictures she took but was bummed because the picture I liked the most had an imperfection – a shinning light in the background. However, I figured that I would just call her and see if she couldn’t remove the light.

As Alex and I were looking at them, he pointed to that picture and said “look at that light mom”. I responded with my snooty disappointed look and said “I know….I wish that light wasn’t there” He looked at me and said “maybe it’s God or something”. I smiled but had to walk away because his wisdom and insight made me feel inches high. First I was worried about a silly haircut on him and then I was so shallow that I looked right past the beauty of this picture and focused on the imperfection. It suppose to be my job as a mother to teach my child life lessons to prepare him for adulthood, but I think he teaches me more then I do for him. For the next few minutes I just sat there and cried and decided to order the picture with the light shinning through without changing a thing to it. .

I hope that someday I can see people and imperfections the way he does – through God’s eyes.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

I was hoping to get some sleep tonight, but no can do. I'm convinced that I'm on my way to spinsterhood for sure now. TBS plays the syndicated "Friends" episodes and I don't know if any of my blogging buds remember the old man who lived below Monica and Rachel's apartment (the one who would tap on the roof with his broom). Well, I'm pretty sure I"m slowing becoming that old man. I living in a duplex and there are two guys who live in the apartment above me and I have the bottom two floors. Last week I had the flu bug and was so unbelievably crabby and usually the guys upstairs are soooo quiet, but that night I could hear everything. Anyway, I actually grabbed my slippers, threw on my bathrobe, and tapped on their ceiling with my broom handle!! I don't know what possessed me to do it....it just seemed like a logic move at the time. The next morning I was feeling healthier, but very embarrassed.

Tonight I was trying to read and I don't know what they were doing up there but as much noise as they were making, I can only assume they were square dancing or bowling. Anyway, I grumbled to myself "those kids are always making so much racket". The minute the words came out of my mouth, I forced myself to watch MTV for 30 minutes. UG! I'm sure glad that Alex will build an extra wing to his house someday so I can live with him and his future wife and kids. Yep, I'm either going to be the old man from Friends or the mother from Everyone Loves Raymond!

REAL MUMS

I’ve been tagged by Aisha so here we go! These are my thoughts on being a real mum. They may not all apply to you, but they pretty much describe me. (Please don’t call social services after reading my list)

Real Mums…..

Are more concerned with building a “home” rather than having a “house” for her child

Can no longer remember what color her refrigerator is because it’s plastered with her child’s artwork

Are okay with hearing “I want to live with my daddy” because it just affirms she’s doing her job disciplining and creating boundaries for her child

Don't understand the concept behind dry-clean only baby cloths - or children's cloths for that matter

Will read “Walter the Farting Dog” just ONE more before shutting off the lights because she loves to hear her child giggle

Have DRAGGED her KICKING AND SCREAMING child out of a store before because he/she really didn’t need another toy or a candy bar

Have purchased a toy or a candy bar for her child while shopping because her back still hurts from the week before when she dragged her child kicking and screaming child from the store

Finds a bowl of cereal and yogurt a perfectly suitable meal for supper

Keep deodorant in her car because she sometimes forgets to put some on before leaving the house.

Has had co-workers point out that she has spit-up on her blouse because she was completely oblivious to it

Sold a box of parenting books written by “EXPERTS” on EBay for $20 because they’re a load of CRAP

And finally…

REAL mums sometime wonder what it would be like if she weren’t a mum, but WOULD NOT trade being a mum for the world

Happy Easter?

Well, it was a very happy Easter, just not a very healthy one. Alex was feeling great on Saturday! My girlfriend Stacey and her two younger boys, Jasper and Jonah, drove to our house Saturday afternoon and the boys played for a couple of hours before coloring Easter eggs. They somehow managed to rearrange the furniture in Alex’s room without Stac and I hearing them in the next room. According to the ring leader - AKA Alex M. Lindner - they were attempting to reach the toys that were in storage by moving the dresser to the wall, then moving the bed to the dresser so they could climb aboard. (I’m still puzzled to how they moved all of his furniture….do they have Jedi powers?) The youngest one took at nose dive to the floor before we figured out what was going on in the other room! It's so much fun having them around though! Jasper and Alex get along wonderfully and Jonah...well Jonah just cracks me up! Nothing really bothers this kid too much and he definatly gives his mom and dad a run for their money. He's very lucky to have two great parents! Then on Sunday morning, Alex woke up aboutt 6:00 with a headache. I was in complete denial that he could be sick on a holiday were my dad was going to take us out for brunch. Unless we head to Minneapolis, I end up cooking for my family and I hate cooking so I was thinking that his little headache must pass. WRONG ~ he started vomiting which induces me to vomit…ug! I think I’m missing that gene that mother’s are suppose to have that enables them to swoop in and clean vomit while comforting their young ones at the same time. Whenever Alex gets sick, I spend a ridiculous amount of time contemplating on the serious health risk of just covering the vomit up with a newspaper rather than cleaning it up because I knew that I too will soon be kissing the porcelain. Anyway (TMO) I defiantly knew we were going nowhere today when he walked right past his Easter basket on his way back to bed and just said “look mom” in the most pitiful voice. So dad still came down to Madison, but we just had a small brunch at my place. We watched Easter service on cable television and Alex and I curled up in a blanket for most of the day. My dad brought down three of my guitars and serenaded us for awhile. I have so many wonderful childhood memories of listening to my dad play guitar and it makes me so happy when Alex experiences my dad’s talents as well.

So we watched Charlotte’s Web this afternoon and read a book titled “God’s Love at Easter” both of which were in his Easter basket. I loved the book “Charlotte’s Web” and thought the movie was super cute. Best line from the movie was when the horse sticks his neck outside and says “WHAT THE HAY”! HA – cracks me up.

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful and happy Easter!!!

Left foot....left?

Yes, he inherited my gracefulness! I receive and email from Alex’s kindergarten teacher saying that he had a mark on his forehead from an accident earlier that day. I’m thinking that it’s a little scratch but nope – he has a big ole egg on his forehead. I asked him how it happened and he said that he was running at recess and tripped over Hannah. You tripped over Hannah? I understand tripping over a kindergartener if you’re like 7 feet tall….but when your only four feet from the ground yourself, how do you trip over a body laying on the ground? YEP – defiantly my son!

Later that night we went to the community center for their underwater Easter egg hunt. Alex had a lot of fun swimming around collecting eggs. The kids received cute little goodie bags that included hats, pencils, stickers, and candy after they were finished. Here are a few pictures from our night. When I was putting him to bed tonight, I asked him if he knew why I loved him. He looked at me and said “because I’m smart, funny, nice, cute, snuggly, I have a nice smile, I listen, I clean my room”….he mentioned a few more other items of admiration but I think we’ll stop there. I think he feels pretty good about himself and confident in the reasons he is loved. And I was worried he would say no, why you love me?

Mini-Me

Nope – no DNA test needed to tell Alex is my son (and his grandfather’s grandson for that matter). He crawls in bed with me at 6:00 this morning and was in such a chatty mood. He covered just about everything in his 6-year-old world. We talked about school, anticipation for Easter to arrive, to how he thinks he’s ready for a new bike. My first thought was, hmm, maybe I should start him with a blog so he has somewhere to vent all of these opinions/musings. He goes on to tell me about his weekend with his dad and how it is “funner” with his cousin Trinity there. I tell him that “funner” is not a word and he should instead say that it is more fun with Trinity there. Rather than just taking my wisdom and adhering to my knowledge of the English language he argues with me!!!! Mrs. Lee says it’s a word….I’ve ALWAYS used that word…..It’s in the dictionary…..this little argument went of for about five minutes until I realized that it’s 6:00a.m. and I’m arguing with my 6-year-old son regarding the fictional word “funner”!

So why is the post titled mini-me? I had to laugh when driving to work this morning because I could think of so many times where I knew I was wrong but had to find some way to justify my train of thought. I totally get this from my dad! We’ll admit when we’re wrong, but will usually follow it with some far fetched reasoning. For example, the “funner” conversation would have ended by Alex explaining that “funner” is slang and if 24/7 could be added to the Webster’s dictionary, then why not “funner” (I’m not saying this is so, I’m just making a point to our arrogance) He destined for a life in politics or law…..whatever it is, it’s certainly not a grammar teacher.