Has It Been a Year Already?

This little guy came into our lives one year ago toady!! He has turned our lives upside down (in a good way). I cannot imagine loving a tiny human more than I do this little guy.We are so blessed to have him (and his parents) here. Watching him grow has been such a joy. I can't wait for every new day.

He has grown and changed so fast. It seems like every morning he looks a little different, a little bigger.

He has even had his first haircut...it was that or grandpa was wanting to take the clippers to it. 

He is sweet and smart. He loves to be held and played with. He will bring one of his three favorite books to you and expect you to read them to him until he is done. He loves "The Red Tractor", "How Do Dinosaurs Count To Ten" and "The Going To Bed Book". In the last couple of days he has started branching out a little and bringing me the "I Love You, Stinky Face" book too.

He will sit (or stand) still for a minute or two and watch some Curious George or Dragon Train. Mostly he likes to play with cars or balls or do anything outside. We haven't found a food he won't eat. Even the nasty meat-in-a-jar he gagged down. He LOVES mandarin oranges and black beans and especially toast. 

He is a joy to be around and I am so blessed to be his grandma!! Happy Birthday, buddy!!!

Wicked

For Mother's Day this year I have BOTH my kids here! I am so excited for that!! Last year they were both far away and it made for a long day indeed. 
Jo and I have wanted to see Wicked for a few years now but it never worked out....until.....

The touring production came to Omaha (again) and we got tickets!!! Kevin is taking Abby for their anniversary later this month so it was just Jo and me.

We were in the SECOND row!! Yep...only one row of seats and the orchestra pit stood between us and the stage. It was STUPENDOUS!! Sitting that close it was very easy to get lost in the beauty of it all. The costumes and sets were wonderful and the actors did a great job of pulling us in. It was magical.

It was so perfect that I probably won't ever see it again. If the second production isn't as good I'd feel bad and if it was better I'd feel worse. I will let this be perfect in my head forever. 

What an amazing evening!! Thanks Jo!!!

My Life Right Now

Let's face it, I'm not as young as I once was. I thank the heavens that I have been physically active for the last 5 years. Who knew it was training for this new gig of mine. I am a stay-at-home grandma. I feel so old at the end of the day. I do everything I can for the 5 other people that live in my house. I love them. I nurture them. And I wouldn't trade it. But man I am tired. When I read this poem by Annie Flavin I instantly felt connected. I only have one to chase and wrangle and love...but it feels big. I love what I do but by the end of the day....

Bitches Get Shit Done

by Annie Flavin

It’s 4pm, also known as

Mama’s So Tired and Kids Are Crazy o’clock.

I want nothing more than to hide on my couch

with the covers pulled tightly around me.

I want to close my eyes

and drift off

with no other human body

touching my own.

There will be none of that, though.

They are heckling me

with arguments over scraps of paper,

or garbage,

if you were the judge,

and complaining of

hunger and

weather and

clothes that are not just so.

Where is their mother?

Oh, that's right.

I rise up

even though I am

bedraggled,

befuddled and

so, so weary.

He won’t be home soon enough that I can coast.

The TV isn’t cutting it.

I channel

women who are not me;

wise, strong, capable, creative, nurturing

mothers

who push through difficult times and

get shit done.

I channel them,

I become them,

I am them.

I march into the kitchen,

I turn on music and

I find something, anything,

that looks suitable enough

to be called dinner.

They flock to me now:

do I sense a bewilderment in their eyes?

Mom is moving. Mom is happy.

“Mom, I’m a super hero! I save people from pirates!”

he yells as he zooms

around our tiny kitchen.

I am, too, I think to myself.

I get shit done.

Happy Mother's Day my friends. Mother's rock!!