Catching up

So we've had a busy few days. Let's start with the bad news and work our way to the good. 

Last night Bud was playing tag at the park and turned to run away and smacked right into a pole! He turned ash white and started to vomit. Awesome. He has a grade 2 concussion. He's doing ok but I have to keep a close watch on him. I had to wake him up every two hours to make sure he was responsive (he was) and we are keeping a cold compress on the bump which has really helped the swelling. Hopefully he doesn't show any symptoms in the next 7 days. 

Let's not dwell and make me freak out that my 6 year old has a concussion, shall we move on?

Moving chronologically, I got my grade in my Shakespeare class yesterday. I got an A-!! Look...

For real, that's MY grade! In Shakespeare. Whoa!

Now to a real scary fun topic! Babe is officially done with nursery school! How is that even possible? She can (mostly) write her name and can do all the skills she should be doing and now she's ready to move on to pre-k in the fall. Holy crap! She had an end-of-year program this past weekend where she looked way older than she should. 

She has the best little smiles

Where'd my little girl go?

She's so beautiful...if I do say so myself

The program was the typical mix of adorable and painful, but there were some moments that stole the show.

The moment she spotted us in the crowd. 

She was soooo excited that we were front and center!

Anyone familiar with the song Tooty-Ta? Hilarious!

Possibly my favorite picture. 

(The little boy is our family friend .)

That little smile!

She looks just like my sister-in-law in this picture. That's a very good thing! :-)

Lily

It's time

I've been wanting to say something for a while. I even have this really gut-wrenching unpublished post written in which I go on and on about how hard of a decision this has been and how I'm constantly doubting my decision because I don't want to tear our family apart. But recent events, better left unsaid here, have forced me to change my outlook on the situation. All doubt has vanished. I am getting divorced.

It still sucks, very very much sucks, but I believe in signs, little ways for God, or the universe, or whatever deity you believe in, to show you that you are making the right decision. I have made the right decision. It is time to move forward. It is not going to be easy. I'm scared out of my mind for what lies ahead. But - it is right. We are toxic for each other. We both deserve better. I cannot forget the past and so I will learn from it. 

The most important thing is that we work together - which will be hard since it's something we weren't able to do as husband and wife, but we have to - to ensure that the kids have the best life possible. We have to put aside our hurt, our resentment, our anger, grief, sorrow, pain, frustration, all of it needs to be put aside so that we can ensure our kids are happy and healthy and well cared for. I want our kids to see that sometimes things don't work out the way you expect, but you make the best of the situation and you move forward, always learning from the past so that you can make better decisions in the future. 

We failed. As husband and wife we failed each other. But it's an opportunity to show our kids that failure is not the end. It's a chance to reset, to start a different path, a brighter path and this time with road signs(!), with experience guiding you in a better direction and allowing you to navigate smarter. 

As much as I wish we could remain a family, I know this is right. We are getting divorced.

Lily

Words make it all worth it

I didn't get breakfast in bed. I didn't get jewelry or clothes. I got something a whole lot better...

From Bud:

1. Mom is really fun

2. Mom is thoughtful

3. Mom is very funny

4. Mom is very nice

5. Mom is very strong

6. Mom is very fast

7. Mom is very smart

8. Mom forgets a lot
(Thanks Bud. He giggled when I read this one. He loved that he could tease me with it)

9. Mom is pretty
(Awww, that's so much better then the time he told me my boobs look weird)

10. Mom loves a lot of people

(Especially a certain little boy and his sister)

The best thing about Mom is she makes me feel better when I am sad. She likes to help us when we need help. Her favorite foods are chili and...

stir fry. Mom knows a lot about reading books. I wish she didn't have to cook so much. (clearly I have not hidden the fact that I hate making dinner) I love when we go to the park.

From Babe:

Yes Babe, I am 5...don't ever forget that!

I do love blue!

Clearly I love chili...too bad they hate it!

Can you guess Babe's favorite song for me to sing to her? (It says Twinkle, Twinkle in case you can't read the teacher's cramped writing)

I do so very much love the restaurant la Iguana! I'm glad she knows it! :-)

She's a fun game player

How can I argue with that? :-)

Bud insisted on calling me "Mother" the entire day. I told him he didn't have to call me Mother just because it was Mother's Day but he informed me that: "I have to! It wouldn't be polite if I didn't!" Well, how could I argue with that! So "Mother" it was...all day! 

The weather left a little to be desired yesterday but that didn't stop us from taking a bike ride to the park and it was the perfect excuse to snuggle on the couch and watch the Rangers win game 6 to force a game 7 watch cartoons until Babe fell asleep leaning up against me. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day!

Lily

Dirty Girl 2013

Before this weekend I'd never imagined it was possible to get mud in the places I had mud. Let's just say I'm no longer going to complain when I go to the beach and get sand in my bathing suit. But dear lord it was worth it!! 

My friends and I participated in the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Scranton, PA this weekend. If you ever get the chance...DO IT!!! You will not be sorry. 

Words don't really do the experience justice, so I'll leave it to the pictures.

We started out looking like this...

and this

So clean!

 (Smidge)        (Jamalee)

                                                               

But we quickly got to the mud!

Dance party in the woods!! Because...why not?

Jamalee's face (the one in the back) capture's her feeling about the net climb absolutely perfectly!

Made it!

Preparing for the slide

It's at this moment that I realize...Oh CRAP!

But it was WORTH it!!

Her expressions are priceless!

Not sure who did it wrong, me and Jamalee, or Smidge and her sisters. 

(I think me and J got it right)

Almost to the end

One more mud pit before the finish line...and a little extra mud for Smidge's face

I love these ladies!

Babe thought she wanted a kiss

Bud was too smart for that!

They had no idea how close they were to being DIRTY! :-)

Fun!

Still fun

Awww yeeeeaaaahhhhhh!!!!

I tried getting video to embed but it doesn't seem to be working so I'm going to ask you to click these link (GASP! I know it's difficult but it's fun, I promise)

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

So as you can see it was an AMAZING experience and one that I can't wait to do again! Once we were done they had a tent with garden hoses (freezing cold garden hoses) to wash off. It was like a locker room on steroids. (I've seen things I can't unsee. **Shudder**) So we all did the best we could to get as much mud off as possible and change into clothes that didn't have 3 inches of mud on them. However, I still had to contend with actually cleaning all of my stuff once I got home.

My bathtub took a beating!

I can't believe how "clean" I was able to get them!

My shirt is now a nice gray color (sorry, I didn't get a post-wash picture) but it was ALL worth it!! 

And while I was busy rinsing out my clothes someone found my iPod and had a little fun

Lily

Overheard conversations - Bud and babe style

I put the kids to bed last night but neither of them was interested in actually going to bed. I was in my room and I was certain I'd have many visits by each of them. I heard Babe's door open, and Bud must have been standing at his door too. The following is the conversation I overheard:

Babe: Bud, I'm not going to hug you or kiss you, I'm just going to sleep in your bed!

Bud: That's ok Babe. Did you turn off Anastasia?
(meaning her movie playing on her tv - yes my 3 yr old has a tv in her room...I'll do ANYTHING to get that child to stay in her room and sleep. Take your judgement elsewhere or I'll send her to your house to sleep.)

Babe: Oh, thanks Bud!! ... Ok, I turned it off!

Bud: Well get in here then!!

I didn't hear a peep out of them for the rest of the night! I love those two! They may sound like an old married couple but I wouldn't trade their friendship for anything although if it would mean Babe would sleep better I might reconsider my position! 

Lily

My boy has become a man

I am pleased to announce that my son has achieved a crucial life achievement.

[Insert fanfare and trumpets here] 

He can officially ride his bike without training wheels! 

There was a lot of blood (his), sweat (most definitely mine), and tears (him), but he finally did it! Let’s just say he started off hesitant (“Don’t you dare let go of me, Mom!!!”) but finished with style (“Mom! Look! I can do tricks! See how I wiggle my handlebars but I don’t fall down!”)

A boy and his bike. 

It’s a beautiful thing.

And just because...

I couldn't let the kids have ALL the fun. 

(Yeah, my kids are going to hate me when they are teenagers)

Lily

Emotional Turmoil With Benefits

Some people bake. Some people drink. Apparently emotional turmoil makes me crafty. Who knew! 

This weekend I made myself a dress out of an old men's XXL polo shirt. Besides being too tight and a little too short for my 30 year old body I'm pretty happy with the way it came out!

I started with a super big polo...

and flipped it inside out and took the sleeves off using a seam ripper (look at me using technical terms!)

Then I used one of my shirts as a template to mark where I wanted to sew my new seam. I marked it using chalk (thanks Babe for letting me use your chalk when my fabric marker quit on me!) and then cut the shirt just outside the chalk line so I had room to sew.

Then I got out my trusty sewing machine (which I'm finally learning out to use without the help of other people! YAY!) and stiched up the sides. Then, after realizing I should have done the armholes first, I struggled to sew down the rough edges of the sleeves. I did it the hard way but it worked and now I know for next time!

And VOILA! An actual dress!

(Forgive the terrible quality of pictures. Apparently emotional turmoil makes me crafty, not technical.)

With a belt and a smirk

With a different belt and a bigger smirk

So I went from a huge polo to an itty bitty dress! I'm just as shocked as you guys are!

It's a little short for me so I have plans to extend it somehow, either with added material to the bottom, or perhaps I'll get really daring and add material to the MIDDLE! Whoa, I better take it easy! Next thing you know I'll take up weaving and start making poncho's for everyone!


                                        
                                                                      via

I dream big my friends. I dream big.

Lily

An egg-cellent time was had by all at this egg-pic egg-stravaganza!

I’m a little late and I don’t have an excuse but rather than forgetting about it (like normal) I’m posting about it today. (Thanks for the push Sarah!)

A few weekends ago it was our annual EGG-stravaganza!! For any of you that are not familiar with the weekend, it is the weekend we get together to do Ukrainian Easter Eggs (UEE)!! For a full-detailed, non-lazy description please see here. You won’t be sorry, go on, click and enjoy. I’ll wait here.)

So this year was equally as fun! It involved sleep overs and we had a first timer over here! It was fabulous!

Now, without further ado….The Eggs!

Wench's eggs
I had to put her's first since she got all artistic and staged a shot, unlike me...

For some reason paper towels just don't give the same look as a luxurious green scarf. **

(These are mine in case that wasn't clear.)

Some close ups of a select few 

Smidge's collection spanning a few years

(Smidge you get bonus points for the egg-cellent presentation!)

Jamalee's newest.
Look at that fish on the bottom middle! AWESOME!

A final compilation of eggs from me, Wench, and our first-timer who is sure to return based on her awesome house drawing skills!!

Even Bud got into the action (thanks for helping him FAS!)
Notice the bey blade sitting next to him...he just HAD to make a bey blade egg! 

Babe is a little young to be trusted on her own with hot metal, wax, and fire so I helped her with her egg.

I don't know if you can see it well (click for a larger picture) but I am wearing the most awesome ring to ever be worn at UEE! It's totally a UEE in ring form! Nothing better! Awww yeeeaaaaah!!!

And this is my most favorite creation from the weekend! It was Smidge's birthday a few weeks ago so we HAD to celebrate! And really, what better way then to have my favorite picture of her in edible icing on a pie!!

So to sum up, it was another EGG-cellent weekend and I'm already impatient for next year's event which promises to be EVEN better! (You will all just have to wait a year to find out why!)

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**I was really bad at taking pictures this year. I think I was so focused on egg production that’s what she said that I didn’t even stop to think about it. I had to beg pictures from everyone else just so I could post this!

Lily