Pride

We attended our first fire department banquet the other night.  I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a lot of fun.  The highlight of the night, of course, was Dave winning two awards.  

The first was for Most Active in Company Training.  

Then, much to both our surprise, Dave was given the Chief's Award for his help and assistance with firematic duties.  

The best part, though, came when the boys got home to see Daddy's awards.

Nate was so excited and in complete awe of Daddy's achievements.

He was so proud of his father and I loved seeing the gleam in his eye.

Of course within minutes, (as fully expected!) Nate asked if he could put these prized possessions on the collection shelf in his room.  

So Daddy obliged.  

As I left the room, I heard Nate whisper "I'm so proud of you, Daddy" as he kissed the plaque on the wall.  *sigh*  So precious.

Simple Woman's Day Book...January 4, 2010

Here's a new thing I thought I'd try out...from Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.  It's a list of questions to answer each Monday - a simple journal of sorts, I'd say. Here's my first stab at it...

FOR TODAY...January 4, 2010

Outside my window...the snow is flying, the wind is blowing, it's 15 degrees.


I am thinking...of having a bowl of Special K for an evening snack.


I am thankful for...the silence that takes over my house after the boys are asleep.


From the kitchen...a soft glow is pouring from the light above the sink, dirty dishes are calling, refrigerator is humming (hope that's not a problem!)


I am wearing...my comfy polka-dot pjs and fuzzy socks.

I am remembering...to pack a box of baby clothes I am sending off to a mother in need through Pass it On, Baby!.  I've been putting it off too long and can't forget to pack that stuff up so I can get it to the post office tomorrow and off to the woman who needs it more than I do!


I am creating...an idea in my head for how to make Dave's birthday special on Thursday.


I am going...to get the rest of this lingering laundry folded and put away before I head to bed.  I think I can, I think I can...


I am reading...blogs.  That's all I have time for these days.  Keeping up with those is enough pressure!


I am hoping...Nathaniel's mouthiness of late is a direct result of his being bored and off school the past few weeks.  He starts back tomorrow and I don't want him to be mouthy to the teachers the way he has been at home!


I am hearing...NOTHING.  Ahhh...it's so nice!

Pondering these words...We probably wouldn't worry about what people think about us if we could knew how seldom they do.   -Olin Miller   This was the quote of the day on our company's intranet and I really like them.  I am formulating a blog post around them...stay tuned.

Around the house...toys are strewn about in every nook and cranny, laundry needs folding, dishes need washing.

On my mind...so many things!  I want to get a hold of Steve to see when I might get my hard drive and iPhoto library back and running again.  It's stressing me out to have no recent photos to easily access and piles (literally!) of memory cards backing up on me that need to be uploaded.  My photo a day blog is behind again and I have so many blog ideas floating around in my head that need pictures to supplement them.  Not to mention all the weekly "contests" (I heart Faces, You Capture) I am missing!!!

Noticing that...typing the paragraph above gave me a headache.  I need to take Nathaniel's advice and "Just breathe in, Honey".


One of my favorite things...these pjs and fuzzy socks.  (Ok, so that's two...it's late!)


A few plans for the rest of the week:  Celebrating Dave's birthday on Thursday, getting Nate back into the swing of school, holiday party for work that I need to find a babysitter for, craft project for Nate


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It's not often that I have (let alone SHARE) a photo of my husband and I but this one was taken during our weekend at camp for opening day of hunting season and I quite like it.  So, in honor of his 46th birthday on Thursday (the 7th) and our 4th anniversary this past New Year's Eve...I love you, Babe!

Father

As Father's Day approaches, I thought it would be nice to post a tribute (albeit brief) to the Father of the two most important people in my life.  My husband, Dave. 

When we got together, Dave already had two boys in their early teens and I think the idea of having more kids was WAY down on his list of priorities.  He kept saying that if that was what I needed to make me happy then he was game.  Whatever I wanted.  But it always felt like something I was pushing on him.  A burden he was willing to take on to give me what I had always dreamed of...a family!  

Why am I saying this now, at Father's Day?  Of course it doesn't sound the most endearing, but the truth is, when Nathaniel was born, I never once got this impression from him again.  He and Nathaniel were almost instant buddies.  From the very beginning they bonded and were inseparable.  It doesn't hurt that I went back to work when Nathaniel was 10 weeks old and Dave stayed home with him during the day.  When I got home from work he'd eat dinner with us and then hit the hay for a couple of hours of sleep before he went in at midnight to work a shift he had switched to (from his nice "comfy" day shift he'd worked almost 20 years to earn) just so Nathaniel wouldn't have to be raised by strangers.  He got very little sleep that first year or so until he switched to an equally difficult evening shift that allowed for more Zzzz's but took him away from us at night while still giving him the opportunity to be home with Nathaniel during the day.  I think the time they spent together all day long has been instrumental in their bonding and it's super sweet.  

Enter Alex. 

Taking on another child was not something Dave had wanted at first.  In fact, I had sold and donated all of our baby stuff after being told, in no uncertain terms, that we would NOT be adding on to our brood.  Obviously the idea of a new soft sweet face to nuzzle got the better of him and before we knew it our family of three had expanded to four.  And he wouldn't want it any other way.  It was a much more difficult task to take on but he has done so with minimal complaining on his part.  

Dave is a fantastic father.  He loves his boys so deeply and would give anything for them.  I love the way he lights up when he's rehashing one of Nate's funny stories or how he calls me at work to tell me something amazing that Alex just accomplished.  He's not afraid to praise a successful potty stop or fix a hopelessly broken train for the 15th time.  He teaches Nate how to fix a turkey and takes both boys for rides on the lawnmower.  

Dave cooks fantastic meals for our family, gives Nate his haircuts once every few months, he cleans spit up, poop, and spilled milk and kisses more than his share of boo boos in the course of a day.  I love that I don't have to fill him in on the kids' napping schedule or remind him of what they like to eat before I run out.  He doesn't have to call me to ask what Nate's trying to say or why Alex won't stop crying and what he should do about it.  He knows his kids, he knows what they like, what works, what they eat and don't eat.  I love that about him.    

Of course there are times when I want to poke his eyes out for teaching Nathaniel how to fart or fake box or when he drops an f-bomb like it's nothing and forgets their impressionable ears.  It drives me nuts that he lets them watch TV way more than I wish they did or that he doesn't see what's wrong with giving them pop tarts for breakfast every other morning.  But I wouldn't trade him for the world!  He is doing a fantastic job helping me raise our boys to be good people.  I couldn't do it without him!  We love you, Daddy!! 

Hi, My Name is...

I realize those of you reading this already know who I am, or you wouldn't be "following" me, but I still feel like I should introduce myself for any other unlucky fool who stumbles in to check me out.  

So, please allow me to go on for a minute about that which makes my grey skies blue - My boys.

  

There are many of them.  5 of them, to be exact.  Starting with my husband, Dave.  He is my reason, my level head, my grounding when I'm stuck in dreamland, being unrealistic with my head in the clouds.  He's cranky, cynical, pessimistic, and tough as nails on the outside.  But I see another side of him that the rest of the world isn't allowed to see.  I see the side that turns into a goofball when wrestling with our 3-year-old on the floor.  The side that handles pee and poop and spit-up better than any nanny or grandmother ever could for 8-hours a day (with minor complaints) and then heads off to work another 8 hours dealing with other people's drama and emergencies in a high stress environment...all because "it's what is best for our family".  

Then there is Adam.  My 24-year-old step son.  He's a tough nut to crack but once you get through, he's just like his father.  A tough guy, generally misunderstood, struggling to find his place, but loving and giving.  He's a good kid who has paid his dues and is trying to learn from his mistakes (which is more than you can say for most people!).  

Nick is next in line - my 18-year-old step-son.  Nick is aloof, chatty, funny, and sweet.  He'd do anything for you (or at least tell you he couldn't do it as nicely as possible and then feel really guilty about it!).  I've spent a lot of late nights talking to him about music, girls and typical teenager stuff (which is much different than it was back in my day!).  We've watched trash TV together and made up spoofs about movies we've watched or turned two words into a new word (like Blog Groupie = Blogpie or if someone is happy and silly he'd say they're "Hilly") - it's goofy and juvenile but it makes me laugh.   I worry about Nick as he tries to figure out his path in life, but I know with time and some motivation, he'll do just fine.  He and his brother have just gone through firefighter academy and are full fledged members of the fire department.  It gives them both a healthy outlet and a real sense of belonging.  They have really flourished!  

On to my other two boys:  Nathaniel (Nate) and Alexander (Alex).  My heart and soul.  You'll hear a lot about them, I assure you! 

Nathaniel (a.k.a. Bug) is 3 (going on 20) and is the funniest, most energetic, and independent child you'll ever meet.  He has an imagination that can't be harnessed, an activity level that is hard to keep up with, and he is completely fearless.  There isn't anything he can't do, won't figure out with time, or hasn't at least tried (except vegetables, maybe!)!  He feels comfortable in a room full of strangers, has no shame about parading around in public wearing a cowboy outfit, a pirate hat, sunglasses, mardi gras beads, and carrying a fishing pole or purse (much to Dave's horror!), and he makes me laugh at least a hundred times a day.  I spend a good portion of every day looking for ghosts, hiding from monsters, or riding runaway horses in pursuit of the "mailmen" (or bad guys, as the rest of us call them!)  I consider myself very blessed.  Of course, with his energy and independence comes an inevitable stubborn side that leads to plenty of head butting but he helps to keep me honest, open minded, flexible, and patient!  

Alexander (a.k.a. Digger/Fuzz Bucket) is currently 6.5 months old.  He is my sunshine - happy no matter what.  He's an observant wall flower, happy to just sit back and quietly watch the world and then as soon as he catches someone's attention he lights up and starts flailing about in glee as if to say "They  noticed me!  Yeah!"  :)  He is already on the move and refuses to sit still for long.  Afterall, he can't observe the world very thoroughly while staying in one place!  He is desperately trying to keep up with his big brother and so far he's doing a great job!  My favorite part of Alex is by far his smile.  It lights up his whole face and makes me happy no matter what!  He thinks his brother is hilarious and his laugh is truly infectious.  I love to scoop him up and chase Nathaniel while we play "baby brother monster" - Nate runs to hide and Alex laughs uncontrollably.  It's great - I could watch him all day long and be happy. 

Anyway, I could go on and on about my boys.  As you can tell, they are my world.  I love them SO much!  Of course, I'm a bit outnumbered, but I wouldn't change a thing.  There's something to be said for being the lone girl - a queen among kings.  No on will ever steal my clothes, lose my jewelry, or fight for my shoes.  OK, so Nathaniel likes to wear my shoes, the boys will probably lose my jewelry someday, and they have both stained a shirt or two, but not in the same degree as if I had girls.  I'll take my boys any day.  

Welcome to my world.  I hope you have a strong stomach as we journey together for our world is a messy, dirty, gross, disgusting one (think bugs, worms, dirt, scraped knees, nose picking...all things BOY)!