How to Love

We were having dinner at a local Mexican cantina that we found The Boy, Teen 2, hubby, and I.

The Boy is a restless eater.
He can never sit still.
At home, he leans back on the chairs lays down,
rolls around in the chairs
slips out from under the dining table to fetch a glass of this or that

At the restaurant, he finishes a portion of his taco plate
stands up and makes his way over to me

I look at his little face thats growing and changing
I stare into his warewolf eyeballs that change colors
I admire the little freckles across the bridge of his nose and upper cheeks

I look at his face, pull him in close to me and say "I love you son"
He looks at me, smiles, then turns away.

Son, I love you. I repeat.
He gives me that one raised eyebrow crooked face.

Tell me, you love me. I plea.
I look at his dad with that "you better make him tell me he loves me" face.
Hubby nudges the boy, tell your mom. iloveyou.

he quickly says without looking at me.
Sheesh, who taught you how to love, your dad? I ask.
With a straight face, he looks at me and replies- Little Wayne.

Moments of Serenity

I despise homework

My fourth grade teacher helped to solidify my disdain
I already had a dislike for it
Mr. O’Mally didn’t believe in it. Period.
He told us so
In fourth grade
My little brain attached to that concept
He was smart, he was a teacher
He dressed up as a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day for goodness sake
He taught us how to construct wooden napkin holders with real saws and workhorses
He taught us how to build rockets that actually flew through the air
From that year on, I didn’t believe in homework either


As life would have it, I would end up with 3 kids of my own
3 kids that would obviously go to school
3 kids that would have homework
The thought of their homework makes me irritable
I try, they try
I get frustrated, they get frustrated
I explain, they roll their eyes
I instruct, they complain

I curse you Mr. O'Mally *shakes fist in the air*

Thankfully the teenagers are in high school
and I’m pretty clueless so they hardly ask for help
The Boy has started doing his homework at daycare

Wheh…

Until yesterday,
Teen 2 was at the dining room table working on her homework when I stepped foot in the door
The Boy had completed some pages at school,
but I told him to sit down and study his spelling words and math
Teen 1 must’ve felt the homework bug in the air and came out of her cave bedroom
to inform me that she needed help with her school assignment, a resume
So here they are, all 3 of them
At the table, looking at me for guidance to do their homework

I tried to remain calm

The Boy complained that I didn’t pronounce the word “hand” correctly as I quizzed him.
Mom, You said had, you tricked me
Seriously, kid? H A N D …geez!!

Teen 1 tried to reel me in,
Mom, I want to be a photographer because they I won't have a boss
You’re gonna be 18 in how many days? I’m thinking
The thought of her being an adults absolutely terrifies me.
I inform her, that she will indeed have a boss
and her customers will most certainly be in that category
Teen 2 and The Boy push each other’s papers at each other
Sighing and glaring at each other with irritation.

The Hubs knowing to stay clear of the warzone and offers to cut up ingredients for dinner

But for just a minute, one solitary moment
There it was
Peace
As they all followed directions
As they all sat there doing their homework
Teen 1 asking and accepting my answers
The Boy re-writing words that he needed to study
And Teen 2, just knowing what to do
Relief

I exhaled, serenity, I thought to myself

MOM!!!!!

Even if just for a moment…



http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com/

Akward Family photos part deuce

remember when i was so worried about taking family photos?

If not, read here.

It turned out that there was no need to be nervous,

Jack was amazing as usual, this kid has a true gift.

Check out his blog when you get a chance.

We were absolutely ecstatic when we received the cd,

we popped it in the player

and we were all happy with the way we were captured

The portraits of the kids were true to their beings,

the way The Teenagers look at The Boy is pretty typical
and I loved it

Teen 2 hates to be hugged and loved,

this was perfect...

We even got a few of ourselves that we loved

Then these started to roll through the playlist

awww, how cute, we thought

until we looked closer at the boy's face -

the cheesy smile

and what's with the hands?

obviously this kid is just too cool,

and we just had no idea...

lean back

seriously? akward...

http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com/

Family Photos

I’m so excited,
I finally booked a family portrait session
With the great Jack Rodriguez.

He’s taken pictures of my sisters family for the past couple years
And he is amazing.
(it helps that they’re all so darned cute!)

So I finally quit procrastinating and booked a date.

Of course, as soon as I did that I started to worry that my pictures wouldn’t come out so great. I started googling ways to pose.
It’s amazing the tricks that are out there.
Don’t look straight at the camera.
Turn to the side a bit, shoulder facing the camera.
Watch for double chin.
Don’t leave your arms against your body, it flattens them out and makes them look bigger.
Seriously, I’ve been doing this stuff for the past 30 years, why is it now that I’m just googling it?!!

Then there’s the location. I want to capture the kids personalities as they are now.
Where could this magical place be?

How about the clothing?!
We don’t want to be too matchy matchy,
but we also don’t want to look like a circus with 100 different colors and styles going on.

or like these folks...

You have to plan so much to look “natural”!
I mean I don’t want to come out looking like this...

Suspicious Minds Seriously, you have to check out this website.

I couldn't stop laughing.

Oh wait, I hope I don't turn up on here one day...hide the headshots!!
www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com

'Cause Girl You're Amazing...just the way you are...

Oh her eyes, her eyes

Make the stars look like they're not shining

Her hair, her hair

Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful

And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know

When I compliment her

She wont believe me And its so,

its so

Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay

I say

When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile,

The whole world stops and stares for awhile

To my baby girls,
Gorgeous sisters and sister in laws,
My Mamas (yes all y’all),
Grandmas (here & gone),

aunties, cousins, friends,

and beautiful little nieces

Girls you're amazing

Just the way you are

http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com/

I hate it when Monday…

I hate it when I haven’t blogged in so long,

I feel like nothing is good enough to be the beginner blog,

something to reel my readers back in.

Oh faithful followers, thanks for staying tuned in.

I hate it when I realize that Real whipped cream is ONLY 15 calories a serving. Seriously, 15 calories. I’ve been saying no whipped for all these years over 15 measly calories!! Bring it on!!

I hate it when exercise feels good while you’re doing it,
however the pain suddenly onsets within minutes of stopping.
I did a 5 minute training/try out with the new Reebok Traintone shoes.
They feel amazing when you’re wearing them,
(and I wouldn't mind having an ass like that)
but afterward,
holy cow!
I couldn’t sit, stand up, walk up or down the stairs,
I could hardly reposition my legs in the middle of the night…
I’m well into 24 hrs afterward and I’m still feeling the burn!
Now hubby, don’t get me wrong, I still want a pair *wink*wink*

I hate it when you take the kids shopping and you tell them, ok THIS IS IT!
This is the LAST thing you’re getting for weeks you spoiled little (so maybe I just thought that)
But then the next store you go to has a really GOOD deal,

or you remember that they did actually need that one thing.
Then you gotta say it again…Ok, that’s it, this is the last thing!
Not such a great lasting impression…uggghhh…

I hate it when you have a great tried and true recipe for something
but decide to try a new recipe anyway
I've been working on cooking more during the week,
which is hard to do after getting home from work,
cleaning up, homework, etc.etc..
But I actually cooked Mon-Thurs night last week.
One night I was craving meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Hubby was a bit leary, but I promised it would be good.
After all, I grew up on meat loaf, I know what I'm doing, I explain
Why, oh why didn't I use Grandma Long's recipe?!
I admit, I made a mistake trying to take on a different family's recipe.


I hate it when you have talks with the teenagers about hard to talk about stuff
I hate the anxiety,
I hate having to come up with the right words
At the right time
Without trying to make it seem like you’re trying to have “the Talk”
Teenage girls…why couldn’t you just stay toddlers FOREVER…
I wouldn’t mind talking about Cookie Monster, shapes, and colors for the rest of your life.

And I especially hate when I realize my baby boy is trying to impress little girls!
The Boy and I were riding our bikes home from the park yesterday,
this Boy was going full speed,
I had a hard time keeping up (especially after the damn Reebok training)
that was until he saw the little girl sitting on her skateboard,
(I think that alone was enough to make his heart skip a beat)
He built up enough speed,
took his feet off of his pedals,
and balanced himself on his rear pegs as he rode past her….
All I could do was smile, showoff!

http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com/

If You Give The Boy a Water Balloon

He'll want you to throw it at him.

And if you have an arm like mine,

you'll miss and it'll pop on the grass.

He'll be sad and you'll promise to soak him with water on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning will come, but you won't want to put clothes on to go in the front yard.

You'll send The Teenager in the front yard with The Boy

and instruct her to soak him with the water hose at 9:30.

You'll take The Boy to Target later that day and come accross more waterballoons.

You'll make more empty promises to have a water fight with him later that day.

It's Saturday, so you'll have to take him to a birthday party and by the time you get home,

you'll be too tired.

He'll talk you into calling his Auntie to tell her a story about a "special girl" he saw at Target

and explain to his Auntie that she needs to go to Target to teach her sign language.

Amidst the conversation, he'll invite her over for a Water Fight Party.

He'll then invite one cousin,

then another,

then his uncle,

he'll invite his grandma.

He'll set up a time for the party- After lunch he'll tell them.

They'll all ask him what his mommy is making for lunch.

After lunch, you'll try to explain!

Sunday morning, you'll buy MORE water balloons.

You'll text more cousins to let them know of the impending party.

You'll go from store to store to find a Slip N Slide at the end of August.

You'll have to talk your hubby out of buying the Giant Kingpin chair at Big 5.

Yes, you know it's cool, but it's $100 you exclaim!

One balloon

turns into buckets of balloons

Buckets of balloons turn into sleds full of balloons

AND water guns for all

Balloons and water guns

turn into slip n sliding on a hot August Summer day.

Freinds and neighbors join in on the fun.

Food is grilled and eaten because you know-

you simply can't have a party without food

Cousins get wet and messy,

they chill out and dry on a "Magic Carpet"

One balloon will turn into a lifetime of memories.

http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot.com/

Mostly Wordless Wednesday...Zoolander

I packed a bunch of sandwiches in the cooler

and loaded the family up in the car

for a trip to the famous LA Zoo

(and could you believe ALL the kids were excited to go?!)

Flamingos are always the first thing you see
A real life dragon, better watch your toes, heard they eat 'em
Gorilla steps

This was magical

The whole gorilla family past by one by one

then the big Daddy of the family planted himself in the middle of the grounds

looked like he was there for protection

just amazing

Zebras, of course

Cute safari outfit

Do you know their tongues grow up to 18 inches long?

Pictures through the gates are hard to see,

so here's the sign

Inspired my monkeys to take care of each other

Nice view...

Because you don't get to climb on top of a gorilla often Monkey- see

http://www.daysoffivelives.blogspot/