We’re home and had a fabulous weekend. Fairly Odd Father had me fooled up until we pulled into the parking lot here. I doubt you want a play-by-play of our three days; suffice to say that I was scrubbed, buffed, moisturized and rubbed into pampered-momma bliss. He did good, my fabulous husband.
On Sunday, when we arrived to pick up the kids at my mom’s house, I was surprised by a group of close friends and family who had balloons, cake and prizes for me. Much love and warm fuzzies all around.
Now, I’m back to reality. The kids are loud, spastic and demanding. The laundry piles are big. Thankfully, the husband took today off to ease me back into ‘real’ life, but re-entry is so hard. My newly forty-year-old mind and body is definitely feeling its age today.
And, yet, I am so grateful to have a mom, sister and brother-in-law who were generous enough to forfeit an entire weekend for my enjoyment.
I have a husband who planned every little detail of the weekend, down to my spa treatments and wine-and-rose-petals in our room, all to help me feel special over a decidedly scary birthday milestone.
I have three amazing children who handled their first-ever absence of both mommy and daddy with good cheer and fine manners. And, their welcome-back hugs made every part of me happy.
Thanks to everyone for their kind words, emails, cards, phone calls and telepathic well wishes. You’ve all made 40 much more fun than I expected.
Lordy, Lordy, Look Who’s Forty. . .
FollowAn Early Birthday Present
I am supposed to be packing right now, but I had to type a quick post that will hopefully convey my excitement and gratitude over receiving this cute, pink award from Izzy:
Do I deserve it? Well, I’m not sure how ‘rockin’ I am anymore, and I feel a bit more matronly than ‘girl’, but I do blog, so I humbly accept. I’ve really enjoyed this blogging thing since starting in October, and the fact that anyone chooses to read and comment on what I’ve written is truly an amazing feeling.
I am now supposed to ‘tag’ five other ‘Rockin‘ Girl Bloggers‘; I’ve seen the award around so many places, I’m not sure who is left, so I’ll try to pick a few that I think are deserving:
1. First I nominate The Cleaner Plate Club, a blog described as “one mother’s search for real food”. This issue is near and dear to my heart right now, and I soak up her suggestions, challenges, recipes. . .she is truly on a mission, and I love that.
2. Next, I’m passing this on to Nuttnbunny, a crafter from the other side of the U.S. Those who know me well will laugh, because I’m about as crafty as my cats. There are times I have no idea what she is talking about, like when she talks about ‘casting on’ or ‘spinning’ or posts a photo of yarn. But, I still feel like she is a kindred spirit, and I adore her projects, her stories about her son and the cool sculpture in her backyard.
3. Whirlwind is one of my fellow New England Mamas, but I’ve been reading her from about the time I started my blog last year. She always has great stories about her three girls, and her photos are gorgeous too.
And, a couple homeschooling folks:
4. I’m certain Chris has received numerous awards for her ‘main‘ blog, but I’d like to give props to this one. With seven, yes 7, children, she is a treasure chest of information; information that I soak up like a sponge. Mainly, I want to come sit in her lovely house and watch her get through a typical day, especially when it comes to homeschooling such a large group.
5. I also really enjoy reading Mom is Teaching because she exposes me to so many homeschooling issues and topics; she is relatively new to me, but I look forward to reading new posts as soon as they come up.
OK, NOW I need to go pack before my husband leaves without me!
Happy Weekend!
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
This conversation took place last night at dinner:
Belly, “Mommy, I LOVE this sausage! Did it grow in a garden?”
Me, “Ahhhhhh, no. . .”
Belly, “Did you make it in the oven?”
Me, “No honey. That is sausage. It can be made out of a chicken, or turkey, or cow or pig. This one is from a pig.”
Belly, “A pig???? How?!!?”
Me, “Well. . . the pig is killed, and his meat is used for the sausage”.
Belly, “Ewwwww! What part of the pig?”
Me, “Errrrr. . .” (start tap dancing around the table because no one really wants to think about what is in sausage).
Which brings me to this clip (I love Lisa):
