Happy Birthday to My Dad February 10th

Once in a while, when we were young, we would have a "Movie Night" on Friday nights. We would go to the Wild West Video store on Blue Lakes Blvd. and rent a VCR with lots of movies. We would spend the weekend watching and rewatching movies. We would all sleep downstairs in our sleeping bags and stay up late watching movies. Then Saturday mornings would come and we would wake up early to watch cartoons. While we were watching, we would hear dad come in the door with the sound of crinkling paper bags. We would jump up from the floor and run upstairs, because we knew exactly what "that" noise was coming from. White bags with a great big yellow "M" on them. McDonald's pancake breakfast. Sometimes it would even be egg mcmuffins. Boy, what a real treat!

This morning Kipp and I went to McDonalds in San Francisco and ate a Pancake Breakfast together. It was great fun. On the glass of orange juice I read the words, "Making a better world, one kid at a time." I liked that because I thought of all the times Dad would take us to McDonalds or bring it home for us to eat. I definately don't think it was the food making the world better, but I know it was dad making a better world with each of us kids. We enjoyed our breakfast in a scary part of the neighborhood and it reminded of us of our family trip to Washington, DC. When we went in to a McDonalds and as we were about to order, Dad said, "We are the only white people in this place and we need to get out of here!" I remember Kipp and I thinking that Dad was so racist! Now that I am a parent, I can see that he was only looking to protect his family, he is not racist. It always makes a good story and brings a laugh.

Tonight, after returning home to New Mexico, Matt and I took our kids to McDonald's for dinner. We let them "get whatever they wanted" like Dad would always say. They each ate a Happy Meal and were so excited to get a prize. We sang Happy Birthday to Papa Bob on the way home.

It was fun spending the day thinking of dad and his life. I hope that I don't have to eat at McDonald's very often...Dad has given me a lifetime's worth, but it was fun to go there just special for him.

Love ya Dad and Happy Birthday!

It's Official...

Mason is finally pottytrained!!! :) or I guess I should say, Mommy is. Mason was ready a long time ago and once Mommy decided to start the process, Mason played right along. It only took a few days and he was done. He loves his new Car underwear and he has adopted all of Carter's boxers (since Carter doesn't like them.) He feels like such a "Big Boy" now. Wow, what a determined kid. Good job Mason! :)

Sleeping Babies ~ Tender

It is a precious moment when a baby falls asleep on your lap. Chloe has always been such a great helper with the babies. She watches them and protects them and loves to hold them when given the chance. This particular day, Chloe gathered up Josie's bottle of water, a blanket, and a tired Josie and situated all of them on the couch. They sat there quietly watching a movie until Josie fell asleep. Chloe was so pleased that she was able to put Josie to sleep. What a tender moment for mom also to see this precious sight! It reminds me of when I was Chloe's age and I had a baby sister and lots of little baby cousins. I was always pleased when given the chance to hold them and have them fall asleep in my arms. Tender.

Fun Place Settings

Sometimes on Fast Sundays, we like to have a fun meal. We use this time to try and teach etiquette and practice using our manners. (Of course, we try to use our manners at every other meal also.) Matt had fun setting the table with a whole variety of dishes. It was lots of fun and the kids were so excited that we decided to take a picture and blog about it. :) Oh, the memories.

Braxton & Brinkley's 1st Birthday!

Josie got invited to her first birthday party! She has a pair of twin friends from nursery that turned 1. They had a fun little birthday party. Here are some of the pictures.

Braxton & Brinkley getting their cupcakes. Josie watching a little video.
They also played pin the head on Brinkley & Braxton.

Most of the kids took a turn.

Even Mason had a great time.

Each of the kids got a fun new book to bring home from the party! They had a really great time!

Happy Birthday Memaw & Grandpa Ward January 14th

Today we want to wish MEMAW and GRANDPA WARD a very Happy Birthday!

This is a special day for me to remember because it is such a neat birthday story. Over 55 years ago, my Grandpa Glenn Ward and his beautiful wife Melba Janice Ward were a happily married couple wishing for children. Unable to have a baby on their own, they sought out to adopt a child. They soon received a phone call from the doctor who let them know of a sweet little baby girl that was to be born. On Grandpa Glenn's birthday, a sweet little baby girl was born that they were able to adopt. They named her G'Lenn after her new daddy Glenn. What a sweet day this had to be for my grandparents, to finally have an infant to hold in their arms.

I know that my mom has always had a special place in her heart for her mother Melba, but I know that having the same birthday as her dad has really bonded them together.

I really miss my Grandpa Ward. He is a real hero to me. I wrote a special poem for him in High School that I treasure. It describes him perfectly the way I remember him. I want to share this poem for Him on His special day. He passed away in 1999 after having alzheimers for many years. This picture is one where we were dancing around in the kitchen. He didn't know who I was, but we were having a great time. I miss him greatly.

Gray Haired Hero

Grind, squeak, clank
I reach for a cracker.
Chicken in a Biscuit
Grandpa gives me a sip
of our favorite drink
Squirt
Heaven is our surroundings.
Wheat grinding around us
and Grandpa plays with
my ponytail. I wore it,
just for him
You are my "sugarbear"
You are my grandpa
His lap under me,
arms around me.
Safe.
Dust of grain I breathe.
"Poor old Kaliga," sings
through my ears
Sing it again grandpa.
Tunes repeated
The tractor stops
Whoosh~~~~
Grains pour
from the bin behind us
Empty into the truck beside.
All day it repeats.
Time flies
Smiles of satisfaction
Come ride with Grandpa
OK.
More fun than the beach
Dolls, tea parties and
rollerskating
A day on the tractor
He is my Grandpa.

I also want to wish my MOM a Happy Birthday. She is now 55 and hoping for a Senior Citizen Discount...:) She is a great example to me of what motherhood is all about. She is so selfless and truly giving to anyone in need. I know that she has had a good life, not free of sadness and trials, but her perspective is optimistic and genuinely sincere. I hope to one day achieve the same merit of motherhood that she has obtained. I admire her patience and unconditional love that she radiates. I love this silly picture of her because it shows her personality and the ability she has to make us all laugh. :)

Happy Birthday!!

New Year Resolutions...

It's another year....

I haven't felt like "running" into this new year. I have found myself anxiously stepping into each day, hesitant at what is ahead. It is a different feeling than other years, but I believe that is a good thing. Most other years, I would spend the week between Christmas and New Year's preparing for the new year and making new resolutions. Looking back, it seems that most of the resolutions are the same, or at least along the same lines as the last 20 years. Loose weight, get out of debt, do the many daily tasks, become "Super Woman"...and the last is everything all wrapped up in a nutshell. I believe that I am really always striving to "do-it-all." So, at the end of each year, or by the end of January each year, I realize that I have already failed.

This year I am changing my view on things. I have decided that I am going to "Let It Go." Seems that so many people are always saying that...and I have always struggled with those 3 very simple words. So, I am determined to find out what it actually means to "let it go" and then HOW to physically let something go that is in your mind. I hope that through this adventure, I may actually find some sort of peace with who I am in my life and that I can be Super Woman, without "doing-it-all."