Italian Style Banquet

I casually, but officially, handed over the presidential reigns to the new President, Laura! I'm excited to hand it over and see how much further they can take the group. I had a blast being so involved and plan to stay involved but my life has shifted and I'll no longer be able to do as much as I once could. I'll still be around as the Blog Coordinator and the Crafty Mommas Coordinator, but I'm no longer on the board.

As my last hoorah, we had our annual MNO Banquet. This year we had it at an Italian restaurant and we did an Italy theme. Our game was Italian trivia, we dressed Italian (think Italian tourists or gondola drivers) and we ate Italian food. That was the extent of it.

Gifts, prizes, prizes and gifts! Lots of people to thank for a great year!

My fabulous friends. Laura's speech made me cry. This group of women has caught me when I needed catching several times in the short time I've known them. I prayed and prayed for friends ever since we moved to Madison. I knew that God knew my heart's desires and I just stayed steadfast and continued to pray for the gift of friendship. I had no idea that although it'd take 4 years, that he'd deliver so richly. I am so blessed by these women.

I do have to share the jist of Laura's speech because I don't want to forget it. She just got back from a month long sabbatical in France. She visited a nude beach while she was there and saw some 60+ year old women just hanging out and gabbing half nude. She knows that we'll be those friends when we're 60. Ugh, tears!

It was a beautiful night of friendship and celebration. Now about that wine and crayon idea... right, Sarah?

Real life.

Reality. 

I'm sick. 

My sister's car keep breaking down - so she's kind of stuck in Wisconsin. 

Daredevil peed through his sheets. His freshly changed sheets. 

Ollie threw up on the floor. 

I can't find our tree skirt, stocking holders or tree topper. Of all my decorations, I can't find the important stuff. 

I gained 6 lbs on vacation. 

Daredevil can't stand coats/hats/mittens and I can barely get him to keep clothes on. 

But... 

My incredible sister not only cooked me dinner and washed dozens of loads of laundry, she dusted and vacuumed my upstairs living spaces while I unpacked. 

My brother brought dinner home for the rest of the family. 

My husband gave Daredevil his nighttime bath and spent a lot of time helping Bernard hang up lights in Daredevil's room. He made sure they were perfect. 

My husband is back at work after a month off and I have the luxury of being at home because he provides for our family. 

It may have not been the easiest transition back but all-in-all I think we've managed ok. Not only did we have guests a few hours after getting home, but we also had to cook, clean, unpack, finish Christmas gifts (sorting/wrapping) and just get everything put in its place. 

One day at a time. Slowly but surely. Life is good. I am blessed. 

Double Trouble

I love when my plans go flying out the window. Ok, so I really don't but I've learned to roll with it, try not to get overwhelmed and just do what I can. 

As we work toward getting ourselves ready to leave, I thought I'd have everything set just so. Perfectly coordinated with my timeline, etc. 

On Friday, in the middle of a play date I was hosting the power went out in half of our house. Long story. Nightmare. Fast forward to today. The power is fixed and back on but our beautiful deck is still in complete disarray. 

Complete wrench in the timeline. 

I'm at the point of surrender. If it doesn't get done, it doesn't get done. I've managed to get 2 bags 98% packed, 2 bags 100% packed and 2 bags 0% packed. We've bought all the last minute things. We're working on getting Daredevil and I healthy again ASAP! Items have been dropped off at friends' houses, library books returned, letters mailed, prescriptions refilled, errands ran, emails sent, last minute lists made, etc. I've done about all I can do. 

I'm praying that even with the hiccups, I don't forget anything too important. At this point I'm adding things as soon as I take other things off. 

Awesome Schedule

My parents left on Sunday, so the rest of the day was spent getting our bearings, grocery shopping, etc.

Then Monday hit and away we went.

This is Mr Tech Guy's busiest time of the year, by far, typically working at least 12 hour days on and off since early August with work ramping up to 17 hour days this week and next. Busy, busy, busy for him. It was nice having the grandparents here the last few weeks to distract Daredevil and I.

So, Monday hit and Mr Tech Guy was off to the craziness of work. Daredevil and I had a crazy busy schedule this week, too. I'm the hostess with the mostess this week.

Monday
Errand day

Tuesday
Babysit two little darlings
Book Club -- my month to host -- The Night Circus

Wednesday
Playgroup Playdate (that Daredevil slept through and then was sad his friends were leaving)
Crafty Mommas Night Out at Studio You

Thursday
Visiting a local park with an old friend

Friday
Playdate on our Patio
LifeGroup Cookout out back

Saturday
Daredevil's first multi-sport class
Dareevil's friend's 1st birthday party
Lunch with a friend

I'm already tired and its only Wednesday :) Poor Mr Tech Guy.

Accomplishment Day

Twin is hilarious. He challenges my thought processes all the time and always seems to make me look at things in a new and different way. Tonight at the dinner table, we were chatting about our sister-in-law's upcoming 30th birthday and what we may get her. During said discussion, he said that he wishes no one got birthday gifts. I thought he was saying he didn't want to give birthday gifts anymore - which really is no surprise because he is forever trying to get out of gift-giving - but he was suggesting something different... a new day of gift giving instead of on birthdays.

He was proposing that we surprise those we love with a thoughtful gift on their accomplish days. For Daredevil, he says it was the day of his birth because that was the day that he met Twin. Hah! He said that for some it may be a graduation, a wedding, a job offer or promotion, etc. Twin suggested that gift giving on an accomplishment day would be a better day to surprise a loved one.

Hmm... what do you think? I kind of love this idea. If you know me personally, you know I like to give gifts. Maybe this will be an idea in 2014?!?! You never know. What do you think is your great accomplishment? When do you think you'd get your accomplishment gift if Twin did start doing that? It sure is something to think about.

The Sickies

The sickies have invaded my house again.

Two new molars + pink eye + ear infection = no fun + no sleep

I sure hope this week is better than last week. I need sleep and I need to get out of this house. I'm hoping to get out of quarantine soon. Darn pink eye. Daredevil is finally getting as stir crazy as me.

I just want him to feel better. ASAP. He's been so miserable. Still a cheery little guy, but a lot more mellow and clingy.

However, we've gotten some projects going while we sit at home. I keep dreaming up new ones so I figured I better get going on some that I already have supplies and plans for.

Father's Day surprise in progress. Hopefully none of the guys read the blog.

Some yard art for my garden and the front yard. They're all glued and ready for me to glue on the hockey puck tomorrow.

One last thing. What do you think of this? I got it because I liked how it resembled a chalkboard sign but now I'm thinking we should take it back. Thoughts? Input?

No Judgement

When we visit Gammy and Gampa, we have to get creative at bath time since they don't have a tub. No  judgement based on what you're about to see...

... he loves it!!! I tried giving him a bath in the shower before we realized that this sink would be perfect. We have a few toys and it's almost as good as home.

What can I say, I just don't get the moms that pass judgement on other moms? I mean, we've all been there right? Either judging or being judged... but seriously, why? This mom-thing is hard enough as it is without tearing each other down. Every mother is doing what she thinks is best for her child and her choice doesn't make your choice right or wrong. We are all simply doing the best we can. There is no recipe to x+y=great kid or v+p=not so great, etc.

We've always had choices... cloth, disposable, breast, formula, and on and on... but now there is so much scrutiny. Do you breastfeed? Exclusively or do you use a bottle? Do you pump? How long are you going to breastfeed? Then do you ever get judged on how you answer? Yes, a bottle, yes, a year... then do you judge me because it wasn't two years or feel bad because you only breastfed for eight months? Why the competition  I feel like that old African saying is true, it takes a village. If we're all on the same parenting team then why do we feel the need to compare and judge? Why can't we just help and uplift each other on our quests to simply do the best we can. I am guilty of judging and I'm also guilty of being judged (trust me, you can always feel the stares), I'm not saying I'm perfect but I'm saying that we should drop the charade and try to help the other moms.

Here's my for instance before I shut up for the evening. On our plane the other night there was a mom who had an inconsolable 20 month old. You could hear the huffs and puffs from other irritated flyers, and I thought to myself that could be any of us. The majority of the people on the flight had children with them (it's spring break), had children at home (or grown) or will have children. I wish they would've just put theirself if that mom's shoes for thirty seconds. Trust me, she hears her baby and she's doing the best she can to quiet her. She was doing the best she could so why berate her for it, I'm sure she felt (and heard) the judgement.

Try to love one another and save the judgement. We're all just doing the best we can.