Pirate Pete

Good morning!  I couldn't resist writing in my blog today.  I'll tell you I'm probably not supposed to be on the computer, but it's just too fun and I missed it!  I had an "enhancement" procedure on my left eye on Wednesday down at Bochner Eye Institute.  All went well - that's what they tell me.  I won't know until the big reveal - which is on Monday when they remove the contact lens bandage from my eye.  For the squeamish, perhaps you should skip this part and go directly to the next paragraph.  Anyways, they peel off the bandage with a pair of pointy tweezers (and it does feel like your eyeball is being ripped off - at least thats what I remember from my first go).  Just having those incredibly sharp tweezers at your eye is scary in itself.  I hope the technician has a very steady hand...

Anyway, my kids have been really good with helping mommy - although I do remind them that I'm not sick.  I just need to lie down, in my jammies, with my Blu Blockers on and a nice warm blanket.  And would you please bring me my iPod with my comfy earphones, a hot cup of tea and oh yeah, where's my valium?  Ha! Ha!  Sleeping with the shades on is a bit of a challenge, and so is showering with them (they do get a bit steamy).

But all in all, I would recommend it - the staff and Dr. Ray Stein are excellent (and no, I'm not getting paid to say that).  I especially enjoyed the after surgery in the recovery area.  They serve you tea or coffee, have a great selection of Peak Freans and a super comfy chair that has the legs raised and massaging action too. I think Brad really enjoyed the recovery room as much as I did.  It's almost like a mini vacation.  And to boot, the parting gift is a luxury box of truffles.  Now really, where is the valium again?

Keep smiling!

Tuesday Musings

Sometimes (actually, most times) I'm not sure where my blog writings will take me.  Once in awhile, I have a great idea or a laugh and think "that would be great on my blog".  But more often than not, I just sit down and type.  I know that I've got a good entry when I read it back to myself and it a)makes me laugh or b)makes me cry.  That's my gauge.
So...Tuesday musings.  This may be a bit random but let's go with it.
My auntie Carol and I were hanging out last week.  She's hilarious.  Every time we're together I always wish that I had a notebook with me to jot down all the funny things we say to each other.  For example, we were complementing each other on our clothes, hair, whatever it was and she said "welcome to the mutual admiration society".  I howled at that!  I had never heard that before but loved it. I'm laughing right now just thinking about that conversation.  I think that is so important - laughter.
On the way to school this morning, Ben and Naomi were busy chatting with each other about what type of car they wished they had and I heard Naomi say "Ben just said he wished we had a cab".  That caught me and I laughed all the way to school.  Excellent way to start the day and I highly recommend it!!
So I think I've done a good job with my Tuesday musings - and I hope that you get a smile or a laugh from it too.

Keep smiling and thanks for reading!

PS - here's something else...check this out.  This turned up in my pot as I was cooking.  Hearts aflame?!

Content

 "May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly 

 where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities

 that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that

 you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you 

 be content with yourself just  the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your 

 bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each 

 and every one of us."

I received this in an email from a friend of mine.  She thought that I would benefit from these words.  I loved it and I thought this would be something inspiring to put on Adventure Mommy.  The line that stuck with me was "may you be content with yourself just the way you are".  That is what life is all about.  And that's what I've been working on this last while.  Just to be.  To let go.  To accept.  To forgive.  I had an ah-haa moment the other day.  I have always said that marriage is hard work.  And it is.  There are smooth times and bumpy times.  But all relationships that are worth it take work.  So we have to decide which ones are worth it and which ones aren't.  And it's these keepers -  these relationships - that we cultivate that contribute to our lives in wonderful ways.  

Keep smiling!

Sounding Board

Okay - not all of my blogs can be about my kids.  Sometimes I need some time to myself (and that I'd like to share with you all).
I've almost finished reading a really fantastic book - Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres.  I haven't ever laughed so much reading a book.  The people in Chapters kept staring at me...maybe next time I should buy it and read it at home. LOL!  Now I'm just kidding!  I got it for Christmas from the yes man.  He really wants me to laugh more too - and not just at him.  I feel soooooo funny today!!
Back to my blog...at least what I thought that I intended to write was so much deeper and serious than this is turning out to be.
I seem to be a place now that I can and want to give back.  I have had so much support and love that it is abundant.  I'm overflowing with gratitude and wanted to share it with you.  I've titled this blog entry Sounding Board - not bored.  I'm not bored - hopefully you aren't either while reading this.  Anyway, I'm off topic again.  That could be a great blog entry for me...the Art of Distraction or Tangent Girl something like that.  If you're unsure of the word tangent, please look it up - I don't want you to think I'm "tantric" girl - which is something all together different.
Let's try this again.  I've been giving back.  Lots of volunteering and now I even have a job.  Yes.  I get paid every week.  I look after a little guy (who's kidding who?  The kid is almost as tall as me!) - and the mom has thanked me a few hundred times for taking him in.  The truth is, I'm thankful to him.  This kid brings out my fun side and who doesn't want a little more of that side out?

Keep smiling!

Roots and Wings

At night when the yes man and I are putting the kids to bed, he goes with Naomi and I go with Ben.  It has always been that way.  Naomi likes to talk and giggle with daddy for at least 1/2 hour before going to sleep.  They discuss various topics, but usually it has something to do with movies or tv shows and involves Brad explaining entire plots and characters and story lines.

Ben, on the other hand, loves to snuggle and have me sing to him.  This works for me because I love to snuggle and to sing!  He picks out the song and I sing softly to him in the dark while he drifts off to sleep.  Sometimes (well, okay, many times) I find myself thinking that one day this will end.  He will no longer need me to snuggle with him or for me to sing to him to help him sleep.  He'll be a big boy (fingers crossed that it's not till teenager LOL!!) and snuggling with mom would be, well, gross.  Funny, I'm not sad while I write this - but actually smiling.  Because isn't this what we want for our kids?  We give them roots - family, love, connectedness and in return, they grow wings and soar.

Keep smiling!  

Serendipity

What a lovely word.  I wasn't entirely sure of it's meaning when my friend commented that my knocking on her door that morning was serendipity.  She said I was her angel.  Imagine that!  In fact, what she was referring to was that I showed up at just the right time.  Her son's daycare was falling through and I said that yes, I would help her out.  So it's going to be me and Nate two mornings a week.  That combined with my volunteer gigs is keeping me busy 4 mornings a week!  Yeah!  This is what I want.  I want to feel needed.  One thing that I have learned about myself over the last 6 months is that I love to be with people.  Whether it's volunteering, or having coffee with a friend.  It's all about being connected.  Even if it's a bit scary putting myself out there.  Just do it.

I've been thumbing through some magazines lately, and I've noticed some interesting tidbits that I'd like to share.  Namely, Chatelaine has had some great ideas for happiness that struck home with me:
Practice Gratitude.  Remembering to be thankful for all that we have.
Take a Deep Breath
Laugh Out Loud (I'm smiling as I write that!)
Hold the Door - I think I've mentioned that in earlier blogs...
Find the Awesome - apparently even getting that stuck piece of popcorn out of your teeth can be awesome!  I agree!  LOL!

Do any of these resonate with you? Maybe you have some interesting ideas of happiness or things that you do to help you get through your day.  One thing that I do is...smile at myself everyday in the mirror.  Even if I don't really feel like smiling I do it anyway.

You keep smiling too!

Mom's Dream House - by Naomi & Ben

My son Ben was drawing in his new book - The Wimpy Kid Do-it-Yourself Book.  The drawing was titled "Dream House".  He was proudly showing me all the great things that he would include in his dream house...a Pizzeria, indoor pool, elevator and a singing toilet too!  Naomi quickly got in on the action and suddenly it was no longer just a Dream House but a Dream House for Mom - aka - a competition was brewing.
The competition grew fierce - money was added (a whole room of money - in any currency), Oprah would be my best friend and I would have a slide to take me to a)work or b)the pool.  Naomi was at my side adding ideas (they were getting wilder by the minute!) tapping at me every 5 seconds to make sure I was paying attention.
Ben added a time machine and a hand couch and a bakery that was part of the Pizzeria.
Naomi's last grab at the prize was a "crowd room" - a music room with 10 people that would always cheer for me after I sang for them. LOL!  I love it!

But the best was their "No Place Like Home" room.  They came up with the idea for this together.

Ben's Dream House

I love this room.  The concept is simple...one room in our new house would always feel and look like our old house (the one we actually live in).  

Naomi's Dream House

The Dream House?  I already have it :o)

Keep smiling! And may you all have a healthy, happy, smiling 2012!