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Things I’ve Thought While Watching the Olympics

Posted on August 9, 2012 | 6 comments

I wish my husband would take up swimming.
I wonder if they won this race/match? Let me pause the TV and check nbcnews.com… yes, okay, then I can keep watching [the not knowing sometimes stresses me out too much].
[at the gymnastics commentator] I don’t think you are actually familiar with something that should be called catastrophic; that, what just happened, was not catastrophic.
I wonder exactly how slow I would look compared to the people running the 100M, or 200M or (God forbid) the 400M? Laughably slow or humiliatingly slow?
If the beach volleyball players can win while wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, why exactly do their normal “uniforms” need to be so tiny?
The mens’ synchronized diving suits are just a wee bit too not there; would it totally ruin the sport to dive in say, bike shorts?
OMG, where are their boobs? [with regard to all female swimmers] Normal people would be showing off way too much side boob in that suit.
While I appreciate mothers being acknowledged, I feel like it’s a little rude and presumptuous to think that fathers shouldn’t be just as revered by PG. And everyone else that supports those athletes.
I could never be an Olympian because I like having dessert more than once every four years.
Michael Phelps has come a long way since his first Olympics when he was all young and geeky, oh wait… still the same and yet, still the muscles.
I wish I could have the fabulous hair swimmers have immediately after getting out of a pool and taking off their swim caps – I feel like they have some secret they should share with the rest of us.
If I were an Olympian, I would not want to be from China or Russia because they never look happy and their coaches look displeased at all times.
Shut up, Ryan Lochte. It’s better if you never talk.
I still think that gymnastics commentator sounds like John Tesh.
You’re right, that male vaulter does have a unique running style (if by unique, you mean completely hilarious) but why aren’t we discussing his completely creepy porn mustache?
Holy cow, the men’s gymnasts defy all laws of nature on the rings; also, that one guy is a wee bit old… I can’t believe they used a spot on their team just for him? Are Olympians not allowed to use Just For Men?
With all the stupid rules out there, how is it fair that the people who swim the semi-final relays do not have to be the people who swim the final?
Usain Bolt is completely impressive on the track; no matter what people say, he has a right to be as cocky as he is, especially if he doesn’t care about what people think (spoiler: he so doesn’t care what people think).
Why is that sport still in the Olympics?
How cute are Will and Kate cheering for his horse-riding cousin?
I’m pretty sure I couldn’t pull off a serious game face when they were introducing me before a race. I’d be all, “Hi, please like me…”
A lot of the female track athletes have impressively cool names.
Someone feed that person a cheeseburger, stat.
I hope Kerri Walsh is as nice in real life as she is in interviews, or at least I hope that’s the real her doing the talking and not just a public image.
I’m sure that Chinese diver appreciates the underwater shot of her putting her bathing suit back in place after a dive.
Is Bob Costas drunk?
Why is Ryan Seacrest on my TV when it’s not on E!, Fox or New Year’s Eve?
Wish I could appreciate Bruce Jenner’s athletic accomplishments rather than being annoyed he’s on TV. And also, stop talking about your daughters, Bruce… no one cares.

Six

Posted on August 8, 2012 | 5 comments

Six years ago I became a mom because of one fabulous little boy named Liam. And while it was most definitely love at first sight, that love continues to grow in leaps and bounds each year that you are around. Each year becomes my favorite, more than the one previous and I am eager to see what the coming year brings because we have told you for ages (about various things): “Oh, you can do that when you are six.” Six is the magical year when THINGS happen.

But let’s take a quick look back at five… starting with going to school! Oh my you were excited about that. The first week of school you were already asking me why you couldn’t go every day and you declared that your teacher had the sweetest voice in the world.

Though you loved Mrs. Anderson, you still held that Keila was your girlfriend and you guys have continued to be best buds, though you don’t get to see each other as often as you used to when you were in daycare together.

But you did get to play soccer together – your first foray into organized sports… after the season was done you said that you’d like to join a bowling team so perhaps soccer isn’t your thing for now. Lately you’ve been asking about karate so I think that’s the direction will head for your next “thing.”

You were my ever-present cheerleader in working out, either down in our basement mini-gym or out in the neighborhood walking. You always tell me I’m getting skinnier, or a less-favored, “You’re just a little bit fat.”

We explored our beautiful city many times and you are always excited to see new things and wonder about the things we’ve looked at in the past. I love that our city gives us the opportunity to bring some culture into the lives of you and your brother and allows us to do fun things almost any weekend we choose.

It is my goal to ensure that you and your brother end up friends as adults, preferably best friends but I know that might be pushing it. I would have loved to have a sibling that was my age when I was growing up (though I don’t fault my parents for NOT having another child at 42+) and I am so glad you have each other.

While you have your stubborn, angry moments (don’t we all?), you are genuinely a joy to be around. You are laid back, easy-to-please and full of conversation (so many words are just waiting in your brain to come out at any given moment).

I cherish the special times we got to have together on our after school dates… and I look forward to more of those when school starts back up, I’ve missed that time with you, even when you had nothing you wanted to say about school (“Mom, just stop asking me questions…”).

I’m thrilled you got to travel to Australia and will remember all the experiences we had there – most especially the time you got to spend with Grandma Dorothy.

You were the bravest boy for your little belly button surgery and we are as excited as you are to have a brand new belly button that no longer randomly bleeds… nice to get that fixed after having it since birth, a last remnant of baby/toddler-hood!

The day finally arrived when you fell in love with Legos and discovered the joy of making your own creations.

I will never cease to be proud of you for your creativity. Or, your perseverance in continuing to work on things that cause you grief (I always knew you could figure out how to swing for yourself).

You have made me a mother but you’ve also made me a better person.

Daddy and I love you (and Jack) so very much! Happy birthday, snicklefritz! You are six, let the things happen!

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Posted in Family

Instagram, week 17

Posted on August 7, 2012 | 1 comment

The good part about taking a long weekend/mini-vacation is that while Tuesday feels like a Monday, it’s not actually and suddenly your week is much shorter – hip hip hooray!

Time for a weekly recap using Instagram, warning, the end photos are all fun, sun and beach, do not keep viewing if it will make you angry because you are not having fun in the sun at the beach.

Somehow Jadyn and Jack determined that if they achieved potty-trained status, then they could have a Spoonlickers date – who am I to argue? I love fro yo and unlimited toppings (sometimes that’s the best part of a frozen treat, but I have to say, the cake batter fro yo doesn’t hurt).

Elijah Wood was on an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba and I was messing around with my phone and caught a scary image of him, had to share it with my peeps.

And another photo of the church domes on the way home – but the sun was just too big and red that day to not get one – sadly, the photos were all a bit blurry.

Jack found a headband and I got to get my hair done (can’t say the scary face was anyone’s fault but my own).

I waited in my car to get this photo because it is just so wrong to do that to a Mustang convertible.

Our first day at the beach Jack discovered the joy that is getting buried in the sand. He asked daily to get his “whole self buried up.” Okay.

Duck Lake State Park is just a special kind of place – so perfect for kids and kids-at-heart. The older kids were schooling the younger kids on proper sand castle building.

Max and Jax will be BFFs for life – this is what happens when your cousin is only a couple months younger than you (and though younger, Max is not surprisingly taller than Jack)

Pure Michigan

All fun in the sun means all naps in the car on the way home!

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Posted in Instagram, Life in general

Gratitude

Posted on August 1, 2012 | 5 comments

Someone gave me a gratitude journal last month, something I’ve wanted to start for ages, but there are many things I want to start and haven’t (anyone else with me on that one?). Related: my mom asked me last week if I kept a journal and without skipping a beat, I responded, “I have a blog” and she said, “Oh right.” And this blog is definitely a journal of sorts and also a baby book for my kids (sorry kids – check online for an accounting of my memories of your childhood), so why not also a gratitude journal? Indeed.

Here are some things I’ve been grateful for lately:

1. Simon being home and taking over the breakfast routine again.

2. A job that provides the flexibility necessary for having two kids.

3. Our church staff and the comfort they’ve shown us after Simon’s mom’s death.

4. Mucinex DM – almost completely eliminates my cold symptoms

5. Air conditioning (in case you haven’t heard, it’s been a bit hot in Michigan for the past month)

6. Liam’s summer program at day care – each day he has something special that he’s excited for.

7. A new recipe for a creamy green salsa/ranch sauce.

8. Friends who share my sense of humor.

9. The church domes on my drive home (I can’t stop taking pics of them, or wishing I could capture the beauty of them more perfectly)

10. Skype and other modern technologies.

11. Genius mixes on iTunes (though mine seems to favor Mandy Moore and her voice is just too breathy for me – the only reason she’s there is from the Walk to Remember soundtrack)

12. My niece’s house in Whitehall.

13. Duck Lake State Park/beach

14. Keurig coffee maker

15. Jane’s Krazy Mixed-Up Salt (though I object to spelling crazy with a “k”)

16. Summer television series’ on USA

17. My cleaning/ironing-loving mom.

18. Parents who listen to me ramble on when I haven’t had a husband to vent to for 2.5 weeks.

19. Friends who are awesome and give in just the ways that I need.

20. Jack’s awesome head of hair.

What are you grateful for lately?

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Posted in Gratitude, Life in general

Tagged gratitude journal

Tuesday Randoms

Posted on July 31, 2012 | 4 comments

It’s about time for a random list… I’m sad that I’ve forgotten quite a few things I’ve wanted to report to you over the past month…

We saw The Dark Knight Rises Sunday night – it was pretty fabulous. Well acted, well directed, well written. The whole package, a non-stop action movie I can get behind.
All the previews before the movie were squarely in Simon’s movie-enjoying wheelhouse: Taken 2, a new take on Total Recall (with his fave actress, Kate Beckinsale) and The Expendables 2 (a movie with Chuck Norris, Jean-Claud Van Damme, Sly Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Jason Stratham and [laughably] Liam Hemsworth — side note: they were just showing the actors’ last names in the preview and it said Hemsworth and I said to Simon, “Liam or Chris?” referring to Miley Cyrus’ fiance or THOR, and then said, “Must be Chris” looks like I was WRONG).
Prior to going to the movie, I thought Joseph Gordon-Levitt played the SUPER creepy bad guy because of a strange presentation/voice he had done at an awards show, but the bad guy was actually Tom Hardy – my new celebrity crush (don’t tell my hubby; Simon, forget you read this).
Anne Hathaway is convincing in her leather bad-girl outfit, I asked Simon how many times he thought they asked her shoot a scene where she got on Batman’s motorcycle… you know the director was like, “Anne, we really need you do that just one more time. Um kay, thanks.”
When the movie ended I couldn’t help but think of the shooting in Aurora and how horrible it all is and was… people just wanting to enjoy a movie, an escape from reality and some deranged individual messes up so much for so many. You can’t help but think of them when you’re in a movie theater, but especially when you’re seeing the movie they were there to see. Prayers lifted.
We are apparently going to have to have a chat with Liam on appropriate conversation topics with girls, he told my friend’s daughter that “‘Chinas’ are another kind of bottom and also another country.” Mr. Know-It-All, the word you were looking for was “vagina.” Thankfully we could all laugh about it but oh my.
Jack and Liam both got to have dates on Saturday… chaperoned by yours truly. Jack and his friend, Jadyn, are having great potty training success so as a reward, they got to go to Spoonlickers – a local fro yo place with multiple flavors and unlimited toppings. Liam and Maggie got to have a past-bedtime date to The Civic Theatre for Schoolhouse Rock Live! – so fun!
During Jack’s “date” he and Jadyn were walking, holding hands and she says, “I just tooted in my undies.” And Jack replied, “You have to be careful not to toot too hard or you could poop in your undies.” Such a charmer (and another know-it-all).
We kept ourselves busy when Simon was gone with many playdates (and a variety of babysitters to cover my work time) and now I think my kids need a little socializing detox because they ask daily who we are going to see that day and what we are going to do.
You know what is awesome – waking up from a dead sleep at 1 am to find your 3-year-old standing in front of you with an actively bloody nose. More awesome is then having to spend the rest of the night with said 3-year-old in your bed, using you as a pillow/punching bag/footrest.
I feel like is my American duty to have the Olympics on when we are at home. Even if I can’t handle the stress. I need to desensitize myself to feeling bad when people lose, I am never going to meet these athletes and their not winning impacts me about ZERO so why do I care that they are heartbroken? It must mean I have a BIG heart. Or other issues.
I love hearing Jack pipe up his song request from the backseat, “What Makes You Bootifuwl, pweese!”
Also love Jack speaking “Spanish” as he is convinced he can do… what it really is, is his spouting gibberish, often to the tune of a nursery rhyme/song. When you ask where he learned Spanish, he’ll say, “Dora.” And then Liam has to add, I know Spanish and he’ll say the words for “above” and “below.” My kids are multilingual… they know English, Australian and Spanish.
Want to start a poll about how long it will take Simon to unpack his bags from Australia? I only ask because I finally finished unpacking the carry-on I took with me to Australia (from January) just the weekend before Simon got back from Oz. Whoops. Procrastinators unite… tomorrow!
Maggie (Liam’s date from Saturday) can’t quite pronounce Lee-um but instead calls him “Lamb” and I love it – it’s so cute!
Liam LOVED his first sleepover at daycare… they stayed up past 10 pm, went swimming, had popcorn and watched Little Rascals (which he first told me was called “Little Stinkers”) and in the morning he got to have a donut hole, a donut, a waffle and juice! Score. I’m glad I got him there on the right night in the end.
This coming weekend we’re away at my niece’s cottage with my family can’t wait for simultaneous beach time and family bonding – we always have a great time when everyone is together, when we’re not picking on each other.
Also, today is the last day of July and school starts in a little over a month and Liam will be 6 next week! Aaack!