On to us, nobody knows

As of late last week, Keith and I have been dating 14 years. Holy moly. That's a long time my friend, no? We went out to dinner sans kiddos recently, we were both sick with sinus infections and just wanted some peace and quiet. We reminisced about our time early on in our relationship and how we were so young...WEIRD...and how we jumped in feet first. Not a clue what we were doing, really. And, if you think about stuff like that too long you just end up effing things up anyway. Hell, it was college. We wanted to be together and we did whatever it took to make that happen. We moved in with each other after dating for a year, I was 19 and he was 18. I know my family kept it a secret from the extended family. ***sssshhhh, Michelle is living with a boy her first time away from home. Oh dear Lord. Say a prayer***

It didn't sound so good. I'm sure Keith's family was a little freaked out that Keith had a live-in girlfriend ALREADY! I know, I know. But, we knew we were in love and it all fell into place so naturally. We struggled together. We grew up together. And, boy did we fight. Talk about growing pains! Kids crazy in love!

I suppose there were many opportunities along the way to throw in the towel and go our separate ways. But, it was never an option. I couldn't walk away from him. Why would I? Afterall, he's what I wanted and I couldn't even dream up a life without him. I don't think it would've worked b/c had I gone out on dates with other boys I'd want to call him to talk shit about them...like "dude, he's such a tool. he doesn't even listen to good music...he likes Creed for christsakes!...and he wears the ugliest shoes...and don't even get me started on how dumb he is b/c God, is he dumb!" I guess you could say he's my best friend. And, I'm the luckiest girl to have created this world of ours together.

My younger cousins always ask us how we do it. How do we stay together and happy at the same time? How can they find a good guy? I don't really know what to tell them, except I knew when I had found it, and I held on tight. But, I tell them it's hard work. I've learned a lot in this relationship over time. I've learned that it's best to let the man be a man, and a woman be a woman. It may seem simple, but it's quite the opposite. Kings of Leon sang it best "Told me you love me, that'd I'd never die alone...Hand over your heart, let's go home"...and we never looked back. **If that song doesn't make you want to rip your heart out of your chest,well... you're a robot. It's best to jump up and down, pound your chest with your fist and scream NOBODY KNOWS...NOBODY KNOWS....BUT MEEEEEEE!...at least that's what I imagine *know* would feel right.

A Biggun

April kicked my arse up and down the court. I'm so far behind. I think I know why my posting has continued to suck. Ever since my laptop battery went to shit, I've been leaving this sucker plugged in on my desk. Hence, no postage. I suppose I'll need to get off my bum and get a new battery. Maybe in 2010.

I've got lots of pictures, but will probably send most out on a Kodak gallery sorta thing, b/c it's just too many to put on Flickr. Kale and Mack are doing and saying so many crazy things it's hard to keep up. Mack turned 2 and Keith made a video for him, just like he had made Kale. I cry every time. I'm a sucker. Check out the video...

***If you haven't already bought the new Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs album "It's Blitz", run, don't walk and get. it. now. It's awesome.

We celebrated Mack's birthday on April 10. Then celebrated Easter the same weekend. Then it was the joint birthday party on April 18, where it poured and poured. Fortunately, our family really loves us because everyone was there. Kale's class celebrated his birthday on the 21st. They delivered a balloon to him, sang him a song, and I brought in sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles for all the kids to decorate for snack time. Then we finally celebrated his actual birthdate on April 22nd. *PHEW*

(post-bunny photo op)

(kale ready to be sung to in blue. see mack in the orange shirt? creating havoc.)

(mack's bday cupcake commercial audition)

On top of that, Kale participated in a trike-a-thon for St. Jude's Hospital the last week of April. You know, like...laps around cones. On a bike. Kale doesn't know how to ride a bike. Two days before, we're out practicing. I'm totally losing my patience. Uncool, I know. I bring the bike to the school the day of the trike-a-thon anyway. I figured it'd give him a good idea on how to ride it, even if he didn't make it one lap. Everyone gears up and is ready to go. Kale's there playing along. They yell "GO" and all the kids roll out, some on scooters, some on bikes. Kale's left in the dust. Slowly, but surely, there he went. One leg, then the other, then the other. Go Kale! He did the whole thing. Now, if only we can get him to go faster than an ice cream truck.

(he's the one on the right on the green bike)

Kale's also been playing soccer. EARLY soccer Saturday mornings. Last Friday, we went bowling to celebrate Melissa's birthday. I told myself that we'd be home early. It was not going to be a late night...since we had soccer at 8:30 a.m. Around 1:30 a.m., I was learning how to do the "Stanky Leg" with Melissa's friend. FAIL. But, Kale was a rockstar out on the field that day. At first we thought soccer was going to be a waste of time, b/c he would get pissy that the ball wasn't his and when he'd get tripped up, he'd pout and want attention. We didn't know how to handle it. So we ended up ignoring him. Kale only has two more games left, but I feel like he's learned so much about himself and you can tell he's more confident out on the field. Sports, man. I wish I'd played more as a child. Ahem...more? I mean a sport. I was the girl sitting out of any athletic activity in Jr. High. Uh, you want me to what? Softball today?... I've got asthma... where should I sit out?

The best four years of my life

From here to there so fast. Slow down my baby boy.

You make me so proud.

Yesterday you turned 4 and our hearts ached.
We reminisced about bringing you home for the first time.
You made us a family.
I love you Ka-Buns.
Happy Birthday.

24 months

Yes, it true. He's two. He's also...

Tenacious

Smart

Loving

Funny

Stubborn

Brave

Tough

Adorable

and a hitter, tantrum-thrower, scratcher/puller.

And, we love it all. Today and everyday. Happy Birthday Mack...

your smile makes it all worth it. We love you.

Hit me baby, one more time!

In case you didn't already know, I went to see Britney on Monday night, and IT WAS THE SHIZNITZ! Thanks to Melissa for scoring us some badass tickets and to Keith for holding down the fort while Momma went to scream her lungs out like a teeny-bopper! There were all kinds of peeps there, from the old to the young. I've never seen so many men with perfectly shaped eyebrows, gold boots and scarves to match! We saw several people dressed in Ringleader outfits. No. I'm. not. kidding. People that probably shouldn't be wearing such revealing clothes. At one point, Melissa and I were trying to do a covert op for a picture of these works of art, but they wouldn't turn around. Dammit! Quoting Melissa: "I want to get a shot of the gut and all". So, no pictures...you'll just have to take our words for it.

The Pussycat Dolls opened up and they were awesome, too. I was so excited that I used up most of my camera battery on PCD, of course. I could've sworned the damn thing was fully charged. By the time Britney came out, my red battery light was blinking...fuckin' a. True to form, I was rendered useless for the rest of the show. (Check out Melissa's pics) We were so close that when I was taking pictures/video, I almost felt rude, like I should be enjoying the show instead of messing with my electronics. And, there Britney was, performing right in front of us and we're all looking in the live view screens of our cameras. I couldn't help it, none of us could. Whether people like to admit it or not, Britney is an icon. She's a powerful marketing force. Elvis didn't write/read music, nor did he play the guitar, it was a prop. His act was a show and he sold it. Madonna: same shit.

I think people are really pulling for Britney to keep taking her "no crazy" pills. I can imagine it's hard for a healthy person to live captive in their celebrity world, much less someone battling demons. I was just in awe that this was the same head shaving, umbrella wielding, crotch flashing lunatic from all the gossip mags. If she makes it through, I think she'll maintain this wave of success and come out on top. Either way, LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!!!!!!!!! Ha! Ha!

The Amazing Weirdo

Kale is so amazing. He's an amazing weirdo, and so witty at the same time. You've heard living with a 3 year old is like living with a crazy person. It's so true! Oh my gosh, is it ever! Kale can tell you the wildest story about his teachers punching the kids in class. Or, how one kid was bleeding and then the teacher pushed him down and another kid hit him again. On Tuesday, I sat in the carpool lane watching him practice his Wii boxing moves on another little boy (just air, no contact). Uh yeah, he's been doing that a lot to us lately. There were 5 teachers standing by, but no one saw it, I almost honked my horn. I was cracking up in the car, but wanted him to stop. When he got in the car, I asked him who he was boxing. He acted like he didn't know what the hell I was talking about. I told him he was grounded from the Wii the rest of the afternoon. He said he was sorry. We then met Keith at Academy. Before we got there, I told Keith what I'd seen. When Keith opened the door, the first thing out of Kale's mouth was I'm sorry. Keith had a talk with him in the parking lot. And, then went into Academy and bought Kale a punching bag and gloves. Here kiddo, punch this...good message. When I picked him up on Thursday, the director was loading him into the car (like always) and Kale proudly announces to me "I DIDN'T PUNCH ANYONE TODAY MOMMY!!!". I smiled politely and said "Well...isn't that wonderful sweet pea!". Ms. Becky smiled back at me and shut the car door. :-)

I'm afraid my little boy is growing up...eek. Not really sure what stage this is called, but I can tell there is another section of Kale's personality blooming. A part of himself that is demanding respect and acknowledgment of just who he is. Fine. Fine. He really has learned so much this year and I'm continually proud of him. The week before Spring Break, I asked his teacher about how he was doing in school in a general way. She said he didn't have any enemies, that he was so sweet and really smart. Finishing up with "well, you've just done a great job with him". Ah. Be still my heart. That made me feel so good! 'Cause this stuff is hard work.

I've learned that it's hard to stay on top of my boys all the time. If you don't like them saying something or acting a certain way, it's got to be unacceptable at all times. Not just right then, but ALL the time. I know I can be hard on them at times and maybe I should lighten up a little. I know they feel hurt when they've disappointed me. I'm a yeller, but I'm trying hard to not be...as much. I know this time will pass me by and I want to be proud of the time they've spent with me. I still know how to have fun and I think my boys know that side of me, too. I'm a 'no-nonsense' kind of Momma, but I can be loving and funny, too. And, I am always in their corner no matter what, but when they're wrong, they're wrong. It's a tough world out there and I'm doing my best to prepare them for it. I am their biggest cheerleader, but also their coach. It's hard to be both, but it's what the job requires.

Testament

We didn't leave the house today and it was everything I'd hoped it to be. Fantabulous! Now with the time change it seems as if summer is right around the corner. The weather being in the 80's doesn't hurt either. I can't imagine it getting much warmer than what's it's been, but I know it does...dreadful.

Mack is really enjoying his tumbling class. He actually crawls on top of a mounting platform, reaches forward to touch the bar, grabs on, swings a few times and then lets go right into the middle of a hula-hoop. It is totally the highlight of his day. I'll have to get that on tape soon. He's also starting to make more sounds and a bigger attempt at talking. We know he's saying stuff, so we're working extra hard to make sense of those "words". Today he said "bath" for the first time, or at least, according to us it was his first time.

I think we've turned a corner with Mack. Now don't get me wrong, he's still lets us know when he's effing miserable, and you know how we know that? B/c we're effing miserable. (I feel like I've said this before...ah yes, I have. Well, this is a different corner...maybe) The Dums-Dums are still in effect, but we're using them less and less. Unfortunately this means we've been letting him roam the stores with us freely, which requires much more effort and attention on our part. But, at this age, it's what he wants...to be a big boy like his brother. It's difficult though, like a constant battle. Somedays I just don't have the energy to struggle with him, but I can't back down, b/c then all the groundwork I've done will have been for nothing. And, neither does he. So, there we are having words with one another in Ross.

Parenting never stops. There are no breaks. There's no just 15 minutes so you can finish your coffee. A quote that comes to mind right now is "It is an up-at-dawn, pride swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about." (a la Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire). Perfect. It's in your face, balls to the wall, bracing yourself for punches. It is not for the faint of heart. It will make you test your limits. Limits you didn't even know you had! No, I'm not crazy. I'm in love.