Friends » Our Crazy Boys

Just a day

Jul 152010

I am hoping that for you, today is just a day.

Another boring, routine, running errands and cleaning the house kind of day.

For me, today is a reminder of one year ago.

When the population of my house doubled for a day and I quickly got to know three amazing young women.

I knew their mother and little brother, but hadn’t gotten to know them yet.

But here they were, spending the afternoon at my house.

Their parents were at the hospital with their little brother, who had just nearly drowned in my pool.

While we were all swimming.

Together.

It’s that easy for a child to slip beneath the surface of the water and lose consciousness.

It takes seconds.

And it can happen while you are right next to them.

It can turn a day – a normal, boring, routine day – into a nightmare.

So, I ask you to take a CPR class. Because you never know when you’ll need those skills.

And I ask you to stare – literally – stare at your children while they are in the pool.

I learned the hard way that being 2 feet away isn’t enough.

Please click the blue box above for the Mom’s story.

A Small Favor

Jul 132010

Psst…

Daddy Bookins is coming to several Arizona Pump it Up locations for a Bounce Book Tour!

I just bought my ticket for Tucson…

Who is coming with me?

No stress entertaining - It works for me.

Jun 292010

If you were coming over to my house for dinner tonight,

you would probably:

Be warned to step over a few toys that are scattered on the floor.

Be served on paper plates.

Be given directions to the beer fridge in the garage, the soda fridge out back, and offered whatever we’re mixing in the kitchen.

Be served in plastic Tupperware cups (except for Darcie. She loves glasses like I love my plastic cups).

Be on the lookout for sticky chairs. Jack has spilled some glue on them lately, and I have found myself stuck a couple of times.

Be entertained all night by my boys – they show off for friends.

Be served a yummy, tried and true favorite recipe of ours.

Be laughed giggled at if you asked to help. Either get up and help, or relax and let me (happily) do it for you :)

Be aware of some floating dog hair, because it’s impossible to get it all up with the vacuum/Swiffer this time of the year.

Be asked if you would like to roast marshmallows with us, rather than enjoy a fancy homemade dessert.

Be spending time with us.

Because if I invite you to my house, I consider you a friend.

And I don’t want to serve you, I want to spend time with you.

I hope that doesn’t make me a bad hostess.

I used to clean the baseboards and get the best dishes out for company.

I used to scrub the cabinet doors.

I used to worry about making a unique and perfect dinner.

I used to run around making sure your cup was filled, plated was picked up, and your belly was full.

But my house?

My house and I are busy.

We’re busy making lots of memories.

And we want you to be one of them.

So now I have a “my house is your house” kind of attitude.

So invite yourself in,

grab a soda. Or a beer.

Or help yourself to anything else you find in the fridge.

And come spend some quality time with me.

This way of hostessing took me 10 years to figure out. I hope you can enjoy it much sooner in life than I did :)

A friendly reminder

Jun 242010

Do you have one of those friends?

You know…

a friend that is there for you over the years…

whether you live 10 steps apart or 10 states apart?

One that you instantly bonded with and feels like the sister that you never had?

I do.

Lynn and I have been through a lot together.

Kind of like a married couple, actually.

It started with us meeting while she was pulling weeds right next door.

Actually, it was almost exactly 9 years ago today.

—

Both Lynn and I had husbands in the Air Force, and had family that was far away.

We were inseparable until her husband was stationed at another base.

But we have stayed close.

Through lots of phone calls and a few visits,

Through three births,

two moves,

and all that Motherhood has dished out,

we have stayed friends.

Best friends.

Lifetime friends.

—

I am lucky enough to have a few great friends.

Wonderful friends, even.

But there’s only one Lynn.

And as I was missing her today, I looked through some old pictures and laughed out loud at the memories they brought back.

I thought I would share a few.

(But not all, because they are definitely not all shareable :)

Lynn stealing Michael’s Halloween candy (kidding! he gave it to her!).

While a bunch of husbands were deployed, Steve thought of great Halloween costumes.

My first (and last) relay for life. Those things are not for people who need sleep to function.

We all love when Lynn comes to visit. And we all feel the same kind of sad when she leaves.

I can’t say much about this picture.

But it is the only one I can share from the night we went see Jimmy Buffet.

End of story.

Rebecca and Jack sharing their snacks

And again 3 years later

There are too many memories to share with you all,

and I hope that every one of you are lucky enough to have a friend like Lynn in your life.

And not that I’m one to be bossy,

but you should consider this a friendly reminder to call her (your Lynn, not my Lynn).

Right now.

And tell her how much you love her.

(Love you, Lynn.)

Where's Mom? (35 of 52)

Jun 032010

Last weekend, Mom had the opportunity to spend the day with some amazing ladies.

Kellie, Rhonda, Kristin, Caitlyn & I, and Tracie

The best ladies.

My best ladies.

Laughing, gossiping talking, sitting by the pool, and eating veggie straws (don’t you see the huge bag? They’re that good!)

What was the last thing you did with your girlfriends?

Where's Mom? (33 of 52)

May 152010

It was brought to my attention that I neglected to post a picture this week.

Oops.

You know when you’re trying to get a picture where everyone looks good?

And when there are 6 women in the picture?

Yeah, it doesn’t work so well.

So, I went back and forth, not knowing which one to put in.

Kristin, Rhonda, Me, Pauline, Eileen, and Pauline

Do I post only the one where you can see everyone except for Eileen, who is hidden behind Pauline?

No.

What about the one where Rhonda decided to yell something obscene and get us all giggling, and the waiter thought it would be funny to take the picture early?

Just post that one?

No.

What about the one where we are all laughing so hard that we can’t even try to smile for a picture?

Just post that one?

I figure that at least with all three of them up here, everyone has a good picture somewhere.

And just for fun, I think I have to post this one.

If you were there, you know the one I’m talking about.

The one where Eileen threw a gang sign.

What gang sign?

No one knows.

But she sure did it.

And it. was. hilarious.

This one has had me laughing for days.

*If you don’t know Eileen, you should know that she is not affiliated with gangs in any way, shape, or form. She’s a Mom. And a teacher. And fairly low-key, if you ask me.*

Where's Mom? (32 of 52)

May 052010

What a weekend!

Friday night, I met up with some awesome bloggers for dinner at the Yardhouse in Phoenix.

Saturday, I spent the day with 100 amazing ladies (and a couple of men) learning about SEO, plugins, branding, and vlogging.

Shey, Chelsea, Me, Michelle, Melanie, and Julie (photo by Julie)

Saturday night I was lucky enough to hang out poolside with some amazing bloggers…

…and watch this bartender make me an amazing margarita using a plastic cups as a shaker (he was waiting on the “real” shaker):

(After I complimented him on his technique, his partner told me to get behind the bar for a picture)

It was quite a sight… he took great pride in that drink!

On Sunday I finally got to my first Bath Junkie:

Where I promptly made 3 husbands very angry by introducing their wives to the store.

(Sorry, guys)

It was a great weekend filled with girl talk, late nights, and lots of smiles :)

Maybe

Apr 102010

Maybe it’s because we opened the pool last weekend.

Maybe it’s because I saw a Life Flight helicopter a mile away from my house last week and remembered that the fire department dispatched one and cleared the roads for us that day… just in case.

Maybe it’s because I bought my favorite cookies at A.J.’s last night, not realizing until we got home that eating those exact cookies was the only thing that would keep Cassidy occupied while the paramedics were in the next room helping her little brother breathe.

Maybe it’s because I saw a line of kids walk out of my house last week and remembered how many firemen, paramedics, and police officers walked out in the same fashion as I stood in the doorway hugging and thanking them, as I was hysterically crying.

Maybe it’s because while I was cleaning my living room floor yesterday I stopped at the same spot where I picked up Jayce’s dark blue SPF shirt, which was cut in half by the paramedics, as the ambulances were pulling away from my house.

Maybe it’s because I saw a Disney Mom’s Panel logo the other day and remembered having to use the pool net to grab Darcie’s Mom’s Panel Sun-visor out of the middle of my pool after the ambulance left.

Maybe it’s because as I was sitting by the edge of the pool a few days ago, my eyes kept going back to the place where I saw the dark blue mass floating under the water -completely under the water – for a half of a second while his Mom rushed in and saved him. It’s amazing that an image your eyes focused on for not even one second could still be so burned into your memory.

Maybe it’s because I was watching channel 13 news the other night and thinking about why I haven’t watched them since last July -when they broadcast my home address and a google map of my house on the 5, 6, and 10:00 news. For 2 days.

Maybe it’s because it’s the beginning of pool season here in Arizona and those awful commercials are on the radio all the time. The ones with laughing kids, then 5 seconds of silence followed by a message about drowning being the silent killer.

Maybe it’s because every time I see that little boy now, I have to stop myself from giving him a huge squeezy hug. Because he’ll push me away and say “Tooopppp Ms. Bettah.” And I’ll love that he can say that to me.

Maybe it’s because of these things that I’m extra vigilant around the water. Even more so than before.

I’m lucky.

I have these constant reminders surrounding me.

Most of you don’t.

So, now that pool season is upon us…

please

keep your eyes on your children at all times around all water.

This is my story. Click here for the Moms story.

Wordless Wednesday - Stuck

Mar 102010

Where's Mom? (25 of 52)

Mar 032010

Today, Mom could be found at the zoo with 2 of the cutest boys in Arizona:

Then it was off to get pretty at the salon. Jack was a trooper and went with me; we had 3 hours to play with sticker books, watch shows and play games on the ipod touch, and get spoiled by my hairdresser (who loves to pass him candy).

Why, yes, I did just post a picture of myself with foils in my hair. I may regret that in the morning.

Can you spot the new dimple under Jack’s left eye from when he fell into the coffee table 2 months ago? Ouch.

After getting home and eating dinner, Michael and I hung out on the couch (and read some more of the Percy Jackson book).

I am thinking about adding a tag that says “make-up free Mom” so that you guys can expect the shiny face…

Have a wonderful week!

Older Entries

Just a day

A Small Favor

No stress entertaining - It works for me.

A friendly reminder

Where's Mom? (35 of 52)

Where's Mom? (33 of 52)

Where's Mom? (32 of 52)

Maybe

Wordless Wednesday - Stuck

Where's Mom? (25 of 52)

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