A Soldiers Smile

Today we flew home from our Spring Break trip to Florida. We had a wonderful time basking in the sun and visiting with the O'Donnells. We were sad to leave but ready to go home.

On our flight from Tampa to Charlotte Tod sat next to a soldier. Jacob didn't notice him sit down until mid flight when Tod pointed him out. The soldier was sleeping. Jacob decided to draw him a picture. It only took about 5 minutes for him to draw a little picture. He drew a soldier standing in a field of flowers and trees and he drew mountains in the background. The soldier was still sleeping so we waited. After we landed and the aisles filled up I asked Jacob if he wanted to give him the picture he drew. He shook his head and said that he wanted me to do it.

I handed the soldier the little picture and said, "My son drew you a picture." The very stoic solider had the most beautiful smile and said to Jacob, "Thank you, Buddy! It's beautiful!" He looked at the picture for a few seconds then tucked it neatly in his chest pocket.

Jacob was so proud that he took the picture with him. This is a moment that I will never forget.

Florida Bound

I still love Spring Break! Just the thoughts of spring break bring back such fun memories. Tomorrow we will head to Florida!!! Tod's parents are waiting for us to invade their beautiful Florida home! We are looking forward to no alarm clocks, no work, no school, and lots of fun!! Ahhh....Spring Break!!!

Can I Have A Do Over?

I knew today was going to be a long day. Heck, It's been a long week! Whenever we have these 100% chance of rain days I start off a little gloomy. I think someone needs to check in on my at least every hour to make sure I keep my head out of the oven! We get that little taste of spring then **SLAP** it's winter again. (sigh) This morning I almost forgot to pack Jacob's lunch, didn't have any clean socks, dropped Brady's backpack in a puddle while running into the school in a downpour, and spent 2.5 hours at the dentist. I would like a do over. I had to have a cavity filled this morning. My appointment was at 930am. This is only my 3rd cavity so I'm still a little squeemish when it comes to the giant silver needle-gun-thingy that is supposed to deaden your mouth. After they "shot" me I waited for about 5 minutes for them to start drilling. As soon as the drill hit my tooth pain shot through my mouth. The dentist was completely suprised. She jumped with me and apologized over and over again. They loaded me up with another shot of novocaine...waited....drilled...OUCH! They gave me 10 shots of novocaine. Ten! I could still feel them drilling. It REALLY HURT!! My eyes were tearing up because it was so painful. They put a temporary filling in and I go back in a couple of weeks for round 2 of the tourturous drilling. They told me that some people just do not react to novocaine. Great. Why can't I win the lottery instead being in that minute percentage of people who are immune to novocaine?? It is 345 and I just ate lunch. My face...yep..my entire face has been numb for over 4 hours. I feel like I was punched in the face. I think I would have rather been!

So, I'm calling for a do over. Not that I want to replay my day. I'm just ready for tomorrow to begin. I think I will sit, read, then go buy a Powerball ticket!

Computer Help

On Sunday our computer was acting up. We have two different log on profiles with Windows - one for Tod and I and another for Jacob and Brady. Well we couldn't log on to our profile. It kept saying 'log on failed'. We were able to get into the boys profile and google this problem. I printed out the steps to take and started to clear up our computer issues. An hour later.... I haven't gotten any further on my quest to log on to my profile. I packed up my computer and headed to Best Buy to have Geek Squad help me out. Once I explained to them what was happening they knew exactly what to do. It took about 20 minutes for them to work their magic and clean up my computer. After typing in my password the technician turned the computer toward himself and his Geek Co-worker. I could tell they were trying not to laugh. I said, "What?" The Geek said, "This is the funniest screen saver I've ever seen!" Here's my screen saver... I started laughing too. I wouldn't let them make a copy of the picture. Just couldn't do that to Tod. I do giggle every time I've turned on my computer though.

Lunch With Friends

Well, I know you all have been on pins and needles awaiting the results of my MOMS Club lunch! I went! AND had a wonderful time!

I had forgotten how fantastic these women are. Everything just clicked and we all totally enjoyed each others company. We ate, talked, and laughed for over an hour. It was just a perfect lunch.

My dearest friend Tracy who joined the work force a couple of years ago even worked from home today so she could join us for lunch. Here is a picture of our smiling faces!!



The bully mom was there and we did a great job ignoring each other without awkardness. I have to admit that I was nervous about seeing her for the first time in two years and almost didn't go. I gave myself a pep talk and put on my big girl pants and had a great time. So happy.

Cavity

On Wednesday Brady had his first of four cavities filled. Yep, four cavities. Just when you think you are doing pretty good...you get a little slap in the face. I had been teaching Brady about brushing is own teeth and totally failed. Now after he brushes...I go back and brush again. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a back up!

This dentist office has a separate play room for kids. Brady didn't mind the long wait. He was able to create a Lego garbage factory. He's very proud!


They asked me if I wanted Brady to have "laughing gas". Sure! Why not! They explained to him all about the little "nose" that he would have to wear and asked him if he wanted to smell cotton candy or bubble gum. Cotton candy won! Here he is waiting for his dose of cotton candy.



All he could say was, "Mmmm...smells so good!" And kept honking the nose saying, "Hey I'm a clown!"


He was so dopey. He had this constant smile under the laughing gas nose!


As you can tell he was quite relaxed during the filling. Crossed legs...love it.

When it was over they put this little tube of cotton in his mouth so he didn't bite his cheek. It looks like he is having a cigarette!

Brady was a champ through the filling process. He loved that they were using "mighty machines" to work on a hole in his tooth. This kid loves any kind of machine! Now we just have to go back three more times...

Delimma

After the panic set in from quitting my job to be a stay at home Mom, a neighbor introduced me to our local MOMS Club. I instantly fell in love with this group of women. They are fun, funny, and we were all in the same boat. This club showed me this unknown subculture of free things to do for stay at home Moms between 9am-5pm. Amazing!

One thing I loved about this group was each child was in a playgroup with kids their own age. Jacob's playgroup only had four kids in it. After the kids went to Kindergarten the other 3 moms moved away so we disbanded.

Brady's playgroup was completely different. It was HUGE. There were about 13 kids in it. Whenever we got together it was chaos...in a good way. We met each week at someones house and once a month at the park. I so loved this group. After one marathon playdate at my house I found Brady's sheets in his closet and chalk hand prints up the stairwell. You know the kids had a good time!

Well, now that Brady is in preschool I dropped out of MOMS Club. I felt like he didn't need it anymore. I didn't realize that I still needed it! I miss them so much.

I rarely see them. Occasionally I will bump into them at Target or the grocery store. I keep up with them through their blogs and on facebook, but it is just not the same. I miss the weekly playgroups and watching the kids play and chatting with my friends. I truly miss it.

Here is my delimma.

About two years ago both of my boys were bullied. Bullied at one of these treasured playgroups. I confronted the mother of the two boys that were harassing my boys. She said that she thought the whole thing was "kind of funny!" I was shocked that this person (who I thought was a very good friend) thought that it was "funny" that her kids were kicking, hitting, and slamming doors on my kids. Funny? I know that my kids do things that I wish that they wouldn't, but I try and make it clear that their behavior is unacceptable and we leave. Simple as that. On this occasion this mother didn't remove her kids and they kept bulling mine....so WE had to leave. As she rewarded her boys with a Chick-fil-a lunch, mine went home with bruises and tears.

Kids forgive and forget so quickly. I tried. I truly tried. I told myself that this shouldn't ruin a friendship. After a couple of months I realized that the other person didn't feel the same way. The friendship was over. She even told me to "F#@* off at a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. All I could say was, "Really? Here? At Chuck E. Cheese?" I've never been told to F#@* off before. This was totally new territory for me. How do you react to something like that?

Fast forward to today. I was so excited to see a message in my facebook inbox about a get together for all of the Moms in our playgroup! All of the kids are in preschool so it will be just us Moms! They are planning on meeting for lunch and I was literally jumping for joy!! My giddiness faded...quickly. The bully Mom RSVP'd that she will be attending. I almost cried. What do I do? Do I go and ignore her? Do I not go and avoid her evilness? Is it time for me to put on my big girl pants and go? My greatest fear is that she will cause a scene. The last thing I want to do is to be in a restaurant in front of all of the Moms that I adore and have her embarrass me....again. (sigh)