I'm going to live no matter what the technician thinks

Does anyone else feel like the way your technician asks you to take a seat after your mammogram is an excellent indication of how much longer you have to live? I could of sworn she was crying when she told me to get dressed and take a seat while they review the films and I thought I heard her whisper to me that she was so very sorry for my current predicament of only having 20 seconds left to live.

Thankfully, I misread her and after a wait of about 10 minutes I was released with a clean bill of health.

Doesn't everyone do this?

Laurie: “Dennis, can you sign this?”

Dennis: “What is it?”

Laurie: “You can read it if you need to but basically it says if our plane goes down we want the girls in grief counseling twice a week, and we want a celebration of life instead of a funeral and that we would want the girls to know we are all around them as energy in their life so they will never be alone and we would want XX and XX as guardians as long as they promise to never introduce them to organized religion.”

Dennis: “Are you serious? Should we even go?”

Laurie: “Of course, it’s our anniversary. Aren’t you excited?”

Dennis: “Well, now that I know all of this…not really.”

(The will is in the works)

D + A

 

Dennis and Aria. So sweet-

Lucia's White Sangria: I've missed you so...

 

While the kiddies are away the parents will play

 

Dennis and I had the BEST anniversary weekend in Minneapolis. We ate too much, drank too much, laughed just enough and spent time with friends. The city was beautiful and we both cried the whole way home (not really--I thought it would add a dramatic essence to the story)

This is our anniversary self-portrait. This is the 10th picture we tried.

Happy Anniversary--You are still the kindest person I've ever met!

The best daddy

 

How lucky are the girls to have a daddy that takes time out of his very very very important all night business meetings in a sleepy little town known as Vegas to buy these little fashion gems.

The ebb and flow of parenting

 

I'm starting to realize parenting has the same ebb and flow as all relationships. The husband/wife you can't get enough of one day and two days later you are daydreaming about how wonderful it would be if they couldn't talk for an extended period of time...or the friend you think knows you like no other and then offers you a burger..or the sister that makes you laugh harder than anyone you know but also makes you crazy when she calls you on things you can't hide from because she DOES know you like no other. I digress.

Your children are no different. Some days I literally could be arrested because I can't get enough of them and am probably borderline inappropriate (not to mention-illegal) in trying to kiss them as many times as they will allow yet two days later hear Mozart playing when the nanny arrives and then start daydreaming that she tells me she loves this job so much that she would love to stay longer and feed and bathe them if I didn't mind.

Right now, I'm in my yummy stage. How could you not-look at these two little loveys!

 

 

 

She is 3 and already demanding privacy

 

Mia's friend Milah turns 4!

 

Pink?

 

Mia's favorite color? I'm shocked. No idea.

Maz

 

So funny and full of life. Not to mention, extremely sensitive. In the best way.

Mia

 

So curious and thoughtful. Not to mention, DRAMA queen! In the best way.

How sweet is this?

 

The girls (with the help of Felisha) made these little birds and potted planters for Mothers Day. They will definitely go in the big box of mommy keepsakes.

Thanks also to daddy for making breakfast in bed and letting me sleep in (no pictures of that event-trust me, you wouldn't want to see it)

Just when I think I've heard everything...

For America's Favorite Mom contest sponsored by Teleflora and NBC's Today Show, they catagorized mothers that adopted as non-moms. In order to keep myself from boarding a plane and showing them what it feels like when a Real-Mom (that just happened to have adopted) physically attacks them, I'm going to assume the front desk security guard approved the copy because everyone at Teleflora and NBC were out building houses for Habitat for Humanity.

Here is their sincere apology.

Teleflora is immediately changing the name of our "Non-Mom" category to "Adopting Moms". After closer examination, we can see how this may have been offensive to moms who have adopted children -- moms who are indeed real moms to their children in every sense of the word. In fact, many of us at Teleflora are “adopting” parents ourselves, including our president and owner. The essence of this category still focuses on a grandparent, neighbor, step mom, or mom to adopted or foster children, each one raising and loving a child. This show of insensitivity on our part was in no way intended and we deeply apologize for any concern or distress we may have caused. It was always our intent to salute and celebrate all moms.

Lots to do

 

The girls have been very busy so far this spring. So many fun things to do and see. They are having a blast and summer is just around the corner.

 

A day with the animals

 

Such a lovey

 

 

Excuse me lady, but have you seen my daughter?

 

Such a special little family.

 

This is the only family photo I was able to get during our little pizza party. It is always so good to see them and every time they leave Dennis and I start cleaning up and say the same thing---they will be our friends for life. Lily and Mia got their ears pierced together in a little clinic in Guatemala. Julie and I were laughing about walking around Antigua to try and find a place to pierce their little ears (because we HAD to have it done that night!) Julie was talking with the clerk in one store and trying to get her to understand what we wanted so she started demonstrating an ear piercing gun and the woman thought she meant a real gun. You had to be there. It was a moment to remember. I thought they were going to grab our babies from us. I met Miles for the first time on my trip to visit Mazlin. So many special memories and definitley friends for life.

A Pizza/Ice Cream Party!

 

dooce.com

Yes, I admit that I'm addicted to a few blogs out there (when I'm not watching Rock of Love 1&2, Real Housewives of New York and Judge Judy reruns) in cyberland. My favorite, is dooce.com. I simply love her way of writing and the amazing family she has. This is the entry from today. All of you cool mamas out there not afraid to go against the grain...take some time and read a little. You won't be disappointed. I promise.



Teamwork

Leta has asked for a snack, so I reach up into a cabinet and grab some chips. Yes, chips. Filled with trans fat, high fructose corn syrup and butter. Sprinkled with tiny flakes of meth. Known to cause homicidal mania. Conveniently packaged in 100 calorie bags.
When I rip open the top of the bag the chips go flying across the kitchen floor, and Leta immediately throws her body over the multitude of scattered pieces to protect them from gunfire or maybe inclement weather.
"COCO IS GOING TO EAT MY CHIPS!" she screams.
"No, she won't," I assure her as I bend down to help her gather up the mess. "I'm not going to let her."
Just then Coco rounds the corner from the living room to the kitchen and makes a mad dash for the buffet of broken chips. I whip around, stretch out my arm with my hand upright and say, "DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, DOG."
"YEAH!" says Leta, "Don't even THINK about it, DOG."
Coco stops, whines and then rolls over in defeat. Leta continues to gather chips and intermittently shoots Coco a menacing glare. Coco makes a few unsuccessful attempts to army crawl toward the treats and then sighs when I yank her leash.
Leta grins with the realization that I am completely on her side. "Mom," she says, "we both know she is totally thinking about it."
INTERNET, GO OUT RIGHT NOW AND GET YOURSELF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.