The trip of a lifetime

We all have our dream places of visiting.  Trips we plan for and spend hours on end checking out, investigating, reading books, thumbing through brochures, you know what I'm saying.

Some of us- when we plan a trip to a special place, we plan every minute.  Pick out every activity, schedule it, prepay for it, know exactly what every single day is going to hold.  I am sooooo not that person.

I enjoy showing up, looking around, seeing it all, going at a snails pace- going at the kids pace, just enjoying it.  I'm good to lay on the beach until we don't feel like it anymore.  And I don't really want to premake dinner reservations for somewhere, because what if we're just in the mood for a hotdog and an icecream instead?  See- I'm a laid back vacationer.  I just am.  Maybe there are a few things we want to see or do while we're somewhere- and we will, but at our pace.

I know someone who is preparing for a big trip.  The trip of a lifetime really.  This person has prepared for this trip their entire life.  Studying, planning, reading, preparing, praying............all solely for this trip. 

Now, I am planning for the same trip.  But I have yet to find out when I might get to go.  Although I do plan to go.  This man, he knows.  Not the exact time, only that it will probably be soon.  So his anticipation of this trip is different than most.  Because he gets time to prepare to depart.  And for his wife, she knows it will be without her.

She will get to meet him there- but not until later.  Much later probably.  He will leave without her for this glorious place they both dream of being in together.  But he gets to go first.  She has to stay here and wait.

He has no bags to pack, no plans to solidify, no money to withdraw, no reservations to confirm.  This trip is all inclusive........all things are already prepared for his arrival.  Now he just waits for the time.  His wife has to begin to prepare to take care of things here without him.  She has things to finish before she can go.

He is going to meet the Lord.  And for that I do not cry.  Because he is one of the best men I've ever known and he is faithful and devout and knows who God is.  And on the final day that he departs this earth, I will feel peace in my heart for I know that this man will be dancing with Jesus.  But I'm already crying and my heart is heavy.

Why?  For his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his brothers and sisters, and for me.  Because he is going to be terribly missed.  And the world as we live in it will be different. 

All I can do is just continue preparing for my trip- and teaching my children to prepare for theirs.  Knowing that someday we will all be together again.  And Miss Pennie will continue preparing for hers.  Because although she can not go now- she will get to go later.  And Mr. Mike and Jesus will be right there to welcome her when she arrives.

My prayers are that God holds her close until that day.

We'll never know

One year Emily was all about a new toy that was called My Meebas.  And she received one in her easter basket.

The point of this toy is to 'play' with your my meeba on that little electronic screen.  You feed it, play games with it, talk to it, give it medicine and more- all with that little screen.  And eventually- after it has 'grown'- a real meeba will pop out of the top.

The problem was Emily was young, too young to understand how to read and keep up with the demands of this small electronic baby.  So she just cast it aside.  But I was DYING to know what on earth a meeba was.  So read the dag gone manual and played, fed, talked and messed with that little thing pretty much non stop.  Well- as non stop as one can be with three young children.  So basically I devoted 4 minutes max over the course of a day- but still, that was a commitment.

The damn thing never opened.  And it eventually sunk to the bottom of the toybox to live.

This past Saturday was the kid stuff sale at our church- and in an effort to regain a few square feet of living space, I took a booth and sold toys like a crazy toy woman.  While setting up the booth, I found our meeba.  Only the top was popped open and there was nothing inside.  Empty.

I frantically tracked down Emily (who was shoe shopping in a neighboring booth) and asked her about the meeba. 

"Oh mom- it was pink and purple and little and cute- it was really awesome" and then she completely turned her back on me and continued her shopping. Not even caring that when the thing 'popped' out of the top not a living soul in this house showed me.

And there I stood with my pink plastic baby holder in hand knowing that all those hours of nurturing and mindless button pushing were spent for nothing- because I still will NEVER know what in the heck a my meeba is. 

And neither will you.  See- it's pretty disappointing isn't it?

You never know........

We like to practice good safety habits in our home.

 Because one can never be too safe.

And yes- I plan to get all that crap out from under the entertainment center today. 

But first I have to go find my helmet, cause it might be dangerous under there.

Spring Room Parties and the Mothers Who Live for Them

I'm thinking of starting my own reality tv show.  And amazingly enough, upon googling my idea- no one has snatched it up yet.  All I need to do now is get it all thought out and submitted to some hoity toity tv producer.  They'll snatch it up I'm sure.

Our last room party for the year was the Friday before spring break.  The kids in Emily's classroom were about to burst open into big giant messy confetti by the time I got there.  I'm not even sure they knew it was almost spring break- I think they just LOVED the idea of a party.

I learned my lesson last time.  Six year olds do not do well traveling stations during a party.  This time around all of their activities were safe and sound at their desks- as they should always be apparently.  Only one mom could come and help me this time- and she was late.  My heart was racing when the party time came and I was alone and the kids looked like they were contemplating tearing me limb from limb.  Thankfully, as Emily's teacher ran out the door casually saying 'you DO have help coming- right?'- the other mom walked in.

We played games, made crafts, ate cupcakes, and finished up with each child getting their very own treat basket.  A solo cup with a pipe cleaner handle filled with sugary deliciousness, new pencils and fabulous other trinkets.  Pictured above is Emily's spring chick.  Proud to say we had the only one in the whole class sporting glasses.

When I entered the room I received hugs from several of the young ladies in her class- which has become the norm.  I really think they all like getting to hug a fat woman- I feel squishy as opposed to their Zumba loving moms.  Everytime I go to volunteer in the room, attend a field trip, or eat lunch with Emi I get hugs from most of her little friends.  It's a benefit to being fat I suppose.  But on this particular day, one little girl handed me a note and asked that I read it after the party.  It said "Mrs. Goble- thank you for the best room party ever".  I felt so blessed.

I heard Emily tell Sam that he will be soooo lucky if mom (aka me) gets to be his room mom next year- because she (again, me) rocks it.  Wow.  Thanks Emily.  Not sure if unstable wooden bead chicks and paper flowers constitutes 'rocking it'- but it sure does feel nice to feel so loved.

I only hope I am returning the fabulous vibes my three sweet chickies.

Dandilions and Doorknobs

What's that got to do with anything?  Nothing.

Absolutely nothing- kind of like this post.  However- I have three two minutes until my time is up and I will have to move on to the build legos with Sam portion of my day.  Right after that- clean out toys (jealous- I know).

To make matters worse- I started my day late which means EVERYTHING has been moved 1.5 hours later than normally scheduled.  This might mean nothing to you- but to those in this world who I am required to feed, dinner is gonna be a little late.  Kind of like last night.  And the night before.

Time keeps on slippin man.  Warp speed it feels like.  And it doesn't help that I keep double booking myself.  That might be cool if it were like an art show and a country club benefit dinner all in the same night.  But I'm not so cool like that.  It's more like a church commitment and a softball practice.  Or a family dinner and birthday party.  Or a girlscout field trip and another softball practice.  None of which is really the party that an art show would be.

What?  Art shows have wine and cheese- and that my friends is a party.

As if!

I just got an email from Emily's girl scout leader.  About camp.  This year.  As in, this summer.

It never crossed my mind.

Emily of course is ready.  She's probably already packed.  Heck yeah she wants to go- no doubt- sign her up- where's the bus. 

But me?  I hadn't even considered sending her all.the.way.across.town for an entire day with trees and snakes and wilderness.  She's way too little.  Way too little.

Or so I thought.

The nerve of those dang girlscouts and their camps.  Granted, it's a day camp.  So I would meet at the bus in the morning and send her off and then pick her up each afternoon.  Until Thursday when they will actually take her to spend the whole night there with them not at our house away from me.

Somehow I've gotten used to Allyson doing these big girl things.  It was just as hard when she was younger, but each year I suppose it gets easier and more normal.  But Emily?  Really?  It's time to send her onto the river of growing up now too? 

MAKE IT STOP!

I've got to go try and cram Sam back inside my tummy- have a good day.

Goodbye Spring Break- Hello Rainy Monday

Just two nights away proved to be just what we needed.  Some fun, some time to laugh and some time to enjoy being a family.

Here is what I will remember............

 I practically had to have Dan HOLD SAM DOWN so that I could snap a quick picture.  The minute we walked into the indoor water park at the Great Wolf- that kid was about to bust wide open!

 And so was I.

 Watching the three of them play together was just the blessing my heart needed.  Days on end of bickering and arguing had worn me- and it was nice to see them so happy with each other.

 The Great Wolf is, and probably always will be, one of my very favoritest places.  And now that the kids are getting a bit older- it was even more enjoyable (less small children to worry about drowning as much).  We didn't even go into the baby pool area- which was kind of sad and happy all at the same time.

 Sam confirmed that he is in deed a thrill seeker.  NOTHING is too scary for that kid.

 Allyson still found the magic of the Great Wolf- despite her ever growing and maturing mind and body.  She struggles with being a kid- and being a young woman.  It's hard as her mom to see her fighting with her hormones.

 Emily treasured the time.  And I loved being invited into the hot tub and basketball pools by her.  She still holds my hand, openly gives me kisses and will tell me she loves me for no reason.  I miss those things about Allyson, which makes me treasure them even more from Emily.

 Sam LOVED the waterslides. I LOVED that he never once asked to take his life jacket off.

 The animated lobby show had the kids total and complete attention- who can blame them, it was really good.

 All of the kids eventually made a friend- Allyson and her's ran around the joint like they were on fire.  Slides, then pools, then river, then fort, then start all over again.

 Emily is still Emily.  Happy to have a friend on Thursday- happy to play alone on Friday.  Just happy.

 Sam eventually wanted to ride that slide.  By.Him.Self.  I thought I was gonna die.  Reality is- he was probably much safer alone.  Once you put a mommy or a daddy on the back of that raft- we had a tendancy to FLY down the tubes.

Emily never would do the big slides.  Allyson and I did them together- and then her friend took my spot and they did them together.

Spring Break is over.  Rain is pouring from the sky.  It's like the heavens are grieving the loss of our time together too.  Today Dan moves to nights, softball starts in lesss than 11 hours, and the school bells have already begun ringing.

P to the S- tramping around an indoor waterpark for two days in a swim suit might sound like a party- unless you are less than firm and then you just feel like a big fat jiggly momma.  Salad anyone?