Friday, December 28, 2007

Holidays

Did I mention that Dillon got an electric guitar? Well he did AND the amplifier. Oh boy. He turned and grinned at his sister and said "Guess how you are waking up tomorrow." He also told his Mammy that "Rock stars don't need college."

H E L P!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Ho ho ho

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas. I know I did. My family was together at my parents on Christmas Eve. Every one of the "Benny Powell's" were there, from Gran, who turned 92 this year all the way down to her great great grandson, Sammy who will be a year old in March. Dillon got an electric bike from Santa. He loves it and has ran the battery down twice already. I fear he is going to be a daredevil. Masen got her standard American Girl doll! This doll came with six books and by 4:30 last night, she was starting #4. (Is that MY kid or what!!!) She just locked herself up in her room and started reading.

Conversation yesterday between my parents about Dillons E-Bike:

Mom: I need one of those for when we go camping!

Dad: You'd have to get one with a bigger battery.

Mom: Oh BITE ME.

And Happy Holidays to you too!

Friday, December 21, 2007

A life worth living

One of my favorite blogs is Heather Armstrong's. (aka dooce.com) If you visit, make sure you check out her "How to Annoy Me" archives, because they crack me up. Heather is very open about her fight with depression and post partum psychosis that landed her in a mental hospital. Some of you know the extent of my depression and some of you don't, but I can say without a doubt, that anti-depressant meds, namely Zoloft, saved my life. It didn't save my sanity. It didn't save my marriage, it saved my LIFE. After Dillon was born, I went through the most horrible experience of my life so far. Post partum psychosis is something so awful, that I can't come up with the adequate words to describe it. Depression, now, is no longer a daily struggle. I still have moments when the darkness creeps in. The difference now is that I can acknowledge what it is. I have no denial. I am not ashamed. I accept what this is in my life and I am convinced that because I don't fight it, and hide it, that it has made it easier for me to overcome. I am writing about this today because Heather's husband, Jon, has written a beautiful piece on his site (linked to in Heather's) about living with a spouse with depression. It was an emotional piece for me to read and I am thankful these two talk so openly about this topic.

May God bless you and your families this holiday and stay safe.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Fa La La La La

So, the new firm I am working for does a christmas project each year. They contact the local schools and ask about children who are in need. The schools send names, ages, sizes, and toy preference to us. This year we had 71 kids to provide for. Each child gets a new coat and a couple of toys, along with a christmas candy sack. Everything is purchased and brought here to our conference room. Then it is sorted by school, then by child. The presents are then wrapped and delivered to the schools, or a school rep picks them up. I have to say that I really enjoyed the process. I had a scrooge day yesterday, but then went shopping last night for a 5 year old girl, who, when asked what she wanted, replied "shoes". So I took Masen and we went to wal mart. We bought clothes and shoes and dolls and crayons and.'.well you see where this is going. My family is so blessed. No we don't own vacation houses in Malibu, or drive BMW's or Mercedes, but our needs are more than met. I dont want to take any part of my blessings for granted, whether they be material or not. I am grateful. I am blessed. And I am humbled. My God is an awesome God.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Having a dark day.

Someone seriously p****d in my toasties this morning. So I am trying, at times harder than others, to up my mood. I think what would make me really happy is one of those great big nerf bats and I could walk around knocking the crap out of anyone who dares look at me in the wrong manner. WHACK. Got one. See, now THAT feels better.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

My Mother and My Son: ALL THE SOCIAL GRACES

Yesterday this conversation took place in the car on the way to Macy's ball game:

RETA aka MAMMY: Leaning over to Dillon, whispers: "Dillon, I think I need to "poot"."

DILLON: Holding his nose yells: "FIRE IN THE HOLE".


CHARMING!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The Denial of "Leonard"

I've written before about Dillon's desire to NOT cut his hair. It has now grown into a thick mop which has just enough curl in it to make it go in every direction possible. Its an adventure each morning to see what little bed head is going to look like. Then its an extreme adventure to try and comb it into submission and make it look respectable. I told him over the weekend that his hair had a mind of its own and if it kept growing, we were going to have to name it and build it a bedroom. He did NOT find this amusing by the way. Chris was walking by and christened his hair "Leonard". So, the conversations would go something like this: "Dillon come here, Leonard is not behaving" or "Leonard is standing up trying to look around again." You get the picture. Finally last night, Dillon had had enough. So, I have promised him I will not call his hair Leonard anymore. (at least not where he can hear)

But Leonard and I continue to do battle. This morning Leonard was in a particularly bad hair mood. So, I'd like to take this last opportunity to tell Leonard, "I have scissors and I am not afraid to use them."

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Why Chris Wishes He Had Gone To Dallas

I have tried for two days to upload the pic of Masen and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders! UGH! I'll keep trying. We drove to Dallas to have a "Macy Day" and shop at American Girl. After we cleaned out the doll store, we wondered into Saks and there were two of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Macy was THRILLED.

Those outfits really are THAT skimpy!!!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Kids

Growing up I never thought I wanted kids, they got on my nerves. (most still do) But after Chris and I had been married for a few years I started to look out the kitchen window and see him outside and picture a "mini Chris" following him around. It took three years, two fertility doctors and one miscarriage to get Masen here; Dillon, well it took a little over a year and one visit to the doc for fertility drugs. (I found out I was pregnant the day I went to fill the Rx, so I never took them) I've come to believe that they are on loan from God. They aren't really mine, they are His but He is letting me borrow them, mostly to teach me what love really is, and its my job to love them enough to teach them how to get back to Him. I believe my kids are here to teach me how to love; to teach me what heartache and heartjoy truly are. And they do. I lie on the couch with Dillon curled up next to me, his little warm body all snuggled in tight and the top of his head right under my nose and I think about how marvelous and magnificent and amazing this creature is, and right when I am getting all teary eyed, he'll turn to me and say, "Mom why do dogs sniff butts to say hello?", or "Mom, I have a booger, can you get it?"

Who knew butt sniffing and boogers could sound so sweet?

Thursday, December 6, 2007

My Ballerina

Last night Masen performed her solo routine in front of Ms. Angie (studio owner) and the Sr. tap class. Its not quite completely choreographed yet, but Ms. Megan, who is choreographing, wanted her to show it anyway. It dawned on me as we were walking to the other studio that even though Sis has been onstage numerous times in recitals and competitions, etc., she has never performed before Ms. Angie or the other girls by herself, she has always been with a group. (exception of one pageant, but that is another story) So, Mom got worried. But she stood up there and performed like a pro, half of the dance she had learned only minutes before. The older girls made a HUGE fuss over her. They cheered and clapped along with Ms. Angie and when she was finished, Masen was glowing, absolutely GLOWING. Her eyes were all lit up and sparkling and she said THAT WAS FUN!

Yes, baby girl, that WAS fun. I love you.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

There Must Be Something Wrong With Me

No smart comments necessary!

So, Masen talked me into coaching 9-10 yr. old basketball at the Boys & Girls Club. I have done this before, coached her teams, but it isn't the most pleasant of tasks, so I have backed off in the past couple of years and appointed myself the "assistant" coach and didn't put my name on the dotted line. But I gave in and went to tryouts and the "draft" last night. That's right I said draft. And this is where I wonder if there is a screw loose in my thinking, but isn't this supposed to a fun learning experience for these kids? We had a few parent/Pat Riley wannabe's who approached our task as though we were choosing sides for a shot at world domination and multi million $ Nike endorsements. After an hour and a half of bargaining and arguing, the desire to knock someone into next summer with my clipboard was almost more than I could control. Heck I didn't even really WANT to control it. But, alas, I did and no one exited the building bruised. Today I went to sign up for practice dates and YOUHAVEGOTTOBEKIDDINGME some of these people have their girls practicing no less than three nights a week, every week before league starts in JANUARY. We are talking about 9-10 yr old BOYS & GIRLS CLUB LEAGUE. The only "awards" given are those bought by the coaches and parents for their own teams.

Did you feel that?? Common sense just took a hit!

Oh and I'll let you know when my team kicks their butts.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Enchanting

We took the kids sunday afternoon to see Enchanted. If you haven't gone, go. It is one of the better "kid movies" I've seen in a long time. And, most of you know I am pretty critical of most movies directed at children. Its romantic and funny. Hey, it even made me feel mushy towards Chris. After 15 years, he'll take whatever he can get! But don't feel too sorry for him. This is the man after all who has been quoted as saying (referring to ME in a conversation with the guy who works on the loading dock at the feed store) "I learned from Custer not to fight with the indians".

Thats right darlin', I'll shoot you in the arse with my bow and arrow. (I'd threaten scalping, but....)