take the time to be silly

Yesterday was that day! Yesterday was the day that I stopped and let all the other responsibilities and cares of the day just vanish. Before my boys headed off to school, I declared that last night was going to be silly hat night! We had never done anything like this before so the question out of their mouth was, "Are you serious?". Totally!! They had to come up with an idea, create their silly hat, while keeping it as much a secret as possible, and then wear it to dinner. When they realized that we were really doing this, the look on their faces was absolutely priceless!! While they were at school I ran all of my errands early so I could get home and work on my hat...see, it wasn't just the boys that had to creat a hat!! The whole time I was working on my silly hat, I was smiling. Smiling because I was remembering their reaction to the declaration, smiling because I was thinking about them making their hats, smiling because it was fun and smiling because I couldn't wait for my 2 joys to get home! All I could think about was spending this time being silly with them! All I wanted them to know last night, was that they are important to me. That being with them is fun and that this is home...a place of security, encouragement, laughter, fun and love! This is our home! As I worked with each of them on their hats, I looked at them with a new, found love. My boys are growing up right in front of my eyes and yesterday, I stopped. I looked. I admired. I listened. I watched in pure admiration of the young men my babies are becoming. I watched with tears as those boys sat in front of me creating something, so silly, and yet so important to them. I watched as they put their minds to work creating something that was unique to each of them...it was their own! When all the hats were completed, they were placed in their hiding places with gentle care until the big unveiling! It was FINALLY time for dinner and time to place our creations on our heads! The pure joy and excitement over this last minute declaration of silly hat night was something that I don't want to forget! We all went and got on our hats and came to the table...oh, I wish I could have captured that moment of pure happiness. That moment of not having a care in the world. That moment of my boys having fun and being silly! We enjoyed our night. We enjoyed watching each other try and keep our hats on our heads while we ate. We enjoyed watching all the glitter from Mama's hat fall in her food. We enjoyed being together and being silly!! Last night, the boys voted that this was to be a once a month activity. I know that this won't last forever, but I am going to cherish it forever!! Take time to be silly with your kids. Take time to make memories. Look at your kids like you have never looked at them before. Enjoy your kids...they won't be little forever.

Boys, I can't express enough how much I love you. I know that I am not perfect and that I mess up. I know that there are times when I nag or yell or complain. I know that there is always room for improvement! But what I want YOU to know, is that my love for the 2 of you is forever! You bring me so much joy! I'm so thankful that you are the precious gifts that God gave to me and your Daddy! I love you both so very much!

valentine's day 2000

It is amazing what you come across when cleaning out the "junk" drawer! You know, that drawer that has a little bit of EVERYTHING in it and yet you can't find ANYTHING? Please tell me that you have a drawer like that?! Anyway, I had sent an email out recalling the chaos that was Valentine's Day...and this was BEFORE kids!! Enjoy...

February 14, 2000

I had to tell you about my V-day experience!! I figured I would make it a special night since I was going to be home all day! Last week I bought a chocolate cake and the stuff to make butter icing. I thought that would be nice!

Well, today I got up and cleaned the whole house...and I mean clean!! Mopped the kitchen floor, put down the vanilla scented floor stuff that you vacuum up and I sprayed the glade air freshener throughout the house. It smelled REALLY good when I walked in the house. How do I know? Let me tell you!

After I finished cleaning and got done getting my shower and getting dressed, I thought I would start the cake. No prob! I pulled out the box and see that I picked up a box of brownies! That's good and all, but I know Jason wanted a chocolate cake! Alright, I'm already dressed, I can run out and get a box of cake. I ran to Walmart and got this butter recipe cake...looked pretty good!

When I walked in the house, I smelled vanilla and a little bit of apple cinnamon glade spray! Mmmmmmm!! I begin to bake the cake. I've made dozens of cakes before so this was easy. To make it even more special, I got out the heart shaped cake pan that I used last year!

I stick the cake in the oven and let it cook. I came in and checked my email, folded some laundry and then all of a sudden I smell something burning! I run to the oven to see what is happening and the cake mix is RUNNING over the sides of the pan and is now black and burning on the bottom of my oven. I put on the oven fan and stand there for a little. The smoke is just POURING out of the oven. The next thing I know...the cake mix that spilled over the side of the oven is now in FLAMES!!! I don't mean little flames either! I grab the fire extinguisher, hesitating, because I don't want to mess up my cake! The next thing I know the smoke detector begins to go off ~ and why wouldn't it?! My house is FULL of smoke! I open the back door and the front door and set up the fan to blow the smoke AWAY from the detector! In the meantime, the flames had gone out and it looked like I was cooking on the grill with the hot charcoals at the bottom! The house continues to fill up with smoke...the smoke detector is STILL going off...the cake mix is STILL pouring over the pan and here is Sadie in her cage not having a clue what was going on (Sadie was our white lab).

Once I got things under control, or so I thought, I go to get Sadie out of her cage and she is just shaking! I reach in to get her and realize that she was sooo scared that she wet in her cage and the new bed we just got her!! I put her outside and I get the bed in the washer. No biggie! I bring her back in the smoke-filled house to try and settle her down. The timer goes off for the "cake", so I stick her back in her cage so I can get it out of the oven. I went and took some extra strength Tylenol and let the cake cool for 15 minutes before I get it out of the burnt cake mix covered pan! 15 minutes is up and I go to dump the cake out, but only 1/2 comes out! The other 1/2 is stuck in the greased, heart shaped cake pan! Whatever!! So, now I have to figure out how in the world I am going to ice this cake! The crusty part that is usually on the cake is still in the pan! I have this dilapidated, crumbly looking heart (I think!) shaped cake sitting on a plate! How 'bout those brownies?! And I am going to try and cook something new for dinner?! "Jason, how does Dominoes and brownies sound?"

Needless to say...my house smells like a big BBQ pit, Sadie hasn't MOVED all afternoon, my ears are ringing and Jason will be home in 2 hours!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!



I told this story to the boys a long time ago and since then, they are always wanting me to tell them about the day my cake caught on fire!! By the way, I ended up throwing my heart shaped cake pan away...it wasn't worth it!!

I hope you enjoyed my version of a Valentine's Day from long ago!!

This is Sadie!