Running Around Town

Friday is a busy day. After dropping Ben off at school, Callie and Donovan spend the day with me running errands. This gives Brett (who works nights) a full eight hours to peacefully sleep .

At Michael's we look for paper to finish the kids birthday scrapbook (their birthday is not until June).

The kids each pick out a pair of sunglasses. We remember to choose a pair for Ben too.

An elderly woman laughs when the kids "ahhhed" and "oohed" over the eye level candy display. When a lane opens she insists we go in front of her. She remarks, "You have such cute kids."

The check out lady asks, "Can I give them a cookie?"

"Sure. Thank You."

Pre-wrapped cookies suddenly appear in Donovan and Callie's hands.

At SAMS we stop at the bakery. I have been asked to bring a cake to the hospital on Monday. Pink and blue booties adorn it. March of Dimes, March for Babies will be skillfully written across the center.

Callie and Donovan introduce themselves to the lady helping me with my order.

"Hi, I'm Donovan. This is my sister Callie." He jerks a thumb towards his sister.

"Hello, I'm Callie. We are running errands. Mommy bought us sunglasses. Mine are pink. His are orange."

Smiling the lady responds warmly, "You are both the cutest kids. How sweet." She turns to me. "Can I give them a cookie?"

I nod. She disappears. When she returns she offers a plate of chocolate chip and snicker doodle cookies. "Which one would you like?"

Donovan picks a Snicker Doodle. Callie chooses a chocolate chip cookie. We all thank the kind lady.

We stop to eat lunch. Several employees stop by our table to chat with the kids. I slurp down my cup of soup and the kids graze through sandwiches.

After a lengthy conversation with Donovan one waitress hands him a sticker. "You are both so cute I could stick you in my pocket and keep you."

Callie giggles. "We are too big to fit in your pocket."

After picking Ben up we head to the library. Old rentals are returned. The kids sit down around a small table. I skim through the children's section looking for books the kids will like.

Callie begins chatting with a lady shelving books. "Hi, my name is Callie. What is your name?"

Smiling the lady stops what she is doing and answers. "My name is Nog."

"Oh, that is a very pretty name." Callie bats her eye lashes and smiles.

"Thank you."

Callie's face twists in concentration as she tries to think of something else sweet to say. "Once I had a puppy. His name was Nog Nog. He liked to drink water from a bowl."

Laughing the lady turns to me. "Your children are very kind. Can I give them coloring sheets? I'll get them some crayons."

So the kids color while I finish making book selections.

At check out the kids introduce themselves to all of the librarians and receive stickers.

Seriously. By the end of the day we acquired four cookies, five stickers, three coloring pages/crayons, and an invitation to skip in line. Not to mention we had many opportunities to practice our manners.

At bedtime the children go to sleep without protest. That is my freebie. Enough of a reward to run around town with them all day again .... some time.

I am so exhausted by the day's end that I go to bed early too. "ZzzzzzzzzzzZ"

Let's Talk About Money, Honey...

A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

His money is twice tainted: taint yours and taint mine.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) U.S. humorist, writer, and lecturer.

Money can't buy happiness; it can, however, rent it.
Unknown Source

Anyone can be great with money. With money, greatness is not a talent but an obligation. The trick is to be great without money.
Unknown Source

Lately I've been thinking a lot about money. Who hasn't lately? Greenbacks may be what makes the world go 'round but lately we've been on a repetitive tilt and not a silent rotation.

A friend confided to me that her baby's special formula (that he must take) was $34's a week ago. Due to rising prices in every venue around the country formula prices have gone up too. This week she paid $44.45's a can. Yes. I said per can.

We owe a bundle of money in taxes this year. Yep. We do. State and federal Uncle Sam's do not discriminate. They want a fair cut.

For five years we've poured every resource into giving our children a healthy and smart start. Frequently I joke with people that we've grown the kids from the ground up. That takes some major resources.

So it is what it is.

One day Brett and I will be 80, sitting on a long front porch, rocking in matching wood rockers. Cars will speed pass the house and we'll comment on dangerous, young drivers. We may laugh about how easy people have it 2054. Smiling we will reminisce about all the times we said, "we'll never be in this situation" and laugh about all the times we suddenly were ....

By then our children will be grown with children of their own. Their children may be parents too. We'll proudly talk about all the delightful people who came down the family line because of us.

This is hope. Hope that tomorrow is another day. That better times are yet to come. In moments that seem impossible it is hope that pulls us through.

We will pay our taxes. Pay our bills. Willingly or unwillingly we will pay the ever increasing gasoline prices that trickle into groceries and clothing. We will because we are grown ups. To provide and care for (against all odds) is what adults do for those who depend upon them.

A week or so ago Brett and I were listening to the radio. The announcer was encouraging everyone to come out on Saturday and attend a big rally to raise money for MD. Off the cuff Brett grumbled, "That's funny. I was going to have a big rally at our house on Saturday to raise money for ME." Together we laughed.

That is also what people do. At least people like Brett and me. When life seems too difficult ... too exhausting .... too much ... we laugh. In spite of it all ... we laugh.

Far greater than money is the ability to remain a little idealistic, to keep a sense of humor and most of all ... to recognize the blessings money cannot buy.

As for our kids, I want them to stay kids for as long as they can. Our job is to teach them the value of a dollar while also sheltering them from the truth of what that dollar often represents.

A senator or legislature (whatever) commented the other day that Americans should be excited to pay their taxes. After all, we have freedom and all the liberties that come with it.

It is hard to be excited to pay taxes when most Americans are barely making ends meet. Though I can believe paying taxes may make some Americans (cough, cough) exciteable.

Happy April 15th! Good luck.

Psssst! Can I borrow a stamp?

My Kids *are* Cute!

Happy April 5th Everyone! Yep, it is my birthday. Happy Birthday to my twin, Brandon!

To celebrate this milestone I've decided to share with you "cute things" my kidlets do.

* The other day I was explaining to the kids that next year they would be attending kindergarten. How very exciting!

Donovan came close to tears. "But I don't want to go to school. I want to stay home, learn to play the guitar, and be a rock star."

Drats! Foiled again.

*At school Benjamin had a room full of visitors and really needed to potty. He asked his paraprofessional to accompany him to the bathroom. Being an older child, he prefers her standing outside the door. When he was done he peeped his head out. "Mrs. R. - You are going to need your gloves." He'd had a tiny accident on the floor.

His teachers are still laughing about this one!

*Callie is a giggly and precious girl. She loves to talk, sing, and dance. One day she was dancing all over the living room. Pausing for a moment on her tip toes she informs us, "I am getting married to my boyfriend."

Brett passes through the room and hears this. "Since when did you have a boyfriend?"

She flutters towards him in a butterfly sweep. "You're my boyfriend, daddy."

Oh, okay. Well .... as long as there isn't a boyfriend. This was just such a daddy/daughter kind of heart melt moment.

And so the world turns at our house.

For my birthday we went to the zoo, rode the carousel, and I purchased "eraser" boards for the kids. We ate hot dogs for lunch. Donovan got the cake he so desperately wanted (with ice cream). Being a mom definitely has its perks.

"Shhhhhhhh, everyone hide." Benjamin yells as I come down the stairs.

"Everybody panic. EEEEEK!" exclaims Callie.

"Hurry, Mommy's coming and we still need sprinkles for the cake!" Shouts Donovan.

Hope you have a beautiful day!

For those of you who have been able to, Thanks for supporting our March of Dimes Family Team. It means a lot.