Nine Years Ago...

Cub Scout Olympics

2nd Place!

Sneaky Reader

I was cleaning the kitchen Saturday when I saw Matthew walk quietly past me into the family room. I wondered what he was doing since there was no noise coming from the room (very strange for Matthew) and the TV wasn't on. But I wasn't about to spoil a good thing, so I kept right on cleaning up the kitchen, happy that whatever it was that he was doing was keeping him occupied for a while. When I finally walked into the room to investigate, I found Matthew engrossed in his new favorite book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. I just recently started reading poetry to him, and to my great joy, he loves it. He's a chip off the old block!

Moving on

Matthew's preschool had their four-year-old graduation on Friday. I was prepared to see him in a cap and gown, and maybe watch a small slide show containing baby pictures that I was asked to contribute for the event. I was not, however, expecting to be sad in the slightest bit. But as soon as we got to the chapel and sat in the pew, I knew I was in for an emotional night. Then, when the pastor's wife started playing "Onward, Christian Soldiers" on the piano and the class marched in, I lost it. And I mean lost it--big, fat tears rolling down my face. I stood up to capture the moment with my camera and thought, "Here comes my baby boy, smiling his big, dimply smile, leading the way down the aisle...and he's growing up." Why is that so hard for me? I mean, it's the point, isn't it? We mothers are supposed to rear and guide and mold these little people into happy, well adjusted adults. But whenever I am faced with a milestone that indicates that one of my children is, in fact, growing up, I get so emotional and want so deeply to simply hold onto the moment of exactly where they are now and never let go of it.


(top left corner, the boy who keeps looking at the piano-that's him)

Then, there are times when instead of being sad, I am just blown away at the fact that my kids are no longer babies and instead they are full-fledge KIDS. Like when I needed to quickly step outside and I slipped my feet into the first available pair of shoes I saw in the closet, and realized that they were my eight-year-old's crocs and they nearly fit me! OK, maybe I was a little sad about that, too.

Even though I get sad about the fact that my children are growing up, I realized that I have deeply enjoyed every age and stage that they have ever been. This leads me to believe that as they continue to grow and change, that I will continue loving everything about them, whether they are five or ten or twenty. I guess I need to heed the advice that I always give to my other mommy-friends; to cherish each moment.

Primaries

I got a phone call yesterday from Caroline Kennedy and Hillary Clinton. And today both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama called me! I feel so special!

I feel a little silly admitting it, but I find it interesting that I can actually hear the voices of these people on the other end of my very own telephone line. For some reason, unlike typical sales calls, I do not mind getting a call in the middle of dinner when I get to hear Hillary or Barack on the line. Maybe it is because I know these particular calls are temporary and will abruptly stop after today. Aside from that, a little part of me feels like I am actually important to the candidates when I get their calls. Although I am well aware that every other registered Democrat in the state of North Carolina is getting these phone calls, they have succeeded in making me feel necessary and important, like my vote in particular counts. This will be the first primary that I have voted in in the thirteen years since I've been granted the right to vote. The reason for this is most definitely not the phone calls alone, but I don't think they hurt. I look forward to doing my duty in tomorrow's primary and, from what he said when he called me today, I really think that Mr. Obama will appreciate my vote!

Gotta love YouTube

Matthew loves music. His favorite bands are Linkin Park and Coldplay. He recently discovered the band Blue October and really enjoys the song "Into the Ocean." So, as we were watching the video to the song on YouTube (you know how the similar videos come up?) we stumbled upon this ADORABLE video:



This little girl also sang "Fix You" by Coldplay at one year old (which is Matthew's favorite song).