Sock Stories

This is the story of my life.  It actually has a lot of do with socks.  My children's socks to be precise. You know how you're supposed to 'pick your battles'...this is one I don't fight any more.  I stopped fighting the battle of socks when each child was around age 2.  That's when I lost all control of socks in their lives.  Please don't read into this or try to make any analogies about my mothering abilities based on my not being able to control the socks my children wear.  There is no correlation what-so-ever.  It just is.  Socks are, I have come to discover, an expression of each person's personality.  Why not let them express it. Who wants to wear boring old white socks, right-side out?  Not my people, that's for sure!

Gavin

This used to really bother me. Like, I-can't-look-at-his-feet bother me.  He refuses to match his socks.  He could care less whether they are inside out or backwards for that matter (same holds true for underwear, but I won't be posting any pictures).  They are simply utilitarian in his world.  You have to wear socks in order to wear sneakers.  If he could find sneakers that don't need socks - he'd wear them instead.  Why bother with the details of socks when there are so many other more important issues to solve like algebraic equations and quantum relativity?  I asked him how he chooses his socks each day and he said, "I just pull out two pair from my drawer." ( while blind-folded - apparently).  That's as much effort as he puts into getting ready each day.  Thankfully, it's not my problem.  I don't do his laundry.  I don't match his socks.  I don't interfere in his sock life.  We're all much happier that way. You have freedom of choice in this family.

Chloe

Whimsical, fun, pretty feet.  For years I had her in those adorable little white ruffly, lace socks that folded down and just looked so girly.  No more.  Even then (at 2), she liked to miss match the ruffles. She'd choose one that was eyelet and another that was lace.  Whatever.  We've not been seeing eye-to-eye on her clothing choices since she was 9 months old, why fight about sock choices too.  Actually, this seeing eye-to-eye thing is more about them seeing things my way, the correct way.  Apparently, I am the student here and am learning through their eyes.  Life is more fun when you don't have to match (so I'm told).  Just for the record, I match my socks everyday - and I only wear clean ones, something I don't assume that any of my off-spring do.  She also likes to sleep in her socks and recycle them the next day, meaning, wear them again since she didn't get dirty in them the day before.  The hamper for dirty clothes is less than 25 feet from her room, yet it's just easier to recycle apparently.

Bennett

Always the sports dude.  Basketball socks are all the rage.  Not only that, they must  be team colors. Thus, the plethora of orange and black socks in his drawer.  Shockingly, he is the only one of the kids who takes care to match his socks daily and to make sure the seams at the the toes are perfectly straight. It's all about being cool for him.  He'll buy cool socks with his own money.  That says alot right there. None of my other people would even consider such a ridiculous waste of money.  But these are not only to be worn with the basketball uniform, they go nicely with jeans, sweat pants, shorts and flip flops.  All year long.

See what you can tell about someone just from their socks?  Next, I should take a picture of their sock drawers.  On second thought, I don't think so.  It may just send me into a state of eye twitching, heavy sighs and huffy breaths.  I love all things neat and organized.  My children think that just cuz it's out of sight, it's ok.  It is so not ok to have a messy sock drawer.  I just want to put that out there.  The state of your sock drawer says alot about the state of your mind.  That's a whole nother blog post.  But I refuse to belabor the point any longer.  If I don't see it, don't have to touch it or smell it or deal with it (referring to sock drawers), then what I don't know, won't hurt me.  That's my new philosophy.  On socks anyways.

I Like This

Splendid Snow Snapshots

Beautiful waves in the snow from the wind.

A huge snow bank at the high school.  Once they plow the

parking lot they shove all the snow into this huge embankment that

becomes a monster mountain.  It was Chuck's idea to go there to play

King of the Mountain.

My rocking chair I haven't sat on in 4 months.

Beautiful contrast of colors.  I love that there is still so

much green during the winter.

Ninja having a blast digging through the snow.

The snow is literally past my knees - and this was before

the blizzard that dumped another 10 inches on us.

It was much easier for them to climb this tree that is normally

too far off the ground without the snow.

What it looked like through our family room window the morning after the storm.

I love the sun - in any form I can get it!

Belated Valentine's

You know how we roll around here.  Valentine's Day is for our homemade date at the Ghoti Diner, then the following weekend we celebrate by going out - but not together.  Chuck has taken Chloe to the Daddy/Daughter Dance for 4 years now.  This is the highlight of each year for her.  I get to out with two handsome dudes and do dude stuff.  Always a highlight for me.  Thankfully, this year did not include any mirrors. 

The princess ready to go to the ball.  

The princess and her escort.  When they got to the

venue and got their name tags, Chuck's tag said "Chucky".

He thought it was a joke I played on him since I registered

him for the event.  No, I totally wouldn't do that, but we all

got a good laugh about it!

This is actual height.  I'm shrinking daily. 

We're actually eating food on a date and enjoying it!

Smashburger and boys - what a good combo!

We risked the icy roads and post blizzard conditions to go to our favorite (cheap) theater in Minneapolis to watch "Saving Mr. Banks".  So fun!  I tried to cut Gavin out of the picture, but he would have none of that!

I Want To Remember

True Love

"I fell in love with him.  But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me.  I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other.  I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me."
- Veronica Roth Allegiant

I don't know why this quote struck me the way it did.  It was one of those moments that as soon as I read those words, I put down the book, stared off into space thinking on those simple words and knowing settled over me.  I knew at that moment this defined true love.  We've fallen in love many times throughout our marriage.  We've also experienced the lulls of love, when it feels its waned a little too long.  When the mundaneness of life dictates our routines.

Ann Voskamp said it so poetically when she wrote: "You would think that after a lifetime of Sunday sermons I would have known that this is what real love always does---goes to hell and back for each other."

Marriage is work and joy and heartache and utopia and forgiveness and disappointment and acceptance and desire and sacrifice.  It is too many things all wrapped into one precious gift that becomes tested with time.  It is the fusion of two hearts into one.  Fusion requires a letting go of oneself in order to produce its desired outcome....a melding of two.

Love is a choice.  An every day choice.

I choose you.

Under the Spotlight

Apparently this is Placate Mommy Week and I didn't know it.  First I have to defend my coolness when under attack from Gavin because he questions my music choices (shouldn't the tables be reversed here?).  Now I'm getting it from Chloe, albeit in a totally unforeseen direction.  The other day she comes and gives me a hug, looks up at me and says (like I so often do to her), "Mom, you know my favorite thing about you?  How you play with your vitamin pills."  Really?!  That's your favorite thing about me?  I'm baffled.  I wasn't aware I played with my pills.  Upon noticing my confused expression she delves into greater detail, "Ya, you always spin them around or flip them back and forth while you're drinking your tea.  I think that's kinda cute."

Am I 5 years years old all of the sudden?  I guess I did just fall off the turnip truck if my playing with vitamins is deemed 'cute' by my 9 year old.  Man....these people are ALWAYS watching me, I can't get away with nothin!   I better start taking my vitamins like a grown up and stop playing with them.  How can you stop doing something you weren't aware of doing?

Then comes Bennett, ever my encourager and biggest fan.  He leaves me sticky notes all over the place, on my bedroom door, on the computer.  He's always trying to lift my spirits if he thinks they are low (normally my spirits are just tired and want to go to bed, but a big dose of encouragement doesn't hurt).  Here are two examples that were left on my computer desktop:

You rock mom!  You are very amazing how you deal 

with your headaches  and stomach aches!  If I had to live 

like that for just one day I would be very snappy 

and upset!  Also I just wanted to let you know

 that you are a very good cheerleader!  Also, remember 

to use your elbows and flipping techniques if 

somebody tries to hurt you! :)     From, Bennett 

_________

最もよいお母さんである!

 That means.... You are the best Mom ever!  

Make sure you read this Mom! :)

From, Bennett

So last night when I'm tucking him in he looks up at me with the hugest smile to say: "Keep up the good work, Mom!  I love how you're always trying to show us Jesus."  How can you not go to bed feeling on top of the world when that's how your night ends?!  

I have THE BEST JOB EVER even if my cool status is questioned periodically and they notice my childish behavior. 

Unbelieveable

Yesterday Gavin and I were driving in the car while listening to my Most Awesome Playlist.  It is an extremely eclectic mix of genres and artists.  Thankfully, the kids have given their stamp of approval to some of the songs...the ones that have been released within the last 3 years.  The rest of them are considered "old classics" to them.  How anyone could speak of music from the 80's and 90's with that tone of voice is beyond me.  When I hear "old classics" I think of 50's music.  Since when did I have to start defending my choice in music? Whatever.

But now that I have an uber-cool 15 year old who knows everything and anything about "cool" and since I just recently fell off the turnip truck, I am forever under his "cool" scrutiny.  Especially my music.  So, back to the story at hand...we're driving around and all the sudden from my super cool playlist this song erupts through the stereo speakers:



Gavin: "Mom, I'm surprised you like this song."

Me:  "What?  You don't think I'm cool?  Oh! I know cool."

Gavin:  "I'm just saying I didn't think this was a kind of song you would like."

Me:  "Well, there's alot about me you don't know about.  I have a wild side you know."

He laughs a smug little laugh at me while condescendingly shaking his head and simultaneously smirking.

Gavin: "Mom.  I don't think you have a wild side."

Me:  "Well. Ok.  Maybe not wild.  But definitely unpredictable.  As you can tell by my playlist.  And I know how to be cool!"

Gavin:  "I'm sure you do." (condescending smile)

Me:  "Ok, so I don't even know half the words to this song.  I just like the "unbelievable" part.  Plus, it reminds me of college.  I think that's when it was popular."

So we then proceed to look it up since we all carry around mini computers in the palm of our hands these days.  We google the song only to find out it was released in 1991.  OMG!  (see how cool and hip I am, I can even type in text acronyms).  That is a long time ago.  Actually, it was the year I graduated from high school.  I told him we'd gladly play it for him for his high school graduation party so he could feel UN-BE-LIEVE-ABLE and cool too.  But he declined.  He says he'll put it off till his college graduation party when it will be more like 30 years old.

I'll still be cool then.  As long as they keep adding modern songs to my playlist when I'm not looking.

Don't Make Me Sigh

Apparently, I sigh a lot.  I never really knew this until the kids pointed it out.  I guess over the years I've learned to sigh when I don't know how to handle a parenting situation.  When there's not a rule book to consult in what do in situation x, y or z.  Now I'm left with the task of figuring out what to do all on my own.  That's enough to make anyone sigh.

It's not like they're long drawn out sighs.  Or huffy breaths.  Or sighs with moans attached to them.  Actually, I have my own little patented sigh.  It's a slight inhale then one short breath out followed by a quick quiet inhale and another long breath out (sort of like a cleansing breath).  The kids mimic me EVERY SINGLE TIME.  This is just what I do, I don't even realize it.  I don't do it to get attention.  I don't do it when I'm mad or sad or glad...I just do it Sam I am.  Sorry, I got a little carried away with the Dr. Seuss theme.

As with all things around here, it has turned into a joke.  Chloe, ever sensitive to my altering breaths, moods or nuances, will stop the boys on a dime with the phrase, "Boys, you don't want to make mom sigh do you?"  That would be the worst thing that could happen.  It would mean her world and mine are not in a state of peace anymore.

It's a great way to defuse a volatile situation, especially in our house.  All I have to say is say, "Don't make me sigh" and everyone becomes sweet little angels once more.  Oh if parenting were really that easy....

The Angel in the Ford Focus

We got a break from the North Pole like temperatures yesterday only to be plummeted with bucket loads of snow instead.  I like the snow,  so I won't complain.  What I don't like is getting stuck in it.  I've known for months now that my tires have no traction on them.  We kept meaning to get new tires but ...you know how that goes.  It just never quite works into the budget or life gets so busy you forget.  Many excuses but none that seemed good enough when I was stuck in my predicament yesterday.

I took Chloe to school early because I knew I'd have a hard time making it up the hill that led out of her school.  It's not even a true hill if we were using the proper definition of a hill, rather a large incline that leads to a street with another large incline.  I'd been having some difficulty the past few times I drop her off getting out of the school parking lot.  So as not to embarrass myself or cause a multitude of honking horns, I dropped Chloe off 30 minutes early so I would have time to make my slow get-a-way.

Bald tires and snow don't mix.  The combination is more like a sled effect.  It's a lot more fun to slide downhill on a tube or sled than backwards in a car with other cars around you.  Thankfully, my backwards slide did not hurt one car or person because I thought ahead and was early and handled this little episode with little to no eye-witnesses around.  Genius.

Unfortunately, that was where my genius runs out and becomes moron.  I make it to the top of the first "hill" after the first slide down unbeknownst to passersby.  Unfortunately, I had to make a hard stop once I got to the top of the hill because the on-coming cars had no idea of my little bald tire problem and wouldn't have appreciated me sliding on out into their lane of traffic.  Hard stop I did and then....nothing.

My car WOULD NOT GO!  My heart starts pounding.  My head decides to follow suit.  There are no more cars in the cross street yet my car refuses to budge.  I push down on the gas pedal with all my might and whew - I glide a whole 3 inches out into the road.  It just gets worse from there.

Now I'm successfully in the middle of the street AND not going anywhere fast.  My tires are spinning, the snow is falling, my heart is racing and my car is apparently napping.  It refuses to move even one more millimeter.  Did I mention we were experiencing white out conditions during this snow storm?  That means it's almost impossible to see 1 to 2 cars ahead of you.  This is an added stress factor that none of us really want to deal with at the time.

So here I am blocking the only way out of the school and the street in front of the school and the street into the school.  I'm barely hanging onto the road I'm on hoping that I don't start sliding backwards into the car behind me.  Miraculously, no one is honking...yet.  But on the other hand, no is is running to my aid yet either.  It is very apparent that I am under LOTS of duress!  Where are my rescuers??  I just want to stick my head in the snow and disappear.  I am mortified by the backlog of cars I am causing.

I know I need to do something, but what?  What else is there?  My mind was searching wildly through my databank of options and there was absolutely nothing in my training or background to cling to.  Rescue was my only option.

I did come up with only one plan but immediately shot it down when I figured it would make Chuck mad.  I seriously thought about getting out and pushing my car into the ditch and then walking home in the snow and letting Chuck deal with it when he got off work.  That scenario didn't play out well in my mind's eye, so I went back to the drawing board.

I then got out and used my ice scraper to shovel some snow out behind all my tires hoping against hope that it would encourage my sad, bald tires to cling to the little bit of asphalt it could find.  But to no avail.

I barely had a Plan A, how in the world was I supposed to come up with a Plan B?  Not knowing what else to do, I got back out of my car and ran down to the car behind me ready to get an earful.  But when the lady rolled down her window she was smiling at me.  I apologized to her and asked her if she wouldn't mind pushing my car.  I certainly couldn't push it and steer it at the same time.  Thankfully, she said yes.

In my mind, I'm thinking she would get out of her car and push while I sat in the car, with it in neutral while she pushed me up the hill.  I know that sounds horrible but it wasn't even my plan, The picture of it just sort of popped into my head.  But apparently she thought I meant that I wanted her car to push my car up the hill.  The lady was the sweetest little hispanic lady and gave me some advice about my tires that I didn't quite make out but shook my head to anyways.

I run back to my car and assume the position of foot on the gas pedal pushed all the way to the floor, rocking back and forth like that might somehow lull the car out of it's stupor and trying not to look at the massive back up of cars all around me.  Then all of the sudden her bumper is on my bumper and she is pushing me up the hill.  Granted, we are going 2 miles an hour, but it's working.  I am no longer in the same spot, spinning my wheels.  Did I mention she was driving a Ford Focus?  I don't know how this little Ford Focus mustered up the strength to push us both up the hill in the slippery snow, but it did and for that I am grateful.

I'm also grateful that not one person honked or heckled me or gave me a mean look - I was already on the verge of tears and that would have sent me over the edge.  As it was, I had tears of gratitude in my eyes for the angel in the Ford Focus who saved me.

Grocery List

This is what happens when I ask Gavin to write a few items on a grocery list for me. 

Birthday DUFDN

When Chuck asked me if I wanted to go anywhere or do anything special for my birthday this year, but the only thing I could think of was DUFDN.  They've seemed to wane with time and I'm not quite ready to give up this beloved tradition.  I picked the theme of "Different Cultures".  Here we are in all our glory:

Chuck was an Afghani Pashtun tribesman, Gavin was Brolieus Caesar from Rome, Chloe was a Croatian peasant girl, Bennett was a Ninja from Japan and I was an Indian from Mumbai.  

Quite the international family.

I was literally shocked when Chuck came out in his costume.  He looked like he had a mask on.

He obviously won "Best Costume"!  I especially love the unibrow.

This is what the international dinner table looked like.

This was a beautiful piece of art Chuck painted for me.

And the best gift of all - time with my favorite people.  For the third time this year

school was cancelled because of excess cold temperatures.  The real temperature was -22 degrees, 

but the windchill brought it down to -39.  At that temperature, exposed skin freezes in 5 minutes 

outside.  So the kids got an unexpected day off.  Perfect timing.  We played Uno, Blokus, and my

 favorite Nertz!  It's a great day to be alive!