Being a Grandma Ain't for Sissies

So my darling daughter and her darling husband went away for the weekend on an annual golf get-away....good for them... A well deserved break! What does this mean for me? Me? Grandma? Ahh... the grandma opportunity... I get to have Maycie Jean all to myself for the weekend.

I headed over to J'Amy's house last night to pick up the little darlin - and low and behold - these days children come with instructions... at least children coming from J'Amy Nicole do.... three whole pages of instructions... the last thing on the list was "Tell Maycie every day that her mommie misses her and loves her." Check.

So today, the first day of our weekend adventure has been exciting so far... here's the run down...

We were standing in line in the Post Office - mailing off an international jewelry order and Maycie breaks wind like none other - - - which is followed by the loudest bowel movement I have ever heard a kid conceive.... then she laughs - and laughs - and laughs - - - so did everyone in line. I couldn't wait to get to the front of the line - at which time we get up there and the clerk proclaims - - "My, what a big job you did!" to which Maycie replied "WOW, whew, eeewww." Holy batman. After several folks in the post office encouraged her by saying "whew... whew..." we finally we arrived back in the snot rocket (the name my children have given to the green VW Beetle I drive.) I changed her lime green diaper (wow, it totally matched the snot rocket!) and it was off to the grocery store. We get into Dick's Market and are singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" together when suddenly from nowhere comes a large and loud - "Uh oh" followed by another episode of breaking wind that woulda made her daddy proud... She giggles. About now we are in the dairy section - - she spots the chocolate milk - - "mmmmm" she says. Grandma says "yes... you can have some of that chocolate milk we have at home!" I am thoroughly delighted with the fact that we will have a treat when we arrive back home. I continue to move toward the eggs... oh, no, she will have none of that!!! She points insistently to the chocolate milk.... I keep moving - - Here it comes - Full On Scream.... In an Olympian moment, I put that cart in reverse and picked up that chocolate milk. Okay, whew - - we are good for now... Moving on to the granola bars, sippy cups, baby wipes, and the white cranberry/peach juice. We only have like 5 more minutes and we can get back to the snot rocket and head east!! Another verse of the itsy bitsy spider... we are almost there.... Checkstand....home base... and then she spots them - - the pink bouncy balls... Why do they put those stupid things by the checkstand??? She points... she eyeballs me....it is a test.... who will win. Quick diversion, the store clerk says "My what a darling little girl! Can I have that chocolate milk?" Ummmm noooooo...what was she thinking with??? Then it starts - - the low pitch growl.... and in a split second the clerk flips into her Olympian moment, she scans the chocolate milk and hands it back...whew... We are so out of there - - off to the bug... one more verse of itsy bitsy spider while I strap her into the car seat... while she shakes her chocolate milk. Upon arrival home, Scooter the dachshund pup diligently licks Maycie's face with that tongue that he just can't control... Up in the high chair for lunch.... Turkey sandwich with dill pickles....ummm ummm ummm ummm ummm..... with a soft background of "La la la la, Elmo's World"... We finished up lunch without incident. We wiped off our faces, sang itsy bitsy spider again - - with a fine chorus of John Jacob Jingle-Heimer-Schmidt. Then off to bed with the sippy cup of crystal light and the zebra striped minky blanket. Me? I am sprawled on the couch....

Mother's Day in My Etsy Shop

I will be running a special in my Etsy shop in honor of Mother’s Day. It is kind of simple really. For any purchase over $15, I will apply a 15% discount (which will be given via a PayPal refund at the time of shipping). This sale will end Sunday, May 11. In order to receive the discount, upon checkout, in the Message to Seller box, I want you to tell me a special thought about what Mother’s Day means to you. Maybe it will be about why your mom is special, could be about someone who has been like a mom to you. You get the idea… I think it is important to recognize moms and their contributions to our lives. If your comments are not about your mom, then it can be someone of the like. It also gives you the opportunity to be a bit introspective and think of really good reasons why your mom is important/loved, and also the opportunity, if only for a moment to live in gratitude.

I will write more about my Mom as Mother's Day approaches. But if I were buying something in my shop from me.... my message to seller would say something like:

There has never been a time in my life when my Mother hasn't loved or supported me. She has stuck by me - thick and thin. She is the best example of what pure motherhood is all about.

Fifty Years - Wow

Today is it - Aprill 11, 2008 - - this marks Marge and Wayne's 50th Wedding anniversary... Look how cute they are ...

Look at that cheezer on Marge's face. She totally looks like "Uh-huh that's right girls he is mine all mine, uh-huh uh-huh...

I have been feeling incredibly reminiscent as this day approached...

Here is my recent list of memory ramblings:

1. Lakeview Terrace baseball fields - never watching Randy and Mike's games, but wandering through the the wash looking for cool rocks or flowers.

2. Picking blackberries in Klammath trying to fill my bucket faster than Randy and always, always falling into the stickery blackberry bushes. Did Randy ever fall in the bushes??? Noooooo... he never did - - I guess that is why my Dad always called me Grace.

3. Surf fishing at the Mouth of the Klammath river (this memory HAD to follow the blackberry memory) and catching a tube worm. I was the hero of day...even Randy thought I was a hero. Who ever thinks their little sister is a hero?

4. The Grasshoppers. Man - - we played some mean softball. I think at season end I pitched for a record of 0-12. But damn I looked hot with my green sweatshirt and Mrs. Brady shag haircut. Wendy was the best catcher a crappy pitcher could ever hope for!

5. Marco Calvo - - furry, fuzzy, sexy Marco Calvo.... Dad yelling from his and Mom's bedroom "GOODNIGHT MARCO!"

6. Wendy trying to desperately teach me "The Hustle" right before my senior prom - - dancing to the BeeGees.... I still love you Andy!!!

7. Walking down the aisle at Sunland Neighborhood Church and Daddy saying "We can turn around right now Cindie..."

8. Watching my Mom's ever loving, ever tender care of my precious, precious Grandma. Right up to and including the time she passed away - - my Mom was with her. I will never, never forget, and will always admire, respect, and try with every last breath to emulate her.

9. Seeing Wayne chase Marge around at J'Amy's wedding. He was telling everyone how sexy she was... And 50 years later - Wayne still chases Marge around.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Daddy! Muah!

April Fools Day!

Remember when you were a kid and you did all those silly, okay let's just call it what it is - - STUPID, April Fools day jokes? This year I didn't have ONE, not one joke played on me. However there were a few pretty good ones that went around the office. One person called my son in law and said "Is this the hostess plant?" To which Eric replies, "No, I am afraid you have the wrong number." The caller then said "Well I was sure I was talking to a Ding Dong!" As silly and stupid as that was... I laughed my tail off.... There is a good clean joke for ya!

I remember one year when I worked for the Mayor, we unscrewed his telephone receiver cap, the part that you speak into, and put raw onions in it. Every time he picked up the phone there was an awful onion smell... That was a pretty good one...

What about that one.... Hey is your refrigerator running..... well you better hurry and catch it!

Urrrrhhhh?

...said in her best Scooby Doo voice.....

Huh?! What?! She runs back into the house, checks the calendar....Yup, it is March 27th... What is this outside? Three inches of new snow.... Helllllooooo.... the daffodils don't know what to do with themselves....She resigns herself back to the kitchen and makes a strong cup of coffee...takes off the flip flops and rummages through the closet for those darn winter boots.....

Blowing Bubbles

Do you remember a time in your life when blowing bubbles was amazingly fun? Do you remember trying to control how hard you blew through the wand so as to make an endless stream of bubbles? Well, I got to be reminded of the art of bubble blowing over the Easter weekend. Maycie and I played bubbles and had a ball! There is something incredibly calming and mesmerizing about watching the bubbles float through the air. Maycie was completely enthralled by them. I am in awe of that little girl. I love to watch her face as her little mind processes each and every thing she comes in contact with. Oh to be 14 months old and have a lifetime ahead to learn and grow!

March Recipe

Artichoke Spinach Dip

(2) 8 oz. bricks of cream cheese room temperature
1 cup shredded Parmesan or Asiago or any other dry hard cheese you choose
1 can artichoke bottoms (not marinated)
1 cup mayonnaise
½ tsp. garlic
1 box frozen chopped spinach thawed, and pressed so all moisture is gone

Combine cream cheese, ¾ cup of cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, and spinach. Mix thoroughly. Roughly chop the artichoke bottoms and fold in. Spoon dip into a oven ready dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly. If you would like (which I do) you can broil it for a couple of minutes at the end to crisp the top a bit.

This dip is best served with either pita chips or crustini. You can also make great substitutions or additions to this recipe. Try omitting the artichokes (or leave them in..) and adding itty bitty bay shrimp, or lump crab. If you use seafood, add ½ tsp. Old Bay Seasoning!