And Without ANY Further Adieu...

I VERY happily bring to the world, the writings of an Honored Guest Blogger (my 'broder') Warhol:

 

I'll Have the Sweetbreads, please..

My Erin-

You came into my life, out of no where (a garage, in fact.) A very "odd place for such a classy lookin girl."... With your quiet wit, you quickly lazered in my full attention.  I asked you on a date and you said YES!!... and then No... then YES!! again. After spending only a little time with you, I learned several important things:

You carry yourself with class

but are willing to down a Busch Light with the boys.

You prefer the finer restaurants

but loves Katsup on your Mac n Cheese.

Your eyes glaze over, when I recite the entire (Classic) "Hey Mikey" Life cereal commercial but you can name all of Brad and Angelina's children.

You are smart, funny, caring

and Beautiful.

All of this and more, is why I fell in love with you.

Now. It is time... to look towards Our Future.

 

"I said, I think that we can stay here,
Cause I feel our time has come.
And we can walk down to the ocean,
And sit with the rising sun.
So unpack your bags this instant,
No more running from town to town
And now that we've arrived so safely,
Baby you can..."

So... Erin Michelle Wrigley....
____ ___ _____ __ ????

The Truman Show

The Kid and I were driving alone together in the van.
I noticed him looking out the window...
He paused and then said: Don't make fun of me... but have you ever thought it's weird that we aren't people in a book?  Or characters in a movie? Isn't it weird that we are 'real'? And not like a movie, someone is watching?

I looked directly at him and answered: I used to think that very same thing all the time.

The Kid turned and responded nervously with MUCH skepticism: Seriously?  Are you being serious??

Me: I'm totally serious.  I clearly remember thinking it was weird that I was 'real'. I always wondered if maybe we were little people in a dollhouse or something and bigger people were watching our lives.

With a grateful smile and sigh of relief, The Kid settled back into his seat.

--------------------------------------------------

As a parent, often we are so tired and overwhelmed... that we sometimes forget the amazing ideas bouncing around inside their heads... and that long ago... they used to bounce around inside of ours.

Later, I told Coach the story.
He got excited: I can totally remember thinking that!  I can remembering thinking it was sorta like the movie 'The Truman Show' and that maybe lots of people were watching me, for fun... and then I always thought... if people were watching me, right THAT minute, maybe I should do something cooler, to keep them entertained.

Weirdly, Coach has never really lost that thought process ... it sorta followed him through life.  Maybe that's why Coach is so likable.  Because he just wants to keep the phantom crowd entertained.

We're like a Page Torn from the Most Poetic Love Story...

A totally random conversation between Coach and I.... completely out of the blue:

Me: You know my Uncle Jerry..?  Did you know his middle name is Harry?

Coach: Seriously?!

Me: Yep... Jerry Harry Wahl.  Isn't that funny?

Coach: That's hilarious.

Me: I know....right?

Coach: What's George Washington's middle name?

Me: I have no idea.  Why??

Coach: Because if his middle name started with an H, your uncle would have the same initials as George Washington.

Me: Ummmmm...

Coach: GHW... they would be the same... ohhh.. Wait a minute... Jerry starts with..

Me: You know... maybe you shouldn't always vocalize your thought process... MAYBE sometimes, you should pause for a moment and just THINK your thought thru before actually saying it out loud...

Happy Birthday Cousin

 

To My cousin, The Kid's God-mother, my sister in law and my childrens' aunt...

An excellent mother to three beautiful girls...

(one is a sniff sniff big Kindergarten girl!)

A still infatuated wife to her high school sweetheart...

A caring and devoted daughter and a successful business owner with healing hands...

I hope you have enjoyed your day, filled with lots of little girls smiles and tiny sweet hugs.  Take care... here's wishing for many more years of your already full and blessed life.

Happy Birthday, Jackie.

Probably.... this is How Britney Spears started...

Coco CRAVES the spotlight.  She can not get enough applause.  'All eyes on me in the middle of ring, just like a circus...' Thursday night she begged (demanded) a shot at the microphone.  She actually told The Teacher, 'I'm rweady to sing, when you need me...'

 

 

 

Then Friday night, she was easily more entertaining than the actual Half Time Show... (Please listen for her super HIlarious Aunt Flag Girl's comment.)

 

Raise your hand, if you're nervous to parent this child.

All Day Kindergarten is Really All Day Long.

Very calmly but also a little hopeful, like she had just stumbled across an amazing idea, Tink says: "You know... sometimes.... kids don't always hafta go to school EVERY day... sometimes, some kids, can stay home on some days... did you ever know that??"

SEE!  She does miss me!!  Or... maybe she misses her couch, her TV and her jammies..  Either way, she almost convinced me.

Fresh Start

This morning, The Kid was off to start his first day at Private School.  We're all a little nervous but also very excited for the potential of his school year.

 

After MONTHS of late night discussions, Coach and I decided, The Kid simply deserved something new.  Obviously, we are happy with Our Town's public school (we currently have 2 little ladies enrolled). Coach is an employee of our schools, many nieces and nephews are attendees.  We have never been unhappy with our teachers or his opportunities.  The Kid did amazingly there and I have no concerns for our girls' futures. Our decision was not based on any one person or thing. See.... the problem is this: 
Nearly eleven years ago, I had this baby boy.  I held him in my arms, in a room completely alone with this incredible life I had just created.... and with new mommy whispers, I promised him the world.  The whole world.  And... I sorta meant it.
During these nearly eleven years, I have had to make many tough decisions, to keep my promise.  Decisions I knew, may be unpopular but being a parent is a mostly thankless and unpopular job inherently. Two weeks ago, we finally decided to 'Just Go For It' and enrolled The Kid in a nearby Catholic School.  Resulting in us becoming the Most Unpopular Parents of All Times in the History of Annoying Parents.
Why did we enroll The Kid in a new school??
The Full Explanation? Simply... because I promised my son the world. End of Story. I will try anything, to make those brown eyes sparkle with a genuine smile.

Now... I also have dreams.  I have wanted my entire life, to travel Europe.  And a few months ago, I realized my sweet husband had started a Europe Envelope, where he was stashing cash away for my dream trip to Europe. Isn't Coach lovely??
10 days ago, I took that envelope labeled "Europe $" and used the contents to pay The Kid's tuition at the new school. The Kid spied what I was doing and had a meltdown as we walked from the school...

The Kid: "I can't believe you just used all that money!!  Now I feel even more stupid that you just used all your Europe money!!"

Me: "Why would you feel stupid?"

The Kid: "Because Europe is your dream and now I feel guilty because you just spent all your money on me.  Now you will hate me because you can't go to Europe!"

I smiled and nearly laughed at his naivety: "Kid... you must not be as smart as everyone thinks. Don't you realize by now??.. YOU are my dream. You and your sisters are my best dreams.  I would do anything to make your lives better.... Europe can wait."

Dear Kid:

I am willing to start our lives, our path, our dreams over from scratch repeatedly... for my love of you.  You deserve everything we can give you and more.  I feel great about our decision and I believe you will flourish in your new environment.  Dad and I will take every "I hate you..." you can dish... because we will always love you.  You deserve the Moon, the Stars and more.  Good luck in your new adventure. 

My First tru love: We believe in you... your brilliance, your sensitivity and your amazing heart. 

Happy First Day of School. 

And. Today.  Officially.

I am a stay at home mother... to no kids.  Ouch.

The First Day of the Rest of My (ummm... Their) Life

It happened, yesterday my middle, teeny baby began all day Kindergarten.  And it Was Not Pretty.  Well... Tink was pretty AND calm, excited and collected. But her mother?? Totally the opposite."Used to be a Hooker" witnessed my unusual and NEVER seen display of emotion and threatened to snap a picture for Internet Publishing... but I shot her a look which translated something like "Don't you bleepin dare photograph the saddest Mommy day of my life or I will bring the wrath down on you and your family."

Tink woke excited. Dressed in her adorable First Day Outfit. Accessorized with her lucky Tinkerbell necklace, entered her class room, hung her bag and darted directly over to the play section.  Done with me.

Her Mother??
Wandered around behind her.  Confused, sad and desperately trying to figure out how to stop time. 
My throat was tight, my eyes were blurred.  My mind raced with 'What ifs...'
What if she can't unbutton her new pants for the potty and has an accident and is nicknamed PeePee Girl, for the rest of her life??
What if she can't open her sandwich box?
What if she misses me?
What if I miss her so much it hurts? What if she never hugs me again, continues to age in warp speed and gets married?? I dashed out the side door and Totally Lost My Cool.  I was instantly mad at Coach.  I'm sure this is his fault.  He MADE them grow up. 

Because I wasn't broken enough, I had to crawl myself out of my funk (warm fuzzy blankets) to take my baby baby to everyday PreK at Noon.  Weird... I barely mentioned the drama of my actual baby going to school... but the honest truth is: Coco is a 8 year old girl trapped in a 3 yr old body.  She's been ready to ditch me for YEARS.  It's almost a relief to finally let her go to school.

Within a fraction of a second of the truck slowing to a stop, Coco sing-songed "Danks Mom and Dad!!" And suddenly learned to undo her seat belt and tried to open own door, flinging her body from the vehicle..  Like a 14 yr old embarrassed someone may notice her parents dropping her at school.
We made her slooooow down a minute and take a few pictures with friends.  Her and St. Patrick..

This next picture was too great NOT to post: Little First Day of School adjustment, I suppose.

Below: Coco and her cousin M.

After dropping Coco at school, I really hated Coach.  I mean, now... for the rest of my life... I just HAVE to spend Mondays with Coach?? And then... in like 5 years all our kids will start college and then I will spend EVERY day of my life, just with Coach??
How unfair is that?!

Sweetly Coach said: "What can I do for you?? Can I get you something?"

I sighed and grumpily said: "Yes. Get me a baby."

Coach replied: "Uhhhh, I don't think... I can..."

Me: "It doesn't HAVE to be a NEW baby, I'll just take one of my old babies back."

Coach: "Not sure... but I don't think it works like that."

By the end of the school day, I was hardly any better. My girls skipped out, maybe a little tired but still happy.  Smiley Tink and her Best Friend Cousin Twin Forever (Owl) after their first day together.

(I had to snap the pic AFTER school because I was too hysterical BEFORE to school to hang around and catch Owl's first morning.)

Morning Two?

Better... except for my new fears that A.) I am unable to appropriately dress my child to remain warm in the morning and then cool in the afternoon... and B.) she will be unable to open her lunchable or C.) she will suddenly forget where her classroom is located and be lost wandering the halls with her tiny legs, lost forever.

So.. I'm getting better-ish.