I *heart* Valentines Day!

I love Valentines Day, I really do!  And I know it's not for several weeks, but it just makes me smile to know that it is coming.  I love buying all the red and pink foiled-wrapped chocolates and candies and putting them in treat bags printed with cupids or hearts.  This year I bought my daughters each a little red leather coin purse, stitched with hearts.  Inside I'll tuck either a $20 bill or maybe a gift card to Chipotle.  As for my son, I'm sure an almost 20-year old guy would not appreciate a coin purse, so maybe just money or gift cards.

I'm a preschool director. That means parties...lots and lots of parties.  We celebrate the first day of school to end up the year with a big Spring Picnic, and every holiday and birthday in-between.  Kids love to celebrate, and really, what's not to celebrate?

I don't know when I started loving Valentine's Day...I think it slowly evolved.  To me, it's the day when kids can say "I like you" to their friends without feeling kinda funny.  Watching the children put their cards (Batman, Barbie, Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo, Strawberry Shortcake...) that they so carefully wrote their names on in the vastly decorated boxes, sometimes with a lollipop or a pack of Smarties taped on it...priceless.  And when a little boy shyly walks into my office with a red or pink flower (rose, carnation, even spray-painted daisy) and hands it to me, my heart melts.

So, enjoy your Valentines Day!  Whether you spend it with a honey, a friend, your kids, a bunch of girlfriends, in a preschool, or even by yourself, know that this special day was created for love and friendship.  And the best part?  Chocolate on Valentines Day has NO sugar or calories...so ENJOY!

 

XOXO,

Dinner Companions...

After an afternoon of shopping with my daughters (the Old Navy store by us is closing, and so we HAD to go) we stopped at Parkway Grill for dinner.  Always packed, always noisy, and always delicious food.  As the girls chit chatted, I sat back and relaxed, half-listening and observing my surroundings.  I almost felt like I was on the outside looking in...watching a movie...a very surreal feeling.

In walked two women, arms linked.  These were old women, in their 80's at least.  They were beautiful -- their hair was coiffed, impeccably dressed, wore their bling well,  nails done, the works.  Yet not overly done, almost understated.  They were seated a few tables away from us.  I had the side view of one woman, but I had a complete view of the other.  Her hair was the color of the purest white and cut in a simple pageboy style.  I imagined her name to be something vintage, like Virginia or Margaret or Rose.  They ordered white wine and it was a while before they ordered their meals.  Instead, they talked and laughed as older women tend to do, with one hand against their breastbone, the other hand sometimes waving in agreement or nonsense.

Every once in a while the one lady (oh, and she was!) and I would make eye-contact.  She would give me a slight smile, never breaking the beat with her friend.  And it struck me...I was looking at myself forty or so years from now.  I didn't have to imagine it...I could feel it!  And what a wonderful feeling it was!  To spend time with a bosum buddy (as Anne Shirley would say) and reminisce over good wine about "old times" -- what could be better?

Now, here is the best part about this saga...their meal came.  What do you think?  Dainty salads?  A bowl of soup?  Here we go...they shared the Macho Nacho Plate!!!!!  This plate of nachos is so huge, it's almost obscene!  AND THEY ATE THE WHOLE THING!!!!  No kidding!  It was awesome!  Can you just picture it?

And if you think I was stalking them, no worries there.  My daughters and I had a delightful time together.  They were thrilled to be finished with finals and we talked about what we were going to do this weekend.  As we stood to leave, I glanced over at the two women.  My "friend" looked up and I smiled and nodded, silently thanking her for letting me into her world, albeit briefly.  I received a smile in return, a genuine smile, a smile that reached her eyes.  Could it be that in some way me and my daughters reminded her of a time past?  I'll never know, but I know I'll never forget tonight's dinner companion.

Bonding or Stupidity...You Be The Judge!

I have three wonderful kids.  Seriously, they rock my world.  But do I want to be friends with them and hang out with them and their friends?  Heavens, no!  But something happened yesterday that might make you think I would want to be one of them.

It started when my oldest daughter was 6 (she is now almost 17).  She wanted to get her ears pierced.  I had to wait until I was 13 and was the last of my friends to get it done, so I agreed.  My younger daughter had hers pierced the following year when she turned 6 (right, she's 15 now).  And they were happy.  They went through the "Claire's" stage where they would spend their birthday money on cheap, hideous earrings, the "skull" stage, the "girly" stage, and for a while, the "nothing" stage (or maybe they were just too lazy to put earrings in).

The "other" piercings then became popular.  I am still not exactly sure what a "gauge" is, but it sounds horrible!  Belly piercings were a fad, but neither girl wanted one.  The eyebrow piercings were talked about, and I said "NO WAY!"  In fact, I was vehemently against any other kind of piercing other than in the ears.  "Well," my girls pointed out, "you have three holes in one ear!"  *Sigh*  Yes, yes I do.  But I have to say, I now only put a double in, and have left the third one alone since college.  I remember in high school piercing the holes myself (with an ice-cube to numb the pain). 

So, both girls got their ears double-pierced, and I was "ok" with their decision.  Soon after, Kelly asked about a nose piercing.  Of course I said no.  But then something happened...my son introduced me to his girlfriend, who had her nose pierced.  And it was totally cute!  I still said no to my girls, but it didn't sound as harsh as it once did.  Now I can't even remember when it happened, but one day I came home and Kelly had pierced her own nose...and it was also totally cute!  Not long after that, Emily had her cartilage pierced.  And I have to admit, she really does wear it well.  Just for your imaging purposes...both my girls are very girly and feminine and wear somewhat conservative, or "preppy" clothes (no punk, black, or emo).

Last fall when I asked the kids to start to think about what they wanted for Christmas, Emily's only wish was a nose piercing.  She never changed her mind or backed down.  So I gave her a coupon good for one nose pierce.  We went yesterday...me, Emily, and her best friend (who has her nose pierced).  I have never in my life been in a tattoo parlor (store? place? hole-in-the-wall?), and I admit, I was a little taken aback.  Where I live, you hardly ever run into someone with a tattoo, much less a full-body tattoo!  But the "piercer", Mike, was very nice and explained everything.  And, yes, everything was sterile and he used gloves.

Emily's piercing looked so darn cute, and she, her bff, and our new friend Mike, were all pressuring me...and I caved.  I now have a tiny, tiny, adorable diamond stud in my nose!  If you squint real hard, you can see a teeny "glint" in my picture.  It didn't hurt then, doesn't hurt now.  I really like it, but am wondering just what the heck I was thinking?!  Did I take advantage of the "bonding" between me and my daughter?  Or am I just an idiot?  Doesn't matter, because it's totally cute!

Another New Year to Resolute!

Ahhh, New Years! A time to reflect, make lists and promises, turn over a new leaf...begin anew! Since I am a self-proclaimed, avid list-maker, I can't remember when I didn't make a New Year's resolution list. A few years ago I began to notice that the people that I truly admire, okay...want to be like, never made lists or resolutions. At all. When I asked why, the answer was simple and pure -- "if there is something I think I need to work on, I'll just do it." Ohhh, the simplicity of it all! In my mind, that's where I want to be! I sometimes think I make things so complicated and messy that there is no way I can complete anything on my "to do for myself" list. And let's face it, it also gives me a thousand and one reasons to rationalize my failings.

So, after some pre-New Year's reflection, I've decided I want to keep my resolutions simple and pure. INNER PEACE. That's it. And I don't want to come off as sounding "all zen-like and mysterious," because I am so not. And for those who know me...please keep the laughter down, thankyouverymuch! However, my thinking is this: if I only have inner peace to work on, won't all the other stuff naturally fall into place...eventually?

Stay with me on this. I know I'm rambling, but in this case I think it might be worth it. If I can truly become comfortable with myself and who I am, then I can comfortably assess all the clutter in my life. Such as:

• My faith. I am a Christian, but I don't always practice my faith. There are people whom I envy (see?...there's another thing to work on!) who are so comfortable in their faith and who they are.
  
• Healthy food choices and exercise. Always, always...'nuf said.
• My finances. I know I need a budget, a plan, and a plan-for-the-future. Because the whole "waiting for a rich guy to propose" is not working out.
• My grumpy attitude. When it rears its ugly head, let me tell you, the masses run. I want to be able to not just control it, but make it go away all-together.
• My procrastination issues. Why do I always seem to leave things to the very last minute? I admit, at times it works for me, but mostly I end up wanting to slap my head like Chris Farley and yell "stupid, stupid, stupid!"

Now, I would be remiss if I didn't list the things in my life that ARE working well, and I am so blessed and grateful for all of them:

• My children. I would never paint them as perfect, but to me, they are my perfections! They all have their different paths in life, and I love each one for that. My relationship with them is loving, unique, and special.
• My family. We are a small bunch, but woven very tightly.
  
• My friends. They love and accept me for who I am. I think I would be lost without them. Seriously, I do.
• My house. I know, I know, we shouldn't put worth into inanimate objects, but for me my house is my sanctuary. It's the place I picked after my divorce, decorated it just the way I wanted to, and where all my loved ones sleep every night. It's my haven.
• My job. I love it...it gives me energy, purpose, meaning, and flexibility. How many people can say that they really, really, love their job?

I am going to stop here because I have 5 things to work on and 5 things that are going exceptionally well, and I like when things come out even. So, one thing to work on. That's it. Just one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The After Christmas "Ahhh's..."

What a lovely Christmas! In fact, I haven't had such a nice Christmas in quite a while. I usually do too much, buy too much, decorate too much, so much of everything that I never end up enjoying Christmas for what it is. This year, things were different...

I am blessed to have a job where I can take the entire 2-week "winter break" off with my kids (winter break vs. Christmas? a whole different subject...) That is when my craziness usually begins. This year, I did most of my shopping early. In years before, I organized a Christmas Potluck Luncheon for my Staff and Board on the day after the last Christmas Program. That also meant I had to get to school early and decorate and then clean up afterwards. This year, I asked a Board member to take charge of the luncheon and she organized the entire event...yea! Instead of hauling all our Christmas boxes out, I only put out the decorations that I truly love. Last year I baked and baked and baked. This year? Just a few of our favorites! And this year I pulled the Christmas CD's that I really love, not the whole "kit-and-kaboodle." Did I worry about if my kids got all they wanted? Nope...I gave them a few wants and needs and they were thrilled.

On Christmas Eve we drove up to my parents' home and celebrated with family and friends. The meal was delicious, the opening of gifts fun, and then we all went to the candlelight service at their church. The late-night drive home was filled with reminiscing of past Christmases and laughter. At home Santa had left everyone new PJ's. I can't remember which one of my daughters it was, but one of them asked me this summer if they still getting PJ's on Christmas Eve. I think they thought they might be getting too old...never, it's tradition! The next morning I woke up early, made our special Christmas morning breakfast, stuffed the stockings, and spent a few precious moments with my thoughts before the kids got up. And it doesn't matter how old they get, there is still genuine excitement in their faces and voices at seeing the gifts and smelling their favorite "breakfast pizza."

As I was cleaning the kitchen I heard my kids talk with each other about when they will one day bring their kids to grandma's house for Christmas, and it took me a moment to realize they were talking about ME as a grandma! I am far from that kind of thinking, but it's nice to know that I am included in their future plans. During Christmas Day at different times, all three of my kids came to me to thank me for making their Christmas so special. The genuine sincerity, the hugs, the smiles...that was all and more than I could ever want. I know our holidays together are numbered, so I want to savor each one.

And now? Three days after Christmas? I'm relaxed, decorations put away (I am not one for having things hang around and wear out their stay!), house is clean, and I've still got almost a week left to enjoy my time off. Starting with having lunch tomorrow with a close friend. After all, there is a limit to hanging out with teenagers...and I've hit it!

Wrestling Mania

My youngest daughter's boyfriend, Aaron, lives in a small rural community about an hour east of Denver, CO. He is a very sweet boy who tends to be as serious as Emily is spontaneous -- they compliment each other well. They can only get together every few weeks due to the distance. But this is nice -- it makes every time they see one another a special occasion. However, it also makes for some very long phone conversations...

Tonight Aaron had a wrestling match in a neighboring community which Emily really wanted to go to. I had told her that I would take her, but really? I was dreading it. After all day at work the last thing I wanted to do was drive 45 minutes to some school gym and watch a wrestling match. And today winter had shown its' cold and snowy face and I hate driving in snow.

But, I had made a promise to Emily. She is a sweet, low maintenance, and not very demanding girl who just wanted to show her support to her boyfriend. So, off we went. I had told her that we would leave the wrestling match right at 7pm, and no later. The town was so small that we actually drove through it before we realized what it was. The school was home to elementary, middle, and high school students. The lady who took our entrance fee and stamped a cougar paw print on my hand was smiley and very friendly.

As we walked into the gym I felt as though I had been transported back to a time when families did things together. The gym was full of moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, friends, and plain 'ol towns folk -- this was obviously the place to be on this particular evening. Emily and I found Aaron's mom, brother, and sister and sat with them. And we were definitely the "townies" in the gym. Which is kinda funny since we live in a suburb, not downtown Denver, but still...

I heard snippets of conversations about football, trucks, garbage, the weather, and grain. Three communities were represented and everyone seemed to know each others "business" and "going ons." Emily had baked Aaron cookies and I would have loved to have taken their picture -- sitting on the gym floor, backs against the padded wall, laughing and eating cookies together. I think I would have crossed the "mom" line if I had taken that picture, but I did get a very sincere "thank you" from Aaron for bringing Emily out to his match.

On the way home I let my mind wander...what would it be like to live in such a small, close-knit community? I have to admit, something about farm life tugs at my heart. I remember digging up carrots, jumping in hay stacks, and playing with dogs on my uncles farm when I was very young and wanting to be a farmers wife when I grew up. Where did those dreams go? But more importantly, what are my dreams now? I'm not sure if I really have any -- too busy getting by day to day. Maybe it's time to allow myself take a few moments every now and then to think about what it is that I really want...what do I want to be when I grow up?

Shop 'til You Drop

No, not really, but for the first time ever I went shopping on Black Friday. My oldest daughter begged, pleaded, enticed, and pouted -- all her ammo came out last night. She scouted websites, cut coupons, and even came up with a written game plan. And how could I say "no"? With every birthday and Christmas that goes by, I think about how quickly it will be until my kids are on their own and I won't have tempting offers...like waking up at 4am to take advantage of Earlybird Specials.

So, I went to bed last night and set my alarm earlier than I can ever remember doing before. Because my son came home at midnight and wanted to chat while he ate his spicy burrito, I only got a few hours of sleep. My cat looked at me under her hooded lids and I got the distinct impression that she was thinking "suuuucker..." And she would have been right.

By the time I shuffled into the kitchen for my much needed coffee, Kelly was almost bouncing off the walls. She was dressed, coiffed, and clearly didn't need any coffee. All the commotion woke my younger daughter, Emily, and not one to stay behind, she decided to come with us. It takes her only a few minutes to get ready because she is not into matching every item of clothing that she wears (like her sister).

I was still shaking my head in disbelief as I pulled out of the driveway. It was still chilly and very dark outside. I was just thinking how embarrassed Kelly was going to be when she saw how empty the stores were going to be. But then we drove up the hill and I saw the most amazing sunrise ever. And more amazing still was when we turned into the mall -- it was packed!

In the parking lot Kelly ran into two of her friends, and she shot me a look that said, "See? I told you this was going to be fun!" Old Navy was our first stop, and yes, I walked away with some terrific bargains. Next stop was to the indoor craft mall -- again, money was spent. The third stop was Target, which was packed. By the time we got into the car it was only 9am! The girls were chatting about stores they still wanted to go to. Me? I had enough shopping to satisfy me for a long time.

The girls dropped me off at home, and with a backwards wave, they were off again. I made more coffee, and loving the quietness I sat on my patio and thought about my early morning adventure. Would I do it again? Maybe.... Did my daughters have fun? Definitely! I got hugs and "thank you's" and heard a lot of giggling. I've gotten my Christmas gifts early this year -- special time with my girls. And now if you'll please excuse me...I'm going for a much needed nap!