My Birthday Post

Baby E is posting today, and it's a special one because it's his birthday!

If you're new to Baby E's Posts, he usually posts on Mondays. You can go here to read his first post.

Thank you, as always, for listening. He is so lucky to have a place to go and all of you have made his life a bigger place, which is so important for a little guy to know. Thank you for that. _______________________________________________________________
 
Hi, Everyone. I haven't been here in awhile. Even though this isn't really a place, I'm still here.

I am going to have a really cool Angry Bird birthday party today. Because it's my birthday!

I am one day older than I was yesterday but I'm TEN.

I'm ten.

Two numbers now instead of just one.

I am literally itchy because I have this GIGANTIC present and it's HEAVY and so I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Luckily my birthday party is like in five minutes.

And then I have some little presents that I can obviously tell what they are.

How can you tell, Baby E?

Well, this is a secret: but by the shape and feel. Like if it's square and thin then it's probably a Nintendo game. Then if it's like round, it's a ball. Like a soccer ball. If it's circular and then flat in the back it's a Skylander. If it's small and square and tiny it's a gift card. For Starbucks! (just kidding, mom!) You can use weight as a clue, too. Seriously, mom, you have got to get better at wrapping. I can guess everything. I can see one now that I know is my 39 Clues book I wanted.

Baby E!!

When I was littler I used to want to know what my presents are but now I like not knowing. I'm different now than when I was little.

How else are you different now than when you were little, Baby E?

Well, because I'm older. And more mature because I'm older. I'm not greedy because I'm older. I'm nicer because I'm older, and not as bratty.  Most of it's maturity stuff.

That's it. I like my birthday a lot.

Wait, Wait. Baby E, why do kids like their birthdays so much?

They do because of the presents and the attention especially if you have not only kids. That's why birthdays are a really good thing.

Okay, last question, Baby E: why do you think happy birthdays change when you get older?

Um ... seriously, I'm seriously done. One question, then no more. This is my answer: I think, but I already know this, you change when you get older because what you want gets more expensive like cars and stuff and then you can't have what you want. It's easy to get a kid what he wants. Just go to Target.

Also, I say I love you to my mom and dad and brothers when they get me my presents, and it sounds like I'm saying it because of getting the present but I really do love them without the present.

Bye! (Mom! I'm DONE!)

I like to pretend to be a Pirate-Dragon

P.S Even though it's my birthday, I still can't say the word stupid. So I'm going to say, "Mom, you'd have to be really not smartliness to not figure out the presents you wrapped on the table."

Bye.

P.P.S. And now my dad's making fun of me telling me that the phone call now from the Weed Man is him calling me to wish me Happy Birthday.
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*Happy Birthday, wonderful Baby E! You make us laugh, and smile, and have a good time. Today, we celebrate that you were born! Happy Birthday, sweet baby. We love you.

Avoiding Hoarders

I really don't have it too bad. My kids are pretty funny, listen to me forty percent of the time, and we have plenty to eat.

But it's that last one, the *having plenty to eat* that translates to my husband as me take good care of family.

Read how this well intentioned part of him may just have us up as the next episode of Hoarders.

Avoiding Hoarders, my post up today, at Aiming Low: where we strive for imperfection.

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April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month

Those who have come to know me, know a bit about my life.

I hint at it on my About page.

Details aren't important, but what I've learned in this last half of my life is how sharing your story can save others.

For years, I lived ashamed and kept my story to myself. The rare times I had shared about my life, those who heard it reacted with judgment, lectures, reprimands. Angry that I had gone against some unagreed upon code of silence.

I now tell my story as a way to have others not feel the isolation of secrecy that I had been forced into. Far too long into adulthood.

Believe me, your story will keep knocking and knocking until the day you find yourself almost screaming it from the rooftops.

Life has serendipitously weaved its way into a perfect timeline for me. April is when my guest post at Letters for Lucas was slotted, where Tonya graciously allows an open letter to anyone in your life to be shared on her site.

Today, I write to all of those who were raised in Domestic Chaos. I hope you read, and I hope you never feel alone again.

Thank you, Tonya.

Letters For You

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Guide To An At Home Fun Spring Break With Kids

The kids are home for Spring Break this week, and since this is just on the heels of our D.C. trip a month ago with our Ohio trip coming up soon, the kids know we are joyfully staying home.

Sure, they could lament the fact that they and the teacher's kids were the only ones in class last Friday since everyone else hightailed it to Mexico and outta this 34 degree overcast Wisconsin weather with winds that Pooh would describe as making for a "blustery" day. 

The kind of day that makes you feel like Eeyore just paid you a visit.  

But with me at the helm, we will not be thinking of all the bodies we know being warmed by the hot Aztec sun. ::cue ugly Lucy cry:: As they lay on a sizzling sandy beach. A Mai Tai in hand. Served by a tall bronze stranger. (pick your fantasy) No, we will not be thinking about this.

Because the trick to having fun at home is in how you present it.

Monday we will be Treasure Hunting Day. Sure, you can quibble, some of you may call it basement cleaning. But in my mind, it's treasure hunting. You never know what you will find down in the subterranean levels.

Tuesday is Rule The World For A Day day. Yes, absolutely right that's what it is. The kids get to do whatever they want to within the square feet of this house. What could be better? Not much, my friend, I know I'd kill for a day like that.

Wednesday is Get To Know Your Family Really Well Day. Uh-huh. This exhilarating day will be spent in close face to face and highly interactive conversational one on one with each other, as we spend our time indoors today: the day severe storms have been forecast.

Thursday is Get Your Wish Day as all three boys get to play Wii and Nintendo till the cows come home. And it really will be till the cows come home. The farmer across the road from us lost a couple of steers to our backyards only a few weeks ago.  

Friday is Are You Smarter Than A *sputtercough* Year Old Day as each of the three boys here take Mama on in any games of their choice. They're truly looking forward to this one since they know I only have a few more good years left in this sleep deprived brain and the sooner they beat me, the sooner they can move on.

Saturday is Let's See Who Can Sleep In The Longest Day. What a way to bring our exciting best stay at home vacation ever to a close.

Winner gets to sit in front of my S.A.D. box for 20 minutes. 

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***Wondering what the heck it is that Drake is short of breath about on his new Take Care song with Rihanna? You can't fool me into thinking it's part of the music, I say it's a medical condition.  Weigh in over here, my latest post on Sprocket Ink.

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The Kitchen Witch

I am always happy when I find a place where I can write about my grandmother.  My abuela is at the very front of all my childhood memories. Always.

Because of blogging, I have met the most wonderful people. People who share my feelings and aspirations about life. I met Dana, the lovely food and life blogger behind The Kitchen Witch, through following one rabbit hole of the internet to another. Dana's blog is beautiful, her recipes appetite satisfying, and her posts food for my soul.

I'm guesting there today, while Dana heals from surgery, where I share a story and one of my favorite childhood recipes from my Spanish grandmother.

I hope to see you at Dana's, and my wishes to all of you for a restful week off while you enjoy the 'energy' of having your little ones home. *wink*


*Feel better soon, Dana. xo

The Kitchen Witch

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