Be A Good Mom

BAGD has a sister named Aunt Shel.

Aunt Shel has a very good friend we will call Curly Sue.

Curly Sue was around alot when BAGD and Aunt Shel were growing up.  Everyone liked Curly Sue and would not have minded having her around all the time.  So BAGD and Curly Sue made a pact.  If neither of them was married by the time they were “old” they would marry each other and make Aunt Shel very happy.

Enter BAGM.  I stole BAGD right away from Curly Sue.  But she is OK with it.  As it turns out, neither she nor BAGD were socially repugnant and they each found a spouse.

So, the question remains….what happens to the pact?

Well, the fine print stipulates that if the pact goes un fulfilled, it passes to the next generation.  Curly Sue has 2 sons, one son is a few years older than Geetle.  But, we are pinning our hopes on Giggles and her youngest son, who were born just one week apart.

They met for the first time this weekend.

After they met, I could tell Giggles was relieved.  Now she can concentrate on school and not have to worry about getting her “Mrs” degree.  He’s a nice kid, although Giggles will have to to the driving on their dates, he tends to fall over when he sits up.

Stop over at www.beagooddad.com and tell him Happy Birthday. He thinks he is 32 today, but he is really 33; he lost track of a year somewhere.

The first birthday I knew BAGD, it was new and awkward, so I couldn’t get him a real birthday gift. So, I got him a Shamrock Shake from McDonalds. He loved it, seriously.

This year, I did not get him a present. I am chipping in with the rest of the family for some “not quite a laptop” nerd command station that he wants. I don’t really know what it is, except that it will rock his world and if we all give him Amazon gift cards, he can get it.

But, I wanted to get him something special too. So, I made him his favorite thing when we ate at his parent’s the other night.

It doesn’t really have a name. He calls it “that huge nacho thing.” I have never made it more than once a year. I usually make it on College Bowl Day. Its just a big pile of nacho toppings, arranged in a pleasing manner, until the first person drags their chip through it, then its a mess.

But, once again. He was in heaven.

After we ate nachos, there was ice cream and cupcakes.

Then he collected his gift cards and we sat around watching Pookie and Geetle do “science speriments” with bowls of water and whatever spices they could convince Mamaw to get out of the spice cabinet.

I think he had a good birthday. I hope he did. He’s the best and I would add a layer of Shamrock Shake to the nacho pile, if it made him happy.

I am cheap. But there are a few things that will get me every time… Books and anything that I think will make the kids smile. The other day, I fell for a new one.

Novelty Spaghetti.

$8.97 Novelty Spaghetti.

Yes, $8.97. American.

What makes spaghetti worth $8.97 you say? Well! Let me tell you!

This spaghetti, folded over in the package, appeared to be nearly as tall as my children. We just had to have it. We borrowed a giant pot from Aunt Shel just to cook it up. (She just got married, so she has the best kitchen stuff.) Once it was cooked, this spaghetti was TALLER than my children!

It was very messy to eat, but they had fun. Giggles (seen in the background) was confused, yet intrigued.

So, while the spaghetti was fun, I must also say it was very tasty. Much better than “American” (Creamette and whatever the name of the one in the blue box is) spaghetti. It was thicker and firmer. And I swore it had a sweet taste, which I confirmed on the label, where they boasted that it was “cold water kneaded” for sweetness.

Just to sum up…this is what makes spaghetti worth $8.97:

Pookie, age 5. Loves to draw and sing. Doesn’t like new books, new toys, new shirts or new people…until the second time he sees them, at which time they become is most favorite thing ever. Loves Heathcliff, Little Einsteins, Super Y, Lyle the Crocodile and anything by Laura Numeroff, Ed Emberly or David Shannon. Trying his best to figure out a world in which its OK to jump on the downstairs couch, but not the upstairs one.

Geetle, age 5. A scientist, by her own proclamation. Asks alot of questions, and actually waits to hear the answer. Tells everyone she wants to be Giggles’ best friend, but secretly wants to be Pookie’s. Loves Tinkerbell, Polly Pockets and art projects. Says Hello, Please, Thank you and You’re Welcome because she really means it.

Giggles, almost 5 months old. Just discovered the baby in the mirror, and thinks she is hilarious. Follows Pookie and Geetle with her eyes, arching her neck. Knows that someday she will get to follow them on foot. Reminds us all that every day is long, but also very short. Giving us all the chance to do the “firsts” one more time.

I have a pet peeve.  I will explain it to you, and then you will understand…and probably agree.

Did you ever notice that most times someone uses your name in a sentence, you could easily replace the name with “Jackass” and the person’s true intent comes out?  I will give you an example.  Imagine this conversation:

BAGM:  We should do something about that piece of loose siding on the back of the house.
BAGD:  Yeah, I know.
BAGM:  Its really loud, I wonder if the kids can hear it banging at night.
BAGD:  I’ll look at it when the weather gets warmer.
BAGM:  And if the wind catches it just right, it might blow right off.   Might be hard to replace.
BAGD:  Yeah.  Good project for Springtime.
BAGM:  If its rainy and windy, is water getting in behind it?  Could it cause mold?
BAGD:  Beagoodmom, Its 10 degrees outside and the piece of loose siding is 15 feet up the back of our house.  I’ll look at it when the weather gets warmer.

Now, try the same conversation, replacing my name with the word “Jackass.”

BAGM:  We should do something about that piece of loose siding on the back of the house.
BAGD:  Yeah, I know.
BAGM:  Its really loud, I wonder if the kids can hear it banging at night.
BAGD:  I’ll look at it when the weather gets warmer.
BAGM:  And if the wind catches it just right, it might blow right off.   Might be hard to replace.
BAGD:  Yeah.  Good project for Springtime.
BAGM:  If its rainy and windy, is water getting in behind it?  Could it cause mold?
BAGD:  Jackass, its 10 degrees outside and the piece of loose siding is 15 feet up the back of our house.  I’ll look at it when the weather gets warmer.

See what I mean?  Think of the last time someone (boss/spouse/etc) used your name in a sentence.  See?  The only time I hear my name around here is if BAGD is yelling up/down the stairs for me, or in the “Jackass” context.  However, I am OK with it.  BAGD and I laugh about it…he knows it bothers me.   He thinks its cute.

But now Pookie  has been doing it.   He calls me “Mama,” of course.  But the intent is still there.

I want milk, Jackass.
Come sit in the tent, Jackass.
I want to go for a ride in the car, Jackass.
I had it first, Jackass!

Its starting to get on my nerves…but I also think its cute when he calls me “Mama” and its a good developmental thing.  So, I guess I will let it go.

Once upon a time, before she was Mrs. My Mark, Aunt Shel was a wild and crazy single gal. Well, not so wild, but sort of crazy. Anyhoo…she once had a chance at the greatest opportunity ever presented to a young single girl….she was asked out on a date by Ronald McDonald. Yes, THE Ronald McDonald…in full make up. And she turned him down. I could not believe it. Especially since I had 2 preschool children at the time. I told her…”the least you could have done was gone out on one date! Maybe it would have worked out! Think of how excited Geetle and Pookie would have been!” But, she said no.

Well, selfish Aunt Shel, this is what Thanksgiving would have looked like…… if you had just given him a chance.

Scene:  home office.  BeAGoodDad’s  (BAGD’s) current workspot, 40 hours a week, shared with BeAGoodMom (BAGM) when she works at home, about 10 hours a week.    BAGD has just finished for the day and is heading upstairs to to send Babysitter Mamaw home.  Prior to finishing his day, he had been enjoying a few cookies at his desk.

BAGD - “I’m going up.  Come up when you want.”

BAGM- “OK.  Hey!  Take those cookies with you.”

BAGD- “Are you kidding?  The kids are up there.”

End Scene.

What more could I say?

Silly Aunt Marie.

But, thanks. They thought that was pretty cool.

Pookie and Geetle also had a Family Birthday party this weekend. Before we could have anyone over, BAGD had to shovel the driveway. Too bad for him, the next day it was 50 degrees and all the rest of the snow melted.

Once the party got started, it was lots of fun. Lots of food.

Lots of people.

Lots of great presents.

Every year when birthdays come and go, I can’t help but stop and think about how much my kids have grown. One very poignant thought jumped into my head at the party. Last year, Great Grandma BlueGrass gave Pookie a package of CARS underwear. He opened them and threw them aside, because at that point, he had absolutely no interest and no understanding of the potty. At the time, it made me very sad. I was happy that my boy was turning 4, but angry and frustrated that he was not potty trained. I wondered when it would ever happen. Then at this party, almost a exactly a year later, I found my boy in the bathroom pooping on his own during the party. Thats how far he had come in a year. I was so proud of him. And then there’s Geetle, who told me several times this week, “I don’t care what people get me.” Her way of saying, in abbreviated 5 year old language, that she just wanted a party, not presents. Good kids. I am lucky.