priceless



Before I was a mom I would see ladies with a beautiful outfit, cute heels, sparkly diamond earrings, and a macaroni necklace? Really? I got that they loved their kids and all that but you have to draw the line somewhere. Then I became a mom. Tonight we went out to dinner. Little Isaac ran out of my room with the necklace he had made me for Valentine's Day, " Here's a beautiful necklace mommy! You look so pretty when you wear it!" It wasn't even a question in my head if I would wear it or not. I wore my scribbled, paper heart, red straw necklace, proudly. How can I not when it was made and given with so much love? Through the eyes of a mother I can honestly say that my paper necklace is just as valuable (if not more valuable) to me as my ruby, diamond, gold, and pearl necklaces, it hangs with them in my jewelry box because that's where it belongs :)






Valentine's

Isaac and I have been married for 5 years. Usually on Valentine's Day we stay at home and Isaac makes me a steak...I love his steaks. This year he wanted to go out. He made reservations at a nice restaurant. Online it said their Valentine's special was a four course meal. I thought that when we showed up we could choose something else off the menu, apparently that was not an option. Each course had four options and we could chose one. With the exception of course four.

Course one: I chose the crab cake. It was so delicious. I was so full.

Course two: I decided to be brave and try something new. I never do this. 'what is the Lobster Bisque?' Server: " It's delicious. They take the claws, shell, everything you don't eat on the lobster, boil it down, add a heavy cream, and spices." ....I thought to myself, ' you want to charge us an arm and a leg for something that usually goes in the trash?' my mouth said, " I'll try it!"....It actually was very good. However, I couldn't finish it b.c. I was so full from the crab cake.

Course three: Stuffed lobster. One bite. I had one bite. My stomach did protest..."Where do you want me to put this!? You are full! Stop it!" Not to mention he said the words "in heavy cream" again. Course # 2...in heavy cream, there went my 6mile run calories. course #3 in heavy cream, there went my 7 mile run. Darn. Gained all my friggin calories back.

Course four: Dark Chocolate decedent cake with passion fruit. Before I could tell them not to put that kryptinite in front of me, it was there. I broke my vow and had 4 small bites. It was ok. I should have stopped at the first b.c. I was not that impressed.

Convo at the end between Isaac and me: " That was a great dinner, thanks for taking me out, I love you. We should do Long Horn next year." Isaac smiling back at me, "yea, we should. The valet parking was nice though." I'll be happy to park the car for him :)

Mama needs to rant

I had an appointment for little Isaac today on base. At first the meeting went really well. While I was discussing his results with one therapist another therapist was asking him if he could say his ABC's and write his ABC's. Isaac sang, wrote upper and lower case and told her all the sounds each letter makes. The lady was in shock. She had the other woman look at what he could do. They both talked about how advanced he was for his age. Then they said, "Draw you". So, Isaac drew the letter "U". When they explained they wanted you the person he turned the letter U into a person. They were even more impressed. They went on and on about how well behaved he was. Then I asked a simple question, " when we PCS can he test into Kindergarten or First grade?" I explained that his handwriting needed some improvement and that I wouldn't mind him repeating pre-k if he could test at another State. The ladies got upset when they found out he was in a private school. They told me he needed to be socializing and playing and learning "just enough" I wouldn't want to "push him and make him feel like a failure." They also told me, " Your younger son would never be allowed in a school like that. He is too care free and adventurous" I guess they were trying to put it nicely. Lets face the facts. Israel likes to run, he likes to climb, he likes to challenge me and push the limits. That is him. That is his personality. It is my job as his mother to take his headstrong and stubbornness and show him how to use it for good. It will be great when he stands up for what he believes in and does not budge. He will be social. He will not be quiet and have kids come ask him to be their friend, he will ask them to be his. That is my Israel and I love him the way he is. My Isaac is quiet, he observes, he rarely challenges, he's stubborn. These to are great qualities. I have taught him to ask a child to be his friend. I have taught him it is ok to speak up for himself. What I do not teach him is that goals are unattainable. That things are meant to be handed to you. That life is one big socializing party and you skate by with what you can do at bare minimum. No! My boys will push themselves. I am glad that Isaac goes to a school where his teacher says, " He is learning a ton and has improved so much but he can do better." That means she gives a crap! It means she cares for him and she cares for his future. I am glad that the school he is in teaches him to be the best he can be. That there are times to be loud and times to be quiet. That the main reason we go to school is to learn! Imagine that!? What if all schools were like this? What if all schools taught to always do your best and never accepted less from you, to show honor to your teacher and classmates, that you earn what you work for? It seems like now a days people want their kids in all day day care. Guess what? The teacher is there to teach your child not babysit them! Imagine if there is a behavioral problem at school the teacher could say, "Little Johnny is talking in class and distracting others" if a parent corrected Johnny and didn't yell at the teacher. It's time to put education first and play time second. Isaac gets both and if we are here long enough for Israel to get to go to this school. My kids will work on Wall Street not protest and be lazy on it.