Mama Vivas - It's a Vivas Thing!

Dec 01 2010

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I'll be honest and say that things have been really rough this week. The Princess and Chicken Noodle Butt's lives are turned upside down and my hands are tied in helping them. Being the mother/aunt that I am, they are constantly on my mind as I wonder what they are thinking and feeling each moment of the day and unable to comfort them at all. I have never felt more helpless in my life.

Last week I was off for most of the week. We celebrated two birthdays and Thanksgiving. Family time was high on the list as we had three days of celebration.

It was wonderful to make new memories as we laughed and laughed over old memories!

We went on a roller coaster ride despite my fear of rollercoasters. And we laughed (ok, I was laughed at) as they talked about my fear the last time Dad made me go on one…and made fun of my look of terror.

And then we talked of skydiving…and how I'll jump out of an airplane, but am afraid of a little ole rollercoaster…yeah, ok. At least with skydiving, you are floating, not crashing down at speeds no human being should have to endure!

We laughed at my baby nephew as he kissed the dog…while the dog kissed him…and how fast his mom swooped him up!

We had enchiladas and remembered making them for fundraisers for mission trips to Mexico…and how our friend who shall remain nameless thought Taco Bell was/is an appropriate place for Mexican food. Of course, said friend and family were there to share with us…and the many memories we've had over the years.

And we watch Christmas Story and laughed all the way through. We talked of Red Ryder BB guns and leg lamps that we'll get as a prank gift for someone one day. And washing mouths out with soap and poisoning children…and placing your tongue on frozen things…and laughed at our memory of the older kids convincing the Drama Queen to place her tongue on a frozen can of orange juice…and then her bleeding tongue…and then me finding the frozen taste buds glued to the can a few days later.

We have so many wonderful memories and lots and lots of laughter.

Sometimes, we just need to laugh.

And find our joy.

Nov 27 2010

Another Year Older

Today was my oldest son's 23rd birthday. I cannot believe I have an adult son. Twenty-three…wow!

And I wonder…when did we go from this…

(This is my absolute favorite picture of him!)

To this full grown, about to graduate from college, young man?

(Notice the crazy sister in the background!)

I look at him, and I walk through memory lane.

I remember when he first looked at me.

I remember the heart failure when his face hit gravel as we tried to get him across the monkey bars…and how angry he was at me for not keeping him from falling.

I remember his first step.

His first day of kindergarten…and his last day of kindergarten.

I remember every birthday.

And "All Dogs Go to Heaven"

and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

I remember giving him a brother…and him automatically expecting his sister.

I remember how he loved each of the moments when his four younger siblings joined our family.

I remember his mission trips and playing the guitar.

And I remember our special moments together…and A&W rootbeer in Boulder City.

I remember the first time he rode his bicycle and the first time he drove in his new jeep.

I remember how proud I felt when he graduated from high school….and how proud I feel that he is so close to graduating college.

My boy has grown into a man.

And made his mama, proud.

Happy Birthday, son!

Nov 24 2010

My Boy Turns 13!

Thirteen years ago, we welcomed him into our family.

And watched him grow and change.

And enjoy life

And the things life has to offer

(Ok, I just had to add this one…because I like it so much!)

My Karate Boy!

Who sometimes breaks things!

(And puts up with scary relatives!)

A helicopter ride with his oldest brother for his birthday!

And rollercoasters to continue!

My boy is growing up. Not so much a boy anymore, but more a young man. He isn't afraid to take care of his mother and always seems to know how I feel. I love his sense of adventure and his great attention to detail. I love how he carries on a conversation with his father; both of them engrossed in whatever technical thing has captured their attention. I love to watch him help his younger sister with whatever it is she is working on and the way he always knows how to fix things….and where to find the batteries!

I love watching him look up to his older brothers and sister.

I sure love having him in our family.

Happy Birthday, Son!

Nov 21 2010

Jinglevogonsmitd

The title makes absolutely no sense, does it?

That about sums up the Smart One's educational studies right now. Poor boy like things to be detailed and make sense to him. They need to be clear and precise. Real.

Oh, and did I mention it needs to make sense?

And enter Vogon Poetry…for English.

Which he already doesn't care much for. Because he'd rather be doing math or science.

Because they make sense to him.

Vogon Poetry?

An example, if you please:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly,

Thy micturations are to me

As plurdled gabbleblotchits

On a lurgid bee

See, now the Smart One and I love to jingle. We can jingle for hours and have a blast doing it! One of us will start and we'll go on and on and on…while everyone else rolls their eyes at us and begs us to stop. But tonight, we had to try and come up with Vogon Poetry for his class assignment.A whole page of non-sense.

We managed to make our way through, but I'll have to admit, it wasn't pretty. I hope we didn't make any sense at all.

Because in order for him to get an "A" it has to be non-rhyming-made-up-pointless-garble.

Some days, I like it better when he was home edumacated.

Nov 09 2010

Laughable Moment #29

We have two dogs, one of which has decided to come into heat. Yeah, I know…we need to spay her and neuter him. Trying to take care of him this week. In the meantime, we are keeping them separated. He's not taking it to well; he's miserable.

In his miserableness this morning, the Drama Queen wanted to know what was wrong with him. I remarked that he can't take it because he just wants to be with Roxy, to which my husband commented,

"Just admit it, it's all males. They all get this way around certain women."

To which I remarked, "Yeah, Daddy loves me so much, he'd do anything for me."

The Drama Queen interrupts and starts telling us,

"Yeah, Daddy loves me so much, he gave me clothes, he gave me a crib, he gave birth to me….."

At which point, I quickly interrupt and state, "Let me get this straight, dear, I gave birth to you."

(She does know that, by the way, it was just a slip of the tongue.)

Daddy went into fits of hysteria, stating one can never take that away from a women because she will always remind you that it was she that gave birth to her children!

Oh my goodness…we laughed so hard!

Now if only we could get Joey to stop howling and whining and eat something…………..