designnarrative

strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta with basil- summer in a bite

has nothing to do with this post though:

I think I’m going a bit bonkers, I flat-out lied to my kids at dinner.

Without batting an eye, I vehemently denied that the pasta dish I served contained mushrooms.

I didn’t feel up to the battle.  Honesty matters a great deal to me and I blew it with my kids over mushrooms.

I love being at home but I miss my work friends, and soccer taco, and wearing real clothes and make-up on a regular basis, and not cleaning till my hands are raw, and having real grown up conversations.

There are only so many crafts and kiddie centric activities one can create before going bonkers, just saying.

Lunch with Granny at the Drugstore 

followed by the Greenback Parade 

this guy’s shirt cracked me up

back home for some flag cake 

G made a “mixer, can-opener, battle-ax, gun, sword for robots and chicken raptors” out of foil and recycled trash.

Watch out world

 Our best times are spent when the kids get artsy at the kitchen table and I’m cooking around.

This little guy is finally digging it

We’ve had an out break of complaining and disputing-hoping to remedy that.

This is a crazy good kiddie lunch from pinterest:

crescent rolls, half a mozzarella cheese stick, and turkey pepperoni

soo very good when I’ve had mac and cheese and pbjs for lunch for weeks

cat woman and her sidekick bunny

velvet spider man art

yet another awkward cousin picture

wild dinosaurs at breakfast

date night downtown and unwittingly crashing GLBT parade and festival

Tomorrow is my mama’s birthday.  Writing about my mama should be several novels and not just a blog post but this will get us started.  She’s the oldest of five girls and honed her nurturing and cooking skills at a young age.  My dad and her were highschool sweethearts and married in college.  They ate a lot of cabbage soup from what I hear.  With a wink, she told me several years ago at a 40+ anniversary that she thought they just might make it.

My mama is a lady of class and grace.  She has always known that style can never be separated from substance.  She is resourceful and creative.  She has always made the most of what she has and graciously shared with others.  She can cook and sew like no body else.  She’s very bright- I used her as a guinea pig when I was learning how to give IQ tests.  And obviously a good sport, see above item.

My mama has an independent mind and a sharp wit.  I have no illusions that I was an easy child to raise.  We butted heads some.  I always knew I was passionately loved.  Now that I am a mother, I appreciate all the meals, stories, birthday parties, sleepovers, ballet lessons, ball practices, and general instructions in life.  Now I say, “Grab a jacket, you’ll freeze your bunkus off” and throw blackened bananas in the freezer for baking bread- these are just a few of the things I used to roll my eyes at.

I’ve come to realize that any good in me, any positive trait I have is a direct result of her love and influence in my life.  The bad I take full responsibility for and like the old county song, “mama tried”.  I love you mama!  I only hope I can be to Ava and Graham what you are to me.  Happy Birthday!