Happy 5th Birthday Gabi

Happy Birthday to FooHappy Birthday to FooHappy Birthday dear little FooHappy Birthday to Foo

"All I want do to is go to Chuck E Cheese for my birtday."

"Gabi, do you want Chuck E Cheese to come out and sing 'Happy Birthday' to you?"

"That's fine but he just can't touch me."

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

Ahh, gross! The similarities are freaking me out!! Today Olivia got her bandages removed from her finger. For those that didn't hear, she had surgery on it about 1 week ago to remove a cyst from her pinky finger. The surgery went well except for the waking up from anesthesia part. She had a real hard time but once she got a little sedative she was fine and ready to watch Lilo & Stitch on the Disney Channel and snuggle in mommy's arms. So when the doctor took the bandage off her finger, I was a little surprised at how much her finger looked like what mine looked like 18 months ago when I sliced it. Check it out:

and mine:

All I can say is yuck, yuck, yuck. She really is doing well. The doctor told her she has to stop babying her finger and start using it again. I have to remind her of that because she keeps forgetting. She is back to doing cartwheels around the house and running around with her siblings. Thank God kids are resilient. Cause mom had a harder time with this than she did.

We Remember

Today is the 5th anniversary of the deadly attacks on our country. For our family, it holds many sad memories and has many significances. I was 38 weeks pregnant with Gabi and I guess you could say that she saved my husband from being thrown back up into the war zone just a few days later. Tom took a major demotion before I was even out of the hospital. We lived paycheck to paycheck for the next 3 years.

So for us, this day will always be remembered. And for my kids who are now of age to semi-understand what happened on this day. Jake remembers when the second plane hit the World Trade Center. He was 4 1/2 years old. He was sitting in front of the television as his parents watched in horror at what seemed, at the time, to be an accident. We didn't even think to turn the TV off for the sake of those innocent eyes. It never dawned on us. This morning, we had several discussions about the events of that day and our kids had several questions. We observed a moment of silence in our homeschool at the times that each of the planes went down. The kids went to their homeschool learning center today and when I picked the girls up, their teacher said, "When we talked about what happened on this day 5 years ago, both the girls knew exactly what the events were." Those darn homeschool kids, sometimes they know to much.

And for me, for some reason, those memories seem all to vivid. And the effects that it had on my life for months and years to come, seem to be so much more real today. I am thankful that my husband is home today and not flying. For I don't think I want him up in the air ever again on this day. What if they try it again, just for kicks, as an anniversary celebration? I was glad he was home on this day 5 years ago. Even more glad today. I don't think I ever realized, with my pregnant state in the past, how it would have felt to have him out of town that day. What would I have done? Gone into labor?? Had a nervous breakdown?? Cried all day? I look forward to a better day tomorrow.

End of an Era

This past Friday, a chapter was closed in my mom's life. For the last year, she has been wanting to retire and move on with her life. We have all waited for that perfect time to come, when the finances would be right, the perfect time to get her house on the real estate market, the perfect time that she could emotionally handle letting go of her job. That perfect time came when my grandmother got sick and we were all reminded of how precious life is and how feeble my granny had become. She wasn't going to live forever as we would all hope for. My mom decided then and their that it was finally time to take that plunge and retire. She had always said that when it came time that my granny would need help, that she would walk out of her job and never look back. And that's just what she did.

Maybe it wasn't as much her decision as she thought. I believe that it was the Lord telling her that it was time to take that faith walk. It was time for her to step out into the unknown and out of her comfort zone. She has a need now. She needs to find a part time job to make up the difference financially month to month. She's been talking about ending this chapter of her life for the last year and for some reason 'stuff' has just been coming up to prevent her from doing that. The one thing that would make her quit, my granny getting sick, would push her out the door. The Lord knew that and now she has taken that plunge. I'm proud of her for taking this walk. I was there last year. I took that walk of faith. I know the criticisms that can come with such a decisions. I also know the fear as you know what your deadline is and you see it coming closer and closer without any resolve in sight. But she will be fine, emotionally, spiritually, financially. The Lord will hold her and I know she believes that to.

So, HAPPY RETIREMENT, MOM!!

She came to my house on the day she retired and since the other two of the 'Byrne Girls 4' couldn't join us for this oh so special event, I had to make sure that she went out with a bang - something special she would remember forever. I think I achieved that goal.

We took her out to dinner at a Japanese Steak House. She had never been to one before and had asked to go so we gladly obliged her. Who could argue with that kind of food?? Yummy!! She wore a special 'Happy Retirement' headband to let the entire restaurant know what a special day this was. She got the attention she deserved when the staff came out banging a gong and then sang a 'Happy Retirement' song to her. They also put a special red chef hat on her to make her stand out more!

I made a special cake for her. I even made a sugar cookie person for each of the 'Byrne Girls 4'. Can you figure out who is who??

I'll give you a while to think about it and submit your answers!

I think my mom had a great day and I achieved my goal of making it special for her. I bought her some Brighton jewelry, her favorite, with her favorite theme of hearts. She got a charm bracelet and matching necklace, you turn the necklace to the other side and it reads, 'Love your heart(the heart isn't written out, it is a picture of a heart)'. I also made sure she had a banner, retirement plates/napkins, a table topper and retirement lawn ornament. She's excited for her new venture and looks forward to spending more time with the grandkids without any boundaries of work responsibilities. She has woken up at 7 a.m. these past few days, she's usually a 5 a.m. riser, just because she can now. I'm excited for her and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Tapping on the Glass

Dink, Dink, Dink

Dink, Dink, Dink

Tap, Tap, Tap

Dink, Dink, Dink

Ok, now tell me what mental image just popped up into your head considering the title and the first few lines of this post?

Did you conjure up the same mental image I did? Someone, maybe you, standing in front of a plate of glass, tapping frantically on it. What kind of glass was it?? Was it one way glass so the attraction on the other side couldn't see who was doing the tapping? Or was it clear plexi glass, where both could see who was tapping? And who did you put on the other side? Was it a boyfriend or girlfriend, or perhaps a coworker?? Was it your boss? Or maybe it was a arrogant, self righteous family member?? Or possibly a close-minded in-law?

I can think of several people I would put on the other side of that plexi glass. And I think I would choose to have one way plexi glass. Just for certain individuals though. Just so they would have no clue that I was the one tapping on their glass, wriling them up, insighting riots, rocking the boat. And for others, I would want clear plexi glass, so they would know, under no uncertain terms that it was me trying to get their fur to stand on end.

I am tired of playing reindeer games with certain individuals. I'm tired of doing their dance, just to not insight a riot. The time has come to start putting some of those people behind the glass and just tap away at my hearts content. Whether they realize it is me or not.