A group of my girlfriends were discussing the difference between men and women watching their children. This being said please understand this was a total girl conversation. Also know that we dearly love and respect our husbands. This is not meant to complain, just kind of funny circumstances that have happened. These are all real things that my girlfriends or myself have come home to after being gone for a few hours.
This being said for heavens sake do we have to come home to children being awake after clearly stating we were going to the store 5 minutes before bedtime? When we walk in the door we do not want to see the vacuum cleaner attachment clearly trying to suck something out of our toddler’s nose. We don’t enjoy the aroma of a poopie diaper that was not making your eyes sting, but left us wretching. No, we do not enjoy seeing our babies toddling along with a real hammer in their hands that weighs almost as much as they do. We do not want our child to be the victim of fashion when you put the ruffles of her tights in the front so they will show. It’s ok…you were not thinking about the fact that she is still crawling. We also do not relish using clorox plus a shovel to clean the bathtub after you hosed down the vommitting child and left the chunky remnants floating in the tub. None of us like to come home to see you sitting in front of the TV when our little ones have slipped out of the door and rang our neighbor’s doorbell. We giggle when we see the diaper that you just applied fall to their ankles for the 10th time. We don’t like to see them perching on a 4 foot wall playing chicken with the neighbor kids. We get nervous when we see them jumping off another higher object to get onto the trampoline.
There were more of these lovely tidbits but I would be writing for hours and pages. Of course I understand that this is biased…but fun!

He is stealing me away. Hubby has arranged a weekend away for the two of us. Even though this weekend will include a plethora of football and football talk, I get to go. See it’s his annual Fantasy Football Frenzy weekend escape. Generally I’m not into football like he is. He was a ref so he see it for the technicalities of the game. I see it as a bunch of guys bashing around on a green fields with hash marks.
We are leaving the snow behind and running away to Las Vegas. May be I’ll gamble a little like last year. I came home $400.00 richer. Not the norm I know, but I went in with only $50.00 to spend. I think that quadrupling my money was pretty good.
I will write while I’m away…..may be!

On this day 13 years ago at high noon….
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Sometimes as a mother and a wife I feel unappreciated and unloved. My children occasionally tell me they think I am mean and must not care for them because I wouldn’t let them jump off the playhouse and on to the tramp. You get the picture. I often look at the circumstances in front of me and wait for my husband to make “the big gesture”. You know…that big romantic gesture that will sweep me off my feet like it use to when we were first dating.
As I sat home tonight in my silent home it really bothered me. Without the children here I felt alone and without purpose. Yes, don’t get me wrong I loved being alone (don’t even get that in the bathroom) but I felt uncomfortable without the children milling about. Without him I felt incomplete.
I have always been big on wanting a more romantic relationship from my husband. I have waited for 12 years for him to make the big romantic gesture. What I realized tonight is that I was only looking at this with my perspective. I wonder if he feels the same way sometimes. I wonder if he waits me to make the move. Then looking at this through his eyes I had a moment of epiphany. With HH, he makes the gesture in his own silent and loving way every day. He puts a roof over our heads. His hard work helps pay for everything that we have and the life we enjoy together. His leaving this weekend was just another expression of his love in his strong silent way. He chose me almost 12 years ago. I chose him. August 13, 1994 we chose to spend the rest of our lives together. No matter the circumstance we loved each other enough to think that we could do this for the rest of our lives. Our love for each other spilled over and his daily expression of his love for me resounds in the look on our children’s faces.
The daily grind can be overwhelming sometimes. The feeling of being unappreciated and unloved can be strong. I hope that I can always keep the fresh perspective to search for the little things that he does do for me on a daily basis. I need to reciprocate and enjoy our life together instead of begrudging him because I have my own idea of how the fairy tale life should be.
I am blessed beyond words. His love for me can not be measured. It is in the simple things that he does for me every day. I choose to acknowledge the little things that you provide.
This is one day early my love if you are reading this. I am blessed by you and through you. You have given me so much. I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. You won my heart 18 years ago with a blindfolded date to see, “The Lady And The Tramp”. I just did not realize the friend I had in you until years later. I love you. I love the life we have together. Thank you for being and incredible husband to me and a wonderful daddy to our children. I love you.

I woke up this morning at 5:00 am to send my lovely children and hubby off to see their grandparents. Hubby is truly a gem. This whole week I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather. He’s heard my moaning and whining. He took it upon himself to make sure that I got to feeling better by giving me a day off. He flew in last night from Albuquerque, and starting packing for an overnight trip with the kiddos
SHHHH…HELLLO??….Anyone here? Just the dog, the cat and little old me. I am eerily enjoying this wonderful day of freedom and rest.
Hubby’s sister is moving and needed help so of course my noble man felt the responsibility upon himself to extend a helping hand. (got to say I find him annoying sexy for this wonderful trait of his) So this morning an hour ago they hopped in the car and took off. (Oh Nana’s house is a 5 hour drive away) Tomorrow he will be heading back with Genuine Niece and Nephew who have been staying with Nana and Papa this week. They needed a ride home. Personally, I think he’s nuts for being outnumbered 4 to one on the 5 hour long drive home. I feel a twinge of guilt for not going and helping hold down the fort. He insisted I stay home and rest which of course made me feel worse. Did I mention that he is great with kids? Personally, I think he’s either crazy or a martyr. Can’t decide which.
Today I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. I know one thing though…after I write this post I am going to run down the stairs, cuddle up in my bed and go back to sleep for…the day!!

There are moments in time that Hula Hubby takes my breath away. This is why….
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We went skiing yesterday. Hula Hubby, Hula Boy, Hula Girl, Hula Nephew, Hula Brother in Law, and I all piled in our Expedition and went for the day. The day was gorgeous. I actually spent the day keeping Hula Boy entertained. We looked down every grate, we threw rocks in the stream, we spotted all different sort of animals, we people watched and giggle when we saw someone wipe out, We tubed down a HUGE tubing hill, and played played played in the snow. It was a wonderful day and a wonderful outing.
Tubing was an adventure. Their two slow lanes were closed due to maintenance. We had to choose the third slowest lane. That lane was a little icy and had a bump in the middle of it. Hula Boy yelled “YAHOO” every single time we caught some air on the bump. Me…I nearly wet my pants.
After doing that for a while we went back to the car to rest. In my case there is no rest for the wicked. Hula Boy chattered about his adventurous day and how much he enjoyed it. It had been a perfect day. Then the call came in….

Hula Hubby - “Hey…(sounding a bit concerned) Hula BIL has been hurt. He caught his ski tip on something. He is having trouble walking! He says it is his knee. The Ski Patrol just went up to get him. I might need you to drive down to Center Village to come pick up the kids while they tend to him. I’ll have to call you back. The ski patrol have just arrived. Hold on Hold on…I’ll call you back!”

In a dazed shock I quickly loaded Hula Boy into his car seat, call my sister to let her know that her husband had been hurt and when I got details I would call. I hated leaving that message but her being a nurse she would have been upset had I not called. The awaited phone call came in..
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Let me just say….I love it when my husband is whispering sweet nothings and adds, “…..and the kids can go with me! Go take a bath. Go to the store by yourself. Run undressed in the house. I’ll see you in a couple hours!” *quick kiss and they’re off.
*sigh…ok it’s kind of quiet. It is freaking me out a little. May be I’ll turn on the radio.

Valentines Day has never been my hubby’s strong point. His point has always been why should he oblige Hallmark and just pick one day out of the year to show me that he loves me. When we were first together I thought he was just trying to squeeze out of getting a gift for me. Now that we’ve been married 11 plus years I see it different. Every day in some way shape or form he shows me that he loves me. Whether it’s through a phone call or a note left in a spot that he’ll know I’ll find it, a look, playing with the children so that I can take a bath I know daily that he is there for me and loves me.
So like always this Valentines Day will not be filled with flowers or candy. It was simply marked with a hand written note on my bedside table that read, ” Step by Step, Day by Day, Hand in Hand together through life”. That was the same thing written on our wedding invitation 11 plus years ago. He still remembers. I love that.

Hubby and I are escaping. We are leaving for Vegas tomorrow!! WOO HOO! So I won’t see you all this weekend. Love to all!