1765 Update & Today’s Anniversary

Saucy Scale: 8

I’ve felt like writing for a few days, but I haven’t been sure what to write about.  As nap time is quickly approaching, my window of opportunity for writing is closing.

Thanksgiving was yummy, as usual.  My darling brother did 99.9% of the cooking.  I made the cranberry compote.  Nothing else.

Thanksgiving Day was my daddy’s birthday this year.  So, instead of pumpkin pie (which only my daddy & I even like), my brother baked our daddy’s favorite pie: graham cracker pie.  It’s a supersweet concoction in a graham cracker crust.  Our mommy used to make it for him every year.  I’ve never attempted to make it, myself.

MIL and FIL celebrated Turkey Day with family friends.  They were on the Iowa/Illinois border.  They figured they could drive home or drive to our house after their dinner.  So, we were lucky enough to have a few days with grandma & grandpa at our house.

We celebrated Black Friday the best way we know how: NOT SHOPPING.  We took part in our 2nd Annual Aquarium Trip.  I shouldn’t tell you this, but since everyone else is shopping on Michigan Avenue, the Shedd Aquarium is really quiet.  We have a membership & try to visit often b/c it is one of Gusser’s favorite places on earth.  I was definitely short on energy for traipsing around, but the kids had a great time with their daddy & the grandparents.  One of the greatest differences in this particular Aquarium visit was that Mattson actually enjoyed the fish!  Even when my lazy preggo butt was parked on a bench (and I had no visuals of my kids), I could hear Mattson talking to the sea creatures.  All day long, you could hear his sweet little voice saying "Bye!" (which sounds more like "bah!") to the fish tanks.  It was great!

Mattson still doesn’t have a tremendous vocabulary.  (Why bother when you can point, grunt, & scream?  Right?)  Though he does make great use of the words he does use.  "No!" and "Nah!" and "Uh-Huh" are unfortunately his favs.  It drives me crazy.  He has started saying "please" (which adorably sounds like "peas").  He signs instead of says "more"…Gus did that too.  

Yesterday it was cold, but the sun was shining brightly.  There was a wonderful ray of sunshine streaming into the Family Room.  You know those streams of light where you can see the little floaties in the air?  Mattson took one look at those floaties and started singing "bubbles!" (which sounds like "bubbas!") over and over again.

We’re trying to encourage him to talk more.  Even if we know what he’s not-so-much asking for, we are trying not to just give in and get things for him.  And we’re trying to make a habit out of his manners, too.  It is really important to us.  We were sticklers with Gus and he’s one of the most polite kids we know (even if he does forget to use manners when asking sometimes).  For instance, when Mattson wants out of his high chair, we insist that he includes the word "please" in his request for his freedom. 

We know that he understands much more of what we say to him.  It’s obvious that he gets way more than his verbal skills would let on.    

For the past few weeks, I’ve been all gung-ho with my volunteer efforts for the Auction.  I’ve been writing a million solicitation letters asking for donated swag or cash.  I was feeling really invigorated & even began to think that maybe I could keep volunteering into 2009 instead of going on a leave of my auction duties right after the start of the new year. 

Until I started to have some issues with my Boss Lady.  She’s successfully sucked the life right out of me once again.  I could seriously walk away from her and the auction at this very moment & feel no guilt.  I won’t however.  I will continue to solicit donations, because I want the auction to be a financial success, but that is where my commitment ends.  I owe Boss Lady nothing. 

Except maybe a kick in the patch.

After 2 days of being cooped up in the house, it was nice to get out today and have lunch with Uncle Boogie and the children.  Dry Lady spent the morning at our house today.  I’m sure that Dry Lady didn’t mind us clearing out of the house either!  I still love her madly.

That nice lady from church has been pressuring me about letting her come clean my house.  It is really thoughtful of her, but it stresses me out.  I should’ve told her upfront about Dry Lady, but I didn’t want to sound like I was bragging or that I didn’t appreciate her generous offer.  Now, it is too late.  So, TBU says to me, "just let her come!  She wants to help!"  I guess he’s right.  So, I’m thinking maybe she could come over alternating weeks that Dry Lady doesn’t come clean.  She wants to come every week, but that just seems silly.  Oh, my sin of omission is causing me great guilt!

On Sunday morning the Assistant Pastor’s wife took me aside and thoughtfully inquired about how I was doing.  (She remembered that the anniversary of my mommy’s death was quickly approaching.)  Which was very thoughtful of her.  Either she’s got a heck of a memory, or she keeps a very eery calendar so she can pull these timely comments out of seemingly thin air!

So, <a href="http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C100244&entry=20158″>the second anniversary of my mommy’s death is today.  I’m a little glum.  Not bad.  Just a little.  I imagine my daddy will be requiring all sorts of extra attention and petting this week.  Sometimes I just wish he’d realize that maybe we all need a little coddling this time of year.  And that grief doesn’t exactly revolve solely around him.  I know that sounds mean and heartless.  I realize he lost his wife.  His partner in life and his only real hobby.  But I lost my mommy, right?

I miss you mommy.  Thanks for being the greatest influence in my life.  I hope I’m half the woman you were.  I hope I’m half the mom you were.

I’m sure you watch over my children.  I’m sure they make you laugh all the time.  And I’m sure you see me in them…especially in that naughty Mattson.  Which makes you laugh the hardest of all. 

I miss you, but I wouldn’t drag you back here if I could.  I love that you are free from the pain and betrayal of your physical body.

I love you.