WATCH OUT FOR THE CURB!

Last Saturday I drove my daughter to her first basketball scrimmage. I was very proud of her--her fourth grade team is learning the sport and did extremely well. The score ended in a tie. I think the final numbers were 8-8. Yes it is basketball and not softball--and like I said they're learning. Didn't Michael Jordan start somewhere too? Anyway, we left the game and I was looking forward to 101 things I needed to get done. I pulled away from the parking spot and hit a curb. I didn't think much of it until I was halfway home and wondered what that strange noise was. It didn't take long to realize I had a flat. My husband came to the rescue and bailed me out--changing the tire. All the 101 things that needed to be done were going to have to be put on hold. We had to go to the tire place and get it fixed (but the damage looked bad--so most likely we needed a new one). By the end of the day 200 dollars later and minus 101 things that never got done--the van was fixed. Yeah.

That brings us to this past weekend. I ran to Kohl's to use my bonus bucks and to take advantage of their early bird special. I cashed in on some specials...mostly for me and then headed home. Only as I was leaving the parking lot...I hit a curb....and once again I heard....bump, bump, bump etc. Another flat tire! How could this happen 2 weeks in a row! I pulled into the parking lot and called my husband who I knew was going to have a cow over this one. He said he'd be right there. And sure enough he came to my rescue...and changed the flat. 200 dollars later, the van was fixed. How could I be so careless? My husband was actually really wonderful and instead of having a cow, a bull, a turkey and a monkey...he very calmly said--"no one was hurt". I love this man--just another reason why I married him. So when he doesn't remember to make a duplicate key, or take out the garbage, I will remember his comment "no one was hurt" and move on. And if there is another lesson to be learned---SLOW DOWN AROUND CURBS!

WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE...

God knows exactly where you are--at every moment of the day...Yes you are accounted for!

Last night I was exhausted from work. We taped two shows and the day just felt draining. I couldn't wait to jump on a train and head home. My husband called to tell me he was running late at work because he was involved in extra paperwork. The babysitter had to head out early--so I was in a rush to get home. I made the 6:40 train with about 5 minutes to spare. I felt like I was in good shape. We left the platform on time--even better shape. Then the train came to a screetching halt. The train didn't move. We were informed that there was a disabled Amtrack train in front of us....it would take only a few moments. Well a few moments turned into a half hour, then an hour, then an hour and a half. Thankfully we had service in the train and I was able to reach my sister who could relieve the babysitter who had to go. People started getting frustrated. No one could get off the train. We finally started to move just before 9 pm. I eventually got home around 10 pm. Yes I was tired, yes, I was upset, yes I just wanted to be anywhere but that train. But I reminded myself of a story that a friend emailed me regarding 9/11. It went something like...God wants you right where you are at every minute. One man took his son to school for the first day--and missed the collapse of the Twin Towers. Another man went to the drugstore to pick up bandaids for a blister that same day and missed the collapse. Another man overslept...and also missed the collapse. Yes...for some reason I was meant to be at that very place--stuck on the train. I have to trust that that is where God wanted me at that moment--well actually more than a moment...2 and a half hours.

Then I tried to find the silver lining in that delay. Thankfully my good friend Fran gave me two bags of chips that served as dinner for those around me on the train. Thankfully my sister was available to relieve the babysitter. Thankfully I had my knitting with me. I finished a scarf (one Christmas gift done). Thankfully...I was accounted for on that train...and I did get home...and was safe. Next time you're stuck somewhere...just remember, you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

WE MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER--BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL!

My 5 beautiful daughters!

RANDOM THOUGHTS....

I am so proud of my five girls. I love them even during the moments when I'm trying to get sleep and they somehow manage to wake me up at 6 am on a Saturday. I love them when they tell me a half hour before their basketball game they need kneepads (especially when it's at 8:00 am and hard to find a sports store open). I love them when they decide to express their creativity by coloring all over the kitchen wall. I even love them when they act like magicians and make food disappear between the couch. I just love them! That's what we do as moms--love our children no matter what. My favorite saying is...WE MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER--BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL! And we do...overall we are always there for one another. When someone hurts or upsets one sister...I love seeing the other sisters step up and protect each other. That is my greatest wish that all my daughters always stay close and help one another out.

This past weekend my daughter Caroline had a basketball game. She did great--until a girl from the other team pulled back her finger and jammed it. It's probably just a sprain and she'll be back in the saddle in no time....but this player just seemed so rough. If looks could kill this girl would have dropped on the spot...because all Caroline's sisters peered and seethed at this girl for what she had done.

More random thoughts....My daughter's school have been collecting boxtops. Usually at the end of the year whichever class collects the most gets a free lunch. The stakes are higher because now whichever class collects the most gets a NUD day....meaning a no uniform day. So here's my dilemma--I"ve been collecting them since summer....I have about 100 or more. The contest ends mid-december. I can divide the boxtops up and in the mix they won't account for much...or I can give them all to one daughter and her class most likely will win the NUD day. Then I had another idea...I will use the boxtops as bribery...be good...don't wake mom up on Saturday at 6 am, don't ask mom for kneepads right before the game, don't hide food in the couch, don't color on the wall (even though I love you no matter what)...and you'll get the boxtops!

Happy Random Thoughts Monday!

A CRYING FOOL!

Becca....my box of tissues!

I am a sucker for sad movies, tv shows, and anything else that could make you cry. I'm a blubbering fool. Last night my daughters and I gathered around to watch Ghost Whisperer (our favorite show--yeah it's now on everynight in reruns). So last night's episode dealt with 3 little boys who perished in a fire while they were living at an orphanage. Melinda (the main character--Jennifer Love Hewitt) was hosting an auction of items from the old orphanage that had just been sold. While rummaging through things her character encountered these 3 little boys. As the story goes on she spends a night at the place and reads a book to these little lost boys--Peter Pan is their favorite. Apparently one little boy died and they never found his body. As the story progresses we find out that the man who bought the orphanage plans to demolish it so Melinda is trying to get these little boys to "cross over". It soon becomes evident that the man who bought the place was actually one of the boys who was thought to have perished. He escaped the fire and never looked back. Now he wanted to burn the place down...along with his memories. Melinda figures it all out and brings the man back to the place and tells him his friends are here. He helps the little boys "cross over". Needless to say, I cried and cried as the boys reunited with their friend who had escaped and who is now 50 years older.

I was holding Rebecca as I blubbered like a baby. Rebecca suddenly turns around to me and gives me the biggest hug and starts wiping my tears and says "It's ok Mommy...I promise it's ok...don't cry." I told her I was just sad at the tv show and yes, everything would be ok. Imagine a 3 year old wiping my tears for a change.

You never know what life is going to give you...just remember the things you have now is what you'll always cherish. Thanks Rebecca for wiping mommy's tears and making me smile...you're the best tissue I could ever have!

Gemma and Becca...best of friends.

I don't have twins but I feel like I do. Gemma and Rebecca are 14 months apart. They love playing together, they share a bedroom, they share clothes, they share shoes, and they even share their toys. They're very close and yet they couldn't be more opposite of one another. Gemma is all princess--girly girly. She likes to wear dresses, curl her hair, and wear lipstick. Rebecca is more interested in climbing a tree, wearing pants, and playing with cars.



It's very funny to me to hear them play together. Since Gemma is older she usually bosses Rebecca around--when they play Barbies I often hear Gemma tell Becca "I'll be the princess doll and you be the boy doll". Or when they're coloring, Gemma says "Becca, I'll take the pink crayon and you color with the black one". Becca always let's Gemma have her way.

I think its great when you can record all these "little life moments" with your children. I try to jot things down when I can. I'll never forget the time when my oldest daughter Graceann proudly said at the age of 3...."mom that Dorothy from the wizard of oz is a really good singer....she should get a job singing".
Try keeping a notebook and jot these things down...you know what they say..."out of the mouths of babes". The other day Gemma was bothered by her sisters teasing...and finally cried out..."stop, you're making me annoying". It's quickly become the catch phrase in our house.

Enjoy your children...minute by minute.

The Art of The R.S.V.P

Caroline and her sister Graceann serving at Mass

RSVP stands for Repondez s'il vous plait. That's a French phrase that translates to please respond.

In Western culture not replying to an RSVP request with a confirmation of one's attendance or absence is often considered rude. (Wikepedia)

This Sunday my daughter Caroline altar served her first Mass. It was an exciting yet scary time for her (scary because she worried whether or not if she would remember what to do). Her older sister Graceann was serving with her—so she did have a guardian angel looking out for her. It was an extremely proud moment for me. To see her grow in her faith makes me feel really good. So good in fact that I like to highlight these little moments by inviting those who are close to her to participate and be a part of this special day…and then celebrate them with a little gathering afterwards. Although there is no such thing as little gathering since it's always quite a production of food and festivities when my family gets together. I invited family and friends to come to Caroline's Mass. I sent an email and followed up with a personal face to face invitation. Some people mentioned they would come…and others I never heard from. As a host I wasn't sure how many people to expect. But as a mom of 5 children under the age of 12 I didn't have time to be calling everyone and checking on why they didn't RSVP and whether not they were coming. So instead I slaved in the kitchen the night before making homemade sauce, lasagna and meatballs. I cleaned the house like a crazy woman—and stayed up late til it all looked perfect.

Caroline did a perfect job. I was so happy to see her serve at Mass. I took some photographs as discreetly as I could. A few family members and friends joined us at the church. When all was over we headed back to the house where only 1 of our invited guests showed up. It was quite apparent that we didn't need both trays of the homemade lasagna. And of course I wasn't happy. As my friend Wikepedia said above….it's rude when you don't RSVP.

I will admit that there have been times in my lifetime when I didn't RSVP….and to be on the receiving end of it…well let's just say I'll never forget to RSVP again.

HUSBANDS...YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM...AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH....OK I WON'T SAY IT.

I feel sick as a dog...well do dogs actually feel sick? not sure where that expression came from...so I'll look it up tommorrow and let you know. Last night my head ached (nothing to do with the Yankees winning) most likely because I coughed and coughed and coughed. The house was a mess and the last thing I felt like doing was cleaning. Yet when I come home from work I can't help but go into "mom mode" so I started picking things up off the floor, wiping the cracker jack off my antique desk, scraping the fruit roll ups off the hardwood floors etc. Eventually I could do no more...in comes my knight in shining armour who offers to help. He orders pizza for dinner so I don't have to cook. And then tells me to go to bed early because he'll clean up. The kitchen table was a mess and the sink was filled with dishes (Graceann was home sick yesterday...and decided to hold a bake-a-thon in honor of her day off--yes Gracie everything was really delicious...just clean up when you're done!).

So I dragged myself up to bed and fell asleep. I tossed and turned and coughed and turned and coughed and tossed and coughed and turned. When it was finally time to wake up I felt as if I hadn't slept at all. Bob was already up and out the door. In my best zombie impression I trudged downstairs to get ready for work and the kids ready for school. And that's when I saw it. The kitchen table was a mess and the sink was filled with dishes....did I not hear correctly? Didn't my knight in shining armour say he would take care of it and clean? Then I finally understood what his interpretation of clean was...mop the floor. I know I can't complain, after all how many wives have husbands who actually will mop. I so appreciate it...I really really do....but sometimes priorities have to be considered. Mopping can wait til the weekend...dishes piled high in the sink can't. My head was continuing to spin.

I finally got all in order with the kids...and a little screaming to boot...but they were off to school and I was off to work. Then the babysitter called to say the pantry door was locked. Somehow--someone "accidentally" locked it. Yes we put a lock on the pantry because at times the kids need to be kept out of it. Now we only have two keys to the locked pantry. One of the keys my husband had and one of the keys I had. Two days ago my husband told me his key broke. I have been hounding him to make duplicates for months. So I gave him my key--and a wish and a prayer that now he would get duplicates. So when the babysitter called I told her I would call my husband and find out what he did with the key. I asked him...and he told me he didn't know where it was. After the morning I had (remember I am a bear with lack of sleep) I couldn't believe he didn't know where the extra key was...so i took a breath and asked him where the key I gave him yesterday was. He told me he'll have to find it...he didn't know where it was.

Now you might think to yourself...why didn't I just get duplicates of the key made...and you'd be right to wonder that...but I am tired and cranky so don't let me hear you ask that question or it may not be a pretty sight. There are certain jobs that are made for women and there are certain jobs that are made for men. I know what you're thinking now..."she just set back the women's movement 40 years"...but remember, I can't help it. I am cranky, I am tired, I coughed and turned and tossed all night. Ok back to our roles as men and women. Women make the heart of the home...they clean, they cook, they tend to boo-boos, they comfort the kids...(I know why don't I just say they're barefoot and pregnant and that's it while I am at--but remember I may not be conscious of what I'm writing due to the state I'm feeling...so just accept it and bare with me). Men on the other hand have these roles...they fix the cars, they take out the garbage....apparently they mop floors, and they make duplicate keys. End of story...men make duplicates. I don't even think I ever stood foot in a hardware store (although if I did I'd probably find alot of great tools I could use for crafts). Am I wrong? Am I delirious? Go on tell me....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I am a wild thing...on Halloween at least....here I am dressed at the Martha Showl


Halloween went off without a hitch this year....just a perfect day to treat...treat...treat. Yes it drizzled just a bit but overall it was such a beautiful night. The girls got lots of candy and a special treat was being able to trick or treat with their cousin John Paul who lives 2 states away. Since Halloween was on a Saturday this year my sister Maria was able to visit for the weekend. The kids had a blast.

John Paul--albert einstein with his cousin Caroline the Pirate

Gemma always a princess!

Becca was dressed as Mickey...and whenever she went trick or treating the person opening the door would ask...who are you? As they waited for the answer MICKEY MOUSE....out came this little voice that said. "I'm Becca".

My sister...was a sister...Sister Maria...Bless you!

Pauline was a bloodied barbie doll...a bit gruesome...but she wanted to have fun with makeup....here she is holding her nail polished pumpkin.

Every year I encourage the kids to "pool" their candy together so there isn't any fighting...everyone can eat what they like...and their isn't any stealing anybody's candy like I used to do with my siblings. Of course I started this year one....so they know what to expect...might be hard to set this rule up now. Anyway....lots of treats for a fun night out.

Speaking of a fun night...part of the most fun was gaining an hour for Daylight Savings Time. However, not in the Deyo Household. My husband Bob and I actually lost an hour because Gemma woke up 2 times and wouldn't go back to sleep...it actually took us about 2 hours to get her settled in her bed and to fall asleep....so while most people are walking around quite rested today...I am walking around as if I have a hangover....

Hope your Halloween was as much fun as mine was...of course the scariest part of Halloween is now the fact that Christmas is right around the corner...time to go shopping and wrapping....

Christina