My mom has short hair.
I have long hair.
My mom has hazel eyes.
I have blue eyes
My mom glasses and I don’t.
My mom has earrings and I have earrings to.
My Mom has Brown hair.
I have blonde hair. Continue reading “My Mom And I”
No Swimming
My daughters are a constant source of inspiration for me. Their amazingly fantastic view the world around them makes me smile. The heck awesome places their imaginations take them to leaves me in smiling in awwww. The times I get to spend drawing and doing crafts with them… inspired and filled with ideas.
Like most of my doodles, this one stared with “Mommy come draw with meeeee!!!!”
It quickly turned into a paper crumpling grump, “I can’t draw fish!!!!”
And ended with a mini-fish drawing lesson and then it….well you’ll see! Continue reading “No Swimming”
She Was Always Listening
Driving home I was happy. For once I had finished them early. For once I would have them done before they needed to be sent out. For once I could get them all ready to go and just stare at them all beautiful, neatly folded, hand printed and done…early!! It only took me eight years…I totally rock this mom thing!
I took my work bag out of the car and walked in the house with a smile (yup still proud of myself)
I put my bag on the arm of the couch and took out a blue file folder. I could not wait to show her what I had gotten done so that we could put everything together.
“Olivia! Come here!!!!” I hollered to the upstairs, “Mommy’s home and I have something to showwww youuuu,” I happily sang.
“Coming mommy!” she answered back in the sweetest voice
“Look what mommy got done today!!!” I said proudly showing her the neatly printed, ready to be paired with glittery ice cream cone party invitations and put into envelopes sheet of directions and party details.
“Oh…” she fround. Continue reading “She Was Always Listening”
Francine Cooks: I See 12345 Animals In The Zoo
I see 1 giraffe in the zoo.
I see 2 monkeys in the zoo.
I see 3 elephants in the zoo.
I see 4 bunnies in the zoo.
I see 5 bears in the zoo.
The end.
Mommy Disclaimer….All the words and the ideas are completely Francine’s. I only helped with the typing, formatting, spelling and with Photoshopping the pictures. By writing her stories Francine hopes that other “kids” will learn to cook up ideas just like her!
Olivia’s World #2: A Pet, A New Friend and Being Good To The Earth
Story #1: The New Pet
Once upon a time there was a girl named Ginger. Ginger always asked and asked her mom and dad when they were going to get a pet. Until finally her mom and dad said that she could get a pet. But what kind do you want?-asked Ginger’s mother. A puppy!-yelled Ginger. I will do anything you say to get a puppy. But-said her mother. I just want you to know that having a pet is a big responsibility. I can do the big responsibility-said Ginger. So the next day Ginger and her mom went to the pet store called Petco. Ginger got the puppy using all of her money. Ginger cared so much for her puppy until it was a dog. The dog was named Lucky. Ginger had the best day ever.
Story #2: The New Girl
Once upon a time there was a girl named Twinkle. Twinkle lived in Mexico where she had so much fun and did the things she was supposed to do at school. At playtime she always played with her friends Reynoso, Justin and Famosa. But one day that all was about to change when one day Twinkle’s dad said that they were moving to Bartlett. The next day Twinkle’s hole family went to Bartlett. Twinkle did’t do anything she was supposed to be doing and outside she did’t make any new friends. Twinkle felt homesick and wasn’t having any fun. The next day outside at playtime Twinkle saw a girl that looked like a nice girl to be a friend. Hello I am Twinkle-said Twinkle. Twinkle is that you!?-said the girl. Who are you?-asked Twinkle. It’s me Reynoso-said the girl. Reynoso?-asked Twinkle. The girl nodded. Twinkle and Reynoso played a little. Then stopped. I wish Justin and Famosa were here-said Twinkle. Stay right here-said Reynoso. Reynoso came back running. I found them!-yelled Reynoso. Justin! Famosa!-yelled Twinkle. They all gave each other all big hugs. Then agreed that every day they would play together at the playground. But if they ever moved again they leaned there lesson.
Story #3: The Friends That Were Good to The Earth
Once upon a time there were 2 friends 1 named Frogalina and 1 named Famosa. Frogalina liked to plant plants and Famosa liked to pick up stuff that are dirty and put it in the garbage can and put the clean garbage in the recycling bin. One day Frogalina was walking down the street when she saw a tree cut down. But she planted a new one. One day Famosa was walking down the street when she saw garbage on the street. But good thing there was a garbage can and a recycling bin. Famosa piked up all the dirty garbage and put it in the garbage can and put all the clean garbage in the recycling bin. And that’s how the 2 friends were good to the earth.
Mommy Disclaimer…. Olivia is my 7 year old daughter. She began writing here so she could share her voice too. All the words, the ideas and the typing… the entire story was done totally and completely by Olivia. I only helped with spelling and Photoshopping the drawings and pictures she draws. By writing these story Olivia hopes to inspire other kids to create, be kind to each other and share their words and stories too!
A Simple Note
She left it in a spot she knew I’d look as soon as I got home.
It stared back at me and a smile took over my face. I quickly opened it and saw the hand written note. I knew exactly who it was from. I was instantly warmed by her thoughtfulness and the lovely surprise after a long work week. I clutched and embraced it in delight as I was filled with happiness.
I yelled to Francine upstairs,”FRRRRAAANNNNCIIIIINNNNNNEEEEE”
“Yes momma!” I love when she calls me momma…. makes my heart melt
“Come here peanut!”
“In a second I’m putting my cupcakes in the oven!”
Thump…thump…thump…at the bottom of the stairs our eyes meet and we were lit up by each other’s smiles.
” I saw that note,” I say grabbing her hand and pulling her in to squeeze her close and kiss her cheek
“Uh huh.”
“Thank you! It was sooooo sweet!” I say this time embracing her cheek to cheek and adding another kiss.
“You’re welcome momma,” she answers with a straight face
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answers.
“Francine what is it?”
“Nothing……” she answers again.
This time with a fake smile. She looks at me. This time hers shouting do you get it momma. Do you know what I need? I paused and stared at her searching her eyes for the answer. The card she wrote flashed in my head.
“You really miss momma don’t you! Has it been hard on you, daddy taking you to practice this season and mom taking Olivia to swimming? We don’t get much time together these days do we?!”
“No!” she bursts confirming my words.
“Mom will be home all weekend! We can spend tons of time together.”
Saturday afternoon came around and my 7 week old nephew was coming over to spend a couple hours with us while my sister and her husband went to a surprise party. Olivia complained of a sore throat and stomach ache. I texted my sister and told her it was probably best if we came to her being that Olivia was not feeling good. With the ok from my sister I spoke with my husband explaining what happen the night before with Francine and the note.
“Francinnnnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!”
“Yes momma?!”
“Do you want to come help take care of Callan tonight, just you and me. ”
“Suuuuure!!”
That night at my sisters it was all about her… and a lot about my nephew too… she picked her favorite dinner, we all snuggled and watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (one of her favorite movies) and High School Musical (another favorite) were the movies of choice. We snacked on popcorn and played Monopoly. She smiled and giggled and we laughed together in between moments of being a smidge jealous of the time had to spend on my nephew and her buying up all her favorite avenues and street and collected her rent.
At the end of the night as my nephew tried to see if he could out last both of us, Francine laid on the couch snuggling up with me as I fed him. I smiled and gazed into my nephews eyes and took moments to rub Fracine’s back as her eyes opened and closed fighting off sleep. Just as I thought she had finally surrendered to the sand man I looked down to see her staring at me. She looked up and just stared at me and smiled.
“What?!” I giggled as I stared back at her.
“You’re really good at that momma,” answered sweetly.
I smiled at her kissing her forehead her and tucking her in again as my heart melted.
“Thank you sweetie. I try,” and I kissed her good night one more time.
Overwhelmed By Kindness
The text pinged in on my phone (actually it we do wee wo so…yes yes… R2D2… Stop laughing…I know…I can’t help it)
TEXT: Can Francine come over for a playdate on Friday?
Francine had been dear friends with this little girl in kindergarten. The change in grades and then into different classrooms for 1st grade had made it tough for the friendship to continue to blossom.
I knew didn’t even need to ask Francine (my 6 year old), though. I knew she would 100%, without hesitation want to go over to her friends house.
MY REPLY: Of course!!! She would love to see her!
As soon as my finger hit the send key my heart sank.
What about Olivia (my 7 year old)?
I would be at work and she didn’t have a play date of her own. She isn’t going to like this! Telling Francine that she has a play date and then telling Olivia…sorry sweetie you don’t have a play date was NOT going to be fun!
Wait!
I thought for a moment. Olivia has her wonderful, long time, we only get to see on days off, since they go to different schools but are like kindred spirits friend…
Nahhhhhh
Sighhhhhh.
Wait… Maybe…just maybe….nahhhh.
Grrrr…
What was I going to do?!!
Maybe I could.
Nahhhhh I couldn’t.
Could I??!!!…
I just got done telling Olivia that it is rude to invite yourself over to other peoples houses.
Sigghhhhhhhh
How am I going to do this without being rude??
So I took a deep breath and just said it like it was. I texted Olivia’s friend’s mother and told her about Francine’s play date. I explained the situation and how Olivia didn’t have one. Then I told her I knew what I was doing was very forward of me but I asked her please could she have Olivia over on Friday. Then I apologized profusely for my forwardness and told her over and over again that I would make it up to her the next time there was a day off. I knew I would owe her BIG!
In a couple of hours my phone rang (YES! it was not a normal ringer…the popcorn song from the Muppets Movie….shut up!).
“Hello….”
It was Olivia’s friends mother. Without hesitation, without concern for me to repay this favor, without any thought but that this is what friends do she said yes. My heart lit up. Olivia would be giddy to have a play date with her friend and my world of motherhood with two daughters would remain peaceful and drama free. Most of all I was deeply moved by the selfless, each word that told me not to worry about it and overwhelmed me with her unconditional kind act she did without hesitation for me.
It is an act of kindness I will never forget.
It is an act of kindness I will seek to pay forward to other mothers.
It is a feeling I want other mothers to know and feel…that we are in this together. That we are here for each other. That sometimes we just meet people that are willing to without hesitate an unselfish act of kindness.
It is an act that I will be certain to share with someone else!
I Can Do It All By Myself
“Really? Sunday?! I don’t know,” he said with a deep sigh “Our Sunday is already so packed busy and there’s football. I’d miss it! “
“That’s okay. I talked to my friend and she said we can move it ourselves,” I replied confidently.
Sunday came along I was ready to do it all by myself.
“I’m coming with you,” he insisted. “I want to make sure you can drive that truck.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve driven U-Haul moving truck before. I can do it,” I insisted back giving him the stare…you know… the I’m serious about this stare because…
I could do it all by myself!
“Ok, I’m still coming with you,” he said like he knew something I didn’t.
“Ok. If you really think you need to!” I answered.
We picked up the moving truck from the local U-Haul. It was big but not too big. I was confident that I could drive it myself. So what if it was raining cats and dogs. So what if I had to take the highway to get to my friends house. So what if I could only use the side mirrors to change lanes and couldn’t check my blind spots.
I was going to do it all by myself!
Satisfied that I would be okay driving the truck (or done arguing with me about what I can and cannot do) he followed me in the car to my friends house.
I managed to make it to my friends house without running anybody off the road, cutting anybody off, having to slam on the brakes, or causing any crashes…and I didn’t get lost! Win Win Win!!
See I could do it myself!
Safe and sound at my friends house I could hardly wait to get it onto the truck and get it home.
“It doesn’t look too heavy,” I say with a smile looking up to see my husband give me the are you freakin’ kidding me look?!
An easy push down the short entryway to the front door, through the front door and over the first step…
“That wasn’t too bad!” I said smiling, “It was easy.”
We could have totally done this all by ourselves.
“Easy???” My husband said as sweat drips from his forehead.
“Maybe he lifted it more than I thought,” I considered for a second… “nahhhhhhh”
Down the second step my husband gives me another…seriously you really got this look… followed up with an I’m the real muscle here Carrie gaze. I ignored him and kept pulling it down the sidewalk pathway toward the truck.
We could have totally done this all by ourselves.
Up steep ramp that it just barely fit up and almost fell off of.
On to the truck.
Secured in the truck.
Another 30 miles to our house.
As we backed the truck in our driveway, I remembered the ramp it would barely fit down, looked at the pathway to our front door, saw the two stairs up to our front doorway and was suddenly giddily relieved to see our neighbor pull in his driveway and over joyed when he asked if he could help because…
DON’T TELL MY HUSBAND!