I remember like yesterday....

I am not going to lie, there were more than a few tears from this Mom today on my way to work....okay I will be totally truthful I was crying like a baby!  My baby boy turned 5 today!  He has grown up so much this past year!

I remember.....

 when I thought you would never pee in the potty.

(yep those are tighty whities)

 when I thought you would never sleep through the night.

 when I thought you would never "play" with other kids (um hello parallel play?)

when I thought I had damaged you for life when I "missed" (I say missed because I hadn't quite got to that chapter in the pregnancy book) the first stages of pre-labour because I was pre-occupied with writing a math mid-term...now I have read the chapter, not that big of a deal!

when I thought I was going to DIE when you stopped napping RIGHT after we brought Matea home!

 when I thought there was NO WAY I was going to survive the "terrible two's" -- you are pretty strong willed!

when I thought you would NEVER AGAIN wear a Halloween costume and go trick or treating

 2010

2011 - we did our WHOLE close tonight!

when I thought I had scarred you for life when I had you in my fourth year of University, and had to start going to classes a few weeks after you were born....there were many years there when I would announce on a daily basis "Mackenzie won't eat green beans....picks his nose....won't sit during circle time at school...doesn't like apple juice...will not wear his new snow pants.... because I didn't stay home with him for a year, and we haven't bonded...I am a horrible mother!"

when I thought I there was NO WAY that you could possible get any cuter...and then you did.

Happy Birthday Big Fella!

Family photo!

Super quick blog post tonight....a little "self" family portrait we took this weekend when we went for a little family stroll at Kerrywood Nature Centre, I probably looked ridiculous trying to set it up, but whatever--I am ALL about the family photo's these days...mostly because I learned to use my TIMER!!!!

My best adventures...all in one picture :)

Sigh...my Matea

I worry about the M & M's...like all Mama's, but sometimes I worry just a little too much about Miss. Matea, I swear I will have an ulcer before she is a teenager :)

I ♥ this letter from Tina Fey's "Bossypants" book--sums up MY thoughts, and makes me feel like I am not as crazy as I think :)

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her. When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

 I hope it's always this easy

Park date

We went on a super fun park date with our super good buddy Zack (and his mom Jess).  The boys had a super fun time playing at the park and going for a super LONG hike :)  When I say super fun I mean it may have been a bit too long for Big Mack with no snacks and just a camera--oops not my best "mommy moment"--but I did get a few cute snaps :)

Oh yeah, Daddy & Matea were there too :)

 Two buddies heading out on an adventure...

 The best picture of the day...how cute are they?

 We ♥ Zack (and his mom Jess)

Thanksgiving Part Deux :)

Today we were a super lucky family...we got to have a SECOND Thanksgiving!  We spent the afternoon down at Three Mile Bend, playing with Jada and throwing rocks in the river.

Both in the same picture!  Woot, woot!

 Stacking rocks...fun times!

 Look at that cute little family :)

Then we headed out to Grandma & Grandpa Schurman's house for some super fun times playing in the leaves, eating turkey, and of course a mini photo shoot!

Leaves!  Raked by Grandpa into a nice HUGE pile at the bottom of the slide!

Fun swinging on the tire swing

And of course, what beautiful day wouldn't be complete without

Miss. Matea laying in the dirt...

Pretty girl...after her little adventure in the dirt pile...still cute

Super fun airplane time with Grandpa Schurman

On a side note...look at my Big Baby Boy!

Soon to be 5!  When did THAT happen!?!

Good Daddy playing "Princess's" with Matea....also cute.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Ahhh Autumn & Thanksgiving Part I

The first two pictures not so clear...but I ♥ them.  Just one night we spent the evening at the park and then came back and the M & M's had a super fun time playing on our little front lawn :)

 How are they having THAT much fun running down a little slope?!?

Cuteness.

Today was Thanksgiving!  Super fun Turkey Day.  We spent the day hanging around the house and then playing at the park before we headed over to Nana and Bampi's house for turkey supper!

Now this is where it gets interesting, we headed outside for a little family photoshoot, and while we were out there....the power went out!  What?!?  I have to say though, the Clevette/Schurman clan pulled it together and had a wonderful candle lit turkey feast :)  Potatoes and gravy made on the BBQ!The power came back on just in time for dessert...

The M & M's had a super fun time hanging out with Nana & Bampi, and Auntie Kyla & Uncle Jer!

Three Genertaion

 Awww...hugs for Uncle Jer

 Some ♥ for Auntie Kyla

 The lovebirds

Happy Thanksgiving!

Part II tomorrow with Grandma & Grandpa Schurman :) 

Hope you had a great Turkey Day too!