Life's Lessons: The Wearing Shorts In March Edition

1.  Dudes.  It was 80 in Chicago yesterday.

2.  Yesterday was March 15.

3.  There's been plenty of March 15 (and later) that we've been bundled up with hats, gloves ands scarves, and shoveling snow.

4.  My kids wore shorts yesterday.  And sandals.

5.  Today I have flip flops on.

6.  We played basketball outside. 

7.  PJ would yell "I missed!"  or "Nice shot!"

8.  Maggie ran around yelling "WANNA DO!"

9.  PJ pushed Maggie around in the Cozy Coupe.

10.  Lots of giggles.

11.  Did you know bubbles are apparently a delicacy?

12.  Because Maggie put the damn wand in her mouth about 100 times.

13.  Tomorrow is St. Paddy's Day.

14.  I'll wear green. 

15.  Maybe have a green apple martini.

That's my boy.

John fake tackled me and pushed me on the bed.

PJ runs over, stands in front of me, put his arms out and flexes and says, LOUDLY,

"DON'T YOU PUSH MY MAMA!"

In a raspy, threatening voice.

That's my boy.

PYHO: Out of tragedy, happiness.

The past few years have been rough.   I watched my mom suffer from the worst disease, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, that robbed of her ability to move, speak, eat, or live.  I lost my mom to this terrible disease on February 24. 

I miss her more than anything.  I missed her so much when she was here, and now I miss her more than I could have ever imagine.  I'm sad that my stepdad is alone.  I'm sad that my kids will never experience their grandmother, because you bet your ass she would have been the best grandma there was. I'm sad that I'll never get to hear her tell me I'm doing a good job as a mom.  I'm sad she didn't get to do all the things she was looking so forward to doing.

But in the face of all this tragedy, I am striving to see the good.  Of course, I would have rather she'd never gotten ALS at all.  But since she did, and it is so cruel, I am glad she is no longer suffering because of it.  I'm proud that she fought till her very last breath. She gave it everything she had.  And I admire her for that. 

I am touched at the sheer number of people who came to say good-bye, who stepped up to be supportive, who commented on how much she loved me, how proud she was of me.

I am happy that this terrible experience has already brought my stepdad and I closer.

I am thrilled that, because it is something my mom would have wanted, that my family and I will be moving into their home -- a home that is bigger, better, nicer, and in a neighborhood where the schools are great and the kids will have a wonderful childhood.  Thousands of times better than where we currently are.

And I know that she is so happy that she was able to do this for me, for John, for PJ and for Maggie.  Knowing that they will have such a wonderful place to grow up, such a wonderful backyard to have fun in.  Knowing that their grandpa will be close by and able to come over often.

I am glad that the tension between John and I seems to have settled.  We haven't fought at all since my mom passed -- little nits here and there that have diminished quickly.  I never really thought about it, but subconsciously I think my mom being sick was leading to unnecessary fighting. 

I am strong.  I am stronger than I ever imagine I could be.  But I am strong because I am surrounded by people who love me and support me.

And because my mother was the strongest person I've ever known.

Love you Mom.

Sunburn...in March???

Yes.  We are all a little sunburned.  In March.

It was in the 70s in Chicagoland yesterday.  Absolutely gorgeous, absolutely fantastic.  It never occurred to me we could get a little sun, but we all have some color on our faces today.  And that's good. :)

The parade was fun, and the party after at our friends house was tons of fun.  It was so nice to be outside and see the kids running around.

A few funnies:

PJ, upon seeing his buddy's PB&J "I WANT PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY!!"

(of course, I left his in the car, down the street.  So we left early to get it.  Such is life).

PJ, after I told him there'd be horses, and they took forever to get to us

"Where da horsies mama??  HORSIES!!!"

Maggie, upon discovering a carriage go by in the parade

"Bye Choo Choo!"  (so she's a little confused, it's okay)

Maggie, trying her first piece of corned beef "MMMMMM"

Happy early St. Paddy's day everyone! :)

Life's Lessons: The This has No Logical Pattern edition

1.  Bought PJ and Mags sunglasses.

2.  PJ loves them "My sunglasses Mommy?"  "Where's my sunglasses Mama?"

3.  Maggie?  Couldn't care less.

4.  My little guy turns three in less than two weeks, by the way.

5.  Um, how the hell did that happen?
6.  New Girl is by far one of my favorite shows EVER.

7.  Two weeks from today The Hunger Games comes out.

8.  I went to dinner Monday with my BFF without kids.  I can't tell you the last time I went to dinner with a friend on a weeknight without kids.

9.  We're hopefully going to be moving soon.  More on that at a later date.

10.  I am so excited it's almost officially grilling season.

11.  Grilling is my favorite way to cook. 

12.  Husband does a lot of it.

13.  And there are less dishes.

We're the South Side Irish...

Okay, first.

I'm not Irish.  Not one lick.  I'm Irish by marriage (or by injection, for you dirty minds out there, heh).  However, I am a Southsider and that, my friends, I am extremely proud of.  And since I'm Irish by marriage, obviously my kids are Irish.

Anyhow...

Sunday is the South Side Irish Parade.  Parade has been absent the past two years because of too much craziness -- people getting wasted, peeing on people's lawns, drinking on people's lawns, just dumb drunk stuff (which I am fully prepared to blame on the northsiders that bus it down for the parade, but I digress).

It's back this year.  I'm excited to take the kids for the first time. 

It's also going to be dry.  There are about, oh, 17 bars on the parade route (that makes the above a little more understandable, eh) and they will all be closed during the parade.  In years past, the east side of the street (read - no bars) was dry.  Now the whole parade is.

This doesn't affect me, however, I am curious to see if the West side gets as much play as years past.

I'll wear green, some shamrocks on my head, my husband will drink Jameson Irish whiskey, my kids will have candy thrown at them.

Southside Irish, indeed.

In the face of sadness...

I've had a rough couple weeks, no doubt.

However.

PJ started saying awesome.

Maggie started saying hi and bye when she leaves and enters a room, goes to bed, pretty much whenever she can.

I got more hugs and kisses from little arms and little lips than I can count, and I never got tired of them.

I have friends who dropped everything to be with me, friends who brought me food, friends who took off work to attend services, friends who put their own families aside to help take care of mine.

I have family who ran errands for me, handled arrangements for me, who were there for me when they didn't have to be, because they are the family I married into, though you'd never know it.  They are my family.

I have a husband who was my rock, who was strong and calm, who knew when to talk and went to shut up, who knew when I needed to be help up and when I could stand on my own.

I have friends who came together to make a donation in my mom's name to held eradicate ALS.  Most of whom never even met my mom, but because they are true friends, stepped up in a time of tragedy and loss.

I have friends I never met, who sent messages and emails of love, support, and prayers, for a person they call a friend though they've only met on the internet.

I will never be able to hear my mom tell me she loves me, or tell me I'm a good mom.  I will never be able to call her for advice or ask her to go shopping with me.  She was taken from me too soon.  It's not fair and it sucks.

But she'd want me to smile.  She'd want me to laugh, dance, and enjoy myself.  Like she did.

And I know that despite the tragedy, despite the pain, I have love.  I have friendship, loyalty, support, trust, care, and love.  From more people than I can even count.

And for this, to all of you, both who read this and those who don't, I thank you.