The Secret's Out...

These photos just crack me up... they were jumpin' and movin' so much - SUCH EXCITEMENT!

Oh I am sooo excited... I mean so excited!

See Kyra has loved this singer since the singer FIRST came out. She knows each and every song beyond 'by heart'. Taylor Swift is her idol and since Ky is Boo -my youngest's - idol well Boo loves Taylor Swift too. Both girls have taken to going to sleep at night listening to the sweet songs by a sweet country singer. We got a special surprise for our girls, a really special surprise! We decided to take both our sweet baby girls to their FIRST EVER CONCERT...TAYLOR SWIFT 2010 FEARLESS TOUR!!!

We just could not NOT take our girls. They just absolutely ADORE Taylor Swift. Ky wants to be a singer later in life and just totally wants to be like her. PLUS Chris and I both really like her songs and positive influence. I haven't been to a concert since... oh jeesh... a long time. OH WAIT - actually it was RECENTLY (I swear if my back didn't have screws in it now I'd lose it...Get it? get it? Just a little post-op humor there hehehe) DEPECHE MODE of course! But before that - it's been a LONG time!

We cannot wait to go as a family. We're going to make a poster this weekend - Ky's idea!!! We'll get them early from school (shhhhh). I'll do the girls hair really pretty. We'll wear awesome, fun, maybe even new outfits. We'll grab some dinner together and SING OUR HEARTS OUT!!!

The girls were beyond excited when we went to dinner tonight & presented their tickets to them... can you tell from the photos?!

But I think I am JUST as excited to see them this happy.

Tired... or is it Sick and Tired...

You know I realized that I never finished my little posts of my Valentine's... I still feel guilty abou that... well... I will finish! I have most of it done. I get till the end of February don't I? I mean isn't it like writing your thank you's after weddings? You get a year to do those! Right? I think my block is that I feel like I have to add all these photos... but I guess I don't really right?! Because those dang photos are so HARD TO MOVE! UGH (done with whining now...).!!!

Well I am tired. I am just plain tired but I am also sick and tired of feeling this way. And feeling just plain BLECH!!! I have had some serious "days" the last few days. That's all I can describe them as... I am tired physically, mentally, emotionally and my head hurts. I think I am stressing over things here and there but no more than normal Kymmie stress.

Only these headaches are not getting better and coming on more. I hope it's just "things" and nothing to do with my back or anything else. But BLECK! I am tired of them ruining my days. Friday was supposed to be a great day of just "Kymmie" time 'till the girls got home... unfortunately got a headache... then Sunday a friend was supposed to bring me to do a mani/pedi and lunch for my birthday celebration... luckily I was smart and took 2 of my prescription med for my headaches... but dang it I prided myself on not having to take that.

And now today... yep... here it is again this afternoon. ARGH! I've been looking on the bright side and realizing that I had a great Friday/night - despite the headache. And Sunday... well it finally went mostly away so I could really enjoy the mani/pedi and lunch! And today - well so I didn't get a lot done - but I snuggled with my baby girl when she wasn't feeling good and actually took a great nap to help defeat it...

So I guess that's good right?! I just wish they'd go away like they were before the surgery... I am sick and tired of being grumpy all the time.

"Stooooopid Headache" (said in the best Homer Simpson voice I can muster... even though I detest the Simpsons... that line makes me laugh).

My Valentine...Day 1 POST SCRIPT

So i go in to kiss Boo goodnight and she has her Couette (Coo-ette-French for blanket - she pronounces COO-yette - her blankie) over face.

I ask her what's wrong... and she pulls Couette off her face, looks at me directly in my eyes and says...

"Mame - I am going to stop suckin' my thwumb.

I said a pwayer and I won't suck my thwumb"

I said and did God answer? And I looked at her face and she wiped the side of her eye.

"Are you crying Boo Boo? What's wrong?"...

"HAPPY TEARS MAME... These are HAPPY TEARS! Happy, happy Tears Mame"

I want to not suck my thumb for your birthday"

So now Mommy's heart is just OVER POURING... just absolutely filled... and now Mommy is crying HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY proud tears.

My Valentine...Day 1

I get giddy with how much I think about my girls and dear mr Safety-Man and how much they mean to me. I started this post to talk about each LOVE OF MY LIFE... my dedication for Valentine's day. They each are such gifts...such bundles of love. How can I not talk about each one separately until it's Valentine's Day...

Boo Boo Bear

Reasons I love BooBooBear? It's almost as if I cannot even count them all...

~ Boo is such a Momma's girl - it warms my heart over and over! God forbid if I have to discipline her - the world ended. But she crawls in to my bed and begs for snuggles with her "Mame" (pronounced maaaameeee). She will forego play dates just to spend time with me and actually CRIED when the other night when I went on a walk without her... she loves her Mame and her Mame loves her so much.

~ Boo truly enjoys her sister, looks up to her, and adores her - it amazes me the bond they do share. They for the most part do get a long. Sure... there are the typical sibling jousts, the tattling, annoying little sister antics... but on the whole - they truly do love eachother and each confided in me that they're their own best friends and love eachother... how my heart doth explode with pride!

~ Boo loves all animals and has a "whisperer" sort of way with them - her love of animals deepens when she talks of horses or dolphins. But most times she cannot decide which type of animal she loves the most. And ALL animals (even snakes bleck) come in a close 3rd! We call her the "lizard whisperer" - she can just almost talk to them and boom - she has one in her hand! She has a certain patience with animals...it's amazing to watch.

~ Boo has a particular way to get tucked in to her bed & talks in her sleep - why this is so endearing I don't know. But I have started a little Boo sleep diary and have started writing her exclamations in it! Sometimes very serious things are expressed - but most of the time ABSOLUTELY hysterical. I look forward to checking on her before I go to sleep EVERY night just to hear the latest and see if she is still all checked in with her "lovies" all around her.

~ Boo sucks her thumb still - I know she shouldn't and we've been working on it. She only does it at night, longer car rides, or when she's VERY, VERY tired... It's too sweet for me - you see I was a thumb-sucker... for a long... long... long time! (blush) - But I totally get how she feels and it makes that bond just a little stronger. We'll keep working on it... but I do understand her need to self-sooth....

~ Boo can be anxious & a bit too "structured" - she reminds us every morning that we need to go to window #9 to wave goodbye at the bus stop... (remember it was #7 Mame... don't forget it's #9 now) - EVERY. SINGLE. MORNING. But I love it. I truly do. She needs reassurance and it's my job to give it to her or help her through it. We'll always be here for her.

~ Boo has an amazing generosity, love, and positive outflow - She is so intelligent. So caring. So kind. She wants everyone to like her. She wants everyone to be happy. She just exudes happiness. Her smile is a killer... and you cannot help but chuckle when she gets going on her belly laughs... they haven't changed much since she was a baby!!

~ She has a stubborn streak - she is very strong-minded when she wants to be... but she is also independent. I think this will help her in life be a strong woman. Someone who will love dearly - but will not let herself succumb to pressures of this world.

~ Boo's favorite color is YELLOW!!!!!!!!!!!! She loves it so much! And always has!

~ Boo is just beautiful - inside & out - her long beautiful sandy hair, her deep brown eyes, those two little dimples, round, cherub face, and tomboyish demeanor. She is just so gorgeous to me I want to eat her up.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY my sweet Boo Boo Bear... I love you so much... with all my heart.

Love,

MaMe

Time for bed...but first...

I am trying so hard to get caught up on this... but it's been crazy! I guess that is a good thing as it is such a different crazy - healing process - from even 1 month ago!!

Today was a good day. A good, good day. I have been writing a lot of my hard days... I needed to write of the good day even though I wanted to be in bed already...

I was up WAY too early - 5am... to drive Nana to the airport. And for those of you that know me well - I am SO not a morning person... to put it mildly. Goodbyes at the airport are always hard for me. And today was no different, it was sad - but I truly focused on the good parts of seeing her & laughing with her. PLUS I got to see the sunrise... I haven't seen that for a long time and...

it. was. so. beautiful.

As I drove home I looked out over the gorgeous bays, the beautiful water and I realized how blessed I am to be where I am. The weather warmed over the course of the day and I smiled.

I went to PT... My therapist - she just got engaged while she was on vacation in Vail last week... so sweet. She was all giddy and happy and it made me remember how Mr Safety-Man asked me to marry him...on our Mt. Batty... overlooking Camden, ME harbour... GORGEOUS. Water is in our lives... it's part of us.

I had a GREAT session with PT Jackie. She is just FAB. Boy did she make me work... and then worked on my soft tissue in mes fesses/derriere/cheeks/oh and the back too ... ouch - but awesome. "You'll feel this tomorrow" she said with a smile... but it's a good "feel" - pain that means I am getting better. She told me about how my muscles have atrophied a) from not using them for so long due to pain & b) from being pried open during surgery - lack of movement/blood circulation... BUT that she could feel some improvement. That's good right?!

I came home - exhausted... got to read a favorite novel and finish AND take a little nappy! All while my dear Mr Safety-Man re-did ALL our back roof/facia board and soffet work (ok I KNOW I spelled that wrong... but oh well). Noisy - but didn't stop me from dozing! THEN...

Off to a personal one-on-one training using reflexology/stretching/& core muscle stimulating/with a slight bend towards pilates... WOW! That was AWESOME, HARD, and just felt so rewarding. "Youll feel this tomorrow" was heard again. Currently I am still feeling pretty good! I was in awe... first in how BADLY I am in shape and can barely move through some of the exercises but impressed with how encouraging she was that I was only 4 months post-op... and second and I guess more importantly how far I have come in a short year...since my surgery 4 months ago. It truly is amazing and I am so blessed.

Then I picked up the girls. They were both not 100% - but despite some testiness here and there, necessary unwell pediatrician visit, and bookstore visit (which was the saving grace for us all) - the girls and I had a NICE afternoon/evening! They even tried chick peas for dinner without toooo much of a fuss... (some gagging on Boo's part but she wasn't feeling all together great anyway).

Ending with some laughs on TV with snuggles with mr safety-man, a terrific online chat with 2 dear people, and a relaxing quiet eve...

I liked today... I really did.

What does YOUR dog do while you are gone?!?

OK... Monday was truly a busy day for me... I had so much to do...physical therapy for my back in the AM, SEVERAL NEEDed errands, and several UNneeded errands (OUTLET MALL yay!!), plus I was trying to get this house under control in preparation for Blanche's visit with us on Thursday (2/4).

Chris was out of the home office all morning while I was gone too. I got back shortly before I had to leave again to pick up our girls from the bus stop...

Well...

Apparently Moose (our chocolate labrador retriever) decided that he was pretty TICKED off at me for being gone ALL morning/early afternoon and then only coming home for a short time before I ran an errand and picked up the girls from the bus stop - total time gone the 2nd time - 1.5 hours TOPS.

Upon returning home... rounding the corner to go to the dining room...

I was greeted by an interesting smell of old food... and some items that I hadn't left there less than an hour and a half ago... wait a minute... is that GARBAGE???!


I followed the trail... yes there WAS a trail and it was about 3-5 inches DEEP... He even tried to get in to the CLOSED (thank goodness) garbage... he was REALLY mad... I kept going following the trail... oh no... no please... not there too?!

Oh yes... in to the dining room and continued to go through to my family room floor. WHY - O - FOR GOODNESS SAKE - WHY?!?!? do dogs do ALL bad things on carpeting?! I mean SERIOUSLY WHY!? He could've kept all this NASTY garbage on my wood floors... or the tile... but no he drags it over to the family room carpet...

NOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo!!!

Should I go in to detail about the CRAP that was in our garbage... no I think the photos are justification enough. HOWEVER let me just be GRATEFUL in the fact that I didn't end up cooking any of the chicken the night before!!! OH there is a God and He is SOOOO GOOD! (Truly He is!)!!!

Yes... that is a disgusting piece of orange, yes LEFT OVER CANDY from Halloween that I was tossing (Shhhhhhhh) - yes he got it all. OH but he had a helper whom I am SURE was egging (no pun intended since yes, there are eggshells in the mess on my poor throw-rug) him on - MUGSY our almost 10yr old Shih Tzu... And of course this was a hard week so Chris did drink some coffee... so let us just grind (OK, OK, OK that pun was bad and intended) that in to the rug... just to round things out.

I cleaned the floors with a rake first people... a small kids rake... but a rake.

I just didn't know how to start. I was so beyond words. My poor dogs... they totally shrank to the floor and scuttled away to make themselves scarce only to be dragged back and told (in not so nice words) how NAUGHTY they truly were and how unhappy their Momma was!

I actually made the girls go away - as I was so steamin'!!

Well now as I think about it... it was quite comic. I mean MAN that dog was some p-o'ed at me. I mean LOOK at the house!!! It was literally a foot deep in some spots! My girls - such angels - helped me get things cleaned up... Wearing my lovely fashionable green with white and pink polka dot gloves helped me get through it!!!

So I wonder what else he does to have fun while we're not looking!?

What's your 'animals' do while you're away (and doesn't necessarily mean a pet... hahahaha)?!

musings on naughty little puppies...