A Tale of Cakes and Kiddos..

   I don't think I will leave much in this world besides my ever growning collection of cake pans.  Cake decorating has been a very rewarding hobby for me.  Very artistic my whole life, I was kinda bummed when I couldn't produce the same brush strokes, line thickness, or colors that I used to.  My hands just aren't as steady as they used to be.  Buttercream became my medium and cake my canvas. I do have to say that My Sweet Baboo and the other lil mosnters that frequent my house don't seem to mind this a bit.  In fact they really seem to enjoy it. 

    This weekend I managed 3 cakes.  One of which was roughly 2 feet x 2 feet square, and enough to feed 100 people! The result was 3 awesome cakes and a ton of extra frosting.  So personal teddy bear cakes it was!  Each kiddo decorating their cake to their own unique style.  I must say these kids have some pretty awesome imaginations.  Every color of the rainbow. :) 
   
Fondant is just edible playdough anyway so why not throw in a lil hands on time for the kiddos too. They had a blast.  5 lbs of fondant, edible markers, cutter, rollers, tools, and lots and lots of little hands and fingers working away.  :) 

   So in the end I am sculpting my own lil army of cake artists.  I figure the younger I start the better they will be! I can sit back and relax, and shoot me some orders to my minions. Who knows right?? If your gonna dream, dream big or go home. Maybe someday I will have that lil family run bakery...u just never know..

Justified or Jerk??

  I sooo love to laugh that sometimes, ok most times, it involves a sibling, or other family member, but every once in awhile an innocent gets caught in the crossfire.  I just can't seem to pass up an opportunity when I am faced with it.  I am "quick on my feet" so to speak.  The other day I went shopping with my mom (we do this A LOT), and a young man around the age of 18, 20 at best, was the lucky checker I chose that day. He was, I am sure, just trying to make conversation.  Very pointedly asks me: "What the heck happened to you?" (Refering to my "wheels").  I looked at him and simply stated: "A terrible salsa dancing accident.  They say I will never dance again."  I looked down and kinda rubbed my legs a lil.  My mom looked horrified.  As well she should, because what I had told this nice young gentleman was a flat out fabrication.  I just couldn't help myself.  He studdered a little and stood there stupified. We made our way to the parking lot with me laughing uncontrolably.  After 20 minutes I managed to catch my breath.  It was AWESOME!
  I don't know quite what it is that makes me do things like that.  It must have been the way he just blurted it out with no thought as to how he sounded.  It happens more often than you think that someone approaches me about my condition rather...well I guess the way to put it is "without a drop of compassion".  It is probably not how it was meant, but that still doesn't lessen the blow. Someday, I hope I can be looked at as someone to look up to.  How to handle this life, and just learn to "roll" with the punches..Gotta play the hand your dealt.

I shouldn't feel like this..

  What a wonderful idea "Mom's n Muffins"!  I LOVE IT! An invite to go to school early with your kiddo and have a muffin and share a favorite story.  Everyone was ready, and excited to go this morning.  I even woke up before the alarm, I was looking forward to it that much.  The boy was so excited for me to go.  We all loaded in, all 7 of us.  Pygmy+3 and Me+Boy and my extra :).  Since Miss Maddie and Chubb share the same grade/class we do a lot of this together.  What a great way to spend as a family. 

  7:15 Arrival at destination.  Parked and unloaded.  7:30 Still trying to navigate safe passage into the school, after 2 near incidents on the "ramps" leading up to and into the school.  A chore that should have taken 5 minutes tops.  Words I care not repeat being muttered uttered under my breath.  I finally manage to make it into the building still intact.  Happy to see that the gym is near the entrance.  We made it!

  Thru the doors and in line or our yummies.  Such an assortment of flavors to choose from, and juice to wash it all down.  Very nice!  Kiddos smiling and happy.  Trouble on the sidewalk a mere blip in my day, its over so no reason to dwell.  Lots of moms and even some dads and grandparents have come to share.  It's so great to see so many.  Tables are full of kiddos munching away at thir muffins and slurpping their drinks.  We spot  table near the far end with enough room for our brood of piglets, and head that way.

   Normally the looks dont bother me, its how it is.  Then my chair doesnt fit through the spaces between the tables.  My Baboo sitting down waiting for me, watching.  I try a couple different places and end up going clear down and back around.  A gym full of onlookers, blush coloring my cheeks, and me feeling like a circus side show.  I know its human nature to look,  no one did anything wrong.  It was just me.  I let a stupid few minutes nearly ruin my time with my boy.  It was so important to him that I go to this, and I don't enjoy it as much as I could have just because things got a little "tight".  Can you say selfish??

  Sometimes I feel like I am the only person alive fighting this kind of fight.  I mean otherwise there wouldn't be these kind of problems.  I know this isn't true, but lets face it.  I am not one among many in our community.  There are not many I know of around my age that share the same unique qualities.  The big picture just isn't set up for my kind.  It isn't the first and I am sure it won't be the last time I encounter these kind of obstacles.  I go out and do these things because of him.  My Sweet Baboo.  Otherwise the feelings of helplessness and inability would consume me.  I would never leave my house, possibly even my room.  I don't like the looks of pity.  It's hard to hold your head up high when people think you should be down in the dumps.  My confidence takes its fair share of hits. 

  My "disadvantages" are not what make me who I am.  I want to be known for what I can do, not for what I can't.  I still do just about everything.  I just do it a little different than I used to.  I am a mom, a craft junkie, I am a housekeeper, I am a food fashionista, I am a best friend, a member of a fantastic family, I am a gardner, I am a allergy-free advocate, I am a school teacher, a gourmet chef, and a tease, a entrepenuer, and most of all I am still me.  The same silly, free spirited girl I have always been....just on a different set of wheels.

Forget about me..

Most nights the lil man has a story of some kind.  This particular night it happened to be the scriptures.  After a chapter I made sure he was snug as a bug, and got my evening kiss and hug.  I listen to his prayers, which are sometimes very short and to the point, others sweet and heartfelt, asking for help, good dreams, happy attitude, and things like that.  This night was one of those sweet, heartfelt kinda nights.  He prayed for our families saftey, and all the other things important at this age that he might need help with.  I came from his room kinda laughing to myself.  Thinkin how funny kids are.  Specifically, what they view as most important.

Leaning back in my comfy chair, which is right next to his bedroom door, I hear him.  "Mom, I don't remember when I lived in heaven with Jesus."  He does this to me every so often.  Asks me a question or makes a statement that totally catches me off guard. "I think they give u something right before you leave that makes you forget." I start thinking about what I have learned from my childhood. "Well they do do something to make you forget.  They call it a veil.  When u pass through it to come to earth it makes you forget about what its like in heaven." "Oh ok." Much to my suprise this answer satisfied his curiosity. Huh. Very proud of myself I get comfortable again, and go back to my project.

"Mom." A few minutes later. "Yes?" Trying so hard to not get mad.  Thinking this was going to be part of our nightly fight to go to bed. There was no humor in his voice, just curiosity. So I held my temper. "So what store can I buy a "veil" at?  I was thinking that if I got one of those I could use it when u ground me.  Then you would forget about grounding me." It was simply too much for me and I burst into laughter! I explained that they were not something you could purchase. Said goodnight one more time, and all was quiet...well almost.  Except for the occasional giggle that escaped everytime I thought about what he had said.

Everyday he makes me laugh.  It may be something just that simple.  Sometimes it's the gleam he gets in his eye right before he gets into mischief.  I thank my stars everyday that I have this amazing little man in my life.  He reminds me to smile.  What's that saying...Laughter is the best Medicine...I have to agree. :)

Who needs legs..

My amazingly sweet little man.  Sometimes I wonder what I did in heaven to deserve such a blessing.  Its been a rough couple of days/week for me.  He knows it.  Dishes pile a bit in the sink.  The floor doesn't get vacuumed.  Sometimes in a moment of self doubt he catches me in tears.  I want to be the "normal' mom.  You know the one who takes the kiddo to the movies, plays tag in the back yard, keeps the perfect house, independant, just for fun climbs into the treehouse to have a picnic with her smallish man.  But a different path was choosen for me.  One that relies heavily on others, and a chair to get where I need/want to go.  Not the life I dreamed...

In the middle of this pity party I feel a hand on my arm. This sweet little spirit reminds me of an offer he made me some time ago.  He offered me his legs.  Said they would be short, but better than the ones I have now.  He would just grow some new ones.  How sweet.  How selfless.  How amazing.  He is only 6! 

Bam! The sound of my heart exploding with love for this smallish little man.  Too touched to say anything.  Seeing more tears just causes him confusion.  Children think so differently than we do as adults.  He saw a problem, and came up with a seemingly simple solution.  So I cry about it?!  What could I say?  Words could not express what his gesture meant to me.  All I could do was hug him.

It's so funny how a tiny moment in a lifetime full of memories has changed my whole outlook.  I know I am loved.  Unconditionally.  I can do anything.  I see now that legs are really just a luxury.  The fact I rely on others for help just brings me closer to my family.  It gives us time to talk, laugh, and cherish.  Who knew I would really "love" them cause I want to, not just because I "have" to?  I am truly blessed with an awesome family, and a truly amazing little boy.  He is it.  My reason for change, my reason to push forward, my reason to make it.  Love my Sweet Baboo <3

Our story begins..

It's time to start sharing some of this crazy thing we call life. The story of one mommy and her sweet baboo... :) Why would I torment my little man with such an embarrasing title? Well it's like this, he has drug around one of my "silky" nighties, and sucked his thumb for the past 6 1/2 years.The Peanuts character (Charlie Brown), Linus does the same. Seemed fitting anyway, but it really stuck when I saw how flustered and red he got when I called him that! What can I say, that's how I roll. So now every morning and every night I make sure I get at least one kiss and one hug from "My Sweet Baboo". :)