Tooth Fairy

(This picture has nothing to do with this post...it is actually an old photograph. But I just love it...and this post is about Ty...so I used it.)

I have learned that there are many positions a momma fills during her day. I have been a nurse for boo-boos...a teacher for homework...a baker for little sweet tooth's...a cuddler for teary eye babes...a chauffeur (just a side note..I totally had to look up the spelling on that one) to school and other various activities...and so much more. Yesterday...I was able to to fill another position...one that I love and hate...the Tooth Fairy.

Here is a re-cap of how the day went...

Ty - (after I picked him up from his class at church) Mom...my tooth is really loose!!

Me - Awesome buddy! (not thinking too much about it because he had never said that it was loose before)

Ty - Maybe we can get it out before Daddy gets home today so I can show him

Me - Well buddy...it would have to be really loose to get it out his afternoon (then I kept talking to people as I was walking out of church and to the car)

Ty - (in the back seat of the car with Maddie) Maddie!!! My tooth is really loose...do you want to see it?

Maddie - (After looking at his tooth) Wow...that is gross...how does it wiggle like that?

Ty - I know...it is weird huh?

Me - (thinking to myself) Wow...it must really be loose...I hope Dustin gets home before Ty wants it out.

*After we get home...have lunch...and are now sitting on the couch together*

Ty - Mommy...I taste blood...and my tooth is bent forward...can you try to get it out?

Me - Sure buddy...go get me a paper towel. (now that is what I said...but what I was thinking was...Crap! I have to try to take his tooth out...and it totally makes me feel a little queezy when I have to try to pull it out of his mouth. Well...Jess...you had to do it once before...you can do it now) (Yet another side note...does anyone else ever give themselves mental pep talks? Because I totally do)

Ty - Here is the paper towel (he then lays his head on my lap and opens wide)

Me - (taking a deep breath) Alright buddy. Mommy is going to try to wiggle it a little. (I then wiggle it for a little while...a little more blood comes out...and he says that it hurts a little) Alright little man...stay really still...(I think to myself...please come out with one tug...I am not sure how much longer I can feel it wiggling in my fingers...ewww...gross)

Ty - Mommy why are you making a weird face?

Me - No reason buddy...let me see if I can get this...(one big tug...) I got it buddy!! Go to the sink...I will get you some salt water to rinse with. (we both run into the kitchen to take care of the new hole in his mouth)

Ty - (After rinsing...he looks up at me with very serious face and says...) You did good mom...I think you should win an award for the best tooth puller!

Me - Well thanks buddy (as I think to myself...this is the only 5th tooth he has lost...we still have a lot to go)

Ty - Can I have my tooth?

Me - What buddy

Ty - (looking at me like I am totally not thinking straight) MOM...I need it for the tooth fairy!!

Me - O...of course!

*We bring it upstairs and put it under his pillow*

Ty - Is the tooth Fairy real?

Me - Why do you ask?

Ty - Because a kid in my class said that she woke up in the middle of the night one time and she saw her mom putting money under her pillow

Me - Wow...that is crazy!

Ty - Well....is she real?

*At this point Maddie walks in and she has obviously heard some of our conversation*

Maddie - I bet the tooth fairy is beautiful...just like Tinkerbell

Ty - Well mom....is she real?

Me - Well Ty Man...do you always get money under your pillow after you loose a tooth?

Ty - Yeah...but do you put it there?

Me - Do you really think I wait until the middle of the night and come into your room and put money under your pillow (Yes...I am totally trying to get out of this conversation without lying to him)

Maddie - Yeah Ty...

Ty - Well maybe I will just stay awake tonight and act like I am asleep so I can see who puts money under my pillow (he says with the cutest little grin...the kind of grin that lets me know that he is pretty sure that the tooth fairy is his momma)

Me - Alright buddy...we'll see if you can stay up that late (knowing that he will never stay up and also knowing that he is just trying to get me to admit to him that I am the tooth fairy)

Me - Well...who wants a popsicle?

Ty and Maddie - ME!!!

*I head downstairs and I can hear the babes talking in Ty's room)

Maddie - Don't touch your tooth...you have to leave it for the tooth fairy!!

Ty - I'm just looking at it...I will leave it under my pillow

Maddie - Are you really going to stay up to see the tooth fairy? If you see her can you tell her that I think she is beautiful and I love her?

Ty - Maddie...I might not see her tonight...but I know she is beautiful...and I am pretty sure she already knows that you love her

I love that little boy...he just melts my heart!!

A-MAZING

So....yesterday I had to work all day. I dropped the kiddos of at school around 8:10 and went straight into my office. I knew it was going to be a busy day and I knew it would probably be a long day as well. (totally not complaining...I love my job and I was definitely thankful for the extra hours) Around 5:00 I began to pack up my things...and I started to think about what I had to do when I got home. I knew that dinner needed to be made pretty soon after I got home...I had dishes to do...homework to finish with the babes...floors that needed to be mopped (melting snow+2 dogs= floors that never seem to stay clean)...and many other things that needed to be done. After everything was packed up...I left my office...and I won't lie...I was kind of dreading having to get a list of things done when I got home. I walked in the door and was greeted by hugs from the babes and a kiss from Dustin. I set my things down and prepared myself to start working...when I realized that the babes had already been changed out of their school clothes and their homework was sitting completed on the table. I then noticed that the floors were unusually clean...I even smelled pine-sol. As I continued into the kitchen...I noticed those floors looked mopped as well....and O my goodness...not only was the dishwasher emptied...but the dirty dishes that were in the sink that morning had found their way into the dishwasher. The counter tops had been wiped down...and the trash had been emptied. This was all just too good to be true...but I had to keep looking. I walked into our bedroom...and the bed was made...the carpet had been vacuumed...and there was not a trace of the (husband) clothes that earlier in the morning seemed to be all over the floor. I ran upstairs to find my husband because he had either found the magic cleaning fairy that I have been so desperately searching for...or...wait for it...HE had cleaned for me while I was gone!! I spotted him in the living room and with my finger shaking I said, "Did you do all of this?" "All of what?" he replied with a cute little grin. "O my heavens." I said. "I have never been more attracted to you in my entire life!! You are A-MAZING!!" He just smiled and said, "I knew you were going to have a long day...and I wanted to help you out. The kids and I are already to go." "Go Where?" I said. "I figured we would all get out of the house and go to Chick-Fil-A for dinner." Yeah...you heard him...he also took us out for dinner!!
I always knew I married the man of my dreams!! I think I'll keep him.

I miss them

So...this may seem like a sad post...but I promise it really isn't. There are just some people that I am missing...and I am thankful that they are in my life so I can miss them!!

First of all is Sheri...also known as Sher Bear (a name I gave her when we were like 5 years old) She is the longest "relationship" I have ever had. We met when I was 4 and she was 5...I moved in next door to her...saw her Strawberry Shortcake tricycle...and I knew that she was the friend for me. We were friends all through school and we have too many memories to even count. We lost touch for a little while when college and marriage came along (mostly because I can be terrible at staying in touch with people!!) but we have been doing a great job at keeping in touch recently...and I want it to stay that way :). I saw her over Christmas break...and fell in love with her cute-as-can-be boys!! It is wonderful to have a friend that has known you almost your whole life...and still loves you!! Hopefully we can have a girl's get-a-way weekend soon...I think we both need one!

Next is Laura...

also known as Lola (I am not quite sure why I started calling her this...but I think we were sophomores and it has always stuck) Have you ever had a friend that you didn't know you needed in your life until they showed up...and then you wondered how you ever lived without them?

That is Lola for me. She has been through some pretty crazy and hard times with me...and I always know that I can count on her. She is basically...pretty much amazing. And she is also the reason I have been happily married to Dustin for almost 9 years (long story...maybe I will blog about it someday...but she knows :)!!) I love our early morning talks after I drop off the kids and she is on her way to work. And I love knowing that she will be my friend for life!

Last but not least is...

My Momma. She will always be my mom...but as I get older...I realize that she is also one of my best friends! If I am sad...she encourages me...when I need a solution...she will always try to "fix it"...when I need a laugh...she laughs with me...and when I need to be reminded that everything will be ok...she lets me know that it will. My babes just adore her...my husband is so thankful for her...and I miss her...A LOT!

So...even though it is a little sad to miss people in your life...it is amazing to be reminded of why you miss them and how much they mean to you.
I encourage you to let someone know that you are missing them today...and let then know that they have a special place in your life.

Car ride conversations

Last night me and the babes were on our way home from church...and like most Wednesday nights...Maddie fell asleep on the car ride home. We were on the highway...listening to music...when my little man quietly said, "Grace likes me" I waited for him to continue...but that was all he said. So I replied, "Grace at school or church?" "School" he said. "Well, that's nice sweetie" I replied...not quite sure where he was going with this. He then said, "I mean she LIKES me...with her heart!" "Wow...how do you know that buddy?" I asked. "Well...Her friends told me that she LIKES me...so I went up to her before lunch and said, 'Do you LIKE me...you know...with your heart?' And she said 'Yes'...and she was serious!" "Well what did you say to that?" "I just dropped my mouth open and bugged out my eyes and walked the whole way to lunch like that." "You didn't say anything back to her buddy?" "NO WAY!! My buddy Gabe wasn't there!" "Why does that matter?" I asked. "Well...she is pretty strong...and if I told her that I didn't LIKE her like that...she might have ripped my ear off!! I need to wait until one of my friends is there...because she probably can't rip both of our ears off at the same time!" I tried to not let him hear me giggle and responded, "O...yeah....that is a good idea. But I think I might have a better idea...just say that your mom doesn't want you to LIKE anyone at school because it might be a distraction...you can just blame me babe." He thought for a moment and said, "Well I don't want to blame you mommy...I mean...this is not really your fault." I looked in the rear view mirror and said, "Babe...that is what mommies are for. We try to fix all of the problems that we can for our babes. You are not really 'blaming' mommy for anything...it just helps you keep your sweet friend without having to feel uncomfortable." He thought again for a while then very seriously responded, "What would I do with out you...probably lose my ears!! Thanks mom...you're the best!!"

I hope we always have conversations like that one!!

I made it

Well...I made it ...21 days!! And today I am enjoying a wonderfully delicious cup of coffee!! It was definitely an amazing 21 days full of learning, growth, and discipline. I have realized that I have SO much to be thankful for and I am truly blessed. I have learned that some situations...no matter how hard you pray for them...sometimes don't change the way I want them to. But I have also learned that is ok...and I will keep praying for them. I think one of the greatest lessons for me these last 21 days was a simple reminder...that I have an amazing husband that I fall in love with more everyday...I have two amazing babes that make my life more wonderful than I ever thought possible...I have some of the most encouraging and supportive friends any girl could ask for...and I have been reminded that God loves me...He truly loves me...flaws and all!!