Birthday DAY

We had so much fun today, almost to much. The boys (and mom and dad) were invited to 2 birthday parties on the same day. We were lucky to be able to share the day our friend Dylon, and our friend Henry, who both turned 3. 1st was Dylon's party which was great his was Mickey Mouse themed, so the boys loved it. Trista outdid herself once again, she had great games for the kids, and wonderful food. Her cake was great, a giant Mickey Mouse head!! Dylon made out like a bandit (but i mean really, who can resist that charm?) and the boys got some pretty cool take home gifts themselves. I love going to Trista's parties, no matter what type it is, she always inspires me somehow. We had a great time celebrating with everyone (and i got my baby fix in with Miss Lyla)
Then we headed off to Henry's party. His was a construction theme, held at a park, with cones and caution tape and everything. It was a lot of fun. The boys got to eat cake out of a dump truck!! Kim did a great job, it came out really cute. And they got to play on the playground. Henry got some pretty cool loot, which included a kids computer, they boys were all to ready to play with it too. We had a really good time seeing Henry and Kim again, and meeting all of their family.

Maybe?

Tonight the boys are going to bed and I have the following conversation:

“Mom is Ms. Lilly coming over tomorrow?”

“No Aragorn, tomorrow she stays with her mom”

“GRANDAMA come?” Rohan Squeals

“No baby, Grandma isn’t coming tomorrow, remember we have birthday parties tomorrow”

“Maybe, maybe she come” he says, very sure

“No baby not tomorrow”

He walks away, but stops at his door and smiles at me

“Maybe”

I smile as I turn off the lights and head downstairs. He sure does love her.

Bullies.....

I was bullied, i think most of us were, i think at some point in our lives regardless of reason, we were picked on. Brianna and i were talking a couple of weeks ago about bulling and it brought up some memories. I was picked on for the same reason as my friends, i wore glasses, i didn't always have the coolest clothes, flat out, I was geeky. And now at 31 (yes mom i am technically still 31) i can look back and say "oh sweetie......if you only knew"

I will never forget my bully. Her nickname was Yoda (i seriously think they called her this because she was the wise one?) i am not sure anymore what her real name was, and it doesn't matter. Yoda, was the one i was afraid of. I honestly do not know what i ever did to upset her, but she came after me with a vengeance. I was picked on relentlessly throughout middle school. It started in 6th grade, and followed me into High School. I was called names, i was picked on, tripped had stuff thrown at me, and for 2 weeks straight i was "jumped" after school. I will never forget the pain on my mom's face when we attended my science fair, and my bullies were so bold as to make fun of me in front of her. I ignored them as i had learned to do, but she was hearing things for the 1st time. My bullying wasn't as bad as some of the stories i am hearing now. But 15 years ago, it was bad enough.

Bullying has been going on for a long time. And it's getting worse. It used to be that once you left school for the day you could breathe a sigh of relief. You were home, you were safe. Now, it's in your face every time you open your eyes. From calling on your home phone to your cell phone, to txting, to IMing, to e-mail, Facebook, Myspace, BLOGGING!! All of these things can be used as a means to bully and harass. And it's driving more and more kids to a brink they have never before experienced. I have read about 5 different stories in the last 2 weeks, where kids have committed suicide as a result of extreme bullying. This is 5 kids to many. Bullying is NOT part of life and growing up.

I am one of many right now, that is asking for bullying to stop. Parents need to open their eyes and see how their child is being treated.....Or how they are treating other kids. Take the action that needs to be taken to protect your kids.

And to those of you being bullied, being picked on, and being beat up after school. THIS is not the best you will ever have. Stay strong, and speak up tell someone about it. Let them know it's happening. Don't think your alone, find your voice. Don't think ending your life is the best choice you can make. Living well is the best revenge. Do it for a long long time.

~Sam

Weekend

This weekend was very nice. Yesterday the boys and I did a couple errands and hung out while Eric worked. We had some friends over Saturday night, so I made a roast that I cooked to perfection, even had a lil pink right in the middle for me. Gravy was a pain though, I put all my stuff into the blender, blend it, go to take it out of the bottom, and the whole bottom of the container stuck, I had 450 degree gravy EVERYWHERE, on my FRESHLY cleaned floor ( I swear I am never cleaning it again, ever) all over the counter, the dishwasher, ugh such a mess. But we fixed it, and it was great. We played some bump it, and totally killed the new kid. We also tried a new drink i saw on the food network. Vodka Mojitos. AWESOME!! And cheap, except for the Mint, you probably have all the stuff you need all the time……the simple syrup is sweet enough that it covers the vodka (which is why it's awesome) I used bottled lime juice, and it was still very tasty.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/vodka-mojito-recipe/index.html

So after playing bump-it last night, we decided to take a lil trip to the wizard’s chest and get some new ones ;-) not to get rid of what we have, but to add to them, give people more choices. I was kinda disappointed with the selection, but I bought what they had. Of course now, I have to get bags to put them in.

Then we went to country buffet because Aragorn LOVES that place, and we all enjoyed a nice lunch together. It was pretty cool, when we walked in, there was nothing but a sea of green BTU’s. Eric said he talked to one of the guys and he said they go there about once a month. I wish I could have gotten a picture, but by the time we got settled they had left. I was very amazed though at how people treated them. They moved aside, or gave up their place in line. There was one guy that was thanking all of them, individually. It was pretty cool. Otherwise not to much here. Hung around. Eric watched star wars with the boys tonight, I got pictures!!! So awesome……….

Road Trip.....

This is how Rohan rocks the road trip

You're My Best Friend - Don Williams

This is one of the songs played at Avis's service.......I have always loved this song.......

RIP Avis......

Eric's grandmother Avis left us 09-14-10. We attended her memorial service this past weekend held in Ellsworth, KS. I have waited until today to blog about her death, because i honestly didn't know Avis very well. I had only met her 3 or 4 times myself, and it's really hard to get to know someone in only a few visits. But this weekend, i saw what kind of women she was, simply by the people that attended her service. Based on what people said about her, she was a wonderful women who like so many of us struggled. She suffered from depression, I learned this weekend, that took a toll on her family. But, even through this sickness, she did the best she could, as we all try to do. She was a great cook, having the best fried chicken ever. She loved to read. She cleaned incessantly. She will be missed greatly.

I am sad that i didn't get to know her better, that i didn't take that step to get to know her better. I would have loved to talk to her about her life, where she grew up, how she lived, how she met Irvin.....everything. I love to hear old stories from people that were there, it makes it extra special when they are family. I guess the lesson in this is, talk to your family, learn all you can, soak it in, write it down.

RIP Avis.....you will be missed

And although this was a very sad occasion, i did get a great picture of four generations of Spillman men. And one of Father, Son and Grandson.