I'm Not Your Mommy Anymore

Mommy to Super Wy, "I said no."

Super Wy to Mommy, "I wanna."

Mommy to Super Wy, "I SAID no."

Super Wy to Mommy, "Whatever... I'm not your mommy anymore."

Mommy to Super Wy as she holds back a laugh, "Fine... but I'm still your mommy."

Super Wy to Mommy as he tries to figure out where he went wrong in his declaration, "Fine, whatever."

Trip to China

Yesterday evening:
Spending the evening watching movie with my sister and brother in law. All the kids are located throughout the house playing.

My oldest nephew runs in from the back room, "They're throwing mud piles in the bedroom window!"

We hurry out back to find the little boys in the middle of their dirt play area digging a hole. Gobs of mud are on the wall, on the sidewalk and all over the grass. Scolding is performed and dirt is picked up. The kids are all tight lipped about the reason behind these antics and my sis and I chalk it up to, "they're boys...nuff said."

This morning:
The little boys and I are eating breakfast and they are busy talking about where they're gonna go.

Confused, because we had no plans for today, I ask, "What are you two talking about?"

Holy Terror hushes Super Wy and as the oldest speaks for them. "We are digging a hole to China."

"No!" Super Wy hollers. "I wanna dig a hole to the beach!"

I realize what they were doing the evening before. My next thought is whether I should give them a lesson about the realities of digging a hole to anywhere then realize how busy it'll keep them...what to do? What to do?

I'll admit it, I went with, "Okay, just keep the mud off the wall this time."

The two spend the remaining breakfast arguing with each other. Afterwards they hurry out back to get going on the hole.

This afternoon:
Holy Terror has given up the effort and is playing in his room. Super Wy comes in from the backyard, dejected. "I'm never gonna get anywhere without Holy Terror's help."

He passes through to the back of the house. Thoughts of China and the beach go up in smoke.

Hot Dogs and Sandwiches

Super Wy hurries to the front room from the back, where he's supposed to already be asleep. He peeks out twice until I finally smile at him. He pops out and begins:

Gesturing like he's reeling in a fish. "I'll use hot dogs and put them on the fishin' pole...because that's how you catch really big fish."

"Really?"

He grins wider and puffs out his chest in a very important manner. "Yeah, the small fish like the small green things, but really big fish like hot dogs...and sometimes sandwiches."

His blue eyes twinkle...my heart falls all over again for this little man. What a crazy nut.

"So we're all going fishing and bringing hot dogs and sandwiches for bait?" I shrug, fully accepting this theory. What do I know? I don't fish. "Okay, sounds good. Just let Daddy know tomorrow."

He nods really big then giggles and runs back to bed.

There, his message is parted and duly noted. Can't wait to hear Daddy's reaction to this advice.

The Jacket

Hurrying to get ready this morning Hubby and I rushed through the normal routine. You know, normal morning stuff:

Shower, dress, argue with teenagers, dress little boys, argue with teenagers some more, fix breakfast, kick the teenagers out to school, find little boy's jackets and shoes...yadayada

Hubby tosses me Super Wy's jacket and I turn to him. He spins around and his eyes twinkle with magnificence.

"Thanks...gotta put my jacket on to be an assassin," he says, pausing for dramatic effect and then adds, "of eee-vil!"

Life's Many Twists

As you can see, I haven't posted here in a couple months. I wish I could say it was because we at the Norris Ranch have been having too much fun. Life can't be all roses and laughter, I guess. There were good doses of that during this lapse...but unfortunately, our personal life has taken one of its many unwelcomed turns.

So weird when the other areas have been going so well. Our finances finally leveled out. My publishing dream is coming true in spades. My children are strong and healthy and doing (or not doing) exactly what they're supposed to for their ages. My husband and I are more in love and connected than we've ever been. Work is rewarding and challenging.

I feel sucker punched.

Stunned disbelief turned to panic turned to denial turn to distress turned to frustration turned to angry.

Yes, I was -- and still sometimes am -- angry. I can admit it in the framework of words on screen. I want to throw something, yell at someone, and...blame anything other than the fact "it happens". "It happens" is not tangible to me. I can't grasp it, come to terms with it and then tuck it away.

It's there. It's not going away any time soon. It's causing pain. With the anger came the fear of acceptance.

I have a brain tumor.

With the acceptance, I gazed around and noticed life continued ticking. Nothing halted. The world kept going and I could either falter, freeze, and stop going with it...or, I could work through it and beyond it.

I could get through it. I mean, come on, I have the best ammunition in the world. A loving husband, 4 awesome kids, a large supportive family, and really great friends. Who could ask for anything better than that going into something soooo scary?

No...Not Again

It's started. I'm now in the first stages of unneeded. Woke up Saturday morning regular time and the boys were eating their breakfast.

Already made.

Already started.

No Mommy needed.

"We did it ourselves," Holy Terror informed me with a touch of pride.

What was I to do? I smiled and gave high fives. Told them how proud I was. All the while my heart was breaking.

It's started again. The first two, now in high school, started not needing me so much about the same age. Somehow I suppressed it, not wanting to think about it.

Now it's smacked me in the face all over again.

*Sigh*

Well, off to continue my moping.

...sigh again...

I Want That!

Cinnamon Crunch commercial comes on and the little boys yell at the same time, "I want that!"

"We'll see," I say absently with a sigh.

A commercial for Nerf mega gun thingie comes on and the little boys yell at the same time, "I want that!"

"We'll see," I say with another sigh and a shake of the head.

The commercial of an older woman praising the Total Pillow comes up and the little boys stand up and start jumping and yelling, "I want that!"

I pause and look at the commercial then at the boys with a raised eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" They wiggle and dance and chatter on about the awesomeness of the Total Pillow.

The commercial for the Portable Desktop comes up and...yup, you guess it...

"I want that!"

Ringing in 2011

Hubby and I aren't big time New Years celebrators. I know, usually our big family celebrate pretty good on holidays. New Years just hasn't been a big one for either of us growing up and we kind of carried on the tradition. However, this year we decided to at least do a little fun something with just us.

So, the Norris Ranch rung in New Years with a front room slumber party. Hubby went and got treats and snacks then set up the airbed for us. The teenagers piled onto the couch and the little guys made a toddler nest on the ground out of all the blankets.

Over pizza, taquitos, salad, and sodas we watched movies until 11 pm. At 11 we turned to watch the celebration on television. And at midnight --the toddlers already asleep -- we all wished each other a happy New Year.

I don't know what's in store for us in 2011. The last few years have been a pretty mixed bag, but overall the kids are healthy, our marriage in going strong, and we have work and a roof under our heads. All the other struggles in life will come and go, with new things replacing them. As long as we continue handling them together I think everything will be okay and the bumps will be manageable. (Crossing fingers.)

Hope you all have a happy 2011 from the Norris'!