Buddha: Laughing with me, or at me?

This guy goes back for seconds.

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, and what it stands for, I've been making an effort to be more positive. I came across this quote and it’s simplicity really put a lot of things into perspective for me.

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."
-Buddha

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Well said, wise little man. It is so easy for me to be grateful for my incredible family, the many amazing friends who surround us, and the countless blessings that we receive. But, I'm not always great at recognizing my trials as blessings, which is embarrassing knowing some of the unthinkable tragedies many people face every day. I need to begin viewing the negative moments, even those little, daily annoyances, in a more positive light.


So, here it goes:

Negative: Mia dropping all of her markers into the toilet.
Positive: She didn't flush.

Negative: The two very "ouchy" blisters in between my little toes.
Positive: Knowing I've earned them fair and square with every mile I have run.

Negative: Ava asking me if she can live at Ms. Dean's house instead, because "it's more fun there".
Positive: She has craft and story time. I think might pack a bag and see if she has any room for me.

Negative: Discovering 2 Sippy cups under the back seat of the car.
Positive: We have customized our very own "rancid milk" scent. I think I'll tie a ribbon 'round the cup and hang it from our rearview mirror.

Negative: Mia's incessant need to remove all of her clothing, diaper included, every 5 minutes.
Positive: Those "Nudist Colony Preschool" flyers, might finally come in handy.

Negative: Gaining 10lbs over Thanksgiving weekend.
Positive: A little more padding for my Santa suit.

Negative: Mia chomping on old celery that she fished out of the garbage.
Positive: She's eating her vegetables.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

'Binkies'.....not just for babies anymore!

Mommies can play "pretend" too.

This week, as I stared at one of the many overflowing toy boxes that have taken over our lives since having children-

(Remember how uncluttered things were before the mountains of toys and books? In my heaven, I imagine that the blocks and Barbies will obediently march themselves to the closet on my command as I sing a cheerful tune a la Mary Poppins. Funny how it always comes down to musicals when I dream.....)

Anyhow, I was staring at these overflowing toy boxes and decided it was time for our bi-monthly toy purge. Especially when taking into account all of the Christmas/birthday spoils that will soon be added to what is already an embarrassment of loot. The girls usually like this tradition because it means they get to help decide what we "Sell to the poor children". (Ava's words. She is her father's daughter after all- looking for small business opportunities at every turn. I believe she made mention of selling the free newspapers that gather up by our front door to our neighbors for $.25 a pop. We're working on the whole "supply and demand" concept.) At any rate, the chaos commenced and toys were chosen to be carted off to D.I. along with a few unused baby items.


And this would be the explanation for the above picture of my *almost* 2 year old with a binky. The funny part is, she never took a pacifier as a baby. Neither of my girls did. But, now, Mia has discovered this funny little mouth plug and thinks it's hilarious to walk around with it in her mouth. Adam teased, "You're not a baby-you're a big girl!" I giggled along with him, but as he went to pull out the paci, I heard myself whine, "Aw, let her keep it!"



What am I doing??? I'm encouraging my (stubborn) 2 year to old to engage in a dependant relationship with something that parents agonize over removing from their toddlers' tightly clenched jaws? I'm crazy!!



But as I looked at that cherubim face, sucking on, what is described by some parents as "baby crack", it hit me. She looks like a baby with that thing in her mouth. It had taken me back, to that place in my mind, where she was a cooing, helpless infant. I had to resist the urge to lay her down and swaddle her in a 'baby burrito'.

But she's not a baby anymore. She'll be TWO next month. She's talking in complete, albeit run-on, sentences. She opens doors by herself. She runs with the "big girls", and can count to 10.


Oh no.

When did this happen...........and why does it hurt so much?


What's that you say? If this is hard for me, than how am I dealing with Ava starting Kindergarten next year?

I'm doing ju-just f-fine, thank you.



I wonder if I can get Ava to keep a binky in her mouth.....

She always wears pearls to business meetings.

Magic Man

A Genie to some, a God to Mothers.

There was a time, before the birth of my second child, when I was guilty of breaking one of the most sacred of all the"Mother Commandments". It's been a while since I've checked the official handbook, but I think it goes something like this:

"Thou shalt not judge the appearance of crayon or marker on thy fellow sisters' walls."




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I judged you, sisters.

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What is it that they say.......... "Payback's a 'beast' "?

.....or is it a "beautiful, crayon toting toddler with a mischievous streak not unlike a crazed Leprechaun hopped up on sugar"?

(From an ottoman to a work of art in 10 seconds flat!)

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Pray for me.................and her.

Home of the Brave

Dedicated to my Uncle Chuck, Col. Charles P. Andrews, USAF Ret.,who served in the Vietnam War, and returned with honor.

And to my father-in -law, Sgt. William T. Hiniker, USAF Ret who served his family and his country.

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A tribute to our heros:

http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYGVN

'A' is for Amy

She's even willing to share a Snickers! Who's that nice?

A little word association to celebrate my sister-in-law's day of birth:

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Mother

Amy is one of the greatest Mommies I know. It has been her dream to hold that hallowed title from the day she was able to lovingly wrap her dolly in a blanket. Some children have dreams of fame and fortune. Amy dreamed of helping her little ones pick out socks for 'Crazy Sock Day' at school and accompanying them on field trips to various chocolate factories. And what June Cleaver merely portrayed on T.V., Amy personifies in her daily life. She finds joy in menial, everyday tasks that I tend to take for granted. Story time makes her giddy with excitement. Volleyball practice has her beaming with pride. She is a constant example to me of selflessness and unconditional love. Her girls worship her. My girls worship her. Really. It is not uncommon for Mia to wake up asking for "My Amy". Even more recently she made this request in Disneyland! Yeeeaah.....it's not looking good for me.

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Sister

My husband likes to recount stories of his adventures w/ his Big Sister. The time she took him to the hospital when he needed stitches. The many times she volunteered to take him along to the movies-even though she would be w/ her "cool" older boyfriend. And, how much it meant to him during his college years, that she so willingly shared her home and young family at a time when he needed it most. I came into the picture around this time and immediately felt the warmth and generosity that he had so often described. And just like that, she became mine! My big sister.

My little sister, Anne and I were talking on the phone about Amy's upcoming birthday when she declared, "I love Amy. She is so great. I hope if that if my future husband has a sister, she will be as awesome as Amy." To which I replied,"You can't have her! She's mine!" and hung up on her. I guess I still have a lot to learn from Amy about being a big sister....

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Friend

The phrase,"To the ends of the Earth" comes to mind when thinking about Amy's devotion to her friends. I know what you're thinking. She is beginning to sound a little too good to be true. Luckily for me, she isn't. She's the friend who continues to call and check on you everyday, until she is sure there is no trace whatsoever of the flu left in your body. She will remember to inquire about each family member-by name- even if you have only recently met. She has driven friend's parents to the hospital, babysat gaggles of children, met distraught friends at a moments notice to be their "shoulder", and the list goes on.....

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Adam knows that I have inherited all rights and privileges when it comes to his sister. Only if I were faced with a King Solomon situation would I be willing to part ways. But even then, I might be tempted to keep at least half. She is just that loved.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!

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(No "Little Sisters" were actually harmed in the writing of this post.)

Life on Oz

*My Mom can do THE BEST imitation of the Wicked Witch that I have ever heard. An exuberant, "I'll get you my pretty!" could be heard coming from our house on any given night. One Halloween, she visited the family restaurant I was working in, dressed in "Full Witch". We're talking green face, fake nose- the works. She then proceeded to release her terrifying cackle upon the crowd and promptly set off a domino effect of tears from every child within a five mile radius. I say they got dinner and a show, their parents slightly disagreed.

It was the performance of her life.......and we were always her biggest fans.



*Three short years after I was born a little, aqua-eyed pixie came into our family. It was not long before her wisdom and tenderness surpassed mine and I began to see her for the Glistening Good Witch that she is today. She truly goes through life waving her wand of kindness and compassion over everyone she meets. (Traits that were largely influenced by our Mother. Don't let the green paint fool you. She was all "good".) In a very "Glenda" fashion, she has dedicated her adult life to entertaining, caring for and loving Alzheimer patients. Though technically she is my younger sister, I look to her often as the sparkling moral compass that floats above my long and winding brick road.


*(Cowardly Lion): Alright, I'll go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, I'll tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but I'm going in there. There's only one thing I want you fellows to do.

(Tin Man): What's that?

(Cowardly Lion): Talk me out of it.

Though I am far from an animal lover, I do have a soft spot for the Cowardly Lion. In the beginning, our furry friend is pegged as a frightened cat- unsure of his great potential. But, with time, he gains confidence, learns of his powerful strength and becomes one of Dorothy's most loyal protectors. I've watched my youngest brother grow from a timid and sometimes insecure boy to a strong and noble man. He's currently serving a 2 year mission in Costa Rica for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He spends the entirety of his days teaching, serving others and sharing the Gospel- with no thought of himself, or what he may be missing back home.

And he never once asked us to talk him out of it.


*There were times, when we were younger that-like most children-my siblings and I feared arousing the wrath of the great and powerful Dad. It took no time at all, though, for us to see the man behind the curtain. A kind, gentle man who's devotion to his family had no limits. He would have turned that blasted hot air balloon around and gone back for us. He never made a decision that didn't benefit his family. And, similarly to the Wizard, his intelligence had all of us Ozians in awe. We would have gladly liquidated any ol' witch just to get an audience with Dad.


* The Scarecrow was always a favorite character of our family because he was the spittin' image of our Grandpa. Grandpa Andrews had a straw-like exterior (rough and prickly) but underneath he was soft as cotton and good as gold. My older brother has inherited much of my Grandpa's soft and squishy interior, but their is not an ounce of prickly straw on him. The Scarecrow was always the one to stick up for those who could not stick up for themselves. My brother is no different. He once stopped, in the middle of the night, to tow a family who's car had broken down on Christmas Eve. He had such a small car that he had to drop them off 2 at a time and go back for the rest until they were all safely at their destination. I'm sure he even got back up on his wooden perch and pointed to the road that they should follow.

And he's not afraid of anything........except a lighted match.

*Sometimes I could use a can of oil to loosen the hinges of my beloved Tin Man. He is not always quick to communicate. When he has been properly greased, though, he is the funniest man I know. It's fitting that the Tin Man was the wise cracker of the bunch, often lightening the mood when they began to take themselves too seriously. My Tin Man received his nickname because of his perceived lack of emotion during emotional situations. But in truth, their isn't one person who has come into contact w/ him that has not been changed for the better by his warmth and humor. And as the Wizard so perfectly stated when referring to the mighty Man of Tin,

" A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others".

And if myself and our 2 munchkins are any indication of just how loved and adored our Tin Man is, he should be just fine on "Judgment Day".


There is no place like home.......

Ooh...shiny!

Nothing distracts from my lack of interesting blog topics like cute little girls dressed up for Halloween. Enjoy!!

Mia was a"Cave Baby"

Ava was a "Pumpkin Princess"

When their powers combine, no Grandparent can resist succumbing to their every whim!

And if a Daddy gets caught in their ocean blue gaze......... forget about it!!

Act I, Scene I

The stage is home to me. From the time I was old enough to proudly display my "jazz hands" I knew it was where I wanted to be. Some of the best moments of my youth were there. I met my husband on a stage. Luckily, I did not have my children on a stage. That would have been messy. But with them, our girls brought many stages. "It's only a stage" for example, is a handy phrase when trying to explain the color crayon mural on our freshly scrubbed walls to my husband.

Who knew that being a stay at home Mom would require all of the acting I could muster.

*Acting...... nonchalant as if I don't really enjoy the Wiggles as much as I do, for fear they will kick me out of playgroup for my perverse attraction to Anthony-The Blue Wiggle (sigh).

*Acting........ horrified by the idea of eating Halloween candy for breakfast when my little ones beg for early morning treats. And then proceeding to pull the Snickers wrappers out from their hiding place under my shirt and bury them under banana peels in the trash can.

*Acting......... as if I'm not affected at all when my little Mimi turns down my open arms and reaches for her Daddy's instead. "It's just that she sees you all day long, that's all. Keep it together Hiniker! Don't cry.......don't you cry!!"

Quite frankly, I'm surprised I haven't gotten a nod from the Academy yet. Just wait 'til they see my "Mommy thinks the 'dinner' you made for her out of mashed up 'Lunchables' remnants is delicious" performance.

"And the Oscar goes to......"