Archives for February 2012

Well if that’s not a catchy title to a post, I just don’t know what is.

Like I’ve said about a million times, grief is just down right tricky.  I’m okay with screwing myself up, but not my kiddos.  I figure, Josh could snap me back into reality, but dealing with my kids makes me a little more nervous…don’t want to send them into early therapy 🙂

Last week we were driving, both boys had fallen asleep, so Harper and I were chatting about different things.  She started a conversation about Grammy that went like this.

Harper:  Mom I really miss Grammy.

Me:  Me too Harper, me too.

Harper:  The other day I got sad because I found a picture I made for Grammy that I didn’t get to give to her.

Me:  I’m so sorry Harper.

Harper:  Can I take it to Heaven with me and give it to her then?

Me:  No, baby you can’t.  We can’t take things with us to Heaven.

Harper:  Well can I take it to where Grammy is buried?

Me:  Would that make you feel better?

Harper:  Yes.

Me:  Then absolutely.

So today that is what we did.  Before we left the house, Harper asked if we could take some new flowers as well.  Totally great idea.  We stopped off at Kroger and ran in to get some flowers.  Kroger is in full Valentines mode, so they had a huge display of big helium Valentines balloons in the flower section.  The wee Kelleys were beside themselves.  They asked if they could get a balloon to take Grammy as well.  Weird?  Maybe, but why not.

I had a good laugh at check out.  I had a great conversation with the lady checking us out.

Cashier:  You want me to take the $2.99 price tag off?

Me:  No, that’s okay. (Not wanting to make her feel weird about where the balloon was going or admit to someone that we were taking my dead mom a big helium Valentines balloon.)

Cashier:  Are you sure?

Me:  Yeah, it’s fine.

Cashier:  I’m gonna go ahead and take it off.  I always hate when people see how much you paid for something.

This next part is the BEST part of the conversation.

Harper:  We’re just taking it to the cemetary.

Can you say, “Uncomfortable”?

I just laughed it off, made no eye contact and mumbled a lot.

And away we went to the cemetery.  I cried a bit, but it was hard to cry too hard when I had such a comical little group with me.  Harper took her picture she had drawn for Grammy, the boys took some pictures then colored as well and we took our flowers and Valentine balloon.  Sure to make any sad passerby smile.

When we got home and the kids were napping I thought about how funny the whole situation had been.  I thought about how much I missed Mom and how she would have LOVED this story.  It would have made her day to know Harper wanted to give her that drawing, the flowers and especially the balloon.  She adored them and they adored her.

And while they napped, while it was all fresh, I created this.

And that’s the truth…To heal and redeem.  He came.

So here’s to celebrating Valentines at the cemetery and not sending my kids into early therapy sessions.

Currently I am trying to seek truth…all the time.  Shouldn’t I have been doing this anyways?  Yes…for sure.  I feel Satan is really on the attack for my joy…and that just can’t happen 🙂  I’m tired of being sad and down and defeated feeling, so TRUTH is what I am after.  I have actually only been to church, ummm, maybe 3 times since my mom died.  I know, I know, but it’s just kind of hard for me to go, but I went yesterday and one of the main points from scripture was that ‘truth abides’ and it abides in me.  I knew that, but sometimes you need a reminder.  I’m digging this reminder.

I know some people are super tired of me being closed for new orders, but I have to say, it is so nice to create, just for creating’s sake 🙂  This 10×10 canvas may go up for sale…not real sure yet though…I may need to keep it as a reminder.

In other random news…we enjoyed Dodges Chicken wings for the super bowl last night.  In my personal wing opinion, Dodge’s wings are right up there with any rival wing maker.  They are beyond spicy and yummy.

Ashley my dearest, dear friend sent the kids some handcuffs.  Needless to say, they so enjoy them.  I like that I can slow them down for just a bit with them 🙂

I have been practicing my doodling…yes, that is correct…I do practice my doodles.  Harper wanted to make hearts today, so I got in some extra practice time 🙂

The game of memory is by far my favorite family game.  Everyone plays really well, but Sol seems to trump us all EVERY.TIME.  The boy is definitely an observer.

Harper enjoys leaving us cards and notes under our pillows or on our bedside tables.  This was on Josh’s.  I adore her.

This morning I found these three wee Kelley’s hiding away ‘making cookies’ on our IPad.  Technology is quite amazing and the fact that small kiddos can figure it all out is pretty crazy too.

Hope everyone has a great week.  I have several canvas ideas swirling around in my head, so I’m anxious to see what this week will hold.  Have a great Monday!

Today I give you a plethora of random Kelley tidbits.

*Little kid hearing tests are just about adorable…big huge headphones and little tiny heads.  I love.

*We dropped a few goodies off this week in some very deserving women’s mailboxes…women who are good…like real good.

*This was part of the aftermath of a Batman party with yellow cupcakes…I dare not even show you my countertop 🙂

*Target popcorn is a must for Kelley movie night.  I thank Dana for letting me in on this wonderful little secret.

*McDonalds made the best move in Happy Meal history…mini fry & mini apples…together…in one Happy Meal.  No more dilemma over whether to get fries or apples and no more siblings having to share.  I thanked the McDonalds lady.

*I need some new running socks.  Today’s long run pushed my Achilles heels over the edge…the raw & bloody edge.  Now I’m sporting lots of these.

*I have never bought Harper a new pair of shoes…I am consignment all the way.  Until now.

Only if they made them in adult sizes…we could be mother/daughter twins.

*Amazingly warm February weather equals Sonic Happy Hour and lots of playing outside.  Happiness all around.

Have a great weekend!

Sol’s party was yesterday evening.  We usually have family parties at home, but this year, well this year was a bit different.  I really wasn’t up for having his party at home and it just so happened a Groupon for Monkey Joes showed up in my email.  I was stoked and so was Sol.  He had a fun filled party.

OH.MY.  He had such a fun party.  And I cannot wait until we can celebrate with our littlest brother here with us.  That will be a grand birthday…whoever’s birthday it is.

So Happy Birthday Solomon.  We love you more than you will ever know and we could never imagine life without you.

We are so blessed!

Today is our sweet, sweet, triple sweet Solomon’s 3rd birthday.  What an incredible blessing this boy is…I pretty much adore him.

I am a big fan of birthdays, but this one is definitely bittersweet.  Today would have normally started with a phone call for Sol from his Grammy and she always came over during the day to see my kids on their birthdays and we would enjoy a birthday lunch with her as well.  Definitely a bittersweet kind of day, but we’re still celebrating our newest 3-year-old.

We have several birthday Kelley traditions…one being a decorated birthday door.  Josh has become the great mastermind behind birthday door designs.  He’s a good dad like that.

Another tradition is, usually, cake for breakfast.  Our kids can have cake, cupcakes, ice cream, anything sweet and delicious their hearts desire for breakfast, but Sol decided he wanted chocolate chip Batman pancakes.  He is the kid that asks every single night, when we put him to bed, if he can have waffles for breakfast.  I was shocked when he passed up lots of sweet treats for Batman pancakes.  When he made his decision, Harper looked at him like he had just made the biggest mistake of his life…all the wee Kelleys get to enjoy what the birthday kiddo enjoys, but ask and you shall receive on your birthday.  So chocolate chip Batman pancakes it was.

We have been in birthday party preparation.  Sol picked out some treats for his favors and helped fill all the little bags.

And keeping with our weekly craft.  Since Valentines is just around the corner, we did a Valentines craft.  I did this one also when I taught…I think I may have gotten it from my SIL Jen.

I am going to do my best to explain how I made the bee outline.  I really like to trace patterns and then let the kiddos do all the cutting.  So stick with me while I explain what I did.

First I drew a bee outline with stripes.

Then I cut out the bee and re-traced the outline on another piece of paper.  The bee below without the stripes, when you cut it out, will be your tracer for the main bee outline.

Then I cut the head off the bee with stripes and cut out all the stripes as well.  I dig decapitating bees 🙂

Then drew an antenna, just one because you can flip it and trace it twice, on the head of the bee.  You can use every little bit of this paper.

Then trace the stripes and antennas onto white paper for your kiddo to cut out themselves.

Then do all the tracing for each of your kiddos.  So I traced the main bee outline and then the stripes and antennas x 3.

And here is what you will need for the rest of the craft: Bee outline, stripes and antenna outlines, heart outline, glue, crayons and scissors.

First the wee Kelleys colored and cutout their stripes and antennas.

Then they cut out their bee outline.

They then glued on their stripes and antennas.

Next they drew on a cute little face.

Then they cut out and glued on their heart and added the “Bee My Valentine” message.  Harper wrote her own, but I wrote the boys’.

There you have it…cute Valentine bees ready to display and proud, crafty kids.

And now I am off to finish making cupcakes and cookies and celebrate another crazy wonderful year of Sol’s life.  I hate that mom is not here to celebrate with us, but we are so blessed and I just cannot argue with that.  Thanking God today for a precious, healthy, amazing little 3-year-old boy.