Flu

At 5:00 AM I heard the shower running. Andy didn't feel well and thought a shower would help. At 7:00 AMI heard the bath filling. Andy said he had the flu and sitting in the water felt good. He then told me his 'self-healing' plans for the day. It was at this moment I knew I was needed at home:

Me: "Andy, do you want me to stay home with you today?"
Andy: "Mom, I would love it but can you?"
Me: "Hello Bruce . . . .(my very understanding boss)"

So I am home with my man-child son. He is running a fever and sleeping heavily. He has already ingested enough water to sustain a small ocean mammal. He will soon be better, in fact, to quote Maddy: "Well, at least we know he will feel better in 24 hours". That is good because Friday is our first game (oh, the pressure on his body and the true concern for his health as long as it doesn't impact football)

I think it best I stayed home, I would have hated to have him shave his head just because he was hot or take an over-the-counter just because he liked the color of the box. His 'self-healing plan' was a bit alarming.

Assignment: NO matter the age of your child - if you have a chance to be 'mommy' again. . .DO IT!

Happy New Monday

This will be a better week. This will be a better week. This will be a better week. I am clicking my shoes together while saying this.

Last week was a highly stressful week at work (project deadlines). On the upside, I spent the weekend cleaning my house (very calming) and it looks great.

This will be a better week . . . .

Assignment: Positive thinking!

It is in the AIR!

Can you feel it? Tonight is the first Football Scrimage for the season. Oh how I have missed high school football. This is a special year for us: Andy is a senior.

Assignment: A year of many lasts has just begun.

Worst Mom - EVER!

I think that Maddy, being our last child, has turned me into a dolt. I seem to allow things that I would never have considered with our other children. I believe this past year I have official entered the "Worst Mom - Ever" contest and I might actually win.

1. Maddy was invited to Florida for Spring Break. I really thought this was a great idea. I strongly encouraged her to go. She did not feel comfortable going with these friends. Perhaps it was because these friends were both boys! Brothers to be accurate - and for the record - the parents, whom I know and trust, were also going. I had close friends who were boys in high school - I would have gone to Florida with their family if asked. Bad mom for encouraging a daughter to go to another state with boys! I have seen Springer; most of those stories come from Florida.

2. Maddy had a sore throat the Saturday she was to leave for Mission Trip. I was talked into letting her go - against my better judgment. They were going to North Carolina for the Mission Trip. When they reached Tennessee the throat wasn't getting better so they went to a medi-center. They tested her and diagnosed it as mono. I think they were wrong or it was a very low case of mono. However, she was sick and I shouldn't have lisened to others and made her stay home. Terrible week for me (she had fun) so that was my punishment I guess.

3. Maddy turned 16 this year. She wanted a tattoo. Not a rainbow, sun, or dolphin jumping from a wave (no offense but really for a 16 year old – you know); no, she wanted a memory. She wanted the date of her cancer diagnosis and the date of her remission. This was a tense and very long discussion in our home. Here she is with the tat. Sexy Bob did the artwork. Yeap that was his name: Sexy Bob.


I am sure there are many other Worst Mom stories that have happened over the past 8 months - and we still have 4 more to go. In fact, I know there are more stories but I am worn down so num that I can't remember them all. I am starting to blur between the right/wrong of parenting. I should set a date for my crown fitting and find a nice dress to accept my award.

Assignment: Dr. Spock. . Calling Dr. Spock! Why didn't you write a care and feeding book for teens!

Tom's Birthday

Today is Tom's Birthday. He officially qualifies for the "Retired" rate for golf. He isn't 62 - not even close - but I guess in the world of golf double nickels are considered old.

In celebration of Tom's birthday and in need of some peaceful R&R after the wedding last week, the bath remodel all summer, and life in general; we did an overnight in a very well-known hotel about an hour away.

To set the stage for this story, a year ago we did a weekend away at this same hotel. The room next to us was full of drunk boys who had many drunk girls visiting them. I do not know how young people this age could afford such a place, perhaps it was that they crammed 1 Zillion people into the room and split the cost. Anywho, I had to complain - 3 times - throughout the night. It was ugly but in the morning they took a HUGE percentage off our bill and gave us a free overnight stay. Very kind of this hotel - truly great customer service!

This is the stay we used this weekend to celebrate Tom's birthday. When I booked the room the registration lady was very nice and told me to ask for an upgrade when we checked it. She was going to note this in the registration So, in passing I did that but it wasn't needed because for some reason - I have no idea why - they put us in an Executive Suite. A honest-to-goodness Executive Suite. HOLY CATS! HOLY CATS! HOLY CATS!

Not only was this an Executive Suite (the size of the entire first floor of our home) here is a small list of some of the people that also slept in that suite: President Bush 1, President Bush 2, and Jack Nickolaus (of whom Tom was most impressed). Yes, they all slept, showered, and walked the same carpet as we did this weekend.

Assignment: HOLY CATS! Happy Birthday Tom!
Walking down the hall, we kept looking for our room - um, WOW
Fresh Ice in the Ice Bucket when we checked in - refreshed again when we returned from going out to dinner
Soft Robes
Waiting for us when we returned from dinner
Yes, a GRAND FATHER CLOCK that chimed every 15 minutes
The sitting room
Do you think the Bush Family is bragging that the Brozek's slept here?

Bike

This afternoon I went for a bike ride. I was given a new bike for Mother's Day and sadly I haven't ridden it nearly enough this summer. Today the humidity finally broke, I had nothing on my 'to-do' schedule, and I felt the need to peddle. So - peddle I did.

As I was returning home I passed my neighbor. She was riding a horse. I still find joy in living in a place where the corn grows tall, the deer run free, and I can pass a neighbor riding her horse. I am one lucky gal!

Assignment: The humidity will be gone this week - go outside and play!

L.O.V.E

Last night was our daughter Jessica's wedding. It was a great party full of family and friends. I have a zillion stories and photos to share as time goes by but for now. . . .if I might share . . . .. .

Last night I fell deeply, madly, and truly in love with my husband all over again.


Father of the Bride Toast
The Father/Son-in-law heart to heart
Jess is Daddy's Little Girl
My heart was melting with happiness and love watching this dance

Assignment: Fall in Love - all over again! Congrats Jess and DJ

Photo Friday

Today was Jessica's bridal shower. I made eight quiches (thanks Judi for the perfect crusts) and I am shocked that they not only looked good - they tasted good too! It was a magical baking day.

A Chair for Max

Each year our local library has a fundraiser called A Little Chair-ity. Local artists (and folks like me) paint children’s chairs to be auctioned off to raise money to purchase new children’s books. I have done it a few times and really enjoyed giving back in this manner when I have the time.

My daughter Megan has bid on a few of the chairs that I have painted. Interestingly enough, she hasn’t won because the bidding ended up growing out of her price range. I think she has a very low price range but still I am flattered. When Megan was pregnant with our first grandchild she asked if I would paint a chair once baby was born.

Sweet Baby Max was born on May 20th so the image for the chair was clear: Where the Wild Things Are was exactly what I wanted this little boy growing up reading and sitting on while he read.

He recently had his Holy Baptism and we gave him this chair as his gift.


Assignment: Encourage reading for the children in your life.

Oh come on - painting is the least I could do for this little cutie.
I had to change this just a bit from the book - I don't want to infringe on copywrite law
I like how little Max is in grey skis as he sails away but the jungle of his imagination is full of blue skies.


This is my favorite monster in the book - I think he is really Max. I love this story and I hope my sweet little Max grows up loving it too!

Bathroom Makeover

We moved into our home on our first anniversary (May 1991). Our home is a lovely Gentleman’s Farmhouse that was built in the late 1800’s. You would think, with a definition of this nature, our home would have been filled with the charm and wonder of yesteryear. Nope. Our house was filled with the tactful décor of “The Chicken Ranch”. We had deep red shag carpet, dark paneling, plastic field stone, and a lovely green and white Eiffel Tower motif throughout the home. To be honest, I had no idea why Tom wanted to buy this place. It took several visits and a vivid imagination before I finally saw the light.

Since that first night we have been in various stages of remodel. When we did our bathroom (the only one in our home) didn’t have any money, four children with a 5th on the way, and so we needed a fast cosmetic fix. A little paint, some 90’s wallpaper and then we settled. We settled year after year putting off a final official make over because it just didn’t seem important. That lack of importance made this room one of the ugliest eyesores I have ever seen in my life.

Today I am happy to announce that we have officially completed our bathroom remodel and in doing so – our house is 100% the way we want it. Assignment: Enjoy these before photos!





We had already taken our sink out. It was a tan colored 'marble' top with 2 sinks and super ugly handles. The vanity was painted green. Very circa 1970 with a twist of 1995.
Tom is an Engineer. Look at his fancy figures. This is how the professionals do it folks.

Bathroom Makeover After

Enjoy these After photos of our bathroom remodel. You may ask, Nancy why didn't you put these all on one post? Why is this set up so silly? That is a valid couple of questions my friend. Very valid indeed. Truth is,my computer wouldn't let me add any additional photos to my last post - I don't know why! So I had to get creative.
I really wanted orange as our color but I was fearful that it would be too much.
Then I wanted a Victorian Pink but Tom said no.
We liked purple. When the sunshines in the morning it is beautiful!
I love my new bathroom. Thank you Tom for working so hard to make this happen.
Hum, nothing left to remodel so now what will we do . . . ?

More Max

A special day: Max gets to meet his Great Grandmom and his Uncle Jake is in town. What a perfect day for a perfect baby.


Assignment: Thank you for letting me be a Nana and show off my little love. He brings me nothing but happiness. Who knew - you just can't until it happens to you.

Max

I could spend HOURS just watching Max. He sleeps a lot but I love to watch his little facial expressions. He is a thinker - genius I am sure. These are some moments from his first night/day of life.

Assignment: Remember the fresh smell of baby's breath and head? If you don't then it has been too long. Find a baby A.S.A.P!

Photo Friday

Welcome Baby Max: Born 5/20/10. He is beautiful and I am in love.

Photo Friday

Derby Party - Wear your hat big or go home!

Book Signing

My dear friends Anne and John invited me to a lecture by author Anne Lamott. It was a school night so I was a bit worried about my family. After all, it isn’t summer yet and we are just climbing out of our winter routine this would be a real norm breaker. An evening event during the week with grown-ups might not be acceptable. I checked with my family members and each said, “I don’t care”. I am sure that came from a deep need to see me happy and NOT complete apathy for what I wanted to do.

My friends Anne and John are super hip, ultra cool people. Plus they are beautiful both inside and out. Theirs is a true love story and one that I cherish deeply. Seriously, they should write a book about it . . . True. Love. Story.

Anyway, Anne Lamott was wonderful. I have only read one of her books, Blue Shoe, but I really connected to what she had to say. She was funny, touching, and when she spoke I could truly relate. Anne, John and I stood in line for a photo and to have her sign books. What a difficult part of the job that must be. Having strangers who know ALL about you come up to you with compliments and praise. I think that might be the hardest part of a book tour. It is hard to take a compliment.

Lamott ended her lecture by telling all the ‘want-a-be’ writers, painters, actors, etc to just start. Stop waiting for the right time to follow that path. She also shared that no one really cares if you do it or not but if you don’t you will regret it forever. That made me happy that I write this little blog. It made me realize that I enjoy jotting down my thoughts. It pleases me and I am happy I am doing it. It is a good outlet for whatever strands of creativity are flowing about my mind. I also think it will be fun for my grandchildren to read someday – so they can really know about me (and their parents!). Maybe they will not just think of me as old . .but will connect that I had a life. That makes me happy too.

On a final note, when I accepted the offer to go to this lecture I scanned my book shelves for the one book I knew I had read by Lamott. When I pulled it out, I noticed that I had left whatever it was I was using for a bookmark at the time, in the book. I love to use little notes and things my family leaves about for my bookmarks. I also like to leave them in the book when I am finished. It is like a hidden treasure of memories just waiting to be found.

This is yet another reason I will never join the Kindle group. I am all for technology but what would Anne Lamott have signed, my keypad? What memory would I have missed by not finding that bookmark?

Assignment: Anne Lamott says you have to do what people tell you to do. She also says if you are creative then you have to express it. So – get busy!

Photo Friday

Me, My friend Anne, and Author Anne Lamott

I need a genie in a bottle

If a genie came to me and asked me for three wishes, I wouldn’t take them. Nope, I don’t need three wishes. Right now I just need one wish granted. I need more time in the day. Yep, more time would mean I could fit in things like family meals, visits to my mom, a healthy workout, a hobby, and full 8-hours of sleep (which studies show is necessity not a luxury). I could fit in time for friends and volunteering.

I know other people do it – all the time –but I can’t seem to get it together. I don’t get home till after 7:00 most night due to work or the kids track meets. I spent 10 hours plus a week on the road. I spent 40 – 50 hours a week working. I have to sleep – studies support that. Oh what to do? What to do?

Maybe if that genie came to me for my three wishes, I won’t ask for time – I would ask for all our financial obligations (past, present, and future) to be met so that I could make time for anything and everything non-work or sleep. I could be a Real Wife of Small West Michigan Rural Community. Just wear fancy denim, learn to farm, and dedicate myself to local efforts. Local efforts that would mean I could ride my bike to meetings (thus getting a workout in at the same time as volunteering).

Hum, well it doesn’t matter because there is no genie, no extended time allotment, nor financial security for people who are not Oprah.

Assignment: If you have a few hours or dollars to spare – give me a call. I have plans for both!

Photo Friday