I'm old...

...at least that is what my 12 year old, Christopher, says. I just turned 33 on Dec. 14th. 33 isn't old is it? When did 33 become old? Oh, yeah, that's right, when I was 12! I don't feel any different. Aren't you supposed to feel different as you age? I feel exactly the same inside that I did at 18...just maybe more tired and out of shape...an definitely smarter. I was a fool at 18. I thought I'd never get older. I'd be young and hot for all the days of my life. See, a fool.

Every year my mom calls me at 11:13 to sing to me the same song she has sung since I was born..."Happy Birthday to you, You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too". Isn't that sweet? I couldn't live without that song though. Then she tells me the story about the day I was born. I'm her only child so I don't have to compete with any other memories of other pregnancies. Hee hee! Every year I learn something new and she always reminds me that I was born 13 days late, the day after Fri. the 13th at 11:13. She tells me about momentarily forgetting she was pregnant and whacking her belly on the washing machine. How she thought she would be pregnant forever. That my dad swore spicy food would make me come out...and it did. And esp. how she thought I was the ugliest thing she ever saw...at least for the first few days. Then I was the most beautiful thing ever. I enjoy every moment of the story every year and I do the same for my kids. They also love to hear about every detail of the beginning of their life and I love reliving it.

This was the first year my dad didn't call to sing me the same song. Even though he died in June I still eyeballed my phone. I knew it wouldn't ring but I wish it had. I miss you dad.

Shhhh, be warry warry quiet.....

Peace and quiet. It's after midnight and I finally have a moment alone. Nothing but the sound of the ice maker and two kittens chasing each other.

Sigh.

A moment alone here is like discovering the walls are made of gold. It's thrilling to say the least. In Ca. they have year round school. Sounds great huh? Weeellllll, there's something they leave out. Four times a year your kids will be out of school for a month. A whole month. My boys get out of school before Christmas as usual and then don't go back til Jan. 22nd. It wouldn't be so bad if they had not just been out of school for two months while we were moving. Their old school had fall break right before we left, then we traveled all over the U.S. from east to west for 3 weeks. Then they had Thanksgiving break after we got here. Those 3 weeks of all 7 of us in hotel rooms....enough said.

See why my time quiet time is so valuable?

My life isn't just about kids. It's just the most time consuming part of it. I have lived a long, interesting 33 years. I've gotten tired of having people say "You should write a book". I should. But what would I say? I've got stories...but the things that have happened to me no one would believe. I wonder who would want to read such a thing. See, it's not so interesting to me. I lived it. But other people think I should have had a nervous breakdown by now. I don't have time for that right now. I'm planning that for when I'm 57. Somewhere between my 57th and 58th birthday...maybe on a tuesday....I'll lose it. I don't have time to write a book. I'm raising boys.

I should write a blog...

Raising five boys is like hearding cats...

I have five boys. Yes five. They are 12, 9, 7, 2 and 2. No, the last two are not twins. I know. See, I got pregnant while I was pregnant. Not really. We adopted the last one. But wouldn't it be a much more interesting blog if I had?

I have lived all over the U.S. but am currently living in southern California. I've been here for about a month and a half. It's really nice here. I'm married to a man. In Ca. you have to make that distinction. Just kidding. He's in the Navy. We also have two cats...yes, also boys. Well, they were boys...

Having five boys is like hearding cats. They have their own minds, sometimes won't budge, and are impossible to get all going in the same direction at the same time. They are right in your face rubbing against you looking cute when you are trying to do something meaningful, like going to the bathroom or posting on your blog. But turn all your attention to them and they turn tail and flit away...to go outside to play or lay in the floor under the TV.

There are times when I want to run. Times I understand these moms who get in the car, go for a drive and are found states away in a hotel ordering room service, curled up in the fetal position with a nervous twitch. But I love them, God help me I do. They make my soul sigh. My heart skips a beat. They save me from myself. I've loved many people but you never truely know what love is til you have a child.