Mr. Six

Dear Drew,

Today you are six. I know it's a cliche, but it feels like it was just yesterday that I walked waddled into the Hospital to deliver you. I remember that I had no idea what to expect and I was so nervous. I still didn't know what to expect when I held you for the first time. The only thing I knew was that I loved you. I would sing to you and hold you and get teary eyed because I loved you so much. You were and are my sweet little boy.

Now that you are six, your tastes have matured so much. You love science and building things and nature. You amaze me with your intricate buildings, and your scientific reasoning. Your favorite show is Mythbusters, and you remember every detail of every experiment they complete. Even though you love Mythbusters and science shows, you will watch Fireman Sam with your brother because you love him, and maybe because it is a little funny. You will often spend a lot of time going crazy and running around, that is when you are not putting your Daddy or your Nana and Papa to task for cleaning (you are the best supervisor).

Sometimes you get so frustrated, and I see so much of me in you at those times. Try not to let that anger get the best of you.

Sometimes you get a little nervous around other children, I also see so much of me in you at those times too. Don't worry, they will like you. Your best friends are your cousins, "T" and of course, your little brother, Jacob. Jacob loves you and looks up to you so much, thank you for being such a good role model for him.

Thank you for being my cuddle buddy, my silly boy who always has a smile for me, and who can charm even the grumpiest soul. We love to bake cookies, read Shel Silverstein and Harry Potter, and watch movies together. Even when we argue, you always tell me that you love me. I am so lucky, such a lucky Mama. I hope we are always close.

Love, Mommy

Signs I May Need a Vacation

I am literally the busiest I have been in my life. Between a crazy-overwhelming workload and taking care of a Kindergartner who spends more time being shuttled from place to place than attending school, a Preschooler who goes to a different school, and a neurotic puppy that needs attention all the time, I am stretched thinner than a rubber band. I've tried to remain calm, stoic, but I have no outlet to vent my stress. Recently I have noticed that my lack of relaxation is starting to take its toll on me.  I've started exhibiting odd behaviors:

I went to go get supplies for work, and drove halfway home without thinking about it.

I dialed 9 to get an outside line.... calling my Mom from my home phone.

I sometimes aimlessly wander into the kitchen at work, and wonder why I got there (it usually has to do with going to the printing room).

I've totally started to talk to myself.

I only really want to watch one show right now: "How I Met your Mother", because there are no stressful situations in the show.

I sent an envelope, a bill and NO CHECK to my childcare.

Seriously, I am in need of some palm trees, warm beaches and Corona, stat. Who's with me? And better yet, if you're with me, are you paying?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

The Winner of the $15 Target or Starbucks giftcard is....

 Cristin!

 The winner of my awesome mix CD is....

Kat B.!

Thank you to all who participated and who visited my blog!

Construction Zone

I like to call this "art installation".

Building 2

Improvising with Christmas tree decorations

Building the tallest tower

What once was  packaging for glass bowls now is a boat.

Most of the mess in our house is Drew construction related, but I let him keep making things, and keep all of the recycling/trash around for him to build with. He amazes me with his ideas, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.


Besides, one day I'm hoping he builds me a house. Hey,  a girl can dream, can't she?



The Most Important Resolution

I really enjoyed spending time with my boys this weekend. I loved the pirate fort, the sledding trip and the cuddle time.I loved it so much that I realized something important this weekend. I feel like sometimes I am so wrapped up in myself: my stress, my job, my obligations, that I miss out on things with my children. I often miss out on the ability to enjoy my life and can only concentrate on trudging through.

I'm not sure how to resolve this, but I am hoping that I can spend more time enjoying my family and less time in my head, worrying. I have the best family, and wonderful children. I need to savor every moment when they are this age. I need to be present for this time. Yes, they are crazy and they run and yell and cry a lot, but they will only be this age right now, and I want to savor every giggle, eyelash, hug and kiss, silly story, fight, and tantrum. How could I miss moments like this, drowning in my own thoughts?

There will always be stress in my life, but one day the boys won't always be little, and I will never get these moments back. I resolve to live in the present with my family. To get out of my thoughts and live in the now. It's the most important resolution I can make. I love my guys.

Number Four Hundred

photo © 2010 computationally.intractable | more info (via: Wylio)

So 4 years(ish) and 400 posts later, I am still doing this crazy thing called blog. To think that I just started this on a lark. Since I have started I have had 2 additions to our family, well 3 if you count Sharky. Does a fish count? I am not sure.

To celebrate, I am having a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a $15.00 giftcard to either Starbucks or Target (your choice, my thought is that everyone has either a Starbucks or Target near them), and one even luckier runner up will win a homemade mixed CD* (valued at OVER 15$, of course).**

To enter, you must look at the mixes I have made and pick out the one you want to win, and leave me a comment letting me know which one you want by Month and Year.

For additional entries you can:

-Follow The Bee Chronicles on google friend connect
-Follow me on Twitter (please give me your username)
-Follow me on Networked blogs (please give me your Facebook name)
-Tweet about this this giveaway on twitter (please include the url of the post)
Example: 400th Post #giveaway -Enter to win a $15.00 Target or Starbucks Giftcard from @Jannabee  http://bit.ly/hOA0xt
-Follow my (not new but improved) Giveaway Blog on Google friend connect

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
June 2010 (Drew and Jacob's Playlist)
November 2010
December Best of 2010 

Or you can have a custom playlist- just let me know what type of music you would like on it.

Giveaway ends on  January 16th @ 12am EST, at which time I will use random.org to designate a winner.

*Disclosure: I pay for the music that is on the CD for the winner myself. **Disclosure: I am paying for the giftcard and making the playlist myself, of purchased music specifically for the winner. I have not received any compensation for this post.

2010 Recap

I lifted this off of Mommy Melee, who got it from Linda from All & Sundry for the inspiration.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?


I raised a puppy. The first time I have owned a puppy, and it was very challenging. There is definitely a steep learning curve. In some ways, a baby was easier! I donated my hair, which I have wanted to do forever. I also finally ran (okay jog-walked, mostly jogged though) a 5k.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't really make any resolutions, although the 5k and the donating hair were on my bucket list, so I am proud of that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, people close to me are also pregnant. I am very happy for the new Mommy and Mommies-to-be. I'm also happy to NOT include myself in this.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully, although a lot of distant friends' parents died, which just freaked me out. I don't know what I would do without my parents.

5. What countries did you visit?

USA only. I wish I had traveled. I would have liked to visit Italy this year....

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

LESS STRESS. Much less stress. More dates with my husband. More time with friends, and more traveling!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 5th- I picked my Puppy up from the airport. Pretty exciting and nerve wracking for me.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Definitely my 5k and donating my hair. I wish I could say more. I got another child out of diapers! Oh yeah, I navigated selling on craigslist, which was nerve wracking for me, and we began to turn our basement from baby storage into playroom/wrappingroom/workshoproom.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Easy. I stopped working out and eating healthy (again- STRESS). Too much drinking. Too much Internet shopping.

I also think I could've been a better Mother/Pet Owner. I had a short fuse this year which I am not proud of (again STRESS related).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not me, but my poor baby broke his foot!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My window curtains for my floor to ceiling window. Seriously, I am that boring. I was just telling my husband how I love them. This is our first year with them, until now we had no privacy and drafty windows. Yay for the kids getting older (the first year we could even attempt this with Jacob.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Our family has been pretty whiny and stressed out this year. This is a weird question. I'm sure at some point I've been proud and disappointed in everyone this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Ugh... this is so easy, and yet I plead the 5th (STRESS).

14. Where did most of your money go?

Medical bills, CHILDCARE.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Lollapalooza, and then I decided not to go. Next year, I hope!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

F*** you, by Cee-Lo.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Oh how I wish I had worked out more. I was so busy with the puppy, it made it almost impossible. Still, I should have done it.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stress out. There is a continuing theme here!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I spent it with my family, who chose to sleep in until 8:45am on CHRISTMAS DAY! What?!? I was up at 8am.

We high-tailed it to my parents after the Santa Gifts and our family gifts were opened where we opened more presents and I gorged myself on my Mom's awesome cooking (cheesy potatoes, fillet, apple pie). I made myself absolutely sick. Then we came home and put the kids to bed, and I watched Eat, Pray, Love and put together/cleaned up toys. It was about then that I realized I took no pictures of Christmas.

The children loved everything they were given and loved opening presents, even ones that were not theirs. I loved that they had such joy surrounding the Holiday, although I will try and keep pushing the meaning of the Holiday as one that is about family, not presents.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

Towards the end of the year, I fell in love with blogging again. I also fell in love with our puppy.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Community
Modern Family
The Office
Vampire Diaries
True Blood

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nope. No new grudges, just my old existing ones.

24. What was the best book you read?

Can I say the Hunger Games Trilogy? I ate that up, and it haunted me afterwards.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs... I'm sad I saw Tool instead of them at Lolla two years ago.

26. What did you want and get?

A netbook.

27. What did you want and not get?

A new kitchen.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Inception.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

This is funny. I took the day off and went out to lunch and a movie by myself. I know it sounds weird, but I had such a wonderful time. It was so peaceful. Then I went out with the kids and my parents and Mr. B to an Italian restaurant. 31.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Change. I need a change!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Summer: Flip flops. Winter: Cardigans and my rainbow scarf. I dress to impress. Jeans everyday.

32. What kept you sane?

Family. My sister and SIL chats and IMs. Long walks. Days off by myself. MUSIC. Date nights with Mr. B. Dinner and movie nights with my friends. Cuddling with the boys. Vacations with my family.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I just love James McAvoy and I miss him in movies! When is his next one coming out?

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

There is a lot that stirred me. Let's just say I am not happy being a Red state.

35. Who did you miss?

I miss my friends who have moved away. I miss them terribly- Kristy, Emily, Laura especially.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I don't have any new person that I have met specifically, but I enjoyed getting to know/getting closer to my sister in law this year.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming....

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Change your heart, look around you
Change your heart, it will astound you