‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Holiday Tradition I Love

December 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The alarm clock wouldn’t even need to go off, but we would have it set anyway.  My little brother and I would curl up in one bed together, willing the dark to disappear as we waited for 7am to roll around.  This was the moment of magic in our house on Christmas morning – it was when we were FINALLY allowed to wake my parents. During the Christmas holidays, my grandmother would visit, so Josh and I shared a room.  For the 2+ hours until we were allowed to pounce on my parents, pulling them from what was surely much-needed sleep – we would play games of ‘find me’ as we flipped the pages of Richard Scarry’s picture books.

The memories I have are many. The traditions, so important.  And now, we celebrate in our home with my small people, pulling pieces of my childhood and mixing them with Jeff’s.  One of my absolute favorites: Twas the Night Before Christmas.  My dad read it to my brother and I every year we lived at home before we fell asleep on Christmas Eve. And now my small people share that same joy with their daddy….

I suppose if I listed ALL of my favorites, that video would be hours.  :) What are your very favorite holiday traditions?

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The Magic of BELIEF: Thank You Elf on The Shelf

December 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I would be hard pressed to tell you my ONE favorite things about this time of year as the holidays in general are such a magical time, but I have to confess, it isn’t merely the decorations (so lovely!), or the gift-giving (oh my heart, what fun!), or the FOOD (my tummy is delighted), but it is the SPIRIT.

It is seems to be in people’s nature to be more generous.  I can’t get enough of the heart-warming stories.

And the BELIEF… the MAGIC that pervades my home…. I often find myself staring with mouth agape that I am lucky enough to be surrounded by such pure heart.  My small people have never questioned Santa.  In our home, as Catholics, Christmas also has a deeply religious aspect – and they embrace this beautifully as well….taking good care of our Nativity Set and understanding that they get three presents from Mommy and Daddy on Christmas morning just as Jesus did.

But the ‘other’ Magic factor is our Elf, Freddie.

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The Perfect Date

April 8, 2012 by 3 Comments

I had a date Friday night.

This Girl was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.  She had sandy brown hair, with deep, dark brown eyes, and a smile that made me smile.  Really.  She would smile, then I would smile instantly.  I tried to play it cool, but she made me feel like I was a kid again.

We had dinner at my house.  It was Good Friday, so I made a cheese dish with a fruit salad.  It’s not that she’s a vegetarian, but her religion would not allow her to eat meat on the Friday prior to Easter.  I respect a girl who stays true to her upbringing.  So, we feasted on “Quesadilla con Manzanas.”  Que Bueno.

After this scrumptious feast, we drove to St. Louis’ FOX Theater to see the Musical “Bring It On.”  I had one eye on the stage and one on this beautiful angel to my left.  The show was about a High School Cheerleading Squad (if you’ve seen the movie by the same title, then you get the gist of the musical).  The cast was the most talented group of people I’ve ever seen in one location.  For 2 and half hours, they sang, danced, twirled, tumbled and stomped their way into my memory forever.  How are people that talented?  I couldn’t even memorize that much copy, much less sing it, dance and do back handsprings across a stage in perfect synchronization.  And, it was LIVE.  One take.  Fantastic.

During the Intermission, my date and I talked about High School.  She wouldn’t stop asking questions about my High School experience, and I asked her questions about her schooling.  She’s very smart with much to offer to the conversation.  I was thoroughly engaged.  It turns out she’s a very good singer, but is a bit shy in public.  Very cute.

During the 2nd Act, she whispered in my ear that she was very thankful for me taking her to see this show, and even held my hand.  I smiled.  Again.

As we bounced out of the theater singing some of the songs from the night’s performance, we were planning our next date.  It turns out that she’s a baseball fan.

Jackpot!!!

Then, we headed back to her home.  I had the Radio tuned to XM79.  That’s Radio Disney for you non fans.  We sang all the way, well almost all of the way.  As we pulled into her driveway, I noticed that she had fallen asleep.  So, I parked the car, scooped her up in my arms, carried my date inside, tucked her into her bed and kissed her forehead.

Before I left her bedside, I whispered into her ear, “May all your dreams come true Delaney.  Thank you for being my date tonight.  Daddy loves you. Give me an I-L-O-V-E-U-A lot.”

 

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Dear Taylor Swift… A Thank You.

August 30, 2011 by 27 Comments

 

Dear Taylor,

I need to thank you.  Not simply for the gift of your music.  But for the magic wrapped in the moments you gave me on the night of your concert here in St. Louis.  Sure, you are talented….. I never doubted that.  But what I didn’t know was how I would feel as I watched you through the eyes of my sweet girl. I cried at her awe, at the beauty of watching her wide brown eyes, her open-mouth, her sweet up-turned freckled nose.  I knew these were seconds I wouldn’t get back.

She just turned seven.  This was her first concert.  Thank you for knowing and understanding the faith I and hundreds of other moms put in you that night.  Your language was pure.  You walked the line between sassy and mature – never veering into territory that would cause me to cover my girl’s ears.  Thank you for being the kind of role model I can point to with pride…  a talented young woman with spunk and sass….  who’s heart is clearly as beautiful as her face.  Your mom must be so intensely proud of you. Heck, I was proud of you…. and you know how close we are.

 

You know how we experienced you?  Holding hands… drinking lemonade….. singing along to your songs.  She giggled.  She marveled at the stage and the size of the trucks used to move you and your crew from one city to the next..  She asked 724 questions.

She trusted me.

She trusted me to know the songs, to lift her when she needed to be lifted, to hold her as she fell asleep in my lap as you sang your final song.

It was magic.

Thank you.  My Taylor Swift concert experience *might* have been better than hers.

Love,

A Grateful Mom.

 

A special thank you to our friend Karla Shaffer and her daughter, Avery (a good friend from school) for allowing me to use the featured picture of Taylor – they had fantastic seats and their pictures of the night were amazing!


 

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What has most surprised you about Motherhood?

May 5, 2011 by 11 Comments

I must have been 16, maybe 17…. Locked in one of many teen vs. mom battles of wills and I thought to myself “when I have a daughter, I will NEVER treat her like this!!”  cue the heavenly orchestra because really?  I KNEW BEST.

That sentiment was followed by many other variations:

“I will never say that….”

“Because I said so?…. What kind of B.S. is that anyway?”

“I will never make my daughter wear that….”

“Curfew?  What curfew?  I will TRUST my children….”

“My brother has different rules?  I will treat my children the SAME….”

So, it was surprising to me when, the moment my small girl was placed in my arms, the world shifted on its axis.  I always knew I would love her.  But I didn’t know I would LOVE her.  Because no one can really prepare you for what that feels like – the emotion that sweeps your soul – the commitment you make to yourself, to her – in that split second, “I will take care of you, baby….  Even when you fight me.”

And I knew.

I knew that all of those teen angst moments would come back to haunt me.  I will be hard on my children – because I love them.  I will have high expectations for them – because they deserve that.  There are rules.  Because they need them to shape their sense of right and wrong. And no, they don’t like some of them – but you know what?  I can make those rules….  Because I said so.

It surprised me to realize I had this in me.  It surprised me to realize that while I was wrong all that time, I really just didn’t know – how could I?  And you know what?  My kids will feel the same way.  And someday… I imagine, they will be surprised to realize that I too, like my Mom (and Dad) really did know what I was doing…

What has been most surprising to you about Motherhood?

As a side note:  Other things that I have found surprising?

  • When your child is sick or hurting, you can and will tolerate anything – even vomit in you hair.
  • I’m not nearly as patient as I thought I was
  • I can operate on 4 hours of sleep a night.  For a very long time.
  • The love you feel as a parent is fierce.  Like I-will-knock-you-down kind of fierce.  I hope I am never tested.
  • I believe kids are born with a certain personality – and no amount or ‘kind’ of parenting will change that

This Mother’s Day conversation is sponsored by a company I love (and use!) Tiny Prints.  I love that they have given me some beautiful things to think about as Mother’s Day approaches.  All of their Mother’s day cards(and Father’s day cards too!) are fully customizable and can be sent straight to the recipient. You can even schedule the cards to be sent ahead of time too.

 

 

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The Capital One Mascot of the Year is Revealed

January 3, 2011 by 2 Comments

Thrilled.  I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Capital One Mascot Challenge over the course of the past 16 weeks….  This weekend, at the Capital One Bowl Game in Orlando, Florida – the winner was revealed….

Each of the 16 original mascots receives $5,000 for their University’s Mascot Program – the winner – Big Blue –  is given an additional $15,000 towards scholarships.

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I resolve…. to give myself permission to JUST BE….

December 31, 2010 by 9 Comments

All of the chatter around New Year’s Resolutions typically gives me a headache – mainly because I start to feel all panicky, asking myself a series of Danielle -you-must-resolve related questions:

What do I need to change?  What have I done well, but could I do better?  What have I NOT done well and desperately need to adjust? If I decide to make this ever-growing list…..Will I ever LAST?

Typically, I abide by a personal theory – my NEW YEAR is actually on my birthday.  Not on January 1st.  This means, naturally, that I have an extra three weeks to rework, revamp, resolve and refresh.

But instead of stressing about all of this ‘re’ business, I’m resolving to do only one thing:

I’m giving myself permission to JUST BE.

2010 has been amazing.  I would like to reflect on it and absorb its highs and lows without the pressure of deciding what I could have done or should have done *better*.

I have had so much running around in my head – so many goals and wishes and dreams – I keep hearing, ‘go big or go home’, ‘write it down, make it happen’, ‘set your goals for 2011′ and the like…..  and while I agree, I really do….  what I need…. what I want…. is to JUST BE. Just like I am in that picture with Delaney.  I am living completely in that moment.

I want to ponder. To ruminate. I want to reflect on the greatness of the people who inspired me. I want to relish the experiences.  I want to treasure the moments – the little ones and the gigantic ones that shaped this year.  And in order to do that….  you know what I have to do?

I have to JUST BE.

So, in the coming weeks, as my reflections and ruminations morph into plans, I will share….  In the meantime, I would love to know what is inspiring you as we celebrate the beginning of 2011.

I would like to thank the amazing folks at Paper Culture for being a part of one of the most inspiring experiences I had this year.  They were one of two companies to sponsor the Creative Alliance Conference in October- during which I discovered new friends and created alliances that are still shaping who I am today….  That holiday card pictured is the one I created with Paper Culture to send out for ExtraordinaryMommy – and honestly, it makes me excessively happy EVERY time I look at it.

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