If You Give a Mom A Nap...(styled after If You Give a Mouse a Cookie)

If you give a mom a nap,

It's likely that she'll think to pop a load of laundry in the washer real quick before laying down.

On the way to the washer, she'll notice that everyone's sheets changing too, so she'll do that lickedy-split.

After replacing the sheets, she will see that Dad apparently doesn't know how to fold towels and have to re-do them.

Once the towels are folded, Mom will decide she wants a glass of water before laying down for her much-needed nap.

In the kitchen, she will see that they are out of eggs and start a grocery list.

As she's sorting through the pantry to see what else is needed, she will start to clean out the back of the pantry.

An hour later, after she's thrown all the expired goods away, she'll think to haul the trash outside.

On the way, she will switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer.

And when she gets outside to put the trash bag into the bin, the kids will be getting off the bus.

Sorry, Mom, no nap for you today.

This post was written using MamaKat's Writing Prompts.

They Didn't Call

Part of our agreement in adopting Mac was that a certain set of his biorelatives would have visits with him four times a year.

I don't really blog about it because it's his and their time, not mine, even though we're all there and I have to answer the same 5 questions for 4 straight hours. But I won't go there. I work very hard not to speak ill of these people, because really they are fairly nice.

They were scheduled to have a visit with Mac in January. Typically, they call about 2 weeks before Visit Month and we set up a date and location for the visit. We've done everything from the zoo to the movies, museums to play parks.

Typically, I get a call for Christmas. They want to talk to "The Baby." I have to remind them that Mac is no longer a baby, but I think they just don't want to use the name we gave him. And typically we get a call for his birthday, having just passed as you know.
And the visit is in-between where they inundate him with old toys he's either too young or too old for and clothes that fit last year. But they mean very well and really do love him. They are very sweet and also usually bring SB a little gift as well.

But they didn't call. No phone calls or cards. No scheduled visit. Nothing. Now, these people are elderly. I've checked the obituaries, I hate to say. Nothing.

I know what you're saying - we could call them, but Marshall and I firmly feel that if they want to see him, they will call. It's not up to us to schedule their visits. We send cards and pictures at appropriate times (Christmas, his birthday, and after visits so they have pics from the visit.).

Did they give up on my son? As much as Marshall and I dread the visits, we think it's the best thing for Mac so we support them happening. They haven't missed one yet. I'm shocked.
I'm happy for me - we don't dislike these people, but we don't trust them with an inch.
But I am so very sad for my son. Why didn't they call? Did the last people from his biological family who cared give up? If they're sick or if they've died, would someone tell us?

Being part of a forced open adoption is a strange thing. It's all so unknown.
I think I will send a card to them with Mac's birthday pics in it... maybe we'll get something back. Even if it's bad news.

Mom, Where Are My Shoes?

Before school one day last week, SB came to me very upset.
"Mom. I can't find my boots," she huffed, tears welling up in her eyes.
I, sympathetic as always, say, "You wore them yesterday. Where did you take them off?"
Now we have tear spillage. "I don't know!"

In our house, shoes go into the Shoe Bin. All the shoes are supposed to go off of feet and into bin. I try to keep everything organized by bin, but SB has lately taken to keeping her shoes in her room because two small shoes can be easily lost in a bin with 41 other shoes (yes, 41, because there's always a shoe missing).

"Are they in your room?"
"No," she assures me. "I looked there."
So we check the living room. No boots.
We look in the kitchen - entry way to our house - and no boots.
We look in the dining room, play room and her brother's room and no boots.

Finally I go back to her room.
And sitting on the floor, square in the middle of the floor, are those darn boots.

Seriously? Seriously?
"SB! I thought you said you looked in your room!"
She runs to her room and proclaims, "I did! They're not here!"
Then she sees the boots. In the middle of the floor. Where, I can only assume, she put them the night before so as not to lose them.
"Oh," she says, "How did they get there?"

Sometimes, I think she does this just to mess with me.

I remember so many times not being able to find things right under my nose. My mom was an expert finder, too.

Four Years Ago...

Four years ago, this was a regular old day for me. But it was the day my son was born.
I've said before that knowing NOTHING about his birth has made me sad. I had no idea what was happening, I had no idea that a precious little boy was being born who would need us and would come into our lives like a whirlwind. I even checked my calendar after he did come home - and there was nothing on my calendar for that day.
It does make me sad. Many adoptive families were there when their child was born...or at least knew about it. No such luck for us. Now, if you ask me about the day he came home. That day gives me the warm fuzzies. That is the day I want to celebrate having a son.
But this day is the day my son was born. I am eternally grateful that his biological parents chose life for this precious child. I am eternally grateful that God chose us to be his family.

Mac is the most amazing child. He's all boy. He loves cars and Cars. And trains. And anything with wheels. He is LOUD and a ball of energy. He's mischievous and a daredevil. I don't get him, but I am so glad I got him. He's my baby. And he's four years old today.

Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful child!

I've Been Tagged, Come On, It' Fun!

Let’s play tag!

 

Yay! I was tagged by Sarah at The Mama Pirate Go check out her answers too, she is awesome!

Here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself in the blog post

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people & link them on your post. (or as many as you like)

5. Let them know you’ve tagged them.

12 Facts all about me!

1.      I am scared to death of clowns.
2.      My favorite animal is the elephant.
3.      I enrolled my children in preschool not to enrich their education or to socialize them, but to get them out of my hair.
4.      Adoption is the coolest and also saddest thing ever.
5.      I’m a junk-food addict and I hate fruit except for apples (red only) and the occasional grape (also red/purple only).
6.      I cried when my husband moved “his” stuff into “our” house when we got married. I was ready for him, just not all his junk.
7.      I could drink milk all day, every day. It’s my beverage of choice besides sweet tea.
8.      I don’t like cheese, despite my love of dairy. But I will eat pizza and cheez-its like they’re going out of style. But just cheese, lasagna, or grilled cheese? GROSS!
9.      I will do anything myself to save a few dollars. Unless it’s a household chore of some type. Then I say pay someone to do it!
10.  My favorite colors are purple and orange and I think Clemson might have had something to do with that.
11.  I have completed 2 novels and am almost done with a 3^rd. Now if only I had a publisher…
12.  If I could, I would throw away every toy in my house. Not because I’m a mean mommy, just because I’m so tired of the clutter.

Sarah’s questions to me:

1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Cookies & cream

2. Do you have any tattoos? How many and what of? Been inked 5 times into 3 tattoos – First was my heart-shaped music note (age 20). Loved it. Then had the not-so-bright idea to add a fairy sprinkling fairy dust over said music note (age 21). Except it turned out as Bart Simpson in Tinkerbelle’s dress and my “sprinkling” turned into a “waterfall.” Then I had it touched up so Bart became a little more feminine (age 22). My cousin and I got matching 4-leaf clovers between our shoulder blades, and that means a lot to me (age 26). Then while fighting to keep our son I got snowflakes on my calf to represent our family (age 29). I’m itching for more! They’re addictive!

3. What was your first pet? Mine personally? My long-haired Chihuahua Marcel. He’s almost 13 now!

4. Favorite day of the week? Tuesday. Always has been.

5. Least favorite chore? Any of them that involve cleaning or washing.

6. What inspired your blog name? It started out as Mommy’s Scoop, but evolved into my being “A Few Sprinkles Short of a Sundae.”

7. How do you unwind at the end of the day? Reading

8. If you were going to be reincarnated as an animal, what would you want to come back as? I don’t believe in reincarnation, so I would say nothing.

9. What is your favorite site to get the news from? Facebook!

10. What was the last place you went on vacation? Disney World – last week!

11. What is your favorite holiday? Saint Patrick’s day!

12. What is the first thing you do when you get online? (check you e-mail, read blogs, get on Facebook, etc.) Facebook!

My Questions:

1.      Who inspires you and why?
2.      Do you prefer skill games (Risk), chance games (Life), trivia games (Trivial Pursuit) or wordy games (Scrabble)?
3.      Do you take a daily vitamin? Do you think you should?
4.      What are your strange habits?
5.      Do you like your name? Why or why not?
6.      If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
7.      Oreos – regular or double stuf?
8.      Tell me about your pets.
9.      Do you want (more) children?
10.  Who is your favorite TV character and why?
11.  What piece of technology can’t you live without (phone, ipad, laptop, etc)?
12.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

OK, tagging a few people:

Amy at Blessed

Embracing theCraziness

Empty Womb, HopefulHeart

Jess Clark

Mommy’s Crutch

The Beholder of Beauty

and anyone else who wants to jump in! Let me know your answers!