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Young at Heart

This is a copy of a post from my other blog. Michelle suggested I post it here, too. Enjoy!

Came upon this photo, and it made me smile; not just because Caden is so sweet, but because of my mom's expression. She's the epitomy of "young at heart," bringing a joyful enthusisasm to every celebration, finding fun in mundane things, and always ready with a song.

For many years, on my birthday, Mom calls my house and leaves a message on the answering machine, singing "Happy Birthday" to me. (I think she just did it one time, out of the blue because I missed her call, but I loved it so much, she's done it every year since.) I absolutely love it; it's so sweet and makes my birthday truly special. My "big day" is never complete until I listen to my song.

I dread the birthdays after Mom is gone, so that's why I asked her to let me record her singing to me (cuz I'm just that morbid!) Mom cheerfully agreed!

Before you hear the result, I have to give you a little background. Believe it or not, when I was a little girl, I was a real chatterbox! By the age of 5, my dad had affectionately nicknamed me "Barbara Jean, The Talking Machine." So, here's my song: Happy Birthday to Me!

Now you know another reason why my mom is so special and deserves a happy Mother's Day!

If you lost your mom this year (or before), my heart especially goes out to you this Mother's Day, and you are in my prayers...

P.S. Here's an outake of the song, if you need to laugh. Our Cooper (dog) kept whining while Mom was singing, and it was cracking Mom up to see me giving him stern looks and getting so irritated with him.

Testing....

Hey there, Family. If you have a feed to this long-forgotten site and see these photos today, I challenge you to ignore them (too cute, hey?!) This is just a test for a friend...

10 Things You Might Not Know About Michelle

1. A short-term (or long-term) goal I have... To help Tom buy an old truck this fall so he can find his passion again. For myself, to start exercising consistently.

2. If I won a million dollars in the lottery... Well, I would buy that old truck I just referenced, and Tom would have an awesome shop. I would share some $ with family members, and would put an addition on my house for Mom to live in. Would buy her a chauffer/personal assistant/maid. Would travel a lot with Tom and the boys. And most definately would have a masseuse come to my home a few times a week for the rest of my life.

3. A hidden talent I have (or talent I wish I had).... Like Dennis, I also hide my singing talent. I would love to record an album with my sisters if it meant that we would never have to perform in public for anyone. I sing all the time in my house, so If I could record an album in my bathroom that would be even better. A talent I wish I had is flower gardening... wish I had a green thumb like Mom and Mary.

4. If I could have any job in the world... In fantasy land, I would be a stay at home mom and while the boys are in school I would donate time to different charities and organizations. In real world, where there are bills to pay, I would work for myself (out of my home) doing something that taps into my creative, motivated side.

5. A hobby I have... Boy, pretty sad that I have to stop and think about this one. I like surfing the internet in my spare time, but no hobby I'm really passionate about. Used to be volleyball but my back is so horrible I can't play anymore. One of my favorite things to do is play board games with Tom and the boys (and Grandma Caldie).

6. A crime I once commited....Okay, so everyone else confessed something from their childhood because they could blame it on being young. I will confess an adult crime because I am brave. I am ALWAYS the first one to run back into the store to tell them they forgot to charge me something. I really believe what goes around comes around. So I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for the stuff to come back around!! Like WHEN is someone going to just give me something extra for nothing because I am so darned nice? Never happens. So, when I was at Walmart last week being checked out by a nimrod, I figured it was finally MY time. I spent 10,000 years in her line because she messed up my order soooo bad. She literally put my cough medicine ON and then OFF the receipt 4 TIMES! So, you know what, when I noticed she accidentally took my tampons off the order, I didn't say a THING. I figured it was my payment for sitting there through the entire torture with a pleasant smile on my face saying "it's okay" in response to her apologies. And on top of that, they are TAMPONS... I should get some type of reward 1 little day in my life for having to wear them 1,543,644 OTHER days of my life.

7. Something I've always wondered about.... Why do dog's feet smell like Fritos? Or should I say what goes into Fritos that makes them smell like dog's feet?

8. I wish (or pray).... For Mom, for her to continue to have as much freedom as possible so she can be the wonderful goofball that she is. For my boys to find something in life they are passionate about (and I don't mean Legos or Star Wars).

9. A compliment for someone in the family... Mary - I admire your professional accomplishments and your marriage. I like how you each do your own things (Roger has all his toys, you have your clothes... haha). You seem so comfortable with each other and I sense a lot of mutual respect in your relationship. And you are so helpful with Mom.... thank you.

10. Miscellaneous (you choose the topic)... The best things in life aren't things. I always say, when you die, people will not stand at your funeral and say "she was such a good house cleaner.... his lawn was so perfect... he was so great at golf... his house was so big...she was so thin". What they will say (and cherish) is what a good parent you were, what a good sense of humor you had, what a good person you were. They will remember what you gave them EMOTIONALLY long before they recall the PHYSICAL possessions you gave them.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me (from Barb)

1. A short-term (or long-term) goal I have...I'd like to write a book or make some money with a creative idea...when it comes!
2. If I won a million dollars in the lottery...I'd pursue #1 and take a bi-annual trip to Hawaii.
3. A hidden talent I have (or talent I wish I had)....I wish I could finish one task before starting another, instead of having 20 things going on at once!
4. If I could have any job in the world...it would be helping Oprah choose her "favorite things." That would be part-time, of course. The rest of the time, I'd help her screen books for her Book Club.
5. A hobby I have...writing (Kyle would add "nagging," but with a smile).
6. A crime I once commited....shoplifting (and getting caught) twice in one summer, when I was about 13 years old. Like Dad said, it was all “that Terri Allen’s fault! JK” Lucky for me, the cop in the 2nd case said, “You know…if this happens again, it will go on your permanent record.” That was all I needed to hear to scare me straight; I never stole again. (I’m grateful for his lie.)
7. Something I've always wondered about....why a person would eat pickled pigs' feet.
8. I wish (or pray)....I wish that my commute to work was about 15 minutes shorter!
9. A compliment for someone in the family...Tracey, I think you’re a great cook with an equally great sense of humor, and I admire your laid-back attitude. 
10. Miscellaneous (you choose the topic) I sure am glad that the grandkids stop in and visit Mom. I know she loves it.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Dennis

1. A short-term (or long-term) goal I have...Short term is to buy a business that Tracey and I enjoy and can run together. Long term is to retire comfortably but not too early as to not have any fun getting there. Bike trips and traveling to away Packer games are just too much fun.
2. If I won a million dollars in the lottery...
Buy a business and pay someone else to manage it. Buy another motorcycle and retire early. That only leaves about $200,000 after I buy a business and pay the taxes on a million. Maybe retirement is not an option!
3. A hidden talent I have (or talent I wish I had)....
When I asked Lauren what my best hidden talent was she immediately answered farting! I said that is not hidden! Actually Mom says it is singing. I think I am a good singer but I am too shy to share it in public. Don't we all think were good singers?
4. If I could have any job in the world...
Chauffeur for someone famous like the president or military chief of staff.
5. A hobby I have...
Golfing and riding my motorcycle. What else is there?
6. A crime I once committed....
At the park one day someone was starting a fight with me. I was maybe 10 years old. Anyway he was on the other side of the teeter totter standing there and his end was down. I reached up and yanked my side down and it caught him right under the chin. I think I busted his jaw. I will never know because I stayed away from the park for a long time. We did not know each other, so I never got caught.
7. Something I've always wondered about....
Why do we need insurance? Lets just go back to when there was no such thing and just relied on friends and family to help in times of need(unemployment) or misfortune(house fire or flood).
8. I wish ....
That I had the wisdom and understanding when I was younger that I do today of what it took for Mom and Dad to raise 9 awesome kids.
9. A compliment for someone in the family...
I just said it in number 8.
10. Miscellaneous (you choose the topic)
Does anyone really know what time it is in their life?