Celebrating Life

We've had a very interesting and rather emotional holiday season. To say the least, I'm ready for the new year to begin and life to return to some form of normalcy (yeah, right Melissa!)

On Monday, I had an experience I've never had before. I got to celebrate life in 2 very different forms. My grandmother, Louella Rich, passed away on December 18th and her service was on Monday. It was a sad, joyous celebration of who she was and how she lived her life. It made me sad, sitting in the church that she had been a member of for 50 years, knowing that we'd never get to worship there together - but at the same time, I was happy that she wasn't suffering, she was in Heaven and that she was reconnected with all those the preceded her in death - her husband, parents, close friends and family.

After a beautiful memorial and time to visit with family, Nathan, the girls and I headed to Olympia to meet the newest addition to our family, Lainey Jean Moore. Nathan's brother and his wife celebrated the birth of their second child Monday morning and it was great to come full circle, celebrating new life.

Tagged

Thanks to Darah, I've been tagged and get to share 7 totally random things about myself. This should be interesting...

1. I jumped off a really high cliff, into super cold water, just to impress a guy. I was terrified and totally didn't even check for rocks and other dangerous things.

2. I get sick to my stomach during American Idol try-outs. I can't stand watching all the people, good or bad, trying to earn a spot on the show. I feel like throwing up and have to go in the other room. It's like I get so nervous for the really bad singers, wondering who's been lying to them their whole lives that they actually thought they were good and had a chance.

3. I want to go to culinary school. Not to get a job in the food industry, just to have the mad skills in the kitchen.

4. I sometimes miss my old job. I miss working with students and being in the academic world. I don't miss all the stress, rules

5. I love moving. Some people hate it but I like the thought of a new adventure, something different. I'm glad that I'm married to someone who isn't the "This is where I'm going to live forever" type.

6. I hate being cold. I am cold from September to June and though I love the seasons and the weather, I hate that my fingers and toes are always cold. I go to work and wear my coat the entire time. I hate that I have to wear layers to stay warm. I love it when it's +90 degrees - I don't want that everyday, but I love that I feel warm all the time!

7. My biggest pet-peeve is: people who wear socks with their sandals (Birkenstock's being the only exception and only with select styles!) It drives me totally crazy to see people with socks and Teva's/Keen's/whatever! It makes no sense to me - if you are cold enough to need socks, why wear shoes that don't cover your entire foot????? The ONLY person that I let slide is my brother-in-law, Herb!

Parenting

WARNING: There is a moment of extreme parenting in the following post - please be advised!

Last night, Zoe and I were sitting on the floor playing memory (that child will kick your butt - so you have to pay attention!). Teagan was sitting with us, playing with a toy cell phone and Nathan was laying on the couch and there is a nice, cozy fire in the wood stove. I'm getting all the pieces arranged when I look up and Zoe has the toy phone in her mouth.

"Zoe, that's gross. Get the phone out of your mouth. If I see it in your mouth again, I'm throwing it in the fire."

That was the first thing that popped into my head! She tosses the phone back to Teagan and the game begins. Less than a minute later, Teagan has the phone in her mouth. Being a reasonable mom, I issue the same warning to Teagan, just modified slightly.

"Teagan, what did I just tell Zoe? Get the phone out of your mouth! If I see it in your mouth again, I'll throw it in the garbage!"

Just as drastic but the phone wouldn't be totally destroyed and I could just put it away for awhile. Only problem, Nathan didn't hear me say that, so in his mind it was still going in the fire!

Not more than a minute goes by and as soon as I turn away, Teagan puts the phone right back in her mouth - just to see what we'd do! Nathan gets up, takes the phone from her and throws it into the woodstove! Zoe starts crying and freaking out (why, we still aren't sure, since it wasn't her phone and she wasn't the one who got in trouble. She's bit dramatic that way!). Teagan just sits there with a startled look on her face, realizing that her parents will really do what they say they will.

After things settle down and Zoe isn't sobbing anymore, I ask Teagan, "Are you sad about your phone? You weren't listening and now it is gone."

I kid you not, this is her exact response, "No, I have other phones!"

I look at Nathan, who rolls his eyes as we both realize, Teagan really doesn't seem to care and our big moment of drastic parenting had little effect on our child!

Teagan

I'm at work today when the phone rings - caller ID says it's my mom as John P chimes in "It's for you, Melissa!"

"Yeah?" (my typical response for my mom while I'm at work - it totally bugs her!)
"You're daughter has a question for you - talk to her" as she hands the phone over to Teagan.
"How babies made?"
Geez, thanks Mom! She actually told me she was tired and didn't feel like talking about it! Ummmm, yeah, it's not to hard to tell a 2 year old something about where babies come from!