Happy Easter

It wasn't hard to complete my task for today! (See "Looking for the good...") Weather aside, it was a glorious Easter and we had so much fun searching for eggs, eating candy and roaming around town to see all of our family. But since I promised to share with you one happy moment from each day for a week, I'll give you one of the many.


Happy Moment Sunday March 23, 2008


Ben wasn't going to get dressed! It is a battle of the wills that he will gladly fight to the death over and I was completely mourning all of the pictures in his new outfit that I would not have. So I layed out his clothes to get my picture of what might have been.





So cute, right? Well here was Ben's thought on the whole idea...



And this was comical compared to the first hour of struggle. He wouldn't even stand near the pile of clothes for fear that they would jump on his body, wrestle him to the ground and cause a hunch back, lisp and a limp.

But my mother, Mamoo, wouldn't falter. She worked with him. He screamed and foamed at the mouth. But she never gave up - or in! The result? Well, that is my Happy Moment for the day!

Looking for the good...

We're having a hard time adjusting to a two year old's way of thinking and processing the world around him. Everything has turned into an enormous power struggle. Case in point: we will be hunting Easter eggs NOT in our fabulous new Ralph Lauren light blue and white ensemble, but in our old faded dinosaur camo pajamas. He refuses to get dressed. (Editors note: before you all assault me with your "have you tried"...the answer is YES! We have tried it!) It is my ego is bruised. I am the one who wants the adorable pictures of the mop top tot in his Spring time glory, not him! So after a full day of push and pull at a volume NOT suitable for indoor use, Kevin and I head off to bed silent and grumpy.

In an effort to gain some perspective and hopefully have my new, improved attitude rub off on Ben and Kevin, I will blog one magical moment from each day for one week. This will also force me to see the little bits of humor and the marvelous little gifts that Ben gives me every day if I just take the time to notice them.

Happy Moment Saturday March, 22 2008
Ben and I were outside playing this morning and he walked over to the sign our alarm company put in our yard to ward off burgulars. He turned to me and said, "Mommy...do you know what that says?" To which I replied, "What does it say, Ben?" and he said, "It says Keep Out of Reach of Children!"

A little bit of reflection and recap

What a whirlwind week at the Bredemeyer Home! I have experience such highs and lows that I should say...What a bipolar week at the Bredemeyer Home.

Last Saturday we had the opportunity to go out with friends (sans kiddos) for what I now refer to "Limo Lads & Lasses 2008" and what a wonderful time we had! Good food, good wine, good companionship. I think all 16 of us needed it and I am so glad that we did it! Perhaps the story as to what we did and why I have given this outing that name will be revealed at a later date.

Then Monday came...let me tell you folks, I am so with Karen Carpenter when she whines, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down". Still a little groggy from our weekend adventure, Kevin left for jury duty bright and early, confident, that he would wait his turn and be dismissed and head back to the office. Jury duty is frustrating enough because what full time working person really can afford to be out of the office all day Monday! But, recognizing his civic duty, away he went...and got chosen. I wanted to tell everyone all week what Kevin was put through, but couldn't. Now, because it is public record...I can. Kevin was Juror #11 in THE vehicular manslaughter trial that has been going on here. I will spare you all the gory details, but will take the time to 1) ask for prayer for Kevin that he comes to peace and closure with what he had to do and what he had to go through this past week and 2) tell you to BELIEVE NONE OF WHAT YOU READ AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE! Remember that the media no longer provides us solely with information, but now feels like that should entertain and/or horrify us to their own conclusions about any event.

Back to the bipolar swing...on Thursday I had all the girls over for drinks and food and my best friend from college came from Arkansas to visit us for the entire weekend. Our trying week was literally bookened by glorious, quality time with our dearest friends and I have to say that I don't think we would have made it without them! Ben's doing great and had no knowledge of his Daddy's terrible week. Now we are working on our fits and bedtimes and the typical "bipolar" activity that a 2 year old brings to your life, regardless of what kind of week YOU are having.

I hope everyone is well and hopefully later in the week I'll have a little light and humor to pass on!

Adelaide Elizabeth

Our dear friends "Down Under", Scott and Holly just welcomed their first baby! Her name is Adeliade Elizabeth - they will call her Addy. She was born on the 7th weighing 7 lbs 14 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Holly and Addy are doing great and will be home next week. Big kisses and hugs to Tucker Trio!

TGIF

It's Friday and it couldn't come a moment too soon! Here is just a wee bit of happiness to carry with you through your weekend! This clip makes me jump and cheer. Billy Preston appears from a weather vane, Strawberry Fields comes back to life, the Evil Mr. Mustard is changed into a priest, and Heartland is restored forever...some days I wish it were that easy!

Crank up the volume and enjoy!

I Rant...Therefore I Am

2008 is a "voting" year for me...well, it is a "voting" year for most Americans, but as a habitual "non-voter", I have decided to execute my right to vote in every way possible. I voted in the Primary for the first time, will vote in November and am now voting for Brooke White to be the next American Idol! You heard me right, folks! I am now a voting drone perched at the end of my couch, waiting for Brooke's number so that I can call and vote! I have picked who I want to be President and I have picked who I want to be my American Idol! You see, I am new to AI. I never got it. I never enjoyed it. Sure, I loved to watch the auditions of all the William Hung's and Scooter Girls so I could laugh at (not with) all of the AI hopefuls. Then once the real competition started, I was out! It was glorified karaoke perpetuating the problem with the music industry today. No one writing their own songs. No one making the music they want to make. No one with the actual talent to make good music. Just a bunch of twenty somethings who can sing. BORING! But this year - WOW! I am blown away by little Brooke and I am determined to see her kick Kelly Clarkson's A$$ all the way down the red carpet on Grammy night. Move over bacon - here comes someone who is charming, cute and can PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS! Real talent!

That said...let's discuss how much I hate the judges! They all sit up there and talk about what "experts" they are. It is all about how Randy "Dude Dog" Jackson had previously produced that song. Or how Paula "Bat Sh!@ crazy" Abdul choreographed the video, or how Simon "man boobs" Cowell is bored, or predictable, or whatever...and Ryan Seacrest - give me a break! So last night it was all about the 80s and being a child of the 80s, I was a little fired up and then I was bored. Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, blah blah blah...So this really ordinary person (we shall call her Ms. Forgetable who has eyebrows with no arch to them!) gets up ther and sings "Faithfully" by Journey. Oh how I love Steve Perry and all things "Journey". She belts it out, screws up the lyrics and puts this "Country" flair to it. Randy and Paula leap to their feet. "Hurray!" they all shout. Confused, I turn up the volume to make sure I hear what the praise is for. ALL THREE JUDGES begin to praise her for putting this amazing "Country" flair to the song and how Randy Jackson produced the original and how great of a "dog" "Perry" is...and Paula tries to speak, but forgets the English language and Simon is impressed by her "unique" spin on the song and how it would be a "really good idea" for a top hit for Country Music.

Wait! Are these the experts?!?!? "A really good idea!" Come with me people, while I go back in time to 1991 to my Lorie Morgan "Looking for Something in Red" CD...FAITHFULLY - yep..it is one there. Yep...it was a Country Hit! Already been done people!

Simon had the same "really good idea" that Al Gore did when he decided that he invented the internet!

It is official

I might have lost my mind and I have definitely lost my hair. There will be no more hair updates as I have no more hair to cut off! Hopefully I will find what I am searching for in all my new hairstyles!