A Special Mother's Day

I woke up on Mother's Day feeling like I hadn't slept a wink.  An early morning visitor who tossed and turned in bed with me for an hour left me groggy as I crawled out of bed on Sunday morning, and prepared the nebulizer for my congested little boy.  This, I thought, is what being a mother is all about!

When I picked Bradley up from church (don't worry, he wasn't contagious or running a fever!) I was treated to a homemade card and a picture with his hand prints- treasures I will keep forever.  When we walked into the house after church, we were greeted by a spread of quesadillas, guacamole, pico de gallo, 2 kinds of beans, rice, and chips, compliments of Chef Laura.  My sweet sis even made me my own special vegetarian quesadilla because let's face it folks- if it ain't a greasy McDonald's cheeseburger, I'm just saying NO to meat.

My home made picture B made at church this past Wednesday night

Me and My Little Angel on Mother's Day

 After we all ate way too much, the moms opened their presents.  Laura and I got mom a deluxe size of her favorite Bare Minerals makeup, and a brand new coffee maker with a built in grinder.  Everyone in my family drinks coffee, and yet we continue to use a cheapo coffee maker that spills every time you pour from the pot, and a broken coffee grinder that you have to stick a knife in to get the grinder to work.  Both were extremely ghetto.  We decided that a new and improved coffee maker was long overdue.

 I got a homemade card from Bradley, along with a refridgerator magnet with his picture on it that he made at daycare, and my first-ever Tervis Tumbler.  I was very excited to take this baby to work today and sip water all day with the worry-free, no-sweat cup.  Mom told me that at the store, they had several different kinds of Tervis Tumblers, and that Bradley really wanted to buy me a Toy Story cup, but she convinced him to get one that I would like... so he chose the Kentucky one.

Super excited about my Tervis Tumbler- how have I made it this long without one?!

 The best gift I received was a paper that Bradley answered all about me at daycare.  I laughed reading every answer with his perceptions of his mom.  Some favorite answers of mine:

• I think my mom is 58 years old.
• I think my mom weighs 40 pounds.
• When my mom grows up she wants to be a real princess.
• My mom wears a size high heel shoe.
• My mom's favorite color is purple.  (Clearly I have not bombarded him with enough pink, so I'll have to remedy that!

Roses from a special guy, delivered on Sunday morning

 Another gift I received was a drawing of me and Bradley taken from a picture.  At first glance, I thought it looked like my mom with Bradley.  Apparently at first glance, Bradley thought the same thing!!!  I guess I must just look really old, which explains the jowells on this drawing, and explains why Bradley thinks I am 58 years old.

The inspiration for the drawing

I made Snapfish cards this year, and nearly had a panick attack when they didn't come until Saturday's mail!  I made one card for mom from Bradley, and then Laura and I went in together and created one that said "Our favorite things about our mom," on the front, where we proceeded to list some serious (how she takes up fiercely for those she loves), but mostly funny (how she exaggerates everything... her elastic waistband pants... how she mixes up phrases) reasons why we love Mama B.  She laughed; she cried; it was better than Cats.

After the lunch settled, we enjoyed chocolate ganoche cake and strawberry shortcake for lunch, and had an all-around nice afternoon together despite the gloomy rainy weather.

Finally, a picture with all the Moms and Moms-to-Be on Mother's Day...

That's right- all of the Bradley women are mothers... Laura Lee is expecting a baby this October!  Congrats to Laura and George, Happy Mother's Day to my amazing mom, and happy first Mother's Day to my beautiful sister!  Being a mom is the best/hardest job in the world, and I'm thankful I am so close (both literally & figuratively) to my mom and sister as she begins this journey as a mom, too.

B-Hind: age 3 3/4

Catching up on some random pictures from the past few months, this is Bradley at age 3 3/4.

Darth Vader Obsessed

Blowing Bubbles... remember when you were a kid...?

Franklin Main Street Festival with Grandma & Papa

His first-ever play at the Nashville Children's Theatre:  "Click Clack Moo"

The Green Lantern mask McDonald's toy from the fateful Cheeseburger day

Watching a book on the computer at the library

Swinging in the back yard

3 Goggles Up!

Riding a horse and blowing kisses at the Franklin Main Street Fesitval

Blowing dandelions

Drawing a picture of his family

Trying on his hat different ways- this was my favorite

Hawaiian shaved ice at the Franklin Main Street Festival

Making a silly face

B-hind: age 3 1/2

In a few weeks Bradley will be four.  I started going through pictures on my iPhone last night and found so many that I've had intentions of doing something with but had neglected. There are too many to leave out, so this is the recap in pictures of 3 1/2 years old aka January through March in iPhone pictures.

He loves to try on mommy's shoes

One not so summery day, Bradley decided he was ready for the pool- swimmy diaper and everything!

Naptime... with mittens

Funny face in the bathtub

This is how he fell asleep in the car on our way home from Casey Michael's birthday party

Sitting in my "Amanda" Tell City rocking chair

Typical Bradley: chalk all over his face and holding a bug on his arm

Holding up his Darth Vader sucker he got from Grandma Ann

Mike the Knight outfit- a Valentine's present

The Amazing Spiderman

See how he fits into his toy bin?

Playing at Pinkerton Park

Confession Time: My Love for Fast Food, Part Two

Confession Time: My Love for Fast Food, Part 2:

So I took Bradley's to Mickey D's.  It was a long drive from the church to the McDonald's.  First I had the internal struggle.  Do I go?  If I do, will I actually get a salad?  But I never get to take him to McDonald's, and he really, really wants a Green Lantern toy that they're giving away in the Happy Meals.  No one will ever know.

That little white lie is what I told myself!

So I told Bradley where we were going for lunch.  No going back now!  I pulled into the parking lot, filled with guilty anticipation.  We walked into the place, and up to the counter.  It's now or never.  Do I or don't I?  Bradley's too little to rat me out, and it wasn't likely that I would see anyone I knew.  So quickly, hastily, I committed to my sin.  I ordered a cheeseburger.

I got B situated first and then I salivated unwrapping that intoxicating quasi-beef patty.  Suddenly I felt as though I could feel the people around me judging me.  It was like they knew I was about to cave.  But I couldn't help myself.  At that moment, I made the decision that if eating a cheeseburger was wrong, then I didn't want to be right!  I even reasoned with myself, of all the ways you could be cracking under pressure and eating meat, is this REALLY the time and place you want to do it?  Again, yes, I told myself that no one would ever find out.  I could haughtily stare down everyone else's beef the next time I was confronted with it, and they would never know my dirty little lie.

Let me tell you, imagined judging stares from McDonald's strangers or not, that cheeseburger was delicious and I inhaled it!  It complimented perfectly the sweetness of the ketchup with the saltiness of the fries.  And to wash it all down with a fountain drink was the icing on the Coke.  Each savory bite of the fried beef, tiny onions, and slightly stale bun was a piece of heaven.  Oh, how I have missed you my longtime friend, I thought, as I guiltily savored every morsel.

I moved our tray into the play area so I could finish my fries while B played on the playground.  It was apparent to me that he was not going to finish his hamburger.  That burger was staring at me, begging not to go to waste.  So what did I do?  Well of course I finished it for him!  I was like a drug addict going back for more crack.  The burger was before me and I simply could not resist.  Each bite was filled with both satisfaction and guilt.  Everything I've stood for these past several months was out the window right now, as I ate my not-really-meat, genetically modified corn, antibiotic-filled slab of fake meat and cheese on a bun.

Later, when the inevitable question came up as to what I had at McDonald's, I was like George Washington.  I could not tell a lie, and the confession came pouring out of me.  I was so ashamed, and disgusted with the antithesis of organic food that I had just willingly put into my body.  And yet I was so strangely satiated and satisfied as well.

Epilogue:  Since that dark day, I am back on the wagon, and but I suppose this is an addiction with which I'll always struggle.  At least they say knowing's half the battle.

Dad turns groovy 60

Today Dad turned 60.  Mom planned a surprise party for him, and has been trying all week (unsuccessfully) to get him out of the house so she could prepare for it.  Finally today, George came through and took dad golfing for his birthday.  Mom faked a dentist appointment so she could stay home, so dad started his day off with bacon and biscuits for breakfast.  Despite the fact that it was an unlucky Friday the 13th, the guys had great golfing weather, and as soon as they were finished and pulling up to the house, my uncle Russell, Aunt Vicky, and Aunt Peggy pulled up at the same time.  It couldn't have timed out more perfectly.  Dad was surprised to see his brother and sister, and we have had a night filled with laughter, telling stories, grilling hamburgers, and enjoying 3 different kinds of homemade ice cream (Vanilla, Butter Pecan, and Strawberry frozen yogurt).  Family friends Tim, Sandy, and Jackson were here too, so we pulled the kitchen table into the dining room, and had a nice intimate dinner party.

Jackson & Bradley playing together

Dad sampling all 3 kinds of ice cream

The birthday boy

A National Championship UK shirt is on its way

B loves his Uncle George

The whole gang

Brothers and Sister... & Laura in the background

Happy 60th, Dad.  We love you, and love celebrating you.

Confession Time: My Love for Fast Food, Part One

I've been accused of neglecting the blog, which I do not deny, so I figured I'd better get to writing, and that whatever I write had better be good to have kept you waiting for so long. So here's my story. Don't judge me. Or do, and leave funny comments.

Confession Time: My Love for Fast Food, Part One

I have been on this vegetarian kick now for almost a year. Like a lot of things in life right now, I've been waffling on the issue, trying to figure out where I really stand. The growth hormones added to our standard processed meat, along with the corn they feed the animals (genetically modifed corn, I might add) and the antibiotics to keep the cramped animal masses healthier, just make me sick to think about. Depending on the origin, even organic-labeled meat might not be safe, or what you are lead to believe it is.

So for almost a full year now, I have avoided eating any meat, except for Christmas Day, when I consumed the delicious grass fed, organic beef filet prepared by Laura, and a teensy amount of bacon that was in her quiche. The rest of the time, I have gone sans pepperoni on my pizza, eaten my fair share of veggie burritos, and avoided fast food restaurants like the plague. But oh, how I do love and miss my fast food places. You know which one. Don't make me say it out loud.

It's really hard to avoid the heavenly french fries. Sure, I could order them, but they admittedly put a damper on my meatless salads and cause me to long for a burger or some chicken nuggets to pair with them instead. So I'll eat a few of someone else's fries, and half-heartedly enjoy my salad. I also am robbed of my Coke experience at these places now, because who wants to eat a salad and drink a Coke? What a gross combination! So I sip my water, pondering how much better it is for me, while I daydream of my burger, fries and Coke from the days of yore. Hence the reason I have been avoiding eating at fast food places. They're just no fun anymore. I would wager that the only people that can truly sing the "I'm lovin' it" jingle, or really commit to the whole "food, folks, and and fun" culture are those who are consuming the ubiquitous fatty fried goodness these places have to offer. The rest of us are sore-sportedly munching on lettuce (because Lord help us, there are no other vegetarian options), and sipping our water while our friends go for their Coke refills and pump more ketchup for their fries. There is a small sector who I believe is grossed out enough by the unhealthiness of these places that they either refuse to go there, or they sit there judging all the rest of the over-eaters, while they eat the healthiest thing they can find on the menu. I hope to be there some day. (well, not the judging part- but the part that's not bitter about how good your french fries and Quarter Pounder are.) But I'm not there yet... and that's where I'll leave you for today.

To be continued...

On, on U of K

I am too excited to put too much thought into this post in getting ready for the biggest Kentucky game of my life. Yes, I remember the 92 Laetner shot, but I was only 12. I remember the 96 and 98 championships, but I was 15 and 17, respectively. Now I am an adult, UK is my alma mater, and I have much more of a vested interest in the outcome of this game. There are too many stats to quote- like that Anthony Davis won 5 of the 6 major awards given to college basketball players, that we are the winningest college basketball program of all time, that we are 37-2 this season, and went a perfect 16-0 in the SEC, and many more which show just how amazing this season has been.

We re-created the C-A-T-S shot on Saturday night after the Cats beat the Cards in what was one of the most awesome rivalry game ever- seriously, if you haven't read the story about the old men fist fighting in the dialysis clinic, click here to be entertained and amazed at how hardcore the Big Blue Nation is. The quotes are priceless.

(picture)

On Saturday, B was absentmindedly humming the UK fight song during the game. I'm not gonna lie: this was one of my prouder parenting moments! He also knows more of the words than most of the UK student population, I'd wager. (Thank you, UK Chorale, for teaching me the words to sing for the rest of my UK fandom years) Tonight I am hopeful Bradley will go to bed on time so I can watch the game in semi-peace, minus all of the stress I am bound to put on myself.

#8 is within our grasp. Let's Go Big Blue!!!

Catlanta Recap

I am still on a basketball high after my trip with Dad to Atlanta this past weekend to see Kentucky play in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games of the NCAA tournament!  Laura, George, and I surprised dad with tickets to go as an early 60th birthday present.  It was a great trip, and makes me wish I were headed to NOLA this weekend.  Here's the short-ish recap of it all.

The Good:

• Kentucky 102, Indiana 90
• Kentucky 82, Baylor 70
• The parking! Seriously! We bought parking passes online for both days, and the parking garage had walkways directly to the Georgia dome, and the concourse was about as close to our seats as you could get. We drove in and parked, and drove right out after the games both days with minimal game day traffic. I was flabbergasted. (Red parking deck, if you're ever in Atlanta... the Final Four is being held there next year, so I just may be back!)
• Our awesome hosts, family friends, Nathan & Ticia.  Their house is gorgeous, it was only about 20 minutes from downtown, and they made breakfast for us both mornings.  It was great getting to spend time with them.
• As much Cherry Coke as I could drink at the World of Coke taste testing area
• I kept punching dad in the arm, grinning and saying, "Can you believe we're really here?!"  See below for our happy, giddy faces

Can you believe we are at the Sweet 16??!!

The Bad:

• Monsoon rain on the way to the ATL, and heavy traffic on the way back
• Missing the first turn to the Georgia Dome because I was playing "Yeah!" on my iPhone... I had a hankering to hear the "peace up, A-town" and it got us into trouble. Like, an hour-long traffic jam to drive around the block, trouble.
• The "Beverly" drink at the World of Coke... we each tried it in the taste-testing area and watched the next person's face as they sipped it for the first time. When in Italy, don't order a Beverly!
• Within ten minutes of getting into the Georgia Dome, I found out there was no beer being sold (hey, after sitting still in traffic for an hour, you'd want a cold one, too!), I broke my thumb nail all the way down, and the veggie dog that I ordered and was so excited about, they did not have. (Top 5 Vegetarian-Friendly Venue, my Butt!). It was a bad ten minutes. But then I decided that these bad things happen in threes, and so I took that as an omen that we were going to win the game.
• At this point in the season, UK has a lot of enemies. Watching that Louisville- Florida game, I didn't want either team to win. Can't they just give us our national title by default? Okay, so someone had to win, so it might as well have been Louisville.
• Waiting 2 hours (standing) to eat lunch at Taco Mac before Sunday's game.  There were no tables to be had, and then they apparently had two pager #3s, so our name got bypassed.  That food tasted delicious by the time we sat down and scarfed down lunch just barely getting to the Georgia Dome in time for the game.  We also invited 2 other Kentucky fans to sit with us and eat since everyone was short on time and short on places to sit.  The father & son were nice, but we strangely never exchanged names, only stories during our hasty lunch.

NOT drinking a Beverly:  Nathan, Tim, & Dad

The Ugly:

• Baylor's uniforms: As if the highlighter-yellow wasn't bad enough, they went to 11 with their awful Camo uniforms lined in bright yellow
• TAB: Why did Coke ever make this drink? Nathan and I each sampled this one at the World of Coke, and to me, it tasted like flat Coke with more sugar. Not as bad as the Beverly, but seriously Coke, why would you make this?
• While waiting in the hour-long traffic around the Georgia Dome, I searched the internet and played us several "Georgia-inspired" songs. There are many. This helped to calm our nerves while sitting still for way too long. It helped the time to pass, but I'd have preferred not to have wasted this time in the first place. (Stupid me, looking for URsher!)
• My Zoolander Fail Facebook post:  Here's the picture- I thought it said "Magnum" but in reality, the sign said Mangum... DOH!

Spelling FAIL!

 A few other pictures from the weekend:

Posing in front of the Kentucky-Indiana final scoreboard

My favorite time out- complete with the Wildcat sporting a Unibrow

Trying a new Coke product

Dad gets his complimentary bottle of Coke

Anthony Davis, National Player of the Year, shooting a free throw

Cats playing D

The newest game craze: Fatheads

The Three Goggles

Senior Darius Miller holding the net

Father-Daughter bonding time

I guess our family just bleeds blue, and I'm so blessed to have enjoyed this great weekend with my dad and to have gotten to see the Cats play some great basketball and earn another trip to the Final Four.  Dad... you're my dad... and I love you, man!