Hope over fear - Amen to that!!

Yesterday was a crazy day - had to work 10 hours to get a VERY important project done at work and I was happy to come in this morning and finally finish it up after working on it for the past two weeks. I brought my laptop in and thought it would be a good day to stream some good news. Unfortunately, everyone in America must have had the same idea because around 11am the streaming became more like choking. I saw some of the D.C. coverage, but only got to hear Obama say "President" and the booms from the canons and a freeze frame of the White House. I guess it's ok, cuz I'm sure I would have been sitting at my desk with tears in my eyes. It's just such an amazing time. So I've now read a few headlines and Hope over Fear sounds like a great place to start. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty fearful in our current state of affairs, but I'd rather not live that way. And I do have great hope that we can get back on track. Being a parent helps too - I can't sit back and be scared and not show my little man hope for the future and what it means to have a positive attitude. So that's where I am - today (oh, and sitting at work irritated that I can't get any live news right now!) Also, I was on my cousin's website and saw the great obamicon's she made and had to steal the idea. So you'll see my 'lil bama off to the side there - LOVE IT!!! You can make your own at obamicon.me - ENJOY!

Mama guilt and weekend plans

TGIF! We're expecting 8 inches of snow here by tomorrow afternoon which means the snowmobiles will be back in operation. We're planning on heading out to Grass Lake on Sunday and tomorrow we are going out for a friend's birthday. Dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse with 20+ people - I'm guessing it will be a long one. So we opted to call Uncle Scott to see if he'd like to have an overnight guest. He, of course, did, and so Drew will be heading over there tomorrow evening. I really want to take Drew to a Japanese Steakhouse, but this is not the day to do it. And of course, I always have mama guilt having my kid go to someone elses house, but then I try to remember how much I LOVED going to my aunts and uncles houses for the weekend. Not only good for Drew, but mom and dad too. Gives him that understanding that someone else can take care of him (and probably lots more fun). So I try not to get crazy about it. And Drew is constantly asking to have Julie come babysit, so he must feel fairly filled up on mom and dad. I guess we aren't used to having Drew spend the night away so it always feels a bit strange. In any case, I'm sure we'll have a fun one - assuming we can get out of the driveway!

Mom, I'm going to be the tooth fairy when I grow up...

Lately we've been hearing lots of what Drew's going to be when he grows up - some funny, some appropriate and some, well let's say disappointing! Yesterday when I picked Drew up from school he said, "mom, I'm going to be the tooth fairy when I grow up!" I said, "oh, really, I don't know if you can be the tooth fairy." "OK" he said, "then I want to be Santa Claus." "I said, well I don't know if you can be that either. Remember the movie - I think when the Santa gets tired of being Santa, then he gets to pick his replacement." "Oh!" he says, "Like maybe he could pick one of my friends, like Dennis, or Miles, or me..." I told him he could be anything he puts his mind to, like a doctor, or carpenter, or teacher, or - and he says, "or a hospital guy." "Right, like that." The other day he told me he wanted to be a carpenter. A few days before that is was a chef. A few days before that is was a police officer. But what we hear most (yes here's the disappointing part) - I want to be nothing when I grow up. YIKES! I really don't like to hear that! And what's worse (or maybe not) is lately he's become addicted to playing 3 card poker with me. It started over the holiday break and now he asks me to play everyday. I guess he could be a professional card player - NOT!

When is Barack Obama coming to our house!?

The other day we saw Barack on TV and Drew asked again, "mom, when is Barack Obama coming to our house?" I told him he was really busy and wasn't really going to anyone's house. Then he asked why he was saying things were going to get worse. "What's going to get worse, Mom?" I simplified and told him it was about money. He said, "my money is not going to get worse mom!" Then they flashed to Barack and Nancy Pelosi sitting for a photo op and he yells, "SEE! I told you he was going to people's houses!!" oy!

Happy New Year!

We had a really nice New Year's Eve and are welcoming a day to relax. Ryan came up from his mom's and babysat Drew at JJ's house while we went to Phainam (Noy's family restaurant) for a huge Laotian party. It was quite fun and interesting to see how other cultures celebrate. The Hennessey shots were out in force and I would try to duck away from Noy's sister as she made her approach. When she did get to me, she was nice enough to give me just a sip. We had made the decision to ride with JJ to the party and leave the van home so we got out the yellow pages and started calling cab companies before we left. 8 companies and only one that answered. I guess that should have been an indication of trying to get the cab later. Luckily one of Noy's cousins offered us a ride home and all was good. We were home in bed by 1. That family can party - they'll stay up til 5 without batting an eye. Mike got up around 7 this morning to go meet his boss in Chicago to go to the Winter Classic - Red Wings vs Blackhawks outside at Wrigley. Doesn't that sound awesome? Winter, Outside, Chicago, January - yep, sounds great to me, esp. since I'm in a nice cozy house! JJ & Noy are still in bed and Jada is at her Grandma's house. We are supposed to be going to Chicago for dinner later, but I'm not sure I'll be getting them out of bed. Tomorrow we are heading back home for a few days before getting back in to the bump and grind.