1. It can take them up to twenty minutes to put a shirt on in the morning.
2. They are sticky. Like, always.
3. Things that would have mortified me as a child are HIL-A-RIOUS.
4. There is a sound effect for everything.
5. Even if something has its own sound effect, you can still (and must) make extra sound effects.
6. They don’t care if they have food all over their face.
7. But they won’t wear a shirt that looks funny/feels funny/isn’t cool.
8. They will eat everything in your fridge. Except the broccoli.
9. They are so tough. They could stand up to the biggest of monsters.
10. Until they aren’t so tough and you realize they are more tender than tender.

What am I missing from the list?

But here’s the thing…

SO much has happened and is happening in the next week that I am embarrassed that it has been so quiet over here. I mean at least I could throw up a what I did this weekend post as a marker for me to look back on one day.

First off: Happy Mothers Day!

Last night I went to the Listen to Your Mother Show in Valpo, Indiana. The opera house that the show was hosted in was this magnificent little theatre. I just wanted to move in there. Stephanie Precourt put together the most amazing show. The stories filled your heart up, made you cry and laugh so hard you thought you were going to fall over.

Before the show I had the chance to meet my new friend Erin for dinner. You know when you meet up with a friend and you walk away feeling like you could go out and take over the world?  Dear world, I am ready.

Tomorrow I am heading up to Iowa bright and early  for the first ever 140 Conference in Des Moines. Not only will I be attending but I will be speaking! Iowa is filled with so many small businesses that wanted to speak to business owners and entrepreneurs on social media and how they can be using it. So. Darn. Excited. (and nervous; oh my!)

Last week I won an award from my college for being an outstanding Philosophy major. I got to bring my family to hear the leaders of the school talk about how smart and wonderful all of the people winning awards were and was handed a large plaque for my wall. This was super exciting because I don’t normally win awards. I was awful at sports and singing and art and well…yeah…pretty much everything you can win awards for doing. So I will take my Philosophy award and stick it directly between my Avon award (for recruiting the most Avon reps during a campaign) and my softball trophy (everyone got for participating). I kind of feel like that is the perfect place for a Philosophy award. On a shelf between the most random un-appreciated awards ever. Socrates would totally see the irony in it.

Also? I am coaching T-ball this summer. More on that later.

Last week I also found out that I will be speaking on a panel at Tech Week in Chicago (SQUEEEE) with some amazing amazing ladies. (did I say amazing?) AMAZING.

AND I was nominated as one of the top 25 blogs on single parenting! You can vote here once a day until May 26th. Or just once whichever works. I appreciate all of the support and love! (I am writing a longer post about this whole single parenting blogging thing but its taking me a little longer than I thought it would)

As you can see life is going really well.

Really spectacularly busy. but well.

How are YOU?

What I found were tears welling up in my eyes.

When people ask me about single parenting and “how I do it” I never really know what to say. I approach it with the logistics and logistically single parenting isn’t all that hard. Aidens dad is very involved with him and I get a few days a week to spend by myself. The day-to-day work of parenting is the same as any parent faces. I do it the same way you do it.

What I don’t look at is the emotional part of single parenting. The part of witnessing something so magical and not being able to really share it. This video says it better than I ever could.

(go get some tissues)

Staying With Vegas from karl brandstater on Vimeo.

One minute the house is filled with noise and you have a child whining.

“mom…mom…mom…MOMMMMM”

He is running through the house. Making a mess. Driving me CRAZY.

But the next thing you know there is a knock on the door. A rush to get shoes on and give kisses and hugs. It is a very hustle bustle moment.

And, then the door shuts.

And that first moment when you are standing there in the middle of your living room and it is completely silent. and you think….”What now?”

That never gets easier.

I love my life. I love that Aiden gets the best of both worlds. I would not change it if I could. But the silence…oh the silence…

At some point in the past years things have changed. I no longer watched my friends being young in envy. I became content in the security and love that filled my life.

It is Friday night. I am sure many of my friends are getting ready to head out on the town. Do you know where I am?

I am baking cookies with a pretty happy little boy.

and there is nothing you could say to convince me that being young and wild is better than this.

This is the best Friday night I have had in a long time.

And chocolate chip cookies are the perfect ending to a day stuck in bed with the flu.

Sometimes I wish I was that mother that could take the perfect photograph.

I wish I could bake a perfect pie or cook a perfect meal.

I wish I wore aprons and my house was spic and span.

But I am not.

I clean when forced.

I cook and then re-cook (because often I make mistakes)

I cannot take a perfect photograph. I am not crafty or domestic. I don’t wear aprons and my patience wears.

but that is ok.

I sit indian style and play games on the floor.

I read stories full of voice, animations, and sometimes a few dance moves.

I draw on the chalkboard and practice his letters with him.

Sometimes we laugh so hard we cannot breathe.

He falls into me and we cuddle until he tires.

I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Not for a clean house. Not for a million photographs.

Love what you have to offer.

Embrace the time that is now.

Well, that is a good question! While I have been setting goals and making plans to start my 52 Weeks to Fabulous.

On another note…my friends have been home. Flying across country from California they were more than shocked my the change in weather.

So we have been hanging out…

and seeing “sights” I never knew exsisted…

and since one of these boys had never seen snow before…Aiden got quite the treat!

I say this is a treat because quite honestly I cringe when I am forced to walk outside. and playing in the snow? yeah…doesn’t exactly happen.

Hope your week is going fabulous! More on my 52 to Fabulous journey tomorrow.

2009 from Cassie Boorn on Vimeo.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? To be honest I have never had egg nog. That is right folks..NEVER. It looks like Hot Chocolate will be the winner for me.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa does wrap the presents. In his special santa wrapping paper. In his special wrapping way.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? This year the tree is covered in white lights. I normally prefer colored lights. However, we had some issues with this stupid fabulous pre-lit tree that isn’t working.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. I never have. Honestly, I don’t ever see it anymore.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Soon after Thanksgiving. If we are lucky.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Cookies!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I loved all of the presents. There I said it. I was obsessed with the material things that made up Christmas.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was six years old. I asked my mother and she told me. Then end.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We usually did. We spend our Christmas Eve with my side of the family. Normally, we receive those gifts then.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White or Colored lights and a massive collection of decorations. Mostly from my childhood and now Aidens.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it. It is cold. It is messy. It is just gross.

12. Can you ice skate? Very Funny…

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really no. I tend to favor gifts I buy myself. I am a hard person to buy for. FYI

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? I just enjoy the traditions. Baking cookies, doing crafts, decorating the tree. All of the special little things I get to pass on to my child.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? COOKIES

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking Cookies…sigh..

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Normally I am a big gift giver. This year I am just not feeling it.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Meh.

20 Favorite Christmas Show? The Grinch is taking over our house this year.

21. Saddest Christmas Song? The slow songs make me tear up from time to time.

22. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Rudolph…Yes I sing it loudly.

Yes, I did actually vlog. I hate putting myself on video but I did it YAY!

You can thank Short Pump Preppy for teaching me how to use youtube and embed a video.

Yes, I am really that tech savvy!

And while you are thanking her for teaching me her tech savvy ways you may want to congratulate her on her television depute!

If you are looking for real gift guides check out these ladies below!

To Think Is To Create

Musings Of A Housewife

Mom Generations