Happy New Year! 2015

     Well, I don't know about you... but 2014 went by so fast.  I truly have to say I enjoyed every moment of it, I'm sad it's over.  However, I'm excited to see what 2015 brings.

     Last year to bring in 2014, we hosted a huge family pajama/waffle party and it was a great time.  Also, it was my husband and I 10 year Anniversary of when he told me he wanted to date me ( you can read about that here), so we really went all out.

     This year I just wanted to spend it with just my husband and kids.  I really felt selfish because everyone in my family seemed disappointed that we were not hosting New Year's Eve.  As much as I enjoy spending time with everyone, this year my heart was not into it.  Two of the lessons I learned in 2014 is to listen to myself and follow my own intuition and it's okay to say, "No".

    
     That being said, my Husband and the kids and I had a great time bringing in the New Year together.  My husband made a seafood boil with lobster, shrimp and corn.  I made some T'bone steaks and huge backed potatoes.  We watched BET video countdown, because I realized I haven't seen any music videos this year!  After we danced to Taylor Swift performance on, "Dick Clark's New Year Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest", we shook off 2014 by looking at pictures from the vacations we took that year.

     I hope you brought into the New Year the way you wanted!
    

    

My Son Dances Like John Travolta!

     My favorite childhood memories are the times my Dad would blast music through the house and I would sing and dance.  It was one creeky spot on the floor that if you danced there, it would make the needle skip on the record player.  My Dad would shoot me a quick look.  Good thing they came out with CDs, because the stress of one of his records getting scratched inhibited my dance moves! 

     All these memories came rushing back the other day, when I was listening to an oldies station...oldies for me is the 80's...and one of the songs my Dad and I played over and over again came on.  I jumped up, turned it up and started to dance around the livingroom.  I was home alone, at first, so I really turned it up and let loose.  Towards the end...because you know back then songs were much longer..my son came home from school.  At first he didn't know what to think!   I told him to come dance with me!    That's when he busted out the John Travolta dance move from "Staying Alive" hips going and all!  Funny, he has never seen the movie, but he knew the moves.

     I was concious of this moment, because I wanted him to remember this moment.  One day when he's older and has his own family, I want him to have a flashback moment of him and Mom dancing in the living room.  I also want him to create the same memory for his kids.  My son's childhood memories will be much happier than my Dad's were.  Because of his hemophilia, My Dad had many childhood stories of him being in the hospital and things he couldn't do as a kid.  My son's childhood memories, thank God, will not be like my Dad's.  Hopefully, he will have more stories about how crazy his Mother was!

     When is the last time you danced with your son? 

Do you have a "Date Night"? - Video Thursday

    

     Today is Valentine's Day!  The day we look to our husband or significant other for a special kiss or a special gift.  If your lucky you may even get taken out for a meal, which means no cooking tonight for you!!  My husband and I don't do anything big for Valentine's Day.  He usually gets me a card from him and one from the kids. 

    

Today I stuck a little note in his lunch:

                    Roses are Red,  

                    Violets are Blue.

                    Even though you snore,

                   I want to spend the rest of my life with you!

He swears I snore louder than him.  Sometimes we record it, but the jury is still out! 

Video Game Addiction

     My heart really goes out to the parents of Sandy Hook, CT.  I could not imagine the pain those family feel from loosing their children so young and so tragic.  I keep praying for them and pray God eases their pain a little everyday through great, although short, memories.

     Of course with all the tragic shootings that have taken place over the last six months, America is now ready to address the gun laws.  I myself don't own a gun and I'm not familiar with any of the laws or what it takes to get a gun.  I'm sure in the next few months my knowledge will change.  It's funny, I knew my Dad had a gun.  He kept it in his suitcase with his factor supplies locked up.  I guess it was the only case he had with a lock.  It was a pistol, I'm not even sure if he kept bullets in it..but I knew it was in there.

      Anyway, with psychologist and news reporters now looking into the effects of video games on gun violence, I have to take a look at my own child.  It's ironic that my husband and I have been discussing this previously about Marques playing his Xbox live all day.  When I say all day, I'm not exaggerating.  Just this past weekend he was on it from 5:30am to about 2:00am...and only because I made him go to bed.  That is an example of an extreme time, but I know he would do that everyday if he could.  Besides Minecraft, he plays Call of Duty.  I really didn't know how violent Call of Duty was until I watched him play it.

Playing Factor

Laithan & Layla 2 years old



     Everyday, I am surprised about how much the twins are learning.  Kids watch everything we do as parents and they imitate us in ways we sometimes ignore. 

    After I have given Laithan and Marques their factor, Laithan likes to keep the syringes so he can play.  He loves going around and pushing the syringe in all of us, to "give us" our factor.  I just happen to catch him playing "factor" with Layla and they were very serious.  I know that Layla is confused as to why Laithan gets to get factor and she doesn't.  I try to have her assist me, by getting band aids so she can feel apart of the process.  However, as you can see from the picture, she still wants factor too.

     I know that growing up with brothers with hemophilia, she will be a great Prophyholic Hemo Mom....hopefully, it will be a cure and she won't have to!