My Parents still Rock it

So, this post is mostly for family, for any Willardson will have little memory of an event where the uncles or my parents are singing.

My parents met in a folk band. Story goes, my Dad was passing by an apartment where he heard a girl singing in through the vents...It was my mom. He had a band, but really wanted a female lead. My Dad is rather shy, so the next part is shocking. He knocked on the door and said he loved her voice, and wanted her to come to their band practice to check them out. My mom said she could go only "right then", so she went in her curlers to the practice. The rest is history. They were their own band at their wedding, barefoot and all.

Growing up, at least a few times a week, my dad would play his guitar to us individually in bed for lullabies. I know, I'm a lucky kid. My childhood was mainly the Beatles, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, and other classics.

My parents have always been in some sort of band. My Dad just started a new classical guitar one with some guys he knows. Not many Hippies turned CFO's keep rockin like he does. Ive always wanted to have my parents hit a professional recording studio and record all our childhood songs. This has yet to happen. However, my Little Brother recorded my parents at a cousins wedding this weekend singing very randomly, and a few other childhood songs with my Dad just practicing. Notice he is sitting outside the closet on the stairs. This is mainly my Dad in these videos...I hope to record many more, but this is what Tommy and I have been watching all day. Miss you Mom and Dad!









My dad played this at their best friends funeral, Lisa. She was from Idaho and loved this song.

Politics

SO We aren't huge into politics, but this made us cry and pee ourselves.

Love My kid

I don't know if Moms every these experiences like I do... Some days you struggle just to get through without wanting to REALLY yell at your kid. Or hearing your name, oh, every 15 seconds. Then, there are the moments that hit you like a wave...LOVE. WOW. How could I love someone so much? How can his giggle, smile, and personality just be better than anything to you some days?? How can it be that after I put him to bed, and I'm saying my prayers asking me to help me better a better, more patient mom...I'm filled with love and sneak in his room, get into his toddler bed WITH him, and hold him. Only cause if I didn't, I swear I would burst. Funny, cause most nights, its a countdown till he gets in bed, and others, I just want to hold him. Why?? This is why...


The movies of our past week...Tommy going under anesthetic for getting his teeth done. Yes,I filmed it like any good mother would.
Tommy being a Lion. Need I say more?
Tommy being his Dad and his friends only form of entertainment some days.

Catching up with us...The past two weeks

This year, Robs sister Suzie moved back to town from Missouri with her 6 girls. Tommy is loving his cousins and Auntie Suzie! They invited us on their family outing to the Midway Swiss days and the Sheep Dog tournament. I thought it would be weird, but it was a total blast!!

Tommy milking a fake cow with Abbey

Tommy finally has got his "imaginative Play" going in his little brain. he is loving to dress up all the time, This is a new Pirate costume we bought for him to play "Jake and the Never land Pirates".

My little man started preschool!! Its hard to believe...I know people say that, but really, it is. It is just down the street from us, and he is in the morning session. We chopped off his mo-hawk the night before so that the teachers wouldn't judge him, or label him as a "bad Ass". Little did we know his new teacher will, would have tatoos everywhere, earings, and green painted finger nails. He probably would have been teachers pet had we kept it.

The little play yard at the school.

Tommy showing off his puzzle skills, and me trying not to cringe at how dirty the puzzle is.

Meeting will and his teachers for the first time.

My most treasured video by far...him running to his first day of school. I think no one runs well in backpacks, but somehow, he looks adorable.

On 9/11, we reflected as a family the many sacrifices we have been through due to this day in history. Two deployments, Rob seeing men wounded and killed, and the sacrifice that is still being made today. As little as people understand that kids sense things, they do somehow.I caught Tommy and his friend Charlotte our by the flag that I thought was a perfect idea of what a child might think of this day...something to respect and think on.

The life of a mom

So, I remember when I was in college and thinking, "My life is so crazy. How can it get any more busy"? Then, I was married, working and going to school, and the thoughts reoccurred. Then, Rob went to Iraq and I was working and alone...same thoughts. Now, those thoughts of"Seriously, I'm so dead tired" happen daily. I didn't think having just one kid was too much work...I mean people around me have like 3-8 kids, and seem to manage just great. But I was wrong. Most days I feel like I'm a clown of sorts, constantly trying to entertain and stimulate Tommy. Then, laundry, dishes, meals, and all in 800 square feet of cinder block. Trying to get through each day making sure I haven't screwed my child up to the point of therapy.
Then I remember how much I longed for this, to be a mom. How long I prayed, the health struggles I deal with to bring a baby here, and it humbles me to the core. Sure, there are days where I hope no one can see just how pathetic I am, and try to appears that I have it all together. When in reality, WHO DOES? May all us moms just take a deep breathe and realize we all have TONS going on, be it 1-8 kids, and we are all doing our best! Pat on the back to us.
A friend recently posted this article on her blog...I loved it. Thanks Jana. Us Moms need some validation some days.
click on it to enlarge.

Month Update: St. Matrin, 24th of July, Rob Turns 30!

About 5 hours after Robs Medical Board exams, we headed off to the Caribbean to an Island called St. Martin. It was wonderful! We actually got to be with each other for more than a few hours, and find out that we still really did love eachother. Ha ha.



Robbie and I were in charge of the Stoker reunion this year in beaver over the 24th of July. In Beaver this is a huge deal, Rob said it was better than Christmas for him. To top it all off, Robs parents were made the Grand Marshalls this year! We all congregated together to celebrate and we in the parade.



We had a family Luau that night and played family groups games. it was so much fun!
Rob turned 30 this year on July 30. I wanted to make it a fun and special day, so I planned a huge surprise. I arranged for him to go skydiving...something on his bucket list, not mine. He was floored and a little scared, having to "walk the walk after he talked the talk". Our nephew Ryan went with him.
Rob also decided to cut T's hair into a Mohawk. A Drastic one. He looks like a mixture of native American and a punk rocker.

The board Exam...and BIG trip...leaving Tommy

SO, lots will be happening this week. Rob takes his board exam for medical school (AKA Step One of the Boards) on Sunday. He has been doing 12-14 hour study days the past 2 weeks on top of studying the past year. It will determine where we get into for Residency. No pressure, right?

With all of this, and realizing we wont see him at all next year, we decided (with the advice for many older medical students) to do a trip just us. It will most likely be the last vacation we will have for quite some time alone. We leave just hours after the test. So, we are leaving Tommy in Beaver with Robbie's family...the first time Ive left him somewhere overnight really...HUGE GULP...I think I'll be more homesick for him than anything...

Then head off to the Caribbean to the island of St. Martin...


Don't be jealous please. We deserve this!