Fourteen

Jacob Daniel. Fourteen. I can’t believe it. As I think about what to write to you today on your birthday, my eyes fill with tears and my heart can’t contain the love and joy that you bring into my life. You are such an amazing kid and I think that so many people overlook that or don’t know it because of your laid back nature. However, please know that I know how amazing you are and I am confident that you can and will surprise us all!

When I think back over your childhood I think of a super skinny and hairy little infant who did nothing but sleep. (And also that you were the most painful of all my births, you’re welcome).Then I think of you in your Winnie the Pooh and Thomas the Tank Engine underoos. You hated wearing clothes and ran around in underwear as much as you could get away with it. (You’re welcome, again.) You loved Thomas the Tank engine and Veggie Tales and loved nothing more than lining up all of your “people” and trains in a long line around the living room rug. You looked up to your brother Zech and called him “Gacky” for years. I also think of you in your boy scout uniform with your pants pulled up and your belt pulled as tight as you could get it to keep your pants on your skinny frame. You wore all of your pants that way. You never believed me when I told you that when you did that, it made your pants three inches too short. You sported that style for years until stores started making those elastic pulls with buttons in the waistline. They were created just for you, the tall and really skinny kids. You were a sight in elementary school with your pants hiked up as high as you could get them. But you didn’t care, you wanted them that way, you were comfortable and that was that.

This brings me to the fact that you, Jacob Daniel, are the world’s MOST stubborn person alive. I don’t say that lightly because I come from a long line of stubborn. But you Jake, you take the cake. When you were younger if we went toe to toe about an issue you would rather DIE than back down. You hate it when things don’t seem “fair” and you dig in your heels and never give up. There were times when I had to just walk away for fear of the world ending from the sheer force of our stubborn personalities colliding. However, if that was the end of the story, we would all be in trouble. Luckily, you rarely, if ever give anyone an ounce of trouble and those struggles are few and far between.

You really do strive to be a good person and do the right thing. I have watched you grow into the most amazing person since we arrived in Waterford. You have certainly thrived in our new family and community. When I dropped you off for your first day of sixth grade, I cried. I cried because you were the new kid and because it was your first day of middle school and because you seemed so little and not yet ready for the big school full of strangers that you were facing. But I didn’t need to worry at all. You made friends quickly and easily and loved being at Pierce. You have developed a very special friendship with your new cousin Drew and many others. You fit right in and one would never guess that you were the new kid on the block. You have also grown about 7 inches and are now taller than me and your older brother. What’s that about kid?

I particularly have loved watching your relationship with Monte develop. You two crack me up with your antics and road trips to 7-11 for slurpies. You are always willing to volunteer to help him with whatever he needs and more importantly, you have helped to make him feel a part of the Lakatos Five Family with your quiet acceptance and kindness. I love watching you do father/son things and know that the bond you have forged will help guide you throughout your life.

You love to talk but you don’t talk about deep things or tell me much. I have to really listen to hear what you are saying and even if it doesn’t seem like it, I am always listening. In some ways I think your thoughts and feelings run far deeper than we all realize but you don’t wear them out there on your sleeve. You live you life, day in and day out being content and happy and at peace. You do the right thing, you are dependable and responsible, you make friends wherever you go, and you make the best out of what life brings you. You are thankful and grateful (most of the time) and happy.

You have expressed how excited you are to enter high school next year and I find myself once again watching from the sidelines, in disbelief that it’s time for you to enter the next phase in your life. However, I am also excited with you because I know you will love high school and everything it has to offer you. I can’t wait to see what the next four years bring us. I pray that you experience nothing but happiness and success! But if you do not, we are here for you. That’s a promise.

I love you Jakey. You are a true gift to me and to our entire family. Happy Birthday!

Dear Soccer Parents

Dear Soccer Moms and Dads:

Do you honestly think that "coaching from the sidelines" is going to make your child a better soccer player? Do you honestly think that you are teaching them anything by SCREAMING at them when they are already doing the best they can? They are children. And they are doing their best. They are having fun out there. They love you and you are destroying their self esteem by saying things like, "I'm going to put you in ballet...." Oh and by the way, what if your son WANTED to be in ballet? What's wrong with that??!! Anything your child would and will choose to do will require YOUR support and encouragement. These aren't soccer pros, they are KIDS! Relax. Enjoy the game.

And one more thing, when MY son misses the goal as goalie, GET OVER IT because he is still a star to me!

In short, CHILL THE HECK OUT for crying out loud.

Hi its me Eli I bet you missed me!!! If not... why are you reading this then. Anyways, I got my PSP my DSlite and my DS games and DS stuff and also, my PSP stuff my memory stick and my PSP game. I also got two GAMECUBE games plus a Wii game. So anyways I got all this stuff together to go to GAMESTOP to trade all that stuff for a DSi. But... My mom does NOT want to go today. So another day, another wait. So to another topic! One fine evening me and my sister went to my friends house. So it was hot out like 100 F. But then,... me and my friend Brady went outside right about to play, then BANG!!!!!!!! Wind blew everywhere! Then mother nature threw some rain in there. My sister was crying and so was her friend. Soon it was over and we went home and I went to write a blog about it.PS: I protected my sister.

All over the place

It went from being freezing and snowy to 80 something overnight. Seriously. You have to love Michigan weather. The kids are out roaming the neighborhood, Monte is golfing and Wilson is going from window to window sniffing the fresh air. I have ALLLL the windows open and fans on and am clicking through tastespotting, my favorite place on the Internet.

Life is beautiful.

Lately I feel like I have the treadmill going faster than normal and I just can't quite stay on it. Buried at work, busy at home and the kids have me running around crazy. I love my life. I love that the kids have such NORMALCY, something I didn't know if I could provide for them back in the days of sitting in synagogue all weekend or my single days of back and forth weekends. I love that they can take off on bikes and scooters and hang with the kids they go to school with and play soccer with and hang with their cousins who live in the connecting subdivision. I love soccer and dance and dinners together every single night. I love all of it. Exhausting as it all is, I love it. HOWEVER, there is really only so much one person can do (two people as Monte would like to remind stubborn me) and learning how to "not miss good for perfection" (to quote my fabulous boss) is a hard one for me.

So what else is new? We're busy and I'm tired. HA. This has been a running theme for as many years as I can remember. What IS news is that Zech got himself a job. Well, kind of. He is delivering fliers and coupons for Lucky Duck pizza door to door and holding the sign out on the street. That's right, that's my son. At least he isn't dressed like the State of Liberty! Honk and wave and tell me if he looks like he's got a good attitude! Now we are in negotiation about how much money to spend and how much to save. I don't think I have to tell you that we don't see eye to eye on the issue. Or any issue for that matter, oh teenagers, you are so much fun.

Mommies of babies listen up-enjoy those middle of the night feedings, diapers and those helpless little bundles of love because seriously you are living the EASY YEARS! That's right, it doesn't ever get any easier. You're welcome. Now, bring me one of your little non-verbal, non-mobile babies and I will give you a fiercely independent and stubborn teenager. I am running a two for the price of one! They are really cute and take out trash (if you nag them enough).

OK, I'm off. I have to park my cars on Facebook so I can win parking lot wars and then go find something to feed my crew who will undoubtedly come home eventually looking to be fed.

Enjoy this beautiful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interview with Baila and Eli, ages 8 and 10

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

Eli- a dancer, a caring little girl, weird hair
Baila- my mom was a ballerina, a loving child, awesome, sweet and funny

Why did your mom marry Monte?

Baila- because he was a loving man and he was very nice and funny and you loved him a lot
Eli- you married him because you love him and he’s kind of weird but in a good way and we like him like that

Who's the boss at your house?

Baila- You and Monte are both the boss. You are older than us and you remind us and tell us all the rules around the house and when we get in trouble, we listen to you sometimes and if we don’t, we get grounded.
Eli- Monte is the boss because he has better rules and he does what he says and sometimes you change your mind. If Monte says you’re grounded, you’re grounded.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

Eli- dads are different because they are more fun than moms
Baila- moms are less strict than dads and moms are more fun to shop with. Dads think of fun things like getting slurpees and playing kickball.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

Baila- she is either on the computer, cleans or takes pictures
Eli- she is usually watching tv, playing with Wilson or taking pictures

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

Baila- no one is perfect. But to make you even better, you would take us out to do fun things more
Eli- she would say yes to everything

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

Eli- be more fun
Baila- take me out shopping more

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

Eli- God picked you to be my mom because you loved me even before I was born and because you are a nice caring mom
Baila- God gave you to us because you are a loving and caring kind woman and you are the best mom a girl could ever have and you make a good match for all our family and I love you.

HEY!

Hello! i haven't blogged in a LONG time! i just watched american idol.We have people we picked for a contest. i only have Adam Lambert left people think he is good!
i spent the night at my friends house two nights in a row! my mom thought it was the end of the world! she BEGGED me to come home! i miss bloging.i PROMISSS i will blog more. bye!

The Funk

My best girls and I talk about the Funk. When one of us refers to it, we don't have to define it, we know. It's that black cloud that hangs over your head, the feeling you can't shake no matter how much chocolate you eat, the fly in your...ok, you get the point.

So the Funk is hanging around me today and I am trying to do my usual and figure out WHY the Funk is here. Here are my thoughts:

Perhaps it's because it snowed again just when I thought spring had arrived and I was getting excited about linen and sandals and manicured toes and sundresses...

Perhaps it's because my husband (and very best friend)is working late and not sitting next to me at the dinner table tonight...

Perhaps it's because it's a normal work week but not really because the kids are on spring break...

Perhaps it's because I am completely unprepared for upcoming events and gatherings and I have no time or motivation to rectify this...

Perhaps it's because my baby girl, who is never too far away from me, is spending the night at a friend's house (two nights in a row) and I miss her...

Perhaphs it's because I am tired and stayed up WAY too late last night...

Perhaps it's because I miss my parents...

Perhaps it's because I am worried about the orthodontist bill...

Perhaps it's those awful wicked hormones...

I think I just need to have a glass of wine, curl up on the couch and hope tomorrow is a much sunnier day. I hope the Funk goes somewhere else for spring break!