Valentine's Day

Ah, Valentine's Day...the holiday of love (at least according to Hallmark). While I think it's nice to recognize those you love, I am sort of jaded when it comes to Valentine's Day. I think this is due because I spent seven years of my life working in a floral shop. It was a wonderful job, and there are many days I wish I still worked there. However, there were a lot of downfalls to the floral business. One of them being LONG hours. There are several times of year that are challenging as a florist:
1. December- Pointsettia's are a tropical plant, and I always found it odd that they were so popular for a winter holiday. If you have ever broken a stem on a Pointsettia plant, you will notice that they have a white milky sticky substance inside of them. Imagine watering HUNDREDS of these plants. Of course stems will be broken, causing a sticky mess. I have vivid memories of the bottoms of my shoes sticking to the floor as I walked.
2. February- Valentine's Day=Floral Hell. Keeping arrangements fresh, and high flower cost make for much stress. Deliveries are a real pain. Many men want flowers sent to their Valentine at work. The problem is...getting every delivery to a recipient during work hours is tough. Delivery drivers start very early, and work very late.
3. May- Mother's Day, Proms, and Graduations. Arrangements and corsages keep a florist very busy. The big pain is latex balloons at Graduation time. They are VERY cheap, and VERY time consuming. I have a small scar under my eye where a latex graduation balloon popped and hit me. Balloons are also filled with Hi Float to keep them afloat longer. STICKY!

Valentine's Day will forever remind me of my Floral Shop days. Even with thorn scars on my thumbs, and balloon scars by my eye...I remember my days working there very fondly. I worked with amazing people, and genuinely felt like I was appreciated and cared about as a person.

It's been 7 years since I've had this job, and I am now a mom of 2 little girls, a wife, and a teacher. Life is totally different. This year I enjoyed a small bouquet of roses from my husband, and a night at home with all 3 of my Valentines.

My Sweet Baby Turns 2!

My sweet baby is two years old today! I can hardly believe it. It seems like only yesterday she was born.

We celebrated yesterday with a party at "Monkey Joe's". Today she spent the day with her family (including my parents, sister, brother in law, and niece). We went out for breakfast, shopping, and had dinner/play time at Chick Fila.

She arrived two years ago today, on her due date! I can remember it so clearly. The night before we went to the hospital for a "refresher" class. The class was suppose to be in December, but got snowed out. The class was from 5-7. A few short hours later (about midnight) contractions began, and we headed to the hospital. A good friend of mine came over and watched big sister. I remember sleeping at the hospital a few hours, and walking the hall the next morning to get labor to "get moving". My dr. broke my water early in the afternoon, and I was able to get an epidural. Later that afternoon, I delivered my sweet 7 lb. baby girl. I felt minimal pain, and smiled upon meeting her.

What a blessing to have a healthy little baby. Today, as she turns two, I am so thankful that I have both my daughter's in my life.

Deep Thoughts...Sleeping with Blue Fruit Snacks

Neither of my daughters have had the opportunity to get their first haircut. 3 year old has pretty long curls (which I don't want to cut), and 2 year old has barely any hair (poor thing).

2 year old is obsessed with hair. It's such a shame she doesn't have more. She really enjoys stroking my hair (or her sister's). She is so gentle, and whispers the word "hair" like it's a magical term.

Lately she's taken to "styling" her baby mullet with a Sleeping Beauty pretend curling iron and blow dryer. It's cute.

This morning disaster hit our home. Somehow 2 year had smuggled a blue fruit snack into her crib. She had fallen asleep on it, and it had cemented it's gooey self into her hair. I tried to clean it out, while 2 year old cried. At last, I broke out the scissors and snipped. Thankfully you can't even tell where I cut. 2 year old was so sad though. She looked at me like "how could you take away the little bit of hair I have"!

Life lesson learned...don't sleep with blue fruit snacks.

Winter Blues

This time of year is truly the pits. It's cold and dark most days. I want to be cheerful, but instead I tend to find myself getting annoyed very quickly. Not at my children (thankfully) but more at adults that I encounter. It can't be just me, because it seems like everywhere I go I hear complaints. Complaints about the cold, the roads, illness, how far away spring is, yadda yadda yadda.

So, I am devoting today's blog entry to annoyances I have. My hope is that I'll type it all out, take a deep breath, and let it go. Here's to hoping...

1. Constant complainers. Life isn't roses all the time, suck it up. It seems like so many times I hear and see people more consumed by life's journey then the destination.
2. Road Rage. Nothing begins a morning like watching an irate driver yelling at the person next to them.
3. Lack of RSVPing. It happens, but I dislike it. Especially in the world of text messaging and email...it's so easy to respond to someone!
4. People with the "one size fits all" mentality. What works for you, may not work for me. Close minded people annoy me.
5. People who don't hold doors. Yeah, I know it's not a rule..but when you see a person with a wheel chair or stroller, does it hurt to just hold the door?
6. Delusions. Liars too, but people who actually believe that the story they are telling you is true(when it's so far off base) really bother me.
7. Dirty looks when a child is crying or making noise in a "quiet" situation. It happens. Personally I typically feel empathy for the mother and annoyance toward the "dirty lookers".
8. Rude cashiers. Is it too much to ask for a "thank you" when I make a purchase. Micheals Hobby Store is the WORST. Usually there is one check out line open, and about 5 women in line with coupons and baskets full of craft materials. I'm sure we're annoying to the cashiers, but I can't stand the rudeness.
9. TMI...when random people tell me way more information then I need to know about their personal life.
10. Using social networks (like Facebook) to spout religious, political, or financial issues. Also, post after post complaining about your life. Isn't there anything positive you can look at?

This list applies to nobody in particular. I'm sure I've annoyed someone a time or two too. I'm just feeling the stress of winter (like many are). What I would like right now...a little consideration, respect, and tact from my fellow humans. ((SIGH)).

Now, because I must end on a positive note. I am very thankful for the good friendships I have in my life, my family, and my health. Amen.