Ten fingers but still no toes

Today was a big day in our house. Thing One has hit double digits. I am not sure how I feel about all of this. I am excited that this means we are over halfway done raising him but then it makes me sad that we are halfway done raising him. As luck would have it his birthday fell on the Chinese New Year which made his little boy heart swell due to his love of all things Chinese.  He actually thinks that this only happens once every few years and to have it be on his birthday is a good omen. Naturally I have yet to correct him. I did however make his whole day theme appropriate. Here now are the pictures.
First up his class room treats-

For some unknown reason he had this whole elaborate plan that involved the janitor who would get credit for these fine specimens. It took Myers twenty minutes to convince him to just hand them out.

We then went to Chinese for din din and came home and had these-

Last year it was brought to my attention that I had failed to make him a birthday cake so I had to repent of my sins and beg forgiveness by offering veggies made of sugar. On the way home from procuring ice cream he asked where the balloons and streamers were to decorate the house-DOH! Next year I might get this right.
He received his gift from us earlier this week-

Yep that is a full grown man bike! 26 inches of  tire and one mom left to wonder how and where all the time has gone.
I thought about not letting him have a birthday this year but turns out that that is not how these things work.

So instead I will just say Happy Birthday little man. May you always know that becoming your mom was one of the best things I have ever done and that all of my greatest adventures have had you in them.

Mom guilt providing holiday cheer for years!

Being a working mom has it's perk.  I am still trying to find out exactly what they are and when I do I am sure that I will be the new leader of my fellow working  peeps. Let me say that I am beyond grateful for my job and for the luxuries it provides like heat and food. But sometimes I ache knowing that I can't be the classroom mom or that I miss out on the silly things that go on in the mornings around our house. And just when I think I have things all figured out The national holiday for mom guilt or more commonly known as Valentines day comes along and I begin a slow steady descent into  the despicable world of Pinterest .
This week I have found myself spending an inordinate amount of time scrolling through countless pages to find that one valentine that will ease the guilt and validate my existence. Turns out that doesn't exist so I was left to my own devices.
I spent hours collecting and designing and printing and punching and tying. My neck aches, my back is numb and I can't feel my fingers anymore but you better believe my kids are going in with one of a kind valentines. So when some other sap who suffers from the same ailment that I do jacks my design just remember you saw it here first. Take that mom guilt.