Matt's Heart

One day I walked up to Matt, tugged on his sleeve, made the biggest puppy dog eyes you've ever seen and in my best child's voice whimpered "I Hungey Mamma. Mamma I Hungey."

Yes, I am older than Matt. Yes, I know he is not my mother. Yes, I find that saying utterly hilarious.

Its weird and funny. And I'm told very disconcerting because the voice does not match the girl its coming from. 

Matt didnt get exasperated. He only rolled his eyes minimally. Mostly he just looked down at me and went "Do you want a melted cheese sandwich?"

To which I nodded my head vigorously.

I love Matt quite a bit. Which I know some people might think is redundant to specify since he is my brother. But I dont think that being family means you automatically love someone. Or more so, its possible to love someone and completely dislike them at the same time. And really I love all my brothers. But I want to talk about Matt specifically.

Truthfully, since Matt arrived home, I've kinda felt disconnected from him. He's busy with his own life and it felt like he didnt have time for me anymore. And even though I know that as my brother he is required to love me, sometimes knowing the obligatory love is there isnt enough for me. I want closeness. 

I had a friend once tell me that I would probably feel less lonely all the time if I had less strict definitions of friendship. And while she's probably right, the boundaries and lines I create make me feel safe. There are different levels of friendship and how much I am expected to care and how much you are able to hurt me correlates with your level. "If you fit into this neat box marked friendship, I know this, this and this about how you feel about me and I know to expect this, this and this from you." I know it sounds neurotic, and while occasionally I wish I was different, it helps me not feel so hurt when friendships fade. Because I compartmentalize it all. And if they're in the "not really friends" box then I dont have any reason to be hurt by the things they do because I had no expectations of them in the first place. 

But Matt is not in the "not really friends" box. So it came as a welcomed relief when I arrived home and that night Matt came and laid on my bed and we finally talked. For real and about real things. I guess I hadnt realized what a constant nagging stress his distance had been. Because I need reassurances, especially as things change. We talked late into the night, just like we used to, and he had me take his contacts out (which I'd never done before) and then we went to sleep. Knowing my brother still wanted me around and still valued my friendship, well for me that was the best part of this Christmas. 

 I'm not sure exactly how it came to be said but during Christmas Matt said during little moments that I was his heart (I feel like it had something to do with the fact that for once in his life he got to experience the slight pang of jealousy when you realize that the person you're dating is friends with your sibling and has their own separate relationship or maybe thats just a side note from the holiday). And though he was joking, I still liked it. I'm Matt's heart, Maikal's excitement and Nicole's good friend. Turns out this Christmas I was a lot of things to different people.

And yes, while we were making shirts Matt painted "his heart" onto my arm. After, of course, playing "connect-the-dots" with the freckles on my arm. 

Basically, moral of the story, is I love my brother. And I really loved being able to spend so much time together this Christmas. 

Just thought you should know...

I did not want to wake up today. For real, I got up about fifteen minutes before my class started. But I felt like wearing real clothes. That pretty much never happens. But waking up late pretty much killed being productive this morning. And yes, I have yet to start studying for my huge test on Monday. This weekend is gonna be rough. And by rough I clearly mean boring. See, it turns out my brain is still on holiday. And refuses to come in for work. Hello brain, school has kinda already been going on for a week now. Just saying, it might be time to check back in. Wanna know something else thats awkward? I definitely dropped my camera, while it was open, while I was taking photos of myself. It kinda broke apart. So I push it back together and busted out the super glue I just bought. I knew that would come in handy. Camera fixed. Though I seriously had a panic attack for a minute. Cause once upon a time I dropped Cathy's camera, pretty much exactly like I dropped mine today, and it was a goner. So thank goodness it survived. Another awkward thing - mmm, my posing. That is neat. Tomorrow I'll start studying? Yes? Ok... I NEED to start tomorrow. I legitimately cannot put it off anymore. (Does anyone else think it sounds like I'm trying to convince myself? ... ... ... Ya me too.)

Jumping Jacks

One of Ryder and Katie's favorite things are jumping pictures. 

Ok... they really like pictures in general but jumping pictures are just that little extra something.

 They could jump down those two steps over and over and over again.

And then do it some more. 

And each time they call out for someone to be documenting it with the camera.

I really love that they hold hands as they jump. Their little hands clasped together and their little faces shining with joy. Its exactly how a brother and sister should be. And I love it. I hope they always remember how to have fun together in such a simple way.

Sometimes Auntie Lindsay even jumps with them.

They're such funny little children. And I love the pure joy in their faces. Just jumping down the stairs and they looked like they were having the best time of their lives. I made orange julius for them when I was home. They'd never had it before but when they tried it they proceeded to have this little conversation:

Ryder: This is SO good. Its better than ichiban.
Katie: Ya its better than macaroni.
Ryder: Better than pickles!
Katie: Better than snowmen!
Ryder: Better than cheese sandwiches.


They went back and forth for a good five minutes naming everything that orange julius was better than. It made me laugh. And wish that I was recording them. And a couple hours after I'd made it, Ryder came up to my room. 


Ryder: Auntie Missy? Can you make me more orange julius? It was SO good.


So I went back down and made another batch and the kids compared who had the best orange julius moustache. 


For any interested in making their own orange julius here's the recipe - its ridiculously simple. 

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar (half regular half powdered to make it more creamy!)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8-9 ice cubes

1. Combine all ingredients except ice cubes in blender.
2. Blend for about 1-2 minutes, adding ice cubes one at a time

To be fair I just blended it all together instead of actually reading the directions and we doubled it since our orange juice cans were massive... but we have a vitamix which is the bomb of all blenders and wins at life. 

Adventures of Monkey Girl

 Little Reese is blonde haired and blue eyed. Which is completely mesmerizing to me. I could stare at that pretty little face of hers for always. Well, unless she's crying. Cause then its back to Grandma she goes. But Reesey came over one day. And had no socks (to be fair she probably did have socks somewhere - we just couldnt find them). So being the creative Grandma she is, my mother put little gloves on her feet. She looked SO ridiculous. But even with her little monkey feet, this baby girl is quite darling. She's just a beautiful kid.

Late Dec. 23 - The tale of the t-shirt...

Once upon a time a Christmas present was needed. The people searched high and low and wracked their brains for the perfect idea. But nothing seemed just right. That is until, one Brandon Hearty, told a wonderful tale of a dream saying that was seen on a locker and suggested it could be put on a t-shirt. 

This sparked such excitement in the people. 

They became so enraptured with the idea of making t-shirts.

Such a simple idea. But so very perfect. And if one t-shirt could be made, why not more?

The more they thought of the idea, the more enamored with it they became.

T-shirts. Wonderful, unique, group t-shirts.

Nothing says you love the moments you share together like matching t-shirts.

So despite the late hour, they went to their nearest Superstore and picked out t-shirts of all colors. They tried to remember to include everyone that was near and dear to their hearts. Especially since the last Season oriented t-shirts (Summer Fun 2007) had left a few people feeling excluded. 

Original Summer Fun 2007 Members
Maikal, Soren, Matt, Ryan, Melissa, Stefanie, Alison

(But even with such forethought a few people were forgotten and their shirts made a separate day).

As they drove they brainstormed what to put on their t-shirts.

"Mamma I Hungey" (a wonderful 2010 christmas saying) got vetoed almost instantaneously.

Around eleven o'clock at night they arrived in Magrath and began to make the t-shirts. The Baby Seal shirts for the christmas presents. And Winter Festivus 2010 for the group.

The group worked hard. They exacto'd out stencils (some with greater skill than others *cough I really suck at exacto knives cough*), ironed stencils, painted stencils - all with the promise of fun t-shirts nigh at hand. It got late and they continued to work. Parents phoned wondering where their children were and if they were ever coming back. But the people were tireless... ok maybe not tireless - but they continued.

Treats were made - no bake cookies.

Finally management called for an end. Twelve or thirteen t-shirts had been made. With still three to four to go. So with no-bake cookies in hand the people set out to their beds - waiting for the day when all the t-shirts would be complete and the greatly anticipated Winter Festivus shirts could be finally worn.

That day came...

And being a total photo junkie - I made Matt and Tiffany pose for pictures in front of the Christmas tree... As the entire family stood behind commenting. Poor Matty's smile was criticized for not being more enthusiastic.

But with the addition of Kaleb - it beamed.

Everyone commented on how to achieve a Christmasy ambiance. 

A maglite and silver bowl were all it took to set the mood.

I just love Nicole and Matt's faces in these. And the fact that I appear pigeon-toed in the first photo. Thats awkward.

But all good things must come to an end.

Sometimes I almost feel bad for Matt. Cause he really hates having his photo taken. And he happens to be sistered with someone who would paparazzi him to death if given the option.

All joking aside - Matt was for real mad at me for the rest of the night because I made him take so many photos. He'll thank me later though for documenting his life. 

The only disappointment of the t-shirts?

The fact that we had everyone together, wearing their t-shirts and we didnt get a group shot. 

It kills me inside a little bit. 

And yes... Lindsay and I made Ryder a Winter Festivus shirt and Katie and Reese shirts with the Winter Festivus logo (a snowflake) on it. I love matching shirts.

(Note: Not everyone received a Winter Festivus shirt - but it doesnt mean we dont love you)

Tuesday is a Yellow day

My mother was very excited to show the grandkids tricks off to me. She got very excited and told me that I had to come listen to Ryder read. Because yes, my little nephew is learning to read. I cant believe he's almost six. Its surreal that he's growing up. Besides the point. Grandma called over the kids and Ryder began reading a little work book that Lindsay made when she was learning to write. It was pretty darling. Katie would "read" alongside Ryder. Of course when it came to the color part she was good. Or the pictures of the things that could be that color. The visual cues helped. But she kept saying every color was a Friday "Friday is a purple day. Friday is a green day..." It was very cute. Ryder and Katie reading aloud kinda blows my mind. I hope that they learn to love reading. When I think about it, I'm pretty sure that I love to read so much because my mother would read aloud to each of us children every night. For hours on end. Each of us kids had a book and if we were quiet and didnt fight, we got to listen to someone else's book. I like that about my mom. And its not until just recently that I realize what a big thing that was. Good thing grandma is around to pass the tradition on to the grandkids. Cause I dont quite have the patience for more than like one children's book at a time.

2010 In Reverse

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

 SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

JULY

JUNE

MAY

APRIL

MARCH

 FEBRUARY

JANUARY