A Long Time Coming

{I officially regret suggesting that we take our pictures in the shade, as you can tell from the shadow-y camouflage .}

Tuesday was one of the best days for our families ever - - - Graduation!! And because Noah is a man who does not like to have attention brought to him, I won't tell you how proud of him I am.

I won't tell you how I couldn't keep myself from crying when I saw him march into Madison Square Garden in his graduation robes.

I won't tell you how I had a ginormous smile from ear to ear all day long.

I won't tell you how I watched him study for endless hours and still not let the stress of school walk through the door with him into our home.

I won't tell you how I know he has sacrificed so much to make sure that his family was well cared for and happy.

I won't tell you the number of hours he spent holding a sleeping baby while studying.

I won't tell you how he scored me a free gold tooth and three fillings from NYU.

I won't tell you how grateful I am to his parents for raising such a wonderful man.

I won't tell you that he is the smartest man that I know, and that he is the most enjoyable person to talk with.

I won't tell you that he inspires me to be a better person and mother.

I won't tell you that I love him so much, and that I love that we can check off another item on Life's To Do List.

And Just Like That (now I snap my fingers) - - - He is Dr. Shafer, and we are done with dental school, moving from NYC and on to the promising city of Albuquerque.

The change is so immediate.

Just last week I was still in the zone. I was still trying to kill time at the park with three busy little boys when Noah had a dawn to dusk day at school. I can't say that those days will be missed. They have made me tired, and I am ready to move on to new experiences and challenges in life.

But the nostalgic rememberer in me will always look back on these days with tenderness. Two of our babies were born here. Some of the best friendships we have were made here. We have been able to experience such uniqueness in the Big City. We have eaten some delicious food here (mmmmm........mmmmm.......fooooooodddddd), seen crazy street dancing, and every site that we could. Though difficult at times, our life has been very happy and very blessed.

To quote a song Noah and I like, "Two of us together, we can do anything - Baby."

And it's true.

I'm THAT Kind of Girl

• Eats snacks from the store before I pay for them. I have been known to peruse the aisles of Wal-mart with a freshly opened bag of Twizzlers or a box of Milk Duds.
• Makes cookies with my kids and eats just as much cookie dough as they do.
• Thinks her kids are the smartest, most adorable, and charming kids on the market.
• Can't stand to stay home all day. I like to go somewhere everyday, even if it is just to the park and back.
• Easily entertained by reality TV. It's the Nosey-Rosey within that is fed by watching strangers do normal, everyday things. I favor "16 and Pregnant" and "The City."
• Suffers from boughts of "Mom Guilt" ranging from worrying about not giving each child enough attention to whether or not they are eating healthily enough. I have also been known to experience aniticipatory guilt that may come if one of them ends up with a severe case of hoarding (brought on by the TLC reality show called Buried Alive: Hoarding)
• Sings loudly in the car to Blind Melon "No Rain" and is sure that my singing is just as good as Whitney Houston.
• Likes to make things: just today I made a pair of shorts for Calvin out of an old shirt of Noah's. I have to say they are pretty cute.
• Loves to tell a joke. Have you ever heard this one: What did the bra say to the hat???? You go on a head, and I will cover these two. (go ahead and laugh, it's soooo funny)
• Misses my family in Tennessee so much sometimes that it makes me cry.
• Wants to do something memorable in my life. I want to do something amazing. I am just not sure what it is just yet.

Grad Alley

One of my biggest complaints with NYU has been their lack of activities for families. Now listen, I totally get it - - - it's a big city school, and most of it's students are singles living it up. But, we happen to be a family, so I naturally would like some family stuff. I figure they have charged us enough money so surely they could throw an occasional party our way.

Luck descended on us this past week. Yes, yes, it's true. We (meaning every single Shafer in our family) go to go to Grad Alley. They block off a bunch of blocks, give you a bracelet, and they let you enjoy a carnival.

We had fun just going into the city and wandering around. We got free hot dogs, cotton candy, and falafel. So, what more could you ask for??????? Ummmm, well, according to Calvin, maybe a ride or two. I guess just walking from one free food booth to another and then picking up a reusable shopping bag with NYU's logo isn't as much fun for him.

Lady Liberty actually shrunk and hung around so that the grads could take their picture with her. She's so nice.

And this is what it looks like to be as tall as me and look up and see Noah. Yep, one might call that my perspecitve. Plus, Wyatt is always cute. Always.

And this is Hulk. And he is strong. And he is green. And Calvin took this picture.

Noteworthy Items

• I had a busy week trying to restructure my cleaning schedule. *YAWN* You will be thrilled to know that laundry days have moved from Monday and Thursday to Tuesday and Friday. So, if you need a pair of shorts that look like something Hulk would wear, then you will have to wait until they are laundered on either Tuesday or Friday.
• This is what the Leprechauns did to my children on St. Patrick's Day. I wish those crazy leprechauns would have taken into account that Wyatt's fair skin clings to every single little stain for days.

• Pepperidge Farms Garlic Bread means business. I am still using my Big Red to get rid of that leftover halitosis.
• This is our Co-Op. We take turns watching kids once a month so that Noah and I can go on dates. I am going to miss our little co-op. They really are fun. ( I bet you would like to know what they are watching, and I'll tell you - - - they are watching a brief lecture on The Benefits of Using Rubrics in Assigning Scores to Thesis Statements. They are very studious. Kidding! They are eyeballs deep into Phineas and Ferb. )
• I am worried that I am losing my humor. I had a friend once that claimed that his Dad used to be funny, but had gone completely serious by the time he hit 35. I sure don't want that hanging over my head. So, I have been trying to tell more jokes to exercise my funny skills. I have also been watching more America's Funniest Home Videos just to keep it fresh.
• We are packing up and heading west to Albuquerque at the end of June. Yep, Noah has gone out and brought home the bacon. He has signed a contract, and we are scheduled to be New Mexicans by the end of the summer. My anxiety about the future has subsided and now I am mostly just feeling excitement for the future and sadness about leaving All That Is New York behind.
• This is Wyatt's Favorite Song performed for you by The Shafer Trio. enjoy

He's A Hip-Sitter Now

And A Cutie Pa-Tootie, too!

Wyatt-isms

During the "business" portion of Family Home Evening, each member of the family takes a moment to discuss what "business" they have. Noah and I basically coordinate our schedules. Calvin and Wyatt are usually either running around the room or fighting. Needless to say, it is still a little baffling to them just what their "business" is.

This week, when asked what his business was, Wyatt responded, "Uhhhhh, puppies."

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What do you mean you can't see the similarities in Wario (Ninetendo character) and Wyatt? Clearly, Wyatt is wearing green shoes (okay, so they are camo slippers, but they are green), overalls (hey, don't tell him that my apron is not a pair of overalls, he would be devastated), and a yellow Wario hat (fine. it's a khaki, plaid hat that is 10 times too big).

Dress up at our house is a bit of a stretch at times. I maintain my opinion; however, that it is not how closely the clothes look like your dress up character, but rather, your Mom's ability to convince you that they resemble what you need.

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What I heard Calvin whispering in Edith Pack's ear, while his brother Wyatt had excused himself to use the bathroom:

"Wyatt said if you paid him 25 cents he would let you see his poop."

First:

Ewww.

Secondly:

I admire his entrepreneurial spirit. Noah and I now rest assured that he won't have to struggle financially in life.

A Love Affair to Remember

{This picture has nothing to do with the post, except that I am sure that I am thinking about peeps and also how old my eyes are getting.}

I remember to love Peeps every year, every Easter. And for some reason, this passionate love affair was in full swing this year. I could feel them yelling at me in the grocery store everyday. And they have never yelled so loud as they did tonight when they were on clearance.

I know that every package, no matter the color or shape, tastes the same. Yet, I still agonize over the choices:

Pink? (I am a girl)

Blue? (There are mostly boys in my family)

Yellow? (They are so springy and classic, thus embodying Easter the best)

Orange? (I am from Tennessee)

Purple? (Ahhh, no way, let's be honest, purple peeps are not as good as any other color)

Then, birds or bunnies??????

I must choose bunnies. I cannot resist a classic bunny. It must have been the first peep I had ever eaten, else why would I so readily cling to a bunny shape.

Wyatt likes the blue birds. He is like his Mamma. We lova somma peeps. He likes to take an entire row and eat it horizontally, back and forth, until his row is all gone, except for the colored sugar on his finger tips.

I like to eat the eyes first, then the nose, and then each appendage one at a time.

Just tonight I dug in the clearance bin at the store and found my half off box of peeps. Then i found a new beauty - - - a dark chocolate covered Peep.

Poor guy didn't last too long.