Graduation

My mom graduated last night.  This wasn't a higher education thing, and she didn't really get a diploma. But it was a class of sorts.

She graduated with one year of sobriety.

Our family has a history of drinking.  Much of that history involves drinking way too much.  It may have started before my great grandfather George, but he is the oldest family member I can think of that had the problem.

George was a clown.  That isn't an insult.  He was actually a professional clown by trade.  Like painted face and prat falls.  He had a larger than life personality from what I remember.  Every room he entered felt a little smaller because his personality stretched from wall to wall.  He loved to laugh loudly and tell jokes.  He was also a mean, ornery drunk with a bit of a temper that didn't know the definition of too much.

In a lot of ways my mom and grandpa have both emulated his personality.  You know when they're in a room. They have a joke for every situation and only one volume, loud.  They also have a bit of a short fuse and have been known to fly off the handle at times.  One thing that my mom also inherited is drinking.

I'm not going to go into all the tell-tale signs of her alcoholism because this post isn't about that.  I just know there have been times that I was embarrassed of her drinking.  There were times when I worried what she would do to herself.  There were times when I was glad that my wife and children weren't around to witness some of her darker places.

One other character trait that has been passed down from generation to generation in our family is our hard-headedness and our absolute need to always be right. It can make some family functions seem like a war, but I'd like to think this has had a little bit to do with her success over the past year.

Now that she has come out the other side of a year of sobriety, I couldn't be more proud of her.  Her graduation included her group talking all about how she inspired them.  They talked about how big her personality is and how full of humor she is.  They talked about how big her heart is.  And I saw that in the relatively short time (compared to how long I've known her), they've recognized everything that I love about her.

I'll say the same thing here that I told her last night. I know that much of her humor, like mine, comes from how we deal with pain in our lives. It's our coping mechanism. I'm glad she has that to cope instead of alcohol. I'm glad she doesn't have to experience her grandchildren through a fog. I know she isn't perfect, but she also admits that and is always working on just bettering herself. And my daughters are lucky that they'll only really know the sober version of their grandma. They'll only see her as the loud, funny and admittedly crazy woman that so many people can't help but love.

I love my mom. I'm proud of all she's accomplished in this past year and all she'll accomplish from this point forward.

Daddy Daughter Days

Back again with another Daddy Daughter Day.

The girls and I had a very busy day, so I'll just get right to it.

This is Grace with one of Erin's stuffed animals.  His name is W.G. Snuffy Walden after the guy who composed all the music for The West Wing.  This is actually true.  As you can tell, she is saying "Eye" here.

We believe in excellent dental hygiene in our house.  Whenever they see me brushing my teeth, the girls run up to the sink and say "Teeeeeth!"  They then "brush" theirs too.  Although Grace almost always ends up brushing the bathtub or closet doors.

I try to make special meals for them on Thursdays.  This was French Toast made with sourdough wheat bread and strawberries.  I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but I make a mean French Toast.  I know what you're wondering, what makes it so mean?  Well it has been known to insult you while also pouring powdered sugar in your gas tank.

"Daw done.  Ow-ool"

Time for Mother Goose on the Loose.  Ana was very social during this round.  She was going up to other kids and talking to them.  She went to the front of the room to help with the book for the day that they know and love (I Dream of an Elephant).  And Grace just chilled with dad.

Nap Time.  Day Game.  Matt Cain.  Giants Win!

Ana found one of my Giants hats and put it on just like this.  Seriously don't know how I'm ever going to say no to that face.

Oh and then there's Grace in a Panda hat for good measure.

We went down to my brother's house because it was his wife's birthday yesterday.  I put the girls in their Giants outfits that she bought for them.  She wants those to exist for every age.  I agree.  There was all sorts of family there.  We ate too much good food.  The girls got to see their cousin.  Ana tried to climb into her bassinet to see her and give her a baba.  Grace pulled out all the stuffed animals and blankets and piled them up on a bouncer.  It was a great afternoon/evening.

Bonus:  Going to start a new website: Texts from This Morning (from a toddler).  Going to be huge.

That's all for this week.  You're officially cut-off from entering my contest as of today, so sorry to anyone who didn't sign up.  I'll be announcing the winner on Sunday.  See you then.