Growing up with a father from Wisconsin, you constantly hear about 3 things: snow, cheese, and the Green Bay Packers.

So, my whole life I thought I was a Packer fan. But in August 2008, Packer quarterback Brett Favre signed with the NY Jets (and later to the MN Vikings). I  realized I was actually a Brett Lorenzo Favre fan. Screw the Pack.

I am a huge fan for many reasons, but it has very little to do with football.

Of course he is one of the most amazing quarterbacks of all time, but come on guys, this isn’t ESPN, it’s a mom blog. I’m not here to rattle off sports statistics.

As a mom with 2 boys (and a woman with a heart), it goes much deeper than that. I already know Morris and Bronson like sports and it is inevitable that they will look up to an athlete. I hope as my boys get older they will respect and appreciate Brett Favre not only for his athletic greatness, but for at least one of the following:

He’s passionate about what he does. The average career in the NFL is 3.5 seasons according to the NFLPA. Brett just completed his 19th season in the League. He has even retired twice and came back to the game.

He’s a family man. His wife Deanna (his college sweetheart) is often seen at the games. He constantly mentions how she is such a driving force in his life. They have 2 daughters, Brittany (21) and Breleigh (10).

He’s honest. He always tells it like it is and is very candid. He commands his press conferences/interviews with his Southern humor and charm.

He’s humble. He’s a gracious winner….and loser. Credit is given to his teammates and opponents. I am amazed to see how much time he spends at the end of a game hugging the opposing team. You can even see him chatting up the other quarterback and coaches for extended periods of time. 

He has an amazing work ethic. I already see how young kids want instant gratification with little time or effort put in. He holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback at 285 games!!! Who in the world plays 285 games straight? That’s more amazing than having perfect attendance all 12 years of school. Brett is known for triumphing amid adversity. Some of his best games were played while seriously injured or coping with personal tragedy (such as the passing of his father, his mother's home loss during Hurricane Katrina, and his wife's battle with breast cancer).

I have grown up with and gone to college with many guys that played in the NFL and they all have nothing but nice things to say about Brett Favre. In any profession, the opinion of your co-workers goes a long way.

But the other day, I had the opportunity to meet this great man and now I can voice my opinion.

My friend Gayle got tickets to see Brett (we’re on a 1st name basis now) on the Tonight Show and invited me to attend with her. After the show, we’re escorted to the Green Room. When Brett comes out, I feel a sense of calm. I forget he’s one of the greatest football players and feel like I’m back in high school. He’s so humble and down to earth, I’m taken back to my high school days after the game. It’s like he just came out of the locker room and I still have my cheer leading uniform on. I almost blurt out, “should we head to McDonald’s or Taco Bell?”

He's so gracious and charming. He was visiting LA to take his daughter to see Miley Ray Cyrus and is traveling with his mother-in-law and Priest, both of which we meet. I can easily relate to their humble down home attitude. They're from Mississippi and I'm from Georgia, instant connection! lol. 

After conversation and picture taking, his Priest orders me to turn my back to Brett (I thought the Priest was gonna do some kind of Catholic ritual since Brett had just taken a photo with me, to wash away all the bad sins or something...lol). But I feel something pressing on my shoulder, and it's Brett autographing my jersey!!!!!!!! I joked with the Priest that I thought he was about to bless me or something and he said, "I just did."

And he was right. It was such a blessing and a joy to meet Brett and see that he is everything and more that I thought he would be. And I hope our 15 minute interaction has inspired him to come back for his 20th season in the NFL and win Super Bowl 2011!!!

By now, we realize that tattoos are mainstream. They're not just for truckers and Hell's Angels.

Tats are cool.

Moms are letting the world know we are proud to be parents and getting inked up with our kid's names.

Moms with tats are waaaaaay cool.

Check out these celeb moms and their kiddie tats:

Heidi Klum has her husband, Seal's name and the first initial of her children on her forearm.

Julia Roberts has the name of her 3 children on her lower back.

Angelina Jolie has the geographical coordinates where her children were born or where she adopted them.

...and a host of others, all very meaningful to her. AJ rocks!

Victoria Beckham surprisingly has many tattoos with various meanings. She has hubby, David Beckham's initials on left wrist; five stars representing herself, her three sons, and her husband, on lower back; Hebrew text, from the Song of Songs, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine," on neck and upper back, and the date she and her husband first had sex on her wrist.

When I was a freshman in college, I got my first tattoo....it hurt.

A couple months later, I pierced my upper right ear lobe....it hurt.

About a year after that, I pierced my navel....it hurt.

Notice a pattern?

Finally, I discovered the joys of shopping and my rebellious stage ended.

Speaking of shopping, the other day I decided I deserved a new necklace and ventured to a local jewelry store. As I admire the  baubles and trinkets in the window, I am subliminally beckoned towards a colorful yet classy storefront....hmm, a tattoo place.

It caught my eye because my neighborhood is pretty cookie cutter, entertainment industry professionals or white pickett fence families. I'm basically the riff-raff of my hood.

I wander in and meet Howard Teman. I have no idea I'm talking to a guy that has tatted numerous rockers and celebs. He graciously answers all my questions and even tries to entertain Bronson with the tattoo needles. Just kidding....about the needles.

I had been wanting to get a tattoo for a while and after chatting with Howard, he made me feel really comfortable and patiently helped create just what I wanted. Besides, a tattoo was much cheaper than a diamond pendant.

So, here's the deal. It had been about 12 years since I last got a tattoo. I figured in that time span, surely modern technology had revolutionized the tattoo industry and it was now a painfree procedure. I watched as a young female was relaxing while Howard finished up her 3 hour long tattoo that covered half her lower back. She didn't have a complaint in the world. She happily invited me over to admire her new tat. It was cool.

My turn. So far the procedure was still the same.

-pick your design

-stencil it onto your body (sort of like those wash off tats kids get at birthday parties)

-fill it in with the permanent ink (and needle)

Easy enough. Howard showed me the new needle and sterile equipment. He throws some James Brown on (because I said I wanted to hear somthing funky, ok, I was thinking more along the lines of Snoop, but whatever). Then it happens....I realize modern technology has not changed a dayum thing with the pain of the needle. It probably doesn't help that I chose the wrist, the body part loaded with sensitive nerves.

I instantly wonder how the previous customer sat through 3 hours of this...oh, I'm later informed she took 2 Vicodin prior....NICE. Where's my painkillers?!!? Luckily I pop an Alleve that my sister had. More for peace of mind, because in that short time span, it really didn't do jack. lol

Nonetheless, Howard is great assuring me that I'm doing well and earns extra points with me when he says "women definitely take the pain better than men....especially moms." Oh yeah!!

Finally we're done. Here's the finished product:

I'm not in the Mob. It says "Mo" and "B"-the nicknames for my sons.

Howard is making sure my pimp smack reflex isn't activated.

The artist at work.

OOOOOH....I told ya'll it hurt. Some places more than others. Forgot about the ulna and radial nerves. 8 years in the medical profession for nothing!

If you're in Cali, make sure you go see Howard. He's funny, nice, has great prices, lets you pick your own music to relax to, doesn't moan and grown if you change your tat design/font a zillion times....and didn't call me a crybaby not once!

Sometimes going to extreme measures with kids is necessary. On occasion, simple answers carry very little weight. Kids need a detailed dramatic picture to get through their hard heads.

Example:

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: Because I asked you not to....(he takes it out but does it again 2 minutes later)

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: I don't want you to choke...(he takes it out but does it again 2 minutes later)

Me: Mo, please don't put those legos in your mouth.

Mo: Why?

Me: Because they can get stuck in your throat, close off your esophagus, put a strain on your bronchial tubes, then I have to call 911, find a babysitter for your brother while we rush you to the hospital, spend hours driving in circles trying to find a parking place. Then you will have to get numerous painful shots, you will probably start bleeding, blood will gush out everywhere, ruining your new favorite Star Wars shirt, get all gross in your hair, we'd have to wash your hair (and I know how much you hate that) and you could DIE!!!!!!

He spits the legos out and hasn't put one in his mouth since.

Sometimes you have to go to extreme measures. 

Happy Valentines's Day!

I turned my back for a minute (how many times have you heard that one) and Bronson grabbed a box of chocolates from the counter and went to town!

This is pretty good.

Let me try another one.

Just one more

Mommy's not even looking...hee hee.

Uh-oh. Busted.

Best dinner ever! Thanks mom.

"When you are in Love you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams."-Dr. Seuss

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller

Happy Valentine's Day.

Since I have 2 boys, people are always asking if they have similar personalities. Yes and no.

They are both Gemini. They have a 4 year age difference, but their birthdays are 2 weeks apart.

The easiest way to put it into perspective is this:

Mo (Morris) has the same bday as Naomi Campbell.

B (Bronson) has the same bday as Angelina Jolie.

Mo: Very intense and emotional. He's meticulous and an extreme perfectionist. He is ultra competitive in everything he does and doesn't like to be 2nd best in anything. When he's happy, it's almost as if he's drunk. When he's angry, his jugular vein bulges. He needs attention, but doesn't neccesarily have to be the center of attention at gatherings. He has a quiet confidence and always surveys a situation or circumstance before taking action. Gets bored easily, especially when he's not challenged. He's very protective of people he loves and has a passion for fighting and being physical, although he is rarely the aggressor. Loves the ladies, girls, females, etc...

B: Very carefree and laid back. He adapts well to change and goes along for the ride easily. He loves to laugh and play, often times just by himself. He is extremely independent and does the best when he's just left alone to do his own thing. His favorite activity is eating. He always has food in his hand or mouth. He loves to laugh and thinks everything is funny. He will sit down quietly and read books or do puzzles. He has a pretty good attention span and doesn't get bored with repetivie tasks. Very sweet, fun loving, and happy among loved ones, but cautious and quiet around unfamiliar faces.

We'll see what happens over the next few years. Otherwise, I'm content with my little Naomi and little Angelina. :-)

When Morris was in preschool, some parents put together a laminated placemat as an end of year momento for the students. Even though Morris has parted from his preschool comrades, he still enjoys using the placemat at mealtime.

One night at dinner he requested it and was occupied so nicely having "conversations" with all his buddies.

Look at all the nice smiling faces from Mo's preschool days.

Little did I know what my "sweet" Mo was up to.

The school owner and teachers got a heavy dose of Mo's artistic skills.

Teacher Carolyn was spared "because she likes Brett Favre." (That's my boy!)

No mercy!

At least he's loyal. No Sharpie makeover for himself or his preschool girlfriends, Samantha and Devin.