If you'd like more entertainment from the nether regions, go over and read about our Dr. 90210 watching experience.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2007
Dude, you woke me up!
I love my husband, really I do. Sometimes though, usually in bed at night, I'd just like to smother him with the pillow. Usually about the time his snoring keeps me from going to sleep. Last night was a whole different story though, Gman woke me up with a FART. You know, tooting, passing gas, blowing wind, cutting the cheese, let 'er rip. Yes, it was SO loud that it woke me up. It sounded like a gun shot. It had my adrenaline racing. Really, what did you eat man?! He'd have won this contest hands (pants?) down!
Friday, August 24, 2007
My Honda Odyssey--Mom-mobile extrodinaire
Dear Van of Destiny,
I have to admit, I wasn't quite ready sign up for driving you. I used to make fun of people who drive minivans. I declared "I will not, under any circumstances drive one." Just like my declaration that my children would never watch Barney that has fallen to the wayside and I realize you both make my life easier even if you are sometimes annoying. The final straw, four kids. Even our last SUV couldn't haul us all at one time and forget bringing along friends!
So why did I pick you out of all the minivans in the world? First, your Honda cousins have never steered us wrong. The Civics and Accords that came before you were always there for me, always ready to go whenever I needed them. Reliable is the first thing I needed in my vehicle of choice. Second, Gman was drawn in by your cool (for a minivan) features. The remote sliding doors, the cargo net in the back, all those cup holders, the rear outlets for gadgetry and don't forget the DVD player. It doesn't hurt that around here it seems everyone drives on of your siblings, on our street alone there are 5 Odysseys and if they aren't driving you they are driving your cousins, there is a Honda in almost every driveway which leads me to believe that people like me drive you (as much as I hate to be a conformist, this is one of those times I'll go along with the crowd even if it did get Gman surrounded by police thinking he'd stolen you). Finally, the price was right. Honda was offering a sweet lease deal on you and we couldn't pass it up and even after the lease was up we decided to keep you, we know you'll be with us for over a hundred thousand low-maintenance miles.
I do wish sometimes you could morph yourself into a new color, really the gray is getting old. My other complaint, what is up with the radio controls on the steering wheel that sometimes change the channel and sometimes the volume. Keeping me guessing? Same with the gas gauge, really should it be telling me you are empty when there is still a quarter of a tank--is that you trying to get me to quit living on the edge?
So, van of destiny, thanks for the last three years. School, work, soccer, ice skating, camping, and long trips to grandma's house you've been there for us through it all. Thanks for never making me wonder if you are going to start or if I am going to get stranded somewhere. I appreciate the fact you are always there for me even when we pack you to the tail-lights with people and things. I hope you appreciate that GMan lets me park you inside every night so you don't have to face the elements. I'll try to get the kids to be a little neater but you know how that goes. I'll also try to get you to the car wash a little more often, I know you like to look your best inside and out.
Love,
Maven
Have your own car story to tell? Join in the Blog Blast love fest, write your own letter to your car today and send the link over to Parent Bloggers (parentbloggers@gmail.com) to be entered to win one of FIVE circle bags in conjunction with Ask Patty. If you register at Ask Patty the women friendly car people give you additional chances to win stuff and I know you are all about winning stuff so go check it out. The Ask Patty site was reviewed on Cool Mom picks last year and is debuting CarBlabber.
I have to admit, I wasn't quite ready sign up for driving you. I used to make fun of people who drive minivans. I declared "I will not, under any circumstances drive one." Just like my declaration that my children would never watch Barney that has fallen to the wayside and I realize you both make my life easier even if you are sometimes annoying. The final straw, four kids. Even our last SUV couldn't haul us all at one time and forget bringing along friends!
So why did I pick you out of all the minivans in the world? First, your Honda cousins have never steered us wrong. The Civics and Accords that came before you were always there for me, always ready to go whenever I needed them. Reliable is the first thing I needed in my vehicle of choice. Second, Gman was drawn in by your cool (for a minivan) features. The remote sliding doors, the cargo net in the back, all those cup holders, the rear outlets for gadgetry and don't forget the DVD player. It doesn't hurt that around here it seems everyone drives on of your siblings, on our street alone there are 5 Odysseys and if they aren't driving you they are driving your cousins, there is a Honda in almost every driveway which leads me to believe that people like me drive you (as much as I hate to be a conformist, this is one of those times I'll go along with the crowd even if it did get Gman surrounded by police thinking he'd stolen you). Finally, the price was right. Honda was offering a sweet lease deal on you and we couldn't pass it up and even after the lease was up we decided to keep you, we know you'll be with us for over a hundred thousand low-maintenance miles.
I do wish sometimes you could morph yourself into a new color, really the gray is getting old. My other complaint, what is up with the radio controls on the steering wheel that sometimes change the channel and sometimes the volume. Keeping me guessing? Same with the gas gauge, really should it be telling me you are empty when there is still a quarter of a tank--is that you trying to get me to quit living on the edge?
So, van of destiny, thanks for the last three years. School, work, soccer, ice skating, camping, and long trips to grandma's house you've been there for us through it all. Thanks for never making me wonder if you are going to start or if I am going to get stranded somewhere. I appreciate the fact you are always there for me even when we pack you to the tail-lights with people and things. I hope you appreciate that GMan lets me park you inside every night so you don't have to face the elements. I'll try to get the kids to be a little neater but you know how that goes. I'll also try to get you to the car wash a little more often, I know you like to look your best inside and out.
Love,
Maven
Have your own car story to tell? Join in the Blog Blast love fest, write your own letter to your car today and send the link over to Parent Bloggers (parentbloggers@gmail.com) to be entered to win one of FIVE circle bags in conjunction with Ask Patty. If you register at Ask Patty the women friendly car people give you additional chances to win stuff and I know you are all about winning stuff so go check it out. The Ask Patty site was reviewed on Cool Mom picks last year and is debuting CarBlabber.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
My beautiful flowers
Hey, I am not completely telephonically challenged, I managed to get the picture off my cell phone, into my e-mail and saved on my PC. Not bad for a mornings work.
Again, big, wet, sloppy kisses to Gman who totally rocks!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Another reason Gman rocks
It has been a long couple of weeks. I haven't been sleeping again. The stress of school starting and trying to accomplish the 1ooo and 1 things I've committed myself (or us t0) has been taking a toll. Then there is work--its work, enough said. Today I got beautiful lillies (and if I were tech savvy enough to get a picture OFF my phone I'd show them to you) from Gman, just because. What a guy, serious husband points there hun. Love ya!
He even read a book and wrote about it for me this week, serious stuff at our house!
He even read a book and wrote about it for me this week, serious stuff at our house!
Friday, August 3, 2007
It only takes one person
I went to a training program this evening for a youth program that we have at our church. The National organization is The Logos Ministry. As training goes I have to say it was one of the best I've ever attended--it didn't feel like training and the time flew by. It started at 5:30 on Friday afternoon the weekend we are set to go on vacation so I can honestly say that is an accomplishment! I've participated in the program for two years and can see the difference it has made in my church. The part of the program that is most appealing to me is the emphasis on adults in the church developing positive relationships with the kids in the church. I've enjoyed eating dinner with the kids and learning more about them but hadn't thought much more about it.
Tonight we saw a portion of a sermon by the founder of the program. He talked about his experience growing up in church. He was the youngest boy and didn't live up to the fine example of his three older brothers. He said no one called him by name, he was that fourth boy who was trouble. He was kicked out of Sunday School, he wouldn't have been there if he hadn't been forced by his parents, 52 weeks of the year, 2-3 times a week. When you think about it, that's a lot of time to spend somewhere that you don't want to be and they don't respect you. Finally a new pastor came. He put his arm around him and asked him to help him with something. He knew Dale's name. It was a seminal moment for the boy who went on to get a doctorate and start a youth ministry program that is now in 1500 churches across 20 denominations.
Hearing the story made me think long and hard about my relationship with the kids in my church. It also made me think about relationships that adults form with kids in general. I guess I hadn't given much thought to what my interactions with kids, especially teenagers, outside of my own kids really meant. We have a very active group of little boys in our church. I know there are days when many of us have to steel ourselves to deal with them. Hearing this story made me think I need to work harder at creating and maintaining a positive relationship with one or more of those boys. The statistic I have heard is that 8 out of 10 kids stop going to church in their teens. A time when we could all use some adult influence other than our own parents (having our niece here this week made that clear). No matter how much they love their parents and their parents love them the growing up process is not an easy one. Its a lot easier to be deal with an adult who doesn't have to love them and who they don't perceive as trying to control them.
We have very few teenagers in our congregation, many families have left to find places that engage their children. Thankfully we have this program and my kids started while they are very young. I hope that they will develop those relationships and when they are teenagers they will want to go to church to be with those people who they know care about them--even if it means getting out of bed and doing something Mom and Dad think is a good idea. It does take a village, or in this case a congregation, to raise a child.
Tonight we saw a portion of a sermon by the founder of the program. He talked about his experience growing up in church. He was the youngest boy and didn't live up to the fine example of his three older brothers. He said no one called him by name, he was that fourth boy who was trouble. He was kicked out of Sunday School, he wouldn't have been there if he hadn't been forced by his parents, 52 weeks of the year, 2-3 times a week. When you think about it, that's a lot of time to spend somewhere that you don't want to be and they don't respect you. Finally a new pastor came. He put his arm around him and asked him to help him with something. He knew Dale's name. It was a seminal moment for the boy who went on to get a doctorate and start a youth ministry program that is now in 1500 churches across 20 denominations.
Hearing the story made me think long and hard about my relationship with the kids in my church. It also made me think about relationships that adults form with kids in general. I guess I hadn't given much thought to what my interactions with kids, especially teenagers, outside of my own kids really meant. We have a very active group of little boys in our church. I know there are days when many of us have to steel ourselves to deal with them. Hearing this story made me think I need to work harder at creating and maintaining a positive relationship with one or more of those boys. The statistic I have heard is that 8 out of 10 kids stop going to church in their teens. A time when we could all use some adult influence other than our own parents (having our niece here this week made that clear). No matter how much they love their parents and their parents love them the growing up process is not an easy one. Its a lot easier to be deal with an adult who doesn't have to love them and who they don't perceive as trying to control them.
We have very few teenagers in our congregation, many families have left to find places that engage their children. Thankfully we have this program and my kids started while they are very young. I hope that they will develop those relationships and when they are teenagers they will want to go to church to be with those people who they know care about them--even if it means getting out of bed and doing something Mom and Dad think is a good idea. It does take a village, or in this case a congregation, to raise a child.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
And then we got Naked
It is Restaurant Week in Baltimore, lots of restaurants offered a 3-course Prix Fix menu for $30.07, having our niece here for the week we took advantage of the babysitter under our roof and hooked up with Es for a night out on the town. We typically don't venture into Baltimore for a night out, somehow its always seemed like a major ordeal but I think tonight might have changed our minds!
Of course being us we didn't settle on a restaurant until sometime this morning and I suggested we might need a reservation. Apparently THAT was the understatement of the century--the first three places we picked all completely booked for the evening, although at a couple there were reservations available at 4:45 and at 10PM. Finally we (meaning I just finally stopped consulting and picked one) decided to try Hawaiian fusion. We ended up at Roy's Restaurant with Es chauffeuring us in her rental SUV. We slid right up front and took advantage of valet parking. We were early (yeah, like that has ever happened before) so we took a seat at the bar and I had the most amazing Pomegranate Patron Mojito, tequila and pomegranate really what more could I want? It was truly fabulous! Finally we took our seats and since it was my day to make the decisions I threw out some wine options and naturally we all agreed on Naked Riesling. Our waiter, with the seriously Bart Simpson hairdo, laughed at us and asked about our wild night. The wine was awesome, I'll definitely need to procure some to add to my stash right along side the Running with Scissors Chardonnay.
Next it was on to dinner. I was a bit bummed with my limited selection due to my shellfish allergy. Gman was kind enough to trade me a shrimp from the appetizer plate for the best spare rib I ever had--is that love or what?! Then it was on to dinner where I enjoyed short ribs while Es and Gman had shrimp pad thai and salmon in lobster cream sauce. Then it was on to dessert molten chocolate cake that nearly made us lick our plates, in fact writing about it is making my mouth water. The whole meal was fabulous but as always the company was better. I am sure we will be heading back, we've vowed to get out more often and try new places. This one was certainly a hit!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Damn Harry Potter
I have resisted the whole Harry Potter thing. I love to read young wizards are usually not in my genre. Gman asked Es to babysit (score husband points there) early in the week so we could go see The Order of the Phoenix last night. Win-win for everyone, except perhaps Es. We get a date, the girls get some of their favorite adult company, and Es did get to be the object of their adoring attention (oh and we brought her cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory).
I think I watched one of the other HP movies on a cross country flight. I enjoyed it but wasn't sucked into the whole thing. Last night was kind of the same, except for the few times where there was a giggle going through the crowd that indicated there was more to the story than the uninitiated weren't in on. I think I've finally been bitten. I feel the need to start reading the books. Maybe not the run-out-and-buy-it-now fever that seems to be running rampant but enough curiosity to give it a go.
I think I watched one of the other HP movies on a cross country flight. I enjoyed it but wasn't sucked into the whole thing. Last night was kind of the same, except for the few times where there was a giggle going through the crowd that indicated there was more to the story than the uninitiated weren't in on. I think I've finally been bitten. I feel the need to start reading the books. Maybe not the run-out-and-buy-it-now fever that seems to be running rampant but enough curiosity to give it a go.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Mindless Summer Fun
We did a whole lot of NOTHING this weekend. Its been an intense couple of weeks, it was hotter than hades and everyone just needed some serious chillaxin'. I went to the gym, church, the farm market, and the grocery store between Friday night and this evening and those were the only times I left the house. I watched a whole lot of nothin' on TV--The Biggest Loser special editions, hours of FoodTV and Dr. 90210. My mind is officially mush.
I did make the effort to go to the farm market today and they had just picked lima beans. I LOVE fresh lima beans. I don't know why frozen ones from the store just aren't the same--but they are not. Growing up we cooked them, then when the water was mostly gone added milk and butter and ate it over white bread. I have no idea why, I just know that it was GOOD. Today I bought 5 pounds of lima beans. It is so hard to tell how much that is in terms of beans because the pods are so big. I brought them home and shelled them and shelled them and shelled them in front of the mindless TV. I cooked some and stuck a bag full in the freezer. They were delicious. Between that and the salad with fresh, halved yellow and red cherry tomatoes, a bit of fresh basil, mozarella and balsamic vinegar--it tasted like summer.
Es and her boys came over to share in the bounty. I also whipped up some homemade ice cream, it was our second batch since receiving the freezer for Christmas.
MM: Does it turn off when its done?
GM: Nope
MM: How long should it go?
GM: The instructions said 15 minutes
MM: How long has it been?
GM: I don't know
MM: So, how will you know when its done
GM: Last time I listened to it and I knew. Your Dad says it is when water comes out of the drain hole.
I did make the effort to go to the farm market today and they had just picked lima beans. I LOVE fresh lima beans. I don't know why frozen ones from the store just aren't the same--but they are not. Growing up we cooked them, then when the water was mostly gone added milk and butter and ate it over white bread. I have no idea why, I just know that it was GOOD. Today I bought 5 pounds of lima beans. It is so hard to tell how much that is in terms of beans because the pods are so big. I brought them home and shelled them and shelled them and shelled them in front of the mindless TV. I cooked some and stuck a bag full in the freezer. They were delicious. Between that and the salad with fresh, halved yellow and red cherry tomatoes, a bit of fresh basil, mozarella and balsamic vinegar--it tasted like summer.
Es and her boys came over to share in the bounty. I also whipped up some homemade ice cream, it was our second batch since receiving the freezer for Christmas.
MM: Does it turn off when its done?
GM: Nope
MM: How long should it go?
GM: The instructions said 15 minutes
MM: How long has it been?
GM: I don't know
MM: So, how will you know when its done
GM: Last time I listened to it and I knew. Your Dad says it is when water comes out of the drain hole.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
For the love of books
One of the best things about vacation was having a chance to read uninterrupted. I read in the car, in bed, on the balcony looking at the beach and it was heaven. I happened to pick up In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner from Liz's bookshelves (thanks Liz!) and started reading it, it was great so I bought a copy at the next bookstore we came across. I can't say I remember seeing the movie come out but I have it in my Netflix queue now, I hope its not a disappointment. As soon as we got back I was hungry for more. I got Little Earthquakes at the library (actually 2 copies, leaving something else I wanted on the shelf) and I finished it last night. What a great story, great characters, it brought back the new mom memories in such vivid detail it had in me tears more than once. Definitely summer reading chick lit.
Lean Mean Thirteen the next numbered Stephanie Plum book is out and I am on the waiting list at the library. I have a couple more Jennifer Weiner books to read and I am waiting for Animal, Vegetable, Mineral that Tree turned me onto as well. Of course I have to find the time to read them but I always have at least one book going, I like to relax in the bath tub at night with my book and a little lavender oil as part of my night time, beat insomnia routine. I am always fighting the desire to read rather than sleep--I know that is bad and have been trying REALLY hard not to do it.
Anyone else feel like something is missing without a book in progress and one waiting in the wings? I'd say it is the biggest difference between Gman and I, reading for pleasure is pretty much a foreign concept for him. He likes listening to books on tape/CD but actually sitting down with a book just isn't his thing. It's also one of the things that I hope the kids pick up from me, I want desperately for them to be able to enjoy and lose themselves in a good book. What is on your summer reading list? Anything that you just can't wait to dig into? Happy reading!
Lean Mean Thirteen the next numbered Stephanie Plum book is out and I am on the waiting list at the library. I have a couple more Jennifer Weiner books to read and I am waiting for Animal, Vegetable, Mineral that Tree turned me onto as well. Of course I have to find the time to read them but I always have at least one book going, I like to relax in the bath tub at night with my book and a little lavender oil as part of my night time, beat insomnia routine. I am always fighting the desire to read rather than sleep--I know that is bad and have been trying REALLY hard not to do it.
Anyone else feel like something is missing without a book in progress and one waiting in the wings? I'd say it is the biggest difference between Gman and I, reading for pleasure is pretty much a foreign concept for him. He likes listening to books on tape/CD but actually sitting down with a book just isn't his thing. It's also one of the things that I hope the kids pick up from me, I want desperately for them to be able to enjoy and lose themselves in a good book. What is on your summer reading list? Anything that you just can't wait to dig into? Happy reading!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Home Sweet (Quiet) Home
Ah, we are back home after our four-ish day road trip sans children. I think the first hour in the car we might each have mumbled a half dozen words. It was quiet, we were on the road, together in a car (not a van) and there were no car seats to be found. When we did speak half the time it was to ask each other if we were there yet, whine about it taking too long and pretending we had to pee--no, we really don't have any life without our kids.
First stop, Casa de Builder Mama. She writes about our adventures here. Although I look drunk and/0r high I really only had a couple of drinks, Lynchburg Lemonade--Yum-O! Mama and her family are something else. We had a great time hanging out, talking, eating and drinking with the whole clan. Monkey Man is so quiet compared to the two girls and there was no fighting, bliss. Liz showed off serious cooking skillz whipping up a fantastic dinner including the best cheesecake I ever ate. I was all ready to beg her to let me eat it for breakfast the next morning as well but instead she baked biscuits and sausage and egg casserole. Mmmmmmm She then showed us all around Richmond, including a stop to see her hubby and get the lowdown on the roofing situation in Richmond. It was fun to see someone really into what they do! Gman posted his pictures of our adventures here. And yes, that is Liz & I being rather irreverent in front of the Virginia War Memorial.
Stop two, Williamsburg, VA (pictures of that over at Gman's site as well). One word sums up our trip to Williamsburg HOT. It was 99 degrees, the sun was beating down and the humidity was high. Gman and I walked through the streets, took a few pictures, did a little shopping and headed out of town. I'd like to go back sometime when it isn't miserable. My mother has been dying to go for years. I am sure next time we'll have the kids and I really want to try out The Great Wolf Lodge which would certainly make up for the overdose of history. We were on our way to the beach shortly after noon.
Stop three, Virginia Beach, VA. We stayed at this hotel. Gotta say, the person who did their website has serious photoshop skills! It wasn't bad but it was pretty old and run down. The whole reason I booked us there was the availability of a king size bed--no one else seemed to have one--and the room with a jacuzzi. I love to take a bath and relax. Being able to take a soak and see the ocean was pretty much my idea of heaven. Loved the boardwalk between the hotel and the ocean, it was great for a walk in the morning as well as a night time stroll to dinner. Its not our usual family trip to the beach where things are quiet, laid back and there is little to do. I am not sure I'd want stay there for a long trip but for a day or two it was nice. We ate at Waterman's at Liz's suggestion and it was great. I was a little sad that I couldn't have seafood but I ate fish and tried to be happy about it.
So now we are back home. Last night we did nothing. Today we went back to work. I don't know what I was thinking before I left but I managed to be in meetings for all but a couple of hours today and the afternoon was 4 hours booked straight through. Tonight we cleaned up a little, I went to see my acupuncturist who declared me very relaxed, then I came home to a Gman prepared dinner (I can't remember the last time I was well and that happened!). Bless him for trying but we ate some kind of Vegan fake chicken product--eww. I guess I found the limit of my granola crunchiness! Tomorrow the children return. My mother says they are leaving around 9-9:30 tomorrow morning. Sound like they are anxious to return them?! PDQ lost her top front tooth today and I can't wait to see her. The trip was great but driving around today, alone in my minivan reminded me just how much I miss them!
First stop, Casa de Builder Mama. She writes about our adventures here. Although I look drunk and/0r high I really only had a couple of drinks, Lynchburg Lemonade--Yum-O! Mama and her family are something else. We had a great time hanging out, talking, eating and drinking with the whole clan. Monkey Man is so quiet compared to the two girls and there was no fighting, bliss. Liz showed off serious cooking skillz whipping up a fantastic dinner including the best cheesecake I ever ate. I was all ready to beg her to let me eat it for breakfast the next morning as well but instead she baked biscuits and sausage and egg casserole. Mmmmmmm She then showed us all around Richmond, including a stop to see her hubby and get the lowdown on the roofing situation in Richmond. It was fun to see someone really into what they do! Gman posted his pictures of our adventures here. And yes, that is Liz & I being rather irreverent in front of the Virginia War Memorial.
Stop two, Williamsburg, VA (pictures of that over at Gman's site as well). One word sums up our trip to Williamsburg HOT. It was 99 degrees, the sun was beating down and the humidity was high. Gman and I walked through the streets, took a few pictures, did a little shopping and headed out of town. I'd like to go back sometime when it isn't miserable. My mother has been dying to go for years. I am sure next time we'll have the kids and I really want to try out The Great Wolf Lodge which would certainly make up for the overdose of history. We were on our way to the beach shortly after noon.
Stop three, Virginia Beach, VA. We stayed at this hotel. Gotta say, the person who did their website has serious photoshop skills! It wasn't bad but it was pretty old and run down. The whole reason I booked us there was the availability of a king size bed--no one else seemed to have one--and the room with a jacuzzi. I love to take a bath and relax. Being able to take a soak and see the ocean was pretty much my idea of heaven. Loved the boardwalk between the hotel and the ocean, it was great for a walk in the morning as well as a night time stroll to dinner. Its not our usual family trip to the beach where things are quiet, laid back and there is little to do. I am not sure I'd want stay there for a long trip but for a day or two it was nice. We ate at Waterman's at Liz's suggestion and it was great. I was a little sad that I couldn't have seafood but I ate fish and tried to be happy about it.
So now we are back home. Last night we did nothing. Today we went back to work. I don't know what I was thinking before I left but I managed to be in meetings for all but a couple of hours today and the afternoon was 4 hours booked straight through. Tonight we cleaned up a little, I went to see my acupuncturist who declared me very relaxed, then I came home to a Gman prepared dinner (I can't remember the last time I was well and that happened!). Bless him for trying but we ate some kind of Vegan fake chicken product--eww. I guess I found the limit of my granola crunchiness! Tomorrow the children return. My mother says they are leaving around 9-9:30 tomorrow morning. Sound like they are anxious to return them?! PDQ lost her top front tooth today and I can't wait to see her. The trip was great but driving around today, alone in my minivan reminded me just how much I miss them!
Friday, June 1, 2007
Bad Juju
I've been fond of the bad juju sentiment since they offered it up on Gray's Anatomy. It seems like we have some seriously bad juju at our house the last few days. Nothing earth shattering just enough to plant the "what's going to happen next" seeds in my head. I am cheap, make that frugal. I am infamous for the temperature at which I keep the house in the winter (58 at night) and I hold out as long as I can during the summer before turning on the AC. Last night I'd had it, it was hot and there was some serious humidity so we shut all the windows and turned on the AC. Things were pretty steamy but I'd just finished cooking dinner and we'd just turned on the AC so I didn't think much of it. We ate dinner, watched a little TV, were in and out of the house, I could hear air moving all was well at the house of the bad juju. We went to the gym and when we came home the house felt seriously hot. Hotter than it had all day. The thermostat declared "recovery." My first thought--what the heck is it addicted to?!
I opened windows, GMan tinkered with fuses and circuit breakers and his assessment was nothing is happening with the unit outside. Yippee! I was starting to panic until I remembered we have a home warranty compliments of our fabulous realtor! Gman called and got a claim number and the people to call. Of course no answering machine last night and this morning the phone was busy all morning long. Finally he got through, the verdict--Monday morning 8-noon. Ugh. Forecast for the weekend: hot and humid, highs near 90 with lots of humidity--chance of thunderstorms. Of course it cools down on Monday.
We will be playing "stay out of the house" all weekend long.
Please someone, take the bad juju away.
Blog Blast
Okay, speaking of potentially bad love juju, the folks at eHarmony marriage (a new site that offers an online alternative to marriage counseling) and Parent Bloggers Network are sponsoring a Blog Blast today--"You know you need a date with your spouse/partner when..." The first thing that came to my mind was You know you need a date with your spouse when the only sex you are having is hallway sex, you know when you pass by each other and say "f--- you." Usually its not that bad but I know we need a date when we start to get really crabby with each other because we haven't taken any time to be Gman and Maven instead of employee, parent, Sunday School teacher, volunteer, commitee member and on and on and on. I am trying out the new eHarmony site, stop back in on June 7 to read more about our experience with the site. In addition to that we leave SHMILY notes to each other in the car, on the mirror or in the others work bag. SHMILY stands for See How Much I Love You. Finding that little reminder that someone loves you and thinking about you can really pick up your day and remind you about your romantic link to your partner. I think I first read the SHMILY story in one of the Chicken Soup books but its repeated MANY times on the internet, the link above is just one of them.
If you'd like to write your own response to the question do it today and send a link to Parent Bloggers Network at parentbloggers @ gmail.com and be entered for a chance to win $100 Amex Gift Card and $100 cash to have a special night out with your someone special!
I opened windows, GMan tinkered with fuses and circuit breakers and his assessment was nothing is happening with the unit outside. Yippee! I was starting to panic until I remembered we have a home warranty compliments of our fabulous realtor! Gman called and got a claim number and the people to call. Of course no answering machine last night and this morning the phone was busy all morning long. Finally he got through, the verdict--Monday morning 8-noon. Ugh. Forecast for the weekend: hot and humid, highs near 90 with lots of humidity--chance of thunderstorms. Of course it cools down on Monday.
We will be playing "stay out of the house" all weekend long.
Please someone, take the bad juju away.
Blog Blast
Okay, speaking of potentially bad love juju, the folks at eHarmony marriage (a new site that offers an online alternative to marriage counseling) and Parent Bloggers Network are sponsoring a Blog Blast today--"You know you need a date with your spouse/partner when..." The first thing that came to my mind was You know you need a date with your spouse when the only sex you are having is hallway sex, you know when you pass by each other and say "f--- you." Usually its not that bad but I know we need a date when we start to get really crabby with each other because we haven't taken any time to be Gman and Maven instead of employee, parent, Sunday School teacher, volunteer, commitee member and on and on and on. I am trying out the new eHarmony site, stop back in on June 7 to read more about our experience with the site. In addition to that we leave SHMILY notes to each other in the car, on the mirror or in the others work bag. SHMILY stands for See How Much I Love You. Finding that little reminder that someone loves you and thinking about you can really pick up your day and remind you about your romantic link to your partner. I think I first read the SHMILY story in one of the Chicken Soup books but its repeated MANY times on the internet, the link above is just one of them.
If you'd like to write your own response to the question do it today and send a link to Parent Bloggers Network at parentbloggers @ gmail.com and be entered for a chance to win $100 Amex Gift Card and $100 cash to have a special night out with your someone special!
Monday, May 14, 2007
So, this is "normal"?
Things are back to “normal” in our little corner of the world today. PDQs babysitter is back from sick leave and PDQ was excited to go back to her house today—thank goodness. I was a bit worried that playing with the little girl next door in the morning, spending time with the great Miss Lois and more Mommy/Daddy time was going to make a return to normalcy a bitter pill to swallow. Luckily a preemptive Thursday afternoon playdate worked wonders for reminding her how much she loves to play with her friend A at daycare. Huge sigh of relief, with crossed fingers, five more weeks until the end of the school year and we all know what could go wrong more often than not does go wrong to screw up the carefully crafted schedule.
The weekend was a relatively drama-free one from the girls, I was the instigator. Saturday morning soccer which PDQ still professes to be the best thing ever went well. She scored a goal during the scrimmage with the other team and that made her day. Then it was home where I was a serious crab. Not nearly enough sleep Friday night and a few extra hormones circulating makes for bad news. Boobah asked what seemed like a hundred times to play on the computer and I kept telling her to wait until I was done with what I was doing. After the 101st time Gman apparently told her to leave Mommy alone so she could finish what she was doing. So she followed me downstairs and says “Daddy says not to talk to you.” I told her she could talk to me but NOT to ask about the computer again until I was done. Two minutes later, Mommy? Yes Boobah? I’m going to ask you something different this time. And she did, I don’t remember what but the asking was cute and it wasn’t about the damn computer.
Finally PDQ and I rolled out to a birthday party at the bowling alley. I didn’t take a shower, threw on my gym clothes and figured I’d kill two birds with one stone since the bowling alley is across the street from the gym. Yeah, not quite. There were THIRTY kids at the bowling party. Not somewhere I felt comfortable dropping off PDQ and abandoning her. I stayed and chit-chatted with the other Kindergarten Moms while the girls bowled. I swear the one Mom has told me the same story every time I have interacted with her and I grinned and bore it yet again. I was so happy to get sprung after a mere two hours of torture. The parting gift? A bowling pin water bottle that I swear is the size of an actual pin. Where exactly do I store that?! Gman had the privilege of freeing all the candy from said pin later. The bright spot was a call from the birthday boy’s Mom later on raving about our present being the best one ever. Thank goodness, it was some foam rocket thing and I wavered about whether it would be a welcome addition but I decided to roll the dice. Score.
Yesterday we had friends for brunch that I threw together the night before. Es came bearing meat in her always overachieving way we had not just bacon but regular bacon, turkey bacon, low fat sausage, regular links, and kielbasa. No one in her circle has ever starved, just one of the things we love about her. Other than the children’s whining that they weren’t going to eat anything I cooked and my little explosion that they could starve, things were relaxing. We had a little champagne, a little of Paula Deen’s French Toast Casserole with Praline topping (which I dare say would be better with less butter) and all was right with the world. And then my dear, sweet husband played with the children outside and I took a nap. I can’t tell you the last time I snuggled deep under the covers on Sunday afternoon and actually slept, it was heaven. I woke up and could hear the girls giggling outside, apparently Gman was a criminal and they were the police who were going to track him down. Thankfully I missed his escape through the landscaping on the side of the house and only got to hear it in the re-telling. Thanks hon for a fabulous day of being you.
The weekend was a relatively drama-free one from the girls, I was the instigator. Saturday morning soccer which PDQ still professes to be the best thing ever went well. She scored a goal during the scrimmage with the other team and that made her day. Then it was home where I was a serious crab. Not nearly enough sleep Friday night and a few extra hormones circulating makes for bad news. Boobah asked what seemed like a hundred times to play on the computer and I kept telling her to wait until I was done with what I was doing. After the 101st time Gman apparently told her to leave Mommy alone so she could finish what she was doing. So she followed me downstairs and says “Daddy says not to talk to you.” I told her she could talk to me but NOT to ask about the computer again until I was done. Two minutes later, Mommy? Yes Boobah? I’m going to ask you something different this time. And she did, I don’t remember what but the asking was cute and it wasn’t about the damn computer.
Finally PDQ and I rolled out to a birthday party at the bowling alley. I didn’t take a shower, threw on my gym clothes and figured I’d kill two birds with one stone since the bowling alley is across the street from the gym. Yeah, not quite. There were THIRTY kids at the bowling party. Not somewhere I felt comfortable dropping off PDQ and abandoning her. I stayed and chit-chatted with the other Kindergarten Moms while the girls bowled. I swear the one Mom has told me the same story every time I have interacted with her and I grinned and bore it yet again. I was so happy to get sprung after a mere two hours of torture. The parting gift? A bowling pin water bottle that I swear is the size of an actual pin. Where exactly do I store that?! Gman had the privilege of freeing all the candy from said pin later. The bright spot was a call from the birthday boy’s Mom later on raving about our present being the best one ever. Thank goodness, it was some foam rocket thing and I wavered about whether it would be a welcome addition but I decided to roll the dice. Score.
Yesterday we had friends for brunch that I threw together the night before. Es came bearing meat in her always overachieving way we had not just bacon but regular bacon, turkey bacon, low fat sausage, regular links, and kielbasa. No one in her circle has ever starved, just one of the things we love about her. Other than the children’s whining that they weren’t going to eat anything I cooked and my little explosion that they could starve, things were relaxing. We had a little champagne, a little of Paula Deen’s French Toast Casserole with Praline topping (which I dare say would be better with less butter) and all was right with the world. And then my dear, sweet husband played with the children outside and I took a nap. I can’t tell you the last time I snuggled deep under the covers on Sunday afternoon and actually slept, it was heaven. I woke up and could hear the girls giggling outside, apparently Gman was a criminal and they were the police who were going to track him down. Thankfully I missed his escape through the landscaping on the side of the house and only got to hear it in the re-telling. Thanks hon for a fabulous day of being you.
Friday, May 11, 2007
What makes ME a Mom? My Mom-ness
Ever since Parent Bloggers Network announced their blog blast for Mother's Day I have been pondering what it is that makes me a Mom. At work, playing with the kids, cooking dinner, in traffic, laying in bed I've been thinking about my Mom-ness.
The first thought that comes to mind is the day my first daughter was born. I'd felt awful for weeks and attributed it to heartburn (and later found out it was HELLP syndrome). I'd suffered through daily finger sticks because of gestational diabetes. I got a call from one of the doctor's in my OB practice who said in a semi-concerned voice, we'd like you to come to the hospital to repeat some blood work, it would be good to pack your things, you might be staying. I mean, I knew it was coming, I desperately wanted to not be pregnant and not feel like hell but I was scared. Sure enough they kept me, they gave me an epidural that didn't work, they broke my water when I was 1 cm to try and get things moving, they started the mag sulfate that made me feel even worse, my husband slept while I suffered, the nice nurse left, then dawn broke, the epidural was fixed and the new OB on duty said you are having this baby NOW and 17 minutes later she joined this world. Tiny and perfect. Hearing that cry welcomed me to Mom-ness. Suffering through that first night alone in L&D still being pumped full of drugs to keep my blood pressure under control knowing that no matter how bad I felt *I* was responsible for this little life was a real eye opening experience and believe me, it was ALL I could do to keep my eyes opens. I remember being terrified to say anything to anyone because they might take her away but I couldn't believe they kept leaving her with me to nurse. I could barely hold up my own head. But I did it, there was a determination there that I'd never, ever felt before. What an introduction to the sleepless nights, worrying if the baby was breathing, worrying whether the baby was eating, worrying if the baby was pooping, worrying about the vaccinations, worrying if I was doing anything right, worrying that my parents were going to leave (and to think I'd worried that they were coming to stay for a week) and lots of worrying about going back to work. That determination, responsibility and worry all have a name-unconditional love.
We lived through infant hood--twice (well Gman gets a big gold star for living through it FOUR times)! The story I often relay about when I *really* knew I was a Mom is story of the movie, the vomit and the poncho. Boobah was a little less than two years old and I was blessedly inexperienced of taking care of sick kids. Gman once went seven years without missing a day of work because he was sick, thankfully the girls inherited his immune system--we've been asked more than once at the pediatrician's office--she goes to daycare?--when they see the very, very thin chart. She had been throwing up on and off during the week but had been 36 hours vomit free when we decided it was safe to take her to the movies with friends--her first. We get to the movies with our friends and their three young girls stair stepped between ours. We sat in the front row of the back section. Lots of room for the kids to roam if needed and room to park the stroller. I thought the fact that Boobah curling up on my lap was a good sign, maybe she'd fall asleep in my lap and I could enjoy the movie--Robots--if I remember correctly. About 3 minutes later, all hell or rather lunch, broke loose. Boobah sat up and spewed toxic waste. My pre-Mom instinct to get the hell out of the way had vanished. I did the Mom-ly thing and caught the vile red tinged chunks (because my children only puke pizza, spaghetti sauce or other tomato based products) in her little purple poncho. Those are Mom instincts pure and simple, you can't be taught that it just suddenly comes out of you born from unconditional love!
So I guess what makes me a Mom is the overwhelming sense of responsibility for everything about this little person who can't do anything for themselves. The responsibility to teach them, the keep them safe, to nourish their body and soul. And for me that comes with worry--is this babysitter good enough, will that preschool be okay, what is me going to work doing to the, do they watch too much TV, where the heck did they learn to pole dance and what will people think of THAT? As they grow the shades of responsibility change but its still about food, safety and making their way in the world. The worry changes a bit too, its not so much about what I am doing its more about what are they going to do. The other part of motherhood that has blown me away is unconsciousness of putting someone else first. Would I catch vomit by choice--no. For my kid, there was no thought, I just did it. There are lots of things that I way over think but when I just let the instincts take over I am a better Mom for all of us. I like to think of it as just letting the love do its job.
My final thought on what makes me a Mom, all the stuff I learned from the Moms who came before me and the Moms who are sharing Mom-ness with me now. I come from a long line of old ladies. I lost three great-grandmothers since 2000 they were 96, 98 and 101 and I have good memories of each of them. They endured a lot and overcame it to share their experience with three generations. My grandmothers both turned 80 in the last 4 months and are phenomenal women. They are as different as day and night and from that I've learned lots of lessons about who I want to be as a Mom and a Grandma and maybe more importantly who I don't. My mother is a force unto the universe. A working Mom role model when most Moms didn't work. I am surrounded by wonderful Moms of my generation who teach me new stuff, make me think and in the process make me a better Mom. We are teaching each other to be a Mom in a time and a place that is so different from the one we grew up in. I feel privileged to share with them in real life and in world wide web.
Tag, you are it. Join in the blog blast sponsored by Light Iris and Parent Bloggers Network and grab your chance to win a $100 Spa Finder gift certificate. Just post about what makes YOU a Mom. Send a link to your post to parentbloggers@gmail.com for your chance to win.
The first thought that comes to mind is the day my first daughter was born. I'd felt awful for weeks and attributed it to heartburn (and later found out it was HELLP syndrome). I'd suffered through daily finger sticks because of gestational diabetes. I got a call from one of the doctor's in my OB practice who said in a semi-concerned voice, we'd like you to come to the hospital to repeat some blood work, it would be good to pack your things, you might be staying. I mean, I knew it was coming, I desperately wanted to not be pregnant and not feel like hell but I was scared. Sure enough they kept me, they gave me an epidural that didn't work, they broke my water when I was 1 cm to try and get things moving, they started the mag sulfate that made me feel even worse, my husband slept while I suffered, the nice nurse left, then dawn broke, the epidural was fixed and the new OB on duty said you are having this baby NOW and 17 minutes later she joined this world. Tiny and perfect. Hearing that cry welcomed me to Mom-ness. Suffering through that first night alone in L&D still being pumped full of drugs to keep my blood pressure under control knowing that no matter how bad I felt *I* was responsible for this little life was a real eye opening experience and believe me, it was ALL I could do to keep my eyes opens. I remember being terrified to say anything to anyone because they might take her away but I couldn't believe they kept leaving her with me to nurse. I could barely hold up my own head. But I did it, there was a determination there that I'd never, ever felt before. What an introduction to the sleepless nights, worrying if the baby was breathing, worrying whether the baby was eating, worrying if the baby was pooping, worrying about the vaccinations, worrying if I was doing anything right, worrying that my parents were going to leave (and to think I'd worried that they were coming to stay for a week) and lots of worrying about going back to work. That determination, responsibility and worry all have a name-unconditional love.
We lived through infant hood--twice (well Gman gets a big gold star for living through it FOUR times)! The story I often relay about when I *really* knew I was a Mom is story of the movie, the vomit and the poncho. Boobah was a little less than two years old and I was blessedly inexperienced of taking care of sick kids. Gman once went seven years without missing a day of work because he was sick, thankfully the girls inherited his immune system--we've been asked more than once at the pediatrician's office--she goes to daycare?--when they see the very, very thin chart. She had been throwing up on and off during the week but had been 36 hours vomit free when we decided it was safe to take her to the movies with friends--her first. We get to the movies with our friends and their three young girls stair stepped between ours. We sat in the front row of the back section. Lots of room for the kids to roam if needed and room to park the stroller. I thought the fact that Boobah curling up on my lap was a good sign, maybe she'd fall asleep in my lap and I could enjoy the movie--Robots--if I remember correctly. About 3 minutes later, all hell or rather lunch, broke loose. Boobah sat up and spewed toxic waste. My pre-Mom instinct to get the hell out of the way had vanished. I did the Mom-ly thing and caught the vile red tinged chunks (because my children only puke pizza, spaghetti sauce or other tomato based products) in her little purple poncho. Those are Mom instincts pure and simple, you can't be taught that it just suddenly comes out of you born from unconditional love!
So I guess what makes me a Mom is the overwhelming sense of responsibility for everything about this little person who can't do anything for themselves. The responsibility to teach them, the keep them safe, to nourish their body and soul. And for me that comes with worry--is this babysitter good enough, will that preschool be okay, what is me going to work doing to the, do they watch too much TV, where the heck did they learn to pole dance and what will people think of THAT? As they grow the shades of responsibility change but its still about food, safety and making their way in the world. The worry changes a bit too, its not so much about what I am doing its more about what are they going to do. The other part of motherhood that has blown me away is unconsciousness of putting someone else first. Would I catch vomit by choice--no. For my kid, there was no thought, I just did it. There are lots of things that I way over think but when I just let the instincts take over I am a better Mom for all of us. I like to think of it as just letting the love do its job.
My final thought on what makes me a Mom, all the stuff I learned from the Moms who came before me and the Moms who are sharing Mom-ness with me now. I come from a long line of old ladies. I lost three great-grandmothers since 2000 they were 96, 98 and 101 and I have good memories of each of them. They endured a lot and overcame it to share their experience with three generations. My grandmothers both turned 80 in the last 4 months and are phenomenal women. They are as different as day and night and from that I've learned lots of lessons about who I want to be as a Mom and a Grandma and maybe more importantly who I don't. My mother is a force unto the universe. A working Mom role model when most Moms didn't work. I am surrounded by wonderful Moms of my generation who teach me new stuff, make me think and in the process make me a better Mom. We are teaching each other to be a Mom in a time and a place that is so different from the one we grew up in. I feel privileged to share with them in real life and in world wide web.
Tag, you are it. Join in the blog blast sponsored by Light Iris and Parent Bloggers Network and grab your chance to win a $100 Spa Finder gift certificate. Just post about what makes YOU a Mom. Send a link to your post to parentbloggers@gmail.com for your chance to win.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Mixed Blessing
My parents are coming today to help out with the kids for the next couple of days while PDQs babysitter is having surgery. Then, on Saturday they are taking the kids back home with them for the week of Spring Break. When I originally asked if they’d come out and help for a couple of days it was just part of the childcare calculus plan. When they came to visit for PDQs birthday my Mom inquired about it being Spring Break and offered to take them back home for the week. I was hesitant at first, trying to figure out why that wasn’t a good idea but couldn’t find anything other than it wasn’t part of my carefully calculated plan (and I’d miss them, a lot).
Now its here, my girls are leaving on Saturday morning and we will join them at the end of next week and enjoy a long Easter weekend with my family. This week has been seriously chaotic, there is something going on every night and some nights more than one thing, I feel like I haven’t spent nearly enough time with the girls next week and next week I will mope because I miss them. Don’t get me wrong, we have something planned for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week with only grown-ups. I have at least one small home improvement project planned (G-man—surprise!). And I am relishing the thought of not having morning time fights about getting ready or trying to keep track of anyone but myself (and maybe G-man just a tiny bit).
So the other scary part of the tale, my mother, alone in my house for 3 hours tomorrow morning and then with the kids all day on Friday. It used to make me nuts that she’d come to my house and clean. Now I’ve realized that no matter the state of cleanliness when she arrives she’ll find something to clean-up. Now I either plan a project for her or I just leave the mess to give her something to do. Still, so many hours alone gives me a small dose of anxiety. Not so bad if she could just do the cleaning but when I have to hear it its reminiscent of nails on the chalkboard. Boobah seems to be channeling her, the other day when I told her the size 3 pants didn’t fit her anymore she went upstairs and took ALL of them out of her drawers and put them in a pile to give away. She isn’t such a great help for G-man or I but when Grammy is there she follows her around like a little shadow helping out. Could we bottle that?
So, if you had a child-free week what would you do? What would you miss the most about the kids? What would you not miss at all?
Now its here, my girls are leaving on Saturday morning and we will join them at the end of next week and enjoy a long Easter weekend with my family. This week has been seriously chaotic, there is something going on every night and some nights more than one thing, I feel like I haven’t spent nearly enough time with the girls next week and next week I will mope because I miss them. Don’t get me wrong, we have something planned for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week with only grown-ups. I have at least one small home improvement project planned (G-man—surprise!). And I am relishing the thought of not having morning time fights about getting ready or trying to keep track of anyone but myself (and maybe G-man just a tiny bit).
So the other scary part of the tale, my mother, alone in my house for 3 hours tomorrow morning and then with the kids all day on Friday. It used to make me nuts that she’d come to my house and clean. Now I’ve realized that no matter the state of cleanliness when she arrives she’ll find something to clean-up. Now I either plan a project for her or I just leave the mess to give her something to do. Still, so many hours alone gives me a small dose of anxiety. Not so bad if she could just do the cleaning but when I have to hear it its reminiscent of nails on the chalkboard. Boobah seems to be channeling her, the other day when I told her the size 3 pants didn’t fit her anymore she went upstairs and took ALL of them out of her drawers and put them in a pile to give away. She isn’t such a great help for G-man or I but when Grammy is there she follows her around like a little shadow helping out. Could we bottle that?
So, if you had a child-free week what would you do? What would you miss the most about the kids? What would you not miss at all?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
It's Good to Be a Girl
Last Friday was "Mommy & Me" day for PDQ. I promised I would spend the day with her for her birthday and do what she wanted. I took the morning off and volunteered in her class which is generally a hoot. Getting called "Miss Abby's Mom" and hearing them try to one up each other is so darned cute. One little guy always makes me laugh, and he knows it, so he tries really hard! He wears cowboy boots and hunting shirts or in this case Motocross. He reminds me a lot of my BIL. He messed something up and declared "oh tartar sauce!" which nearly made me fall out of my chair. I was a little disappointed when Abby's crush moved on from him to another little boy in the class. Apparently PDQ had told everyone she was getting a pedicure. One little girl informed me her Mommy did manicures and pedicures and she even waxes people's feet. We would be forgoing that particular service.
After school we headed to the mall, she wanted food court Chinese food for lunch--her FAVORITE, she declared. And then it was off for the ear piercing and pedicure. On our way to the aforementioned attractions we stopped at Zale's to pick up my engagement ring which they took hostage THREE months ago to repair a prong that they had just fixed and replace a baugette that fell out. They had finally called to tell me it was ready. I got there and lo and behold, they couldn't find it, and they gave me attitude about it--was I sure they called? Yeah, just as sure as I was that they'd had it since the beginning of December and I was not happy about it at all. Then they had the audacity to ask me how much the estimate was, I was tempted to lie, but then sending a nasty letter wouldn't be nearly as effective. You know, someone apologizing for it taking so long or that they couldn't find it would have made me feel much better but nope, they couldn't even come up with common courtesy. I have already warned G-man that he is never, ever to set foot in the store again.
Okay, sorry for the detour...so we headed to Libby Lu, the girliest store in the world. They call everyone princess, everything is pink, and their bags are actually miniature carboard purses. She picked out aquamarine flowers since they are her birthstone AND blue is her new favorite color. So, I sign away my life, we pick out earrings and wait for the big event. When the woman marked PDQs ears I was a little bit surprised, I had no idea how tiny her earlobes were--there really wasn't a ton of room for earrings. PDQ was totally cool about it and held my hand but didn't even squeeze when they put the earrings in. I had left this part of the adventure out when telling my Mom what we were up to--she made us wait until we were in the third grade. I was sure she'd have some 
"advice" for me and I knew that I could do without it. I knew PDQ would show her as soon as we got home and she wouldn't dare say anything in front of her.
We ventured down the corridor to the nearest nail place where I'd always gotten good service at a decent price. The guy working at the desk lit up when he saw PDQ and was thrilled do her toes. He was very excited about the possibility of giving her flowers on her toes. Definitely the highlight of my day to have my winter nasty feet attended to while watching PDQ enjoy herself. She had to perch on the edge of the chair to get her feet in the water. She didn't think much of the exfoliating scrub, but she was digging on the massage. She picked out blue polish and got flowers on her big toes. All the women in the place ooh and ahh'd at which time she also showed them her ears as well. She was soaking up the attention like my feet were soaking up the moisture after the very long, hard winter.
There are days when I worry about having two teenage girls. There are days when the whining just about drives me out of my ever loving mind. And then there are days like this. I couldn't believe how grown up my little girl is getting. It was so fun to hang out with her and hear her take on the world. To be part of her world at school so I can keep up with the stories. I am so glad that I have a job that is flexible enough to volunteer every month and spend the important days with my kids.
My Suburban Bliss (yes, you get two posts, two posts in one!)
Since we started house hunting this time last year part of my suburban dream was to have a backyard where the kids could play. Well, as cute as my kids are, they aren't great at keeping themselves occupied outside without stuff. We decided that Santa would bring a swing set to cap off our new backyard because there was no way we were getting one installed late last summer after moving and praying and waiting and waiting and praying and waiting for our house to sell.
Finally, yesterday G-man completed the task. You can read his take on it here. For me, the crowing moment was yesterday afternoon when I took this picture from my kitchen window. Yes, the girls can play outside and I can watch them from the kitchen or the family room.
After school we headed to the mall, she wanted food court Chinese food for lunch--her FAVORITE, she declared. And then it was off for the ear piercing and pedicure. On our way to the aforementioned attractions we stopped at Zale's to pick up my engagement ring which they took hostage THREE months ago to repair a prong that they had just fixed and replace a baugette that fell out. They had finally called to tell me it was ready. I got there and lo and behold, they couldn't find it, and they gave me attitude about it--was I sure they called? Yeah, just as sure as I was that they'd had it since the beginning of December and I was not happy about it at all. Then they had the audacity to ask me how much the estimate was, I was tempted to lie, but then sending a nasty letter wouldn't be nearly as effective. You know, someone apologizing for it taking so long or that they couldn't find it would have made me feel much better but nope, they couldn't even come up with common courtesy. I have already warned G-man that he is never, ever to set foot in the store again.
Okay, sorry for the detour...so we headed to Libby Lu, the girliest store in the world. They call everyone princess, everything is pink, and their bags are actually miniature carboard purses. She picked out aquamarine flowers since they are her birthstone AND blue is her new favorite color. So, I sign away my life, we pick out earrings and wait for the big event. When the woman marked PDQs ears I was a little bit surprised, I had no idea how tiny her earlobes were--there really wasn't a ton of room for earrings. PDQ was totally cool about it and held my hand but didn't even squeeze when they put the earrings in. I had left this part of the adventure out when telling my Mom what we were up to--she made us wait until we were in the third grade. I was sure she'd have some 
"advice" for me and I knew that I could do without it. I knew PDQ would show her as soon as we got home and she wouldn't dare say anything in front of her.We ventured down the corridor to the nearest nail place where I'd always gotten good service at a decent price. The guy working at the desk lit up when he saw PDQ and was thrilled do her toes. He was very excited about the possibility of giving her flowers on her toes. Definitely the highlight of my day to have my winter nasty feet attended to while watching PDQ enjoy herself. She had to perch on the edge of the chair to get her feet in the water. She didn't think much of the exfoliating scrub, but she was digging on the massage. She picked out blue polish and got flowers on her big toes. All the women in the place ooh and ahh'd at which time she also showed them her ears as well. She was soaking up the attention like my feet were soaking up the moisture after the very long, hard winter.
There are days when I worry about having two teenage girls. There are days when the whining just about drives me out of my ever loving mind. And then there are days like this. I couldn't believe how grown up my little girl is getting. It was so fun to hang out with her and hear her take on the world. To be part of her world at school so I can keep up with the stories. I am so glad that I have a job that is flexible enough to volunteer every month and spend the important days with my kids.
My Suburban Bliss (yes, you get two posts, two posts in one!)
Since we started house hunting this time last year part of my suburban dream was to have a backyard where the kids could play. Well, as cute as my kids are, they aren't great at keeping themselves occupied outside without stuff. We decided that Santa would bring a swing set to cap off our new backyard because there was no way we were getting one installed late last summer after moving and praying and waiting and waiting and praying and waiting for our house to sell.
Finally, yesterday G-man completed the task. You can read his take on it here. For me, the crowing moment was yesterday afternoon when I took this picture from my kitchen window. Yes, the girls can play outside and I can watch them from the kitchen or the family room.
And, who wouldn't want to be a part of this family?! Kudos to G-man for his fine workmanship (and not asking me for worker's comp!)
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Sunday Curse
I don't know what the deal is but I feel like we have a black cloud hanging over our house on Sundays. They are never the relaxing, recharge for the week ahead days that I imagine in my head. As often as not G-man and I end up disagreeing about something and spend the day in our separate corners. The kids sense something is wrong and either act up or are clingy. The crappy day then leads to no sleep Sunday night making Monday no treat either.
Its just been in the last few weeks that the pattern has become so clear to me. I have no idea how to fix it. A few weeks ago we played hooky from church, I had visions of a relaxing Sunday together as a family with nothing to do, no pressure to accomplish anything other than to relax. Maybe that is pressure in and of itself?
I feel crappy today over things that were said yesterday. I don't know how things got there, let alone how to make it better. It is frustrating beyond belief.
Anybody out there in the blogosphere have a similar pattern? Advice for breaking out of it?
Its just been in the last few weeks that the pattern has become so clear to me. I have no idea how to fix it. A few weeks ago we played hooky from church, I had visions of a relaxing Sunday together as a family with nothing to do, no pressure to accomplish anything other than to relax. Maybe that is pressure in and of itself?
I feel crappy today over things that were said yesterday. I don't know how things got there, let alone how to make it better. It is frustrating beyond belief.
Anybody out there in the blogosphere have a similar pattern? Advice for breaking out of it?
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
6 years and a lifetime ago...
PDQs birthday has had me waxing nostalgic. How could have been SIX years ago when I was miserable and waiting a few more days to be induced? And then in an instant it all changed when I got a call--she said your blood 
work looks a bit off, come to labor and delivery so we can repeat it and you may not be leaving. Let the panic begin! Of course G-man had gone to retrieve our video camera to be ready for my induction that was still two days away, or so we thought. I was excited as we headed off to the hospital and a little scared. Of course when we got there I was not happy to discover the woman I liked least in the OB practice was on duty. The drew more blood and came back to tell me that I had something called HELLP syndrome. I don't remember much else about what she said other than they would induce me starting right then! They started the requisite IV (ouch) our doula/lactation consultant friend came and massaged my hand a bit to make me feel better. She told us she had to teach that night but when things were progressing to call her and she'd be back. Another nurse friend called and we talked about what was going on--it was at that moment the OB nurse decided it was time for a catheter--a little warning next time HON!
A new doctor came on duty. I had only met her once before but I liked her immediately. She was honest with me that the night was going to be unpleasant, my platelets were very low and if I wanted an epidural now was
the time because there was a chance of bleeding and the chief anesthesiologist would do it before he left. He did, unfortunately it didn't work. It was blatently apparent an hour later when she broke my water at only 1 cm dilated. I was in pain all night long while G-man dozed beside me, he said I kept squeezing his hand and he just assumed I was mildly uncomfortable--yeah, understatement of the century! They had also started magnesium sulfate to make sure I didn't seize--it did however make me flush and feel like hell. First thing next morning, chief comes back, re-does the epidural--bliss. Less than half an hour later third OB comes in to check me and says we'll be having a baby, soon or sooner. He checks me and announces, you need a c-section right NOW, that was at 8AM. I heard them arguing in the hallway a minute later that they didn't have any of my blood type. I was whisked off to the OR, G-man got on his get-up and by 8:17AM Abigail Lynne was born at barely 6 pounds despite my gestational diabetes.
That night is a blur, because of the chance of seizures I had to stay on the mag for 24 hours after delivery. This meant I spent the night, alone in the labor and delivery unit in the basement of the hospital. Well mostly I was alone. They would bring PDQ to me and I'd attempt to nurse. I clearly remember thinking "what the hell are they doing leaving me alone with this baby when I can barely hold my head up! G-man's mother also called me about a thousand times to inquire whether or not we'd be turning up the heat in our house now that we had a baby--I eventually had to tell the nurses NOT to put her through. I couldn't have imagined the ride we were in for!
That first year sleep was a rare commodity for all of us. She was so tiny, down to 5 lb 5 oz at the low point. I struggled to nurse and grudgingly supplemented with formula. I pumped
what seemed like all the time. I was desperate trying to figure out what I could do to not go back to work. Looking back I have no doubt that I had post-partum depression. I felt guilty from all of the complications of my pregnancy. I was so upset about having to use formula. My parents came the weekend after you were born for a week and I had worried for months about my mother coming and taking over, I don't know what I would have done without her help. I sobbed for days when she left. This has always been one of my favorite pictures of PDQ and daddy. He was (and usually still is) the calm in the storm.
Time flew,she walked at a little over 9 months old. Trying desperately to keep up with your much older brothers. From the day you were born she was born she was happy to go to anyone. It made it a little easier to go back to work on one hand, on the other it broke my heart to know someone else could make you happy but not nearly as much as thinking of you miserable all day. Today that personality trait outshines all the rest of them. You love people, you are never deterred in meeting new people, you are the proverbial social butterfly. 
Terrible twos, yep, that was pretty accurate. But so darned cute that we could tolerate it--G-man likes to say "its a
good thing they are so cute or we might kill them." Halfway through the second year we added Boobah to the family and PDQ took it in stride. I love this picture taken the day Boobah was born, PDQ holding her in her lap and giving her the first kiss. It still makes me melt. The other day I can distinctly remember from 2--Boobah and I had settled into the big chair to nurse. PDQ was at the table behind me having dinner. I felt like I had it all together. Things were quiet, too quiet and when I turned around PDQ had dumped her entire glass of milk into her dinner plate and was so proud, yeah, so much for conquering the two kid thing. 
Three was hard. On her third birthday we had a visit from the Binky Fairy who came to take away the binky and left behind the princess box. Thankfully just one night of "I wish I was still 2!" before things settled down--a bit. I told my mother that three was harder than two, she poo-pooed it until PDQ went to spend a week with her--the second day she called to tell me I was right! Atttitude and the verbal skills to tell us what she thought! Late in the year came preschool. I was so sure I had my act together when I dropped her off the first day, until the teachers gave us a little baggie with a sweet poem and a tissue. It was all over for me then! At 3 PDQ had her first real, all on her own friend, Hope. They talked about each other all the time and greeted each other with huge hugs. Although they don't see each other as often they still have that same reaction when they are together. Three was also a bit of a stage debut--flower girl at Aunt Jenny's wedding.
PDQ and her peeps at her fourth birthday party. They were cute, they were loud! Definitely a step up from three, helpful, fun to have around. G-man and I constantly amazed at the stuff that she knew and could do. Watching she and her now mobile sister relate.
I don't know if 5 was such a big year because of all that happened or just because its so fresh in my mind. Starting the year off at Disney, with Grandma and Grandpa was certainly the way to start. Add in a new house, new babysitter, and starting Kindergarten and it was a HUGE year. As always PDQ has taken it all in stride--other than the spider obsession that started when we moved to the new house and piled all the other things on top. To this day we are doing spider checks at night. You have grown so much this year, every day it seems that you are closer to growing up, sometimes its hard to remember that you are a little kid and not a teenager.
So, happy birthday to you PDQ. I could not have imagined the what life would bring us in the last six years and I can't imagine life without you my sweet girl, you take my breath away.
work looks a bit off, come to labor and delivery so we can repeat it and you may not be leaving. Let the panic begin! Of course G-man had gone to retrieve our video camera to be ready for my induction that was still two days away, or so we thought. I was excited as we headed off to the hospital and a little scared. Of course when we got there I was not happy to discover the woman I liked least in the OB practice was on duty. The drew more blood and came back to tell me that I had something called HELLP syndrome. I don't remember much else about what she said other than they would induce me starting right then! They started the requisite IV (ouch) our doula/lactation consultant friend came and massaged my hand a bit to make me feel better. She told us she had to teach that night but when things were progressing to call her and she'd be back. Another nurse friend called and we talked about what was going on--it was at that moment the OB nurse decided it was time for a catheter--a little warning next time HON!A new doctor came on duty. I had only met her once before but I liked her immediately. She was honest with me that the night was going to be unpleasant, my platelets were very low and if I wanted an epidural now was
the time because there was a chance of bleeding and the chief anesthesiologist would do it before he left. He did, unfortunately it didn't work. It was blatently apparent an hour later when she broke my water at only 1 cm dilated. I was in pain all night long while G-man dozed beside me, he said I kept squeezing his hand and he just assumed I was mildly uncomfortable--yeah, understatement of the century! They had also started magnesium sulfate to make sure I didn't seize--it did however make me flush and feel like hell. First thing next morning, chief comes back, re-does the epidural--bliss. Less than half an hour later third OB comes in to check me and says we'll be having a baby, soon or sooner. He checks me and announces, you need a c-section right NOW, that was at 8AM. I heard them arguing in the hallway a minute later that they didn't have any of my blood type. I was whisked off to the OR, G-man got on his get-up and by 8:17AM Abigail Lynne was born at barely 6 pounds despite my gestational diabetes.
That night is a blur, because of the chance of seizures I had to stay on the mag for 24 hours after delivery. This meant I spent the night, alone in the labor and delivery unit in the basement of the hospital. Well mostly I was alone. They would bring PDQ to me and I'd attempt to nurse. I clearly remember thinking "what the hell are they doing leaving me alone with this baby when I can barely hold my head up! G-man's mother also called me about a thousand times to inquire whether or not we'd be turning up the heat in our house now that we had a baby--I eventually had to tell the nurses NOT to put her through. I couldn't have imagined the ride we were in for!
That first year sleep was a rare commodity for all of us. She was so tiny, down to 5 lb 5 oz at the low point. I struggled to nurse and grudgingly supplemented with formula. I pumped
what seemed like all the time. I was desperate trying to figure out what I could do to not go back to work. Looking back I have no doubt that I had post-partum depression. I felt guilty from all of the complications of my pregnancy. I was so upset about having to use formula. My parents came the weekend after you were born for a week and I had worried for months about my mother coming and taking over, I don't know what I would have done without her help. I sobbed for days when she left. This has always been one of my favorite pictures of PDQ and daddy. He was (and usually still is) the calm in the storm.
Time flew,she walked at a little over 9 months old. Trying desperately to keep up with your much older brothers. From the day you were born she was born she was happy to go to anyone. It made it a little easier to go back to work on one hand, on the other it broke my heart to know someone else could make you happy but not nearly as much as thinking of you miserable all day. Today that personality trait outshines all the rest of them. You love people, you are never deterred in meeting new people, you are the proverbial social butterfly. Terrible twos, yep, that was pretty accurate. But so darned cute that we could tolerate it--G-man likes to say "its a
good thing they are so cute or we might kill them." Halfway through the second year we added Boobah to the family and PDQ took it in stride. I love this picture taken the day Boobah was born, PDQ holding her in her lap and giving her the first kiss. It still makes me melt. The other day I can distinctly remember from 2--Boobah and I had settled into the big chair to nurse. PDQ was at the table behind me having dinner. I felt like I had it all together. Things were quiet, too quiet and when I turned around PDQ had dumped her entire glass of milk into her dinner plate and was so proud, yeah, so much for conquering the two kid thing. 
Three was hard. On her third birthday we had a visit from the Binky Fairy who came to take away the binky and left behind the princess box. Thankfully just one night of "I wish I was still 2!" before things settled down--a bit. I told my mother that three was harder than two, she poo-pooed it until PDQ went to spend a week with her--the second day she called to tell me I was right! Atttitude and the verbal skills to tell us what she thought! Late in the year came preschool. I was so sure I had my act together when I dropped her off the first day, until the teachers gave us a little baggie with a sweet poem and a tissue. It was all over for me then! At 3 PDQ had her first real, all on her own friend, Hope. They talked about each other all the time and greeted each other with huge hugs. Although they don't see each other as often they still have that same reaction when they are together. Three was also a bit of a stage debut--flower girl at Aunt Jenny's wedding.
PDQ and her peeps at her fourth birthday party. They were cute, they were loud! Definitely a step up from three, helpful, fun to have around. G-man and I constantly amazed at the stuff that she knew and could do. Watching she and her now mobile sister relate.
I don't know if 5 was such a big year because of all that happened or just because its so fresh in my mind. Starting the year off at Disney, with Grandma and Grandpa was certainly the way to start. Add in a new house, new babysitter, and starting Kindergarten and it was a HUGE year. As always PDQ has taken it all in stride--other than the spider obsession that started when we moved to the new house and piled all the other things on top. To this day we are doing spider checks at night. You have grown so much this year, every day it seems that you are closer to growing up, sometimes its hard to remember that you are a little kid and not a teenager.
So, happy birthday to you PDQ. I could not have imagined the what life would bring us in the last six years and I can't imagine life without you my sweet girl, you take my breath away.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Starting the Week with a Heavy Heart
My heart is heavy this morning. The trials and tribulations of last week seem incredibly insignificant in the big scheme of thing. I am again reminded that being a parent opens your eyes to heart ache that you had never imagined.
Last week there was a fight amongst a bunch of teenagers at a local high school late at night. Over what exactly no one quite knows. A boy ended up dead. The 18 year old son of a friend has been charged with murder. Ironically (according to newspaper reports) his friends called him prior to fight to come along and help out so no one got hurt.
The 30-ish daughter of a co-worker has been fighting a brain tumor since late last year. They had done surgery. She had suffered through the hardest of the radiation and was focused on the last part of her journey. She'd been told that her prognosis was good. He told me that it was taking its toll, there were people all around her who were being told how long they had to live, she looked in him the eye and asked him if there was anything he wasn't telling her. He honestly answered no, that the doctors were very optomistic that she'd make a full recovery. She didn't. Some time on Friday she collapsed and they believe it was her heart. Her family and her doctor's are stunned.
I know that both families have very strong connections to their church. I hope that it will sustain them through this unimaginable time. I know its made me think about my faith, my family and how fleeting life can be.
If it weren't for my children, I don't know that I'd feel nearly so deeply for either family. I know that I will hold my children a little tighter. Worry a little more. Try to cherish each moment with them. Be a little more patient, remain more calm. And make sure that every single time I leave them its with a hug, a kiss and an "I love you."
Last week there was a fight amongst a bunch of teenagers at a local high school late at night. Over what exactly no one quite knows. A boy ended up dead. The 18 year old son of a friend has been charged with murder. Ironically (according to newspaper reports) his friends called him prior to fight to come along and help out so no one got hurt.
The 30-ish daughter of a co-worker has been fighting a brain tumor since late last year. They had done surgery. She had suffered through the hardest of the radiation and was focused on the last part of her journey. She'd been told that her prognosis was good. He told me that it was taking its toll, there were people all around her who were being told how long they had to live, she looked in him the eye and asked him if there was anything he wasn't telling her. He honestly answered no, that the doctors were very optomistic that she'd make a full recovery. She didn't. Some time on Friday she collapsed and they believe it was her heart. Her family and her doctor's are stunned.
I know that both families have very strong connections to their church. I hope that it will sustain them through this unimaginable time. I know its made me think about my faith, my family and how fleeting life can be.
If it weren't for my children, I don't know that I'd feel nearly so deeply for either family. I know that I will hold my children a little tighter. Worry a little more. Try to cherish each moment with them. Be a little more patient, remain more calm. And make sure that every single time I leave them its with a hug, a kiss and an "I love you."
Monday, February 19, 2007
Happy Anniversary Babe
Today is our seventh wedding anniversary. You can see a picture of the big day here. It seems like we've travelled a lifetime together in those seven years. I couldn't have imagined when we met playing online backgammon all those years ago that we'd ever meet, let alone be celebrating 7 years of wedded bliss. We've packed a lot of life into the last seven years--two beautiful daugthers, the ups and downs of life with the boys, two houses, countless home improvement projects, vacations, funerals, weddings, and the one thing I could always count on was having you with me. You knew what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it, even if I didn't want to hear it.
Although our musical tastes are worlds apart, there has always been one song that has been ours. It is the one song I can remember dancing with you to--in my tiny apartment, at our wedding, in our kitchen, even naked once or twice. So, here's to you My Valentine.
Although our musical tastes are worlds apart, there has always been one song that has been ours. It is the one song I can remember dancing with you to--in my tiny apartment, at our wedding, in our kitchen, even naked once or twice. So, here's to you My Valentine.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day to you, cha cha cha
In addition to Valentine's Day we have a SNOW DAY! I can't figure out which excites me more. I have work to do but its a whole lot more palatable when I can do it in my PJ pants here at home. I started the moring off with a conference call staff meeting followed by a quick lesson in the finer points of using the snow blower. I comptemplated going into the office until I turned on the TV and found the weather woman standing on the corner near my house beside ice and snow covered roads and very little traffic. G-man found out early that they would be opening at noon, as he was putting on his shoes to leave they called to say not to bother. We are all tucked safely at home, what a great mid-week treat (we'll see if I feel the same way at the end of the day).
I haven't slept well all week so I spent the time productively--making cards and mastering my Christmas present from G-man, a Cricut machine. I also made picture frames for my Mom and sister who are coming to visit this weekend and spiffy boxes of conversation hearts for the girls' teachers. Yesterday afternoon we made cupcakes in cool heart shaped foil pans for Abby's V-Day party today (or now I guess tomorrow).
Tonight we will pull out the stops, finally using the new dining room table. Jimmy the wonder painter has been here this week so it acutally has color on the walls as well! China, real glasses, candles--I am sure the girls will love it! Off to find a great recipe for shrimp and chocolate icing for the cake.
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