When it rains it pours!

Life can be so funny. You go along keeping busy, doing your thing, and have nothing other than a busy calendar to keep your brain working and the BAM! In a matter of hours you have crazy things, big things, falling out of the sky like rain. This past week was one of those weeks. Monday I woke up with a sore throat. I was so annoyed b/c I have been sick three times in the last 6 weeks. Totally not cool. And not normal either (for me). Then Tuesday afternoon my son comes home with a small white area on the side of his finger...hmmm...dead skin maybe? Ingrown finger nail maybe? It's small, nothing to worry about, right? Hahaha! Then Tuesday night I get a call from a lawyer in Kansas City informing me my great aunt died of a massive stroke. If anything can make a sick person feel worse, it's news of a relative passing. Fast forward to Wednesday after school. That small white spot is now four times the size it was just hours before, it's a greenish, yellowish puss filled bulge and the surrounding area is red. (And oh by the way- I have a fever). Straight to the pediatrician we go and what do you know, he has a serious infection...not just in his finger, but his nose as well (back track a week- he had severe allergy issues and his nose got chapped from all the drainage. He continued to pick and pick until the chapping became scabs and now the scabs are infected). Beautiful. To make things better the decide to send the puss tot he lab to make sure it's not MRSA. Um, hello???? They tried to make me feel better by saying it may not be, but telling a mother they are checking for MRSA sets of a huge launch sequence of panic filled thoughts and emotions. Can't just backtrack and say "well, try not to worry." Sorry- I'm already beyond panic! So anyway, we go to the pharmacy to pick up a ridiculously expensive super-duper antibiotic cream to start treating the infection until we know for sure what we are dealing with, pick up some epson salts for soaking, antibacterial soap for washing, and bandages for covering. And Chloroseptic drops for me. OK, the worst is over, right? Oh wait- I have another child! Thursday I get a call from the school informing me Abby was at recess when she was struck in the head by a swing! Wonderful! It left a good size goose egg and an ever bigger sized headache. All this and I can't talk b/c I woke up without a voice. So while I am trying to ice my childs head and dispense motrin, I realize my son's nose is looking worse. He is still picking. So as any good mother would do, I loose it! But I have no voice so it's this whisper tantrum. My kids look at me like I have ten heads. Seriously. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So I decide to be done with it, put a band-aid on my kids nose, and crawled in bed with the headache and goose egg girl. Friday comes- TGIF. I feel better, my voice is coming back, my daughters headache is gone and the goose egg is fading. I go to work to catch up on a pile of things that went unattended earlier in the week. The lab never called today (the MRSA test is a 48 hr test) so I figure no news is good news. Although if my son doesn't stop PICKING we are going to have to go back to the dr and have some sort of huge plastic contracption shield his nose from his fingers. But there was one very bright spot in this mess of a week. A friend of ours returned home from a trip to S.C and brought us a case of Cheerwine! Ahhhhhhhhh...memories. If anything can cure a crazy week, it's Cheerwine. :-)

Kids and Politics

So, do any other kids sit around and talk politics, or is it just mine? And what's so funny about this whole phenomenon in my house is hubby and I really don't enjoy politics. Therefore we don't talk politics very much at all. What also is so interesting about my kids is they are on seperate sides of the fence. I have my "lower taxes" daughter (and yes- she totally gets what taxes are and will tell you why they should be lowered)and my humanitarian son who will talk your ear off about why we should not be at war with Iraq or wanting to know what the president plans to do about homelessness. I work very hard to help my kids see both sides of the coin. If they ask a question I do my best to be unbiased (which honestly isn't hard b/c I think both sides of the political spectrum are bozo's- actually all the parties involved...I've been researching options to the two main contenders in this election and they're all bozo's! No one out there represents my vote...but that's a whole 'nother post!) and explain to the best of my ability how the different parties have differing ideas of how to combat problems for the country and it's people. I want my kids to draw their own conclusions and think for themselves, not just repeat what they hear mom or dad saying about who should be president without really understanding why. So I wonder how and why my kids seem to be so interested in politics. I understand there is a lot of talk being an election year, and a big election at that, but it just seems unusual for kids to be that concerned and opinionated. Maybe not. Maybe kids all over the country are having these same discussions. I actually think that would be pretty cool. Maybe they will start a new party in the coming years...and alternative to the same ole same ole in DC that actually accomplishes very little. Wouldn't that be great! I can dream. :-)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I filled up for $38.00 yesterday! Filled up my car for $38.00!!!!

I am so doing a happy dance. :-)

Complaints...

I'm hot, in the literal sense. Where is fall? I so do not like Florida. I want seasons.

I'm am tired of whiny parents in the school. Take responsibility for your child and stop expecting the school to raise your kids.

Is it Nov 4th yet? I'm so over the campaigns. So negative, such a turn off.

There. I needed to balance my recent Pollyana, sappy, rose colored posts with some good, ole fashioned, Wendy pessimism. :-)

How did I get so lucky?

Seriously. How in the world did I end up with such smart, flexible, well adjusted kids? I know my parents will read this and give the typical parental response of "because your such a wonderful mother", but they have to say that. It's their job. LOL! I don't feel like my mothering constitutes such amazing kids. Maybe it's more my husbands influence. :-) But never-the-less, I am so proud of them...most of the time. hahaha! Parenting is not easy, that is for sure. There are days when I want to strangle them, or run away myself. But I know the road could be so different. I really am very lucky.

Sick, but blessed

So this week has been, um, well...sickly. I started feeling like death Sunday. But because I have an aversion to dr.'s (no offense Chessa), I continued to suffer through high fevers, chills, sweats, a throat that shot flames every time I swallowed, aches, and weakness until Tuesday when my hubby took me to the dr.. I opened my mouth and said "ahhh" and all the dr could say was "wow." Strep throat, and a pretty severe case. That's why you go to the dr sooner when you are feeling THAT bad I guess. So I get some antibiotics and am on my way to recovery when, of course, my daughter gets a sore throat. Being the quick learner that I am, I have that child in the dr. withing an hour of her first complaint. She has strep too. So far my son and hubby seem to be fine, but I'm not holding my breath that this is all over and done just yet.
So that's the sick part, now for the blessed part. I have an incredible husband. And sometimes I take him for granted. I was so sick I slept all day Monday and Tuesday. He got up, set up a little home office in our dining room, got the kids up for school, got them dressed, made their lunches, made sure they were packed up, got them to school on time, tended to me with advil and water, emailed people for me b/c even with a 103 temp I still stress about what I should be doing, took his own conference calls and tried to stay on top of his own work, picked up the kids, got them to their games, practices, etc. Got me soup. Did laundry so everyone had clean and germ free clothes and sheets. Made sure the kids took showers and ate dinner. Got them to bed. And finished up his loose ends with work. And all the while he kept the kitchen clean as a whistle. Then he did it again on Tuesday. I was in awe. Honestly. He is absolutely amazing and managed to rack up about a kazillion husband points over the last couple days. It was a great reminder for me to just how lucky I am. I know this on a daily basis, but sometimes you need that extra reminder, you need to feel the awe. And I did. I am blessed.

Living on the other side.

I think I am officially there. I think I have crossed that fine line of being too busy, doing too much, and being involved with too many things. But because of my ridiculous people pleaser nature, I can't get out of what I've committed to. OK, let me correct myself. I, of course, can get out. But it would make me feel worse getting out of things that I have committed to vs. just never sleeping again and doing them. I really annoy myself with that need to be "all things to all people who ask" thing. What is with that? Oh well. So if you need to find me, I'm on the other side of the fine line. I'll let you know how the weather is...

Like grandmother, like granddaughter!

So my daughter absolutely cracks us up. She is this unique spirit with an amazing sense of humor, so many amazing creative gifts, and an absolutely amazing, very old soul sense to life. I could write a book capturing the things she says, the things she does because they make me laugh and blow me away. But to be honest, she is very different than I am. Sure, I like to think I have a great sense of humor, but it's not nearly as quirky as hers. She loves to laugh, even if she is the only one laughing. And the oddest things she can find such delight and humor in. And sure, I'd like to think I have some creative gifts; I danced for years and wasn't half bad (if I do say so myself),and I'm pretty good at scrap booking (when I can find the time), I like to make homemade invitations and cards, etc. But I have never gotten so lost in the moment when given paints or paper and glue that two hours have gone by and I am frustrated because it's time for lunch. Nope, I'll always stop happily for lunch. She and I are very different, which can sometimes make parenting a challenge. Sure, my son is the one who can freak out over the smallest thing and you have to slowly pull him back in, but I get that. I've been there. I can't say I always get my daughter. But luckily, there are some people who do! Her sense of humor reminds me of my sister. Holly was always a "unique" child. ;-) She always had people laughing and had an imagination that went on for days (ask her about BoogyLand sometime). And she loves to amuse herself. My daughter finds great pleasure in amusing herself as well. But more and more she is reminding me of my mom. The obvious is their love for the arts- anyone who knows my mom knows what an amazing talented artist and seamstress she is. And she danced just like I did as a child, but better. She is very "artsy fartsy" and has an amazing creative mind, of which my daughter has followed. But what cracked me up recently is how much my daughter thinks like my mom. They both are so affected by their surroundings. My mom has been known to actually move furniture in a hotel room b/c it didn't look or feel right. No joke. She cannot feel peace if her physical environment is not comfortable and pleasing. My daughter can be the same. We rearrange her room until it feels good. She is extremely conciencious of how her dolls and stuffed anmimals are displayed because they must look pretty and they have to be able to see. And there are certain places that she just rather not visit. Last weekend we were walking through Sears, for example, and she whispers "this place is creeping me out." I am so not kidding! If that's not my mom, I don't know what is. And it has nothing to do with Sears itself, it's just not pretty. It's dark, practical, and has big yellow sale signs on top of the racks. It simply was not a peaceful feeling for her. I just had to laugh that at six she is so affected. Another way my daughter reminds me of my mom is the fact that so many times she doens't feel grounded. My mom gave me those words, and I think it describes my daughter very well. She is in her own universe and finds it difficult to be a part of our world sometimes. You ask her to do something and she gets so sidetracked that she never ends up doing what was asked in the first place. Obviously, as my mom grew older, she was able to conform to our world, but she still has this off the beaten path way of thinking that wows me from time to time. She's like McGyver. And I see that in my daughter. So although I don't always get her, at least someone does. And I definitley appreciate the talents, gifts, and experiences that having a mind like Mamoo's brings!!! It's a pretty cool thing!

Maybe we're getting somewhere!

Anxiety is something I've lived with all my life. I remember having my first anxiety attack when I was six years old. I remember the situation, I remember how it felt, and I remember feeling so out of control over something that shouldn't have been a big deal to a first grader, but never-the-less it's something I've battled ever since.
Most people know my son has inherited the anxiety gene from me. I don't know how much he understands his worry and obsessiveness, but I know there have been plenty of times where he has felt out of control. But unlike me, he is very verbal in the midst of his anxiety. I have always tried to hide it. I can be a drama queen when I want, and I can slam doors and rant and rave about how unfair things are or how upset or hurt I feel when I am so inspired, but anytime I feel anxious or have insanely ridiculous thoughts race through my head, I try to bury them as far down in my belly as I possibly can. I like to appear to be in control at all times and cool as a cucumber. I didn't get the nickname "the rock" for nothing! I am difficult to rattle, I'm hard to shock. I solve problems in a very diplomatic fashion. I keep my cool. Or so I seem. My son, on the other hand, does not keep his cool. He looses it. He will have monumental freak outs when the anxiety is too much. He has been known, in the past, to walk in circles, pulling his hair, tears flowing and fear in his eyes because he doesn't know what to do with the emotion he is feeling. This is the typically well mannered boy, who wouldn't hesitate for a second to jump out of a dentist chair and run down the hall screaming because the anxiety of being at the dentist or dr.'s office is too much for him to handle. This is the child who literally rocked back and forth and could not get past a ride in a dirty taxi cab through a NYC borough where people had, GASP, spray painted all over buildings. As a mom, it is so terrifying and heartbreaking to watch. And as a mom with anxiety issues, I have lost so much sleep over it. My son is so black and white, so right or wrong. And he can verbally debate a subject until you are worn into the ground. He worries about starving children, he worries about the homeless, he worries about the polar bears in the Arctic, he worries about the economy, he worries about who he'd vote for if he were eighteen (no joke). But this is nothing new. He's always worried about things, it's part of his makeup. It's the way God made him. So I have been working hard for some time to give him the tools to deal with his anxiety in a healthy manner. I refuse to even think about medication and I refuse to let him go through life without feeling like he has the tools to battle this frustrating "condition". I don't want him to be thirty four and still not know how the heck to handle his anxiety. I know I can't guarantee this, but I can sure as heck do my best to help him feel like he can handle life. So we have gone through all sorts of stuff. Everything from breathing techniques to talking the worry of the moment out and deciding if it's something we have a solution for at this moment, from giving him opportunities to talk out his worries freely and calmly, when he isn't in a freak out mode, to learning different ways to stop his brain from going a million miles a minute when the lights go out at bedtime. At first it didn't seem like it was working. When something triggered a freak out moment, he had them full on. And you couldn't calm him down. But lately I've noticed a change. I almost hate to think it. What if I jinx it. But lately he seems to take things in stride a bit more. He still gets upset in different situations, but it doesn't get to the freak out point as often. And he seems to be better at verbalizing it, then moving on. This morning for example. He's home sick. In the past, he would have had a meltdown about missing school: he will have work to make-up, his friends won't know where he is, his teacher will worry, what if he misses an important announcement, what if they have a quiz, what if something really exciting happens. This would have gone on and on all day. Every hour his mind would pace back and forth coming up with new reasons to tense up over missing school. But this morning he hasn't done that so much. He wasn't happy when I announced he still has a fever and couldn't go to school. He did say he hopes there isn't a ton of makeup work to do and did make sure I emailed his teacher and his best friend's mom to let them know he was ok. But that's about it. He really hasn't said anything else about it, other than a brief "I really don't like missing school" about two hours into his sick day. Maybe we're getting somewhere! Maybe he is growing up a little and can rationalize better in his ripe age of nine. Maybe he is learning to stop and breathe when things start boiling inside of him. Maybe his experiences have taught him that the world still turns, every single day, even amidst homelessness, dirty taxi cabs, and sick days. Maybe all the praying I've done for this boy is paying off! Maybe it's a little of everything. I know it will be something we battle forever with him, just as it is with me. But it's nice to see a little more control with the situation. It's nice to have some positive experiences with difficult moments. It's nice to think maybe he won't be on Xanex by the time he is twelve. :-) Whatever it is, it feels pretty darn good.

Just how wide is that "fine line"????

I'm just curious because I know I am walking it. I am so very close to overextending myself and I'm sitting back waiting for something to blow up or drive me to the brink of insanity (a place most would say I already live very near-- haha!). I am the type that likes to be busy and have my hand in a lot of different things. I always have. Just ask my mom. But when does it become too much? I really enjoy everything I do. But I sometimes wonder if I take on too much and if I try to fill my days with "stuff" just so I don't have to think about other things. Anyone who knows me knows the demons I battle with anxiety. Filling my days helps keep those demons at bay. But is it healthy? A very good and honest friend(which is what makes her such a good friend- among many other reasons!)posed the question "can anyone who does so much do it all well?" That really made me think. I'm wondering if it's time to re-evalute. I'm wondering if I can handle my load and do a good job with each commitment. I'm wondering if I need to scale back. I'm wondering if I could handle more. I'm wondering what happens when you test that fine line.

Day 8 & 9...wedding fun and home sweet home

Day 8 was a nice, relaxing day. Tropical Storm Hanna attempted to rain on our parade, but really she only sprinkled. After a big breakfast, we met up with friends at the local bowling alley and the kids had a blast bowling a couple games. Mom and Dad walked around a local outlet center, and then we all went back to the hotel for a little rest and relaxation before the big evening. The wedding was awesome. The ceremony was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous and glowing, the groom was handsome and so very happy. It was a perfect.

We all had a great time with family and friends and danced the night away. Literally! Abby is so part of my gene pool...you could not get her off the dance floor. :-)


Then our final day- driving straight from Williamsburg to home. Wow! It was about an 11 hour trip. But the kids, once again, were amazing. They slept, read, played games, finished their travel journals, and zoned out. We got home around dinner time and we were all in bed by 8:30 PM. It was nice to sleep in our own beds.


This morning we jumped right back into the swing of things- off to school, off to jury duty (poor Steve), off to doing laundry, and grocery shopping, and catchng up with PTA stuff.
We all agree that our trip, though packed full and tiring, was absolutely amazing. We saw so much, we learned so much, and we had a really good time doing it!!!

Day 6 & 7

We arrived in Williamsburg around lunch on Thursday and after checking in to our hotel, we headed to Jamestown. There we met up with friends and learned all sorts of cool things about the early settlement.

It is a pretty cool place with neat interactive opportunities to get a better sense of what life was like for the early settlers. We climbed aboard a replica of one of the boats that came to the new land and imagined being cramped with 53 other people,, plus crewmen, for four months at sea. YUCK! After a day at Jamestown, we headed back to Williamsburg and ate at a tavern in the heart of colonial Williamsburg. We ate well and enjoyed the atmosphere.


Friday morning we decided to be a little lazy and sleep in. We figured we could use the sleep. We had brunch with friends and then headed to Colonial Williamsburg to walk the area. We saw the old magazine, churches where Thomas Jefferson and George Washington worshipped, we shopped in some neat little stores, and learned about life in colonial times.
Then we decided to head back to the hotel and relax. We have part two of our vacation to attend to now....Bryan's wedding and all the festivities that go along with that (and rain...from what I hear it's going to be a WET weekend, thanks to Hanna. We Floridians just can't seem to get away from the storms!)

Day 5

We started our day with a tour of the capitol. If ever you go to DC, be sure to write your congressman (or woman) and let them know you're coming. We did this and got a personal tour from one of our congressman's staff assistants. She was so knowledgeable. She had amazing stories to share, and we saw really cool things. We got to go through the underground tunnels connecting the surrounding congress buildings to the actual capitol, we saw the old supreme court chambers, the pedestal that has held the coffins of everyone who has lied in state since Abe Lincoln, the kids got to stand at the very center of the capitol (hence, they stood at the center of power of the free world) and the highlight for mom and dad- we actually SAT in the house of representative chambers...the place you see on C-Span when Congress is in session and where the State of the Union takes place.
Talk about being in awe...it was so cool. Not sure the kids appreciated it as much as the adults, but I think it will definitely make for a cool memory. One day they'll get it. The tour was over two hours long and absolutely fantastic.


We ate lunch at the cafeteria in the House building and then headed over to the Library of Congress and Supreme Court. We saw Thomas Jefferson's books and walked through the Supreme Court, although we couldn't see the actual chambers b/c it is closed for renovations. After all that, we had a well deserved ice cream break and then headed to the International Spy Museum...well, it's gift shop at least. We decided to skip the tour. We took the metro back to our home base for the trip and relaxed..because tomorrow our adventures take us to Williamsburg/Jamestown!

Day 4

Day 4 and we're off! We started the day with a tour at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. We got to see how money is made!
After that, we headed tot he Jefferson Memorial and the FDR Memorial. Then we took a taxi over the Potomac and spent some time at Arlington National Cemetary. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown and JFK's grave sight along with Robert E Lee's house (known as the Arlington House). After Arlington we headed back to DC and visited the National Zoo. My daughter loved seeing the giant pandas...ask her what the panda house volunteer pulled out of her bag! IT's a trip! After seeing all sorts of cool things at the zoo we head back to relax and order pizza, and get ready for day 5 of our fantastic adventures...

Day 3

Day three and we wake up in the heart of DC...well, not really the heart, but Dupont Circle, which is close enough to walk to the heart. We start the day by heading to the monuments. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln, WWII, and Vietnam. All very moving.
Then we headed to the Smithsonian museums. We learned saw a great dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Natural History and rode in a fighter pilot simulator at the Air and Space Museum (um, yeah- my son needs to work on his pilot skills....). We then headed to the National Art Museum where we almost bought an original George Surat. Ask me later, I'm still trying to get over the whole episode.
After the museums we headed to the National Archives were we got to see the Declaration,, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. VERY cool stuff.

Day 2

We traveled from Raleigh to Mt Vernon on day 2. And again- the kids were awesome travelers. We arrived at Mt Vernon right after lunch and spent the afternoon learnng about George Washington and his homestead.
Then we headed to DC. We didn't have much time to see any major sites, but we did manage to sneak a peak at the White House. My daughter was mesmorized. I think she was planning how to decorate when she lives there one day. :-)

Our fun, old fashioned, family road trip.... Day 1

Well, things got off to a great start as we started our trek towards DC. If I may say (and I may b/c it's my blog!), my kids rock! They are the best travelers. They entertained themselves from Florida to NC without complaint. We had fun doing road trip scavenger hunts, various license plate games, and just hanging out. It was a lot of fun and fairly stress free. We spent the first night in Raleigh with our friends. It was great catching up and eating Carolina BBQ!

Then we packed up and continued our adventures....

Do Over!!!

Well, we're back to school. Again. After three days were scratched last week because of T.S. Fay, we're trying again to get into a back to school groove. Of course, there is another storm brewing in the Caribbean. Sigh. We'll pray for a strong wind to blow it out to sea.

Fay, Fay GO AWAY!

Man, oh man...this tropical storm is really doing a number on Florida. First it comes through south Florida, then heads up diagonally across the state and then SITS over Brevard and Volusia for a day- which means all of central Florida got DRENCHED. Our neighbors in Brevard county (our old stomping ground) have had historic flooding. I saw a statistic on the news (b/c during storms in Florida all you get is news, every major network channel, all day long)where Charley, Jeanne, and Francis (the three hurricanes that hit central Florida in 04) didn't dump as much rain combined as this TS has. Crazy stuff.

So, we had our first day of school Monday, off Tuesday and Wednesday b/c of the unpredictability of the storm (which, of course- Murphey's law- didn't affect us all that much during those two days, especially Tues)> Back to school yesterday, which was by far the worst day of the week for Seminole county as far as wind and rain. And then no school today, because of flooding issues. Many roads around the county are impassable. So that's been our first week back to school! LOL! I guess we'll just call a "do over" here in central Florida for going back to school.

Today there are patches here and there of rain relief as the storm finally decided to move and is making it's way across the state. But we are all looking forward to a day of no rain. Even just a couple hours of no rain would be nice.

So what have we been doing to pass the time? Sigh! Cabin Fever is no fun. But thankfully we haven't lost power, like many of our neighbors, so we have been able to play the Wii, play legos, play on the computer (I created a Facebook account-LOL...peer pressure!), bake brownies, and we even had some fun building a fort this morning. And we walked through some ankle deep water in spots on our street to get to the mailboxes...it's just nuts.

And so it goes...and so we wish Fay would go. :-)

When You're Bored and You Know It...

take pictures of your self making funny faces!



So TS Fay has been a pain. We haven't been that affected by the storm, other than some rain and a few wind gusts, but nothing major to write home about. Nothing like what all our friends in Brevard county have been dealing with! But because you have to err on the side of caution, we have been out of school for two days. Yep- we had our first day back to school on Monday and then had to sit it out Tuesday and today. Ugh. I completely understand precautions had to be taken, but man oh man have my kids been climbing the walls. They were so geared up for school and friends and then BAM- stuck at home for two days! It's been tough b/c even though we were spared most of the nasty weather, it's still icky outside and not really condusive to going much of anywhere. So, we have to entertain ourselves. We've played the Wii, we've read books, we've danced in the den, and well...we've taken funny pictures of ourselves. :-)

Ready for the new year!

Open House was today and the kids got to meet their teachers and see their classrooms. My oldest, who is going into 4th grade, had major butterflies in his stomach. He had heard so many stories from other kids about how hard 4th grade is and how mean the teachers are. No recess, no warm fuzzies, only homeowrk and writing exercises day in and day out. He found his name on his class roster and was so relieved that his teacher was "one of the nicer ones". :-) But the excitement flooded his body when he saw the name of his best friend from last year, and then upon further investigation, the names of 10 of his 3rd grade classmates were on the same class roster! Can you say JACKPOT!!! I was excited too because his 3rd grade class was a great bunch of kids. And if that wasn't enough, his classroom is not just in the schools brand spankin' new building, but it is on the SECOND FLOOR! As we were walking up the stairs to see his new room he said "wow, this is so cool. I feel like I'm in college!"

My youngest had just as an exciting day. She found her name on her "dream teacher's" class roster. They hit it off right away and my daughter was almost speechless (a very rare occurance)when she realized she had her very own desk and her own reading textbook and math workbook. I thought she was going to shake right out of her skin with joy. I couldn't be more pleased with her teacher. I know her reputation in the school and it is excellent. So I think we are going to have another very good year. :-)

Sad day.

Yesterday was a tough day in our house. Our beloved beagle, Chester, passed away. He was diagnosed with stage 3 lymphonic cancer about a month ago. It is an aggressive cancer and we did our best giving him medication to make his last weeks with us as comfortable as possible. Over the weekend he stopped eating and yesterday it became obvious that he was finished. It was one of the most difficult things hubby and I have ever had to do. And helping the kids cope has been difficult as well. But we know we did the right thing. It was us that wanted so desperately to hold on and not let go, not our pup. He was ready.

Chester was our first. He was sort of an early wedding present from me to hubby. I picked him out from a group of beagles- it was love at first sight. He was the most playful and had the most personality of all the pups and he had the most expressive, "melt you like a marshmellow" eyes. It felt like he chose me as much as I chose him so I took him home. A few days later, during the Florida v. Tennessee game, I surprised hubby with our newest family member. It was love at first sight for the two of them too. Florida won that game (and we named our newest member after the defensive back who played like a maniac that day: Ed Chester), we had a new pup, we were getting married a couple months. Life was good. :-)

We learned quickly that he had energy and enthusiasm. He loved to run and when he saw an open door, he BOLTED. He was impossible to train (he failed puppy school) and caused so much damage to shoes, books, carpet, even furniture. Still, we couldn't have loved a dog more. And he won over so many hearts, even despite his crazy ways. He went on trips with us, he slept in bed with us. He was our first baby.

When we brought home our first human baby (LOL) Chester was so amazing. He would lay right next to my son, almost as if he were keeping watch over him as he slept. He'd follow me from room to room anytime I moved the baby. And as my son grew, Chester became the best toy he had. The two of them were like peas in a pod and Chester endured so much pulling and tugging and even a couple toddler bites! But never once did he get frustrated with the kids. He loved them dearly and always wanted to be around them. Chester was one of them. I don't think he knew the difference.

Shortly after Chester celebrated his 12th birthday this past June,we found out he had lymphomic cancer. We knew he wasn't feeling well, but we weren't prepared for the diagnosis. The vet gave us a couple options, but none of them saw him living for more than a few months. We chose to give him steroids in hopes of helping him feel better as he finished out his life. They did seem to work for a couple weeks, giving him a renewed appetite and a little more energy, but the cancer continued to overtake him and this weekend it was obvious the medicine couldn't work in his favor anymore. My son, who is an intensely sensitive soul, struggled with his grief. He kept repeating that he has known Chester all his life and that he was like a brother to him (sniff,sniff). It really was so difficult to see my son filled with such hurt and sadness. My daughter is not nearly as emotional, but I could tell she was struggling with her own grief and the flood of emotion in our house. Instead of crying, she sweetly reminded us all that Chester was going to be happier in dog heaven where she is certain there are pepperoni trees and a lot of open doors for him to run through. And adding her own Abby twist, she also reminded us that we "still have one good pup." :-) Tact has never been a gift of hers.

So that was our day. It was a difficult one to say the least. And the house still seems so strange. I think it will just take time for the feeling that something is missing to fade away. It feels like the end of an era in some ways. Chester has been a part of our journey as newlyweds to new parents to established family. So many people equate our family with having the crazy, yet extremely lovable Chester. And it warmed my heart as I sent out the news yesterday to get a response of how Chester touched so many hearts (and ate so many shoes) over the years. He really was a very special dog. He was Chester. And he will be greatly missed.

Where did the summer go??? And where did my baby go???

Wow. Two more weeks and school will be back in session. I don't know what happened to the summer! I had all these fantastic ideas and projects I wanted to do and pitifully we have just completed one. We got the exterior of our house painted. Well, I should say one and a half. We are redecorating my daughter's room and that project is at least in progress. I was going to do so much more though. And now, all at once I am back to school shopping for clothes and supplies (oy-vey- is that a post within itself!) and I'm left wondering where June and July went!

Maybe I'm in disbelief because then I have to come to terms with having a fourth grader. I am still in denial over that one. LOL! Fourth grade is the first year I remember vividly. I remember my friends, my teacher, my school, the clothes I wore, the music I listened to. I remember the car my mom drove, the car my dad drove. I remember parts of conversations I had with people. I even remember my ballet recital choreography! So to think of my son being at the age where events, conversations, surroundings, and people will make such a lasting impression is a bit strange. Partially because I don't want to screw up, but also because he is passing that naive, innocent stage of his childhood and entering into the real world. It's been slowly happening already, but I know there is really no looking back now. It's always a journey, this parenting thing. You learn as you learn as you go. And hope you don't mess up royally.

Fourth grade...man. Where did my little three pound preemie go?

Beware: MAJOR sappiness ahead!

This post is liable to make some people nauseous it is so sappy. But I was thinking this morning of all the good things in my life, so I thought I'd write it down. Like so many people do, I often take things for granted. I can get so caught up in my worries, frustrations, and fears, sometimes forgetting to remember all the amazing blessings I do have. When I think about things that I am so incredibly thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is my family.

I have the most amazing husband. He loves me despite my many shortcomings. I am in awe of his love for me and our children. He is so patient, honest, kind, humble, and strong. He sets an incredible example for our kids and an incredible example for me. I don't know anyone who works harder or is more of a master at balancing things in life. I feel so lucky to not only have him as my best friend and partner in life, but to watch my kids interact with the most extraordinary father possible.




So then, there are my kids. Holy cow did I hit the jackpot with them. I have such tremendous children. They teach me more than I teach them. My son is this amazing being, full of kindness, sensitivity, compassion, intelligence, and love for everyone. He is a thinker and doesn't forget a detail. He exemplifies what a good friend should be. He makes good choices, he works hard, he is open to new ideas, and loves to make people feel good. I am so proud of him and the young man he is becoming. My heart grows ten sizes when I think of the extraordinary person he is.


And then there is my daughter. She is a precious piece of art. She is so smart and witty already at six years old. She amazes me with her creativity and her confidence. She finds such pleasure in small things that can go unnoticed to most. She loves life, loves to laugh (even when no one else is laughing), loves to create, and loves to keep life simple. Her smile lights up a room and her independence lights up the world. My heart dances when I think of the beautiful person she is.

Then there is everyone else in my family. And I mean everyone. How I wound up so blessed with such tremendous people in my life is beyond me. My parents are phenomenal. Generous, loving, supportive, and fun. The same adjectives can be used to describe my in-laws. I still can't believe how much love there is between our two families. It really and truly is like one big family, as it should be. My parents and in-laws love each other and are such good friends. They all make sure we celebrate holidays and celebrations together. Even if it means getting on a plane and flying somewhere for Thanksgiving or a birthday. Hubby and I are constantly reminded of what is important in life by our parents example.


And did I mention I have a FABULOUS sister too! :-) She was my first baby. I, being the older sister, can't remember a time where I wouldn't step in front of a speeding bus for her. She is this smart, funny, strong woman who is beautiful on the inside and out. And then she married this very sweet guy who is caring, thoughtful, and kind and they had this precious, precious little girl who has red hair! I feel so fortunate to live so close to them and be able to watch my niece grow and be there to help out my sister when she needs me.

And if that isn't enough, I have extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, that are all tremendous people and so many friends that I consider my family as well. I am so blessed. When I think about my family; immediate, extended, and close friends, I know I will never be alone in life. There is always someone to love me, care about me, and support me. That is so overwhelming.

It's easy to get caught up in things that aren't going right, or things that you want to change. But it is so important to look at the big picture in life. As my grandpa says..."as long as you have your health and your family, you don't need anything else." One thing I will never be without is family.

GIMME MY CHANGE!

OK- rant here...don't read on if you don't want to hear my whining.
I recently celebrated a birthday (sigh) and got so many GENEROUS gifts. I really have the most amazingly generous family, but that belongs in a love fest post, not this rant. So anyway, I got some gift cards to some of my favorite stores. I go to one store and come up a dollar and change short of my gift card. And I don't get the change. Now do they sell anything for a dollar and change at this store? No. Do I understand the point behind the policy is to make you come in and buy an item for $10 and use the rest of your gift card but still owe eight dollars and change? Yes. Do I think it is highway robbery? YES! I get the point behind the policy. I understand they are in the business to make a buck. But is it right? I don't think so (my dad is so rolling his eyes right now). It's stealing in my opinion. My loved ones did not put $50 on a gift card with the hopes that the store would pocket a dollar or two from it. And I'm not going to buy something I don't want just to go over my gift card amount. That's ridiculous. I think the stores (like Ann Taylor for example) that give you the change if you come under $5 of the gift card amount are right on and I will only buy gift cards from stores who have that policy. In this day and age I need every dollar I can get in my pocket to buy groceries and gas! I would love to see how much stores make a year from unused gift card money. Someone paid them upfront for their products and they are keeping the unused portions for themselves. I don't know- I just think it's ridiculous. And it makes me mad. But I digress....

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Ugh, Florida in the summertime equals RAIN. Every afternoon the clouds roll in, the skies get dark, the thunder looms in the distance, and before you know it you've got a Florida thunderstorm right on top of your house. Then, as the clouds move on, you're greeted with the lovely, thick, sticky humidity that lasts through the night and into the next morning. I love Florida. Sigh.

Thunderstorms can be such a damper(haha) for families trying to enjoy their lazy days of summer. You can't play in the pool, can't ride your scooter or bike, can't shoot hoops, can't go to the park, can't jump on the neighbors trampoline. It is a prescription for whiny children who want to climb the walls. Some afternoons are rough. But some afternoons an explosion of creativity takes place with my housebound children. Like today. My oldest found a couple old boxes and before I knew it he was cutting and gluing and taping. Then the little one comes along and adds her flare and before I know it they have created a hospital, complete with sick yellow people, and are acting out these fantastic stories and having a ball. It's making the long, gloomy afternoon so much more bearable for all. They're getting along, using their brains, and having fun. Gotta love it!

The Power of a Pool

OK, I confess. I am a horrible Floridian...there are so many reasons I don't fit well with Florida (that's a whole other post), but one reason in particular is the fact that I don't like pools. And in Florida, pools are a way of life, especially in the dreadfully hot summer months. But I don't care for them. I don't like being in them, and now that we have one, I have found that I hate taking care of them. Who knew what a royal pain pool care could be. But anyway, as much as I don't like pools myself and the upkeep drives me crazy, I have to admit pools are a God send when you have a 1st grader and a 4th grader during the lazy days of summer. Pools seems to have magical powers with kids. First of all, they never seem to get bored with the pool. That is amazing in and of itself seeing how my kids get bored with everything(Mama Jane would have some words for them!). They will sulk at the idea of playing this game or doing that activity, but given the opportunity to jump in the pool, it is greeted with enthusiasm and jolly smiles every time. They can go for a dip in the morning and be chomping at the bit to get in again after lunch. Day in and day out, it never seems to get old. But the most baffling power the pool has with my kids is it's ability to get them to like each other for more than ten minutes! It's amazing how well they play together in the pool. Don't get me wrong, my kids do like each other and have the ability to play really well together, but as they get older they are disliking each other almost as much as they are liking each other. But when they get in the pool, they're best friends. They create, they encourage, they laugh, and they have fun. I can honestly say I don't think they have ever had a fight while in the pool. It's unbeleievable.
So while I am not a lover of pools, I am all for my kids splish splashing this summer. And wo-hoo for me, they're old enough now that I don't have to get in with them! Score! :-)

A Star Is Born!

My six year old daughter had her first dance recital this weekend. It was her first time ever to experience the big stage. I don't think she enjoyed it much. (HA!) Once again, the apple doens't fall far from the tree. :-)

BTW- my dancing diva is the one on the middle.



Sorry the video quality is lacking. We weren't supposed to record the recital, but I sneakily used my digital camera anyway. And I'm so glad I did- it's priceless.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

OK, anyone who knows me knows my slight compulsion with lists. I have lists for everything. Lists of things to do in the morning, lists of things to do in the evening, lists of people I need to call or email, lists of places I need to go in a given week, lists of things I need from various stores, lists of lists I need to make. :-) It really is a borderline illness. But never-the-less, I am a list person and it helps me feel sane in my hectic world. So today, a very proud moment occurred. My six year old daughter made her first to do list...all on her own. I just happened to stumble upon it. Oh, the pride! It's in the DNA. I loved that she seemed to get the same great pleasure by marking off the things she had completed as well. Indeed, my extremely laid back, often scatterbrained child does have a touch of OCD in her. :-) She is a little like her mom after all. So anyway, like any completely crazed mother, I took a picture of the momentous occasion. I should mark down the date in her baby book- hahahahahaha.

I don't know if you can read the list, but the first thing she has listed is "check on Mommy" LOL! I think the reason for this is b/c today was the first day we watched my niece and boy did Mommy get tired. It's pretty funny how easily you forget how much work 9 week old babies are!!!! But I have two fantastic helpers. One is already an expert bottle maker and the other likes to entertain her by dancing around, singing silly songs and making funny faces. Speaking of my beautiful niece, here she is! And if you're wondering...yes that IS red hair you see. :-) (you have no idea how much that makes me beam with delight).

Paybacks

OK, no soapbox today, just a random vent. Am I the only one that sees cleaning as this horribly mad circle that never ends? For once I'd like to clean a room of my house and go back the next day and it still be all nice and sparkly and clean.

I had a big cleaning day Friday. I actually didn't have any obligations the entire day, except to get the kids to and from school, so I dove in. I swept and vacuumed. I scrubbed counters and walls (you'd be surprised how many finger prints make it onto my walls- ugh). I organized, and I cleared clutter. It felt good. I had a clean house. Then the kids came home. And the weekend happened. And I woke up this morning and no one would ever guess that I spent an entire day cleaning just three days ago. Sigh.

I guess you chalk it up to having a very active house with two kids (and two dogs and other random children coming in and out throughout the week). We are clean people. My kids have to keep their rooms clean, they help with chores on a weekly basis, they fold laundry and wash dishes. According to them I am very unfair and quite the tyrant because they are expected to help out around the house so much. :-) And anyone who knows my hubby knows he's a bit compulsive about organization and being clutter free. But even with all that, we have this weird phenomenon that as soon as you put things away or clean a room and then turn your back, well somehow, someway, it all becomes a mess again. In the blink of an eye. I don't get it. What am I doing wrong? Is it foolish of me to think things should stay in there place all the time? That I shouldn't have to repeat fifteen KAZILLION times that when you are finished with a cereal bowl you rinse it out and put it in the dishwasher?

I'm sure all those seasoned moms out there are laughing at me right now. I know my mom is. I was not the neatest child in the world. I guess what goes around comes around... paybacks, right mom. :-) And I guess it's good to know that she has a very clean house now. My time will come... maybe I shouldn't be so anxious to have a perfectly clean house all the time.

My life is an oxymoron!

Baby Grand, Jumbo Shrimp, Organized Choas.
All oxymorons. But I have a new one to add to the list...

Stay-at-home-mom.

Maybe I'm a rare breed of stay-at-home moms. But I, for one, am NEVER home! I realized this when a lady asked me in the middle of a typical hectic day, "so you stay-at-home with your kids?" I found that to be such an ammusing statement. No, I do not earn income, but the term stay-at-home certainly does not apply to my life!

Then I started thinking about the term "working mom" and thought that is a pretty silly term as well. All moms work! Income or no income, motherhood is work. I know plenty of amazing moms who have careers outside of motherhood, or earn income to help ends meet at home. They work double time. Responsibilities with being a mom and responsibilities with work. "Working mom" doesn't give them half the credit for the responsibilites they hold.

And I know plenty of moms who like myself, choose to not earn income so we can concentrate on volunteering and being a full-time advocate for our kids. But "stay-at home mom" doesn't really describe what we do. Most of the "stay-at-home moms" I know put in enough hours at the schools, or doing other community service, to be considered "full-time" in most any company's human resources handbook.

I understand society wanting terms to describe income making vs. non-income making moms. But I hate lables. I really do. Does it really matter if I earn money or not? Lables often generate seperation. Both ends are sometimes made to feel guilty for choosing what they choose. And that is ridiculous.

The question should not be "are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?"

The statement should be "you're a mom? Awesome! Thank you for all you do."

Learning CAN be fun!

I got to witness such fun in my daughter's K classroom today. They are doing a unit on butterflies. They've already watched several caterpillars build their chrysalis, emerge, and then set the beautiful new butterflies free. They can tell the difference between monarch butterflies, painted ladies, and queen butterflies (and know that even the boy queen butterflies are still queen butterflies, not kings). They have learned the difference between a cacoon and a chrysalis. They have learned the difference between a host plant and a nectar plant in the life of a butterfly. And they even have witnessed a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar turn from electric green to the color of bright orange marigolds when a pot of marigolds was placed by it's "bungalow". Today the kids got to act like emerging butterflies. It was so much fun for them. And a hoot for me to watch!


Snug as a bug in a rug (or a caterpillar in a chrysalis)
Wiggling out of a chrysalis without breaking your delicate wings is no easy task!
She's free!

This is what learning is all about. Hands on, fun activities. I completely understand the need and importance of rote learning as well. But I think it's so important for students to get these sort of opportunities in the classroom too. We are so fortunate that both the kids have creative teachers this year. My son's teacher LOVES projects, which is a great way to learn subject matter. And my daughter's teacher is so creative. They cook every week, they take tours around the campus observing nature, they paint, they create, and they learn to think out of the box. Learning can be such fun if you put a little creativty into it!

Happy Mother's Day!

I had one of the best Mother's Day...each year seems to get more and more special. This year was really fantastic. I was awakened by two shining faces Sunday morning with a tray of pancakes and a tall glass of oj. What a way to start the day! We spent the day with my mom (who is truly the most incredible mom on the planet- if I can be half the mom she is, I know I'll be a success), my awesome mother-in-law (who is another amazing mother- she created and raised the most loving, kind, and truly spectacular man on the earth) and I got to spend the day with my sis, who is celebrating her first mother's day! How special is that! Already she is proving to be another awesome mom and one that I admire and love. We shared a meal, played with the kids, snuggled with the baby. My oldest wrote me a beautiful poem that I already have framed. My daughter made me two pieces of lovely pottery. And then she, my sister, and my mom had a ball in the kitchen making me a batch of homemade cookies! It was a sweet treat to end a sweet day. I am so incredibly blessed. I have an amazing husband, amazing kids, and amazing role models. Thank you to all the moms out there. I am inspired by many. It's not always the easiest job, but there is absolutely nothing more rewarding in life.

Thank a teacher!

Next week (May 5-9) is National Teacher Appreciation Week. So if you know a teacher, thank them. If you are a teacher, I thank YOU! Teaching is one of those professions that can be so distorted by politics and media. It irritates me when teachers are looked upon as never satisfied or as the cause of the downfall of education. There are issues in education these days...believe me, I know. But I firmly believe that the vast majority of our teachers do it b/c it is a calling. It is a passion. It is in their blood to teach our children and impact our future generations. And I also believe the majority of them do an outstanding job. I have been in so many classrooms over the last several years. From private schools to public. Title 1 schools, to schools in affluent areas. And I am always in awe of what these teachers have to do outside of the basic "teaching" of curriculum. They are advisors and couselors. They are peace mediators and instructors of positive parenting skills. They are nurses and they are motivators. They are social workers and they are models of character. Some parents don't realize so many kids come to school with so much baggage. And these kids are from all walks of life. And you can't not address that baggage and yet expect the kids to learn the academics. I could go on, but I'll end with my rant with this. Most teachers do their best. And most teachers do an awesome job. I think they deserve a pat on the back and a thank you. Next week is a perfect time to do it.

The Anti-PTA Mom has been conformed (or she has lost her mind...which I'm thinking may be the case)

OK, so I'm not really anti-PTA. I just always looked at the organization through my stereotype glasses and saw moms who had nothing better to do with their time than sit at their kids school all day and try to get their way with the administration. And bug people to volunteer for bake sales. I had not been part of the PTA, outside of volunteering in my kids classrooms, until this year. We were at a new school and the head crazy mom (aka PTA president) asked if I'd chair the hospitality committee. It sounded like a fairly painless gig, and I did want to meet some moms at our new school, so I said ok. During the year, I began to see that not all the moms were crazy, power hungry, helicopter moms. Actually, they were very down to earth, lovely ladies who were just trying to help the school help their kids. I like that idea of helping the school help our kids. So I slowly took on more and more responsibility. Well, wouldn't you know...the end of the year is here and I was approached to be the head crazy mom for next year. I declined immediately. How could this once anti-PTA person, who used to roll her eyes at "those" PTA people, now be in charge of "those" PTA people? But alas, they have conformed me. The PTA is actually a really great organization when it's members don't abuse the idea and try to run the school. I am so fortunate to be with a group of moms in the PTA who truly are wanting to help the school, not run it. They want to honor the teachers and their profession, and they want the school to do all it can for all the children it serves. Not just theirs. It's pretty cool. And I'm looking forward to being a part of it. I still haven't decided if I have completely lost my marbles in doing this, but it helps to know that in this new gig I will be a part of a group that really does all it can for the kids in our school. That's a pretty good use of my time. So I guess the moral is, don't roll your eyes at the PTA moms...one day you may be one.

Surprises ROCK!

So, we love messin' with our kids. It keeps them on their toes. We had the best time surprising them with a family Disney day of Friday. They were clueless, which made it all the sweeter. It's fun when surprises actually work. Their reaction to being at Disney, when they should have been at school, was beyond delicious. It was so much better than if we had formally planned it all out with them. And seing their faces (as well as the reactions of people passing by) when the grandparents emerged was so cool too. It was magical for them. And I loved it. We try so hard to create lasting memories for our kids, and I think this time we hit the jackpot. And can I just tell you how FANTASTIC it was to walk through the entry check point at the Magic Kingdom without having to stand in line for a bag or stroller to be checked! We went to Disney for an entire day without bringing one item other than ourselves. How cool are elementary age kids! I'm loving it.