Monday, June 29, 2009

Monday Morning Accomplishments

Today, I grabbed the phone and started doing all the obligatory RSVPs, made a doctor appointment for the 6 week old cough, called potential piano teacher, and made Mickey's Not So Scary Halloweeen Party and Disney Dining Reservations. Here is where it gets interesting...I am busy planning Chef Micky, the Royal Table, and the luau when H yells (very loudly and not too far behind me) "Mom! M just pee'd on the seat and he is making me clean it up!" Fortunately, my reservations helper didn't sound too offended but if you could see my face, it was scarlet. I bet any envy you had at the Disney Dining experience was totally erased when faced with what type of Little People would be sitting across the table from you.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

I'm Melting

It must be 1000 degrees outside today. Okay, I am embellishing (what do you expect a scrapbooking mom to do? Just saying it is 101 degrees just seems flat, like a page without embellishment...I guess in my church circle this would be called "lying." Let's just go with my euphemism ;-) )

I am going to embrace the heat and hide in a movie theater. Today's movie will be "My Sister's Keeper." Y'all have no idea how exciting this air conditioned extravaganza will be for a woman who might see two movies a year and at least one is a children's Disney/Pixar film. Today's movie will put me up to two movies in one week! (Still two movies for the year 2009, this may mean that I won't be seeing another movie for the rest of the year given my average movie attendance.)

Last Monday, my oldest daughter and I were able to run away from home and see The Proposal. I highly recommend it. Very funny!

So, this is my exciting blog...this is my exciting life.

(I actually need to correct this...I just remembered I saw Night at the Smithsonian, I am on a roll! Three movies!!! I bet I can make it four!)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Temper Tantrums

I have discovered I have no idea how to deal with a raging temper tantrum. My middle child is in the midst of a full fledged on the floor kicking the feet temper tantrum. I have tried timeouts, ignoring, grounding...to no avail. The funny thing is, I never give in to a temper tantrum. The rule is "Throw a fit and you have just guaranteed you will never get what you want." And yet, the temper tantrums continue. I am bewildered.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Question of the Day


Little M is my little heat seeking missile...when he gets cold at night, he snuggles up to my back in bed. In the morning, his little eyes open and out pops this question "Does Dad have to work today?" This question has replaced the question that he would ask every morning during the school year "Is this a play day?" but now school is out and everyday is a play day. Every morning the question...no "Hello" no "Good Morning" just "Does Dad have to work today?"

And just like during the school year if the answer is "Yes." He wants to know how many days until he doesn't have to work (or didn't have to go to school.) M likes to play and work and school just get in his way...pretty bad for a little boy who hasn't even started kindergarten yet.

Toothless...Sort of


Today is the big day that H went from "Snaggletooth" to "Toothless." The funny Jack-O-Lantern look has given way to the pre-2nd grade toothless grin. She is one happy camper! I do believe the Tooth Fairy will be bringing the whistle she read about in Little Bear (providing Big Sis doesn't forget this errand).

I am a little unclear on the details of how this tooth was knocked loose...it has something to do with M squirting water at H while they were helping wash the porch...Vague details usually mean they were doing something they weren't supposed to be doing. I wasn't home so this event was called in by the Big Sister.

Here is a picture of our very happy toothless girl.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Garden Fun





Part of our Summer Stay-cation...

Apple Trees

I am getting the "pleasure" of watching my eldest daughter's journey into the Dating Game. Unfortunately, my daughter didn't fall far from the apple tree. I was really hoping she would...When I was her age I had a problem of running for the hills when a love interest showed too much affection. In college, I once received a dozen roses from someone I carpooled with...they were anonymously sent so I called the florist and she gave me the name. Our next ride to Northridge was quiet, very quiet...I froze the guy out, I do believe he may have even had some icicles hanging off his chin when we emerged from the car...and we never carpooled together again. My days of being rude to unwanted admirers started early, 6th grade...there was a neighborhood boy who would leave presents in my desk and on my porch. He got the cold silent treatment also. I didn't like guys who stayed by my side like they were superglued to my hip...guys who called too much, ick. There seems to be a fine line which is really easy to confuse between paying attention and smothering. My poor daughter inherited the gene that is too hard to please, expecting the other party to just know when to come close and when to back away. I knew there was a reason I never wanted to revisit my twenties again...and this is it...the horrible horrible dating dance. And for anyone interested in pursuing my daughter...I suggest you play hard to get.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

All Grown Up


I canceled my MySpace account today. I am pretty sure I know longer need it to keep tabs on my almost no longer teenage daughter. I created the account 4 or so years ago when I had the "teenager" with the "boyfriend." Growing pains are almost gone with the approaching 20th birthday. I don't think H or M will be using MySpace...it seems to be old news. I am sure there will something newer to challenge my very old brain by the time they become "teenagers." I am keeping Facebook (also created to keep tabs on the teen) but it seems to be branching out into my generation of old geezers. I am getting friend requests from people I knew in grade school but that is a subject for another blog.

Suffice it to say, the teen is gone the adult is on the doorstep...Bye Bye MySpace.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Tweet

I've been tweeted. I am not sure whether I should be honored or go hide...

I am a technology geek. I have barely caught on to using my cell phone for Facebook stuff and now my daughter mentions her tweeter account being on her blog...how did I not notice that?

Today I looked and saw the tweeter update and her status mentioned my road rage. Oh dear...Now the world knows how annoyed I was being behind the 30 mph driver in the 45 mph lane. I have my five minutes of fame and it isn't quite something I want to be known for...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Stormy Weather

Crash, Bam, Boom, the storm came last night and it was fierce. The Little People do not like bad weather. The weather radio sent out its alarm for a tornado and H and M were bouncing off the walls like ping pong balls, screeching at their dad to get off the lawn mower and closing blinds to keep from seeing the lightning lighting up the early evening sky. They ran to the closet under the stairs and pulled out all of their toys anticipating taking cover in case the tornado came closer. The two were riveted to the news on the television. H prayed for safety before our evening meal.

Slowly, as the storm progressed, they began opening the front and back doors venturing out on the porch for a closer look. Then they wanted to sit on the porch and watch the storm...Now I have gone from comforting my shivering Little Man and clinging Little Girl to yelling at the kids to come in and shut the door...and this is how it is every time a storm rolls our way.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

My Summer Stay-cation





Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James

That may have been true for Henry James but for me, the summer afternoon means time at the pool. Last summer, it was a nice relaxing event but this year I am living out Mark Twain's quotes like "Familiarity breeds contempt" and "Fences make good neighbors." There have been a few events at the pool that have shown me what a self-centered society we've become...Profanity in front of children, temper tantrums from adults, children being left to fend for themselves while the parents socialize, I am not enjoying the pool this year like I did last year.

On the bright side, I am blessed with a neighborhood pool to share with friends (wenches) from Church and their children...so while I am not having the time of my life, my children are...and I guess that is really all that matters.

By the way, after spending years and years taking my oldest child to the pool each summer , I would never have believed I would be repeating my summers at the pool all over again at age 47. This only goes to show, that there is a God and He has a sense of humor.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Big Black Boots




It was a typical Sunday morning one day in VA...everyone was getting ready for church and when my oldest daughter came down for church, she was wearing a black sweater, a black skirt, her long hair flowing over her shoulders and her black boots were on...this song just popped into my head. Everytime I hear it, it reminds me of that Sunday morning. I wish I had taken a picture.

(Just a side note about this song, it tends to make you drive really really fast...a bad thing. But at the gym, it makes your feet move really fast...a good thing)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Summer Vacation

Here comes a rant. I have spoiled children. My children have blessings out the wazoo and absolutely no appreciation for them. It is summer vacation. We are on two weeks and two days of this break from school. I am about to lose my mind.

Begin rant: My children are blessed with clothes from Gymboree since my oldest works there, we get a nice discount. Currently, my middle child is pitching a fit because I am making her search her room to find the cute one piece she has worn twice. TWICE and has disappeared...and she doesn't really care. I find clothes stuffed in corners, under beds, in the hamper after 5 minutes of wear.

My youngest is bouncing a ball in the house. How many times have I told my children to not bounce balls in the house?

My voice is hoarse from saying "Shut the door, you're letting all the cold air out and the flies in!!!" Or, since my children are blessed with a neighborhood pool, I am tired of this phrase "Hang up your towels, please take care of your carpet and bed and not leave wet towels on them."

At the pool, I am tired of the arguing over pool toys and yelling "Walk!"

There is constant fighting and lying about who did what.

I realize our house consists of 5 sinners living under one roof but I am tired of being the police and investigating who broke which house rule, I am tired of being a referee, I desire a little vacation (by which I mean relaxation) during this summer vacation.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Our New Little H and The Adventures of M






















H had a big day yesterday (this was her pronouncement of the day). She got her haircut and lost a top front tooth (with a little help from Big Sister). She is one happy little girl. The tooth fairy came and left her a dollar (I still haven't put away a whistle for the tooth fairy to deliver, gotta do that for the next tooth). A friend once suggested a "Get out of trouble" pass. I am going to save that one for her little brother. He'll need it.

Yesterday, M got his little hands on the camera. He began taking pictures...I told him to stop (I was in another room and could see the flashes) and he informed me that was not the camera's flash but lightning. This is a tough spot for me, I need to discipline for the lying but I want to crack up laughing at his imagination.

I am also attaching a picture of what I saw when I looked up from the book I was reading...a little snorkeler.

Welcome to my life.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Fantasyland









I am in Fantasyland. I am planning my trip to Tuscany. Why? Because I can...I figure Fantasyland is a much more interesting place than the roller coaster I seem to be stuck on...if anyone should be able to flip the switch to "off" I would be really appreciative.

Dreams of bucolic settings, landscapes which have mesmerised artists for hundreds of years, villages, ruined castles, fast flowing rivers, cities filled with art, and beaches surround me.

Here is my trip so far...I have discovered the rentals have vastly improved, they actually have shower stalls instead of a shower head on the wall and a drain in the floor. (This is really good because I am really prissy) The kitchens have been tiled and have updated appliances. (I wonder if this means one no longer has to haul in wood for the oven or pump water from a well to wash dishes) Castles are available to rent. (I'm in...as long as their is a shower stall and a toilet that will flush properly) I am picturing myself cooking some pasta in the Chianti region, sipping on the aforementioned Chianti and adjourning to the courtyard for my little dinner.

Pisa and Florence are the places to hit for Renaissance art. Excellent.

I also learned not to use casual eye contact with the opposite sex because it will be taken as flirtatious and there are dangerous Romeos seeking liaisons with foreign women. Hmmmm. Sounds like my trip to Mexico City...except I was 15, now that I am 47, I don't think this will be an issue.

I don't think my trip can come soon enough, who wants to come with me?

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Rollercoaster Ride

The last 9 months have been a rollercoaster ride...I was kind of hoping for the part that flattens out before I had to do anymore climbing or sudden and rapid descents. But, no...tonight, my husband "casually" mentions he is going to be looking into a job at Edwards. Edwards????????????????????????????

I have been able to sustain my rollercoaster ride because of the wonderful people aka Support System I have here. I console myself that here I have a nice house, a nice neighborhood, a small town/big town environment, the kids have a great school, we have a great church, extracurricular activities, I can stay home and take care of the Little People, the whole shabang...and leave this? At my age? For the land of drive-by shootings? The only positive things I could come up with were this...no mosquito bites, no humidity, my aunt still lives there...end of the pro list.

This is going to take some prayer...I could have done this a few years ago...I wanted my husband to work with airplanes, they are his passion...but do I want to live in CA now? No. Do I want to raise my children there? No. Could I have this kind of life there? No. I have never been one to get nauseous on rollercoasters...always loved the ride, not this time, not this rollercoaster.

Friendly Gardens






I love my gardens but I love my gardens more when they remind me of people I care about...

My dad loved petunias so every year I plant some petunias somewhere in the garden. This year they are in the pots...they seem to like it there. They are purple (they look blue in the photo) because the day I went to purchase them...a friend said to make sure I got some purple flowers. When I look at my pots, I think of Dad and my friend, Steve.

My grandma loved roses. Roses are tough to plant here in the South but I got some David Austin roses that smell like heaven...and I am sure Grandma is in heaven watching over the roses because they are still here and haven't succombed to the diseases and pests of the South. (I have also named my roses Lady Macbeth, Hamlet and a friend named one Rose) Rose is the close up picture...

I was at the nursery and found Troy's Gold. Troy was a friend 3 decades ago and a new friend on Facebook...how could I not bring this little happy plant home?

Last year, I found a Phoenix Penstamon at Lowe's...Five of them went in the garden to remind me of my friend in Phoenix. The plants were supposed to be annuals but they were pretty and bloomed profusely so I was happy. Imagine my delight when two of them survived the winter and are blooming again.

Past gardens have always had plants that were given to me or cuttings...In Virginia, a friend from Bible Study almost provided my entire garden. She arrived with bags of day lillies, irises, black-eyed Susans and zinnia seeds. Not only did she provide the plants she helped me prepare the garden. Greater love hath no man than one who helps you do the hard work. Everytime I looked at my garden, I thought of her.

We always have to have hydrangeas because Roo and me adore them.

I love to have color, I love to have fragrance, but most of all, I love to be reminded of those I am blessed to have in my life.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Acts of Love

In my oh so exciting love life, I have had exactly one song dedicated to me...decades ago. I look at the lyrics and it is bittersweet. The words do not describe the relationship I had with this person at all, I look at the words and wonder why did he pick this song?

Once in my twenties, I got a cassette filled with love songs. I thought this was the sweetest gift ever. I still have the cassette, I don't know why, I don't have a cassette player and if I popped it in a cassette player it would probably turn to dust.

My other great gift was from the same guy that gave me the cassette, it was a photo album of pictures he had taken of a day we spent together. (I accidentally left that in a cab...I was fearing for my life but that is a whole different story.)

These random thoughts come as I watch today's young people falling in and out of love. Do they still dedicate songs to each other or just get a tattoo?

Yet, feeling compassion for the strength of their love and also wondering if they will be with this person in 25 years, perhaps it will be a nice little memory that sits in a drawer and causes a little smile when stumbled on, or will the relationship just be a memory that leaves them confused and bewildered...

I leave you with the words from my only dedicated love song...Just remember, the choice of this song still leaves me confused and bewildered...more than thirty years later. If there is one thing I do know, I was not his best friend and I did not make him happy. Sunshine? I don't think so, I think he would describe me more as a thundercloud if you asked him about it today.


Words and music by JOHN DEACON.

Ooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you you're all I see
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

Ooh you're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh you're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

Ooh I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me, girl
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh ya
Oh you're my best friend
Ooo you make me live
You you're my best friend.

Flat Tires

This morning I read my friend's blog about her bike ride and flat tire over the weekend. It reminded me of when I was a teenager and had my first flat...

One summer day, my brother, a friend of his, and I took off for the beach in Santa Monica. Upon arriving at the beach, we discovered my car had a flat. (This is in the days of phone booths, cell phones? Probably not even thought of yet) I called my dad and he told us to find a gas station to come change it (Boy, this story is really dated...gas stations with service, unheard of now). My brother and his friend stayed at the beach, doing whatever it is that teenage boys do...while this girl walked to find a service station, found one, found a guy willing to come change my flat, got into the car (praying under my breath for safety the whole time since I was getting into a vehicle with a stranger 80 miles from home...) and returned to the car, where the young man changed it...for free. My brother's adventures on the beach never being disturbed at all. Is anyone else seeing something wrong with this picture besides me? Shouldn't he and his friend been changing the tire? Hoofing it around and riding in vehicles with strangers or is it just me?

The next day, my dad drove over and stood over me while he instructed me on how to change a tire...He thought it funny the neighbors would think him lazy while making his daughter change a tire. I appreciate the lesson and fortunately, have never had to use the skill again...but here is my question...Why didn't my brother have to learn how to change the tire too?

Monday, June 1, 2009

Mocha


Morning came too early today. I have a tendency to wake up more tired than when I went to sleep for some reason. I am very S-L-O-W in the morning. In fact, I should be getting ready for the gym, but here I sit at the computer nursing a cup of tea. (I have a feeling if anyone ever checked my blood, they would find more tea than anything else) Anyway, morning hit at 5:30 a.m. it is light and the kids see this and think PLAYTIME. Ugh. Fortunately, (for a little while) the kids decided to torture their dad instead of me...it didn't last long before M was standing next to my bed declaring H had hit him.

M climbed up for some cuddling and started talking about how he was going to go back to sleep. Yay! However, he kept talking...I can't even think of where he started...I believe it was Mocha. Mocha is his first stuffed animal from Build-a-Bear. Mocha has a hole and I need to sew it. M gave me instructions on using brown thread and a nail to fix the hole...much discussion ensued about my sewing machine and how one cannot lift it if the cover is on (which tells me someone has been trying to carry my sewing machine). M announced he was going to try to be good today. This statement was followed by the statement he was going to sleep all day (this follows his clothes pin line of thinking...at school, if the kids got in trouble, they would have to move their clothes pin to a different color...M decided that if he just didn't go to school, he wouldn't have to move his clothes pin.)

Back to Mocha, I guess I should go perform some surgery on the much loved patient and get dressed for the gym...and go to the store for some fruit and vegetables and then go to the pool...By the end of the day, Little M will cuddle with Mocha, fall asleep and look, oh soooo sweet.

(The Picture is of M and Mocha right after the bunny's adoption at Build-a-Bear)

Becoming Helen

The previous post has two pictures, one of the Test Pilot School wives Class of 93A in modern (for 1993) clothing and a 1950s Black and White photo. Roy and Helen were the class mascots (of sorts). Our welcome to Test Pilot School included an old movie that was actually used to welcome the early Test Pilot School...very Leave it to Beaver-like. Helen made pies while Roy was a diligent student at Test Pilot School. I tried to find a copy on YouTube...I guess no one has thought to upload it or Roy and Helen's movie has turned to Ash. Sigh.

Someone had the great idea to turn us into Helens...hence, the black and white photo. There was some joke about oranges, in fact, my friend, Karen, framed her picture with stamped oranges on the mat with our signatures. That joke eludes me now with the passing of time, i.e. age. You will see a very pregnant, Diana, she was mentioned in the previous post...my life long friends Karen and Dee Dee...funny little memories of toga parties, 50s parties complete with hula hoops, gliding in Tehachapi, impromptu jump roping with the kids in the afternoon, 7 p.m. meet in the street walking buddies (looked more like a parade with dogs and strollers), lots of pool time in the summer, watching the countdown sign at the end of street, picnics and Beergharitas, and this was life for one year on Sharon Drive.