Monday, April 05, 2010
Personality
One of the things I enjoy most about homeschooling my kids is the freedom it gives me to oversee their curriculm. I have found little ways to tweek what they are learning and when they are learning it to suit it best to my kids for instance: Duchess is now doing 2nd grade math in the 1st grade as it's the challenge she needs and MOMMY IT'S FUN! Princess had a month of straight math review as her Utah curriculm was behind in what the A Beka curriculm considered 5th grade math.However, here is another one of those proud mommy moments for me. Princess has been a poor speller for ages. Honestly she gets it from me as I stink at spelling. Hello spell check! However, the A Beka curriculm is meant to teach our kids a lesson while educating them.
Case in point: Princess' spelling words for last week, the subject was Personalities: The Traits you want to Possess
Energetic
Optimistic
Generous
Trustworthy
Serious
Humorous
Individuality
Faithful
Dependable
Honorable
Diligent
Reliable
Humility
Joel (book of the bible)
Honestly, would I see this spelling list in a public school?
I have never yet.
I'm so thankful that the Lord led us to homeschool my kids. They aren't the only ones learning so very much.
Labels: Great Parenting 101, Homeschool
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Rounding Off the Perfect Weekend
And because my computer is being difficult, you'll have to turn your head to see....but we hit the monster truck rally this afternoon. A perfect cap to a great sunny but chilly weekend here in Texas.
Princess was grinning ear to ear. If we aren't raising the perfect little redneck, I don't know what to call it! She was all about the trucks. It was great. So we got up so Dave and I could do school first thing this morning, then made church which was awesome. The kids just love the new church, finally we all agree on a church. We let the kids' have a huge say in our church choice as they really like their own individual kids' churches for their ages. Can't say I blame them, big church is so much better when kids are not present, but that is just my opinion. But after church my sweet peeps dropped me off to get my nails done while they hit up a local fair. Then after a quick grocery trip for food, we were off to the monster truck rally.
Which was awesome! Duchess decided that the motorcycle tricks were the best. So we noted that and realized that she is the one we'll have to watch around those wild and wooly boys that ride the cycles. She had that gleam in her eye that scared me and made me pray to the Lord that she didn't ask for one of her own at Christmas.
But we all had a great time. Even if the fumes were intense. Thank goodness Dave brought us all earplugs. God love that man!
Even if he does eat RAW OYSTERS. At dinner the other night I had to snap a picture of his appetizer. Thankfully I was envolved in my shrimp cocktail and was able to block out the slurping and sighs of contentment as he horked an entire bowl of these slippery nasty suckers.
So I'm in my pjs now and I'm off to eat me some grilled steak and watch "Over the Hedge" with my kiddos.
Hope your weekend was fabo!
Labels: Great Parenting 101, On The Road
Saturday, February 27, 2010
SCORE!
I am mommy, hear me roar. Thanks to a very grownup conversation in which both my girls acted like big girls, they finally agreed to retire the sad, torn old blankies and get new ones. Princess gave up hers for the above in pink and brown but couldn't find that pic. She named it "fuzzy". She's very pleased with her pick. We agreed not to say the words "woobie" in the store as it's embarrassing mom! But we were rather stealthy and got new snuggle partners for them both.
Duchess surprised me though. For my "not so girlie" girl, she chose the Zsa-Zsa Gabor blanket to replace her green blanket. The same kid who wears only ponytails, boots and jeans everyday went all female glam on her choice. She's named hers "silky" cause duh mom, it's not green. And she justifies having a blanket cause she can't sleep snuggled up to daddy the way I do. Since I snuggle with daddy I don't need a blanket. So there.
Points to my mom for taking time out of her to assure them that they could ship her their old blankets for safe keeping. No storage living for my kids' blankets, cause they deserve better. Obviously dude, duh.
With that said, Murphy has taken possession of a bunny that is damn near his size. It's his woobie.
We be a house of woobies. Geez.
Labels: Great Parenting 101
I'm A Smiley Girl
So the man came through, Dave came home from work and promptly took me out for an amazing dinner. I had grilled shrimp and lobster tails, with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Started my dinner with a big ole shrimp cocktail and an appletini. Life was gooooood. We actually got up and moved tables so we could sit side by side rather than across from one another and we talked.........we talked alot. We laughed. I giggled. It was great. The movie afterwards, was depressing as shit. Don't go see a movie about dead kids when on a date. Not cool. Thought Shutter Island was about a scary mental institution. Nope, dead kids. Not cool. We left before the ending cause dayum, buzz kill.And now for a huge adventure, we are going "green green" shopping. If you know my kids then you'll know that they are huge fans of their security blankets. Their woobies. They only use them at night and when we are traveling in the car for long trips. And while they are now 11 and 7, Dave and I are totally cool with the green greens. Not a big deal, unless one is missing then holy hell. But frankly I act the same way when I can't find my cigs so there. Anyway, the greens are truly nasty. Frayed, holey and tired little blankets that need replaced. So today, we talked them into shopping for POSSIBLE replacements with the promise to ship my mom the originals to put into storage "for their kids". Pray for me.......
Labels: Great Parenting 101, On The Road
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Oh Sweet Baby Jesus
In making an effort to curb my sailor mouth, my latest exasperated phrase is "oh sweet baby Jesus" as in Oh good grief, Lord help me. This came in handy this morning.The kiddos were gotten up bright and early for school since today was the first appointment in our new volunteer program we are doing with the kids. As life is really more about how you live it and what you do for others, we felt the kids were old enough to really learn service. This morning we had our first service appointment at a retirement home down the street.
Now because I know my children I went over and over the list of rules:
1. Do not run
2. Do not yell, scream, or hysteria
3. Do not talk constantly, listen to your partner
4. Be good
5. Be good or else
6. Be good or else I'll kill ya
So on the way there this morning, we ran through the list again. But I really didn't hammer it down because I wanted my kids to be themselves and just enjoy this service to others.
We met with the director and the kids were gushed over and promptly put into service helping their assiged partner with bingo. Bingo is apparently a cut throat deal in the retirement home. Fierce sport!
Duchess was paired with a very sweet and sassy older woman, who was the most "with it" of all our partners. She told us she was "in for" not listening to her doctor and frankly she wouldn't be listening cause she loved the home and would rather stay there. Well call her Mrs. Orange from now on as she has requested Duchess be her partner all the time.
Princess was paired with Mrs. Silent who was very quiet and quite paranoid that they were "doing it wrong" since they weren't winning. Princess was a saint.
I was paired with Ms. Judy who needed constant help and kept telling me over and over that I was beautiful and that she loved me.
We had a blast. We were asked how often we could come back. We're going back this week for another bingo round and nail painting time.
It wasn't until we were in the parking lot loading up when Duchess produced her "gift". Two shiney quarters that she and her partner had won at bingo.............
OH SWEET BABY JESUS
Apparently I forgot to add to the rules how we're not suppose to shake down old people as part of our service project.
Labels: Great Parenting 101, On The Road
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Oh Boy Wednesday
Fun times are here......yippee....I'm knee deep in our taxes which have never been such a pain in my rear! If only I could blame Dave, lol, then I'd feel better but even exhausted at night, he's wadding in to help. A man among men, although it could have been that wild and scary Irish side of me peeping out when I "asked" him to help that made him say yes. ;)So while doing spelling, cleaning the bathroom, prepping chicken for gumbo, and watching Pride and Prejudice, I'm reviewing tax codes in my head. Sigh......his new job opens us up to a whole new deduction nightmare, but it's working for us. After I file this bastards I'm gonna deserve a huge spa day! Hint, Dave, Hint.
Although in the midst of all of my tax drama, the children have gotten a little wild today which called for a mommy velvet covered hammer. It wasn't my fault that it was in the HEB parking lot, I don't choose the place just the methods! I am mother, hear me roar. But the best part, on the way home my dearest Duchess passes me a note from the backseat....
"Dear Mommy, I'm sorry I was bad. Are you made at me?"
Dude, the best part of my day......it was perfect spelling and punctuation! Oh boy oh boy! Good job to mommy's little first grader.
So now I'll take my puffed up self and scrub the toliet.
Labels: Great Parenting 101, Homeschool, On The Road
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Oh I Hate It
Seriously there are times when it hits me, that I'm actually responsible for adding two human beings to the worlds' population. Two humans who are the spitting image of their daddy and who share just about every attitude, flaw and overage of anything between the two of them.Tonight was one of those moments. I was tired of repeating myself so using the "firm, I'm the boss and by God I will get you if you don't listen" voice on Princess when I had to stop midsentence and tell her to wipe that look off her face cause it was driving me nuts, when Dave, my dearest sweetest husband annouces:
"that is totally your look, seriously you give me that look at least once a day"
Oh crap! on a stick.....
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Thursday, January 07, 2010
If The Trailer Is A Rocking....
It's because it's a serious windy storm here in east Texas. However, I so slept sooooooo good with the rain beating down on the roof. Snug as a bug in my bed. The girls and I are working out our homeschool schedule this morning and frankly we'll all thinking of starting at 10 so we can sleep in, lol.Pray for me, I'm going to conquer my fear of small spaces and use the rv shower instead of using the nice spacious park shower house. The group of blue haired ladies used all the hot water yesterday forcing us to have lukewarm showers from hell. They suck!
Off to HEB later for green beans and hamburger meat to make meatloaf and fried green beans for dinner. Tomorrow will be baked zitti. Dave is sooooooo loving having these left overs for lunch rather than the same old sandwichs. He's so cute! Later dudettes.
Labels: Great Parenting 101, On The Road
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Here We Go...
So excited!Just placed an order for our school books, they should be here on Monday. Then we'll set up our schedule and go from there.
I haven't spent so much time with my kids EVER. I'm totally loving this, even when I get impatient and grumpy.
Mastering the tiny kitchen too: ribs, coleslaw and fried potatoes
Storm is coming so we're hitting the store bright and early.
Sweet dreams internet
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Monday, January 04, 2010
Oh Hell....
Here we go again. Have I ever mentioned that we are the official redneck southern Griswold family? If we do it, we have to do it the right way...which includes the absolute worst case scenario.Case in point: we own three vehicles and moved without taking the time to get rid of one. We have his mucho badass diesel truck (is it wrong of me to reeeeeeeeeeeeally like the sound it makes when it growls?) Then we have my little foreign car (a sporty little zippy Infiniti which drives just exactly like my old firebird, FAST!) and last but not least we own our jeepy. A little beat up but completely tough (has to be when I drive in 4 wheel drive, I not gentle) 4x4 jeep. So as you can see, we have a tough time letting go of useful things. So jeepy is resting at the lake house while we figure out what we gonna do there. We are actually tempted to keep it for Princess who'll be a permit driver in 4 short years. I can't think of a better vehicle for her to start learning on......can you?
Anywho, then there is the random horrible hotel room on the trip. The ONE night we got a hotel, it was so bad, we slept on top of the covers and didn't use the tub. Nice. Again, our luck. Vending machine ate our money, the breakfast was all out of date yogurts and cereals, I'm pretty sure the owner was kin to the Bates. Can't prove it though as he was of India descent...
We actually made 1500 miles in 2 days of traveling with two little girls, a scottish terrior, 2 vehicles and my small bladder. Dave has the problem with driving (ask my mother, she has a whole nother theory), he can't simply drive...he must break land speed records. And (knock on wood, or on RV table) he has a perfect driving record. So 85 miles an hour was the typical speed. Oh sweet jesus, watch over me on the road. He actually yells at me for driving only slightly over the speed. Although he always feels bad and is sweet to me afterwards, cause I'm a horribly red crier, he HATES when I cry cause I never cry.
We made it to the lake around midnight on the second day of travel. My motherinlaw had the upstairs 1960's room (complete with all decor, black lights and etc....COOL) ready for us and beds made up for the kiddos. My dog managed to finally learn to play with their dog after a few fights and then I managed to fall down their stairs. Typical me.
We fit 7 family/friend visits into 14 hours one day as well. We spent an average of 2 hours with everyone and it was great. Exhausting but great.
Once we left the lake we visited with Dave's brother/sisterinlaw in OKC for ONE night. I can't begin to tell you how welcomed they made us feel. My sweet SIL not only started me a real hot bath but brought a variety of smell goods and a little bath pillow for me to just soak and read. That was like a pot of gold for me. Too bad we were the worst houseguests in history. 10 minutes upon arriving I was so exhausted I locked the keys in the car. Then we had to postpone dinner while waiting on the auto club peeps. On New Year's Day, thank you JESUS I'm such a good customer, cause it was free. Blessing! While they were opening my car with Dave supervising, Duchess came in from running in the backyard with her shoes covered in cat poop. Yep, she managed to literally visit every room with carpet before we caught up with her. So we all spent the next hour cleaning their carpets of cat poop spots. I was mortified. My BIL/SIL are so freaking laid back and cool....therefore we didn't get the yelling we deserved. If that was not bad enough, the next morning, we realized that my puppy, Murphy had apparently tried eatting from the litterbox as he YAKED cat poop up in a stream of puppy vomit on their carpet by the back door. I am very familiar with their shopvac at this point. Dave made us pack up and leave, before we suddenly got the urge to pull some Cousin Eddie crap.
The drive down was just as fun. One emergency pee stop resulted in Dave running Princess in while Duchess and I waited our turn with Murphy. Princess came out of the door and in a very crowded parking lot, announced to me (40 feet away)..... "that bathroom was ghetto....thank GOD you showed me how to hover when I pee....that was def a hover bathroom". It didn't help that we were in the busiest parking lot in Texas. Thanks baby.
Upon spending most of her memorable childhood in Utah where diversity is NON existant, Duchess announced after church yesterday morning (in the crowded lobby) that "I met a black girl mommy and I told her I'd be her friend cause you said everyone was the same, skin color was the only difference and we could all be friends....and she said I should get cornrows cause my hair is so long!" I seriously needed a hug after that one......she is like a tape recorder. At least she repeated something I consider a good message.
Cause after church at HEB, when I was waiting on her in the bathroom with a line of people behind me waiting their turn, Duchess yells loudly that she was pooping and "I'm gonna give a courtsey flush but that don't mean I'm done......OKAY?" Kill me now. I'm seriously wondering if I have encouraged her to be TOO outspoken.......that's possible huh?
There are seriously times that parenting is a very humbling thing........ask me, cause right now, I'm freaking so humble peeps.
Now I'm gonna go cook my first dinner in our RV. Challenges are cool right?
Labels: Great Parenting 101, On The Road
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A well deserved break
I took this afternoon off, spent it helping my mom make the major gumbo......What a blessing she has been to me.
I love you mom, I'm not leaving you....I'll always be there in phone calls everyday, facebook stalking and lots of visits.....
I dig you
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Oh my
Our evening took quite the turn tonight. Rarely do I get the chance to really sit and talk about big important events with my kids one on one. Tonight I got that chance.Princess came home from school with some facts about Pearl Harbor. All said with a smile and I had to stop her and explain why mommy was tearing up.
Pearl Harbor hurts my heart.
No matter what I accomplish in this life, one of my most important accomplishments is the fact that for ten years, I was a military wife. No I didn't actually serve. But in a sense I did.
I was there the day he left for bootcamp, I can still remember the hug of steel and the desperate kiss as he struggled to be nonchalant and sober. The look in his eyes was apprehensive and proud. It was that day that he developed a habit that he never changed......he walked away to the military without looking back. (Never in 10 years of deployments and underways has he ever looked back on the walk down the pier, focus ahead.....that is his way, it took me a long time to understand that was his way to actually leaving even when he didn't want to.)
I was there the day he graduated bootcamp. So shiney, so strong, so tall. He stood out among his classmates. He was older than 99% of them, military bearing was so natural to him. I was so proud that day, there really are no words. I'll never forget how he found me in the crowd afterward they released everyone and the place became an instant crush. He'd let some of his fellow sailors smell my perfume (from my letters, how very old fashioned of me....we still have all of those too) and it was a tall, lanky kid who grabbed my hand, sniffed my neck and yelled that he'd found me.
Two weeks later, we married on Dec 22, 1997 because we didn't want to be apart. So I went with him to his schooling and then onto his first ship assignment....
I was there for every assignment. I was there when he called to tell me he'd been burned. I was there when he called to tell me about a close call with a flooding chamber. I was there in every email, phone call and letter.
I have prayed more for that man than anything else in my life.
The military is something very near and dear to me. So I sat Princess down and explained Pearl Harbor. She's almost 11. It's was time. As the magnitude set in, I reminded her that the military is the very backbone of our freedoms. I explained that as a future woman, why she was blessed to live in America. And when she didn't grasp that, I explained the rights of women in some other countries. I pointed out the differences.
Then she dropped the bomb.
She's really been thinking of joining the military when she is older.
I explained that I would be proud of that. I also explained that after COLLEGE that would be an option. Because education = choices. I also explained that while I would support whatever she wanted to do, her daddy might be a problem. He will always see her as the blond toddler following him around....and that man is against anything dangerous for his kids.
But he surprised me tonight. He had an intelligent, supportive conversation with her. He didn't exactly embrace the idea but agreed that education = choices and if that was her choice, he'd do whatever to help her get there. Once again, he made me oh so proud.
So for now, she wants to be a Naval Officer. Last month it was a large animal vet. Next month might be an astronaut. But you know what..........at least she is thinking and dreaming and looking forward.
I can't ask for more.
Except maybe that she cleans out from under her bed.
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Friday, August 14, 2009
Kickin'
The girl has gone back to karate. After taking the summer of for various reasons, she is back in the gei (is that how you spell it?). And she's intense, loud and adorable. I just love watching her practice in my backyard, while sitting on my arse on the porch.....drinking iced tea with my feet up.
And I remind her to grunt and yell at the end, cause I'm all about loud!
But man oh man, I just love watching her go. Next month she has her yearly karate tourney and is signed up for her forms. Let's see how she does peeps.......last year was fun and educational but it'd be cool for her to gain some extra confidence in her karate this year.Fun times!
And cheers from my porch!
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Don't Blink...
The Man...
Fark it, if you read my comments you'll know that The Man is Dave, as he apparently doesn't give a rat's ass about privacy issues, lol, so we'll just call him Dave, shall we?
Moving on...... Dave is home for the weekend. His one weekend this month to celebrate Father's Day weekend as well as give me my medicine therefore insuring that I don't snap and off someone in traffic.....TMI I know, but true.
So we'd planned to hike one the big mountains nearby today and enjoy some of the great Utah (snicker) outdoors. Except we woke up to Princess with swollen tonsils and an am trip to the doctor and rain. Therefore we improvised. While Dave and Princess hit the doc and the pharmacy, I ran out between rain sessions and quickly mowed the front/side yard, you know the only parts visible to the neighbors, cause it's all about keeping up appearances (does any one else love that show? ADD much?).
They came home and yelled at me for mowing in the rain and then Dave noticed that my neighbors were having a garage sale. Before I'd finished that little strip of lawn between the street and my sidewalk, he's bought the kids a go-kart for a SONG. Therefore insuring that I'll forever be that parent.......the "I'll beat you senseless if I catch you riding that thing without your helmets, padding and rollcage protection gear" parent. Fun times I tell you.
So after that debacle, we headed to the mall.
Please pause for a moment of silence......... ahhhh the mall.
Dave was sporting the droopy pants, rapper look and needed some pants that actually fit. So there you have it. Off we go.
We hooked him up. yum.
So then it happened. The moment when I stood in the middle of the mall and had a mini-heart attack. When suddenly I felt old. Dave managed it much better than I did. Turd.
As I stood with Princess in the mall watching Dave get a battery for his watch, she casually asked if we could swing by one last store. Hmmm it was nap time but I asked which store and why.....
Because she liked their shirts. Seems it's a popular brand with some of her older classmates and she "thought it'd look good with jeans and a hoodie" mom.
While doing the fish mouth face, I ran through a million reasons why that was not appropriate.
*you're too young
*it's too expensive
*blah freaking blah
But Dave in his cool parenting way, says sure we'll check it out. While giving me the keep cool eyes, as in we'll figure it out.
We walked in and once I realized that it wasn't horribly expensive and hello, the clothes are more surfer style tees and shorts than slutty clothes that most people think are okay for ten year olds. We racked up. Tee's for $12, flips for $6 and a hoodie for $14, yeah.......I'm okay with this.
But peeps, the hardest part, was watching my kid come out of that dressing room, all legs and gangly self, smiling so big and bright as she planned out outfits (need some ribbons to match for my ponytails mom)......and I realized that I wasn't prepared for this transition. I didn't think it would happen so soon, so very casually, so very.........her.
Especially when before today, all her clothes came from:
Labels: Great Parenting 101, Princess In All Her Glory
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Patriotic? Then Watch This....
Oh my baby does sound purty.......or it just could be cause I'm her mom....
Preparations for the Kindergarten graduation are underway.
Labels: Duchess, family smamily, Great Parenting 101
Thursday, January 22, 2009
No Words......
No Words describe this evening. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada.So after a medicated coma of a workday, I rush home cause today is The Man's birthday. Since he'd cooked his own dinner, I'm lucky that we have a date planned tomorrow night with dinner, movie and naked time (sorry mom). But I hit the door to the wiggly dog who missed me and needed loving, Duchess who was full of mystery person news, Princess who had school gossip and The Man looking like he needed some of my mind numbing cold pills. I was exhausted before I hit the door. Pity me. I am a big ole baby when I'm sick, and I'm slightly dramatic too. :)
So we rushed through dinner so Princess could make karate. Then Duchess and I made her "covered in princess and flower stickers, pictures, and doodles" poster for her mystery person day. The Man and I had a brief chance to catch up and then it was homework time for everyone. Duchess and I finished first, so we gamely cleaned the kitchen while The Man re-taught Princess division. Sucks.
In the midst of running around crazy, I noticed that Wiki was dead.
Or should I say Wiki 2 was dead. Floating. A floater. In the middle of the coffee table. Not cool.
The Man immediately corals children in their rooms and starts winterizing himself for a quick trip to the store, when I tried to be a realist, which sooooo doesn't come natural to me.
"They are old enough, death happens, let's deal with it"
Famous last words.
An hour and a half later, they have cried themselves to sleep, we've promised them EACH a new wiki to be here before they get home from school and The Man keeps reminding me that NOW was not the best time to be real.
No shit.
We had a memorial service, then buried him in the backyard.
What the heck was I thinking?
Labels: Great Parenting 101
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Duchess is 6, I need drugs
The blizzard came a day early so we managed to pull off Duchess' birthday party. What fun. Thankfully since the kids weren't skating around at 20 mph, I was able to get lots of shots. Duchess welcomed her 6th year with a cowgirl party.
I'm loving the new hat daddy got her, but for me it's the mud splashed boots that really work this pic. This kid really is fearless. I so wished we lived in the country and could get her a real horse of her own. She just adores them.
So they played games like "needle in the haystack".
Simon Says with Dad.....
Stick horsey races.....
And cake, there was a huge horsey cake.....and ice cream. Meadow Gold ice cream is now my fav. I had three bowls.
Presents were a huge hit. Scooter from mom and dad made a splash!
Blow baby! One left!
Princess was on hand to keep things running smooth as we got to feed all the animals. Incident free except one adult got headbutted by a goat while trying to feed the babies.
Then, then.........then........they brought out the big guns. Duchess got to feed, nuzzle and pet a real live 17 year old pony. What a sweetie. Brought him right into the room!
Boot stomp was a fun game.....
Lots of prep work on that one, but it was a hoot. Boy can those girls scream.
I love the sisters' shot.
Another visit to the animals.....
Last pets to the pony.....and it was a day.My girl had a great birthday.
Now, instead of trying to top an ice skating and cowgirl party next year for the girls, we're gonna have home parties. We figure we'll alternate each year. Wimps that we are........
Labels: Duchess, Great Parenting 101
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Big 1-0
Turning 10 is quite the bid deal......and we did it in a blizzard, on ice. Everyone should have at least one ice skating birthday, what fun. Thank you boss for the discount too.
Turns out Princess is pretty good at ice skating. Although some of her friends needed coaching, and thankfully Cec came out, she's my preggers hockey playing momma friend. Go girl.
Okay so alot of her friends couldn't skate. But notice that at this point, Princess is skating backwards......does not get that from her momma.
The Man was nice enough to provide all the blurry pics, take pity on me.
And by the by, who gives a 10 year old fake nails for her birthday? Not I.....although we did misplace the karaoke CD's we bought to go with it. I've tossed this house twice, no sign. Not good! Princess was born 10 years ago this Christmas morning. Her's is my favorite birth story of ever. The Man and I were living it small back then. Little apartment, perfect sized for us with a nursery set up awaiting our princess. Warm California was experiencing a slight cold snap. The Man had given up cigs and wanted to step out for a stoggie after dinner. So I waddled out with him and sat on the steps outside while he puffed away. When done, he reached down for my hand and I refused to let him pull me up. Cause I'd wet myself, or so I thought. Turns out my water had broke. How utterly embarrassing for both of us. (and unlike my aunt told me, I didn't have a little glass bottle of pickles with me to drop and mask it) So when we got to the hospital, we walked and got drugs and walked and walked. Till we stopped at the elevators to call the folks on the payphone. I'm pretty sure that afterwards my mom spent the entire night in her rocking chair crying back home.
It was about this time that labor hit and I realized I was completely unprepared to have a baby. So I tried to crawl into the elevator and go home. So The Man (navy to the core) got in my face and told me to "suck it up and stand up and let's go have a baby".....the first and last time he's ever spoke to me like that. I tore him up.
After the drugs kicked in and I stopped telling everyone in the room that he was illegitimate (ba*tard got me pregnant, it was his fault), they had to make me put the playing cards away to actually push.
I've never been the same. She may look like him, but she's all me. It scares the living crap out of me. But back to the big 10.
All in all, a great time had by everyone. Especially since I stayed off skates, spending my time rescuing her little friends who fell and couldn't get up. Poor things. It was quite the comedy show. In a blizzard. Wonderful timing.
So next up: Duchess is turning 6 tomorrow. Where did the time go? Oh wait, I remember...
Just 6 years ago I was going to go into labor in the middle of the night. Then make it to the hospital too late for drugs. Then climb up the doctor's tie until he gave me straight shots of morphine, then deliver a sweet, black haired little chub who took one look at me and screamed. Love at first sight. Right about the time that my bestest friend in the world was leaving messages on my cellphone demanding to know where I was, cause she was gonna kill me for worrying her, when she was actually three floors beneath me working at her desk. Also, I'm pretty sure in my undrugged, semi-natural birth state that my mother was on speaker phone at some point in this, poor thing. I was not at my best.
Duchess came into this world with a bang. She was early too, probably the last time in her life she'll ever be early for anything.
And her birthday party? Saturday at the local Farm. Cowgirl style, all indoors except the covered pony rides. And once again, a predicted blizzard.
Irony, peeps, irony.
Leaving you thinking those deep thoughts as I finish up my last half week in my classes. Two finals, two papers and some homework due by Saturday. Cross your fingers (and legs) for me.
Labels: Duchess, Great Parenting 101, Princess In All Her Glory
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Not Done Yet....
I'm exhausted, weary and about ready to beat my head on the wall but I'm still here.What the hell ever possessed me to take accounting 2 along with pyschology?
Week 2 is over. I had two pysch papers, a 19 question set of stocks/bonds homework, a math quiz, six discussion questions and had to proof three student's papers.
Wanta know about the evolution of gender roles? Ask me. I'll email you my paper. I got 100%. Curious about the use of hindsight bias in everyday life? Ditto..... Need to know whether your current stocks were presented to you correctly (cause you can actually have a stated rate of 8% interest growth and then receive anything beneath it, did you know that?) Have a question about the difference between contributed capital and retained earnings? I'm your girl, got a 95% on that b*tch.
So the cost of the above?
Another patch of gray hair, I haven't shaved my legs in WEEKS. My children can know give you a rundown on the various brain functions (they quiz me) and I waited till today to shop for Thanksgiving.
Work is hectic but good.
So we're hosting Thanksgiving dinner (or supper for those of us from the South) for friends and my beloved mommy. We'll have a full house. The house that is currently filthy. I have to scrub bathrooms and then move outward. I did manage to pick up all the butts that scattered across my backyard when the wind caught my buttcan. Cause hello.....white trash.
(Speaking of white trash, the rednecks with the 14 broke down vehicles and dirty little nakid kids and the dog that bit Duchess, MOVED last week. Yep, in the middle of the night. Nothing left but beer cans and dog turds in that front yard. It's a beautiful thing peeps!)
Among other news I haven't made the time to share. My photo-elusive step-dad is at his hunting camp for the season. He's killed 7. His limit is 4. This is why he's my hero. If you own it, they can't force you to follow no stinking laws! Go dad go. I need some Gluten Free deer sausage! Now if only he'd hit up those cemetaries and get me some iron fencing for my yard. Sigh.
Nanny made it safely home. I miss her already. I can't wait for her next visit. Gonna take more time off and spoil her rotten.
We are deep frying our turkey this year. The Man is prepping his contraption that will accomplish this now. In the past 1.5 hours, we've made great strides on Thanksgiving supper for tomorrow.
Since I wasn't smart enough to buy a house with a double oven......we're batch cooking.
Regular not Gluten Free dressing (stuffing to you yanks) is in the oven. This is my only consection to everyone else, I'm a giver that way. The birds are marinating. The eggs are boiled and ready for deviling, cause I can devil like you wouldn't believe (the secret is bacon!) The sweet potatoes are ready and in the fridge. The GF version of CG's beloved carrot cake is in process, having already been vetted by this family earlier this week. Yum! I'm prepping the GF pie crust as well.
My slaves, I mean my kids have passed out on the couch. Good little kitchen soldiers. The Man has even cleaned the garage for the holiday occassion. OMGosh, just have to share this: the reason I think he caved and cleaned it is not because company is coming. It's because I'm incapacitated currently due to a garage accident.
So I wear high heels every workday. No exceptions. Rain? Snow? yep, even then. I'm talented like that. So the other day we rushed home after karate and peeps, I just had to get inside and run out the backdoor and hide for a smoke. It had been that kind of day. So I was herding kids and as usual, dragging my briefcase, purse, lunchbox, my coat, their coats and keys, cause The Man has this horrible habit of locking the door between the house and garage. Geez. So instead of backing in like I normally do, I nosed in and packed up like the mule that I am. Coming running around the trunk of the car, heading for the home stetch I stepped in one of the many stacks of crap along the garage wall. Landing my high heel in a plastic kids' bike helmet. My heel actually stuck in the top of it throwing me off balance and I skidded a few steps before pitching backwards. I threw everything and landed on my butt, pulling a groin muscle in the process.
Me = not happy camper....... hence my garage got cleaned today.
The only thing exciting that happened this week otherwise was Murphy eating my carpet. But that's another story, for next time. More to come.......
Happy happy Thanksgiving peeps. Count your blessings!
And forgive my purge, but I promise to make more time!!!
Labels: family smamily, GF, Great Parenting 101, happy paper writer, Married Life
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Daddy Daughter Donut Day
The Man has Daddy Daughter Donut Day at the girls' school tonight. He was told to bring a blanket, his kids and a book. For some good ole fashioned daddy/daughter time.He let the kids pick the book. Then when they started pulling hair over whether to take "Little House on the Prairie" or "Dora the Explorer" he just couldn't take it any longer.
He left the house with a big ole pink flowered blanket, two girls and this.......
Can't wait to see how this goes over......Labels: Great Parenting 101
