Whatta Weekend

It was a non-stop fun-filled few days. Friday was the perfect kick-off as hubby and I stole away for a date night. We both love a good thriller so it was a no brainer that we ended up seeing Shutter Island. The twists and turns kept it entertaining. When did he actually go crazy? Why? After the movie, we shared our favorite pizza, and then we came home and made the night a double feature. The Hurt Locker was also a psychological thriller in its own right. I don't quite understand how it stole the show Sunday, but then again...I think it was the only best picture nominee that I actually saw so what do I know. I don't quite understand how anyone signs up for another tour, but thank God they do.

The Wiz kept us entertained Saturday afternoon. The costumes were great and the music nostalgic. Still singing Ease on Down the Road. The kids all loved it except T. Bone. The other 4 were all smiles with rapt attention on the stage while he had a rather pained look on his face and ants in his pants. He just wasn't feeling it.

After the show we all convened at our house for a family play date/pizza party. It is so nice that the adults can visit uninterrupted while the kids play. It really wasn't long ago that one of us had to constantly be running interference and no conversation was ever finished.

It is such a blessing that my childhood friend's kids are such good pals with my kids.

Little C. looks up to T. Bone, and T. Bone looks out for his little buddy, C.

We spent Sunday morning at church and Sunday afternoon at the roller rink. The whole family strapped on skates for the Daisy event. T. Bone is quite the speed skater. It was Miss Bit's first time so she spent a lot of time hugging the wall, but she started to get the hang of it and she never got discouraged. I think her favorite part was when they dimmed the lights, turned on the disco balls and blasted one of her favorite songs. She laughed at me when I told her that I used to hold hands with boys while I skated around the rink, and then she laughed at me again when I tried to stop myself by doing a quick turn and ended up on my knees. Then when I tried to get up, I fell again and hit my elbow too all so I didn't ruin a picture. For this reason...I am glad that I forgot to bring my camera.

My Bright Shining Stars

I walked into the the gym crowded with parents and grandparents just a few minutes before the show. I scanned the room hoping to find my hubby quickly because I don't like feeling like I am on center stage...in the spotlight, if you will. A friend finally pointed me in the right direction, and I was grateful to slip into my seat just in time mostly unnoticed.

The kindergartners started to file onstage one by one. Miss Bit was THE first. She scanned the crowd, and I could see her demeanor wavering between excitement and worry as she saw familiar faces, but not her Daddy or Mommy and I knew exactly how she felt. Both hubby and I waved frantically realizing that she needed to know we were there like NOW, but by this point 99 kids behind her and 99 guests in front of and around us were doing the same. She sat high on the riser and looked like she was either going to cry or be sick. I quickly prayed that the tears and the queasies be kept at bay. My pleas were answered as we connected through the crowd. A big smile replaced her little frown, she abandoned her slump to sit at attention and she unfurrowed her worried brow just in time for the show to start. Amen.

A Little Dinner Music did not disappoint and the kindergartners...well, they were cute enough too eat with spoons all swimming in their mother's aprons. This was their debut appearance in the school's Spring Sing, and if you could have bottled up their excitement, you could have solved the world's energy crisis. What I love, love, love about these little, precious people is that they are not too cool to be tea pots or too old to sing songs they probably learned from a goofy, purple dinosaur years ago. They are every bit enthusiastic, sweet and silly, but oh nelly...are they serious. That is BIG stuff being on stage you know!

Miss Bit is quite the little performer, and not at all shy when on stage surprisingly. She shook, swayed, snapped and sung her way through their set with sass and style, and seemed to have great fun doing so I might add. I was feeling blissful watching her and then before I even knew what hit me...it hit me alright...like a Mack truck. If only my Mom was here to see this. She never missed a opportunity to support T. Bone or Miss Bit or their Mama. I miss her most at times like this...I mourn her missing these times. I used the Kleenex I brought for my runny nose to dab my tears away as I reminded myself that she most certainly was in attendance and probably had the best seats in the house. She never missed a show, a game, a school picnic, after all.

The first and second graders were also entertaining, but we were anxious for the encore. In fact, the second graders sang a song called Pizza to the tune of My Girl that still has me smiling it was that clever. As the third graders, old pros at this Spring Sing stuff, hurried to their places, it hit me again. This is Miss Bit's first Spring Sing, and T. Bone's last. He's growing up so fast and he literally towers over most his classmates, but those cheeks...I still want to pinch em' if only he would let me. He spotted us right away and even waved. He too looked adorable and even agreed to wear a "handsome" (rugby) shirt although he vetoed the "church" (loafers) shoes. I was most surprised to see him sporting his apron. He only confessed that he needed one the day before so at the last minute I borrowed one from my sil-to-be. It may have been green and blue, but it was girly...think Vera Bradley, yet somehow we convinced T. Bone that it was my brother's and he actually wore it. The third graders incorporated instruments and sung rounds and solos. T. Bone played the base xylophone for the funny last number...Everlasting Fruitcake. I didn't know he could read music like that. Who knew that there are so many songs about food?!

Of course, T. Bone and Miss Bit...they are both stars in my eyes...whether they're center stage or not.

Grateful Friday

That I didn't throw my lap top through the tv when the last 15 minutes...the part where the battered woman was going to unleash a can of whoop you know what on her abusive husband...failed to record.


I called the tax man and made an appointment.


The way Miss Bit was so into her school performance. You could just see her personality shining through as she sung and shook her booty...wiggled her hips. T. Bone took his job as a base xylophonist most seriously. I was impressed.


Jess for bringing wine and new music when she comes for dinner.


A walk in the afternoon yesterday. I logged a few miles jamming to my I Pod, and I stopped to talk to a couple friendly neighbors on the way.


Miss Bit may be the youngest in her new swim class, but she's the fishiest. She didn't want to go last night, but she came home declaring the session...A-W-E-S-O-M-E! She can do the back stroke like nobody's business.


Grandparents who ask if the grandkids can spend not 1, but 2 nights!!!!


My brother for ponying up for the mother load of Girl Scout cookies...50 boxes to be exact! And my sil-to-be for writing out the $175 check!


The Wiz this weekend. T Bone was boasting to Miss O. over cinnamon buns this week about our Saturday plans. She very graciously listened to him carry on about Frosty Flicks with the G.'s and then The Wiz with the G.'s and then pizza party at our house with the G.'s. When he was done, she nonchalantly said, "Well, hmmm...let me see. Saturday morning I'll probably get up around 7:00 and head to the pool to swim all day. Well, maybe not all day cuz' I'll take a few breaks from the heat for an ice cream." T. Bone rolled his eyes like she was talking all kinds of fantasy when she just mentioned in passing, "I'll be in Mexico." I kept it to myself that it's been unseasonably cool in Mexico lately, and let's face it...it'll still be a heck of a lot warmer than it is here.

Listening to an old favorite cd and finding a new favorite song. When I first got Willy's new album, I was horribly addicted to Psychic Vampire and now I am hitting replay again and again to sing along to Too Big to Sell. Makes me want to get some canvases and paints.

Little girls is smocked bishop dresses and little boys in seersucker.

Bunches of sunny daffodils.


Easter baskets...I've already started to stash goodies for T. Bone and Miss Bit, but I haven't stocked up on any candy yet. I tend to get just a little carried away.


The other night Miss Bit read 80% of Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You!

A Wednesday afternoon drive with T. Bone and Miss O. through the city. They were measuring up all the people on the streets trying to determine whether or not they were gangsters. To their "country" eyes, almost everyone was, but it had nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with the get-up, the swagger and the cell phone.


Sharing McMamma's pictures from Kenya she posted last night with the kids and letting them see how not everyone lives as comfortably as they do...we do. Her images were revealing in a kind and compassionate way.

T. Bone and Miss Bit were better friends to each other this week.


A date tonight with my hubby.

When Life is a Bad Seinfeld Episode

Let me just preface this entry by saying that when I started blogging a little over a year ago, I never in my life thought I'd be writing at lengthy lengths about the likes of laundromats.

I woke up stiff and sore this morning after spending so much time prone last night. I think I feel asleep about 9:30. I went from not getting any sleep to getting too much. I was able to make it through the day yesterday without a nap. I credit my workout with a much needed energy blast. Endorphins never cease to amaze me. It was apparent I would be needing them when I realized my volunteer duties in kindergarten that day would entail reading Hop on Pop not 2 or 3 times, but 12. I was just as excited as the kids when recess rolled along.

After countless recitations of seehemewepatpuppophethreetreebeetophopstop, I made what I thought would be a quick, mindless stop at the laundromat to wash comforters...a little early spring cleaning. I filled all the double loaders and then walked over to the dry cleaners. When I returned, I realized that the one washer didn't have any suds, and on further inspection came to find it wasn't even filled with water. The woman who "works" there sort of nonchalantly said, "Oh yea...well HE was working on that one today and HE shut the water off. HE must'nt've turned it back on." OK...well, whoever HE is what do WE do now? She stood in front of the machine watching it go round and round and round as if the Maytag God's of rhythmic motion would provide a plan, and I watched her trying to convince myself that I wasn't being Punked.  And then she got all prophetic on me. She said rather proud of her insight, "A watched pot never boils." Well...what could I say except WE would need some water for it to boil. I just wanted to get my quilt out of the #$!# washer! I got up to read the instructions printed on the front of the machine that very clearly said In Case of Emergency, Press START to STOP machine. From where I was standing, this was certainly an emergency: my bedding was being held hostage for heaven's sake! I don't think it will come as a surprise that when I hit START, it kept going. In fact, it started over and the darn door was sealed shut tight as a submarine hatch. You should have seen the look on her face...I thought she was bracing for the second coming she was just that amazed. I looked around for Ashton Kutcher, but he was nowhere to be found. What she did next was priceless. She pressed the START button at least 50 times in succession and looked stupefied when nothing happened. I'm sure she's one of those annoying people who incessantly press the elevator button as if Otis programmed them to read urgency, or more like impatience. I very calmly asked not really trusting she'd have a clue, "What do WE do now?" It took her a minute or two, but she finally responded, "Well, I guess I can give you your $4 back." I refrained from informing her that if WE didn't rescue my comforter it was going to cost a lot more than 16 quarters, and instead reminded her that it would in fact be $4.75 since I just wasted the outrageously priced detergent as well. According to the timer on the machine, there were 20 minutes left in the cycle so I just waited for the possessed machine to run it's course. And 23 minutes later the machine still wouldn't budge. I offered, in the nicest voice possible, to retrieve a crow bar from my car. She obviously assumed that I was driving the muscle car in the lot instead of the mini van because she picked up the phone and called HIM finally sensing my seriousness. HE told HER to unplug the machine, which entailed retrieving a ladder and hoisting her rather rotund body atop the machine. She was grunting and grumbling...reaching and writhing... and I tried desperately to focus on the catalog I had already looked at like 5 times, but this was just such a sight that I couldn't help but gawk. And that is not the end of my story although it should have been, but the #!&! machine still wouldn't open. All sweaty and stunned she gave up and went to the cash register to refund my money. When she came back, I was actually considering asking her to join me for a Blizzard at the Dairy Queen next door with the $4.75 because I was so sure that was the hardest she had ever worked in an afternoon. I tried the door one last time before extending an invitation and whatta you know...it opened! My quilt was free! At that point, I'm quite sure she thought she was being Punked. I moved my hot and smelly quilt to one of the washers I knew was working and wasted another 37 minutes of my day watching my bedding go round and round in lieu of ice cream, and it's a good thing since I gave up sweets for Lent (and she clearly didn't need any...especially if she was going to have to perform more stunts on the job.)

I drove like Mario Andretti to beat the bus home. Miss Bit and I got back in the car and headed to the book store. I promised her a new Dr. Seuss book in honor of his birthday. What can I say...I'm a glutton for punishment because we had to read the 6 runner's up before we could make such an important choice. Although, I refused to even consider Hop on Pop. She really wanted Purplicious or Goldilicious, but neither one of them hold even a smoldering candle to Pinkalicious so we passed. On the way home we picked T. Bone up from Scouts where he made a very cool bird feeder. The kids played nicely two-gether until we all piled on one couch (cats and all) to tune into American Idol. I let them stay up a little late just so I wouldn't have to read any more Dr. Seuss before bed.

The moral of the story is...don't ever raid your kid's rice bowl for quarters for the laundromat. It's flat out bad juju.

Ramblings of My Severely Sleep Deprived Self

T. Bone was up and dressed at 6:48, which was just about when I was doing the head bob finally ready to check out. He was chipper so maybe being sent to the confines of his room right after dinner was not all bad. I handed him the computer and curled up on the couch beside him to snuggle in for a little sleep. Thirty minutes of slumber and I almost felt...feel... human. Well...a half hour of sleep, a couple cups of strong coffee and the sun rising in the east signaling a new day. In all honesty it's cloudy today, but I'd take me a cloudy day over a sunny one any day. And before you think I'm crazy, just know that I think the same of all you who worship the sun. Just. Don't. Get. It. And no, I am not a vampire.

Something else I don't get is how suddenly this morning at 7:35 Miss Bit will only eat crunchy peanut butter and T. Bone must have smooth. Seriously, for years he has been crunchy and she has been smooth. It must be a conspiracy. Has to be. Now I'm just waiting for her to order her eggs sunny side up and for him to request scrambled.

They both decided to pass on the green eggs and ham being served in the cafeteria today in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday and I cannot say that I blame them, although I actually think he opted for cold lunch just so he could have his fill of Carmel Delights at lunch. He can take a snack everyday, but rarely does. Yesterday, I packed him 3 Lemonade cookies and you would of thought I sent him to school with a backpack of dynamite...that's just how adamant he was that he was breaking a cardinal rule. The rule, of course, is that the snacks are to be 'healthy,' which I generally agree with, BUT I have a hard time with the school telling me what I can feed my children. I was wishing I hadn't given up talking on my cell phone while driving when I heard a local talk show host sharing my very same sentiments rather spiritedly yesterday afternoon. I so wanted to call in the timing was just so uncanny. T. Bone, quite the rule follower, saved his cookies for lunch when apparently the school doesn't give a hoot whether you ingest cyannide or sugar or any other brain cell killing poison because then the rules might apply to them, but I'm waiting for that memo. You know the one that outlines what I can send in their lunch boxes. I'm sure it's in committee right now, and that OT is being earned, or at least paid while it is debated and drafted.

As long as I'm in the midst of this rant, I also must express that I cannot believe that Jake picked Vienna (Vinny + Tina...found in Webster's under T for trailer trash) on The Bachelor lastnight. That was seriously, the longest, most painful two hours of primetime television ever! Surely, only to be rivaled by this season's Dancing With the Stars starring (using that word loosely) Jake (again?) and Kate Gosselin (again?)! Huh? We just got rid of them. Why not Donald Trump, Danny Da Vito, Dr. Phil, Courtney Love, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Gary Coleman, Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers, Gordon Ramsay, Elizabeth Taylor, Cher and Ellen De Generes and Simon? Now that would be a cast of characters.

And with all that being said having rambled enough...

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

Dr. Seuss

Forgive me...I'm tired.

Do You Know What Sleep Is?

At 3:33 in the morning, sleep is an elusive gift just out of reach of my racing mind. Sleep is a matter of survival, and I dare say it's a matter of sanity as well. To be able to leave the good and the bad of one day behind and to gear up for the promise of a brand new one- one certainly filled with its own unique trials and tribulations...successes and joys - is nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. Divine intervention is the only way to explain how one can wake up and see each new day with renewed hope and restored resolve.

And truth be told, I was glad I was awake a few minutes ago to hear the pitter patter of Miss Bit's little feet as she raced from the warmth of her bed across the cold bathroom floor and then back again. I welcomed the chance to tuck her back in and tell her that I love her one more time because things weren't exactly peace, love and understanding in Casa W. tonight...last night...whenever!

No, Mama had a meltdown. (So...I guess now you can ascertain what I'm doing wide awake at this ridiculous hour.) I just wanted 20 minutes (OK maybe 30) of quiet to watch the end of a movie I started the day before (I know...indulgent and selfish) before tackling homework, the next day's lunches and dinner dishes, and so I asked T. Bone and Miss Bit to play a little something together. I shouldn't have been surprised when they emerged from the basement with a beef after a few short minutes. After all, that's protocol. That's sibling rivalry, but really? I cannot count on them to entertain each other for a few minutes? I mean I wasn't asking them to do the dishes, invent a new game or eradicate the national debt. I merely asked them To. Play. Together! Yes...TWO-GETHER!

After a brief session of 'he did this to me,' but 'she did that to me,' I ranted about my disappointment in both of them and abruptly sent them to get ready for bed at 7:45 (about an hour early). She was sad that she didn't get a snack and he was mad that he was punished unfairly for something he didn't do. She doled out extra kisses when I tucked her in. He wouldn't give me a single one.

I apologized for losing my cool because I know, and can admit, that there was a better way to handle the situation. I tend to let things build and whoa, eventually the levy breaks. Kids don't understand sweeping generalizations or the correlation between what they just did and what they did a month ago. Truth be told... I wanted to let them come down and have a do over, but I don't think that would have taught them much. I don't give out many punishments...really don't have to.

I punished them last night though and now I'm punishing myself. T. Bone and Miss Bit are the ones who are fast asleep after all. I'm punishing myself for being frustrated (with good reason), but reasons they really didn't understand. I'm frustrated that I was too overwhelmed to take a step back and plug in to the moment that called for patient teaching, not throwing my arms up in anger. I'm angry that I hurt their feelings by not being what I usually am...their soft place to fall.

I know that they'll wake up in the morning ready for a new day...yesterday's laughs and tears a distant memory. I'll be ready for a fresh start too.

Parenting is hard work. Guiding these little people who are quickly growing into big people sometimes feels like an overwhelming responsibility. I have a lot to learn too, and they are my toughest teachers...truly my best teachers.

I'm glad that's off my chest. It feels good to clear my racing mind, but now that I could get some sleep, it's probably more prudent to get some caffeine. T. Bone and Miss Bit will likely be up early...that means soon... after a long night's sleep. I'll be wiping the sleep from my eyes all day, no doubt, and remembering just who punished who.

I'm Almost Glad It's Monday

Really I am because I really needed to relax after a very busy, fun-filled few days.

I kicked off the weekend Friday with an impromptu, most enjoyable and delicious lunch with friends, and then my sil-to-be and her sister came over for a little wine and wedding talk Friday evening.

We hit the ground tubing Saturday morning, which was such wild, windy, wintry fun for all. Miss Bit's trepidation over speeding across the snow in an inflatable was rather short-lived and as you can tell from the pictures below she had the most fun of all. Well...T. Bone had his fair share of fun too, but soon after we got there, he took off with his fellow Scouts for the luge and bobsled courses, and we only saw his red coat from a distance for the duration. Think Where's Waldo. That explains his lack of Kodak moments.

After tubing, we managed to stop for a quick lunch having worked up our appetites in the fresh air, shop for and prepare a salad for our evening engagement and attempt to thaw our frozen limbs in the shower. I am finally warm and my windburn is now gone.

We had a fun time celebrating my step-mom and sister-in-law to be's birthdays over a beef bourguignon (or is that boeuf?) every bit as delicious as Julia's. The secrets seem to be time (4 1/2 hours), a seasoned cast iron cassoulet and some dry red wine both in the stew and with the meal. Round that out with a loaf of crusty, peasant bread and a crisp salad, and voila. I told my Dad that he should have his own cooking show and was surprised to learn that he already has his moniker in mind: The Messy Guy. It's a suitable nickname...I've helped clean up his kitchen after he's cooked many a time.

After a busy day and late night (the kids stayed awake the whole way home watching a movie), I still manged to get everyone up and ready for "early" church, which is no small Sunday morning feat. Miss Bit was as excited as I was to spy Father T.'s car in the lot. Mass was really crowded. Lent? No football? T. Bone decided to try the wine during communion. As we were leaving church he said, "I don't know how you can drink that nasty stuff!" He decided that it tastes like bitter cranberry juice mixed with coffee. If only that were true!

The boys headed out for T. Bone's last basketball of the season. They won incidentally. He scored over half his team's points. Miss Bit and I headed down to the basement for a little Kenpo workout. The most exciting part for her was just getting the leotard on. She only lasted for a couple series of the punches before deciding that she was going to be the judge from the comfort of the couch on her cute little bottom. Somehow she won every time despite the fact that she wasn't actually partaking in any exercise. It's a good thing that swimming starts again this week!

Aunt Jess joined us for a homemade spaghetti and meatball send off to the weekend. We sopped up all the goodness with homemade garlic bread topped with melted fresh mozzarella and were unable to avoid the carb-induced food coma that insued. The kids had raspberry lemonade and water instead of Montepulciano in their fancy wine glasses. Miss Bit kept blessing the wine..."Take this and drink from the cup of my blood of everlasting life." After dinner, T. Bone whipped through his multi-page math review without even exerting any brain power. That's our tax dollars hard at work!

Then we called it a night...we called it a weekend.

Happy Monday to you...Happy March 1st...Happy almost Daylight Savings Time...Happy soon to be spring. March on.