A Weekend Without the Babies, But With My Honey

This is normal. I must remind myself that this is what's supposed to happen.
--Completely natural.
This is what's supposed to happen.
--It's one more shift in our little family.

Jim and I have been given more "alone time" than we've ever had.
Well...since Mommy and Daddy hood happened anyway!

I never thought that I'd ask this once placed in the current situation...
BUT...
WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT????

I've waited patiently for this time to come.
Yes, my nights are still filled with interrupted sleep.
Bad dreams...
Sleep walking...
Falling out of bed...
The midnight, sleepy, stumbly, bumping trips to the bathroom still exist.
They have forced me to become a light sleeper.
I have one ear to the hall.

--- Ready to spring out of bed with the sound of the slightest creaky floorboard!
---There to catch one of my babies if she trips.

Jim slumbers on.
Dead to the world.
His head hits the pillow...
...and he's out!

That used to be me.

On my way to D.C.!

He was once jealous of my ability to catch "z's" at the drop of a hat.

Those nights are long gone.

How I function, let alone multi-task is a mystery to me.
---Scratch that...I know how I do it... I just can't get over the fact that I can do it every day!
I've been labeled as high energy by other mom's.
Maybe that has something to do with the "it" factor?
Who knows?
I, like most others, manage.

Mismatched socks, underwear on inside out...
I'm ready!

Lately, things have been easier.
When I say this...I do not mean easy.

Just
Easier.
IT'S SHOCKING!!
When did this transition happen?
I have moments to breathe...to write...to read my own books.
...AMAZING!!
This past year Jim and I have stolen two mini vacations together.
...AMAZING!
Happy, happy...joy...joy!

In February I tagged along on one of his business trips to Florida.
This was the first time since our Addi was born that we had spent this much time together with out our mini-me's tagging along.

Do you know what this meant?!
---Mom, this is where you should stop reading.

Not only were we able to sleep in but...
Here it goes...
What's better than sleep?
Not chocolate.
Well, sometimes...chocolate.
SEX!!!
Uninterrupted.
Steamy.
Hot.
Longer than ten minutes.
Fully nude...
With out fear of kid intrusion!!!
Mess up the hotel room...
S-E-X.

Am I horrible?
Have I gone too far?
I'm not sorry if I have...
This is honesty.
This is life.
This is time with out kids...
...AMAZING!!!!

This is what we both longed for and finally got!
We were lucky enough to steal a second trip together.
Dare I say it?
Should I think it?
Something will go horribly wrong...
No way that this is going to happen twice...

A cute D.C. Cafe with a sweet, little fox.

...in the same year.

I jumped into the Trailblazer as soon as that ninth period bell rang.
I booked it out the door...
...dropping my classroom keys on the floor, not once, but twice and nearly knocking two kids with very large instruments over trying to flee the scene! (sorry kids)
Barbara, our trusty GPS, was tucked in my bag and awaiting her orders.
Quick.
Change of state.
Virginia.
Not found.
Maryland.
No match found.
Enter state and address one more time.
Ooooh...this thing is way too specific...finally got it.
The school parking lot is a crowded, teenage mess now.
I wasted too much valuable time!
Every second counts on a Friday...
District of Columbia!
Washington, D.C.
SCORE!!!
Stopped to spend a fortune on gas...
and was on my merry way.
The Clash, Maroon Five, Flo Rida, Blondie, Guns N' Roses, Adele, Moby and an old mix CD got me through Long Island and Manhattan.
I have eclectic taste...what can I say?
I stopped at a rest stop for coffee.
No Luck.
I'm addicted to French Vanilla Creamer.
--No flavors here.
---Bummer.
Does this mean that I'm high maintenance?

Saw another option.
Five Hour Energy Drinks!
Hmmmm...
My guy is waiting!
Can't crash on the Jersey turnpike.
Bought it and slammed it.
It was nasty but wow, it did the job!
Baby, Here I come!!

I sang... Feeling fly...Like a G6...Like a G6...
La Isla Booooniiita!...the Spanish lullaby..Lalalalalalaaaaaa!
La Isla Boooniiiiiita!


Will the real Slim Shady...Please stand up? Please stand up??


I was rockin' out the whole way!


Other drivers catching a glimpse must have thought I was nuts.
That's ok...I was flying high on tourine...
Many thanks to the creators of the energy drink.

One of my favorite D.C. murals.

Jersey would have been Hell with out you.

I called my little sister...while I was flyin' high like a G6.
She laughed at me.

"Bill, that's old news! Did you just discover energy drinks!? "

"Ummm...No. I was always afraid of them. I was desperate."

(More giggles)

I caught up on lots of phone calls.
This was more talk time than I've logged in the past five years!
Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends...It was great.

Our hotel's corner.

I made it there in record time.

By 8:45 pm I was sitting in a cute pub off of Dupont Circle sipping a glass of wine and eating dinner with Jim and another couple.

Did we spend a whole lot of time talking about our girls?
Of course.
What else would we talk about?!
...I brought up Addi's latest:

She had pushed Chloe, calling her a mean, brat.
I had overheard.
I intervened.
Me: Addi, I heard that. (from the bathroom)
Addi: I didn't do anything wrong.
Me: Then why is Chloe crying and saying that you pushed her and called her a name?
Addi: Ugghh. I said sorry.
Me: That doesn't excuse it. Head to your room to chill out for ten minutes.
Addi: (stomps to her room and slams the door)
Me: (as I open her door) That was not the way to do this.
Addi: (as she rolls her eyes) Now what? Listen woman! I didn't do anything wrong!
Me: Whoa! I am Mom, not woman! That was totally disrespectful. Now you're stuck here longer.
Addi: (crying) What did I do? I didn't do anything?! YOU ARE A WOMAN! (in a softer voice, sort of to herself)...aren't you? (louder) Yes...you're a woman. Mom...I didn't say anything wrong.

I heard that last desperate plea from my bedroom and I nearly peed myself laughing.
I mean...she's right. I am a woman. There's that teenage drama and attitude beginning to possess my beloved, oldest daughter.

Can I throw her into a time machine?

Addi made a BIG kid mistake. That eye rolling thing is so snotty.
We had a good laugh over it.
Then it was Jim's turn.
He talked about so many of the clever things that our girls do and how smart he thinks they are.
We chatted about our girls to this very nice, childless couple.
Just what they wanted to hear on a Friday night.

We had bored them to death by 11.
They politely said that "It was getting late" they "were exhausted after a long week."

We strolled hand in hand, back to our hotel, loving the clean, picturesque city.

We were back in the quiet of the modern, mish mosh decor of our hotel room.
I washed my face.
Turned toward the bed.
There was Jim...
...crashed out with the remote control on his belly.
We are wild ones!
I tucked him in and went to bed.

What is almost as good as sex?
...sometime even better?
SLEEPING IN!

Saturday was all ours. Brunch (too late for breakfast) was eaten out doors at an adorable cafe that doubled as a book store. Coolest idea ever! You give your name and browse the book shop while waiting for your table. Genius!

My title for this is "Phallic DC Building."
This architect obviously spent way too much time
with his penis. 

We didn't have much time to be tourists. Attractions like the White House and The Washington Monument will come another time.

We wandered aimlessly and loved every minute of it.
It's not easy to finally have time.
Who knew?
I began to feel sorry for the "empty nesters" of the world.

Note to self: Get used to it now. Ease in before it's too late!! Baby steps.

Jim worked out at the hotel and I said,"Screw that!"
---Not this weekend!
I took a walk by myself, in the rain.
There's nothing sweeter to me than cities, at night, in the rain.
The shadows of the evening are softer when coated in mist.
People scrambled looking for shelter.
I wrapped my scarf over my head like an immigrant on Ellis Island and kept going.
It was lovely.

Julia, au pair extraordinaire checked in.
Grace was a mess!
She walked the house in tears, clutching a photo of us all night.
Chloe was a little easier...she stayed up past 11pm, but drifted to sleep after a five minute cuddle.
Addi sat panic struck, yelling," I need Mom Julia!!"- "Juliiiaa! Julliia! Where are you?" while Julia lay with Chloe, even though she knew where Julia was.

Oh no.

It's good to be missed...
Love is grand...
My poor babies.
Our poor Julia!
Maybe they aren't old enough for this yet?
Wait.
There, is never a good age for us to be gone.
This is healthy.
Repeat.
This is healthy.
I reminded Julia to tell the girls that we'd be back very soon (stress very) and that we loved them.

---HOME---
arrival time of Sunday, 6:35 pm

Julia had survived.

Chloe squeezed me harder than ever before. She allowed Grace come in for a huge hug, kisses and a big squeeze. Then Chloe came back for round two. Addi stayed outside, playing it cool. She's not supposed to like mushy, baby stuff anymore. I called her in saying,"Hey you! get over here, Missy! Where's my kiss hello?"
...smiling the entire time.
Addi gave me the cutest, crooked smirk, "What? Oh, ok."---then shyly dropped her gaze and kicked at the dirt.
Me,"Yeah, yeah...tough guy. Get in here you."
Addison sauntered into the kitchen. I gave her a ginormous hug and kiss, messing up her already messy hair. She didn't like that but she stayed anyway...pitying her silly Mama!

I heard Chloe and Gracie attacking Jim in the other room.

Life is good.

CALAMITY JANE...That's MY Name.

HAAAAPPPPPPPYYYY THURSDAY!! YEEEEHHAAAAaaaaaaaa!! Come on Friday!

We have almost made it through another work/school week.

Sigh of relief. Little grin sneaking onto my face.
Lalalalala...a little bitty closer to Summer.
A tiny, teeny, smidgen nearer to days spent on the beach.

I'm pinching the air close with my fingers and peering through the space...
...soon I'll see a shore line instead of a computer monitor.

... almost done checking backpacks and homework for the week.
The thought makes me want to kick off my shoes and stretch.
Moms and Dads... --- We are soooo close to Friday!

Today was part blunder, part accident, unexpected mess and all completely normal.

---On The Professional Level---

Oh so many things were happening!
Let's tally them up!

!) I am dealing w/a photo paper shortage. Not good at all when two of my classes are studying photography and printing their hearts out. (That was an "!" on purpose!)

2) Found myself talking to two young artists for 20 minutes in the hallway. Wonderful conversation...got so caught up in it...assumed (silly me) that they had lunch!
WRONG.
THEY WERE IN AN ART CLASS AND ON A BATHROOM RUN!
They got in trouble and I felt really badly. (not for them...for their teacher. Sorry Marg...your class is important. I pointed that one out to the girls as well.xoxo) Oh...kids, kids, kids.

3) Dealt with 3 broken digital video cameras. ---Really bad when 3 of my classes are making movies and needed them! OUCH! (We only have 6.)

4) My importing equipment was possessed. It mysteriously stopped functioning!!!! Again, really sux when kids are trying to import their movies into an editing program....and CAN'T.

Yes...There's more...

5) Had two Digital Video Cassettes vanish from a locked cabinet. POOF!!!! GONE.
They have been safe and secure for 9 weeks! Why now? After completed movies were being stored on them, ready for importing?! (by the importing equipment that doesn't work) I mean...COME ONNN! (very upset students = very upset teacher)

This was all before NOON....

---HOW I HANDLED THE CALAMITY--

!) Nothing left to do but smile... I am not the Photo Paper Fairy. I don't have wings made of unprocessed film. My dress is not constructed of light sensitive paper and stitched together with filament.
---If it were I'd tear off sheet by sheet.
Put them all in a box...
and give it to my kids!
...Then go find something else to wear.
VOILA!! FAIRY POWER AT ITS BEST.


Unfortunately, I'm only a temporary fairy.
Only permanent fairies can do this type of magic. (quick! Go get Alice The Fairy...awesome book)

Instead, I used my thinking on my feet art teacher magic...
I created a new project in a pinch. My ninth graders are now making their own "pin hole" cameras out of film cartridge cases...aka snap caps. They are going to be making "baby" images with them. -Only two by two inches and smaller. We'll eventually make a large artwork with all them collaged on a board. Can't wait! I'm actually really excited about this! Thankfully, so are my students!

2) My "blog note" made it apology #2. Next time I'll remember to remember that I am surrounded by teenagers who get caught in the moment easily. Yes...kinda like me. This isn't going to be easy! 
Does that make me a teenager?! Nope...but it does tell me that I'm in the right place! I simply have to put my adult shoes on and ask if a kiddo should be in class before starting up an art talk. Rules, rules, rules. On the positive side, at least they were learning about art.

3) The 3 digital cameras are still broken...Again, I'm not a permanent fairy so there's not much that I can do here.
I lied.
I created a photoshop/digital camera assignment for 1/2 of the class to work on while the other half uses the remaining video cameras. This was a BIG PAIN IN THE BUTT!
I spent 1/2 of the period rummaging through a very unorganized, unused cabinet looking for the proper equipment.
FWWWEEEW!
Once found...we were back in action!
Driver's start your engines!!
Let the extreme close up photo race begin!!
Winner is the first to upload six ECU's and begin enhancing them!!!
I think that my classes liked this idea...mainly because it was a change of pace and they were allowed to wander the campus snapping pics.

4) Thankfully #3 was also the solution to #4.

AHHHHhhhhhh...almost done!
This is exhausting.
Did I really do all of this?! ...Yup, I did.

Mental Break...had to check in with myself. The brain still works.

5) After multiple searches of cabinets, lockers, folders, drawers, shelves and lockers I have come up empty handed. I feel horribly for these two groups of kids. Their original movies were really good! I told them that 3 lessons were learned:

1- Don't leave your DVC's in the cameras. Put them away every day. (like they are supposed to)
2- This time it will be even better! Last time could be thought of as practice...This is the real deal. (don't think they bought that)
3- Don't ever leave anything with Weste. (me) I move in too many directions at once! I told them this rule in advance.

I need a tall drink.
Forget that.
I need a shot.

---On a Personal Note---

I'm hopeful that this evening will be a mellow one.

Who am I kidding?!

After 5PM...
...Thursdays are a disaster.
Addi is bound to be terrorizing her little sisters at some point.
Grace will have her ever popular Thursday meltdown. These are good ones!
Lots of foot stomping...
Frown wearing...
Breathe holding fun!
Chloe, like Addi and Grace, will be exhausted.
She's the easy tired one.
Chloe breaks down and cries.
I'll find her curled up and teary on a floor somewhere...
---desperate for a tight hug and to be carried.
After a case of the "nasties" and a tantrum, that's all that her sisters will want too.

Then we'll have my favorite part. A quiet goodnight.
Jim is away on a business trip.
That means the four of us will pile into our bed for a cozy, snuggly night's sleep together.

Fingers crossed for success after the kiddie storms.

Tonight's Photos:
1) Snap Caps 
2) Pinhole Image #1
3) Crazy Kid Car 


...all were photographed and enhanced by me.

Gadgets and Gizmos Begone!!

My house has become so many things over the years.
Our imaginations run rampant on a daily basis.

Typically, my kids aren't alone in this.
I freely admit it...
I love to froggie leap around the house and roll down grassy hills!
...I know, not typical of a woman in her mid thirties.
BUT WHY NOT?!
I am sometimes more childish than they are!

I do not understand parents or caregivers that stand by, plant themselves on a recliner or garden chair and idly watch.
---Watching as the kids have all of the fun.

Ok... I understand if you are multitasking and you set them up with paints or play dough in the yard while you garden.
I even get the whole, I was exhausted after a terrible, stressful, painfully long day at work bit.
These things happen to the most adventurous, involved people.

But.
COME ON.
iphone time...
ipad gaming...
online chat sessions...
e-mailing(unless work related)...

GIVE IT A REST.

Log off.
Put the gadgets and gizmos away...

---UNTIL AFTER THE KIDDOS ARE IN BED.

One thing that I've tried to do each day is to carve out time for on-line "stuff."
This time is never when my kids are active.
It's never when they deserve my attention (which is always.)
Unless I'm playing a game with them or showing them a site, the mac is closed down.
I'll be the first to admit...IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.
That's why I'm sitting here, writing at 10:42pm.
I'm beginning to feel like the digital era has turned us into distracted, "A.D.D." like, media monsters.
We are constantly "being fed" information.

Why should my daughter have to beg me to log-off when she wants to show me the new pipe cleaner art that is hanging from her ceiling?
Why should any of them beg for attention...over unanswered e-mails?

You may not like to hear this,
but...

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.

It's obvious that I'm having a preachy kind-of moment.

Hang in there.

Reality checks are good for the soul.

It's no accident that my kitchen tiles were volcanic ash.
The grout turned into molten lava.
I have spent two evenings hopping on my tip toes, trying to avoid cracks!
Addi, Grace and Chloe have being doing their damnedest to knock me over and push me down as I have done my damndest to cook dinner each night.
Now and again I'd shout out: Girls, careful...hot stuff!
or
Not by the stove! Someone will get hurt for real!

Then the fun continued.
The kitchen has been ready to burst.
...with laughter.

I always knew that Tiny, our Chloe was a tough cookie.
I had no idea that she was this tough! Out of all three she was the only one able to knock me off my feet!
This royally pissed Addi off.
How could her baby sister be stronger than her?!


It was so funny!

My Mom was over for the first round, during night One.
She cleared out after a few minutes.

Mom, I'm not crazy...really!
By the way...you stepped in lava!! OUCH!!

I'm proud to say that this is the "NORM" in our house.

Perfectly Imperfect.

Children inherit so much from us.
They are born...
-created from a union.
-perfect combinations of two people's visible traits.
-new to the world.
-cherubic and fresh faced.

They become...
-beautifully flawed.
-perfect combinations of their loved ones' personalities.
-human by nature... forced, ready or not, to take on the world.
-little sponges... absorbing everything!

I have passed on much to my girls.
...poor kids.
...just kidding. Well, maybe not.

I can't believe that I'm about to do this...
I'm going to reference a movie that happens to be one of my husband's favorites.
I never thought much of the film, until I was exposed to it CONSTANTLY for  a decade or so...

Does anyone out there know the movie: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?
It's an old spaghetti Western, starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Leone.
I have, over the years, become very familiar with this film. (thanks to my husband)
It's your textbook, 1960's, low budget Italian Western. (just stating the facts folks)
It's focus is on the three main characters, their plight and their characteristics, which are inherently predictable.
They are judged by their physical appearances and personalities through out the entire film!
...hence the title.

This my dears is life.
-Whether we like it or not.

It is human nature.
We come.
We see.
We judge.
-Some good.
-Some bad.
...and yes, some deemed ugly.
You may begin as one type of person and like the Bianca of Shakespeare become someone else...
...beautiful on the outside but not so pretty within.

Sometimes I feel as if I am too harsh a critic.
Am I too hard on our girls?

I'll have to wait decades in order to know the answer.
Some day our girls will look back.
They will review their memories.
...some half forgotten.
...others in tact and vibrant.
They will judge our parenting skills.
They will weigh their childhoods on what I hope to be a well calibrated scale.

I wonder how we'll stack up?
Will Jim and I pass the age old parenting test?
What will they choose take from us and pass on to the next generation?
Even better, what will they inherently force upon the next with out realizing it.

Hmmmm...I wonder.

My children have a love of the rain.
They take pure delight in creating art, music and the written word.
They are creative by nature...curious to no end.
My girls are hell on wheels! (literally rolling everywhere...)
Our children have a great fondness for the outdoors and nature.
We are raising beach babies.
Each is especially observant...nothing escapes any of their attentions...EVER!
Stubbornness runs rampant in our children.
So does shyness in public or with strangers.
They are very determined young ladies.
They are verbal, vocal creatures when the time is right...and sometimes when the time is very wrong.
They can at times be argumentative.
Each of our children is caring and has a tender heart.
They have varying shades of blond hair and the colors of the sea and sky twinkle in their eyes.
People say that they are lovely. (inside and out)

These things have been inherited.
Some by modeling and mirroring and others purely given by nature, destiny.
I can't wait until we discover where these traits take each of them.
What journeys await my children?

According to the kids:

Addison: Will own a horse stable and have a son named Devil. (We don't quite know where the name choice came from.)
Grace: Will become an art teacher and never wants to get married. "Boys are gross!"
Chloe: Will someday be a rock star Mommy.

-The future sounds great!

Sometimes I wish that the next decade would fly by.
I want so badly to see who they will each become.

Then I remember to slow down and enjoy the steps along the way.

Dancing, storytelling, cuddling and crafting are in the now.
Tea parties and stuffed animals are all the rage.
Happiness comes with stacking empty, plastic, Easter eggs on the living room floor.
Hanging color swatches on your wall and selecting your own, "big girl" room decor is thrilling.
Learning how to write letters to loved ones and actually getting mail, with your own name on the envelope is amazing!
Wondering how the post man does this is equally intriguing.
Eating ice cream on the floor, in front of the open front door, while the rain falls is "the best time of your life."

I so love how so many of us rushed to become adults. Once there it's our children that take us out of the mundane, adult world, back to simplicity and awe.

There is time for the future.
It's always there...
...one step ahead of us.

Top photo: Grace's Camping Hair
2nd photo: In Mom's Shoes (Addi and Grace)
3rd photo: Holiday Fun
4th photo: Chloe's Egg Towers

Rainy Nights and Lullabys

Time soars. It flies. It often escapes us.

Tonight I lay with Grace on the top bunk, under the magic fairy tree, curled up in her softer than soft red comforter.
She had asked me, ever so politely, to stay with her.

"Mom, I know that you won't really sleep with me, but can you snuggle with me for awhile?"

--Of course I would.

Addi had fallen asleep on the couch next to us. I walked her to her bed in a state of sleep walk. She will never remember it in the morning.

-Keep walking baby.
-Good job.
-Uh oh...step...good job.
-Almost there.
-Now, hop up.
-Ok...you did it.
-Sweet dreams my love.
...all while my hands rest on her shoulders to gently guide her.

Chloe was fast asleep below, nestled with her favorite "soft, pink, nigh night."
She had smiled when I kissed her cheek. It was a sleepy, baby smile. The kind that sneaks into your current dream.
--Dream something amazing baby.

Gracie waited patiently, standing next to the bunk bed. I climbed the ladder after her. I thanked her for being "such a good girl, a patient kid"...
She smiled at me, said, "No problem." and told me that she loved me.
I returned the love and gave her my favorite goodnight...
"I love you more than the sun and the moon and the stars, forever and ever...and that's a whole lot."
Gracie gave me her favorite response, "I know Mom. I love you too."
She pursed her lips into a perfect bow, waiting for a smooch. Grace is such a lover. -Such a romantic.
So like her Mama...

I stroked her hair and cheek with my fingertips and sang her to sleep:

I'll love you forever.
I'll like you for always...
As long as I'm living...
My baby you'll be.


This was on repeat for fifteen minutes.

It has always put all three of my girls to sleep.
This is a song sung in one of their favorite bedtime stories.
The title is the same as the verse, I'll Love You Forever.


I lay there, singing in my strained, allergy riddled voice.
I thought...
She loves this.
It doesn't matter how bad my voice sounds or how horribly it is cracking...
My baby will love this forever.

Grace fell asleep and I lay there a bit longer listening to the rain.
It beat against the house in torrents.
The wind whistled through the trees in my backyard.
Pure magic.
These are my favorite kinds of nights.

I thought there nothing better than being lulled to sleep by the rain for so long.
Now I see that I was wrong.
Helping Gracie fall asleep is far better.

*TEA CUPS, courtesy of Photobucket.
*Raining Hearts and Rainy Heart in Traffic =  Me.

Adult Time...It Really Does Exist

My weekend adventure is beginning early. My kids started the shuffle Thursday night!!
Wednesday night we all cuddled on the brown, mushy couch (that will soon be replaced)watching an old Voice episode.
The Voice is a family favorite. We are addicted!
Popcorn in bowls.
Drinks on tables.
Favorite blankets close by.
We were in the "zone"!
Let the singing begin...

Grace turned to Jim, batted those hazel eyes, and said, "I can't wait for our vacation."
Jim smiled and hugged her close.
Jim: Gracie, we're not going to Disney yet.
Gracie: I mean our Brooklyn, Aunt Marnee vacation! I am so excited! I can't wait! Aunt Marnee time and the Brooklyn Bridge! We are going to walk on it! Are you coming Daddy?

She managed to get all that out in one breathe!

Jim glanced at me. We exchanged smiles.
Jim: Oh...(smiling a big grin)...That vacation.
Gracie: Yes. What did you think I meant? I can't wait. We are going on Friday. That's in two days. Right Mom?...two more days until Aunt Marnee and Jerry's house, apartment in Brooklyn when we get to sleep over...right?!

That was in one breathe as well!


To clarify: *Jerry is a chihuahua, not a boyfriend...
Sorry, Peter, you've been bumped on the kiddie importance scale. Peter being the "BF."

--Back to the conversation.


Me: Yes, two more days. That's right. Thursday, then Friday.

Gracie smiled...very satisfied.

Addi and Chloe didn't say a word. They must have known that their sister planned on covering all the bases!

No need to fret...
...No need to fear!
Super Gracie was on the job!

After Jim confirmed that he'd go to the bridge we continued our snuggle session and the show continued.

Chloe, Grace and Addison packed Thursday night.
In that order.
That's the standard in our house.
...speedy and organized. (ready in less than 5 min. with the bag waiting in the kitchen and toys in a row on bed)
...messy during the process...but efficient in the end. (clothes scattered across the room, for the selection process, then picked up)
...getting the job done, in a carefree, haphazard manner of course. (rummaging through drawers and tossing things into the bag, not concerned with "what goes with what" and leaving the unwanted items on her floor until someone reminds her to put them away...then with a huff all is well)

Can you guess who belongs to each title?

The troops were all set.


--Friday was a blurr.--


School/Work/ A Physical for each kiddo...then Brooklyn!

The drive was supposed to be an hour.
It turned into two and a half.

Thank you traffic.
Thank you fork in the road, leading me over the Brooklyn Bridge and into Manhattan!
Thank you to my car for nearly running out of gas.
Thank you to Addi nearly having a panic attack on the bridge because she noticed that we were nearly out of gas... all thanks to the stop and go traffic and the wrong turn!

The real "THANKS" goes to Barbara, our GPS system.
She directed me to the nearest gas station, on Houston Street.
We made it... after I, in a panic, turned off the air conditioning, the dvd player and anything else that I could.
This didn't really help the gas situation...
Please don't ever close to run out of gas and feel that this will help in way, shape or form.
It was a momma white lie.

I told the kids that it would!

Thank you LIE. (not to be confused with Long Island Expressway)
 --You put an end to Addi's almost panic attack on the Brooklyn Bridge.


Yes, parents of the universe...
...Lying can save the day.
...or at least your own sanity while driving in traffic with a panic struck 9 1/2 year old.

Aunt Marnee met us on 82nd Street.


Three, bouncing, hyper, happy to be free of the car kids were all over the street.
Long Island had taken over this Brooklyn street.
AHHHHHH!
Run for shelter!

The kids weren't sad to see me go.
That's ok.
I rushed out the door!

Is this bad?
--Don't care.

I was doing a mental dance of joy.
I cranked up the radio and sang LOUDLY all the way home.

* The ride home WAS AN HOUR.

Jim...I'm on my way!!!!!!
Grown up time awaits.
Our plans consisted of doing whatever we wanted.
It felt perfect just to know that.
Movie, couch, cocktails, night time walk...it didn't matter. It was going to be an uninterrupted, peacefully slept night.
WOW.
...I thought that all in one breathe.

Child Hood, Oddities, Adulthood and Art

As I sit on my frumpy brown couch and my kids run wild, pretending to be jungle animals I find myself thinking about other people's kids.

--That sounded really strange ...Didn't it!? 
--Here comes the explaination...

Have I ever mentioned how blessed I feel?
My students amaze me on a daily basis.
Good days, those deemed bad or just "off" or on outrageous days where nothing seems to go my way.
There are moments...
whether big or small that astound me.
--That WOW me.
--Whether one of "my kids" (because while they are my students that's what they are) emerge from the dark room with their first fine print  or have found that after three, maybe, four times  of shooting images and trying to process their film... in the frustratingly, mathematical method that they have to learn has "Gotten it!"
...OR, even better...
They begin to learn and use the "photo speak" that I constantly throw at them.
Things like "stop up", "stop down and use one less second", "it's muddy" or "did you skimp on fixer?" are finally spoken by people in the room THAT ARE NOT ME!
I secretly and sometimes publicly laugh and smile at these sayings being tossed about. It's awesome!!
... and funny when they begin to sound like me and realize it!

I use the word LUCKY a lot.
...forget it.
I am blessed.

On the most tired mornings...the ones where I hit snooze five or six times and drag my butt to the shower and then into the kitchen I am "peppy"- damn it!
I smile when entering the school parking lot.
As dorky as it sounds...
I have no reason the be anything but happy, even on the darkest of days.
I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON...BUT I'M GREAT AT FAKING IT!
I do this for my own kids and I do this again for "my kids" in the high school.
I want them to love art as much as I do.

My career path is not based on luck or chance.
It was a decision made when I was seven.
I knew at an early age that I wanted to be a teacher, specifically an art teacher.
(My Gracie, is very much the same way.)

This is not luck.
This was predestined.
Pre ordained by someone or something out there...
It was meant to be.
"Art Teacher" is who I am. It's not just a career. It's a lifestyle and in a weird way, part of my personality.
You could say that it's in my blood.

I have been told, by many, that I was an "odd" kid. Parents of childhood friends have actually complimented me on the adult that I have become and the parent that I am in the strangest of ways.
A child hood's friend's parent said --- " I have to admit it kid...We were worried about you when you were a teenager. You were strange one! It's good to see how you've grown up and changed."

STRANGE...AREN"T WE ALL STRANGE?
CHANGED!?
ME?!
NAAAHHHH!?

I could have been uber snotty... but it would have been disrespectful.
I'm not that type of gal.
I said," Oh...(pause...due to shock!) Really. I hadn't noticed." (and smiled)

I adored sitting alone and drawing quietly for hours, PBS, musicals, black and white movies, singing, dancing, and wearing what ever I wanted...even if that meant four different patterns at the same time. Ginger Rogers and Blondie were both my idols...Try and figure that one out!

"Yeah Mom, pink and black stripes go well with red roses on blue jeans and purple leg warmers!"
I've looked back on old photos and asked..."Mom, how could you let me walk around like that?"
Her response to all of the "How could you's" over the years:

"It's what you wanted to wear." or "It made you happy."

I am thankful that my Mom raised me the way that she did.
Because of her I was a weird kid that grew into a weirder adult!! -That, to me, is the greatest compliment ever.
Thank you Mom for teaching me to be true to myself and not to compromise my beliefs.
I hope that I can do the same for my girls.

Isn't amazing how childhood "oddness" transfers into adult characteristics that are often admired?!
According to many...I am interesting, creative, artsy, spunky, cute, outgoing, adventurous, wild, energetic and strong.
Hmm...Who knew?! ...not me...not for a long time.


I appreciate the struggles of maturing young adults because I have not forgotten who I was as a kid.
I'm still pretty much the same...
The world just treats me differently.

I see my students and I sometimes catch a glimmer of my young self. It's a beautiful thing.
I have a hint of who they are and have the priviledge of teaching them about what I am passionate about.
ART ART ART HISTORYART ART ART ART ART ART ART ART ART!

I snuck a "history" in there...That happens too!

If you ever catch me complaining about my job post me an obnoxious comment.
Yell at me!
I will deserve it.
Use exclamation points (lots of them)...and shout "How dare you!!!"

I open creative doors for a living.
I help the next generation of artists explore the tools that they have at their fingertips.
...I'm also part guidance counsellor, but that's another story.
Man... I really hope that my girls will someday be described as odd and weird. It'll make me very proud!

Photos:
*Spinning Pinwheels
*Addi, Grace and Chloe...Making "Box" Art

Happy #50!

Fifty is a good number. It's a strong, solid number.
It isn't complicated to say like... twenty-eight or thirty-nine, for example.
Did I mention that as of today I have posted FIFTY BLOGS?
I blinked when I saw the glowing, baby blue number.
NO WAY!
But... It's true.
YES WAY!!
Something about this number makes me feel accomplished.
Someday, If I celebrate a fiftieth wedding anniversary with Jim...
1- We'll be old.
2- We'll be alive.
3- We'll be together.
4- We'll be living different lives from the ones that we have today.
5- We'll have grown children that may have grown children of their own.
6- We'll  be retired...wait...We'd better be retired!
7- We will be many things...
8- I will feel incredibly ACCOMPLISHED.

Right now my greatest worry is how get to gymnastics on time, to watch at least one of my girls while they tumble.
I have a "paper making" meeting to attend after school.
Yes, you've read correctly.
Remember, I am an art teacher.
It's not a powerpoint presentation. Those don't go over very well with my kinda crowd.
This is hands on... messy, lovely, fun.

I know how to make paper and books already.
I've been doing this since I was a teenager.
I'm going because I'm always hoping to learn something new.
Maybe she'll have a technique that I've never used or seen before?
Or, maybe we'll all walk away feeling accomplished, with fresh paper drying on racks.

This is a segway back to my kid worries.

It is not easy to explain to a five year old, six year old and 9 year old that...
"Mommy can't always watch."
"Mommy has meetings to attend and is sorry."
"Mommy wishes that she could be there but can't take another day off of work."
"No baby, Daddy can't come tomorrow...He will be away on a business trip."

THESE ARE THEIR PROUD MOMENTS.

The plays.
The recitals.
The living room dance offs.
The orchestra performances.
The soccer games.
The gymnastics lessons...

THIS IS WHERE WE WITNESS ALL THAT THEY'VE  ACCOMPLISHED.

Jim has often said that he never understood why his Dad missed so much of his childhood...
---Dun... Dun... DUNN DUNNNNN--- (that was my dramatic entrance music) 


*UNTIL he became a man and father himself. He feels no ill will. He loves his Dad. Jim understands. He appreciated all that his father did and continues to do in the name of his family. 


HE IS NOW IN THE SAME POSITION. 
We will do our best to be role models for our girls and instill what we consider to be a strong set of values in each of them.


We can only hope that when they become women and (possibly) mothers that they too, will understand.


Until then we will continue to do our very best and shower our kids with loads of love.

Happy 50 to Girliemomadventures!

I hope that you accomplish something wonderful today.

---Fly!!!!

82 degrees?! In April!...In New York?...This is stupendous, spectacular, invigorating, glorious and practically unheard of.

This is happening here, now.

I'm torn...
It's angel on my right -.vs.- (forget the devil) sunshine on my left
I want to blog.
I feel the need to write.
The weekend was great. There is so much to tell!
WAIT...
Who AM I KIDDING?!

I do not want to blog.
I do not want to be in a dimly lit space.
I do not want to remain pasty white.
I refuse to let this day escape me.
I will not eat them with a goat...
I will not eat them on a boat!
I will not eat them in a can!
I will not eat them, SAM I AM!!

--PAUSE--

I'm having a Dr. Seuss moment.

I do not intend on staying shut up in this building the entire day. I want to go for the longest bike ride in history!
...I do not like green eggs and ham!

--Scratch that.--

I will go on the longest bike ride that I am allowed to take, while on my lunch break.

FOOD?! Who needs food?!

42 minutes of biking bliss awaits.

Ta Ta... for now.

15 minutes later...

I sat at a little bistro table outside of my favorite deli.
I enjoyed my lunch.
The atmosphere wasn't remarkable.
I was sitting directly in front of a landscaper's pick up truck.
I was looking at a parking lot.
But...WOW!! The weather was amazing!
I felt refreshed after a super fast, cruise, down Catherine Street. The wind whipped through my pink streaked hair.
I was thankful for my sunglasses...mini-windshields against the bugs that now and again pelted me.

Yes, I was going that fast!

If you ever want to feel like flying while on the ground, find a long lasting hill and pedal really fast!
Sit back and let the bicycle do the work for you.
Don't open your mouth as if perched on the bow of the Titanic...You'll swallow a bug.
No one needs that much protein.

The ride back to school (aka my job) was a hard one.
The down hill slope was working against me.
BONUS: No need to work out tonight!

...There is always a sunny side.

This past week I spent many days roller skating and biking with my three little girls. This was the first time - in a long time that I was riding solo. It felt good to be me again after a school free week with my lovelies.

No matter how much we Moms adore our children, in order to remain happy, healthy and sane, there a few things to remember:

* Being alone is healthy. (this does not mean in order to clean or cook... unless it is a hobby!)
* Date nights with the hubby, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend are a MUST! Do not neglect adult time with your "big" love.
*Spend time with friends. (I don't really need to give an explanation here...Do I?!)
*When in doubt ditch chores for fun stuff! ...Think of it this way:

What are your kids most likely to remember:


The fact that your floors were always clean.


OR


The fact that Mom and Dad were ready to roll down a hill with them? or go for a bike ride?

NO BRAINER.


...When you're given lemons make lemonade. 
If you're given sunshine enjoy it.


Hello Spring. We love you!

Here are my kids. These are the things that they did when they came home from a stressful day at school! Wink...Wink...

Addison trained Lightning to do another trick.
She has him training for the Ringling Brother's Circus. He just doesn't know it.

Gracie begged me for hot chocolate...on the hottest day of the year!
Could I say "no"? Why would I? (please note the pumpkin straw. It's her favorite.)

Chloe put her skates on at the speed of light. "Mom...Look!!"
She was amazed by how big her wheels looked when I showed her this picture.

Caravan Turned Easter Disco Mobile or Memory Maker?

My car must have looked like a rave gone Easter crazy.
Children singing...heads were bopping all over the place...106.1 was blasting...laser light Easter Egg thingies were swinging!
...and to top it all off...
Addison had found my camera!!
Can you imagine it?
I was driving...trying not to look behind me, catching glimpses of funny faces in the rear view mirror and doing my best to ignore the constant flash of my camera.
IT WAS A HOOT!!
Yes, Virginia...There is an Easter Bunny and he's on crack and bouncing through my car!!!

My cousin, Amy would have appreciated this. It was straight out of our adventures in my Mom's true blue Camaro, way back in the early 80's. (I know, it's been a long time!) That car had the coolest ever hand made (by my Mom) black and white tape, piano keyboard on the dash. Perfect for a single chick with a hot rod or a young Mom!  Mom cranked out Stevie Wonder, Blondie, Stevie Nicks, Earth Wind and Fire or Seals and Crofts. Amy and I belted out the tunes...


"Diamond girl!!!!
Ooooh Oooohhh.
Sure do SHHHIIINNNNNNE!!!!!"

"Call MEEE!!
ON THE LINE!!!!
You can call ME, Call ME anytimme!
CALL MEEEE!!!!"

"The tide is high but I'm holding onnnnnnn...
I'm gonna be you're number onnnnne...numberrrrrr ONE!"

Oooh. Here's a good one! (Amy this on'e for you babe!)

"Ya talk of sweeties...bashful sweeties...I got ONE a' THOSE!
He's hansome as can beee...
But he worries meeeeeee!
He goes to college...gathers knowledge...OOhhh, What that boy KNOoOOoOoWWWSSsss!
He's up in his Latin and Greek...but in his Chicken (we never knew the real word) he's weeeaaaaKKKK!!
Cause when I need some lovin' and I gotta have some lovin'...
He says stop it! Stop it please!
He's so UNUSUAL!"

That one was Cyndi Lauper's He's So Unusual.
She came on whenever Amy and I seized control of the radio.

We were lucky to be growing up together.
-Lucky that we were the same age.
-Lucky that I had a Mom that didn't mind listening to two off pitch nine year olds!
There we'd sit...It didn't matter if my Mom was driving us somewhere or if the car was parked in the driveway.
-It was super cool.
...Sharing the front seat and outfitted in our Madonna gloves and high pony tails, complete with bandannas tied around our heads, with perfectly tied knots...
We were punky, pink, neon, wanna be rock stars.
Who am I kidding?!
We were rock stars in our own minds.
That was just as good as the real deal.

I was laughing my butt off as I drove away from Amy's house and across town, toward my own home.
I had stopped by her house to run her daughter, Amanda home.
Amanda wasn't staying.
This was not the plan.
The cousins had decided that an afternoon of play, park, bike rides, baby dolls, dinner and a walk around our block...
...WAS NOT ENOUGH.

Who am I to argue with that?
It is vacation...I'm only their Guardian...I was the "YES WOMAN" at this point.
It was fine by me.
Let the kids live it up. This was the last weekend before back to school routines started again.
For now I'll be the one that picks up all of the messes, plays taxi and keeps everyone, including Daddy happy.
I hope that I don't sound bitter...
I'M NOT...NOT AT ALL.
...JUST STATING IT...LAYING IT ON THE TABLE...NICE AND SIMPLE.
I AM MOM.
IT'S ALL COOL...IT'S ALL GOOD...REALLY!!

My vacation starts on Monday.

Amanda breezed into her house shouting something at her parents like," I'm only staying a minute!"
She was upstairs and packing her sleepover bag before I even walked in.
Gotta love it!
My three disbanded.
They scattered themselves to different parts of the house with different cousins.
...except for Gracie...
She had found a lost friend, her Uncle Ron.
The two of them laughed it up. Smiles, smiles and more smiles. It was adorable. Gracie is totally comfortable here.
This is the GODMOTHER'S HOUSE. (Amy is Grace's Godmother and Grace refers to her by this name.)
The GODMOTHER is amazing.
Her House is too!
Her kids, the cousins are fun!
No one but Amanda wanted to leave.
I rushed Addi and Grace out the door. Amanda had already rounded up Chloe and headed outside with her. I found them yelling at some neighborhood boys.
Amanda: " Get out of here!! Yeah...Get off my lawn!!"
Chloe: " She said GO!!"

We were pulling away and Amanda and Addison put their windows down fast.
Amanda got a quick shout in...
"You better get out of here!!!!"
Addi: "Yeah...you!!"

-OK. Thank God for the modern miracle that is the driver's side, window control panel.
BZZZZZZZZTT!
WINDOWS UP
CLICK!
WINDOWS IN CHILD LOCK MODE.


OMG. Let the fun begin.

Although we live close to one another our busy work and kiddie schedules manage to keep some distance between our families.

Days like this remind me that we can't allow ourselves to separate this easily.
Our lives have been intertwined forever.
We're lucky that we have each other.
In turn, our kids are lucky.

The Caravan...aka Easter Disco Mobile, was cruisin'...onto the "cousin sleepover."
At one point Amanda said,"Wow, Aunt Billie you're cool...you never yell or get loud."
I LAUGHED LOUDLY!
My response: Oh yeah? No way! Amanda you should talk to your cousins about that one! You haven't seen me in action.
...I had no interest in putting a stop to the kid insanity that had taken over my car.
I was enjoying it too much.
They had given me childhood flashbacks. - Really good ones.
I think I'm going to steal Amanda more often!

*The bright, glowing photos were taken in the Caravan by Addison.
*Amy and I in my side yard.
*Below: The next generation of girlie cousins. My girls, Amy's girls and Aunt Sally's girls.

Cousins posing behind their found object sculpture...another great day!

Mom Enforced Hygene and a Whole Lotta Wheels

Happy FRIDAY!!!!! Teachers, Parents and Kids...Please take note:Vacation is almost over. (I'm sorry.)

I rounded up the girlies bright and early, 8:00 am.
This was not by choice.
This is not what I wanted to be doing during my last Friday of Spring Vacation.
I was the model of mommyhood... making sure that my little ladies were fed, dressed and had their hair and teeth brushed.
That last one is imperative.
I'm always amazed by what happens if I skip the "breathe test."
...You know the one that we Mom's are pros at.

"Open your mouth and breathe on me."

GROSS..
...BUT EFFECTIVE.

With out this stinky trick at least one of my three will leave the house unbrushed.
Sad to say, but it's usually the oldest.
...my earthy, crunchy, head in a sketchbook, Addison.
She says that she's too old for this stuff. I say bologna.

She is usually "somewhere else." That somewhere is her own creative mind. Where nonsense like ridding the mouth of grunge and plaque, and a need for clean socks are not essential. I adore my child's way of seeing the world and her ability to forget it's existence...HOWEVER, IT'S A LOT MORE WORK FOR ME!

My gang and I were on our way to a 9am doctor's appointment. They were all getting their yearly physicals. The big question of the morning being:
"We don't have to get shots...DO WE???"
My Answer: "That depends on what the doctor says. It's important that all three of you listen to the doctor. It'll all be fine."

They totally didn't believe me, but luckily went along quietly.

That was that.
We were stuck in traffic and five minutes late.
I courtesy called the pediatrician's office. (I'm usually late. This is a must so that I don't feel guilty.)

The Receptionist: "We don't have any of your girls down for an appointment this morning.
Me: "I just made the appointments yesterday with Nicole...9, 9:30 and 10"
The receptionist: "I have the family in for next Friday morning, not this Friday."
Me: "I'm sorry but that's not correct. I would never make an appointment that forced me to take the kids out of school. Can you fit us in or can we reschedule?"

That was that.
Appointments all around made for next Friday---AFTER SCHOOL.

So I pulled a u-turn at the next light and told Chloe that she could get the haircut that she desperately wanted.
The kids were all on roller skates...which is the norm.
The owner was nervous. All, but Chloe, had to stay seated.
Yeah...Good luck, yeah right!
Addi and Grace were amused in the chairs for roughly two minutes. Then they began a series of teeny tiny circles in the waiting area. Peter seemed alright with this. Those circles got bigger.
I kept a close eye on them and his expression. If I spied even the slightest twitch or raised brow they were going back in their chairs.

catastrophe averted


The entire staff of the salon was amused by my wheelin' dealin' girlies.
Stories were told of younger years and days past, spent on similar skates.
My kids were retro.
They were cute.
They were cool.

They were the talk of the hair salon...in a positive way!
I was thrilled.

Chloe emerged looking even more the sweet fairy, with a pixie cut.
She says that she "has a Mommy haircut."

Now Grace wants her hair cut off tomorrow, complete with bangs.
We'll see...
She's never had short hair or bangs!
Grace is a drama mama. I can imagine a flood of tears if she is unhappy with the cut.
I have a feeling that she'll rethink this over the next twenty four hours and change her mind.
...nothing wrong with playing safe at age six.

We decided to visit Aunt Amy and the cousins.
That was a NO-NO.
Poor Amy was stuck de lousing her entire house...
...stuffed animals.
...bedding.
...furniture.
...hairbrushes...
...and family.

Her kids had all come up lice free but a buddy with creepy critters had frequented their house while they were undetected.
My cousin is in health care.
NEED I SAY MORE?

We happily gathered on her side steps.
We made plans for after the de-bugging.
Then we were rolling away again.

My girls and I have decided that our front porch is the greatest place to be on glorious days like today.
The three of us sat on the sun drenched wooden planks and stretched our toes.

Our bodies were warmed.
We ate our lunch there and sunbathed afterwards.
We were all lubed up in SPF 50.
I'm not trying to give my fair skinned babies "the big C."
It was time to breathe in the Spring air and just "be".
*Paul McCartney just popped into my head.
You guessed it.
"Let it be...Let it be...Let it be...Oh, Let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom.
Let it be E!"
Thank you Paul.

Ahhhhh. Relaxation with out spending a penny.
A perfect sky on a perfect day.

The front porch experience lasted 20 minutes.
The kids overheated.
Done.
They needed make believe time indoors.
...something about horses, unicorns and killer Dads.
I over heard: You know that the Dad will murder you.
I interjected: Dad will what?! No murdering Dads here.
Grace: Mom it wasn't real. We are just playing around.
Me again: (Gotta love this part of being a parent) Kids...No way. No murderous Daddy's allowed.
NO MATTER WHAT.
Addi: Ugghhh. Really?? Mom.
Me AGAIN: Addi, seriously?!

You'd think that I had single handedly ruined make believe forever. 


Today's theme : wheels.


I took off Grace's training wheels. It's time to get this kid up to speed with her older and younger sisters.
The Gracie-Corn has to get rolling...for real...not for fake.
Bye, Bye...preschool style bike.

She has refused elbow and knee pads because "they aren't her style."
I guess that Grace's style is pain.

According to Grace bikes aren't her style either. She has dubbed herself "a scooter girl."
Bike Riding 101 was a complete flop!
Grace flat out refused to even sit on the seat.

Grace: Mom, I don't care if the whole family is bike people. I'm not! I'm not saying this because I'm scared. I'm not afraid. (peering over the rim of her glasses with hands on hips and helmet on head) I just will never like bikes. That's it. My bike can sit there forever. I won't ride it. And that's that.


Grace, gracefully danced her way to the kitchen door and walked into the yard.
My kid is full of spunk.


...and that's that.

THE END

Keys in Strange Places and Very Understanding People!

Things that we have learned today...They are plenty.


-"Sliced beets look pretty in the sun light...and are made of just beets!"---says Chloe.

-"AHhhhhh!!!-- Pizza Rolls are messy! They squirt!" ---says Addison. Unfortunately, it was after the Snoopy on her t-shirt ended up with a cheese mustache.

-Every time that Grace says,"I can't see!" doesn't really mean that she can't see!

-Sisterhood is a precious treasure. My children are living proof of this.

-Bubbles are fantastic!!!!
*to blow.
*to catch.
*to pop.
*or when they land in your hair!

**...but not when they land in your mouth!!

-Chloe cries at the drop of a hat these days. THIS IS NOT FUN! ....I wish for her to outgrow this super sensitivity FAST! I can't handle many more boo hoo sessions or self induced time outs.
...neither can Grace. She likes to go in her room too!

-I love that Addi's best friend lives two blocks away and that Addi will ditch me for her in a heart beat. I never thought that I'd say that!...However, it came in handy today. One less kiddo to worry about while I figured out today's mess. (read on)

-Meagan is great and she has a great Mom!  Thank you to for understanding why Grace was 40 minutes late for the play date today, for helping me find the OnStar #, letting me use your phone for the longest time ever, offering Chloe and I ride back home (even though we declined)and not minding the fact that Chloe was roller skating all over your house!
This, all because I locked my keys in the house again!! Why OnStar you might wonder?! Aren't they for cars, not homes?! --- The answer...Julia (our au pair) left her keys in the Trailblazer. I remembered and thought that it would be faster to have the car opened than to figure out how to burglarize my house!

-My neighbors are also great. Thank you to Randy for letting Chloe and I call OnStar because the car unlock didn't work!! Thank you for also letting Chloe eat all of your Oreos!

-OnStar Service is well worth the money. They sent a truck to my house with in 20 minutes of the "Randy house call." The guy opened the car in about 2.2 minutes. He didn't make a single mark on the door. Plus, it was all included in the service!!

-My Chloe is a very patient kid. She also gets cold easily! While I gardened in the front yard she rolled in the drive way. Every time the sun went behind a cloud I heard," Mommmyyyyy...I'm soooo cold." My response: "Baby, the sun is behind a cloud. I can't do anything about that. It'll pop out again and you'll be warm. Until then keep roller skating. It'll keep you warmer." She bought it the eight times that I repeated it.

-The statement "The more the merrier" rang true once again. Who knew that having six kids, under the age of 10 in my house would allow me alone time!! Yes, you've read correctly...I managed to sweep and Swiffer all of the floors, season the fish fillets and pop them in the oven, wipe down the kitchen counter tops, throw in a load of wash and blog all while the little darlings were having a dance off to Justin Beiber and Katy Perry.  Gotta love it! Bring on the sleepovers!!

-Julia's new nick name should be The Great and Powerful Juliadini. She saved the day while on vacation in Florida. Julia I'm so glad that you stashed your keys in the car.

-It's time to stash an extra set of keys some where!!...That means not at Amy's house. I had no way of getting them with out the car! Where were you today cousin? You are my "spare." xoxo.

-Keys locked in the house/car = a very clean driveway and freshly planted garden! Maybe I should do this again...NOT!!!!