Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Autism Walk run down
Wednesday: I'm clued in to the fact that the walk starts (STARTS!) at 8am. Never being one for the finer details, I totally missed that info.. or maybe my brain was so horrified at the thought of getting downtown by that time, that it just blocked it out entirely. Either way, we're a good 45 min. drive from Downtown .. so I had a slight panic attack thinking of getting myself (sooooo not a morning person) and the girls (who normally wake around 8:30) ready and down there. Not to mention, my team is meeting at 7:45. That's A.M. people!! Wha??
Oh the humanity.
Thursday: I get over my anxiety and decide to just roll with it. Worst case scenario .. we'll get there at the end of the walk and then find the team .. of course, I'll complain that we had to walk alone because we couldn't find them. I'll tell them we have been looking for them since 7:15.
Friday ..
10 pm: Get everything packed and ready to go. Get into bed around midnight.
12 am: My brain is screaming at me. "Youhavetogetupat6amYouhavetogetupat6amYouhavetogetupat6am!!!"
1 am: Am I going to have time to make as much coffee as I'm going to need tomorrow?
1:30: What can I give the girls for breakfast that they can eat in the car without making a huge mess?
2 am: Do we have waffles in the freezer?
2:05: Waffles. Thats a funny word. Waffles .. waffles .. waffles.
2:10: Try and shove sticky-tack in my ears to muffle the sound of David's snoring.
2:20: Did the weather guy say it was going to rain tomorrow or on Sunday?
2:30: Stress about how bad my hair reacts to humidity.
3 am: Pray that if it's humid, it actually does rain so it just soaks me instead of leaving me with a fro.
3:05: Wonder of anyone sells child sized pink afro wigs.
3:10: Crap. I have to get up in 3 hours.
3:15: Decide that on three hours of sleep, there's no way I'll hear my alarm and get up in time. Not to mention my allergies are starting to kick in so I probably won't even be able to get those three hours anyway.
3:30: Get up
4:00: Take a shower and wash my hair .... again. (what else am I going to do at 4 am?!)
4:30: Re-pack the car.
4:50: Watch Law and Order while drying my hair (Is there ever a time when that show ISN'T on?)
5:30: Find waffles. Toast them.
5:45: Wonder if the girls will be telling their shrink one day about the morning their horrible excuse for mother woke them up while it was still dark outside.
5:50: Wonder if this will lead them to be featured on the show COPS. Or Jerry Springer. Or Prison..
5:55: Wonder which is the worst fate.
6 am: Epiphany. If I go in to wake them with m&ms in my hand they'll wake happy.
6:05: Find the m&ms, grab a handful... having to grab more and more because I can't resist eating them as they fall into my hand.
6:07: Realize I just ate chocolate for breakfast.
6:08: Rationalize it .. there's caffeine in chocolate. If there was ever a need for caffeine, it's now .. so ... totally understandable. Surely I'll walk off the calories too. How many calories can there be in these tiny little things?
6:09: Almost have heart attack after reading how many calories are in those tiny little things.
6:10: Vow to walk fast.
6:12: Go upstairs to wake the girls.
6:15: Stare at them for a few minutes. So peaceful and happy. They have no idea I'm about to intrude on their glorious sleep.
6:17: Push Mommy guilt aside when I realize that if one or both has a meltdown there's no way we'll get on the road in time.
6:18: Try and wake them gently.
6:19: Try a little harder.
6:20: Turn the light on low.
6:21: Turn the light up.
6:22: Finally just yell, "Mommy has treats!"
6:25: Both girls are up and dressed in record time. Both are grinning silly little chocolate grins, surely thinking Im the greatest mom EVER.
6:30: Get the girls downstairs.
6:31: Lose keys.
6:34: Find keys .. in Reese's purse.
6:35: Ask Reese why she didn't tell Mommy she had the keys. Her response... "M&Ms here" as she holds out her hand.
6:36: Fear she grasps the concept of bribery now.
6:37: Pour the coffee. Spill the coffee. Clean up the coffee.
6:38: Lose my keys again.
6:39: Wonder why the universe hates me.
6:45: As we get in the car Kaelin exclaims, "Heeeey .. it's dark out here!" and gives me her famous eyebrow look.
6:46: On the road.
6:50: Realize that after 3 cups of coffee I have to pee.
6:55: Realize that I forgot the directions.
6:56: Wonder if Alzheimers can strike at 33.
6:57: Do the math. Realize that I'm 34.
6:58: Try not to cry and freak out the girls.
7:30: Pull into Atlantic Station and find a parking spot.
7:35: Try and find the elevators. One sign has an arrow pointing North .. one South. Go back and forth between two signs for a good 5 minutes. Wonder if they'll show video of me going this way/that way .. this way/that way .. at the company Christmas Party.
7:40: Remember we're meeting at the line of port-o-potties. Ask a guide where they are.
7:41: Grumble as I try and push a double stroller through the sea of people to the farthest end of the festivities.
7:44: Run into an ex co-worker. She wont stop talking.
7:50: Finally find the girls and hang out until the walk starts.
Quite a morning. I was a tad delirious from the lack of sleep and shaking a little from all of the coffee. The girls were very patient .. until the early wake up call hit Kaelin and she got tired ... and cranky. I had to hold her on the last leg of the walk.
It rained a little, but nothing too bad until the very end. Luckily when it started to come down, we were at the end of the route and right next to the parking garage. We ducked under and hung out for a little while longer. We walked with a wonderful group of women and had fun. I managed to trick Elizabeth into pushing the stroller up the hills, so it was an easy walk for me!
Kaelin fell asleep on the ride home but Reese was wide awake. Well, that crazed adrenaline trying to keep you up kind of awake.
Once home around 10am, Kaelin and I snuggled and napped in my bed for two hours. David took Reese to settle her to sleep but apparently that never happened. Needless to say, they weren't little angels that day. Whiny, sleep deprived messes of children. Reesey finally fell asleep around 5pm while laying on the floor watching a show.
Luckily, they got back on schedule by Sunday... Mommy took a few days more.
Ouch.
/I didn't get many pics because of the weather ( and our huge camera not being able to be hidden from the rain ) so bummed about that.. if I get some from the others walkers, I'll post them./
Even with all of the drama, it was a fabulous time and a very worthy cause. We were proud to walk for friends (and strangers!) who's lives have been touched by autism. We'll be doing it again next year! (But praying that they throw a little break our way and start it all up a little later in the morning!)
The "after shots"
Oh the humanity.
Thursday: I get over my anxiety and decide to just roll with it. Worst case scenario .. we'll get there at the end of the walk and then find the team .. of course, I'll complain that we had to walk alone because we couldn't find them. I'll tell them we have been looking for them since 7:15.
Friday ..
10 pm: Get everything packed and ready to go. Get into bed around midnight.
12 am: My brain is screaming at me. "Youhavetogetupat6amYouhavetogetupat6amYouhavetogetupat6am!!!"
1 am: Am I going to have time to make as much coffee as I'm going to need tomorrow?
1:30: What can I give the girls for breakfast that they can eat in the car without making a huge mess?
2 am: Do we have waffles in the freezer?
2:05: Waffles. Thats a funny word. Waffles .. waffles .. waffles.
2:10: Try and shove sticky-tack in my ears to muffle the sound of David's snoring.
2:20: Did the weather guy say it was going to rain tomorrow or on Sunday?
2:30: Stress about how bad my hair reacts to humidity.
3 am: Pray that if it's humid, it actually does rain so it just soaks me instead of leaving me with a fro.
3:05: Wonder of anyone sells child sized pink afro wigs.
3:10: Crap. I have to get up in 3 hours.
3:15: Decide that on three hours of sleep, there's no way I'll hear my alarm and get up in time. Not to mention my allergies are starting to kick in so I probably won't even be able to get those three hours anyway.
3:30: Get up
4:00: Take a shower and wash my hair .... again. (what else am I going to do at 4 am?!)
4:30: Re-pack the car.
4:50: Watch Law and Order while drying my hair (Is there ever a time when that show ISN'T on?)
5:30: Find waffles. Toast them.
5:45: Wonder if the girls will be telling their shrink one day about the morning their horrible excuse for mother woke them up while it was still dark outside.
5:50: Wonder if this will lead them to be featured on the show COPS. Or Jerry Springer. Or Prison..
5:55: Wonder which is the worst fate.
6 am: Epiphany. If I go in to wake them with m&ms in my hand they'll wake happy.
6:05: Find the m&ms, grab a handful... having to grab more and more because I can't resist eating them as they fall into my hand.
6:07: Realize I just ate chocolate for breakfast.
6:08: Rationalize it .. there's caffeine in chocolate. If there was ever a need for caffeine, it's now .. so ... totally understandable. Surely I'll walk off the calories too. How many calories can there be in these tiny little things?
6:09: Almost have heart attack after reading how many calories are in those tiny little things.
6:10: Vow to walk fast.
6:12: Go upstairs to wake the girls.
6:15: Stare at them for a few minutes. So peaceful and happy. They have no idea I'm about to intrude on their glorious sleep.
6:17: Push Mommy guilt aside when I realize that if one or both has a meltdown there's no way we'll get on the road in time.
6:18: Try and wake them gently.
6:19: Try a little harder.
6:20: Turn the light on low.
6:21: Turn the light up.
6:22: Finally just yell, "Mommy has treats!"
6:25: Both girls are up and dressed in record time. Both are grinning silly little chocolate grins, surely thinking Im the greatest mom EVER.
6:30: Get the girls downstairs.
6:31: Lose keys.
6:34: Find keys .. in Reese's purse.
6:35: Ask Reese why she didn't tell Mommy she had the keys. Her response... "M&Ms here" as she holds out her hand.
6:36: Fear she grasps the concept of bribery now.
6:37: Pour the coffee. Spill the coffee. Clean up the coffee.
6:38: Lose my keys again.
6:39: Wonder why the universe hates me.
6:45: As we get in the car Kaelin exclaims, "Heeeey .. it's dark out here!" and gives me her famous eyebrow look.
6:46: On the road.
6:50: Realize that after 3 cups of coffee I have to pee.
6:55: Realize that I forgot the directions.
6:56: Wonder if Alzheimers can strike at 33.
6:57: Do the math. Realize that I'm 34.
6:58: Try not to cry and freak out the girls.
7:30: Pull into Atlantic Station and find a parking spot.
7:35: Try and find the elevators. One sign has an arrow pointing North .. one South. Go back and forth between two signs for a good 5 minutes. Wonder if they'll show video of me going this way/that way .. this way/that way .. at the company Christmas Party.
7:40: Remember we're meeting at the line of port-o-potties. Ask a guide where they are.
7:41: Grumble as I try and push a double stroller through the sea of people to the farthest end of the festivities.
7:44: Run into an ex co-worker. She wont stop talking.
7:50: Finally find the girls and hang out until the walk starts.
Quite a morning. I was a tad delirious from the lack of sleep and shaking a little from all of the coffee. The girls were very patient .. until the early wake up call hit Kaelin and she got tired ... and cranky. I had to hold her on the last leg of the walk.
It rained a little, but nothing too bad until the very end. Luckily when it started to come down, we were at the end of the route and right next to the parking garage. We ducked under and hung out for a little while longer. We walked with a wonderful group of women and had fun. I managed to trick Elizabeth into pushing the stroller up the hills, so it was an easy walk for me!
Kaelin fell asleep on the ride home but Reese was wide awake. Well, that crazed adrenaline trying to keep you up kind of awake.
Once home around 10am, Kaelin and I snuggled and napped in my bed for two hours. David took Reese to settle her to sleep but apparently that never happened. Needless to say, they weren't little angels that day. Whiny, sleep deprived messes of children. Reesey finally fell asleep around 5pm while laying on the floor watching a show.
Luckily, they got back on schedule by Sunday... Mommy took a few days more.
Ouch.
/I didn't get many pics because of the weather ( and our huge camera not being able to be hidden from the rain ) so bummed about that.. if I get some from the others walkers, I'll post them./
Even with all of the drama, it was a fabulous time and a very worthy cause. We were proud to walk for friends (and strangers!) who's lives have been touched by autism. We'll be doing it again next year! (But praying that they throw a little break our way and start it all up a little later in the morning!)
The "after shots"
Passing the crown to Katie
Here I thought I was the Queen of brilliant ideas to keep the kids in line. My brilliance has been surpassed... I bow down to her new Time Out technique.
I'll be making a PetSmart run in the morning. I wonder if they have the twin discount there..
I'll be making a PetSmart run in the morning. I wonder if they have the twin discount there..
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Yoga Class
The girls are taking a Yoga Class this month. They are now OBSESSED with yoga. Every night as we leave Reese in her crib, we walk out with her in a headstand saying, "Oga .. I do Oga .. heehee .. so fun!"
Everywhere we go, Kaelin instructs people on the proper technique and demands that they get into position.
We'll definitely keep up with it in the years to come.
Kaelin and the teacher (Reesey was busy running circles around the room .. so the pictures I got of her were just blurred streaks .. I swear I'm not playing favorites!)
Kaelin doing her favorite .. the tree pose.
The girls getting some help with their poses.
Not quite sure what pose this is .. but Kaelin sure nailed it.
Everywhere we go, Kaelin instructs people on the proper technique and demands that they get into position.
We'll definitely keep up with it in the years to come.
Kaelin and the teacher (Reesey was busy running circles around the room .. so the pictures I got of her were just blurred streaks .. I swear I'm not playing favorites!)
Kaelin doing her favorite .. the tree pose.
The girls getting some help with their poses.
Not quite sure what pose this is .. but Kaelin sure nailed it.
The girls in their Autism Walk shirts
Reese's shirt says, "I'm walking for my friend Dylan" and Kaelin's says, "I'm walking for my friend Jack." I was so excited to find a design that had that old school tattoo feel for the autism awareness side.. 'cause, ya know, my kiddos have to look hip at all times. I loooove the way they turned out.
I may start pestering David to get us a new printer so that I can spend all of my free time making shirts for the girls. I've become addicted.
(I've been slacking .. but this time I mean it ... the post about the walk is coming tomorrow!)
I may start pestering David to get us a new printer so that I can spend all of my free time making shirts for the girls. I've become addicted.
(I've been slacking .. but this time I mean it ... the post about the walk is coming tomorrow!)
School Picture Day
Took the girls to school today for their photos. Once again, Kaelin posed like the supermodel she is ... and Reesey screamed and cried like the photographer was out to cause her bodily harm.
Looks like we'll have a second set of Reese's fabulous school pictures.
In Case You've Forgotten
This year's promise to be even better as she was WAY more dramatic and animated.
You would think that she would be well versed in the whole "say cheese" thing considering she rarely sees my face without a camera attached to it.
The photographer looked like she was going to have a breakdown until I started laughing and told her that yes, I wanted the screaming pictures! She said most Moms freak out and spend the next hour trying to get their kid to smile... refusing to let her take pictures of their kid's meltdown.
They're nuts.
I think pictures like that are hysterical.
Can't wait to see the proofs.
Looks like we'll have a second set of Reese's fabulous school pictures.
In Case You've Forgotten
This year's promise to be even better as she was WAY more dramatic and animated.
You would think that she would be well versed in the whole "say cheese" thing considering she rarely sees my face without a camera attached to it.
The photographer looked like she was going to have a breakdown until I started laughing and told her that yes, I wanted the screaming pictures! She said most Moms freak out and spend the next hour trying to get their kid to smile... refusing to let her take pictures of their kid's meltdown.
They're nuts.
I think pictures like that are hysterical.
Can't wait to see the proofs.
Thanking the heavens for small miracles
Kaelin has been ... well ... not sure how to put this delicately for all the PC people out there..
Oh hell, She's been a big fat pain in my rear.
I can't really blame her because this has coincided with a cough that has been keeping her up at night. Mommy is no good when she doesn't sleep well and the girl definitely takes after me in many ways.
Yesterday I was seriously weighing the pros and cons of sneaking off in the middle of the night and setting up camp at The Ritz Carlton for a few days.
Today started off okay, but after her nap.. wow. (which was only an hour and a half .. she's used to three + hours STILL .. I know you other moms hate me)
We went out to run a few errands and my sweet, well behaved child turned into the kid all of the childless people (and people with newborns .. you just wait suckers) shake their heads at in utter disbelief. In the process turning ME into the mom they all glare at, wondering why I can't discipline and control my child better.
Our outing ended with a WWF style smackdown at a checkout counter.
Mommy lost.
On the ride home I discover that I have lollipops in my bag. Reesey gets one for being so good .. Kaelin, on the other hand, only gets a lesson on words like appropriateness, consequences, and nervous breakdowns.
She proceeds to scream at the top of her lungs. Not crying mind you .. just screaming. Ya know, the whole, 'lets see how far I can push this woman who's already on the edge and hey, maybe I'll learn a few new words in the process' kind of scream.
Well, about 1 minute into it I hear her voice starting to crack.
Then it happens.
She tries to yell ...
and nothing comes out...
just a sad little mousy noise at the end of each silent dramatic interpretation of a scream.
Sweeeet.
The kid lost her voice.
Guess the damage that the coughing did added to the lovely operatic show she was putting on finally caused her voice to give out.
Reesey thought it was hysterical and so she started screaming herself just to egg Kaelin on.
The whole ride home I hear,
R: "iiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"
K: "...................................eep."
R: "iiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"
K: "...................................arp."
R: "heehee .. Kaelin .. so funny"
Priceless. (yes, I have some of it recorded on my camera phone .. If I can figure out a way to upload it, you can all share in the humor)
Love that I can now use that as a deterrent to behavior like that. For all she knows Mommy took her voice away until she can act like a big girl.
Ahh .. once again I'm back on top as the all knowing, all powerful Mommy.
Oh hell, She's been a big fat pain in my rear.
I can't really blame her because this has coincided with a cough that has been keeping her up at night. Mommy is no good when she doesn't sleep well and the girl definitely takes after me in many ways.
Yesterday I was seriously weighing the pros and cons of sneaking off in the middle of the night and setting up camp at The Ritz Carlton for a few days.
Today started off okay, but after her nap.. wow. (which was only an hour and a half .. she's used to three + hours STILL .. I know you other moms hate me)
We went out to run a few errands and my sweet, well behaved child turned into the kid all of the childless people (and people with newborns .. you just wait suckers) shake their heads at in utter disbelief. In the process turning ME into the mom they all glare at, wondering why I can't discipline and control my child better.
Our outing ended with a WWF style smackdown at a checkout counter.
Mommy lost.
On the ride home I discover that I have lollipops in my bag. Reesey gets one for being so good .. Kaelin, on the other hand, only gets a lesson on words like appropriateness, consequences, and nervous breakdowns.
She proceeds to scream at the top of her lungs. Not crying mind you .. just screaming. Ya know, the whole, 'lets see how far I can push this woman who's already on the edge and hey, maybe I'll learn a few new words in the process' kind of scream.
Well, about 1 minute into it I hear her voice starting to crack.
Then it happens.
She tries to yell ...
and nothing comes out...
just a sad little mousy noise at the end of each silent dramatic interpretation of a scream.
Sweeeet.
The kid lost her voice.
Guess the damage that the coughing did added to the lovely operatic show she was putting on finally caused her voice to give out.
Reesey thought it was hysterical and so she started screaming herself just to egg Kaelin on.
The whole ride home I hear,
R: "iiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"
K: "...................................eep."
R: "iiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"
K: "...................................arp."
R: "heehee .. Kaelin .. so funny"
Priceless. (yes, I have some of it recorded on my camera phone .. If I can figure out a way to upload it, you can all share in the humor)
Love that I can now use that as a deterrent to behavior like that. For all she knows Mommy took her voice away until she can act like a big girl.
Ahh .. once again I'm back on top as the all knowing, all powerful Mommy.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Ga Autism Walk 2008
More on this tomorrow .. Just wanted to share the team shirts we had this year.
Marie, since I was in charge of designing them I added Nathanial to the list at the bottom! :)
Marie, since I was in charge of designing them I added Nathanial to the list at the bottom! :)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
She looks so big.
Where have my babies gone?!?!
This picture was taken after I told Kaelin it was time to come inside for lunch. Her response? "No."
Once again .. "Kaelin James .. inside now."
Response .. "I'm a Princess!" (said very emphatically and a sassy little head twirl.)
Then she went back to what she was doing.
whoops.
I've created a monster.
It certainly didn't help matters that I just couldn't discipline her for that one. I was too busy trying to keep from falling on the ground laughing.
Later that day we had a loooong talk about how yes, she is a Princess ... but Mommy is a Queen!
She didn't seem too enthralled with that conversation though. Surely her brain filtered most of that out.
We're sooo in trouble by the time the hormones kick in. I feel for her future boyfriends too. None of us stand a chance.
This picture was taken after I told Kaelin it was time to come inside for lunch. Her response? "No."
Once again .. "Kaelin James .. inside now."
Response .. "I'm a Princess!" (said very emphatically and a sassy little head twirl.)
Then she went back to what she was doing.
whoops.
I've created a monster.
It certainly didn't help matters that I just couldn't discipline her for that one. I was too busy trying to keep from falling on the ground laughing.
Later that day we had a loooong talk about how yes, she is a Princess ... but Mommy is a Queen!
She didn't seem too enthralled with that conversation though. Surely her brain filtered most of that out.
We're sooo in trouble by the time the hormones kick in. I feel for her future boyfriends too. None of us stand a chance.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Supermodel
Kaelin demanded I get the camera out today to take pictures of her climbing a tree. I finally give in, sit down on the ground .. and this is what she gives me ...
The girl cracks me up. Apparently she's been sneaking in a few Vogue magazines between Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss.
The girl cracks me up. Apparently she's been sneaking in a few Vogue magazines between Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss.
Sunday
Kites are fun...
Until they're not...
then Kaelin stomps off, pouts and does her dramatic fake cry.
Pity her.
Life is hard.
Until they're not...
then Kaelin stomps off, pouts and does her dramatic fake cry.
Pity her.
Life is hard.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
New toy.
The girls discovered Max today.
Naven is usually their cat of choice because he talks incessantly and rubs all over them .. Cleo is a wuss, so she just runs and hides from them.
Max is usually outside or sleeping so they don't see him much. Today he made the mistake of trying to catch a nap on the sofa. Guessing he won't be doing that again any time soon.
Aside from a jungle gym, he also makes for a perfect movie watching pillow.
Naven is usually their cat of choice because he talks incessantly and rubs all over them .. Cleo is a wuss, so she just runs and hides from them.
Max is usually outside or sleeping so they don't see him much. Today he made the mistake of trying to catch a nap on the sofa. Guessing he won't be doing that again any time soon.
Aside from a jungle gym, he also makes for a perfect movie watching pillow.
fabulous picture ..
.. and I missed it.
Kaelin fell into the toilet today.
It was early and I was still coming out of a coma like sleep, so I was in Mom mode instead of my usual smartass mode.
Darn it.
She went into the bathroom and a few seconds later I heard a "thump" and a "aieeeee!"
I go in there and find her stuck .. her legs by her ears like she had been broken in half ..
The look on her face .. oh, it was priceless.
I couldn't help but start laughing.
She responded with a little chuckle and then a "Mooooooom!"
Of course, that made me laugh even more.
Reesey, being the better mother of us two, ran in, accessed the situation and then hugged Kaelin and shot me a look that said, "Don't just stand there woman!!"
It was only as I was wiping her off that I thought, "Damn! The camera!"
Bad bad blogger.
Kaelin fell into the toilet today.
It was early and I was still coming out of a coma like sleep, so I was in Mom mode instead of my usual smartass mode.
Darn it.
She went into the bathroom and a few seconds later I heard a "thump" and a "aieeeee!"
I go in there and find her stuck .. her legs by her ears like she had been broken in half ..
The look on her face .. oh, it was priceless.
I couldn't help but start laughing.
She responded with a little chuckle and then a "Mooooooom!"
Of course, that made me laugh even more.
Reesey, being the better mother of us two, ran in, accessed the situation and then hugged Kaelin and shot me a look that said, "Don't just stand there woman!!"
It was only as I was wiping her off that I thought, "Damn! The camera!"
Bad bad blogger.
Kaelin vs the peanut butter
I didn't see it happen .. but it must have been one heck of a fight.
I'm guessing she won the battle considering the victorious look on her face.
I'm guessing she won the battle considering the victorious look on her face.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Amazing lecture.
This lecture hit me .. hard. Probably because of the girls. Once I can gather myself and stop the tears, I'll respond with more.
The video is of Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch. He is a father of three who is dying from pancreatic cancer, and was given only a few months to live.
On Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed auditorium, he gave his last lecture at the university.
(The video below is a long one (76 minutes) .. but I assure you .. so very worth every minute.
So. Very. Worth. It.
If you don't have the time for it right now, you can view his shortened reprise that was seen on Oprah. Lecture Reprise
(If you're a man .. yes, it's Oprah .. but I swear you won't lose any of your big, strong man points for this one. You're still a stud.)
If you watch the Oprah reprise, please find the time later to watch the full lecture. Again, it's worth it.)
For more, visit http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.
The video is of Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch. He is a father of three who is dying from pancreatic cancer, and was given only a few months to live.
On Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed auditorium, he gave his last lecture at the university.
(The video below is a long one (76 minutes) .. but I assure you .. so very worth every minute.
So. Very. Worth. It.
If you don't have the time for it right now, you can view his shortened reprise that was seen on Oprah. Lecture Reprise
(If you're a man .. yes, it's Oprah .. but I swear you won't lose any of your big, strong man points for this one. You're still a stud.)
If you watch the Oprah reprise, please find the time later to watch the full lecture. Again, it's worth it.)
For more, visit http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.
Seriously?
I was surfing the web catching up on recent events and stumbled upon THIS CNN article.
I think my brain is about to explode.
As if we don't already have enough Paris Hilton's in the world. Ick.
Now I must admit that as a mom who wears horrendously overpriced designer jeans, shops obsessively at Sephora, and revels in the glory of botox, that my girls will probably be a tad ... um ... conscious of such things.
Most likely, they will see manicures and facials as normal upkeep .. not a splurge or something to be done on special occasions. When they come to me at 14 saying they are going to dye their hair some vile shade of purple.. well, fine .. but I'll be damned if they don't have it done by a professional colorist.
It's not that I'm trying to raise obnoxious, bratty kids... it's just that .. well, I'M their mom. It's the whole osmosis thing. (See mom .. I did learn something in those few days I actually went to science class!)
With all that said, they will never be allowed to step foot into an Abercrombie store, they will never wear those hideous short skirts that have words scrawled across their rear ends (an 8 year old with the word, "cherry" her butt?! Um, no.) And until the year they wise up and figure out how to leave the house wearing one thing and change in the car before school, they will not be wearing tops that show their bellies.
So, maybe some will look and me and pity my kids. Maybe pity me. Whatever.
That website though ... eesh. At least my kids won't be learning that
kind of crap.
[My darlings .. always remember that your Daddy works with computers ... we will know every click you make on these machines.]
Of course, the creator of the site puts it all in perspective ..
Nicolas Jacquart, the 23-year-old Web designer from Tooting, south London, who created it was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "It is not a bad influence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos. The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world."
Ahh .. now I get it. Silly me. I feel so much better now.
I think my brain is about to explode.
As if we don't already have enough Paris Hilton's in the world. Ick.
Now I must admit that as a mom who wears horrendously overpriced designer jeans, shops obsessively at Sephora, and revels in the glory of botox, that my girls will probably be a tad ... um ... conscious of such things.
Most likely, they will see manicures and facials as normal upkeep .. not a splurge or something to be done on special occasions. When they come to me at 14 saying they are going to dye their hair some vile shade of purple.. well, fine .. but I'll be damned if they don't have it done by a professional colorist.
It's not that I'm trying to raise obnoxious, bratty kids... it's just that .. well, I'M their mom. It's the whole osmosis thing. (See mom .. I did learn something in those few days I actually went to science class!)
With all that said, they will never be allowed to step foot into an Abercrombie store, they will never wear those hideous short skirts that have words scrawled across their rear ends (an 8 year old with the word, "cherry" her butt?! Um, no.) And until the year they wise up and figure out how to leave the house wearing one thing and change in the car before school, they will not be wearing tops that show their bellies.
So, maybe some will look and me and pity my kids. Maybe pity me. Whatever.
That website though ... eesh. At least my kids won't be learning that
kind of crap.
[My darlings .. always remember that your Daddy works with computers ... we will know every click you make on these machines.]
Of course, the creator of the site puts it all in perspective ..
Nicolas Jacquart, the 23-year-old Web designer from Tooting, south London, who created it was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "It is not a bad influence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos. The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world."
Ahh .. now I get it. Silly me. I feel so much better now.
A milestone of sorts
A conversation with sweet, innocent Kaelin.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"I have jellybeans?"
"Nope .. maybe after lunch you can have one .. but not now."
She pauses to think this over.
"Mommy .. Daddy say I have jellybeans. I eat cereal and then I have jellybeans."
"Daddy said you have some jelybeans after breakfast?"
"YES!!!"
Hmm ....
Poor kid forgot that her Daddy works upstairs.
"Let me go upstairs and ask Daddy if he said you could have some okay?"
Kaelin .. again .. thinks this over...
and tries to change the subject
"Mommy .. we go outside now?"
"Let me go ask Daddy about the jellybeans first, okay?"
K looks sooo busted.
She utters a slow, "ooooookay" with a big sigh.
Busted.
I suppose I'll cut her some slack on that one given that it was April Fool's Day.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"I have jellybeans?"
"Nope .. maybe after lunch you can have one .. but not now."
She pauses to think this over.
"Mommy .. Daddy say I have jellybeans. I eat cereal and then I have jellybeans."
"Daddy said you have some jelybeans after breakfast?"
"YES!!!"
Hmm ....
Poor kid forgot that her Daddy works upstairs.
"Let me go upstairs and ask Daddy if he said you could have some okay?"
Kaelin .. again .. thinks this over...
and tries to change the subject
"Mommy .. we go outside now?"
"Let me go ask Daddy about the jellybeans first, okay?"
K looks sooo busted.
She utters a slow, "ooooookay" with a big sigh.
Busted.
I suppose I'll cut her some slack on that one given that it was April Fool's Day.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
High maintenance
Houston .. we have hair.
We got a little girly yesterday after bath time. I blow-dried the girls' hair with a round brush and discovered that Reesey has hair! I mean .. sure, she HAS hair .. but it always looks so sparse. It doesn't help that all of her friends have full heads of glorious hair and have already had it cut numerous times.
I guess this means our morning routine just got a bit more complicated.
I swear, the girl is going to be shopping at Sephora by the age of five. She already uses Alterna's White Truffle shampoo and conditioner (in my defense .. the girl has some serious bed head issues in the morning .. the kid stuff just doesn't cut it). Now she's being styled for crying out loud.
I have a feeling I'll pay for this later on.
We got a little girly yesterday after bath time. I blow-dried the girls' hair with a round brush and discovered that Reesey has hair! I mean .. sure, she HAS hair .. but it always looks so sparse. It doesn't help that all of her friends have full heads of glorious hair and have already had it cut numerous times.
I guess this means our morning routine just got a bit more complicated.
I swear, the girl is going to be shopping at Sephora by the age of five. She already uses Alterna's White Truffle shampoo and conditioner (in my defense .. the girl has some serious bed head issues in the morning .. the kid stuff just doesn't cut it). Now she's being styled for crying out loud.
I have a feeling I'll pay for this later on.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Humor me.
Please tell me I'm not the only one who has a kid who does this when I ask her to do something for me...
Karma's a bitch .. in two acts
ACT I
Reese decides to play King of the Mountain on her duck ...
"Reesey .. get down. I mean it .. you're going to fall. Why aren't you listening to me? You're going to fall. It's going to hurt. I mean it. Ugh. Fine. Don't listen to me. Whatever."
ACT II
Kaelin starts rocking back and forth on the duck now ..
"Kaelin .. seriously? You JUST saw what happened to your sister. You're tempting fate my dear. I mean it .. you're going to fall backwards. Why don't you kids believe me? I know what I'm talking about here! Knock it off. Stop it. Ugh. Fine. See what happens. Whatever."
Ha. So there. Mommy two .. bratty kids zero.
At least when all else fails ... there's karma.
Reese decides to play King of the Mountain on her duck ...
"Reesey .. get down. I mean it .. you're going to fall. Why aren't you listening to me? You're going to fall. It's going to hurt. I mean it. Ugh. Fine. Don't listen to me. Whatever."
ACT II
Kaelin starts rocking back and forth on the duck now ..
"Kaelin .. seriously? You JUST saw what happened to your sister. You're tempting fate my dear. I mean it .. you're going to fall backwards. Why don't you kids believe me? I know what I'm talking about here! Knock it off. Stop it. Ugh. Fine. See what happens. Whatever."
Ha. So there. Mommy two .. bratty kids zero.
At least when all else fails ... there's karma.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
So different ..
The picture above is of an art project the girls did at school. It cracks me up. Ever since the girls picked up their first crayon they have gone about their work soooo differently. Reese always gets close to the paper and makes very deliberate marks. Kaelin, on the other hand, just goes for it .. colors everywhere. Kind of like having Chuck Close and Jackson Pollack creating artwork for our fridge.
The teachers gave them circle stickers and the heart pictures to work on. Reesey did the one on the left .. Kaelin's is on the right.
Need I say more?
Love it.
Arrrgh.
K and R's buddy, Mason, had his third birthday party today. Kaelin is now obsessed with pirates and a pirate song by Relient K.
They had a blast catching up with their friends (which thanks to Reesey and Mommy getting sick for so long, we haven't seen in a while!)
'nuff said
Kaelin's pirate earring
Reesey keeps watch with her telescope...
you can never be too careful when fraternizing with pirates ya know.
~Props to Bella Grace Boutique for K's fab skull dress! Click Here
.
They had a blast catching up with their friends (which thanks to Reesey and Mommy getting sick for so long, we haven't seen in a while!)
'nuff said
Kaelin's pirate earring
Reesey keeps watch with her telescope...
you can never be too careful when fraternizing with pirates ya know.
~Props to Bella Grace Boutique for K's fab skull dress! Click Here
.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
woot.
David has been extremely busy lately creating brilliant things for his clients, so my website has had to take a backseat for now.
Those who know me know that patience is definitely not my forte ...
So ...
I went ahead and listed my stuff on Etsy. If you haven't already been to that site .. ohhhhhh .. it's fabulous. Everything there is unique and handmade. I have bought a bunch of stuff off of the site .. art prints, shoulder bag, clothes for the girlies.
I'm insanely addicted.
The best part .. besides the fact that most are one of a kind pieces, is that the prices are phenominal. I have gotten the most gorgeous stuff for the girls that would have cost an arm and a leg at a local boutique.
I'll warn you though .. once you start browsing through the site, it's easy to lose track of time and lose a good three to four hours of your night. whoops..
If you scroll down the sidebar, you'll see the link to my shop.
I am discussing a custom project with someone at the moment and just yesterday I had the owner of a well known boutique in Roswell express some interest in carrying some of my pieces. I'll meet with her soon and see what happens!
Those who know me know that patience is definitely not my forte ...
So ...
I went ahead and listed my stuff on Etsy. If you haven't already been to that site .. ohhhhhh .. it's fabulous. Everything there is unique and handmade. I have bought a bunch of stuff off of the site .. art prints, shoulder bag, clothes for the girlies.
I'm insanely addicted.
The best part .. besides the fact that most are one of a kind pieces, is that the prices are phenominal. I have gotten the most gorgeous stuff for the girls that would have cost an arm and a leg at a local boutique.
I'll warn you though .. once you start browsing through the site, it's easy to lose track of time and lose a good three to four hours of your night. whoops..
If you scroll down the sidebar, you'll see the link to my shop.
I am discussing a custom project with someone at the moment and just yesterday I had the owner of a well known boutique in Roswell express some interest in carrying some of my pieces. I'll meet with her soon and see what happens!
Neighbor Drama
Our neighbor has a son who apparently has aspirations to become a rock star. He has taken up the drums and formed a band. Now, I have to say that as an art major .. I'm all about any form of the arts being enjoyed and pursued. Here's where the "BUT" comes in .. During the day, he bangs on those things in the garage (sometimes with the door open) which is basically right in our back yard. Of course, the time he starts up is always right at nap time. Not a big deal for the girls as their room is on the opposite side of the house and they have a noise machine in there .. but for me .. ugh. That's my quiet time. I NEED that time to relax and regroup. Instead, I'm now treated to the torturous, thumping bass all throughout the house. It's maddening.
David also works from home, so you can imagine how it affects him too. He's just as annoyed as I am.
The big problem is that the kid plays those damn drums at night too. I'm not talking about 6 or 7 pm ... I mean midnight .. 1am .. 2 am ..
No no no.
We sent a very nice email to his mom, voicing our concerns about a week and a half ago and it seemed to drop off for a bit. His mom is NEVER home and we never see her anymore .. and honestly, I would rather go through her considering that I'm not far enough away from my teenage years to have forgotten that complaining to a teenager is basically only begging for two things to happen:
1. Your house to be rolled
or
2. The noise to get even more obnoxious.
We're not sure if the noise stopped for a while because she recieved the email and spoke to him (we never got a reply) or if it was just a coincidence.
Either way .. it's started back up after midnight again.
Grrrrrr ...
I emailed our neighborhood PACT officer asking for some guidance on how to handle the situation and his response was, "call the police".
Um ... aren't YOU the police? *sigh
Anyhoo ...
I hate to call the cops on him .. he's a good kid, extremely nice .. just with a bummer of a hobby.
David emailed his mom a second time the other night letting her know that if it continues, we'll be forced to call the police to issue a warning. (The second visit is a citation)
I swear .. I hear the "thump, bang, crash, thump, bang, crash" even when he's not playing. I can't take anymore.
We were counting on the fact that he's 18 .. or more .. and maybe he would be moving out soon. That doesn't seem like it's going to happen though .. I mean, he would be crazy to move away from a free party house since his mom has gone MIA for the past few months.
The girls and I were playing outside today and the drumming started. I, of course, get all stressed out BUT Kaelin hears the pounding and starts to squeal with joy. Next thing you know, she's dancing all over the yard having a blast. I had to stop her after a few brief minutes so that none of the neighbors would see her enjoying the racket.
Traitor.
~DISCLAIMER ~
To all concerned parties .. I promise to get the poor girl some dance lessons before I set her loose on the general public. My "Mommy love" does not blind me to the fact that ... whoa... someone could lose an eye. I'm on it.
David also works from home, so you can imagine how it affects him too. He's just as annoyed as I am.
The big problem is that the kid plays those damn drums at night too. I'm not talking about 6 or 7 pm ... I mean midnight .. 1am .. 2 am ..
No no no.
We sent a very nice email to his mom, voicing our concerns about a week and a half ago and it seemed to drop off for a bit. His mom is NEVER home and we never see her anymore .. and honestly, I would rather go through her considering that I'm not far enough away from my teenage years to have forgotten that complaining to a teenager is basically only begging for two things to happen:
1. Your house to be rolled
or
2. The noise to get even more obnoxious.
We're not sure if the noise stopped for a while because she recieved the email and spoke to him (we never got a reply) or if it was just a coincidence.
Either way .. it's started back up after midnight again.
Grrrrrr ...
I emailed our neighborhood PACT officer asking for some guidance on how to handle the situation and his response was, "call the police".
Um ... aren't YOU the police? *sigh
Anyhoo ...
I hate to call the cops on him .. he's a good kid, extremely nice .. just with a bummer of a hobby.
David emailed his mom a second time the other night letting her know that if it continues, we'll be forced to call the police to issue a warning. (The second visit is a citation)
I swear .. I hear the "thump, bang, crash, thump, bang, crash" even when he's not playing. I can't take anymore.
We were counting on the fact that he's 18 .. or more .. and maybe he would be moving out soon. That doesn't seem like it's going to happen though .. I mean, he would be crazy to move away from a free party house since his mom has gone MIA for the past few months.
The girls and I were playing outside today and the drumming started. I, of course, get all stressed out BUT Kaelin hears the pounding and starts to squeal with joy. Next thing you know, she's dancing all over the yard having a blast. I had to stop her after a few brief minutes so that none of the neighbors would see her enjoying the racket.
Traitor.
~DISCLAIMER ~
To all concerned parties .. I promise to get the poor girl some dance lessons before I set her loose on the general public. My "Mommy love" does not blind me to the fact that ... whoa... someone could lose an eye. I'm on it.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Botanical Gardens
The girls and I joined some friends at The Botanical Gardens today. Mommy spent a lot of time hanging out so we didn't get to see everything, but we'll get back down there again soon. The girls loved it there!
Reesey says Hi to a frog
Kaelin .. all smiles
Reese offering a flower to her buddy, Maddie ... perhaps a peace offering considering that this is the first time that Maddie and Kaelin have played together. Before today, it was always seemed like they had some High School type drama going on .. dirty looks, ignoring each other .. so funny. By the end of the day, they were havng a blast together. Yea!
Reesey says Hi to a frog
Kaelin .. all smiles
Reese offering a flower to her buddy, Maddie ... perhaps a peace offering considering that this is the first time that Maddie and Kaelin have played together. Before today, it was always seemed like they had some High School type drama going on .. dirty looks, ignoring each other .. so funny. By the end of the day, they were havng a blast together. Yea!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sneaky little bugger ...
I was washing dishes the other night .. the girls were playing with their water table two feet from me.
Kaelin tugs on my pant leg.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Um ... the water table?"
"Yep .. it's fun isn't it? Go play!"
..... long pause .....
"Mommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Reesey .. the water table?"
"Yes, Reesey is playing too."
..... long pause .....
"Mommy?"
"yeah?"
..... long pause ....
"Reesey swimming IN the water table?"
*sigh
Kaelin tugs on my pant leg.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Um ... the water table?"
"Yep .. it's fun isn't it? Go play!"
..... long pause .....
"Mommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Reesey .. the water table?"
"Yes, Reesey is playing too."
..... long pause .....
"Mommy?"
"yeah?"
..... long pause ....
"Reesey swimming IN the water table?"
*sigh
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