Star Sighting

Ok, so it's a slow week on the blog. Been entertaining mini#2 and enjoying some time alone with him before mini#1 is out of school on the 8th. Well, he did have to accompany me to the mall Wednesday because I HAD to find chocolate brown Converse all-star low-tops (is that what they're called?) for mini#1. But, I will say I am 94.5% sure that I saw Cheri Young, wife of John Edwards' aide, Andrew Young (pretended to be baby daddy to Edwards' love child with Rielle Hunter when news was breaking)while we were in Banana Republic. I've seen the Oprah, Good Morning America, etc etc interviews so I really think it was her. Minus TV hair and makeup, but still nice looking. All of the characters in this real life drama live within an hour of here in Chapel Hill, NC. Aren't you glad you stopped by and read this post?

And I just read that Gary Coleman died. That is sad. I can't believe he was 42. I always think of him as that spunky child star. 42 is just too young to die.

On that note, it's strange to say "have a great weekend", but do anyway. A nice, long weekend! Enjoy!

Things

Random things.

1- Brittney Murphy's husband died today at age 39? How bizarre! Five months after she died.

2- Bret Michaels- are you a cat with 9 lives??? Wow! So glad he won Celebrity Apprentice. I've been watching all along and he was my favorite (ok and Curtis Stone-could those 2 be any different?) I hope he rests now and takes care of himself for a while!

3- Do I watch "The Bachelorette" tonight or not? Allie wasn't my favorite last year.

4- Does anyone want to come iron for me? Been putting it off all day!

5- Why do I always get on the elliptical machine at the gym next to Chatty Kathy? No, the woman was nice and all, and I'm chatty, too, but not when I'm on those machines.

6- Are you travelling this weekend or staying home? We're here...baseball, pool opening party, and a neighbor's 3rd annual cookout on Sunday. I'm content to stay home on the holiday weekend.

7- My baby starts kindergarten in 6 1/2 weeks! Year round school is robbing me of a couple extra months with him home. That makes me sad.

8- Mini#2 had another classic line this weekend. We finally saw MIL's (passed away last year) headstone we ordered at her grave site yesterday (went to visit her mother, Mr. Pink's grandmother first). On the back of the headstone we had engraved: mother to Mr. Pink and Mr. Pink's deceased brother and grandmother to mini#1 and mini#2. Mini#2 saw his name and exclaimed: "They saved the best for last" meaning him! The kid is cracking us up these days. Friday I made banana bread and later in the afternoon he walked inside after playing and said "Mom, hit me up with some of that banana bread." HE'S 5!!!! Oh my...he keeps me sane.

Ok, off to iron.....seriously, does anyone iron as much as I do?

Good day

It's been a good day. You hope for good days sometimes don't you?

Mini#2 "graduated" from preschool this morning. Wow! Time goes by so quickly. He smiled, sang, hugged his teacher, and yelled goodbye to his friends in the parking lot like a big boy. We were given a notebook chronicling our child's year in photos. It's amazing the changes you see in 9 months. It makes me emotional this time around. Because I know he's my last child to experience these milestones of life. He's ready for kindergarten and I still love him even if he did declare his hatred for the dress I wore today. Little brat!

Mini#1 came home with passing EOG (End of grade tests) scores! Wow! Those are a big deal. They practice on these tests all year. So glad that's behind us for a year. Today was his field (play) day and make your own sundae party. After 3 days of cooler, rainy weather, the sun was shining and it was much warmer for his fun day at school.

Hope your days are going well, too...AND The Real Housewives of NY come on tonight. Something else good to look forward to isn't it?

I hope you dance.

It's my 400th post! WOW! It's been a busy, fun day, but something is just weighing on my heart as yours I am sure. As the mother of my dear 9 year old son, I have felt so incredibly sad for the 9 yr old sole survivor of the Libyan airplane crash. Ruben has occupied many of my thoughts the last few days. I think of my son, so mature, yet still so young at age 9 dependent on his parents. He still wants my hugs and kisses. He loves sharing events of his day with me. He's my buddy. I want to hug Ruben who can no longer hug his mom or throw ball with his dad or even fight with his brother. I don't want the death of his family to be the death of his spirit. I am comforted to know that where he lives in The Netherlands is also where most of his extended family lives. I hope he finds solace in the days ahead and that he goes on to do great things with the life he was so strangely, yet deliberately, spared by God. I pray he is smothered in love and somehow finds a peace about all of this, pushing all of the "why's" out of his thoughts. I am so thankful he enjoyed a final vacation with his family and those memories sustain him for years to come. He's in my prayers and these are not just words I type. These are real feelings I feel because my 9 yr old still has his family. While collecting my thoughts for this post I remembered the song by LeAnn Womack, "I Hope You Dance". I looked up the lyrics. How perfect for Ruben. So, even though it's a little cheesy, I'll end by sharing them because it certainly applies to this precious child.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance Ruben!

_itchy

Yes, with a capital B. Just ranting here. I feel like I'm being nickel and dimed to death these days. I may have to go back to work just to pay for all of these extras!

No kidding. No sooner had I hit send on an email yesterday saying I would contribute to mini#2's end of year ice cream party, I received an email from mini#1's room mother asking for donations for his end of year ice cream party. Of course, that's not all. We are also being asked for donations towards an end of year teacher gifts for both teachers and both assistants. HELLO!? I said I'm being _itchy (rhymes with witchy). Did we not just have a solid week of teacher appreciation gifts for both? That's a whole other subject. I am all for giving one nice gift to teachers during teacher appreciation, not the small gift daily for 5 days. Are you? AND, we did a contribution thingy for mini#1's teacher's birthday. Geez.

I would never NOT contribute (What? And be the talk of the school? Not me!). But I got to thinking about all we have kindly contributed this year to the mini schools. In no particular order, they are:

A bag of marshmallows
A bag of Oreo's
Homemade green playdough (ok this was kind of fun)
A case of water
Bag of blow pops for the treasure box (hey! Don't judge. She asked for candy and they were a hit I was told)
Two boxes of chocolate pudding
A bottle of Apple Juice
Two weeks' worth of snacks for mini#2 when it was his turn (2 items each day like bananas/vanilla pudding, string cheese/Ritz crackers, gogurts/granola bars)
Umpteen stickers
Filled Easter eggs
Cupcakes for Halloween party
2 bags of M&M's
Hot fudge sauce

I think I'm missing a few things, but you get the picture and are probably right there with me calculating the items you have contributed. Aren't you? I think the real reason I'm complaining is because we took mini#1 to the orthodontist yesterday and found out that this phase 1 (no braces yet) is going to cost $3200. Yikes! An expander, a bionator, etc. etc. Can I say DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD SUCK HIS THUMB?

So, if you know of anyone hiring a slightly frazzled, crazy baby mama, let me know. I've got next year's school contributions to finance!

Wordless Wednesday

MISC.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Mother's Day!

Here are a couple of funnies from mini#2.

"Mom, I'm getting ready for my funeral next week." I was shocked until I realized he meant "ceremony" not "funeral." His moving up ceremony at school is next week.

"A boy can only eat so much dad!" after Mr. Pink told him to finish up his dinner last night. Had us rolling in laughter.

And something we have noticed about mini#2. He doesn't answer questions these days with a yes or no answer. Let me give some examples.

Mini#2, did you have a good day at school? Him: I did.
Mini#2, can you count to 20? Him: I can.
Mini#2, will you be singing songs at your ceremony? Him: I will.

It is so funny. He just started doing this!

Are you watching The Real Housewives of NJ? It's so boring this season! I feel sorry for Danielle's children don't you? Her oldest daughter is really a beauty. Did you catch that the photographer in her fashion shoot was Gilles Bensimon? Did anyone remember that this is Kelly's (of Real housewives of NY) ex husband??? He really is a famous photographer... This was the most interesting part of last night's episode to me.

Ok, that's all for today. Have a good one.

Five on Friday- Celebrity Sightings

Do you have any? Let's see if I have 5...

1- I was on a bus when I saw Today Show's Al Roker strolling his baby stroller in NYC a few years ago.

2- Spike Lee walked past me near NYU a few years ago in NYC.

3- Dusty Rhodes(?) 80's wrestler. While I was in high school I wrapped his Christmas presents while working in a department store's gift wrap dept.

4- Tammy Faye Bakker- regular sightings around Charlotte, NC in 80's at TJ Maxx and Southpark Mall.

5- Snoop Dogg- I was pulling into an ATL Best Buy parking lot, 8 months pregnant, in '05 when he drove past me in a white Cadillac Escalade. He caught my eye and saw my mouth open in recognition as I passed him.

So they aren't the A list of stars, but I got 5. Tell me who you've seen.

You don't say?

I'm ironing in another room and hear the crumpling of plastic so I ask mini#2, "What are you doing?" He answers: "It appears to be my snack time." I walk in the kitchen and he's sitting on the counter with the Chewy Chips Ahoy box in his lap eating a cookie. WTH? It appears it's Self-Service-bypass-asking-your-parent's-permission-Day and I didn't get the memo! I'm beginning to think 5 is the new 2!

New Show

Are you watching this new Bravo show, Nine By Design? I love it. This hip, artsy design team and couple have seven children and still manage to run a successful business in NYC. They convert odd spaces into luxury multi-level homes. Two of which they converted, lived in and then sold while working on their next project. I feel like they are gypsies of sorts having to move into a 2- bedroom apartment for 3 months right before baby#7 arrived and before the latest home was finished! The kids names are the best: Wolfgang, Bellamy, Breaker, Major... so unique. And I love the fact that they know the owners of most of the antique and vintage stores and find the coolest items. I wish I had the ability or vision when I walked into places like that and saw a dusty old knick knacks. It's usually too overwhelming for me! Anyway, as if I needed another reality show, I thought you may need another one, too. Tuesdays at 10:00 Eastern on Bravo. Check it out.

Weekend update.

Wow. This weekend is proving to be too much togetherness for me and the minis. Mr. Pink is on his golf trip and the minis (one stuffy and wheezing) and I are just about tired of one another. Not quite, but close. My friend came in town (lives an hour and a half away) Friday so we all went to eat Mexican food. Then home, minis to bed and we sat and chatted mommy-style while partaking of some refreshing liquids. Before we knew it, it was 1:00 a.m. and I had to be up at 6:45 to get mini#1 off to his snow make up day and then mini#2 off to baseball.

Somehow it all happened, though I failed to read an email that came in at 7:30 Friday night telling me baseball pictures were cancelled at 8:00 am Saturday, but the game was still at 9:00. So running around confused a bit we finally got to the field at 9:00 where I began my job as personal assistant to pint-sized mini#2. You know, look for his glove, where's his bat (found on the other team's fence), which hat is his, etc. etc. We even have a bag for all of this equipment. I finally sat still and let him figure it out and spoke to him later about having to keep up with his own things. No other mom's were doing this!

Back home after a lunch mini#2 didn't eat, they played outside and then we watched the Kentucky Derby. We took our annual photos of them riding this toy horse we have and mini#2 set us up for dinner at our pub table in our bonus room with horse place settings complete with bendable plastic men (where did those come from)posing as jockeys. Clever. Our results? Mini#2 picked the #2 finisher (IceBox), I picked #3 finisher (Paddy O'Prado) and mini#1 picked the #6 finisher- the highly favored Lookin at Lucky. Not bad! Then we watched Avatar. Language, not so good. Movie, really awesome. Then off to bed after one final breathing treatment for mini#2.

No church today. Mini#2 is still wheezing some. But that's not stopping him. They're building a fort under the dining room table. Think we'll go for a bike ride soon. Maybe the park. We need to get out on this pretty day.