Random Things

Busy weekend. Random news:

1-Birthday party was a success. It was like Christmas around here since they had their parties together.

2- I have a short, fat child. Not really. Did have his check-up today and he was 45% for height and 75% for weight. I don't see that looking at him. Oh, well. I never get those things. So if he was in line with 100 kids, 55 would be taller than him? I also opted to go ahead with the 3 shots he needed in order to go to kindergarten. I could have waited another 9-10 months before registration, but what's the point? That's another co-pay, another hour of my precious time, and having to lie about why we were going to the doctor. Today, I wasn't sure if he had to get them or not. I felt so sorry for little guy though. He thought the lady (nurse) was coming back to "do the sticks" (take a throat culture as he is too familiar with). He quickly realized it wasn't the "sticks", but that he was being stuck by three needles! I took him to Target for more car legos (uncle gave him a giftcard) afterwards because I felt awful when that smile turned into crying crocodile tears.

3- Ready for Real Housewives of NY tonight. Per my People magazine daily email, I heard that Luann and the Count are separated. Has he ever been on the show?

4- My head senses pollen is quickly on its way. Does yours? Ugh! Bad headache.

5- My foot is now asleep so I'll stop typing. I just like having 5 items. Got to go look for a recipe now. I'm wanting to make spinach/ricotta stuffed shells tonight.

Five on Friday

Things I'm loving right now:








1- That April is next week and springtime will finally begin to feel more spring-like!

2- My Bobby Brown Hydrating Face cream. It's feels like velvet, smells so refeshing and mainly helps my winter-like skin.

3- I'm going to eat tapas, drink wine and possibly see "Two Lovers" tonight with my foreign/Indie/chick film watching friend. You know, those films that your husband will go see with you, but won't necessarily enjoy seeing!

4- That I decided to throw one birthday bash this year for the minis who have birthdays five weeks apart. It's Sunday afternoon at an inflatable facility so that's even better. We play, we eat and we go home!

5-I may be the only one watching, but I'm loving ER right now and getting sad that it ends next Thursday. I almost cried (I definitely teared up) when Doug and Carol were on it last week. They kept it very hush about George Clooney returning for an episode, but I am so glad he did...and all of the old characters for that matter. I have been a sporadic viewer over the last two years, but it is such a well acted/ directed/ written show. Every character has had their stellar moments. Now I love Grey's Anatomy, but I still say ER, hands down, is the better drama and I'll miss it.

Have a good weekend!

Weekend Highlights

Mini#1 and I had a great time in DC. We braved the colder temperatures and made great use of our time. Signs of spring were all around and we barely missed the cherry blossoms. We went to several Smithsonian Museums. He loved seeing the gems and jewels exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History. Rocks are a great interest to mini#1 these days. The Hope diamond was amazing to me and seeing earrings that belonged to Marie Antoinette. Very cool.

He also enjoyed the Air and Space Museum. Who doesn't? He literally had just mentioned wanting to see something about Amelia Earheart and we saw a glass enclosed case housing her leather flight jacket and flight goggles! Then he got excited to see the Wright Brothers exhibit. Here he is below with the famous brothers.

We walked across Key Bridge into Georgetown with my brother and had a great Italian meal at Paolo's restaurant Friday night and then did some shopping, much to mini#1's dismay! We decided to cab it back to the hotel and mini#1 was ecstatic because it was his first cab ride. And a nice one at that. It was a brand new Hybrid something or other! Saturday we headed to the National Aquarium and had a great time hanging out with this little guy below.

He was so friendly coming right up to the glass to see us. Next on to the White House which he's seen before, but never stops being a thrill to see. Then lunch at the ever so elegant Chez McDonald's. Gag! On to the National Museum of American History (Laura Bush's inauguration gown was much prettier on TV!) and back to the hotel for swimming (big deal to mini#1). We then took my brother (car is currently in storage in Europe somewhere) to Alexandria to hit Target, Old Navy and TJ Maxx to search for new pillows and stuff he needs to have shipped this week to Bosnia. After that a quick bite of Mexican food and back to the hotel for exhausted sleep.

Sunday, we walked back into Georgetown and went to Clyde's for brunch. This was probably the highlight of the trip for me. I had been there for dinner years ago and knew this was one of my dad's favorite hangouts in the 60's so it was fun being there with my son. They put us in a cozy corner table and we sat side by side on the leather cushions. Here we chatted about our trip and had a great time "sharing". He even let me hold his hand. I couldn't help but sample his huge plate of DELICIOUS french toast. Ok, and a piece of his bacon. When I make french toast I always call the powdered sugar, "love". I sprinkle it with love. Clyde's was about to ruin it for me though. Mini#1 bought a mood ring in the aquarium and his color kept saying he was "love-able". When he got the french toast he said "Look mom. I must be 'love-able'. They sprinkled it with love too." It was so precious. And that's our trip. I highly recommend spending some one of one time away from home with your children. It's a great experience. They feel special and I felt like a better parent giving dedicated, uninterrupted attention to just one child. I'll finish by posting a photo of my yummy breakfast. This quiche had spinach, portobello mushrooms, swiss cheese, tomatoes and potatoes in it! Cannot even begin to describe the yumminess factor of this.

Road Trip

By the time you read this mini#1 and I will be headed to Washington, DC for the weekend. After all that has gone on with us this year, I decided this would be a fun thing to do to reconnect with him. We can do activities more on his level without the interference (and whining!) of mini#2. We'll also see my brother who lives there for another 3 weeks anyway. He's off to Bosnia in April for a 2 yr assignment. Mini#2 and Mr. Pink have mulch to place and a baseball game to go to here at home. I'm looking forward to this trip. He and I have good conversations when we're alone plus,after being home from school 2 weeks (tracked out), we're ready for a getaway. I'll be back next week. Have a great weekend!

Travel Thursday

Today ladies we're off to Provence in beautiful south of France on the Mediterranean. It's the first Roman province outside of Italy. Land of lavender fields. Awww. Did you bring your camera? I've arranged a morning cooking class for us all to take in Marseille. We can impress our husbands upon return. We'll make bouillabaisse, the classic seafood stew and a tapenade with capers and olives grown in the region. We'll enjoy this for lunch with plenty of crusty French bread and wine. Afterwards, to walk off some of that lunch, we'll go shopping and enjoy the views of the Cote d'Azur that inspired Matisse, Van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso. At some point in their lives they all lived here. Above you'll see the restaurant I picked out for dinner. Maybe we'll try some ratatouille and even try the popular drink, pastis, made with anise. And I hear the pastry chef here is phenomenal so we'll try one of every dessert before we happily go to sleep and wake up back in our beds. Hope you've had a nice visit. I suddenly feel full!

Would you buy this?

If you don't watch "The Real Housewives of New York", skip this post. If you do, does this woman get on your nerves as much as she gets on mine? Would you honestly buy her book? Maybe if all proceeds go to pediatric cancer organizations (and they very well could for all I know). She is so egotistical and into her title. She gives off such an air of fakey/fakeness in every situation. Wow that "fight" last week with Ramona was funny. Lu Ann was so offended when Ramona thought her husband was twice Lu Ann's age. And then hoping that magazine "retouched" Bethenny's cover shots. She always twists things to her advantage in hopes of coming out smelling like a rose. And Lu Ann's kids...heaven forbid they use a wrong fork at dinner. I imagine that being the most interaction she has with her kids...to correct etiquette. I'll admit this is the first season I've watched of NY wives, but she's painting herself clearly to me. And her daughter Victoria seems insecure and scared of her mother. She barely voices an opinion and, secretly, may be happy to go to boarding school. I'm just saying. So who's your favorite NY housewife to hate these days?Alex is a close second with me. Don't get me started on that marriage... they are one STRANGE couple.

First preschool complaint

Mini#2 is now terrified of leprechauns. He came home from preschool today and is looking everywhere for leprechauns in the house and asking me if we have any? I made the mistake of saying "Not too many" thinking he would think it was funny. He didn't. I had to go with him to my bathroom to check for leprechauns! He made his brother go with him in his room to also check for little men in green suits. I am anxiously awaiting the teacher's daily email to see what the heck they did today at school. And then try to figure out how he became scared of these little Irish gentlemen. I think he's thinking they look like this picture I found! It's made for a funny day anyway. As I type I just heard him say "Shawn, Shawn the leprechaun. Come out wherever you are!" Oh my.....