tifi

Apparently, it’s from an article in Real Simple:

name: Dee age: Under 30! occupation: Depends on the day
family members: husband: Luis, kiddos: ZB, 7; Girlie, 5; and Bebe, 2 1/2.

I realized I had turned into my mother when…: I used a St. Lucian expression. “Don’t let the queeze take me eh? Bon!” which basically means don’t make me flip out on you.

the last time my children made me laugh: ZB showed me his yoga moves from gym class. That was funny. And yesterday, Girlie told DH to “go cry Emo kid“. Long story, but hilarious.

the last time I made my children laugh: Hm, probably yesterday when I chased them around the house.

when i need to get dinner on the table in a hurry: I make frozen ravioli and dump a quickly made pasta sauce on top. They love it.

i carve out time for myself by: reading in my cozy room and going out alone throughout the week.

the last book i read to my child: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

he gadget that saves me the most time: the computer. Very helpful to answer “why, mommy?” questions.

when I was a kid, I said, “When I’m a parent, I will never…”: be a pushover. I succeed sometimes.

the invention i would create to make my life easier: an affordable robot maid/cook.

favorite outdoor activity to do with my children: Going to the beach. I can sit down or build sandcastles with them, or we can all get in the water. It’s usually empty, so I don’t  have to be on uber mama guard duty. Relaxing.

how i get my children to eat vegetables when they refuse: They just do. We all love veggies!

i hope my kids inherit: my love of reading and dh’s comedic timing.

before I turn off the lights at bedtime, I say to my children: I love you, sleep tight, don’t let the muggalunchies (made up family word) bite!

the most noticeable way parenting has changed me: It made me realize what I thought I wanted for my kids before I had them is totally different from what I really want for them.

favorite tradition I share with my children: Tea time passed down from my mom and we enjoy something we call “family feasts” which is basically, eating together, hehe.

three things my children have taught me are: That I still have a lot to learn, that children really are little sponges, and that if you believe in something, it’s real.

the hardest thing about being a mom: Needing to have an amount of patience that I just don’t.

when I have 30 minutes to myself I: read books and blogs, eat junk food and chat with friends online.

the television mom I’m most like: A mix of the three main mothering characters on Desperate Housewives.

one thing I wish I had known about parenting before I became a parent: That one really needs help, and should live near grandparents if at all possible!

How come when something good happens (kiddos going back to school and love it, Girlie’s birthday, seeing a friend), bad things follow soon after (power going out, car kicks the bucket on a country road, and well, more)? I’m a pessimist by nature, but for the past year or two, I have been trying really hard to be a Pollyanna. It’s going to take a whole lot of Polly to brighten the weekend!

Cranford - I just watched Wives and Daughters and loved it. So, I really wanted to read it, but my library doesn’t have a copy. So, I settled for another title by the same author. It’s about Cranford, a small community that prides itself on gentility and being proper…in a funny little way. I like it so far!

Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture - I liked this one at first. It chronicles the Keno brothers’ growth into big time American antique furniture dealers. But now, at about a third of the way through, I find it’s dragging. I’m going to put it down for a few days.

Are We There Yet? - I actually finished this yesterday, something to do while the power was out for half the day (ugh). I dream of traveling all around the world with my family. Since I can’t make that happen right now, I read about someone else doing it. Too bad this book was awful. The author’s contempt for anything in-authentic and fellow human beings (specifically, other Americans) was disgusting. The worst part was, I think he was trying to be funny! I thought maybe it was just over my head, him being a doctor and write for NPR and all, but it appears a few others feel the same way.

A coupe of the kids’ choices:

The Dangerous Book for Boys - Got this from the library for ZB, but I think I’ll like it, too.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Short chapters that are great fun. Kiddos like it!

Anatole - From that read aloud list.

The Perfect Nest - Ditto

Happy Birthday!

Second grade!

Kindergarten!

Preschool Homeschool!

See ya later…

…alligator!

Off to party have coffee with another veteran dropper offer mom!

On a post drop-off high, I suspect.

My mom wanted a few quick shots to show my grandmother. Figured I’d share them here. I haven’t put up any of the art or prints I want to yet. The room, as all rooms, is a work in progress…and I am definitely not a designer. I admire those with the eye to put a room together!

The Eloise poster we got free at a local bookstore. I just asked if I could have it. The Disney princess (ugh) chair was a gift from my brother. The “bookcase” is actually a pretty solid wooden hutch that my mom and I got on clearance for $20 a few years ago when some furniture store was going out of sale. I’m thinking of painting it white. DH says to stop painting everything white.

So we went to “Meet the Teacher” tonight. Everyone is excited. Girlie is going to have the same teacher ZB had for Kindy. She even has for a classmate the younger sister of one of ZB’s friends/classmates. I got approval to bring cupcakes and goodie bags for her bday on Tuesday, so I’m happy about that!

One of ZB’s really good friends (also our neighbor/sports/swimming buddy) is in his class and even sits across the table from him. The teacher obviously didn’t know how well they know each other or the seating arrangement would be different, hehe. Lots of familiar faces in his class…I can’t believe he’s going to 2nd grade! Ack! ETA: I just realized that ZB is in the cluster class aka the gifted and talented class. I thought something was up when the teacher had an assignment for them to bring in next week and then I read his folder and there ya have it. It’s a surprise as we opted not to have him tested or anything. I hope this will mean the work as actually at a level that these kids can handle and not just more work for the parents.

As for me, I finally got my acceptance letter for the library science program I applied to. It’s an accredited distance learning program in library science, so I’m thrilled. If I can get my financial aid together in a hurry and classes aren’t filled, I’ll start this fall!

School starts soon and so I have been getting everything in order for the upcoming year. Girlie is now old enough for Girl Scouts and we went down to the local office to register her. Somehow, I went from volunteering to help with crafts once in a while to signing on for troop leader. Eek! Apparently, there’s no Daisy troop at her school so we’re going to start one! I went to my first troop leader meeting last night and in the upcoming weeks I go for orientation and training. I was never a Girl Scout, so this is something new and interesting for me.

One in four Americans didn’t read any books last year. Not one. :-O

Found out here.

So there’s this thrift shop that I would pass on the way to the spray park or pool since last summer. It had odd hours and was never ever open. The last day of swimming lessons this year, I drove by and saw that it was finally open and so, I turned the car around and went in. Best. discovery. ever.

It’s a Catholic thrift shop run by little old ladies and everything is cheap, cheap, cheap. You can fill a bag with books for a dollar or find vintage slips for 50 cents. I’ve bought everything from 10 cent seam binding to $5 chairs.

Crochet and lace. These will get used for something crafty, I’m sure.

I even got DH a brand new Italian wool blazer, tags still attached, for $2. I love this shop, but every time I go there, I feel like I’m stealing! The prices are better than Goodwill and the shop is just about as well organized, if a little more crowded.

Napkins, books, and a market bag, less than $5 for everything.

A glass jar, now filled with ribbons and rim, crochet thread, and books. $4

My favorite finds so far are books, of course. Most of the children’s books are 10 cents and have come from libraries or schools and I always find something for the kids (or me) to read.

I won’t leave Goodwill out: I have managed to get a few deals there, mostly on furniture and toys. Like this Barbie dreamhouse straight from the 80s with all the original furniture, for DD. I think I paid $10.

I was going to buy her one this Christmas, and let me tell ya, it would cost a lot more new.

There’s also a dresser that I had planned to refinish or repaint, and place a mirror above it, filling it with all my pretty little things. $20

But the shabbiness has grown on me, so for now, it’s staying as is.

And a lamp/night stand combo I originally bought for Girlie’s room that now hangs out next to the cozy couch.

Not to be forgotten is the flea market. Now, I’ve only gone once, but I spent $20 and came home with a gem: Girlie’s bed (headboard, footboard, and rails).

Excuse the dirty bedposts, I never painted them b/c I am trying to decide on new finials to buy instead. Girlie insists on trying to put them back in place though.