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Hubby is going to be using my car for a few days.  Or 'skip on wheels' as he calls it.  Apparently, never again am I going to be 'allowed' a brand new car..as it can just make a grown man cry....yada yada yada.

He jokes to people that there is danger in driving my car - not the other people on the roads....but the fact that any type of braking and you are likely to be hit on the head with a stray CD/ old granola bar/ water bottle/ shoe...you get the idea.  He may have 'a little point.'  But to be honest, I spend SO LONG in the car with the kids etc, that it just gets messy.  I let them eat in the car...and after listening to them argue and hit each other on the way home a bit of a tiring drive, when I get us in the garage I need to just get inside and hide checking the car for 'tidiness' is not my main concern.

I mentioned, in passing, that I would vacuum my car out for Hubby.  He implied that such an action would be a waste...it wasn't actually the crumbs that were the problem, but instead.....

The 3 or 4 handbags/purses I have kicking around incase I need to pass them out to friends on the way to school.

In my defence I can say that color co-ordinating bags to outfits is something I do occasionally.  And then I realise that needed cheque book/tampon/lipstick is in pink bag etc...so easier to keep a few at hand I say.

The 12 pencils that are underfoot for no reason.

Quite often,in waiting around at martial arts or whatever, the older children start their homework in the car.  My having pencils there gets rid of the 'I've forgotten my pencil excuse.'

The numerous CD cases (usually minus CDs) that I feel compelled to buy, just to keep the US CD market afloat.

I buy CDs.  Shoot me.  I currently have 11 year old daughter loading up my iPod (which it took me an hour to find) - that is how little 'interest' I have in iPod even though I use it occasionally.  My iPod is apparently so old that the last Apple  tosspot  Genius I showed it to scowled at it like it was a RELIC from the cold war!!! CDs are far easier for me in the car...even though he got me a built in iPod playing button gadget thingy. (Told you I was a high tech gal). 

Endless creations made by kids at school.

Talking therapy and self worth here.  I can't keep them all - but I like to keep some in the car for a bit - so the kids can see I am enjoying them, before they 'disappear.'

Box of tissues.

Endless colds and runny noses.  Morning allergies mean someone is sneezing/snotty on the drive to school.  Tissues are dispensed and handed back (the kids are in 2 rows behind me) - they are as necessary as the steering wheel IMO.  Hubby's threat of throwing all my crap in the boot/trunk could have a snot filled consequence on the back of his jacket (would prove a point).

Box of wet wipes.

Pretty much the same reasons as above.  Except it can also be crumbs/chocolate wiped from faces (theirs).  Also good for cleaning the car windows at times too.  Or cleaning a handbag that has been on the floor and been stood on....

Tylenol bottles.

The kids make NOISE.  I get a lot of headaches.  It also dulls pain before bikini waxes etc.

Headphones.

We have DVD players in the car and cordless headphones.  It's an indulgence for the kids I know - but can be useful when they squabble.  I actually think it is more of a sanity saver for the parents/driver. But that is just MY opinion.  Some people prefer to listen to the soundtrack of Toy Story etc until they are word perfect (will they add it to their CV?) ....

ANYHOW  Hubby has his own way of doing things.  But strange how he wants to keep the kids in MY car rather than his obsessively clean Audi.....when of course, it is only the parent's fault that the cars get such a mess in the first place . . . .  

Going to go and hoover now like a woman POSSESSED!!!!!

Hubby asked me if I wanted to meet him for lunch today. I didn't have time I told him.  He seemed quite miffed.  We haven't been spending a lot of time together recently.  He asked me what I was up to instead (kids being at school today).... I told him I wanted to go and see the Michael Jackson movie before it left theaters.  How a friend had seen it and said it was definitely worth seeing on the big screen.  Half joking I asked if he wanted to come too.  And he said he'd call me - really thought he was winding me up.

But he called and we arranged to meet up.  Spoke again on the way (separate cars) and he wanted to stop and get coffee - where as I wanted to just go straight there. We stopped at Starbucks and chatted a bit - then I rushed off to get the tickets.  We are so so different.  He  hates previews/adverts/trailers.  I love them - it's part of going to the movies.  Anyhow, we saw a few trailers (being late).  He checked his Blackberry - I scowled.

Hubby and I rarely go to the movies together as we like such different things.  But I knew that watching this Michael Jackson film could just have a monologue of sarcasm coming from Hubby -- I told him I'd change seats if he started.  The movie theater had so much room anyhow.  But then a large lady came to sit RIGHT in front of us.  She had a huge tub of popcorn and a large soda too and I knew this would bug Hubby (the rattling etc) which in turn would make me want to poke his eyes out.  So I waved my hands - in the dark - towards Hubby in a sort of 'Oh no!' type gesture and the WOMAN SAW!!!!  Did I say she was African American?  And I am white?  And she moved seats - rows - sections and I felt so bloody racist even though I hadn't meant that at all - I was just freaking because of knowing Hubby's intolerence and noise issues at the movies.

ANYWAY.

It was a surprise of a movie.  I wouldn't class myself as a Michael Jackson fan.  I will always remember where I was when I heard he'd died (read it on my Blackberry near the sink in the house we were staying in - In Italy). But this was all the footage from the concert rehearsals - not meant to be seen but for MJ's private videos.  Sure, it has choreography moves and interviews with musicians and dancers - but it mainly shows the rehearsing.

It is amazing.  It is such an insight.  He was very VERY involved.  It wasn't at all what I had expected when all the reports made out he was using such powerful sleeping drugs each night through IV.... He is really together,  He has all the moves even though he was not dancing and singing at 100% (this was his practise time and you can hear him saying that he has to preserve his voice for the real thing').  But he knows what he wants from the dancers, the musicians - he is VERY involved and it looked like it would have been ONE HELL of a production.

But it was also quite sad to see all the practise - all the hopes - knowing he was maybe just doing this to bail out of his financial woes. But he cared deeply. He was at ease on that stage - he knew his songs, the musical arrangements INSIDE OUT - the way they had been written.  He seemed such a perfectionist - must have been hard to work with him.  You saw how ill at ease he was in the down time between the song practises etc.  But it was a fascinating, albeit tragic glimpse into his work.

If you remember any of Jackson's songs from growing up, you'd get a kick from this movie.  I'd never have paid to go to a concert but I am so glad I saw this on the big screen (apparently they are going to extend its run?).  It is almost haunting.  There is no adlib added after his death.  There is no commentary referring to all the accusations over the years.  There are no shots of his kids - it is all music and rehearsal based.  It's not just a hyped up view.

But even Hubby (the cynic) was amazed at how truly talented Michael Jackson came across as - and not just through the editing.... and Hubby was quiet for the whole film....

It is kid friendly too - so we may take the middle 2 kids at the weekend.  See if they can learn the moves.....!

 

 

I think I heard this for the first time on the radio last week.  Had heard other songs by this singer although I don't really know her or what she has done in the past as she seems very UK based.

This is such a haunting melody...it came as no surprise when I found out Mr Shaggable Barlow had a hand in writing it (they climbed a mountain together I believe....Children in Need last year??).

Anyhow...LOVE this.... enjoy.

 

Alesha Dixon - To Love Again Lyrics

All this time i felt so lost, lost and needed help.
Incomplete, out of reach, All alone by myself.
It all becomes so clear, when i see your face.
And it’s only when you’re near, I feel i’m safe.

So before we take this road, before you change my mind, fill my heart with hope, help me to believe this time.
I’ve been torn apart, desperately try to find a way back to my heart, so i can love again.

Ooh, help me love again. Ooh yeah.

I’m so tired of holding on, so tired of waiting.
I need to feel something real, without it breaking.
It all becomes so clear, when you touch my hand.
And it’s only when you’re near, i know you understand.

So before we take this road, before you change my mind, fill my heart with hope, help me to believe this time.
I’ve been torn apart, desperately try to find a way back to my heart, so i can love again.

Was a little chiily.

We had lots of drama with the pumpkins.  Normally I buy 4 real ones - one for each kid...and then they loose interest in the carving of them and I end up doing most of it.

So this year I only bought 2 which meant Bee and Paddy squabbled a lot which led to time outs and going in their rooms and it was all very highly strung and Bee couldn't just accept her punishment which meant she then lost out on going to the neighbor's party (Hubby's call),

ANYWAY....

 

When we were all ready, Bee was so cross she didn't even want her photo taken with us. 

 

 

 The neighbor's provided pizza which was yummy.  They had even dressed up their little dogs as a skeleton and a devil.  So THAT is who buys the cute pet costumes at Target!

 After pizza we came home to get warmer clothes (coats) and get Hubby and Bee and then we did a few houses. I also had to change into boots as Stilettos and snow just didn't work).

 

 

One lady (a very nice lady who is really very kind to the kids) had her Christmas decorations up already. 

John Elway must be feeling the crunch as he had no candy or decorations this year.

When Paddy had his mask on and his Burger King 'robe' one lady asked him if he was 'Mrs Burger King' which of course Bee quoted all night and wound him up with.

Neighbors opposite told Bee to head back over at 8.30pm for the rest of their candy as they were going to 'shut up shop' then. Of course she obliged.  And had eaten 2 x twix by the time she came back across the road.  The evidence was in her bag!!

 

 

 

Apparently I got horrible candy.  I actually just grabbed a few mixed bags of it at Target and was pleased I had even remembered.

I got some 'extra sour' candies which were, admittedly, truly gross.  I tried one - sniffed it first and thought it couldn't be as bad as they (my kids) were saying.

I had to spit it out after 2 seconds.  And then run and get a drink.

Truly.  Horrendous.

Hubby told me that there would be disgarded extra sour candies all over our front lawn - maybe there will be when they snow melts. 

I did have a bag of good chocolates that the  kids didn't hand out...that are just sat there, shouting our names just now.

 

At least it wasn't Haribo......that would have been scoffed in seconds!!

 

 

It was home with full pumpkins/bags to get into PJs and count out the stash. Just one candy allowed before bed.

 

Chaos today after a snow day.  Not only was it free dress at school but the kids had to take in their Halloween costumes for the school class parties and school parade.

I was also due to help - this time in Paddy's classroom.  Even his teachers were dressed up - as a Doctor and banana respectively.  As always there were some amazing photos - but I can't really show you all the other kids....

 

 

There were lots of games in the classroom.  I was put on the 'you have a name put on your back - something to do with Halloween - and you have to get clues from those around you to guess it' game.  Some of the written labels must have been v American as they made little sense to me.

I was also allowed to dole out food. 

This was Rory weighing up the 'eyeball shot' (1/2 a grape in jelly) which reminded all the parents about doing boozy jello shots at school.  Again, felt I was missing out!

 

 

 

 

 

This was Paddy's costume (his choice) - the Burger King King. I drew the line at letting him carry a burger around with him though.

And his head (the mask) is too big.  But he did really well with the white tights!

 

 

 

This is Paddy's best pal.  Who came dressed as.......

Ozzy Osborne.  He did really well.  And he kept going up to everyone saying ''Ave you seen Sharon?' and then shouting 'Shaaaaaa-ron'.  Needs a bit of work on the brummy twang but it was all a great idea.

There were American footballers, rappers, clowns, 2 Cleopatras, a bear, a jockey, a few fairies, a few witches, some excellent outfits.

 

We were all on a sugar high by the time it came to the actual parade...

 

Woody had had enough.

And me - my wig was itching BIG TIME...

When I went down to the school gym, Bee was (I learnt later) mortified to see me like this. 

Apparently her friend told her that I looked a bit like Barbie, to which my darling daughter replied that Barbie was a good 6 foot tall and I was short -maybe 4ft 10.

I am 5 ft 1 1/2 for the record.....

A few laps around the hall and it was all over....until the real deal tomorrow that is!

 

So Bee is growing up.  She is in the moody, 'woe is me' tween phase.  There is much rolling of eyes and slamming of doors.  It's a bloody nightmare some days.

In some ways (size of clothes/shoes) she is growing up fast and then in other issues, she is a hormonal almost 12 year old child.  It's an awkward time for her and a learning process for us.  Of course I go overboard and try and give her a lot of what I never had.  It's all quite alien to Hubby as he never had a sister and this is, of course, 'his little girl.' But she is also, in many ways, a carbon copy of him and when there are disagreements they are both as bad as each other.

 

Yesterday I finally agreed to straighten her hair for her seeing as we were home all day.  I did it all wrong apparently but she was very pleased with the finished look.  And she did look more grown up with it....

But she was just so proud.  She sat at the table looking at her reflection in the glass of the patio door and it was like watching a L'oreal commercial (but without the voice saying 'because I'm/you're worth it').  She was just so thrilled with the results of something so very minor - even though people are forever telling her how wonderful her curly hair is.

This was the outfit she put together for school this morning as they had free dress.  I thought she looked pretty good (and she didn't go out in bare feet).  She was ready by 6.50am and raring to go - because she felt good about the way she looked.

I remember the odd time feeling like this as a tween.  I recall specifically getting a semi-fashionable pair of shoes and thinking that THIS made me a far trendier person all told.  That my boring school shoes and my rigid must follow the rules uniform, were all forgotten because of these new, picked by me, shoes.  Probably made very little difference truth be told -  but to me - it was everything.

Bee is lucky in having decent clothes to wear.  Sometimes too lucky.  Because I don't want her to be the practical but unfashionable kid in the same way I was.  So for her, maybe it was something as simple as straightening hair that did it.  But I must not forget that this 'it's so not a big deal' attitude of mine means the world to you when you are in this awkward growing up phase.

(But she still isn't getting an iPhone or an iPod touch much to her disgust!). 

Home all day long.  Our roads were eventually ploughed at about 6pm tonight. School was closed - there was no real

need to drive.  Only got dressed *late* morning.

The kids played out a fair bit.  Got soaked to the skin each time but enjoyed it.  Their main game was to take as many chocolate snacks out to the cabin and scoff them watching the snow.

 

Whilst it is still crisp and white outside, I think the beauty of it could wear off a bit if I had too many house bound snow days . . . .

 

I think we got about 17 inches in the end....

Tuesday night there was talk of a 'winter storm' moving into Colorado. I heard various people talking about different expected snowfall levels.  One friend was worried she wouldn't be able to make her Wednesday night 'advanced ticketed' screening of the Michael Jackson movie..... Another was hoping she could still make her spin class at the gym despite any snow.

We OFTEN get these warnings.  I watch the weather a little - am always amazed how *sometimes* the forecasters can worry us to death and then nothing happens - or rather the stream of whatever goes elsewhere and NOTHING happens.

I went to bed after midnight and there was light snow - sort of settling.

When I woke up at 5ish I looked out to see more snow.  I got up at 6ish and saw that there was maybe 4 inches of snow.  Thought I had better check about snow days before getting the kids up.

Different schools do this in different far better  ways.  Our school is a bit stupid  quirky in its approach.

You can tune in to local radio (NEVER!) or watch the 'local news' on tv.  Something as simple as phoning the school and listening to a recorded message? OF COURSE NOT!

So I stand in the kitchen eating melon and flick between 3 local news channels.  All whittering about snow/roads etc.  There is a 'ticker' that runs along the bottom of the screen listing the schools closed in alphabetical order.  My kids' school begins with G.  It's a bloody long wait to get to G sometimes.  Especially when they go to adverts at E or F which happened several times - hence flicking of channels.

I was also checking the local news websites....refreshing them every few minutes.  It is a time consuming thing this snow lark!

Almost ALL the Catholic schools were closed.  The one across the road from us - closed.  Several other school's on the way to ours - closed.  So I REALLY thought ours would be shut....it was just a matter of time before it came up.  I texted my friend who is A TEACHER at our school...she too was waiting to see what happened.

OFFICAL line is 'we follow what the city's public schools decide', which is great - except for this week when they ALL have vacation.  Our school also says it will make sure local tv/radio stations are notified BEFORE 6am which I know is BS from the occasions I have watched, seen nothing, got kids dressed only to see it posted finally at 6.45am.

So... mad rush when I realise that our school is going to be THE ONLY SCHOOL still open.  Worse rush as we scramble for snow boots... first time we've needed them all year (some still up at the mountain house). "What do you mean they don't fit?  Take your socks off.  No, not forever, just until you get to school and swap into your shoes!" (they were fur lined Uggs- he only had to walk into the attached garage to get into the car - it's not child cruelty - honest). 

So we set off,  Rory in a pair of boots too big... ("are these new?" he asked brightly  - they are 2nd time hand me downs) and Paddy in his boots too small. And Bee in boots of mine she's claimed seeing as our feet are now the same size.

We skidded a bit in the car.  Don't have snow tires on as of yet.  This always makes the kids shut up in the car.  I don't panic, but I concentrate more.  The roads were still busy.  It was a case of drive slowly and leave space.  The lines on the road were hard to see.....

 

 

I got the kids to school.  There was much huffing and puffing.  From kids and parents.  The road outside school (unlike these photos) had not been ploughed.  Some cars were stuck.

The Principle was waving people into school. The staff were giving her looks to kill.  The parents were quite surprised that the school was open.

The whole taking off of boots and finding 2 matching inside shoes proved too much for some in Kindergarten. 

The trees looked beautiful - but the paths - even the shoveled ones, were slippy. 

Rory and I drove home via the store and picked up some food.  It is remarkably hard to steer a shopping cart through snow.  When it's still snowing.  Who knew?

 

We made it home in one piece.  And then we stayed warm.

Idea is that if school opens, it STAYS open but you are welcome to go and collect the children earlier if you feel it is necessary.  I considered it but then spoke to Hubby on roads and he said they were being ploughed out.

So we had normal school pick up at 3.00 and 3.11 respectively and then we dropped off some groceries for a friend on the way home. 

The boys wanted to play in the snow (it had remained below freezing all day) - as they had not been allowed out during school.  Mac was the most eager to get out.  But I managed to get some shots of them all for a while. (The deal was then Bee could make hot chocolate AND take a long bath).

 

 

You would think that getting 4 people, even kids, to looking in the same direction, would be, y'know, not rocket science.....

 

but...

 

with this lot, it seems

 

it IS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEN they start getting silly...and of course snowballs are made, people fall down and within seconds the only innocent one is.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So promises, promises... HOT CHOC.

 

 

 

AND just now I was on the local news page, looking at the weather forecast. More snow due.  All night.  We should get a foot in the end.

And SCHOOL has ALREADY BEEN DECLARED CLOSED FOR THURSDAY!!!!

 

 

Yay.  So a pyjama day will be the State of Play chez Mumof4.

And we can just stay in - and look at the gorgeous views,

and tell Mac not to stay out TOO long......

 

..was just great.  It is a good....6 years since I have seen my friend - this maybe explained why I almost hugged complete strangers (they looked like her from the back) once I arrived at the airport.  But it was great to meet up again and we clicked straight away.  We joked that staying in our swanky hotel

was different,but lying on our beds and chattering away was really just like the olden days in halls of residence.  Except now we were discussing husbands and children, not boyfriends and tutorials.  And we were also experiencing better food..... no more so hard they could bounce off walls eggs or the soft rolls we used to smuggle back to our rooms.  No baby!  It was the most delicious French Vietnamese cuisine.  It was amazing American dining...and puddings.  Lots of puddings...... Our excuse being that we walked all over the city.  For miles.  Often in heels (burns more calories?) and holding an umbrella (a workout in itself for the windy city).

 

We shopped and shopped and shopped.  Then some more.  We went to see a show.  It was amazing.  It was just SO GOOD. (Jersey Boys).  We even got over the $75 mark up on our tickets - that is how good it was!!

We also went to The Chicago Art Institute (a maze).  We again, walked and saw, but didn't shop.  We avoided the rain in doing so and worked up an amazing appetite that morning....

 

 I have never spent time in Chicago before.  The architecture (which I had heard about before) was really quite impressive.  The theater where we saw The Jersey Boys was from 1908 - which for America, is really old and full of history.  It is a beautiful city and I hope we can visit again.

Apart from a couple of taxi rides, we walked all over.  Getting directions from the Concierge, or a stranger with an iPhone on the street.  We hardly got lost at all.  We went to the movies, we visited some of the historic landmarks (who knew the Sears Tower was now the Willis Tower after a British Insurance Firm ???????). We took photos for passers by and had lots of cheesy snaps ourselves. 

We had a blast.

We talked kids, we spoke to kids - we worried about whether they would remember things for sleep overs or school projects.... But we did a very good job at relaxing.  We slept 11 hours straight the first night.  I started talking gibberish when we were discussing home...'I said 20 rows....' and then I just dropped off.

 

 

 

We had a hot stone massage and a mani/pedicure a piece.  And my friend's toes had to dry before she could wear her shoes again.... luckily there was, yet again, pudding....

 

We went to the movies....we went to a famous Chicago burger place where the waiting staff have to be rude and cheeky to the customers.... took some getting used to! We had window seats in our hotel room where we sat and nattered and watched the rain.....

.

despite being avid readers though, we didn't open a book all weekend!

We even started our Christmas Shopping for goodness sake!

 

This morning, we ummed and ahhed about getting to the airport.  My flight was a few hours after my friends but we decided to stick together and in true ER fashion, we hoped on the L for our $2.25 ride to Midway.....

 

 

And also, in true tourist fashion we laughed at some of the adverts on the train.  And even took snaps. Can you guess which 'offence' we were guilty of ourselves???

 

It was sad to hug and say goodbye but it certainly won't be 6 years before we see each other again.  No husbands or children were harmed in the making of this girls' weekend so we're already talking about a destination for 2010!