Even though we walked out of their concert a few years ago as we were so unimpressed, I LOVE THIS......
"You know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight...."
My sentiments on a regular basis!
Bee has really gorgeous hair. It is more from Hubby's side than mine. She has these natural waves/curls thay people would pay a fortune for. We have tried quite a few products to 'help' the curls but it is a fine line between tamed and frizzy hair and then dreadlocks which can come when she doesn't brush it for a while.
Anyhow, on Friday she asked me to trim it a little, which is actually quite easy to do - doesn't need to be 100% straight as the curls take care of any 'mistakes.' So she washed it and I grabbed the scisoors. I followed what she wanted and snipped away. Then she went to look in the mirror....
"Mom! How COULD you? " she wailed. "My beautiful hair - I look like a boy! I can't go to school like this. Stick it back on!" + lots of tears. HONESTLY.
We put in the mousse, we scrunched it up a tad and within 5 minutes she loved it.
Then, for whatever reason that night, she decided to climb one of the bigger trees at the back.
And she got stuck up there. I laughed. She cried. I was the worst mother ever. She wanted me to phone the fire brigade! She was maybe 9 foot off the ground. I laughed some more. I told her that if she got up there herself, she could get down alone too. She screamed some more and then Mac tried to come to her rescue.
Eventually Hubby came to her rescue. After much whining (her) and telling off (him).
Saturday I took her with me to a 'trunk show' - looking at a new line of clothing. It was at the house where one of her good friends lives, but Bee was bored within about 10 minutes. Seeing them together Bee suddenly seemed very grown up and admittedly, the other girl and her water gun had very little appeal to this 38 year old just like my 11 year old. We came soon after via Subway and some adult sandwiches.
I also asked her to recommend a book to me - out of all the books I got for her, that was the best at explaining puberty/periods etc. I told her our friend wants to buy similar to have the talk with her daughter - a girl I know quite well but Bee doesn't. Just made it as an off the cuff comment but Bee then needed details about the TYPE of child this girl was, her interests, her maturity level etc. You would have thought she was making notes for a dissertation!
Yesterday I lost the plot and really REALLY sorted out my closet throwing out anything I hadn't worn in the past few years (barr my wedding dress!). I gave some of my things to Bee. Our feet are more or less the same size, and I thought she could maybe grow into some of my other things but Holy Cow, they FIT HER!
This amazes me as she is 11....and she didn't turn her nose up at my clothes (?!) and also they fit. The trousers are maybe an inch to long but otherwise....they FIT! My skinnier size 10 (UK) clothes are being put to good use and I am just blown away. It was bizarre seeing her in a pair of my white trousers this morning that I remember wearing on a night out after Rory was born. It is just plain bizarre.
And drama queen is feeling smug as I have also handed over a few handbags that she had wanted for ages - and apparently she knew I would always give them to her!
She has been sorting her room out and I must admit, she has done a good job. Decluttering etc to say she is a packrat. But she is now protesting that we make her work too hard. She needs to just 'chill'; like 'normal 11 years olds do with AMERICAN parents.'
I have just yelled 'homework!' and felt about 55.
Told you nothing much was going on SCM!!
Tonight I was talking to a friend who has recently gotten engaged. I know him better than I know her. He is on cloud nine. Even the way he said the word 'fiancee'....you can just see he is so so happy. I wondered when he knew in his mind that his girlfriend was 'the one' and was going to become his 'fiancee'. He looks so so very excited for all that they have ahead of them.
Another friend is just a few weeks away from her wedding. The words 'stress cadet' come to mind. She is e-mailing her bridesmaids telling then she wants them to wear their hair up. One of them is none too impressed. Whilst she accepted the bride picked the dress etc she feels that the hairstyle requirement is pushing it a little too far. Mmmm. Wait and see.
One of my kid's friend's parents have just found out they are having a surprise addition in the new year. A big surprise. Which is kind of exciting. Where your oldest and your youngest will be 17 years apart..... I am really really happy for them and if ever anything happens for a reason, then this couple will definitely make the most of it for sure. (I get very excited with anyone having babies now seeing as it's not going to happen again :( )
Another friend has another 16 days of uncertainty as they are moving and need their buyers not to re-neg on their offer otherwise they loose their dream house. They are worried that it is all going to fall through. I really feel for them as I have been there (although I think chains are less common out here than in UK). Keep your fingers crossed.
A couple who are vague friends of ours (more hubby) are just setting off on a round the world trip - a 'semester at sea' which will see them on a boat (fancy looking www.semesteratsea.org) until December 14th. They are going to take in some amazing sights. They are also going to bond closely.....with their 2 young boys (aged 5 and 6 I think) in tow. At home the mom has a full time career and there is a very full time nanny on board. They were vague about whether the nanny was going away to sea with them. Mmmm. Will be a lifetime's experience one way or another!
Hubby went out to see some other friends of ours today. They moved house just last week. They have pretty much unpacked and showed him around their new place. They said they had noticed a strange smell after the first few nights and had been trying to hunt it down. In the end they zoomed in on one area....turned out there is a hole somewhere in the ceiling between the paneling in the walls and a lot of dead mice have ended up in this empty space...to rot over the years....they are going to get someone in to remove the 50+ dead mice...... Yuk.
Another friend is in a terrible situation and one I fear could come to us sooner rather than later. She lives here with her husband and two kids but she is originally from South America. Her whole family are back there and her mother is very very ill and not expected to live much longer. The whole family visited in summer but now just my friend is back over there...trying to be a daughter and with her family as her mother's life comes to a tragic end...but also wanting to be back here for her kids. They are back at school now and at least in a routine and luckily her in laws have flown in and are able to help with chauffeuring/childcare duties. My friend is skyping them each night too - but it is not the same. She needs them and they need her.....but she is torn. And there is no definite timeline (she was told maybe 3 weeks but now it seems longer - that seems an absurd thing to even write....). I so feel for her. The kids are doing well, but still......
Another friend has an illness. He has a stressful job. There are folk who want to see him fail. He is hiding his illness from those at work to give them no excuse at all that he can't perform with this added issue. And the stress will in effect make his illness worse just in this regard......
People, people...............
1. Oh God, what must she have thought as I said 'Wow you know how to sex bats?' to Mac's new teacher? Seeing as he told me that she had a bat in her house in the mountains and it was definately a girl bat. I said 'sex bats' as she said 'sorry?' about 3 times. Even with my 'accent' she must think I am a complete nutter.
2. Yes I bet you had a magnet board to mark off your school hours because you come across as a completely anal uptight bitch organised person.
3. If I buy him M&Ms I may eat them. If I buy him Reese's peanut butter cups you couldn't pay me to scoff them.
4. I hope this green tea with citrus grows on me. It DID taste nice in Costco yesterday. Hence buying this case of 36 bottles.
5. How difficult can this citizenship test be? I mean, come on. But it really totally scares me.
6. I don't need any more Christmas wrapping paper. But it IS a school fundraiser. And it will all be used eventually.
7. I think I still have some unused Christmas wrapping paper from last years fundraiser.
8. Tonight I am going to look smart and wear heels. But there will be an awful lot of people laughing at me I I fall arse over tit.
9. Can I be bothered to call England? 12.30 + 7 = 7.30. Maybe Coronation Street or Eastenders. Phew. Off the hook.
10. I now have to find a home for 48 bags of Quavers which is not accessible to the kids.
11. Do I look like a tart with red nails?
12. Do not drive via Taco Bell. Drive the long way. Don't ask Rory if he wants tacos. He is not thinking calories. Don't turn left.
13. Could I fit all my kids in that Audi? It is very cute. And I quite fancy going car shopping...........
Yes, yes, I know. No excuse. Kids are back at school (well 3 of them today) so why oh why do I still feel like am going bloody insane?
We were just about as organised as it gets.
Bee went to bed at a semi-reasonable time even, and had her iPod set for 6am.
She was up and dressed before I was out of bed. They all were quite excited. It is the first time they have ALL started school on the same day, in fact Rory's pre-school was regular hours (until 2.30) where as the others were all out at 11.30.
Bee is now in middle school. It is the same building and school starts at the same time, but they end 15 minutes later and she is now wearing green instead of red. They are the difference I notice..... but her form room or home room, where they register is now years 6, 7 and 8 and I think she finds this a little intimidating actually. Plus she gets 2 lockers and combination locks which we spent all bloody night doing last night. It is hit and miss as to whether she gets the locks open. Mmmm. A good homework excuse if ever there was one! She also has to move around from class to class instead of staying put. So it is a big difference for her. No homework as of yet.
Rory was non too pleased that he wouldn't have the same teacher for pre-school as last year as he LOVED her. But he was excited to go yesterday.
Mainly because he had new shoes (Clark's sale) and a new Scooby Doo lunch box.
He looks like a turtle with his backpack on. He could have gone to the pre-school at the school where the others go but he is not ready for full days x 5 and if he did half days it would be more driving (3 hours instead of 2) which, I've just realised makes me sound very selfish. But his best friend is in this 3 days a week pre-school so that is also a factor.
(tried to absolve selfishness there).
And Mr Social now age 9's biggest concern? That his bangs/fringe wasn't going the right way. Yes, that was his main thing. He is itching to get back into school. Picked his desk next to his friend who just happens to be a girl. For the first time ever he has a male teacher who insists on healthy snacks (today I put in Cheerios and dried cranberries and a bottle of water and Paddy took it all out and just took a satsuma!). Oh and they have a class tarantula called Harriet. OMG.
And Mac.....started Kindergarten. Which means a uniform, and a desk and he was sooooooooo excited. As we took him in he heard the teachers joking and saying they weren't ready and he took them seriously and got worried.
By pick up time, all of 3 and a bit hours, he had told his new teacher, that he didn't reckon much of Kindergarten, and there was no homework, and there wasn't a long enough break time and he didn't think it was fun.
So he continues to be shy and retiring then.
This was before all the yelling to get into the car. Mac didn't want his photo taken en masse.....usual usual.
Once they were all at school I didn't celebrate, just ran a few errands, in peace. No kids attached, which was, in fact, a treat in itself.
It'll be Christmas before you know it.
(4 months).
They are in the papers again, for pulling out of a festival due to 'illness' - apparently.
Love this song. Never seen the video before and it is a confusing one.....
Any ideas WHAT it is about?
Enjoy.
FALLING DOWN
The summer sun that blows my mind
Is falling down on all that I've ever known
In time we'll kiss the world goodbye
Falling down on all that I've ever known
Is all that I've ever known
A dying scream makes no sound
Calling out to all that have ever known
Here am I, lost and found
Calling out to all
We live a dying dream
If you know what I mean
All that I've ever known
It's all that I've ever known
Catch the wheel that breaks the butterfly
I cried the rain that fills the ocean wide
I tried to talk with God to no avail
I called him up in and out of nowhere
Said if you won't save me, please don't waste my time
All that I've ever known
It's all that I've ever known
Catch the wheel that breaks the butterfly
I cried the rain that fills the ocean wide
I tried to talk with God to no avail
I called him up in and out of nowhere
Said if you won't save me, please don't waste my time
The summer sun that blows my mind
It's falling down on all that I've ever known
In time we'll kiss the world goodbye
Falling down on all that I've ever known
Is all that I've ever known
Today my eldest son turned nine. And this year he DID get a party after all! And two cakes.....
And then his friend came over and we went to the movies to see 'Shorts' with ALL his friends. 12 kids in all. And me. But it was our first 'movies party' and went quite well. There was cake, and the kids each got to pick their kid's meal to take in, seats were reserved in the theater for us and we got a tour of the screening room which was actually REALLY INTERESTING. I thought so, the kids thought so.
And Paddy got to stay up and press the buttons to start our movie. We saw him up there, in the little window, when we were all watching the trailers!
Kids munched popcorn throughout and then 1/2 way through the movie the attendant (?) came back to see who needed refills etc. Tried to tip them but apparently it was against company policy....
After the movie there was frantic rush to restrooms (8 and 9 year olds, refills and double popcorn) and then they were all picked up. It was a big hit.
After this it was home for more present opening, cake eating, and eventual SLEEP.
I was thinking back to August 2000. We were in Connecticut, I was 11 days overdue.
He was born after 1am. I left the hospital about 2pm and was home, looking after 2 kids alone by 4pm.
I remember answering the phone and talking to a builder about a quote for a fence...and mentioning a baby, and me telling him I had just had one 'last night' and his shock at my being home let alone answering the phone about building quotes. Looking back on it, it probably does seem a bit strange!!!
This is a photo of Bee holding her new brother in the hospital when he was about 10 hours old.
And this would be Bee next to Paddy this morning (and the other brothers)..and really not being too impressed at having to be there at all!!!
I saw this and decided it looked good....(if it had been a more embarrassing photo, maybe I would have re-thought this....Anyway, thanks go to DerbyDave
Go to your photos.
Go to the third folder.
Post the third photo
NO CHEATING....
This was a self portrait Bee took. December 2008. 1st stage of braces were off, and it was before round two. After tonsils were removed but before her psoriasis had cleared up 100%. (left eyebrow).
Oh and way before the 'sparkling times' of much mood swing, hormones, slamming doors and knowing EVERYTHING.
I am reading this
........
which is not at all deep, but still sort of thought provoking in a weird way and just what I need right now.
And I have been watching this
http://www.musicvideolife.com/just-jack-the-day-i-died-official-video_7b14da168.html
(take a look if you have 5 minutes - it is beautiful)
which I have watched a lot....and not 'just' because I love James Nesbitt...it makes you think.
Been a strange few days. This week I spoke to one of my best and oldest friends who lives in this country albeit far from me. We met many years ago when we were both young, free and single (and in a different country). We have seen each other break up, cry, get married (literally), have babies (not literally) ...and now after 13+ years her marriage is in trouble.
I know her well. I know him well. And I am just floored by what is going on with them. There is no one else involved. But it is just....a mess. And yet I understand ALL their reasonings from both sides..ok, mainly her side, but still, I haven't stopped thinking about them for days. I don't know how she is putting on such a brave face to the outside world. I feel very useless being so far away. We are planning a kid free, man free trip in a few weeks.
She comes from parents still together and he does too. But we both agreed that those examples of marriages are nothing to put your money on...that it would not necessarily be our choices to 'put up with that crap'- from our (naive?) perspective.
But there is counselling and thinking and homework going on at her end. I listened as she explained and cried and I recognised so so much. And my heart aches for them both.
Why do we get married again?
.
1. I should just trust my gut instinct. Some books, I read the reviews and don't warm to them at all but then I will see how they are best sellers etc, think I am missing something obvious and then buy it anyhow and plough through it. Plough being the word....not enjoyably really (Dawn French - big disappointment).
2. Never liked reading as a kid despite going on to do A Level English. Only started reading books in my leisure time during my year as an au-pair in Germany and I think that was mainly to connect with more things English.
3. I can't read books in cars. Well I can, if I want to puke.
4. Certain books, not always the greatest ones, I can remember where I was reading a certain book. I remember what I was reading during endless nights 'ferberizing' Bee. When we were living in a temporary warehouse flat in a remote Connecticut town, when I was in labor with Mac etc etc.
5. I am currently in 2 book clubs but a little jaded with both. One meets once every 2 months in someone's house with a meal thrown in - it is quite an 'event'. I don't love the other women (well except my BF) and some of their suggestions of what to read are a little bizarre. I always read them though but they have a habit of changing the dates of the meetings at the last minute which is v v annoying.
The other club is for mums. They meet once a month in a coffee shop which is a better location. But more often than not 80% have not read the book, just want to escape kids and husbands, or even worse someone has 'nearly finished it' which is almost worse as then you can't properly discuss it at all.
6. I used to date my books when I had read them. Now I rarely keep any at all so I don't.
7. My pet peeve is to lend a book out and never get it back.
8. 2 of my fave websites are www.apaerbackswap.com
and
www.bookdepository.com which is fascinating as it not only give free shipping out here (from UK) but also has a map showing where people are buying books from and what they have bought.
9. I am not the biggest fan of libraries. No - I should re-phrase that, I think they are great but my kids lose the books around the house too much and it causes fines/stress/tipping the house upside down in search of Batman book etc. Although we have started a new 'all library books live here' box. We'll see.
10. Teaching my kids to read 3rd time round has been a lot easier.
11. The kick I get from going in a book shop (especially ones in UK) is on par with going in a shoe shop.....
12. I have a Kindle but don't love it the same.
13. I brought over 22 books back from England/Ireland in July. And I mailed another 5 back for fear of Hubby exploding. The 22 in our luggage were carefully hidden and unpacked when he wasn't looking too!
