Aaaaannnnddddd I'm Back!!!!!!

Life seems to get crazy and when you don't have a working computer, blogging really is not a priority.  I tried to blog from my iPhone but as you can see, the pictures really are crazy huge and editing on the iPhone is limited.  After getting another computer and not blogging for so long, I completely forgot about it until a friend of mine mentioned catching up and reading my blog :/  So, memory of my blog has been triggered and I am officially back.  A lot has happened in a short amount of time so I guess I will give quick updates.

 

 

Cassidy is doing really well.  She just started 5th grade, I still don't feel old enough to have a child in 5th grade (my wrinkles are starting to make me feel old enough though).  Her seizures are under control and we are currently in talks with her neurologist to possibly start taking her off of her meds.  We are taking her off of one now as we speak because it is not needed since she is taking the other and if she stays seizure free, she may be growing out of them.  This sends up huge warning flags for me and I have tons of questions but I guess we will cross that bridge when we get to it.  Other than that she is just your typical 10 year old girl and by that I mean completely sassy and wanting nothing to do with her completely embarrassing mother :)

 

 

This one is beyond sassy (not much has changed really) and keeps me on my toes.  She started 1st grade and loves being back in school and playing with friends.  She now has an Ipod and you can catch her rockin out as much as possible, she is turning 6 soon and wants to donate clothes and toys to kids who don't have any.  Her heart is amazing, she recently donated her hair to Locks Of Love (obviously the picture above is older), I sat in the chair blubbering as it was cut off but I have to say, short hair suits her sassy attitude!!!!!  We shall see what year 6 brings with her but I am sure it just adds a bit more sass.

 

 

And then we have her (sigh), moms don't have favorites because each kid is special and unique in their own way but this one just gets me all the time.  I know it is because she is my youngest and I am trying like hell to hold on to anything baby she may still have about her.  I don't know what i will do when she goes to school, except maybe cry into my tub of bon bons while I watch home movies.  She is just the epitome of a little girl and wants to be anywhere I am, it truly melts my heart!!!!

 

 

 

You didn't think you were getting away without looking at this ugly mug we you?  Here is an update on where I am at.  I had a fantastic job, I was signing a lease soon on an apartment for the girls and I am planning my new future as a single mom.  Then my boss let me know he was closing his business, which left me jobless, unable to sign the lease and having to stay here.  I have been completely miserable, I think having a future and having it all pulled out from under you can definitely throw you off but I also know it is a huge sign that that is not where I was supposed to be.  So, I have had to suck it up and live under the same roof with my soon to be ex husband (huge eye roll, sorry, I may be a little bitter and try real hard to put my fake smile one when I say that).  I am going to be enrolling in a phlebotomy program that starts in October and by mid November I should be certified and able to apply for work.  It is not my dream job but it will get me out of my current situation and I can provide for my girls.  Not to say I don't like it, I think it will be a good job and I will like interacting with others.  I am pretty excited.  The only thing I am nervous about is being the old lady in the class, I definitely do not want to be the old lady!!!!!

 

So, that is a quick check up with all of us.  I hope to keep this thing updated and have some fun stuff on here soon.  Thank you for being patient with me as I try to get my life back on track!!!!!!

 



These Days Are Numbered

I am actively seeking employment but until I do land that job, I am enjoying these days because they are indeed numbered! Today I took my youngest to the mall, we had to get a birthday present and were looking for her perfect Princess dress for her upcoming Princess party. We had a fantastic time, I tried on some clothes and she told me I was pretty, we ate lunch at a Cafe and shared a cookie for desert. My little one saw the Easter bunny from the upstairs balcony and screamed "hi Easter Bunny!!!!!!", he looked right at her, waved and blew a kiss, this blew her mind!! She squealed and yelled that this was indeed the best day ever. But she didn't want to keep it all to herself, she decided that she wanted to get some chocolates for her sisters, how could I say no to such generosity. I watched her walk all proud with a Disney bag in one hand and chocolates in the other and was on awe. I have an amazing little girl and have felt blessed that I have had this time up spend with her. It will be hard going back to work and not having my days with just her, so for now I am completely enjoying them!

Planning A Princess Party

I have always said I would be one of those parents who kept their kids birthdays low key so they don't get too spoiled. I feel I have done that so far, the girls choose what they want to do and we do it but it has never been over the top. My youngest turns 3 in a couple of weeks and today I asked what she wanted, it was simple....a pink princess party. Easy enough right? Easy enough until you start searching for ideas on Pinterest!!!! So many adorable, fun things, how on earth do I choose? She would be fine with it being simple but I want to rock this party!!! I am slowly turning into the mom who throws mega parties, either that or I am bored and need to get out more :) Look how cute this stuff is though!!

Dental Adventures

When I was growing up, my mom never had dental insurance. Well, she did once and I had a filling put in but then we stopped going. I have since been and have plenty of work needing to be done in my mouth, it seems never ending. I am excited that my kids are able to go and not wait like I have had to. However, it is so expensive!!!! My amazing sister-in-law said it best, dental insurance is less like insurance and more like a coupon. This is so very true. My oldest is at the age now that we have started to see an orthodontist. And yes, we are talking braces. She still needs to wait for those so for now they are installing an expander for her overbite. Apparently the bone that sits right below your nose does not fuse together until the age of 12 so they can put in this expander and slowly crank it open over the course of a year. It separates the bone to widen the mouth and the bone will then fuse together later giving less of an overbite. Step 1 is spacers, tiny little blue things stuck between her teeth apparently holding the space where the metal spacers will go in a couple of weeks. As expensive as this us turning out to be, I am pretty excited that my girl has an opportunity to get the gorgeous smile I never got. And as nervous as she is, she is pretty excited too!!!!

Job

You hear all the time how hard it is to get a job in this economy but I don't think any one truly ever realizes that until they are actually looking for one. I have my cupcake business and my new job making fabulous purses for LexiWynn, but neither us enough to solely support me and my kids. So, I am looking for a job and it isn't easy. Without a great degree and tons of experience, no one wants you or are willing to pay the amount if money I need to make. It us super frustrating, but at the same time, I know things will work out and my girls and I will be ok. Until then, you can find me here, doing this........

And the winners are..........

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn about about this wonderful children's book! This book holds a very special place in my heart and I am excited to share it with two of you. So, here you go, the winners are........

Chris Floming and Kristine Morgantini

Congratulations!!! Please send me your mailing address at luvmythreepeat@gmail.com. I hope you will enjoy this book just as much as I do.

If anyone would like to purchase this fantastic book, please visit www.pigupstation.com to learn how.

Now, please go and enjoy your life just as Danny did!!!!! 

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

I guess in this case, absence is completely annoying.  I apologize for now fully posting lately.  My computer is down and blogging is a little difficult without one.  I will be posting some more Epilepsy stories featuring amazing people.  Until then, please know I am not gone for good, just taking a mini break.

Emily

Meet Emily, she is living with Epilepsy, here is her story.

Emily was diagnosed with Epilepsy back in 1999 when she was in junior high school, she is now 29 years old.  Her seizures didn't start out how people normally think of seizures.  She kept having "deja vu" moments.  Her mother took her to a couple of different doctors and each told her that she seemed to be making up her symptoms and wondered if she was just wanting some attention.  It was only after having 2 generalized seizures that the doctors confirmed she was indeed having seizures and had been for a while.  The cause of her seizures were never confirmed, she does not have a family history of seizures.  The only thing that comes to mind on how this could have happened were some falls she had taken while playing sports, a new acne medication or the Hepatitis B vaccine she had just had.  None of these can be confirmed, it can only be speculated. 

Back in 2000,the beginning of her senior year of high school,  Emily had her first brain surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.  She had a grid of electrodes implanted and was scheduled to have brain tissue removed.  Unfortunately her seizures became so bad that the surgery was cancelled and the electrodes were removed.  Next she went on a special diet and had to fax her doctor what she ate and her seizure activity on a weekly basis.  Her mother found a new neurologist who specialized in seizures related to hormones, which most of hers seemed to be from.  The new doctor told her that she was a candidate for surgery and so she made the choice to once again go ahead with surgery.  She had part of her left temporal lobe and left hippocampus removed.  The doctors told her that the risks of this surgery would be complete memory loss.  She would need to take notes to remind her of people and things.  She did experience some memory loss but not to the extent that the doctors warned her about. 

In 2008, Emily received her seizure response dog Callie.  Her dog alerts her when she will have a seizure so she has time to go take her medication or if she is asleep, the dog will go alert someone else to help.  Emily still has seizures, mainly when she lets her emotions get to her.  She has taken a bunch of different medications and have been selected for studies but has yet to find any combination that completely stops the seizures. 

Emily says the biggest affect that Epilepsy has had on her life is not being able to be independent.  She cannot drive or go anywhere by herself.  It took her a while to get used to never being alone but eventually accepted it.  Last year however, she found the man of her dreams.  She had dated before but as soon as they saw her having a seizure, the relationship would end.  She made sure to tell this new guy about her seizures and his response was "I love you for who you are and will be there for you through anything".  He asked her to marry him in February and they married this past July. 

Emily is also very thankful to her mother and father who have stuck by her side and have tried to help find a way to stop her seizures.  When asked what she would like people to know about people living with Epilepsy, she said that having Epilepsy should not define a person.  Just because a person has Epilepsy doesn't mean that they need to be treated differently, Epilepsy will not keep people from pushing forward and it does not mean that they are not "normal".

Thank you Emily for being willing to share your story!!!!  Thank you for being a shining light and helping spread awareness!!!!!!!

Reflections

I honestly believe with all of my heart that God prepares us for things that will come about in our lives.  One of those things that happens to you and you have no clue that it is preparing you for what lies ahead.  It is only when something happens to you, sometimes years later, that it hits you.  I was prepared for this moment long ago and I am not alone, I will be alright.  My moment hit me this week, it may have taken me over 2 years to realize it but it hit me.  If you have been following my blog for a while or look back at older posts, you will see that my oldest daughter has Epilepsy.  She was diagnosed back in August of 2009 after having a seizure in my arms.  The visuals I have of that morning are still terrifying to me and I think I have been so focused on her treatment and spreading awareness and everything else going on in my life that I never sat down and realized, almost 6 years ago, 4 years before she was ever diagnosed, I had a taste of what my life was going to be.

We used to live in Virginia.  Because we were so close to Washington DC, we would travel there every now and again and see the sights.  We had the hotel we always stayed at and were able to walk to the metro stations and take ti around all over the city.  I am not sure of the name of the station that was near our hotel but it had a huge escalator that got you underground to the metro.  I am not sure if I am giving the size of this thing any justice by just saying huge, this thing was more than huge, I am sure if it went straight up and down it would be at least 8 stories tall.  You could not see the bottom when hopping on it and halfway through, you could no longer see the top.  It is not terrifying, it goes slow but being on an angle really screws with your head.  I think it was our second trip up to DC and we were once again on the gigantic escalator, looking forward to spending a day in our nations capital.  About halfway through, a woman who looked to be in her 20's collapsed.  A gentleman with her jumped over the rails and used the stairs (I forgot to mention the stairs that ran in the middle of the escalators, if you were a super athlete and wanted to use them) to run to the bottom and turn the escalator off.  Some people around the woman were screaming but the people with her remained calm and asked everyone around them to calm down as well.  The escalator eventually stopped and within minutes they had the girl off and being taken to the bottom by using the stairs.  I was pretty shaken.  What the heck just happened?  Would she be ok?  I remember my oldest asking if the lady would be ok and I told her I didn't know but it looked like they knew what they were doing.  After the escalator started moving again and we made it to the bottom, the girl was sitting on a bench drinking a bottle of water and people around her were making sure she was ok.  Since we had to wait for out train, we were able to hear them talk to others.  I heard things like "yes, she is ok, this happens all the time"  "She is ok, the seizure was a typical seizure for her", they kept asking if she felt fine and she was responding as if nothing had happened.  I was very confused.

Who knew that 4 years later I would be in the same spot.  Only, it wouldn't be routine for my family.  That morning brings back bad memories, seeing her not breathing, her lips turning blue, her body violently shaking in my arms and her unresponsive for more than 30 minutes after, we thought she was gone.  After those 30 minutes she was ok.  She sat up and was eventually smiling, able to answer questions.  We took a couple ambulance rides and were admitted to a children's hospital in our area where she went through numerous tests and was diagnosed.  I sat in awe this week after remembering our DC trip.  That could be us one day, seizures can come even when you are on vacation, they don't care where you are. 

Another thing that hit me from that day was the way it was all handled.  They knew what they were doing, they knew what to tell the people around them and they knew the kind of help their friend/daughter/sister, whoever she was, they knew what she needed.  I did not know what to do that morning.  Luckily my mom and my daughters father were there and were able to tend to her while I called 911.  But they still made mistakes and it is all because we as a society don't know what to do.  We may vaguely remember what was told to us years ago, put something in their mouth so they don't swallow their tongue.  Did you know it is impossible to do that?  This week a friend of mine shared a clip form the Dr.Oz show.  He actually went over seizure safety, never before have I seen this on day time television.  It was a great clip, he pulled a lady form the audience to help and show what she would think to do (which was obviously not right) and then he proper things to do.  If you have a couple of minutes, please watch the video and be informed.  You never know if something like this can happen to your loved ones or if you see a stranger who needs help.  My friend Julie who lives in Japan told me that she was at a local market and saw a lady having a seizure and everyone was standing around watching her, not knowing what to do.  She was amazing and stepped in.  I am sure I don't have to tell you how amazing that act is to me and how much she means to me, she is a rock star!  So, please watch and be like Julie, help someone when they are in need!!!

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/seizure-first-aid

Epilepsy Awareness Month is next month and I am planning some special events.  If you live in the Southern California area and would like to get involved, please let me know.  If you do not live in the area and would like to help anyways, please contact me.  Together we can make a difference!!!!!

My Internal Organs Are Working!

How do I know my internal organs are working?  Because I feel these babies in them.......

Yes, these are gallstones and no, they are not mine.  The reason these are not mine is because mine are still within the confines of my gallbladder.  They may look like sweet little pebbles that would look pretty in a rock garden but they don't feel so pretty.  They hurt and they make you nauseous and they need to be taken out in one way only.  So, next week I go in to have a surgeon consult and we discuss my surgery and hopefully I will feel some relief shortly there after.  The good news with all of this?  I have dropped a good amount of weight since even water can kick my butt and send me running for the bathroom.  As much as this weight loss excites me, I do not want to keep my friends within me for much longer.  So, I apologize for not being on here as much, I try to lay down as much as possible and do nothing, ti seems when I do too much they get aggravated and voice their opinion.  I do have some exciting things coming up on my good 'ol blog though.  I hinted a while ago about some flying pigs and pretty soon all will be revealed.  So, stay tuned and tell your friends, I promise it is going to be a good time!!!!

Crazy Day In This Crazy World!

I don't think that October 3, 2011 was a very good day for quite a few people out here in southern Cali.  Mine started out crazy and ended crazy and I am glad ti is now October 4, 2011.  Our first bout of crazy times hit when I realized that my middle girls earring back on her left side was actually implanted within her ear lobe.  After dropping the oldest off at school, we headed to the ER.  It was there that they found the other side was in there as well, not nearly as bad as the other side since I had pulled the earring not knowing it was in there.  So, 2 needles, a scalpel and 2 sliced open ears later, her earring backs were out and in a cup for us to take home.  My girl was brave, she didn't cry at all and the doc repeatedly told me how good she was and even rewarded her with a purse filled with coloring books, markers and clay.  We were able to come home for a brief second before getting my oldest out of school early to head to her neurology appointment.  Little did we know that as we passed a point on the freeway, a shooting was going down on the northbound side.  We soon found out when we got down to the hospital and the freeway was empty and the nurses informed us.  How were we to get home?  Side streets aren't too bad right?  Wrong!!!  When an entire southern Cali freeway is evacuated, it makes side street driving beyond ridiculous.  3 hours later, when it normally takes 45 minutes tops, we were home and feeling very lucky to have not been on the other side of the freeway at that moment.

I feel that I am completely aware that evil exists in our world.  I would like to see the world through rose colored glasses and at times, I do.  I like to seek out the good and bring smiles to peoples faces and have a smile on my own, but I am very aware that not everyone thinks this way and that some people may want to seek out the complete opposite.  I just don't understand driving down a freeway and shooting at random cars.  As I drove home it made me think, how would I deal with that?  I could stop and get us all down, but my younger one is strapped in a seat where she is unable, would she be harmed?  It is such a scary situation.  On the news last night a reporter went to the door of the family of the suspect (who is still out there at this very second) to ask if they knew he was capable of doing this and where he might be, etc.  The sister answered the door and just seemed to not care.  She had no clue where he was since he had moved out over the summer and didn't care where he was.  Not that I feel any sympathy for the man and what he did but I have to think, they seemed so uncaring.  Did he grow up thinking he was not loved and therefore started to hate people, people he had not even met?  After growing up, did he not have friends who cared or  a family who noticed his absence form love and took him in?  It really makes me want to smile more at people, especially those who look like they might need one.  Is it too hard that as a society, as children of God that we can band together and take care of one another whether blood related or not?  I know this is my rose colored glasses speaking but I think a little kindness can go a long way.  There was the story that was circulated years ago about a kid who was going home to kill himself because he felt that no one cared about him.  When he dropped his school books after getting off the bus, another kid came up and helped him and walked him home.  The kid decided not to do it and years later at graduation told everyone in his speech and the friend had no clue he had saved his life.  How amazing is that?  A small act of kindness kept a child form taking his life.  As a society I think we can all step up a little, show some compassion and you never know, maybe you will keep someone from trying to kill others or take their own life!

Lord Help Me!

See this sweet face?  This face makes me smile.  It reminds me of a time when she was tiny, when the only care in the world was what barbie we would play with that day.

This is here now, taken only a couple of months ago and I swear she has grown since then.  How does this happen?  Ok, I don't need the talk about how kids actually grow, it just boggles my mind.  And even more so than the typical "how are they growing so fast?" on their birthdays.  This past Friday we were getting in the car to go to a Girl Scout meeting.  Since my oldest is allowed to sit in the front seat if we aren't going too far, which is crazy to believe as well, how did she grow out of a car seat?!  Well, I got in first after getting the other two strapped into the back and then my oldest hops in the front.  A breeze was sent my way and ti didn't smell like we were in a car, more like we were in a swamp or on a farm.  I automatically went to the "what the heck is that smell?" face and even said it out loud.  The kids all at once said "it wasn't me", we may or may not have a gas problem in our house, lol.  I decided to lean in to my oldest knowing it would not be her and low and behold, IT WAS HER!!  I took her in the house and sprayed her down with pretty smelling things and the very next day we took a trip to get some deodorant.  Now, not only can she ride in the front, she wears deodorant?!  I don't know if I am ready for this.  I was more than ok being the one and only girl in this house using things like that.  She has also been moody, very weird moody.  She wouldn't talk much and said she has decided to be more calm......what?  This lasted for 3-4 days and then she was back to normal.  My mom laughed when I told her I was worried.  She told me, from experience mind you, she raised 2 girls herself.  She told me to watch around the same time every month because this just shows where her cycle will be........her what?!  She is 9!!!  Ok, 9 1/2, she would kill me if I didn't add that 1/2, it just seems so young to me.  So, as my title states.......LORD HELP ME!!!  I am not ready for a tween or deodorant or cycles.  I want to wrap her in a baby ink blanket and rock her to sleep!!!!!!!



Why Blog?

Last night a friend of mine posted a question on Facebook.  She was curious out of all her friends who blog or read blogs, what they want to read about.  I sat there for a minute and thought about why I blog.  I am in no way a famous blogger and do not have a huge following.  I do not have ads that if clicked, pay me money.  So why do I blog?  My blog originally started as a way for my friends and family to see what was going on in my life.  I lived out of state for many years and every time I got a phone call, it was always the same thing, "what has been going on out there?"  Instead of repeating myself, I decided to write it out and post pictures so when they did call, we could just chat and not have to get caught up.  I was not a very good blogger back then, not to say that I am now, but I had so many pictures and instead of posting pictures that matched what I was writing about, I posted a random picture with each blog post.  That is why, if you read some of my older blog posts from years ago, the picture might seem very random for what I posted about.  I would like to believe that my blogging has been more creative and informative.  I feel like I have been through so much and have grown up a lot and there is hope that you can see that in my blogging.

So, why do I blog?  I blog still so people can be caught up on my life.  I blog so that I have a place that I can look back on and see my growth and the growth of my girls.  I also blog to help spread awareness and bring about change in this world.  Epilepsy is a huge part of my life and I hope that more and more people can come to this blog and not feel like they are alone in their journey and for those unaffected in a personal way, hopefully they can find some info that will open their eyes and give them that little push to get involved. 

So, with that answered, now to what I like to read in other blogs.  If you look on my side bar you will see a variation of blogs that I read almost every day.  Some of them are my close friends and I read them to stay up to date on their lives when I am not able to be with them.  Others are funny and provide fun, interesting and new recipes I would like to try.  Some are for my business of making cupcakes, it is always good to stay on top of what others are doing to stay up to date.  But for the most part, I like to read about other moms and other women and their journeys.  I like to feel like I am not the only one who struggles form time to time.  That I am not the only one who is having to raise her children on her own after a long marriage didn't work out.  I LOVE to read of triumphs, break-throughs and miracles of these very same women.  I guess the common denominator in all of this, I like to read about real people.  People who like to write and express themselves.  I am hoping that my friend who pondered this question is indeed looking to write a blog because I think she would be phenomenal!  Her life, from what I have seen, is a wonderful journey and I feel like she could be a beacon of light to so many!  I love how her one question has made me sit to think about all of this, that right there should be proof enough of her sheer power and what a wonderful blog she would have.  So, what do you want to read about in others blogs?  Why do you blog? 

How To Mend A Broken Heart

Growing up is a tough one.  Before school let out, my oldest found out that her best friend, a boy named Adam would be moving.  He was only moving about an hour away but to a 9 year old, that is forever away.  You see, my oldest isn't the most out-going child.  Once she knows you, she is more than willing to chat and open up but she has a real fear of people not liking her.  She is so scared that someone might say something and has had a hard time with bullies since the first grade.  Back then we didn't know she had Epilepsy and she seemed "weird" to other kids.  She was doing things that we didn't know where they were coming from and kids don't take very well to the kid who doesn't act "normal".  Even after she was diagnosed and started treatment, the meds did not always work.  It took us a good 8 months for her to finally find one that did the job.  In the meantime she would scream in class and not remember it later, she even once hit a kid on the back of the head before screaming and then crawled under desk and cried.  I am not condoning the assault on the boy but i do have to say, she remembered none of it.  It was almost scary when she said she had no clue what I was talking about and later that night before bed, she came downstairs crying her eyes out asking "did I really hit someone?  Is he ok?".  My heart broke.  Girls seem to be the worst in all of this.  There was a gang of girls who stuck together and they were set on making her life a living hell.  The ring leader eventually moved away and things got better but never 100%.  In the meantime, she made a friend.  A little boy named Adam.  I questioned it at first, shouldn't she be besties with a girl?  We surely cannot have a boy over for sleepovers and the typical girlie things, should I tell her to find someone else to hang out with?  I asked her why she liked this boy so much, wondering if it was a crush and she told me "he is just like me, he doesn't say mean things and he makes me feel happy".  During an open house in one of her journals she even wrote about her best friend saying he was "different like me".  Adam is in the special ed class with Cass sometimes so I guess in her eyes, he has some flaws just like she does and they mesh well.  So, besties it was and has been for 2 years.  And then he moved away.  I was never able to get an address for his new place so it seems, for now, they have lost touch. 

Today while I was making dinner she came out with a clay heart she had made at a festival a couple of weeks ago.  It was torn right in half and she was teary.  I asked what happened and she said she was thinking of Adam and it just feel in two.  We did have the talk about destroying personal property in a fit of rage but after that, it broke my heart.  She went to her room and after dinner was in the oven, I went to check on her.  She was sitting in a chair looking out her window with tears streaming down her face.  She told me without looking back at me that Adams favorite color is green just like the grass.  In her hands was her friendship bracelet he had bought her (they each bought one for one another, he actually bought her another one after she bought him one because it wasn't right for her to only have one, so sweet), she wears one on her wrist and the other one was too small to put back on after she had to take it off so she has it in her special box.  When I sat besides her, she melted into my arms and cried.  I don't know if I am prepared for broken hearts!  If she was older and it was a boyfriend, I am totally prepared for the "you deserve better, now lets go shopping and eat junk food" speech but how do you deal with losing a best friend?  As an adult it sucks, I cannot imagine how her little heart is breaking.  As I speak, she is moping.  She wants to snuggle on the couch and just chill and that is not her personality.  I told her I would try to track him down but that was all I had in my arsenal.  So, people help me out here, how to you help your child mend a broken heart?

Four Weddings

Is anyone else out there addicted to this show?  The other day when I was sick, my girls and I played bums and laid on the couch all day.  Between cartoons we would watch cooking shows and other age appropriate things and that is when I came across Four Weddings on TLC.

The show puts 4 brides up against one another.  They all attend each others weddings and give a score for overall experience at the end of the wedding.  Then, after all four weddings have happened, they all give points for first, second and third place for dress, venue and food.  After all points are tallied, the winner is announced when their husband arrives via limo with flowers and a card letting them know where they will go on their honeymoon.  They have been to Aruba, Maldives, Italy, all kinds of beautiful places and I am hooked!!  My oldest and I now watch together, I set my dvr to record first runs and repeats of all episodes and so I can watch whenever I want.  I know it may sound a little much but I love weddings.  And unlike all the other wedding shows where you want them to just get on with it and show the good parts, the good parts are all you see.  You get to see a snippet of the ceremony and then the fun stuff afterwards including the reception.  For the most part, all of the brides have been very sweet with one another.  They are all strangers so they could very well just be mean and talk about how much better their wedding was or will be but they all seem to enjoy the day along with the bride.  This morning I did watch an episode with a major sour puss.  This one chick made the worst faces during one of the ceremonies and then complained about the food and how much she didn't want to dance, it was pretty annoying........she ended up coming in last place by the way.  Anyways, if you haven't seen it but love weddings, I definitely recommend watching some episodes.  Or be neurotic like myself and tape them all for your viewing pleasure :)

Festival Fun

I have to say, living in Southern California definitely has its perks!  Over the weekend on a beautiful breezy beach day, my girls and I were able to head out to the Sawdust Festival.  For those of you who don't know what this is, it is a huge arts festival with tons of art vendors, food, music and kids activities.  It takes place in Laguna Beach, I am sure you all know that area from all the reality tv shows based out of here and yes, it really is that beautiful.  The actual festival sits inland from the beach in a canyon so you don't get any beach views but we did see a lot of this......

Not only did we enjoy the sights but the food as well.  Yes, we ate nothing but greasy food but the kids thoroughly enjoyed it.  Whats better than fish 'n chips with a side of fried veggies?  Oh yes, how about a salad for dinner to counter act all that greasiness sitting in your belly, it was much needed!!!  And not only was the art fantastic but we got to see a magician, get balloon animals and hats, make some crafts and even watch a glass blower make a beautiful bowl.  I can now see why they charge so much for one small item, ti takes so much to make one tiny piece of art, it is beautiful.  And the best part of it all?  My kids did not touch and we did not have to be forced into buying something expensive :)  In a setting where there is glass and art everywhere you turn, a mom is bound to be neurotic with the "no touching" rule and I am sure my girls heard it a million times that day.  However, it all paid off.  While perusing a glass necklace vendor, my girls sweetly glanced at the jewels and marveled at the pretty colors and picked out which one they liked best and the words a mother always wants to hear came out of the owners mouth...."you have such well behaved kids".  Did I just hear the angels sing?  I thanked her and smiled and then smiled at my sweet girls, I was so proud, all of the death glares and threats of "if you touch" (ok, so I don't threaten them but they know I mean business) totally paid off.  It was a great day that ended on a healthy fresh salad and sweet food coma note and I would love to do it all over again!

Exciting Things Are Happening Around Here

In the coming weeks, this "little blog that could" is going to have some extremely exciting things going on.  It may or may not have some flying pigs and one remarkable little boy stopping in, all I can say for now is "Pig Up"!!!  Don't know what that means?  I think you will soon and I am sure you will be saying it yourself.  Stay tuned!!!!

Short Stories

I love children's imaginations!  The other day I took my kids to the park and suddenly the playground turned into a pirate ship.  The Queen, Princess and lowly shipmate (my poor youngest, I sympathize, I was the youngest too) were trying to escape the dastardly pirates.  I sat there and remembered just how great the imagination of a child is.  I vividly remember when playgrounds transformed or my Grandma's hot tub was now the entire ocean and I was Ariel.  I don't know when that goes away but it obviously fades over time.  It is so fun though to experience it yet again with my own kids.  My oldest is in summer school.  They do a lot of arts and crafts and fun things but they also get some work in as well.  Last week she came home with a short story she had written.  I typically read her papers right away in case there is something I need to sign or send back, but in this case, it was work and so i set it aside.  I finally was able to read it last night and I had to snicker.  I love her imagination.  Her personality shines even in the papers she writes for school.  Remember, she is still only 9 so it is not long but I love it still.  So without further ado, a story by Cassidy.......

One day at the ice cream store, the owner was worried because the freezer was broken.  Next, Cassidy; the store owner, was going to buy a new freezer.  Then, Cassidy drove in her Chevy Cruze to go to Sears to buy a freezer.  After that, she got sad because they did not have a glittery freezer.  Finally, she found a glittery freezer at Lowe's.

She has had an obsession with the dang Chevy Cruze, it is her dream car and I think I am ok with that.  At 9 every time I saw a Mazda Miata I drooled and told my mom I would have that car one day.  At least hers is a practical sedan!  I can see her driving off to college in her dream car with her brand new glittery freezer for her dorm :)

When Life Gives You Lemons........

Dance in the aisles of a pharmacy of course!!!!!

Nothing quite like breaking it down to KT Tunstall in a pharmacy aisle :)



Dance Recital

Yesterday, all of the hard work my two oldest girls had been doing definitely paid off.  Costumes were on, hair was curled and make-up applied (applying heavy make-up to my 4 and 9 year old was never something I thought I would be doing but I guess it is a necessity when on stage).  The girls looked so cute.  Kendall did a tap number to a Shirley temple song called "Baby Take A Bow"....

Cassidy did an Irish number.........

They were both super excited and a little nervous to get on stage and show off what they had been learning.  The morning did make me nervous as well.  While doing Cassidy's hair she got overheated and had some small seizures, a part of me didn't want her to even go after that.  But she was able to rest before we left and said she felt fine so it was off to the theater.  Littlest sister was super excited, she had her program and her tickets ready......

Both girls did awesome!!!  Not a step was missed and they couldn't stop smiling and telling all their friends what a great job they all did.  I am not so sure of the oldest one will continue with dance.  She is more of a home body and enjoys cooking and helping out around the house and more indoor activities, this was a great learning experience for her though and she really impressed me!!!  I do think this is just the beginning for Kendall, she not only loves to dance but the studio told me they wished they could lower the age for company members because she is amazing.  I am sure you can only imagine how much she eats that up.  So You Think You Can Dance in the year 2025 may be in her future :)