House of Estrogen

Spirit Week

We just wrapped up Spirit Week at both the elementary school and daycare. Does anyone know the motivation behind Spirit Week? Is some educational goal accomplished through Spirit Week? After enduring eight years of Spirit Week, I've come to the conclusion that it is an evil ploy by the schools to throw parents completely off their game just prior to the holiday season. I have yet to figure out why they do this, but I'm pretty sure there is a vast right-wing conspiracy behind it.

On an average morning, it is truly a miracle if all my children leave the house dressed, with hair brushed, glasses on, and make it to the bus stop on time with lunches packed, folders signed, homework finished, and checks made out the the PTA for the latest pizza/wrapping paper/cookie dough/mixed nuts/magazine fund raiser. The more typical scenario is a missed bus, forgotten glasses, missing homework, no lunchbox, bed head hair, or all of the above. Add anything else to our mornings, and what had been a barely manageable level of chaos suddenly turns into a total anarchy. Remembering show and share once a week and sneakers on PE day is my limit. Beyond that, and you have maxed out my morning mothering skills. Spirit Week adds in  "Wear Red Day", "Crazy Hair Day", "Bring Your Stuffed Animal to School Day", "Dress as Your Favorite Storybook Character Day", "Wear Your Favorite Color Day", "Wear Stars Day" - the list goes on and on. STOP THE MADNESS! What happened to "Send Mom to the Spa Day" or "Leave Homework at Home Day"? Really, schools... WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US???? 

Don't you know that when the one and only sports team shirt is in the dirty laundry pile on "Sports Team Shirt Day" that you are slowly and deliberately sucking the life out of both the mother and shirt-deprived child?

You see my children arriving at school daily with hair barely brushed, if brushed at all, and you really think I have time for the hairspray, glitter, and rubber bands required for "Crazy Hair Day"?

WHY SCHOOLS? WHY??

We somehow muddled through it and survived yet another Spirit Week, but what kills me is that I missed the one and only really excellent Spirit Week day. Addie had been out sick Monday and Tuesday, so I had no memory of what oddball thing she was supposed to wear on Wednesday. Wouldn't you know that Wednesday was "Pajama Day"? The ONE day of the year when I don't even have to get my child dressed, and I MISSED IT! The Gods of Spirit Week must have been punishing me for planning to dress Addie in black on "Favorite Color Day" because I wanted her to wear her Halloween T-shirt. Her favorite color could be black, right?

I am ready to return to the stress of sneakers and lunchboxes. No more crazy hair until next year, please.

 

If You've Ever Wondered...

...what it might look like to get stung by a bee on your eyelid, now you know.

  

 

Post #500! It's a Blogiversary Giveaway!

This is House of Estrogen post #500! Time to Celebrate!

 

I tell my girls not to use the word "hate", so I'm going to follow my own advice and simply say that I really, really, really, really dislike blogs that play music. I don't read them... can't click away fast enough. That said, this post needs some music, so please start singing "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, or for a more old school option, "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. Sing it outloud. Sing it in your head. I don't care... just sing a happy song.

 

When I started this blog two years ago, I had no idea what it would become. It was a way to share a little about our lives with friends and family. It has grown and blossomed, and in the past 499 posts, the writing and photography have given me a creative outlet that I didn't know I needed.

 

So, to celebrate my 500th post, I'm having a BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!  To be entered to win a $20 Starbuck's gift card, leave me a comment... any comment - tell me what you like about the blog, what you don't like, what you had for breakfast, what size Pumpkin Spice Latte you'll buy, or (GASP!) what other beverage you would choose should you win.

 

Never left a blog comment before? It's easy. Click here, scroll to the bottom and add a comment. Use your first name, your dog's name, any name will do. Just be sure to either enter your email address or check back next week to see if you're the winner.

 

I'll leave comments open for a week and then choose a winner by random number.

 

Thank you, blog readers! I always appreciate your comments, emails, words in my office, and compliments yelled down the school hallway!  It has been a fun ride...all 500 posts of it!  Here's to lots of pumpkin spice lattes and many more House of Estrogen posts! Now keep on singing that happy song and go leave a comment!

 Update (11/4/09) - comments have now been CLOSED.
  

No, It's Not THAT.

Oh how I wish I had had a camera in my hand this morning, so I could share with all of you the panic-stricken look on J.C.'s face when he asked me this morning about the "Stay Tuned..." post. (He even left his first ever comment on that post!) With fear in his eyes and apprehension in his voice, he nervously said, "So what is this all about? It sounds like something you would post before announcing that you're pregnant." As fun as it might have been to just string him along and tell him he would find out what that post was about when everyone else does, I was a little worried he might move out today while I was at work if I didn't reassure him that I was definitely NOT pregnant. So, dear husband, this post is for you. I am not, nor do I have any plans to become, pregnant.

As a side note though, I'm not sure whether to be concerned or amused that he thought I would announce something like that on the blog before telling him personally! I'll have to ponder that one some more later.

So, you now have one hint. I am not pregnant. That's your only hint. Check back soon!

Stay Tuned....

Just one more post until...

A Fall Tradition

We took our annual fall trip to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. The kids played on the hay mountain and in the corn crib, went through the toddler hay maze (thankfully skipped the corn maze this time!), fed the animals, went on a hay ride, and picked out pumpkins. Fun day!

   

   

   

   

   

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Simple Woman's Daybook, October 26, 2009

For Today...

Outside my window... reds, oranges, yellows, golds... I'm loving the fall colors!

I am thinking... that I really had not intended to start my day spending 3.5 hours at the pediatrician's office this morning. Between Elise's platelet check, Addie's doc appointment for her 103+ fever, and a nurse from the office getting taken away by ambulance, it was a long, exhausting morning.

I am thankful for... coworkers who also have small children, so they are understanding when it comes to sick kids.

From the kitchen... I've been pigging out on my chocolate spider cookies all day, but dinner will be flank steak with rice pilaf and salad. 

I am wearing... jeans, a sweatshirt, and fleece socks.

I am creating... a tidier playroom. Yesterday, we pulled everything in the playroom out to the middle of the room. The girls were each given one shelf. Any toys they wanted to keep in the room had to fit on their respective shelves. The rest will go away. We haven't finished the task yet, but it is coming along well and hopefully we'll end up with a more manageable room.

I am going... to pick up the girls in carpool today, not for any reason other than it gets Addie and me out of the house!

I am reading... Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival, by Anderson Cooper. For what its worth, this is not a long book. I keep listing it week after week because I seem to read two pages each night before I fall asleep! I'm reading at a snail's pace these days.

I am hoping... that Addie starts feeling better soon. She is so miserable. 

I am hearing... "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team" on TV. I was born and raised in Dallas, so I guess I have an odd little spot in my heart for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!

Around the house... things on the floor needing to be picked up that I can't reach because I messed up my back. Ouch.

One of my favorite things... leftover flank steak sandwiches (like I'll have tomorrow!)

A few plans for the rest of the week.... tumbling for Elise, the fall festival at the big girls' school, trick-or-treating, or maybe none of that if everybody gets sick.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...  House of Estrogen pizza and movie night

 
 

  To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook. 

How Tall Are You This Fall?

2005 - Elise and Nina

 

2007 - Nina and Elise

 2008 - Elise, Addison, and Nina

 
 

2009 - Nina, Addison, Elise

 
 
 

Arachnophobia

Bakerella inspired me to do a little Halloween baking tonight. Her spider web cookies looked too fun to pass up.  I am not nearly as talented as Bakerella in either decorating prowess or photography skills, but I had a good time creating these, nonetheless. They are a fun spooky treat for this week, and oh so chocolatey! Mmmmm....

Now I just have to hope they don't prompt more spider dreams tonight.

 

Got DNA?

My mother

my daughter, Addison