House of Estrogen

Simple Woman's Daybook, August 30, 2010

 

For Today...

Outside my window... another hot day to close out August.

I am thinking... that I'm looking forward to the new fall TV season starting. I'm tired of reruns.

I am thankful for... beautiful weather for Elise's pool party... it was sunny, but not blazing hot.

From the kitchen... leftover pizza from the party.

I am creating... a party picture blog post.

I am going... to work today. I don't usually work on Mondays, and I like it that way!

I am reading... Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccoult. When the library notified me this book was available, I put down the Baldacci book I had started to read this since it is my book club selection for the month. I wanted to make sure I finished it. I shouldn't have had any worries though, this book has captivated me, and I've been reading it non-stop! I love it when a book sucks me in like that. Even though the topic is horrific (a school shooting), it is such a good book. 

 I am hoping... Hurricane Earl doesn't mess up our Labor Day plans.

I am hearing... breakfast conversation downstairs.

Around the house... if the mountain of clean laundry fell on Addie, we might never find her.

One of my favorite things... our new sheets. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that sheets could be one of my favorite things, but I LOVE these sheets. They are the 800 thread count Vera Wang sheets from Kohl's.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... laundry. Sigh.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Nina's brain... never quite sure what's going on in there!

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

5 Things That Made my Weekend

1. Gorgeous weather for Elise's birthday pool party, and no kids in the hospital (we don't have a very good track record for birthday parties).

2. The grocery store handing out wine samples on Friday night. Who knew? Note to self... go grocery shopping on Friday nights more often.

3. The discovery of my three favorite foods combined into one... chocolate, peanut butter, and Lofthouse cookies. After slurping down my wine sample Friday night, I rounded the corner to find peanut butter Lofthouse cookies with chocolate frosting. When I saw they were buy one get one free, I passed out from the awesomeness. After scraping myself off the floor, I bought every box.

4. An email from a friend telling me that Starbuck's Facebook page announced the return of the pumpkin spice latte. I'm thinking it is time for a pumpkin spice latte with a peanut butter Lofthouse cookie... life doesn't get much better than that.

5. Nina asking J.C., "Daddy, when you were a baby, did dinosaurs still exist?"  Heh heh heh... and he claims I'm old!

I Wish This Chair Came in my Size

I wish this chair came in my size.

I might sit in it and read,

or I might close it up,

and hide from my children.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I would do.

Classy...

Nothing says, "I'm a professional" quite like walking into work carrying a hot pink and turquoise iCarly umbrella that isn't quite broad enough to cover both your shoulders because you can't find any other umbrella. It is like the elementary school mom equivalent of going in to work with spit-up on your shoulder.

Simple Woman's Daybook, August 23, 2010

 

For Today...

Outside my window... J.C. and my old manager are working on bike repairs.

I am thinking... that I will not be sad to see August come to an end. I am tired of hot weather!

I am thankful for... my weekend away.

From the kitchen... ummm... maybe chicken? I suppose I should get it out of the freezer!

I am creating... still working on Addie's room.

I am going... to book club Wednesday even though I haven't read the book.

I am reading... First Family by David Baldacci. I just started it this morning. The library didn't have September's book club book, so I picked that up instead. I finished Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger yesterday. It was a fun chick lit read.

 I am hoping... to find somebody to bake a cake for Elise's birthday. I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself, but I don't WANT to do it myself!

I am hearing... the guys and their bike tools.

Around the house... everything looks pretty tidy. J.C. runs a tight ship when I'm out of town.

One of my favorite things... the new chair I bought Addie at Ikea this weekend. I'll have to post a picture later.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... a couple doctor appointments, book club, volunteering in Elise's classroom, and Elise's birthday party is Saturday. I am not even remotely prepared for that!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... This is the card that Nina sent to my cousin Lisa. It reads: "From Nina To Lesu. I am srie that you hav casr." (I am sorry that you have cancer). Then she named all the colors in the rainbow: "reb, oreing, yalo, gren, blu, prpl, vilit, nibgo (indigo)." There is also a pot of glb (gold). 

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

Mamma's Been Traveling

I've been a bit absent from the blogosphere lately, in part because I've been a bit absent from home. Last weekend I took a spur-of-the-moment three day trip to Dallas to visit my parents. I am entering the world of the "sandwich generation", the group of people caring for both young children and aging parents at the same time.  My poor broken-back mostly-bed-ridden dad needed some company, and my tired, worn-out mom needed a break from the full-time care duties. I wish they were closer, so I could help them more. It is tough being across the country, and sadly, it isn't in the cards for them to move just yet. I was glad I was able to go though, and we had a nice visit.

This weekend, my traveling was of the fun, carefree, selfish variety! I drove a couple hours to meet up with my shopping buddies, J and H, as we do once or twice a year. I abandoned the stroller and pool bag in favor of an icy Dr. Pepper and GPS in the car. Instead of the Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, High School Musical filled playlist, my iPod was rocking Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Lady Ga Ga, and Glee. Dinner was grande margaritas and enough tacos and enchiladas to feed a starving nation rather than my toddler's favorite meal - edamame dipped in ketchup. The weekend was my me time.... desperately needed me time, I might add. I didn't miss the girls at all. Does that make me a terrible mother?  I don't think so. I think it makes me a mom trying to do her best at a tough 24/7 job who realizes that she needs a break every now and then. Most jobs come with built-in vacation days. Motherhood doesn't. You have to invent your own vacation days occassionally in the name of sanity.

J, H, and I are the mothers to a collective 8 girls (ages 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 2). When we started these shopping excursions, the 5 year old was in an infant seat, and Addie wasn't even a blip on an ultrasound yet. We would spend our day ooh'ing and ahh'ing over the delicious layette at Gymboree, piecing together mix and match coordinates at Carter's, and buying sweet Mary Janes at Stride Rite. This year, we found ourselves spending the most time in Justice, Old Navy, and Aeropostale shopping for jeggings, graphic tees, and hoodies. My how times change! Instead of buying whatever our hearts desired, we were saddled with the expectations of the child who will only wear green, the one who will only wear jeans, the one who won't wear jeans, the child who wants the exact same dress from last winter, and the child who wants to wear Uggs every day. We reminisced about the "good old days" of shopping while all agreeing that we are DONE having children and glad to be moving forward with life. Our discussion topics and shopping tactics may have changed, but the good times have not. We all want need that time away to decompress, commiserate, and just relax... child free.  I'm glad to be home and loved the hugs I received when I walked in, but when our next shopping weekend rolls around, I know I'll be waving good-bye and blowing kisses as I race out the door!

Simple Woman's Daybook, August 16, 2010

 

For Today...

Outside my window... another 100+ degree day here in Dallas.

I am thinking... that I need to hop in the shower soon.

I am thankful for... having frequent flyer miles to be able to use to come down here to help out my parents at the spur of the moment. My dad is dealing with a compression fracture in the lumbar region of his spine. I'm also thankful that he seems to be getting a teeny bit better each day... progress is slow, but progress is progress.

From the kitchen... my mom made some fabulous shrimp enchiladas the first night I was here. Delish!

I am creating... not much more than a blog post while out of town.

I am going... out for coffee with a childhood friend later this morning - always fun to catch up.

I am reading... Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger. This week I started and finished Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson (loved it!). I just checked her blog to see if she plans to write a fifth book in this series. She said that she would like to and has it partially written, but right now, her publishers aren't willing to publish it. The sales of her 3rd and 4th books haven't been high enough, so if you are reading this series, be sure to purchase those books or check them out of the library! I also started and finished Sliding Into Home by Kendra Wilkinson yesterday. I probably shouldn't even admit that publically, but there it is. I read it. 

It is amazing how much reading you can get done on a flight with no kids and while visiting parents without kids!

 I am hoping... that my dad continues to improve. He is in pain sitting or standing and not in any pain lying down, so obviously he is choosing to stay in bed most of the day. I did get him to take a couple walks down the hallway with his walker yesterday though, so that is a start.

I am hearing... the noisy air conditioning in my parents' condo.

Around the house... J.C. and the girls seem to be holding up fine without me. I think he manages single-parent duty better than I do!

One of my favorite things... Caesar salad from La Madeleine and the salad and pizza from Prego. Love me some Dallas food!

A few plans for the rest of the week.... fly back home tomorrow and back to the daily grind.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... some of the flowers on my parents' balcony with the Dallas skyline and the pretty blue sky in the background.

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

Letter to Nina, 6.5 Years

Dear Nina,

I am a little late in writing this letter, but you are so easy going that I don't think you'll mind. Your disposition lets the little stuff just roll right off your back.

You started first grade last month, and you are loving it! Your enthusiasm about school is such a breath of fresh air. If only we could all be so cheerful about the day-to-day grind. Apparently, you are quite the flirt. I've had mothers or grandmothers of at least three boys come up to me to tell me how their sons are completely enamoured with you and plan to marry you. I'm not sure what your seduction tactics are, but they appear to be working. We are seriously scared of your teenage years!

Earlier this week, I saw two sandwiches in the refrigerator. I asked about them and was told that you had made them on Saturday morning for your and Elise's lunch boxes, not realizing it was a Saturday.  You definitely have a get-up-and-go philosophy in the mornings!

Your biggest focus right now is jump roping. It has been so fun to watch you find your passion. You have tried swimming, gymnastics, soccer, and dance, but none of those stuck. Jump rope has reeled you in like nothing else! You practice in all your spare time regardless of the temperature outside.

  

You have checked off 12 of 13 skills required to move up to the next level. Tonight in class, you had a look of determination like I've never seen before trying to master that last skill. With a beet red face and sweat dripping down your neck, you tried it again and again and again. I was so proud of your persistence. By the end of class, you hadn't gotten it yet, but I predict you'll be out in the garage every day this week working on it. By next week, you'll be marking off that last skill.

Double dutch is your favorite activity, but you love learning new tricks for single rope too. This week, you've been working on double-unders, full turns, and speed jumping. The smile on your face when you master a new trick makes my heart do a little jump roping of its own!

You've had some horrendous ear infections in the last few months. It is worrisome that despite the tubes, you are still getting ear infections. We keep hoping you'll outgrow them, but at this point, it isn't looking too promising. Fortunately, you're a good sport about wearing the doctor-mandated ear plugs and a swim cap in the pool.

 

A good family friend said to me recently, "Nina seems like she just has the world all figured out." I love the way she put that. I think it describes you perfectly. At six and a half, you have developed such a personality and confidence. You certainly have your moments of meltdowns, back-talking, and fighting with Elise, but for the most part, I think you have made a spot for yourself in the world and are quite comfortable there.

Thanks for being you, Nina!

I love you,

Mama

 

Addison Park, Part 4, Age 2.5

Clearly, I was not consulted when Addison Park decided to change their sign.  Do you think they considered all the people (uh... me?) who take pictures of their child every year by the sign with her name on it? I'm guessing not.

Anyway, you can still get the gist of it... she is growing. fast. and tall.

 
  

age 2

 

age 1

   

age 0.5

Speaking of Silly Bandz...

Here's a sweet deal... for the next 4 hours (until midnight Wednesday), you can get 72 Silly Bandz for free. You just have to pay $4.99 in shipping. I'm thinking I just got an entire birthday party's worth of party favors for $5!!  Click here before midnight tonight for the deal.