365 Day Challenge - Playing Catch Up - Day 65 - 72

March 5, 2012 - Yes, don't hate her because she is beautiful and don't judge because we keep our Christmas Tree on the deck until April 1, 2012.  Why does kids know how to pose? I would love to know, I certainly don't walk around like that. She doesn't watch fashion shows and music videos are off limits. Scares me!

March 6, 2012 - The beauty of the season. I love this time of year. Everything is coming to life. Just waiting for the kids to come home with nothing to do but park and enjoy the moment of quiet.

March 7, 2012 -  "I hate my homework! No, mom, I really do!" And, yes, I can tell you that she really does. I actually hate doing homework with her too. It is never easy and takes a good two hours when it should only take 15 minutes. Grr...

March 8, 2012 - My friends hate this picture of Goddess but she and I love it! Just playing with an edit.

March 9, 2012 - Another beautiful day! You have to love some of these photo edits available on the phones these days. Love them!

March 10, 2012 - No time for editing but there is handsome with the too long hair holding his derby car. He didn't win anything but it was a lot of fun.

March 11, 2012 - I spent a morning with some friends who just started a little jazz band. It was very cold but after a few very warm days and even colder at the water. There are so many to choose from but I love this one.

March 12, 2012 - The Teach doesn't like his picture on the blog but I am putting it up anyway. He is my foundation, the reason I feel like I can do what I do in life. I feel safe and sometimes inferior but that is just me.

Overheard Conversations between Handsome & Goddess

Handsome: Hey, is that dad?

Goddess: No, it is too early.

Handsome: No! It's not  him!

Goddess: Maybe it was someone who looks like him. Where you just thinking about dad?

Handsome: Yeah!

Goddess: That happens to me sometimes, when I am thinking of someone I can hear them. Sometimes I hear Dad say my name!



Goddess: It should be called rainbow roll

Handsome: You can't roll that doesn't make sense.

Goddess: Well it does if you are on a rainbow and you roll!



Goddess: You are making me so mad, I am going to destroy you.

Handsome: You don't even know what destroy means!

Photoblog Challenges - N = Night

I went out Saturday night with some mom friends and had a great time. It was a wonderful evening weather wise. We sat outdoors. Living in a small town makes it easy to know just about everyone. It was nice to sit with friends, have a drink, eat dinner and meet new friends. When I left I had to grab a shot of the lovely porch front of the restaurant. It was so peaceful and quiet and if I had a few more moments would have spent some time sitting in the chairs but prayers and bedtime was waiting and I wanted to be home for it.

Favorite Photo Monday - My Baby And Me

 

I will be the first person to admit that this is not a great picture but it was my favorite of the week. Taking pictures of you and your children is so important. My mom died when I was 12. I have probably 2 pictures of her with me. She was probably one of those, don't take pictures of me people. I don't know and will have to ask my dad. 

 

They will always see you as "beautiful" mom so take those pictures and don't worry about how you look. One day all they will have are their pictures and their memories. 

 

Say Cheese!

Blue Monday - The Big Blue Bunny

Handsome received this big, blue bunny on his 1st Easter. I hated it but it was from my sister-in-law in California who told her mom to pick out the biggest bunny she could find.  Well, low and behold we got this guy.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love stuffed animals as much as the next person but.....really this thing is big and if it had come from anyone else I may have already tossed it by now.
 
Handsome and Goddess love this guy and we have tons of pictures with him over the years. If I had more time right now I would have stitched a bunch together but as always I am flying around today and with Handsome and Goddess home sick, things are hectic. (Bunny photos to come).

In the past two years he gets put away with the Easter stuff and comes out to spend a month with them. It makes it easier for me to not have to worry about dusting him all year. Damn mite infested thing (assuming of course, and completely unfair to the bunny).

They almost talked me into letting him stay out this year but he made his way to a bin just like all the other Easter bunnies when they were in school.

See you next year big blue bunny!

Screw You Computer, I Am Still The Winner!

Victorious. Maybe someone was trying to tell me that I work too hard. Maybe the universe wants me to do something else. Maybe my kids sabotaged it so I can spend more than 2 hours playing Guess Who. (Lord help me) Whatever it was, it is no longer an issue. My first Sony Vaio was a gift from the Teach after Handsome was born. Oddly enough, I thought..what a weird gift. We have two desktop computers. His plan was that I could be on the computer more often and not wait until the evening to go into the office and be tied to the computer "you can use it anywhere." Without that computer, I would never have started a blog, made vlogs, or edited photos. The computer that eventually became the catalyst for some of our arguments is my lifeline to work and my little paycheck. I run a community page for Greenwood Lake since they lost their newspaper and make 160.00 a month for 12 hour days, 7 days a week. It isn't much but for me justifies all my online time over the past few years. That original Sony Vaio, knock on wood is still running strong and the kids share it. It has also been my back up whenever there is a problem with my new 1 year, 4 month old Sony Vaio. This computer has always been slow. Start up takes 20 minutes and at the beginning of last week, my mouse decided not to work anymore. After many virus checks, registry checks, and more, Teach believes it really is just a crappy, broken mouse. I guess you can't have two wonderfully, awesome Sony Vaios two times in a row. This one had to be a problem. So, now I am typing away with a remote mouse and everything seems to be fine and back to normal. It will take some time to go back to a mouse and mouse pad but at least I get to finally use our Phineas and Ferb mouse pad.

Cat Snatching Children’s Book Captures Idea Inspired by Three-Year-Old

The 411 by Maria: 

 

Susie is spoiled. She is so spoiled she thinks she can have everything she wants and if you don't give it to her, she will take it. Even your cat. She is in love with Simon the cat who is owned by Mrs. Payne. Susie comes up with a plan to snatch him and keep her as her very own but when things don't go her way. She has no choice but to apologize and give him back to Ms. Payne.

 

The kids found the book funny, they thought Susie was a brat and I love Larry for it. We are not meant to have everything we want which is a lesson I constantly try to teach to my children. It is good to want but if you get everything you want, you have nothing left to want. Wanting is good for the soul and it keeps you trying hard. Plus, we all know, you can't always get what you want! 

 

The story is cute and the pictures adorable. 

 

Great read and I can't wait to loan it to Goddess' class for her teacher to read to the kids. 

 

The First Husband Soon To Be A Movie

The 411 by Maria:

I am not at all surprised that this book was picked up for movie rights by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. As someone who has very little time to read and usually takes a week to read a book, this was done in 1.5 days. 

You like Annie from page 1. She is blindsided by her boyfriend who suddenly decides they need a break. Forcing herself to go out one night and break her depression she meets Griffin, who you will also like immediately. 

Annie finds herself suddenly happily married until Nick resurfaces and asks for a second chance. Decisions, decisions, what's a girl to do?

Personally, I love how Laura creates likeable characters. Not every story needs villains. There doesn't need to be a big, nasty breakup for us to root for the new guy. The characters are very real and the situations very believable. 

My favorite character is Griffins brother Jesse. He is funny, witty and sarcastic, plus it isn't often that the main female character gets to befriend a male friend, have him be her sounding board, a person she can laugh and get drunk with, while being there for him too, without it turning into something sexual. Kudos to the author for that one.  

I also enjoyed the many references to Roman Holiday, we are all romantics in a way even if we say we aren't and it was fun to see Annie's connection to this movie which she believe to be a catalyst to her "bad luck".


Great book! ***** (5 stars)
 

Allergies, Allergies, Allergies

Thank goodness I have an opportunity to be part of an amazing group of moms because the past week is only the beginning of a really bad allergy bout for my children. It started slowly last week with Goddess complaining about her itchy eyes. The girl is allergic to grass and trees that we know of anyway (she hasn't been to an allergist yet) and insists on picking every flower she finds and than like all children, touches her face with her hands to move her hair or whatever, hence itchy, red, watery eyes. She literally was holding her eye open yesterday when I walked into her class with a birthday cake for her classmates. Thankfully I always have an allergy emergency bag with me.

As part of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew I received a big, beautiful, tote bag stating that I am a Mom Crew Member and enough allergy meds to get our family through hopefully, the next two months. At the right we are going, it may only be a month.

Yesterday I got my first call from the nurse. Handsome was in for his nose. Poor boy looks likes Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Too much blowing has made his nostrils very red and sensitive.

Every morning starting yesterday they receive a morning dose right before school. The school will still call me and tell me that the kids look terrible but at least they will be able to function. The itch will be controlled and they won't get tired. They still have to get through school so Claritin is our lifesaver. Without it, they would be dosed up on a sleepy med that only helps temporarily.

The Teach has some at work and the nurse has some at school for the kids. It will be a terrible season but thankfully, Claritin is here to help.

Are you affected by seasonal allergies?

 

 

Nothing To a Dog like Hot Dogs and Bubble Gum

The 411 by Maria:

My kids love being read to and I love books that I can read to them over and over again without getting bored myself.  JP Trouble by Ryan Hill is that. The kids have both asked me to read this book to them at least three times a week since we got it. 

They love how the dog or "Just Plain Trouble" and Johnny found each other. They get angry when Snooty Sally tries to take the dog from Johnny and they love that in the end Johnny and his friend get to be together. 
My kids by the way, are dying for a pet. 

I appreciate the story about a lonely boy and a lonely dog finding each other but more than that, I love how the author filters in some bullies who try to take the dog and in the end, lose! Hooray.
 
The colorful, fun illustrations add to this adorable book of a sad, lonely boy who really needed a friend with a dog who needed him just as much.

Weekly Top Shot - Goddess

It's my baby girl who will be 7 years old tomorrow. Where does the time go? 

Tomorrow is My Baby Girl's 7th Birthday

Oh my gosh..where has the time gone. She just asked me what I was doing tonight 7 years ago. I told her getting really excited that I would be meeting her. What a bittersweet feeling that my baby is going to no longer be considered a baby. 7! I can't even stand it.

She is so excited and while I am too, my heart aches for my little girl who I used to be able to carry around in an infant carrier until she was 3.

The Taker by Alma Katsu - A Review

The 411 by Karen (Maria Space's first freelance book reviewer):

The Taker is a classic tale of almost unrequited love.

Lanny is a young girl in Puritan Maine at the turn of the 19th century, she is in love with Jonathan, the son of the richest family in town.  Jonathan is adored by all the women of the town because he is stunningly handsome and of course because of his position.

Unfortunately Jonathan is hated by the men of the town for the very same reason.  As it goes an unlikely friendship bonds Lanny and Jonathan together and eventually Lanny finds herself with child.

Lanny's family sends her away to Boston bound for a convent in order to avoid the shame that would be brought upon the family should she stay.

Upon arriving in Boston Lanny decides she does not want to give up her baby and disappears into Boston where she is soon taken up by a group of mysterious characters who have their own dark agenda. Lanny finds herself involved in a world far removed from her sleepy Maine home and soon in an unreal battle against evil in its most base form.

Adair a wealthy royal from the old world has just arrived in Boston and is the toast of the town. Adair takes a special liking to Lanny and her world will forever be changed.

This book is a page turner leaving the reader with many questions and a hunger for the second of this trilogy.

While it took until the end of the book to find out what Lanny is and I am still not 100% certain, the build up was appreciated. There were many times, I felt that the story had some unnecessary moments and the same amount of time, I felt that moments should have been elaborated on.

I would be remiss not to mention the amount of sex in the book. While it wasn't offensive to me, there was a lot of non-consensual, violent sex and this could put off some readers. With that being said, it depends on what you like to read and I leave that up to you, the reader.

On another note, the cover, is beautiful and demands to be read.