May 19th: Parenting Class

Tonight Katherine's school hosted a parenting seminar.

Ok. First I'll say I know I'm not a perfect parent. By no means do I get it right all of the time. Heck. Half the time I think for every dollar that goes towards her future education we should be doubling the savings for therapy.

Tonight the lesson was about using positive words to encourage the behavior you want. ie you shouldn't say things like "if you don't stop X I'm gonna Y!!!"  We should say, "if you do A then you will be able to B!" It sounds easy... But seriously it's kinda hard. Threats are sooooo much easier to think of! Now instead of reacting I must try responding. Interesting... Very interesting. She says this concept works in husbands too. Hmmmmm. Curiouser and curiouser.

At dinner k asked what our lesson was about. I told her they said if we say the right things to her she will listen better. It went like this:

K: what did they teach you tonight?
Me: they told us that if we use the right words you will listen to what we tell you and we won't have to fight so much.
K: they're right.
Me: (thinking... Whoa!!! Is it already happening?! Seriously?! I'm bringing this lady home!!!) *out loud* oh really?! How do you think...
K: well if you say you'll buy me toys, ice cream, books and stuff I'll listen to you.

Epic fail.

I'm not giving up. I was told tonight I have the power to change things. Tomorrow craps gettin real in this house!! #powertothemama

May 13, 2014: 20th book!!! SCORE!!!

Tonight Katherine completed reading her 20th AR book!! 

She's pretty excited!  Heck, so am I!!  We're wondering what do we do next? Do we turn the paper over and keep going?  What to do, what to do!!!

I guess we'll find out tomorrow.  She said that she doesn't think anyone else has read 20 books so she doesn't know what happens!!

Very exciting!! We already have the next book picked out.  And sshhhh I ordered some hot off the presses books for her as a surprise!!  Just released this week!! I know - you can hardly contain yourself.  Me either!!! 

I see a Pinkalicious weekend in our future!!! :) (Provided she doesn't get any X's this week in school.) 

Man, I hope she behaves in school so that I can read Crazy Hair Day!! :) 

May 12, 2014: It seemed so easy.

how hard could it be?

put the paper on the (insanely) sticky mat.

put it in the thingy loader majiggy.

pick your design.

"print".

I was so excited!!! eeeepppppp there it goessssssss!!!

that ended in disaster.

And there's where it ended up.

The second time I decided to try what they show in all of the videos (instead of some complicated tag design that I assumed I was advanced enough to try #fail).  I printed some text.  plain ole letters. Okay - so not soooo plain. Disney font letters!

Before I pulled it off of the printing mat. 

it worked it worked it worked!!!!

Take 3 failed again.  I can see I'm going to have a lot of opportunity for "practice".  Glad I bought so much paper!! :)

things I learned

1. even rubbing the mat on my fleece pj bottoms did not seem to decrease the molecular stickiness of it. I can see I'm going to have approximately 3 cuts where I love the mat.  The three right before it gets too sticky to hold the paper onto the mat right. 
2. it would be impossible to cut anything other than card stock weight. regular paper? You're nuts. 
3. tools are important. oooohhhhh that's what the pointy thingy is for?? It seemed dangerous so I didn't open it at first. 
4. reading the manual helps. 
5. watching the tutorial helps.
6. I may be laminating the cheat sheet page with what all of the functions in the software does. For real? who can remember all that? 
7. I don't think I'm ready for the advanced software... much as I think I "need" it. Maybe by Saturday I'll be ready.
8. i have enough vinyl to wallpaper a room ---oooohhhh that might be a cool idea!! 

May 11, 2014: "Holidays are meant to end!"

Okay - so I didn't cry but I did squeal.

I woke up to a latte on my nightstand. Delish. My love know me! This was just the first demonstration of the day. :)

When I wandered out to the family room the two packages that I'd be told were for Tootsie were there  for me.  Surprise!!!! They weren't for Tootsie!

The first was a package of 3 fancy scarves from our friend's business: http://www.afleure.com/index.php/home Beautiful!!! They were perfect! I can't wait to wear them to church!

The 2nd was a crafty gadget I didn't know I needed!! Okay. Need may be an exaggeration. But it's oooohhhh sooooo ah-mazing!!! It's called a Cameo. It performs all sorts of magical things. I believe I will be getting creative with some vinyl in the near future. Katherine's birthday party might have just gotten an upgrade.  AND the cruise we're going on in September... I'm no longer feeling intimidated.

Okay so I might be getting ahead of my abilities but man oh man... A gadget and a crafty thing? In ONE?! My husband knows the way to my heart.

I spent another fantastic day with my loves. I didn't cry so hard... but I did get a little tear when I read Katherine's homemade card, complete with poem and bubble lettering.

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Katherine loves you Mom
You love me.

We hit another one of our favorite restaurants in Murrells Inlet for lunch.  Katherine wanted to sit outside on the deck so that she could swing on the big bench swing that they have. Just before lunch came Katherine came back to sit with us and noted that the sky was becoming dark.

30% chance of rain became 100% chance.  At first we sat through it.  It's an adventure, right?

When we were the last remaining people on the deck and Stephen started calling for "grab anything important and let's go!!!" I (of course) grabbed my super delicious sandwich and hushpuppies (that come with honey butter) and started to move.  Oh... and I grabbed my sunglasses and phone.

Before the rain be-gain.
I love this guy!!!

Fancy picture with the girl...
Still outside!!

Fancy was too much.
Goofy is sooooo much easier! 

Katherine taking cover inside when the thunder began.
Yes.  This is her in "duck and cover" mode.
On her chair. 

After lunch Stephen went and got the car to prevent us from melting. We are "suga" you know! :)

We took the opportunity to run to the car.  Katherine managed to find every puddle and jumped into it splashing me and giving me a good bath.  She giggled all the way! So did I!

After lunch we started the journey home.  Well... after we drove around looking at all of the motorcycles.  It is bike week after all.

Heck. It's bike week from May 1 - September 30th I think. Whatever brings the tourist money... It's all good!

On the way home we stopped at "that restaurant that has a cool store up front that sells Christmas stuff".  AKA: Cracker Barrel.

Having some phone camera fun before dinner. 

look left!!

look right!!

smooch!!

taking smooching to another level!! 

photo bomber KK

Goldilocks tried out all of the rockers.
This one is tooooo big. 

This one is toooo small!!!

This one is ugly. 

aaahhhhh this one is juuuuust right!!!

 Tonight as I put Katherine to bed I asked if we could have Mother's Day every day.

She told me no.

"It's a lot of work and holidays are meant to end."

I'll remember that when it's her birthday!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

May 10, 2014: You're gonna cry so hard!!!!

Katherine has historically been challenged by keeping a secret.  She tries hard... but bless her little heart... She struggles so hard to keep it in.

Now that said, she's done SUPER great this Mother's Day! I knew about the little basil plant she potted but her being part of the poem, the song she sang... she kept all to herself. The present we traveled with from NC to SC, she insists is for Tootsie and not me.  I told her that the card on top that says "I love you mom" might have given away that it's for me... she said she just messed it up and it should have said Tootsie.  Funny lil thing.

Today we had a super awesome day.

This morning Katherine woke up (at 6:30am), got her iPad, found a plate, grabbed a cup, poured herself some water from the fridge, opened the donuts and ate one... All without us.

On the one hand I think > You go girl!!! Almost 6 and able to do some things independently!!! Rock ON!!!

On the other hand I think > errr... Ummm... Does this cement my nomination for MOTY for making my child fend for herself??

Then I think... Why the heck can't she get up without a fight at 6:30am for school? WTC?

But I moved past that when she let me sleep.  Yeah.  I'm shallow like that.

After we hung out a bit at home we headed out for lunch and then to the beach.

I got my cheesesteak, on the all important Amoroso roll, WOOT.  Super delicious lunch.

The beach was very nice! Not too crowded.  A little breezy.  The ocean was cold but that didn't stop the beach babe from jumping in! Literally.

Jumping in! 

This is the look of cranky girl.
Mad that I told her she couldn't be in the water as deep as she was. 

Pouting KK

And we're better... 

"digging a pool"
She wanted to dig a hole, get water into it, and then cannonball.

So the cannon-ball adventure - She would jump into this little hole and land on her butt after the water seeped into the sand. Screaming CANNONBALLLLLL!!!

Onto the hard sand.

*sigh*

Bless her heart.

I got to read in my chair while she played in the water.  Stephen took her on a little walk to give me a little peace.

Tonight we had some pizza for dinner.  What could be better than cheesesteaks & pizza on the same day? #foodnirvana

I read Katherine a new book tonight called "The Night Before Mother's Day". What a cute book!!

Katherine got a HUGE grin on her face after we finished and she said, "Mom, you're going to have SUCH a great day tomorrow!! You can sleep in as late as you want! It's YOUR day! Except... you need to wake up if Daddy and I come in to see you.  You're gonna cry so hard when you see what we have for you!!"

Sweet girl... I can't wait to "cry so hard". Stephen and Katherine have been so wonderful this weekend that I already feel like I've had an amazing Mother's Day.

Butttt I do wonder what's on the food nirvana list for tomorrow?! :P

#livingthedream

May 9, 2014: Tea anyone??

Today was Mother's Day tea at school.

Seriously cute.

I think I was the only Mom who cried. 

But for real people... when they started singing You are My Sunshine... which I sang to Katherine in utero and every night after she was born (and... she still listens to it)... I cracked. No amount of reminding myself "you have mascara on you ninny" prevented the water works. 

It took me a bit by surprise and I couldn't see through the first few tear drops so I missed the first part. 

Then came the poem.  She was the "O" in Mom.  Oh my... My "open arms"....

Tears.

And they wrapped the performance up with reading what each child had written about why their Mom is special.

The she has me part is my favorite. 

After the end of the Mom is Special paper people (reminder: this is the white paper mom that she wanted to be brown) we were taken to start to get our little gifts that the kids made.

First stop...

A heart made of pictures...
Each of the kids dressed up one day. 

Ridiculously cute!!
OMG!!! SO kissable!!! :) 

After the picture she gave me a basil plant that she grew. (Italian Mommy's heart swells!!!) The center pieces were the flowers I made with the class last Friday.  *small tear*

Katherine and I had a little picnic on the floor of the classroom as there were no more seats.  We were the only two down there and we had a great time.  We had some fruit, some banana bread and great conversation.

She did mention that the class practiced their manners twice a day for the last week or so preparing for the Tea. (i.e. Don't cut the mom's off from getting breakfast. mom's first, kids second.) She study's well. A+++++

Tonight we stopped at DD to get some donuts for the morning... No cooking for Mom tomorrow!!! Weeee  She thought this was an awesome sign and needed a picture.  When she said "Isn't it cool, mom?" I don't think it was pun intended... but then she is our child. :)

She's told me this is my weekend and she wants to make me happy.  This is the life folks. This is the life.

Go off and celebrate your reasons for the season!!  In case I slack on my blogs the next couple of days... Happy Mother's Day Mommy's, Grandmas, Godmothers and heck... all women out there.  Everyone "muthas" someone, right? :) xo

May 8, 2014: Crying because she CAN have ice cream!

We start the day with popsicle tears.

We end the day with ice cream tears. 

*Imagine the Lion King song... circle of life - you know the one...* 

It's the circle of tears. 

Welcome to our world. 

This morning she cried because we plan to pick her up in carpool.  She usually wants us to pick her up at carpool on Friday.  Begs for us to pick her up at carpool.  Tomorrow she would prefer to go to after-care because they're going to have popsicles. And she'll miss it if she is picked up in carpool.

So she cried. 

Big crocodile tears. 

"I neeeeevvveeerrrr get to stay to have popsicles." 

Mind you - we're picking her up at carpool so tomorrow night we can take her to the beach for the weekend.  I know what you're thinking.  We're horrible parents.  Terrible. How dare we take her to the beach for the weekend? She'll surely have no fun.  

After school she tells me that her table in school has been the best behaved this week.  They have "the most rocks".  Rocks are the class measurement to determine who's behaved the best during the week. The table that behaves the best gets... 

wait for it... 

POPSICLES!!!!!! 

I breathe a sigh of relief. She'll get a blessed popsicle.  

She tells me she really wanted to have two.

Sweet.mary.jane.

We get home and she's playing outside.  She hears (probably 16 neighborhoods away) the ice cream truck music.  I swear to you, I thought someone had been hit by a car for the amount of screaming and HURRY HURRY HURRY MOMMMMMMMY coming from downstairs.  I run, nearly tripping over myself, to get downstairs yelling back WHATSAMATTA??????

She responds: I need money for the ice cream truck!!! I hear music!!!

No one was hit by a car.  Thank Gawd.  

But there's a money emergency.

I find Stephen's wallet ... (that's the appropriate thing to do in this situation, right?!) and get her a few dollars.  I haven't been to an ice cream truck in years so I expect inflation has hit.

I give her the money and tell her she has to hold it until he gets to our street.  Or hell... at this point, our town.  I don't hear a thing.  

So she waits.

And waits.

And WAITS.

No truck.  

Meanwhile her friends are quite displeased that they can't have ice cream.  Because I'm MOTY I tell her that the ice cream is dinner: Choose wisely.  

Stephen overhears them saying, "it's not fair, Katherine gets everything." Oh no.  Here we go.

So... the truck never shows up.

She cries because her friends have now disowned her because she got money for ice cream and they didn't.  I remind you... the>truck>never>came!!!

And I'm the bad guy because I "just don't understand"... Did she really just tell me that? At five? I thought I had what seemed like a perfectly logical discussion with her. I.was.wrong. 

Life is terrible.

Circle of Tears.

Tomorrow IS Friday.

ThankyaJesus. 

May 7, 2014: Tomatoes are a Fruit!

At school today Katherine played a game.  The game, she says, is called sugar and fats. I thought (surely) this is some made up game OR Katherine has the name all wrong.

So I googled it.

I was wrong.

When Katherine was explaining the game to me, I didn't understand it.

After reading the instructions... I still don't get it.

Does this make sense to you???

Katherine learned during this game that tomatoes are fruit.

Me: So how was your day?
KK: GREAT!
Me: What did you do today?
KK: In PE we played Sugar and Fats.
Me: Ahhh... what's that??
KK: *insert instructions above told by a 5 year old... I can't even repeat it because it makes no sense to me*
KK: And you know what I learned?
Me: What?
KK: Tomatoes are a fruit!!! Isn't that fascinating?!

My child said fascinating.

I giggled at the absolute wonder that she used the word with.

She's awesome.

She fascinates me. :)

And then my fascinating husband whips out the line:  “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”

Thanks Stephen and Miles Kington. 

So many lessons today.  I feel edjumacated. ;) 

May 6, 2014: Flowers for Meeeeee!!!!

Today Katherine had to take a flower for each of her teachers. I had suggested that we use roses from our garden.  She thought this was a great idea!

While Stephen and Katherine were out there picking flowers for the teachers they also cut some for me. Katherine did a great job keeping the secret.  When I came home tonight from work I had these waiting for me on the table.

#love

What's better than roses from your own backyard in a super-cute green vase?
the fact that they came from my loves!

Katherine is officially up to 17 books on her AR Reader List!! We will totally fill up the sheet by the end of the track. I think by the end of next week she'll have read with 20 books.  *WOOT*

Yesterday we found out that spelling is over for the rest of the year.  We're seriously happy about that.  Vocabulary however... not so much so over. *sigh* If we think kindergarten is this hard... I don't think K's going to be able to count on us for help come 2nd grade.  We may be able to squeak by 1st grade but 2nd... No go.

I finished off my day with a yummy dinner, amazing flowers, rum and some Ben and Jerry's core ice cream.

Life doesn't get much better than that. :)

Okay. maybe chocolate covered strawberries make the day better too.
And that face. mmmwwwaaa!!! 

May 5, 2014: Cinco de Drinko

Best line on Good Morning America EVER!!!! And I will use it hence forward. Thank you Laura.  I love you.  Will you be my BFF?

Anywho...

I had a case of the Monday's so this will be brief.

I worked.

I got frustrated.

I went out for Mexican with the neighbor ladies.

We laughed.

I came home.

I kissed Katherine goodnight.

I watched TV with the husband. He was cranky.

I blogged.

I now go to bed.

The end.

May 4, 2014: Is it almost time for communion? I'm hungry.

Y'all the Orthodox aren't known for short church services.

Growing up we had rotating services at the Catholic High School every 30 minutes. We'd go, grab a bulletin (proof of attendance), sit in the back, hang till communion and then if we were feeling like heathens would cut out of the oh so long 30 minute service. I repeat. 30 minutes.

Enter Orthodox.  I didnt realize it at the time but we were spoiled when we lived in NJ/PA.  A solid hour mass and off to breakfast. (At a Diner. Where people are supposed to go for breakfast!! What the heck is it with no Diner's in NC? Get with the program people!!!) I digress... 

In NJ/PA, if Father got a little too wordy during the homily you could count on someone (older) to cough to give him the sign to wrap it up.  And he did. (My favorite homily's were when he used stories from Country songs to prove his Biblical point. Best.Priest.Ever.) 

I'm sure you've heard. Things are slower in the south.  On Sundays we leave at 9:30am for church.  Church usually concludes at around 12:15.  Before church, there's no food if you're over 5.  If you're 5 you get some yogurt before we leave for church to try to prevent the Hunger Games from starting in the middle of church.

This week... that yogurt wasn't enough.  When your child is whispering 15 minutes into mass asking when communion is because she's hungry... Times are TOUGH. 

K: Mom, when is communion. 

Me: not for a while yet

K: *groans* I'm so hungry. I need a little piece of Pascha. Something Mom!!

Me: SShhhhh... pay attention.

*3 minutes of coloring*

K: Mom, we didn't make the chocolate covered strawberries last night.

Me: sshhhh, I know. 

K: Are we going to make them today? 

Me: Yes. Now shhhh and pay attention.

*3 minutes of coloring*

K: Mom can we go to the firehouse place for breakfast?

Me: (now she's got me going) I was thinking Panera.

K: *groans*

Me: Okay hush. Listen to Father. 

*1 minute of coloring*

K: mom, is the Priest going to ask my name again?

Me: Probably.

K: can you tell him for me?

Me: sure. ssshhhhhh

*2 minutes of coloring*

K: I'm bored. 

Me: You wouldn't be if you were listening. ssshhhhh

*she starts kissing up my arm. kissing my fingers. kissing my cheek.*

K: Oh mom I just love you so much.

Me: I love you too.  Now listen to Jesus and hush!!!!

We get back from Communion and Stephen asks Katherine if she grabbed any extra Pascha for him. *Dear Gawd... there's two of them.*

Nope, Mommy says we can only take one. *sigh* I wish we could take more.

I pray. A lot.  Mostly that I don't lose my head in church. 

I think next weekend I'll feed her a bagel AND yogurt before church.  

May 3, 2014: CALL OFF THE JAM!!!!!!

The day finally arrived.

It's been three years in the making. 

First, a lack of insurance caused an issue.

Then some shattering bones during practice delayed the start. 

Then some @ss running into Roxi while she was on her motorcycle and then driving off.

All those things didn't deter Roxi Razorbomb from doin' Derby!!! 

On May 3, 2014 Roxi Razorbomb made her Roller Derby Fresh Meat debut!!

We were there. With signs.  Screaming from the sidelines.

Giggling a bit when every time she got up she gave her top a little hoist. (Apparently they fell when she fell.)

SCREAMING when the coach was trying to get the Fresh Meat Jammers to call off the jam. 

Being so proud when our Roxi won Defense MVP for her very first bout.

#27 is Roxi Razorbomb!!

Using what her Daddy gave her to keep Venus' jammer from advancing

Fresh Meat Score Keeper!

"I don't understand the sign. But it's funny. I don't know why. But it seems funny!!"

One minute left in the bout and Roxi lands in the penalty box.
*WOOT*

You'll get 'em next time Purple Poppies!!

This was a double header. After the Fresh Meat bout there was bout with the "big girls".  (Katherine referred to the Fresh Meat ladies as the "little girls".)  As we watched Rogue do their thing Katherine commented... "They don't fall down as much as (Roxi's) team!!!"

Rogue ladies are serious business.  They are tough.  They are fast.  They are AWESOME!!!  I'd say I want to be like them when I grow up but, let's be practical... This girl isn't cutout for Roller Derby.  They had a raffle and I swore the gift certificate said "spa".  I didn't put my ticket into it because I figured - meh, it's in Fayetteville, what are the chances I'll drive out there on the off chance I win?  Thank goodness... It was for a tattoo place.  $200 for a tattoo place.  It was a hot commodity at the raffle table.  I was thinking massage.  They're thinking INK.  This girl is cut out for facials, massages, manis & pedis.  Being pushed onto a concrete floor... AND getting back up?! Me?  Funny right? Yeah.  I snorted laughing myself at the thought.

As a note, I did win the Mom raffle basket filled with all sorts of things to be pampered with.  Now that's what I'm talking about.  :) bubble bath, sparkly body mist, some books, a candle... and best of all: A Mother's Day card from the Rogue team!! #fanstruck

The Rogue ladies kicked some arse... a 200+ point win... Great way to kick off the season!!

GO ROGUE or GO HOME!!

#weloveRoxi

May 2, 2014: The internet is in a drought

K: Mom, the internet didn't work in my classroom today.
Me: Oh, really? What was going on?
K: I don't know. We're thinking it's an internet drought.

Mkay then.

Today I spent 40 minutes with Katherine's kindergarten class doing an art project. We used shaving cream to paint flower pictures.  It was fun!! and not as messy as I thought it would be.  One highlight was apparently the little boy that "absolutely HATES" me wasn't there. Good for him. He thinks I'm horribly mean... Why you ask? Because at a birthday party he was pushing kids off a bench. So they started pushing him back. I told them all (including my own child) to keep all hands, feet and other body parts to themselves. I'm now that mom.  Oh yeah!!! #meanmother

While I was there Katherine's teacher told me about the project Katherine's been working on for mother's day.  They're making paper moms and wrote a little something about Mom.  Well... her teacher asked her to pick out the color paper for her mom.

She picked brown.

The teacher said, "Katherine is that the color you meant for your Mom? What color skin does your mom have?"

She picked dark brown. 

**Hold on here... does she think I'm Poppy?!!!!**

The teacher asked her again... Are you sure you have the right color for your Mom? Is her skin kind of like mine?

Katherine said, "Fiiiiiiine, I'll do white."

Sorry to disappoint ya kiddo.

I see a Mahogany card in my future.

After school she was playing outside with Stephen and they found a caterpillar. Stephen says she RAN to the garage to get her bug cage so she could put it in there.  She claims she's going to let it go tomorrow. I think she thinks it's going to be a butterfly by then. I didn't have the heart to tell her this isn't the Hungry Little Caterpillar.

Tonight was the Spring Festival at school too. I know.  Busy day, right?  Katherine got to go to the book fair and pick out her two books. We have $2 to put in the Disney bucket.  She thinks we're half way to Disney at this point.  We have like $10 in there. That's totally enough, right?!

Stephen found a book he needed to get too.

No joke. He bought this book.
scratch that. I bought this book for him. 

She had a BLAST on the swings with Stephen pushing her.  This would not fly in my world.  Wayyyyyy too much air going on here. But then you see that face and how can ya not?

higher higher!!!!!

Just swinging here... Yep. that's the 2nd story school window.
No biggie.

Tomorrow is the big debut of Roxi Razorbomb!!! My sister's first Roller Derby bout! We've made signs.  We've got tickets and we're ready to watch Roxi kick some @ss!!!! So excited!!!