20 Questions

I found a great idea on Pinterest that I recreated and tried out the other day. The original idea is from this website. The basic idea is that you ask your child the same 20 questions on his or her birthday each year. Then you can put the answers in a scrapbook to look back on and compare how your child has changed from year to year.

I put together questions to ask Ashley, and also created a page to trace her hand, have her write her name, and draw a picture. Here are her answers:

Questions 1

and picture (only thing I drew was the cat):

Questions 2

I had so much fun asking Ashley the questions. I told her it was an interview and she really got into it. She was very thoughtful with her answers and it was one of those priceless moments that I hope to keep in my memory forever. I completely teared up when she answered that she wants to be "a mommy" when she grows up.

I am looking forward to doing this every year with both of my children each birthday, and putting the answers into an album with pictures. I highly suggest trying this idea if you have children.

You can download my original document here, and make it your own.

Dear Ashley

Dear Ashley,

Happy 4th birthday sweet girl!! 4 years old, how did that happen?! I still remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. It was the most amazing day of my life, a day that changed everything. You made me a mother, and you were perfect. The past 4 years have been unbelievable. You have taught me so much about life, and it is amazing watching you grow up.

You are an incredible little girl. You have an amazing memory. You pick up EVERYTHING! I can say something once, and you are repeating it weeks later. You come home from school and tell me all kinds of information that you learned at school. It is so cool!

I am proud of you for so many things! You are doing so well your first year of preschool. You are a wonderful listener (for your teachers at least). You may be shy, but still go right into your classroom and head over to the other kids. You can write your name, know letter sounds, count, and even know Spanish! Keep the love of school and learning that you have now, always.

You started gymnastics a year ago and have progressed so well, moving up to a class with 4 and 5 year olds while you were still 3. You have no fear of that high beam or high bars! I hope you continue to be brave and try new things! You also started dance class and you love to twirl and hear the sound of your tap shoes. You listen to your teacher carefully and I can see your intense concentration as you try to follow along with what she does and says. I hope you never give up on yourself or what you love!

Best of all, you are so fun, playful, and loving. You love to tell jokes, laugh, and make others laugh. I love all the silly things you do. You have a wonderful imagination, make up great stories, and love playing with all of your toys. You know the perfect time to give hugs and kisses because someone is feeling bad, and even though you may fight (often) with your brother, you also give him kisses and try to help teach him new things.

I'm so proud to be your mommy! You are my sunshine, my heart, and always my "baby" girl. I love you to the moon and back!

xoxo,

Mommy

(Somewhat) Wordless Wednesday

My dinner

Seared Scallops over Wilted Spinach and Parmesan Risotto

This recipe was delicious! My husband sent me a text saying he was going to make dinner tonight and this is the yummy meal he prepared. If you've never checked out Gina's Skinny Recipe's at skinnytaste.com then you've been missing out. Her recipes are simple and scrumptious!

Super Bowl Sunday

Things I Love About Super Bowl 2012:

1. We had "souper" bowl day at school on Friday with lots of yummy soups, breads, salads, sides, and treats. Delicious!
2. We are hosting some friends and family over today for the game.
3. I was forced to clean, dust, vacuum, and scrub the house because of our hosting.
4. Carne Asada, wings, chili, chips, dip, and Wegman's ultimate white cake are some of the tasty things we will be eating at our super bowl shindig.
5. Funny commercials--and apparently a lot of celebrities appearing in commercials: Matthew Broderick, David Beckham, Jerry Seinfeld
6. The Material Girl performs at half time.

So, maybe I couldn't care less (thanks KAJ) about the football. Though, I do know a lot of Patriots cheers since that's the same name of the team that I cheered for when I was 5.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Wordless Wednesday

It's puddle jumping time!

Reckless Youth

Yesterday's post about my experience skiing last weekend got me thinking. The panic attack on the mountain is no new occurrence. I never used to have this problem, I wasn't afraid of anything, I'd try anything, and wouldn't think twice about it. Not so much anymore. When did this happen to me?

Now, I get panic attacks on airplanes, on ski mountains, in elevators, in confined spaces, and when I start to think and worry about things too much.

I started to think back on some of the things that I've done in my reckless youth (you like that M.D.) that I would NEVER do now.

Here they are.

Things I did, but would never do now:

• Skydive

I went skydiving on my 21st birthday (thank you Erin for that incredible gift). Just looking at the pictures now gets my heart racing.

• Stand on the edge of a teeny tiny piece of cliff that is jutting out many many feet above water.

What was I thinking?! I was actually in Australia when this picture was taken, walking along the cliffs, when I excitedly went to that exact spot and told Jimmy to take my picture. HELLOOOO, I've seen news reports about people doing things like this on vacation and the cliff giving out....not a smart move!

• Wear a bandana and think I'm ghetto-fabulous

OK, so this isn't necessarily "reckless," but I found this picture and couldn't help but again say to myself, what was I thinking?! This style just does not work, PERIOD. (unless it is Halloween)

*Note: I actually found my stash of bandanas today and they are now in my children's dress up bin for dressing up as pirates (aren't they cute?).

Arrrrr Mateys!

So, am I just older and wiser now? Or just a scaredy-cat? Or maybe there's just more to lose and leave behind?

I don't know, but I've definitely become a much more cautious and nervous person than I was in my 20's. Am I happy about those reckless moments of my youth? Absolutely, and I'd do them all over again at the time of my life that I did (with the exception of the bandana, there is no excuse for that fashion disaster). I just wouldn't do those things today.

What I Learned...

Well, hello blog I've been neglecting. Life just kinda got in the way of my updating! I actually contemplated deleting this blog already because of my neglect. It was actually stressing me out that I wasn't blogging everyday. Then, I realized, this is a hobby, and I can't let it worry me to the point of it becoming a chore. That's not what this is about. It's about writing out my thoughts, when I want, and when I can.

So, nonetheless, I'm back. I went away skiing last weekend at Hunter Mountain in New York and it was the perfect weekend getaway. Just what I needed. Jimmy and I went away with two others, left the kiddos with the grandparents, and we really had a blast. Looking back at the whole weekend, I realize that there are a lot of things that I learned over the weekend. So here it is:

What I Learned at Hunter Mountain (and on the way there):

1. Mad Libs are hilarious fun for adults. (thanks M.D.)

• Seriously, if you are going on an extended car trip, break out the Mad Libs. There is even an App, which is what we used. I was brought to tears from laughter at the crazy stories we created.

2. Reminiscing about 80's culture is not only entertaining, but may make you realize that you've been saying the name of a popular children's toy talking bear wrong for 20+ years.

• It's always fun to go back in time and think about all the great commercials, board games, cartoons, TV shows, and other 80's culture. It becomes even more fun when someone says they remember playing with "Teddy Rubskin," and have no idea they are pronouncing the name wrong over and over again. This person shall remain nameless but will never live that one down.

3. I'm old.

• So I haven't skied in two years and it is just like riding a bike, you don't forget how to do it. I don't think I was terrible and I even got the nerve to go down a black diamond and actually enjoyed it. However, after a morning full of skiing and a full belly, my next run down a black diamond, so appropriately named "Hell," was just that, hell. Not only did I have a panic attack when I reached a steep part, but I lost use of my legs because I was so exhausted that I literally felt like my legs were jelly. I thought I was going to seriously injure myself on that run. I definitely felt old and out of shape!

4. There's some great food near Hunter.

• Pancho Villa's in Tannersville has an incredible salsa (we even took some to take home).
• Last Chance Cheese Antiques Cafe is a great for cheese and a variety of beers.
• Maggie's Krooked Cafe & Juice Bar has an AMAZING breakfast. This place NEEDS to be on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

5. Rip Van Winkle lives!

• There are 60 statues of Rip around the area. Enough said.

So, when you follow the mountain rules, (and add in some good eats, drinks, friends, and laughs) you're bound to have a great trip!

Preschool Blues

When Ashley wakes up each morning I hear the same line "Mommy, do I have school today?" She asks this in a paranoid tone. If I tell her she has school she whines that she doesn't want to go and is worried about it ALL morning. It breaks my heart.

It hasn't always been this way. She's been going to preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays since September. She started saying she didn't want to go about a month ago. I just can't figure out why she has the preschool blues.

I talk to her about it. We discuss all the fun things she does at school, all the great songs she sings, the things she's learned, the projects she brings home, and the friends she's made, but it doesn't help. I ask her what it is that she doesn't like about school and I get different answers every time. Here's what I've gathered:

• She doesn't want to go because she'll miss me.
• She doesn't like the "big boys." (To clarify, she goes to a preschool program that is offered to teachers' children. The program is at the high school, and high school students come to the preschool for their Child Development class)
• Another child wouldn't play with her or yelled at her.
• She doesn't like school.

I've talked to her about each of these scenarios that she has given me and tried to comfort her, but she wants no parts. The crazy thing in all of this is that she resists going to school all morning, cries about it, and tries to make excuses on why she shouldn't go the whole car ride there. Then we get inside the door of her classroom and she RUNS over to the other kids and wants to get involved in whatever activity is going on, all without looking back at me. Same with when I pick her up, she is happily involved in something and greets me with a big smile. She smiles when she shows me all the projects she created. But as soon as we are out the preschool door, she's telling me she doesn't like school again. I just DON'T GET IT!

Now, I think this may just be the universe's way of paying me back. I remember crying every time I had to go to school. My mom worked in a Catholic School that I also went to, and she used to drive me in every morning since it wasn't in our town. I specifically remember occasions that I threatened to jump out of the car on the highway as we were headed to school. I even went as far as opening the car door on the highway as she was driving. OH, PAYBACKS! My reason for this: some years it was because of the strict, mean nun that was my teacher (who gave me a twitch, but that's another story), some years it was because I missed my mom, other years it was because I was just painfully shy. Ashley is very shy too, so maybe that's just it. I can relate to how she is feeling, which is probably why it breaks my heart so much. I eventually started to love school. I think I finally changed my opinion of it in about third grade, so hopefully Ashley will get there.

But in the meantime, does anyone out there have any suggestions on how to deal with the preschool blues? Or is it just my karma, and I now have to endure the pain that my own mother did when I was little?

Ashley happily showing off two preschool projects

BTW, this winter craft is adorable! It's a snow ruler, used for measuring how many inches of snow fell. I can't wait to use it on a snow day! Looks simple: craft stick with inches marked, finger paint for white snow look, ribbon, and foam circle for snowman head, also has words LET IT SNOW on back. CUTE!

Wordless Wednesday

Say no to SOPA and PIPA! Sign the petition to tell Congress not to censor the web. Learn more about these two bills from Google and Wikipedia.

We all deserve to be heard.

The Race

Most weekdays I feel like I'm in a race, especially Tuesdays. My alarm goes off in the morning and then it begins....

On your mark. Get Set. GO!

I'm off and out of bed. I need to race to the shower, get dressed, put on makeup, and do my hair all before the kids get out of bed. I'm putting on my makeup when I hear the footsteps and the call, "Mooooommy!" Darn! I grab little Jimmy bring him into our room and set him up with a morning activity (AKA morning cartoons). Back to the race. I'm finished lap 1.

Lap 2: Time to make and eat breakfast (my running partner, my husband, often preps breakfast). I feed myself and get the kids dressed and fed all while racing the clock. Time to pick up the pace, brush teeth, get bags in the car, and kids strapped into car seats (hopefully lunch was prepared the night before or I'll need an extra pitstop).

Lap 3: We're off to Ashley's preschool. Finally a moment of rest while we're in the car. Scratch that, Ashley's crying that she doesn't want to go to school and Jimmy wants to play "I Spy." Time to entertain. We make it to preschool, out we go, I begin running again, this time to get Ashley inside. She's in, we're back outside, and off for our second drop off. We make it to drop off 2 and Jimmy is safely in the care of Grandmom. I'm speeding out the door and back to the car to get to work, which is luckily only a short distance away.

Lap 4: I made it to work. Time to race the clock as a teacher, as I go from subject to subject. I'm definitely feeling exhausted by the end of my work day, but I must find some energy because the race is not nearly over yet.

Lap 5: I rush out the door of the school and head to pick up Ashley. Got her, and then it's back to Grandmom's house. Grandmom graciously makes us dinner on Tuesdays so I truly get a nice pitstop to fuel up. But my rest is short-lived because it's time to get Ashley dressed for dance class. Out the door we go and back to the race to get her there on time.

Lap 6: We're fed and out the door and swiftly we make our way to dance class. I multi-task my way through different activities and chatting with other parents while Ashley is in class. Then we're off again to pick Jimmy up and head home. I'm definitely pushing myself through to this last lap at this point because my exhaustion is getting the best of me.

Lap 7: Made it home but I didn't hit the finish line yet. It's bath time! Kids get washed, pajamas go on, and the finish is so close. I take Ashley to her room to read her books and this is where I crash. And my husband always wonders why I fall asleep in her bed!

I made it to the finish line!

If I'm lucky enough to have a tiny speck of energy left, then I prepare for the next day. Because the race starts all over again tomorrow.

http://stratetalking.blogspot.com/ : SOLD!

Well, I did it. I claimed my place in cyberspace. So here begins my blog. This will be my personal diary; a look into my "so-called" life. Sit back, relax, grab some wine, and come along on this crazy chaotic journey with me!