Nice Car

By now, many of you know, Noodle and I have been hit with a late strain of the influenza virus. NO IT'S NOT SWINE FLU! We have been doing a lot of sleeping, puzzles, t.v watching, and singing!

While driving from his pediatric office to my doctor's office, we happened upon this beauty below, which I thought to myself, man, that's a nice car. We were stopped at a light and I couldn't help but admire the gorgeous white leather interior, fancy schmancy exterior, wow, I thought, maybe someday.

With that, Noodle, all sick and feverish, from the back seat utters, "Mommy, that's a nice car."

The kid's got some good taste, sick or not!

Peace.

Bottle It Up

While driving the babysitter home last night, this song was playing on the radio, and I couldn’t help but immediately make a mental list of what I would bottle up right now, if I could.

Rounding out the top of my list are:

~ My baby’s sweet innocence, I wish I could keep him this age forever,
~ My Schmoogie’s giggle induced dimple and his sweet smile,
~ The warmth of Big D’s touch and his ability to make me smile, inside and out,
~ The soothing sound of the laughter I share with my children when we convert my kitchen floor into a dance floor, and,
~ Kisses, hugs and those special smiles that replace a kiss or a hug from across the room.

The list could go on and on, but those were first to come to mind.

If only I could bottle it up, I would, “do it for love”.

I have always enjoyed the tune of this song, now it seems to sound just a tad sweeter.

Peace.

Kiss-Miss - Kiss-You

“Oh, I lik-a da geen shirt mama, it’s like kiss-miss”, says Noodle.

“Kiss-miss? Kiss ME,” I immediate reply.

“I didn’t say kiss me, I said kiss miss”.

“I know, but it sounded like you wanted to kiss a miss and I am a miss”.

“No mommy”, giggles the delicious Noodle. “I said KISS-MISS, like SANTA”! “ You know, Santa, Mommy”.

“Oh, silly Mommy, I thought you wanted me to kiss you”!

He continues to get himself dressed.

AAA-choooo…

“Bless you Noodle”.

“Thank you. Mommy, I need a tissue”.

Running with the tissue behind my back, I smooch him all up.

Giggle, Giggle.

“Mommy, I need a tissue”!

“Oh, I thought you said Kiss You”!

“I said tissue, not kiss you! Mommy, you so funny. I always love you”.

“I always love you too Noodle”.

Peace.

Getting Dressed

First I wanted to remind you that Noodle is 3 and Schmoogie is 9!

“Mama, I want to get myself dressed today, I’m a big boy”, states the very independent Noodle.

"OK buddy, here is everything you need, are you sure you don’t want Mommy to help you”? (Sense the desperation in my voice with a thread of hope that he still NEEDS me to help him)

“No, Mommy, I am a BIG now, I want to do it all by myself”.

“OK Noodle”.

He emerges from his bedroom fully and accurately dressed. Sigh.

“Look at me Mama. I did it all by myself”.

“Oh wow Noodle, you did do it all by yourself, and you look awesome, what a great job! You are a big boy”. Sigh.

Flash forward fifteen minutes. I am in my bathroom finalizing my morning routine to get out the door and to work.

“Mom”?

“What’s up Schmoogie”?

“What’s wrong with this shirt, it feels funny today”?

“Uh, maybe because you put it on backwards.”

Funny how things work out sometimes, isn't it??

Peace.

Welcome Baby Javula!

My mother, after celebrating her birthday on this day for 59 years, welcomes her sixth grandchild, with whom she will now share April 21st.

Today, I introduce my brand new baby niece, Javula (pseudo-name). Weighing in at a healthy 8 pounds 2 ounces she made her debut at 1:40 a.m. via cesarean section (it was a valiant effort, Meglet). My brother and my sister in law are thrilled about the arrival of the third, first girl child, to their family!

Excitement fills my heart today, as I await the time I can go and meet the new addition to our family. I cannot wait to hold her ever so gently in my arms and smell that precious new baby smell as I gaze into her eyes with wonderment of what will she be?

Who will she look like? Who will she act like? Will she be shy, outgoing, silly, funny?

How will she embrace the world and relish in all it has to offer, head on, or with reservation?

However and whatever she is, she will be precious, she will be unique, she will be Javula, and she will be loved.

Welcome, new baby girl!

Peace.

Isn't 60 Nifty?

My mother is turning 60 on Tuesday.

In celebration, my grandmother, mother and I are spending the day at the Spa tomorrow. We are destined to have an amazing day. Three generations of girly girl-ness, sounds delightful.

I wanted to write about her birthday to not only wish her the best of birthdays ever, but also to remind her that I love her deeply, appreciate her even more, and treasure our memories immensely.

My mother and I do not always see eye to eye, but our hearts do. We respect established boundaries and always make the best effort to make the other happy.

It's at milestone birthday's like these that allow you reflect on those things that are really important. Those things like family. Those irreplaceable relationships that are so dear. I feel it important to remember these relationships need nourishment. They need to always be challenged to see just how many memories can be stuffed into them.

Many feel these types of relationships should be easy, ones that just work on their own. Not true. I think if more people worked harder at making their relationships better, they too may be better, in so many ways.

Back to Mom:

Today I wish my mother the happiest of birthdays. I am so looking forward to our date at the spa tomorrow, just one more memory to stuff in!

I love you and thank you for providing me with the basis to be the best person I can be, and more importantly for pouring the foundation that makes me the Mother I am today.

Happy Birthday Mom! Make this year one of your best years yet!!

Your daughter,

P

Peace.

NYC Exploration

A fantastic day exploring NYC with two of the finest nine year olds on the planet, Schmoogie, my love, and Siege, my nephew, wow, what a day.

Here are a few highlights:

*Jump on the LIRR to Penn Station (first train ride for Schmoogie).
*Hit the city sidewalks for several blocks down to the Empire State Building.
*Elevator, Stairs, Observation Deck. Giggles. Lots and lots of photos.
*Browse souvenir shop and enjoy two nine year olds relish in what will make them remember their experience most.
*Experience a new attraction at the ESB, the Skyline. A virtual tour of New York City, narrated by Kevin Bacon, the seats move, feels like you are in a helicopter, it was really cool.
*Hop on the F train ~ “the orange subway” and head down, or is it up to Rockefeller Center (first subway ride for Schmoogie).
*Watch the break dancers perform in the subway station. How do they do that??
*Arrive in Rockefeller Center and admire the ice skaters, the flags and the flowers.

*Truly marvel in all Rockefeller Center has to offer.
*Lunch/Dinner ~ or as the boys said ~ either “Linner” or “Dunch” .
*Giggle at the others having “dunch”, or a snack, or a cup of coffee, or a NAP! They thought this was hysterical! ~ You know, Nine really is Divine.
*Incident with the bathroom attendant, I guess she missed the lecture on manners at Bathroom Attendant School.
*Up to the Top of the Rock ~ Spectacular. Magnificent. Breathtaking.
*Stairs, elevator, escalator, giggles, amazement.
*Search for change for the binoculars and get up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty.
*Lots more photos
*Start walking to the big Toys R Us to ride the indoor ferris wheel
*A Mister Softy Ice Cream truck on the corner of 36th and 5th hits the spot!
*Grab a ride on a modern day rickshaw towed by a bicycle driver with the world’s strongest legs, or so the boys said anyway!
*Here we are at the largest toy store we have ever seen. Three floors of childhood magic, Mingling with Spiderman and Geoffrey.
*A ride on the Mr. Potato Head cart of the indoor ferris wheel followed by a round of Wii Bowling on the biggest television screen on earth, rounds out the Toy Store extravaganza.
*Hit the pavement in search of Penn Station.
*Board the train back home.
*Train ride occupation includes, singing of the silliest of nine year old songs ever, giggling the entire time, reflecting on the best parts of the day, checking out our souvenirs, awe and delight, and of course, stretching out our tired, aching feet.

Both Schmoogie and Siege thanked me for one of the best days ever, and I, had to thank them back.

We had an awesome day.

Peace.

Freezing H2O

The science fair exhibit took place last Thursday at Schmoogie's school. Participation is voluntary, but because we never have enough to do (wink) participation is a self induced requirement for Schmoogie.

I encouraged a simple, easy to controlled science project that could be done in a very short time frame this year. We, and I say we, because he didn't do the project on his own, had some spare time the weekend before, so we set up our project.

The objective was to find out if water temperature has an impact on the rate at which water will freeze. I wanted to know, because I remember being told that warm water is a must if you need ice cubes in a hurry.

Three clearly labeled cups in the freezer. Set the timer. Schmoogie flies back upstairs to get back to Wii bowling. I watch the timer and straighten the kitchen. Timer buzzes. Schmoogie runs down, checks the three cups, gleefully records his data, snaps some photos, back up to Wii bowling.

This process continues every four minutes for some time. Results: cold water is the winner. Cold water freezes faster than warm or hot. Go figure!

The Tri-fold Board arranged so eloquently (if I do say so myself) to display our hypothesis, data, pics, etc.

While every effort was made, we missed the science fair this year due to lacrosse practice and my kickboxing class, just far too much to do that night.

The next morning at school, all students that participated in the science fair were invited to a special bagel breakfast.

Much to Schmoogie surprise, when he was called up to receive his participation certificate he also was the proud recipient of the second place ribbon for third grade projects!!

Go Schmoogie!

Peace.

Stinkin' Beauty

Saturday morning, as I run through the facial cleansing routine, Noodle stands by watching intently.

Cleanse. Toner. Moisturizer. Eye cream. Done.

"Mommy, you're done"?

"Yup, baby, come on lets go get some breakfast".

"Mama, your face is beautiful". (it was more like boooti-ful).

"Mommy, you are bootiful".

Hugs, kisses, smiles and warm thoughts run through my head for, this is going to be a great day.

Three hours later...

Schmoogie recently finds himself in a constant struggle to test where his nine year old fresh mouth will allow him to go. So, he gets sent to his room, after it went to far... I warned him!

As he stomps up the stairs he declares: "YOU STINK, YOU ABSOLUTELY STINK".

Ahh, you win some, you lose some.

Peace.