Calgon, Take Me Away

Did you ever just have a day where you felt like you were the worst mom in the world? That's the day I had today.

Overtired, overstressed trying to get everything done, the kids were fighting, not listening, laundry up the ying-yang, Abby would NOT go into her dance class for some strange reason after I showered and rushed everybody to get there, it was HOT, Abby sometimes whines like crazy, amongst a billion other reasons that I let get to me. I yelled, I took no time for my kids today and I was gross. They had no structure, I gave them hardly any attention. I hate days like this. I was a sucky mommy today. They were kinda sucky today too. Evan was watching TV tonight, and I bent over and apologized to him that I was so grumpy and yell-ey today. His response was "Mom, I can't see my show." Yeah, great.

Thank God they love me, and they'll forgive me and tomorrow is another day.

Pizza, the Missing Tooth and a Fairy

We recently pulled up the old rugs that were in our house so we could refinish the wood floors. The floor guys are coming this Friday, so we needed to finish painting our sun porch, where all the kids toys usually are, where the TV is kept, etc. They are also doing the floors in the dining room and re-doing the kitchen. We also need to empty the china cabinet and move it (u g h ) and pretty much condense everything we own to our living room (the floor in there was already done.) It was a crazy day, the kids were bonkers and Scott and I took turns getting disgusted at trying to get anything done with small kids to cracking up laughing because of the sheer obsurdity of it all. When my parents wanted to see if we wanted to go to Mike's Pizza we were all about it!

We love going to Mike's Pizza. It's kind of "our thing". It's not fancy at all - we sit in the back and eat in the dining room, which is a total kickback to the '70's. It's casual, we can go all icky after working in the yard all day, and we don't have to worry about the kids making a mess. The people that work there all know us and they are really sweet and good to us. We recently found out that Mike's is moving across the street (they have been in the same location since 1969). They are going to re-do everything, but it will still be casual. They want to make it like an old-time pizzeria you would have seen in Brooklyn back in the day. Still, we're gonna miss that funky old paneling and mural on the backwall with the glitter in it.


So, yes, we wanted to go to Mike's - we rushed around throwing clothes on the kids (it had rained all day and we just let them stay in their PJ's). Abby insisted on putting something "Cinderella-ish" on. We went through 3 changes of dress-up clothes before she decided on her butterfly tutu, wings and red flip-flops with the huge flowers on them that are about 5 sizes too big on her. And after all that, as you can see from the pictures, she left her wings at the side door and had the tutu and wings off before we hit the car. Geez LOUISE!

Anyway, finally at Mike's, Evan could barely eat because his tooth was so loose. This tooth had been loose - but not that loose. Apparently, Evan had been teasing his sister two days ago and put her blankie in his mouth. Well, she pulled on that blankie so hard that it really loosened up Evan's tooth. There was blood and crying until Evan realized that the tooth fairy would be back with m o n e y after it came out. Then, of course, all was well in the world.


So, while we were at Mike's it came out in between pizza and getting an Italian ice. He looks like a bigger boy every day. Two down!

When we got home, we got out the 'ole Tooth Pillow that my sister Jen and I used as kids (it was a gift from our Grandma Mary), and it's really cool that now our kids can use it. Abby also put a "tooth pillow" (a little pillow that's on her bed) under her pillow so the fairy could visit her too. Apparently the fairy did visit, because the kids both had dollars in their "tooth pillows" - the fairy must be pleased with the way Abby is brushing these days. ;) I remember that the dentist we went to as kids used to give us these little tiny treasure chests to put our teeth in as we lost them. Funny the things you remember. :)

Hugs,

It's a Wordle!

Something fun I found on somebody's blog - it's called a wordle. You can either type in random words yourself, or give your website address and it'll take a bunch of words from your blog and wordle itself for you.

Fancy, aren't we?

Ohhh la la!

How do you like the new look of my blog? I owe many, many thanks to Judi, from Doodlebug Designs, who worked very hard to make it beautiful. Judi is a blog designer who is volunteering her time through Blogovers with Love. Blogovers is a brilliant idea - get blog designers who are willing to volunteer their time to re-design people's blogs. The customers then give a donation, and Blogovers donates all the money to orphanages in China and Taiwan. So, for my donation, I got a beautiful blog and we all helped a wonderful foster home in China that helps medically fragile infants get lifesaving surgeries. Please check out http://www.blogoverswithlove.blogspot.com and http://www.chinesestarfish.org/ to read about the amazing work of The Starfish Foster home. Below is an excerpt from their website as to the reasoning behind the name of this very special place:

"This well known story sums up the entire reason we have dedicated our lives to the most fagile children in China: Medical special needs orphans.
An older man was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy was walking slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed a beached starfish back into the ocean.
The older man, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day? Surely, such an industrious and kindhearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"
The boy looked up at that man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "For this one, it makes a difference."

If we all did something small, imagine the great things we could accomplish!


Hugs,

Forever a Family!

"Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical."
Nicole Kidman
Adoptive Parent

Today was Abby's adoption finalization at Family Court. Her adoption really was final in China when I brought her home 2 1/2 years ago, but now her name is legally changed and her adoption is considered final here in New York, and we have a papertrail with NY documents, instead of just the Chinese ones. I can now send away for a NYS Birth Certificate for her, instead of using the Chinese one which is translated. Now we need to apply for US citizenship for her - I've been very slow with all of this - the time got away from me so many times!

This was a cool thing to do with the whole family since we were not able to all be together for Abby's adoption in China. We had to be at the courthouse at 9 am. It is very neat to sit outside the courtroom with all these other adoptive families. We've had Abby home for quite a while, but for some of these families, today is THE day for them, when they officially become a family- I loved seeing all the families that were formed through adoption - it warms your heart!
We were finally called in and the judge was so, so friendly and kind and made us feel at ease. He asked us a few questions, including what we are doing this summer. He double checked the spelling of Abby's "new" official name, etc. Afterwards, he told us that we seemed like a great family and that we should go and have a wonderful life together. Everybody in the room clapped. He asked the kids to pick out teddy bears, and a woman gave them lollipops. The judge also said he would like to take pictures with us. I've heard that judges like to do adoptions on Fridays because it's the happiest thing that they do in Family Court, and they love leaving for the weekend on a such a nice note. I bet that's true too!

Afterwards, we took the kids to Friendly's and let them pig out on ice cream at 10:30 in the am. We'll be paying for the sugar all day LOL!
Hugs to all!

Happy Birthday NANA!

I'm posting a little out of order here! Scott's grandmother turned 93 on June 30! Every year we have a big party for her at our house with all the cousins, etc. This year, money was a little tight and we just don't have our act together this year LOL Anyway, we ended up visiting Nana at Scott's Aunt Marilyn's house and we had a great time. Scott's cousins were there with their kids, so the little ones had a ball! The kids LOVE Nana! (We all do!!) So, happy, happy birthday Nana! We'll celebrate at our house next year and will have lots of blue-claw crabs for you!

Hugs and kisses, Nana!

The Lazy Days of Summer

Well, apparently they've hit me, because I've been quite lazy about posting on our blog!

We had a great 4th of July around here - it's always a fun holiday. Our town has a big carnival in the village every year on the 3rd - lots of rides for the kids, petting zoo, games. Typical carnival stuff - only cost $10 for two sand art things - one of which I dropped getting the kids out of the car - and $7 for a 24-cent goldfish that died two days later. But, the kids have a ball and that's all that matters. Usually Scott has to leave me with the kids and go on the fire truck before the fireworks start, and this year he decided not to go on the truck. I was so happy - it was very nice to have him sit with us and watch the kids faces.

The 4th was fun, the weather was gray and it sprinkled here and there, but it held out the whole day! The kids and I walked with Evan's school. The kids decorate their bikes and I put Abby in the wagon. Evan is getting so big now - he rode his bike with his friend John. They kind of rode up ahead of us...he's going into first grade and in some ways, we've lost him a bit - is more independent and doesn't need to be by your side all the time. It goes so fast, and pulls at your heartstrings.

Evan started swimming lessons at the beach, and Miss Colleen is coming once a week for private lessons in the pool. It's expensive, but worth every penny - we are very nervous with the pool in the back! The kids love the pool - I love having it - it's so nice when we're all in there together - it's worth all the work (I can say that because I don't have to do it ;) LOL

Miss Abby started dance lessons too. She kept telling me that she didn't want to do it, and I was like "yeah, yeah, yeah" because she's like that with everything new. My friend Lauren had given me her daughters too-small ballet slippers and tap shoes, which were basically brand new. The day finally came for her to start, and I took out the shoes. Well, that changed her attitude - she is all about the shoes! She put them in one of those Halloween candy buckets (hers is pink with princesses on it) and practically strutted to the dance place. You could see she was nervous when we got in, but we put on her tap shoes and I kind of gently pushed her in the room and walked out. She knows other girls from "Mommy and Me" and my dear friend Susan and her daughter Lauren are going also, so at least she knew girls. The place was awesome about letting us take pictures for a few minutes and then the class started. She had a ball - you should have seen all us mother hens (and Grandma hens - my mom came too LOL) crowded around the window watching them. I have to say it was the c u t e s t thing I've ever seen, and the girls loved it. She is so psyched to go back, and every time with pass the dance studio, she loves to show us - "There is my dance school".

Summer's been great so far, although I just had the kids at the doctor last Friday - Abby was definitely not herself on Thursday at the beach - extremely whining, clingy and she fell asleep in her beach chair, which is unheard of. By the time I got her home, she had 102.5 temp and I felt sooo bad for her. Evan was complaining of a sore throat too. So, turns out they both tested positive for strep. So, they are both on antibiotics and we're just taking it slow. I kept them home from the beach yesterday and took the kids to see Wall E (great movie, btw). Abby fell asleep in the movies, so again, she's not up to snuff yet. I'm going to take them for arts and crafts at the beach today, let Evan take his lesson and then come home - they can rest up, shower and then we'll head over for Abby's dance class. Plenty for one day ;)