Take Time to Remember the Fun Times

J and I were reminiscing about all the times we surprised our family members by showing up across the country - or in another country - unexpected.  Sometimes we get mired in the day-to-day and forget to remember the fun, crazy moments.

Like the time we surprised my sister for her 40th birthday. We flew to Canada and got Motor Mouth dressed in a cute little short pants suit. We hid in the corner at my brother's place as my sister was surprised by dozens of friends and family. Then we came into view and it was a whole new surprise all its own. It was the first time anyone in my family had met Motor Mouth who was 4 months old.

Once, we arranged it with my sister's assistant to pick us up at the airport. She drove us to my family's business where we surprised my sister and brother. Then it was off to our my parents' home to surprise them! Nothing like house guests you weren't planning on having!

When I had foot surgery, my mom came to help us. We drove to the airport, telling her we had to pick up J's dad to take him back to his offices. She didn't think anything of it because my father-in-law had his offices based at the airport at the time. Mom couldn't believe her eyes when she saw my sister sit next to her in the Jeep. LOL!

One time, we drove all night and got to my parents at about 4 am. We dozed in the car for about 45 minutes when I figured my mom would be awake. I called her and said, "Hi Mom! Can you please come downstairs to open your front door for us?"

You should know that my family was not spontaneous when we were growing up. We planned for a week if we were going to have a family picnic to Niagara Falls which was only about 45 minutes from our home. So me dropping in on them from Tulsa or Chicago is unexpected at the least. And oh so much fun!!!

(Surprise emoticon found on 360Fashion.com)

Merit Badge

I'm going to start embroidering these and handing them out when people earn them.

Evening Entertainment

Why don't more people leave their curtains open?

Stacy Was Here

"Stacy Was Here"

Seems Stacy felt the need to leave her mark on the world. On a bathroom stall.

Reminds me of a line in one of my all time favorite movies "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In it, Kathleen, played by Meg, says "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small."

Personally, I have no desire to write my name on a bathroom wall to signify my existence. But I think that, on some level, most of us feel a need to signify that we existed. That somehow, our lives, regardless of how small, are valuable and matter. That we matter.

We all have our own way of making our lives count. Being a wife and mother is my main way of making my mark on this world. Training my children to be strong, knowledgeable and contributing members of society is my version of writing my name on a wall. Blogging, volunteering, my work are other ways I make my mark.

How do you make your mark on this world?

I Love Technology

I was meant to live in this age of technology. It makes me so happy to be able to turn off lights with my iPhone.

Photo Bomb

I was trying to take a pic of the living/dining room when someone ran past on his way to bed...

TV Viewing

That's Mini Me watching TV.
Looks pretty...comfy...?

Baby Girl

My baby girl is growing up!!!

How to Scare Your Husband

How to scare your husband. 

1. Send him on an errand at night. 

2. Turn off all the lights. 

3. Close all the doors.

4. Get in your hiding spot. 

5. Turn off your phone. 

6. Wait patiently. 

7. Get your giggles out before he gets home. 

8. Wait patiently. 

Bad Mother

My itty bitty city car is at capacity with moving boxes laid flat across the folded down back seats and the trunk. So, this child's booster seat is up front. It is exactly what the law and car handbook say is wrong, wrong, wrong. Bad parenting.

My child is at school - not in the car with me. After I get the boxes up to our loft, I am going to leave this in the front seat. Can you imagine what would go through some mom's head if she looks in and sees it?! Bahahahaha!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

I never really cared for Dr. Seuss books as a child. Hated them, really. But as an adult I have come to appreciate them. And I've been known to rather enjoy some of the movies from his books.

So, kisses Cat in the Hat!!! And Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!!

Public Service Announcement

This knowledge should make any meeting, school function, event much more...doable.

Daily Pics - Glasses

I am still taking daily pics of myself and sending to my bestie, Usher. He looks forward to it and texts when I don't send a pic. This is so much fun and yet so silly.

Top left - Gangsta style!

J picked out these glasses for me. I have to say, they bring a LOT of unexpected attention. I have had crazy attention. As in, if I were single, I'd have a date every night. 

Christmas Race

It's a new tradition. Started last year when these decorations went up at the school where I am in admissions.

My co-worker (a teacher) and I are both 5'9". These decorations hang down to about 8 feet. Sporty Girl and I race each other to see who can slap the most the fastest....

Don't worry, we make sure no students are around.

Sporty Girl kills me each year.

Restroom Break

What do you do while waiting for your kid to finish their bizness in a public restroom?

Me...? I DANCE!!!

Place of Comfort

Where do you feel warmest and safest in your home? Do you have a place you can go to that is comfortable and feels like "home," or your "sanctuary" in your home?

For most of my life, our family "rec room" in our basement was that place for me. When I think back to the room, it seemed huge. Multiple big sofas, a big TV, stereo system, a table, more chairs. Brown wood panelling until we wall papered over that in later years. (We are talking the 70's, 80's & 90's.)

This is the room where I used to watch TV, do my homework, entertain my friends. Many of my birthday parties were held there. Bridal and baby showers for friends and family were held in our rec room.

It's the place where my dad would listen to his music and I would stand on his feet, dancing. My dad found solace here as well.

My family gathered there after Mom's fabulous dinners on holidays to watch the Ten Commandments and Sound of Music. We also are known to gather to watch Young & The Restless (even the boys).

It's where I spent much of my rehab time after a car incident. And where I would watch the game with my uncles instead of cooking in the kitchen with the women.

So many great memories of our rec room. No pics. Just great memories.

Lofty Goals

This summer, I have very lofty goals. The children are gone for 8 weeks again. I would like to spend that time writing, reading, being more intentional about creative inspiration and enjoying my husband - not necessarily in that order.

Reading

I’ve joined a Desi Book Club. I’m part Indian on my father’s side so I qualify. We meet monthly. The books selections are by Desi authors. I’ll be blogging about my first Desi meeting soon.

I want to learn more about the Hindu faith. My dear friend, MAM, is South Asian and has frequent socials that have enabled me to meet many people who are Hindu. And, interestingly enough, I meet many Hindu families who want to send their children to the private Christian school where I am the admissions and marketing director. It makes sense for me to know more about this faith.

And I am just simply interested in Kaballah and Buddhism. My plan is to read a Kaballah book I was given and to attend some of their meetings. I would like to read about Buddhism. If time permits, I'd like to visit a Hindu temple and a mosque this summer.

Writing

It is time to add the next installment to the short story I began last summer. I have been mulling over the ending and how I think it should play out. It’s called, “ – wait. I can’t tell you the title. I hope to get it published one day but I will have to do so under a different name because it is scandalous! Hahaha!!!

It is also time to do some editing on an adoption short story that needs to be extended to book format. I’ve been mulling over what changes need to be made and I think I have the writing chops now to do it greater justice.

I also want to blog more.  Blogging brings out my creative juices.

Creativity

I want to take more photos of the things that inspirte me. I could spend days taking photos of all kinds of stuff at MAM’s home.  She inspires me. I also want to take photos of things in the city that inspire me. I got the idea from a webinar for creatives. I need to keep my creative juices flowing to do marketing effectively in my job.

Love J

I also plan to spend lots of time hanging out with my husband. This solo time is such a gift for us. No plans on turning on the TV this summer!

What are your summer plans/goals?

Belated V-Day Post

I made pancakes for lunch. Yes. Pink hearts.

I love my kiddos!

No Words

Okay, maybe a couple of words. J did it.

Head Lice Infestation!

Mini Me got head lice. I never thought it possible. We are a curly headed family. And we use a lot of product in our hair. Didn't think we could be afflicted. But alas, we have been.

In all honesty, it has not been as bad as everyone has made it out to be. Everyone in Widney Loft was lice shampooed and nit checked (to be safe). Sure, it took me 2.5 hours to comb through Mini Me's hair with a nit comb. I made sure to section her hair off in small chunks and went over each section numerous times from each angle. Then when each section was done, I went over the whole thing a few more times. If my daughter had fine, straight hair, it would have been even easier. But it wasn't that bad.

Even the house de-lousing everyone complains about was not that hard. We put all of their stuffed animals away for two weeks. We washed all of our most recently worn clothes (J had just washed everything so we were in a pretty good place). We washed everyone's bed sheets. Finally, we vacuumed the living room sofa and carseat headrest. But honestly not hard.

Maybe we did something wrong. Everyone makes it out to be the most horrible, horrific experience ever. That you should drop a couple grand to have some Lice Fairy hair salon go through your family's hair with - literally - a fine toothed comb. Or that you should use all these specific products to get your child's hair and your home cleaned. I don't know. Maybe I did do something wrong. But it's gone from Mini Me's hair and we survived.

Have you ever had head lice in your family? What did you use?