Knowing Me Knowing You - April '11

knowing me, knowing you - april 2011

Time once again for that monthly interview project created by my dear friend, The Fairy Blogmother.

1. Do you text?Yes. I finally have unlimited texting and well, wow! Now I'm like a school girl texting her BFF.

2. What's your favorite kind of cheese?Pepper Jack. Wait - no, feta. But I do love a good cheddar... I love cheese but I don't eat it often and don't do the rich cheeses as my stomach and cheese have a love-hate relationship. Mostly hate.

3. Got big plans for the weekend?
We do actually. Privacy laws require me to keep our plans confidential.

4. How do you keep track of your families activities and obligations?We have Mobile Me accounts with Mac that enable us to share calendars. We have it color coded for J's work, my work, kids' school, family activities, etc. We can access and update on our iPhones and laptops. It's pretty sweet.

5. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?J. Always J. I don't talk on the phone much. Like, almost never. Facebook is my chosen method of communication. I just can't stand sitting on the phone talking. I think it gets you into trouble. I think you say too much and are more likely to fill in the gaps with other people's business. 

Also, I talk a LOT at work and I talk a LOT to my kids (okay, that is more yelling but still). J and I are best friends. We talk a LOT to each other. There really isn't much more left for anyone else after that. 

Head on over to The Fairy Blogmother to see what she has to say.

Urban Girl Art

Mini Me was very proud of her school art...

Yes, ants on the foot.

Black background.

She's 5 years old.

Monday Madness

When J was a kid, he always took his dad's socks off. As an adult, J has discovered that Mini Me seems to enjoy taking his socks off. Full circle moment. Join me in singing "Kumbayah."

Tonight, J asked Mini Me to take his socks off. Motor Mouth wanted in on the action so I let him take my socks off. A decision I regret...:

Motor Mouth: "Mom has big feet."

Mini Me: "Yeah she does!"

Motor Mouth: "Like 'Big Foot'. It's like Big Foot with socks on."

This tradition dies with me today.

BEST April Fool's Day Ever!

The day started with me wanting J and I to change our Facebook status to 'Separated'.

J had a better idea...

Imagine receiving the above photo with this email sent to my family and friends:

Greetings Family & Friends,

I hope this email finds you doing well. As you know, it has been my heart's desire to carry a baby to term. After months of fertility treatments, J and I are thrilled to announce that we are expecting! We are thrilled beyond belief. 

We had an ultrasound on March 22. See below. Not sure the sex of Baby Widney yet but the name will be Blue. Just have to work on 2 middle names now.

Motor Mouth and Mini Me are thrilled. Mini Me has many questions, of course. Motor Mouth is taking it in stride. We are all so very excited!!!!

I should mention that if you know the names of our 2 children, the name Blue would fit right in.

I am truly blessed to have amazing people who love me and my family as the following e-mails show....

From JF:

I was literally sitting in my car as I read this and I shrieked with excitement; I also startled my business partner! I'm so excited, I mean who wouldn't be to become an aunt! Also what is the significance of the name Blue?

Congratulations!

From MW:

OMG!! I am SO excited for you. I didnt even know you all were trying. OMG, OMG, OMG this is too much excitement!!!

You better keep me posted every step of the way.

Love you girlie

From MM:

Wow --  I had no idea!  CONGRATS!!!

From VL:

WOW!!! what great news! it is spring after all... so new life!

CONGRATS & many blessing to you & your family.

From DA:

WOW!!!!  So happy for you guys!  How exciting is that!  Congratulations...you guys are just too cool for words!

From DV:

I notice you dropping hints starting months ago, so I'm not surprised. And I know first hand you can keep a secret. How are you feeling? If you're open to hand-me-down baby stuff (my guess is that you're not) let me know.

Wonderful news! May God bless the rest of the pregnancy. If you've got questions, I love to talk pregnancy and childbirth!

And this was my Facebook profile pic....

I laughed harder and more today than I have in a week! (J keeps me laughing pretty hard). Of course, I do feel bad because some incredible people got duped. But I'm hoping they still love me on Monday.

I have never pulled off this great of an April Fool's joke, ever!

Homework

Mini Me came home telling me she had homework. I did not help her with it. My four-year old does not need homework.

My kids are in school about seven hours a day. If their teachers can't get it together and teach them what they need in that length of time, they should be fired. Think about it. When you are at work all day long, do you want to bring home an hour or more of work? My kids are...children. They need to be children. The job of a child is to play. Children learn through play.

Here is something else to think about. If your child starts doing an hour or two of homework every night in second grade, where do they go from there? When does it end? When does your child get to love school and love learning?

If in elementary school your child busts their butts with homework, are up until 1:00 am in high school doing homework, with more of the same in college, by the time your kid hits the work world, he/she is burned out! And they missed their childhood.

I love the way the kindergarten teacher at Mini Me's school next year does homework. First, reading 20 minutes/day to your child is the most important "homework".  A homework sheet is sent home about once every 3-4 weeks. On it, there are about 18-20 items, of which the students are asked to do about 15-18 of those in a 3-4 week period. Things like: "Count to 100 by 10's", "Count how many socks are in your sock drawer",  "Draw a picture of the third building past your home".

These are practical activities the children can do on their own without the help of a parent. Activities that take into account what they are learning in class. They do not take an hour. I don't think parents should have to do their kids' homework. We already did this stuff.

Motor Mouth's Birthday

Happy 8th Birthday, Motor Mouth!

I'm a little late on my birthday posting for Motor Mouth. It was a busy, busy week. We let the kids choose where they wanted to go for their birthday dinner. Mini Me chose a Chinese food restaurant chain in a strip mall. We have some of the best Chinese food in China Town and she chooses that. LOL. 

Motor Mouth chose Rainforest Cafe for his birthday dinner. He wanted the volcano dessert. Mini Me was afraid of the alligator, elephants, and monkeys. It was kind of sweet the way she gripped my leg like her life depended on it.

Knowing Me, Knowing You - Mar '11

Time again for the monthly question series, Knowing Me, Knowing You, originated by The Fairy Blogmother. Enjoy and play along on the Blogmother's site.

1. Do you consider yourself a foodie?Nope. I don't know much about food. J is a foodie. He can taste a food and tell you what the ingredients are (spices and all). I can't eat white sauces or cheese. No food worth their weight can possibly shy away from these prime ingredients.

2. Are you a spender or a saver?Both.

3. What was the last movie you saw?I Am Four. Loved it!!!!!!!! J and I finally went on a date for the first time in months and months. It was nice to do dinner and a movie with my husband.

4. What is the closest book to you?My iPhone is closest to me so my current iPhone books are:
- Audiobooks: The Secret Garden
- Audible: Inbound Marketing


Across from me, the physical book on top of the nearest bookcase is:
- Tribes by Seth Godin

5. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?Yes! Widney is an Irish name. The children wear green. I found a green sweater to wear. We have a new tradition of going to the Greening of the River on the Chicago River. And of course, we have Shamrock shakes! I do have a box of St. Patty's Day decorations I put around the house. I also try to make the kids green shamrock pancakes on March 17. 

Mini Me - 5 Years in the Making

J put this video of Mini Me together. 

Truly, it is 5 years in the making.

Be sure your sound is turned up.

The 2nd song is what we sing to her all the time.

Hanging at Home

I'm Married to a Criminal

Ever watch Criminal Minds?

J would be referred to as an 'Unsub'

(Unknown Subject/Assailant)

Looks like the Unabomber.

Hold your purses close.

End of an Era??

Motor Mouth is about to lose his top front tooth. 

This means he might start going through that 'awkward phase'.

You know, the one that typically starts around third grade. 

We all went through it. 

Enjoy this pic.

Wordless Wednesday - There Are No Words

Mini Me is S.I.C.K.!!!

Mini Me woke up Monday morning with a 105.1 degree fever.

Where is Mini Me?

Can you find her? 

I walked into my bedroom and found this instead of my child.

It's a wonder she can breathe.

Only I Could Screw Up Like This...

Monday evening, I went in to the office to do some design work from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. I knew someone else was in the building when I got there because of the alarm status code. It is a large building that is used by space sharing organizations.

About an hour in, I heard the alarm warning sound indicating it was set. I ran to adjust the alarm so I would not set off the motion detectors. In doing so, I locked myself out.

No key to the building. No key to my car. No cell phone. No shoes. No coat.

It was snowing outside. And a rather desolate street after dark.

I saw a cop car driving by. Tried to flag him down. He stopped. Waited. I waved some more, jumping up and down. He drove off.

Then I saw the guy who set the alarm driving out of our parking lot. I waved. I jumped up and down and waved some more. He drove off. He stopped. I wave and hopped towards him. He reversed. I ran towards him. In my socks. On the snow. I have big boobs and no coat. Must have been a sight.

He agreed to let me back in. Nice man. I know his name but from now on, he will be 'Jesus' to me because Lord only knows what he saved my evening from being.

Did I mention J is out of town and I had a babysitter at home, expecting me back at 11:15 pm? Even if I had flagged the cop down, I don't know a single person in Chicago's cell phone number by heart. The only co-worker whose home I know how to find w/o aid is the Irishman's wife. She would not have appreciated riding in the backseat of a cop car. Oh, but the stories we could tell our co-workers in the morning...

Mindful Monday: It Takes A Village

J travels with his new job. That is our reality and I need to deal with it. I keep telling myself that once both kids are in the same school and that once recruiting and swim meet seasons are over, it will be fine.

Right now, I rely heavily on the goodness of my village. One of Mini Me's teachers and a friend of mine have let me drop Mini Me at their homes by 7:30 am and taken her to school for 9:00 am so I can get to work before my 8:00 am meetings. I've banked co-op babysitting hours so I can go back to the office when the kids are in bed. My employer has graciously worked around my schedule, letting me come in 90 minutes later than normal on days when I drop Mini Me to school myself.

Lots of fathers travel with their jobs and lots of moms deal with it. Being a solo parent is not something I have ever wanted. About 20 years ago, my then boyfriend got a great job that entailed travel. I told him we would not marry because I did not want a husband who traveled and I did not want to raise our children by myself. My opinion has not changed in 20 years. I still don't want my husband to travel. 

I thought to seek advice from several friends who have multiple children and their husbands travel. But they either don't work, or work from home. I think that makes a big difference in making life happen. I can't work from home every day. It is physically impossible to give school tours when you are not in the facility... 

Ultimately, I need to find a system that works for us/me and go with it. This is still pretty new. I'm willing to take suggestions!

18 months

This would be the primary reason why we can never lease a vehicle.

Car dealers will offer as few miles as they can get away with, perhaps as few as 10,000 per year, or 30,000 over a 3-year lease. But they will go as high as 15,000 miles per year if you negotiate it. You'll pay anywhere from 10 cents to 50 cents for each additional mile you drive over the limit. (Source: www.thinkglink.com)

We did 30,000 miles in 18 months.

4 trips to Canada, 2 trips to Tulsa, 1 trip to Branson.

Exploring our amazing city.

All worth it!

Got Enough In There?

Do you think Motor Mouth has enough friends to sleep with?

Knowing Me, Knowing You - Feb '11

Time once again for everyone's favourite monthly interview project.. Knowing Me, Knowing You, originated and hosted by the incredible Fairy Blogmother.

1. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
After my shower in the morning my personality gets perky. However, I can get a LOT done from 8 pm to 1 am at the office, alone.

2. What is favorite show of all time - you've seen all the episodes, you've watched it over and over and quote from it all the time?
I don't watch anything over and over. I tend to quote Oprah or her guests. 

That said, L.A.Law. I would not schedule anything or talk on the phone during L.A.Law. I love Jimmy Smits. Love him. Would have his babies. Or just practice. A LOT. 

And Criminal Minds. And Star Trek Next Generation. And Six Feet Under. And Nip/Tuck.


3. Who would you invite to a celebrity dinner party?
Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Barack Obama, and Seth Godin.

And no, I would not invite Jimmy Smits, Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Goldblum, or George W. Bush to dinner because I want to have each of them for dessert, one yummy morsel at a time.

4. Would you rather have breakfast out or dinner out?
Dinner. I don't care for breakfast out - never enough salt and pepper, too much butter. Besides, I'm the kinda girl that would rather spend money on dinner than for brunch. I can justify spending money on a good steak but not eggs and pancakes. 

5. Packers or Steelers?
After the Packers beat the Bears, I lost all interest in football until next year. It was almost 2 weeks before I found out who won. And even now, I'm not really sure .

Now, head on over to The Fairy Blogmother to play along.

Freestyle Relay - Feb 19, 2011

Sean, Dean, Parker, Jazz