I Think I Get It Now July 27, 2009
Posted by Morocco in Learning Experiences.Tags: dating, hindsight, kids, men
7 comments
Remember awhile back when I wrote about a date I went on and I really liked the guy? Well, I still do. We’ve been on many outings since then. In fact, I haven’t gone out with anyone else.
Nicholas and I have met his three children as well as his extended family. Unfortumately, his ex is still holding on to the past.
Having been around the blended family block, my focus has changed. I don’t want to place my attention anywhere that it doesn’t need to be.
I think I get something now that I didn’t get then–I don’t have to worry myself about their mother considering we have no direct relationship.
Hindsight certainly is 20/20!
Ian, The Food Critic, Part 2 April 11, 2009
Posted by Rhonda in food.Tags: cooking, food, kids, picky eaters, vegetables
4 comments
A while ago I posted about Ian and his pickiness during dinnertime. He made comment after comment about how he didn’t like this or that. Mealtime was a headache for me.
Fast forward to the present…
For Christmas we got Imani a pots and pans set. She is just now playing with it. So Ian decides he wants to play along with Imani. While they are doing so, I’m in the other room folding laundry listening to them play.
Here’s part of their conversation…
Imani~Brother, can you pass me the big pan?
Ian~No I’m using it for something. It’s a surprise for you.
Imani~(whining) But I want to use it Ian.
Ian~I’m making zucchini and it’s going to be soooo gooood!
Imani~Ok!
I almost fell over! Zucchini was the one food Ian almost refused to eat. As I regained my composure, Ian continued telling Imani all the good food he was going to make for her.
I just smiled to myself and continued to to fold the laundry.
THEN…..Last night while I was fixing his plate Ian informed me that he did not like broccoli.
Me~Oh really? Since when? You asked for broccoli the other day.
Ian~Well that was the other day. I do not want broccoli today.
Me~Well too bad! You’re going to eat it anyway. That’s the only vegetable I fixed and vegetables make you strong.
Ian pouted all through dinner until it was time for dessert.
I also forgot to mention that he now likes to tell me what to fix HIM for dinner. I just have to laugh. Maybe he will be a famous chef one day!
I’ll Have a Lemon Mojito, Please March 27, 2009
Posted by Morocco in humor.Tags: 5th grade, alcohol, Benihana's, beverages, fieldtrips, kids, Lemon Mojito, school, Trader Joe's
9 comments
Yesterday my son’s 5th grade class had lunch at Benihana’s. They won this privilege after donating the most pounds of pasta to Second Helpings. I asked Nicholas about his experience. He told me how much he loved seeing the cool tricks performed by the chef.
Upon entering the restaurant, he noticed an advertisement for a beverage, a Lemon Mojito to be exact. Used to seeing Trader Joe’s (non-alcoholic) Sparkling Mojito in our fridge, he simply thought it was a lemon version of this same drink.
When it was Nicholas’ turn to order his beverage, “I’ll have a Lemon Mojito, please” he said. Amused I asked what he teacher thought about his premature request. She said “Well, I don’t think your quite old enough for that drink,” as she explained to him that it contained alcohol!
At least he said “please!”
Birthday Money March 23, 2009
Posted by Rhonda in Reflections.Tags: birthday, gifts, kids, money
13 comments
Last month at Imani’s birthday party she received $50.00 in cash and a few gift cards. Everyday thereafter for about a week, she was determined to spend her money. She inquired if I had to go to Walmart everyday because she said I needed to get something. What was I supposed to get? She didn’t know. When she realized I wasn’t biting she asked me where her money was and insisted that I show it to her.
Eventually she stopped asking. On the occasion I took her with me to Walmart she would make hints about something that she “needed.” Last weekend the weather was really nice. My cousins (a boy and girl the same ages as Imani and Ian) were over for the day. I took the girls to Walmart while the boys stayed home and played outside.
I let them pick out hula hoops for them and balls for the boys. Imani seemed to be happy with this purchase. Until…
Imani~”Mommy, did you spend my birthday money on this stuff?”
Me~”No Sweetie, I still have your money in a safe place at home.”
Imani~”Well when do I get to spend it?”
Me~”We’ll have to find something special to do with your birthday money.”
Imani~”When?”
Me~”Soon.”
I actually have no clue how I want her to spend the money. I do not want her to spend it on random toys that she will play with for a hot second.
What do you do with your kids birthday money?
The Party Was A Success!!! March 2, 2009
Posted by Rhonda in Cool.Tags: birthdays, kids, party, Spongebob
2 comments
We had a blast!
The night before the party, Kierra downloaded Spongebob music onto a CD. We played the CD the entire party…well almost! Imani loves to dance so toward the end we turned to a local radio station so she could get her groove on!
My house was transformed into Bikini Bottom! Kierra taped blue and teal streamers into the doorways to look like water. I made jellyfish out of pink ballons filled with helium. On each balloon I colored red circles on top and attatched red curling ribbon to the bottom for the tentacles. I also had a huge helium Spongebob balloon floating around. It would just appear out of nowhere. My husband and his friend were following behind it laughing just like Spongebob.
We had Crabby Patties (a regular hamburger patty with all the fixings), hotdogs, fishsticks, and chips. All the children wanted Crabby Patties of course! Even the adults thought the Crabby Patties were awesome! For the punch, I froze blue juice with a red jellyfish gummy into icecube trays. I then poured Pinapple pop over the icecube. The mixture turned green. The children really liked the surprise in the bottoms of their cups.
We played catch the jellyfish. I got this game from the party store. In the package was a giant poster of Spongebob and Patrick with nets, along with stickers of jellyfish. The jellyfish had a line for names on each one. The objective of the game is just like “pin the tail.” Whoever placed their sticker closest to the nets won the game. The prizes were bubbles…since Spongebob and Patrick love to blow bubbles! We also played musical chairs and limbo.
Imani opened her gifts. She recieved a lot of money! We took pictures of her opening the gifts and also had her pose with the giver.
Then it was time for icecream and cake. I ordered a Spongebob Cupcake Cake. It was so cute! I liked the cupcake cake better than a sheet cake.
Each guest recieved a party bag which included a Spongebob pencil, a Spongebob tattoo, Spongebob Fruit Snacks, Red Jellyfish Gummies, and a variety of candy.
I had planned on showing some episodes of Spongebob but by the time we finished all the games and dancing it was getting late.
The party turned out better than I originally thought! Everyone enjoyed themselves, especially the birthday girl.
Nicholas, the Comedian February 16, 2009
Posted by Morocco in Cool.Tags: comedy, jokes, kids, laughter
8 comments
Last night Nicholas told me the following jokes. I especially loved the first one!
Q:Why did the cannibal get expelled from school?
A: For buttering up the teacher!
Q: Why is it never good to do math in the jungle?
A: 2+2=4, 4+4=ATE!
Knock, knock
Whos’s there?
Dishes
Dishes who?
Dishes is your friend, open up the door!
Let It Snow: Snow Day #2 January 28, 2009
Posted by Morocco in Cool.Tags: kids, school, snow day
1 comment so far
We have about 9 inches of snow and are expected to receive more today! Snow is really pretty when you don’t have to be out in it! Later I plan to take Jazmine and Nicholas outside to play.
Go Tigers! November 2, 2008
Posted by Morocco in Uncategorized.Tags: football, kids, losing, sports
2 comments
Today was Nicholas’ final game for the championship. The Tigers started off strong. However, they ended up losing the game by a touchdown and a field goal.
The final score
Understandably the kids were crushed. They still managed to do their rallying cry “Who has fire in the belly? We do!” after their defeat. A few of the kids had tears in their eyes, my son included.
After the loss
I really wanted the boys to win. They had a great team and only lost one game their entire season. They made it to the very end. I was glad to see the coaches and us parents reinforcing that they were still winners regardless. The head coach had a celebration for the boys at his house afterwards.
But there was a lesson in this loss. It showed the kids that it is not always possible to win for whatever reason. Learning this concept early on is a good thing. I never want my son to be shattered by a loss of any kind. It’s okay to be disappointed but not depressed. I hope we are cultivating this attitude in Nicholas.
I was proud at how we all came together to remind the boys of the importance of maintaining a winning attitude. I went around congratulating both teams. One player’s mom had her arm around Nicholas as she reminded him that they still had next year. He smiled at this thought and it was a beautiful thing.
Go Tigers!!!!
The Second Shift October 23, 2008
Posted by Morocco in Uncategorized.Tags: chores, daily grind, jobs, kids, responsibilities, second shift, weekends, work
6 comments
For the last couple of months, my husband has been working the second shift. By the time he gets home, which is well past 9pm, I am usually in the bed. He has made the change so that he can put Evan on the bus in the morning when he comes home. This too, gives him a window of time to pick Evan up if he is having trouble at school. If he makes it past 11am, Evan is usually okay for the day.
Therefore it’s just the kids and I. I get to monitor/help with homework, pick up Nicholas from football practice and Jazmine from the sitter’s, tidy the house, cook dinner, entertain, and everything else in between. Not to mention all the prep work that I do for school. I feel like I work a second shift, too (I actually read a book in my college sociology class about this very phenomenon called The Second Shift)!
I do miss my husband. I am not used to him being gone in the evenings. The only time that we basically get to spend together is on the weekends. But then the weekends consist of the many chores that we don’t have time to do during the work week. The weekends fly by so fast and it’s soon time to get ready for the daily grind…again.
I have two days for Fall Break, today is one of them. This morning I took Nicholas to school and attended his 7am parent/teacher conference. When I got home, I slept for an hour before dropping Jazmine off at the sitter’s and my husband at work. His car is running funny and we don’t want to aggravate the problem. Then I spent an hour or so working on my friend’s computer before going to my hair appointment.
Afterwards I waited for Jazmine to be dropped off (they were at McDonald’s when I went to pick her up) so that we could go to her doctor’s appointment. Next I had to swing by the sitter’s (again) to get Jazmine’s belongings.
In twenty minutes football practice will be over so I’ll grab Nicholas. Thankfully, a coworker agreed to bring my husband home tonight.
Tomorrow I plan to take Jazmine to visit her mom. I also have to get the grocery shopping done. And I would like to rake a few bags of leaves before they totally engulf us. I might end the day by watching Bend It Like Beckham and taking notes. My kids will be studying this film for its cultural aspects and I would like to see it before I show it.
I am the original do-it-yourselfer. If something needs to be done, by golly, I’m your girl. I really have trouble allocating tasks as you can see. If I can do it, I don’t see any reason to ask anyone else.
Maybe I will get to relax one of these days, eh? However, I think I might take a personal day or two here in the near future!
