Back In The Saddle

Hello, I hope all is well with my dear friends! I know it has been awhile but I have been extremely busy. I am back in school working on obtaining my administrator’s license along with a graduate writing certificate. On top of that, I am in the process of potty training, working fulltime, and looking for high schools for Nic who will be a freshman next year! I am also preparing for a writing conference that I was asked to speak at in October.

Work has been messy to put things nicely. Four of our schools have been taken over by the state.  As a result of this, our Super, has decided that all secondary education teachers will receive pink slips on May 31st so that the employees who lost their jobs will have an opportunity for a position.

I am trying to keep a positive attitude, count my blessings, and just know that better days are ahead.  I am going to Miami for a few days during our intercession (two-week Fall break) now that we have moved to the year-around calendar.  That will give me an opportunity for some much needed mental and physical r&r.

Thank you all for continuing to stop by.  It is much appreciated.

Advertisement

One

Happy 1st Birthday to my darling son!

Jazmine’s Mouth

My sister shared this story with me:

Yesterday she took my brother and Jazmine to the grocery store.  Upon approaching the deli case, she asked Jazmine if she liked hot dogs.  Jazmine replied, “Yeah, I do, but not the cheap ones.”

Lol!

Hair Today…

On my birthday I got to see my lovely niece Jazmine! I was soooooo happy–it really made my day.  She told me she has been waiting for me to pick her up and asked if I had a “girl” room at my house for her.  She is four years-old now.

Seeing Jazmine made me recall the hair tragedy.  When it first happened I was highly distraught.  I mean you just don’t cut a girl’s hair!  I was far more traumatized than she was! In fact when she saw her bald fade, she could not stop laughing she was so amused with her new look!  Now when I retell the story I am laughing right along.  Especially when I describe  the absurdity of the person who tried to GLUE her ponytails back on!!!  As if I wouldn’t have known something was off!

The moral of the story is what seems like the worst thing that could have ever happened today can amuse you tomorrow.  Besides, hair does grow back!

Pass the Kids

Yesterday I ran into my SIL’s husband at the grocery store.  I immediatedly asked about the kids and was told that they would be getting the boys in May.  Apparently Eliza has been stirring up trouble from her prison cell with her own sister regarding how she is raising her kids.  Fed up, the sister has decided that she’d rather not deal with Eliza, Ethan, or Evan.

This really bothered me.  The kids would have been fine with me, yet they were senselessly uprooted out of spite.  Doesn’t she see how this nomadic lifestyle will eventually have an adverse affect on her boys?  Not to mention, my SIL is not the best candidate to rear a child.  They live in a two bedroom apartment for starters and are barely getting by.  Her husband has 5 kids outside of the 1 they have together, plus she has another daughter.  My SIL is also half-baked, literally and figuratively speaking.

Her husband is not in favor of this and has decided that if she goes against his wishes, he will move out.  With Evan’s behavioral problems, the number of kids they already have to provide for, and the fact that Eliza and her looney tune brother would never leave them in peace, I understand why he is saying no.

I Think I Get It Now

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

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

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

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!!!

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.