RED LIGHT

Hmmm, hot on the heels of all the excitement over her tooth, T comes home today with a frickin' RED LIGHT. An almost impossible feat, as the kids are ususally given a number of chances. It was the talk of aftercare.

Mrs. Maranges, her old preK teacher said that you have to be really bad to get that. Upon cross examination, T confessed that she was playing in class, looking very contrite. However her friend Lauren who was standing right next to T, piped up with the further information that T got a red light b/c Taylor put scissors on Lauren's head. I then look at T, who started bawling. Yep, clearly a confession.

Luckily, T said she did it b/c she wanted to, and had no intent to cut poor lauren's hair, which I beleive. I suspect, and rightly so, that the teacher feared T was about to scalp the kid, upon seeing T with scissors at lauren's head. I'll find out more tomorrow, when I drop T off and have a word with the teacher.

So, T is unplugged and punished for two whole nights. More if she's not good in the next few days.

Beauty school is definitely NOT in my kids future (assuming mom has any say in the matter), so T better get over her scissor fetish now. I see lots of long talks in the coming days.

Wish us luck!

The Tooth Fairy...has a hacking cough!

Guess who lost their tooth today in school? Not just any tooth either...her FIRST top tooth in the front.

Details are sketchy, something about at snack time and Joshua making her lose her tooth by making T kick herself in the face with her knee. Not sure how he managed that! Of course, a long lecture about "just say no" ensued upon my hearing this bit of nonsense.

The teacher sent the tooth home, taped to this cute "I Lost My Tooth" certificate.

Meanwhile, my hacking cough continues. Went to the doc, who actually gave me some antibiotics and other drugs to fight it off. She's a real miser with the meds, so I'm not sure what this says about my cough. In about 10 years seeing her and many, many coughs, this is the first time she's ever given me any. I usually have to scarf them from urgent care centers, who hand them out like candy.

So, that's that. Gotta to and practice my recurring role as the tooth fairy.

Busy Saturday

Today was Nick's 5th birthday party at Pump It Up, which is a kids' party place filled with inflatable bounce houses and slides. T had a ball.

After bouncing around in two different rooms for about 1.5 hours, it ends with the kids having pizza and cake. They even provide loot bags. This one was filled with some sidewalk chalk, so T has been having a ball playing with it all.

That's T in yellow, and me in blue. One knows its T b/c of the hair, and one knows its me b/c of the glasses.

And yes, she's still sporting the Rapunzel hair extension.
Meanwhile, its literally beginning to look alot like christmas, all around the town. We went off to the mall for dinner, specifically to view their huge xmas tree. Its about 3 stories tall (and fake). But that's OK, it looks great every year and provides a backdrop for lots of good pics. I was thrilled how these came out, given they were taken during the dead of night.


We're back home now, watching some new xmas shows on TV: Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda xmas shows. Boy, with the sole exception of the grinch, the modern shows are just so much better than the old classics from our time. Beyond compare.

Now, if i could only get my xmas shopping done on time.

Tangled Trance

Do my pics look extra-clear? They were taken with my new snazzy hot pink camera. I love it! Here's a bit of T's Thanksgiving artwork I thought I preserve for posterity.
Meanwhile, on top of taking T to the movie, Dot got her the doll. Well, the doll came with a hairclip that has a bit of blonde extension hair.

T insists on wearing it.

She's already campaigning to wear it to school, but I've said a firm NO. T's school frowns on hair extentions, dyed hair, and crazy hair in general.

So, poor T will have to settle for expressing hair self at home...or at nicks party, to which I am allowing her to wear it.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi all,

Hope your thanksgiving was very happy. Ours was. Dot cooked up a storm. For some reason, the turkey this year is CRAZILY good. FREAKILY good. Neither Dot nor I understand it, but we're going with it! I think between the 2 of use, we've already had 4 or 5 turkey sandwiches since lunch yesterday.

We loaded up all the food, and hauled it over to my parents house. It was nice to all be together. We left them around 3, watching Miracle on 34th street, and came home to nap. I needed to nap b/c I picked up a bug in the ER at the childrens hospital. I've had a hacking cough and runny nose for a couple days now. Plus, generally feeling like crap. I stayed home and Dot and T went out to the movies to see Tangled. Both came home RAVING about how good it was.

This morning on Black Friday, I was up at about 4:30. T got up around 5:30. As I was headed out to the mall, T starts saying how she want to come too. Talk about TOTALLY blowing my shopping strategy. How the hell can i buy her presents when she's with me. So, I let her come and figured I'd shop for everyone else.

Unfortunately, I was totally uninspired. I got a few nightgowns for my mom, and the rest was a Carol Christmas.

I scored a new Cannon Elph camera, a new iron, and one of those magic bullet mixers albeit an off-brand. On TV, the real magic bullet is 99.99 for two. In BB and Beyond its 59.99. In Macy's, I picked up an off-brand for 19.99 with a 10.00 mail in rebate...and I promptly LOST my receipt and rebate docs. Grrrr. Isn't that always the case?

So, we're home again about to eat some more leftovers. Tomorrow we have a birthday party and Sunday will be a day of rest. I'm just worried b/c T was coughing a bit at the mall. Hope she's not picking up what I have.

Carnival Calamity

I had a feeling that we wouldn't survive the carnival without some type of calamity. Our luck just isn't that good this year. I worked 2 hours at the corn hut...the hut that sells corn on the cob that's been cooked on the grill and slathered in butter...while my sissy, T, and our friends rode the rides. After I got relieved of duty, I had a bit to eat and then we walked around a bit more. T wanted to do the bunge jumping ride...where they strap the kids in the harness and they jump up and down with the aid of elastic bunge cords. She had to do it "one last time". Its always that "one last time" that does one in, isn't it?

This year, t got brave. She started doing backflips as she was in the air. Also doing all kinds of poses. She really was a joy to watch. and no, she never had a mishap that we could detect, never landed on her head, or any other dire circumstance. She got off the ride, and as we were walking to the car, started complaining that ther "back shoulder hurt". By the time we were home, she was complaining alot.

Gave her some tylenol, and we went to sleep. We woke up the next morning, and the child couldn't hold her head up straight. She had it bent toward the opposite shoulder about which she was complaining. Seemed a bit stiff when moving. I started worrying.

We had a brunch to attend, so I decided to go and watch her to see if it got better during the day as she started moving about. It didn't. I started talking about taking her to the urgent care center. All those first aid classes I've taken, that were always talking about how tricky neck injuries could be started playing in my head. Plus, all the tort cases from law school involving carnival rides. My stress and worry levels started going through the roof as I'm imagining a partially paralyzed child. Aye, aye, aye.

Of course, the (less insane) parents with more than one kid were saying to give it a few days, to which I questioned, that if this had happened to their FIRST kid, what would they do? They immediately conceded that the'd go off to the doc as well.

So, at 1:00 I decided to brave the zoo of Miami children's hospital ER. Decided to go there since they have her on record with MRIs and other xrays. We were released at about 6:00 p.m., with the diagnosis of....brace yourselves....

A STIFF NECK.

Sigh. They believe that it was just a muscular strain or pull that has to work itself out. They gave her a dose of muscle relaxer...VALIUM... (albeit a very small dose) and sent us on our merry way. I tried to con them out of the left over dose of valium for me that they were throwing in the garbage, but they refused darn it. I briefly considered the efficacy of dumpster diving, but refrained.

So, T puts me through hell with worry and SHE gets the valium. That's just wrong.

As predicted, she seems better this morning and her head appears to me markedly more upright.

So, there you have it. Our carnival calamity. I seriously believe that I suffered more from it all than T!

MakeUp and the Middle Aged Woman

So, my party. Had a fab time. Food and company were great.

In anticipation of my big party at an adult restaurant, I decided to put on some makeup. I haven't worn full make up in about 4 or 5 years. I'm not talking concealer, a swish of face powder, eye liner and mascara. That's what I now wear for special occasion...or trials. Other days I confess that I've degenerated into wearing nothing but a bit of lipstick. Nope, I'm talking foundation, eyeshadow, and blush. the whole shebang.

Unfortunately I've notice some huge differences since I last wore makeup.

All I can say is thank god for my vanity mirror...that reverses to a magnification mirror. Otherwise, there would have been no way on the face of this earth that I would have been able to apply my eye make up. I literally couldn't see to do it.

What's worse, I put on my foundation, and noticed it kept getting caught up in ....frickin' crows feet and telltale wrinkles. I had fine streaks of foundation all around my face, that I then had to carefully rub out. Thank god I still had the mirror on magnification, otherwise I doubt I would have seen the faint lines.

God damn.

Who would have thought I could go to pot so quickly...just 5 years? Of course, they are the hard T years, so maybe that explains things. I'm placing the blame direectly at my daughters feet!

CARNIVAL!!!!

Well, today is the big day. T's school Carnival has officially started. Guess what we'll be doing this whole weekend?

School let out early today. For Kindergarten, that meant 9:15 a.m. The children were allowed to wear their carnival or PE t-shirts. T was so excited that she insisted on sleeping with her carnival clothes under her nightgown.

Yeah, I let her. Just didn't have it in me to rain on her parade.
Turns out T's fav ride this year is the ferris wheel. Mom's fav too, as I can go on it and there is no risk of my back going out. T sits in my lap, with my arms wrapped around her If I move one slightly, she's quick to pick up my hand and wrap my arm around her again.

She is so the big ride chicken, it isn't even funny.
You can't see it in this pic, but there is a kiddie caterpiller roller coaster. Two levels. T decided that she wanted to go on it. Poor thing, she got off it crying, as it was "too fast and scary" according to her. Seriously, the thing was a kiddie roller coaster, and my big girl was scared, poor thing.
We filled up on pizza, Ice cream, and diet coke, and we were done for the day. We're now home, and I'll be dropping T off at Sophie and Nicks house to play. I have a party to night. A real, honest to god, adult party. My class's 20th anniversary at the State Attorney's Office. Its at a restaurant oddly called "Delores but you can call me Lolita". Drinks, dinner, adult conversation.

Yippee! I hope I remember how to behave at one of these things...its been so long!

Bragging Rights

T's parent/teacher conference was today. I met with Mrs. C for a full 15 minutes to talk about my precious daughter: My favorite thing. Far, far too short an amount of time in my opinion. Anyway, here's the scoop (her words, not mine) when I asked how T was doing academically:

She is reading. She is the only child in the class that is writing sentences on her own. She is extremely smart. That's the reason she was given student of the month.

Regarding her conduct (an area of bigger concern for me): She isn't perfect, but nothing that the teach says she can't handle, and nothing that is not appropriate for this age. Teach says she'd rather have a child like T in class...who is very smart and perhaps a bit too rambunctious than a perfectly behaved child who just doesn't get it academically.

Regarding the problems of last year with hitting and her inability to deal with rejection from the boys who weren't (in her mind) paying enough attention to her? Mrs. C was very surprised to hear of that. Says she has never seen any evidence of that type of behavior, and reminded me that children do mature and grow out of that. She stated that she seems to get on well with the other children in her class.

Um, all I can say is that its a little scary how proud I was. I think I'm now starting to understand, just a bit, the mindset of those creepy pageant moms.

So, its looking like my dream of MIT or Medical school may come to pass in the future. Better start saving my pennies!

Weekend Update

Not much to report. Thursday was a mommy play day, with T in school. Because they get off the monday after the carnival, they are always in school on veterans day. Good to know, as I'm always off!

I spent the day at the mall, and had full intensions of seeing a grown up movie. Instead, after 2 drinks at lunch, all I wanted to do was come home and nap. Pathetic? Perhaps, but such is my life.

On Friday after work, as you can see from the pic, we went off to the mall and ate at a different restaurant than our usual. We sat outside and had a great time.

On Saturday, we ran errands and T had a play date with a girl from her class. Mom had a playdate with Olivia's mom, who is also the daisy scout leader. Actually had some adult conversation! We met at a burger king for lunch, then the girls played in the BK play area for about 2 hours. No lie. T was exhausted when she got home. Turns out Barb and her hubby both went to UF, Barb in law school and her hubby in the school of accounting, so we have lots in common.

On Sunday, we checked in on my parents, who are doing OK. My mom is doing well, and my dad is now refusing to take his meds. Sigh. What can you do? After that, T and I split for the mall. We had a date with Megamind, the new kids movie that's out. I actually really, really enjoyed it! Aunt Ceci gave us the tip to go and see it.

So, we're now back at home, getting ready for the coming week. A review of the calender shows that for the next three weeks, I have at least one day off from work. It starts this week, with Friday off for the Carnival, then monday off for carnival clean up. We have a date with the dentist on that monday, as (I confess) Taylor hasn't been in 2 years. Her front two teeth are wiggling, so its only a matter of time before they fall out.

Can't seem to stop her from growing up.

Xmas Crafts

An end cap at Target, near the school supply and scrapbooking section, had some fun xmas crafts I picked up for T. Fairly inexpensive, too, which was a bonus!

In addition to Dot and I decorating the house for xmas, T was able to do some xmas crafts, herself.
This cute tree came in a couple different colors and themes. So simple. One just sticks on the different stickers. This tree will go into T's bedroom, to give it a bit of xmas cheer.

Target also had a garland craft ($2.00) we'll make next weekend, and an ornament craft that T made at the parents house today. All so, so, simple.
Once we make the garland, we'll add it to the tree and viola!

Instant xmas cheer.






In addition to all the xmas crafts, we also made Shrinky Dinks.

Remember them?

Unfortunately for T, she didn't get to bake them in the oven at 325 degrees like we did when we were kids. Directions now caution against that. Ya think?

So, T was just left with coloring them. I think she did a fab job!

Take One Guess

just one guess as to what we're up to this weekend!

Student of the Month

Well there was no outside assembly today due to inclement weather...it was 68 this morning. This town and the gang at her school basically shut down if it gets down below 75. As a general (albeit totally stereotypical) rule, the hispanic community in this town can in no way take any cold. at all. whatsoever. My very good friend, who happens to be Cuban herself, laughs at this and agrees with me.

So we were left with the principal, Dr Morales, making announcements over the PA. Taylor shared her spotlight grudgingly with John Paul, another student in her class. Here you can see Mrs. Madula pinning the award on T.
She was so very proud.

Her mother was even prouder.

When I picked T up from aftercare, which was being overseen by her old PreK teacher and her art teacher both agreed (a little too whole heartedly in my opinion) that T has come such a long, long way from the beginning of last year.


I'm not quite sure what they mean!

So, in celebration, we're off to T's favorite store, Nordstrom's, for dinner. Again.

At least this time I have the foresight not to lecture her about not buying anything.

Forewarned is forearmed. I have it on excellent authority that a big sale is going on. Whoo Hoo!

Breaking Blog News

Big, big news...

Long-time and close readers of this fair blog will recall T gaining the dubious honor last year of being "student of the month" for the last possible month of the school year. Her teacher's comment was that she was the "most improved".

Well, imagine my surprise when I got a letter from her kindergarten teacher, stating that she was student of the month for October! One of the FIRST months of the school year! Further, there was no talk of being the "most improved"!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!

T will be presented with the award tomorrow at the school assembly. I have yet to attend any of the assemblies this year, which are always on the first Friday of the month. It will be interesting to see how they handle the music. I doubt there will be any rousing patriotic tunes as Mrs. Gonzalez and her accordian have retired. I suspect it will be plain old boring digital recordings.

Such is the way of progress.

Stand by for pics!

Life's Little Ironies

So, T went trick or treating on halloween and got lots of candy. Mom went trick or treating with her and got the flu. Sick as a dog. Stayed home from work on Monday and Tuesday, due to fever. It broke tuesday afternoon, so I was at work today.

At work, but feeling like crap. So, when T suggested going to Nordstrom for dinner tonight I pretended to grudgingly conceded. Frankly, I couldn't have been more thrilled as I was starving and in no mood to fix anything. Plus, I had some old shoes with worn-out velcro to return.

Anyway, as we were driving to the store, I start in on a stern lecture to T about how we're not going to buy anything, how just b/c we go to a store doesn't mean that she gets a gift every time, yada yada yada. I was quite please with my lecture and T's sweet response of "OK, mama".

I was pleased, that is, until we walked into the store and saw that it was the first day of their twice-yearly, big sale. ACK! Just my luck. Especially when I suggested that maybe would could look at a few clothes (thinking my department) and T throws my words right back into my face...

"But you said we weren't buying anything"

Being a consistent parent sucks.

My new fav show

Remember this gem of a show from when we were kids? Its new and improved and my new Monday night at 10:00 p.m. "must watch".

Story lines are just as cliche'ed and unlikely (and therefore make me laugh), but there's been an improvement in the actors.
I wonder if the old Mcgarrett was just as hot to our moms back then, as the new one is to us...or at least to me?

Just the fact that the new Mcgarret's hair moves in the wind is huge. Plus, I say there's been a vast improvement in the hotness factor


S E R I O U S L Y.

Poor Jack Lord can't even compare!