Welcome 2nd Grade!!

No more sleeping late for us! It's back to school time!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

6 yr old wellness visit

Forgot to mention, Dot took T off to her 6 yr old wellness visit. No vaccinations except for a flu shot. T apparently slightly failed her hearing test, so we're off to have a more comprehensive hearing test. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact that Dot reports T was a little too busy during the test, trying to snap her fingers...her new favorite pasttime. She was also quite busy waving at Dot and not really concentrating on the test. Not sure why they couldn't retest her, if she was fooling around, but there you have it. Figure I'll go with her, and get my hearing tested, too, since I've always thought I don't hear that well. On an upnote, T continues to grow like a weed. She is still firmly on the 25th percentile for height, at 44 inches. She is still on the 10th percentile for weight. She has broken the 40 pound barrier, and weighs in at a whopping 41 pounds. T has been following the same lines on the chart, since shortly after we came home from china. So, still looking like she'll be 5'2 and 100 lbs when she's 18.

Decisions, Decisions!!

What’s a girl to wear?  I’m trying to figure out which will serve best as her Easter dress.  We’re bucking the trend a bit this year, as both our choices have black in the, and look best with black patent leather shoes. 

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Both dresses are so much cuter in person, than in the pictures.   I’m leaning toward the pink dot number, but I can’t decide.  Both dresses look so good with her coloring. 

Which do you vote for?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Even More Luau Pictures!



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Every day I come home and find more pics in my email. LOVE IT!

Monday, March 28, 2011

More Luau Pictures

IMG_1191Luckily for me, more pics are being sent to me from friends.  I was so busy during the party running around in a perpetual slightly tipsy state, that I failed to take any pics at key times during the party.   Luckily, friends are coming through and slowly forwarding them to me.   Here’s one of T and the cake.  How could I have not taken a pic of that?   T reports that the cake was her favorite part of the party.  Not the eating of it, mind  you, just the whole candle/singing thing.    T had the “sandals” cake from publix.  I’ll search for a pic from their website to post for posterity.

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Meanwhile, here’s a pic of my old secretary, who kindly volunteered to be my hula instructor.  She drafted 2 of the older girls to assist her, and they put on a show.  Then, they asked the other girls to join in, and Jackie led them all in the dance.   Too, too cute.

Meanwhile, T wanted nothing to do with the hula dancing.  She was too busy playing on the swingset with all the boys, to bother with dancing…one of her favorite past times.   Go figure.  Anyway, about 6 – 10 other girls joined in the fun, even Jackie 3 yr old son, who stole the show!

Did I mention that my oldest case was set for trial on 3/28?  We were number 2 behind an 11 year old homicide case.  That guy hadnt taken a plea in 11 years, so everyone was sure it would go first.  Um, not so fast.  He up and decided to take the 25 year prison sentence on Friday, as I was off work, make me #1 for trial today.

Marie and I go to court, loaded for bear so to speak, only to find out….once again…that she has checked herself into the hospital overnight.  Defense attorney claims she is very sick.  High blood pressure and soaring blood sugar.  I countered with that’s what happens when you fail to take your meds.   We set for report on Wednesday, for me to obtain an order to obtain her medical records. 

Trial continued to monday 4/4.  It Just.Never.Ends.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Party Was a Success!!

I can’t tell you how much fun we had at the party! Everyone who said that they were coming did come, and we had only 2 who had not RSVP, show up.



I’m having a time uploading photos my usual way, via Picasa, so I’m experimenting with a new uploader. Hopefully, this will work!


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Friday, March 25, 2011

Party At School

Both T and Heather celebrated their bday parties at school today. H's mom brought cupcakes and I brough juice and chips.

Everyone who reads this blog knows T does nothing better, than pose for a camera. And look at this. Three different shots, and the kid can't seem to look at the camera, once.

My little 6 yr old!

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Crunch Time

Well, the painter showed on Thursday, and painted the back of the house. Claimed he would be back today, but is AWOL. Also said that he would come Saturday morning to finish. Again, we shall see. Cutting it too close, for my taste. With the back done, the only thing that looks like hell is the front door and the columns on the front porch. If he gets here at 7:00, and works till noon, perhaps he will finish. Don't know.

Since I went ahead and ordered the tent, there is literally 0% chance of rain tomorrow. None. Zilch. Nada. Isn't that always my luck? I console myself with the fact that it will provide much needed shade, since it will be almost 90 tomorrow.

On an upnote, the yardmen appeared. They got my message that I left them, and were here yesterday. Did extra work, too, para la fiesta. They are way back into my good graces.

So, the next big hurtle to get over are the balloons. All 52 of them.

What the heck was I thinking?

Meanwhile, T says a big thank you to her Great Aunt Connie for a whooppee card she received today. Child needs to work on her shout, though. Its not near up to Taylor standards!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Things are Shaping Up!

Things are starting to shape up around here. My painter claims that he'll be back to work all day on Friday. We shall see. Cutting it all a bit close for my comfort. I've been slowly putting up decorations.

I'm particularly proud of my decorating behind the adult food table. I think it looks really cute. I dropped off the balloons at p@rty city, to be blown up. I may have overdone it all with the balloons, but I have to decorate both inside and out. The question now is, will I be able to shove 52 balloons into the schoolbus, or will I have to make 2 trips? The store assured me that they would fit. I'm not so sure.

Meanwhile, in response to a second email I sent out only to those who have not RSVP'd...all 13 of them....I got two reponses: one yes and our first "no". T's teacher counseled me to expect the gang that didn't respond to show up...probably with a few kids in tow. How rude is that? So, we're planning on a full house.

The more the merrier....the more the merrier....the more the merrier!

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

What's a Party without Stress and Drama

My painter has been AWOL Monday and Today. I call him this afternoon, and he says he won't be back until Monday. MONDAY????

I FREAK.... and he finally conceded to at least finish the back wall and the front trim "before the party". I don't know what that means. All I know is that me, Dot, and Ruben (Leonor's son) are poised to paint on Friday, if need be.

Meanwhile, my lawnman has been AWOL as well.

Can you tell I'm annoyed?

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Roller Derby Here We Come!

On Saturday morning we woke up bright and early, and headed down to a skating rink in Kendall. A daisy girl scout was turning 7 and Taylor was invited to the party. This was the very first time T had on real rollerskates.

At first, she was not doing well. She could not even stand up straight. If she fell, she couldn't get herself up. Dot and I had to take an arm each, and roll her around the place, and still she couldn't stand upright.

On a sidenote, remind me NEVER, ever to wear sandals to a skating rink. I'm lucky bones weren't broken when she rolled over my feet.
Anyway, this was a great rink. As you can see, there was an area in the middle that was walled off, which allowed the kids just learning to surf the walls in a safer environment. Nobody was whizzing by. This rink was a huge improvement on Tropical Roller Rink, where I spend a majority of my youth between 4th and 7th grades.
Anyway, T was extremely frustrated at not being able to skate, and insisted on putting her sneakers back on. That lasted until her on-again off-again love Daniel showed up and went out onto the floor. He wasn't too good, either.

Suddenly, T wanted back onto the floor, and there was not stopping her. By the end of the set, she could stand up straight, get herself up from a fall, yell at Dot if Dot tried to assist her getting up, and she could skate short distances with no help. Her form may have been bad, but she was doing it.

I have never seen her so determined.

Turns out that the rink has lessons that are very inexpensive. They claim after about 2 lessons, kids get it. Something tells me that we'll be going back there sometime in the future.

I hope she doesn't run off and join the roller derby, that would ruin my plans for medical school. Ah well.

Anybody else out there a former Roller Rink Rat, like I used to be?

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Silly Daisies

Here's the silly Daisies from the last Daisy meeting. Another mom bought all the girls these cute flower headbands, and we made them all pose outside. The had a great time hamming it up for the camera.

Unfortunately, half of out troop was absent, due to sickness. How T dodged that bullet, I'm not quite sure.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Wonders of Paint

I love, love, love how my granny's old furniture is turning out. Everything old is new again, right? No one would know that this furniture was actually bought in the (i think) 1940's. Painted white, it looks very similar to furniture sold in West Elm. However this is 100% real wood. T's desk is currently receiving its make over. It should be done tomorrow and this project will be complete!

I love how my plans are coming together!

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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

It's so blah....

I go from loving the new color to being left with no emotion regarding it, i.e. feeling empty. It just seems so blah to me. I'm withholding final judgment, though, until its finished and the trim is painted up. I decided to stick with white trim, instead of beige, as my hurricane shutters are white and the trim on my awning is white.

Oh well, at least it looks alot cleaner and neater. Although blah, its no longer chipping, so that's a good thing.

This weekend is shaping up to be busy. T has a birthday party to attend on Saturday morning at a skating rink. T has never skated a day in her life on real skates. She's only tried toy skates. That should be interesting. No way can I skate between my back, my foot, and the upcoming party. I'm going to try and con Aunt Dot into assisting...or another mom.

Then, we have final party planning to do, namely in relation to the food, cake and balloons.

Lastly, I'm just very greatful that I only live in a hurricane zone, and not an earthquake zone. Can the people of Japan please catch a break? On top of a disaster of untold proportions, not they have the nuclear issue was well. Just tragic.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I'm in a Khaki State of Miami

Aunt Dot, who is in Idaho this week, asked me to post some pics of the work in progress. My house is going from a bright yellow to khaki.

These pics were taken in poor light, but I think you can get an idea of the change.
I'm in no way a neutral kind of girl. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore color in all things...especially decorations and paint. So, this is a big change for me. However, I'm thinking that it will look nice with my dark blue canvass awnings on the front of my house.

I'm bumming b/c my painter was AWOL today. Not sure why, so I only have one coat on one of the walls of my house. I wish he'd hurry up!

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Monday, March 14, 2011

Hmmmm

Guess who's been playing with my camera?


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Things are shaping up!

Well, our booze run to Costco was a raging success...as you can see. In addition, I'm thrilled to have found some tropical/hawaiian-themed vinyl table clothes for 4.99 ea at Marsh@ll's Home Goods. Oblongs were 108 inches! Plus, some round ones as you can see here.

SCORE!!!

My fav, though, is the sign above the table. That was a gift from my friends Isis and Estella. They knew of my party plans, were down in the Keys, and had this FAB sign made for us. PERFECT!!

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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Think she'll be this excited when she's a teenager?

After our errands today, we came home and T helped Aunt Dotty wash her car. She was so excited she couldn't stand it. All we heard in the store this morning was that she wanted to go home to wash the car.
The two actually did a really good job, and T happily got sopping wet.
She then realized that she could play in the bucket, and announced it was her Jacuzzi. Of course, she then had to run into the house...sopping wet...to obtain her mermaid dolls to join the fun.

So, what are the odds she's this excited to wash a car when she's a teenager?

I live in hope.
Meanwhile, I did a little libation research last night, and ordered up a Mai Tai, in honor of the upcoming festivities. Girl has to make sure that she knows what she's going to attempt to create, right?

Just another example of the lengths a loving mom will go, to ensure a fun party!

btw, just to be sure about the taste, I ordered up two ;)

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A marvelous plan was made in the stars,
to create a miracle across the ocean so far....
Then entwine and weave all the hopes and labor,
it would take to bring us this joy called "Taylor"....
Now three lives are blessed and somewhere in the stars,
the planners are smiling, as we all are.
-Anon.




Taylor's Gal Pals

How Long We've Been a Family: