Memory Lane

January is very much a month of memories for our family. Now 3 years ago, Dot and I were touring around Beijing, not quite believing that we were actually there. Marveling at how similar the city was to other capital cities we visited. How much things were literally "the same", albeit in a different language with writing we had no chance of diciphering. Living in a surreal world where intellectually I knew I'd meet my daughter in a few days, but not quite believing it. The memories just keep coming.

This first picture, T presented me almost a year ago, announcing that it was a picture of me that she drew. Huh? Finally after turning it this way and that, upside down and right side up, my eye finally realized that there actually was a face in there...especially the long nose. Hehe!


This 2nd picture is the wall in front of my desk at work. It all started with the 8 x 10 blow up of T's referral photograph. I stared at that picture for 2 months straight, hardly getting any work done. The display has just grown over the years. I can't seem to stop myself from adding more.

Gorgeous, huh?

The Plan is Coming Together

The Pirate and Princess Theme for T's party is coming along nicely. I found these cute sets online, and will be using both and mixing it up a little. I've ordered regular princess party hats for the girls, and real pirate hats for the 4 boys who may show up.

I'll mix in the plates and cups below, and also the mylar princess balloons. don't think that the polka-dot balloons really go. Throw in some plain black table cloths, and we're set!

Its gonna be fab!

Oh yeah....for those of you keeping track, 3 years ago tonight, Dot and I were checked into a hotel in Newark, NJ, waiting to board our flight to china the next day. Boy how time flies!

National Champions

Wow, if anyone was watching the game last night, you saw some great football. Shoot, I realize that and I don't even consider myself much of a fan! I think this is the 3rd national football title that my old alma mater has achieved in football. I can tell you from experience, that town went crazy last night. I was in old G'ville when we won the first title, and have never seen anything like it.

We had lots of fun last night. Uncle Jack and Aunt Jodie came over and we had a party. Lots of friend chicken, chips, wine and soda. T and I didn't go to bed until midnight. What's interesting is that the daycare was closed today, and I took T to my friend's house. Rosie was going to watch T for me and T could play with little Nick, who is 3. Around 6:00 a.m. this morning, I tell T that its time to get up, so she can go play with Nick. I figured I'd never get her up and dressed and was already planning the logistics of taking her to court this morning. Um, nope. Not necessary!

That kid popped out of her tent so quickly, I couldn't believe it. She comes over to my bed and says, "Hurry up mama and get dressed. We had to go!"

I nearly fell out of bed in shock!

Insomnia Strikes Again

Here's a pic from last Saturday, after I chased her on her bike, eating lunch at Archies Pizza. As you can see, T loves her pasta! Also, you can almost make out the 3rd guest at the table, sitting in the chair. T insisted that Dora come and eat with us, too. I didn't get a pic of the kids room.

Meanwhile, I'm up posting at 5:00 a.m., b/c I can't sleep. One nostril is all stuffed up, and I'm doing my breathing out of the other. Problem is, that I'm getting nose/brain freeze from the a/c and breathing out of just one side.

Yes, all you northern people, you did read that right. Except for about 4 days so far, my central air conditioning runs 24 hours a day in winter. The joys of living in a swamp.

Can't think of a Cute Title

...I'm still sick, so I'll attempt to be brief. I still have a bad runny nose and cough. That wouldn't be so bad, but the problem is that I can't sleep at night due to all the congestion, so I'm exhausted. Can't even think of a witty title to this post, its so bad. To make it worse, I was talking constantly yesterday from 11 - 3:30 so I'm losing what voice I had.

Anyway, here's the skinny on what's going on in our lives at the moment:

• The time-out timer is magically working. Not sure what it is about the timer that causes a child to obey the timer vs. obeying their mother when their loving ( but miffed ) mother orders them to stay in time-out, but its working.
• Party on! Looks like the party will be at Archies Pizza. Turns out its not a make your own pizza party, but a "pizza show" put on by the chef with the assistence of the kids. The kids will get to make their own cookies. I'm now searching the net for cute invites and paper products. More on that later. I suspect that between now and then, you'll be sick of hearing about it, once you get a glimpse into how type-A personality I make my party prep!
• Moved T's gymnastics to Thursday evening instead of Sat. morning. We'll see how that goes. If well, that opens up saturday morning for Chinese school, this august.
• Dot and I are on Disney withdrawal. We really want to go, but doubt we'll get there anytime soon, what with how busy we both are with work.
• Got permission from my division chief to invite the unit and support staff into my office to watch the swearing in ceremony on Inaugeration day. Again...Party On!
• We're very exited to watch my Florida Gators attempt to gain the title of National Champions on thursday night. Hope I can stay up to watch the game.

That's it. Night, night, everybody!

Yuletide Picasso

...T and all the other little girls and boys in her class, apparently spent the month very busily snipping, cutting, pasteing, coloring, or otherwise creating veritable works of art.

Here's of collection of T's that I received today!

Weekend Update

Yesterday we attended the funeral of a family friend. He was in his early 70's, father of 2, grandfather of 4. Diagnosed with cancer less about 3 months ago, and died on New Years Day. Very sad. May he rest in peace. This is yet another example of that terrible disease. I urge everyone, no matter what their age, to get annual check ups at the doctor. Only if its caught early do we ever have a chance against it. Again, we showed up, paid our respects, and were out of there. T behaved very well.

In other news, the xmas tree comes down today. I hate taking it down. The only bright spot is that we don't have to wait until February for the next big "event". We're gearing up here for Inaugeration Day! Unfortunately, I won't be able to take off work. Upside is that I have a TV in my office. I suspect it will be on all day long. I think I'll be picking up some patriotic paper plates and some pastelitos. Its a party!

My New Obsession

yep, I've gone off the deep end and have definitely got one, again.

My new obsession is planning T's upcoming 4th birthday party. This is the first year that she truly understands what a birthday is. In year's past, our parties have been quiet family affairs in my home. Well, I've been contemplating having a "real" birthday party. Those who know me, recall that I used to host an annual xmas party which was a blow-out bash. I love nothing more than planning a party. I used to have over 100 people who would come throughout the night. It got bigger and bigger, and grew the final year into a tent outside, a live band, and a bartender. I stopped about a year after I submitted my adoption application. Instead in the next 2 years, I did important things like redo my teeny tiny kitchen, which included installing a dishwasher. That was the smartest thing I ever did...but I digress.

Now that I'm a mom, I have no desire at all to plan the thing myself in my home...unless I could pay someone to come in , set up, MC the thing, then clear out. I was thinking a Tea Party. Perfect idea, right? Ummm, only if you're a millionaire. The cost of a professional party organizer is prohibitive...like 800 - 1,000.00...and that's on the low end. INSANE!

So, my fall-back idea is to find somewhere outside my house to hold the thing. I figure that would be a nice compromise. I'm busy searching for venues. So far, the likely places are Pump-It-Up and the Miami Children's Museum. Again, for an exhorbitant price (in my opinion), but at a bargain rate compared to the party planner, I would get a room for a couple hours, really crappy food, and the staff would set it all up. Again, this doesn't really thrill me. Ergo my dauntless search.

Well, today I stumbled upon a new idea. A better idea. A FABULOUS idea. After I chased T around the block a few times on her bike, we went to lunch in Coral Gables to a place called Archies Pizza. Guess what I spied?

They have a separate little room for kid parties. Kids tables and everything. The kids actually get to make their own pizzas. What's great is that the adults get their own table. What's fabulous is that the restaurant has yummy food... not the crap of the other places. Plus......hold onto your hats girls.....they've got a liquor license...a full bar!

Yippee!!!

This is what I forsee:

• Princess/Pirate Pizza Party - Girls-Day-Out Cocktail Party.

I'm honing the guest list as we speak. Trying to find that perfect mix of guests of little girls and boys of T's age(not the easiest thing to do), with fun moms I wouldn't mind having a few drinks with.

Pray that they don't charge a fee just to walk in the door. If its just the cost of the food and drinks...

Sat. March 28, 2009...Let the Party Begin!

Timer minus One...and Counting

The first Time Out of the New Year occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m on New Years Day. T whacked me with a princess wand on purpose, b/c I told her she couldn't do something. Off to timeout we went. We had to walk from downstairs to her bedroom. Of course, on the way I told her she was going time out, and we were going to use the new Taylor Timer. She perked up and said, "Oh, that's a good idea...I can do it" (meaning she wanted to set it).

Not quite the reaction I was going for. She thought it was great fun to use the new timer. Well, I set if for about 3 minutes, ordered her to sit on her bed and not to move til it dings. Surprise of all surprises...she did it!! Of course, when I shut the door, T realized the reality of what was happening and started crying. I was thrilled.

Later, T wanted to hold it. I told her she could this one time, but that this was a mama toy, not a Taylor toy. I figured that would satisfy her curiosity, prevent her from climbing up on the furniture to try and reach the thing, and that would be that. So, I gave it to her and ordered her to put it on the dresser when she was done. She promised. Mistake!

Yep, you guessed it. I can no longer locate the white Taylor timer. T claims that it is under her bed. When asked why its there, she claimed that "its under the bed because I was making it tick". Well, that explains everything, now, doesn't it?

I suspect its somewhere in that blasted tent. Unfortunately for me, I can't climb in the dumb thing with my back. Dot's job this weekend will be attempting to located the hidden Taylor Time-Out Timer.

Anybody want to lay odds on whether or not it will ever be found?

UPDATE: The timer has been found. When we got home tongiht, I told T she better find it fast. She went in her room, and was out in less than 30 seconds. Where she had it squirrelled away, I'll never know. So, we're back in business.

BTW Carol, I agree in theory about doing a time out near the scene of the crime, so to speak. That's another reason I have 2 timers: one for the front of the house and one for the back. In this instance, we were downstairs and both were upstairs in her room.

The Taylor Time-Out Timer

Happy New Year, Everybody!

I've decided that 2009 is the year of the Time-Out Timer. So, our first act of the New Year was to go to target and obtain one. Many moms have advised me to get one, and set it when T is in time out. When it dings, time out is over. Apparently, little kids understand this concept quite well and actually stay in time-out with less or no fight. Lets hope it works!

Imagine my surprise when I found them in the kitchen gadget section, and found that they are named after my daughter! Apparently, the things are manufactured by a company named "Taylor".

Coincidence? I think not!

Just to be on the safe side, I bought 2.

In other news, we had a quiet NYEve last night. In fact, I ended up going to bed before the new year was rung in, and only noted the event by crankily rolling over in bed and adjusting the covers when I heard firecrackers outside.

It was Bliss!