Welcome 2nd Grade!!

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

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Friday Fun

This evening Aunt Dot came over and T and I took her to our new fav restaurant. We all had some sinfully delicious dishes. Not sure how long we can keep coming here, as it looks like its going to be very popular. We got there early, so got a table. By the time 6:00 p.m. rolled around, there was a wait.
T, who is used to the Nordstom Cafe and the fact that she gets chocolate mints after dinner, started asking for her chocolate when she was finished. Luckily, Dot had some chocolate courtesy of sweet Aunt Connie, and T was thrilled. Eye's lit up and I could barely get her to pose for this picture. If one looks closely, you'll see the remnants of the first piece that she dug into on the table. This picture is with her mouth full with the first piece and a pose with the 2nd.
The other reason T likes this restaurant, is that the kids meals come with a yummy strawberry popsicle. The good kind...make with the real stuff. Mom likes it because T never finishes the thing, and mom can get some really good licks in, too!

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

New Restaurant in Town

Yippee! I'm thrilled to report that there's a new restaurant at the Merrick Park mall, that's kid-friendly and delicious: Yard House.

http://www.yardhouse.com/

Apparently, their claim to fame is 130 different taps at the bar. Since I'm no beer drinker, I couldn't have cared less. They do, though, serve some good bottled cider. T had her coveted chicken fingers and fries, and I had a chopped salad and some sliders (those tiny hamburgers). They were delicious. Best part of it all is that there were lots of leftovers.

In other news, T starts swim class this summer on the 26th. This is a group swim class, that lasts 30 minutes. It will be fun to see how she does.

Monday, May 11, 2009

My Crazy Kid

Last night T slept in her own room....all through the night. She announced to me that she wanted to sleep "all by myself". I was thrilled to hear that. Then, she completed the sentence with the following words: "in my new bed".

Huh? Since I know I haven't purchased any new beds, I didn't know what she was talking about. T took me by the hand, and led me into her room, where she showed me her "new bed". She had created a bed in the closet, using all the covers from her bed, and a few more. Thinking I was being particularly clever, I told her sure, you can sleep there. I figured that as soon as I turned out the lights, she'd be out like a flash and back in with me in my bed. Well, she called my bluff.

The child proceeded to sleep the whole night, half in and half out of the closet, as you can see from the picture, which was taken first thing this morning, when I woke up and was shoked to realize T was still in there asleep.

We'll see what happens tonight.

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

My School Girl

Here she is, debuting this seasons most fashionable of catholic schoolgirl wear.
I was thrilled that the pants run small in the waist, and the size 4 fits her perfectly. Yippee! No flooding pants! The little skort is a size 3 and a little big in the waist, so she has room to grow. We also bought the polo shirt that you see her wearing in the light blue color, to mix and match. We have to special order the jumper and shirt for underneath it in a size 2, as neither the store keeps it in stock in that size, nor can you buy it online in that size...but they do make it!

I couldn't resist the cute headband and she has a cardigan sweater for the cold Miami winters...all 3 days of them.

So, we're pretty much set for the upcoming school year. Mission Accomplished!

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My Little Mermaid

We spent the day running errands, the biggest of which is that we bought some uniform pieces for T. Tried on all the things so that I can order them online in the future. I wanted to buy some now, so I don't have to shell out the $$ in August, when I'm also paying tuition and books. Anyway, she looks so stinkin cute in it all that I can't stand it. Stand by for some pics.

We then went to my parents to do some errands there, then came home to play in the pool.

T insisted that her bathtub buddies...2 mermaid dolls and an ariel barbie doll that has no business in the water, but T insists. She played for a good hour or more, until I chased her back inside. W

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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Taylor's New Uniform

Introducing T's new school uniform that she'll be wearing come August. I think each item will also be embroidered with the school emblem. I was thrilled to see that they come in really small sizes, so they may actually fit. I was less than thrilled to see the price of the things. Yikes. I went on the site to find out what they look like and the price range. Good thing I did, as I have some saving to do.

On another note, I called the school to mail me their tentative schedule for the upcoming year, so that I can get on a waiting list at the daycare. Plan is to stick T back in the daycare on all the days that they get out early or don't have school. I've been kissing up to the director to help facilitate this. So, it appears that I'll be safe for the coming year. However, what I'll do in the next years I have no idea. Guess I'll have to either make friends with some family at the school, and find a summer camp, as she'd be too old to return to the daycare after Kindergarden.

Ah well, ...the life of a mother....just one big logistical nightmare!

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The New Survivor Series

I received this email today, and at first thought it was true and a good idea...and then realized it MUST be a joke!

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no Emailing.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the A & E.

He must also make biscuits or cakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily,adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 8:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labour, each child's favourite colour, middle name, favourite snack, favourite song, favourite drink, favourite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

All the above must be completed whilst working in either full time (preferably) or part time employment to assist in the financial input for the family.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right To be called Mum!

After you get done laughing, send this to as many females as you think will get a laugh out of it and as many men as you think can handle it!

Just don't send it back to me....

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Medical Update

So, yesterday we went to two appointments for my mom. First, we went to the Ear Doctor, who cleaned out her other ear and administered a hearing test. As we all knew, she can't hear worth a damn, and needs a hearing aid. In fact, she needs two. I'll be making an appointment in the future to have her fitted for them.

2nd, we had her appointment with the neurologist. Turns out she doesn't have any epilepsy, based on the 24 hour EEG test of a few weeks ago. That's a relief. Now, the doc wants her to go get, what I understood to be, an MRI of her brain that either measures or traces (or both ) the blood flow in her brain. This new test tries to figure out why she had a stroke and I guess the liklihood of another, and what could be done to prevent it. Who knows. Anyway, this new test is only given on mondays at the hospital. I'm thinking of scheduling both appointments for the same day, but don't know if either my mom or I would be able to do them both and have me keep my sanity.

Meanwhile, can I just say that I hate doctor appointments? BOTH prima donna doctors were running about an hour late from the scheduled appointment time. I wouldn't have minded, except my mom has no patience. She has no where to go and no where she has to be, yet the whole time we're there, she's saying to me, "lets come back another day", or "I want to go home", or similar statements.

Driving.Me.Crazy. AAARRRRGGGG!

Meanwhile, I made appointments for both me and T at the dentist. T has never been, and I haven't been in so long that its an embarassment. My doc administers laughing gas whenever he cleans your teeth, or really does anything. Nice, legal way to get high. I figure I'm due!

So, we'll see how things play out. Whatever happens, I'll be laughing real soon.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Cancer Awareness

We headed out to target late morning, and had lunch at Lime, a new mexican restaurant that opened at midtown. We also noticed that the Cancer Society was having a small cancer awareness festival. I thought that it was particularly appropriate to attend for a bit, given yesterday's main activity. All T cared about was the bouncehouse, of course, which was $1.00 for 15 minutes. Ingeneous way to raise money.

What you see in the first photo, is about 1/4 of the open space. There were booths at the other end, a stage with live band in the middle, and a dog show going on, as well. Again, T just cared about the bounce house. If you look closely, you can see her running across the field toward the camera, and then coming in for a landing on the sidewalk.


We then went on to target and came home, for a nice, relaxing day at home.

Nice!

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Highs and Lows

Friday was a day of highs and lows...happiness and sadness.

The day started with the funeral of the wife of my dear friend and boss. It was a full police ceremony, with honor guard, flying helicoptors, and flag ceremony, and full mass. Pat was a very special lady. She was the first woman officer to rise in the ranks of the Miami Beach Police Department to the rank of Asst. Chief. She was a loving wife and good friend to many. I wish I had known her better. She died at the age of 58 of cancer. My heart broke for her husband, her brothers and sister, but especially for her mother. No one should have to bury their child...I don't care how old the child may be. May she rest in peace.

Anyway, we attended a great reception after the funeral at a bar on Ocean Drive in South Beach. Had a drink or two in Pat's honor, some yummy food, and came home and napped.

Then, the highs of the day...

Aunt Dot is back home and T and I couldn't be happier. We went out to Archie's for some Pizza, chicken wings, and greek salad. Yummy!

Our FCC friend Lori posted that her 4 yr old daughter Katie appears to be on the mend, and may be released from the hospital soon. The prayers of MANY have been answered with this good news.

Lastly, congrats to our cousin Andrew who is making his First Holy Communion today. He's the oldest son of my cousin Christopher, who has three boys. I suspect, like everyday, Erin and Chris will have their hands full today!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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: