Dial Healthier You - ME? GET OUT OF TOWN!

I am flattered and have to say thank to Dial for selecting me to the Dial Healthier You Program. I have to say I'm flattered. I really have been trying to shift focus the last few months for constantly being everything to everyone and giving a little time to myself and I don't just mean in the potty.

This is that time of year where it is so easy to neglect ourselves. We don't eat the way we should, we don't exercise (okay this one might just be me) the way we should. I know I get lost right now. So, I am thrilled by this opportunity by Dial to make ME, yes ME healthier. Amy Hendel will be guiding me on this taking care of myself adventure. Amy is an author, who has a new book btw, 4 Habits of Healthy Families, wellness coach and so much more.

SO, the week one focus is on nutrition - I'm glad to say I didn't read this one before work last night or I would feel guiltier than I already do for the oh-so-delicious hamburger with grilled onions and french fries I ate last night at midnight. So, what I ate last night is a big no,no (which I knew but mmmm, french fries).

Amy reminded me, that I am what I eat. Ugh, feeling even more guilty. I don't want to be a french fry! So, keep whole foods in my diet and keep processed foods to a minimum. Consider it done Amy! Those aren't really changes for us, thank goodness! But once again it is an excellent time of year to be reminded.

Next Amy shares the 3 aspects of skin care.

1. HYDRATE - we can't emphasize this one enough people! You are over 60% water, give yourself a refill. Your skin and many other parts of your body will say thanks! And don't forget the Omega 3's!

2. Fight the zits! It really does amaze me how one can get wrinkles and zits at the same time (that is really not fair!). So incorporate pumpkin seeds (how appropriately seasonal), zinc, veggie baked beans and garbanzo beans (fire up the white chili!).

3. And the final one - fight the anti-aging. How do you do this?! Say no to the sun with no SPF, and Vitamin E (what has Vit E - tuna and cereals)

And when you go to the store - don't forget to grab your Dial products!


Alright - my lesson is in!!!! thanks again Dial!

The Day After

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving! We sure did! It was wonderful. Full of food and fun. The kids were great and the baby only slept through like half of Thanksgiving dinner. (We ate right at nap time). It was nice though because both my husband and I got to enjoy myself. IT was lovely!

Yesterday, husband hung up the Christmas lights and I handled the indoor decor. Our house has Christmas everywhere!

Now, I'm a BIG Scentsy fan. I have to tell your though, I did buy some Better Homes and Gardens Christmas smelling bars at Walmart for $2 and if you can find them, they smell amazing!

Back to the grind for this Mama today. I work tonight and Monday, so I'll be a zombie! LOL!

Please enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

Oh and Black Friday - NOPE, I hit a few online sales last night and got a start on a few things, but lots of work to be done!

Gobble Up My Friends

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I'm so thankful for the many blessings in my life - I thought about rambling them all off but decided it would sound a little like an acceptance speech :) With you all playing the music trying to cut me off in the background!

I wish you all a day of nothing - nothing but food, family and fun. BE SAFE IF YOU R TRAVELING!!!

We are having an early dinner today, as my poor brother got the work straw this year (I had it the last 2 years). We all agree we would rather work Thanksgiving or New Years than Christmas.

I grew up in a family where Dad was usually missing at least 1 holiday a year. If we got upset or frustrated he would remind us that at least he got to come home as opposed to the people staying that were ill or injured. He always taught us to be grateful for health. (and that hospitals are 24/7 businesses).

Funny enough 2/3 of his children now work in the hospital, so between the 3 of us, someone is usually working the night/day of the holiday or on the eve or the day after.

So, that being said, I am sure that I will come back with some funny stories of my husband trying to corral the children in my parent's house. LOL! Hence why I was busy yesterday, I wanted to make sure all I had to do when I got to Mom's was heat a few things up.

Wishing you nothing but the best on this holiday season. Let the games begin! It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving

when all through the house
all the creatures were stirring for school was out
The turkey was stuffed on the stovetop with care
In hopes that Nana and Grandad soon would be there
The children were hungry and needed to be fed
While visions of kitchen disasters danced in Mama's head
The shopping still needed to be done
and going to the store would not be fun
The store would be so busy
the thought of it made me dizzy
Away to the mini van we flew like a flash
Do not forget the list left on the van's dash
When what to my wandering eyes should appear
but a parking spot that is not at all in the rear
Pushing the cart she shouted each ingredient by name
More rapid than eagles her barks came
Now butter! Now milk! And do not forget the wine!
To the back of the store, to the front of the line
Get into the van, we have got to get home y'all
Now drive away, drive away, avoiding the mall

With a trunk full of groceries and the baby too
They started fighting I heard in the back
Give me my toy, I want it back.
With my head spinning, I turned around
You better shape up or your heads I will pound
Into the driveway I drove like I was crazy
I am probably forgetting the rest it is starting to get hazy

The goods were brought in bag by bag
I do remember, I was starting to nag
The recipes were ripped from the pages
I had not made some of them in ages
With hungry children playing at my feet
I really hoped we could keep the place neat

As the day wore on it became such a drag
for I knew I was becoming such a hag
I swore that I would never do this again
But we all know what happens in the end
I made all stuffing, the pies, and ham
My mother god love her still wanted lamb

The dishes were done, the kids were tucked in
I got it all done I said with a grin
And now I am finished, so let the festivities begin


Happy Thanksgiving to all! And to all a good night!




This is just a silly little thing I wrote while avoiding the grocery store. It made my tired self giggle. ENJOY!!

Talk some sense into me!

My children are wonderful, I love them, really I do please believe me when you read this post....

Items destroyed by my 3 angels in 2010:
1 broken window in the playroom
1 broken window in the garage
1 broken window in our foyer
1 broken bike
2 lamps from their bedrooms each specifically purchased to match their "decor"
1 broken living room lamp
65, yes, I counted, 65 broken DVDs
Broken toys stopped counting, but a lot, enough for all the children in a small nation each to get a toy
1 broken lamp in the yard - think baseball bat smashing glass - AWESOME!

1 broken tv (this happened over the weekend and pushed me over the edge)

Keep in mind these are not "accidents", they are intentional acts of destruction. My angels aka demons have a habit of not respecting their things or ours for that matter and breaking them. The playroom is disgusting. I've cleaned it more times than I care to share and I know that is my job as a Mom.

I've had it though. I know what is coming. It is the time of year when my children get a huge influx of toys - between Christmas and their birthdays this time of year is crazy. I was going toss a bunch of baby toys but the baby is old enough to play with toys (so much for my plan to keep him a baby forever).

Last night, when they broke the TV I lost it. I pulled out my phone and called my husband's cousin who often stands in as Santa. I told him what they had done and told Santa to bring toys to children who won't break them and will respect them. I don't think that my point got across. Today I found them intentionally snapping crayons, what happened, a snapped Mommy. ARGH! Everyone got sent to their rooms while I tried to become myself again.

I talked to my husband on the phone and told him, no Santa gifts this year. Instead, we would take this as a lesson and learn about charity and giving to those in need. My husband was appalled. He can't believe that the thought would cross my mind. How could I be such a monster?

Am a I monster? I think that I am using this time of giving and love, as a means to make a point. Give unto others. I would craft a note from Santa talking about all the children who need more and who don't have anything, let alone extra things to break and not respect. Am I wrong? Is it wrong to try to teach them a lesson? Am I just crazy?

HELP! My husband thinks that I am so crazy he wants me to call my Mom so she can "talk some sense into me".

If you have advice for how to teach my children how to respect their things, please share. Also, regardless of what happens we do give a lot of toys to charity right now, I have a huge box of goodies in the closet to bring to Toys for Tots, this would just be extra.....

To be Princess

Tonight was Cub Scout night. It was going to be fun, a tour of one of local news channels. How super fun is that !?! I think that I was more excited that than the kids. Being in OK, I couldn't wait to meet the man that interrupted all of my favorite programming or assured me that I was just missing commercials. I also wanted to ask if he knew Reid Timmer from Storm Chasers! Of course I didn't ask that question.

The night started off great. We went to station, along with all of the other Cub Scouts and their parents. We were standing in the lobby and the weather guy was talking to the kids. He had made a few snarky remarks about the sports guys. One of the sports announcer's walked in and introduced himself to each person individually including Princess. Princess told him her name and asked what he did, he replied, sports. She looked at him scrunched up her nose and said that guy (points to the weather man) doesn't like you very much. I could have died, sarcasm is often lost on an almost 5 yr old. The sports guy looked at her, bent down and said, well to be honest I don't like it when he runs over his time to tell you that it's windy and cold. You can look outside and see it's windy and cold. Priceless. The adults laughed and she smiled, not having an idea what he meant by what he said.

The tour began and she was front and center for the whole thing. When it came time to play on the green screen, she ballet moved her way right through it, making sure that she watched herself on the screen. One of the other dads noted she isn't shy, my reply, no she isn't.

Come On Man!

I love the segment on Sunday nights! It's my fave. The guys are so funny or the mess ups are that bad. HAHA! Of course I missed it today, boo.

I love football. I love watching the games, I love the sportsmanship, I love cheering for the underdog or my team or against a team. I love that the kids and Daddy love to run outside and play "football". There are no rules really, they just all run around the yard and the football is with them.

I love Bubba. Have I introduced you to Bubba?



This is Bubba- he gets put up before every game and taken down shortly after. It's a bit ceremonial. Hubbie gathers the children and the extension cord. Depending on when the the game is, that determines where in the yard Bubba will be displayed. We looked out to the front yard on day a few weeks ago and a man had pulled over and was snapping a picture of Bubba. - our neighbors probably hate us. There was one night when I had to get Bubba ready because hubbie was going to be late. The children critiqued my Bubba skills.


Recently though, football has become very scary. I don't remember the amount of head injuries or the helmet to helmet hits even 5 years ago. Perhaps, as my hubbie and I were guessing that head injuries weren't as well diagnosed until recent years. It just seems that every week a player (someone's son, brother, cousin, husband, or sniff Daddy) goes down hurt. As I am writing this there is an injured player. I just watched his head collide with another player and you just know, it doesn't look good. He gives a thumbs up when he leaves the field and I am blubbering like a baby.

Big boy has desires to play football, I'm just not certain how the heck I will stomach that! Someday that could my boy playing highschool ball getting creamed and not able to move. No one will be able to stop me from running out onto the field. My work practice and my mommy self will kick in.

I've tried to tell him that golf is a lovely game or perhaps he would like to be a kicker - it hasn't worked. I have 2 years to get him into another sport besides football - he does like basketball, I just need him to LOVE it.

The best made plans...

I don't remember what the exact quote about the best plans is, but we made plans this weekend to take the kids down the turnpike. Apparently their zoo is better. So, off we go! When we go to OKC we can see my sister and my husband's cousin in one swoop (I make it sound like we have done this before - that would be a No).

Well, I sensed trouble yesterday. Little boy was back at the dr, we got another round of antibiotics for chest funk. Hmm, fun fun. His GI system hates antibiotics. No amount of yogurt I give that child prevents the yucky diapers that come with the drugs. UGH! Those started today.

I had no more put his pants and shirt (shudder) in the washer when big boy came home. He sat on the couch at 3:40pm and literally didn't get off the couch until bedtime. I took his temp - yup -he had a fever. I gave him some Tylenol and we cuddled. He said he felt better at bedtime, but he also listened to our conversation about not going tomorrow. That made all of us sad.

I just don't want a blow out in the car on the turnpike (more shuddering) and I don't want Big Boy to be sick for his short week at school. So, I don't know what the tomorrow has in store for us here - hopefully at least Dad and the older 2 will be off! I will be on poop detail.


Gotta love poop detail when it also includes laundry and a bath....everytime (shudder!).


HAPPY SATURDAY FRIENDS!!! Do something extra fun and think of me.

Thank you

Thank you very much Jen at Our Journey with Mico-Preemie Twins for the $65 dollar CSN gift code! I assure that it will be used.

Husband and I had fun searching tonight - perhaps a doll-house, perhaps pillow pets (both kids have wanted one for almost a year now!). Who knows what the gift code will buy! We decided to see if CSN will have any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals before we commit!

Sleepless in Tulsa...

I work nights - I shouldn't say nights - it is truly like one night a week. On the first of October, I cut my hours back again and am only working one night a week. Some months, less. So tell me please why in the world after 2 hours of sleep, I am wide awake?!?! I did work Monday night and had no sleep before my shift and only a four hour nap on Tuesday. I was pretty ready for bed last night. ;)

I really do love to sleep. Tonight, husband's snoring was too much. No amount of shoving or moving was helping. My mind was racing when I woke up. I just laid there and decided, I may as well get up and work on my grocery shopping list for tomorrow morning.

Today is jammed packed! Little boy has a doctor's appointment and I need to get to the store before his appointment because it will be nap-time when we get home. Princess and Big boy have school. After school, we go to tumbling and ballet/tap. Sometime in there I have to run to the fabric store. I also need to run to a children's boutique and the post office. I also have a new baby to see and to drop off a baby gift I made. I don't think Little boy will appreciate our schedule. He usually doesn't. I might save some of the fun for Friday - now I am rereading the to-do list trying to decide what I could procrastinate until Friday.

Friday is girl's day at our house. Little boy and Big boy have school, so it's just a fun day for us girls to hang out.

Hmm - I should probably stop this stream of consciousness and go back to bed....I don't make a lot of sense at 4am...

I hope you all are peacefully dreaming....

The blah blahs

I made chili and cornbread on Sunday. It was good! So good! I posted the recipe for the cornbread on the recipes tab! I'll be trying to update that more.

Thanksgiving is swiftly approaching and I'm sure I'll be menu planning with Mom this week. I missed Thanksgiving last year thank you laboring women! HAHA! :( So, I'm really excited to be there. Yea Turkey day. We celebrate 2 birthdays and do dinner. It's just nice to get us all together. We (my side of the family) live in the same place, we are all just busy!

Cyber Monday. So, I'm not to keen on getting up really early on Friday morning, I prefer to lounge in my pj's with my tea and shop the cyber Monday deals. HOWEVER, I am irritated, I can't find any listings of the cyber Monday deals. ARGH! I'll be searching, I'll post links here as I find them.

Oh and I've been busy making baby presents. Round 2 of the baby wave has begun, this wave almost all girls. So, the sewing machine has been whirring. I'll post some pictures of those items.

I have to say they are pretty cute and I've been tossing around the idea of opening an Etsy store. My hubbie assures me the stuff would sell especially if I went to his work. I'm pondering. I'm also thinking that I will have to have some inventory. I'll probably start working on that as I'm in the sewing mood anyways.

That's the happenings! Catch ya on the flip side.

It's Painful to watch....

My big boy is awesome! He can be wild, funny, and he is so athletic. The kid can swim like a fish, his basketball ability was shown this weekend at his first game. Sidebar to brag - he scored 16 points and he had 16 rebounds (the team only had 20 pts). I am so happy for him.

Two weeks ago, I got a call from the school nurse, she expressed concern over big boys lack of participation and how quiet he is. I explained that he is painfully shy. In situations such as school where the concept is new, he does (and always has) tended to withdraw and keep quiet. Anyone who has ever been to school can understand, maybe if I just keep quiet they won't call on me (I used to try this one in geometry...). So, I took that phone call as just a concern from his teacher and nothing more.

Yesterday, I took him to a birthday party. It was full of kiddos from his class (it was a party for a girl but a few of the boys where there). We got there and he refused to sit at the table - instead he stood in a corner and picked at his scab (lovely!). Then, I got him to sit after much coaxing and by coaxing I mean threatening to take him home ( I did try nice first but I knew that wouldn't work). Then he wouldn't eat. That concerned one of his little buds to no end. His friend could NOT figure out one wouldn't eat pizza! He did eat cake (no ice cream) that was after I got him a coke (and we don't drink soda unless it is Sprite!). I was really trying and pulling out all of the stops.

It was in that painful 2 hours that I realized that this shyness was a little over the top. I decided to take on some research to see what I could do to help him. I am an extremely social person, as is Princess, there are no strangers just friends.

So I called upon the internet world to help, because if it's on the internet it's got to be true, right?

1st mistake - I realized I was wrong. I was helping him label himself. I oftentimes refer to him as shy. BAD MOMMY! Don't do that.

Oh, 1st good thing I'm, I mean we, are doing. Basketball - he rocks. Enrolling in him in activities that he is good at is good for him! YEA!!!! ME!!!

2nd good thing, I did, find different ways for your child to socialize with children his age. AHA! I did this one too. This year, I broke my own rule and signed him up for 3 fall activities. Basketball, Cub Scouts, and finally tumbling.

Other sources that I read suggested that because he has friends and likes to play and has no trouble in one and one situations that he is probably just overwhelmed. He said he had fun, especially when we broke off to play games and he and I rode the go-karts together.

So, I'm less concerned. I feel that as he gets the self-confidence at school, he will participate more. In large group social situations, he will get it. I just need not to worry not everyone can be extremely social like me.

Oh, and I took princess to a party after that party. I could have left and she never would have known....so independant...



Mwape, Bridget. "10 Things You Can Do To Help a Shy Child". ADD ADHD Advances.com

Maybe we are doing something right

Have you ever questioned your ability as a parent. Seriously there was no test - they just let you walk out of the hospital with a baby. Even with big boy - we filled out some forms and had a home study (which meant I frantically cleaned my house for 5 days making sure the closets were organized - just in case) but no true test of parenting.

Earlier this week one of husband's co-workers lost her house in a fire. He knew I was home, so he texted me to tell me. I immediately wanted to know what size clothes her boy was wearing. He was somewhere in between big boy and little boy. He found out and told me.

I went upstairs to little boys closet which is really a storage shed for everything baby and started to go through clothes. Princess walked in the room and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was gathering clothes for a little boy who had lost everything in a fire. She said, "that's so sad Mama" and off she went.

She returns 15 minutes later, her arms brimming with toys. She said Mama you can't just give him boring stuff. She was so right every toy that child had was also lost in the fire.

I told the story to my mother in law who wasn't at all surprised at her grandaughter's generosity and she reminded me that as an adult we only consider the practical. What do I need to make it through the night. My princess was thinking what would I miss most, her toys.

She then asked if we could go and get him some new coloring books and crayons. Of course I said. I was so proud of her. It was there for a fleeting second that I realized that maybe, just maybe we are better at this parenting thing than we thought...

I'm surprised they are still eating it....

PUMPKIN that is. I thought by now I would have pumpkined my family out. We've had pumpkin bread, pancakes, bars, dump cake, ice cream and tonight it was pumpkin soup. The kids still haven't tired which is good, believe it or not I still have more pumpkin up my sleeve.

Perhaps because I am varying the preparation? I'm not sure. I don't make pumpkin all year long until I want it to be fall. So 3 weeks ago I started whipping out the pumpkin. Perhaps it was last year's pumpkin shortage - do you remember that? Panic in the pumpkin aisle!!! It was kinda funny. Stores here in Tulsa were advertising that they had pumpkin.

I hope I never live to see another pumpkin shortage. It was ugly.

Not your Typical Wednesday

Today wasn't your typical Wednesday. Well, it started off normal, but it wasn't. I got a phone call from my husband. This wonderful woman he works with, lost everything in a house fire today.

My husband works for a fantastic company! They were rallying the troops by 11am. I called him the second I got the message. Her little boy is in between my boys - so I went digging through the clothes boxes. I found some pants, shirts, pj's, sweaters and a coat.

My daughter came downstairs and she was asking me what I was doing. So, I told her about a little boy who lost everything in a fire. I was getting some clothes together for him because he only had the clothes that he was wearing. She said, that's sad and went back upstairs.

She came downstairs a few minutes later. Her arms were overloaded with toys. She looked at me and said, Mommy you can't just give him boring stuff, he needs new toys too! I almost cried. She then told me that we needed to go and get him crayons and some coloring books. So we did. I love that girl and I was so proud of her in that moment.

In that fleeting moment I thought maybe I am doing something right...

How fun!!!

Okay - so I've been revealing a lot about what my kids like to eat. And here is another plug for food that they like!

CORNDOGS! State Fair Corn Dogs, the #1 Corn Dog Brand (my kids personal fave) has a fun chance for you to get a coupon - an interactive video. It's like one of those choose your own adventures books! But better - this time if you choose wisely - you get a coupon!!!! AWESOMENESS!

THE State Fair Corn Dog Interactive Video


In addition - let me say I've peaked your interest in State Fair you have a thirst for more - check them out on the web!

State Fair Brand

Wanna like them on Facebook? Go here - State Fair Corn Dogs & Facebook

We are talking free peeps!

Who doesn't like free food?!?!

There is one thing that my family loves for dinner - TACOS!

Well great news people if you have a Jack in the Box near you - you can get free TACOS on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16TH!!! You can get 2, yes, 2 free tacos. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED!!! Not even a drink - just walk in and demand (politely) your free tacos!

There are 3 different ways for you to connect with Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box website
Jack in the Box on Facebook
You can follow them on twitter

SO MARK THIS ON YOUR CALENDARS FRIENDS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16TH - FREE TACOS AT JACK IN THE BOX!

It's November!!

Some people think of it as a gateway to the holidays, in our house it is so much more than that!

It's our dog's birthday! Zeke will be 3. But no, that's not it. November is National Adoption Month!

It's a big deal around our house. One of the happiest days of my life was the day I became a Mom. It was through the love of another woman that I got that achievement. I owe everything to this woman. My big man is amazing. He is sweet, caring, the best big brother EVER! Even when he was 21 months, he was the sweetest thing ever (that's how old he was when I brought Princess home).

I think of our birth mother everyday.

This poem makes me blubber every time I read it:

Legacy of An Adopted Child:

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love. The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent. The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home that she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me, through your tears,
the age-old question unanswered through the years.
Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?
Neither, my darling. Neither. Just two different kinds of Love.

© Author Unknown



A few weeks ago, I had the most awesome experience at work. A birth mother was delivering, the adoptive parents were in the waiting room. I worked with the adoptive family and the other nurse worked with the birth mother. I forgot (well, sort of) how awesome the experience was. I got to tell that adoptive mother all about her new baby. How much she weighed, how beautiful she was. The best part, I got to take that new Mom to the back and watch her hold her baby for the first time. As she cried tears of joy, I was back 6 1/2 years ago remembering that same flood of emotions, I cried with her. I took the first picture of her holding her new baby. It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

If you ever have the chance to meet an adoptive mother ask her about the first time she found out she was going to be a Mom. I have experienced both - the positive pregnancy test and the phone call that I waited years for.

Both experiences were awesome (don't get me wrong!). The adoptive experience is so unique, so unfamiliar to most. Take the time, ask the questions, investigate the story. You'd be surprised....

I knew this day was coming...

I have officially become nothing more than a taxi cab in a minivan. I thought it would take a little longer. Like all of them being at least in kindergarten. Alas, no such luck.

At 5pm, I needed to slice myself (and my wheels) in at least half. We had to be at school to pick up the big boy, at basketball with the big boy, and at gymnastics with the princess. Do you think any of these places are close to each other?! Not even. Granted my house is in between all of them - that meant I drove by my house 4 times as I ran the circuit. It was awful. The baby really let me have it! We got in the car at 4:45pm and didn't get out of the car for more than 5 minutes until 7:10pm. He screamed, writhed, and cried to let me know he wasn't happy. Poor guy. Oh and didn't I mention he hadn't eaten (no wonder he was MISERABLE!).

Daddy came home sick from work this afternoon - he went to bed at noon and didn't get up until after 8pm. We (the kids and I) had just gotten over the flu. Ugh. So, he isn't going near the kids with a 10-foot pole. So, no help there! I did try though - his phone luckily was out of juice and it went straight to voicemail.

Oh, here's the frosting! When I spoke to the coach on Sunday - he gave me the wrong time. Basketball didn't start at 5pm -oops! He said, oh right, sorry, it starts at 6pm. ACK! We were late for tumbling for no good reason!!! FRUSTRATION! Not to mention this is rush hour traffic here people!

Ahhhh, I can't wait for next Tuesday! Same thing different day! Except this time I KNOW basketball doesn't start until 6pm!

The inside story

I have a confession. I love, love, love documentary films - almost to the point of obsession. I wrote my senior thesis in college about documentary films (it was awesome). I sat in the library for weeks watching documentary after documentary and then I wrote some short 60 page paper about my “findings”. Any who - I found two yesterday that I greatly enjoyed.

Well, both deserve commentary but one is far more controversial than the other (so I'll skip that one). The documentary that I’m skipping, but I’ll at least give you the title is “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” with Ben Stein. Sidebar – I used to love his show, Win Ben Stein’s Money – with Jimmy Kimmel. This particular documentary discusses intelligent design – hence why I’m not touching that one with a 10 foot pole.

The second one, was fascinating to me – “Nursery University”. Have you seen this?!?! It was so foreign to me! It discusses the preschool process in New York City. The movie sets the stage discussing the baby boom since 2000 and how there just aren’t enough “good” preschools.

It is funny to me, the principal of the Mandell school talks about how preschool isn’t the key to Harvard. If you listen to some of these parents on the documentary, you would think you went from 3 year-old preschool class to Harvard.

I can’t imagine that process. Can you relate?! Is the preschool market in your area competitive? I have to say with the baby, (yes, he is in “preschool” 2 days a week), I just made a few phone calls in July, he started in August. I toured the schools, talked to them on the pone. There were no applications. REALLY?!?! APPLICATION FOR PRESCHOOL?!?!

The application process in NYC starts the day after Labor Day and you don’t get accepted to March – then the tuition for these schools is insanity - $8,000 for a few hours a day for my preschooler?!?!

Maybe living where I do, I’m blessed or naïve. I believe that preschool is strictly ABC’s, sharing/caring, maybe a song here or there, nap, snack and home. Maybe I’m not obsessive enough, I don’t know. I got sucked in, fully intending to do a lot more around the house, but couldn’t!

Now – I don’t know if anyone is out there reading this anymore. But if you are – tell me did you have a huge preschool app process? Do you know anyone who lives in NYC who has lived through this drama!?! Is this everyone who experiences this stress or are this just the upper, crust elite?

Hello Again...

Today, I was going to reconnect with my blog with a purpose. I was going to have this thought provoking post that was going to explain my absence - where I have been, what I have been doing, why I missed obligations - but nope. I just missed my blog. I missed my outlet, I missed writing and sharing. I missed my bloggie friends. I missed the work that I was doing.

I was a bad, bad blogger. BUT - I'm back! I have a renewed spirit - many things to write about and I look forward to reconnecting and sharing. I apologize for my absence. I'm coming back with blogger guilt for letting my readers down (the giveaways that I never finished etc.). To you, I'm sorry. I hope that you'll forgive me. Sometimes there just weren't enough hours in a day to get everything accomplished.

I'm listing to blah blah on the View. I really can't stand this show. I need to get up and change the channel.

I also smell a stink coming from the baby - I better fix that before it becomes a larger issue....Ugh. I'm pretty sure I have a few loads of laundry that need to be done...

oh yeah, the poopy baby just walked by....

I'm glad to be back, I'll hope you'll forgive me, I missed you all....