A Sunday Afternoon

On Sunday afternoons, if I have my act together and do not have to use the time to plan school, I often go out by myself - to the store or photo hunting, just to get some time alone. I'm trying to do more with the kids, though, so when my husband suggested I take my oldest along, I didn't hesitate. Of course, I can't take one girl and not the other so we had a girls' afternoon.

We meant to raid the Closing Sale at Border's Bookstore, but when we got there, it looked like Disney World. Not the fun and magic of Disney World, but the lines and chaos. When I saw there was little in the store more than 20% off, we left and went to Barnes and Noble where my educator's discount gives me 20% off. And the books are all orderly. And the lines short.

The girls selected a book, and I picked up a couple of Horrid Henry books for the boys. As I handed the cashier my educator card, she asked if all of my purchases were school materials. I explained I am a homeschooler and that, while some may not view Horrid Henry as fine literature, if the boys are reading, these books are in my opinion school materials. I got my discount.

Oh, and how could I forget the most important part of our bookstore trip? There is a Starbucks in the Barnes and Noble. Green iced tea for me, hot chocolate for the girls. And we all shared a cinnamon scone.

On our way home, we passed a walking trail along the Farmington River. I noted a couple of potential picture spots, and we pulled over. Unfortunately, the trail is still covered by a couple feet of snow, and the girls did not have snow boots on. This lady had the right idea:


We enjoyed watching her ski by.

So we didn't stay long, but it was a fun little detour anyway.

The Best Day Out

My husband and I are competitive people. So when he takes the boys out for a Boys' Day Out, and I venture out with my sweet girls for a Girls' Day Out, there has to be a little competitive edge thrown in. Just for fun. Not that we set out this morning to make it a competition, but I guess I perpetuated it by sending friendly text messages to my husband throughout the day that said something like, "I bet we're having more fun than you." Because, honestly, who doesn't want to be the cool parent the kids all want to hang with?

So who won? Well, you can be the judge.

First, we breakfasted at Starbucks where the girls enjoyed some divine Hot Chocolate paired with scrumptious donuts and cinnamon rolls.





Then we were off to the mall. First stop: the salon where we all had manicures, which included festive designs painted on our nails.





Following the salon, we did a little shopping, including a stop at Bath and Body Works where the girls chose their favorite scent and left with luxurious bath products in that fragrance.

Our tummies were rumbly at this point, so we lunched at one of our favorites: California Pizza Kitchen. Only problem? My recently birthdayed 11-year-old is no longer on a kids' menu. So a new era in our lives begins.



A girls' day is not complete without chocolate, so our next stop was at the Rainforest Cafe where we ate way too much of a Volcano.





A little more fun shopping for last minute Christmas gifts, and we headed home.

Around this time, I texted my husband "See? More fun!!" accompanied by this picture:


He texted me back with this "picture":



Something about breakfast, haircuts, lunch, and video games.

Seriously. Is there even a contest?

Tea for Three

We went to a tea party this weekend. No, not the kind that took place on the lawn of the White House. A tea party with my two favorite girls in the world. Alex's American Heritage Girls troop hosted the tea. We invited our BFFs, and we had a great time together. After we feasted on the various dishes all the moms brought in to share, we had a couple of games. The girls took part in a relay meant to improve their posture: it was a race they completed with a book balanced atop their heads. While they took part in this, we moms wrote down stories from our past, which we thought our daughters would not be familiar with. Later these stories were read, and the girls had to try to match the stories with their moms. Alex guessed mine. Like mother, like daughter, I suppose.

My story centered on a nasty wedge of tomato my parents were making me eat. I had passed at least an hour at the lunch table, the red piece of fruit glaring up at me. My parents had long since gone off to take their afternoon siesta as is the custom in Africa, and I was left to my misery, trying to conjure up the courage to stuff the slimy, tart thing in my mouth and gulp it down without gagging. I failed to muster up such courage. I could hear my dad snoring in the other room, and evil finally took over. I quietly pushed my chair back on the cement floor, stealthily opened the screen porch door, and snuck outside. I headed around to the side of the house and tossed the offensive tomato under a bridge that stretched across a ditch. Then I quietly let myself back into the house and cleared my plate like the responsible, helpful daughter I was. For weeks after that day, I would sneak around to the side of the house and cast furtive glances under the bridge. I was terrified a tomato plant would grow under the bridge and give me away.

Pierced

There was nothing I wanted more at the age of 13 than to have my ears pierced. But my parents wouldn't budge. The magical age was 16. Three more years. I couldn't understand. It's not like I was requesting a beer or that the devil be tatooed on my arm. My best friends had had theirs pierced for years. Plus, it was African custom: all baby girls got their ears pierced. I think the order of operation was clip the umbilical cord, pierce the ears, then bathe, feed, and swaddle. But not with my folks. And they did get asked by a couple of Africans about it. I'm sure the Africans would just shake their heads and say, "Those strange missionaries. How is everyone to know she is a girl if her ears are not pierced?"

Despite the fact that my parents were firm in their stance, I begged and pleaded and cajoled. And I finally got my way. Sort of. We made a deal. If I practiced the piano for a half hour every day of summer vacation, I could get my ears pierced. I wasn't a willing piano student, so practicing every day for a half hour was torture, but I did it.

Kolo, one of the African doctors, did the honors, and he followed the same procedure he would for any African baby. He used a suture needle and threaded a strand of suture thread right through my ear lobe. I wore the tied off thread for the obligatory 6 weeks. It may have looked strange, but it sure was easy to care for since there were no diamonds or earring backs to dodge when cleaning. The only danger was snagging the loop on a brush or comb. And there I was, 3 years earlier than planned, a proud earring wearer.

Later on a furlough to the U.S. and in a fit of rebelliousness, I put 4 more holes in my ears. I still remember that night sitting in my little California apartment room, the Beastie Boys playing softly beside me so as not to attract the attention of my parents. One by one, I pushed the sharp point of a stud earring through my lobes so that I ended up with 4 on my left ear and 2 on my right. Thankfully, I escaped infection. And, surprisingly, I hid all of my piercings from my parents with my long hair. Later, of course, I wizened up and realized that one doesn't need that many extra holes in one's head, so I let them all grow back except for two in my left ear and the solitary beginning one on the right.

Now I have a whole new generation of little girls. While I wouldn't want to punch their ears full of holes at this tender age, I have no Age Sixteen rule either. In fact, when Alex was 3 I had her ears pierced. However, they got infected, I think due to the fact that I was cheap and didn't select the pricier 14k studs. I was working at the kids' preschool then, and spending an hour cleaning up an infected ear every morning was tough on both of us, so I took them out.

Since then, every time we pass a Claire's, I've asked her, "Do you want to get your ears pierced today?" She's always said no, although the Princess, if in earshot, has replied with a resounding "YES!! I do!" Despite Alex's resistance, when her BFF Grace expressed a desire to get her ears pierced, I suggested we have a Girls' Day Out and go together for the piercing. She agreed.

The day finally came yesterday, and we all met in a Claire's crowded with Christmas shoppers. Grace and Alex went first. Both of them turned down the suggestion that the Claire's teddy bear sit in their laps for comfort during the piercing as well as the soothing lollipop after, both ideas denied with a politeness but a slight eye roll just in case anyone would question the maturity of these very grown-up 10-year-olds.

The Princess, however, was more than willing to give the Claire's teddy bear a seat during the procedure.

And I elected to have two Claire's employees accomplish her piercing simultaneously, one on each ear. I was worried that otherwise Audrey might decide one was enough, thank you very much, and we'd be leaving the store with a lopsided princess. She shed a few big, huge crocodile tears after both earrings were secure, but it was nothing that the promised lollipop couldn't fix.

Both girls enjoyed coming home to show off their new ears. Of course, as beautiful as their sisters look, the boys would never admit it with a compliment. However, Daddy's compliments more than made up for silly brothers' neglect.

'Twas a Couple Weeks Before Christmas

'Twas a couple weeks before Christmas, when in five different homes

The mommies were all stressed, feeling the need to roam.

Laundry wasn't done, and the dishes were all dirty.

Each mommy was feeling at least twenty years plus thirty.

The children were wild; they were climbing the walls

While all the frazzled mommies yelled down the halls.

So they donned their going-out clothes and dolled up their hair

For an evening out, each other's company to share.

The Italian restaurant, it was filled with much chatter,

But sitting there with no kids, all the noise didn't matter.

Around the table we mommies sat and we talked

While making sure the garlic roll basket was always well stocked.

The presence of wonderful, scintillating conversation

Soon made us forget that we needed a vacation.

And at the end of the meal, one friend so sweet

Presented us each with a gift-wrapped treat.

Delicious and crunchy, it was chocolate-covered toffee,

A delicacy that most certainly trumps coffee.

The check was paid, and out the door we women filed.

With a resolve to remember, into a big group we piled.

To a stranger, we implored, "Take a picture, please?"

And into a corner, we all did squeeze:

Stand here, Martha, Jamie, and Stace.

Alyson and Katy, take your place.

Then on to the movies four of us went.

Dinner and a show: an evening Heaven-sent.

Four Christmases danced merrily across the screen,

And there were laughs to share in every scene.

The credits rolled, signalling the end of our night.

Though our Small Group has disbanded, I'm glad we're all tight.

As we walked to our cars under the light of the moon,

We said to each other, "Love you lots. Let's do this again soon."

Hangin' Out with My Girl

If you know me well, I've probably admitted to you at one point or another that I am just not a baby and little kids' person. I know, I'm hanging my head. It's funny because when I got pregnant with Alex, every friend--and maybe even a stranger or two--with a baby said, "Oh, you're pregnant! Would you like to hold my baby?" Uhhhh....not really, but...Sometimes I'd just rather opt for a teenager problem--like keeping them from sneaking out or stealing the car--over the spontaneous vomit or explosive diarrhea.

But I realized last night it's more than just the diapers and all night long feedings. When the kids are little, going to a show is, well, an experience...but not always in the good way. First, you book the tickets to be tortured by a singing purple dinosaur or 4 colorful, dancing men who are a little on the effeminate side. The show must take place at just the right time: it cannot overlap with an eating or napping slot. On the day of the show, just getting ready takes a few hours. Stroller? Check. Then add the diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream; throw in a change of clothes in case of emergency (see vomit and diarhhea above); add the snacks; don't forget the blankie because if there is a tantrum or owie of some sort, the blankie may be the only thing that prevents a total meltdown; and a few toys are a great way to address the boredom or distraction the child may feel when the show passes the 10 minute mark.

It's so much fun to be past those days now. My biggest baby will celebrate a birthday next week; she will be entering her last year in single digits. For her birthday present, my mom gave us both tickets to the American Stars Concert. This is a Christmas concert performed by past American Idols. For those who follow AI, we were entertained by Kimberley Locke from Season 2, Georgia's own Diana DiGarmo from Season 3, and Season 7's David Hernandez and Chikeze.

As we walked out the door yesterday, I grabbed nothing but my purse with the tickets. We had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's and then leisurely made our way to the Classic Center in Athens. We enjoyed all 2 hours of the show, which may even have sparked some Christmas spirit in me (which has been lacking this year, but that's another story). After the concert, I looked at my big little girl, and, with a sparkle in my eye, suggested an introduction to tradition: hot, late night Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Obviously, she didn't decline. I know eating doughnuts at 10:30 at night isn't the healthiest thing, but when you're making memories a little chocolate glaze doesn't hurt anyone.

Expo-in' & Cheesecakin'

I'd have never believed you if you had told me 20 years ago that in 2008 I'd be married to a wonderful man whom I've known since he was a boy; that I'd have 4 amazing children with whom I would have the privelege of staying home; that I would be teaching these children preschool, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade. And that my idea of fun would be fighting traffic to then fight crowds in a crazy room full of eager vendors.

But life is full of surprises, and attending the Homeschool Expo today with two sweet, lovely, funny, and caring friends was a delightful way to spend the day. Of course, an added bonus is that the wonderful man whom I've known since boyhood was in charge of those 4 precious darlings. Yes, roaming each aisle, lingering over a shelf of books, spending way too much money, and then ending up at The Cheesecake Factory was simply as exciting as being a mallrat, hanging out at the beach, hiking up a mountain, or whatever else was intriguing to me 20 years ago.