Things you may not know

You may not know this, but Brooke is shy. Yes, she is...don't bother arguing with me. It may not be evident when watching her play on the playground, it may not be evident when she's here at home talking non-stop, it certainly isn't evident every Friday when the "behavior shapes" come home...but it is true. Just thought you should know.

Her shyness becomes evident the very second she comes into contact with someone she does not know. Or has to stand in front of a crowd. Even a crowd of 6 year-olds can cause her to freeze and whisper whatever she needs to say with a slight lisp. It's worth mentioning that the crowd of 6 year-olds I'm referring to are those that she spends every day of the week with AND cannot seem to stop talking to when she's supposed to be listening to the teacher. {Which then leads to the red behavior shapes...more on that another day.}

So, anytime there is an opportunity for her to combat her shyness, I jump on it. Like her ballet recitals...she performed like a champ and I think it did wonders for her confidence.

Recently she told me that she had written an "I am" poem during library time and that the librarian said that they could read it during Open Mic night at Barnes and Noble. It was not required, it was after school on a Friday night. She said that she wanted to do it. I took her to the library, filled out the form, and the librarian gave her a copy of her poem to use for practice.

We were set.

Until the Friday of the event when I picked her up from school. She runs up to me and YELLS "I am NOT reading my poem! I am NOT!"

Chillax dude, I say. (Hee hee, not really...I just thought of that...next time I will say it, but probably to Kennedy in front of her friends, just to mortify her...a momma's gotta have some fun.) No, what I did say was that we had committed (I am an advocate of commitment) to go to the event, that we had told the librarian we would be there, so we would go but she didn't have to read her poem if she was uncomfortable.

I thought that was brilliant...brilliant I say! Because the minute you tell them they HAVE to do something, they don't want to do it! Make it seem like THEIR idea! Reverse psychology! I should write a book! Wait, I think I actually did read that in a book that's already been written...never mind.

So, we go to the library, let the librarian know about the stage fright, and promise to be there at 5:30.

We watched several children get up and read a poem or little story, and Kennedy offered to help her. So Kennedy got up with her and Brooke read the first line of her poem...

"I am kind and happy"

Then Kennedy read some lines until Brooke needed to repeat the line "I am kind and happy". It went back and forth between the two girls. It was sweet.


This adorable rainbow outfit was a Christmas gift from Papa and Beppe. She looked very scrumptious in it.


After the event, she told me that next time there is an open mic night, she will read her whole poem. She said that she is no longer afraid. The librarian says that apparently she and Brooke have bonded, too, because Brooke is now giving her little waves on the sly. One more step to building her self-confidence...I feel proud of this moment.
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One other thing you may not know...the dog...is bigger than Brooke. Tomorrow is the dog's birthday, she will be one year old!

I Am Poem by Brooke Zadra

I am kind and happy

I wonder why you have PE at school

I hear waves in water

I see words in a book

I want a kitten

I am kind and happy

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I pretend to be a dog

I feel happy

I touch books

I worry about my puppy

I cry when I fall

I am kind and happy

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I understand my friends are nice

I say be nice to every kid

I dream about my dog

I try not to get hurt

I hope I get more books

I am kind and happy

Cabo Countdown - 2 weeks to go!

Yikes! Two weeks! Time is a-flying, I tell ya.

Just last year, Brooke had a friend in Cabo. A real-life friend from the states kind of friend! Seems that a boy from her kindergarten class was ALSO visiting Cabo the very same week that we were, and for half the time they were in the resort RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

Just recently, her first grade class had to write sentences about a "journey". This is her submission:

Yes, she did and my goodness were they cute on the beach. This photo below got put into the yearbook because I work on the yearbook which gives me great power.

We know of no one from class going to Cabo this year, but our 2009 journey is much-anticipated and will be full of adventure without a doubt!!

Two weeks to go...14 days...we are almost there....

This is what it's come to...

Today in my travels around cyberspace, I found this site...this one right here...

It was quite by accident, really. It was one of those interactive ads that I usually ignore, an ad for home decor. The second time it flashed, I thought...did that say "hamper", as in LAUNDRY HAMPER????

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For the love of all things holy, these home decor articles were nicer than the FURNITURE in my house and they are made for storing one's dirty laundy.

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This was no joke. What is also not a joke is that my husband and I often joke (although it's really not that funny) that laundry is my life. This being the case, I surely deserve a lovely laundry hamper that I can put a peppy vase of flowers and perhaps a scented candle on top of, don't you think?

Unless, of course, I choose this one.

Or this one...

However, they don't match my decor, nor can I put a candle on top of them, so they are out of the running. {Who buys those? An elephant? A fish??? Who????}

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Which means I do want, in fact I am COVETING, a fancy laundry hamper. No joke.

All tied up...

Look what Brooke learned to do this month!

I was beginning to wonder if it was normal for a 6 year-old girl who can read several grade levels beyond first grade to not be able to tie her shoes.

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In the world of velcro and zippers, shoe tying was almost an after-thought. But then she informed me that her friends were tying her shoes on the playground.

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That seemed sort of, well, sad.

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And perhaps reflected a little negatively on the parents (l-a-z-y). So we started TALKING about learning to tie shoes. I remembered how I learned the traditional way, but my brother learned the "two bunny ears" way. So, of course, I showed her how to do it the traditional way because obviously the first-born child knows best.

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The next morning, she is rocking the shoe tying the "two bunny ears" way. How the heck did my brother teach her to tie her shoes via osmosis? All the way from Texas??

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Well, the bunny ear way is the way she's rolling, and she's pretty dang proud of herself...as are we all!

{Love the tongue sticking out of the hole in her teeth...six years old at its best}

Next up for the lazy parents...putting air in the tires of her bicycle and taking off the training wheels. Oh, and teaching her to ride it this way. Swear we'll do it before she's seven!

Happy Birthday Dear Matthew!

Today is cousin Matthew's birthday, and it's FINE TO BE NINE today!

Happy Birthday dear Matthew...here are some fun pictures we found in honor of your special day!

Remember when you were just tiny, and we came to your house for Uncle Steve's wedding? You had two choices of babies to hold...a pink one and a blue one. Here you are holding the pink one...she is looking at you.

I think she ended up liking you quite a bit!

You and the "pink one" having a conversation in Cabo...

Remembering that magic show you performed for us on Grandpa's birthday...

...and here you are, just last spring at the San Diego Wildlife Park.


We always have so much fun when we're together!

We miss you and hope to see you again soon, have a great birthday!!!!!!!!

Cabo Countdown - 3 weeks to go!

3 weeks to go?? Can it be? I had to double-check the calendar, and yes, indeed, three weeks from now we will be on our way to Cabo.

We have many traditions. Many must-do's.

After we check in (and have a welcome margarita or two), we always, always walk straight down to the beach and take in the view of the bay. Our happy spot.

{check out Brooke's diaper in the picture above...priceless}

Kennedy's stance here says it all...she is soaking it in. Happy to be here at last.

I always like to take little girl pictures in front of the pink flowery bushes.

Playing in the sand with borrowed sand toys...

Painting pottery on the beach is a must. They each get to pick one thing to paint per visit. Plus Nana commissions them to paint something for her that she hangs on her fence. Then they usually sucker us out of one more thing to paint "for someone's birthday".

One special activity is chosen. Sometimes it is parasailing. Sometimes horseback riding. Sometimes a glass bottom boat tour to the arch. Last year Kennedy tried jet-skiing {the jet ski died, they had to be towed back, she was not impressed}. It's always fun when family is around to share in the experience, like the time Aunt Tracy went horseback riding with Kennedy & Rebecca.

Hairbraiding...

And birthdays! Bampa's is on March 19, and Kennedy's is on the 21st. We celebrate them each and every year.

The best part of all, hands-down, is spending time with family.

This year we will be the only "kids"...it will be Nana and Bampa and us. We will surely miss having aunts and uncles and cousins, but we will relish the time to relax with Nana and Bampa for a week! Three weeks to go...and counting....

Newsworthy

This is completely random, consider yourself forewarned.

I came home from a school board meeting tonight around 10 pm, gave the husband a kiss as he scooted out the door to band practice, and decided to decompress on the computer for a few minutes.

I scoured the MSN homepage headlines deciding which one to click on:

*Americans in fear over jobs, bills - no click, too depressing
* Tiger's newborn son Charlie - no click, who cares? Besides they show a little thumbnail of him kissing the baby. Good enough.
* Boy married off to dog - what the heck? no click (only because I already read it earlier today along with the diary of a polygamist women...this is a strange, strange world)
* American Idol - no click, the girls will be talking about it on the way to school tomorrow anyway
* Lost - NO CLICK!!! We recorded this show to watch tomorrow...don't tell me what happened!!

What did I choose to click on as soon as I saw it? The very second I read the blurb? In retrospect, I cracked up because I almost couldn't click fast enough. And in retrospect I realized how goofy it was and it inspired me to share this here on my blog.

I clicked on: Parton shut out of Hannah Montana movie.

Parton being Dolly Parton of course. Whaaaaat??? Miley is dissing on Dolly? How could she? Oh, for goodness sakes...the headline was a little misleading. Seems Dolly's recurring role of some grandma or aunt didn't get written into the Hannah Montana movie and she was a little bummed. Nothing dramatic. No good story. Waste of a click.

But really, why the heck did I click on THAT?? My only explanation is that I've been under the weather and surely I am not thinking clearly. Surely.

Heart Pizzas and Rainy Days Rock!

Since the momma is feeling marginally better, I thought I'd post a recap of Valentine's Day weekend!

And for the record, the husband and the children were exceptional in their patience with the momma as she lay in bed for an entire day, moaning and groaning like a wee child. But I had a fever! And the chills! And the aches!!! Finally it was my turn to be sick, and I got to actually BE sick...meaning, the husband and the children let me be and handled the dailies without hardly any momma intervention to speak of. Thank you, my family, I adore you!

So back to Valentine's Day...check this out...a heart-shaped pizza from Papa John's. How cool is that?? Samantha and Yani were over to spend the night, so we ate heart-shaped pizza and Valentine's pasta (a gift from Nana and Bampa). Yum!!

Monday was President's Day...no school for the kids, and I got the day off as well!

And how perfect...last week when it was so sunny, we made a plan with a friend to go and check out China Town.

But this is what we found on Monday morning. Rain and a lake in our backyard. The dog did not even know what to do.

She tiptoed around looking for a spot to pee. But then found a stick.

Tiptoed around some more...pee already!!!...and found a leaf.

What the heck? Finally she peed and I let her in and dried her off, and indeed she was wetter than she needed to be because of all the tiptoe-ing and foliage picking-up she did. Oy!

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Other fantastic things done on a rainy Monday morning: scrapbook (I finished a page with pictures from 2005, woo hoo!), lay on the couch with the dog, and light candles all around the house. Cozy, cozy.

Then Kennedy & I went to the movies with the rest of the world and saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. Totally appropriate for the pre-teen with a good message in the end...but it did sort of give us all the urge to go to the mall.... I could use a new purse...

Mayday Mayday!

The momma? Is sick.

The momma hates being sick, and wills it away with every fiber of her being, because the momma simply has no time for being sick.

But sick the momma is. In bed with the laptop trying to do some (real) work because there is work to be done and I'm not in the office to do it.

The willing-it-away mojo did not work this time.

The momma? Needs a nap. And a quick recovery!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Heart Day...off to a festive start!

Cabo Countdown - 4 weeks to go!

Dear Nana & Bampa,

I know I have said it out loud many times, but it's true... Cabo is our happy place. And I want to thank you for this...this happiness that you offered up so many years ago, and have selflessly offered up again and again, year after year.

A place for us to go and be with family. To visit with you. To enjoy time together.

The memories you've granted your grandchildren are many, and are almost beyond words to describe.

Thank you for opening this world to us.

Thank you for providing us a place where our children play in the surf with complete abandon.

And at least one of them really gets down with the sand...

Thank you for this wonderful place where sometimes the most magical of opportunities awaits.

Thank you for the most important memories...the ones revolving around family. Cousins that we do not see enough of sometimes come and when we are together again, it's as if we see them everyday. Your grown children are close, it makes sense that their children, even with miles separating them, will feel close to each other as a result.

And new cousins, newly hatched...we get to hold them and play with them while they are still babies. So special.

Thank you for making each birthday since Kennedy's very first one a memorable occasion. Memorable because we have to find cakes in Mexican bakeries, memorable because she gets to blow out candles with the sound of the surf crashing nearby, with the smell of salt in the air, with rows of braids and beads in her hair, her face sun-kissed and bright.

Memorable because she gets to share the birthday spotlight with Bampa.

Thank you for our happy spot, where we go year after year and see the same nice families, and see the children of these families grow...just as our children are growing. Friendships have been formed, even though they see each other only 7 days out of 365. The magic of this place is not lost on these girls, I know that they feel it too.

Thank you for all the rounds of two for one, dos por uno, pina coladas. (Er, those would be VIRGIN pina coladas below...for the record and all.)

And with that parting shot, because what could sum up our time here any better, I will close.

And be thankful, ever so thankful, that we only have four weeks to go...