My Real Life

1. What is one thing you have too many of in your house?

Toys.

We still have toys from when Monkey Girl was Tiny’s age.

The kids don’t even play with 3/4 of the toys in this house, but there is a magical thing that happens when I even think about donating a toy.

I can find a toy in the back of a closet and not even verbalize my intention to get rid of it.

A day later, one of them will say “Hey…have you seen my X toy?  I really want to play with it.”

This summer, though, I plan on doing a major purge.

Major purge.

2. Did anything go not quite as planned on your wedding day?

It rained.

Hard.

We had scheduled pictures at the Frelingbuysen Arboretum, which is a beautiful outside location, but it was not to be.

So, they took us to a local hotel that had some pretty features for the background.

Nice.

However, it took so long that we completely missed the cocktail hour which we had painstakingly planned with all of our favorite foods.

Disappointing.

We were starving, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.

Best. Wedding. Ever.

3. What is your favorite summer smoothie recipe?

I’m not a smoothie girl.

Monkey Girl has been making them for the boys, though, and she’s been using low-fat, plain yogurt, frozen mixed berries and bananas.

At the rate they are being consumed, I’d say they are a hit!

4. What is the weather like where you are?

Hot.

I got into my car after work yesterday at 3:30 and the thermometer registered 102.

It’s supposed to be hotter today.

5. What is your favorite book to read to your kids?

There are two.

One is “A Fly Went By.”

The kids love the repetition in that book and the big kids will still sit and listen to that one.

Also, “Bert and the Missing Mop Mix-Up.”

Lots of misunderstandings which make the kids shake their heads and laugh.

My favorite book to read with Monkey Girl, when she was littler, was “Big Susan.”

About a doll house that comes to life on Christmas Eve, which, if you know me, you might think would be along the lines of a Stephen King novel for me, given my deep-seated fear of dolls, but it’s a beautiful story.