Me and my girl.
A long, long, time ago.
December 10, 2010
December 7, 2010
Celebration!
So, Baby Monkey had his Celebration (Christmas Concert) at Pre-K last night.
He was so excited to sing.
And sing he did.
Of course, he did so with his own, personal style.
Adding some sound effects here and there.
Goofing around on stage with his friend, who was sitting next to him. (Never understand why they let friends sit together at a concert)
Yet, he’s a character, and his fooling around was actually kinda funny.
Real Man and I tried to be stern but we couldn’t help ourselves.
And we laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
Afterward, I said, “Why were you fooling around?”
He said, “Because my friends were fooling around.”
I said, “Nice deflection.”
Then, he turns to me with the big, innocent eyes and says “Mama…do you love me even when I’m fooling around?”
Aye caramba.
That one is going to be the death of me.
But, at least I’ll die smiling!
December 6, 2010
Up on the Rooftop
Okay, maybe not the rooftop, but down in the center of town, Santa came to visit last night!
I thought the monkeys had forgotten about it, but Real Man and I mentioned it during dinner and the monkeys were raring to go, so although we missed the tree lighting ceremony, we got there in time to wait in line for a half hour for the monkeys to see Santa and each get an enormous candy cane that make dentists around the world shudder.
There was also Christmas music that was blasting, so we danced in line to keep warm.
Our local optician also went and got the kids hot chocolate because it was freezing and he didn’t want them to lose their place in line. (And, I think, because our family keeps that guy in business, between me and Monkey Girl, alone.)
It was a cold, cold night and I have to be honest, I didn’t really want to go.
However, when the monkeys started jumping up and down, Real Man and I knew we had to take them.
And when it was over, we were so glad we did.
December 5, 2010
O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?
Oh, he was in NYC this weekend!
You may remember that I blogged about my friend, Mark, many moons ago.
Mark was my brotha from anotha motha when we were growing up, and then moved to Texas when we were freshman.
I haven’t seen Mark since my wedding.
Until yesterday!
Mark was in town for a fundraising event, and we set up a brunch meeting.
So, I took the train in and Kim picked me up at Penn Station.
We went to a divine little place called Fred’s for brunch and there we met up with Mark and his friend, Terry.
It was just like old times.
Okay, just like old times minus the videos we used to make and the songs we used to record and the getting kicked out of Sunday School together.
Although, had we had a few more hours, it’s entirely possible that we would have gotten around to all of that…and more.
I really, really miss Mark, and was so glad to be able to spend time with him, and I thoroughly enjoyed his friend, Terry. She kinda took over where I left off in his life, and I’m just so glad that he has a good friend like her. They are very in sync and it’s good to see.
Next time, I hope he gets to come with his husband, Rob. We’ve never met, but I’ve heard a lot about him and love how good he is for Mark.
Mark has surrounded himself with good people and that makes me happy.
Mark and Terry had theater tickets, so after brunch, we split and Kim and I did some shopping.
One of the things I picked up was cupcakes for the monkeys from the Magnolia Bakery.
Then, I made a fumble on the play.
Trust me, the kids didn’t even notice and devoured them immediately upon my return home.
It was really nice to spend some time with Kimmie, as well. We did get to see each other at the reunion, last weekend, but didn’t get to catch up. So, we caught up and that was good stuff, as well.
Kim and I also had a celebrity sighting.
That was VERY exciting.
We sat down on the subway and Kim said “Amy, who is the lady sitting across from us?”
I looked at her and knew exactly who she was, but couldn’t quite fathom that she’d be taking the subway.
Or that she would be wearing these strange, orthopedic sneakers.
But, there was no mistaking, it was her.
We were sitting across from Dana Ivey.
The name may not strike a chord with you, but a picture of her should.
Here’s a picture of she and I together.
Okay, okay…so that’s Reese Witherspoon, not me.
But, you know what I mean.
She was also in Home Alone and a bunch of other stuff.
And she sat across the subway from Kim and me.
Really…it’s kinda like we’re celebrities now.
Or not.
Anyway…
I think, like Mark, I’ve surrounded myself with good people, and that’s a really good thing.
I’m a lucky woman.
December 4, 2010
5 Question Friday…On Saturday
So, I missed 5 Question Friday yesterday, so I figured I’d play today. I got the questions from some of the other blogs I read, as many of them play along. Feel free to use the questions on your own blog! Enjoy!
1. What’s on the top of your holiday wish list and why?
Hmmm…hard call. There’s really not too much that I need right now, so I guess I’d go with a Barnes and Noble gift card. I’m planning on loading up my Nook for when the baby comes so I have some reading material while I’m home, and for when I’m cleared to exercise and I can get back on that treadmill.
2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?
Hmmmm…hard call. Probably the pony from when I was 9. Oh wait…I never actually got a pony when I was 9. My parents just tricked me into thinking I was getting a pony. They would stage conversations from the next room, when they knew I was listening saying things like, “Oh, she is going to love this pony!” and “Did you feed the pony today?” There was a big box in the living room and in their staged conversations, they talked about how they were feeding the pony through a hole in the living room floor. I spent hours in the basement looking for that hole. Guess what? It wasn’t a pony.
3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?
Um…I wasn’t aware that my life was over and a done deal at this point. I think there are still opportunities to try new things at this point, and I’m not sure I’m quite grown up yet. That being said, I love teaching. I’m very fulfilled by my career. I do wish, at times, that I had not changed my major and had pursued music or that I had majored in English and pursued writing as a career, but although I don’t do any of it professionally, I teach piano and sing in the choir and play the handbells and I write this blog and am working on new novels, so I am satisfying those pieces of myself, as well.
4. When do you put up your tree?
Normally, pretty soon after Thanksgiving. However, the kids and I went to get it out of the basement the other day (yes, we have a fake tree) we realized that it is in my parents basement, as we moved it there when we listed the house. All of our decorations are at my parents. So, we’ll go over on Sunday and pick them up. Still gives us plenty of time to enjoy!
5. What is your favorite Holiday?
Halloween. See my October posts.
December 3, 2010
Not a creature was stirring…
…well, not really.
So, around 5 am this morning, I awoke to hear footsteps above me.
You’ll remember that on Wednesday night, Monkey Girl broke Baby Monkeys bed.
The end result was that we need to wait until the weekend to fix it, so the boys have both been sleeping in Monkey in the Middle’s bed.
So far, so good.
They aren’t staying up late chatting, and are getting along fine.
So, this morning, when I heard the footsteps at 5, I imagined Monkey in the Middle was up, as usual, and that he was taking a morning run to the bathroom.
I fell back to sleep.
When I woke up at 5:45, the house was still eerily quiet, but there was a strange glow coming from the basement.
I got out of bed and snuck downstairs to find this:
The boys had actually been up since 5 and were snuggled in the recliner, playing Indiana Jones 2 on the xBox, with the volume off so they wouldn’t wake anyone.
They also had already gotten their own breakfast and had eaten.
Be still my heart with these two.
They are enough to break a Mama’s heart!
December 2, 2010
Perspective
Yesterday was a tough day around here.
If it could go wrong, it did.
Just to give you an idea, the day ended with Monkey Girl breaking Baby Monkey’s bed, and that was probably the least of our worries yesterday.
So, I was grumpy, upset, and quite frankly, pissed off for most of the day.
Yet, yesterday was also the 2 year anniversary of the death of one of the students at my school.
She died as a 6th grader, and so I now teach, as 8th graders, the students who were her best friends.
Watching these children deal with their grief, and thinking about the pain that her family must have felt yesterday, and every day, shamed me.
I wound up getting out of bed after the monkeys were asleep and kissing them and whispering in their slumbering ears how very much I loved them.
Because bad days come and go, but man, I am one lucky woman, and sometimes, I just need to be reminded of that fact.
November 30, 2010
My Little Guy and I
Don’t really have much to say.
I just love this little guy.
He’s a sweet, little snuggle bunny, and he always makes me laugh.
I hope he always knows how special he is to us.
He’s a great example of how to love.
He always says “I love you” completely unprompted, and at random times.
He comes out of nowhere, just for a hug and a kiss.
So, today I post a picture of me and my little guy.
Just because.
Because that’s how I think love should be.
You can’t really help it.
It’s just there.
Just because.
November 29, 2010
Reunions
So, my 20th high school reunion was this past Saturday night.
20th reunion.
I’m not afraid to say it.
I know a lot of people were weirded out by the fact that we graduated from high school 20 years ago, but I gotta tell you, the more space I can put between myself and high school, the better.
20 years, I embrace you.
I think I am a much, much stronger, wiser, smarter, better person than I was 20 years ago.
So, 20 years is no problem for me.
Also, looking around the room, I gotta say, we haven’t really aged that much.
Yes, we were all a little grayer, a little wider, a little wrinklier, a little slower, but for the most part, we all look the same.
I do wonder if that is a matter of perspective.
I wonder if everyone goes to their 20th reunion and says, “Wow…we all look awesome!” because no matter how old you get, when you look at these people, you will see them as a blend of what they were in high school and what they are today.
Behaviors hadn’t changed that much either.
As in high school, I kinda kept to myself, chatted with the people I knew, and people-watched the rest.
I’ve never been much of a social butterfly, but I love to watch others interact.
And interact they did.
High school also seems to be a pretty good predictor of the future.
Yes, some people made some drastic changes, but, for the most part, people turned out to be who I thought they’d turn out to be.
Maybe it’s just me that’s a really good predictor of the future.
I don’t know.
However, I had a fantastic time catching up with people and watching everyone.
There really is something to be said for reunions.
It made me feel good to see everyone, back together, just for awhile.
While I would never, ever in a million years want to go back and relive high school, the older, wiser me certainly did enjoy the little bit of high school that was brought back on Saturday night.
November 26, 2010
5 Question Friday
Pulling from the My Little Life blog that I like to visit, it is once again, 5 Question Friday.
This weeks questions are all about Thanksgiving.
1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?
The mashed potatoes. I’m such a ridiculous fan of anything that is made with potatoes. I love them so much. I love them with butter or with gravy or even plain. I love them. I love them. I love them.
2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?
We were guests at my parents house this year. We alternate holidays with my parents and Real Man’s dad and this year, Thanksgiving was with my parents. Very quiet, very low-key. Very, very relaxing!
3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?
Food. I know, how lame, but seriously, Thanksgiving means food to me. Lots and lots of food. And potatoes.
4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one…do you choose pumpkin or pecan?
I’ve never actually had pecan pie, so I’ll have to go with pumpkin, however, the truth is probably closer to neither. My favorite type of pie is cherry. So good. Sooooooo good.
5. Are you a Black Friday Shopper?
I’ve never actually made it out on Black Friday. The truth is that I usually have my shopping done by now. I was going to head out today, because there are two more things that we are thinking of getting for the older monkeys for their February birthdays, but the deals aren’t that great and I don’t feel like being jostled around in the crowds. I was reading articles this morning about people who got in the lines at 4 am and then swarmed the stores and left with shopping carts overflowing with stuff. Kinda made me think about over-saturating kids at the holidays and wondering just how much “stuff” do kids need, anyway? Helped me to make my decision to stay home.
So, that’s this week’s 5 Question Friday. If you have your own blog, feel free to use the questions on your own blog today!
