My Real Life

July 15, 2010

Tommy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 8:53 am
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Apparently, it’s time to add something else to Monkey in the Middle’s repetoire of “stuff he rocks at.”

Skee-ball.

We hit the arcade at the Boardwalk and the arcade near our beach house and the kid took to Skee-Ball like…well, like a phenom.

Me?

I play Skee-ball with a wild arm.

Pretty much like I played softball in 8th grade.

Which was pretty much the reason I rode the bench all season.

I’m lucky that I don’t hit the cage, and the lower ring of 1,000 points is the best I can do.

This guy?

He’s the only person I know who can aim for and repeatedly hit the 10,000 spots up in the corner.

He’s got focus.

Determination.

Drive.

He’s unreal.

So, pinball it ain’t, but believe me when I say that this kid…

…sure plays a mean skee-ball.

July 14, 2010

Sometimes…

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:05 am
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…it takes every ounce of restraint I have…

…when the boys call me to see their latest project…

…and I get to the basement and they tell me it’s called “garbage dump”…

…and I see this…

…and I know someone is coming to look at the house.

It takes all that restraint to say, “Wow!  You boys are so creative!  What a great garbage dump!”

Because what I want to say is, “Oh my God!  What have you done to my house?  Do you know how long it will take to clean this up?  Someone is coming to look at the house!  Clean it up!!!”

So, I smile and say nice things and take pictures to make them feel good.

Then, I go upstairs and close my eyes for a few minutes.

And gear up for next time.

July 13, 2010

Truthful Tuesday

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:46 am
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One of the blogs I frequent has a feature called Truthful Tuesday, where she tells a truth about her life each Tuesday. 

A truth that is, perhaps, embarassing, or not something she would readily share.

So, I thought I’d play along for a few weeks.

This weeks Truthful Tuesday falls into the category of “All is Not Always What it Seems With Our Family.”

Here’s a picture of the monkeys and I on the boardwalk.

Cute, right?

Yeah, well…

So, we were walking down the boardwalk, looking for something to eat, and Real Man and I saw this old psychic woman, fast asleep, mouth wide open, in her little booth.

The fact is, she looked dead.

Without even speaking, I immediately assembled the kids into picture formation, and Real Man pulled out the camera.

Meaningful family moment?

No.

Just a means to catch a picture of the dead old woman on the boardwalk.

This was the best we could do.

Wanna see it closer up?

This was as good as we could get, as she woke up during the photo shoot.

Still, it worked.

We got the shot.

The nicest thing we’ve ever done?

No.

That’s why we didn’t tell the kids what we were doing.

But sometimes,

That’s how we roll.

July 12, 2010

Under the Boardwalk

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 11:33 am
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The highlight of the week at the beach, for the monkeys, is the trip to the boardwalk.

To them, it doesn’t matter that it is 100 degrees.

It’s all about the fun.

So, $15 for a wristband and all the rides you can ride between 12 and 6.

Some rides were for all 3.

Some were meant to be enjoyed with a parent.

Some were for monkeys to climb.

And the rest were just plain fun.

July 8, 2010

Mini-Golf

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:23 pm
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Another staple of beach week is mini-golf.
The monkeys love it, but I think this was the best moment of this year’s game.

July 7, 2010

Little Slice of Heaven

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 5:11 pm
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It ma not look like much to you, but believe me when I tell you that this outdoor shower is a little slice of heaven.
Every beach house we’ve ever stayed in has had an outdoor shower.
Some, better than others.
This year, however, I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.
There is a little “dry” changing area where you can undress and hang your towel.
Then you step into the actual shower.
There is no roof, so you can feel the cool breeze as opposed to the hot water.
When you look up to rinse your hair, it’s just clear, blue sky.
I told Real Man that I think we should install one for ourselves at home.
I don’t think he’s down with that.
So, for now, I’ll enjoy it while I can!

July 6, 2010

Me and Him, Him and Me

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 12:51 pm

Vacation is a time for rest and relaxation.
For sleeping in and waking when you want.
Unless, of course, you happen to be the mother of Monkey in the Middle.
5 am.
Every morning while we’ve been at the beach.
He’s an early riser at home, too, but I kinda hoped the surf and sand would help him sleep in.
Nope.
But, then he comes to get me and we strap on our sneakers and head out for early morning walks so we don’t wake anyone else.
Just the two of us.
We talk about everything.
We talk about nothing.
We hold hands and giggle.
And suddenly, 5 am is my favorite part of the day.
Just me and him, him and me.

July 5, 2010

The Great Equalizer

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:41 am
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The beach is a study in human dynamics.
All walks of life, all races, all economic levels, all types of families and personalities.
You can find them all at the beach.
Fourth of July weekend is a particularly crowded beach weekend, thus the perfect opportunity to people watch.
So there we were.
On the beach.
And then, they came.
A pack of about 20-30 dolphins, right off the shore.
Beautiful creatures, jumping through the waves.
And every person on that beach jumped up and races to the water line.
Everyone.
Thongs, tattoos, piercings, pregnant bellies, big bellies with no babies, silicone body parts, young, old, teens too cool for anything, people too old to swim.
Everyone stood at the shore line and jumped up and down like we were five at the sight of the dolphins swimming off the shore.
After a few minutes, we all went back to pretending to be who we thought we should be.
But for that moment, we were all together.

July 3, 2010

Switzerland

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:31 am
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It doesn’t matter how much they’ve annoyed each other during the day.

Who hit who.

Who took the other’s toy.

Who got more milk in their glass.

It just doesn’t matter once they get here.

The bathtub is like Switzerland.

It’s the neutral zone.

The land of happiness and sunshine.

Five minutes earlier, they can have been fighting like you wouldn’t believe, but once their toes hit that warm water and the bubbles start bubbling, all is well.

I have to admit, sometimes, if they are both tired and grumpy and just can’t get along…

They might be in the tub by 3 pm.

And, there’s always a peaceful aftermath of a bath, as well.

Lasts for a few hours.

Like the goodness of Avon bubble bath has seeped into their skin and soothed their aching little psyches.

If only for awhile.

Imagine if we could get Obama and Bin Laden in a tub together.

What a world, what a world.

July 2, 2010

What Gets You Going?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:12 am
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Even if we are all grumpy.

Tired.

Sick.

Sad.

I know that if we play this particular song, the whole family can’t stop moving.

Baby Monkey sings along in this high pitched squeal.

Monkey in the Middle plays the heck outta the air drum.

Monkey Girl tries to pretend she’s too old for this nonsense, and by the end of the first 30 seconds, she’s boppin’ along with the rest of us.

Give it a listen and I dare you not to start tapping those toes!

(You may need Quick Time to listen…or not…I haven’t mastered the audio thing yet)

15 This Little Pig Went To Market

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