Back by popular demand, Monkey Girl is here today to share with you another of her favorite things!
April 7, 2010
April 5, 2010
Trip Down Memory Lane
Monkey Girl usually can be found with her nose in a book.
She’s perfectly content to read in solitude.
I get it.
However, every now and then, she asks if we can read together.
I read a page, she reads a page, etc.
The other night, she asked if I would pick a book that I really, really love and we could read together.
So, I looked at her books and picked this one.
My Grandma, the librarian, gave me this book when I was a little girl.
She had an original copy.
This book was printed in the 1940’s.
It’s the story of a family of dolls who is owned by a girl named, ready…Big Susan, and they come to life every Christmas Eve.
My Grandma and I would read it together, and the other night, Monkey Girl and I read it together.
It was…
…wonderful.
April 4, 2010
Happy Easter
If you celebrate Easter, please enjoy!
If you don’t, hope your Sunday is wonderful!
Either way, enjoy this card that Baby Monkey brought home from school last week!
April 3, 2010
What I Did Over My Spring Break
What I Did Over My Spring Break.
A Report by: Amy Bozza
This spring break, while all my friends were busy playing games and taking trips, I spent the majority of my time in the bathroom.
Doing what, you may ask.
Trying to get the most stubborn four year old in the world to use the potty.
I was starting to get visions of Baby Monkey heading to college, and me having to say, “Hey sweetie, did you pack your Pull-Ups?”
We tried rewards.
He LOVES the Wiggles, so in August, after our trip to North Carolina, we said, “Okay, no more Wiggles until you go on the potty. They are your potty reward.”
What did the child who could watch the Wiggles 24-hours a day say?
“Ah, that’s okay. I don’t like the Wiggles anyway.”
We tried, “Twizzlers, your favorite treat, will be a reward if you go on the potty.”
What did Twizzler boy say?
“I don’t really like Twizzlers anymore.”
We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
Finally, last month, I called our doctor and begged for help.
She said, “For the next three weeks, just stop asking if he has to go. Don’t mention the potty at all.”
So, we stopped.
Cold turkey.
It was unbelievable how aware he was that we were no longer asking.
“Mom,” he’d say. “I wet my pants.”
I’d say, “Okay, let’s go get changed.”
He’d say, “You didn’t ask if I had to go to the potty!”
I said, “Oh, well, you didn’t ask, so I didn’t know!”
One time, he stood in the office and stared at Real Man while he went in his Pull-Up.
Real Man knew what he was doing, but wasn’t going to bite.
Finally, Baby Monkey said, “Dad, I’m stinky.”
Real Man said, “Okay, let’s go get you changed.”
Baby Monkey said, “You didn’t ask if I had to go!”
Real Man said, “You didn’t tell me!”
Baby Monkey said, “I told you in my head, Daddy.”
This is one tough cookie.
The end of three weeks coincided with my spring break, and so this past week, we continued to follow the doctors advice, which was to now say “We’re done with Pull-Ups. Only underwear from now on.” Then, if he had an accident, don’t be punitive, but simply make him help clean up and change himself.
At first, he wasn’t digging it.
We knew exactly when he had to go, because out of nowhere, he’d start to say, “I don’t want to wear underwear” and start wiggling around like a maniac.
But, when we’d take him to the bathroom, he’d say “I don’t have to go!”
We’d leave the bathroom and he’d promptly go.
Then, when he had to help clean it up, he almost gagged on the smell (I think he was being overly dramatic…it was pee) and for the past six days hasn’t had a single accident.
We’ve visited every bathroom in every building we’ve been in since Tuesday and he’s christened them all.
He’s so proud of himself…he’s telling total strangers “I’m a big boy and wear underwear now!”
So, although my report on what I did over my spring break may not be as exciting as yours, it is definitely ending EXACTLY how I wanted it to!
(Just a reminder…please visit Amazon, download my novel excerpt (for free!) read, and leave a review!
April 2, 2010
{this moment}
One of the blogs that I frequent, SouleMama, has a feature, each Friday called {this moment}.
What she writes is:
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Then, she invites her readers to do the same.
So, here is my moment from this week:
(Just a reminder to please download (for free!) my novel excerpt from Amazon, read and leave a review!)
April 1, 2010
First Hike
Ah…
For days, it rained, and today the sun came out.
Okay, it actually came out yesterday, but everything was still muddy and wet.
Today?
Today the world was ready for us.
So, after a doctor appointment and running some errands, the monkeys and I hit the nearest hiking trail.
(If you could pretend to not notice that Baby Monkey has been wearing this pajama shirt for three solid days, I would really appreciate it. It’s Spring Break…we’ve been vegging like crazy people. No worries…the kid had a bath and a fresh change of clothes after dinner tonight.)
The monkeys and I really love hiking in the good weather.
As we walk, we talk about anything and everything.
Sometimes, we stray from the path, on purpose, and take the harder path through the forest…just because.
I’m going to post a picture here, in a second, that doesn’t quite do this spot in the forest justice, but I’ve never once passed through his particular spot without being struck by it.
This spot is at the top of a small incline, and on the other side, you start back down, so it’s a bit of a hilltop.
It’s almost like a clearing in the forest, and there used to be one tree, right in the middle, that had a strange, crooked, lone branch coming out from it.
It just has a very lonely feel to it.
For some reason, since the very first time I stumbled across it, I have always equated it with the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now, I’m not a particularly religious person, but I am a minister’s daughter and I pretty much know every story in the Bible by heart, having heard them during the countless hours I’ve spent in church over the course of my life.
For those not in the know, the Garden of Gethsemane is the place where Jesus and his disciples went to pray the night before Judas betrayed him, and it is the spot where Judas did the betrayal.
I’ve always imagined Jesus as feeling so lonely.
So sad, and so alone.
And then, his friend comes and betrays him, and the loneliness multiplies.
That’s the feeling that I get when I hit this spot in the forest.
I have no idea why.
Maybe it’s a place where many people have to come to be alone and be sad and it still lingers in the air.
Maybe I’m just projecting, but I’m not lonely and I’m not sad, so I doubt that’s it.
Maybe my author’s mind is attributing a feeling to a place that doesn’t exist.
Maybe I should write a story about it.
Maybe I will.
I digress, egregiously…
It was a great hike.
Baby Monkey is many months older than the last time we hiked together, and he was so much more into it than he was last year.
He climbed on rocks with the big kids, like a champ.
He kept up with us every step of the way.
He led us, some of the way.
It was the first of many hikes this season, and I can’t wait for the next one!
(Just a reminder…Please go to Amazon and download (for free!) my book excerpt, read and review.)
March 31, 2010
Mall Day
We’re on Spring Break this week, yet the first part of the week drenched us in rain.
When I say drenched, I mean drenched.
It rained and poured and it sounded like the world was going to fall down around us.
Perfect weather to stay inside and snuggle up.
Also, perfect weather to hit the mall.
Monkey Girl was in need of a haircut, and I hate to waste a sunny day on a trip to the mall.
A rainy day, however…
While Monkey Girl sat in the chair and got the chop-chop, the boys played on the toys outside of the salon.
(If you could just pretend that you didn’t notice that I let Baby Monkey go to the mall in his pajamas, I’d really appreciate it.)
After the cut, we headed to the indoor playground that they had.
I have to say, I couldn’t believe how crowded it was, but even more, I couldn’t believe how many nannies and moms were just sitting there, reading books, not watching their kids.
Baby Monkey got shoved out of a boat, Monkey in the Middle was told to “Get out of here…you can’t play on this,” and Monkey Girl…well, nothing happened to her. She was way older than anyone else there…she just kinda sat with me and half-heartedly played with the boys, every now and then.
Yet, my kids are serious about playgrounds.
They didn’t let the bullies get the best of them.
Real Man surprised the kids and met us for lunch, as the mall isn’t too far from his work.
The kids thought it was awesome that he just “showed up” at the mall.
After lunch, we went to get the kids cookies at Mrs. Field’s.
It is their big, big treat at the mall.
They each chose a sprinkle cookie and ate.
We rounded out the trip at Barnes and Noble.
Monkey Girl had some gift cards from her birthday, and she had two books to return.
The boys headed straight for the train table while Monkey Girl browsed.
It was a good trip, but when we got home, we were ready to be home.
(Just a reminder…please go to Amazon and download (for free) my book excerpt, read and leave a review!)
It’s a Small World, After All
I can’t believe I’m about to tell a Facebook story, but I am.
I’m in total disbelief over this, but I think it is the coolest thing to happen to me in quite some time.
Well, except for the whole novel thing, but still…
It’s pretty darn cool!
Our story begins when I was three years old.
We were living in a small town in upstate New York, where my Dad was the minister.
My Dad was offered a pulpit in northern New Jersey, and so off we went.
We lived in that town until I was just 8 years old.
We moved a day or two after my 8th birthday.
So, I went to Kindergarten, First, and half of Second grade in that town.
I made some very good friends.
One of them was a tall girl named Adrianne.
We were very good friends and I liked her a lot.
She was quiet, but a lot of fun.
We played together in school and went to each others birthday parties and just enjoyed being kids.
Then, I moved.
Moving in second grade, it was hard to stay in touch with kids from my old town, because I was 8. I didn’t make phone calls or anything like that. Also, it was 1980…no internet, texting, etc.
When you moved, you moved.
Flash forward to high school.
I was at a party and met up with a guy, Scott, that had been in my K-2 classes in my old town. We stayed “satellite friends” and bumped into each other every now and then, and had some mutual friends in my new town.
With the advent of Facebook, as adults, we became Facebook friends.
This morning, I woke up and had a friend request from Matthew, who is friends with Scott. Matthew also went to K-2 with me in the old school.
I accepted and then went looking through his photos.
I found a class picture from 5th grade.
I was long gone by 5th grade, but I still knew most of the kids in the picture.
And, in the picture, there was Adrianne!
So, I clicked on her name, where she was tagged below the photo and was taken to her page.
When I looked at her profile picture, I couldn’t believe it!
Adrianne is the mother of one of Baby Monkey’s friends from school!
I’ve known her, through daycare, for about 3 years now!
I couldn’t believe it!
They were at Baby Monkey’s first birthday party this year and I see her, almost, every day.
…and neither of us had any idea who the other was!
(Or, she knew exactly who I was and decided not to say so…I’ll pretend she didn’t know me.)
I’m just blown away by what a small world it has truly become.
Say what you want about technology and social networking, etc…
It’s a pretty powerful tool!
(Just a reminder…please download (for free!) my novel excerpt from Amazon, read and leave a review!)
March 30, 2010
Food Disappointment
Monkey in the Middle and I suffer from a malady that I call “Food Disappointment.”
I love food.
Love it.
However, I am not an exotic eater.
I have certain foods that I eat, and am not much of a try-er.
So, the foods I do eat are predictable and comforting…
…and I expect them to be a certain way when I order them.
One time, when Real Man and I were dating, we went to the beach for a day.
On the way home, we stopped at Dairy Queen and I ordered my tradtional large chocolate cone with rainbow sprinkles.
Granted, it was probably over 100 degrees that day, but as the woman handed me the cone, it was a mess..already dripping down my hands and lopsided, despite the fact I had only held it for three seconds.
We got in the car and I cried and cried and said that if your only job is to make ice cream cones, you should have pride in your work and do your best to produce a great product.
It was a little ridiculous.
I can be a little ridiculous sometimes.
Anyway, that story illustrates why, the other night when my parents took us out to dinner, I was able to sympathize with Monkey in the Middle when he eagerly ordered mac and cheese, and then his eyes filled with tears when it was delivered to the table.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“It’s not the shell kind of macaroni,” he said through the tears. “They usually have the shell shaped macaroni,” and he pushed his plate away and came over to hug me and cry.
As a responsible adult, I said, “I understand…that must be disappointing, but you need to eat what you’ve ordered,” gave him a squeeze and sent him back to his seat.
Inside, my heart broke for the kid.
Because, I get it.
This is all background to explain my own tearful response, yesterday afternoon, to a package of cookies.
When I was growing up, my Mom always had Archway Iced Spice cookies in the house.
Always.
They were delicious.
Kind of a ginger-y, cinnamon-y, other kind of spicy cookie that was iced with a hard frosting.
Again, I say, delicious.
They don’t make the iced spice cookie, anymore, however, they have an iced oatmeal cookie, which I will buy every now and then to have a treat.
I’ve been craving them the past month or so, but ShopRite is perpetually out of them.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who knows the goodness of the cookie.
However, this past weekend, there they were!
I was thrilled!
I did a happy dance in the aisle and popped a package in my cart.
They stayed in the pantry until yesterday when I decided it was time to open them up.
I know you look at this cookie and say, “Huh…good looking cookie.”
I look at it with disappointment.
The best part of these cookies are the interplay of icing and cookie in your mouth.
What the heck is up with the icing on this cookie?
It not only doesn’t cover the whole cookie, but it’s got holes in the icing covering all over.
Disappointment.
Don’t get me wrong…I ate the cookie.
Yet, after a month of waiting to bite into one, it was disappointing.
And, of course, I realize that if this is the worst of my problems, I’m doing just fine in life.
However…
…this is one area where my 6 year old and I are exactly on the same page.
(Just a reminder to, please, download my book excerpt from Amazon (it’s free), read, and leave a review!)March 29, 2010
It’s Been a Week
So, it’s been a week since I saw my girls, and I’m missing them again.
I miss the way that they never say “No, Amy…that’s a stupid idea,” when I say things like, “Hey! I know we’re in the middle of Bloomingdale’s, but why don’t you guys sit at that table and let me take a picture and pretend like Michaela had an Alice in Wonderland dinner party for us?”
…or when I take pictures of my food because it looks so good…
…and especially when it doesn’t.
They let me stage strange photos of them in an effort to figure out new camera settings that they’ve taught me…
…and don’t blink when I want to take touristy photos of them on the subway, despite the fact that two of them live in the city.
They don’t mind that I’m a fast walker, and sometimes get so far ahead that I cross the street without them…
…and are always happy to see me when they figure out where I am.
Most of all…they are just wonderful women who I am so happy to know!
Can’t wait until our next trip into the city!
(Just a reminder, please go to my page on Amazon, download my book excerpt, read, and review!)
