Randomness that doesn’t fit into a category Posts

03Aug
1

9

We watched our wedding video with the kids on our ninth wedding anniversary.

The beginning was a montage of our baby pictures – Lexi thought she was the little girl and Ryan thought he was the little boy.  When we explained that those were baby pictures of Mommy and Daddy, Ryan got annoyed that he wasn’t invited to the wedding.

When anyone who looked older than 50 walked down the aisle, Ryan asked if they were dead.

The kids danced together when we did our first dance, making a makeshift dance floor out of a tri-fold piece of foam board.

Ryan shouted excitedly when he saw “Sammy’s Mom!” and “Alex’s Mom!” and the rest of the girls who actually were human beings before they were “Someone’s Mom.”

Cory and I smiled and reminisced at the warm, loving memories and marveled at how amazing it was to watch with our beautiful children.

Then they wanted to dance again, so we replayed our Wedding Song… and this time we realized how simple our lives were back then.  Why we were so sane.  And thin.  With hair.  A life.  And patience.  And why we were able to dance in peace – we had no idea what (well, who) was coming less than 4 years from that day….

But as our children bickered in front of us – Ryan trying to figure out how to make Lexi happy by fixing the bent dance floor – we laughed and knew that although our former life seemed eons away, we wouldn’t trade this noisy, chaotic existence for anything in the world.  And if we did it again, we would even invite Ryan.  You too, Lex.

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with ,
29Feb
0

Leaping, Sleeping, Gymming, Pinning and Stripping…

Happy Leap Day!

I love random, nonsensical reasons to celebrate anything.  Something that only happens once every four years is a good excuse for a worldwide party, no?  I’m hoping to run into Leap Day William and trade my tears for candy.  I could really use a Twix.  Bonus points to 30 Rock for starting a trend if people show up at work in yellow and blue.  Let me know, K?

LEAP!

Speaking of my love for chocolate, I joined a new gym a couple of weeks ago and it’s life-changing.  First of all, I had to write up a financial proposal for Cory to prove that joining a gym - even though we have thousands of dollars in gym equipment in our house – would make sense.  (To make it work, I decided to cancel one of Lexi’s expensive weekly classes since she already has three, put some money from my business into it and cut out my Zulily spending.  Easy.)  I’ve had my eye on this place ever since they opened and a salesperson called-slash-stalked me weekly but it didn’t make sense considering we had a home gym.  Fast-forward a year and I’m searching, begging, grasping for some “me-time”, a good go-to place on weekends when there aren’t any Birthday parties and a new source of motivation to get fit.  Enter Gym Heaven.

I’ve seen many failed attempts at indoor play spaces that cater to Moms who need some alone time where there is a cafe, some gym equipment and a hair salon.  This is different.  This isn’t mainly a playspace with some adult stuff thrown in.  This is first and foremost a gym.  But what makes it more than a gym is that it’s built for the family.  The imposing building welcomes me with open arms, takes my children and gives me the gift of time.   Unlike my previous gym when I lived in Queens, the child care center is more than a room with a TV.  It has a dozen computers pre-loaded with age-appropriate games for children.  Climbing equipment.  A basketball court.  The ability to go outside in the warmer months.  A toddler room with parachute and bubble time.  A friendly and courteous staff that doesn’t page you at your child’s first whimper but does everything they can to distract and entertain said child so that you can complete your yoga class in peace.

You never have to wait for a machine.  There are classes to fit your every interest.  A cafe that serves mostly natural and healthful foods as part of an expansive menu.  Two indoor pools.  Two outdoor pools.  Basketball courts.  A rock climbing center.  A spa and salon.  Sauna.  Steam.  A family changing room.  Roomy lockers.  Things to do.  Things to buy.  Things that make your kids actually WANT you to go to the gym.  And it’s open 24 hours a day!  Cory and I recently spent a Friday night working out, then got the kids for dinner at the cafe and then went swimming together.  You can spend forever in this place.  It is exactly what this Mommy-who-doesn’t-have-a-nanny-or-babysitter needs to breathe a mental sigh of relief.  Lifetime Fitness, if you’re reading this, I would like to star in your next commercial.  Your facility is a win-win for my family and so far worth every penny.

LEAP!

My daughter has taken to stripping.  The other night after Cory put her to bed, she stripped off her zip-up one-piece Dora pajamas, peed on her mattress and called Cory in to show him her diaper in one hand and her pajamas in the other.  It was hard for him to be mad at that cute little naked girl who looked so proud but after changing the sheets and putting her back to bed, she gave an encore performance for me!  After changing the sheets again, I put her in two-piece pajamas.  For some reason, she’s not a fan of taking those off.  I silently prayed she wouldn’t do a threepeat because I was down to one clean sheet.

LEAP!

I joined Pinterest, the online pinboard where people share theme-based images with others such a recipes, products, craft ideas and anything else visually appealing that would make up an All-Star Web Scrapbook of sorts.  Someone suggested I get in on the frenzy because it would be good for business.  So far, it has proven to be yet another way for me to waste valuable time.  It’s amazing how many times I turn on the computer with the intent to do one thing, and I end up lost in the internet abyss, eons away from where I wanted to be.  Ever go onto the computer to look up supplies for your business but your homepage is CNN.com where you see the latest headlines and after reading a few articles, the recommended stories at the bottom take you to Site B and you somehow end up on People.com reading about the latest divorce when your phone dings and it’s Facebook – forcing you to look at a status update and when you finish you see a friend posting about their cat finishing the NY Marathon and you end up “liking” ridiculous stuff that you don’t even care about?

Damn you, social media!

LEAP!

Ryan gets what I call “crazy eyes” when he’s overtired.  Either he’s still not recovered from our Florida trip or he’s been eating way too much sugar.  He gets a good amount of sleep but by 4pm each day, he’s throwing himself on the floor, spewing crazy nonsense and generally looking like a possessed demon.  Aside from the crazy eyes, I can tell he’s done when he goes World War 3 over the dumbest thing.  The other day we had a playdate where Ryan was able to participate in his friend’s soccer class.  To get to this class, you have to take an elevator to the building’s Lower Level.  Ryan wanted to press the elevator button on the way down but didn’t get to it first.  When it came time to go return to the parking lot, he was upset when someone else got to the button before him again.  He refused to say goodbye to his friend and then burst into tears in the car.  His chief complaint?  The button was square and he had never and will never see a button like that again.  NEVER!  When I say the crying turned to sobbing and then wailing, it was like someone had died.  I didn’t know how to stop it.  Even Lexi was trying to hold his hand and kept repeating, “Okay…okay…”  He wouldn’t let go of the ridiculous elevator button scene.  He begged me to turn the car around and go back so he could touch it.  He was choking on his loud, uncontrollable sobs.  I said to him I have never seen him so tired and upset over something like this.  It’s a FREAKING SQUARE ELEVATOR BUTTON for G-d’s sake!  Who cares?!?!?  Apparently, Ryan cared.  Waaaaayyyyy too much.  Suddenly I suggested something he hadn’t done in two years – take a freaking nap!  He balked at the idea – “napping is boring – I can’t see when I nap!” and “napping is for babies” – but ten minutes later I turn around and the impossible happened…

On that note, I think I’ll get some shut-eye as well.  Enjoy your Leap Day, all!

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Posted by Dani in Holiday stuff, Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
07Feb
0

Whooooooooaa I YIY YIY OOOOOOOH I’m Still Alive (Pearl Jam/Dani)

So maybe you didn’t notice, but I haven’t written a post in two weeks.  I’ve had to step back, shift priorities and give myself a break. There is never enough time to get it all done or please everyone and I’m starting to understand that it’s okay - as long as you’re taking care of yourself.

Even though I never monetized the blog or promised anything (thank goodness!), I feel a responsibility to make sure that when I write, it’s something worth reading.  So I hope to have something worth reading soon.  In the meantime, I hope you are all taking good care of yourselves as well :)

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with
06Feb
0

A Little Break

I haven’t written a post in two weeks – I’ve had to step back, shift priorities and give myself a break. There is never enough time to get it all done or please everyone and I’m starting to understand that it’s okay, as long as you’re taking care of yourself. Even though I never monetized the blog or promised anything, I feel a responsibility to make sure when I write, it’s something worth reading.  So I hope to have something worth reading soon :)   xo

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category
28Dec
0

Swimsuit Flop Pads Readership

So I’m wondering how I already have hundreds of hits to my blog by 11am b/c for sure it’s not because of something I wrote today.  So I see where the people came from and it’s a search for the Abercrombie Ashley padded swimsuit (which I did a post about a while back and it turns up as the #3 hit on Google for it).  It happens to be in the news because it wasjust named the Worst Product Flop of 2011, according to Yahoo Finance’s 24/7 Wall Street.  Hey, maybe I’ll get a few new readers from it…

If you’re here from Google, welcome :)

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category, The Playbook and tagged with , , ,
10Nov
1

Bellies and Nails and Ears… Oh My!

I admit – I’ve been totally MIA.  I’m coordinating this event at Ryan’s school in a few weeks where I’m also a vendor and between that, the kids and the biz, I’m realizing how much I suck at multitasking.  (Cory yelling in the background that I suck at laundry, too.)

Here’s what you missed:

1. I joined Weight Watchers because all of my excuses ran out I know it works.  The fracture in my foot healed so exercise was once again an option and I could no longer make sense of why I needed to buy all new winter clothes EVERY year for the past 6 years.  So now I sit on Saturday mornings with my emotional-eating-comrades and so far so good.  Week 1, down 6 lbs.  But I’m terrified to eat outside of my house without my little scale and my nutritional labels.  Baby steps. 

2. I got acrylic nails for the first time in 5 years.  I am tired of chewing on my nails (I don’t know how many WW points they would be anyway – it’s not in the book) and it just makes me feel better to look at them all shiny and long.  Except the manicurist must cut them down next time.  Making hair bows is more difficult, as is taking out my contacts and picking my nose.  All important things.

3. I have been so slow responding to your reader letters.  Here is one I thought I would highlight, even though I’m pretty sure I didn’t answer the question correctly. 

“Since you have a boy and a girl, what noticeable differences (if any) can you tell between the sexes at this age?”

Aside from their genitals, which are noticeably different, I’d say that although Ryan gravitates toward traditional “boy” toys and Alexa to traditional “girl” toys, I think it’s all a crock and may have to do more with environment than people think.   They are both extremely active children who love the others’ toys just as much if not more.  My son said “after Spiderman, I want to be Rainbow Dash for Halloween” and my daughter is obsessed with superheroes and anything with wheels.  The only reason Alexa acts “girly” is because after I put her in some ridiculous tutu or costume, I gush over how pretty she is and march her right to the mirror because I am pushing my “I wish I was girly instead of tomboyish as a child” issues onto her.  I do think kids are very much a product of their environment, although I do notice how Alexa likes pretty, shiny things and Ryan likes to be rough-and-tumble.  We, as parents, are the ones who introduce the ideas of colors, toys, shows and other things as being masculine or feminine.  Oh, and I don’t want to forget birth order.  Instead of sitting still and coloring like Ryan’s girl friends did at this age, Alexa runs around like a nut most of the day.  I’m assuming her older brother has something to do with it.

4. My daughter has her 5th ear infection in 4 months.  If this stronger antibiotic doesn’t work, we have to at least look into an ENT appt.  I’m certain this is affecting her hearing and/or speech which is only going to prolong her currently awesome tantrums when she can’t express herself as the months go by.  Oh, and of course her pain.  We no likey the pain and the screaming. 

Ugh, damn, I can’t scratch the inside of my ear with these nails, either!

Okay, off to watch Up All Night from last week and then stay up all night procrastinating and doing minimal work – YAY!

xoxo,

D

 

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category, Reader letters and tagged with , , ,
09Oct
0

Smells Like Kid Spirit

People say that the interior of your car says a lot about you in terms of pride and personal hygiene. 

That’s actually not true, but I bet somebody said this once.  Or maybe I said it just now and that’s the first anyone ever heard of it.  But if it’s true, I am a prideless slob. 

The inside of my car looks like World War III.  I know when you have kids it’s expected that crumbs will accumulate and maybe some sticky armrests and fingerprinted windows, but my car is just beyond nasty.

Each day, I do my best to shove some raisins off the mat and into a parking lot or dig some sticky Fig Newton out of a crevice, even going as far as vacuuming once a month, but it’s never enough. 

Little back story – towards the end of the summer, we noticed that my car started smelling odd, but we attributed it to being in the hot garage with the trash cans.  Yummy.  Then, over time, it began smelling worse and worse until it smelled like a Port-a-Potty and it should have been illegal for me to drive in it with kids.  I searched high and low, vacuumed it out, kept the windows down at all times and got the number for a detailing place around me.  But within a few days the smell diminished somewhat, or maybe I just got used to it because it came roaring back.  I planned to get the car detailed, but it kept raining and the place wasn’t open when it rained because it doubled as a car wash.

One day Cory was driving Ryan somewhere when he dropped a ball or something in the car.  When Cory eventually searched for it, he reached deep under one of the seats in a recessed area I had never discovered and he pulled out a TWO MONTH OLD BOTTLE OF SOUR MILK.  So that was the disgusting culprit.  The smell went away shortly after Cory’s discovery.  Yay!

We are taking family in the car this weekend on a trip to Philly for a party so I have to get it detailed this week.  I’m almost embarrassed to bring the car in in its current state.  It’s really beyond vacuuming at this point.  I’m also a little sad to see all of the mess gone because it tells a story – a story of snacking and sipping and dropped bottles and raisins and sticky squeezy applesauce and cereal bars and lollipops and pointing out the window at something funny. 

Actually, it’s really not all that deep and emotional.  If I’m being honest I just don’t feel like being without a car for three hours.  I won’t miss the mess at all because it will reappear within three days. 

Am I alone in my lack of car hygiene? 

What does your car say about you?

 

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with , ,
14Aug
Off

The Conversation

Ryan has recently been asking for a playdate with Ben, a boy on his camp bus.  I was hesitant to mention it to the bus counselor because Ben is six and I wanted to be sure it wasn’t a one-sided request.  Wednesday morning, the bus counselor confirmed (to my relief) that both kids wanted to hang out, so I gave the OK for her to give Ben’s “handlers” my number. 

Wednesday afternoon, I came home to two adorable voicemails from Ben himself.  I returned the call and identified myself to Ben, who requested that Ryan get on the phone.  Ummmmm… I’m thinking this kid wants to talk to Ryan about what?  The only phone “conversations” Ryan had in the past were grunts of “yes”, “fine”, “where are you?” and dictations from me of “I miss you, Daddy” and the like.  I kind of forget that not only does he speak English, but that he carries on actual conversations with other human beings so a phone conversation isn’t that alien of a request. 

I willingly give the phone to Ryan.  He handles it awkwardly, as he usually talks on speakerphone at home. 

“Hi Ben!”

He’s playing with Lexi’s Aquadoodle pad.  I notice he’s doodling absentmindedly, head cocked and listening with earnest at what Ben is saying on the other end.  He looks like a teenager.  I run to get my camera.  I can’t resist snapping a few pictures of Ryan’s first real phone conversation.  (And maybe a short video was shot as well…)  I know – what’s wrong with me – but it was so cute. 

“Ben, I have a new Captain America disc shooter – is that the one you have?  The one that really shoots?  You can play with it.”

and -

“Ben, the next time I come to school I’m gonna wear my Batman costume.” 

Some listening, and then -

“Uh huh.  Okay, bye Ben.”

I get on the phone with Ben’s Dad and make a plan for next week.  I sound like an amateur – I know that six-year-olds do drop off playdates but I’m not sure if having Ryan to his house without me is the right thing to do at first.  We leave it up to the kids to decide whose house they’ll play at and make a note to talk after the weekend.

The whole thing was so cute.  My little boy, talking on the phone and doodling.  As we walked upstairs for the kids’ bath with the camera still around my neck, I realized that I am – and most likely will be - the most meddlesome parent ever.  I’m probably going to photograph the first time he shaves and take video of his first date.  He’s going to hate me. 

Meanwhile, as the tub slowly filled, I realized Alexa must have felt left out of all of the photo-taking because she decided to nonchalantly climb into the bathtub with all of her clothes on and then sit down to play.  We cracked up and watched her splash around, oblivious to it all.

These are the small moments that I cherish.

They’re growing up way too fast.

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with , , ,
22Jun
4

Childhood Songs

UPDATE: Thank you, LIParentSource for featuring this post for your readers today.  I’m honored! http://paper.li/LIParentSource

It’s amazing how a song can immediately transport you back to your childhood.  I was listening to XM Satellite Radio’s 80′s on 8 in my car today – say what you want about that music, but it’s my favorite genre of all time – and Billy Joel’s “This Is The Time” came on. 

I felt like I was sitting with my Pop Pop on his patio in Florida, listening to the radio while he read the paper and I looked at the comics.  A simple, yet memorable moment in time. 

My bus counselor and friend at Arrowhead Day Camp introduced me to Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” and pretty much every song by The Beatles.  He made me mix tapes of his favorite songs – I can still see the handwritten titles on the cover and the excitement I felt when he shared his music with me for keeps. 

Our bunk’s dance one year was to The Eagles’ “Hotel California”.  I still remember some of the moves. 

My friend L and I will forever remember the night of “Walkpeople” when we stayed up super late listening to the radio – each with our own Walkman.  We searched across all radio stations and somehow EVERY SINGLE SONG was one of our favorites.  We sang for hours and hours and couldn’t believe our luck.  Today this isn’t so exciting, as you can listen to any song you want within seconds, but back then… man I sound old.

The songs we sang at our campfires at overnight camp will always stay with me. 

Bus songs – See See My Playmate.  Miss Sue.  My Mother, Your Mother.  Miss Mary Mack.  I Wear My Pink Pajamas.  Miss Lucy Had A Steamboat.  Man, there were a lot of “Miss” songs.

Songs with old boyfriends.  There are still one or two I can’t listen to because I feel actual physical pain – they are that powerful in my memory. 

Some songs remind me of people.  Some of places.  Some of particular years or grades at school.  Music is such a universal language.   

Listen to music with your kids.  You never know when you’ll create memories.  Ryan has a growing playlist on our iPods – some songs that we’ve shared with him, some that he’s learned through school, camp or other friends.  A couple of times a week, I turn on the Music Choice channel on the TV and we have a dance party with instruments. 

I look forward to seeing what the kids remember as the soundtrack to their childhood.

What are some of your childhood songs?

 

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with , ,
24May
1

The Big Questions

The family is in the car on the way home from Boston on Sunday…

Ryan: “Mommy, what part did you make first?”

Me: “Huh?”

Ryan: “When you and Daddy made me, what did you do first?  My nose?  How did you pick?”

Me: “Oh!  Um, yeah.  First you were a teeny tiny ball of cells and then you started to take shape with a body and arms and legs and…”

Ryan: “How did you and Daddy make me into a baby?  How long did it take?”

Me: “Ummm…  Well…  Mommy and Daddy got married and loved each other so much that we wanted to have a baby to love.  When you are a grown-up, you cuddle in a very special…”

Ryan: “Was I just waiting in there?  In your belly – what was I doing?  Was I playing my Monkey game?”

I laughed out loud thinking about him sitting in my belly playing with his iPod waiting to grow big enough to come out. 

________________

Same car ride, moments later:

Ryan: “When they colored the world, how did they do it?  Did they do the trees or the streets first?  Who colored everything?”

Cory: “Well, many people believe that…”

Ryan: “I’m hungry.”

________________

Seriously, I wonder how we’ll feel when we actually get to finish answering these questions!  Have you ever had to explain birth, death, a higher power, sex or how we arrived on Earth to your child?  How did it go?

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Posted by Dani in Randomness that doesn't fit into a category and tagged with , , ,
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