Our little pioneer

Last night we got to visit PJ’s new school.  We saw her new classrooms, met her new teachers, checked out her table and all the wonderful things that the teachers have put up on the walls.

To be honest, my heart started beating a lot faster when we walked in and everything was in Chinese.  The teachers spoke to the kids only in Chinese.  And then they spoke to us with VERY thick accents.   I still don’t know how to pronounce her teacher’s names.

At one point, PJ walked up to me with a book in hand and asked me to read it to her, I opened it up and realized I couldn’t.  I DON’T KNOW CHINESE. 

Of course having all the Chinese in the room should have been a “no brainer”.  What was I expecting?  But seeing it written, being surrounded by the unfamiliar shapes and sounds caught me a little off guard. 

I am nervous for her, for her long days, for her experience, for her new friends, for her different school, her different bus, the distance she must travel, the things she will know that I will not and can not help her with and for everything else that I can’t think here to mention.

But what I know is this…she will embrace this wonderful experience with everything shes got, make it her own and amaze us all.

Daddy’s little girl

I love this photo.

Don’t let your kids do this

Yesterday I felt the need to clean the shower…while I showered…me naked with a bottle of Comet and a scrubber.

I’m pretty sure that’s not real good for your skin, but damn if I didn’t get that shower clean.

OUT

Target was out of school supplies.

Yes, I know.  I couldn’t believe it either, fucking out!  Erika had warned me that this happened to her last year (I didn’t believe it would happen to me).  Not with my waxing poetic and lovely thoughts of the Trapper Keeper gone by.

Out of what you ask, let me check my list:  plastic folders with pockets in red and green, pink erasers, large Elmer’s glue sticks (10 thank you, what the hell are they gluing in 2nd grade anyway?), dry erase markers and pencil sharpeners.  Yup that about covers it.

Target can’t pay me enough to go back with three kids to try and find the remaining goods.

I wish I was walking in a snow covered forest alone, only hearing my feet crunch across the ground and taking deep breaths of fresh air.  Yeah, that’s where I could find some calm right now.

Thanks Peggy

About a month ago my friend Peggy emailed me an Ina Garten recipe that I had never even taken a second look at in the cookbook.  But since it came so highly recommended by her, I thought I’d give it a shot. 

The recipe is the Barefoot Contessas Panzanella.  After trying it for the first time, I fell in love.  That recipe will now be a staple in our home.  Not only is it incredibly delicious but it takes very little time to prepare. 

So if you get the chance, try it before the summer veggies are gone.  You’ll be so glad you did.

Baby bump

One of my oldest and dearest friends made it into town this weekend.  She lives out east with her hubby and soon to be baby boy. 

Since her trip “in” is so brief, she may not be able to make the rounds to see everyone, so I wanted to capture her growing beauty (yes I made her lay on the couch like that) and post her right here for all of her friends to see.

Keep up the great work…you look stunning!

School supplies

Do you remember buying new school supplies every year? 

I loved it.  My mom would take us out on that special day, School Supplies Buying Day, and she always made it seem so special.  Just the thought of getting fresh clean notebooks, really sharp pencils and brand new markers made me giddy.

My favorite school item of all time was the almighty Trapper Keeper (Old School obviously).  

Do you have a favorite that you remember fondly?

Summer happened

I confess I pretty much have not cleaned my house this entire summer.  There’s no time with all the summer fun we’ve been having.  I mean, who can clean when you can go to the pool or the park or eat popsicles outside on a 90 degree day? There is FUN to be had people!

Ok, don’t get me wrong, I’ve picked up and spot cleaned but not anything like a complete house cleaning.  I don’t even mean the OCD kind of clean, I just mean the normal person kinda clean.

The house has not even looked that bad this past three months but what has put and end to my fun induced cleaning hiatus is…my kitchen chairs stopped moving out from under the table.  They are plum stuck, and in what, I have no idea.

I guess it’s time.

Development of fear

Over the last two days KP has gotten older.  He now has fear.

It started when he barrowed Barn Yard from the neighbors.  The babysitter had to turn it off because he was so scared. He has NEVER turned away from anything having to do with a movie or any type of TV watching, ever.  This is a kid who has seen the Star Wars Trilogy over and over again (I’m so proud to say).  And suddenly, fear is seeping into his world.

Today as we were driving in the car he asked about Nemo (almost every conversation he has is in relationship to a movie) and how Nemo can talk in the water but not out of the water. 

I first explained that Nemo is just a character in a movie and that fish don’t really talk.  Then we talked about fish living in water and how they can’t live on land like we do because they don’t breathe air.

Then he asked about the fish at the cabin and the fish he caught.  I told him that they don’t talk either and they need to stay in their home in the water or they won’t live.

He sat quietly for a moment while the synapses fired.  Then he starts yelling, “I not fish at cabin again and kill those fishes.  I not fish no more!“

I love it when they get this far.

Happy 40th Bro!

Tommy,

Wow…you’re 40, I can’t believe it.  Enjoy every second of it.

Cheers to you.