Cheetah

I'm still laughing at Maggie after this happened yesterday. Our babysitter of 9 years stopped by. I was talking with her and Maggie came up to me and quietly said "Mom, tell her what happened to Tiger Woods." It's one of those moments where we say to ourselves "where on earth did that come from?!?!" I've had to think long and hard to figure out how she knew what happened to Tiger Woods. My neighbor gave me her copy of People Magazine with Tiger on the cover. Max was really impressed that he married a blond and read part of the article. He recapped the story to me and I guess Maggie was listening.

So to go along with this blog entry, I'll end with a joke...What is Tiger Woods new name? Cheetah Woods!

Out to Lunch

This month is going to be crazy! Since the holidays are the perfect time to make extra money, I'll be working up to 6 nights a week. I'll be gone Saturdays from 2 until midnight. I also have this little cleaning job that I'll be doing during the week as well. I'm trying to make it to the gym every morning. Oh wait, did I tell you I have 5 kids too? Basically, any extra time I have this month will be dedicated to my family. So here's my disclaimer: I probably won't be a very good friend this month. My house will be a disaster. My kids will look like rag-a-muffins. I'll look like a zombie (I know, you are thinking "well, aren't you like this anyway?"). So if any parts of my disclaimer fall into your thoughts this month just say to yourself "she's out to lunch". I'll be nice and back to my friendly self in January!

Sweet Jared

Our friend's son passed away this morning, Jared Vance. He was 7 years old and died of a chordoma tumor. Though I didn't know Jared all that well, I remember him being a cute, sweet, quiet boy.

I've left a link for you to look at Jared's blog. Afterward, could say a prayer for the family and give your children a great big hug?

Jared's journey

Chordoma Foundation

You've Got Mail

Whenever I read Happy Thanksgiving I think of the scene from You've Got Mail:

Joe Fox: [speaking to the grumpy cashier] Happy Thanksgiving... it's your turn to say Happy Thanksgiving back.
Rose, Zabars Cashier: Happy Thanksgiving back.

I can see her face, I can hear her accent.

Gobble Gobble!

Reality Check

The other day a friend on Facebook wrote this on his status ...

I dropped my kids off at school today for the first time (my first time). I almost lost it when my baby girl gave me a big hug, looked up with a tear in her eye and in her sad voice said "bye, bye Daddy" Good thing I'm a man and I can control my emotions.

"Humm...", I thought, wishing I could drop ALL my kids off at school. My immediate response was, "You need to have more kids, then it won't be so hard."

Throughout the day I read other friends responses such as, "Been there. A precious moment u won't soon forget." or "that's pretty sweet".

As I read these, I contemplated my response and wondered if I was too negative. Should I feel guilty for being a bit heartless? Then I remembered the previous experience I had the day before when I dropped my kids off at school, it went something like this...

I'm driving the kids to school, they are being so nice to each other. No fighting, no snotty attitude, we aren't rushed, everything is going great. I say to my kids, "guys, I just want you to know I think you are awesome kids. I just really love you."

I pull up to the school. The regular drop-off area is totally full of cars so I say, "look, I'm going to drop you off right here instead of where all the cars are." Then the fun begins...

Kids: WHAT? NOO we are going to be late!!! Don't drop us off here!!! Mrs. Bird is gone and no one will walk us to the school! NO MOM!!!!!!!

Michael slams the door saying,"THANKS A LOT MOM, NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE!!!"

Max, who had already left the car, gave me the meanest, crustiest look.

Did I feel guilty for saying that to my friend on Facebook? Not at all.


Did someone say New York? I am still lovin' my trip there...

This is my hero, Kipp. We stayed at his apartment and he helped us get to the bus station (that's how we got to Amy's wedding). We would have never gotten there if it wasn't for his city expertise. He looks like a hero, doesn't he?

This is where the wedding celebration took place. It was in Roscoe, New York.

Here's the beautiful bride, her beautiful mother, and moi.

Becky and I scrambled to get the tables set properly. I guess that's what happens when you work at a fine dining restaurant.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding was when this traditional Italian family sang and danced around the bride and groom to "That's Amore!"

Oh yeah..... I still got it!

A Room With A View

Becky's niece, Aja, let us stay with her when we were in NYC. She and her husband Kipp, live in the financial district about two blocks from the World Trade Center. This is the view she has from her apartment. Can you imagine eating dinner and looking at this every night? Here we are eating pizza...


This was taken from the very top of her apartment building. It's through a window so it's not that clear. We didn't even bother going to the Empire State building because we thought this view was good enough.


I realized that most people don't live on the ground in NYC. Most people live in the air. It baffles my mind.

No drive-thru's in the city but we did notice that McDonald's delivers!

This next picture is Aja's son (I stole it from her FB page). He's the cutest kid! He's 5 years old and goes to kindergarten. His school is in a city building, not a designated school. I was impressed with his street smarts. He rides his scooter all over the city. He knows where to go and he's an ace on the subway. His experience growing up is totally different than my kids.


Now, just a couple of family updates....

Kate is finally walking. I love watching her wobble along. She is infatuated with spoons and always has to have a spoon (or 5) in her hands.


Claire loves dolls. She holds them and hugs them as though they are real babies.


Last night she kept crying. We just thought she wasn't feeling well. This morning I was changing her diaper she showed me her wrist. She had a small elastic around her wrist. She must have taken it off her hair and put it through her hand. Anyway, her wrist was black and blue from the elastic and her hand was totally swollen! Poor girl. Who would think to check her hand when she's crying in the middle of the night? The swelling finally went down by the evening and she seems fine. Note to self: take elastics out of babies hair before going to bed.

(my picture taking skills are really crappy)

NY Fashion Flop!

As many of you are aware, I went to New York over the weekend to attend my friend's wedding. What a FABULOUS trip!!! Everything was beyond perfect. I loved the city, I loved the wedding, I loved going with my friend Becky. My plan is to post a few pictures every once in a while rather than a whole big lump. Anyway, one of the highlights, (or was it a low light?) was talking with Isaac Mizrahi. We saw him at the Time Warner Center and walked over to see what the fuss was about. His intern, Matt, asked if we wanted to chat with him. Being fully aware of my weakness for fashion, I said "NO WAY!" Becky then said "YES!" Oh whatever. Another one of those mortifying moments. The best way to describe how I felt was when Meryl Streep gave Anne Hathaway the evil eye on Devil Wears Prada. They gave us a list of questions we would be asked and I had no idea how I would answer. Here is how the interview went on my end.

Isaac: When you get dressed to go out at night, what do you wear?

Me: Um....I never go out at night. I don't have anything special to wear. I stay at home with my five kids, all day long, that is what I do. I do enjoy your fashion line at Target (this is THE ONLY thing I felt confident saying).

Isaac: I haven't done Target for two years.

Me: Well, I really enjoyed your fashion line at Target two years ago.

Isaac: What staples do you have around your house that you like to wear?

Me: Jeans and a white t-shirt.

Isaac: Is there anything you do that makes you feel sexy?

Me: Take a shower?

Okay, I know there were other questions and more conversation but you pretty much can get the jest of it. By the end of the interview, he didn't even know what to say, he kept asking his interns what he should ask us. He was very nice, friendly, and didn't seem too disgusted with my sense of fashion, or lack there of. He did ask if we shared the same husband and we both laughed no. Even this very minute I am rolling my eyes at myself. I swore I would never watch the interview but I may just take a peek in a couple of weeks to see if I'm on his web-i-sode. And maybe, just MAYBE, I might post it. I'm hoping I'll think it's funnier then.