School Days!

So Avery started Kindergarten this week. It has been a HUGE transition for the family. Major changes! Mostly, we all are waking up at 6am. Today is Thursday and the late nights/early mornings are taking there toll. Avery handled day one like a champ...I on the other hand was a mess. I have been anticipating this day since I was pregnant with Avery. Mainly, I think, because I still remember my first day of school.

So back to day one. That morning we were all dressed and ready at 6:50am. I had planned on us leaving here about 7:20am to get there by the 7:45 tardy bell. Well, traffic had another plan! We get on the road at 7:27, a little behind schedule but the school is literally 5 min. from our house. We get around the corner and it is a parking lot of traffic. I immediately started to panic...I hate being late. Apparently Avery has inherited that from me too! She starts asking if we are late, are we going to get there in time, will she be in trouble. Meanwhile, Brian and I are trying to play it cool like, "no, this, not a big deal at all"....we were lying! We finally get a parking space, rush inside and get in the door as the 7:45 tardy bell is ringing. At this point Brian has Sophie and they are taking pics of me and Avery on the first day of school. Avery looked like a deer in headlights. She had a total vice grip on my hand. I led her over to the place for snack, water bottles, lunch boxes and got everything put away. Then I said to her, " Okay it is time for mommy to go". She looked me in the eyes and said thru her teeth, "help me sit down in my chair"...holding my hand crazy hard! I said "oh, ok.". the little girl next to her (Lydia) was adorable. I introduced Avery to Lydia, kissed Avery on the cheek and hightailed it out the door. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, I made it out the door and burst into tears. Brian led the down the hall, out of Avery's view and I just sobbed. Sophie petted me and told me I could hold her blankie when we got outside. The rest of the day I was overly sensitive and cried frequently. Sophie and I ran errands and she brought tissues in her bag "in case I started crying again"!

We picked up Avery from school and she was all smiles! We are on day 4 today and she seems to really like her class and teacher. I feel like I have done something right.

First baby in school, check. Now next Sophie starts preK and I am home free. Sianara Suckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beloved Ripley

Yesterday we took our beloved Shar-pei Ripley to the vet. It was actually one of the hardest days of my life. Basically the cancer that Rip was diagnosed with 16 months ago, has spread to his liver, spleen, and lungs. At this point, Ripley is having a very hard time breathing. It is almost unbearable to watch.

I am amazed at how attached I am to him. Brian and I got him almost 10 years ago. He was our fist child! Back in those days....before our human babies, we took Ripley everywhere with us. We would pick special hotels just so he could go along. It has been an amazing journey! As I sit here to write this I am flooded with amazing memories of my sweet lucky pup.

The time has come where Brian and me are faced with making a very hard decision. I am waiting for the vet to call me back to schedule Ripley euthanizing. It seems so cold to schedule something...like it is a hair appt. But I know in my heart of hearts that it is time. And, I hope that Ripley would do the same service if the tables were turned. It sucks, and I am greatly saddened. I will always love Ripley, he has been the MOST AMAZING dog anyone could ask for.

Mama didn't say there'd be days like this...

So, the other day I was winding down from a craptastic day! We had been to a play date, ran errands, ate out for lunch, been to Costco for the 3rd time that week. At long last...I had a date night with my husband. I told the girls that I was going upstairs for 30 min. to take a bath and get ready for my date. Well, in the tub I was giving myself a mental pat on the back for how much we had gotten accomplished in one day. I get myself completely dressed and come downstairs. As I turn the corner, I smell a very familiar, albeit pungent smell. I see Sophie staring at me next to the couch with a "oh shit, I am in trouble look". I asked aloud to both girls..."What is that smell"? Sophie immediately responds, "nothing, I didn't do anything". Then immediately Avery follows with, "um, yes she did...and mommy you are going to be MAD". So, much to my chagrin, after a brisk walk to the couch...I see it and smell it! My 3 year old, apparently got a hold of a full bottle Lady Mitchem Roll on deodorant ( which I had put in the garbage can that morning for our housekeeper to dispose of) and rolled the ENTIRE bottle on my newly recovered couch cushion. Now, let me digress for a moment for a PSA on said deodorant. If you want something that will keep you dry no matter what...buy this shit. It even says on the bottle...”so effect you can even skip a day”. So you are saying, what's the big deal...just wash it off. Well, I would if I could...but I can't! So remember the whole you can skip a day moto...well, the reason behind that is, it adheres to your skin...and doesn't let go.

I tried to regain my composer. I put Sophers in TO and tell her if I hear a peep or see her face, she is in "BIG TROUBLE"!!!!! I proceed to take the cushion out of the cover...which is a royal pain mind you. Try to wash it with dish soap until my fingers are raw. Then realize that the deodorant has made a coating which my most non-environmentally friendly detergent could not penetrate. I finally get it somewhat washed off...or so I think and put the cover outside to dry. In that same moment Brian comes home to a hot (not in a good way) sweaty wife and he’s ready head out for dinner. I have to again clean myself up, spray a little perfume and get out the door. All with a smelly film of Lady Mitchem which would not come off for 2 days, on my paws!

Did the deodorant come out you ask? No, 2 weeks later it wreaks of Lady Mitchem...I will never buy that again for as longs as I live. Which reminds me of my title...why does no one warn you that you WILL, in fact have days like these???

Kid Interview by Avery & Sophie.

1. How would you describe me? Sophie- what does describe mean?

2. What makes me happy? A- when I hug you. S- cuz we hug you

3. What makes me sad? S- that we don’t play with you. A-when I don’t love on you.

4. What do I always say to you? S- I love you sweetheart. A- I love you.

5. What makes me laugh? A- when we say funny jokes. S- we giggle

6. How old am I? A- 33, S-36

7. How tall am I? S-like 14 inches. A- 9 inches

8. What is my favorite thing to do? S-to laugh & giggle. A-to love on me and kiss me.

9. What do you think I do when you are not around? S- go grocery shopping and go to bed. A- go shopping and buy me clothes.

10. If I become famous one day, what do you think it will be for? A- to do good makeup. S- doing somebody’s makeup

11. What am I really good at? S- doing the laundry, A- doing makeup

12. What am I not so good at? S- I do not know , A-nothing

13. What is my job? S- you have to wash laundry. A- don’t know

14. What is my favorite food? S- green bean casserole. A- pizza

15. What do I do that makes you proud? S- you love me. A- I don’t know

16. If I were a cartoon character, who would I be and why? S- Cinderella, then I’m beautiful. A- Ariel, because.

17. What do you love to do with me? S- go get candy. A- to go shopping and buy fun toys.

18. How are we the same? S- we have the same skin. A- same color.

19. How are we different? S- cuz we don’t have the same hair. A- Because my eyes are different.

20. How do you know I love you? S- cuz we just love you at your name.

21. What do you think i like most about daddy? S- cuz he loves me A- that he kisses you.

22. Where is my favorite place to go? S- go buy groceries. A- to do makeup…OKAY!

23. What is your favorite thing about me? S- it’s going to be a funny one….we love you at the same time your hair is that color. A- that I love you.

24. If you could change one thing about me, what would that be? S- I want you to have Ariel hair…and someone can give you Ariel hair today for real…today…then it will look like our hair. A- I would give you Aurora hair.

25. How much do I love you? S- 14 A- 100

Made in China

Well, I feel like my children cease to amaze me!
A couple of weeks ago, Avery brought this little "Barbie" brush to me and asked me what the words on the back said. I replied "Mattel, 2001, made in China". Then Sophie pipes in and says "china!, that's my privates". I said what do you mean, and she repeated, "China...that is my privates"... all while looking at me like I was CRAZY to NOT know what she is talking about. Then I made the connection, I asked Sophie if she meant that her privates are called her vagina, and she said "yes, my China". I could not stop laughing...classic!