Blue and White

Nope, I'm not talking about the colors of the Israeli flag.

I'm referring to the contrast in colors where I am right now versus my hubby's location.

While I stare at a gorgeous blue sky, tall palm trees, and a serene turquoise ocean, poor hubby is dealing with this:

We have had quite a bit of snow in RI over the past few weeks (this is the second storm since I got to Florida!) and it doesn't appear to be letting up. This picture was taken about 4 hours ago so I can only imagine what it looks like now!

Thanks honey, for being so wonderful and sharing us with GiGi for the week. We've appreciated it even more than you could ever know, especially this particular week!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The view from my lounge chair ...

Is pretty freakin' spectacular!

Wish you were all here in sunny Florida!

The best and the worst.

What's the best part of being on vacation in paradise (aka sunny Florida) with your daughter, mom, and grandmother?

Well, there's the whole amazement, wonder, and joy of being 4 generations adventuring
and loving each second of being together.

There's the awesomeness that is getting to have dinner with McMommy (SO much fun and my apologies that I have no clue how to link while blogging from my phone and hoping it works).

The worst? Insomnia. When 4 people are staying in a 1 bedroom condo with a pullout sofa. 2 people per bed. With an almost 6 year old who wakes if you move and won't slow down until it's bedtime again, and even then isn't quite ready for the party that has been our day to end. When your back hurts. And you don't want to bother anyone, and aren't sure if 5am is the best time to head out for a solo walk in an unfamiliar area.

So here I lie hoping this phone blogging thing works. And the insomnia? Sucks. But? I wouldn't trade this week for all the sleep in the world.

Rachael



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Too much social media?

It's no secret in this house that I love my social media - Facebook and Twitter being my poisons of choice.

The Mad Hatter will often see a pic pop up on my FB screen and exclaim "Oh, how cute!" or "Mommy, who is that?"

This past Sunday morning I used Twitter as a resource to get some advice on something I can no longer even remember. However, I do remember exclaiming to my husband that having Twitter is having an entire world of information at your fingertips in seconds.

The MH has been working diligently in kindergarten and there's a lot of focus "kid-writing", sounding out the letters in a word and writing them the way she hears them.

The results are usually hilarious.

For a while she liked wen something would happen. She has besst frendz. If"miss" is spelled m-i-s-s, then isn't misstr the correct spelling for the female's male opposite?

A couple of minutes after discussing my love for Twitter (a conversation that so brief I wouldn't even consider it a conversation), I got this taped to my bathrobe:

Please ignore my five o'clock shadow.

A few minutes later, she decide to ammend her thought:

Twitter moms are awesome.

My thoughts exactly.

Random doesn't even begin to cut it.

I couldn't think of a good title for this post because I have a feeling it's going to be brain explosion. Here goes.

- I haven't touched my blog in God knows how long, but that's the great thing about a blog ... it's your little piece of the world on the internet and you can leave it alone but it's always there when you come back. I'm hoping to come back a little more frequently.

- The tooth fairy came to visit us twice and I didn't even write a post about the momentous occasion! The Mad Hatter lost 2 teeth in 3 days. Loose, out, tooth fairy time. I made her one of these:

Except her name is not Aliza. This one was a gift for someone. And the one I made her isn't this pattern. I have a picture of it somewhere but I'm too lazy to locate it. And I'm going to make one just like this because I love the fabric combo. So that's that. There was lots of fairy dust everywhere, a Unicorn Pillow Pet, money, and sugar-free gum, along with a lovely note from hers truly (yes, the tooth fairy is female) that MH loved having us read to her. Great fun in this household but no sight of any more wigglies since.

- The Mad Hatter is thriving along in kindergarten! She aced the PALS (literacy/math) testing, and is reading to us. Reading! Do you have any idea what my heart felt like when she came home with her first weekly "reading challenge" book and read it to me, my mother, DH, my father, and anyone else who would listen? I thought my heart might just explode with pride. She is changing and growing so much every day and amazing us with the things she knows.

- Which brings me to the other side of having a kindergartener. One who will be 6 in February but is really going on 36. OY. OY. OY. It's about all I can say right now. She loves staring at herself in any mirror she can find. She's all about fashion. She's all about doing things her way. Like putting lip gloss on her week-old American Girl doll. Because she "wanted to make her look prettier." She has an answer for everything. Which is really quite annoying if you ask me. It's all about control, friends, and lately I feel like I'm losing mine.

- I've been sick with a horrible bug. Really, really sick. And I realized I get really sick almost every year right around this time. I'm hoping this is it for the season, because this was no Man Cold. This was 3 days of 102 degree fever. The fever finally broke and I continued to cough so much DH asked me if I needed a moment to retrieve my lung from the floor. I'm still coughing. And living with the guilt that I did not make it to my father-in-law's funeral. Yep, you read that correctly. Very sadly, DH's dad passed away this past weekend. While it was semi-sudden to us, we were prepared (you know, in the way you are when they tell you someone won't be leaving the hospital after they've been there for just a few days). Either he knew how sick he was and didn't tell anyone, or he had no clue. Either way, he didn't suffer because the family made the decision to keep him comfortable with anxiety drugs and morphine. I, however, am suffering. What kind of person isn't at their husband's side for the funeral and shiva? Apparently one with a 102 degree fever who can barely form sentences. But can cry. A lot. And explaining death to said kindergartener? Oh so heartbreaking, even with some advance warning. I'm thinking that the behavior of late is definitely connected to this ...

- I didn't even do holiday cards this year. Shame on me, but I haven't been in "the spirit", and the idea seemed daunting. Merry Christmas. Hope you had a Happy Hanukkah. And Kwanzaa? Not sure when it is but I'm sending my best wishes and/or hope it was great.

- Speaking of spirit, I can't believe it's almost New Year's. Where has the last part of this year gone? 2011? We've got plans to go to a family party at our friends' home in MA. Super looking forward to it, especially since this is a childhood friendship rekindled. It's even better as grownups.

- All this death stuff has my brain in overdrive. And I can't stop crying. Sometimes I hate mortality. Maybe I can change the fact that I'm the one person in America who did not get sucked into the Twilight Saga, go back and force myself to read them all, become obsessed with vampires, and see how I could get my family into that kind of lifestyle. Or not.

- In good news, I've lost 35 lbs. since April. I've done it with Weight Watchers, which I love, and truly believe is the only program that works. I really should post some sort of before and now pics (there's no after yet because I have stalled with holiday treats, and really want to get back on the wagon to lose another 30-40). Anyways, I now own leggings (who, me?) and skinny jeans (skinny in the same sentence as Mommy - shocking!). DH and my mom would probably like to shoot me because I spend my days asking if I look like I shouldn't be wearing them, but I get a little obsessed like that. However, can you say comfortable? Nothing makes me happier than leggings and a huge comfy sweater. Well, I'm sure there are other things. Perhaps some of them are inappropriate to chat about here. So, we'll leave it at the fact that leggings. make. me. HAPPY. Now I better stop eating holiday treats so I can keep wearing them.

- I am going to Florida ONE MONTH from TODAY! It's a girls' only trip - my mom, MH and I are going to visit my Grandma. So excited! So many firsts - MH's first plane ride, first time in Florida, oh the fun we are going to have. Did I mention that Grandma lives RIGHT on the beach? In a gorgeous condo? I stop in my tracks every time I walk by her balcony window and see the beautiful ocean - truly breathtaking. I'm so looking forward to this vacation and being with the 2 generations before me and the one after me. And McMommy - get ready, I've got 7 days and nights and this time we'll make it work or else! And I believe you - I'll go in a dark bathroom with you :)

OK, so there's so much more but I am going to stop for now. I guess that's what happens when you neglect your blog for 2 months and 16 days (just noticed my last blog post was October 1st). But, like I said, that's the best part of the blogosphere - your blog, and bloggy friends are always there and so forgiving.

Happy Holidays, and I hope to be back to blogging more regularly, as I realize how cathartic it is and how much I've truly missed it. And as for my lack of commenting? Lazy - I read my fave blogs through Google Reader on my iPhone and don't visit actual blogs unless I have a specific reason. I really need to try and fix that. I love you all and hope you know who you are. And I'm sorry this is so rambly and long ... and I apologize if there are type-o's, mis-spells, and incorrect grammar. Usually that stuff drives me nuts so I edit and re-edit myself but tonight I just can't be bothered. I know you love me as I am. And for that, see the comment a few sentences back. Sweet dreams.

We're part of a big bloggy birthday party!

When my good friend Elaine over at The Miss-Elaineous Life asked me if I'd be interested in doing a giveaway to help celebrate her baby girl turning 1, I was both thrilled and honored!

 

My mother and I started our company, Stitch Me This, a little over a year ago, although it's been in the works for the last two!

 

We specialize in custom embroidered/personalized clothing, gifts, and accessories for hip kids and equally hip grown-ups!

 

Some of our offerings include embellished burp cloths, onesies, t-shirts, baby blankets, lovies, beach/bath towels, custom fabric-matted photo frames, crayon rolls, and gorgeous hair accessories (just to name a few!). We LOVE working with our customers to help create the perfect gift that will create lasting memories, which is why we're constantly adding new items to our product offerings and love to collaborate on new ideas!

 

Head on over to Elaine's blog right now - she's got lots of awesome giveaways going on! Plus, if you haven't read her blog, you are in for a real treat - a more down to earth and fun girl you will not find!

 

The Stitch Me This giveaway is not up yet, but I believe it will be up later today ... you'll have to go there to find out what it is!

 

In the meantime, you can become a fan ("liker") of Stitch Me This on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @rachMLTB, and visit our website http://www.stitchmethis.com/ (which is under construction and does not yet have online ordering capability, but please add to your faves and check back regularly!).

 

You can also contact us at stitchmethis@gmail.com

 

We're busy gearing up for a craft fair this weekend, but will be back next week with some pictures and highlights!

 

Happy, Happy First Birthday, Baby K, and thanks so much Elaine for thinking of us!

Stop the ride, I want to get off!

OK, perhaps the title of this post is a bit dramatic.

But, as I sit here on "Kindergarten Eve", I can't help but think about the amazing ride I've been on for the past 5 and a half years, and wondering how it's managed to go so fast.

So, maybe slow down would be a better request.

MH - I have been spending the better part of the past few weeks looking at pictures from when you were just a teeny little infant - you looked like a little doll. As I look at you now, I can't help but feel that this time has passed in the blink of an eye. Seriously, did I not just give birth to you?!?

You are about to embark on the most important ride of your life - the start of your formal education.

Sure, you had an amazing 2 years of preschool. I cannot imagine anyone being more ready and prepared to march right into her classroom and grab this next step in your life by the horns. But. Preschool was a choice that Daddy and I made for you. We did lots of research and spent lots of time making sure we picked a place where your zest for life and learning would be nurtured, and where we knew without a doubt you'd succeed. And nurtured you were. Succeed you did.

Public school - we get what we get (and we don't get upset!). Now, it's not so much about the choices we make, but what we make of the things we're given. We're entrusting your care, your learning, and so many other things to a teacher and other staff members we've only just begun to meet. Without a doubt, you are going to thrive. You marched right into your classroom this morning, hugged your new teacher, and ran off to explore all that your new world has to offer. As your mommy, I could not have been more proud of how confident, outgoing, and thrilled you were to be there. But as your mommy, there's a part deep down in my heart that feels sad and melancholy.

You are growing up - as I full-well know, it happens to the best of us. You are SO ready for this. You embrace every single second of life as an adventure, and there's not a person you come into contact with who doesn't recognize this trait immediately, or marvel at what a special little girl you are. I also know, though, that with growing up comes all sorts of changes, and sometimes hurts for which mommy kisses and Nemo ice packs are not a quick fix. These are the thoughts that make me sad. Protective. Scared. I wish I could put a magical bubble around you that would let in only good and repel anything remotely bad.

Alas, I'm no Disney princess or fairy godmother, nor do I have a magic wand that will make that happen. What I can do, and what I vow to you (Daddy does too!) is to continue to be the best Mommy I know how to be. To nurture, encourage, and help you with your learning, and to continue to do everything in my power to instill in you the strong morals and values that will continue to mold you into the amazing little lady you are and what I know you can become. That, and a promise to provide an endless supply of hugs, kisses, and snuggles for as long as you want them.

Daddy and I have no doubts that you are going to have the time of your life this year, and with every new thing you learn, continue to show the world around you just how truly special you are. You are going to make wonderful new friends, have unbelieveable experiences, and continue to wow all of us who love you so dearly.

We can't wait to walk to school tomorrow morning as a family, as we've been planning all summer. And as I watch you line up with your new teacher and march into that school with your new classmates, I know that I could not be any prouder or more blessed to be your mommy.

As for my tears, I promise I will save those for Daddy to deal with. And when he's had enough, maybe a bit of retail therapy will help to take the edge off.

Congratulations to our official "Kindergartener"! We could not be more grateful or feel more blessed that of all the children we could have possibly created, we got YOU.