Reese has learned to count money in school! He came home with a homework page last night, and quickly completed it without assistance! Wow! I am so proud!
Mark was embarassed in class yesterday. And I'm afraid it's my fault. During the English lesson, he felt something weird in his sleeve. When he pulled it out, it ended up being one of Mommy's nylon knee-highs! Ooops! Must have snuck in there during the dry cycle. The whole class saw it and laughed. But, being the cool kid Mark is, he easily laughed along and played it off well. Sorry Mark! I owe you!!!
Marina likes to pull the chair over to the counter, climb up, and raid the snack cupboard! Little sneak! She also has a new fascination with Barbie Princess movies. So, she is constantly asking me if she can watch Swan Lake or Repunzil. Her other new favorite is Charlotte's Web (or as she says, Charlip's Web). She spent her own b-day money on these movies. And she loves when we set up the laptop in her room so she can watch them while she plays.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Girls' Night Out
Girls' Night Out with a couple of my high school gal pals!!! We met up @ the Melting Pot for some yum fondue!
Here's me and Chrissy. I love this girl! We are in similar phases in life...mom, wife, etc... and it's fun to bounce ideas off each other...or simply relate to each other's experiences!
Here I am with Erica! This girl is a riot! She is so ambitious in her career and in her marathon running/coaching, as well as in her shopping habits! LOL! She always puts a smile on my face.
I love that I can be completely serious or totally silly w/ these girlys. Where are we going next, ladies???
Friday, February 20, 2009
"Do I hear $250??"
Tonight was the annual 8th grade play/Silent Auction @ Calvary Christian. We've attended the last couple of years. But we weren't planning to go this year. Until....this morning when Mark begged us to take him. "Everyone is going to be there! Pleeease! We just have to go!"Being that I just melt when my sweet boy begs us to take him anywhere that everyone is going to be.......I conceded, and did what any melting mother would do.........I enlisted Daddy to take Mark. (hehe)
Before heading out, Mark cleared out his wallet and counted his cash. Exactly $20 in singles. He proudly declared that he was going to use his own money to bid in the auction........on lunch with his teacher, the beloved Mrs. K! While we encouraged his determination for such a worthy cause, we also reminded him that there is a chance he could be outbid. But he figured it was worth the effort. So he and Daddy headed out, w/ Mark's very own $20 in his pocket.
I impatiently waited at home to find out how the auction went! Sure enough, Ryan sent me a text message....that Mark was in tears. He had been outbid by $100!!! I wanted to cry with him! There's no way a 10yr old kid can compete with a $100 bidder. It seemed so unfair. Ryan felt so bad for him too. So bad, in fact, that moments later I was receiving yet another text message from him...."I bought a puppy!" What?!?! Yeah, right! Nice try, buddy! "No really, I won the bid for a puppy!" Turns out, Ryan felt so bad for Mark's loss that he impulsively raised his hand to bid on a puppy. The bidding started at $250, and he had been certain that SOMEone would join the bidding. But no one did! So, the puppy goes to Ryan! And to little Mark, too. Who deserves it, I'd say, after all the ups and downs of the past few weeks.....just as long as the poor pup doesn't get thrown in the wash or left on the hood of the car or dropped into the toilet! (You gotta read the next blog post to understand what I mean). Wow. A puppy. Mark isn't so upset about missing lunch with Mrs. K anymore. Altho, lunch with her would certainly put him on cloud 9!
The Fate of the Ipod!
Poor Mark! He has had such a roller coaster week! Our story begins with his iPod-Touch that he had purchased with his own, well-saved birthday money! $250 covered the ipod and the cool black case. A couple weeks after his big purchase, he let his little brother play a game on the ipod. For some reason, little Reese decided to shove the ipod into his jeans pocket. And before the night was over, we realized with horror that Mom had thrown the little jeans into the wash...not knowing that the ipod was in the pocket! By the time we realized this, the load had gone thru a cycle, and needless to say, the ipod was drenched with soapy water. Even behind the screen. It was destroyed. And poor Mark was devestated. Yet he never yelled or lost his temper or blamed anyone. He just covered his face with his hands and sobbed. I felt horrible that I had done this to my kid! It's not like he had left the ipod in his own jeans and tossed his jeans in the wash. He had taken really good care of his possession, and I felt responsible for not checking Reese's pants pockets before washing them. So, I decided I would save up and replace his birthday treasure. But, Ryan decided, instead, to make a trip out to the Apple store and see if they would replace it. Sure enough! They replaced it, no questions asked. Phew! Mark was thrilled!
One week later, Mark brought the ipod outside to show a neighbor kid a song. He carelessly set it down on the hood of visiting Papa Joel's car. It wasn't until Papa Joel said goodbye and drove away that Mark realized he had forgotten to retrieve the ipod! Again, he was miserably distraut at his loss. I gave Papa Joel a call...with little hope that we'd find the thing. As we spoke, he looked out over the hood of the car.....and saw the ipod still sitting there! He had driven miles down a busy 4 lane street, stopped in a grocery store, and continued driving to his hotel....and somehow the rubbery grip of the ipod case had kept it planted on the hood of the car the entire time! So, he hopped out at a red light and grabbed the ipod to bring back to Mark. Phew! Another close call!
One week after that, Mark had the ipod sitting on the sink ledge while he was washing his hands, and oops...it slipped and fell into the toilet. Ugh! AGAIN! He didn't tell us all day until Daddy came home and tried to turn it on (to no avail). At that point, Mark fessed up to his carelessness. Aye! I've about had it with this ipod! It's too much of a responsibility for a 10yr old! And Mark agreed. Ryan didn't feel like it would be honest to go back to the Apple store and try to sucker out of them a new one. In fact, he told Mark that it would be stealing. And I agree. And I was so happy that Ryan chose to be honorable in this instance. So, we've tried all the little remedies that people have suggested....like using isopropyl alcohol to dry it out....and let it sit for a week in dry rice to soak up any addit'l moisture...etc... But no matter what, the thing won't turn on. So, Mark has pretty much counted his loss and decided to move on. I still get a pit in my gut when I think about it tho. Even tho it's a small loss in a huge world of need, I still feel so bad for my kid. :(
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
60 Degrees in Chicago
Last week, we enjoyed a few milder February days. But on this particular day, it reached 60 degrees! So we happily made our way outside for some playtime!Here is Reese practicing his baseball swing!
Marina decided to play outfield. LOL.
Mark was so happy to get out and play street hockey with some of his buddies!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Princess Birthday Brunch
We celebrated Marina's 4th birthday with a Princess Birthday Brunch! We invited all the special girls in our life...cousins, aunties, best friends, & of course, Grandma! Every princess needs a castle. LOL. So, Mommy surprised Marina with a pretty, pink castle cake! This birthday girl is growing up so fast! xoxo 
Monday, February 9, 2009
25 Random Things About Me...
1. I start each day sipping a mug of Folger’s medium roast coffee with Coffemate Vanilla Caramel creamer, at which time I also pop my daily dose of synthroid. Without these, I’m a zombie…and I’m crabby. I really don’t know which is worse.
2. I married my high school sweetheart. He was a funny, freckled-face redhead (17 yrs old). And I was a nervous, frizzy-haired New Girl (15 yrs old). He always made me laugh in the lunchroom. At Christmastime, he gave me an oversized teddy bear that was doused in cologne (I still have it), and he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said no, because I wasn’t allowed to date until I turned 16. He waited! 6 months later, he took me on my first date. We celebrated my Sweet 16th birthday @ Medieval Times. The rest is history…it’s sappy, I know!
3. I vividly remember the exact moment I realized I was in love with Ryan. About 2 years into dating, we were driving in his red Geo Tracker, and he randomly busted out singing the theme song to The Wonder Years, “What would you do if I sang out a tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ear and I’ll sing you a song. I’ll try not to sing out of key…” He meant it to be funny. It made me melt into a puddle of goo.
4. I’m very proud of my heritage. My paternal grandparents lived a life dedicated to ministry. They planted numerous churches in several southern states. But it’s my maternal grandmother that holds my highest esteem! A native born Dominican, growing up under a stern dictator, she quickly worked her way up thru school and university to find herself a place in government. Before she turned 30yrs old, she was put in charge of the dept of social services for the entire country! She then married an American preacher, and moved to the states where she raised a family, while keeping a hand in various types of ministries. Today, she is an international evangelist, sharing the good news of Jesus to Latin countries. She is a respected religious icon in her native country. In honor of her amazing legacy, I named my daughter after my sweet "abuelita," Marina.
5. Since I’m on the topic of child-naming, I’ll mention here that my husband took the liberty of choosing names for our 2 sons. And since I love my husband so much (and I’m such a gr8 wife…ahem!) I agreed with his choices. Mark Salomon is named after the lead singer of one of our fave bands, Stavesacre. And Reese Alan is named after Reese Roper from another fave band, Five Iron Frenzy. The Alan part is Ryan’s and Papa Bill’s middle name.
6. Some of my favorite dates I’ve enjoyed with Ryan over the years=Walking along the Naperville Riverwalk while sipping Funky Monkeys from Java & Juice; Playing on hillbilly mini-golf courses on warm summer nights…complete with 80s love songs blaring in the background; Splitting a chocolate tall cake @ Ruby Tuesdays; Catching a late night movie…which means splitting the popcorn, soda & Twizzler combo; Celebrating our 1st and 2nd anniversaries with fondue @ the Melting Pot…Rye even had a bouquet of roses waiting @ our table when we arrived; Chomping on chips w/ conqueso and BBQ wings @ the bar area at Chili’s while watching a football game. There’s something so electric about corporate cheering w/ a bunch of strangers; Yet, even more exhilarating than that was spending a weekend in Indy and catching a live Colts game! Goosebumps, people, goosebumps. We had ‘em for weeks!
7. I love the written and spoken word. I guess that’s pretty obvious, seeing how all of my answers have turned out to be a paragraph long. LOL. But, to me, writing is an art form. Like clay in the hands of a potter. Or a paintbrush in the grip of an artist. I love to create & shape both characters & environment using descriptive words. I’m amazed by authors who can pen their thoughts onto paper so creatively and effectively that I can virtually see, hear, or even smell the location they are describing. I am going to begin a 2yr writing course this summer through the Christian Writer’s Guild. My goal is to be a published author soon after I complete my studies. Now, when I pass by neatly stocked bookshelves @ bookstores, I dream of the day I will see my own thoughts and creations, bound & published, and waiting to be purchased by the avid reader…
8. I’m much more comfortable speaking in front of a huge crowd than I am speaking one-on-one with an acquaintance. Chalk it up to insecurity, but I feel like people can see right through me to that very insecurity. And I struggle with small talk. I can’t think of what to say. So it usually ends up being something embarrassing.
9. At the same time, I thrive on stimulating conversation. If a person is intellectually sharp, quick-witted, or willing to share rich experiences…I will plunge right in and be glued to the conversation…that is, until something more stimulating comes along. Then you've lost me... (blush)
10. My radio is set to political talk radio. It provides me with the stimulating conversation I crave when my day is otherwise filled with 3yr-old whining and correction.
11. I love roller coasters! I love the upside down, loopedy-loop, corkscrew kind of rides…but I absolutely despise giant drops. One try @ Raging Bull was enough for this woman.
12. I really can’t tell you what my natural hair color is. We can look back on old photos and speculate. But my hair has been dyed so many colors, your guess is as good as mine.
13. When I turned 18yrs old, my older sister took me to a tattoo parlor. She got her belly button pierced. I got my tongue pierced. Both of us removed our uncomfortable *bling* within 3 mos. So much for being “cool.”
14. We are a Disney family! Big time! Ryan grew up vacationing there almost yearly. And now as a couple, we have visited 5 times! Our favorite resort is the Disney Caribbean. We’ve also stayed at the Port Orleans & the Pop Culture resorts. If you ever have questions planning for a Disney vacay…we’ll gladly share what we know!
15. Speaking of vacationing, some of our destinations=Disney World (already mentioned); Wisconsin Dells. Ryan’s parents owned a cabin on a lake for several years, so we’d spend many summer weekends there. We’ve also enjoyed some of the Dells’ resorts: the Wilderness Lodge, Kalahari, and Mount Olympus (that one changes its name every few years); Hillbilly tent camping @ a Jellystone park. (C’mon, we had to do it at least once! Our kids would be deprived if we hadn’t); Weekend getaways for Ryan & me in Indianapolis, downtown Chicago, and @ a quaint little inn in Geneva; Branson, MO (if you’ve ever been there….’nuf said); Corpus Christie, Texas. Wow, the beaches are amazing…but the driving is scary; Illinois State Beach Resort. You walk out of your hotel and are literally steps away from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Beautiful; Salt Lake City, Utah. Boy, you don’t realize how flat the Midwest really is until you fly over those gorgeous mountains! And climbing the mountains…completely exhilarating; And finally, my favorite vacation was our 5yr anniversary cruise to the Bahamas. First time cruising for both of us. And first time Ryan and I danced in a salsa club on the boat. Haha. I still have the red mini skirt…..
16. I seriously fall more and more in love with my Rye-bread everyday. Yeah, sometimes I wanna strangle him. And sometimes he wants to cut my tongue out. But other than that, we are awfully happy. (choke, choke) No, seriously, he makes me laugh til my side splits. And I love to see him make other people laugh too. Even though he uses the same jokes he’s been telling for 10yrs. Which happen to be the same jokes his father has told for about 30yrs. Aye! It never gets old.
17. Ryan has trained us up to be a movie-quoting family. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, we respond to a situation using movie quotes. The flicks we imitate most are Naked Gun, Princess Bride, Young Frankenstein, Liar Liar & Shrek. I know there are others…but those definitely take the cake. “Taffeta, darling, taffeta!”
18. When I was in junior high, I dreamed of being Anne of Green Gables. The braids, the bare feet, and (of course) the handsome Gilbert Blithe!
19. Growing up, my family moved so much, I attended 9 different schools. I think that’s why I’m insecure in friendships. I think that’s why I fear being left out in group settings. And I KNOW that’s why I suck in history class. Hmph!
20. I cannot stand up on ice skates. And I had a horrible experience w/ skiing (age 13). So, now I refuse to do either.
21. As a teenager, I was blessed to be able to participate in several missions trips. 7th grade=our youth group traveled to ghetto Birmingham, Alabama. We teamed up with Habitat for Humanity, painting run down homes and reaching out to inner city kids; 8th grade=again, our youth group traveled to Miami, Florida to help clean up after Hurricane Andrew. The devastation was incredible and I walked away forever impacted; 9th grade=I traveled with a different youth group to an Indian reservation in northern New York State. We put on VBS for local children, did some cleanup around the church building, viewed the Niagara Falls from the Canada side, and hit Cedar Point Amusement Park during the drive home. A lot less impacting than the previous trip; 11th grade=El Salvador missions trip. This trip required major mental and spiritual preparation. We worked with King’s Castle ministries to reach a country devastated by civil war and major earthquake damage. The poverty among families was heart wrenching. It completely blew our minds! But the number of hearts receptive to the gospel was so inspiring. And the fact that God used us as His tool to reach those hurting people…well, that was completely humbling.
22. We spend our evenings during the summer and fall…sitting on the football field, watching our little athlete practice w/ his team. And we spend our weekends on the bleachers, cheering our hearts out for him! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
23. The next trip I hope we take is to San Francisco. My abuela Marina, along with many of my other relatives, lives right there in the bay area, and I’ve been wanting to visit them for ages. One of my very best friends lives down in Los Angeles. Maybe we can make a stop there before heading home?? Oh yeah, another best friend of mine lives right outside of Denver, Colorado. I guess that would be a stopover too. Aye! No wonder we haven’t taken this trip yet!
24. My Mom has made it a habit to call me almost every Tuesday. I am the 2nd child out of 5 siblings, and Tuesday is the 2nd day of the workweek…so that explains that. I LOVE our phone chats. They are usually short, and sweet, and full of estrogen. ;)
25. Um, how do I end this thing? How about, if you’ve actually read this entire novel, drop me an email. And I will take you out for coffee to thank you for being so sweet and spending your time getting to know me! Seriously…it’ll be my treat! xoxo
2. I married my high school sweetheart. He was a funny, freckled-face redhead (17 yrs old). And I was a nervous, frizzy-haired New Girl (15 yrs old). He always made me laugh in the lunchroom. At Christmastime, he gave me an oversized teddy bear that was doused in cologne (I still have it), and he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said no, because I wasn’t allowed to date until I turned 16. He waited! 6 months later, he took me on my first date. We celebrated my Sweet 16th birthday @ Medieval Times. The rest is history…it’s sappy, I know!
3. I vividly remember the exact moment I realized I was in love with Ryan. About 2 years into dating, we were driving in his red Geo Tracker, and he randomly busted out singing the theme song to The Wonder Years, “What would you do if I sang out a tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ear and I’ll sing you a song. I’ll try not to sing out of key…” He meant it to be funny. It made me melt into a puddle of goo.
4. I’m very proud of my heritage. My paternal grandparents lived a life dedicated to ministry. They planted numerous churches in several southern states. But it’s my maternal grandmother that holds my highest esteem! A native born Dominican, growing up under a stern dictator, she quickly worked her way up thru school and university to find herself a place in government. Before she turned 30yrs old, she was put in charge of the dept of social services for the entire country! She then married an American preacher, and moved to the states where she raised a family, while keeping a hand in various types of ministries. Today, she is an international evangelist, sharing the good news of Jesus to Latin countries. She is a respected religious icon in her native country. In honor of her amazing legacy, I named my daughter after my sweet "abuelita," Marina.
5. Since I’m on the topic of child-naming, I’ll mention here that my husband took the liberty of choosing names for our 2 sons. And since I love my husband so much (and I’m such a gr8 wife…ahem!) I agreed with his choices. Mark Salomon is named after the lead singer of one of our fave bands, Stavesacre. And Reese Alan is named after Reese Roper from another fave band, Five Iron Frenzy. The Alan part is Ryan’s and Papa Bill’s middle name.
6. Some of my favorite dates I’ve enjoyed with Ryan over the years=Walking along the Naperville Riverwalk while sipping Funky Monkeys from Java & Juice; Playing on hillbilly mini-golf courses on warm summer nights…complete with 80s love songs blaring in the background; Splitting a chocolate tall cake @ Ruby Tuesdays; Catching a late night movie…which means splitting the popcorn, soda & Twizzler combo; Celebrating our 1st and 2nd anniversaries with fondue @ the Melting Pot…Rye even had a bouquet of roses waiting @ our table when we arrived; Chomping on chips w/ conqueso and BBQ wings @ the bar area at Chili’s while watching a football game. There’s something so electric about corporate cheering w/ a bunch of strangers; Yet, even more exhilarating than that was spending a weekend in Indy and catching a live Colts game! Goosebumps, people, goosebumps. We had ‘em for weeks!
7. I love the written and spoken word. I guess that’s pretty obvious, seeing how all of my answers have turned out to be a paragraph long. LOL. But, to me, writing is an art form. Like clay in the hands of a potter. Or a paintbrush in the grip of an artist. I love to create & shape both characters & environment using descriptive words. I’m amazed by authors who can pen their thoughts onto paper so creatively and effectively that I can virtually see, hear, or even smell the location they are describing. I am going to begin a 2yr writing course this summer through the Christian Writer’s Guild. My goal is to be a published author soon after I complete my studies. Now, when I pass by neatly stocked bookshelves @ bookstores, I dream of the day I will see my own thoughts and creations, bound & published, and waiting to be purchased by the avid reader…
8. I’m much more comfortable speaking in front of a huge crowd than I am speaking one-on-one with an acquaintance. Chalk it up to insecurity, but I feel like people can see right through me to that very insecurity. And I struggle with small talk. I can’t think of what to say. So it usually ends up being something embarrassing.
9. At the same time, I thrive on stimulating conversation. If a person is intellectually sharp, quick-witted, or willing to share rich experiences…I will plunge right in and be glued to the conversation…that is, until something more stimulating comes along. Then you've lost me... (blush)
10. My radio is set to political talk radio. It provides me with the stimulating conversation I crave when my day is otherwise filled with 3yr-old whining and correction.
11. I love roller coasters! I love the upside down, loopedy-loop, corkscrew kind of rides…but I absolutely despise giant drops. One try @ Raging Bull was enough for this woman.
12. I really can’t tell you what my natural hair color is. We can look back on old photos and speculate. But my hair has been dyed so many colors, your guess is as good as mine.
13. When I turned 18yrs old, my older sister took me to a tattoo parlor. She got her belly button pierced. I got my tongue pierced. Both of us removed our uncomfortable *bling* within 3 mos. So much for being “cool.”
14. We are a Disney family! Big time! Ryan grew up vacationing there almost yearly. And now as a couple, we have visited 5 times! Our favorite resort is the Disney Caribbean. We’ve also stayed at the Port Orleans & the Pop Culture resorts. If you ever have questions planning for a Disney vacay…we’ll gladly share what we know!
15. Speaking of vacationing, some of our destinations=Disney World (already mentioned); Wisconsin Dells. Ryan’s parents owned a cabin on a lake for several years, so we’d spend many summer weekends there. We’ve also enjoyed some of the Dells’ resorts: the Wilderness Lodge, Kalahari, and Mount Olympus (that one changes its name every few years); Hillbilly tent camping @ a Jellystone park. (C’mon, we had to do it at least once! Our kids would be deprived if we hadn’t); Weekend getaways for Ryan & me in Indianapolis, downtown Chicago, and @ a quaint little inn in Geneva; Branson, MO (if you’ve ever been there….’nuf said); Corpus Christie, Texas. Wow, the beaches are amazing…but the driving is scary; Illinois State Beach Resort. You walk out of your hotel and are literally steps away from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Beautiful; Salt Lake City, Utah. Boy, you don’t realize how flat the Midwest really is until you fly over those gorgeous mountains! And climbing the mountains…completely exhilarating; And finally, my favorite vacation was our 5yr anniversary cruise to the Bahamas. First time cruising for both of us. And first time Ryan and I danced in a salsa club on the boat. Haha. I still have the red mini skirt…..
16. I seriously fall more and more in love with my Rye-bread everyday. Yeah, sometimes I wanna strangle him. And sometimes he wants to cut my tongue out. But other than that, we are awfully happy. (choke, choke) No, seriously, he makes me laugh til my side splits. And I love to see him make other people laugh too. Even though he uses the same jokes he’s been telling for 10yrs. Which happen to be the same jokes his father has told for about 30yrs. Aye! It never gets old.
17. Ryan has trained us up to be a movie-quoting family. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, we respond to a situation using movie quotes. The flicks we imitate most are Naked Gun, Princess Bride, Young Frankenstein, Liar Liar & Shrek. I know there are others…but those definitely take the cake. “Taffeta, darling, taffeta!”
18. When I was in junior high, I dreamed of being Anne of Green Gables. The braids, the bare feet, and (of course) the handsome Gilbert Blithe!
19. Growing up, my family moved so much, I attended 9 different schools. I think that’s why I’m insecure in friendships. I think that’s why I fear being left out in group settings. And I KNOW that’s why I suck in history class. Hmph!
20. I cannot stand up on ice skates. And I had a horrible experience w/ skiing (age 13). So, now I refuse to do either.
21. As a teenager, I was blessed to be able to participate in several missions trips. 7th grade=our youth group traveled to ghetto Birmingham, Alabama. We teamed up with Habitat for Humanity, painting run down homes and reaching out to inner city kids; 8th grade=again, our youth group traveled to Miami, Florida to help clean up after Hurricane Andrew. The devastation was incredible and I walked away forever impacted; 9th grade=I traveled with a different youth group to an Indian reservation in northern New York State. We put on VBS for local children, did some cleanup around the church building, viewed the Niagara Falls from the Canada side, and hit Cedar Point Amusement Park during the drive home. A lot less impacting than the previous trip; 11th grade=El Salvador missions trip. This trip required major mental and spiritual preparation. We worked with King’s Castle ministries to reach a country devastated by civil war and major earthquake damage. The poverty among families was heart wrenching. It completely blew our minds! But the number of hearts receptive to the gospel was so inspiring. And the fact that God used us as His tool to reach those hurting people…well, that was completely humbling.
22. We spend our evenings during the summer and fall…sitting on the football field, watching our little athlete practice w/ his team. And we spend our weekends on the bleachers, cheering our hearts out for him! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
23. The next trip I hope we take is to San Francisco. My abuela Marina, along with many of my other relatives, lives right there in the bay area, and I’ve been wanting to visit them for ages. One of my very best friends lives down in Los Angeles. Maybe we can make a stop there before heading home?? Oh yeah, another best friend of mine lives right outside of Denver, Colorado. I guess that would be a stopover too. Aye! No wonder we haven’t taken this trip yet!
24. My Mom has made it a habit to call me almost every Tuesday. I am the 2nd child out of 5 siblings, and Tuesday is the 2nd day of the workweek…so that explains that. I LOVE our phone chats. They are usually short, and sweet, and full of estrogen. ;)
25. Um, how do I end this thing? How about, if you’ve actually read this entire novel, drop me an email. And I will take you out for coffee to thank you for being so sweet and spending your time getting to know me! Seriously…it’ll be my treat! xoxo
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Girl Scares Me!
Little Marina is the social butterfly to top all others!
She will strike up a conversation with absolutely anyone! ANYone!
Unfortunately, she proved this to be too true the other day...and it scared me!
Ryan & I had purchased a new bed for our master bedroom. When the furniture guys arrived, the first one was just as wide as he was tall. About a 300 pound man, I'd guess. Very jolly and nice. But a stranger to us, and a very large, intimidating one at that! Upon their arrival, little Emma immediately asked me to hold her. You know, the normal thing for a 3yr old girl to do when a strange man enters the house. But not Marina! Oh no! She was way too interested in what we were doing to think about being shy!
After I showed the man to the bedroom, we were going to return downstairs for the furniture. Emma was on my hip, and Marina asked for me to carry her down too. (More out of jealousy than anything else). I said, "No, honey, I'm holding Emma. But how about I hold your hand instead?" When she pitched a mini fit, the man (at the top of the stairs) said in a deep, gruff voice, "How about I carry you down?" It was more of an effort to make Marina take my hand...but oh no! She looked up at him and cheerfully said, "OK!" Then she climbed the five steps up to him and allowed his huge self to swipe her up and carry her down the stairs! The whole way down, she was chatting, "What's your name? I'm Rina. It's my birfday!" The poor man apologized, and explained that he didn't think she'd really take him up on his offer! Oh boy! He doesn't know this little, social, trusting Marina! While I'm glad she can make friends so easily...it's also very scary to think about how easily she will go to a stranger. From now on, she must hold my hand in public, at ALL times!!!
She will strike up a conversation with absolutely anyone! ANYone!
Unfortunately, she proved this to be too true the other day...and it scared me!
Ryan & I had purchased a new bed for our master bedroom. When the furniture guys arrived, the first one was just as wide as he was tall. About a 300 pound man, I'd guess. Very jolly and nice. But a stranger to us, and a very large, intimidating one at that! Upon their arrival, little Emma immediately asked me to hold her. You know, the normal thing for a 3yr old girl to do when a strange man enters the house. But not Marina! Oh no! She was way too interested in what we were doing to think about being shy!
After I showed the man to the bedroom, we were going to return downstairs for the furniture. Emma was on my hip, and Marina asked for me to carry her down too. (More out of jealousy than anything else). I said, "No, honey, I'm holding Emma. But how about I hold your hand instead?" When she pitched a mini fit, the man (at the top of the stairs) said in a deep, gruff voice, "How about I carry you down?" It was more of an effort to make Marina take my hand...but oh no! She looked up at him and cheerfully said, "OK!" Then she climbed the five steps up to him and allowed his huge self to swipe her up and carry her down the stairs! The whole way down, she was chatting, "What's your name? I'm Rina. It's my birfday!" The poor man apologized, and explained that he didn't think she'd really take him up on his offer! Oh boy! He doesn't know this little, social, trusting Marina! While I'm glad she can make friends so easily...it's also very scary to think about how easily she will go to a stranger. From now on, she must hold my hand in public, at ALL times!!!
