(43-334) Wanna Laugh?

How many times a day do you laugh?  I'm not even sure what my answer to that question is.   I just know that I like to do so as much and as often as possible; and I am very blessed to know some pretty funny people.  Heck, we all know that I even laugh at myself on a very regular basis.

A couple of days ago Nicky said something that I found very amusing, and there goes that memory again, because I can't even remember what is was; but nonetheless, I commented that he was my funny child and he was VERY happy to hear this.  (More so than I ever would have expected actually.)  As a matter of fact, he's brought it up to me a number of times since then.  He'd say "blah, blah, blah, because I'm your funny child, right Mama?"   And of course I'd agree.  Truth be told, all three of my kids are very funny in their own way.  Lyndzi is a riot; and she too gets great satisfaction out of the fact that I think she's funny.  And Kelsie, well she's just such an all around character, that she can't help but be funny.

So last night we went out to dinner, and Kelsie was reminding me of this charming thing that she'd said about Nicky a few days ago.  She had made the comment that "Nicky is a shy guy so he's like a butterfly in his cocoon and one day he's gonna come out and be a really beautiful butterfly."  And I have to say that when she first told me this she just reinforced my belief that she is utterly brilliant; and so amazing; but nonetheless, Luis hadn't been privy to her analogy so I asked her to share it with him; and when she did, she gave the performance of her life.  After listening to her I said "Kelsie you're such an actress."  To which she replied "Well, I have no interest in being on TV. I have no interest in being in movies. I have no interest in being in commercials. I have no interest in being in a commercial about a movie. The only thing that I'm interested in showing, is my ears."  And I laughed like I have not laughed in I don't know when.  I had no idea why she said that. So I asked and she said something about liking her ears because they're soft.  OK, they can't all be profound, she is only seven ya know.

Now you may recall that when I wrote "43" I said "I believe this needs to be a year of recollection, reflection, observation, appreciation, and change..." So, let me say how very much I appreciate and am thankful for LAUGHTER.  A good laugh can make anything better; and I am so grateful for all those who bring laughter into my life, and to all those who permit me to bring laughter into theirs.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-327) Happy Father's Day!

If you've read "The Bumpy Ride" before, then you probably know that I didn't / don't have a very high opinion of my father; which is why when I refer to him, I call him by his name (Richie Howell) instead of saying my dad.  Richie Howell was (as you may remember) a Private Investigator; and he worked  A LOT.  He travelled often for business, and I never got the feeling that being a father was high on his list of priorities.  In his defense, this could be because he himself didn't have a father for very long.  His parents divorced when he was only three, and his dad passed away at the age of 43, when RH was just 13.  The only thing that his father,Wolf Howell, (YES, you read that correctly - Wolf Howell), left him with was the belief that he too was going to pass away at the age of 43 - and he did.

I suppose that having a father like Richie Howell just makes me that much more appreciative of all the great dads that I'm privileged to know; starting with my husband, Luis.  So on this Father's day, I'm sending out a big (yes) HUGE thank you to all the dads who coach one of their kid's sports teams, change a baby's diaper, cook a meal, mow the lawn, go to the store, fix something that's broken, lend an ear, give someone a hug, tuck someone in, play at the playground, water park or pool.  All those dad's who do homework, go to concerts, banquets, sporting events, dance recitals, kid's movies, watch cartoons, play the Wii, or PlayStation, or Chess, or Monopoly.  All those dad's who take the time to teach their kid's how to fish, or bake, or clean or throw.  Thank you to all those dad's who let their kids have a dog even if they don't want one.  Those who cheer for their kids in hundred degree weather or freezing cold.  Those who love their kids enough to tell them no when need be and those that say yes when feasible.  Thank you to all those dad's who make a child feel loved and safe and confident and happy.
Happy father's day to ALL THOSE DADS; especially my husband, Luis!
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-325) Friday Field Trip

Today my kids and I joined Mari, Julie, Lisa B, their respective kids, various nieces and friends; for a tour of The Stuffington Bear Factory.  Mari had arranged this excursion of the oldest stuffed animal factory in the United States; and in the interest of (say it with me) "The Greater good", I have to tell you about it.  Now, when I say in the interest of the Greater good, that would be the greater good of local Arizona residents, who are looking for an inexpensive activity to do with their children.

Stuffington bear factory is NOT Build-A-Bear although they do a lot of the same things.  At Stuffington, they actually make the stuffed animals that the kids then get to stuff, fluff, clean and care for.  The friendly and informative staff offer daily tours of the factory where the kids are taught about the history of the Teddy bear before seeing  how the stuffed animals are made.  They even showed us the custom stuffed dogs that were made for President Obama and Vice-President Biden.

The cost of our outing was just $9 per child and that included a bear of their choice; from their Gummi bear collection.  Now you may think that $9 sounds like a lot, and I might be inclined to agree with you; but after taking the tour and seeing how much fun ALL of the kids had ~ I think it was $9 well spent.

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING 

(43-299) Messages For Luis

Try as we may, we didn't get to speak with Luis yesterday.  I sent him a couple of emails with our schedule, and he left us a voicemail when we were out.  But given the time difference we were never able to connect.  I know the kid's miss him very much, but they've been handling his absence really well. 

Even though it's just a couple of days until Luis comes home; tonight I suggested that they could dictate messages to me and I'd include them in my blog.  So verbatim, these are their messages for Luis:

Kelsie: "Hi Daddy, I miss you very much.  I hope you come home soon.  I want to show you these little bears that I made out of clay.  I hope that you're having a good time in Mexico.  Tell Abuelito and Abuelita that I said hi.  And tell all of our cousins that I said hi, too.  We all miss you.  Love, Ball Ball"

Lyndzi:  "Hi Dad,  I miss you.  I hope that you're having a great time at home.  Please tell Abuelito and Abuelita and the cousins that I love them.  Please give my Nina a hug for me.  I can't wait until you come home so that I can hug you and be with you.  Are you going to be sick of Mexican food by the time you get home?   I love you with all my heart. - Cococita"

Nicky:  "Hey Dad, I hope you're enjoying Puerto Vallarta.  I miss you and when you get home I have tons of things to tell you, show you, and do with you.  Today I found these cool rockets at Michael's and mom's going to give me a coupon so that I can buy one tomorrow,  I also can't wait to do laser tag with you.  Love Trooper"

I had the good fortune to chat with Luis via Facebook instant messenger, so I don't really have much to say to him now, other than,  I love him and miss him and I can't wait to have him back here with us; because he completes us. 
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-293) HAPPY Birthday Nicky!!

The one thing that I've always been sure of was that I wanted to have children.  When I was single, I had promised myself that if I wasn't married by a certain age, I would find a way to have a child on my own, because it was just that important to me.  Since Luis and I had such a whirlwind romance, and got married after only knowing each other for a few months; we agreed that we would be married for a few years before we started a family, so that we would have a strong foundation to build upon.

I didn't necessarily want to be an older mom, but between relocating, and the early detection of some pre-cancerous cells; we wound up waiting four years before we attempted to have a baby.  We were very fortunate, because as soon as we made the decision to try and conceive, I got pregnant right away.  Luis and I were thrilled to find out that we were expecting and despite having morning sickness round the clock for twelve weeks; I was ecstatic.

Early on, I believed that I was having a boy and the ultrasound proved me right.  I wanted to name my son after my maternal grandfather Nathan, and since Luis assured me that his family would not pronounce the name Noah properly, we opted for Nicolas.  I would talk to Nicky every day and refer to him by name.  Even after getting sick, I would rub my stomach and tell him "That's OK Nicky, we're going to be alright;" and I felt a love like none that I'd ever known before. 

I remember talking myself through my contractions and saying "just a little while longer and I'm going to see Nicky.  Just a little while longer and I'm going to hold Nicky."  I was not concerned about the pain or discomfort, because I was so excited about getting to meet my son.  And when the nurse placed him in my arms, I cried tears of joy, and I rocked him and said "My Nicky, MY Nicky."  And I felt blessed.  I felt grateful.  I was utterly blissful; as I basked in the warmth of an overwhelming love. What a precious gift from God. 

It seems like just yesterday that I gave birth to my beautiful, baby boy; and yet it's now been twelve years. For twelve years I've been privileged to raise the most exceptional boy.  A boy that any mom would be so proud to call her own.  A boy who is thoughtful and compassionate, sensitive, trustworthy, intelligent, hard working, cooperative, kind, insightful, funny, mature and loving.  A boy who is a great big brother, and a wonderful son.

As always, Nicky didn't ask for much for his birthday.  He wanted to take a treat to school to share with his class, so I bought him cookies at Sam's Club.  He asked to go to PoPo's Fiesta Del Sol for dinner and he requested Red velvet cheesecake (from The Cheesecake Factory), for dessert.  And we were more than happy to comply.


Twelve years ago today, I began to fulfill my destiny. From the moment that Nicky was placed in my arms, I knew that I had been right all along and that I was meant to be a mom.  Holding Nicky I felt complete for the first time in my life.  Oh how Nicky was well worth the wait.

On this his twelfth birthday, I wish Nicky a lifetime of love and happiness.  A life filled with joy and fulfillment.  I hope that he becomes everything that he wants to be and that he has the courage to follow his every dream.  I hope that Nicky will find his passion and lives his life with intention and purpose.  I hope that Nicky will be true to himself and respectful of others.  I wish Nicky the happiest twelfth birthday ever; and I look forward to watching him grow and develop into the person that he is meant to be.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-285) A Love Song For My Family

Even though it's the designated day to show your appreciation for your mom,  we didn't make any special plans today.  I didn't feel the need to do anything differently than I usually do on Sunday, because luckily for me EVERY DAY feels like Mother's Day.  EVERY DAY my children let me know how much they love me and how important I am to them.

Luis and my kid's acknowledged Mother's day from the moment I got up, by giving me cards and well wishes; and that was more than enough for me.  I ran some errands with my kids, and then dropped Nicky and our Trader Joe's purchase off at home, before proceeding to Fry's with my girls. 

While we were at Fry's they were playing Celine Dion's "Because you loved me,"  and I swear, I listened and I almost started crying right there in the paper towel aisle; because I thought, "This is EXACTLY how I feel about Luis and my kids.  I am everything that I am, because they love me."

When I met Luis I was thoroughly alone, and knowing that he loved me, made me feel safe, and gave me the courage to become the person, the wife and the mom that I am now.  As for my kids, being THEIR mom, loving them and having them love me, has made me the person that I was meant to be.

To express my deepest gratitude to Luis, Nicky, Lyndzi and Kelsie this Mother's day, it's my pleasure to share  Celine Dion's "Because you loved me."
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-267) Decision Making

I think that one of the best things that you can do for your kids is to teach them to trust themselves; and encourage them to make their own decisions.  Now of course, when I say this; I'm referring to children of a certain age; but remember that you have to start somewhere.  So yes, I was the mom that let a five year old Kelsie wear two different colored flip flops to the store one day, because that's what she wanted to do and expressing her individuality wasn't going to hurt anyone.

I want my kids to know that they are capable of choosing what is best for them; and then take responsibility for their decisions once they've made them.  And this week, Nicky did just that.

Nicky has been a Student Council rep this year, and he's absolutely loved it.  He's enjoyed working in the school snack bar, setting up for dances, volunteering at a food bank, and participating in meetings.  Nicky hopes to continue with Student Council next year, and as they're getting ready to have officer elections; he was considering running for Secretary.  Now why Secretary you might ask?  And the answer is simple.  The only positions that 6th graders may run for are Secretary, Treasurer and Spirit Coordinator.  Well try as he may, Spirit Coordinator is not a position that would suit Nicky right now, and a popular girl had already said that she was going to run for Treasurer, so rather than compete against her, Nicky was considering Secretary.

I was VERY proud that Nicky wasn't letting the two to five minute speech that he'd have to give in front of the 5th through 7th graders deter him.  We discussed the fact that although it might make him uncomfortable for a few minutes; in the long run the gain would be worth it.  Nicky was contemplating his decision to run and ultimately he decided that he didn't want to, because he really didn't want to be Secretary. Nicky thought that the Secretary position would be too much pressure for him, and speaking as someone who's held that position before; I would have to say he's right.  It's a lot of additional work and responsibility.  Nicky decided that he would wait until next fall, when he could run for a rep position, and hopefully get back into Student Council.  I respect Nicky's decision and how he made it.  He wasn't afraid to say that he'd changed his mind; and he definitely gave it a lot of thought before doing so. 

You know I joke a lot about how I have trouble making decisions; but the truth is, it's the insignificant things, like what to have for dinner that cause me to be indecisive.  When it comes to life decisions, I don't have difficulty at all.  Case in point, writing a daily blog this year.  I didn't waiver at all about doing it; although maybe I should have.  Just kidding!

As always I am extraordinarily proud of Nicky.  He's almost twelve years old, and he knows very well, who he is, and he is invariably true to himself.  Nicky is his own person and he does what's comfortable for him, regardless of if it's the popular thing to do or not.  And as his mom; that's EXACTLY what I had hoped for him.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-257) The Best Medicine EVER

This weekend I had to do something that I rarely do... take it easy.   Last week I wasn't feeling that well, but I was convinced that it was my allergies.  By Friday night, my nose was running all over the place and I had a wicked sore throat.  That's right, I did just date myself and say wicked, but that's the most accurate description I can think of.  On Saturday morning I took my kids to a roller skating lesson, and even though it's typically chilly at Great Skate; I was beyond cold.  I had a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt on, and Jenny lent me hers too; which I put over my legs.  We wound up leaving an hour and a half before the session was due to end and we went straight home so I could lie down.

I had four blankets on top of me, in addition to the clothing that I'd described, but I just couldn't get warm.  We took my temperature and I had 101, and later that afternoon 101.5  I cancelled my plans for the night; which I never do, unless someone else is sick; and I rested on the couch for the rest of the day and all through the evening.

I'm still not feeling well today, but my temp has gone down.  It was 100.2 the last time that I took it.  Even though I had the Flu in February, I typically don't get sick very often, so when I do, it makes my kids a little nervous.  When I was contemplating the topic for tonight's blog, I thought it would be interesting to have my kids share their thoughts on me being sick, and this is what they had to say:

Kelsie (age 7): "I feel horrible that my mommy is sick because I love her and I don't want anything bad to happen to her.  When my mommy told us that we were going to leave skating because she wasn't feeling well, I cried because I felt bad that she was sick. When we got home I offered to make my mommy  lunch but she wasn't hungry.  I offered to snuggle with her but she said that she was too cold to move and I felt very sad.  I love my mommy and I care for her very much.  I'll do anything to help my mommy feel better."

Lyndzi (age 9):  "I think it's scary when my mom gets sick because she doesn't get sick that often.  I would do anything to make her feel better.  I made a nest out of blankets for mom and I stayed home with her when my dad went to help his friend paint his house.  When my dad got home, I asked him if he would blow up our Aerobed so that me and Kelsie could both snuggle with with mom, and he did.    I hope that my mom feels better soon.  I love my mom with all my heart."

Nicky (age 11, OK, almost 12):  "I don't like when my mom gets sick.  I feel bad when she's not feeling well; because I love her and it can be a little frightening.  Yesterday at the roller rink she told me that she didn't feel good and I said that we could leave at any time and I asked if I could help with anything.  Once we got home I let my mom rest and I tried to help her as much as possible.  I hope my mom gets better soon."

What my kids didn't want to verbalize, is that because my parents passed away young, even though I only have a cold, it worries them.  I think that if I got sick more often, they wouldn't be as concerned.  Even though the last thing that I want to do is worry them, it truly shows me how much they love and care for me; and that's the best medicine EVER. 
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-251) Right Around The Corner

My kid's started their swim team prep tonight; and I couldn't be happier, because that means that summer vacation is right around the corner.  It was so great to see them in their swimsuits, goggles and towels in tow.  And once they got to the pool, I felt like we were home.

This will be Nicky and Lyndzi's fourth year on the swim team and Kelsie's third; and I have to say that in some ways, I enjoy watching them swim, even more than I like to watch them play soccer; if you can believe that.  Maybe it's because even though they're on a team; unless they are competing in a relay, their success depends solely on themselves.  If Lyndzi for argument sake wins a first place ribbon, it's because of her own hard work and no one elses; and I think that is very gratifying for them.  The same may be said if one of the kid's wins a fifth or sixth place ribbon for example.  They and only they can take responsibility for the outcome of their race and they can choose to work on improving or be content with where their effort has gotten them.  What a great learning experience.

I know that some Mom's don't like having their kids home all summer, but I relish every minute of it.  I like seeing my kids all day, and hearing their voices while I'm working, and knowing that I can hug or kiss them whenever I want.  I get great pleasure watching them swim their laps and hang out at the pool with their friends, while they wait for their siblings lessons to begin or conclude.  I love to watch them compete and cheer them on every step of the way.  I can't wait to have the time to travel around leisurely.  We want to camp, and go to the beach.  We plan to visit my cousin Jackie; and our other California friends; then  of course there's our Wet 'n' Wild season passes, not to mention my impending birthday and trip to New York.  

Yes my favorite season is right around the corner and I am giddy with anticipation; but I'll put my excitement on hold for just a moment, so that I can share some info for (say it with me,)  "The GREATER Good."  If you live in the City of Peoria (AZ that is,) and you're not aware of the swim team program, I'm going to tell you a little about it.  The City of Peoria has four swim teams, Two at Centennial HS (The Sea Turtles who practice in the morning and the Stingrays who practice in the evenings.)  The Pirhanas are based at Peoria HS and the Sharks are the Sunrise HS team.  Practice begins on Monday, May 23.  They typically practice Mon thru Wed and have meets on the fourth day.  Meets are either Thursday afternoon / evening, Friday  afternoon / evening or Saturday morning.  Swim team typically ends around July 15 and costs $80 per child.  They don't require you to buy a team swim suit, but they recommend that you buy something similar.  Right now they're offering swim team prep which is conditioning.  The classes run Mon-Thurs for two week sessions.  Children under 8 practice for a 1/2 hour and 9 and older practice for 45 minutes.  The cost is only $18 per child for the 8 classes, and they begin a new session every two weeks between now and the middle of May.  If you think that your child may be interested in participating on one of the swim teams, the prep is a great introduction, because they will swim as much as they do at practice, and get a good taste of what it will be like.

I'm counting down the days, in more ways than one.  Just 15 more blogs to reach 266, and after that I'll have just 100 to go.  That sounds like a crazy number when I say it, but considering how far I've come, it's a mere drop in the bucket.  Once I get past post 266, I'll be counting down the days to Nicky's twelfth birthday, and the kid's last day of school.  Then counting down the days until our pending July 4th trip to California, and shortly thereafter, my 44th birthday and my New York homecoming.  Much to look forward to and even more to be thankful for.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-218) Why Lyndzi?

The other day I told you that I had "VERY Big News."  I shared that my daughter, Lyndzi, my cousin, Jackie and I are going to be taking a trip to New York to celebrate my 44th birthday.  I mentioned that I decided to take one of my kids with me and that Lyndzi seemed like the perfect choice; but I didn't say why.  Since that post, I've spoken with a number of my friends and although everyone is very glad that I'm bringing Lyndzi; they all seem to want to know how I made my choice. They all want to know; why Lyndzi? 

When I first considered asking one of my children to come to New York with me; I thought about who would enjoy the trip the most; and hands down the answer was Lyndzi.  Although all three of my kids can be picky eaters; Lyndzi is the most adventurous diner.  Lyndzi enjoys trying different foods, where with Nicky and Kelsie, it can be like pulling teeth to get them to try something new.  Since I was planning to eat in China town as well go out for Italian food; Lyndzi seemed like the logical choice because I knew that she would enjoy these meals more than Nicky and Kelsie would; and the same may be said for "Mamma Mia."  All three of my kids like musicals, and both Lyndzi and Kelsie adore ABBA, but I think that Lyndzi is at an age where she'll really be able to appreciate the show, more than Kelsie would; and I didn't think that "Mamma Mia" was up Nicky's alley.  Then there's the whole patience thang.  Lyndzi is extraordinarily complacent, patient and considerate; and honestly,the same may be said for Nicky.  Whereas Kelsie is seven. Nicky and Lyndzi are usually very shy, so Kelsie always appears to be the friendliest of the three.  She's also naturally outgoing and a great conversationalist; but patience and consideration are two traits that my youngest daughter needs to work on.  Lyndzi on the other hand, will sit and draw for hours on end; and she finds it very easy to entertain herself.  Lastly, but certainly not least; I really relish the idea of introducing everyone to my little ray of sunshine.   Lyndzi is such a joy to be around and her positivity is contagious; therefore, she is a gift that I would love to share.

It was very difficult for me to only invite one of my children on this momentous trip; but I assured them that they will each have an opportunity to travel with me at some point.  I was very proud of all of my kids and the way that they handled my decision to take Lyndzi with me.  Lyndzi didn't gloat or act overly excited; and Nicky and Kelsie didn't question my choice or make me feel guilty about it.  Are these some special kids or what? 

With each passing day, I get increasingly excited about our trip; which I've had to extend by a couple of days, by the way.  I am so delighted that Lyndzi AND Jackie will be joining me on my return to New York; and I can't wait to revisit my past with them; and celebrate my future.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-205) The Volunteers

About a month ago, when I was at Kelsie's soccer practice; I ran into my friend Patti; who used to be Lyndzi and Kelsie's Kindergarten teacher.  Patti is one of the Student Council advisers and she told me that she had asked Nicky to join a committee that she was heading.  She explained that they were going to try to collect packages of new undergarments as there were a lot of students in the community who were in need; and she thought it would be a great idea to use Captain Underpants in their campaign.  I thanked her for encouraging Nicky to get more involved; and then she asked me if I would be willing to help as well.  She paid me a high compliment, and said that she thought I was so creative; that it would be wonderful if I could work with them; as long as Nicky didn't mind.  I told her that I would check with Nicky and that if he was OK with it; I'd be happy to help.

I spoke with Nicky about the committee and he had no objection to me assisting; so that Monday we went to our first meeting. By the time we were through, we had chosen a boy to be Captain Underpants; and I volunteered Lyndzi to make him a mask.  We agreed on a speaker, a dance group, a rap, and a skit.  And  we continued meeting up until this past Monday when we had our last rehearsal.

At 730 this morning, the kids and I met everyone on the stage; and I showed them the masks that Lyndzi had made.  Nicky was prepared for his part in the presentation and all of the performers were very excited.  We had a slight glitch with the music; but other than that, I think everyone did a great job. 

I've told you before that the word "volunteer" is like my kryptonite, because   I have a very difficult time refusing someone who asks for help. I was  flattered that Patti asked me to get involved with this project and I'm so glad that my kids are learning the importance of volunteering and contributing as well.  
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-187) "Get A Job" By Nicky Ramos

My emotions were all over the place today; and why wouldn't they be?  The past two days had been both joyful AND stressful; and I was tired physically AND emotionally.  I ran a couple of errands and suffice it to say that nothing went smoothly.  Then to top it off, Kelsie was getting on my last nerve; and yes, I did just say that.

When I returned from my errands, I was frazzled. I'd had enough; but then Nicky told me that he'd used his cell phone to make some videos of his Lego's. I told him that I'd love to see them; but I had no idea what to expect.  When he showed me the videos, I laughed and laughed.  I couldn't believe how creative Nicky had been; and I was astonished by his work.  I mean, I know that Nicky is an extremely, intelligent guy and that he's not your average 11 1/2 year old boy; but theses videos really took me by surprise.  He'd shot 3 videos that were between 1 to 2 minutes long; but in order for him to text it to me; so I could then email it to my account and post it to my blog; he had to make a shorter one; and that's what I'm going to share with you now.

Without further ado; I present "Get A Job," by Nicky Ramos.

Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-180) The Toddler Laws Of Property

If you've ever read "The Bumpy Ride" before; I'm sure this title seems untimely.  If you're new to The Ride; I'll explain that it's been quite some time, since I've personally had a toddler.  My son, Nicky is now 11 1/2, my daughter, Lyndzi is nine and my youngest; Kelsie, is seven.  But when Kelsie was two, I bought her a t-shirt with "The Toddler Laws Of Property" on it, and I've kept it all this time; because I wanted to use what was written on it for a scrapbook page; ONE DAY.

Sure; I could have written down what was on the shirt, and then gotten rid of it; but this is me that we're talking about, and I don't always do things the easy way.  I'll be honest, I'm not even sure where the shirt was.  I thought I had it on the top shelf of Kelsie's closet; yes, yes, I'm going to stick with that.  It WAS on the top shelf of Kelsie's closet; so what it was doing downstairs, and wet at that; I have no idea; but that's where and how I found it this morning.

I re-read the shirt; and it gave me the same chuckle that it did, years ago when I first saw it.  If you've never seen this shirt, and you have a toddler, have had a toddler or ever met a toddler; I think it will give you a smile too:

The Toddler Laws Of Property
1.  If I like it, it's mine
2.  If it's in my hand, it's mine
3.  If I had it a little while ago, it's mine
4.  If it looks just like mine, it's mine
5.  If I think it's mine, it's mine!

I loved when my children were babies, so small and new; and as they grew into toddlers, I cherished those moments too.  Everything was a discovery, what foods tasted like or why different things worked the way they did; including themselves.  Each of my children were so different from each other; which is why I never would have bought this shirt for Nicky or Lyndzi; but for Kelsie, it was perfect. With each child I learned more about individuality, patience and flexibility. Oh I loved having young children; but, there is definitely something to be said for the blessing of communication.  As your children get older they are able to tell you when something is hurting them or they don't feel well.  You are able to talk with them about their happiness and their sorrow; and you are able to merge your relationship to where not only are you parenting them; but you're enjoying each others company.

I'm so glad that I came across Kelsie's shirt today.  It reminded me of how far we've come and how much fun and love we've shared getting there.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-162) WHAT A GIRL!

When it comes to Kelsie, ya never know what you're gonna get; and it's not just because she's seven years old; it's because she's KELSIE!  Kelsie has been a force to be reckoned with since the moment that she was conceived.  She is wise beyond her years, temperamental as the day is long, stubborn, loving, considerate, perceptive, persistent and forthright.  Blah, blah, blah, blah blah.  I could go on and on and list every adjective there is; but for the sake of brevity; YES, brevity; I'll just leave the description at that; so that you can understand that she is unpredictable at best.  The ONLY thing that you can count on with Kels is that you never know how she's going to react or what she's going to do.  When you think something will bother her she shrugs it off; and when you think something isn't a big deal, she can give a world is coming to an end performance, worthy of an Academy award nomination.

Case in point...  Sunday night I decided to make 2 dinners; Chicken Parmigiana and meatballs.  The chicken parm was going to be for Sunday dinner, and the meatballs were going to be for a couple of nights during the week.  Well, several months ago, I taught the girls how to roll the meatballs, so I enlisted their help in doing so; while I prepared the chicken.  The girls had five pounds of meat that they needed to make into meatballs, and I thought that everything was going along fine, until I heard Kelsie say quizzically, "You put meat on my face?"  Lyndzi and I both burst out laughing at the same time; and Kelsie's hysterics immediately ensued.  The more that Lyndzi and I laughed, the louder Kelsie wailed.  I tried to explain that I didn't think that it was funny that Lyndzi had put meat on her face; and in between laughs, I told Lyndzi that she shouldn't have done that.  I tried to explain to Kelsie that I had only laughed because the way that she said "You put meat on my face,"  was so funny.  She didn't seem to care what I had to say.  She was already too invested in her meltdown; so I told her to go to her room to calm down.  After a few minutes, I sent Lyndzi up to apologize, but Kelsie wouldn't hear it.  Shortly thereafter, I tired to talk to her again; but she was just too far gone.  When she finally relented and came downstairs; I asked if she wanted to finish making her meatballs, but she wouldn't answer me.  I calmly asked the same question three times; but when she refused to speak, I took it upon myself to make the remainder of the meatballs.
A few minutes later, as I was cooking, Kelsie came over, still quite teary eyed, and said that she wanted to make the meatballs.  I explained that I had already finished, and that she would have to make them next time, and with that, she jumped up and down a number of times and screamed that she wanted to make the meatballs.  I couldn't believe my eyes. 
Kelsie needed to cool off; literally, so she took her little self out to the backyard and stood there in her misery.  Nicky and Lyndzi went out to join her; and when she felt calm enough, she came in and told me that she had wanted to make the meatballs and she asked if I would flatten some of the meat, so that SHE could make them.  I told her that I was very sorry that she had gotten so upset, but I wasn't going to flatten the meat and give her a chance to make them, after the way that she'd behaved.  She tried to convince me to do it; but I held my ground.  I reminded her that I had asked her three times and she had refused to answer me; and that people who carry on as she had, do not get their way.  She gave me a big hug, and apologized and by dinner time she was back to her calmer self.

When Kelsie got up for school on Monday morning; she was uncustomarily agreeable; so I wondered what was up.  I commented that I liked how cooperative she was being, and she was pleased.  When I picked her up from school, the positive behavior continued; as it did all day Tuesday and Wednesday; and although I didn't want to jinx it, or call attention to it; I was compelled to ask Kelsie about her marvelous mood.  She said that she'd noticed it as well and that she didn't know why she was behaving as nicely as she had been, but she liked it.

Now like I said before, Kelsie can turn out an Academy award winning performance; so when she's all sweetness and light; I do take it with a grain of salt; BUT, she said something to me last night, that just blew my mind and warmed my heart and even though I'm often impressed by Kelsie, this time I was in awe. 
I had told Kelsie that her friend Natalia, could spend the night on Friday night.  Kels asked if she should come home from school with her, and I explained that we might have pedicure appointments, so we should probably pick her up once we were done.  Now, it's important for you to know that Kelsie was going to pay for her own pedicure, with some of the birthday / Christmas money that she'd received and when I pointed out that it wouldn't be fun for Natalia to sit through our pedicures, Kelsie said, "well, I could treat her."  And my heart smiled.  What generosity, what thoughtfulness, what compassion; WHAT A GIRL!  I told Kelsie that I was SO proud of her for suggesting that, but I didn't think that it was necessary; and she was OK with that.

Oh Kelsie is my little roller coaster.  We go up, we go down, we scream at the top of our lungs, and we laugh; and seriously, I wouldn't change a thing.  Kelsie is a feisty little individual; who does as she pleases.  So I guess that it should have come as no surprise, that when we got our pedicures tonight; Kelsie chose two colors, a deep green blue, and a neon pink, and she had Jenny at Pure Elements, use both colors on alternating toes; AND put white polka dots on each toe.  I suggested that she settle on one color; but she knew EXACTLY what she wanted; and since it was her money; I wasn't going to try and change her mind.  In the long run, her toes looked terrific; and they truly represent exactly who she is; an original, a free thinker; MY DAUGHTER!

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-160) A Cure For The Back To School Blues

I've previously mentioned that on the first day of school (as well as other special occasions;) I like to make Cinnamon rolls for my kids.  Since I'm not Lesa G; baker of the world's best, homemade, Lemon Bars nor am I Jenny and (SMF) David; Christmas Cookie chefs extraordinaire; I simply make Pillsbury (canned,) cinnamon rolls with CINNABON frosting; but my kids think they're just great.  So during one of my many Christmas break, trips to the supermarket; I picked up a can of cinnamon rolls; so that I could surprise the kids one morning.

I could have made the cinnamon rolls any day; and they would have been thrilled; but I decided that I would make them on their first day back to school.  I thought that it would be delightful to awake to the sweet cinnamony aroma that the baked pastries emanate.  But alas; on Sunday, I ruined my own surprise and told the kids about my plan;  because they were all so bummed about going back to school; and leaving me.

They all seemed so sad about the prospect of school starting up; so I thought I'd cheer them up by telling them that I planned to make them cinnamon rolls for breakfast; and indeed, this was a cure for the back to school blues.

I woke Lyndzi at 6:30am, and after she got dressed, I asked what she wanted for breakfast.  She gave me a quizzical look and I asked what was wrong.  With a perplexed tone, Lyndzi then said "I thought we were having cinnamon rolls."  Oh my gosh; she was right.  I'd forgotten MY OWN PLAN; so in the long run, I suppose that it was a very good thing that I had told them about it.   Thankfully I still had plenty of time to get the rolls in the oven; and by the time Nicky and Kelsie got up, I had just finished frosting the delectable dough.  The kids happily ate their cinnamon rolls; and I'm proud to say, that I did not.   

Kelsie was more cooperative than ever as she got ready for school.  I think that Lyndzi was looking forward to seeing her friends; but like Nicky, she would have just as soon stayed home; so when I dropped them at school, I assured them that their day would pass quickly; and that although I would miss them; I'd be fine.  It was bittersweet watching them walk towards the school; but I always seem to feel that way after having them home for a while.  I get spoiled.

I went back home, worked for a few hours and then met Lesa G at the gym.  I returned home resumed working; and I wish that I could say that time passed quickly; but truth be told, it didn't.  3:00 couldn't come soon enough for me; and when it did, I flew out the door to go pick up my angels.  I'm happy to report that despite their hesitation, everyone had a great day.  And as for me, I'm getting pinker by the minute.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING 

(43-157) Ten For 10'

If I had to choose a word to represent MY 2010; without a doubt, it would have to be DISCOVERY.  This past year I have learned so much about myself, my family, my friends, and life in general.  Although I've frequently written about my discoveries on "The Bumpy Ride," since this is the end of the year; I would like to share TEN of my most important discoveries with you.

This year, I've discovered:
1.  Change is good.  Change can often be scary; but if things always stayed the same, they would never grow.
2.  You HAVE to be true to yourself.    Everyone has their own path, and you and only you, are responsible for yours.
3.  Age is just a number.  You're as young as you feel and you should never let your age stop you in any way.
4.  I am strong.  I have strength of character, and strength of mind. I am strong in my commitments and my values; and I am getting stronger every day.
5.  Family!  I have found cousins that I never really knew; and I am so ecstatic to have them in my life.
6.  I have made a difference. By reconnecting with some of the girls that I worked with when I was a Social worker; I now know that my efforts were appreciated; and meaningful.
7.  I have a lot left to do.  I have not nearly reached my potential, as a wife, a mom, a friend, a writer a person.
8.  Reciprocity is crucial.  Life is a two way street, and even though you may be accustomed to always being the person who does or gives; you also HAVE to let others do for you.
9.  Karma!  It's the guiding force behind (say it with me,) "The greater good."
10. It's OK to ask for what you need.  I've never really been good at this.  And I know that just because you ask for something, doesn't mean that you're going to get it; but certainly if you don't ask; you're assured not to get it.  And so, once again, I'm going to ask for your help...

This post is number 157 of 366 and number 294 for all time.  Hard to believe; I KNOW.  And as we all know; I still have a long way to go, at least to get to July 29, 2011.  So with that being said; once again I would like to take a grassroots stab at increasing my readership; and this is where you come in.  If you enjoy "The Bumpy Ride," and believe that my messages and stories are those that others would enjoy or benefit from; PLEASE share me with a friend.  I'm ASKING that you tell at least two friends about "The Bumpy Ride," in the hopes that they will join me on a regular basis and tell two more friends, etc. etc.
Now sometimes, telling someone about something isn't enough; you have to show them, SO in keeping with my Ten for 10' theme, I'm going to provide the names and links for the ten posts that I think were my best of 2010.  Then you can just forward this blog onto your friends, with suggested reading built right on; OR, you can copy and past one of the posts into an email, so they can read me for themselves; PLEASE!!

Ten For 10': 
43
Acceptance
My Something Special  
A Gift Horse Tale
The Dirty Word
What A Mom's Gotta Do
Red - A Retrospective
The Protectors
What You Choose To Believe
A Blueprint for a B.F.F


There are so many ways for people to join "The Bumpy Ride." If they visit my blog itself; they can sign up to have "The Bumpy Ride" emailed to them each time there's a new post. If they're on Facebook, they can sign up on Networkedblogs, and follow me that way; or they can sign up through Google reader. Let us not forget, they can also show their support by joining The Bumpy Ride Fan Club, on Facebook. I'm starting to feel like a bit of a broken record; BUT, if I don't ask you; then you won't know that I need your help; and boy, do I NEED your help.

Well, that's it for me. I'm so pleased with how this year has gone. Even though it hasn't always been easy; it's ALWAYS been worth it.  I'm so excited to see what 2011 holds in store for us all.  I wish you love, peace and good health.
Till next year...
Queen of EVERYTHING

                                                

(43-152) They Did It Again...

Today was another, absolutely, amazing day.  The weather was glorious; and since Luis had the day off, we were able to spend the day together and we got an extraordinary amount of errands done.  I wouldn't want to bore you by naming all of the stores that we visited, but I am So impressed with all that we accomplished; I feel compelled to share (OK, boast.)
 
We started at Old Navy, (though we made no purchases there today.)  We then went to Kohl's, where Nicky got a new pair of Adidas sneakers, ON SALE; and I used the last of a birthday gift card on 2 marvelous, necklaces.  We went to Ross, hoping to find a scrapbook for Lyndzi's drawings, but there were none to be had.; so we walked up to Payless, to get new school shoes for Kelsie.  I was psyched when I found a pair of shoes, on sale for $7, and ecstatic when I was informed at the register that the shoes had been marked down to $3.  The girls also got a 6 pack of slendiferous, neon socks for just $6.99.  Our next stop was Super Target, where we bought 2 stash cubes / ottomans that were on sale for $15 each.  Nicky used gift card money to buy a Club Penguin air hockey game that he's been looking for and Lyndzi used some of her gift card money for a Yoshi figurine.  The fam sat in the car as I ran into Lane Bryant; since they were having a buy 2 bras get 2 free sale; and this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up.  Next stop, Super Wal-Mart, because they had been advertising Mario All-Stars and the kids wanted to buy it with their gift card.  Unfortunately the store was out of them, so we moved on to our next destination; Fry's.  We did some grocery shopping; (rather quickly I think;) and we were finally ready to head back home; after we stopped at our brand new Dunkin Donuts for some free Iced coffee; and a doughnut for each of the kids.  Not bad for five hours; I think.  We were out and about, we made some really good purchases; but most of all; we were together.

Luis and I cooked dinner; and once we'd finished eating;  the girls and I had to go to a different Target than the one we'd been to earlier;  because Luis had realized that the 2 stash box / ottomans that we'd purchased, were not the same.  Since I knew that an exchange was inevitable, it was something that I needed to take care of right away (that's just how I am;) and so as much as I didn't want to go back out; to Target we went.  While we went to Target, Luis and Nicky went to the .99 Store, because Nicky needed C batteries for his air hockey game.

Once I was finally back home; I called my friend Dawn, because we'd been playing phone tag for a number of days and I knew that she would be available this evening because she was snowed in.  Just a few minutes into our conversation, Lyndzi came to me to tell me that Kelsie had scratched Nicky's new game and he was very upset.  I called a teary eyed kelsie over and she explained, as always that she "didn't mean to."  But nonetheless, she had.  I told her that she and Nicky were going to have to figure out how to solve this.  I told her that if Nicky was upset with her, than she needed to speak to him about the situation.  Dawnie could hear my conversation with the girls and she told me that she thought I had handled the situation well.  I explained that if i would have gotten involved and solved the problem for them; they would never learn how to solve a problem for themselves; and I thought that this was something that they could handle on their own; and Dawnie wholeheartedly agreed.

I went on to enjoy my conversation with Dawn and shortly thereafter, Kelsie reappeared.  She informed me that Nicky had told her that since she had scratched his game seven times; she was not allowed to play the game for seven days.  I said "that sounds fair; "  and I asked if she thought that it was fair.  And she agreed.

In case I haven't mentioned it in like the past five minutes; I am SO incredibly proud of my kids!  I think that Nicky was wise and just, in determining Kelsie's punishment; and I think that the fact that Kelsie believes this as well, speaks volumes about both of them.

Sometimes kids will surprise you with how much they are capable of;  but in order for them and you, to see how adept they are; we have to offer them opportunities to show us what they can do.  Had they really not been able to resolve this on their own, of course I would have stepped in to help; but I think that they handled the situation beautifully and they all feel very successful, which is extremely important for them, in developing self confidence and knowing that they CAN solve problems.

As a mom, it was my privilege to see what proficient problem solvers they're becoming.  No one raised their voices, or their hands and they were able to peacefully reconcile the matter.  What can I say; they did it again... and I knew that they could!
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING               

                                                                            

(43-148) My Smart Shopper

In case I haven't mentioned it in like the past five minutes; I have the BEST, most GENEROUS friends EVER!!!!!!!!!  Truly, generosity of spirit is more than enough for me; but I am very blessed to have friends who are magnanimous with gifts as well.  December brings EVERYONE increased expenses; so it means more than I can say, when my friends send birthday gifts to my daughters or holiday gifts to my children; when I know that they have their own responsibilities to tend to.

All three of my kids were fortunate to receive a couple of gift cards as well as some money, from our very altruistic friends.  As always, I encouraged them to think carefully about what they might buy.  Luis had to go to Target this past Sunday night, and the kids wanted to go along. They all brought their money with them, but Lyndzi was the only one who bought anything. Lyndzi spent $5 on a Luigi (from Mario Bros) key chain; as she'd bought Mario the last time that she had money.  Then last night, we went to the Disney store, because I needed to buy a gift card; and Lyndzi found a comic strip Mickey, plush toy that she wanted to  purchase.  Lyndzi is a big fan, OK you got me, I couldn't resist, (say it with me) yes, "HUGE," fan of vintage Mickey; and the plush was only $12.50, so we both agreed that this would be money well spent. Then later that night Lyndzi was looking at the Michaels flyer and she found an art set with markers,colored pencils,crayons,oil pastels,paint,a paint brush,a pad of paper and a pencil sharpener,for only $3.69; my smart shopper.  Lyndzi asked me if she could buy it; and I told her that I would take her to Michaels when I was done working on Wednesday. 

Lyndzi asked me multiple times today if I was still going to take her to Michaels; because she was SO excited about buying the art set.  I assured her that we would go as soon as I was done working; and then I made her a couple of propositions.  FIRST, I reminded her of the time that I had asked her to draw a picture for "The Bumpy Ride," and she wasn't able to do ("What A Mom's Gotta Do...")  Lyndzi did remember and so I suggested that once she purchased the art set, she could draw me a picture for me to use in today's post; and Lyndzi LOVED that idea.  My next proposition was that she come up with her own character, and draw me some pictures to go along with my "A Blueprint For A B.F.F" post; so that together we could try and get it made into an article of some sort, or a children's book; and Lyndzi was delighted that I'd asked her.

As soon as I finished work, we promptly went to Michael's and Lyndzi found the only set that the store had left.  As soon as we got home, Lyndzi got right to work; and this was her finished product...

Mario & Luigi race to save Princess Peach

In case I haven't mentioned it in like the past five minutes; I am SO incredibly proud of my children; and when it comes to spending money, I have to say that they are all incredibly responsible and conscientious. I don't think that I could have made better choices for Lyndzi, than she had made for herself; and as a parent, that is really gratifying. 
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING   

(43-143) Tree Trimming 101

Busy, Busy, Busy!! Yes, I know YOU KNOW.  BUT, I'm proud to say that in order to alleviate me from some of the many things that I still have yet to do; I'm taking a big, (say it with me,) "HUGE," leap of faith; and I'm letting my kids decorate our Christmas tree.   Now this may be no big deal to some of you; but for me, being the OK, I'll say it, control freak, that I tend to be; being as anal as I'm prone to being with things of this nature; allowing the kids to decorate the tree is a tremendous accomplishment for me.

I conducted a brief tree trimming 101 with the kids, while we were on our way back from dinner; and I think that they have a good understanding of what I expect.  Not to sound like the Navidad Nazi; but I do come from a long line (OK, one good solid generation) of tree decorating divas.  When I was growing up, our trees were nothing short of perfection; and despite the fact that we have a MUCH smaller tree than what I had as a kid; I always take great pride in having a splendid, spectacle.

I'm sitting in our family room typing my blog; while the kids are decorating the tree.  They asked if they could watch "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town;" because they are absolutely in love with it now; and they're singing "Put one foot in front of the other;" as they happily (and carefully) adorn our tree.

Kelsie took a break for a moment and asked if she could give me the present that she bought for me at the school, Santa shop; because it's something that we should put on the tree; so I said sure.  I opened her gift and found a BEAUTIFUL glass angel ornament.  Kelsie explained that she chose this ornament because I'm her angel.  Aww, either she's the best brown noser ever; or I'm one LUCKY mama.  (I'll go with I'm one LUCKY mama.)

The finished product :)

From where I'm sitting, the tree is looking lovely.  I have really high hopes that the kids are going to do me proud; as they do with EVERYTHING that they try; and you know what; even if they don't do it exactly like I would have; that's OK, as long as they are happy with it, that's really all that matters.

Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING