And so we begin

It's been a long short summer. Got nothing on my to do list done but I did manage to enjoy some time fun with the kids.

Last summer I opened a soap store that kept me busy 24/7, which means the kids spent alot of time with me at the store playing which isn't totally a bad thing. My store is located in a beautiful restored 100 year old hotel called the Castle Inn located Delaware Water Gap, PA.

Sometimes I imagine the conversations and drama that must have taken place in that building almost a 100 years ago.

Anywhoo that's just me.
This summer I made sure to take time out so the kids could have fun. We spent 6 days in Disney World in Orlando, FL. Actually we went for my first family reunion in 30 years and had a wonderful time.

stood in line for almost an hour for this shot..... It was the only character picture we took.

My mother- Rolanda, my youngest sister Petra, me, and my middle sister Vicki... we had a great time together

They didn't think we were watching. :)

Earlier this month we got to hang out in one of our favorite places...Central Park...the kids love rock climbing.

So now school begins on Monday, schedule change, weather changes and as if I don't have enough on my plate meet the new addition to our family Genji Latte

Sounds like a stripper doesn't it but she got the name because she looks like ginger and latte coffee.

So we begin a new school year with a new puppy that guess who will be taking care of and with new and more after school activities... yikes!!!! that reminds me I have to go and get my daughter her clarinet.....uuugghhhhh.

Where did the summer go?

Play with me

So we are at the park on this beautiful Father's Day afternoon and this little girl about 5 or so asked my kid if they wanted be her friend and play with her. My son's response "no I'm busy and you are girl" poor thing...that kid had no filter.

Tasting Nature

It was a beautiful hot & humid spring day here in the Poconos. The kids got bored just hanging out at the store so I sent them out side to taste nature.

Wild strawberries. Never knew they existed. Much smaller than domestic strawberris and

they have very little taste.

So next we (they) try speariment.

Don't think that went over so well with Ajori.

Mom... I kinda liked it...but I really didn't like it. It didn't have any taste. How come yooou didn't try any?

We often hurt the ones we love

We were under a tornado watch last night and severe thunder storm warning and boy did it ever rain bad. The winds were seriously howling really sounded like a tornado was going to touch down any minute.

My kids DO NOT like thunder and lightening. Ok so who really does. Ajori is growing up a bit so if it isn't bad she can handle it. But Jarin? Ever since he was very little he has been terrified of thunder and lightening. I remember once when he was in pre school and it started raining outside he scaled the teacher in seconds and started screaming "a flood is coming, a flood is coming we need Noah's Arc". The poor teacher was barly able to get him and the other kids inside cause she was laughing so hard.

Since I have work to do and I just had to finish watching "So you think you can dance" I wasn't going to turn the TV off or get off the computer no matter how bad things,we all huddled in the bed.

Just as a precaution right before the rain got really bad we moved blankets, pillow pets and flash lights down to the basement. The kids wanted to sleep down there but thought of sleeping on the concrete floor was not in the least appealing to me.
We're in the bed- I'm actually sitting on the edge of the bed they have successfully taken over.
Jarin: You guys just don't care
Me: Why?
The Diva- Ajori:What are you talking about?
Jarin: You guys aren't concerned that I'm scared of all the rain
Me: Why you think that?
Jarin: cause you are still talking and watching TV and not hinding under the blankets (see this is Jarin's world and we just live in it)
The Diva- Ajori- I'm scared but not that scared cause I'm 10 and growing up. Mom are we near any of those places where the tornado is.
Me: No...see the news report said all these other places expect North Poconos including Monroe county and we live in Monroe county so we aren't going to get the tornado.
The kids are reading every news item that comes across the screen. Damn that that hooked on phonics. It really is thundering outside and I hope a tree doesn't fall on the house. I'm a bit on the neverous side myself but can't let them see that. What a bad night for Orlando to work overtime.

Me: kids I need to go to the bath room will you be okay for a few minutes.
The Diva - Ajori- uhhh yeah
Jarin: NO...can't you hold it.
Me: Well Jarin I'm going anyway and you are just going to have to deal with it.
I leave the room but soon hear something outside the bathroom door.
Jarin: Mooooommmmmm hurry up
Me: Jarin...what are you doing.
Jarin: just thought I would keep you company in case you got scared.
Me: go back to bed and give a minute of privacy please.
Jarin: okay ...(he slinks back to the room)
More movement outside the door...knock knock
The Diva- Ajori- Mom are you still in there?
Me: yes why?
The Diva- Ajori- oh nothing just thought maybe you just sucked through the window.

I can see that I will have to just get back to my bed cause I'm not going to have any privacy at all.

Jarin is quietly down but Ajori is listening to the news and asking 50 million questions. Finally around 11:30 when the weather man said the storm is now heading toward New York does she relax.
The Diva- Ajori- Whew... finally I'm glad that is over. Well I mean glad for us But New York is in for it now.
I'm glad this was over also. I was thinking about heading down to the basement just to be on the safe side.

Earlier in the day the kids were tormenting their stuff animals

Now the stuffed animals get to protect them from all things that go bump in the night.

We often hurt the ones we love the most.

Adventures in Jarin's World-I'm just going to punish myself

Sooo... I’m fertilizing the lawn before it rains and this is what greets me around the corner.

Not a good sign.

Jarin: Mom…. It was an accident but don’t worry I’m going to punish myself.
I’m not sure if I want to know how this managed to happen. Dare I ask?
Me: Jarin…what happened or do I want to know?
Jarin: If I tell you I will be in trouble and I won’t get another Dsi game eveeeerrrr….but…it….was an accident
Me: Ok Jarin we’ll talk about this when I get inside.
Jarin: But but mommmmm dad it going to punish meeeeeeee
Me: I said we’ll talk about it when we get inside.

This is where the lamp shade came from. I need an 8 foot latter just to get up there myself.
I’m not sure how this happened but I think I need a drink before the drama explanation.

Me: Ok Jarin what happened
The Diva: Uh see…we were uh…Jarin was….
Me: You hush
Jarin : See mom Mickey sorta had an accident.
Me: What kind of accident? The throwing kind or tossing over the balcony kind?
Jarin: Ummmm maybe the kicking down the stairs kind.

Seems like other stuff animals suffered the same fate.
I’m not even sure I can punish him for knocking down the shade. The torment of not getting upset is much more fun.

Me: Jarin how about you just not try to kill Mickey next time.
Jarin: But mommmm since it was an accident…I’m just going to punish myself okay?
Tears are starting to form…hear comes the lip…He looks really traumatized….wonder how long I can drag this out without laughing. Think I'll get a glass of wine.

Where is my memo

Either I was asleep or just late to the office that morning... I didn't get the memo on when my children decided to grow up.

Who told him he could make a phone call. Long Distance at that!!!! When I told him he had to get off after 20 minutes he had the nerve to say "Don't worry Jordan ...I'll call you back later"

He thinks he's Mr. Roller Rink now.

She was not letting go of the wall.

They often double team me.

I was notified by the Diva that she WAS getting her picture taken by herself also. Yes I am afraid of my kids...sometimes.

Resilience

Kids are more resilience than we are. While in New York for spring break we took the kids to The Children’s Museum of ART.

Perhaps more for me than them. I’m always hoping the kids will delve into all things crafty… but alas no they had more fun playing in the ball pit than doing crafts. I just don’t understand that logic at all. I mean this place is 2 floors of arts and craft centers…what more could you want?

So Ajori and Jarin bounced and played and bounced again. I swear this looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Here’s where she said…he said comes in. She said her brother was trying to wrestle with her and pushed her over a bouncy ball. He said “nuht awn… she just fell.” Anything could be perceived to happen when a pretween diva and mini drama king are in the same vicinity. All I know is we from this

To this. A fractured wrist.
But kids are resilient and mine are still young enough for me to brain wash them into thinking that they are not as hurt as they really think thye are. That (brainwashing) mostly works on the diva - the drama king has always had his doubts that I really know what I’m talking about.

Doesn't she look pitiful. (insert awwwww here) Trust me she's been playing all week with a hurt arm. All kidding aside I do wish she didn't hurt herself. Unfortunately this is the second big boo boo in a month. I'm afraid she got the clumsy gene from me. Sorry princess.

Fast forward to last night for dinner (cause I don’t cook on the weekends) the kids wanted to go to Kasa’s Pizza for dinner and so they could play in the indoor gym. I asked my daughter (I’m really trying to talk her out of it…I want to go home after work and have a drink)if she is sure she wants to go there to play. She has that cast on her arm and would be hard to climb inside the gym maze. Quick as lightening she says “mom but you said to try all things first… even with my cast on… that’s why I tried to play the recorder in music class on Friday and didn’t use my arm as an excuse (damnit she got me there).
We have a little drive to get to the pizza place and I'm still trying to find reasons and a little bribery not to go. Even the promise of going to McD's doesn't help.

We get to the pizza place and my beautiful, brave little girl looks inside the play gym and starts to get nervous. So what am I to do now? Protect her from any further harm or encourage her to go for it anyway so at least she can say she tried. The only failure is not trying. I tell her to go inside look at it and then make a decision.
While I’m getting the pizza I happen to turn around and look inside the playroom and this is what greets me.

I told my child she could do anything she wanted to…so she did. Gotta love her spirit!!!

Adventures in Jarin's World - Video games are my destiny

This adventure took place on April 9th
I'm making a big batch of lotion but see a small figure with blue pjs sneak by) - A little person is opening the hall closet.
Me: Jarin what are you doing?
Jarin: nothing.
Me: Then why are you looking in the tool basket:
Jarin: I’m not sure (Jarin ever the casanova is thinking fast...how can he sweet talk his way out of this one...you can see the wheels turning)
Jarin: But mom my DSi won’t connect to the internet and I neeeed to fix it.
Me: Jarin you don’t need to connect to the internet. Why can’t you just go play with your cars or read a book or something?
Jarin: I don’t know why... but I really feel like video games are my DESTINYYYYYY.
Me: Is that why you have the screw driver?
Jarin: Maybe
Me: Jarin put the screw drivers back you do not need to open your DSi.
Jarin is seriously thinking how much trouble he would be in if took the screw driver anyway.
Me: Jarin put the screw driver back!! Close the closet you are NOT to operate on your toys EVER!!! Annnnd if it breaks YOU WILL NOT get another one ever...... unless you buy it your own money and we won’t help
Jarin: (with very wide eyes) OK mom...(he slinks out of the kitchen but soon returns)
Me: Jarin why are you opening the closet again I told you... you cannot operate on your toys.
Jarin: I know mom I'm just checking to make sure everything in the closet is in order.

Conversations with a pre-tween diva...What is.....

Back story: We are watching the view this morning waiting for Jaleel White to come on. So Sara Ramirez from Grey Anatomy talking about her character Calli's sexuality and mentions that if a label has to be put on it...the character is bi-sexual.

The Diva: Dad...(thank goodness is wasn't me this time) Dad what does bi-sexual mean?
DH (insert your choice of d word here then husband): Huh?
The Diva: What does bisexual mean? (she looks at me)
DH: Am I really supposed to answer that?
Me: yep...she asked you I'm off the hook...tag you're it.
(the diva realizes she has us trapped but she's not sure what to do with the information)
The Diva: Is this one of those hard questions again..
(I can see she is getting fed up with our unpreparedness- I'm getting sighs and rolling eyes)
DH: Do you really want me to answer you. I can ya know.
The Diva: No dad... (she falls back in the chair exasperated)
Me: Seriously honey it's okay for you to know what that term means.
The Diva: No that's ok
Me: Why?
The Diva:Just cause..
Me: Cause what?...(ummm maybe I'm on to something there aarrre 2 of us in the room)...you don't want to know or do you think you are not old enough to know.
The Diva: No
Me: No what? you don't want to know or you don't think you are old enough to know (I think I have her on the ropes she is looking uncomfortable)
(DH is suspiciously quite and looking at me out of the corner of his eyes)
The Diva: No
Me: Ok you are confusing me what part of question are you answering?
The Diva: The part you asked
(Do I see a hint of teenager peeking out)
Me: excuse me?
The Diva: Mom I'm just answering your question
Me: Oh so let me get this straight (I'm stepping lightly here) you think you not old enough to know yet.
The Diva: Nooo mooommm
Me: Well honey if you want to know when you get older we can talk about ok (I have the biggest smirk on my face - I think I may have won this round- she's embarrassed)
The Diva: Mom are you going to laugh at me now?
Me: Of course not but I will chuckle a bit.

Conversations with a pre-tween diva... hormones & hair

Often my fits of panic revolve around my 10 yr. old daughter-Jori (Also know as the pretween diva). She is approaching young womanhood with questions I'm glad she feels comfortable to talk to me about but I'm so not ready for most of it.
Set up- we are getting dressed for today's adventures in NYC.
Me: Oh man I hope I rememebed to bring my deorderant.
The diva: Mom when will I be ready to wear deorderant?
(Ok I can handel this isn't not a bad question)
The Diva: Is this another hard question... you look funny again
Me: Well (I can do this) when your hormones start to develope that is what helps you to become a grown up lady and your body changes, you grow hair in your private places and under your arms, and your grow boobies. Remember we talked about that.
The Diva: Yes I remember... ummmm mom I already hair in places.
(I have lost all forms of function) the diva falls back on the bed.
Me: Where do you have hair? (I'm so not sure I want to know this)
The Diva: never mind...(I'm starting to get the eye rolls)
Me: no honey really it's ok...where dooo you have hair I don't know about?
The Diva: Never mind mommmmmm uuugghhhhhhhh!!!!!
Me: Ohhhh Jori....I'm not talking about the lite color hair all over your body, I'm talking about the hair like I have under my arms see.(lifting up my arm)
The Diva: ohhh now I get it.....Mom how come all our clothes have made in China on them?
Note to self.... be really techincal and have visual aids and your child will change the subject.

Adventures in Jarin's World - All I want for Breakfast

Ok here the back story and trust me with my son there is always a story.
Soooooo  for the last 6 months or so the kids have been on a cinnamon kick. I mean seriously cinnamon pancakes ( of course not the ones I make they have to be the Pillsbury cinnabon pancakes), Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon butter ( but only if I make it.. the store bought one doesn't taste the same), Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal... well you get the picture. Well due to my lack of being able to magically twinkle my nose and make boxes of cereal appear on demand we ran out to which the drama king (yes there is such a thing as a drama king- I got one of those) strongly suggested I remember to put on the grocery list. Me being the insolent servant I am forgot the first 2 times. Oh by the way we are on a mini vacation in New City for spring break.
Here's this mornings conversation:
Me: Jarin what would you like for breakfast?
Jarin: What we got?
Me: We have cinnamon toast crunch, cinnamon pancakes, regular pancakes, and as soon as daddy gets back from store we will have eggs and croissants with cinnamon butter.
Jarin: When will daddy get back?
Me: Don't know so I'm going to go ahead and make you your favorite cinnamon pancakes with bacon and sausage.
Jarin: What else we got?  Can I have Coco Crispies.
Me: I told you already.... and no that wasn't one of the choices. So I'm going to start the pancakes now.
Jarin: Wellll what if cinnamon pancakes aren't my favorite anymore? Then what?
----I'm at a lost for words
Me: Is it to early drink? Ummm maybe I'll just have mommy coffee instead. (Coffee with a touch of Irish Cream or Kahlua - and not the non dairy creamer kind either).

Conversations with a pre-tween diva... bras & boobies

Conversation with a pre tween Diva---
The Diva: Mom how come I'm the only girl  in school who doesn't have a bra?"
(Good grief no warning this time question completely out of left field)
Me: Well honey you don't have anything to put in a bra yet. (Breathe Renee breathe and hold on)
The Diva: Well Megan has one and sheeeee doesn't have boobies yet.
(Deep breathe)
Me: Megan's mom bought her one and that's ok for her... you are not going to get one until you have something to put in one.
The Diva: Well when will that be?
Me:Uuuummmmm well...seeee when you ummmmmm (Ugggggghhhhhh need a paper bag can't breathe ....)
The Diva: Is that another hard question again?
Me: yeah why?
The Diva: you have that look on your face..... then she happily skips out of the room.