Last Minute Leprechaun

In an effort to redeem myself from last year's lack of creativity and to somewhat ease my guilt/make up for Abby missing her preschool St. Patty's Day party, (I know she misses being there, but she's been such a little trooper dealing with all this moving mumbo jumbo.), I want to do some fun stuff with the kiddos tomorrow.

So being that it is 9 o'clock at night and I am totally brain dead, I knew I could count on the Family Fun website to give me some great ideas! If you don't have something up your sleeve already, you've got to check these out!

I've already printed out three different coloring/activity sheets, some shamrock patterns, and sent Pat to the store (yes, he is finally home from FL!!!) to get some Lucky Charms for breakfast, Rolos for a treasure hunt(instead of gold coins), and lemon jello to make our very own pot of gold!My sister-in-law and little nephew are coming to party with us so it should be lots of fun!

Well, I'm off to add some green food coloring to the toilet water before I go to bed. Definitely not something I would have ever thought to do, but I think the kids will think it's hilarious....or it could totally freak Noah out and cause a potty training set back. Geez...Let's hope not!

It's a ..... Book!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

After almost nine months of anticipation, my contributor's copy of A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers finally arrived!

Essay's name: Welcome Home
Delivery Date: March 4, 2009
Weight: @ 11 oz.
Length: 7.5 inches

(I know...a "book" announcement? A little cheesy, but just humor me.)

Our first photos...
(Disclaimer: Excitement over seeing your first story in print makes a person do crazy things...like letting your two and four year old use your digital camera.)
Noah took this one...

and this one...

Abby took a few too...

Then I remembered the camera has a timer so I could get one of ALL THREE of us...

Yes, we were a little camera happy. :)

To further celebrate this new arrival, I am giving away a copy of A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers. I am almost finished reading it, and I have to say, every essay I have read has made me laugh, smile, or get a little teary-eyed. I've really enjoyed it.

So you have until Friday, March 20th to leave a bit of comfort/advice you might share with a new mom, whether it's her first or her fourth!
I will randomly choose a number and announce the winner on Saturday, March 21st.

And speaking of new moms, CONGRATS to Diary of a New Mom! Mom2Miles is now Mom2Miles AND Riley! (Her personal essay is also featured in A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers. Talk about great timing - Riley arrived on the same day as our contributor's copies!)

"How low can you go?"

I cannot get this song out of my head.

Yes, the Limbo.

Why, you ask?

'Cause that's pretty much where we've been sitting for the past six months...

In limbo.

Waiting...worrying...anticipating...hoping...

Just like so many other people right now.

Maybe we all need to get together and have a great big limbo party!!!

I'll bring the stick.

Wow!!! You've gotta watch this!

I was over at lifelong playdate the other day and watched this You Tube clip. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since! (Thanks again for posting it, Amanda.) I left her a mammoth comment which I joked was more like a post. haha! What can I say? It's the teacher in me. The teacher in me who has been on "hiatus" for almost five years raising my kiddos. I'm actually getting back in the saddle a little earlier than expected due to these "crazy economic times". I put in a sub application this past week. I know...I'm brave! But I figured it's a good way to get my foot back in the door and hopefully secure a full time position for next year IF we end up staying here. (And that is a BIG IF.)

SO if you have 20 minutes, you've gotta watch this clip. It reminded me of why I wanted to go into education...to make a difference, encourage students, help them to reach their full potential, discover their talents. It's heartbreaking that our education system has become so focused on test scores that imagination and creativity are often stifled. I loved when he said "Creativity and literacy should have the same status." They really should.

I grew up singing and dancing and acting - I can't help but incorporate those things into my teaching style. That's just part of who I am. I think more teachers would love to integrate the arts into their classroom if they were encouraged to do so.

In the clip, Sir Ken Robinson tells a a story about Gillian Lynne, a famous Broadway choreographer, that really struck me. Must be the dance teacher in me...

I think I'm going to cry!

I just found this in my inbox! The Cup of Comfort publicist forwarded the new book cover image to all of the contributors.



How awesome is that? :)

Only 8 more days!!!

Quite the Comedian...

Abby:Hey Dad! What kind of driver doesn't need a license?

Daddy: (looks a little perplexed) I don't know, Abby. What kind of driver doesn't need a license?

Abby: (starts laughing) ...a SCREWDRIVER!!!

(I'm still not sure where she heard that one, but I was pretty impressed! )

************************************
Attempting to get the kids to have some quiet time. Noah was not happy...

Noah: No, Mama! No!!!!

Me: (closing the gate in Noah's doorway) Yes, Buddy. You have to stay in your room.

Noah: (still whining) Noooooooooooo!!!!

Me: Noah, you can have naptime or quiet playtime. Which one?

Noah: GET OUUUUT time!

(Definitely wasn't expecting that! It took everything in me not to crack up. I couldn't help but crack a smile though.)

Funny kids. :)

Would YOU like to be QUEEN for a DAY???

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek****I posted this earlier in the week, but couldn't resist linking it up to PSF as it is the ULTIMATE photo story!****

(Today is my mom's birthday so I thought it would be fun to "rerun" this awesome story to let her know I'm thinking of her today. Love you, Mom! Happy Birthday!)

“Would you like to be QUEEN for a DAY?”

These were the words my grandmother, Evelyn Stuart, heard 50 years ago before being crowned “Queen” out of 25 other women who shared their stories of hardship and hopes for a better tomorrow.

After telling their heartfelt stories, each woman was asked to share one wish she would like to be granted. Evelyn, mother of nine children and nine months pregnant with her tenth, told of the tragic loss of their seven-year old son and the devastating fire that destroyed their home. They moved to California for a “change of luck” and dreamed of winning “Queen for a Day”.

She wished to receive “300 springs” and a drill to use in the construction of “The Bunny Hop”, a new baby swing she had created. Evelyn hoped the success of her “Bunny Hop” would relieve the family of financial burdens. Not only was my grandmother’s wish granted, but their family received several prizes: a washer, a range, a bedroom set, but most of all, a life-changing moment she and her family would cherish forever.

Only 15 days later, Evelyn gave birth to a baby girl, my mother.
Baby Debbie in the Bunny Hop

This baby girl grew up hearing the story of her mom being crowned "Queen" and knew what a special memory that was in her mother’s life.

Over the last several years, my grandmother's health began to deteriorate. In an effort to commemorate this moment in her mother’s life, my mom was determined to find a special souvenir from the show. More than anything, she wanted to find footage from the actual show my grandmother appeared on. After years of searching, she finally came in contact with the president of “Queen for a Day”, Mr. Ray Morgan Jr. in Hollywood. It was he who confirmed the footage did not exist.

As a consolation for my mom’s heartfelt request, Mr. Morgan sent her a rare souvenir photo of a “Queen for a Day” audience. He did not know the date the photo was taken. He only knew it was from the same decade my grandmother had appeared on the show. My mom was elated to receive this photo, however, her state of excitement turned to one of COMPLETE DISBELIEF when she discovered that HER MOTHER was one of the women pictured IN THE AUDIENCE!

My mom was able to share this amazing story (including how she flew across the country to present it to my grandmother just weeks before she passed away) on a national radio program almost a year ago.


The famous photo...



My mom with the radio show host, Dick Gordon, and the producer, Denise.

To hear the broadcast & see more pictures, visit this link. It's about thirty minutes long, but well worth a listen if you have the time.

I have to admit - Nobody tells this story quite like my mom.