Celebrating All Week....

The other day I heard my two friends discussing how in their cultures they don't celebrate their daughters birthdays before they actual day as it's bad luck.

I meant to look up the meaning of the idea but before I even could Baby C asked if she could celebrate her birthday all week after Auntie Aly who celebrates all month!!

We started it out yesterday morning with a birthday waffle piled high with whip cream, strawberries and a candle!!

Best Aunties are those that aren't even blood related

This past Saturday we took a drive out to New Jersey to spend the afternoon with Baby C's favorite Auntie Aly...

Where the little one got an early birthday gift of a mani and pedi


Then gifts galore...

of course a tiara!

A matching princess t shirt that says "If the Shoe Fits Wear It!"

Then a light lunch and a huge slice of chocolate cake with ice cream...

Getting spoilt rotten with tons of makeup up,

Jewelry

And her birthday hasn't even arrived yet!

Then we took a little stroll in Newport and got a good glance at the new Freedom Tower!

Thought Bubbles

I finally mailed out birthday invites for big 9th birthday.

I cleared out my mail box at home this morning it was cluttered with "all" but mail.

Clarks Kids USA only has 1 pair of shoes I even like for Baby C, I wish I was back home.

I wonder if this Common Core controversy will ever be a controversy for me, I hope not.

I stayed home to roll ground chicken into Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs this morning then rushed to work, I'm praying theyre good when I get home.

I have such a craving for cinnamon roles but gluten is so not my friend these days.

They eat lunch so late at my job around 2pm, by that time i'm gnawing at my arm.

I'm truly addicted to youtube videos, I get excited when bedtime arrives so I can watch.

I don't want Farrah to come back to 16 & Pregnant, and I have no idea why i'm still watching the show.

I'm ok with that 65 year old being pregnant with quads, stereotyping is such a mean human perception

I started going back through my instagram pictures and adding unique hashtags #BabyCHairStyles #BabyCFamily so I can click and see how much Baby C has grown over the years at the same events.

Baby C called our bluff as parents. We told her she had to decide what sport she wanted to sign up for by Monday or we were going to pick something. Monday has come and gone and we didn't pick something and she called us out on it.

I miss England...especially Covent Gardens

I was driving to work listening to NPR and they spoke of Covent Gardens and it I got an immense feeling of longing...I miss Convent Gardens...its a place that's so hard to put into words what it's like...it's a feeling when you're there, the atmosphere, the lights, the smells, the people watching and and overall feeling of wow...sensory overload, so much to take it, so much to remember.

There's a section that still has it's original cobble stones and many a summer you'd find me watching a play or entertainer in the cobbled square, my butt firmly planted on the cold stones.

Slow Swim....

She took a slow swim last night in swim class, her lap times were much slower than last week. She seemed a little tired, less competitive but she held her reserve through swim class.

This week has been a "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" week.

Out for school on Easter break and Baby C found herself at a different persons house each morning.

My mother said "Its not right that you have her going from house to house all week".

My mothers frustrated words were merely a reflection of her guilt. Guilt that she's not here to take her for the week. I told her to not feel bad, life always has a way of sorting itself out.

I wonder what Baby C's older self will say about her younger years....I think she'll lament that it wasn't that bad.

The close friend Baby C is with today I met 7 years ago at a swim class.

Our 2 year old babies out there splashing the waters while a close bond was forming.

I never would have guessed a chance encounter would have blossomed into such a beautiful relationship to the point where I'd feel completely comfortable entrusting my child in her company for the day....

Soon after arriving at work she text me a picture of them sitting down eating breakfast mesmerized by the tv...oblivious to what memories they're making and hopefully friendships they're now forging.

Wordless Wednesday

Ten on Tuesday

1. One of my oldest friends father died a few weeks ago...I'm only now getting a card out to her. I miss her, I miss the times we had together in England. We've known each other since we were about 11 years old, I remember her father dearly, I used to call him Papaji. 

   

   It's me Rachel, Monika and Me, Monika loved the boy in front

2. I always have so many ideas I want to blog about in my head and then by the time I put pen to paper (figuratively) the ideas are all gone. Where do they go?
3. I remember I used to observe people just sit and watch YouTube like there were free videos on how to make gold, and I thought to myself "How do you do that? How do you watch YouTube like it's a regular TV?" And now as I lay down at night I find myself fidgeting just as one side of my hand begins to get numb from holding up my tablet as I watch mindless YouTube videos...sometimes I'm perfectly content with seeing how normal peoples lives are.
4. I emptied Baby C's purse the other day and found $68 of which $28 was in singles!! I also found a flash light and a pair of socks. (I'm happy she's resourceful.)
5. I have very mixed emotions about not spending Easter with Baby C. We didn't have anything planned, no where to go or no where to be and she did ask to spend the weekend with my Aunt. But as I look at all the pictures on Instagram I feel a sense of guilt. (I'm not happy that I'm easily influenced)
6. My dear friend from college who is recovering from a stroke text me this weekend. She remembers so much from college but not always what happened yesterday. It was so nice to reminisce about our days of driving up and down Main Street in N. Newton, Kansas, sipping on an Ocean Water from Sonic. I miss her a bunch too!!

   

   I think that's an Ocean Water in her hand, what are the odds. That's my dearest friend from #1 in yellow and it now just dawned on me that the guy in the baseball hat just passed away a few months ago. So much has happened since college.
7. I went to H&M (Clearance section) to pick up a few items of clothes for Baby C as she's growing out of everything. When I got home I lay the "few" items on the floor to match up outfits and realized we'd come home with 19 outfits.
   
8. Big C and I were talking this weekend about how we need to figure out which state or country we want to retire to. Just the mere idea of it makes me feel old.
9. Even though I truly feel guilty about #5 on this list, Big C and I spent literally all day in bed on Easter Sunday watching movies. I did go downstairs and put a leg of lamb in the oven around 3pm. We sat and talked about not remembering the last time we were able to do this.
10. I'm saddened by the idea of Joey's Pad taking a break from blogging. I realized as I read Chrissy's post that it's the most mundane of posts that I love reading the most, and not the "I went to Egypt and washed the feet of an elephant" posts.

Mixed Emotions

Baby C was off from school starting last Wednesday... as Big C and I had to work she went to my Aunts house on Thursday night so she could be watched by my Aunt Friday.

Friday night came and Baby C called and said

"Mommy you have two options. You can either come and get me tonight and then bring be back Saturday around 6pm so I can go to church with Auntie so I can see the children sing in church.  

Or  

You can bring me some church clothes tonight and I can just go directly to church tomorrow with Auntie....but mommy if you bring me clothes I'd like a dress, a necklace, and some lipstick...so which option will it be?"

I had nothing but respect for Baby C when she gave me these two options. She was concise, to the point and didn't mince words.

This girl challenges my Aunt every time she goes over there. I mean challenges her to the point that my Aunt has to put her foot down and my Aunt feels guilty.

I'm sure it's mentally draining for my Aunt but boy does Baby C love going over there!

I honestly feel bad that my daughter challenges my Aunt constantly.

But while I try to come up with the words to have in a conversation with Baby C on this topic, I realize I'm also potentially asking Baby C to change who she really is.

My daughter is a challenge, she doesn't take "NO" for an answer, she questions EVERYTHING, and tries to outwit and outlast everyone. She's definitely not a wall flower and I question why would I ever want to change that.

Yes she probably needs a lesson on how to curtail it and appropriately put it forward to her Aunt versus her school friends on the playground but I've come to accept that she has the skill set that will allow her to get through in life.

She'll never be a doormat, she'll never allow someone to walk all over her, she'll never be someone who "agrees just to agree", she'll hopefully always push through and not give up so easily in life.

She'll always be Baby C.

I came to work dressed like a wanna be yoga instructor today I don't quite know what possessed me and I should honestly know better, even if my company is casual dress and only consists of maybe 20 employees on a good day!

Spring break and the drive in to work was a breeze, hopefully the drive home will be just as easy as we have a funeral to attend. Our neighbors brother had a car accident, hit a lamp post and THEN had a heart attack. This kind of death seems to resonate more with me, as if the accident wasn't enough but then the SHOCK of the accident actually kills you. So sad.

We went to support our local public high school with their rendition of "Beauty and the Beast" and it was PHENOMENAL! Baby C said it was just as good as when we went to see Cinderella on Broadway! We can't wait to see the high school has up their sleeve next.

My friends child is going to their first anger management counselling today. I'm hoping they find the peace and inner self confidence they need. My friend said she'll share anything that may help prevent this for me...I appreciate this so much as I've learnt so much from this friend over the years...from how to deal with constant physical pain, to how to let go and start over and emotionally work through it all. She has the strength of no other and she makes me so proud.

I keep forgetting that today is Good Friday. I think the fact that I'm at work and didn't get the day off, the fact that I'm excited about the traffic being light and the fact that when I look at the calendar for this weekend it doesn't look like a New York City Subway Map makes me forget everything. Plus while forgetting all of these things I forgot to get fish for dinner....everyone's supposed to have fish on good Friday no?

I'd like to cook a leg of lamb for Easter Sunday....I picked out this recipe Simple Garlic and Rosemary Roast Lamb" and now of course I simply need to go and actually buy the leg of lamb... oh voy! The simplest of feats is now made difficult...

I'm wondering in my head, (it hasn't made it to my mouth and come out yet), if Big C wants to take Baby C to his families church this Sunday. The spirit moved him and he took her last year....I think I found more joy hearing all the excitement in all of their stories when they got home, then had I been there. Hearing how all of the old parishioners would stop and stare at Baby C and exclaim how much she looks like her beloved grandmother....how her Uncle is a head figure in the church and called out Baby C's name letting the congregation know how proud he was that his great niece and nephew were there. How before the service started he sought out Baby C gave her $20 and a big hug and showed her off to the congregation and how Baby C ceremonially put pack some of the money into the collection plate when it came around.....memories that seem to last a lifetime. All that's missing are the pictures that I would have taken had I been there, but I have all of my own pictures in my head.

If he does take her to church...I surely don't have an Easter dress. <insert big sigh>

When I'm trying to blog I always go through the pictures on my phone. When they say "Pictures speak a thousand words" no truer word has ever been said. I just scroll and my life literally comes to life...everything I've done and possibly taken for granted appears.

We went to see the movie "Home" and now Baby C has to write a book report and she chose the book "Home". She's reading so well and doing so well in school I couldn't tell her "No" on her book choice. Though I wish she'd picked a book that would have challenged her a little more and one that she hadn't seen the movie for before hand. But I'm blessed and happy that she's excited to read it to begin with.

Last night as I was putting dinner on the plates, Baby C said to me "Mom why do you always make our plates and get everything ready for us before you get your own food and sit down"...I told her that I was glad that she noticed that...she said she'd noticed it a long time ago but never said anything. I told her a good mother always makes sure her family it taken care of before they take care of themselves. I hope that lives with her for life.

How could I forget that my latest god son was finally born! I now have 4 god children and this will be Big C's first god son!

Thursday Thoughts

Our family is due a vacation, somewhere that I can prop my feet up and just relax. Yes someone might say I get to prop my feet up for 8 eights hours a day when I go to sleep at night but I honestly feel exhausted.

Baby C has a Social Studies test today so we were up late last night going over, responsibility, decisions, elections, voting and boycotts. It's as if the world says "Don't worry...anything you fell asleep in during elementary school you'll have a chance to recap 20 odd years later when you go back to school with your children"

We have parent teacher conference tonight and I already know what the teachers going to say....I'm so tired that I wonder if I should even go but I'm sure it would look like I'm not interested in my daughters education....the teacher will say "She's an A student, smart and intelligent but she talks too much". Baby C has come home twice with papers that she has to write over and over again "I will not talk in class".

I guess I'm kind of at the point of 'If she's getting A's and she's talking too much, does she need more work to occupy the time that she has to talk?' But that always comes off as so snooty....I guess I know my child is just a chatter box!

My new company went out for a 2 hour lunch yesterday to mark the 1 year anniversary of being acquired. I don't know much about a company being acquired, I know there's often times a negative stereotype associated with it .... but hey here it's a time to celebrate and we had the most delicious Indian buffet for lunch.

I have a least 3 appointments I need to make and I don't even feel like calling any 800 numbers, staying on hold for any amount of time, spelling my last name 4 times, or repeating the last 4 digits of my social, only to then finally arrive at the appointment and watch the little hand on a clock tick and tick past my appointment time as I read old magazines in a stuffy waiting room.

Big C's view at work

I have to pick up cases of Girl Scout cookies today during my lunch hour as Baby C has a Girl Scout cookie booth this weekend at a local grocery store...it's supposed to rain which sucks, I'm hoping her Troop does well at the booth sale....she's currently sold 500 boxes on her own.

I'm realizing a trend with today's blog post....I'm so tired that everything sucks and is negative...oh well it's just one of those days, but that Indian buffet though!

So I have 3 more days of my green smoothie detox left, the last 21 days of green juice has actually flown by and I can honestly say, besides this present moment of writing this post I actually feel MUCH better, less sluggishness and less bowling ball stomach walk.

Big C scared the living day lights out of me yesterday, texting me that he didn't feel well and felt dizzy! I told him to stop what he was doing and test his sugar levels. Of course typical man he didn't even have his monitor with him to check his levels so he had to make his way home from work and BOOM his sugar level was 299!! (Normal is around 140).

He  thought he felt dizzy because his levels were low and told the guy at the coffee shop he was at that he felt dizzy and the guy was nice enough to give him some orange juice.

If only he'd known that he felt dizzy because his sugar level was TOO high and then the orange juice spiked it even more!!!

Never a dull moment in the C household...

Wordless Wednesday

Girl Scout Sunday...I'm pulling this one out 10 years from now.

Meal planning

I was over on a fellow bloggers post reading about her trip to the grocery store and I thought about how lost I feel when I don't plan out my meals for the month....

When I don't meal plan I always find myself turning to the most unhealthy meals god ever created and I hate it. I just sat and finished planning my meals for March.

First I find the meals, making sure I mix between chicken, fish, red meat, and a vegetarian type dish.

I always have to find something yummy and a little more complicated for Sunday Dinner as that's a special one that Big C always requests.

If it wasn't for Big C I'd find myself eating breakfast for Sunday Dinner most times. It's nice to continue family traditions though, and this is one that reminds  him of his mother. He remembers being sent to the store more a million times each Sunday to get ingredients that his mother forget.

He recalls now the fact that he was way too young to have been sent to the store by himself.

We laugh at the the thought of even sending Baby C to the store by herself, we always wonder WHAT she'd come home with. We KNOW for sure she'd come home with the correct change but we're not sure that's ALL she'd come home with. lol

Anyway once I'm done picking out all my meals, then I go through each meal and make a list of items that I'll need, and I add those to my hand dandy shopping app....that app that allows me OR Big C to see what's needed for dinner. Long gone are the days of that shopping list being stuck at the bottom of JUST my purse! Nope it's 2015, sync that app Big C, sync it! lol

Then of course someone has to shop for the items and then I'm done...not really that hard but definitely worth all the time spent.

MARCH GRUB in OUR HOUSE

Who knows I might inspire someone somewhere... lol

1. Smothered Pork Chops
2. Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole
3. Sloppy Joe Casserole
4. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
5. Sausage Chicken & Dumplings
6. Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Bacon
7. Easy Shepherd’s Pie
8. Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
9. Candied Chicken
10. Lazy Day Casserole
11. Southern Grits Casserole
12. Chicken and Broccoli Grilled Burritos
13. Things with Sweet Potatoes Corn & Kale Bake
14. Sweet Potato, Chicken, and Quinoa Soup

Wordless Wednesday