Calling Heather Locklear circa TJ Hooker

As a mom and fake blond, I am always aware of things like how current is my hair and how bad are my roots. When I was pregnant with Sam, I discovered my hair savior, Stacia. Stacia introduced me to foils and she did them well. So well, in fact that my skull would hurt because she pressed the sheets so hard into my head. Then there was Salon Ron, who encouraged au naturel brun. We toyed with a softer darker look for a while until I made him go back to foils. Enter Charlotte, who is sassy and makes magic with her scissors. All in all, as long as I'm not lazy, my hair has the potential every day to not reflect my profession. (Read as: sometimes it is still in a ponytail)

The other day, I got drawn into one of the headlines on MSN. "Long Hair Styles of the Season". Ooooo. Fun. There were 32 pictures, which let's face it did not leave out much. This was number 16. Now I know the 80s are making so wacky comeback (tunics and leggings, 'nuf said), but what about this brassy, overprocessed pouf says I am hip?!?!? I can't even touch the make up!!

Week in Review

Here we are, Monday again!
I kicked off last week with a trip to the spa with Aidan & Noah's future mother-in-law. To quote, Marty the Lion aka Chris Rock, "it was off the chizang!!" We lounged, hottubbed, sauna-ed and lunched before we had any treatments, so by the time 2:30 rolled around and the massages began we were already pretty loose. Add in a massage and a facial and we were butter! It was an absolutely phenomenal way to spend a day and I can now forget that I was a single mom for 2 months. How is it though, I can feel the exhaustion of any given Thursday night in January, but I can hardly remember the spa?!

Last week I got my CT license! It only took two trips.

I had two GNOs (home parties) this weekend...finally. It looks like a may actually have business here again. But if you are reading this in Connecticut or Rhode Island and would like a night a pampering, I'M YOUR GIRL!!!

We introduced the boys to their betrothed and I had some much needed girlfriend time.

Then we got thumped Friday with barfing boys! It was a fast mover and I think we're in the clear now.

And tomorrow, we've got kindergarten registration. How quickly we've gone from this:

to this:

Yes, Mom, I will get you a copy :-)

Let's Not Get Crazy

I've always felt really privileged that my mom was a stay-at-home mom for my entire childhood. Consequently, I knew that it was really what I wanted to be or at very least that I wanted my kids to have one parent at home. Even while aspiring to be an accomplished professional with 2 Masters degrees, my subconscious knew that this was a temporary arrangement. Fast forward a few years to when I meet this enchanting young fellow named Sam and forget it! I knew my calling was as his mom. I also quickly came to understand that this is not only a once-in-a-lifetime responsibility, but a privilege. There are some very very challenging days (today's included puke), but I have never regretted our decision to devote this time to our kids.

I do take this mom thing pretty seriously. If I'm going to be home with them, I owe it to them to be their mom and give them as much time and attention as I can. So I really could care less how clean my house is. I monitor the tv they watch. I try to do crafts. I bake cookies. I make their food and try to keep a lid on the amount of processed food they eat. I drive Sam to school, even when the bus was an option. I will forgo cleaning to read or do just about anything with the kids.

It's pretty difficult to see the ground from up here on my high horse. I will assure you, though, that I am actually, physically STUCK to the ground. When beat with the Martha Stewart stick, I thought it would be fun to make marshmallows for our hot cocoa when it snowed last week. The boys couldn't have been less interested, other than to choose the color of their marshmallows. There were several steps, including stiff peaked egg whites and required obscure ingredients like unflavored gelatin. I still thought there might be some fun for the boys somewhere in there.

Well, there wasn't. I coated my kitchen in molten sugar, there was no instant gratification (refrigeration required) and purple marshmallows are weird looking. Some things shouldn't be messed with. Cel, talk me down this insanity if I ever go there again!

R & S and Pee

I included in my lasts post and in many others, the funny things that come out of my kids mouths. I have had to say to Aidan and Noah, "please say that again. I am having a hard time understanding what you are saying."

Aidan was telling me which "Cooby Doo" episode he liked. He said, "Da payce one". Each time he said "payce" deliberately and each time I could hear his frustration mounting, especially since I was saying, "the PURSE one?". "No, do PAY-ce one". I was sticking in the typically absent "R", when I should have been inserting the equally truant "S".

On another note entirely, we have been at the potty training for some time and are quite successful. Boys are geared up with these erratic pieces of equipment that just when I think I've crossed the line, I get sprinkled on again. Today Aidan got me from between the seat and the bowl. (Thanks for the shirt, Amber!) We are trying to get Noah to stand like a big boy and he has the ability to hit *every* wall in the bathroom. Any bits of wisdom? (besides for my mother's input "get used to wet tissues")

Pour a hot cup of coffee - it's a long one

On child development scales, one of the points when your child, or in my case, children can speak with most of their language being understood by people who don’t know them. Here are a few things heard today.

Top – as in: Aidan, TOP pussing me!

Tore – as in: Wat we gonna get at da tore.

Pie – as in: I gonna be Uniqua da Pie.

Pot – as in: Noah tay in you own pot.

Tay – as in: When we get home, I gonna tay my soos on.

Got-lyd – as in: When we get home, I goin in da gotlyd.

How are we going doing? Geniuses, I know. But wait While penning my application to the Mother of the Year Committee, Sammy speared me today with the following blow.

Sam: “Mommy, I wish you could do what Daddy does”

Me: “What do you mean, Sam”

Sam: “I wish you could go to work and Daddy could be with us.”

Me: insert something on the high road about the breadwinner and all of us loving them

Sam: “Daddy is my favorite. He’s better than you”

Here are some recent cutes while painting (in Mommy & Daddy's t-shirts as smocks, including the first one I ever swiped from Scott - 13 years ago!!!!!), reading, playing, scratching and just play ol' wiped out! Better to get it all in as one long blog than to wait for time to post another one! Stay tuned next week or so.

Haircuts and calls to Gramma using the vacuum cleaner attachments. I love Aidan patiently waiting while Noah gives him racing stripes.






















































So happy to have Mom & Gina here this weekend. I really wish it could have been longer. I just wish we could be closer. On the plus side, I do love living near this. (note the sand angels)

sigh.

I've had to throw out my first yucky tupperware. (fuzzy black beans)

Most boxes are removed from plain sight and are largely empty. (thanks to Annie's kick in the ass)

We've had our first visitor from home. (Dad)

We've opened bank accounts, changed insurance, paid our first rent check.

I've had my first GNOs. (thank you, Jeannie & Meg)

We've found our zoo. (just wish Molly was still there)

I guess we really live here.

sigh.