Is a football hooligan a national treasure?

Baby's school hosted a multi-cultural parade. As you and I are aware today's society consists of many races and colors. No, this is not a lecture on acceptance and we are all the same on the inside, it is not a debate about equality it is a blog entry about a little boy "representin".

I am, as we all know, British, I am also an US citizen and proud of it! I spent the first 21 years of my life in the UK, came to Canada as a Nanny and then transplanted my self in the US and have now been here 20 years! Soulmate was born and raised in the USA although his mother was born and raised in Yugoslavia and his fathers parents were Scottish, my kids are the descendants of a true Brit!

So what to wear for this parade, baby could be a Beefeater (look it up), but after he saw the photo of one was not "gonna dress like a girl!", he could be the Queens guard but where in the hell was I going to get a bayonet from?! I know..... we will dress him head to toe in England wear representing out national pastime (nooooooo, not cricket) football or soccer as it is known here in the US.

England's soccer Fans are a national institution. These passionate fans follow their teams to all corners of the fair land to show their support, including the local pub for a few bevvies after the game and a few flying fists to prove who has the best team.

Yeah, that's right...my son attended the parade a soccer hooligan...oops I mean Fan. Dads England soccer shirt, England cap, carrying the union jack (Flag) but for some reason he refused to shout"ogie, ogie, ogie, oi, oi, oi!".

I thought he shone like a bright star amongst the Sari's, Tunics, Flamenco dresses. and turbans A true Brit to be proud of!

Birthdays

It was Firstborns birthday. My little girl turned 11! Not so little anymore, 2 inches away from being the same height as me, wearing the same size shoe as me (and stealing my shoes!) and with an attitude any 17 year old would be proud of!

The dilemma was what to do to recognise the day? We said that once she reached 10 that was the last of the "Big Birthday party". (Soulmate kept reminding me of last years sleepover and of how following I crawled into the fetal position for 3 days and would only emerge for alcohol) So I ignored him and agreed I would take her and 4 friends to the local beauty school for makeovers. hair up-do, make-up and nails followed by a "Fancy" lunch at a restaurant with real table cloths!

The day started off good, all the girls were getting along, singing in the car and being...well...girls! Then the divaness set it, tantrums flew from 1 girl as she didn't like her hair, another is crying as make-up got in her eyes, another is exclaiming that the restaurant of our choice was not "fancy" and did she have to chose from the children's menu!

5 hours later, we arrive home, with Lily content and grateful for a great day (her words not mine) and mum collapsing on the couch with a Gin & Tonic, Quincy's Valium and in need of her very own makeover!

So please remind me this time next year, that these parties are a thing of the past ......please!

Valentines Day

February 14th, the day we all go nuts over love, we declare our love for one another and sing it from the rooftops. Soulmate and I have never shared gifts on Valentines except when we were dating, those days it was usually some sort of intimate clothing to be modeled later! Now we are just glad to have a nice meal while the kids are sleeping!

To me love is not about that date, it isn't about the bling (although that would be nice!? hint, hint) True love is when your man changes a diaper while gaging at the toxic waste such a small infant can supply, holding your hand when you go for surgery and being there when you wake up, some one you can yell at, scream at (not me of course!) and know they will always forgive you. Love is watching a man on his hands and knees cleaning up vomit from your dog or child, it is when your man chooses a night snuggled on the couch watching TV over a bar with the boys, Love is when you don't have to say or do anything and you just know...so to all those who have this kind of love, like me, count your blessings, for those who don't keep searching, don't settle because no matter what I truly believe your soulmate is waiting..... Mine was.

Finally...it's done

Great job Soulmate. We may have cried (me) we laughed (both) we yelled and screamed (Soulmate, never me) but it's done, it's fantastic and Baby loves it. His face says it all.

Why we don't assume

Here is a conversation between baby and I.....

Baby, (innocently)...Mum, what does the word Penis mean?

Me, (shocked)....Where did you hear that?

Baby.....From Bryce at school

Me (Professionally in my best nurses voice)....Well, it's the correct word for your privates

Baby...Oh

Me (Extremely disgusted with Bryce).....Why? What did that Bryce say? (ready for some retort that has me protecting my baby and doing some unmentionables to Bryce)

Baby (In a very matter of fact tone).......Bryce asked me if I knew what a penis was and I said "no" and Bryce said "neither do I!"

Update on the decorating

As you all know, soulmate is decorating baby's room like a rainforest. We had some initial hiccups while paper maching (is that even a word?)the rock wall. We cried, we laughed we hugged, we swore...a lot! but after some joint compound, spray popcorn and paint we are finally making progress.

Nice going soulmate, do you think we might be done by summer break???? I hate to tell him I want my bedroom done next just like the London underground, buskers and all!

Who said they prefer the box to the toy?...

There was once someone, somewhere that said kids always play with the the boxes more than the actual toy that came inside. I was like okayyyyyyyyyyy that's just stupid right?

Birthdays

It is that time of year again, the kids birthdays. I told firstborn that after her 10th there would be no more parties. She will be 11 this month. What to do...what to do... She would love a sleepover but I am sorry OK, I am not one of those calm dreamy mothers that float thru sleepovers like they are a Tupperware party accompanied by wine! I am just not one of those, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Sleepovers to me mean noise, backtalk from firstborn since she is soooooooooooo special during these times, messes to clean up, little girls getting bitchy and on top of that no sleep!

We have tossed a few ideas back and forth and have come up with a spa day. I originally thought of this as being to expensive as manicures here in the south are around $25. Then with some help from my friends, I came up with the great idea of taking the girls to the local beauty school. For $12 a head they get a manicure, up-do and mini makeup application! not too shabby and while there mama gets a nice spa manicure and pedicure for $18! Much better then the exorcist playing out at my house which is how I am after I don't get any sleep following the girly sleepover.

It's that or remember the Valium from Q-Tip?.............or should I save that for baby's birthday party at Chuck-e-Cheese????

Breakfast for a king or prince & princess

Due to the fact that soulmate now has a "proper" job and no longer works from home, he often does not get home until 6 or 6.30pm. When we first moved to Texas this took some getting used to. He would occasionally make dinner back in NY but now my kids cannot wait that late (or according to baby,they are starving and think they are going to die!) Due to this we usually have dinner waiting on the table to have a family meal as soon as soulmate walks in.

So it is such a treat when soulmate cooks on the weekends, We have his famous eggs, we have the sweet BBQ, we have the hot/cold, hot /cold. But this weekend we greeted a new soulmate speciality. Soulmates famous pancakes.

The kids thought it was their birthdays, chocolate chip pancakes, ice cream, whipped cream syrup, chocolate syrup. (my teeth are rotting as I type!) Did they like it?........what do you think?...........

Quincy Update

All is well, thank the Lord. Vet called blood work is normal and we will just wait and see. Hopefully it will be another 7 months before he has another one. If he does, I am armed with Valium and syringe to shoot up anally no less ( yes, for my word challenged friends, up the bum!). If no more seizures Soulmate and I could partayyyyy with the Valium...or I could just knock him out when he snores....hmmmmmmmmmmm

Gas...what is it?

Gas is one of three classical states of matter...it is the fuel we use in our vehicle it is a pharmaceutical anaesthesia....it is British for chatting...it is meaningless empty talk....it is Flatulence!

Which one am I referring to? My Soulmate just bought me Beano......

Weight gains and loss

I have struggled with my weight since reaching my late 20's. I am not overly obese, contrary to what Wii Fit claims I am, I need to loose 20 to 30 pounds to be ideal. Who doesn't?

I am a yo yo dieter. I do well lose 10 gain 5 lose more etc, etc etc.

So 16 weeks ago I joined Weight Watchers. I have done this before and with success so let's try again. This blog is not going to be about my weight watchers journey and how I regained my life back or any of that crap. I just wanted you to know that occasionally I will be posting some good recipes I have found and share some of my successes and failures.

PS. 11.8 pounds down and counting!

Decorating or is that what we call it!

Soulmate is extremely gifted in the creative art arena. He graduated from the Art Institute and is so talented it makes you vomit! Well, he has decided to take on a new project. Decorating baby's room. When I became pregnant with baby, Soulmate decorated a fabulous nursery with a farm scene. We had cows, we had sheep, we had tractors and apple trees and would have had a heck of a lot more if I didn't put my swollen ankled foot down and politely reminded him that we really do not need a bushel of fake apples, just finish the f*&^%$#!!! nursery before I go into labor!

Baby now wants to have a Jungle/Rain Forest room. So do we paint a few animals on the wall and buy a new jungle print comforter? Nooooooooo! we are creating a fake wall, with a waterfall, trees, greenery, parrots and other animals.

Today it is time for paper mache. The chicken wire is in place. First to the Internet (God bless Bill Gates) to search for paste instructions. Then to the pantry. What? we only have whole wheat flour. Are we healthy or something? No problems it is much better for you!

Tear strips of newspaper and soak in the paste, attach to chicken wire, simple right? Wrong! I hear cries of despair and many a howl coming from the bedroom (and it's not the kind I usually enjoy!). Soulmate is standing with flour paste dripping from his hands, with wet soggy newspaper slowly sliding down the chicken wire. There is nothing like the look of despair on a man who is dripping paper mache paste from his hands accompanied by asucking noise as the wet newspaper hits the tarp covering the carpet with a slow "Slurp"Back to Google and I will keep you posted!

Gfted and Talented

I have been asked by baby's first grade teacher to have him tested as a gifted learner. First thoughts?..how proud I am of him, must get this gift from my side of the family and wow, that little sh*#t is gifted????.

No, Joking aside, we are very proud of baby. I was provided with a list of characteristics of a gifted learner compared to a bright learner. Boy, that is an eye opener! Apart from the obvious gifted learners have Strong feelings and emotions, check!...is intense, check!..manipulates information, check!....has wild and silly ides, check! check! check!. We shall see what the tests reveal but either way, good job baby! and now come here and help me fill out this parent information form that allows you to be tested!

Things I love....

There are many things as my days go by that make me stop and take a minute to breathe, sigh and smile. These moments nourish the soul and give us the strength and motivation to carry on. It can be the sound of your child laughing, it could be the smell of freshly cut lawn, it could be a Bright yellow sunflower bobbing it's head in a warm summer breeze. You know those moments, we all feel those moments. Right?

I just had one of those. baby is in the game room playing with Hotwheels, Firstborn is watching her personal DVD, Q is fast asleep. Soulmate and I made a sneaky tiptoe to the bedroom, flopped down on the bed and shared 15 minutes of pure Peace and bliss, wrapped in each other's arms, my head on his chest.........sigh.