Chicken Soup and Some TLC

I went to pick up my daughter from school last Monday. She finished with her finals and she is now on semester break. Is she glad to be home! We're glad to have her home too, but unfortunately she came home sick. She has been sick all week, all through her exams even. Poor baby got the flu just as her finals were starting last week. She's a trooper though, after a small bout of whining, she got herself together and finished all her tests. She says that she has a good feeling about them, so hopefully she really did do alright.

She said most of the tests were pretty standard. Except for one computer class she had where they actually used some of the gadgets they have been learning about like the Symbol LS2208 bar code scanners.


So anyway, she's been relaxing since she got home, finally finding time to nurse her flu/cold. I went and got her some medicine and cooked her some soup and gave her a bit of TLC that she was sorely missing at school. We figure we'll wait a week before we put her to work. lol! j/k!!

How was your weekend?

My oldest daughter, who's been away at college, came home last weekend for her baby sister's birthday. She hasn't been home since she went away in August and we've missed her. It sure was nice to have her home. She also missed my cooking so it was a good thing she came home on her sister's birthday weekend, we cooked up a mess of food and she went away happy and with all the leftovers. lol!

It was tiring for me since I had to go pick her up last Friday and when we've gone to her school in the past, her dad always drove us. This was the first time I drove the 6 hours roundtrip on my own. Then it was the same way again when it came time to take her back on Sunday. We got started late yesterday so it was late last night by the time we got home. I'll have to find something now to remove dark circles under eyes, but that's ok. It was worth it just having my three girls home at the same time.

The first thing my daughter asked for when she got home is, Tocino! It's what she wanted for breakfast, so Saturday morning, this is what she ate.

My Fair Lady

We went to see my daughter's school's production of My Fair Lady last night and it was stupendous! They did such a great job, the auditorium was full of beaming, proud parents and family. The whole cast and support crew did an amazing job. Starting with the set and the stage crew, to the performers to the costume designers and the orchestra, these kids were all superb and talented. My older daughter, Asienne, was really impressed with the costumes. The apparel development class at the school created a lot of the costumes from the formal dresses, peasant clothes to the equestrian apparel were all done by students. The orchestra was the school's own, not hired professionals like I've seen other school productions do. The director is to be commended in giving everyone in the cast a chance to shine. Although the show, My Fair Lady, is essentially focused on the main character, this production was well balanced by giving each person their time under the lights. Well balanced and very entertaining evening!

The New Norm

Last night is quickly becoming the norm in our house. The husband and I were left to ourselves and we didn't quite know what to do about it. Jade had gone out with her friends straight from school and was spending the night out too. Asi had gone to visit her friend and was out for the night. My youngest, Mara, went to sleep early, exhausted from school. So by the time I got home at seven, the house was eerily quiet, clean and smelling good. My husband has gone through his pre-weekend cleaning spree, the girls were not home to mess up the kitchen and their usual bickering and teasing was strangely missing.

I missed the cacophony. Will I feel this way when they are permanently gone from the house? I wonder. It won't be long before they go off to college and we'll be left with an empty house. The thought of having an empty house is a bit depressing. I just hope I won't be like those people you hear about who either go through some kind of mid life crisis or have need for depression treatments when faced with an empty nest.

It could be just my mood today though...

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

When we were teenagers, my mother developed a quarter sized bald spot on her scalp that started to grow wider the more mischief we got into. She had three girls, pretty much like where I am at right now. Thankfully, my hair is still intact albeit a little thinner. I think I'm developing more wrinkles than she had at my age but I don't know that that is directly related to my teens as I know he balding had a direct correlation with us.

My girls are actually good girls. They haven't gotten into half the trouble we got into at their age. They are doing well in school and so far, so good. Now all I have to do is find the top wrinkle creams and I should be fine.

Allow me to plug a series of small articles I am posting on Amoores on How To Talk To Your Kids. It's a seven part series based on the comments I received when I ran a giveaway on how to communicate with your kids. Drop by over there and check it out. People left some very good tips and suggestions.

They grow too fast

It seems only yesterday when we were sending out birth announcements. Kindergarten came way too soon. This week, I felt like like I've been through a whirlwind. My baby, my youngest daughter graduated from elementary school. Whatever am I going to do?

My baby will be in middle school next year and if her sisters are any indication of how fast time flies, she'll be graduating from high school before you know it! Oh, I know it's all part of the great cycle, but I just can't help but wish I could have held on to them a little longer. I miss when they were barely toddling and I could smooch them and hug them all I want. Now they are all biting at the bit, raring to go. Go, where, they're not sure either but go is what they want to do. If only it was easier to let them 'go'.

March for Babies

Today is a sad day for one family and that is one family too many. In this day and age where medical miracles and breakthroughs crop up everyday, no one should lose a child. But, that is the way life is and no matter how technologically advanced we become it may be simply a fact of life that will continue: We will lose our loved ones way too soon.

Premature births and infant mortality should be the least of our worries. That is the goal of the March of Dimes and the March for Babies is a stride towards accomplishing that goal. The money you raise from the March for Babies go to support programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It also funds research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten babies.

If you can't march, please consider donating a small amount to keep another family from experiencing such a loss.



We turn off light bulbs and water to save energy. It only takes a click to save a life.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!

Well, not really. But if you're a parent, you have probably been asked if the sky will ever fall, why is it blue, how can you tell how old are trees, why do pee and poop come out of separate holes? You know, everyday questions like that to which you are expected to have an authoritative response. Thank goodness my girls are now big enough that I can send them to the library or the internet for answers that i don't have.

Questions such as:
What is dirt made of?
Is Pocahontas real?
If you keep going towards the horizon, can you fall off?


Classics:
Why is the sky blue?
Is the ocean really green or blue?

Just so you don't look like a total idiot to your toddler kids, I suggest the following sites like Science Made Simple for some background information. They are also a great resource for helping your kids with their science projects. Whether your kids are interested in molecules, electronics, geology, magnets, electronics, bacterias, plants, elements or whatever, they have numerous suggestions for science fair projects involving any interest that your student may be interested in.

Campaign for Real Beauty

I stumbled across something today, Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. I'm sure you've seen their ads, the ones that show real women not airbrushed skinny models with fake breasts. Although the Dove campaign has received some criticism, I believe in the message they are trying to promote. It's the same message I've been trying to teach my girls since they were little; that beauty comes in many forms, sizes and colors. Being of one type or the other doesn't make one more beautiful or less than the others.

I hope that message is sinking in. I know it takes a lot to debunk the ideals of beauty that women are bombarded with day in and day out. Heck, some women my age are still suffering effects from this idealized beauty hammered into our brains. I fall into the trap still even though I know better.

I think my girls are pretty balance though. I hope (crossing fingers and knocking on wood). The photo above is from a week or so ago. Asi (center) and the Clone (right) decided to get their hair cut. Both their hair were down to their waist and they were getting tired of dealing with it. I think their new shorter hair is cute. It has also cut 10 minutes from our morning routine since now I don't have to comb and braid the Clone's hair. She can fix her own hair now! Hallelujah!

Now if only everything were that simple. Asi has had her driver's permit for a couple of month's now. She's been practicing driving with me and her dad whenever she gets a chance and now she's talking about getting her actual driver's license. I'm trying to persuade her to wait a while. My excuse is so she can get more practice in. The real reason is I don't want to pay for the high North Carolina auto insurance yet. LOL! Our rates are going to double as soon as we add a new driver to the list. I am really not looking forward to that.

So they're growing.... and fast...

That's how it always is around our house.

A Day to be Proud

We recently had a wedding in the family. Our niece got married and so it was another chance to get together with family and old friends. The girls had a great time with their cousins and we felt even older looking at how grown they have all gotten. When I joined my husband's family, Brooke, the bride, was only twelve years old. Now look at her...

While the wedding celebration itself was fun, the day was made even more memorable by the trip it took to get there and back.

Read about the Pride Day road trip.

Teens Who Talk are a Gift

We had an old friend in town for business the last couple of weeks so he's been coming over to our house for dinner on his free nights. The girls love having him over for dinner. I think it's cause we eat better than our normal weekday fare. LOL! No, I think they seriously enjoy talking to him and he to them. He commented how it's so nice that our girls would stay on at the dining table even after eating, to talk. They talk about everything under the sun it seems like. And some days it's like a blessing but other days it seems like a curse. haha! I'm joking.

Even as much as my girls talk and as much as they seem comfortable talking to us, I know they don't tell us everything. As they should. I don't expect them to tell all, we are all entitled to our secrets after all. So sometimes, well ok a lot of times, I worry about how they are doing. I worry if they are getting everything they need. It makes me sad when I hear of other teens who seem to have gone so far off track. Click on the link and read about a sad story.

Last night was our friend's last night in town so he came by the house for dinner and brought the girls some presents. You know they were happy. He'll be in Florida next week and he says he'll miss having friends in a city where he's doing business. There will be no one to visit in Florida, he says. But then, there's always Orlando golf courses to maybe take his mind away from missing his family.

The Annual Visit

Jade is playing field hockey this year and because she needed to have a physical, I had to make a last minute appointment with the clinic. Luckily, they did have a doctor who could see her the same day I called, but it wasn't her usual doctor. That was ok, so we went on to see this new doctor, who it turned out was a young resident. She was very thorough, unlike the cursory exam we normally get from her usual pediatrician. This doctor covered every concern from head to toe. She even went into a long discussion about acne scars cream when asked about the pimple breakouts. But, I suppose that is a good thing. The thirty minute physical with the old doctor turned into an hour long consultation! At one point she even asked me to step out of the room so they can have a private 'talk'. You know what that means, they were talking about S-E-X only this time it's mom that's left out. Geesh!

Just Proud to be her Momma

I talked about my daughter going to the art school for the summer, so I thought I'd show off some of her work here too. She really loved going to this summer school where she got to do what she loved best. She became more confident and more independent. Amazing what a few weeks can do. It's not just about the work she was able to accomplish, it's the boost to her self esteem that just amazes me. It gladdens my heart to see she has found something she is passionate about.

Sports in the House

My girls have never been too much into sports like some kids their age (Is it any wonder?) but this year, they or at least Jade, has been growing an interest in, of all things, field hockey. So I've been shopping for field hockey sticks and finally found one on Amazon at a reasonable prize. Jade loves her green hockey stick which came with a bonus gift, a pink ball :)

Now, I'm shopping around for cleats but I'm hoping that she will find some in California because when it comes to shoes, I'm leery about buying them without trying them on first. As it is, she was complaining about her running shoes as being too loose when she runs and she tried those on at the store!

My husband was also suggesting to start looking for golf shoes for them as he swears he'll start taking them to play with him, his cousin and his daughters. They're planning on having a regularly scheduled golf outings with their kids (his cousin has two girls and a boy). I can't wait to see how that goes!

Away from Home

This is my daughter's home away from home this summer. She's been away for two weeks now and we have been sorely missing her. Yep, even her cranky sisters who do not miss a beat to argue with her have been whining that they miss her. I guess that is just part of being sisters. I too have that love/hate relationship with my sisters over the years.

We were worried about Asi being on her own for weeks at a time, but again, she surprised us how well she is doing. Not only is she taking care of personal details such as cleaning up after herself, she has also been doing her own laundry! She just called me and asked to transfer $20 to her school card because she has used up the first installment I put to begin with, doing laundry! Who knew :)

Kids Traveling Alone

The girls will be traveling alone for the first time this summer. Although they have been going through airports since they were toddlers and are pretty savvy travelers, I can't help but still worry about their safety. Their ages are 16, 15 and 10 so according to most airline's policies, they are allowed to travel as unaccompanied minors. There is a pretty hefty fee tacked on to their basic fare for the added service that will be provided to them. Let's hope it's worth it.

For the added fee, the airline is supposed to identify them to the staff on board that they are minors traveling alone and will need assistance. They will be making one connection, and a staff is supposed to assist them to get to the appropriate gate for the second leg of their flight.

In the event that they miss their connecting flight, a staff person is supposed to assist them to get on the next available flight. If, worst comes to worst and they have to spend overnight somewhere, a staff of the same sex is supposed to stay with them at the hotel and assist them in getting back to the airport for their connecting flight.

There are horror stories of children traveling alone out there. I suggest not reading them :)

Here's another tip that I didn't know about. Did you know that you can ask the airline for a security pass so that you can walk your minors to their boarding gate? So rather than just leaving them at the counter and letting them go through security on their own, I think we'll avail ourselves of this opportunity. Just to be on the safe side, you know?

Volunteer Jobs for Teens

One activity to keep your teens busy during the summer is of course to send them off to summer school. That's what my oldest daughter is doing, she's going off to summer school.

My middle child Jade, though, will be spending her summer volunteering. She will be working in our main library's archive collection, duplicating and indexing material. She's excited because she will be getting out of the house. I'm excited because she will be learning a new skill and learning how to deal with people in the workplace.

Today's my Monday

Today's my Monday since I took yesterday off. I had some errands to do, most of them having to do with getting Asi to go off to summer school. She will be attending art classes at the North Carolina School of the Arts for four weeks. She is excited and I'm excited for her too, but of course, being a mom I can't help but be a little worried and anxious. This is the first time she will be spending away from home alone. We never even let them go on sleep overs! Now she is going to be staying in a dorm with some unknown room mate. Horrors! She seems to be taking things in stride though, but that's how she is about most things.

Me, in the meantime, will probably be wringing my hands until she is home again.

Animazement 2008

My daughter and her friends are manga and anime fiends. They love everything to do with manga! One of the big events they have been anticipating for the past year is Animazement 2008.

Well, it's a bit of a long story, but this girl almost didn't make it to the show. Instead of the three day extravaganza she was supposed to participate in, she instead was able to attend only the last day. Here are more photos of Asi in Animazement. She is, by the way, wearing the yukata her Aunt Emily in Japan generously gifted her with.

I Wonder What She's Eating?

I was supposed to go to lunch with my daughter today. She is going to a luncheon hosted by the school superintendent to honor high school students who maintained a straight A average for the whole year. This girl has not brought home anything lower than a 98% on all her classes all year.

I hate that we missed going to this luncheon with her. The invitation came while I was away in California and they didn't realize that they had to RSVP before a certain date. Ergo, her dad and I didn't have a reservation and she had to go and attend the lunch on her own. I feel really bad to not be there to cheer for her.

We are really proud of her.