25 Random things

You have either heard of the "25 Random Things about me", or, you have been living under a rock. I tried not to do it, and posted a letter in its place explaining that I am simply not an interesting individual. That didn't fly with my friends. Here is another attempt ............. XO D

1) I remember the first time that my husband spoke to me vividly, and it was 3 years before we met. He said hello at the local post office. I was new in town and hadn’t met many people. It was nice to have someone talk to me.
2) I absolutely hate rodents, especially rats. If I see one, I will never return to that location. It is for this reason that Tom convinced me that the thing in front of our Payne Street house was a Possum.
3) Tom and I were told that we would never have children naturally. Therefore, we will always consider Leah to be our “miracle child”.
4) Sarah was IVF, and it was a long, painful road to conception. The second that she was born, we knew that she was worth the wait.
5) I don’t like to work. It’s not the job, but the fact that is has to be done. Knowing that makes going to work easier.
6) My mother is my hero. She didn’t like to wok either.
7) My father is my very favorite person. I didn’t like him very much as a teen.
8) I am not a vegetarian, but have a fundamental problem with hunters/hunting. I don’t believe that people should enjoy the act of killing and destruction.
9) I can’t spell
10) I am the very best parallel parker you will ever meet. No idea why, because my driving leaves something to be desired.
11) I have loved the Washington Capitals for 28 years. Prior to the Caps, I was a Bruins Fan. I have NEVER been a Red Wings Fan
12) I don’t like the Redskins, even when they’re winning
13) I don’t like the Wizards, even when they’re loosing.
14) I call my kids “Bean” and “Bee”.
15) I feel guilty every single day for something related to my girls. Sometimes it is not spending enough time with them, or, not having enough patience, or not saying the right thing. I hope that one day they know I tried my very best and adore them every second.
16) I detest Okra.
17) I take pictures almost every single day. They don’t always get uploaded, but I take them.
18) My parents have always said that I can be counted on to say the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time. I kind of like that trait.
19) At the age of 32, I tracked down my 5th grade teacher and asked him to change the grade on a science paper because his written justification didn’t support the loss of a ½ letter. He, visibly shaken, agreed. Then we got drunk and talked about people.
20) I am finding this a very uncomfortable exercise.
21) I really like face book. It makes me laugh every day. I have some pretty cool friends. I have also “de-friended” some really creepy people.
22) I can no longer just watch TV or just surf the internet. I must do them simultaneously.
23) I don’t like ground beef. You really never know what is ground into it.
24) I cant drink beer out of a bottle. I try, but I spill. If you don’t have a glass, I will settle for a can.
25) I have been very blessed with good lasting friends. My husband is my best friend.

The 95210 for Health

Ms. Bean came home from school detailing the 9-5-2-1-0 for health. It was distributed at the Elementary School Level - but is good health advice for all of us.

9 - get 9 hours of sleep a night.

Ms. Bean and Little Bee are pretty successful at this one. Even with the average 4 rounds of musical beds that we play a night, they still get close. Tom gets about 8-hours, but I cant imaging that his snoring allows for 8-GOOD hours. Me? Ha! Maybe 5, 7 with a well thought out Ambien!

5 - 5 Servings of fruits and vegetables each day

Ms. Bean and Little Bee are served 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Consuming them is another story. I attempt to get 1 with each mean and another at night. Successful 1/2 the time. Tom? For the sake of our marriage, I'm not going there. Let's just way that there are generally only 2 colors on his plate, and Green is rarely one of them.

2 - Limit screen time to 2 hours a day

FAIL ACROSS THE BOARD. But, we are trying to do better .............

1 - get at least 1 hour of exercise a day

Umm. The kids are getting this due to P.E. and Recess. I used to before I moved across town from my friend Patty! But, we are going to try harder, RIGHT PATTY!

0 - NO sugary drinks

Success on all fronts! Thanks to Tom's New Years resolution and the kids milk/water preferences, we have achieved 1/5 Healthy Habits. Now, let us get to work on the rest ...............................

The End of an Error

Today at 12:07 pm EST, I received the following text message from CNN:

-- Barack Obama has been sworn in as the nation's 44th president.

I am not sure what this will ultimately mean for our country. Time will tell. However, based on the energy in the city and the happiness expressed in the eyes of my daughters, I am certain things are looking up!

My e-mail to Starbucks regarding their PTO Location

For the 2nd Saturday in a row, I visited your store at about 0830 in the morning. As a stock holder, Starbucks gold club member, and credit card holder, I was DISGUSTED with the service that I received. During BOTH visits, there was NO COFFEE MADE IN THE STORE. All I wanted on both occasions, was 2 grande coffees and 2 scones, and on both occasions I needed to wait for the crew to make coffee. Further, they actually appeared surprised when I ordered coffee at Starbucks. Does anyone order anything else in your stores?

I returned January 10, thinking that my visit on January 3 was an isolated incident, but was shocked to get the same treatment. Please tell me that this is not a growing trend in Starbucks stores across America, and the PTO facility has chosen to use its "B" crew on weekends.

V/R Diane

Happy New Year!

Good morning and Happy New Year!

Susie mentioned the other day that I don't blog enough and though she was using it as an example it to highlight my excessive facebook/BB time, I took note and promised to blog something in the New Year.

We appear to have made it though the holidays with little permanent physical or psychological damage. It was a 3-week journey filled with field trips, parties, and visitors. While the energy and excitement level was high, I think that all four of us are looking forward to a few days of down time before returning to school/work.

December started with very cold weather, and Ms. Bean being invited to ride the school board float in the Scottish Parade. Since she is still only 5 (though acting more like a teenager all the time) , I went with her and it was a highlight of the month for both of us (though 1 month later I am finally defrosting).

Early in the month, my Mom and I took the girls to the Alexandria Ballet version of the Nutcracker which was a delight, we attended a few birthday parties, and in the 14th we really kicked off our Holiday Festivities with Wassail at Claude Moore Farm. While Little-Bee, Tom and my Dad beat on trees and left bread for the birds to assure a good harvest, Susie and Ms. Bean cooked a Goose in the colonial kitchen. I ran back and forth with my camera and tried to capture it all. Interestingly, it was the first time that Ms. Bean made the correlation between the fowl on the kitchen table and the animals in the farm. I thought from the original shock she demonstrated that we might have a little vegetarian on our hands, but she appeared to recover by the end of the week.

At some point we got up our tree, send holiday cards, polished the menorah, wrapped, laughed and danced. Ms. Beans school had a holiday concert which was delightful and baby-bee invited me to attend her school holiday party. The girls went canoeing with Santa at the YMCA, and we attended our office parties, a couple neighborhood parties, and a Festivous Celebration which included a POLE and the TUR-DUCK-HEN that my in laws sent us as out Christmas Present. Ugh, yeah. We also managed to squeeze in a mini "stay-cation" with trips to the Natural History Museum, the (newly renovated) American History Museum, and the Zoo.

Christmas eve we spent at Bill and Tara Lenz house, Christmas day at home where Tom cooked dinner for 12 and made it look seamless. The day after Christmas Carolyn came for a along weekend, and on the 30th my dad turned 66 which afforded us the opportunity to visit with my Brother.

So, while this reads like one of the many Christmas Letters we received this month, it might explain my lack of blogging and utter exhaustion that I am currently experiencing. January promises to be slower (though we are beginning Ice Skating Lessons for both girls this month and Ms. Bean starts art classes at the Art League).

No real resolutions this year, I never seem to keep them so really don't see the point. However, I have an informal self commitment to finish my 2008 book over the Inauguration Break (any bets) and I, of course, need to drop a few pounds. That, is for another post.

Just heard to knock at the door, which means we have our first New Years visitor! Wishing all of my readers a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year! DON'T FORGET to eat your Back eyed Peas!

Christmas Eve

The Reindeer and Rudolph have been fed:



Cookies and Milk are ready for Santa (does anyone else think its cool that Ms.Bean thought that Santa would like this cookie the most?):



And the living room looks like a Rockwell Painting:



Merry Christmas to All - And to All a Good Night!

Please DONT Pick Up Your Toys!

...............because when Mommy has to pick them up, she gets to see this first thing in the morning ..............

From fun

Bon Voyage

This morning, Ms. Bean got angry at me for the unforgivable act of taking rainbow glitter away after a 4 oz spill in the kitchen.

The following could be heard following a obligatory sulking period:

Ms Bean - Mommy, I am moving to Texas, because I don't like it in Virginia.
Me - I will miss you very much
Ms. Bean - no you wont, you will forget all about me.

Silence

Me - I will miss you very much, but if you are going to move, you should say good bye to Susie and Papa, they will miss you to.
Ms. Bean - Daddy - I am moving to Texas, good bye.
Tom - Hmmmm. Why Texas? Yuck.

Silence

Ms. Bean - Where's the phone?
Ms. Bean - I messed up the numbers. Can you help me call Susie? Please?
Me - This is just a thought, but if you cant dial the numbers, how are you going to navigate an airport? I think you better stay in Virginia.
Ms. Bean - I'm not taking a phone with me.

Silence

Ms. Bean - Good Bye Susie. Good bye. I'm moving to Texas. Because I don't like Virginia, and Mommy wouldn't let me mix all of the glue and glitter together. Why? Ok, then I will move to France. Ok. Ill miss you.

Silence

But, Susie ........... (sob sob sob), I dont know how to speak French. How will I move there?

Silence

Tom - Who wants to help me make pancakes.

Ms. Bean - Can I crack the eggs? Bye Bye Susie! Mommy ............... I'm not moving to Texas.

Art

These 2 pictures have been floating around for a while and I wanted to make sure that I got them posted. The first was done in October and is Ms. Bean "dressed as Ballerina". The second is a pastel drawing of "what see's when she looks out her bedroom window" (the Masonic Temple and Street Lights).

XO D

Little Bee and her Mommy

The other night Ms. Bean was doing a picture with pastels when her sister jumped up and decided to draw with us. She asked he to draw our front door and the wreath. The people (she and I) , grass, sun and sky was all her! Hate to brag, but my kids got talent!