Updates

Hello all! Well, we are about to start a 5 day weekend, and I am delighted. Even better, Tom is taking those days off with us. That means that with the exception of the 2 hours we need to spend at the pediatrician for Ms. Bean's 4-year old checkup (and associated shots), it should be a great time. I know that tomorrow starts with the Zoo, not sure where we are going to go after that. No doubt that my loyal readers will find out shortly.

Who are my readers anyway? I know that there is Jeff, Susie, Patty, Trader Joe (a.k.a. Paul's Pups), and occasionally Carolyn. I have heard rumors of Others, but they have not identified themselves. Where are my 1798 hits coming from? Comment please. Show yourselves.

Thank you for asking. I am, in fact, off the wagon. I know that you are thinking that shows I have no self control. But, who didn't already know that? I am now practicing "moderation" which suits me better, and makes those around me happy. A nice compromise. Should also make me less "cranky" since I am about to embark on a 5-day weekend.

I love you Robert. Sorry life is sucking right now. Will call this weekend!

XOXO

P.S. I just overheard Ms. Bean give Tom a lecture on the dangers of Plaque and the importance of brushing. The kid continues to floor me!

This is amazing ...................

Just say no .......................

I just thought that I would put it out there are announce that I have given up alcohol for the summer.

You read that right. I, Diane, will consume no alcohol until 1 September 2007, at 12:01 am.

Why? Well, let's just say that if you didn't bump into me Saturday evening, you should consider yourself lucky. In fact, at the moment, I am held up in my home trying to avoid any/all neighbors that got the pleasure of my company that evening.

So, bring on the diet cokes and bottled water, I'm coming come ............................

What shall we do today?

A few weeks ago, the girls and I took an entire 10-days off and had what came to be known as our "week-o-fun".

I realised while planning a family vacation that I really didn't want to go anywhere. The girls are too young to care, and traveling/staying in a hotel with a 2 and 4 year old, and a LOT of diapers, just does not seem like fun. Besides, with Baby-Bee still requiring a regular nap, it really didn't seem feasible.

I decided that over the course of the summer, I would take off 1-week per month (3 weeks in total), for the express purpose of playing with the girls. I figured that we would do one "mini-field trip" every morning, and play at the pool in the afternoon. Despite all three of us acquiring colds, and a couple of rain storms, the week COULD NOT have been better.

Some of our morning excursions were to places we go often and some were new adventures, but all were quite enjoyable (and so was the company):

River Farm - This is a little gem just outside of Old Town Alexandria that is absolutely delightful. It is the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society and has an impressive set of Children's Gardens.

The Baltimore Aquarium - This was our BIG trip of the week and took a little coordination. Because of Ms. Beans noise sensitivity, I called ahead of time and learned that going on a Monday or Tuesday when they first open (0900) would be best because there wouldn't be any crowds. Tom and my parents joined us, and when we got there we bought a family-plus membership. We pretty much looked at it as a donation, but since the kids really enjoyed themselves we will probably get our moneys worth. I was really proud of both girls, once they got passed the initial fear of the unknown, they really got into it. Ms. Beans favorite part was The Dolphin Show and 3 weeks later Baby-Bee is still talking about the Frogs. I think it was a success!

Oxen Hill Farm - We are here ALL the time. It is a 5 minute drive from the house, and every time we go the girls see something new. It is also my favorite place to take pictures of the kids. During week-o-fun, Ms. Bean got to milk her first cow! Not bad for a city girl!

Hays Park - A Children's Park in Arlington which is designed for kids ages 2-5. All of their playground equipment is designed for littler kids, and there is a water-sprinkler portion (designed to look like the solar system) that comes on at 10:00 am in the summers.

I really had mixed feelings about this park. The girls seemed to enjoy it, but, it was VERY crowded and a long drive for what was really just a neighborhood park. Might not visit again unless we are meeting someone who lives in Arlington for a play date.

The National Zoo - I am certain that each of my readers had been to this zoo more often then they can count. Not much more for me to add, except that we renewed our FONZ membership while we were there, which continues to pay for itself in spaces (popcorn + cookies alone make it worth it, not to mention the free parking).

One of the cool things that I found out when I registered for the membership at the Aquarium is that both their membership, and our FONZ membership, are tax deductible. Just wish I knew that 10 years ago when I started with the FONZ membership, but, live and learn.

Next week-o-fun is July 22-28 (though we are taking off a few days around the 4th of July). Will post our itinerary once I figure it out!

D

Put away your Tieras!

The Princess Party is over. It was a great success. The kids enjoyed themselves. Ms. Bean had a GREAT day! That is all that matters. I love it when my kids smile.

In 2 hours we had 3 crafts (making rings, making magic wands, and Chuck the face-painter was on hand for "makeup"), 2 games, a "Royal Feast", cake, opening presents and distributing gift bags.

Happy Birthday Ms. Bean! You are a joy.

Happy Birthday Ms. Bean!

Today Ms. Bean turned 4! No idea where the time went.

5 years ago I thought that we would NEVER have a baby.

4 years ago I thought that we lost one.

Today we have an amazing, healthy person who has completely changed our world. Life gets better as you get older.

The Tudors - Episode 10 - Quick Question

I watched the last Tudors of the season last night, and it definitely did not disappoint. They handled the demise of Woolsey brilliantly, and left us wanting more. Let us just hope that enthusiasm remains among Showtime viewers, since they will not be back until 2008!

One thing puzzled me. There was this odd scene in the beginning of the episode where Henry is masturbating. It was not surprising that Kings masturbate. And, Anne Boleyn certainly gave him a lot of reasons to jerk off. The surprising part was that there was a servant present collecting the Kings spew! Please, if anyone knows if this was truly custom, let me know! And, for what purpose? Certainly they didn't store it somewhere? Probably just creative licensing? Please advise.

D

Count down to the Princess Party

The Occasion: Ms. Beans 4th Birthday

The Date: Less then 3 weeks from now.

Activities:

Have purchased everything that we need to make wands and rings. Will paint nails. Dress up clothes will be provided.
Will try and make a version of musical chairs with pictures on the floor.
Perhaps a game of Hot Potato with a dress up shoe?
Sifting for Gems?
Need 1 more games:

The Food:

Cookie Cutters acquired for sandwich shapes. Peanut Butter/Jelly Cream Cheese/Jelly and Bologna/Cheese.
Chocolate covered strawberries
Cheese and Cracker Tray
Lemonade
Carrots and Dip
Fruit Salad

The Cake:

WHO THINKS I CAN MAKE THIS?

Party favors:

Were complete until Ms. Bean decided to invite 3 boys to her all girls party?

The Tudors - Fact or Fiction

In preparation for tomorrows season finale of The Tudors - I thought that I would point out a few "liberties" taken by the writers. These are probably of NO interest to any casual watcher and these small historical deviations were probably done to make the plot flow better (after all the Tudors is a TV show and not a historic documentary). However, since they make me crazy ....................... here we go:

1) Henry Fitzroy did NOT die in childhood, he died as a young, married adult. According to the Autobiography of Henry the VIII, Henry believed that Anne Bolyne cursed him because he was a potential heir to the thrown (at this point, Henry also believed that Anne was a witch).

2) Henry's sister Mary married Charles Brandon, not Margaret. Mary was also married to the King of France, not the King of Portugal. Margaret was married to the King of Scotland and was the mother of Mary Queen of Scots. I can also find no evidence that either Margaret or Mary killed the King of Portugal or any other King in Europe.

3) Providing that Margaret is Mary, the timing of her death is wrong. Mary died after Henry was married to Anne Bolyne. Anne supposedly put a curse on her because Mary refused to attend Anne's coronation. She died several weeks following. Charles Brandon appears to be very similar to the slime ball that is portrayed in the series. Just days after Marys death, he broke his sons engagement to Catherine Willoughby and married her himself. Catherine was fourteen-years-old, Brandon was almost fifty.

4) The liturgical composer Thomas Talliss re-imaging as a sensitive pop star beset by 16th century groupies is a little bizarre. But, Shakespeare took similar liberties, and I guess this is all in fun.

Well, that's all I know. However, since I am a Government Bureaucrat and not a historian, I strongly recommend that you take a trip to the library if you have more interest in this topic. And check out my other posts on the Tudors.

The Tudors 1, The Tudors 2, The Tudors 3, The Tudors 4, The Tudors 5, The Tudors 6, The Tudors 7, The Tudors 8

Peace.

Mr. Whipples Potty

Remember Mr. Whipple, the Grocery Clerk who spent most of his career trying to stop horny, closeted housewives from getting off by squeezing Charmin toilet paper? At the end of every commercial we would catch Mr. Whipple squeezing the package himself, and there would be a bonding moment when we all learn that everyone loves Charmin? I have been thinking about Mr. Whipple lately because I discovered something about him that few probably realize .................. he DID NOT have a low flow toilet.

How do I know this little fact about the good Grocer? Because a couple of years ago we moved to a new house. This house has plenty of room for the 4 of us, great location and great neighbors. With the good comes the bad .............. it is new construction and therefore has a set of HIDEOUS low flow pottys (I will be getting to Mr. Whipple in a moment).

A family of 4 living in Washington's high cost area needs to save money where we can, and therefore we have chosen to purchase our staples in bulk at the local Costco (and we can now store them in our larger, new construction home .................but, I digress). So, when the COSTCO coupon for a lifetime supply of Charmin showed up in the mail a few months ago, we put the kids in minivan and ventured off to COSTCO to stock up!

A few days later, we were sitting in our large home, with 4 bathrooms, and 4 substandard cans, and they ALL began to stop up, one after the other. Tom blamed me, I blamed the girls, no one knew how the very little bulk in our diets was creating such a surge in plunger visits to the toilets. This situation was further complicated by the fact that both girls are potty training, and we have had a parade of company. Yuck.

We have finally figured out that the combination of thick, soft and quilted TP and low flow potties was NEVER meant to occur. I have called a plumber, and IF I can find someone to replace my toilets (there is some CODE ISSUE) and IF I can find a decent set of Potties, I will be so broke I can not pay the mortgage in our lovely home. There is only one solution, anyone with a high flow toilet need some Charmin?