This Full House Archive

Author: Liz@ThisFullHouse

  • The Neglected Side of My Kids’ Family Tree

    When my son was in the 4th grade, I asked my parents if they'd be interested in speaking to his class about what it was like to have immigrated to America.

    Hope and BFF on Heritage Day
    This year, they were excited to be invited back to Heritage Day by Hope's 4th grade teacher, who heard them speak a few years ago and was hoping they'd share their experiences with her class, as well.

    This time, I was a little concerned about their being able to go through with it.

    Family Picnic Mama

    To be honest, physically, mentally, emotionally, my parents are in a very different place (who isn't,  right?) they have their good days and bad days — not to mention, down right sucktastic times when they can no longer hide the pain from their faces — so, I didn't make any promises and just hoped for a good day.

    It was a REAL good day.

    Family Picnic Papa 2
    In fact, I'm seriously considering taking on a managing role and hitting the public speaking circuit with these two: they are SUCH good tawww-kuhs (or, tock-kerrrrzzzzz, if you're from Hungary!)

    My inlaws, not so much.

    Family Picnic Grandma

    My mother-in-law suffers from trigeminal neuralogia, has for years, to the point where the simple act of eating, drinking, talking and even smiling, causes her debilitating pain.

    Family Picnic Grandpa

    Married to their son, for nearly 21 years, I feel it safe to say that it probably hurts my father-in-law, even more.  Dad grew up outside of Boston (or, if you're from Boston, then Bah-ston) so, I really do appreciate his strong New England sensibilities and his wicked sense of humor (dry as it is) especially, on a good day, when my mother-in-law is, you know, not hurting.

    Family Picnic Grandmothers
    I don't blog about my in-laws, much.  The fact that either one of them might be reading this, right now, is probably making my father-in-law, you know, itch and I'm really sorry about that.

    Family Picnic Under the Tree

    Because, we ALL have learned to enjoy each others company (yes, on purpose!) and, although we may not always agree, let alone, get a word in edgewise (sorry, Grandpa!) my inlaws are an important part of our family's story, as well.

    IN OTHER WORDS:  Yesterday was a REAL good day, too.

    Consider yourselves blogged, Mom and Dad (you're welcome!!!)

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • You Know You’ve Hit the Big Time When Your Dog Gets Fan Mail!

    Okay, so I don't usually write about marketing to mom sort of stuff here on this blog anymore (but, I do on this one!)

    Because, this is where I like to think out loud with very little thought given to word count or social media metrics.

    Still, as a freelance writer and blogging professional (AM SO!) I do receive a lot of pitches (some good, mostly bad) and probably read twice as many posts and articles, every month, about some blogger being wronged, in some way, by yet another company who, you know, just doesn't get it.

    I read bad pr pitch stories like this and can't help but pine for the days when moms (like me) would write (for writing's sake) and were THRILLED just to have made it on each other's blogrolls.

    Blogging is hard.  Blogging while under the influence of children is damned near impossible, without a strong network of online (not to mention, unplugged) family and friends, I mean.

    On the other hand, I've personally worked with some very amazing people, collaborated on equally awesome projects and forged many new fantastic friendships along the way.

    Still.  Contrary to what others may think (or, feel) I don't think I'm special.  Nor, do I expect preferential treatment, or, expect stuff to be given to me. 

    In other words, I am NOT famous.   But, my dog is:

    Subject: Doofus-Dog, Would you like to help feed the hounds?
    Date: Fri, June 17, 2011 11:28 am
    To: lizthisfullhouse@gmail.com

    Dearest Doofus-Dawg:

    You are a brainy thing, aren't you? And we adore your absolute candor as you share your thoughts at This Full House.

    And so, dear DD, we'd like to see if you want to try our food.

    We are XXXXXXXX and have real food for really smart dogs like you.

    Ask Liz, though.

    Not that she's your boss (no way!) but she might have an opinion or two.

    But if she says "Yes," we'll send over our new food (called XXXXXX) for you to try.

    Want to?

    Aaaaaand, my absolutely most favorite closing in the whole wide Interwebs…EVUH:

    With Dirty Socks, Kitty Poop and All Other Things You Shouldn't Be Eating,

    XXXXXXX

    Maybe I should be insulted.  Perhaps even feel a little annoyed (at best) but, I'll be boiled in my own lip gloss if I'm not absolutely giddy telling you that my dog gets better pitches than I do!

    Because, I'm funny like that.

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • 3,650 Days

    As a mom of a 17, 15 and 12 year-old, other than scraping teeth on utensils, or chewing and speaking at the same time (shiver!) things don't bother me as much, as they did, when ALL 4 of my kids were in single digits…at the same time (double-shiver!)

      Hope at Fun Day 2011
    But, this kid…right here…just turned 10 today and, well, I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that my oldest is now a legally licensed driver.

    Heather and Hopey
    Or, that my middle girl is turning 16 at the end of this year and how much older than 15 that sounds, right about now.

    HopeNglenCape May 2011

    Never mind, that my son's next birthday will mark the "Holy Hannah Montana what do you mean we have 3 teenagers in the house," point in our lives where my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I won't be able to use each of my pregnancies as a time line, to remember stuff, for very much longer.

    This Full House Kids 2007Cape May 2007

    Like, how this post is supposed to be about Hope's 10th Birthday and here I am, going on about her siblings and, well, that's how it goes, when you are the youngest, right?

    Sponge bob hopey
    But, this kid…right here…makes us laugh AND cry (especially, whenever she feels the need to interject herself in a conversation and correct one of us, which is often) like no one else we know (she's usually right, btw!)

    We're Spinning in the Rain
    Although, sometimes Hope will swear that she is ALWAYS last and that no one EVER listens to her, she has single-handedly managed to claim an especially squishy spot in each of our hearts.

    Hope Dandelion
    Because, Hope IS a mashup of ALL that is good in our lives at the moment and, now that she's crossed-over to double digits, too (SOB!) I can't think of a better reason to celebrate, than this:


     

    From Day 1 to Day 3,650 (or, 3,652.42199, including, leap year) there is and always will be ONLY one Hope — a.k.a. Queen of the Cat Daddy.

    Hope is 10
    Happy 10th Birthday, Hopey!

    P.S. After careful consideration, I've decided to surprise Hope and take her to get her nails done after school, today.  I understand, she's only 10 (see above) but, it's the ONLY thing on this kid's birthday list and, considering I'm her mother, it's really not a whole heck of a lot to ask, is it?

    P.P.S. Besides, she's MY kid…soooooooo…pppfffbbbllltttt!!!

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Maybe This Time, She’ll Stay…Parked.

    Last week, I got to spend a few days at one of my favorite summertime destinations and, would you believe, it is NOT Disney?

    My family has never been, actually.

    Nope, in fact, I was happy for the opportunity to write about my favorite vacation spot, here in Jersey (is, too!!!)

    Still, leaving home, without my kids, is always hard. 

    However, I did not expect my youngest daughter to cry and hug me, as hard, as she did, or to make my son feel as if I were never coming back home, ever again.

    Then, about halfway into the 2+ hour car ride it dawned me.

    "Hi mom, we need the password for Netflix."

    My kids were sad, beeeeeecause, they weren't allowed to, you know, come with me and, well, the fact that they probably would be fine, without me (for the next few days, at least) just made my time away from home a little easier.

    Then, I came home, gave them each their presents (don't judge) and we ALL settled in to catch up on Season 2 of Glee (thank you, Netflix) when it hit.

    "Mom, we need to practice parallel parking!!!"

    A wave of nausea, when realizing that my oldest daughter is taking her driving test on Tuesday and…for those of you who have been reading along…for the last 8 years (you know who you are!) and my many new friends I've met over the internets…I hope you understand when I repeat this, all in UPPERCASE:

    HOLLY WILL (or will not) BE ISSUED A NEW JERSEY DRIVER'S LICENSE, TOMORROW!!!

    Oh and, one more thing:

    HOW IN THE H…E…DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DID THAT HAPPEN, ANYWAY?!?!?

    [takes deep breath]

    So, Garth (not his real name) and I traded cars, since she'll be road-testing in it, anyway.

    Also, the hand break is in the center console, where instructor can reach it, if need be, but I hope not, still, you never know, it is supposed to rain, like buckets, okay, pour actually, ugh, moving on.

    Late this afternoon, Holly and I headed over to the high school and, seeing as I grew up about 25 minutes outside of New York City, while my husband grew up with head on parking (ONLY!) I instructed my 17 year-old in the fine art of parallel parking.

    Holly Parking Phase 1

    Phase 1:  wasn't very successful and I suspected it was because the poor kid couldn't see the back of the first pretend car.

    "This is no use, Mom, I can't see the garbage can in the front!"

    See, I told you, because, I'm smart like that.

    Holly Parking Phase 2

    Phase 2:  I found the pair of slippers, from Christmas, that don't fit Garth (not his real name) in the trunk, so I balanced it right on top of an empty box of garbage bags and, viola!!!

    Holly Almost Parked

    Almost, not quite, but I just stood there, taking pictures, all quiet like (which is very, very hard for a Hungarian, just so you know) and let Holly get a feel for her.

    Holly Parked

    Well, seems like she's ready and close enough to the curb for Mr. or Ms. DMV Instructor, even, right?

    "I'm gonna pass this suh-cuh!"

    Yep, to me, it sounds like she's more than ready to drive, in Jersey!

    "Even if you don't, no biggie!"

    Seriously, we live in Jersey, either way, she parks like her muh-thuh.

    "Can I blog this?"

    So, you know, I could remember what in the h…e…double hockey sticks I did…for the next 3 times, I mean.

    "Can you believe that Hope's turning double-digits this week, too, Mom?"

    Because, you know, they don't stay little for long…DAGNABIT!!!!

    UPDATED TO ADD:  She passed.  I did NOT puke.  Aaaaand, now it starts…

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Times I Wish Photogenicism Was Hereditary

    I was going through my Picasa albums in an attempt to segregate my photos from those my middle girl took, considering Heather's pictures are waaaaaaaay better than mine (DAGNABIT!) they just might give her digital cooties, or something.

    Seasons of Hope

    I noticed something.  Hope is my youngest and, at the risk of sounding all, you know, weirdish (YES, it's a word!) I swear, this child is photogenically gifted.

    Winter, spring, fall, miffed at her oldest sister knocking her disk into oblivion while playing shuffle board (she looks totally like her father in that one!) seriously, you can NOT take a bad picture of this kid.

    Dorkus Maximus
    Me, on the other hand, I can strike the most unattractive pose, without even trying and, well, the only saving grace, in my opinion, are my eyes and, still, I almost always manage to come off looking like a, you know, weirdo.

    Hope and Maxi-Hope

    Then, I found this one, from attending my 11th consecutive Fun Day, last week.  What did I tell you?  Dang if the girl didn't make me look good, too!

    "My, you ALL have such beautiful red hair!"

    Hope's teacher is really sweet, although, she does have this habit of making me go…um…what?

    [looks left, right and left again]

    "You AND your girls!"

    OHHHHHHH, yeah, me and mah girls, have the same dark eyes and, although we go from curly, to wavy, to scared straight it just may ALL fall out, by tomorrow (guess which one, go ahead, I'll wait) you can pretty much tell we all come from the same gene pool.

    Me and Mah Girls
    Aaaaand, would you believe, they actually agreed to be seen with me, in public, untanned, in support their baby sister.  By the end of the afternoon, they were sort of holding me up, too, can you tell?

    "Pssst, Mom…but, she knows our hair is NOT red, for real, right?"

    [sound of crickets chirping]

    OHHHHHHH…HEY!…look, did you know, I also have a son?

    Glenny boy
    Aaaaand, he's blonde, with the coolest eyes, sometimes (seriously, they change color) and what did I tell you, the girl can take some really awesome pics, for real, right?

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

    Oh, almost forgot (I know, act surprised anyway, okay?) don’t forget to enter to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting goods courtesy of BlogHer and Gatorade Moms!  Click here for details!

  • Boom, Boom, BOOM!

    A transformer behind our house blew up (like, in BOOM!) and we lost ALL power, this morning.

    No big deal, really, happens ALL the time!

    Although, I'm not quite sure why, other than listening to my husband insisting it's because our kids leave the lights on…ALL of them…ALL the time…and, well, it just makes mornings a REAL pain in the backside.

    More than usual, I mean.

    Considering that, this time, it happens to be on a Monday morning, well, you know.

    2 hours later.

    "Wanna go for a ride?"

    My oldest is home from school for a mom-imposed mental health day (final exams and road test for driver's license, next week…enough said) and, considering that I hadn't showered and would probably spend way too much money on coffee, working at Starbucks, anyway.

    "SURE!"

    Plus, it seems my impatience was painfully obvious (tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…looks at clock…tap, tap, tap) not to mention, wearing a hole in our living room carpet.

    "You can teach me how to cash a check."

    Although, it's been a while (fyi: patience is a valuable job skill when freelancing, DAGNABIT!) I was more than happy to help my oldest learn the value of banking…on the positive side….for once.

    "Sign here…account number goes here…oh, and they may ask you for some identification, so make sure you have your student i.d. with you…what?"

    [blank stare]

    "Aren't you coming in with me?"

    No.  Not because I didn't shower, or wash my hair, either.

    "Nope, you don't need me."

    She pulled down the visor, checked her makeup, joojed her hair, threw her purse strap over her left shoulder, then turned to me and said:

    "Right, here I go."

    BOOM!

    Aaaand, that, my friends, was the sound of my heart…breaking.

    "Ten..twenty…thirty…YEY, Mom, you want a donut?  My treat!!!"

    Call it divine intervention, or whatever, my kid (a.k.a. Countess D'Money) swears it's because someone, up there, somewhere, is just tired of watching me be soooooo stressed out, ALL the time, or something.

    [shrugs]

    I'm just very, very thankful to have celebrated a piece of my daughter's first step towards independence, followed by an impromptu and totally unscheduled hike through the park, together.

    Photo1900.jpg

    Oh, I then told Holly that I would let her drive, from now on, too…starting next week, of course…BOOM!

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

    Oh, almost forgot (I know, act surprised anyway, okay?) don’t forget to enter to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting goods courtesy of BlogHer and Gatorade Moms!  Click here for details!

  • SPLASH! Photography

    Phew, now that I got THAT song out of my head (thank you, ABBA!) who’s up for a swim, anyone?

    [Cannonball completed by Hope (a.k.a. Robin) photography courtesy of Heather]

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Twinkle, Twinkle Little…SOB!

    Hope's 1st Band Concert 2011 from Liz Thompson on Vimeo.

    FYI:  Hope is my youngest and only one of all four of my kids to play in the school band.  So, this is a FIRST…for the both of us…enjoy!!!

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Liar, Liar, Birthday Cake on Fire!

    I remember, back in the day (way before feed readers and Facebook ruled the interwebz) when my kids were smaller (i.e. NOT able to finish stuff ordered off the children's menu) how cute it was when they'd start planning their NEXT birthdays…the day AFTER…their birthdays.

    Then, they got bigger, we started paying full price at the movie theaters and, well, thank goodness for Netflix.

    Then, all of the sudden, we were celebrating birthweeks, evidenced by my having to clean the house, more than usual and, well, thank goodness our local super, duper, shop until you drop has an awesome bakery department, too.

    Did I mention, my 3 oldest celebrate their birthdays in November, December and January, respectively, in birth order and…SURE…I could tell you, that…YES…we totally planned it that way…OF COURSE…I am still THAT organized (snort!) but, most of you would probably know I'd be lying, right?

    Holiday Weekends, Rock!!!

    As my kids continue to get older (me, too DAGNABIT!) I've since grown to appreciate celebrating birthweekends and focusing on enjoying the simple stuff, like:

    • Waking up with all my body parts STILL attached. 
    • Sipping a cup of my husband's most excellent coffee. 
    • Enjoying the early morning hours, on our porch. 
    • Not having to go anywhere. 
    • Not having to do anything. 
    • Touching, feeling and actually getting to read the newspaper.
    • Visiting with family and friends.
    • Impressing the kids that…SHYEAH!!!…mom can STILL play a mean game of volleyball.
    • Not to mention, NOT having to clean up, after (the house party, not volleyball, SHEESH!)

    These are the things that made MY birthday weekend totally AWESOME, anyway!

    FW:

    Also, best cake, EVUH (thanks, Pam!) you know, I could really get used to this whole birthday thing.

    I mean, after 39 years of practice, you'd think I would be, right?

    [see blog title]

    But, you can call me Matt…DAGNABIT!

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • And I Wonder, As I Wander

    This Full House Girls' Room My youngest daughter and I were fighting over radio stations on the way to school, this morning (I'm a little oldies and she's a little bit, you know, LOUD) when it occurred to me that we moved into our starter home, which happens to be THIS house, on Memorial Day weekend…in 1993!

    "Wow, that means, you've been walking the halls for 18 years!"

    Okay, so it's STILL a 7 room house and it's not like we have THAT many halls to begin with. 

    Actually, only 1, on the way to the bathroom, in front of the girls' room and, well, it can get REAL scary, walking down there!

    Then, I got to thinking about it some more (stupid traffic lights) and, well, she was ABSOLUTELY right.

    Although, it's more like I wander, as I wonder, after 18 years, why I STILL can't remember where in the heck I put stuff.

    However, I refuse to believe it's because I'm old-ish (but, I still LOOK good, dagnabit!) besides, a person's brain can hold only so much information, before it implodes, right?

    It's true, I read it somewhere, in a book.

    [heavy sigh]

    Aaaaand, for those of you skeptics out there (yeah, I see you, way in the back, over there on the left, in the t-shirt and cut-off shorts) who STILL don't understand how a person (like me) can FORGET TO HAVE BREAKFAST, I present to you, yesterday morning:

    • Squints at clock on wall.
    • Dang, we're late (AGAIN!)
    • Grabs coffee cup.
    • Runs back to house (stupid bladder!)
    • Drive to school.
    • Reminded about some school event, in an hour.
    • Runs home to check for email.
    • Checks other emails.
    • Answers emails.
    • More email.
    • Reaches for empty coffee cup.
    • Need more coffee.
    • See box of cereal left on the table.
    • Squints at clock on coffee maker.
    • Oh, yeah, almost forgot to eat breakfast.
    • Also, need more coffee.
    • Dang, got to clean out coffee maker.
    • Looks out kitchen window.
    • Oh, what a pretty bird.
    • Squints.
    • Get off the feeder, you danged squirrel!
    • Dog careens passed to bark at squirrel bird.
    • Spill coffee grinds.
    • Stupid dog!
    • Great, paper towel roll empty (AGAIN!)
    • Starts walking towards garage door.
    • BARK-BARK-BARK-BARK-BARKITY-BARK-BARK!
    • Shuddup, Doofus!
    • Ummmmmmmmm…..
    • COFFEE!!!
    • Walks back to kitchen.
    • Dang, I'm hungry.
    • Grabs cereal box.
    • GAH, it's empty.
    • Go to throw it away, sees coffee grinds on floor.
    • DAGNABIT!!!
    • Places empty box on kitchen counter.
    • Gets paper towels, cleans up coffee grinds.
    • STARVING!!!
    • Reaches for bowl, banana and where in the heck did that cereal box go?
    • D'oh!!!
    • Throws banana peel into empty cereal box.
    • GET OFF OFFAMY BIRD FEEDER!!!
    • Stomps off to back door.
    • What's THAT smell?
    • Forgot to switch the laundry (AGAIN!)
    • Checks bathrooms for wet towels.
    • FLUSH!!!
    • I drink way tooooo much coffee.
    • COFFEE!!!
    • Start walking back to kitchen.
    • Hrmph, someone left the washing machine door…oh.
    • Walk back to bathroom for towels.
    • Stomach growls.
    • Start back to kitchen.
    • Bon Appetit, you danged squirrel bird.
    • Grabs cereal bowl.
    • Steps over coffee grinds.
    • Picks up cereal box.
    • Shakes cereal box; looks inside.
    • What the…now, who in the heck put a banana peel…[one beat, two beats]
    • Oh…DAYUM!

    So, the next time someone tells you, "I FORGOT TO EAT BREAKFAST," just smile, nod your head and know that…you know…it COULD happen!!!

    [sound of crickets]

    Or, give them a cup of coffee (or, a banana) then, take them by the hand and show them the way to the bathroom, or something, thanks!!!

    [UPDATE:  School nurse at middle school JUST called (seriously!) son is in her office, throwing up and, well, doesn't seem like I'll be eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner…anytime soon…BLECH!]

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House