This Full House Archive

Category: Glen

The Seven Years of Mommyblogging and Happy Everything!

Almost 3 years ago, I watched my oldest daughter leave the house, for the first time, as a freshman in high school and I thought to myself…PHEW!…1 down and 3 to go!

Heather's 8th Grade Formal

This year, Heather (she's my middle girl) celebrated her last year of middle school by attending the 8th grade formal.

Glen's 5th Grade Graduation

Glen (my only son) graduated 5th grade and is officially now the 3rd Thompson to hit the middle school…in 5 years.

Happy 9th Birthday, Hopey

Aaaand, my youngest daughter just celebrated her last year, before hitting double-digits and was SO excited during her 4th grade orientation, knowing that her sisters and brother attended the same school, and happily admitted to her future new principal, "Nope, I'm the LAST one!"

What? I forgot to get the candle and 8 + 1 = 9, right?

The cake was supposed to say, "Happy Everything!" but, I didn't bust my husband's chops about it (see caption) honestly, I was just too busy stumbling around…feeling all dazed and confused…okay, it's been like that for the last 7 years…but, I am STILL blogging…there, I said it, can I go home now?

As you can see, it is written all over my face (the years, since I started blogging, I mean) still, I can't help but feel that with all these changes (the aforementioned happening ALL in the same week, btw) I have reached a milestone, of my own.

No, it hasn't gotten any easier (nuh-uh, sorry!) but, at least now my kids are now old enough to realize that…nope…life isn't always perfect (I know, act surprised anyway!) however, as their mother (yes, they are ALL mine) I have also learned to embrace those imperfections (mostly) and I truly believe we are ALL stronger for it.

At least, they seem to be more than okay with it.

[hands behind back, crosses fingers and grins]

Happy Everything!!!

© 2010 This Full House Blog

June 25, 2010
Hump Day: Breakfast of Champions (i.e. Holy Hannah Montana, It IS the Week From Hell, Week!)

If you have a kid graduating/promoting/stressing over her hair for the 8th grade formal/and/or, celebrating a birthday, this week…then, you know I meant the Pepto Bismol, right?

Wake me up when Monday comes!!!

© 2010 This Full House Blog

June 16, 2010
The Boy Who Lived, Without
A Bedroom Door?

Hopey's puppet of a mean principal that's supposed to be a clown (says, she was told to think out of the box) displayed at the coffee counter (or, caw-fee, if you're from Jersey)

Last week (I think) our school district held a book fair at our local Barnes & Noble and my two youngest children were invited to read their persuasive writing pieces.

"So, what's yours about?"

My almost-9-year-old daughter wrote about being tall enough (FINALLY!) to experience her first ride on "a real roller coaster" during a visit to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, NJ last June.

"Aaaand, what did you pick?"

My 11 year-old son's piece was a little closer to home.

"Mine is about convincing you and dad to give me a door!"

We have doors. Lots of them. There's the front door, the back door, the bathroom door.

[takes breath]

There's the door that leads to the girls' bedroom and the h…e…double…hockey…sticks that is [gulp] their bathroom!

"Because, you know, everyone ELSE has a door."

My son's bedroom is upstairs, like mine, but his is at the top of the stairs and, well, long story short (you're welcome!) no, he doesn't have door.

[gulp]

"You didn't write anything that would, you know, embarrass mom, or dad, right?"

Because, heaven knows, I sure as heck wouldn't (ahem!) and, well, everyone knows that karma is a witch, right?

Riiiiiiight.

Even longer story, shorter (seriously, you should be thanking me!) oh yes, there was lots of lamenting about stuff, like:

(a) Being the only boy, stinks.

(b) Having a bedroom without a door, stinks even more.

(c) Having the litter box…in his room…you guessed it…stinks, BIGTIME.

(d) His sisters are barging in all the time.

(e) Refer to (a) above.

In hindsight, I should be glad that their readings were held in the cafe.

"What did he just say?"

Aaaand, that the blender was really, really loud.

"He can't keep the girls out of his bedroom!"

[eyes go wide]

"No, I don't think he means regular girls…dear."

[one beat, two beats]

"Oh, well, no wonder his parents won't give him a door!"

Not for nothing, but you gotta love senior citizens (they were sisters, I think) but, I don't believe a hearing aide would have made a difference, either way and I shudder to think what the sweet old lady meant by "un-regular" girls.

"What is your boy's name?"

[bites lower lip]

"Harry…Harry Potter."

Aaaand, he's moving…to the closet…under the stairs…next week!

"Oh, that's nice dear."

I mean, it DOES have a door (sort of!)

© 2010 This Full House Blog

June 9, 2010
Wordless Wendesday: Welcome to Cape May Light House

I love how Hope is using one of her flip flops as the steering wheel – here are some more photos from our weekend away at Cape May – yes, this IS New Jersey.

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

May 26, 2010
Lost and Found

To think, this mommy/daughter mugging for the camera moment was nearly lost, forever!

Last week, I wrote about how we hit the road and drove to Cape May for the weekend (yes, even the Doofus-Dawg seemed excited about his first road trip) and I did promise you pictures, to prove that Jersey is NOT all what you see outside your window, flying over Newark Airport (seriously, dude, we ARE called the garden state) but, my middle girl hid her camera from me, because I broke mine and, you know, she's smart like that.

"You can't use my camera."

Gosh, but some 14 year-olds can get very touchy about using their stuff, right?

"Why not?"

Sheesh, I only wanted to grab the memory card and already promised NOT to touch anything else.

"Because, I lost it."

Now, I could've reprimanded Heather for being forgetful, or acting irresponsibly with her stuff, but, well, it would be sort of like talking to myself, really.

"Lost what?"

Gosh, but some almost 9 year-olds can get very nosey about stuff, right?

"Never mind."

Now that ALL the laundry from the trip is done (almost) STILL no camera.

"Quick…take MY picture next!"

I was telling someone at school how upset Heather was (about losing her camera, I mean) and…wait a minute…what the?

"Who's camera is that?"

Long story short (you're welcome!) my youngest daughter found Heather's camera shoved into the pocket behind the driver's seat in the minivan and, well, thank goodness for nosey little almost 9 year-olds!

"Hey, I found it FIRST!"

Wanna see other moments nearly lost?

(more…)

May 24, 2010
Change is Good, Failing is Better

I took this picture of Hope and Glen (my two youngest) in 2005 — the year my parents moved out of the house I grew up in — and, already, my son was very protective of his baby sister.

"I don't want her to fall in da wah-der!"

Didn't matter that my father's koi pond was only about ankle-deep; in true Thompson fashion, my son is a born worrier (he gets that from his father) and, well, his concern for the physical and emotional well-being of everyone around him was sort of, you know, cute.

Last night, however, turned chronic.

"I can't make ANYONE happy."

5 years have passed (I know, wasn't it just yesterday I was blogging about his peeing on a tree?) and, although the stories are pretty much the same (only, with less pee) I find myself feeling as if we BOTH haven't learned a gosh-darned thing.

"I don't understand?"

You see, my 11 year-old son is entering middle school next year and long story short (you're welcome!) let's just say the boy is feeling a little stressed.

"My teacher, you and dad, are ALL pushing me!"

Okay, A LOT STRESSED.

"To do what?"

Seriously, the kid was blowing snot and — although, my husband and I had already had a talk with his teacher and discussed her concerns over his penchant for day dreaming — he's been carrying and A/B average and I was at a loss as to why he was SO upset.

"I'm going to fail."

Oh. I know this one. In fact, 5 years ago, during my middle girl's parent-teacher conference, I was the ONLY parent to cheer when her 3rd grade teacher told me that she had failed her 1st math test.

"It's about time the kid learns to fail, something!"

Her teacher agreed, btw.

"All your father and I care about is that you do your best."

Apparently, my son's teacher feels differently.

"She said I was going to get absolutely lost in Middle School!"

Look, I get it. I couldn't do what she does — teach, someone else's kid, I mean — however, I know my son and — although, I think, having our kids attend K-3, switch to another school for grades 4 and 5, and then again to the middle school, our school system hasn't helped to make it ANY easier — this time, I believe the change will do him good.

"I think you're going to be just fine."

For the next 3 years, anyway.

"Just ask Holly and Heather!"

My 2 oldest daughters have already given him a run down of all the cool teachers and the, you know, not so cool teachers he'll probably get…in middle school.

"What are you doing, Hope?"

My youngest daughter (she's 8) ran out of the room to grab a pen and piece of paper.

"I want to write a letter to the principal of my new school…"

She's graduating 3rd grade next month and is changing schools, too, OY!

"…and I want to tell her that I want Holly's and Heather's teachers, ONLY!"

If ONLY life was that easy, right?

"Don't worry, Hopey, I already told her AND the nurse that my youngest sister is coming!"

You see, some things NEVER change AND my son happens to know that his baby sister is a frequent flyer!

"The nurse's office has got PLENTY of band aids!"

Hope, however, rolls like her mother.

© 2010 This Full House

May 21, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Ocean’s Eleven

Photograph courtesy of my 11 year-old son, who FINALLY aced his last math test and has a penchant for blue.

What? It was either a $9.00 bottle of color, or a new cell phone — yes, I am also ONE OF THOSE parents!

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

May 12, 2010
No Business 4 Boyz

My 8 year-old is SUCH a free spirit and, unlike her sisters, is a bit of a Tomboy, as well (she gets that from me) and, well, being the youngest of 4, the survival instinct is strong with this one.

"I wanna do the Lip Sync show, again!"

Last year, her older sisters helped choreograph Hope and her friends in performing, "We Got the Beat" by the GoGos and, more importantly, I didn't have to do a gosh-darned thing, other than, you know, drive them to and from the show.

"Am I picking your daughters up at school, or your house?"

This year, however, I did even less.

"I dunno?"

Lip-sync-related stuff, I mean.

"What time do we have to be there?"

My father was scheduled for major surgery and, well, if you were to ask me a week ago, at this EXACT time, exactly what was on my mind, I would have said…uh…I dunno, what day is it, again?

"The show starts at 7 o'clock!"

However, by Friday they had kicked my dad out of the hospital (thank you for ALL the good thoughts, btw, they worked) and he's recovering, quite well.

"Can't wait to see the show!"

I was so ready for the week to be over, but had no clue what to expect, other than their act was based on the Risky Business dance scene, this Heidi Klum Guitar Hero commercial and one of my favorite episodes of The Nanny (you know, Fran Drescher…she tawks funny) and they called themselves, No Business 4 Boyz!

They did a FABULOUS job, right (Hope is the cutey on the left) so, who's the boy?

"What a good big brother you are!"

Apparently, my oldest daughter bribed my 11 year-old son to play the part of the "boss man" (for the latest issue of his favorite wrestling magazine, I think) and extortion sorta runs in the family…here in Jersey, anyways.

"I had to sit in a room full of screaming girls!"

I'm sorta glad it's over, too.

"I almost threw up."

Aaaaand, I'm grateful that, as they get older, my kids really seem to enjoy helping each other out.

"But, I just swallowed it and walked on stage."

Mostly.

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

May 10, 2010
Parenting Tip #2,100,382:
Always Learn the Rules, So You Can Break Them Properly

I'm a BIG believer in Karma — what comes around goes around, you get what you give and all that — it's simple, easy to remember and exactly the sort of logic required, to help ward off a sixth sense for getting myself into trouble,.

In other words, I am very capable of making an asshat out of myself, without anyone's help…thankyouverymuch, Mr. Dalai Lama!

For example: Wednesday – I wrote a post, on my shopping blog, about raising free spirits and teaching my girls to embrace their own sense of style.

KARMA…KARMA…KARMA…BAM!

Then, yesterday morning, I got home, saw the red light blinking on the answering machine and thought about, you know, ignoring it.

I mean, it could have been HGTV.

"Congratulations, you've been chosen as the winner of Green Home 2010!"

Probably not.

"Uh, hi, Mom, it's me, Glen…"

[wince]

"…um…well…uh…I'm in the principal's office…"

Seriously?

"…I got in trouble for wearing my wrestling t-shirt."

Yesterday, my son was sent to the principal's office for "inappropriate" attire and, well, I kinda, sorta KNEW that he was breaking the dress code and, you know, sent him to school, anyway.

"Are they gonna let you wear
that shirt?"

I wish I could say it was a rebellious need to question the school's authority in deciding what my kids should eat, drink and/or wear — although, I sometimes do think folks are getting a little, you know, militant about that sort of stuff — rather than, admit it was a simple attack of mommy brain.

"Yeah, I wore it to school lots of times."

Honestly, I guess I was just feeling really tired of arguing (ALL THE TIME) and, well, we were already late for our carpool.

"Fine."

Besides, it's about time my kids started accepting responsibility for their actions and, well, maybe even I can learn how to quit blaming myself, for every little thing they do wrong, right?

[beep]

Odd. He hung up. Oh, well…look, there's another message…maaaaaaaybe…

"Um…I forgot…you need to come to school and bring me a new shirt!"

D'oh…shuddup Dalai Lama…stupid HGTV!,

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

April 23, 2010
NWF Be Out There Challenge: Reflections, Senior Living and Shuffleboard

Me and My Mom on Good Friday 2010

DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Then, Day 2 and it was time to send out for an Ark!

[wipes feet]

Finally, we were able to get outside and fall into a pot of fairy soup.

[sound of crickets chirping]

Moving on…I love that picture of me and my mom (up there) because, there really aren't many pictures of me, or my mom, let alone, the both of us…together…since, you know, we're the ones usually doing all the picture-taking.

My mom and dad are going through a real rough patch, with several health issues, right now (theirs and my twin brothers) and, well, based on years of personal study (what can I say, I'm a people watcher) in my opinion, hanging with the grand kids can sometimes have a real positive healing effect.

Did I mention, we Hungarians are a very reflective lot? We have open forums and very passionate discussions (ahem) about the meaning of life sort of stuff and, well, there aren't many secrets in my family.

Like, here, Heather is reflecting on the fact that her mother (that would be me) did NOT give her enough time to straighten her hair (seriously, takes forever) before going out…in public…and having to wear a ponytail (which she hates) and, well, I didn't make her smile for the camera, or anything.

I did, however, catch a quiet (albeit, very, very RARE) little happy moment, shared between siblings but…shhhhhhh…don't tell 'em, okay?

Then, there's my youngest, Hope (she's 8) but, her Jersey name is Hopey Baseballs.

Who's STILL reflecting on the fact that mom did NOT sign her up for softball…in time.

As, my only son, Glen reflects on the fact that mom managed to miss baseball sign-ups, as well, DAMMIT.

And, Holly, who insists she HATES playing anything that remotely resembles a sport (she'd rather spend her day reflecting on a piece of art in a museum, somewhere) well, even she seemed to enjoy…using the golf pitch…for baseball practice.

However, all 4 of my kids are ALL about shuffleboard; the sport of cruise camps, senior living facilities and retirement communities, everywhere!

Yep, we ARE down with the shuffleboard and, after 5 years of incessant taunting by their grandparents (i.e., I can't believe I've been beat by a senior citizen!) my kids are gosh-darned good at it, too.

Cross-posted to our 365 Days mircoblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)

No, it may not have been a day in Disney World (seriously, we are
perhaps the only family, in Jersey, who has NOT had breakfast with a
princess, yet) but, it's nice to know that even a leisurely day, spent outdoors, with the people who love you the most, well, Holy Hannah Montana, the kids and I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Reflect on that, Mickey!

Now take your kids and GET OUT (heh) also, you can visit the NWF site for ideas on what you can do to get these kids outside…besides, promising them a trip to Disney…I mean!

[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

April 5, 2010