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I received a notification from Facebook recently, letting me know that…HEY!!!…we're going to delete this page you created, forever ago…because WE ARE FACEBOOK…and whatever Facebook wants, FACEBOOK GETS, right?!?! At first, I was all…meh, there hasn't been any activity on this particular page since 2010…and A LOT has happened, since then…soooo, who cares…g'head, deeeeeeleeeeeete it!!! And then, the logical more smarter part of my brain kicked in (yes, it DOES exist!) and something inside me said….hey, DUMBASS!!!….maybe you should click on over and see what got Facebook all…WE'RE KICKING YOUR PAGE OFFA FACEBOOK…you know…just in case.

Hey look! The year I let my son color the top of his head blue, because it's funny to think that he's halfway through boot camp now, but I am and always will be THAT mom!

OMG! I totally forgot about TFH Photoblog - started in 2009, when photo journals were ALL the rage (and Facebook was still a toddler), using the BESTEST, AWESOMEST, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER, not to mention, ABSOLUTELY FRIGALICIOUS camera…EVUH!!!…gifted to us from GarthNHRN…back when people still used cameras and…you know…we actually had spending money.

I called this one, Riptide — dang, that was pretty clever of me (WAS SO!) 

I then remembered about Google photos and…HEY!!!…there is a whole BUNCH of stuff backed-up and stored over there, too…in fact, there's quite a few my kids would NEVER appreciate my posting…as much as I do…RIGHT NOW!!!

Like that one time…in 2013…when we repainted the girls' room and it was SUPER-clean…for about a week…ahhhhhhh…THOSE were the good old daze, my friends!!!

1980 U.S. Hockey Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Craig and…ummmmm…well, you know, I don't know who THAT weirdo standing next to him is, sheesh, what a dork!

Oh, and that time I met MY teenage crush, Jim Craig…look it up, youngsters…which brings to mind ALL of the awesome opportunities and partnerships I've worked towards, as a blogger, since the beginning of time…including my current full-time job…thanks to this here blip in the blogosphere…BUT…I still look good, DANGIT!!!

The last time Doofus visited with my parents, to help celebrate my Dad's birthday last year, because he was SUCH a good dog, we miss you, Doofy!

And then there are photos that pull at my heart strings…LIKE A VIRTUAL TUG OF WAR…because who knew these little moments would one day bring on HUGE feelings of joy and gratitude, ALL THE FEELS, captured in one photograph.

I think it's also NO small coincidence that today happens to be Throwback Thursday, weird, right?!? RIGHT?!? Riiiiiiiight. And just think, if it wasn't for Facebook YELLING AT ME, on a Throwback Thursday, I maybe would've missed this opportunity to stop, drop, and scroll through a decade's worth of This Full House. All the feels. ALL OF THEM!

Because one day…not too far into the distant future…these kids will have kids of their own and…well…my extremely-spoiled grandchildren (by me, of course!) will thank their [insert some really cool and hip grandparent-like term of endearment, I haven't come up with yet, here] for giving them the opportunity to get to know what their parents were really like…when they were annoying…I mean…tweens and teens…BUT NOT JUST YET!!!

In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I'll be sitting here watching this video I found of Glen, taken during one of our family hikes this past Spring, when he tried to walk on slightly frozen water — it's been 7 weeks since he left, it's hard to believe he's already halfway through boot camp — I imagine he'll think worrying about getting his sneakers wet lame now, because Marines, OOHRAH!!

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I've been blogging for a while — like the equivalent of a Jurassic period of time, in Internet years — and man have things changed since those early days of dialing in and waiting more than a nano-second for your modem to connect, I could:

• Clean up breakfast
• Take a shower
• Or not
• And then eat MY breakfast, for lunch

And I'd still have time to pick my two oldest up from pre-school, before FINALLY getting online!

via GIPHY

For my first blog post of 2017, however, I'm going to attempt to do what I've done for the last 13 years — THIRTEEN years, that's a WHOLE teenager, you guys! —  I'm going to continue to share stuff that will hopefully help OTHER folks feel WAY better about themselves.

via GIPHY

Because adulting is hard, right?!?! Not to mention, when you're already sharing valuable head space with other adults, successfully adulting adultier adults, RIGHT?!?! 

[passes remote control, hugs throw pillow a little tighter]

Riiiiiiiiiight.

[cracks knuckles, blows side bangs out of eyes]

You've heard of Pregnancy Brain, right?!? How about Mommy Brain, or maybe Momnesia?!? Yep, I feel it pretty safe to say we've each experienced bouts of forgetfulness; however, did you know that the severity of these bouts increases exponentially by the number of kids you have living in your house, at the time?!? For example:

• Kid #1: Note to self — remember to order multiple copies of school pics, one for each season, because…OMG!…soooooo cute!
• Kid #2: Note to self — maybe order the Spring pics only, because…well…they've GROWN SO MUCH since September…and they seemed to have gotten a little more pricey (the pics AND the kids) and the Spring pics really DO have the prettiest backgrounds.
• Kid #3: DAYUM, SCHOOL PICS ARE 'SPENSIVE!!!
• Kid #4: Wait, what grade are you in, again?!?!

So, today I remembered to order Glen's (a.k.a. Kid #3) senior photos.

Glen's senior pic, I think!

Because I just found the reminder (hiding on top of the printer, with the rest of the incoming mail) and we're late (with ordering pics, not like late late, because NO MORE PREGNANCY BRAIN FOR ME!), we're 2 months past the DEADLINE, but I felt ZERO guilt when hearing my husband on the phone with the studio, because DAYUM SCHOOL PICS ARE 'SPENSIVE!

Garth(NHRN): I paid them the balance and they're going to mail the pics to us!

[blank stare]

Me: Great, and if the grandparents happen to ask about them in a couple of months, I'll know EXACTLY where to look!

Long story, short: I'm sorry to have to tell you that adulting does NOT get any easier, especially when adulting adult and almost-adult kids, BUT you DO become more forgiving, especially with yourself, so there's that!

On the other hand: Don't let someone make you feel like you're not doing this whole adult thing right, because THEIR KIDS will probably grow up to believe they've been doing it ALL wrong too, anyway – YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

On the OTHER other hand: My kids feel real lucky whenever I do get their names right AND thank goodness Kid #4 has made it to her sophomore year…in one piece…or at least, I'm pretty sure she's a sophomore…ahem.

[sound of crickets, chirping]

Stupid school photos, dumbass adulting.

I've always been a big fan of Fridays. In fact, my first published article (outside of this blog) from October 16, 2003 (forever ago, in Internet years) is entitled, "TGIF" and dedicated to all my fellow full-time stay-at-home Moms, who also looked forward to Fridays, as I did, at the time.

Eleventy-three years later, I'm now a full-time working-outside-the-home-type Mom, while my husband plays the role of the stay-at-home parent (way better than I ever did, btw!) who's grown to truly appreciate the magic of three-day weekends, too!

Last week, I was able to take off the Thursday AND Friday before President's Day (our office was closed, yesterday) and, well, I was looking forward to spending my mini-vacation of doing absolutely nothing of real importance, with my clan.

Had fun hanging out with the night shift, but hoping to go home sometime later today. And this is where you tell me just how much of a dumbass I am, for not keeping up with filling my bp meds, and I'm all thumbs up in agreement. #dontbelikemekids

Until, my being admitted into the hospital at midnight, this past Friday and, well, there's a reason why my husband and I don't really exert very much effort into scheduling to do stuff — for us, life almost always has other plans – although, when it comes to resting up, some people would argue that my being in the hospital sort of forces one's hand, and to those people I would say…NAAAAAAAH, BRUH!!!…and I would also feel it safe to say…one does not simply rest or relax…in a hospital.

My middle girl came by to sit with me and she brought me presents. She knows her mama, well 🙂

Especially, now that my kids are old enough to recognize when their mother or father (but, mostly their mother) is being a total dumbass, especially about not taking better care of her/himself (again, mostly me) and my BIGGEST takeaway from this latest episode of…DON'T BE LIKE ME, KIDS…is that my kids will call me out, for being a dumbass, in a heartbeat.

Me: So, they're not letting me go home for another 24 hours.

Middle Girl: Aaaaaand, whose fault is that?

Here's the thing, the thing is — I haven't been taking very good care of myself and, although I did have my blood pressure medication refilled AND re-scheduled a follow-up with my cardiologist regarding the same exact issues that caused this latest hospital stay, I realized it a little too late.

Instinct tells me to insert something really ironically funny about my spending Valentine's Day in the hospital, but heart disease is no joke – my Dad is fighting for his life, as we speak! It did, however, give me an opportunity to think about the last few months…A LOT…and played a HUGE part in holding myself accountable for being THAT dumbass, because I do NOT want to cause my kids any additional heartache, when taking care of a sick parent…not if I can help it…I mean. 

26 years, 5 cars, 4 kids, 3 cats, 2 many fish to count and 1 doofus dawg since our blind first date, this truly IS the best Valentine's Day gift EVER: Receiving a heartfelt text from GarthNHRN, before being wheeled down for my echocardiogram…priceless 🙂

And, honestly, I can't think of a better way to spend a Valentine's Day, can you?

[the sound of crickets, chirping]

Fiiiiiiiiine, dinner and a movie would have been pretty awesome.

Getting texted by my 14yo, reminding me to NOT be a dumbass, isn't too bad, either.

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I love sharing information on products and services that perhaps help make life for larger families (like mine) a little easier, or give back to the community, by partnering with brands, networking with writers and connecting with REAL families (ditto) online.

[takes a deep breath]

Here are a few of my favorite projects I’ve worked on and…yes…I do this AND more, ALL from my kitchen table, mostly:

• Featured blogger and interviewed on SheSpeaks.com.

• Kellogg’s Champions of #GreatStarts Blogger, 2014

• Featured blogger for the United Nations’ Shot@Life – 28 Days of Impact campaign.

• Together Counts Ambassador and Featured Blogger for 2013

• Partnered with Pedigree as a “Feeding Project Ambassador” for 2013

• Kellogg’s Champions of #GreatStarts  Blogger, 2013

• Partnered with Clorox as a “Power a Bright Future Blogger” for 2012

• Featured blogger for United Nations’ Shot@Life – Blogust12 Blog Relay for Good campaign.

• Featured blogger for KatieCouric.com — published piece on dating violence.

• Featured blogger for Hershey’s Camp Bondfire campaign on Facebook

• Kellogg’s Mom Ambassador, 2012

• Partnered with Hallmark as a “Life is a Special Occasion Blogger” for 2012

• Upromise College Savings Holiday Ambassador 2011

• Partnered with BlogHer and CVS/Minute Clinic to film a psa video at BlogHer 2011

• Waste Management, The Bagster Bag Challenge Blogger

• Partnered with Allstate in promoting their Good Hands Roadside Assistance Program

• Blog Frog Community Leader for Horizon Dairy Healthy Families

• With mention in The Digital Mom Handbook

• Hershey’s S’mores Summer Series Program

• Featured Blogger for Nestle Family Summer Activity Center, 2011

• WNET Channel Thirteen’s  Kids Club Thirteen Ambassador, 2011

• Kmart.com’s Playdate Place Featured Blogger, 2011

• Apartment Guide New Year,  New Space Challenge Blogger

• Random Acts of Zhu for the Holidays Blogger 2010

• Partnered with some of my favorite brands to create TFH Holiday Picks 2010

• Kellogg’s FiberPlus Wellness Ambassador

• Pink Dozen Blogger for Eggland’s Best partnership with Susan G. Komen

• Member of the Moms Breakfast Club and blogger sponsored by Kellogg

• 77kids (by American Eagle) Do Good Day:  Team Captain, New Jersey

• Charter Member of the CleverGirls 1000 and CleverGirls Wine Club

• Eggo Breakfast/Morning Mom

• Kleenex Hand Song Ambassador
  

• American Girl Parent Partner

• Frigidaire Test Drive Mom, 2010:  Super Influencer (washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and over the stove microwave)

• P&G Thank You Mom Program, 2010

• National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Founding Mother, 2010

• GoodNites Bedtime Theater Blogger, 2010

• PalmPre Plus Blogger, 2010

• Glamour Magazine Glambassador, 2009

• GoodNites Special Bedtime Moments Blogger, 2009

• Omron Overstep Your Bounds Challenge Blogger, 2009:  Where I won a $5,000 donation to my local RMH!

• Ford Flex Road Test Blogger, 2009

• Xbox 360 Live Blogger, 2009

• Campbells Mom Blogger, 2009

• Blogging Out Hunger, 2008

• ESRB Game Rating Summaries, 2008:  Filmed their b-roll at This Full House (the house!)

Yep, that’s me (uh, on the right) hanging out with Carson Kressley at the Nikon Event (no, he probably doesn’t remember me, I know, still, you believe me, right?) along with about a thousand other women who attended the BlogHer Conference 2009 in Chicago.

Have you heard of BlogHer?  I’ve been a member for…um…what year is it, anyway?  All kidding aside (mostly) BlogHer is populated by a great community of women (like me) who happen to enjoy sharing stuff on the Internet AND, more importantly, are inspired by women helping women. Long story short: we make it a habit of supporting each other…both online and IRL.

I missed out on the #BlogHer OG (original Gangstuh) by two years, but I have attended: BlogHer 2007, 2008, 2009 and, along with my dear friend @BusyMom,  risked riding in a NYC ambulance in order to save a fellow blogger at BlogHer 2010 (seriously, you just can’t make some of this stuff up!) oh, and I left my heart in San Deigo during BlogHer 2012; began working with the Events Team as a contractor for BlogHer 2013 and BlogHer 2014; attended BlogHer 2015 as a full-time SheKnows employee!

In 2016 and 2017, I’ve had the EXTREME pleasure of working once again with the fabulous BlogHer Events Team, as the Senior Sponsor Experience Manager for ‪#‎BlogHer‬, ‪#‎BlogHerFood‬!

I know, right?!?! Full circle!!!! I have been a member of the #BlogHer community since the very beginning. Fun fact: This Full House is a charter member of their ad network, true story! Sooooo, I am so very proud and thrilled to continue my work in helping to promote our blogging community, one that I have grown to love AND adopt as family, because what’s one more, right?!?! 

I attended my first blogging event in October 2007 as a guest speaker for the Disney Corporate Alliance Conference in Anaheim, CA which also gave me the opportunity to meet a longtime blogger friend, IRL.

Me and Donna (a.k.a. SocalMom)

Although I have since attended many, many, and oh so many more blogging events over the years, connecting with like-minded individuals (i.e. real parents, doing the best they can) never gets old. Here are a few events where the organizers actually asked me to say something…on purpose:

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Brands and Bloggers Summit 2012 (#BBSummit12)
            Speaker: Blogger Panel

Guest on Brands and Bloggers Radio show 3/21/12 (#BBRadio)

Johnson & Johnson – Skillman, NJ

Guest Speaker: Consumer Day – Mom Blog Panel

Bulldog Reporter – Audio Conference Speaker

Pitching Mommy Bloggers: Top Women Online Influencers Reveal Best PR Pitches and Strategies to Drive 42 Million Consumers to Your Product or Service 

Johnson & Johnson – Skillman, NJ
Guest Speaker:  21st Century Moms Panel

M2Moms: The Marketing to Moms Conference (Chicago, IL) Guest Speaker: Moms 2.0 – How Moms are Using the Web for All Aspects of Their Life

PERSONAL APPEARANCES

Featured on CVS/Minute Clinic Tips for Dealing with Back-to-School Ailments video during BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, CA (http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/2011/08/spending-time-with-the-minuteclinic-at-blogher.html)

Featured on Kmart’s Playdate Tips from Experts video during Kmart’s first Playdate Picnic 07/16/11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZIOGrnNKWY&feature=share)

Featured on video introducing Kmart’s PlaydatePlace.com Parents (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f72ha3-M710)

This Full House partnered with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) in promoting their new online search tool — the kids and I are featured on their b-roll and official press release dated 11/12/08:

Official Press Release:  ESRB Announces New Video Game Rating Summaries

Official Press Release:  ESRB Announces New Video Game Rating Summaries [pdf]

Video on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFUHOc1r4wo)

Do You Know What Video Games Your Kids Are Playing?http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/11/do-you-know-wha.html)

Press Release: This Full House Partners with the ESRB in Helping Parents Make a Choice – Because, we are all, by any practical definition of the words, fallible and capable of error. (http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/11/press-release-t.html

This is where I share some really cool stuff  folks have said and/or written about me (yes, ME!) and, well, everyone could use a little linky love byte, every now and again, thankyouverymuch!

FEATURED BLOGGER: via SheSpeaks.com

FEATURED IN UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION NEWS & MEDIA

TOP BLOGGERS LEND THEIR VOICES TO FEBRUARY CELEBRATION OF THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL VACCINES

So honored to have been a part of the #Blogust12 campaign:  31 bloggers reached their goal of 10,000 comments in 31 days to protect 10,000 children from diarrhea, pneumonia, polio and measles.  Enough said!

FEATURED BLOG: via Everything Typepad

Named by 4KidsorMore.com as their first and inaugurial Mom of the Week!

This Full House named “Top 75 Blog Parents of Teens Should Read!” via Bold Earth Teen Adventures — click here to view press release.

FEATURED BLOGGER: on Bloggers.com – my profile.

Interviewed and quoted in a Media Post Publication on Engaging Moms:  Link to article,  Brand Loyalty, Moms and the Web.

Listed as Trop 50 Fab Five at Veep Veep,  Dishin’ with Dawndi and The Adventures of the Headless Family — I am so, SO honored to be able to call these awesome bloggers, my friends.

77kids Do Good Day:  Team Captain, New Jersey — event coverage picked up by pingg.com and Operation Gratitude!

This Full House chosen as one of Babble’s Best 50 Mommy Bloggers at Babble.com (Of course, I asked them if, you know, they had the right blog!)

Travel posts featured on UpTake.com (direct links, below):

http://attractions.uptake.com/massachusetts/cape_cod/938633507.html

Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/aDFb0c

http://attractions.uptake.com/landmarks/massachusetts/fall_river/battleship_cove_20390343.html

Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/a9h7TF

http://attractions.uptake.com/national_state_parks/pennsylvania/gettysburg/gettysburg_national_military_park_8017756.html

Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/9Df9Yv

Featured Blogger at Life360.com: direct link to my interview with Life360.com

 

This Full House named as Trop50 (Tropicana Juice) Top 100 Bloggers

Featured as a 2009 “Glambassador” for Glamour Magazine

Interviewed for inaugurial launch of Mom Market Trends first in a series of monthly profiles of Mom Bloggers:  http://childsplaypr.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/mom-blogger-profile-liz-thompson-of-this-full-house/ 

TOP 10 PRODUCT REVIEW MOM BLOGS: This Full House Reviews is listed on Top 10 Product Review Mom Blogs on Blogs.com

Featured blogger for the Parent Bloggers Network and interviewed for their June Newsletter

Interviewed and quoted on ABC News in article, “Mom-nesia:  When Mothers Forget Babies”

[Excerpt:  Forgetting Your Kids]

Liz Thompson, a mom of four, told ABCNEWS.com that she “can’t remember a darn thing anymore.” “When I take the kids to the doctor and they ask how old they are or when their birthdays are, I have to ask the kids,” said Thompson, who writes for the New Jersey Moms’ Blog. “The more children you have the less brain cells you’re left with at the end of the day.”

Interviewed and quoted in newspaper article, “Mommy Blogs Are Gaining Visibility” on NorthJersey.com.

[Excerpt]

Liz Thompson, a five-year veteran of the New Jersey mom-blogging scene, will be among the contributors. The Monmouth County mother of four has a blog, thisfullhouse.com, to share her thoughts and observations on parenting, product reviews, and teaching kids how to blog.

Her 100-plus visitors a day can compete for product giveaways – this month, a video camera. And as professional as her blog has become, the income she makes from sponsorship and other traditional advertisements is hardly enough to pay for groceries and gas, Thompson said.

“If I’m able to get a little bit out of it, that’s great,” Thompson said. “That’s not why I do it, though. I just love to write, and I love that a blog gives you the chance to have a different discussion with different people every day.”

OTHER MENTIONS

“Hip Hop and Lemon Drops” was picked up for syndication by The Chicago Sun Times.

“Smile You’re on Candid Karma” was picked up for syndication by The Chicago Sun Times.

This Full House listed as one of the “Mom” sites on Alltop.com

Mommy & Daughters’Interview with Woody Winfree, author and creator of the “I Am Beautiful Project,” about body image.

Mention inBlogHer’s Mommy and Family.

Guest Blogger forThe Dana Files.

Mentioned inThe Mommybloggers

This Full House is named in a list ofTop 100 Mom Blogsat Mother’s Day Central.

Featured asWondertime Magazine “Real Parent.”

Featured as one ofDisney’s Family Bloggers on Family.com.

Disney’s Family.com Parent Team Advisory Board Member.

Mentioned in Guy Kawasaki’sThe Ultimate Mommy Blog List.

Valentine’s Day essay posted with Mommybloggers – it was about my Doofus-dog.

Best Parenting Blog Finalist in the 2005 Weblog Awards, sponsored by Wizbang.

Article, “Death Viewed from a Minivan,” published in Nurturing Magazine.

Please feel free to visit my Credentials Page, or  if you’d like to learn a little more about my work, check out my Writing Page, Speaking Page, Blogging Events Page, as well, when you have time, of course.

My husband Garth (not his real name) and I were talking while doing the dishes, yesterday…because it's one of the very few times we can pretty much guarantee ourselves some privacy, at our house.

PSA: Teens have a hard time figuring out when the dishwasher is clean (or dirty) unless they are specifically told the dishwasher NEEDS to be changed and then they suddenly (and very mysteriously) become SEVERELY allergic to doing the dishes.

Aaaaaanyway, I was doing the math…WHAT?!?…it COULD happen…and realized Garth (not his real name) and I had just celebrated our 25th Thanksgiving, together.

Which is REAL weird, considering we only recently got married…in my head, anyway…AND don't EVEN get me started on how it's possible we could have 4 teenagers in the house?!?!

Fiiiiiiiiine, the oldest is twenty-something…I'm in denial…A'IGHT?!?!

Aaaaaaanyway, I get all mushy, gushy and squishy around the holidaze — okay, more than usual — and I seemed to have passed on some of the mushy-gushy-squishy genes to my kids…in varying degrees, of course.

Youngest: Time to break out the Christmas movies, which one do we watch first?!?!

It's a family tradition, that dates back to I don't remember when, but it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving…unless someone is fighting over which one of the Christmas movies to watch…first.

Garth(NHRN): Christmas Vacation.

On this one, Daddy wins.

Middle Girl: What movie should we watch, next?!?!

I only wanted to close my eyes for a few minutes (dang you, turkey coma!), but I somehow managed to sleep right through Christmas Vacation and…well…I've seen it enough times and could probably recite the entire movie…but I won't…you're welcome!

Oldest: How about we see what's on these old VHS tapes?

Last year, I found a couple of unmarked tapes and tossed them into the bucket.

Me: Uh-oh!!!

[blank stares]

Me (to my husband): I dunno, you think it's safe?!?!

[one beat, two beats]

Oldest: OMG!!!

Middle girl: REALLY?!?!

The boy: I just ate, ova here!!!

Youngest: What?!? WHAT?!? Ohhhhhhhhh…and…EWWWWWW!!!!!

And so ended the Thanksgiving that I made Garth (not his real name) belly-laugh all the way to the bathroom.

[wipes eyes]

I win, EVERYTHING!

©2003 -2014 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook, a way for you to subscribe to receive This Full House blog post by Email and everything!

Our middle daughter loves New England and has always dreamed of attending Boston University, since she was in middle school.  So, we made an appointment to take a tour of the campus and drove up to Massachusetts, late last night.

Heather is a senior, so we're smack-dab in the middle of the college applications rush, but it is only the second college tour, we've taken so far.

She attends one of four specialized vocational academies, which has more of an accelerated curriculum than our home high school.  This has proven to be both a blessing and a curse — especially to a Type A personality, like Heather.

Long story, short:  the girl is a hot mess.

Boston University is on a short list of her top three choices, including NYU (took our tour, last month) and Northeastern University, which is also here in Boston.

Did I mention, the girl LOVES Boston?!?  

Except, this time, she wasn't really acting all that excited and I thought maybe it was because we were running on about 4 hours sleep or…even worse…she was just too tightly wrapped up inside, to enjoy the moment.

I kept nudging her with my elbow and whispering, "Wow, isn't THIS cool?!?" and "How awesome is THAT, right?!?"

Wasn't it just yesterday he was teaching her how to walk?!?

Guess what?!?  No matter how HARD you try, you cannot pass along enthusiasm — especially, through your elbow — so, I decided to hang back and was able to capture this awesome moment with her dad.

Even longer story, short:  she finally admitted (to her dad) to NOT being "blown away" by the B.U. tour (or not being as excited as she was about NYU, anyway) and how she simply felt AWFUL about it.

"Aaaaaand, we came ALL this way, I'm sorry."

Later, after a little talking and A LOT more walking, my husband and I were able to finally convince her that it was SO NOT a wasted trip and, in fact, I suggested that she consider it as an investment in her future, instead — because Type A's like it when you get all analytical, like that.

"Besides, if I do choose NYU, it means I could come home for weekends."

Of course, I couldn't help but agree…HOW AWESOME IS THAT, RIGHT?!?…and it's always a real good idea to have a Plan B…C…D…or how EVER many it takes…because we've got until December 1st…and us Type B's are super-easy-going, like that.

©2003 -2013 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook and everything!

I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, so far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!