This freaky little flashback was inspired by my friend, the lyrically-gifted BusyMom (apparently, she grew up watching really weird stuff on t.v., too!)
See, and we turned out alright…right…RIGHT?
[sound of crickets chirping]
OH…look…OVER THERE…BusyMom's wearing pigtails?
SLAM!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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.
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.
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]
Moving on.
I'm scheduled to work at the gym, this afternoon (stupid braces, dumb college fund) but, I left the camera home, with my kids and, well, it'll be interesting to see what they come up with.
Yesterday, I decided to allow my 2 oldest girls to sleep in (as if, I could wake them, or I had any other choice) and took Doofus-Dawg for a walk.
Having spent the last 3 days home, alone, with 2 very cranky teenagers (trust me on this one) my 2 youngest were more than happy to tag along!
"Let's go and visit the waterfall!"
When they were little-er (yes, it's a word!) we would take pre-nap walks into the next neighborhood and visit "the waterfall."
"It used to look a whole lot bigger."
Still, there's something really cool about the water…even if it's simply rushing over an embankment…no matter how old you are, I think.
Not to mention, the moss-lined creek running through our little corner of the suburbs, in Jersey; who'da thunk, right?
Aaaand, there was lots and lots of onion grass!
Good thing, because the fairies, who live under "the waterfall," just LOVE onion soup; or, so I'm told.
Even though he would NEVER admit it (out loud) Glen still believes in flower fairies — yes, he does — especially, when exploring the woods behind our house, or hunting for fire flies in the summertime and most especially whenever his little sister is around.
We spent the rest of the morning, enjoying the playground at Glen's school and, yeah, it was a little muddy.
Still, it's sorta nice to have the pre-commuters' tunnel…all…to…ourselves…and, when you're 8 and 11, being able to jump, run and even shout at each other, without being hollered at, well, life was good.
Until, someone gets a little too close to the fairy soup.
Accidentally falls into said soup (yes, she's my daughter alright!)
Aaaaand…well, then even this Mom knows that it's pretty much time to go home.
"Wait, take another picture!"
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 simple walk through our neighborhood, during a rather rainy spring break, can become, you know, totally blog-worthy.
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.
Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)
Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday
It stopped raining (YAY!) so looking forward to FINALLY getting out of the house for the NWF: Be Out There Challenge…um…as soon as my two oldest girls, you know, wake up!
[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.
DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Moving on. So, it's Day 2 and wanna know how it's working out…so far?
Stupid rain!
[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.
As a longtime National Wildlife Federation supporter (yes, we have wildlife…in Jersey!) I am very excited to be a part of their Be Out There Campaign and modestly tweeted, the same:
I'm taking the NWF #BeOutThere Challenge w/o March 29! (http://bit.ly/bTeL0C) 'cawse, we've got wildlife IN JOISEY, too ya' know! #NWFMoms
So, here it is, DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge AND you want to know how it's working out, so far?
[blows bangs outta eyes]
Well, feeling inspired by the immortal words of John Lennon:
So, this spring break. And what have you done?
Another day almost over and the rain STILL isn't quite done.
And so this spring break. I hope you have fun.
'Cawse, here at our house, we're watching old game show reruns.
So, happy spring break. It's okay, we're STILL not quite done.
Cross-posted to our 365 Days mircoblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)
With 6 days left, maybe…just maybe…we'll actually get outside AND see the gosh-darned sun!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — by just me and my little red point-and-shoot!
When I first started blogging, 7 years ago, way back before SEO's and keywords ruled the world wide web, I was chasing after 4 kids, all under the age of 10 and This Full House was ALL about "teh funny!"
"Can I post this picture?"
Although, the subject matter hasn't changed, all that much, really (seriously, these kids say the funniest things) I find myself hitting the "delete" and "backspace" buttons, more often than not, to the point where my "backspace" button is NOW broken and looks more like a nub.
"No, I HATE HOW I LOOK!"
Some days, I am in sync with my muse and the words flow fluid.
"How about this one?"
Other days?
"Pssssht, NO WAY!"
The silence is deafening.
"Heather and I are going for a walk."
Most days, now that my oldest are teens, it gets downright lonely.
"Um, can we take your camera?"
Today?
"Here, you can use this one!"
The fog has lifted.
"We made sure to keep our mouths shut!"
And the words, they come a little easier.
[takes a closer look]
"Yeah, no one will EVER know that you got braces."
Now, if I could only get that darned muse to clean up after herself, I'd be in mom-type-blogger heaven, right about now, right?
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)
Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday
Also, got some freshly-brewed crafty handmade stuff over at my shopping blog: Klutz Fashion Origami
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
Whenever my good blogging friend, Dawn (a.k.a. brilliantly funny author of Because I Said So) would complain about being under attack by comment trolls, I imagined a bunch of snotty little evil basterds, camping out on her blog (pictured above) seriously, what IS it with mean-spirited people, anyways?
I mean, the woman has 6 kids, I really don't think she needs any help in dealing with suckage.
I guess I empathize with Dawn's self-deprecating humor, seeing as I've been making fun of myself, openly on the internet, for years now (see virtual tour) and, well, there ARE worse things than making OTHER mothers look good, right?
Then, I opened up my email and found this:
Did you know that this week, March 15th to March 21st, is National Wildlife Week?
[sound of crickets chirping]
I know what you're thinking — what's next, Worldwide Pond Slime Day– perhaps most parents (like me) will agree (especially, if your children are older) these days, getting kids outside and away from computer games, Facebook, Miley Cyrus, whatever, well, you'd think I was asking them to eat dirt, right?
"But, it's sooooooo hot!"
Heaven knows, I'm no saint (shuddup, Busy Mom and I thought you said you burned those BlogHer pics, Jenn?) I spend more time, at home, sitting in front of a computer, than not.
Then, I get up, get out, go help OTHER people work out and, you know, sit in front of a computer, some more.
"Stay inside, don't forget to lock the doors, oh, and dinner's in the freezer."
It's just a little harder now, you know? I don't like my kids to be outside, when my husband Garth [not his real name] and I aren't home.
Weekends, however, are different!
I have no problem ditching the housework, or kicking the laundry to the corner and getting outside — especially, now that spring is, like, two days away.
WHOOT, here in Jersey, anything above 50 degrees is considered flip-flop weather!
|
59°F | °C
Current: Sunny
Wind: NW at 3 mph Humidity: 35% Fri
 Sat
 Sun
|
This weekend is no different; we've been invited up to Pittstown, NJ to visit with Hope's godparents, a.k.a. two of our most favorite dirt diggers (you know, Sassy's mom and dad) who happen to own a beautiful flower farm, too (yes, here, IN JERSEY!) and I'm taking my trusty little point and shoot camera, with me, to help celebrate National Wildlife Week.
Why? Well, seeing as my kids have been reading Your Big Back Yard and Ranger Rick for years (thank you, Grandma and Grandpa) I am honored to partner with the National Wildlife Federation as a Founding Mother of their Be Out There campaign, along with these fine women:
