Booster Seat Bean

1 Jul

She’s called Bean and she’s a booster seat demo queen. Well, maybe not a queen but she did get featured in two Atlanta television news stories about the new booster seat law in Georgia. Our Public Relations team at work needed a child her age to help the news stations spread the word about the new law and we were glad to help. It also meant that Nia would get to spend some time with me in my cube that morning. It was fun for her to meet my work buds and draw a beautiful window scene on my dry erase board. (I can’t wait to see it again when I’m back at work.) She also got to watch a movie on my phone (thanks, Netflix!) while I worked in the chair next to her. She loved sitting in my swivel chair and eating the crackers I have stashed in my drawer.

Before her busy tv/work morning started though, I joked that I hoped she wouldn’t make silly faces or spontaneously scream during the live interview. I mean, you just never know with kids (or many adults for that matter). Of course, she didn’t. She did exactly as they asked her to do and even planned out an answer to the anchor’s question. (The question was supposed to be, “How does riding in a booster seat make you feel?” She told me she was going to answer, “I feel comfortable in it.” If you watch the live interview below though, it didn’t go as planned. I think she still rocked it with that head nod though!)

You can see her in the stories by clicking the links below:

  • FOX 5 Atlanta – She was used as the demo child for the morning live shot and did fabulous, darling.
  • WSB-TV – She was used as b-roll for the story and buckles up beautifully.

I was able to capture a few pictures from her experience. The last one melts my heart. She woke up so early that day and was such a good sport during all the running around and buckling and unbuckling. My sleepy super star.

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Getting a Peek of the Newscast on the Air

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Posing for the News Tease

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The Anchor Arrives

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Sleepy Super Star

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Summer Camp – Green Week

26 Jun

The fifth week of Summer Camp was a milestone maker and a green one. Nate is now officially swimming without any floaties! He and Nia finished swimming lessons and he is now a floatie-free fish while Nia is our little Back Stroke Bean.

The green part of the week featured crafts with recycled materials and a lesson that I don’t think translated well with Nia. She told me the woman told them, “Don’t wash your car in your driveway because it can kill the fish and hurt things.” Yay, green!

Out of all their crafts for the week, Nia is most proud of her recycled bottle bird feeder. She can’t wait for us to hang it outside for birds to visit. I couldn’t wait for her to use her bookmark. We placed it at the start of Chapter 2 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I’m technically being green with that book too – being that I’ve read the series several times and am now recycling them with Nia.

Cardboard Bookmark

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Bottle Bird Feeder

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Sunshine Plate and Egg Carton Flower Planter

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Swim Lesson Success!

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Fast Forward List: Squeaky Clean and Kept

23 Jun

This may sound like I’m wishing my kids’ lives away but that’s not the way I intend it. It’s more of a what I hope for them list but not in an inspirational, mannerly and beautiful kind of way – in a functional, tidy, your-momma-raised-you-right kind of way.

  • You pick up the clothes that fall off the hangers in your closet (or that other people run over with their shopping carts at a store) and re-hang them. As it is now, shirts have gone missing for weeks because they were buried under stuffed animals in the closet. Maybe that penguin wanted that leopard print top? Don’t think so.
  • You will eventually rinse the bright blue gobs of toothpaste from the sink and the counter. Currently, you leave the gobs, creating a mine-field of stickiness on the sink that I just un-gobbed only hours before.
  • You recognize that product packaging (from things like toys, CDs or pencils), crumbled up paper and/or candy wrappers are, in fact, GARBAGE and should be treated as such. Not left on the floor scattered about, kicked under a dresser or piled on a piece of furniture camouflaged among other trash-destined items and non-trash items like jewelry, pictures and books.
  • That you learn to tie your shoes better than I tie your shoes. Poor Nate and his untied sneaks he struggles with each day.
  • You will not want to waste half-full cups of milk, juice or any other beverage of choice. Instead of leaving it behind at the table and forgetting about it, you will drink it and then drop your empty cup at the sink or dishwasher.
  • You will not have to be convinced to blow your nose, clean your ears or cut your nails. You will understand the importance of these actions and come to appreciate them, like you have with washing your hands. (One success!)
  • Leaving the toilet bowl occupied for the next occupant is not acceptable and putting the seat down should be second nature like zipping up your fly.

Again, this is really my sanitary, tidy and hygienic list. There are others for manners, kind words and functioning in society. You know, just a few of my “hopes and dreams” for them.

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Team of the Night Memories

20 Jun

Chopper and the Orioles

They played a fun season of tee-ball as the Orioles and got to celebrate it all while creating lasting memories as the Team of the Night at the Gwinnett Braves.

Moments I will cherish include:

  • How Nate was excited to get some players’ autographs without having any idea really what the word autograph means.
  • How he told me an hour before the event that he was going to hold his hat on his heart for the “prayer.” (National Anthem)
  • How Nate held his hat on his heart and stood so still and silent during the National Anthem.
  • How he trotted in pace with the First Baseman, Mauro Gomez, as they took the field while both of their names were announced to the stadium.
  • How he looked so tiny compared to the 6’2″ player while standing at First Base.
  • How he didn’t look scared while standing a field away from me next to that 6’2″ player he didn’t know except from “He’s number 30! He hits home runs!”
  • How he loved sitting and watching the game with is teammates and then couldn’t sit still because a mock game of their own started.
  • How he picked the green eyeball that hasn’t won all season and it WON.
  • How he got to pose for a picture with Chopper – something he’s been wanting to do for some time now.

I wonder what he’ll remember most from all of it. Every bit of it made him beam. Even the score. G-Braves won, 8-2.

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Summer Camp – Week Four

19 Jun

What a fun week for the kids at camp! They started swimming lessons and told us about their accomplishments each day. (“Guess what?! I went in six feet today!”) And, not only did they make their crafts, but they got to eat them as well!

The theme was about cooking and food. The kids drew pictures about food, made rice and bean beach scenes and made noodle necklaces which I have pictures of below. But the edible art they created, naturally, didn’t make it home. They made ants on a log and trail mix and then munched them up.

I think the cooking week inspired Nia to help at dinner too. The other night she helped with green beans and watched as I made beefy noodles, asking questions about the seasoning and why I was doing what I was doing. Nate tasted the green beans and told her, “Yum, Nia! You made these? They are good!” He made her so happy. She gave him such a sweet smile and looked at me like, “That was special, huh, momma?”

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Nate's Food Art

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Nia's Noodle Necklace

Rice and Bean Beach Scene

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Father’s Day at the Baseball Field

19 Jun

Dugout Moment

As part of Andrew’s Father’s Day gifts, he got to experience the Gwinnett Braves‘ dugout for a family picture (and a whiff of hard-working player aroma), play catch with the family on the outfield next to the players, have his name on the scoreboard (although we missed it) – and – he was treated to a pint glass proudly donning the logo for the G-Braves. (You know that’s what I really wanted to get him.)

I’m not sure who loved it all more – Andrew or Nate. I think Andrew did because Nate’s happiness and excitement is such a great gift for him. Especially when Nate caught the practice game ball from one of the other team’s players. The player went to throw it to Nate but then hesitated – probably because he wasn’t sure if it would be safe to throw it to him because of his size. Nate was ready for it though – glove out and face telling the player, “I got this.” He sure did too. The player and the people around us all cheered and looked shocked at Nate’s catch. Way to go, buddy. That made daddy so very happy and will be a special Father’s Day memory for all of us.

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Eight Dad Days Old

19 Jun

You are old enough as a dad to know about the comfort of snuggles on the couch while watching tv, play-wrestling on the living room floor (that usually ends with someone in tears after immense happiness) and endless hours of catching the kids as they jump in the pool or ask to be carried from Point A to Point B.

You are old enough to know about scraped knees that you magically fixed by poking the injured child in the armpit creating laughter and healing (this does not work when I do it, by the way), sleepless nights due to sickness or baby schedules, lunches for school, routines for morning, noon and night and countless (and difficult) time-outs and punishments.

You are old enough to know the importance of putting your children first and you never show a selfish heart in anything you do.

You have not made it to the driving years, serious relationship years, out past curfew years or broken bone years yet, but as we experience this parenthood journey together, I know I can always look to you to try to figure out the best way to handle the challenges and heartaches.

Happy 8th Father’s Day, Andrew. The kiddos and I (Joey and Clark, too) are so very lucky to call you ours. Thank you for being “just you” – as you always tell me. The kids thank you too.

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Decorating Dad's Day Cake

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They can't wait to give and receive.

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Sweet words of love from Nia.

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Nate says it says, "I love to play baseball with you."


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Stress Case

15 Jun

Want to load the dishwasher? He’ll be there, blocking your way like a bouncer checking IDs at a bar.

Need to use the bathroom? You are going to have an audience as he will succeed in sneaking his 90 pounds of fur in the room with you.

Playing a board game on the floor? He’ll quickly end that as he turns circles and then plops down on top of half the game.

Trying to say goodnight to your kiddos? He wants to also. In fact, he doesn’t want to leave their rooms, ducking out in Nia’s over-flowing closet and not listening to you as you try to call him out of her room. (Because he will want out, likely waking up Nia/Nate to set him free.)

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Joey is a major stress case when it storms. That’s just a few obstacles we encounter when it rains. I’ve heard some people will give their dogs anti-anxiety meds to help ease their nerves. I worry about that because of side effects but I think it’s time we ask our vet about it. For everyone’s sake.

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Second Recital Reflections

15 Jun

Three sparkly costumes, a gazillion hair/bobby pins hidden in strands of hair, several applications of impossible to apply red lipstick and eight stage visits later, our Dancing Bean has her second recital all wrapped up in our memories.

I’m so proud of her for remembering all those moves! I am amazed by how much they have to learn. And – don’t forget to smile! She just had three dances to know too – some girls her age had four or more. Wowza. I think that’s so impressive and shows such discipline. These girls all love it too. The costume changes, the makeup, the dressing room fun and, of course, the performing. They even know some of the other dancers’ routines. Dancing backstage as they wait for their chance to shine. I especially love how they all quietly sang along to the songs before theirs.

It was a night to cherish and now it’s time to rest up because she’ll soon begin preparing for next year’s show.

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Ready for the Show!

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Passing Time Between Performances

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Bean and Honey

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Bean and Her Special Guests (Yay for Paul and Honey!)

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Proud of Our Dancing Bean

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Dancing Rainbows

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Our Sleepy Star

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Out of My Shell

14 Jun

Hi there.

I like to think of myself as a friendly person. I think I’m pretty nice to people and seem to be able to carry on conversations fairly easy with acquaintances. What I often have a difficult time with is follow-up. Continuing the connection. Letting new people in.

For example, I will often exchange phone numbers with other moms I meet. Moms who seem like nice, fun ladies but I’ll never know for sure because I never dial their digits. It’s often awkward to run into them down the road – both of us knowing I basically stood them up but never speaking of it. There is usually a repeat mention of trying again to get together. That doesn’t happen.

It’s not because I don’t want it to, because I do. I’ve had maybe two super close girl friends since we moved here. Sadly, one moved away with her fun family (thank goodness for facebook) and the other is still, thankfully, living next door to us with her wonderful family. I just miss having a few good friends to hang out with, rely on and share stories not suitable for PG-rated blogs or Facebook. I just don’t go there either because I’m not very trusting or something is just off…until now.

I’ve met some ladies who make it impossible for me to stay in my shell. They are so welcoming and we have so much in common that it’s impossible for me to be a lazy mommy loner. Our families have bonded over tee-ball, baseball camp, the Gwinnett Braves, swimming, ice cream, some church and many email/facebook chats.

I’m so thankful for them and the comfort and fun they’ve brought to our lives. I say all of our lives because what’s even more great about these mom friendships is that our husbands and children like each other too. When that happens, you put their phone numbers on speed dial and buy extra snacks/adult beverages to have in the house – just in case of spontaneous play-dates.

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