Lights! Camera! Action!

I just did a piece with WBNS 10TV on being a stay-at-home mom and why I decided to quit my job to do it. The segment came about through my cousin who is the PR guru at Ohio Health. I actually used to work with the producer who came to the house. She is a wonderful woman and totally reminded me of a younger version of my Aunt Millie.

I "prepped" my 2 yo by telling her that we were having guests who wanted to talk to us and take pictures of us. P was excited because I told her that there was a photographer coming with a really cool camera. I said we'd ask him to show us how it worked. When the producer and photographer arrived P was SO excited to see them. She couldn't wait to see the camera and she grabbed her camera to show the photographer. He seemed to really enjoy showing her the camera, how it worked, and just talk to her. I was so enamored by my little girl being so interested and so polite about it. She just smiled and looked and listened.

We went down to the play area for the interview. The kids were awesome. The baby was really good about staying out of the shot and not crying to be held. Both of my children were so well behaved, smiley, and welcoming to our guests. I was such a proud mommy.

I feel lucky to have had an experience like that because it is just another thing to expose my children to. Things like the interview and having the news at our home showed the kids another part of the world, and allowed them (and me) to meet new and interesting people. Plus, I just got P a digital camera. She steals mine all the time to take pics...and, she is a good little photographer! I wanted to get her a digital camera for Christmas, but with everything else I thought I'd wait until her birthday. Mainly because they aren't cheap! Well, I came across one on Craiglist that was in great condition...and only, get this...$10. I looked online for a similar camera and they were $60 - $130. This is probably the best deal I have ever taken advantage of in my life. Anyhow, meeting a "real live" photographer seemed to be so fitting given her interest in taking pictures.

We had fun and can't wait to see how we did! It is going to air in the 5pm news...since I worked in media relations for years I know that this is one of the more popular time slots. I hope I don't look like a jerk.

WHAT?!

Okay, all mommies have a case of "what did you say?" from one time to another just from sheer lack of understanding. Well, I had the doozie from my daughter today. This morning I was changing her diaper on her bed and bubbies was playing in her toy box. She screams "I want my cock."

I tried so hard not to look in complete horror at what she said. I calmly said "what do you want, honey?" She said again "I want my cock." Then it hit me - bubbies was playing with her plush Golden Macaw she got for Christmas. She was asking for her Macaw......I either am hard of hearing or have an extremely dirty mind.

no comments from the peanut gallery.

May Coco RIP

My mom called me crying yesterday. Their Shar Pei Coco took a turn for the worse and my dad had to take him to MedVet. They had to put him down. I am so sad.

I spoke with hubby because I don't know what to say to P. She loved "Cokie" so much and when I would say we are going to Grammies and Papa's house she immediatly would pipe up "AND COCO and PHEEBEEEEE?!!!" Coco always made her giggle and was always full of licks for her. That dog loved bubbies too. Never failed, first thing Coco would do was give a big floppy jawled drool lick to the baby's head. bubbies' head would be half dry, half wet the rest of the day.

My poor parents. They are so distraught. This is the third Shar Pei they have lost in ten years. Luckily, Phoebe is strong and will hopefully be around a lot longer. She is already nine and fighting cancer like a trooper. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the chemo keeps working!!



When I got home yesterday I gave lots of love to my two stinky dogs. I seriously don't know what I'd do without them. They are my two other children. I can't even think of them getting old and sick....just can't go there.

Let's fly a kite!

I took the kids Targeting in hopes of finding some fun outside toys. It is getting warmer here and I don't have much for them to play with in the backyard. Well...sticks, dirt and stones seem to keep them busy, but I really do hate that they both think taking the dirt out of my flower box is fun. I am afraid when I plant our veges this spring I'll have no dirt to put the plants in! Plus, we aren't cavemen.

In our toy search I saw a small area with kites. A KITE! Yes, that seemed like the perfect afternoon fun because it was a bit windy and warm enough to play outside for an extended period of time. Kites were cheap. I mean, I think I paid $6.99 for it. Of course, it is plastic and has giant Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster faces on it, but it certainly does the job. I could have chosen Spider Man, the Power Rangers or Barbie...I opted for something that seemed to suit a 2.5 and a 1 year old, so Sesame Street it was. I went to Big Lots and found an even cheaper kite made by the same manufacturer - this time I chose Dora and it was $2.80 (I get a corporate discount since my hubby heads up their web department). They may be cheap and plastic, but man can they fly.

I loaded the kids up in the wagon and took a stroll to the school parking lot down the street. Great place because we reduced our risk of kite stuck in tree or kite melting on powerline. I unrolled the string and barely got the kite together before it flew up in the air. The wind was perfect. I handed the reigns to my daughter and she freaked out. I think the wind was a little strong and that kite seemed like it was going to lift her off the ground! As she was crying for me to take the string the boy decided to run off through the parking lot. For being no bigger than a minute, that kid can run...FAST! There I was trying to help P with the kite while chasing my son praying a car wouldn't come around the corner or that he wouldn't fall on the concrete.

Once I got a hold of the kite and the kid, both P and bubbies played in the wagon. I flew the kite and acted as if I was 12 again. I was giggling, cheering, oohing and ahhing at the kite flitting around in the air. I loved it. I can't wait to do it again!

My Mouth

I used to get in trouble for my loud mouth all the time at work. I was a really good, quiet student - felt I had to uphold that "AP" status by seeming demure and studious...not loud and obnoxious. College turned me - and now I am full of energy of the mouth. I was constantly being asked to quiet down at work - they'd say "your laugh is infectious, but keep the infection to yourself." I even got fired from a bakery I worked in because I talked too much. Now I find my mouthy medium online. Thank goodness for blogs and twitter and other social platforms such as Facebook. However, I have recently found out that what I have posted online has ended up on the local news. My mouth is obviously not quiet even when it is typed.

Channel 4 posted my comment to children and spas. It was read in their Live at 5 and I had no idea! Here is what I wrote:

"I am not surprised about a spa day for little ones, but I am surprised
that it is used for them to "relax." I would think it would be fun as a
birthday party or a special day with mommy, but because they have too
much stress? c-mon. Stick them outside to play for a while. :)"

Then on Channel 10 about the use of coupons...again no idea:

"I hate coupons. Hubby makes me get the Dispatch hoping I'll cut them, but I don't. I should, though. :)"

I think this is rather funny - and I thought my comments were funny when I wrote them.