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Aryanna’s afternoon VPK class is having a “cultural” celebration instead of a “Halloween” party, following along with the cultural lessons they’ve been learning this week. So every family was asked to make a dish that is from their culture to share with the class at the celebration. Aryanna decided we would make empanadas. For those of you who don’t know what those are, they are simply seasoned meat filled pieces of dough that you deep fry in oil to make crispy. YUM….one of our many unhealthy fried favorites! You can make them large or you can make them bite sized. You can stuff them with other things in addition to the meat. I usually use cheese. Others use olives and potatoes and pimentos. I keep it simple so that everyone in my family will enjoy it and not have to pick out something they don’t eat, like an olive chunk.

I ran to the store to pick up milk, oil to fry them in, dough, meat, cheese, seasoning and an aluminum pan. I did my shopping and somehow I did it without a list AND I EVEN remembered off the top of my head that we needed syrup because we are one waffle and pancake eating family. I came home and proudly put everything away.

About an hour later I was working on the computer. My husband came in, sat down at his computer and turned to me to say “I’m proud of you.”

Me: “Foooor?”

Him: “For remembering to buy syrup. You always forget stuff when you go to the store and you weren’t even going there for that. Yet, you remembered it.”

Me: “So this is the huge accomplishment you are so proud of me for? Of ALL the things in the world you could be proud of me for, you’re proud of me for remembering the syrup? Wow. Thaaaaaanks.” I laugh.

Him: “I’m serious. You ALWAYS forget something, even if you have a list!! So I’m just saying I’m proud of you for remembering something.”

Me: “Yes, I know I usually forget SOMEthing, but this time my list was short. I only went to pick up oil and the rest of ingredients for the empanadas.”

He smiled.

Me: “What?”

Him: “I didn’t see any oil in the closet when I saw the syrup.”

Me: “DAMNITT!!!!”

When I was bringing Aryanna to school yesterday she reminded me that we were supposed to bring in a baby pumpkin to class because the kids were going to be painting them.  Of course she didn’t want to be left out.  She was slightly agitated at the fact that we had JUST went to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and we didn’t get an extra one for school while we were there getting the ones for the house, not because she didn’t remind me, but because I just plain old forgot. <—— This is a phrase you will hear me say A LOT!! 

As we were on our way I stopped at the grocery store to see if they had any small ones and they did for $9.99.  I thought…. what the hell!!!??  I paid $1.50 at the patch the other day for the same sized one.  I left and when I got back in the car I said to her “I’ll drop you off and I”ll go to the pumpkin patch down the street where we were the other day and grab you one.”  She said “I TOLD you I needed one while we were at the pumpkin patch.”  I saw her in the rear view mirror, raise her hands and shake her head in disappointment.  In fairness, she did tell me.  She told me at the pumpkin patch.  She told me about 10 times on our way to the pumpkin patch.  She told me about 10 times earlier in the week before we even went to the pumpkin patch.  Usually the school sends home notes though, so I was surprised I didn’t get a letter which in turn made part of me think she might be mistaken and the other part of me just forgot about it.  At the pumpkin patch she was so excited about picking the ones for the house that she forgot herself (which is rare).  So anyway, I get her to school and I see on the door a letter dated Oct 20th that we were to have our pumpkins in by Oct 27th to paint. 

Oooops.

I quietly and shamefully creep up to the teacher and whisper “It’s not too late is it, to get a pumpkin?”  She looked at me with one of those, ha ha you forgot and now are going to have to scramble to produce one for fear you will never live to hear the end of it if you don’t bring a pumpkin in for your child, kinda looks.  She whispered back “No, it’s not too late.  We are painting them today so if you go get one real quick and bring it back you’ll be ok.” 

Notice she said….”you’ll be ok”.   I knew exactly what she meant by that.

I quickly get back to the car and go to the same patch.  When I pulled up I could see some baby ones so I thought ok, I’m in the clear.  That was until I got up close enough to hold them.  They were allllll rotted pretty much, or they had no stems.  I’m not trying to discriminate against stemless pumpkins but let’s face it, it looks more complete with a stem.  Plus she was going to be painting so for practicality purposes I thought she should be able to turn it while she paints.  So I look and look.  I find one, go pay $2.00 for it.  While I was walking back to the car I was so happy until I held it by the bottom and 4 of my fingers went in it. 

Ewwww!

I went back to the guy I paid and explained the pumpkin is bad and I need a good one for my daughter to paint at school.  So he had me throw that one away and let me look around for another.  I looked and looked and looked and I couldn’t find anything.  Then out of nowhere, I saw one, BUT it was one of the ugly ones that have warts and bumps all over it.  My husband refers to it as very “Halloweenie”.  I don’t know why but it really took me about 5 minutes to decide if I was gonna take that or settle for a smooth pretty one without a stem.  I felt so much pressure because I didn’t want to disappoint her or have her have the “ugly” one of the class because I saw the others and they were perfect.  We all know even 4 and 5 year olds can be mean to each other.  I didn’t want her to get made fun of.  Then I snapped out of it and said ok we bought a big ugly pumpkin with warts and bumps on it for our house and she didn’t freak.  This was different though, so I was worried.  Granted there are bigger problems in the world but at that moment, this was my crisis…..(not ebarrassing the 5 year old who forgets NOTHING).

When I got back in the car my husband looked at me and chuckled.  “Not many to pick from huh?”  I shook my head. 

When I got back to the school and was walking towards her class I noticed my stomach was in knots, my palms were sweaty.  What was going to happen?  Was she going to burst into flames and morph into some heinous creature as she pitches a fit while everyone glares at me? 

I opened the door kind of slouching, and I know I had an “I’m sorry” kind of look on my face.  I could see one of the assistant teachers looking at how ugly this thing was.  Not Aryanna though.  She ran up to me as if she hadn’t seen me all day with the biggest smile on her face saying “Thank you mommy!”

Me:  “I’m sorry.  I looked and looked and this was the only one they had left in this size.  I’m sorry it doesn’t look like the others.”

Her:  “Actually, I love it.  It’s perfect.  It’s just different, remember?”  She used a very consoling voice.

She grabbed it from my hands and proudly put it on the table next to everyone else’s with a huge smile on her face.  She came back to me and said thank you again, then hugged me and went back to her circle time.

At first I thought, what just happened here?  Then I quickly said, run before she changes her mind!!  I stood up and walked to the door not so slouched.  When I got to the door I turned and looked at the assistant teacher that looked freaked out about the pumpkin and raised my eyebrows to her as if to say “Uh huh….that’s MY daughter!” 

I thought sticking my tongue out at her might send the wrong message.

When I came home from sending the kids off to school, I took my shoes off and when I turned around Romeo (my 16 month old Boxer) dropped a small metal tea cup that belonged to my daughter’s tea set that she JUST happened to get for her birthday.  It’s the second one of the set he’s chewed and about the 3rd thing since 7:50 this morning that he had chewed on.  I was beyond ticked. 

I go to pick up the tea cup.  He runs away because he knows I’m about to yell at him.  I briskly walk after him reallllly feeling angry and stomping my feet quite hard.  All of a sudden I saw stars.  As I was chasing after him I stubbed my pinky toe on the side of the door.  I yelled “OWWW” and managed to hop on my good foot to a nearby sofa in the living room and just flopped, face down to let any yelling or cursing be muffled by the cushions since my husband was asleep.  Romeo came over and licked me right on the side of my face.  I quickly figured out the toe stubbing and face licking were a sign to just give up my anguish in that moment.

Stuff like that happens to me ALL the time.  ALL the time!  For example, one night a couple months ago I felt like putting on a cute Victoria Secret outfit to bed instead of the usual t-shirt.  It was a cute little set.  I figured I’d give the hubby a little live eye candy. 

Oh I gave him an eyeful!  I was naked standing next to my bed and went to put on the bottoms to the set.  I got one leg in just fine, but when I went to put the second leg in, the middle section got stuck right in between my toes which caused me to lose my balance on the one leg I was standing on, which in turn caused me to fall foward onto the footboard of our bed where I tried to stop myself from falling further, but I was unsuccessful and I went down to the ground.  Of course, the timing of it was excellent because my husband was on the other side of the bed getting something out of his drawer and when he stood up and turned around he witnessed everything.  He bursted out in laughter, then remembered at some point to ask as best he could through his laughter ”Are you ok?”.  I couldn’t help but laugh with him.  He said “That was hot!”.

I think what made this so much more funnier than it might have been originally was the fact that a couple hours earlier that VERY SAME day we were running errans.  I went to use the ATM and it started pouring.  The ATM was inside the front door of the bank but I would have to run to the car to stay dry so my husband drove up on the curve to lessen the amount of water I would get hit by.  I was SOOOO focused on just running into the car that I stepped up on the side-step of the truck and grabbed the hand bar near the door jam and just launched myself up so hard that I slammed my head on the door jam.  I hit it so hard that my eyes actually teared up.  I have a decent threshold of pain so for me to tear up means that hurt like hell.  Of course the kids and my husband were lauging until they saw my face.  Aryanna asked “Mommy you look like you’re crying.  Are you ok?”.  She was still laughing and smiling so I turned around and snapped “NO! I’m not ok!”  Everyone realized at that point I was hurt.  I thought I was bleeding.  I went to grab a napkin out of the console and when I shut it, I pinched myself. 

My mom always told me that things happen in 3’s.  

Hopefully she’ll be wrong today and my toe will be the only incident.  If it isn’t, you’ll be sure to hear about it.

My daughter Aryanna just turned 5 recently.  Aparently she must be picking up on the fact this is, perhaps, a milestone birthday.  She keeps saying to me “I’m a big girl now”.  Every night at bed time, since she was about 2 I’ve laid in bed with her to help her fall asleep.  She can’t fall asleep if someone isn’t laying there with her.  Then usually, after I lay down we go through her ritual of her talking and talking as if she hasn’t talked to me ALL day.  Then she, quite often, gets up to get a stuffed animal for herself and for me.  She normally does this even though, anticipating her move, I always ask if she wants one to sleep with and she usually gracefully declines only to get up 10 minutes later to grab one or two.  Then she’ll talk some more.  I’ll shuuuush her about 20 times.  This will go one for an hour or so sometimes.  Finally, when I give her that stern warning and tell her “no more talking”, or I give her a good reason like “you need your energy for gymnastics tomorrow” (which only works Tuesday night since Gymnastics class is Wednesday), she FINALLY stays quiet and falls asleep, literally within 2 minutes, maybe 5 at the most.  It’s truly just a matter of getting her to stop for a second.

Well, lastnight went a little different.  She declared her independence!!!  “I can sleep by myself now because I’m 5.  I’m a big girl, you know.”

I got up so fast I almost fell out the bed.

Me:   ”Are you sure about this?”

Her:  “Yes, but can you leave the door open?”

Me:  “The dog will come in and bother you then while you try to sleep.” (which is true..he LOVES her)

Her:  “Ok, leave my bedroom door shut, but leave my bathroom door open so I get a little light and if I have a question or need something I can come get you.”

Me:  “OK”

Her:  “Kiss me goodnight before you go.  I need to give you at least…(she pauses and thinks)… six kisses.”

I could tell she was getting nervous.  I went over and she gave me the six kisses.  Then I walked to the door and saw my evening freedom dangling right in front of me.  Then….

Her:  “Oh, wait!!!  I need my bunny!  Can you find him since it’s dark?”   I find him and give him to her, kiss her on the forehead and walk to the door.

Her:  “Wait!  Wait! Blow me kisses….big kisses!”  I do. 

I gently and quietly walk out the door so as to give the appearance that I’m calm, but what I wanted to do was a little Mom jig.  I made it down the hall and sat in my seat in the office.  It was quiet for all of 1 minute.  Then, I hear her walk up behind me.  I turn around and looked at her smiling, without saying anything, gently grabbed her by the hand and walked her back to her bed, silent the whole time.  I laid her back down.  Kissed her on the forehead.  She looked up at me and said “I missed you.  I had to come see you because I think of you when you are not around me.”

I immediately laid down until she fell asleep. 

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.  Be sure to read about me on my “All About Me” page so you can kinda get to know me first.  This is my first blog and I’m SO excited.  <—-  I’m sure many rookies say that very thing! 

Please excuse the blandness of the blog right now.  As time moves on here I’ll be improving it, but something tells me you didn’t come here for the graphics or lack there of.  

Anyhow, I hope to talk about as many different things as I possibly can to keep it interesting.  Feel free to leave comments or email me.  I want to know I’m not just talking to myself.