Bookworm

I love to read and have an ongoing list of books I’d like to get to in 2011. I like to read a variety of things, although I do have some favorite authors as well. I feel like my choices so far this year have been random, but I figured I would share the ones I’ve read thus far and see if  they happen to be on your reading list too!

Since January I have read:

1. Freedom – Jonathan Franzen
2. The Help – Kathryn Stockett
3. Inconceivable – the true story of Shawn and Carolyn Savage
4. Unbearable Lightness – Portia De Rossi
5. Sing You Home – Jodi Picoult
6. Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks
7. The Confession – John Grisham
8. Think Twice – Lisa Scottoline
9. Winter Garden – Kristin Hannah
10. The Girls from Ames – Jeffrey Zaslow

I’m currently reading A Soft Place To Land – Susan White, and in my Borders Inbox right now I have Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein,  Inside the Mouse: Work and Play at Walt Disney World by The Project on Disney, and Decision Points by George W. Bush.  Also on my wish list – Eat, Pray, Love, Heaven is For Real and the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy.

No one can believe that I have not read either the Harry Potter series or any of the Twilight books, but I just don’t think I’d be into either one of those right now. I’d love to hear what you are reading and any suggestions that you might have to add to my list!!

My Disney Obsession

I grew up going to Walt Disney World. We were there when it opened in 1971. I saw the opening of Epcot and the other parks. I have pictures of the old Epcot globe.  My brother and I marched in the Magic Kingdom bi-centennial parade (from start to finish). Where else on earth could your parents leave you at ages 7 and 8 to go with “strangers” and walk in front of thousands of people??

I’ve been to Disney with extended family, friends, my husband (before he was my husband) and now of course with my own family. My 8 year old has been there 10 times already. She even danced on the Disney stage. My 2 year old made his first visit at just 3 months old.  I could probably write my own blog just about Disney (or at least be a Disney travel agent). It’s one of my favorite things to talk about. But every time I say we’re going back to see the Mouse, someone inadvertently asks why! Why the obsession? And I’ve come to realize it’s because most of the time, said person has NEVER BEEN TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!

So in my best attempt, I will give you the Top 10 reasons why I think you should at least give it a chance:

1. It really is the “Happiest Place on Earth”. 99% of the people that work at Disney are genuinely happy to be there. Try talking to a cast member just for fun. Nothing can cure a bad day like a walk down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
2. You can channel your inner child.  No one looks at you strangely if you skip down the street, wear a funny hat with ears on it, or want your picture taken with Cinderella.
3. There is something for everyone and every age group to participate in. Even if you’re not a “ride” person, Disney has amazing shows, restaurants, and shopping.
4. Disney makes everything about traveling with children easier.  Magical Express takes your luggage from your hometown airport and delivers it TO YOUR ROOM. The baby care centers throughout the parks offer a cool place to rest, feed your baby, get a bandaid or just watch cartoons for a few minutes. (And trust me on this, I have visited every single baby care center at every single park – breastfeeding a 3 month old is practically easy on this vacation!)
5. Distance to travel.  Just over 2 hours to get there on a direct flight right from our own Quad City Airport.
6. The weather. Although I have been there at all different times of year, my most favorite time to visit is in the fall. Still gorgeous 80 degree temps and a lot less crowded.
7. The entertainment. As I eluded to in #3, Disney has some of the best Broadway quality shows around. I love La Nouba (Circ de Soleil) in downtown Disney, but we never miss The Lion King, Finding Nemo or Beauty and the Beast inside the parks.
8. The food. Three words for you. Dole Pineapple Whip. In all seriousness, the food throughout Disney is great, but what makes it even more fun is the atmosphere. Some of my favorites: The Coral Reef, Chef Mickey, Ohana and The Crystal Palace.  If you like different kinds of food, Epcot has amazing authentic restaurants from all countries in the World Showcase.
9. Mickey Mouse. Do I really need to explain this one?
10. It is the place where dreams come true.  There is nothing more magical then watching the face of a child light up when they meet their favorite princess or wave to Goofy during a parade; or watching fireworks like you’ve never seen before light up Cinderella’s castle. Tinkerbell can really fly, Nemo can swim, and magic really exists.

Spring Break 2011

I love going on vacation. But I also like coming home. There is something about being away that makes me appreciate the comfort of my house, routine, bed. (And I don’t have to sleep with Aiden anymore!)

We had a great time in St. Louis on Spring Break – so many fun things to see and do, and a lot of it is free. We visited the Arch, Magic House (children’s museum), City Museum (if you’ve never seen/heard of this, you should definitely Google it – it’s amazing), and the St. Louis Zoo. We did a little shopping, some swimming and on St. Patrick’s Day took the kids to the Fox Theatre to see the Imagination Movers concert. I posted some of the highlights below:

Welcome to the 21st Century.

I am technologically challenged. It’s true. Everyone knows. My daughter has both an ipod and a DS – neither of which I really know how to use very well. I have a digital camera that I love, but I basically just take pictures with it – I don’t have a clue how to use all the cool functions it has.  We recently got a digital video camera, and although there is video on it, I have yet to figure out how to load the software on my computer so that I can download and edit it. Baby steps.

But I have to say that I am now in love. With my iPhone. The one I was sure I didn’t want and couldn’t figure out. I had a little help at first (thank God for teenage babysitters) but I am now obsessed. I can check my email and my facebook from my phone, manage my calendar (which is huge because you’ve seen the title of this blog!), check the weather, and listen to music. I’m certain once I really start getting into downloading apps, I will be playing games and entertaining my children in the grocery store line and doctor’s waiting room.

My favorite app so far – Walt Disney World information and ride waiting times.  Just to get a little piece of the magic, I can check the weather, crowd level and wait times at my favorite Disney parks.  It doesn’t matter that I won’t be visiting the mouse again until October – it’s just fun to daydream for a few minutes! "The

Happiest Place

on Earth" is at my fingertips whenever I want. Cinderella’s Castle is my screensaver. I’m sure if I wanted to I could make “It’s a Small World” my ringtone. I’m starting to think technology is not so bad after all. J

Happy Anniversary.

I have complained a lot lately that my husband and I have not been on a date in a long time.  I mean like since before we had Aiden. Who is 2 ½. We’ve gotten a babysitter a few times just to run errands, go to Target or the grocery store (lame, I know), but not a real honest to goodness date (like say, dinner and a movie). There is just too much going on.

Yesterday was our 9 year wedding anniversary. But it was also Ash Wednesday. I had planned on fish and macaroni and cheese for dinner, and was hoping I could convince Emma to go to church with me.

But my doorbell rang at 4:00. It was one of my students (also one of our babysitters) with a card. She was there to watch the kids, because according to the card, we were going on a date.  Emma told me to change my clothes and wear earrings (I think that’s funny because since I don’t often wear a lot of jewelry I think she must believe that dressing up for me means wearing earrings!)

Now normally, this would drive me nuts. I like being in control and don’t really like surprises. Of course I wanted to know where we were going, what the kids were going to eat, how long we were going to be gone, etc.  And what about church? But I decided that in the end I wasn’t going to worry about any of that. I was actually, for once, just going to go with the flow.

Mike brought me flowers and he brought a pizza for the kids and he took me to dinner at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. On Ash Wednesday! (He’s not Catholic). But I had a wonderful shrimp dish and 2 glasses of Moscato and we got free dessert because we were celebrating our anniversary. I realize I pushed the limit a little with the whole Ash Wednesday thing, but I’m hoping God will understand. I didn’t once have to fish crayons off the floor or find snacks in my purse and I didn’t leave with food handprints on my sweater. I had a nice, grown-up dinner and a nice conversation with my husband. Thanks honey, for making my day!

Since its Top Ten Tuesday today and tomorrow is my 9^th wedding anniversary, I decided to do Top Ten things I love about my husband.  I really wanted to do Top Ten things that my husband does that drive me nuts (because that would be easier and honestly I think would make a good post), but in case he actually reads my blog I will skip that so maybe I can stay married another 9 years!

1. He’s funny – he does have a great sense of humor, and generally makes me laugh
2. He’s a great father
3. He drives the carpool – he’s a great “dance mom”
4. He works very hard at his job
5. He does laundry
6. He fills my van up with gas
7. He’s a good cook – much better than me!
8. He’s extremely committed to family
9. He gets along with pretty much anyone
10. He puts up with me!

Thanks, Facebook.

Today under “what are you planning”, Facebook reminded me that next week is my anniversary. Which is good because I TOTALLY FORGOT.

Let me just say that one of my biggest pet peeves ever is when my husband forgets a special occasion – namely my birthday, valentine’s day, mother’s day or especially our anniversary.  I always wait to make sure he figures it out first before I say anything.  It’s a mean little game that I play and I probably should give him a lot more credit.  But he told me when we got married that I would assume all responsibility for remembering family birthdays, anniversaries and special holidays, etc.  That’s why he married me!

I’m apologizing here for sometimes dropping the ball.

But I’ve never forgotten our anniversary or anything that important. Not until this year, apparently.

So today I would just like to say thanks to Facebook for saving my ass. Crisis averted.

Diva Nation

So this past weekend during competition there was a young girl who was really stressed out. And crabby. And mouthing off to her mother. Normally, my job as a teacher gives me some leverage when I tell our students to be nice to their mothers – backstage can sometimes be really crazy and stressful, and I try to remind them that their moms are there to help and have paid a lot of money and invested a lot of time for them to dance. And they usually apologize and try harder to get through the rest of the day.

But this particular 8 year old LIVES AT MY HOUSE.

And at one point during the day it happened. I had a meltdown. Because nothing is worse than being the one with “that kid”. I am a good parent. I stay home with my kids. I volunteer at school and drive the carpool. I read and play games and take my kids on vacation to Disneyworld.  How can this be happening?? My beautiful daughter turned into a diva! In front of everyone! I mean, I’ve seen this happen to other people, but as the tears welled up in my eyes I realized that today it was definitely happening to me. And all eyes were on me as to how I was going to handle it.

So I sent her off with her aunts who made her see the error of her ways. And I took a much needed time-out. And she apologized, and we got through the rest of the day.  But I vowed in that moment to be much less judgmental when I see a kid throwing a tantrum at Target or having a meltdown in the grocery store. Because at the end of the day, sometimes it’s hard being 8, and kids don’t always know how to express their emotions properly. She’s a work in progress and that’s ok. I need to remember that it’s my job to help shape her into who she will be someday. But I guess I would prefer doctor over diva!