Ten on Tuesday: Back from Florida Edition

 

 

1. I am finally adjusting back to post-Orlando vacation life.  I will blog lots more about my trip later, but for now I will say, that was the first time I have driven to Orlando (from the Philadelphia area) and it will absolutely be my last.  I am not someone who is cut out for long car rides.

2. My allergies are horrible lately.  My students had a field trip to the pool today and I had to carry around a box of tissues with me all day.  My nose won't stop running, my eyes won't stop watering, and Ryan just informed me that my face "looks like it was stung by, like, six bees." I feel so attractive.

3. Right before we left for Florida, my brother got married!  I will write more about that later, but my sister snapped this picture of us at the rehearsal dinner and I think it is my new favorite picture of our little family.

 

4. It is so, so close to the end of the school year.  On the one hand, I am so pumped for summer break.  But on the other hand, I have sooooooooooooooooo much to do before the end of the year, it's stressing me out. 

 

5.. I know I am a few days late, but I am going to finish up this challenge:

 

 

and add a few more days so I can blog 30 days in a row.  That would knock another item off of my 101 in 1001.  I have been rather absent from the blog lately, but I have a lot I could write about.

 

 

6.  We got our wedding pictures back from the photographer.  I will be featuring them on the blog in the future, but if you would like to take a peek at some of them, click here.  Randomly, the most commented and liked photo is one of my mom and her sister. 

 

7. Quote of a lifetime by Isaac "Who would say that their indie record was cooler than Taylor Swift's?  That is ridiculous."

 

8. My sweet sister in law Deb is expecting a baby in January.  I am SO excited to have a niece or a nephew.  Also, she asked me and Ryan to be the godparents.  We were so honored.

 

9. Isaac lost another tooth yesterday.  This time I remember to go and get some cash to put under his pillow.  Last time, I accidently forgot and it was tragic.  Ryan and I had to make up a lame story about how the toothfairy couldn't come because it was raining.  So I think I redeemed myself this time.  Whew!

 

10. This is so true.

Happy Tuesday!

Busy in Orlando

Catch you later...

Newly Wed Shower

My sweet visiting teachers from church offered to throw me a little shower to celebrate my wedding.  It was such lovely luncheon and I had so much fun.




The table and food.  Everything was so yummy!





There were lots of treats too.



An amazing cake a friend of Dee-Ann's had made.  It was filled with strawberry icing and was delicious.



The favorites game.  Dee-Ann had two of our favorites and the guests had to determine which were Ryan's favorites and which were mine.


Everyone signed a big beach ball for me.




And I received so many wonderful presents and gift cards.  Thank you, thank you to everyone who came!

Ten on Tuesday: Flat tire edition

Linking up with Lin for 10 on Tuesday.


1. I kind of love the nights Isaac and I have to ourselves when Ryan works a double.  Tonight we have laid in bed and watched youtube videos together.  This was Isaac's favorite.  He is obsessed with that song.
2. I found another go to crockpot meal via Pinterest.  This corn chowder was banging and ridiculously easy to make. 3. We got to go to Isaac's art show last Friday.   It was fun to see his work.  The art teacher found me and told me that Isaac has real talent for art, which was great to hear.

4.  Poor Isaac has a terrible ear infection and a perforated ear drum.  We just had a second appointment with the doctor and he has recommended seeing and ENT.  In the meantime, he has to shower with a cup held over his ear.  Poor kid.

 5.  I am starting another job.  My friend Meagan is a visual merchandiser at Gap Kids and hooked me up.  I am just doing a few hours here and there until summer vacation.  I thought it would be a nice discount and I can definitely use some extra money.  So far all I have done is watch a bunch of videos on preventing theft and pushing their credit card.  Hopefully tomorrow when I am "shadowing" will be a bit more exciting.


 6. Please tell me I'm not the only one?

Source: memebase.com via Lisa on Pinterest

7.  We went to Six Flags on Saturday.  Trying to make the most of our Season Passes and all.  Ryan's sister Katherine came with us too.

8.  After we were done at the park, we piled everyone in the van a little before 9.  We drove approximately a half mile down the road from Six Flags when the tire pressure light went on.  Ryan and I barely had time for this to register before we realized we had a full blown flat tire. Which was ridiculous!

It was a whole ordeal including me driving home from New Jersey on the donut at about 45 miles per hour. Needless to say we didn't end up getting home till after 1... ugh..

9. They couldn't patch the tire and the rim got bent and cracked from driving on it while it was flat.  My brother was able to give me the hook up with a free tire that was up in a storage attic at his dealership.  He also got me a refurbished rim.  So it wasn't as bad as it could have been financially, THANK GOODESS.

10. 

Source: pin4fun8288.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Random mix of thoughts of race

I had a call from the before and after school program Isaac attends.  I braced myself for a report of an injury or a behavior problem from the site director.  Instead it was the director of childcare.  She was calling to report that during a basketball game that morning another (white) child became upset that he was losing and referred to Isaac and another (black) boy as "chocolate face".  She assured me that they took this seriously, that they were talking to the other boy's parents, and that he had received a consequence.  Although people have made racist remarks of various levels of offensiveness about Isaac to me or my family members, this is the first time that Isaac has been confronted with it.

All through Isaac's life I have tried hard to help him embrace all aspects of his heritage.  When he was an infant, I researched a bought tons of books that featured interracial families and biracial children as characters.  We have talked at length about how President Obama is just like Isaac-- his mother is white and his father is from Africa.  Isaac attends cultural and religious events with his father (who is from Sierra Leone and is of the Muslim faith).  Although his school is not as racially diverse as other nearby schools, he is far from being the only person of color in his class.  We have talked about how children in his class may not understand why he is a different race than me, and talked about what he should say.   I think I have done a great job of teaching him to have a positive self esteem about himself and each of his cultural identities, and to

How do I, as a white person, prepare my child for the prejudices and subtle but prevalent racism he will face, that I cannot even fully understand?  I'm still not sure.  But here are some good articles I found while researching the subject.

Talking to our children about racism and diversity

5 Tips for Talking About Racism to Kids

Preparing your Child for Racism


And while we are on the topic, my friend Leah posted this.  Sometimes is is disconcerting when (usually well meaning) people gush over how much cuter mixed kids are.  It feels weird   Just because a child is more than one race doesn't mean they are any cuter than regular white or black kids.  Interesting to see an article that validates that "icky" feeling.

If any of you have comments about this I would love to hear them.

 

Update on 101 in 1001

I haven't forgotten about my 101 goals.  I have even managed to make a little progress on them and even cross a few off. 

14. Buy a car that fits all of the kids - DONE!!!!

I still can't park it well but my little sedan was traded in for a big ol' mini-van.  I am still getting used to it.  The other day I left cub scouts at the church and was temporarily unable to locate my mini-van amongst a sea of other navy vans.  I guess these are the problems of the middle aged.  Read all about the purchase of the van HERE.

77.  Take the kids to the Baltimore Aquarium - DONE!
I am counting this one, even though we only took Isaac and not the whole gang.  I hadn't been to the Baltimore Aquarium in ages and it was really fun.  We decided to go the same day we bought the mini-van to do a test run for a roadtrip.  Read all about it HERE. 

Other progress....

9. Try 50 new recipes
I tried this one - Red Lobster biscuit knockoff.  I thought they were just okay.  I have never been to Red Lobster, so I can't verify how authentic they taste.  We had lots of leftovers that never really got eaten, so I don't think I will make them again.  I also tried a cornbread recipe from the back of the cornmeal box that turned out TERRIBLE.  Usually I buy the little Jiffy cornbread-- so cheap and easy, but I didn't have any on hand.  I did have a random box of cornmeal so I found a recipe on the back of the box and tried to follow it.  Sadly, they were awful.  They had the consistency of yellow fudge, which is NOT how I like my cornbread.  Lastly, I made my own flour tortillas. 

43. Take a self defense class - scheduled
My Relief Society is offering one in May, so I am all set to attend.

Ten on Tuesday: Six Flags Edition

What a weekend.

1.  I had a craving for enchiladas on Sunday, but I had no tortillas.  I decided to make my own.

They weren't that pretty, but they turned out pretty good.

2. I did some major house cleaning over the weekend.  I finally got my microwave spic and span.  I washed the shower liner.  I put all my winter clothes away and pulled out all my summer ones. 

 

 

3. We had Miss Gabby spend the night with us again on Friday.  We played a mean game of Scrabble Junior and she was the winner. 

4.  In the morning we took her and Isaac to Six Flags Great Adventure.  Ryan was lucky enough to win four season passes in a drawing from work.  I have never been to Six Flags before, and I was surprised by how much there was to do for the younger group.  I always see the commercials advertising the huge coasters.

4. My favorite picture of the day taken on the tea cups.  This so fits their personalities.  They are only two years apart.

 

6. I am putting Les Mis on hold for a while.  It is on my 101 in 1001 and I am still going to read it, but I think I will save it for the summer when I can devote more time to it.  Right now I just need something light and fluffy to pick up for a few minutes before bed. 

 

7. I am currently reading Looking for Alaska by John Green.  I read The Fault is in Our Stars and enjoyed it, so I requested this one in from the library.  So far it is pretty good. 

 

8.  My tax refund came.  Woot, woot!  It wasn't much this year, but it was enough to get excited about.

 

9. I have just discovered The Mindy Project on Hulu.  I am loving it.  I swear, that girl was me a year ago.  Anyone else like it?

 

10.  This just made me laugh.

 

 

Have a great day!

 

 

Linking up with Lin