Summer recap

On this eve 

Before the first day of school

I thought 

Maybe I should let you in on what I have been up too 

Since I disappeared

From the blog

The summer of fun 

Is how the Kid refers to it

And 

I would have to agree

We took a road trip to D.C

It was great

We saw a lot of things

Walked many many steps

It was a trip I would do again

So many things we didn't see

But 

Tons of memories 

I dare not erase

The day after 

We returned from our trip

We had a wedding to attend/be in

The Kid's Aunt married her long time love

It was a simple backyard ceremony

I was so happy 

To be able to share in their special day

 Our last

Moment of summer 

Was spent with some great mother's I know

And my Kid

We went to see Kelly Clarkson & Maroon 5 in concert

It was a fun night

We sat in a sea of people and partied our buts off

That little colored area is where we sat

So that is my summer in a quick condensed version

Hope your summer was just as grand

Now to make sure the Kid 

Has all her stuff ready

For another school year

Bring on 7th grade!

The Day I was the Best Mom Ever!

A few months ago

I mentioned 

I bought tickets to a concert

To surprise the Kid

I ruined that surprise

By texting her the info 

Instead of her grandma

Whoops

Last Friday 

Was the day for that concert

The Kid

Was super excited

We were seeing her favorite band

(I am sure she might deny this years from now)

BIG TIME RUSH

 Honestly

I was looking forward to it as well

It was just going to be me and my girl

Taking this road trip to the show

Per her request

I had bought us lawn seats 

 The venue is beautiful at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

bethelwoodscenter.org

The lawn lets you enjoy the show just as much

For nearly not as much cash

However 

At the last moment 

I upgraded our seats when we arrived

I will not lie 

I spent a little extra money

The ticket seller asked me if I knew about the seating under the Pavilion

And I did not 

He told me don't worry you will have really good seats

I figured that since we had lawn seating to start with

Anything had to be better

Our seats ended up being 

Third Row

 

The Kid was practically hyperventilating

In that moment

I was the best freaking mom ever!

 

It was a great magical night 

Filled with memories 

I am not ashamed to say I paid for

When did preteen drama become the norm?

My daughter has a friend

Or maybe 

I should  say had a friend

This is new territory to us

She had her elementary friends

That she still sees

Just not in the same frequency

She also has friends 

That she has known 

Since they were in diapers

But

Now that the diapers have been traded in for bras

Those close friends 

Are fading into the background

The hurt feelings 

And 

The inevitably drama

That just seems to come with girls 

It can be hard to take

What makes it harder 

Is figuring out

When to step in and when to take a step back 

I know 

It is part of growing up

And finding out who you are and want to be

Spread your wings Kid

I am OK with this

The sticky part of these 

Parting diaper friends

Is the fact 

Her Mother and I 

Are good friends

How do you keep that friendship 

From getting

Trampled by drama

That is not ours

I am told

If we are true friends

We will be able to look past it all

However 

We are both extremely protective of our children's feelings

Something is brewing

You can feel it in the air

I am just hopeful 

We all can weather out this storm

Urge To Purge

Had the urge

To purge 

Well to be honest

I have had the urge 

For awhile

But 

Just slow to actually to get to the purging 

That all changed this weekend

The Kid and I 

Tackled her room 

With enthusiasm 

From me

And eye rolls from her

Since it was about a million degrees outside 

Going through stuff

In her air conditioned room

Was fine with me

We did get through

Tons

Of stuff

In the end

Even the Kid 

Was proud of all the stuff she purged

Two huge bags of trash

Three boxes of toys and books given to those in need

 Some  tugs at hearts strings

With struggles of things not quite ready to let go

However

We just put those things away

And 

Maybe down the road 

She will be OK with letting the things go

I am happy 

With the all that she was able to let go

Early in the week 

I met up with some friends 

One was visiting from Arizona

So we grabbed some mango margaritas

And boy

Let's just say 

Tasty

It was nice catching up 

Sadly 

It was the only night we  could get together while she was in town

 

On the 4th of July

The Kid enjoyed

Some pool time 

It was hot 

But after literally days of rainfall 

We enjoyed every ray and degree that was offered

 Later

Once the sun began to set

We grabbed our spots for some fire works

The Kid danced

While I snapped this shot

And while blurry 

I love it

 

 Hope everyone else enjoyed their weekends!

 

Moments of time

I have been running 

Not literally

But 

Life has had me going 

In many different directions

The end of the school year

Seems to be super busy

Between tests,field trips,concerts,awards ceremonies

The Kid and I 

Are busy

The LAX season ended 

On a wet note

Our last game was canceled 

Due to a flooded field

The heavy rains made it so we had no true ending

It just ended

Kinda a bummer

The Kid loved playing LAX

And even with all the traveling 

I can't wait to let her do it again next year

The last game we got in.It was about 92 degrees out and the cicadas were deafening

.

 The Kid made it 

Through her first year of Middle school

Thank god!

I won't say it didn't have ups and downs

In the end the we left 6th grade with smiles

Proud of my girl

She made

High Honors 

For the entire school year

The Kid 

Also turned 12

During all the craziness of the end of the year

I felt like I failed as a mom

I didn't plan anything for her birthday really

Not for lack of trying

I started asking her in May 

What she wanted to do

She kept saying nothing

All she wanted

Was to spend time with the people she loved

So in the end that is what we did

No big party

No gifts really exchanged

Just some time with family 

And an ice cream cake

It was a great day

And

With smiles like this

I think the Kid was happy with her choice

 

So it is now the end of June 

All ready

Summer is in full swing

Our schedule is filling up

With fun things

So much lazy afternoons

Summer Sizzle Basket season is set to begin

Practices have been going on for about a month

What I love about this is I don't have to drive anywhere

The Kid can walk to practice and the games

WOO HOO

For my wallet

I also in the midst of planing a trip to DC

With my mother the Kid and myself

 I have never been

So if anyone has some suggestions  let me know

The Kid and I 

Also have a concert date 

Quickly approaching

Big Time Rush

(again)

We saw them last year with a group of friends

But this time around she wanted it to be just us

I'm going to enjoy this moment

Because I know soon enough

Going to a concert with your mom

Will not be the "cool" thing to do

I know I rambled a bit

But 

That is my life at the moment

Rambling around 

Living life

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer now that it has begun!

 

 

 

Lovely day

S
Sunny
I love waking up
Knowing that
It's going to be a beautiful day

U
Underlying
There are some underlying issues
Going on at work
A power struggle of sorts
One that I personally do not want to be part of
Things are changing
Possibly 
My hours
Whether that is good or bad
 I guess I will have to wait and see
At the end of the day
I just want to do my job
And
Then go home and enjoy my time with my family

N
Normal
Is
Overrated
I'll take my goofy
Kid and her friends
Any day

This is an old picture but makes me laugh every time

D
Dirty
My place is a mess
Maybe dirty
Is a bit harsh
But
Working on it
As usual
Helps that I can have the windows opens
A music blaring
Cleaning is no fun

A
Awesome
The Kid played Lacrosse for the first time this year
To say she had an awesome experience
Would be putting in mildly
Hope the love continues
Her last game is Thursday
I hope it is a great one

Y
Yielding
To temptation
Tomorrow starts a new look at the foods I eat
I am not going to walk away from the things I love
Just be better
About my choices and portion sizes
But
Today
I will enjoy a couple of these

Hope your weekend was enjoyable!

Middle schoolers,bus trip,Lincoln Center ..Oh my

I chaperoned a field trip

Last Thursday

2 busloads

Of middle school aged children

I even paid to go

I think any time

Middle school hormones are involved

The parents should be given a voucher for drinks afterwards

(along with the teachers)

The trip was my Kid’s

Band Culture trip

They try to pick something different each year

This trip was to see a performance

At the beautiful

Lincoln Center

Avery Hall to be exact

We were there to see/listen

To NY Philharmonic
Featuring a performance of Wynton Marsalis's
Swing Symphony (Symphony No.3)

It was a wonderful performance
And
A plus to be able to hear Wynton Marsalis play as well

It was a quick trip

But

A great one

And
Finally
A few of my favorite pictures
I took during the trip

Smile when life makes you want to scream

Life has been 

BUSY

Or I should say my Kid's life has been busy

I can honestly say 

I think she needs her own assistant

While I am kidding 

Part of me is really contemplating it 

(will never happen)

How nice though

The idea

That way I go to the important things

But can slack on the other stuff

I think the above screams bad mom

For me to think that

But 

We as people 

Get overwhelmed at times

There has been some crummy things 

That have taken place 

In our lives

Nothing horrible

Just more annoying

 I think

I will just share the pictures of the good stuff

The stuff 

That made me smile

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
 

A messy work week collides with life

I was a bad blogger

I really should say I was a bad non blogger

Or reader

Work 

Was EVIL

Last week

I am still recovering

We had a new computer system go live 

Last Monday 

To say it was a disaster 

Would be to kind

I had a break down by noon

Tears were flowing

On my way home at 3

It was messy

I dont understand 

Why 

The people who set systems up 

Dont defer to those who actually will use it

I think 

Many of the issues 

Would end up being non ones 

COMMUNICATION

It helps

This week 

I am playing catch up in the blogger world

I have many to read

I have missed you all

Instagram 

Has kept my in touch 

Even if only in a small way

It is almost like a movie trailer

And 

I love me a movie trailer

Am I the only one

So here is hoping to a better week

May yours be great too

Wonderful weekend why are you over

Had a great weekend

Spent it outside

And 

I have the burnt skin to prove it

Ouch 

Is all I have to say

We had a beautiful day

For the Kid's lacrosse game

Sadly

We loss

10-6

But it was a battle hard fought

#19 Super Proud of this Kid

Had a little Cinco Da Miyo Fun

Saturday evening

(I know a day early)

We some friends

Forgot the camera

Maybe a good thing

I behaved though

Made sure I was in bed before midnight

Sunday

Was off to a birthday party 

For my friend's now 5 year old

Happy Birthday Xavier

It was a great day

Family,friends and food

I wish all weekends could be this much fun!

Friday Letters

F

Finally

Spring has arrived

I am loving every moment of it

Windows open

Sun is shining 

Children are playing

This weekend should be wonderful

R

Raging

I have a raging headache today

Been fighting it all day

But 

3pm when you arrived

My headache was mostly gone

Great start to the weekend

I

Imagine
Imagine Dragons
That is
Kinda a favorite
In this home lately
Love that me and the Kid
Have the same taste in music
Sometimes

D
Determined
To do nothing
But
Hang out in the sunshine and fresh air
All weekend
Sorry housekeeping you will need to wait

A
Away
The Kid has another away lacrosse game
Saturday
I'm all ready excited for her
She truly loves playing the game

Y
Yanking
I feel like I have been yanking my hair
Right of my head
This last week or so at work
Sadly
It wont be getting any better any time soon
We are getting a new system
It goes live Monday morning
I don't think it will be a smooth transition
Not one but
But
That is Monday morning
Not going to let it ruin my weekend fun


Hope everyone has a memory making weekend!

Days like this

I think 

It is safe to say

That Spring

Has finally sprung

It has been a rocky start

Still 

A bit chilly in the am

However 

I have been loving all the blooming

Going on around me

Even if my nose

Is irritated
Bring on the tissues
I will survive

Weather like this 

Makes me want to head down to the NYC 

For a little day trip

 So I guess
I have some planning to do

SUN-day !

So in a life 

That keeps throwing curves at me 

My post in progress 

For Friday

Never was finished

SO 

Instead of finishing it up late

I am going to change it

To fit into a Sunday post

Here it goes...

S

Success

I tried a new recipe 

A simple one 

Easy to make

And a hit the Kid

Just wish I had also taken a picture of the cooked fish as well

U 

 Underwhelmed

So the Kid ,Noka, and I  went out for a belated birthday meal

The restaurant is a chain one

I had never been so I was up for it

So sadly I will say I don't have any plans to go back

The staff was nice

The food was average the prices were not

I did enjoy my dessert

Plus I got a nice picture of the Kid and her Noka

        

Love these two!

N

NYSMA

The Kid participated in NYSMA
I don't really know what it is
Other then I pay for the Kid to do it
She does some playing and sight reading for a judge
He scores her
We all hope for a good score
But other then that kind of clueless
I know bad mom

The Kid plays drums in the school band

This is her second time testing with NYSMA

I wish I had some pictures to share

But 

Pictures,filming or recording

Strictly forbidden

I think she did better then she thinks

We will find out in a few weeks

D

Dreading
All the cleaning
I need to do today
However
It is the only day
I can actually get to it
Since the rest of the week to come is booked solid
Motivation is lacking
Mainly because it is beautiful outside
I will push through
Maybe even get to enjoy some of the sun

A

Abs

Or should I say lack of

The Kid started her Physical therapy this week

Found out that she has no ab strength

She has been using  her legs and back to do everything

Thus the reason she has low back pain all the time 

(well that and the scoliosis)

So for the next 6 weeks or so we will see her therapist John

Who will work on getting her to find those muscles

As well as correcting her posture

Fun evenings ahead of us 

It helps that the Therapist knows how to have fun with the Kid

It also helps that he makes me laugh and the time goes by faster

Y

Yesterday 

Was a great day

Plenty of sunshine

The Kid's first away lacrosse game

Another tie

Which I am grateful for 

The other team was tough 

And our girls held their own

Woo hoo!

Kingston Tigers

Kingston is in maroon

 

 

 

Hope everyone found some time to enjoy the weekend
Till the next one my friends

Searching for words

F

Flirting

Flirting with disaster that is 

I have been trying to give my Kid  a bit more freedom

She is only 11 soon to be 12

I know for a fact I did a lot more when I was her age

I wonder why I feel like I need to keep the hold so tight

Small steps I am taking

Saturday she was invited to go roller skating

Innocent enough sounding

But 

I won't be there 

And 

I am kinda afraid that the "mean girls" will be stalking 

Do I let her go and hope for the best

Or do I keep her home

Avoiding the drama and save it for another day

R

Remembering 

This week had been a crazy one in the States

First off 

All the craziness that happened at the Boston Marathon

And 

That continues this morning with many neighborhoods pretty much on a lock down

While the searching continues for the second suspect

Secondly

The small town of West, Texas

How horrible to basically to have your whole town leveled

To need to start your lives from scratch

While healing

Today marks anniversaries for 2 other horrible moments in our history 

Waco Texas standoff

And 

The Oklahoma bombing

Two events that I watched unfold on the television

I remember them clearly because one happened on my 16th birthday and the other my 18th 

So today I'll take a moment

To remember all of those who lost their lives 

I

Instagram
Taken last Saturday but including it in this weeks post
Better late than never

D

Dancing

Gonna dance my arse off this weekend

I might even look like Snoopy while doing it

But 

That is all right with me

A

Agree
I would agree with the following
However
The people lately in my local Target
Didn't get the memo

Y

Yawning
Because it is Friday evening
And
I'm all about being lazy tonight
And
Sleeping in tomorrow


Have a wonderful weekend!
 

This and That

I am trying

Truly 

I am

Some days I do better than others

And

Other days I don't

Yesterday was a good day

Made a yummy dinner

Prepped some homemade cleaner

Dinner dishes done

Even got a load of laundry completed

Felt good

The Kid 

Has been running around like crazy in the evening

Either at lacrosse practice

Or out and about with the neighborhood kids

Making memories

Because time really does fly by

Being grateful 

That my brother has now returned home from Afghanistan

That with all the craziness in our world 

Especially now in our neck of the woods

That all my friends and family

Are healthy and safe

Love

Seeing all the flowers pushing through the soil

So much nicer

Snow be gone for good thank you

My heart aches for you 

Boston

And 

West Texas

May all your hearts heal quickly

 This post

Is all over the place

I know

Because that is my life sometimes

And I am ok with that

a b c d e Friday!

It is a glorious rainy Friday in my neck of the woods
Glorious
Because I get to be a bit lazy at the end of my work day
No running around for anything or anyone
All Fridays should be so nice

F

Finances

My finances took a big hit

The Kid was recently diagnosed with scoliosis

We met with a specialist

Who laid out the plan

The Kid was measured Thursday

For a brace 

She will wear it for a minimum of 16 hours daily

My cost 

(and this is just the estimate)

 Roughly $400.00

I would gladly spend $4000.00 though

If it meant making my Kid better

R

Ready
This Saturday my Kid has her first Lacrosse game ever
I am super excited for her
This is something she begged to do
I hope she is ready
I know I am ready
To take pictures
Too many I am sure

I
Imagine
You find out your daughter's favorite boy band is playing near you again this summer
Imagine
Yourself trying to figure out what to get daughter for her birthday in the summer
No brainer right
Imagine
Sending text to grandma
Stating "woo hoo guess who just bought tickets to Big Time Rush for the Kid's birthday"
Imagine
Finding out you actually sent text to Kid
About the surprise gift
Whoops
Imagine
The next week getting tickets to go see one of your favorite "man" bands
Imagine
Getting to stare at Adam Levine in all his glory

D
Delicious
Once again made it out for some amazing,delicious sushi
Tried a new place

We were very pleased we went
It is always nice to be able to add another place to our list of Sushi places near by
It also helped that we had a gift certificate

 A
Amazed
There was no middle school drama this week 
I am amazed
but
mainly
thankful
One more quarter left to this school year
Hopefully we all survive

Y
Yielding
I am yielding to the need to spend
On anything I can avoid
Other then the obvious bills
Taking a break from the eating out
Good thing I got those sushi dates in
Still cleaning out the clutter
But
Not bringing anything else in either
I can do this

Hope everyone has a glorious weekend!

Shaken not stirred and while your at it a bit dirty

Tonight is the night
My Sunday nights just got a bit better for awhile
Mad Men
Is back
And this gal is excited
~
Mr Draper

 What can I say

You are a bad boy in a good way

You try but fail miserably as a husband

But

I would not mind calling myself Mrs Draper

I'd gladly iron your shirts and have a drink ready for you daily

via 

Betty

I liked you in the beginning

Now

You just annoy me

I could definitely see you as the women

Left alone to stew at a party

I hope this season some how revives you

Right now though

If your character was killed off

I don't think I would miss you

 I dare say your TV children

Might even do a little jig

via

Peggy

How you have changed

From timid little secretary

To  woman in charge
Of her life

I like the spunky version of you

 via

Pete

Your icky

I try to find a redeeming quality for you

But

I just can not

You make my skin crawl

 On your real life congrats to you and my favorite T.V daughter

(If only because we share the name Rori)

On your engagement
I assume it was not the character you play that won her over

via

Joan
You have made curves sexy
And you have some major ones

I am not sure how I feel about you being a mom
But
Proud that you made sure to secure your roll at the agency
You go girl
I hope you find some love
Real love 

 via

Roger
Roger Sterling
Saying your full name almost gives me goose bumps
Your a cad
A loveable one if that is possible
You have let some great women slip through your fingers
Quite literally at times
You have almost everything you could want
But
At the end of the day your alone
I am rooting for you
You silver fox

 

via

~
So who else out there is as excited as me