Monday, November 22, 2010
Just like Mommy
I love that the girls are so excited for Thanksgiving. They are so excited that you would think it was Christmas. Ariana cannot wait to help me in the kitchen. She says she LOVES to cook. I think it is really sweet that she wants to help me. She is also excited for her Daddy's famous apple pie. She LOVES that pie. She would eat the whole thing if I let her.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Washington DC
I went to Washington DC for the first time and attended the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. It was an incredible experience. Trevor and I left early Friday morning on October 29th. We drove into Virginia and stayed with a friend for the weekend. The drive through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia was beautiful with rolling hills of barren trees and splashes of yellow.
The next day we headed out to Washington DC. I was very excited. I had never been to DC or a rally DC. I was going to DC for the rally and not to sight see. There was going to be too many people in DC tour the monuments and museums. We weren't sure how large the crowd was going to be but people were estimating the crowd to be about 150,000 people.
When we got to the metro station we were a little surprised to see the amount of people there. We tried to get there early but we were not early enough. The ride into DC was extremly crowed. At every stop a few more people crowded onto the train. At one point the doors would not shut and the driver warned us that if the doors could not shut then everyone would have to get off then train and then re board. I'm so glad the doors finally shut.
On the metro we went past Arlington National Cemetery. I saw it very quickly out the window. I also saw the Capital Building and the Washington Monument as we were going past the National Airport. We finally got to our stop and made our way out the door. If you ever wonder what the statement "packed like sardines" means, just ride the metro into DC for a rally.
Once off the metro, the first place we went was the White House. We were meeting some friends there and then going to National Mall. It was surreal looking at the White House. I had only seen the White House on televison in the news or in a movie or television show. It seemed so small. It was strange to look at the house and think, "This is where President Obama lives. He might even be in there right now. He could be in there right now sitting at his desk looking out the window. He might even see me standing out here in the street." I'm sure that he was not looking at me, but you never know. It was a strange feeling knowing the President so close. Some people might not feel the same way I do, but I thought it was pretty cool.
We started making our way to the National Mall. There were so many people walking to the mall. If you didn't know the way, all you had to do was to follow mass of people. Once we got to the mall I looked around to take in the sights but all I could see was people. lol. There were so many people there. I couldn't see anything. We wanted to position ourselves by a big screen television or a speaker but we couldn't get close to any of them. So we found a spot by some sectioned off grass. Some of the grass was sectioned off and people could not walk on it. I guess the mall's lawn was in disrepair and the fenced off areas were where new grass seed had been planted. We were able to see the far away screens but could not hear them very well.
When I looked around and all I could see was people. The planners of the rally only had a permit for 60,000 people. The big screens and speakers were in the area the rally had the permit for. But there were many more people people in attendance. The stage was set up in front of the Capital Building and the crowd stretched to the Washington Monument. The crown also spilled out on the sides of the Mall. I had never been in a crowd this large. I thought I would have been uneasy being around this many people. But I wasn't. The people there were very friendly. They were also pretty polite too.
Everyone was there for the same reasons. They were tired of hearing about the Tea Party and how many supporters they had. They were tired of hearing about how all muslims are bad. About how President Obama isn't an American and wasn't really born in Hawaii. Tired of hearing that his birth certificate was fake. Tired of hearing about Palin and her nonsense. Tired of hearing about how national healthcare is bad and how the republicans want to repeal it. Tired of hearing about how national healthcare has caused the cost of our movie tickets to increase. Tired of hearing Fox News exaggerating the truth or just making up fake news to cause panic and fear in our society.
Looking out at all these people I felt relief. Relief that there were thousands of people that felt the same way I did. Thousands of people were fed up like I was. Thousands of people came here like I did to show that we do care. That we do have a voice. That we can stand up for what we believe. That we can exercise our right to freedom of free speech and show our support for restoring sanity. That we can show the American people there is another voice besides the tea party voice. There are people out there that think there is a lot of nonsense in the media. That we are tired of the media creating news and fear. I know I am not very eloquent in my words and writing but this is what I felt. I was proud to be a part of it.
I'm glad I went to Washington. I will be going back. Next time Julia and Ariana will be with us and we will tour the monuments and see the museums. But I will always remember that the first time I went to Washington DC, I was there for a rally to restore sanity. And who knows, maybe next time I will see the President.
There were some really funny signs in the crowd. Some of the ones I remembered was:
I like turtles.
I might not agree with you but I know I won't stomp on your head.
The time is know.
I thought I voted for a muslim.
If a riot breaks out I am totally stealing an iPad.
I think the tea party needs more tea.
I prefer coffee.
Every word on this sign is spelled correctly.
God loves gays.
This is a double rainbow.
The next day we headed out to Washington DC. I was very excited. I had never been to DC or a rally DC. I was going to DC for the rally and not to sight see. There was going to be too many people in DC tour the monuments and museums. We weren't sure how large the crowd was going to be but people were estimating the crowd to be about 150,000 people.
When we got to the metro station we were a little surprised to see the amount of people there. We tried to get there early but we were not early enough. The ride into DC was extremly crowed. At every stop a few more people crowded onto the train. At one point the doors would not shut and the driver warned us that if the doors could not shut then everyone would have to get off then train and then re board. I'm so glad the doors finally shut.
On the metro we went past Arlington National Cemetery. I saw it very quickly out the window. I also saw the Capital Building and the Washington Monument as we were going past the National Airport. We finally got to our stop and made our way out the door. If you ever wonder what the statement "packed like sardines" means, just ride the metro into DC for a rally.
Once off the metro, the first place we went was the White House. We were meeting some friends there and then going to National Mall. It was surreal looking at the White House. I had only seen the White House on televison in the news or in a movie or television show. It seemed so small. It was strange to look at the house and think, "This is where President Obama lives. He might even be in there right now. He could be in there right now sitting at his desk looking out the window. He might even see me standing out here in the street." I'm sure that he was not looking at me, but you never know. It was a strange feeling knowing the President so close. Some people might not feel the same way I do, but I thought it was pretty cool.
We started making our way to the National Mall. There were so many people walking to the mall. If you didn't know the way, all you had to do was to follow mass of people. Once we got to the mall I looked around to take in the sights but all I could see was people. lol. There were so many people there. I couldn't see anything. We wanted to position ourselves by a big screen television or a speaker but we couldn't get close to any of them. So we found a spot by some sectioned off grass. Some of the grass was sectioned off and people could not walk on it. I guess the mall's lawn was in disrepair and the fenced off areas were where new grass seed had been planted. We were able to see the far away screens but could not hear them very well.
When I looked around and all I could see was people. The planners of the rally only had a permit for 60,000 people. The big screens and speakers were in the area the rally had the permit for. But there were many more people people in attendance. The stage was set up in front of the Capital Building and the crowd stretched to the Washington Monument. The crown also spilled out on the sides of the Mall. I had never been in a crowd this large. I thought I would have been uneasy being around this many people. But I wasn't. The people there were very friendly. They were also pretty polite too.
Everyone was there for the same reasons. They were tired of hearing about the Tea Party and how many supporters they had. They were tired of hearing about how all muslims are bad. About how President Obama isn't an American and wasn't really born in Hawaii. Tired of hearing that his birth certificate was fake. Tired of hearing about Palin and her nonsense. Tired of hearing about how national healthcare is bad and how the republicans want to repeal it. Tired of hearing about how national healthcare has caused the cost of our movie tickets to increase. Tired of hearing Fox News exaggerating the truth or just making up fake news to cause panic and fear in our society.
Looking out at all these people I felt relief. Relief that there were thousands of people that felt the same way I did. Thousands of people were fed up like I was. Thousands of people came here like I did to show that we do care. That we do have a voice. That we can stand up for what we believe. That we can exercise our right to freedom of free speech and show our support for restoring sanity. That we can show the American people there is another voice besides the tea party voice. There are people out there that think there is a lot of nonsense in the media. That we are tired of the media creating news and fear. I know I am not very eloquent in my words and writing but this is what I felt. I was proud to be a part of it.
I'm glad I went to Washington. I will be going back. Next time Julia and Ariana will be with us and we will tour the monuments and see the museums. But I will always remember that the first time I went to Washington DC, I was there for a rally to restore sanity. And who knows, maybe next time I will see the President.
There were some really funny signs in the crowd. Some of the ones I remembered was:
I like turtles.
I might not agree with you but I know I won't stomp on your head.
The time is know.
I thought I voted for a muslim.
If a riot breaks out I am totally stealing an iPad.
I think the tea party needs more tea.
I prefer coffee.
Every word on this sign is spelled correctly.
God loves gays.
This is a double rainbow.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Costume
October 24, 2010
It was such a beautiful day today, sunny and 71˚! I took the girls to get pumpkins today. We went to the pumpkin patch at the grocery store. It was cheaper that way. The pumpkins were only $3 each. Way better than spending $15+ a pumpkin at a real pumpkin patch. Then we went to Game Stop so I could get them their DS games that I owed them since July. They can't complain. They got their games. Julia got a game for going on the Funnel of Fear water slide. (Which she ended up loving and riding three more times.) Ariana got a game because how could I get Julia one and not get Ariana one? Next we stopped at Michaels to buy the supplies for Ariana's Halloween costume.
Some people are very curious to see Ariana's costume this year. A mom of one of Ariana's friends told me she can't wait to see what I make this year for Ariana's costume. She always thinks they are so creative. She also wondered how I came up with the ideas. Well, I don't. Ariana tells me what she wants to be and then I have to figure out how to make it. lol. The easiest was when she wanted to be a mailbox. I was telling my neighbor Ariana wanted to be a mailbox for halloween and that I didn't know how I was going to make it. Then he said he had a mailbox costume in his basement and asked if I wanted to borrow it. Of course I wanted to borrow it!
Every year she comes up with the coolest ideas. The only time she had a store bought costume was when she was JoJo from JoJo's Circus. She wore that costume when she was 2 and 3. Then when she was 4 she wanted to be a witch. We used stuff we had around the house to make that one. It was cute because all the other girls in her preschool class were princesses. In Kindergarden she was a present. 1st grade she was a lollipop. 2nd grade she was a mailbox. And in 3rd grade she is going to be......
You'll have to wait a few more days before I will tell. lol.
It was such a beautiful day today, sunny and 71˚! I took the girls to get pumpkins today. We went to the pumpkin patch at the grocery store. It was cheaper that way. The pumpkins were only $3 each. Way better than spending $15+ a pumpkin at a real pumpkin patch. Then we went to Game Stop so I could get them their DS games that I owed them since July. They can't complain. They got their games. Julia got a game for going on the Funnel of Fear water slide. (Which she ended up loving and riding three more times.) Ariana got a game because how could I get Julia one and not get Ariana one? Next we stopped at Michaels to buy the supplies for Ariana's Halloween costume.
Some people are very curious to see Ariana's costume this year. A mom of one of Ariana's friends told me she can't wait to see what I make this year for Ariana's costume. She always thinks they are so creative. She also wondered how I came up with the ideas. Well, I don't. Ariana tells me what she wants to be and then I have to figure out how to make it. lol. The easiest was when she wanted to be a mailbox. I was telling my neighbor Ariana wanted to be a mailbox for halloween and that I didn't know how I was going to make it. Then he said he had a mailbox costume in his basement and asked if I wanted to borrow it. Of course I wanted to borrow it!
Every year she comes up with the coolest ideas. The only time she had a store bought costume was when she was JoJo from JoJo's Circus. She wore that costume when she was 2 and 3. Then when she was 4 she wanted to be a witch. We used stuff we had around the house to make that one. It was cute because all the other girls in her preschool class were princesses. In Kindergarden she was a present. 1st grade she was a lollipop. 2nd grade she was a mailbox. And in 3rd grade she is going to be......
You'll have to wait a few more days before I will tell. lol.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Skipping By
October 21, 2010,
I can't believe it is almost the end of October already! This month has just flown by. The kids brought home their school pictures the other day. Well, actually a few weeks ago but they got lost in the heap of papers on the counter and I found them again a few days ago. Anyway, I was updating the picture frames and looking at the old pictures in the frames from their previous grades. When I put Ariana's new third grade picture in the frame I compared it to her kindergarden picture and couldn't believe how old she looked now. :( She does not look like my baby anymore. It makes me sad to see her growing up.
When I looked at Julia's pictures, I thought the same thing but not as sad. Ariana is my baby so I always see her as the little one. When she is with Julia, Ariana looks young. I always look at Julia as the older sister so when she looks older to me it is not sad. When I look at Ariana I see her as the baby so when she looks older and is not the "baby" any longer, it makes me sad.
I have to admit she is easier to handle being older. Those early years were a challenge. I also like that we can do more things now that they are older. I don't have to worry about naps, or what we are going to do if they get bored. I'll just have to cherish these "young" years now because the teenage years are right around the corner and then everything changes.
I can't believe it is almost the end of October already! This month has just flown by. The kids brought home their school pictures the other day. Well, actually a few weeks ago but they got lost in the heap of papers on the counter and I found them again a few days ago. Anyway, I was updating the picture frames and looking at the old pictures in the frames from their previous grades. When I put Ariana's new third grade picture in the frame I compared it to her kindergarden picture and couldn't believe how old she looked now. :( She does not look like my baby anymore. It makes me sad to see her growing up.
When I looked at Julia's pictures, I thought the same thing but not as sad. Ariana is my baby so I always see her as the little one. When she is with Julia, Ariana looks young. I always look at Julia as the older sister so when she looks older to me it is not sad. When I look at Ariana I see her as the baby so when she looks older and is not the "baby" any longer, it makes me sad.
I have to admit she is easier to handle being older. Those early years were a challenge. I also like that we can do more things now that they are older. I don't have to worry about naps, or what we are going to do if they get bored. I'll just have to cherish these "young" years now because the teenage years are right around the corner and then everything changes.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Day at the Beach
October 17th, 2010,
I have been itching to get back out to western Michigan to take some pictures. So I called a photography friend of mine and planned a photography excursion. We wanted to shoot the fall colors and get one of those gorgeous awe-inspiring Lake Michigan sunsets. When Ariana found out where I was going, she wanted to come along too. I was very excited to have her tagalong.
We went to a wooded trail first and got some great shots. Ariana also got some terrific shots. In fact, one of her compositions was better than mine! I was a little jealous, but quite proud of her. She has a great eye. I'll have to start teaching her all I know.
That evening we went to a park on Lake Michigan and waited for the sunset. We got a sunset, but it was less then stellar. It was very dull and boring. There was not a cloud insight. I did get a lot of great shots of Ariana though.
Overall it was GREAT day! I loved spending the day with Ariana. She was such a trooper and was very good. Hopefully we can do it again soon.
I have been itching to get back out to western Michigan to take some pictures. So I called a photography friend of mine and planned a photography excursion. We wanted to shoot the fall colors and get one of those gorgeous awe-inspiring Lake Michigan sunsets. When Ariana found out where I was going, she wanted to come along too. I was very excited to have her tagalong.
We went to a wooded trail first and got some great shots. Ariana also got some terrific shots. In fact, one of her compositions was better than mine! I was a little jealous, but quite proud of her. She has a great eye. I'll have to start teaching her all I know.
That evening we went to a park on Lake Michigan and waited for the sunset. We got a sunset, but it was less then stellar. It was very dull and boring. There was not a cloud insight. I did get a lot of great shots of Ariana though.
Overall it was GREAT day! I loved spending the day with Ariana. She was such a trooper and was very good. Hopefully we can do it again soon.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Football
October 2, 2010
Where has September gone? It feels like it was Labor Day, then I blinked and now it was October. Ariana must have felt the same way because on October 1st she told me she had to go flip her calender. When she got in her room I heard her laugh and say, "It's still on August." So she missed the whole month of September. lol.
September was a whirl wind. We had the start of school, which was a big deal since now we have a middle schooler. Then dance started up so our part-time hobby of Dion Taxi Service resumed. Next we had to throw in a birthday. Which she still hasn't had her birthday party and she reminds me of this everyday. We just didn't have a weekend to include one. Oh, and don't forgot curriculum nights at school for the girls and the fact that I get home really late from work. I think now that all the school year has started and we are getting back into the rhythm of it all that maybe it will slow down. Yeah, who I am kidding? Having kids who are involved in activities means we will always be busy. I guess I'll keep my running shoes on.
Last night my parents came over to visit. While they we here my dad told me about why Ariana doesn't like football season. When the girls were over and his house and saw that football was on, they both groaned. My dad said, "What, you don't like football?"
Ariana replied, "No."
"Why not," my dad asked.
"Because it's always on."
"Well, that's because it is football season."
Ariana being the feisty one that she is replied, "It's not football season. It's more like swearing season at our house."
My dad thought that was great. He could just imagine what it was like over here with Trevor watching football. I have to say, Ariana is completely right. It is swearing season. It's amazing the teams Trevor is rooting for ever win. It always sounds like they loose. So figure.
Where has September gone? It feels like it was Labor Day, then I blinked and now it was October. Ariana must have felt the same way because on October 1st she told me she had to go flip her calender. When she got in her room I heard her laugh and say, "It's still on August." So she missed the whole month of September. lol.
September was a whirl wind. We had the start of school, which was a big deal since now we have a middle schooler. Then dance started up so our part-time hobby of Dion Taxi Service resumed. Next we had to throw in a birthday. Which she still hasn't had her birthday party and she reminds me of this everyday. We just didn't have a weekend to include one. Oh, and don't forgot curriculum nights at school for the girls and the fact that I get home really late from work. I think now that all the school year has started and we are getting back into the rhythm of it all that maybe it will slow down. Yeah, who I am kidding? Having kids who are involved in activities means we will always be busy. I guess I'll keep my running shoes on.
Last night my parents came over to visit. While they we here my dad told me about why Ariana doesn't like football season. When the girls were over and his house and saw that football was on, they both groaned. My dad said, "What, you don't like football?"
Ariana replied, "No."
"Why not," my dad asked.
"Because it's always on."
"Well, that's because it is football season."
Ariana being the feisty one that she is replied, "It's not football season. It's more like swearing season at our house."
My dad thought that was great. He could just imagine what it was like over here with Trevor watching football. I have to say, Ariana is completely right. It is swearing season. It's amazing the teams Trevor is rooting for ever win. It always sounds like they loose. So figure.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Growing Up
September 28, 2010
It has been a whirl wind month. It is hard to believe it is almost over. Last week was curriculum night, where we go to the girl's schools and learn about their new classes and teachers. Dance also started a couple weeks ago so we are now part-time taxi drivers. lol
This morning it was raining and I asked Julia if she wanted me to drive her to the bus stop and she said yes. So I drove her and dropped her off. It was really dark, wet and hard to see. After she got out of the car I couldn't see her and I didn't want to leave until I knew where she was. I didn't want to run over my own kid. So I rolled down the window and called her name.
She answered "What?" I said, "I didn't know where you were and I don't want to hit you."
She replied, "Over here. Now shoo!"
"Shoo," I thought. I asked her, "Did you just shoo me?"
"Yes. Now go, mom."
Wow. I was shooed this morning. :( lol
It has been a whirl wind month. It is hard to believe it is almost over. Last week was curriculum night, where we go to the girl's schools and learn about their new classes and teachers. Dance also started a couple weeks ago so we are now part-time taxi drivers. lol
This morning it was raining and I asked Julia if she wanted me to drive her to the bus stop and she said yes. So I drove her and dropped her off. It was really dark, wet and hard to see. After she got out of the car I couldn't see her and I didn't want to leave until I knew where she was. I didn't want to run over my own kid. So I rolled down the window and called her name.
She answered "What?" I said, "I didn't know where you were and I don't want to hit you."
She replied, "Over here. Now shoo!"
"Shoo," I thought. I asked her, "Did you just shoo me?"
"Yes. Now go, mom."
Wow. I was shooed this morning. :( lol
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