Wednesday, June 29, 2011

For You For Me, Dawg (June Challenge: Last Post)

Have you seen Kindergarten Cop with Arnold Schwarzenegger? There's a famous line in that movie that goes something like this:



For some reason we started talking and laughing about that line tonight. Thanks for the laugh, Arnold! At least you're good for something.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

La La La. Whatever.

I taught at a science and technology camp for girls today. This is my summer job, and it's a great gig: the program has a worthy mission, the kids and staff are interesting and fun, I get to spend time with middle schoolers in preparation for my new job, AND I only have to work seven days total during the summer.

I do, however, have to teach for EIGHT hours in a day! Four groups of ten kids for two hours each. Here are two things I learned: seventh graders do things much more slowly than juniors and seniors. That seems obvious, I know, but I really had no sense of the pacing. Also, I need to institute some kind of rule where they have to ask each other their questions before they ask me. Shef knew what I was talking about immediately. "Mom!" he said at dinner, "Just tell them, 'Ask three, then me!'". Because I didn't know this rule today, I logged 10,000 steps on my pedometer just by criss-crossing the computer lab. The elementary teachers seem to intrinsically know these awesome management helpers. How do you guys do that all the time?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

June Challenge Post 4

My pal Erin introduced Dan and me to some very addicting television shows called House Hunters and House Hunters International, both on HGTV.

The premise of these shows is that people are looking to buy new houses and they get video taped while looking at three potential places. Then, they decide which house to buy and you, the viewer, gets to guess which one they'll pick.

Doesn't it sound kind of lame? The thing is, it's so totally NOT, especially on the international edition where people are buying houses in places I've never been before like Mumbai, Buenos Aires, and Aukland. Sometimes you get really upset with the people, like DUDE, WHY DO YOU WANT THE ATRIUM! Or, LADY, WHY ARE YOU SO DARN PICKY?

One time Dan got really upset because the dad in a family used to be a Naval officer in Scotland then just all of a sudden decided to join the New Zealand Navy. "What the HELL!" Dan kept exclaiming. "How do you just JOIN another navy?!" Also that family suddenly raised their budget from $1 million dollars to $1.5 million dollars like it was nothing. Who DOES that?

So, you can see the show has endless possibilities. You should probably DVR it, most likely. Maybe we can start a live chat for watching the show. Maybe we should tweet it? Maybe Bed Bath & Beyond, I just don't know if there will be enough time.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Anals of Summer

Probably everyone's been wondering what I've been doing since school ended last week on June 15th. Well don't even worry about wondering anymore because I'm going to tell you right now:

So, basically, Shef and I have been spending tons of time together. I take him to his swim team or tennis, and after that we adhere to a schedule that I've devised and typed up for ease of review.



As you can see, the schedule includes a balance of exciting activities and rest time. Everything's been fun, except for yesterday when I fell off my bike in front of a large group of teenage girls and their camp counselor.

"MOM," Shef whispered, exasperated, "that was really embarrassing."

"I KNOW," I said, trying to play it off. "Geez, I don't know how that happened." (What happened was I was trying to move from the grass to a sidewalk and my front tire didn't quite make the jump.)

"I mean," Shef clarified, "it was really embarrassing for you."

So, that was unfortunate but typical, I think we can all agree.

Mac's been going to school, but for shorter hours. That's how we all stay sane and thriving on routine. He's been big into singing. I got a little video of him doing one of his greatest hits. I missed the first part of the song, which goes "Make new friends, but keep the mold."

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

June Challenge Post 3

Summer's best show is underway. Of course I'm talking about So You Think You Can Dance. Of course I've blogged about it before because I'm obsessed with it.

I'm especially excited this year because the ultimate WHOO girl, Mary Murphy, is back as a permanent judge. Sometimes I like to speak like Mary, YES I DO YES I DO!!

That's pretty much all I have to say about that. But I'd also like to mention that it's 10:21 pm and neither of my lovely children is asleep.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

When Jesus Washed

Mac turned three yesterday! This is a pretty amazing occasion!

As the birthday approached, he kept asking my mom for a guy in a dress. Remember when he was asking for this for Christmas, too? In fact you can watch my most-watched YouTube video of all time (does 2,326 views count as viral??) in which he says a "guy who likes a dress" is his #1 wish:



Anyway, my mom decided she'd try getting him a pair of barbies (a Cinderella doll and a Ken) with some extra dresses. It turns out this isn't what he meant at all by "a guy in a dress." It wasn't even right when we put Cinderella's dress on Ken.

So, I guess the lesson here is: you can't really ever tell what a three year-old means when he says he'd like a guy in a dress. Oh, well.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

June Challenge Post 2



Here's something embarrassing that involves a film medium: I watch this Disney Channel show called "Good Luck Charlie" even when there aren't any kids here. It's actually really funny. I'm actually watching it right now. I've actually chuckled aloud a couple of times. It's not like Dan needed another reason to make fun of me, but I provided one nonetheless.

Also, he and all of my other friends except Erin have been making fun of my new pedometer (pictured above). Erin got hers because she had to wear one for six weeks or else her health insurance premiums would rise. I got mine because once Erin knew how many steps she was taking, I had to know mine. Isn't that just typical of me?

I'm now obsessed and wear it with all my outfits.

"Are you geriatric?" asked one of my pals at school.

Erin's supportive, of course, but she also had a request after I started bragging nonstop about my steps: "Let's not make this a competition."

That request is totally against my nature, but I'll try.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Bad Behavior

Rachel and I went to a wedding shower for our friend Kelly after school.

First, we went to the wrong house by accident. We pulled into the driveway (I kind of ran into some bushes, to tell the truth), we got out of the car, and a couple walked right over and said, "Are you at the right house?"

"Well," I said, "I hope so! We're here for the party!"

It was actually the wrong house. We had to return to the van with our presents, back out of the bushes, and drive on down the road to the right place.

Once there, I also did some embarrassing stuff like over-exclaiming about kitchen utensils and blathering on about lemon bars. I think at one point, Rachel had to touch my leg to get me to stop talking.

"What's wrong with me?" I asked her on the way out.

"We get like that when people are too quiet," she explained. It was nice of her to say "we." It was obvious it was really just me this time.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

June Challenge

@DailyRos posed an every-Wednesday challenge for June. We're supposed to write about films and related topics. Good challenge, Ros! I'm excited to participate! Today I'm writing about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Shef was dying to see this third installment of the Harry Potter series, but I was worried about some scary parts with tall-hooded creatures that suck your soul out through your mouth plus then a werewolf.

Finally, I decided he could watch it when he'd finished reading the book with good comprehension, as determined by an oral quiz administered by me. I thought it would take him awhile to accomplish this, but I was wrong and he's now watched the movie twice. Then, two weeks later he finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That one is even more scary with some death and self-amputation.

As it is, Mac has seen Harry Potter three as well, even though it's majorly inappropriate for his age group. That's just what happens with the much-younger sibling, I guess. There's not much I can do.