Beach House Rules

I Love the New Weezer Video

for "Beverly Hills".

Whew!

I did the big facts of life lesson with my 7-year-old and 6-year-old tonight.  Ever since last week when we went to visit my newborn nephew, my daughter has been asking, "How do babies get made?"  She knew all about how they grow inside mummy's tummy and how they come out of mummy (both variations) but she wanted to know how they get in there.  Last weekend when I had them at the very crowded mall, she spent most of the time we were walking around asking this question in a very loud voice along with "Tell me, Mom, right now, how do babies get made?"  My son expressed absolutely no interest in this topic whatsoever.  Well, I got a good book about the subject (because my solution to any problem is to go to the library and/or bookstore) and I have been waiting for a good time when my little boys are asleep or occupied so I could have the two big kids without any distractions.  Well, it just so happened my son has been reading this really great book that I got him for Easter that is sort of like a science encyclopedia for kids in which he has been reading voraciously about the periodic table of elements and nuclear power and it has a section on the human body and a 2-page explanation of the how do babies get made subject (that I somehow missed when I flipped through it).  So, this evening, just when the twins were taking their bath, my son got to that section in the book and came to me and said that you know how she was asking about how babies get made - well, this book tells how and I'm going to read all about it now and then I can tell her.  So, pronto, I had my good moment and I got out the book that I had and with both books we put together all the pertinent facts and answered all questions.  I'm not at all squeamish about this stuff but I really wanted to do a good job with it  - not too much and not too little - and on a level that they understand - and I do think I accomplished that.  I wanted to do it right just so they have that foundation with me and because I know that they are likely to share their newfound knowledge with others - my daughter is likely to share at circle time - what I learned over spring vacation.  SO - now my only concern is that they will share with their grandparents who definitely are squeamish about this stuff - the last thing I want to do is make the kids think that there is anything wrong with talking about this or knowing about it - boy was I lucky tonight that my parents were out to dinner when my son brought out his book and laid it open on the dining room table with it open to the pages with the detailed drawings of male and female reproductive organs.  My parents would have flipped - and definitely given them the idea that there was something bad about it.   So now I just walk the fine line of keeping an open atmosphere with the kids - just out of earshot of my parents.  But all and all a good evening.

Oh, Shucks . . .

I was looking to see if there was an appropriate kids' movie to take my two oldest kids to this weekend and I was looking at Ice Princess and at first I thought I saw John Cusack in the cast in which case our behinds would be in those movie seats pronto but on second look it is his sister Joan Cusack who while a really great actress I don't find nearly as riviting probably becuase he totally and completely reminds me of my first boyfriend.

Bang Bang Maxwell's Silver Hammer

came down upon his head . . .

I generally find institutionalized religion to be pretty amusing (that is when it is not actually harmful and/or killing people), but this is hilarious (no offense meant to the Pope as an individual human being who has tried to do good in the world):

from an AP article about the impending Pope's passing: 

The camerlengo, now Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo of Spain, must then verify the death -- a process which in the past was done by striking the forehead of the pope with a silver hammer.

Is this where Paul got the song from?  Do you think they will play the song while carrying this out?

Phrase of the Day

Thing 2 keeps saying, "My bellybutton is hungry NOW!"

I Loved This!

Last night I watched the first two episodes of Chasing Farrah and I absolutely loved it - especially the second one with Ryan O'Neal.  I have always had a fascination with Farrah and Ryan - I even watched that TV show they did together ages ago called Good Sports? - and apparently I was the only person in the country to do so - and while she does seem completely tripped out - I really want to be able to wear tight jeans and tank tops and look that good (minus the messed-up plastic surgery - what happened?) when I'm that old. 
And my thing with Ryan O'Neal goes back to those sensitive formative years when I used to watch Love Story over and over and over again - I even own the soundtrack.  There's just no getting over that and despite his advanced age he still has that smile that just kills me and my god the man has amazing hair and I love his beach house and I just want to run through it barefoot and run my fingers through his hair . . . well, you get the idea.  So happy I have that episode on the DVR cause I can't stop watching it - it has cheered me up more than anything else lately . . .

Spring Rites

The kids loved hunting for eggs this year, and they got lots of art supplies in their baskets and spent the day eating their candy and drawing and it was a really delightful day.

I Was Summoned

Last week my husband's mother requested that I bring the children to visit with my husband's grandmother who was in town visiting.  We were to meet at my husband's brother's fancy new mcmansion (not nearly as fancy as our last house but I tried to summon a few adequate oooohs and aaaahs).  My husband had admonished me not to let anyone present know that he is living in a van or that he came for a visit last month since he did not go see his mother then because she would have insisted on a massive all-family gathering taking away precious time from his short visit with his kids who need a little bit more.  And his mother of course admonished me not to let his grandmother and the extended family members who were there with her know about my husband attempted suicide or the depths of his financial problems - because she is ashamed of us - great. 
So I went and stood around in my brother-in-law's new house and listened to his wife from the trailer park drone on about all of its fine finishings and basically kept far away from everyone and just pushed my kids on the swings (you don't think they would allow the kids inside the house do you?) thinking about the total hypocracy of MIL who always touts how family is everything and what a faulously tight-knit and supportive family they are.  I only attended because his grandmother is 91 and has always been very nice and she genuinely loves to see the children.

Love This Movie!

This is one my absolutely favorite movies ever!  Goldie Hawn as a super pretty hippie-chick in London in the groovy late sixties and Peter Sellers as a super suave playboy and minor celeb in London and what happens when their two worlds crash together.  This is one of those movies that I saw on TV probably on a Saturday afternoon at a very young and impressionable age when I was fascinated with all things London and sixties.  (And yes, all the other kids in the eighties thought I was loony, especially since I stayed up til midnight every night to watch Monty Python on the Miami PBS channel.)  Back to this movie - I am recording it on my DVR right now and sometime soon I must find time to stay up one evening at watch this -  ooh, I'm so excited just thinking about it!

Thank You Thank You Thank You

to all of you who have inquired after my welfare.  My sincerest apologies for being such a lame blogger lately.  All is well here. My husband came home for a long weekend visit a while back which was nice.  He's still getting along fine in the van and hoping that spring arrives sometime soon.  He's even been working out at the Y every morning and evening.  The kids are all doing well - they have been doing lots of great things at school. My oldest son is playing basketball on his school's team, I went on a great field trip with his class, he did a project for the science fair, I went to see him and my daughter in a play about recycling for assembly at school last week.   I have been getting out a bit with my friends - I have even made one new friend here that I am really excited about (another mom at school with four kids, two of whom are good friends with two of mine) and another potential friend. And I have another definitely potential friend that I need to make time to meet up with.   So all is pretty groovy really.   But I have no time.  Towards the end of the day I am just a zombie.  My diet and fitness regime has failed to get off the ground.  Even though on days that I exercise, which is currently at a pathetic one day a week, I have ten times more energy than on days that I don't I still can't summon the discipline to get it in gear.  Tomorrow I am going to try to start once again.  Rollerblading in the morning and then a trip to the Walmart grocery to stock up on fruits and veggies.  I know that is the key to breaking through the fog.  I have been going to bed at nine *every single night* and getting up at seven in the morning thinking that lots of good sleep would make me bouncy during the day but I have no bounce.  More like an eight pound medicine ball.  And no time to myself for blogging and other adventures.  Last week I was in a pretty deep funk - just get really frustrated with the state of my life - my parents treat me like a 12-year-old babysitter - but when I focus on how well this school, town, situation, etc. is for the kids and how well they are getting along I feel better.  I just have to be able to see two years out - it's just that the last few years have been so bumpy that it's hard to know that it's going be a few more but if I can just be patient, focus on the kids, I know it will turn out well.  And thanks so much for the kind thoughts - I really appreciate them!