Summer is slipping away...

Cover Charge for the Event of the Year

As I pick D.P. up from summer camp this afternoon, he meets me at the door with a huge smile and a fistful of cash. I look at him suspiciously and ask how he obtained so much money.

He replied that he is charging his friends admission to his birthday party at Planet Jump to help defray expenses on our end. (!)

Did I mention his birthday is 6 months away?

Yeah...he returned every last penny much to his dismay.

Good Morning! I am your new 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Munn. Welcome.

...ok! There is a lot to do before the first day of school.

Pirates

(Watching Pirates of the Caribbean...)

D.P. Don't ever take an apple from a pirate.

D.A. Why?

D.P. Its poisoned.

D.A. How do you know?

D.P. Trust me. Pirates don't eat healthy! Just look at their teeth!

(I guess between all the recent visits to the doctor and the dentist, D.P. is taking his health seriously!) Regardless, Johnny Depp is the cutest pirate ever!

The Pinellas County School District is laying off employees, closing schools and eliminating programs. Florida cut education spending for the first time in decades this year. Even deeper cuts are expected next year.

Florida gives teachers some money for supplies but only about $100-$250 each. But it's not enough to cover the average teacher's cost, which surveys have pegged at $500 to $1,200. From what I have observed in the classroom, that number seems conservative.

The following is a list of websites that allow you to donate directly to your local school district, individual school or even your child's teacher.

GoldStarRegistry.com

ILoveSchools.com

DonorsChoose.org

A Visit to the Dentist

The kids saw the dentist today. The looks on their faces tell the whole story.

D.P. has been to the dentist before. He does not care to be poked at. He took it like a trooper, even feeling as sick as he was. Unfortunately, he has 5 cavities. Ugh.

D.A. on the other hand was ecstatic! She could not contain herself she was so excited. She changed her outfit twice before finding EXACTLY what she wanted to wear on this momentous occasion. She insisted on styling her own hair. She was the first one out the door mumbling to herself that she could not wait to get to the dentist. And she did GREAT! The dentist would not allow me to go back to the exam room with her but she was ok with that. She sat still and did not even try to bite or kick the dentist. And best of all...

SHE HAS NO CAVITIES!!!!!!!

That said, now I must lament.

The dentist they saw was at the health department.

I have never had the experience of visiting the health department.

Today, they were giving free exams and x-rays to children returning to school.

Free is important when you do not have dental insurance or even a job to make the copays if I did have insurance.

As I sat in the crowded waiting room, I had to bite my tongue many times to fight back the tears. Here was my sweet daughter so excited to see the dentist for the first time and I bring her to the health department. When D.P. saw the dentist for the first time, I had a comfortable salary to pay for the visit. There were trains, video games and playhouses in the waiting room. He was able to watch some kind of Disney movie as he sat in the dental chair.

The dentists give your children the same care you would receive at a private dentist, right? It is better than nothing, right? Then why do I feel so icky about it?

Truth of the matter is that I don't think D.A. really noticed the difference. She was just happy to get her back of goodies and the eraser that said "No Cavities Club".

P.S.

From my observations of others in the waiting room, I am lacking

1. a Giant designer handbag
2. A Blackberry type cell phone
3. Breast implants
4. BCBG shoes (which I adore)
5. Manicured finger tips

But the most bizarre was the little girl sitting next to my son. She must have been 7 or 8 years old. Her finger and toe nails were manicured and painted with the french tip style. She also had on a dress, fancy sandals and chandelier earrings but some girls are fancy girls ??????

D.P. poked me and whispered in my ear "See mom, I told you I am old enough for a cell phone. The little girl next to me has one". I reassured him it was probably her mother's and that she was just playing with it.

Not long after that, the cell in the little girl's hand rings and she answers it. I am curious now so I pay attention to see if she hands it to her mom. She doesn't, and I hear her talking about where she is and how she wished her dad would bring her McDonald's because she was hungry. (He did show up about an hour later with McDonalds and the little girl was the only one who ate).

Interesting day.

Taking Care of my Sick Babies (again!)

ok...they aren't babies anymore.

Sickness has hit our home yet again! D.P. had strep and ear infections last week. Now D.A. has a high fever. She has not yet complained about her throat so perhaps it is just a flu bug. If so, this is the 3rd time in 4 months!

Drink plenty of fluids, cuddle up and rest.

Mornings with Matt Lauer

My daughter is enamored with Matt Lauer.

I usually turn on The Today Show each morning and listen to it as I get dressed for the day. She always wakes up when she hears it come on and will sit on the couch and watch intently. She talks about Matt Lauer as we watch the show...I like his suit...He is a smart man...he laughs all the time--stuff like that.

Well, I didn't appreciate the depth of her devotion until this morning.

She crawled into bed with me before I was awake and turned the TV on to The Today Show. I did not open my eyes but I was awake at this point. Next, I hear her mumble "Where is Matt?" (it is Saturday so he is not on). I can't help but giggle causing her to get totally irate. She starts to yell at me "what?! I like Matt Lauer!"

I secretly don't blame her--I mean, just look at him!

Summer Reading

...in addition to 100's of children's books (both picture and chapter books).

#1 Publix Superfan!

We are in lockdown mode-d has strep throat. He also has Swimmer's Ear (a non-contagious ear infection likely resulting from too much time in the pool).

Anyway, Publix is offering FREE antibiotics. This is especially helpful after the doctor visit cost me $50. Insurance is helpful but the co-pays are still painful when you are on a tight budget.

Publix has always been a good place to shop. True story...my husband collected the Thanksgiving Pilgrim dishware that Publix formerly released every year. Two years ago, I accidentally broke one of his salt/pepper shakers and he was FURIOUS with me. I felt terrible as I knew how much he treasured his little pilgrims.

Because I am/was a thoughtful wife, and was tired of living with the guilt, I e-mailed Publix in hopes of obtaining a new shaker from a collection that was discontinued. I explained in detail my husband's devotion to the collection and shortly thereafter, I received several calls from a Publix store manager attempting to contact me about possibly replacing the shaker.

It was during this time, my mom was diagnosed with glial-blastoma. I put everything on the back burner if it didn't relate to my mom. Well, this manager was so concerned about my husband getting the replacement that he actually drove to my house to drop it off! I was in such shock that I didn't even think to pay him for it until after he left. My husband went to the store the next day but the manager was not in and the staff had no idea what he was talking about. So, he left his contact information so the manager could reach him to work out payment arrangements. We never heard from him.

Now that is service! Worth every penny of the $80,000+ a store manager makes a year!

Unemployment Sucks!

I have been actively searching for work since 5/1 and NOTHING!

I am consumed with securing employment! I do nothing but mail resumes, fax resumes, fill out applications, interview with temp agencies, follow-up and cry. What have I done?

The summer is slipping away from me...

:-(

The school where my children attend give "Bobcat Awards" to those students that exhibit exceptional character such as responsibility, citizenship or caring. Each month this year, D.A. worked SO HARD in hopes of receiving this award. Each month, she was passed over. However, her efforts did not go unnoticed. Her teacher nominated her for the "Bobcat of the Year" Award because she was diligent all year long.

Today is the award ceremony...and D.A. is home in bed with a 101 degree fever. I simply can't believe it. She is so sick that she doesn't even care that she is not going to be there to receive the award.

The heat is on...

and the Lemonade Stand is open for business! (Check out D.P. sitting under the stand in the shade playing his Nintendo DS. He really does not enjoy the outdoors!)

Daily earnings...$1.50
Minus $.50 to buy pretzels from our new neighbor down the street who also set up a stand. Minus $1.00 to buy ice cream from the ice cream truck.

Still dragging...

Sick on the couch all weekend...

The sparkle in my daughter was darkened by the stomach flu.

The word is...

HOBOISH. As in...

"Homework is so hobo-ish"

or

"He was so hobo-ish in P.E. today"

My kids keep using this term and it cracks me up everytime I hear it. I asked if they knew what a "hobo" was and they could not tell me. The word reminds me of a word I always said as a kid...bobo. Bobo as in "these shoes are so bobo".

Easter Rewind...

D.P. dumped his candy out of his Easter bucket before collecting the plastic eggs in the yard. Then he had to wash the bucket with soap because he didn't want "the candy molecules to get on the eggs". Funny little kid.

One of the fun things about having children is how they keep you laughing...we made the kids race for the plastic eggs in the yard.

The "Easter Bunny" hid the Prize Egg in the fence...


and yes, D.P. believed me when I said the Prize Egg was up in the (tall) palm tree!


Yes, they really dumped their eggs into one big pile and split them 50/50! I found this particularly interesting considering D.A. collected twice as much as her brother. She is usually the first one to scream "its not fair!".

Sleepover

D.P. has been inviting his best friend from school to our house for a sleepover since October. I have tried to befriend the student's mother, however, it is just not working out. (I perceive the barrier may be due to cultural differences. Their family is from Thailand. I totally understand their hesitation but it is frustrating for me because my son dearly loves their little boy and is just dying to have him spend the night).

Well, tonight at bedtime the subject of a sleepover came up again. Apparently, the friend told D.P. his parents do not want him to sleepover because he has a nut allergy.

D.P. does not take "no" for an answer. He is planning a fun evening of video games and homemade lemonade. He wants to squeeze the juice from fresh lemons so his friend can experience how good it tastes. D.P. pleaded with me to call the friend's mother again because he wants her to understand that he would never put nuts in lemonade because "one, it just doesn't taste good and, two, I would never do anything to hurt my best friend in the world".

I told him I would try to talk to her again this week.

By the way, that is really how D.P. sleeps. Like a picture in a storybook.

His sister sleeps like she just got kicked out of the toga party at the local frat house...

The Mandatory Hunt for Plastic Easter Eggs

Checking the loot! D.A. was probably the only little girl that did not wear a fancy Easter dress with a pearl necklace. She was also probably the only little girl whose mother said "go play and have fun" rather than "don't play there! You'll get your dress dirty"!







He is thinking "Its my lucky day! Mom is going to let me eat candy before Noon!"

Finally...Season 5 begins...

Eavesdropping...

Conversation between D.P. and D.A. on the way to the doctor (for the toe):

D.A.- Someone fell and hit their head at school today.

Mom- What happened?

D.A- J was running at PE and tripped over his shoe that was untied.

Mom- Is he ok?

D.A.- He hit his head on the concrete. His mom took him home.

Mom- I hope he will be ok.

D.A.- Me too since he is my boyfriend!

D.P.- You should call him when you get home to see how he is.

D.A.- I DON'T HAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

D.P. - What kind of girlfriend are you if you don't have your boyfriend's phone #?

D.A.- WE ARE JUST STARTING TO LEARN HOW TO BE BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND.

D.P.- Well maybe you should ask someone who knows how to do it (looking at me)

Mom - Don't ask me...I would recommend waiting until you are 30 to start learning about boyfriends.

Paronychia...yuk! The toe!

MOSI

Eavesdropping...

D.A. is lying in the bathtub talking to her rubber duck named Farty (long story). Apparently, her duck has decided to "sneak away to New York City". As I continue to listen to her conversation with the duck, she encourages the duck to "find (her) dreams" in the city. I can't help but wonder if this is some kind of premonition for my sparkly daughter...

Notice the cute wrinkles on her toes from being in the tub so long!

Shame on her dad for wanting to throw away all of her bath toys because he thinks she is too old to play in the tub.

For the past several days, D.P. uses the refrigerator magnets to create a new word scramble. He was trying to stump me with this one by putting the "U" updside down. Too cute!

Pinellas County Botanical Gardens

Bridge crossing MacKay Creek.


African Lily.





D.P. loves the fountains. However, they were not running today due to severe water shortages. It is the dry season here in Florida.


Hello Bright Green Lizard!


Leaping through the Wedding Garden!



D.A. enjoying the scent of a pink tea rose.


D.P. smelling a _______ (I forgot the name of the tree already!)

Sunken Gardens

Historical Sunken Gardens.


Feeding the koi in the "dang koi pond" :-)



Meeting "Mindy" the cockatoo. She is only 17 years old.


Butterflies in the garden


D.P. and D.A. in the Japanese Garden