Bye Bye Birdie!

I realized that I don't write about my boys very often on this blog.  But the fact is--they are amazing.  Maybe I tend to not write about them because they are past the innocent age when they say silly things and run around the house in nothing but their underwear and a blanket tied like a cape around their necks.  Sometimes the silly things make a better story.  But I am going to remedy this error starting today.

If you didn't know, my 15 year old son, Alex, plays the trombone.  He not only plays it, but he plays it well.  He plays in the jazz band at school and loves it with a passion.  I know what you're thinking...junior high jazz band = ear plugs.  But it is not so with this band!  The first time I heard them play I was completely blown away.  I am a big fan of jazz music and I was not expecting this little amateur band to impress me too much.  But I was seriously impressed.  They were so confident and I could tell that they could feel that groove, that vibe that is vital to playing jazz music.  I was screaming and clapping so loud I'm sure I looked like a total idiot, but I couldn't help it!

Last week I had another chance to be blown away by this talented kid.  He is in 9th grade now and has had some great opportunities.  He plays on the school basketball team and gets (almost) straight A's.  But his passion is still music.  His band director asked him to play in the pit for the school's musical, "Bye Bye Birdie".  So he practiced with the band every day after school.  I looked at his music when he started and thought, "Wow!  This is pretty hard stuff.  I bet this is the original score".  Then I went to see him play, but again, not expecting to be seriously impressed.  And again, I was seriously wrong!  They did an amazing job on some very difficult music.  Not only that, but there was only ONE instrument on each part.  Piano, drums, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, bass and an alto sax player who also played the flute and piccolo when needed.  Seven musicians who accompanied a cast of probably 80 kids playing a score for a musical with at least a dozen big numbers, plus all of the reprises and interludes between scenes.  Maybe this is a standard for most junior high schools, but I was impressed yet again.  I haven't even mentioned that the musical itself was FAN-freaking-tastic!  What a great job the kids did.  And of course, to Alex, it was all "no big deal".  I really don't think he gets how awesome he is.

But that could just be my extremely prejudiced opinion.  :)

Ghost sightings

True story!

I was hanging up my Halloween wreath when I saw these terrifying apparitions behind the glass...

Luckily I was able to take a picture before they disappeared.  :)

Happy Halloween!

Puking, preschool, and other tales

So guess what?  Abby started preschool like two weeks ago and I'm just now posting a picture of her.  

Bad Mommy!

But isn't she just so cute?  I've never put my kids into preschool this young before, but let me tell ya...she needs this like she needs food.  And I need it like I need air!  Those three hours have got to be the fastest three hours of my life.  We both absolutely love it.

Life continues to be so full of adventures for us.  Yes, I'm attempting to be optimistic by calling them "adventures".  I won't make a list of them, but I will tell you one little story.  It will make you laugh, I promise.

A few days ago I woke up feeling kind of sick.  Like the throw-up kind of sick.  As the morning went on I felt worse and worse until I came to the point that all I could do was lay on my bed and feel very sorry for myself.  Abby, of course, did not understand why I couldn't play tea party or construct a Barbie universe with her, so I attempted to distract her.  I had her lay on my bed with me and play my iPod.  I downloaded probably 5 or 6 different free kids games for her during those few hours and let her play to her heart's content.  She is just old enough that she can navigate through them fairly well and it gave me a few moments of peace.  Well...you know how when you put your password in to download something, it remains active for 15 minutes and after that you have to re-enter it to download something new?  Well, 15 minutes is a long time when in the hands of a 3 year old.  Later that night I received an email from iTunes with a receipt for my recent purchases.  "Funny...", I thought.  "I don't recall making any actual purchases."  I scrolled a little farther down the screen and sat there stunned as I read the dollar amount of these purchases...... 

$128.20

Apparently, while I was groaning with my head in the toilet, little Miss Abby was busy purchasing in-app content with my credit card.  Yes, you could say that I learned a few lessons:  

First, always make sure that in-app purchases are restricted.  Even when you think you are oh-so-smart and are convinced that you have already done this.  Check again.  Especially when handing over control to a toddler.  

Second, never hand over control to a toddler.

I immediately e-mailed iTunes, the people who made the app, the National Guard, and the president of the United States.  I gave them my sob story and they reluctantly agreed to refund my money "just this once".  I was grateful that they even did that much for me, considering that this was completely my own stinkin' fault.  However, I am glad they could see the logic behind my case--why on earth would I download a free kids app and then proceed to spend over $100 on content?  Ya, it doesn't make sense.  I felt rather stupid about it, actually.  I hate those "duh" moments as a parent.  But the good news is that they teach us the greatest lessons.  Well...

lesson learned.  :)

I actually finished a project!

Alert the media!  I have just accomplished something that might seem minor to all of you motivated, goal-oriented people out there, but it is HUGE for me.  I won't go into detail about the who's (Abby) and why's (Abby) of my lack of ability to complete even the most simple tasks.  I will just take this moment to celebrate the fact that I planned a do-it-yourself project, started said project and then completed it within a reasonable amount of time (and when I say reasonable, I mean less than a year...lol!)  I even have pictures as proof!

Here is the story behind my kitchen...

I have been redecorating my kitchen for literally, about 2 years.  When I started out, I had this picture as my inspiration:

Isn't it cute?  I love the black, white and red theme and I absolutely adore the damask print on the fabric.  You know, when I found this picture, I went to look for that print in my local fabric stores and couldn't find anything.  I couldn't even find very many versions on the internet, only similar prints that were black and cream instead of white.  Apparently, it wasn't very popular two years ago.  Now, it is EVERYWHERE.  I have seen everything from greeting cards to plastic tablecloths with matching paper plates and cups, all made from a similar print.  On one hand I am grateful that it is so convenient to find things that match my little kitchen, but I am also irritated and it kind of makes me like it less now that it is so popular.  Geez, what a snob I am! :)

So I decided to paint two of the walls red and paint the trim white.  I recovered my cushions in a black vinyl that cleans well and won't show fingerprints.  The next thing on my list was curtains.  Anyway, here is the before picture of my window (sorry it is so dark;  there just is not a good time to take pictures of my kitchen!  The lighting is never ideal.):

 Oh, it just looks so sad and lonely doesn't it?

Now look at my cute curtains:

The instructions are here, in case you are wondering.

I am still undecided on whether or not I should paint these two walls red.  The other walls are painted red, but are very small areas.  Actually, our whole kitchen is very small, so I'm wondering if adding too many dark walls might make it seem dark and uninviting.  So I leave it this lovely, boring shade of brown for now until I can think of something better.  Stay tuned!

She is not normal

I just asked Abby to pick up a mess she made in her room, to which she responded, "I'm too delicate to clean up those toys."

Where does she come up with this stuff?