Drinking and driving

What is up with Hollywood these days? Why do they all think they can drink and drive and get away with it? Britney, Paris, Nicole, Lindsay, etc.

I was so disappointed to read today that Kiefer Sutherland, one of my favorite actors on one of my favorite TV shows 24, was arrested on DUI. Do they not understand what could happen when you drink and drive? You could kill yourself but more importantly kill the innocent people completely unaware of the weapon coming towards them ready to take their lives.

Drinking and driving kills. It doesn't discriminate.

Just about two years ago, two beautiful young sisters who lived locally were killed when the older sister decided to drink and drive one night. She took her life as well as her sister's life.
Everyone knows this but still people make that choice to drink and get behind the wheel of a car. This issue is just so huge. Tougher laws for repeat offenders? Increase the driving age to 21?
I'm tired of Hollywood, athletes, etc. setting such poor examples. They should be role models and instead most are just poor excuses for human beings. 'Nough said.

14 years

Happy Anniversary Babe! I love you!!!

Hip Hip Chin Chin

Last night I spent the evening with her...

and him...

and her...

and him...

and this gorgeous hunk o' man...

The show was incredible. Danny was so far superior compared to the others. I could not take my eyes off him when he was on stage. His body is amazing...muscles upon muscles...oh my. They did all the best dances from the season plus a few new ones too. They opened with this fun, funky dance that was new. Hok, Jesus, Shauna and Anya are all on tour as well. Hok, Sarah and Dominic did this really fun break dance.

Rumor has it that Hok and Lacey are dating. That's crazy. Hok just seems way too nice for Lacey. I think the "bad" girls always go for the nice guys.

When Lacey and Neil did the "Time" dance in memory of Mia's dad, all the dancers came on stage at the beginning holding bouquets of the plastic flowers and dressed in white. They dropped the flowers all over the stage and then walked off while Neil and Lacey danced. It was so pretty.

Being the good girl that I am I followed the "rules" and didn't bring my camera. But of course everyone else had their cameras! I was so annoyed that I didn't just bring it. We were in the seventh row and could see them sweating we were that close! I think I should just break the rules next time.

Nerds & apple pickin'

Today was the typical perfect New England day, crisp and cool, to spend the afternoon apple picking. Luckily we have a great orchard nearby where they have fun weekend festivals with apple picking, live music, face painting, yummy food, and hay rides.





OK...where do nerds fit in? Of course I'm not talking about "nerds" as in "dorky", etc. I'm talking about nerds the candy. While making lazy man's apple pie, Julia proceeded to dump her candy nerds all over the floor. I'm sure we'll be finding nerds for months to come.
My kids are strange. Well, strange in the way that they don't like sweets. I baked this...
and they both took one look at it and said "YUCK"! Well, that means more for me and Danny! I shouldn't complain that they don't like sweets though, right?

Learning about kindness

The nastiness started early this summer. Just too much together time and the fighting was terrible. They were simply not being nice to each other. So I tried something new this summer. I explained to them what "kind" meant and how to spell the word. (They were 4 and 5 when we started this so learning to spell a new word was a bonus!) I know this looks really simple but it worked! I had them make up their own chart with the word KIND at the top. Every time one of them was kind they would draw a star on their own chart. Before you knew it they were aware of their own kindness as well as other peoples random acts of kindness. But of course they were sneaky about it too. For example, Nicholas would say, "Julia, I love you! Now do I get a star?". They often spell the word out of the blue. "K-I-N-D" is what we hear around the house when the other one isn't being nice. I'll tell you it worked like a charm. We still have fights of course but at least they are aware.

Next up...patience! (Maybe I'll make a chart for me too!)

Oh...and please ignore the wallpaper in the background. We will be remodeling the kitchen soon and I've picked out something much prettier!

Kindergarten & Kindergarten

Yesterday was the first day of school. This year we have two in kindergarten. Since they have August birthdays, they will each be doing two years of kindergarten, one private and one public. Of course as luck would have it Julia goes mornings and Nicholas goes afternoons. Figures!

 

Julia is now at Little Blessings five days a week. She only has nine kids in the class this year, only three are girls. I'm a little disappointed in the boy/girl ratio but maybe there will be less fighting. (We all know how little girls can be.) But you cannot beat the small class with two teachers. She told me she can't wait to get homework!

Now compare that to Nicholas. Yesterday, when he got off the school bus he said, "I love the bus! But I don't like school". Ahhhh...my boy. He would much rather be fixing or building things with his tools or riding his bike or watching his favorite cartoons. We'll have to work extra hard to get him through school. His class size isn't too bad for public school with 17 kids.

They both had great days and weren't the least bit nervous. On the other hand, there was me, Miss Nervous Nelly, awake at 1:00 a.m. worrying for them.

Works-for-Me Wednesday

Today is "brand loyal" edition a.k.a. what brands I can't live without. As I posted previously, I simply love the new Secret Clinical Strength deodorant. I've tried every single deodorant on the market, mens deodorants included, and never has one worked as well as this one.


The other is the #1 stain remover...Shout. It works like a charm...every single time. Even for the Sponge Bob or Spider Man ice cream from the ice cream truck that stains the kids teeth and lips blue for days. Not to mention my little ones nose! She looked like Rudolph but her nose was blue instead of red. But I'm happy to report that it came out of her clothes!

And how can I not mention my absolute favorite breakfast food ~ Frosted Mini Wheats (regular flavor, bite size). Every morning I pour my bowl of cereal and then spoon out a little of the stuff that has settled on the bottom of the bag over the top of my cereal. It makes for yummy, sweet milk. I have all three of my kids eating this cereal now which is very high in fiber. It sticks with you all morning long.

And for more great ideas visit Rocks In My Dryer!