Kids Say the Darndest Things

Whenever I see the kids they make me laugh.  Whether it is with their silly jokes, their silly faces or just plain old childhood wisdom.  I wish I had kept a running journal of the funniest things that have spewed out of their mouths because it is truly unbelievable sometimes.

My favorite line of Marisah's was when she was about four years old.  She was putting her arms up for me to pick her up and they just happen to rest on my boobs.  She patted them for a little bit and then asked me "What are these?"  I told her that they were my breasts and her response was "Are mine going to be that big when I get older?"  I thought to myself, "I hope not!"

Harrison has had some real kickers.  He has quite a personality and has no filter!  Today while we were watching previews for a movie, there was some sort of advertisement with a dinosaur in it and he turned to me and said "You were lucky as a little kid because you got to see dinosaurs."  I told him that I definitely was not alive when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and he said "But you were born in the 1900's right?"  Yes, yes I was, but dinosaurs were around long before then.  He then reasoned that maybe dinosaurs were around in about 1950.

The funniest part is that while I am feeling old at that moment, at lunch earlier Marisah told me that she always thinks I am a teenager and don't look like an adult.

For any parent who has young kids I would encourage you to write these things down.  They will definitely give you laughs as the kids get older and would be something great to share on a special occasion like college graduation!

On a side note, I'm still on the cool side but while Aunt Jackie was giving Marisah hugs she told her to stop because she was embarrassing her  :-(  Meanwhile I was grabbing her tush on the way back from the bathroom and she was hysterically laughing.  I also had Harrison basically making out with my hand while at the movie theater (which was kind of embarrassing for me!!).  One of these days I will be right there with Aunt Jackie embarrassing them, but I'm going to squeeze and kiss them for as long as I can!

Worst Review

“When it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?”

I was thinking about this Sex and the City quote today and it had me thinking of how true this is.  I can have all the great friends that I have, but if one person doesn't like me, I begin to harbor about what I ever did to them or why they don't like me.

I really don't know what I ever did, but apparently it was something because rather than tell me, this person can tell everyone else what they think I did. And whatever it is they think I did, its not true.

My mom's advice is to just focus on the great people around me, which I will do.  I got great news from a great friend today and I have been smiling ever since receiving the news.  I will cross out the bad reviews and only focus on the good.

Outta Sight, Outta Mind

Today, against my better judgement I looked at something that I knew I shouldn't have.  I knew upon looking at this, it would only annoy me or make me upset, and low and behold, it did.

It has been awhile since I looked at this thing and its true what they say, "Outta sight, outta mind."  I really hadn't thought of the person associated with this "thing" since pushing it aside and therefore, I had less ill feelings about it.

I don't know why looking at this gives me such emotion but it does.  It makes me sad, mad, annoyed and frustrated all in one.  I guess I should just keep this on the back burner and continue to not look at it and let it bother me.

Curiosity got the best of me and I won't let it happen again.  I hate feeling like this so I'm going to try to move and not think about things so much!

Who Would You Be?

Why is it that I have the entire series of Sex and the City and Friends on DVD, yet I catch myself watching them on tv all the time?  I don't think either series could get old!

As I was sitting here watching Sex and the City today I was wishing I could be like Carrie Bradshaw.  Sitting at my desk, writing away on my laptop and coming up with insightful anecdotes.  I know she is a fictional character and I know I basically do that here and there with my blog, but I'm not getting paid for it!

If I could be any character on tv, I think I would want to be Carrie.  Her great fashion, great shoes, great job and an apartment in Manhattan...what is better?  Although watching these shows I know realistically their lifestyles are not possible based on their incomes, but it makes it all look so glamorous!  I can guarantee, getting there is not so glamorous.  The job that I interviewed for in Manhattan, the salary was only around $30,000.  That is not enough to cover my rent in Jersey, my car payment, as well as a monthly train ticket and all other miscellaneous expenses.  Forget about living in Manhattan and forget about wearing Manolo Blahnik shoes!

For now, I'll be the Carrie Bradshaw of Morris County, New Jersey ;-)

Surprise!

Yesterday I surprised the kids at their last day of camp.  Both kids were so surprised and so happy to see me.  Marisah yelled my name and jumped on me before I even saw her and Harrison was so excited that he forgot to bring all of his stuff out with him and instead just ran up and jumped on me.  It's nice to feel so loved!

Rissy with her horse Cody and her trophy
for most improved rider!

The reason for the surprise was because Marisah had been at horseback riding camp all week and she had a show yesterday to showcase what they learned all week.  She looked like a pro!  She has the perfect posture and was so good at directing the horse.  She had so much fun and wants to go back next year.


We had a great rest of the day playing outside as well as playing school inside.  Marisah was the teacher and I had an annoying student next to me who kept sitting on my lap and giving me kisses!  Even the teacher couldn't control him.  I had to move my desk, lol!

As I was getting ready to leave, Marisah started crying real bad.  At first I thought she was faking it, but she really wasn't.  I felt so bad!  She wanted me to stay and watch Full House with her, but I really had to get home.  It broke my heart.  Then Harrison started crying!  He asked to come home with me, which I said no to, and they both were begging me to sleep at Aunt Jackie's with them.  It is so hard to say no to them, but I did.  I can't give into them every time!

As Marisah was crying I told her it wasn't like she wouldn't ever see me again and I made a pinkie promise that we would do something before school started.  This may sound a little morbid, but on the way home I got to thinking that there are no guarantees in life that I would see them again.  I could have easily gotten into an accident on the way home.  What if that was one of the last things I had ever said to them?  I always leave them with an "I love you" but what if they went through life thinking I had told them it wouldn't be the last time that I would see them and it was?  I say that to them often because they are upset when I have to leave...should I not say that anymore?  I obviously don't intend on something happening to me, but you never know!

I just love those kids so much and I don't ever want to do anything to cause them hurt or pain.  I always want to be someone they will run to and jump on when seeing them.  So far, with me at least, they don't seem to be embarrassed for hugs and kisses in public and I hope it is always that way!!

You Want What?

Applying to jobs online can be an intimidating process.  Everyone has a different form that they want you to fill out with certain information.  Most of the information is pretty mainstream...name, previous experience, address, blah blah blah.  But the other day I filled out an application for a nanny company that wanted some pretty weird information.

Obviously applying to be a nanny, your job would entail taking care of some kids, doing some light housework, and driving around the kids.  I can understand why parents would want certain information but to ask me if I wear glasses, or what kind of meds I am on, I just found that strange.  They also wanted my height and weight.  Some of these things I find is none of their business.  But do I not complete the application and know I won't get the job or do I answer the questions and have strangers knowing things about me that even some of my good friends don't know?

I do admit I did lie.  I don't want someone knowing what kind of medication I am on.  I did list one medication but failed to mention another.  My meds would have no effect on my job performance and I don't feel like it is anyone's business.  Other questions I just didn't know how to answer.  The glasses question was a yes or no question.  It is not a yes or no answer.  I wear contacts 95% of the time, but I do sometimes have to wear my glasses.  If I wear glasses would that prevent me from getting a job?

Driving record, background check, those things I understand.  But they didn't ask for my social security number.  Even if they had, I don't know if I would feel comfortable giving that out either.  The guy I met with, I met him at a Barnes and Noble.  I got a background check from the original website so I'm pretty sure they checked it out on there, but if he had asked for my social, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving it out to some strange guy in a Barnes and Noble Cafe.

Ugh, this job search thing can be a scary process.  How do you know who to trust, especially when most of the information is passed through the internet?

Can I Get A Do Over?

Do you ever wish there were do overs in life?  I do!  There are so many things I would change about my life if I could get a do over.  The only problem is, would I have met the same people along a different path?  If I had a different major in college, would I still be friends with the people I know now?  If I had never accepted  that job, I know I never would've met some of the people I have met.

I know nothing comes out of thinking about the past, but sometimes you just can't help it.  Would if I did certain things differently?  Would I still be in the same spot I am in now?

I guess I need to stop thinking about the past and keep moving forward.  Thinking about what I could have done differently will only drive me crazy.  Its time to move forward and think about the great things ahead!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Sometimes I wish living in my apartment complex is the same as how it was when living in the dorm in college.  You leave your door open and you make friends.  Doors were always open in my dorm and it was a good way to get to know your neighbors.  I hear my neighbors come and go all the time and it would be nice that instead of them darting their eyes towards the ground and running to their car, that they would introduce themselves.  I am a nice person!

I think it would be helpful to get to know the neighbors.  What if they needed something?  What if we are both doing the same things in our apartments (like watching tv) and they would like some company?  How much fun was it in school to have family dinners and sit around hanging out together?

I do find it odd that the older we get, the harder it is to make friends.  Are people so shut off that they don't want to expand their inner circles?  That seems to be the way.  I am kind of tired of always going out of my way to say hello to these people while they are trying to avoid contact.  Really, how hard is it to say "hi"?  Like I said, if they were ever in a jam, if they were a little more friendly, I may be willing to help them out.  I also may be less likely to complain about their loudness :-P

I guess it will just stand as how it is.  Eight little apartments living eight separate lives.

Catch Up

Wow, it has been a hot minute since I've written.  Between vacation with the kids, a job interview and wedding dress shopping with Erin, I've been a busy little beaver!


Vacation was a great time!!  The kids and I had so much fun with my parents (and Bogey) that no one wanted to leave.  Marisah requested an extra day, so we stayed an extra day, and then the day that we had rescheduled to leave Harrison woke up saying that we weren't leaving and he was making plans for that day. Sadly, we did have to leave and eventually get the kids back home.  But they will definitely have memories for a long time to come.  We did a lot of swimming and Marisah mastered a back flip, Harrison learned how to do flips and worked hard on his treading water.  I taught him a couple of years ago, but he always got a little too frantic in the deep end and would end up splashing around rapidly and then sinking to the bottom.  This time he was able to get the technique down.  We also went on a dolphin cruise which was pretty awesome- except for Rissy getting a little sea sick and I got a little bit of heat exhaustion.  We saw a ton of dolphins and then we met up with a shrimp boat who gave us some of the awesome finds they had in their shrimp nets.  They had a sand shark, an eel and a sand dollar.  Marisah loved the story of the sand dollar!  When you break open the sand dollar there are 5 doves inside that form a star and is said to be the star of Bethlehem.  I didn't get the full legend because that was when I had to step inside the boat to get out of the sun.  But she enjoyed the story and ended up picking out a dried up sand dollar as her souvenir.  In addition to the dolphin cruise we also went to a museum where the kids were able to touch a bunch of sea stars, as well as feed them. There were also hermit crabs and horseshoe crabs in the touch tank and they saw the horseshoe crab being fed as well.  We also went mini-golfing, played some backyard baseball, and went to the beach where they went pretty far out in the waves and had so much fun jumping in the waves and boogie boarding!  Everyone thought the vacation went way too fast but Harrison is planning a Christmas trip and Marisah was planning trips well into her 20's.  I apparently still have to drive them and take them!

Getting ready to set sail on the dolphin cruise!

On the drive home I ended up stopping in Salisbury to have lunch with Jess and decided to show the kids around the SU campus.  They had so much fun walking around and asking me questions about college.  They asked if you could chew gum and what happens if you are sick and where do you go if you get detention.  Imagine their amazement when I told them there is no detention!


After we got home I dropped the kids off at home and ended up setting up a job interview for this past Friday.  I feel like the interview went well.  The job seems fun and there are a lot of perks, such as meeting celebrities and attending fancy partiesm so we'll see what happens.


Finally, yesterday Erin did her first round of wedding dress shopping.  It went so well.  It was the easiest shopping trip anyone had ever been on with Erin!  Every dress she tried on, she looked gorgeous!  It was so hard to pick a favorite, but she did.  Seeing as how her wedding is still a bit away, she is going to continue to look, but at least she now knows what she is looking for and where to go if she can't find a similar one somewhere else.  After that we had a nice lunch out in Red Bank and went back to Papa Squit's house to hang out.


It has been a very exciting two weeks!  Now that I'm back at home and back to being by myself it is a big change from taking care of the kids 24/7 and being with my parents, but its nice to have some alone time.  I'm sure I'll get back to being bored pretty quickly, but for now I am going to enjoy my quiet time.  Who knows, maybe by next week I will be back to being employed!