My tiny inspiration the day after Thanksgiving

One reader informed me that they've never heard of JcPenney snow globes.

Here was this year's reason to get up a 4 am the day after Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Words with a Blogger Wednesday

Hello readers!

This week's Words with a blogger Wednesday will be taken from my book, Get your blog on, due to come out next year.

Words with a blogger Wednesday is

Izzy Rose from:

http://stepmothersmilk.com/

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Izzy Rose and I am the creator of Stepmother’s Milk, a site for and about step moms. I blog about my step mom experiences, host a step parenting forum and spotlight other step moms across the country. My memoir, based on the blog, has recently been purchased by Random House, Three Rivers Press.

When did you start blogging and what made you decide to blog?

I started blogging the year I moved from California to Texas— leaving behind my long-time single lifestyle, including my career, my family and girlfriends— to become an overnight mother to my new husband’s kids from a previous marriage. As a new step mom, I went looking for a “stepladies” support group and when I didn’t find anything off or online with the right attitude, I started my own online community.

Do you make money from your blog?

If yes, what do you recommend to make money on your site?I feature some ads on my site, but so far, they haven’t made me a millionaire. I’m wary of over-populating my site with ads. I think this can compromise the integrity of the writing and the message and turn readers away. My main objective for creating Stepmother’s Milk was and still is not to make money (although— let’s be honest— I won’t turn it away), but to connect with other women who have valuable stories and advice to share.

What do you do to network/promote your blog to bring in readers?

I read other sites about step parenting, leave comments and make connections with the authors. Creating a word-of-mouth network is the best way to build your reader base.

How frequently do you post?

I try to post 2-3 times a week.

Do you own a business and blog about your business?

I don’t do this

What do you recommend to blog about?

Find your niche and write honestly about your experiences. Readers adore the god-awful truth and will return regularly for a good laugh.

Have your readers influenced you in any way?

My readers are smart and savvy and constantly give me things to think and write about. I take my cues from them.

What have you learned from your readers?

I am not alone and there is strength and power in honesty.

Has blogging changed your life in any way?

Absolutely. Blogging has connected me to a group of women I would have never met otherwise. It’s virtual therapy.

What is your blogging style?

I keep it personal, but I try to craft a narrative— stories with universal truths.

What do you do when you get writer's block?

When I have writer’s block, I get up and walk away. I take a run, go to a yoga class— something physical usually breaks the block. Sometimes, I’ll sit down and read an author I really love and admire and this will inspire me to open up. Sometimes When things getting really bad, I’ve been known to scream obscenities at the computer, open a bottle of wine and call it a day.

Do you have any advice for newbie bloggers?

SPELL CHECK. You are publishing your own work— keep it tight, clean and grammatically correct. Sloppy writing is a big no-no.

Thanks, Izzy!

Would you like to be my next victim-er, I mean interview?
Comment on this post and I will stalk you and peek in your windows to watch your family eat dinner just like the Australian guy that follows that gecko character on Geico-Or, I'll just send you an email with a list of interview questions for you to answer.

Mini me for the worse

To add to the stress of cooking, cleaning and decorating for the next two days, my monthly visitor has arrived just in time. Do my hormones act up during this time of the month? Maybe. Or I just might be a total bitch because I'm in total discomfort from the bloating, cramping and menstrual headaches.

So, of course I picked yesterday to do our family portrait for the Christmas card this year. It really was out of my control since my step daughter only visits on Mondays and really the only day to do it. I had it all ready and just needed to pick up Jordon from school and we would have plenty of daylight to take outdoor photos if we hurried.

After I picked him up, we walked through the door to find Emily crying at the table and everyone frowning at me.

I asked what the heck happened and my husband told me that she wanted noodles and he couldn't find a sauce pan. I told Emily that I would happily make the noodles after we did the family picture. I tried to explain to her that the sun would be disappearing soon and we didn't have time to wash a pan and cook it and she would get messy for the photo. Did that work for her? Heck no. She began to have a total melt down to the point of no control.

This of course, set me off and the two of us proceeded to cry and yell at each other. Needless to say, the photo did not get taken. We finally calmed down and then Daddy took her to dance class and I stayed home so I was not tempted to leave her there until next week.

Apparently at dance class she was fine and having a great time, but when she got home, she started to cry and said that nobody was her friend.

Her dad and I looked at each other and he just shook his head and left the room. At that moment it hit me that I had a mini me. I've been told that she acts just like me alot and apparently now she's picked up my menstrual bitchiness.

All I can say is look out hubby, because the estrogen weight has totally tipped the scale in our house!

An artistic ability

Some may not know that I do artwork using the computer and I even have an online business called TMoodyDesigns.com and I mainly do pet art. I was looking for an idea for my calendar this year for our home and decided to a "painting" for each month using photos of the kids (and even our little dog, Mia). So here are some sample paintings that I will be using. What do you think?

Candy and spice cookies

Christmas season brings out my need for festive looking candy and homemade cookies.

The kids don't understand why they have to wait before eating my "decorations" until at least next week.

But by the looks of the half empty jars, "Santa's little helpers" must be sneaking treats late at night while everyone's asleep.

Thanks for giving, again

I still can't believe that it's Thanksgiving this week.

It always seems to end up that I get to do the dinner at my house. Last year (or the year before, I can't remember because it's all a blur), I was so excited because my older sister was going to be moving here and getting a big house so she really wanted to hold it at her house. When she asked me, I said "yes" before she even had gotten the whole sentence out. But, things fell through and they didn't end up being able to do the big move after all and I had it at my house-again. Don't get me wrong, I'm not forced to slave over a hot stove and put together a zillion dishes but if I don't, we would end up just going out to eat and well, that's just not Thanksgiving.

So, here I am again, getting ready for another feast at my house. I haven't bought the turkey yet which is not uncommon for me- I like to wait until the last minute so I can complain when all the good ones are gone. Just an odd quirk of mine. I'll probably go tonight or maybe tomorrow so I can truly get into the holiday spirit.

I also attempted to rake up our leaf covered yard this weekend so it will look nice for Thursday which resulted in a painful back today. It feels like I strapped forty pounds of sand on my back and jogged two miles. I just keep forgetting that my two older kids can get their butts out there and help mom. I'm just used to the old saying of, if you want it done right, do it yourself...

I'm sure I'll probably be hosting the traditional turkey dinner until my first born can take over when she has a big enough home to do so. To make sure this comes to fact, I am starting now to save for her down payment on a house, a set of furniture, a lifetime subscription to Martha Stewart's Magazine and a crap load of turkey pans.

Friday Favorites

This week I've started my Friday Favorites!

Each week, I will feature a store from Etsy- an awesome artistic community- and showcase some of their products.

This Friday's store is

BBCreations
Handmade Jewelry & Stationary

They also have three other shops:

SaponeSoaps.etsy.com (Bath, Beauty, & Candles)

BennettsTreasures.etsy.com (Vintage & Truly Unique)
CherokeeStash.etsy.com (Stash Supplies)
I found them through a search for stationary and found some cool notebooks.

But, then I discovered they have cool jewelry too!

Right now they are offering a holiday special:

For The Thanksgiving & Christmas Season any order $20.00 or more, you receive free shipping.....convo us before making payment so we can adjust the shipping cost!

So, check them out-they are a family owned business and mighty kind too!

Words with a blogger Wednesday

This week's victim for Words with a blogger is Jen from

Cheaper than Therapy

Tell us about your blog:

I'm Jen The Mom from http:cheaperthantherapyjen.blogspot.com
I started my blog back in March, 2008. It's a place where I share my photos, stories, gripes, and achievements relating to my family and my personal feelings.

When did you start blogging and what made you decide to blog?

March of this year. I had been reading a few blogs "Ramblings of a Red-Headed Step-Child" and "The Pioneer Woman" and I loved the idea of an online journal/scrapbook to share with family and friends.

Do you make money from your blog?

Just recently I had the opportunity to offer ads through BlogHer, a company that promotes the blogging community. I thought 'it can't hurt' to benefit from something I love doing! I also make headers and buttons for other bloggers that I enjoy doing.

What do you do to network/promote your blog to bring in readers?

I joined the Mom Bloggers Club, it's a fantastic place to find other new bloggers, ask questions, and meet new friends! I also belong to Twitter, I write a column for MomDot, I visit 5 Minutes for Mom and the Posh Parent, which are all social networks that support the blogging community.

How do you balance blogging and family?

Right now blogging is a big hobby of mine, so I try to work it in during the early mornings, nap, and evenings. I've been cutting back on the weekends. You need a few days to rest, LOL.

How frequently do you post?

I've been blogging everyday, but I may cut back to 6 days a week. I often write a post and post-date it. There is a LOT of stuff going on in my head.

What do you recommend to blog about?

Everyday life. That's what's interesting to read in other blogs. Life has the best stories. I also enjoy reading humor the most!

Who are your favorite bloggers?

Happy Meals and Happy Hour, Musings of a Barefoot Foodie, The McMommy Chronicles, and MomDot

What is your blogging style?

I tend to lean toward finding funny in everything, even my neuroses. You have to laugh at yourself.

What do you do when you get writer's block?

I snap pictures or I write down what my kids say. Often I put music on and it helps me find a pathway to write.

Do you have any advice for newbie bloggers?

It's a phrase I found as I began blogging, "blog guilt-free" meaning don't make it a job. Don't feel pressured by comments, or replying, or joining, do it at your own pace and have FUN! It's cheaper than therapy, yuk yuk!
;)

Thanks Jen!

Would you like to be my next victim-er, I mean interview?Comment on this post and I will stalk you and peek in your windows to watch your family eat dinner just like the Australian guy that follows that gecko character on Geico-Or, I'll just send you an email with a list of interview questions for you to answer.

Pretty boy

Time for more photos of the most adorable grandson in the world.
I secretly dress him up in pink when I watch him because I always say that he's so beautiful, he could be a girl. Just kidding, Mama.

Charlie Brown Christmas

My husband called our new tree the Charlie Brown Christmas tree because it's way smaller and more bare then our usual trees.

Now, that's all I think about when I look at it.

Equal rights and a future nudist camper

I am very proud of Emily's choices of barbies for her birthday presents. She did not discriminate against race or color when she picked out a Caucasian, African-American and a Hispanic doll. Nor did she discriminate when she proceeded to take the clothes off of all of them about three seconds after she opened them.

Happy Birthday, Emily

Dear Emily,

Monday, November 17th

Today you officially turn four-Happy Birthday to you!

I just wanted to let you know how much we love you and how we are so glad you came into our lives. I can't believe four years have gone by since the day you were born and even though I had not planned to have a third child, I couldn't picture life without you.

This year has flown by with so much that has happened.

You've decided to want to learn how to write, do ABC's and color-things you haven't wanted anything to do with but just like everything else in your life, like deciding to walk, or going potty in the toilet, when you decide to do it, then boom, you're off! You even decided to learn how to write MOM before you learned how to write EMILY just to throw me off.

Though you know nothing about this yet, your mom started this blog this year to record you and your sibling's lives and occasionally embarrass all of you.

You survived your first dentist nightmare this year and even lost a bad tooth too. Even though they said you were their best patient and they will miss you, you specifically told each one of them that you never were coming back so get over it.

You also became an aunt this year and while we thought you would surely sell Zachary to the gypsies for a barbie, you surprised us all and love him with all your heart.

You tried out for Children of the Corn at your mom's request and even though you didn't get the part, I'm so proud of you.

You started dance class this year and you love it and still wish that everyday was Dance Class Day.

You witnessed a historical election and I think even more historical events to come-hopefully good.

You got to have four parties this year and you squealed so loudly when you opened your second Bratz doll that I feared my camera lens would shatter.

Finally, while I watched you pose so graciously for the camera, a smile spread across my face as I was reminded of how special you are and how much I love you and how I look forward to another wonderful year with you.

Love, your mama.

Chocolate cake, Strawberry cake, White cake and Cupcakes

This weekend my house will be filled with the wonderful aroma of birthday cake for I will have to bake four cakes for four different parties for Emily. Why four? Well, in today's world where everyone's divorced, estranged, not talking and just plain crazy, my family is no different. I could go into detail about everything that happens behind our closed doors, but I would like to be able to celebrate the holidays this year without the family throwing fruitcake and eggnog at me.

Emily's birthday is actually on Monday, the 17th, which gives me the weekend before to work with-thank the gods.

Our first party starts on Saturday at my moms where my brother (and I wish my sister was coming too but probably no luck) will come. I arranged this because my dad's turn will be next because oh, did I mentioned that my mom's birthday falls on the same day as Emily's? I didn't think she'd want to celebrate her special day with the ex.

So, the next birthday will be on Sunday with my dad and my husband's relatives.

The third birthday will be a kid's birthday during the day on Monday for Emily's friends.

Finally, if I haven't thrown up from so much cake by then, we are having a family party that night since my stepdaughter is coming over.

So, all this for one little girl. I feel sorry for her husband when she grows up and expects multiple celebrations but at the same time, I will happily hand over the responsibilities!

Words with a blogger Wednesday

It's Wednesday again and that means it's Words with a blogger Wednesday!

This week's awesome blogger is:

Amy from Thoughts from the Mrs.

Take it away, Amy!

Tell us about your blog:

My name is Amy and you can find me over at Thoughts from the Mrs. I like to share stories from my life as a stay-at-home mom. And to thank my readers for putting up with my stories and many pictures of my son, I do reviews and host giveaways as a way to pamper them and keep things fun.

When did you start blogging and what made you decide to blog?
I started blogging shortly after becoming a mom. Quite frankly, I was bored at times when Alex would sleep all day long and I needed a way "out". I had my first blog on Myspace for friends and family to read then moved over to blogger last April. *p.s. I'm getting ready to start the process of moving again. Hopefully by January.*

Do you make money from your blog?
Nothing worth mentioning yet. I would love to pick up more sponsors and create a small income for myself. I was offered advertising from a brand name but I turned them down because I felt it wasn't true to what I stood for or to my readership. If I'm going to sell adspace, I'm going to make sure it's for something I believe in and support.

What do you do to network/promote your blog to bring in readers?
Comment on other blogs, e-mail people who leave comments (if possible). I also like entrecard, mom bloggers club, and posh mama. Another cool thing is requesting my giveaways be posted on 5 minutes for mom. That works well depending on the giveway.

How do you balance blogging and family?

I blog when my son is napping, at his Grandparent's for the day, or in his bed for the night. He comes first. (sometimes I can sneak into my e-mail when he's watching a video too).

How frequently do you post?
I post as often as I can. I'd like to post daily but sometimes "life happens" and the blog gets put on the back burner while I tend to something more important at the time.Do you own a business and blog about your business?No, I don't. The blog is busy enough on it's own. I can't imagine running a business from home on top of that.

What do you recommend to blog about?

Blog about what's on your mind and heart. I try to always remember my readers when I blog. There are things I would SO love to write about but I feel it's unnecessary or hurtful and I choose to be responsible and keep it to myself instead.Have your readers influenced you in any way?I don't know that I've been influenced by my readers as much as I've been humbled by them. Every time I see a new subscription or an add on someone's Google Reader, I'm blown away. I often wonder "Why me? Why do they care what I have to say?" That is the reason that I try and return every comment or e-mail a short note to each person. I appreciate all of them and want them to feel valued and appreciated.

Who are your favorite bloggers?

I love Jen over at Cheaper Than Therapy, Rachel at Following in My Shoes, and Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni.

There are many, MANY more blogs I read every day these are just a few favorites.

What is your blogging style?

I try to write as if I'm talking to a friend. I'm not personally a fan of big words or a fake persona. I just like to be myself and say what's on my mind.

What do you do when you get writer's block?

Ha! Well, if I ever get writer's block, I just watch my son for about 5 or 10 minutes. He always gives me "bloggable moments" although, I don't always share them.

Do you have any advice for newbie bloggers?

1. Decide what you want your blog to be and make it happen. There are always people to meet and connections to make. Most of them are only a comment or an e-mail away. 2. Enjoy yourself. If you're not enjoying what you do, change it.

Thanks, Amy!

Would you like to be my next victim-er, I mean interview?

Comment on this post and I will stalk you and peek in your windows to watch your family eat dinner just like the Australian guy that follows that gecko character on Geico-Or, I'll just send you an email with a list of interview questions for you to answer.

And the award goes to...

I wanted to take today to announce my Sparky Blog Award from Connie over at:

Brain Foggles

http://brainfoggles.com/

The rules are easy:

Post this badge on your site and link back to Maternal Sparklink back to Maternal Spark.

Then, just tag 5 of your bloggy friends who have sparked creativity, conversation, controversy and friendships!

Here are my choices:

Dore's diaries

Feels like home

Confessions of a semi slacker Mom

The Creative Junkie

One woman's rants and raves

So, as Elvis would say,

"Thank-you. Thank-you very much....."

Grandmahood

It's Monday and I actually survived a weekend with the grand baby and his mom going out of town.
He was such a good baby and Mommy got a call from me about every half an hour while they were there. (sorry Jess, but that's the only way I can breathe) Anyway, like I said, Zach was good and we had lots of fun together and I think he just might like his grandma.

We laughed.

We cried.

Everything went well until we got to Sunday morning and then we wanted to be up at 6am. Ouch!
Good thing Mama was coming at 10am. Baby and Mama left to get some rest and I put the house back together afterwards.
That night, the house did not echo of a baby crying, but only of Emily telling me what she wanted for her birthday next week while she colored in her new coloring book next to me on my bed. I watched Desperate Housewives and nodded occasionally towards her direction.
Every once in awhile, I caught myself jumping up out of my new formed habit of checking on a baby that was no longer there and realized that I missed the little booger. But then around nine, I realized that having a whole night's sleep that night was pure heaven.
I decided that I'll just have to live by the Grandma rule;
The best thing about being a grandma is spoiling your grandchildren and then sending them home-and getting sleep afterwards!

The Windy City Adventure

I've been trying to get everything done that I need to do because my daughter is going to Chicago with her friends and leaving the baby with me. I tried to use every excuse for her to chance her mind from going.

"It's supposed to snow and that could be dangerous, you know."

"The weather people are never right."

"Your child depends on your very existance to survive in this world and if something were to happen to you, what would he do?"

"Oh stop it, Mom."

I got nothing. So she still plans on going.

This will be her first road trip ever without an older relative and it's totally freaking me out.

So, I get to worry all weekend and take care of a two month old on top of it. I can handle the two month old but not a bunch of eighteen year olds traveling out of town.

I'm sure everything will be fine and they'll have a good time even though the baby's dad is going with-at my request- believe it or not. My husband will think I'm crazy for making him go along since he really thinks he's an idiot and loser. But, as much of a butt that he is, I believe that they are still safer with him going along then taking on Chicago without a guy there. Besides, they aren't staying over night so I can live with myself.

It's funny how a mother's reasoning on things may not make sense to someone else, but perfect sense to another mother.

12 things not to do at our house

I'm beginning to think that my children and husband have gotten together and decided that it was in their best interest not to do some tasks in our house. Apparently these things must be against the law.

So far, I've found these 12 faithfully unbroken laws:

1. Never shut cabinet doors.

2. Never go to bed willingly.

3. Never have your room neat and tidy.

4. Never know where your backpack is and always start looking right before your ride comes.

5. Never say "You are right, Mom/Honey".

6. Never ask if Mom/Honey if she needs anything.

7. Never go to the store and not whine for some toy, electronic thing or junk food.

8. Never pick up hangers from the bedroom floor so nobody stubs their toe on them.

9. Never clean your plate off and stack it neatly in the sink.

10. Never put your clean clothes away instead of setting them on your bed for them to fall behind it and end up getting washed all over again.

11. Never offer to help clean or cook.

And finally..

12. NEVER under ANY circumstance, tell Mom/Wife that she's doing a great job and how much you appreciate her for her sacrifices, sleepless nights when you are sick, cleaning up after you daily, working hard so you can have the things you need and loving you more than anyone ever could-unless it's Mother's Day.

A woman's right to change her mind

Did I say that I loved fall?

After looking at our front yard, I might be changing my mind.

Panda Bear

Emily cannot sleep without trusty Panda Bear.

If she doesn't have him with her every night, she will not stop until we find him.

"Mommy, I need Panda Bear!"

"But all the lights are turned off in the house."

"Then turn them back on."

"But it's late and I'm too tired."

"Drink some coffee."

"But you left him in the car and it's raining and cold outside and the neighbors will see me in my underwear."

"Don't worry Mommy, I won't tell Daddy."

Words with a blogger Wednesday

It's Wednesday again and while everyone else will be talking about the election, I'm doing Words with a blogger Wednesday.

This week's blogger is Andrea Chamberlain from The Creative Junkie http://www.thecreativejunkie.com/

When did you start blogging and what made you decide to blog?
I started blogging in May 2008. At the time, I had a custom digital design business that was slowly but surely sucking my will to live. I was absolutely burnt out. I closed my digital business, breathed a huge sigh of relief, ate a cookie and started writing my blog.
What kind of blog do you have?
It's predominantly a humor blog, based on my own life and observations as a SAHM (stay-at-home mom)

Do you make money from your blog?
Hardly. I don't do AdSense. I do have blogher ads running, so I make a little bit, but I won't be buying a new car anytime soon. That's OK. I'm too vested in my Honda Accord. It took me years to get to that degree of a lived-in look. I can't imagine starting all over again.

What do you do to network/promote your blog to bring in readers?
I belong to a couple of different blog trains (posting your blog and commenting on the blog posted above yours) and comment groups (reciprocal commenting) and I'm active in several different social networking sites, BlogCatalog and Secret is in the Sauce, to name a few.

How do you balance blogging and family?
Not nearly as well as I should.
My girls are in school all day. You would think that this would mean I have all the time in the world to write my posts and network. And I would too, if my family didn't have to eat or wear clean clothes or live in something other than squalor. So, I actually don't have a ton of time during the day to write or network. And once the girls are home, my life is not my own as there are play dates, sports, homework, girl scouts, blah blah blah. I need a course in time management. Desperately. The way it stands now, I blog as much as I can during the day, and then very late at night.

How frequently do you post?
I typically post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but lately I've been throwing a Saturday or Sunday into the mix as well. I'd love to post every day. I'm starting a petition to extend the day to 28 hours. Who's with me?

Do you own a business and blog about your business?
I could say something smart here, like I'm the CEO of the family I blog about, but it's too early in the morning to make that sound witty.

What do you recommend to blog about?
Well, this is only my opinion and there will be those who disagree, but I think that you should blog about what you know. A blog is only as good as its content and good content comes from knowledge. If you know cooking and want to advise those who don't know a spatula from a shovel, great! If you're a techie wizard and want to help those who barely know how to turn a computer on, awesome! If you raise alpacas and want to share your experience and sell a sweater or two, good for you!

But if you have no idea how to drive traffic to your blog, then you probably shouldn't have a blog about how to blog.

Have your readers influenced you in any way?
You bet. They have given my confidence that I actually can write something that people want to read and that is simply invaluable. Without feedback from my readers, I would have no idea if I'm on the right track or if I should just chuck it all and become a grave digger.Has blogging changed your life in any way?
One positive change: I've "met" so many people who otherwise I would never know and have established some great online friendships. Coming from someone who doesn't get a whole lot of adult contact on a daily basis, this is crucial to my mental stability.

One negative change: let's just say, blogging hasn't done my hips, butt, thighs and stomach any favors.

Who are your favorite bloggers?
I love The Pioneer Woman and Dooce and Laid Off Dad. I enjoy Barb Hogan's blog: http://www.barbhogan.typepad.com/ and octamom's blog as well: http://www.octamom.com/. To be honest, there are simply too many to list here.

What is your blogging style?
Very informal and laid back. I like to blog the way I speak because when people read my blog, I want them to "hear" my voice. I tend to have run-on sentences and incomplete sentences. I like to include conversations. I don't always use correct grammar or punctuation. I've been known to let an expletive or two fly, but nothing huge, nothing that will cause anyone to get their knickers into a knot. At least, I don't think so. I'd hate to think I'm responsible for anyone's knotted knickers. That has got to be uncomfortable.

What do you do when you get writer's block?
Cry and eat a Milky Way and complain to my husband. Then I walk away and try to forget about it and come back only when I won't be tempted to throw my computer out my window.

Do you have any advice for newbie bloggers?
Write good content. Be active in the blogging community. If you want comments on your blog, comment on other blogs. Be careful about who/what you write about … the Internet is vast but the world is sometimes very small. And finally, do not eat while you blog. Your hips will thank you later. Trust me on that one.

Thanks Andrea!

Would you like to be my next victim-er, I mean interview?
Comment on this post and I will stalk you and peek in your windows to watch your family eat dinner just like the Australian guy that follows that gecko character on Geico-Or, I'll just send you an email with a list of interview questions for you to answer.

Parenting 101

This weekend was spent attempting to to find our yard under a blanket of leaves, doing some belated spring cleaning the house and browsing around the stores to get ideas for Emily's birthday presents for her birthday coming up in a couple of weeks.

As we attempted to push through the crowded aisles in Toys R Us, I asked Emily what she would like for her birthday. She replied that she wanted a barbie house. I told her that she was in luck because the prices of houses dropped way down this year and this would be a perfect time for her barbies to buy one. We looked at the prices and sure enough, they dropped $30. "See?" I told her,"We could even get it interest free!" Emily proceeded to roll her eyes, put her hands on her hips and gave me the WHY CANT YOU BE A NORMAL MOM? look. I chuckled as I thought about how there will be many more times in her life when she will not want to claim me as a mom just as her brother and sister have in the past. Maybe I feel obligated to have fun at her expense because my father used his free time embarassing us for his enjoyment. I always remember the time he thought it would be fun to dance on the stage at the movie theater with his then wife with Mickey Mouse ears on while us kids sank down in our seats in utter horror.

Yep, it's fun to be a parent.