Fireworks? No. An unusual 4th of July.

Our 4th of July did not entail our traditional celebration this year. We usually go to my mom’s house and cookout, watch the neighbors shoot off fireworks and then eat dessert. This year, we went to see Eclipse, went shopping and cooked out (in) at home. A bazaar celebration, and one that left me feeling guilty.

I used to make sure that as a mom, I carried on the traditional festivities of each holiday. Painting eggs on Easter, going trick-or-treating on Halloween, leaving cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Over the years, I’ve gotten a bit lazy, skipping some traditions here and there. While the two older kids are past a lot of the “baby stuff” as they would call it, my youngest is still only five and getting cheated out of a lot.

Though this was not a typical July 4th activity, she (Emily) loved going to see the vampire movie. She behaved, but I had to act a bit bad since the people back that sat behind us were annoying. Yes, they kicked our chairs as I predicted, and decided to eat their popcorn very loudly in our ears. Who would of thought that a bunch of teenage boys would want to see this movie with their mom?

I did try to add a little 4th celebration to our weekend; we found out that some neighbors were shooting fireworks off in the field behind us so, we headed out back and picked our spot in the field to watch the display. After about 5 minutes of getting attacked by mosquitoes, we all decided to march back into the house and call it a night.

Am I a horrible mom? I am going to try to not surrender to being lazy and skipping out in celebrating each holiday the way it's supposed to be celebrated. I promise that next holiday I will get off my butt and my youngest will not be cheated.

Let’s see, the next holiday is Labor Day-whew, at least that will be an easy one. Maybe we can go out of town that weekend. Wait, my grandson’s birthday falls on Labor Day this year. I also have a wedding to shoot that Saturday. Crap!

What's next? Halloween?

I’m on it right now.

Eclipsed to the Max

Emily has been waiting for the new Twilight movie to come out-okay, so have I.

We plan on going over the weekend, and hopefully a lot of the Twi-hards have already gone.

She's got her outfit ready and is excited to get to sit in a big theater. We usually wait until the dvd comes out and watch it in our own little "theater" downstairs. I had to warn her that there will be no screaming or jumping for joy whenever her "boyfriend" appears on screen. I may have to remind her of this when we are there and let her know that it's pretty hard to watch it from the lobby if they make us leave.

I think it will be fun, even though I have this incredibly bad luck of having tall people sit in front of me and loud "chair-kicking" people in back of me. Second thought, maybe I'll let her be loud so she can scare everyone away.

Her so-obsessed-with-Twilight-it's-gosh-darn-embarrassing just might come in handy this time.

A Contest For A Cause: Kelly Ripa and Electrolux

I don't know about you, but I need a new refrigerator and freezer. I H-A-T-E how I don't have room in my freezer. That's why I would so want one of these babies...

And wouldn't you too?

Well, we both have a chance to win a new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer split-though, I'm secretly hoping you sprain your clicking finger and can't enter (just kidding!).

Kelly Ripa and Electrolux are joining forces once again to celebrate the launch of Electrolux Appliance's new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer - that's right, the familiar duo has split up. And to sweeten the celebration, they're bringing in the "Emperor of Ice Cream" Stephen Bruce, owner and founder of Serendipity 3, the landmark New York City restaurant and dessert spot, into the mix.
Kelly and Bruce had teamed up to make banana splits for a cause. And now we want you to dig in, with your virtual spoon! Starting today, at http://www.kelly-confidential.com/

, you can build your ultimate banana split using virtual ingredients from classic whipped cream to caramel sauce to rainbow sprinkles. For each "split", Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund as part of its $750,000 commitment to help fight ovarian cancer.

As usual, Electrolux and Kelly find new and fun ways to say thank you to those who support this great cause. Everyone who logs on to the site and builds a split will be automatically entered for a chance to win the daily prize - $50 towards sweet summer treats - and the grand prize: the new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer from Electrolux. You really should enter this contest-you know you want to!

I'm going to make this deal a bit sweeter. I'm giving away $25 American Express card to one lucky reader!

To enter, tell me what your favorite ice cream flavor is.

If you want an extra entry:

Follow me!

Contest ends

7/29