Cool Mom

I just signed on to Emily's i tunes account and download some of her music to my i pod touch, because yes, I am just cool like that. Here's the latest playlist generated from her music:

Firework by Katy Perry (LOVE this song) 
Just A Dream By Nelly
Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars (LOVE this one too!)
Ke$ha Tik Tok
Raise Your Glass Pink
Check It Out Nicki Minaj
Time Of My Life Black Eyed Peas
B.O.B. Magic In Me
Enrique Iglesias Baby I Like It

Freak the Freak Out Victoria Justice
Comin' Home Dirty Money
Grenade Bruno Mars
Sara Barielles King Of Anything


The "coolness factor" goes both ways.  Emily has some music from the 80's and before on her i pod including NKOTB, Air Supply, old school Bon Jovi,  Men At Work,  Hall and Oates, AC DC, Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett,  Kool and the Gang, MJ, U2, Journey and more.  She also has a fair amount of country music, my other favorite genre. 

And of course she also has some Barry Manilow on there.   Let's face it, no music collection could possibly be considered complete without a little Barry. 

Musical Taste=Varied

The play list I just created in I Tunes has music from the following bands/artists in it:

Straight No Chaser
Barry Manilow
The Fray
Elvis Presley
Neil Diamond
Miley Cyrus (yeah yeah yeah...this is what having three daughters has done to my musical taste)
The Everley Brothers
The Beatles
Jesse McCartney (again with the three daughters)
The Zac Brown Band
The Black Eyed Peas
Sean Kingston
John Denver
Carrie Underwood
The Cast Of Glee
Les Miserable Soundtrack
Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack
Kenny Chesney
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Barbra Streisand
The Beach Boys
Brad Paisley
Fiddler On The Roof Soundtrack
Noel Henry
Miles Davis
Stevie Wonder
Michael Jackson
Air Supply
Darius Rucker

Yup, I think varied works.

The Soundtrack of My Life-Repost

I was thinking the other day about some songs that just seem to define my life...some more than others of course.

So I came up with this fantastic idea... even if it is a dreaded meme-like thing.

"The Soundtrack Of My Life"

(in no particular order)

1. Just Another Day In Paradise by Phil Vassar...because there really is no place I'd rather be!

2. Mountains by Lonestar...because I have finally made it over the top and down the other side!

3. I Made It Through The Rain by Barry Manilow..because, I had to include a song by Barry just on principle and this one seemed to fit!

4. Bitch by Meredith Brooks...because, let's face it...Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to.

5. Unwell by Matchbox 20...because, "I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell."

6. Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benetar...because singing it on the top of my lungs just makes me feel all powerful and stuff.

7. In My Daughter's Eyes by Martina McBride...because the "truth is plain to see, she was (or in my case, "they were") sent to rescue me."

8. Young at Heart by Frank Sinatra...because "it's hard you will find, to be narrrow of mind, when you are young at heart."

9. The Change by Garth Broooks...because "this heart still believes that love and mercy still exist."

10. You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile...because "You're never fully dressed, though you may wear the best, you're never fully dressed without a smile."

Julia Singing Rudolph

Absolute cuteness. Enough said.

JT

This morning? I showed the picture below to Julia and said, "Who's this?"

She said, "It's Daddy!"

She's not the first person to think that he looks like Justin Timberlake. When we were at the Middleboro Christmas Parade, a woman on the side of the street watching the parade actually stopped Ryun to tell him he looked like Justin. Ryun's cousin also said the same thing. I guess I can sort of see the resemblance. Here are some more pictures for comparison:

What do you think?

My Mantra For The New Year

"I'm going to love myself
More than anyone else
Believe in me even if someone cannot see
There's a stronger woman in me
I'm going to be my own best friend
Stay with me till the end
Won't lose myself again, never, no
'Cause there's a stronger woman
A stronger woman
There's a stronger woman,
A stronger woman in me."

Lyrics by Jewel.

I love this song, and, even though the rest of the verses don't apply, the chorus really does.

The Right Stuff

On Sunday evening, I went to see New Kids On The Block at the Garden. I am pretty sure the infatuation I had as a teen? Is back full force because seriously? I think it was the best concert EVER, including the 4 times I saw them as a kid. It took me back...it took me way back.

Yes, I Am A Total Geek

Check out the latest New Kids On The Block video. They've all aged quite well, but, Donnie is still my favorite.

So Much To Say, So Little Time

So what do you get when that happens? An entry that sums up an entire couple of weeks in two words.

Very busy.

Ok, Ok, I'll elaborate.

Let's start with the dream I had last night. It entailed a visit to the dentist in which my teeth were basically rotting out of my head. Nice, huh? Anyway, when discussing the options with the doctor, he said the best option would be to just give me something for the pain, and let them continue to decay, until they fell out. Dreams about teeth never mean anything good (trust me I have looked it up) but in this case, I am hoping that the dream was just a little reflection of anxiety about the dentist appointment I have coming up next week. Because otherwise? I am doomed.

I posted pictures of the trip to Vermont, but I didn't elaborate any further than that. It was all that I expected it to be and more. I am still in awe of the scenery. I am still in awe of the atmosphere at the Lodge. The people were just so...nice. We had all but one of our meals on the property. The food was delicious. On Saturday, we took a two mile walk on one of the trails through the woods. Aside from being exceptionally hot, it was probably the most beautiful part of the trip. On Saturday morning I got up at 5:30 to watch the sun rise over the mountains. I don't think I ever ever felt as at peace as I did in that time. At one point on Sunday, one of the bellhops asked us if we were enjoying our stay and I said that we were, but that I was sad that it was ending. He said, "It stays with you though." I couldn't have said it better myself.

It has been, and will continue to be a busy month. Just the this week alone is going to be crazy. Today, I remembered at the last minute that Katherine was going to the book fair at 2. It was noon when it occurred to me so I had plenty of time to get Julia and I ready and out the door. I love that they allow parents (allow and even encourage) to come to the book fair to help their child select a book (or in Katherine's case, three books). It's just one of many ways that I feel Middleboro encourages parent involvement. While there, I realized that Julia practically has celebrity status in Emily's classroom, as her class was walking by and almost every student (and the teacher) said smething like, "is that Julia?" or "Hi Julia." It was pretty funny but Julia had no idea what to make of it. We ran a few quick errands before we went back home. After the kids got off of the bus, they played in the yard for a while and then I brought Emily to voice. Ryun will be heading out for poker in a little while. Tomorrow I am volunteering at the Goode School to help assemble the take home book bags all of the kids get over the summer. Wednesday morning I will be at the MECC helping out with Earth Day activities. Wednesday night is Principal's Pride Night at HBB, as well as Family Night at the Book Fair(also at HBB), at which I will be working. Thursday is the 5th Grade Field Day and I will be there for a couple of hours in the morning while Julia is at school. Friday is the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at MKG, as well as the Student Of The Month Lunch, which I will be attending with Katherine who was chosen for that honor for the month of May. Friday night I am supposed to be going to a Crop (scrap booking) for the night (I am undecided on this right now but I always have so much fun when I go so I probably will). Saturday I am jumping head first into this "I really should sell my pictures" thing by setting up a table at a Bluegrass Festival in Carver. I am excited and nervous at the same time about this but unless I take the plunge, I will never know, right? I have a good selection of matted 8x10 photos and am making note cards with two of my favorite pictures (which I will sell in groups of 5 ). I am also going to sell coasters I had made a while back with my favorite ever beach picture on them. I am going to try, to fit in between all of the stuff going on to put together an album of some of my work.

Next week? Doesn't look to be any less busy with a graduation party, 4 doctors appointments for various members of the family, a PTA meeting, volunteering in Julia's classroom, a field trip with Julia's class, two concerts (Emily is in her school chorus concert, and her end of the year Burtwood School recital), a Girl Scout Meeting, and a yard sale at the end of the week.

It's all good, and I love volunteering, and I am glad the kids are involved in their various activities, but, I am not going to lie. I can not wait for it to be over and for summer to begin.

Cha Cha Slide

Please excuse Julia's half-dressed state!

Julia Sings Railroad

Dude.

I am going to see New Kids On the Block. I am so cool.

Seriously, September 26th at the Garden. As much as I am laughing at myself, I am really excited!

Did I Blog About This Already?

Can't remember. Anyway, for all you 30 somethings (in particular female 30 somethings) out there, I give you this news as one sure-fire way to re-live the "good old days."

Drum roll please.......

New Kids On The Block are reuniting! (See story here).

I am SO going to that concert!

Updated Concert List

Added to the original list we have the following:

Kenny Chesney
Rascal Flatts
Air Supply
Fleetwood Mac
Brooks and Dunn
Barry Manilow (already seen him, but really can one ever get enough Barry?)
Hall and Oates
Aerosmith (seen them too, but would LOVE to go again)
Jimmy Buffet (see what I said about Barry)

And, in the category of "lets go re-live my early teen years", the NKOTB reunion tour (they are reuniting and I am just assuming there will be a tour).

Topping the list betwwen the last one and this most recent one?

1. Josh Groban
2. Kenny Chesney
3. Hall and Oates
4. Garth Brooks
5. Neil Diamond

Maturity

On the way to voice with Emily today, I handed her the tuition check and told her to make sure to put it in to the payment box when she got in. I usually stick it in an envelope but this time, I didn't. The box is secure and inside the building and the check has all vital information on it anyway, so the staff can figure out who it is for. Anyway, Emily asked how much it was and when she looked at the check, she said, almost disbelievingly, "Eighty three dollars, is how much you pay per month for me to take voice?" I confirmed it and she said, "Wow. I don't think I have ever said anything about this money before, but, thanks."

It was one of the more mature things she has ever said to me and I was quite proud.

Note To Self

Upload classical music playlist to Ipod for nights when everything is working against the possibility of you sleeping.

Music (especially of the classical version) has always been soothing to me when having a difficult time falling asleep. Last night, it would have have had the possibility of working wonders. Julia ended up in with us (after numerous unsuccessful attempts to bring her up to her own room after she fell asleep). That in itself would have been enough to ruin at least half way decent sleep for me, but added to the mix was a racing mind, Ryun snoring (which was odd for him),hot flashes, a semi-upset stomach, and Julia being unusually restless. I tossed and turned until 3:00 before finally falling in to a fitful sleep, full of strange dreams which I can't seem to recall now. I woke when Ryun left for work and didn't really fall back asleep before the alarm went of at 6:30. It doesn't help that it's that time of month, meaning of course, that I am already feeling much more tired than usual. Ugh.

Funny

My mother got me this really, fancy shiny, shimmery shirt for Christmas, to wear to an upcoming formal family party. It's sort of a "baby doll" style shirt, which typically doesn't look good on me, and in fact, can actually make me look pregnant when I am not. So, I had this conversation with Ryun:

Me: Do I look pregnant in this shirt?

Ryun: No, but you look like if Barry Manilow were singing, you'd be pulled up on stage.

Me: And that would be a bad thing, why?

Emily

For the first time last night, Emily wore a bra. For the first time over the weekend, she wore nylons (as opposed to tights). Last night, she wore both at the same time.

So we were getting ready for her concert at school and she said, "God I feel so old with the bra and nylons. Next thing you know, I'll have a boyfriend, a car and a cell phone."

My response (after the laughter): "Let's take it one step at a time, Emily."

Anyway, here's the little darling last night before the show.

Katherine made some comment jokingly about how she looked like a "slob" and Emily looked beautiful so I told them to pose. I told Katherine to be a "drama queen" and Emily to be a "beauty queen." This is the result:

The concert was very good, by the way. I was very impressed with the band, orchestra and chorus, especially considering that the students just started instrument lessons in fourth grade, and chorus in the 5th. They all sounded great.

Staying Until The Final Curtain

Emily's chorus concert is tonight at 7pm. She came home with a note on Friday, reminding us of what she is supposed to wear (black skirt or pants and a white blouse) and also with the details of how the students will be dismissed to their parents. Basically, when the students are done with their portion of the performance (this is also the band concert) they will be dismissed from the cafeteria at the end of the entire show. The emphasis on staying until the end of the show was evident in many parts of the letter (Please make sure to arrive on time and stay in the cafeteria until the end of the show, your parents will dismiss you at the end of the show etc). I understand the mentality behind it...for those who perform first, they have a full audience and if people leave when their performer is done, those at the end of the show have barely anyone there. It's not really fair and I feel bad, but, honestly, I have a three year old. The show doesn't start until 7pm. She doesn't nap anymore. My point? Keeping a three year old quiet and happy at 7 pm, for an extended period of time, it's just not going to happen, unless by some miracle of God, I can get her to nap today. So, unless we have to stay until the end because we have just the kind of luck that would make Emily's group the very last performance of the evening, we are leaving when she is done with her thing. It may not be fair to have an empty audience at the end of the show, but how fair will it be to have an unhappy three year old disturbing the show?

(You all of course realize that Julia is usually not a concern when it comes to this type of thing as I am usually able to distract her or find some way of keeping her entertained and happy, but it's just annoying to me that there was such a stress put on staying until the end of the show).

Christmas With Julia