Mom Fashion: Must-Have February Red Scarf

Mom Fashion: Must-Have February Red Scarf

It’s February LOVE MONTH… !

Which means… wearing red all month long is a must-do!

My fave accessory throughout the month because it’s super easy and doable for anyone to wear… a RED SCARF!

I love love love!!

Where can you get one?
Modcloth.com

Monday Update on Matty!

Monday morning update… (and considering my 6 year old commented on my appearance for a video, I guess I should “warn” you first – not showered and no makeup.)

Excited to have Matty home tonight!

Matty Update from Friday

I’m home. Sitting up in bed trying to fall asleep, but I just can’t. I hate being home without Matt, it actually sucks. Really, really sucks. My in-laws are here this weekend, so it helps… especially since we had a dead fish in our fish tank and I was terrified to move it (thank you to my father-in-law).

I can’t thank my mom enough for rallying my troops every single day this week and taking care of them from morning till night. I know it’s not easy and I know it’s taking a lot out of her, but she’s doing it with a smile without complaining once. Thank you mom. My sister and my father have been gigantic helps, too. Being there for me and just trying to make anything and everything easier along the way.

Today was a good day for Matt. He’s feeling better each day, and today he finally got to have some liquids and soup brooth… which he’s been waiting for. His vitals are looking good and his incision (which is like 8-9 inches long) is healing well. He had a swollen ankle this morning which was watched throughout the day, also making me nervous… so around 2PM today they took Matt for an ultrasound to rule out clots. Fortunately the ultrasound came back clear.

My friends Nikki and Stephanie came to the hospital today to have lunch with me and it was wonderful. We sat and talked and laughed and vented. It was so nice to just have the outlet for an hour.

I know I’m rambling… but it’s almost 10PM and I honestly don’t even know what end is up tonight. I’m just exhausted.

Thank you to everyone for keeping Matt in your prayers and thoughts… love for your continued support and prayers.

I love you all.

Thank you for everything.

xo

Grandparent University: Advanced Course

I am very blessed to see my 9 grandchildren as often as I want.  They all live within 40 minutes or so from each other, and 30 minutes, max, from Barry and me.

We are fortunate enough to be able to attend lots and lots of activities… at their schools, sporting events (swimming, ballet, baseball, softball, running, lacrosse, soccer, hip-hop, gymnastics) and our many family gatherings.

But the day-to-day and day-into-night and night-into-day is Parent University.

Until this week.

Matt’s sudden medical emergency and Audrey’s care sent Barry and I off to Grandparent University: Advanced Course.

Here are my notes:

1. 7-year olds need privacy
2. 6-year olds still need hugs
3. 4-year olds will cling to playground equipment in 20 degree weather for at least 15 minutes before leaving
4. 3-year olds need no less than 5 “blankies” to sleep with
5. Size 8 underwear bunch up on a 3-year old
6. Undershirts are for girls
7. The most fun of playing catch with your Auntie Janie is losing an inordinate amount of tennis balls both over and under the fence
8. “How many balls can 4 boys lose?” means just that (see above)
9. The question, “Grandma, can you make me some money in here?” refers to Webkinz… thank goodness
10. Angry Birds are not grumpy senior citizens
11. “Lucky Charms” mean ONLY the marshmallow bits
12. Tooth brushing is successful only if the sink turns blue
13. Toilet paper is for clogging the toilet
14. Watching Pop-up plunge is entertaining (see above)
15. Pee is for lining the toilet seat for Grandma to sit on
16. I need a PhD in short-order cooking
17. Pez is fun. And sticky.
18. It’s fun sleeping with 5 “men”
19. Grandmas “operate” on stuffed animals, ripped pillows and buttons on request
20. There are at least 2,000,000 kid TV channels to memorize
21. Our Bob-O-Pedic is bedtime Disney World
22. “Laundry” means 3 loads per hour
23. APPS is an acronym for Appropriate grandParent rePlacement System
24. There’s only a small window of time for a child to WISH to be called Superman…
25… or wear Valentine heart socks.
26. One must wave enthusiastically from the front door each time anyone leaves
27. Questions about Daddy are answered with great calm and even greater love…

I’m learning. I’m actually remembering.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind there is a piece of my own Parent University that recalls homework, rushing off to activities, bedtime rituals, wiping noses and little bummies…

But this Advanced Course at Grandparent University has Barry and me on our toes, on our game, staying alert, keeping us, well… young.

I also must give a great-big college megaphone cheer to Jane for helping with the kids, the technology, the fun – especially for bringing her puppies every day for the boys to play with and to love all over – and to rest on…

And if we can do anything to help Matt get better and home soon and ease Audrey’s worried mind, it’s worth all the credit hours we can put it.  I just hope and pray for an A+ for Matt, and soon…

 

Fashion Advice: Be Prepared

I’m not feeling to fashiony today…
I’ve been in the hospital with my husband since 6pm Sunday night. I’m in the same clothes. I’ve got the same hair-do (ponytail). I’ve got the same shoes on.
One time in my life I just don’t care what I have on.
But… It got me thinking.
This week I’ll be prepared, I bring a change of clothes, toothbrush and hair brush.
Just for the very sake of feeling a little bit better rather than being in the same clothes.
Love your continued thoughts and prayers for my husband.
Xo

Prayers Please

I’m asking for prayers today. My husband went to the ER last night to see if he had appendicitis, turns out it’s a tumor on his colon. I’m writing from the hospital asking if you would please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
He’s my world… And I believe in the power of prayer.
Xoxo

Daily Wear: It’s SNOWING and COLD outside

Daily Wear: It’s SNOWING and COLD outside!

Baby it’s COLD outside here!

We FINALLY have snow here in Rhode Island, ring the bells!!

So what to wear when the kids (absolutely-positively) want to get outside and sled??

I’m bundling up!

Jacket: The North Face
Knit Hat: GAP
Fleece Pants: Old Navy
Sunglasses: Foster Grant

Take 2 minutes today to read the wickedly delightful poem HOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE with your kids

How to improve kids’ reading & vocabulary development AND teach Poetry in just 2 minutes a day…

Charming and delightful and oh-so-wicked… words that entice children and make them smile!

This little poem by 19th century poet/author Lewis Carroll will have your children smiling almost as gently wickedly as the little crocodile in the poem HOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE. Hold on for your dear lives…

HOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE by Lewis Carroll

 

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

Read the poem with your children.

You may wish to read the first stanza with a flavor of admiration for the beauty of the crocodile. Give your children the feeling of the little, shining, golden crocodile… so pretty and so sweet.

Begin the second stanza in much the same way, emphasizing the words cheerfully, neatly, welcomes… all the way down to gently smiling. This little crocodile seems oh-so-nice, doesn’t he?

The surprise of the last word, the very last word of the poem, is what makes it so memorable.

JAWS.

Jaws is a powerful word, especially when described as gently smiling.

We are taken on a completely different path here. Now we’re watching those welcomed little fishes swim directly into the crocodile’s gently smiling jaws!

Ask your children if they saw this coming/anticipated this ending. Ask if they think the little crocodile is mean or angry or wicked. Or is the crocodile just hungry? (OK. Maybe the little crocodile does enjoy the way he skillfully and artfully improves his tail and catches his prey.)

Ask: When the crocodile is grinning cheerfully and neatly spreading his claws, what did you think he was getting ready to do?

This poem swims with rich imagery and has a little bite to it (ha,ha!); shining tail, golden scale, cheerful grin, smiling jaws.

Children LOVE delightful little verses with words they can see and feel, especially verses with surprise endings. Certainly, the marvel and beauty of this magnificent creature provides some comic relief to all (but, of course, those little fishes).

Read the poem once again and act out the motions of the little crocodile. Feel the fun.

READING is all about WORDS – Written, Spoken, Felt.

Daily Wear: Baby Shower Sunday

Today I attended my girlfriend Leah’s baby shower. Leah and I have been friends for a very long, long time. I’m talking, we went to kindergarten together long time. So I was very excited to head to her shower and pamper her and celebrate her for the day!

It’s a COLD Sunday here in Rhode Island today. The wind is blowing and the chill factor is through the roof! I wanted to dress up for the shower, but I also knew that I needed to dress weather appropriate. What should one wear to a Sunday Baby Shower in cold, cold, cold weather?

I opted for all black because I knew I was still feeling sick and just didn’t feel like wearing bright, bold colors… so I went for the monochromatic look because I knew it would be easy to put other.

Mini Black Dress from H&M
Black Tights from H&M
Black Heels from Nine West

I felt comfortable, very appropriate and chic all at the same time. Those tights were as thick as pants, so they were totally-toasty!

The funny thing is… I ended up wearing the SAME outfit as my friend Leah!

Saturday Must-Have Pants: Terry Cloth

I woke up this morning with the worst (worst) sore throat and just a horrible head cold.  Not the kind of way I want to start a weekend.

I knew I couldn’t stay in bed all day (although I wished I could).

I knew I couldn’t watch TV all day.

I knew I could put my feet up and enjoy tea and soup.

I had to get up and be MOM.  William and Alexander had basketball.  Then William had a 5 hour swim meet.  I knew I need to be… well, on.

So what does wear on a day like this?

There’s only ONE thing.

Sweat pants… over and over and over again.

My favorite right now?

Lands’ End Sweat Pants…

I am living in them and it feels so good.

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