This Full House

A Perfect Post: Take a parent, add politics and mix well.

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents - it was taken shortly after their engagement in 1963 - and is a perfect depiction of a young couple, living in America, at that time.

Except, they weren't American citizens.

My parents immigrated during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and met for the first time here, in New Jersey, on a blind date.

They carried green cards, worked whatever jobs they could get and learned to speak English by listening to radio commercials and watching television show, like and Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

Except, they were more like:

Wordless Wednesday: Big Brother

 

A kiss, on the cheek, is very sentimental but big brothers are a girl's best friend - especially, when start bringing their cute friends home!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

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Sticky Post: NoMeatPoWeek

[This is a sticky post and will run Mon-Fri (1/28-2/1) please scroll down for most recent post - thanks!]

 

The League of Maternal Justice and my fellow bloggers at Green Mom Finds are partnering with BlogHers Act Canada to reach as many of us in the blogosphere, as they can - our mission for this last week of January (1/28 to 2/1) is to try and go a whole week without eating meat.

So, how's that working out for us?

Being at the wrong place at the right time and Mini-sleepovers!

The Boy (he's 9) had a friend sleepover on Friday and, after his mom dropped him off, I asked for his backpack, pointed out where he and The Boy would sleep (I mean, the couch IS right next to the front door) and then I knelt down real low (I could hear the poor kid's neck muscles straining) and went over our house rules.

"Basically, there aren't any."

What?

He's NOT my kid and it IS a sleepover - he WILL eventually go home and, you know, tell his mother - and it's NOT like I expected them to actually sleep, or anything.

But, he still seemed a little weary - I recognized the confused sort of...WUH-HUH?...way he shook his head, right away - so, I continued.

Red, White and Blue Fridays #3: Supporting Our Troops - it IS more than just a catchphrase!

Welcome to the Third Edition of Red, White and Blue Fridays.

Basically, our mission is to recognize and acknowledge members of the U.S. armed forces and their families and, hopefully, bring awareness to the ways in which bloggers can show their support.

I don't consider myself a pundit, on anything, especially about politics - if you're looking for someone who is...she's really good - I do NOT, however, have a problem with speaking on behalf of defending the things I love the most.  Especially, when it means lending a helping hand (whenever I can) and showing MY support to...well...people who are willing to put the needs of others, first.

It's the mom in me, I know.

There are those people who believe that "Support Our Troops" is meaningless.

I don't agree.

Picture Perfect Thursday: Celebrating birthweeks, raising a pescetarian and how I'm NOT getting paid enough to do this much laundry!

The Boy turned 9 yesterday - thank you very much for ALL of your happy thoughts - but, my husband's father was scheduled for surgery (he's recovering well, thank goodness) and we spent most of the day in the hospital with my mother-in-law.

So, we made arrangements to have family (including, my FIL) over on Monday.

The kids were home and my brother was off from work.

The Boy got to open his gifts and blow out his birthday candles, albeit, a couple of days early.

All in all, he thought our little pre-birthday-get-together was pretty AWESOME and he got to show off his new hat at school, the next day - since most of his classmates told him to fuhghettabout winning Sunday night's game - GO GIANTS!

But, first we marked him on the "measuring wall" (The Boy knows how to work a harmonica) and sent him to school yesterday morning with a bag full of birthday treats to share with his class (yes, I am that BAD mother) aaaaaand would you believe, we're STILL not done?

"Where ARE we going for dinner, Friday?"

Silence.

"You know, for my birthday?"

CRAP.

"Um...I dunno...uh...what would do you want to eat?"

Look, it's NOT his fault - I mean, I was the one who started the tradition of having the birthday boy (or girls) choose the meal - who knew having children, with birthdays in November, December AND January, would be so, you know, tough!?!?

"I feel like lobster!"

Whuh?

"I want to go to Red Lobster!"

Why - I mean, besides the fact that I was hoping he'd feel a little more like, you know, a Happy Meal - I don't ever remember eating at a Red Lobster, before?!?

"It's where America goes for seafood!"

Just so you know, the previous post, or following statement is NOT a paid announcement.

"Seriously, I saw their commercial and the food looks really good, I hope they have cake!"

Seriously - these kids' birthdays are lasting way longer than...well...the actual labor, really - I'm all birthday-ed-out, man!

"Only six more months 'til my birf-day!"

[blank stare]

"And I'm having a sleep-over."

[click-whoosh-click]

"Wiiiiight!?!?"

Whyyyyyyyyy, NOT!?!?

[shrugs]

I mean, it seems my son's appetite is going to cost us a small fortune and our NEW dryer IS busted - yes, I managed to break yet another appliance, AGAIN! - it should give me plenty of time to, you know, save up enough money for nail polish, hair thingies, shiny pink lip gloss and a new light saber (seriously, she's got her list all ready) not to mention, finish the STUPID laundry!

Uh-oh, Sears guy is done - yeah, I blog during service calls and even Twittered a little, too - he says my dryer needs a new brain.

Shut up!

Aaaaand, it's gonna take about 2 weeks.

SHUT UP!

Just so you know, you couldn't pay me enough to even think about buying another Kenmore at the moment.

I wonder what they're serving in the vending machines at the laundromat, these days?

Stupid Sears!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

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Nearly Wordless Wednesday: My Boy Is NOT Like Me

The Boy turned 9 today
He came downstairs in the usual way
But the cat is sick and Grandpa's surgery's today
I was sad that we would be away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, in a calm sort of way
He said, "I'm gonna be okay, don't worry mom
You know he's gonna need Dad and you"

Happy Birthday, my boy - who knew turning 9 could be so SWEET!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

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Take cover, Mothergoosemouse Is Having A Boy!

 

My blogging friend Julie (a.k.a. Mothergoosemouse) is having a baby, like, real soon. I had the pleasure of meeting Julie at BlogHer '07 in Chicago; sat next to her during the Imperfect Parent reception -  she and I write monthly columns - and I didn't even realize she was pregnant.

DUH!

I finally figured it out, though, after insisting she MUST have a glass of wine with me and Julie finally hollered, "DUDE, no thanks, I'm pregnant!"

Nah, she didn't really yell...that loud.

[wince]

I know how pregnant women can get - nothing but love for the keepers of the underbelly - and I was very happy to learn that Mayberry Mom and Motherhood Uncensored are throwing Mothergoosemouse's virtual baby shower!

"We want to hear your tips, stories, and/or advice about raising boys."

Well, Julie - and anyone who's ever wondered, "Are boys different?" - wouldn't YOU like to know!

[snicker]

I'm sorry - that sounded mean - but, you'll have to forgive me, I'm still trying to make peace with the fact that The Boy makes me feel like I must be totally whacked-in-the-head, or something!

Why?

Let's just say, in my never ending search for peace and tranquility in our little corner of the empire, I have allowed my eight-year-old son to host his first sleep-over party, Friday.

[shiver]

Yep, I've invited two of his best friends from school for what promises to be a night filled with much yelling (man, boys ARE loud!) and lots of stomping and jumping on furniture, as the boys make a valiant effort to battle hostile forces from the dark side.

My three girls.

Look, it's not like I can't say as I blame them - the boys, I mean - after all, being born female...and raising three girls of my own...trust me when I say that...girls are harder than boys!

I'm not saying raising boys is easy - remember...I have one of those, too! - they're just...well, okay I'll go right on ahead and say it...boys are NOT just different, they're WHACKED IN THE HEAD!

For example:

"Five minute warning - we are going to school in FIVE MINUTES - finish up and be ready to leave in five minutes!"

The three girls go nuts, as they try and put on their socks...shoes...hair-thingies...deodorant...a different shirt...another pair of pants...that matches the shirt, better...more deodorant...backpacks...whatever...at the very last minute...and barely make it out of their bedroom - that looks very much like a casualty of war, by the way - alive and in one piece!

The boy?

"What...we have school, today!?"

Either way, you're screwed.

In The Boy's defense, living in a houseful of girls - not to mention a very hormonal mother - can be real hard on a little guy!

So, I often times take advantage of my neighbors (tee-hee) and send him around the corner (yes, send the mess to OTHER people's houses) and let him play with other people's stuff and...more importantly...most of  his friends' families do NOT have girls!

But, lots and lots of Legos.

"They even got the new Lego Star Wars...you know...like, the first one...that we don't have...but, you rented from Blockbuster...but, this is the second one...that you won't probably buy, either...because it's like, forty-five-hundred dollars...or, something...so, "J" is gonna ask his mom...if he can bring it over...so we can verse each other on Friday...because, you know...it's probably still too expensive...and you won't buy it...probably!"

Probably not.

But, that's okay - that's what friends with lots of cool toys and plenty of brothers to share are for, right? - allowing his friend to stay over will surely make up for being such a cheapskate!

Me?

Heaven knows I'm saving him from versing Mini-Me, who still insists that crying, "No fair," or "Girls go first," and "You should let me win because I'm still yiddle!" and insists it actually does increase her chances of winning.

No doubt, SHE will give me and Garth (not his real name) a run for our sanity!

[heavy sigh]

I can't promise to know how this will all turn out, for you, Julie.

Especially, since I'm supposed be focusing on taking my 12-year-old daughter and a bunch of her girlfriends to the mall on Saturday (and I thought boys were LOUD?) and...MAN!...is it just me...or, do all kids' birthdays have to last soooooooo long? - UGH!

But, I can tell you with his blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin (ALL his sisters are dark) sometimes it's hard to believe that he is even mine (since, the roots that are already showing on my head will suggest  that my hair must be REALLY dark, as well) but, I CANNOT imagine even a day...not even one more hour...without my son.

 

And neither can his sisters, as they try and convince him that only REAL men wear makeup.

"Dude, it's just like CAMMO!"

As I see it, it's tough - no matter the gender, kiddo - but, well worth it in the end.

[see ALL pictures above]

May the force be with you, Julie, AND keep YOU from tearing your hair out.

[cue Mini-me]

If not, feel free to borrow Mini-me and she'll be more than happy to go all Darth Vader on their collective little asses!

[click...whoosh...click]

Don't make me have to destroy you!

 

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed or - if you really, really like me - then Digg This, I'll love you forever!]

Red, White and Blue Fridays #2: When Parents Are Deployed - Talk, Listen and Connect

Welcome to the Second Edition of Red, White and Blue Fridays.

If you missed last week's inaugural post, no worries - it's open to everyone and you can leave your thoughts anytime you visit -  you can go here and find out all about the new feature that will run every Friday, here at This Full House.

Basically, our mission is to recognize and acknowledge members of the U.S. armed forces and their families and, hopefully, bring awareness to the ways in which we - the great and mighty blogosphere - can show our support.

Today, I would like to talk a little about helping families during military deployment - especially, households with little ones:

Look deep into my archives and don't worry if you feel yourself getting sleepy...very, very sleepy!

I got tagged by SoCalMom...cough...cough...WITCH!...cough...with the Archive Meme, which was started by a blog called the108.  The idea is to go back through your archives and post five links to your favorite blog posts that you've written in 2007.  But, there's a catch: