This Full House

Why I Made My Kids "Friend" Me on Facebook!

O...M...G...don't even!

My middle girl turned 13, last month (someone hold me!) and used her birthday money to order the really cool camera that I have been coveting (these darn kids get EVERYTHING!) and, after we got home from having her stitches removed this week, Thing Two was thrilled to find it waiting for her at the front door!

"Here, try it!"

Typically, I hate having my picture taken and consider myself severely photogenically-challenged.  It's okay.  I'm down with that.

"O...M...G...what are you trying to do?"

Gosh, but kids make me feel so stupid...sometimes.

"Uh, don't kids do peace-out anymore?"

Judging by the look on her face, apparently, not really.

"No, we just do peace."

I know I'm just a stupid parent and all (seriously, with 2 teenagers in the house, never felt dumber) but, didn't I just say that?

"Will you take a picture of me for Facebook?"

Yes, the day she turned 13, I allowed Thing Two to sign up for a Facebook account (I mean, her 15-year-old sister has one) and it's really no big deal...I'm on it, too...besides, I'm her mom and MADE her "friend" me!

Happy Birthday, My Christmas Baby!

[Soliciting Comments for Charity:  Okay, so I'm BLOGGING OUT HUNGER and totally willing to beg for someone else's food, this week - I know I'm no Dooce, but won't you consider helping reach my goal of 300 comments, for charity, even for a Dork, like me?]

Greeting cards have all been sent, The Christmas rush is through. But I still have one wish to make, A special one for Thing Two...

[clears throat]

 Happy Birthday, Baby
Though 3 days after Christmas, it's still true
You're 13 now and in my dreams I always wished for a girl, like you.

Growing up is NOT always joyful...especially, when something's bothering you
But every day's a holiday
When I can laugh with you



 

The things you could be I wish you could see I wish it every day

You're smart and very strong
Darn good at singing songs
And pretty, too...YES!...way

TRUST ME...I see it everyday
But my singing...uh...can sort of suck
'Nuf said...don't press your luck

[clears throat]

Happy Birthday, my Christmas Baby
You're thirteen, I can't believe it's true
But, I've just one wish on this special day...

I wish I were more like you!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

All I want for Christmas is an American Girl Doll that won't break the bank, or make mom feel all Scroogy!

According to their latest survey results of over 1,000 respondents, TodaysMama.com revealed that 85% of Moms across the United States are trimming their holiday budgets due to concern about the long-term economic outlook, specifically:

14% plan to cut holiday spending by an astounding 75%
32% will cut holiday spending by 50%
66% believe it will take two to three years for the economy to recover

Okay, we get it -- honestly, you don't have to beat parents over the head with a mailbox full of sale flyers to know that life is too short to worry about the little things, like, what the cool kids want and the things that mine aren't, you know, getting this year, again -- so, why am I still feeling so gosh-darned Scroogy?!?

The Christmas Picture That Almost Wasn't

 

I took this picture of Thing Two (she's my middle girl) and my mom (that's my youngest, Mini-me, popping up, on cue, from behind the couch) at my brother's house on Thanksgiving Day.  It's not a very good one (seriously, I could really use a new camera, Santa!) but, you can still see the family resemblance...right?

This year, I really enjoyed giving up on any plans I had for hosting our family dinner (seriously, I highly recommend it) and not for the lack of wanting (I love Thanksgiving) but, things have been a little stressful at our house, lately.

I know, you too, right?

My husband, Garth (not his real name) works in the banking industry ('nuf said) and then my middle girl goes and blows a gasket (genetic disorders be damned) so, luck hasn't been on our side this year and, truth be told, I'm more than a little nervous about my mother's heart procedure, next week.

Oh, did I mention that Thing Two is scheduled for her surgery, the following week, 13 days before her 13th birthday!?!?

Pretty Thankful

"You're supposed to carry it with two hands!"

My seven-year-old made this year's Thanksgiving pretty in class and she was very careful NOT to give it to me.

"Wow, this is really very pretty."

Honestly, I just love it when my kids bring their holiday projects home and -- having collected a fair amount over the years -- my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I are seriously considering opening a FTD greetings franchise, for kids.

"No it isn't!"

As Mini-me's eyes started to fill up with tears -- right there in the middle of the school yard -- I quickly leafed through the files in my mommybrain for a quick (yet, loving) response and pretty much, you know, came up empty.

"Uh, yeah, it is."

See?

"It's not how I wanted it to be."

Mini-me is my youngest of four and she is a walking contradiction to everything I ever knew, or thought I did, about raising kids.

[sniff]

"But, sweetie...my house, my friends, my family, the world...these are very wonderful things to be thankful for!"

The look on her face, screamed...Nuh-uh!

"NUH-UH!"

[hands on hips]

"Because, I have lots more stuff to be thankful for."

So, along with the pumpkin and apple pies, we're bringing a little something extra something special to my brother's house.

"But, I could ONLY use 4 popsicle sticks!"

Okay, to most people, it may not be the most prettiful floral arrangement.

"I think it's perfect!"

But, Mini-me's school project reminded me that, as parents, we sometimes have a hard time seeing the pretty passed the popsicle sticks (or, something like that) and, to these mommy eyes, that is totally gift-worthy!

Have a Prettiful Thanksgiving!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

The Twilight Years: Okay, I get it, BITE ME!

I began my obsession with Twilight in the Summer of 2007, when my oldest daughter insisted that...YES...it would keep her interest and...OF COURSE...the genre would make an absolutely perfect fit into her summer reading list.

"It's a vampire love story!"

Uh-huh.

So, I read it first to make sure that it was really, you know, appropriate for teen readers and...WHAM...it truly was love at first bite.

[cringe]

Don't worry, Stephenie Meyer writes way gooder than me and has taken a story line that is not really that unique -- like, how love overcomes all obstacles, sort of -- but, presents it in a totally refreshing way.

With that said, I can't help but wonder if it's wrong that I'm totally crushing on...um, you know...my teen's crush?

Got Teens: Then, you NEED to be reading my blog!

My friend Jenn - whom I love dearly and needs coffee, like most mommies I know - has another thought provoking post (dammit!) about teens and the parents who blog about them.  Namely, me.  Because, you know, I am a mom, with teens, tweens, a precocious seven-year-old and I happen to keep a blog.  Or, two.

Why?

Well, it's like told Jenn:

"I've been blogging for 5 years now (4 kids all under the age of 10, 'nuf said) and, yes...the stories have changed...a little...but, it's still OUR story and I don't write about anything that I (or, my kids) would be uncomfortable sharing, in real life.

Although, my kids are in school full-time, my job is far from being done. I will have TWO teenagers, in a couple of months (ACK!) and personally, I feel that being their mom has become even harder.

However, my reasons for keeping This Full House remain the same - blogging is cheaper than therapy!"

Then, one of my kids goes and bleeds all over herself and what if I told you that the first thing I did was Twitter it?

Parenting Tip #19,201,733: When it comes to love, there is no language barrier - unless, you are family!

[Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

This is the sign that welcomes visitors to my parents house, as it sits firmly planted in between the geranium beds, next to the bird feeders and right outside their front door.

On the surface, most people find its salutation agreeable and a few have made their inquiries as to where they, too, might find such an amusing lawn ornament.

Looking a little deeper, and having spent the better part of the summer visiting with my family, one might perhaps understand the truth that lies underneath its whimsical tone.

Especially, since I was the one who bought it for them.

Mom and Mini-me's Most EXCELLENT Adventure!

I wrote a blog post about Mom-nesia and was recently interviewed for a piece on ABC News (I know; don't understand exactly how that happened) and truly believe that it really DOES exist and the more children you have, the less brain cells you're left with at the end of the day.

They're lucky I remember their names - let alone, their birth dates - I mean, these poor kids have to share EVERYTHING...even me!

Yesterday, Mini-me and I were invited to a private screening of the new Kit Kittredge - An American Girl Movie in New York City (I know; don't know how that could have happened, either!) and, since it was her birthday, we decided it was a terrific way to celebrate her 7th year at the measuring wall and bought two round-trip train tickets into The Big Apple.

That's right, I decided this time, there would ONLY be room for two!

Parenting Tip #29,019,543: You'll laugh at this one day - I'm laughing, already!

My inlaws are both turning 80 this year (relax, you guys STILL look good) so, I try to keep holidays and family get-togethers as simple as possible.  Let's face it, I know that having kids running around at these sort of things can get a little gregarious and my mother-in-law just doesn't seem to be in much of a festive mood, anymore.

Heck, she's got 5 kids, I'm surprised the woman is even able to complete a sentence, or find the strength to smile, without madly clutching at her breast and gasping for breath, then dribbling her sweet tea all over the place.

Unless, she's eating cake at MY house - especially, if it happens to be one that Grandma did NOT bake - oh, and did I mention that I can make a really crappy pitcher of sweet tea?