My Fat Ass

I have a fat ass.  I'm not proud of it but I can't hide it either.  There are lots of reasons why but really, I just love to eat.  I'm not always a junk food kind of gal.  I like second portions.  Sometimes third portions.  Excuse me while a digress just a bit.  I'm getting ready to make a point. 

Tonight the local public swimming pool in Crescent Hill had a neighborhood block party sponsored by a local councilwoman.  It's free and we've gone for 4 straight years.  There's free pizza, drinks, dessert, music, and door prizes.  The girls love to go.  So do I.  We all threw on our swimsuits and headed for the pool.  It was a bit chilly tonight with the high not quite reaching 70 degrees.  There was no decision making in the fact that I was going to swim with my girls.  For an hour and half we ate, swam, and laughed.  Megan spent most of the evening with her friends.  When it came time for the door prizes drawing, we headed in to see who had won.  Abigail won a t-shirt, Brigid won a gift certificate to Coneys and Conez, and Caroline won a gift card to Heine Bros. coffee.  Megan did not win and I thought she might be mad.  After chatting with her I reminded her that she was going to a slumber party tomorrow night and she seemed ok with that.  I had a blast with the girls in the pool.  The water is heated, it wasn't crowded and we just laughed and laughed.

Now back to my fat ass. (I'm hoping no future employers read this and hold my potty mouth against me.)  I mention it because out of all those parents there I only saw maybe 3 or 4 of them in the water!  Only one other Mom and the rest were Dads.  Really?  Why would you bring your kids to the pool and not get in the water with them?  If it's time for your cycle then I could maybe see skipping the water.   But for what other reason would you have for not getting in the water and enjoying your kids?  Surely it can't be because you don't want someone to see you in your swimsuit.  Here's what I look like in mine:

It's not pretty and I know that but I'm not going to let my doughy, out of shape, fat ass keep me from enjoying my time with my kids!!!  Nothing should ever keep you from enjoying your time with your kids!!  I have looked like a fool on numerous occasions while enjoying time with my girls.  And really when you think about it there will be a time when my girls won't want me around.  They won't want me to be in the pool with them.  They'll want to enjoy their friends.  When they tell me NOT to be with them then I will respect that.  I will feel a little sad but I will respect them. 

Until then the world will be subjected to my fat ass and all it's lumpy loveliness.  'Cause I know my kids won't remember the size of my ass in that swimsuit.  They will remember the fun we had together when I didn't let my self-consciousness affect our joy.

First Eucharist

I received Abigail, Brigid, and Caroline's First Eucharist schedule today via email.  We attend St. Bernedette (formerly Mother of Good Counsel).  I am so excited!  I can't believe my babies are going to be old enough to do this!!  Wow.  I remember the feelings I had when I realized Megan was old enough.  Now the trio will be going through all this too.  I did not grow in a religious household.   Dad was an atheist.  He taught us to always question  the validity of religion.  He said he was looking at facts.  What he didn't realize is that so much of believing is in FAITH.  Mom believed.  She was very spiritual.  She always said she had vision of Heaven.  When she knew she was dying she wasn't sad about where she was going.  She was sad about who she was leaving.  My family believed I became Catholic because of Patrick.  He certainly helped me.  What I couldn't ever get my family to understand was that when I walked intFio church I felt like I was home.  My faith has brought me through sooooo much.  I fully and truly believe that God has a plan for all of us.  IT may not be the plan we want but it is the plan God wants.  And how exciting that my girls are being raised to feel that faith in everything they do!!

Now I am on the look out for First Eucharist (Communion) dresses TIMES THREE!!!  Let the shopping begin!!

Ugh

Another harrowing day in the life of SuperMom.  Can you feel the sarcasm?  Rough day.  It started with a paycheck mishap that was taken care of, included a student taking a swing at me, a missed lunch break, grocery shopping, homework Hell, bedtime misery, and then finally calm. 

I want to take this moment right now and apologize to all the parents of students I ever taught for sending home busy work for homework.  We teachers are often required to send home work.  I used to send home busy work.  And for that I apologize.  Because now I am on the receiving end of said busy work. 

Brigid FLIES through it.  Half the time she gets it done before the other 3 even have their pencils out. 

Megan will complete hers without help as long as it isn't math.  If it's math that goodnight nurse.  Megan cries.  Megan whines.  Megan gets mad. 

Caroline needs a little pushing to get done.  She is so careful and detailed in her work that it takes her a bit longer to finish her homework.

And then there's Abby. 

My sweet Abby who sat at the table tonight and said, "I'm so mad I just want to break pencils!"  She goes through this flurry of activity that includes the above mentioned Megan actions.  By the time she finishes the performance, she has wasted more time than if she actually did the work. 

If I were back in a public school classroom I would push for no homework.  The teachers don't like to give it, the kids don't like to do it, and it drives the parents nuts.  I know there are schools across the country that are starting to push for the no homework plan.  Or at least homework that means something.  Writing spelling words 5 times each is busy work.  Seek and finds?  Busy work.

 Ugh. 

I already miss the summertime and those carefree evenings where all we had to decide is what should we do as a family for fun?  Isn't that what all families should be looking for in the evenings?  We've been apart at our jobs and school all day doing, for the most part things, we don't want to do.  Parents get off work and they are tired and stressed trying to squeeze in the time to make dinner, do laundry, cut grass, give baths, etc.  Add to that stressful evening the joys of trying to get kids to do work they don't want to do and it is just pure Hell.  I would rather spend that time with my girls sightseeing, doing physical activities, reading, being with friends.  You know the really important stuff.  (said without a hint of sarcasm)

So I want to reiterate.  Parents I am sorry.  I think I'll go write 100 sentences on the chalkboard. 

I will not give homework. I will not give homework...

My New Haircut

I like to change my hair quite often.  I love to change the color.  It's been every color under the sun.  Black, brown, red, blonde, pink, and orange.  The pink and orange were from an unfortunate coloring accident.  I had jet black hair with white highlights.  Call it my midlife crisis.  The roots were growing out and I decided to go back to blonde, my original color.  I bought the new color and began.  By the time I was done I had the most beautiful blonde hair.  On my roots.  The rest of my hair was in waves of color that went from blonde, to pink, to magenta, to orange to gray and finally to jet black.  $200 later and 6 HOURS in a salon chair and my hair was back to blonde.  I won't make that mistake again. 

This weekend I decided to get my hair cut.  Short.  It turned out really well but it needs to be a bit shorter.  I'm done with fooling with my hair for awhile.  I want to wash it and go.  Unfortunately I am rather a somewhat large girl.  So my body now reminds me of a peanut sitting on a watermelon.  Here's the cut:

It's not too bad.  I still want it shorter on top.

And because I hate having my picture taken and I was the only one at home to take my picture I now present you with the unfortunate attempts at getting a picture where I don't look like a total dork:

I also took a picture of Abigail and Brigid's three year old school pictures when they were at Mother of  Good Counsel:

This is Abigail.  I'm hoping this isn't a sign of things to come.  You know, mugshot and all.  Four years later and I still crack up everytime I see this picture.  Poor Abby.

And then there's Brigid.  I love the look on her face here.  I think it captures her stinkerness.  Brigid was a stinker at 3.  And at 4.  5 too.  And until she was 6 1/2.  Now, as Brigid puts it, she is pleasant.  Sometimes she is the only one being pleasant (her words too).  I just love this kid.

My run

I did it!  I did my first walk/run combo for 30 minutes and 1 mile and a half!!!!  I hurt everywhere!  I feel good though.  I realize that I need to keep going but I'm excited that I actually did my first one. 

Here's an image for you: 

I get to Seneca Park where everyone in Louisville decided to go and run this morning. Great.  Now I get to look foolish in front of people.  I started out with a brisk 5 minute walk.  So far so go.  Then I have to run for 60 seconds. I start.  Oh my hell was that rough!  All 180 lbs of me hurtling down the jogging path complete with wheezing and coughing.  Longest 60 secs. of my life.  Thank goodness I get to walk for 90 secs. before the next run. 

By the time I got to my third one I was saying out loud, "Oh my Lord."  I got a funny look from a guy who looks like he runs everywhere from his bed to the bathroom to the kitchen.  But I kept going. 

I even got a thumbs-up from two young guys!  Could be they were thrilled I hadn't passed out and they would have to do rescue breathing.

By the time I finished my thighs were throbbing and I had to pee.  The joys of a triplet/hysterectomy bladder. 

I had on a sports bra to keep the girls from bouncing everywhere.  My next thought is I woner if they make a sports holder for the triplet flap on my stomach.  That thing was bouncing so much I was afraid I was going to step on it while running.

 After the run I went into Walgreen's for the Sunday paper and then a quick drive through Starbucks for my earl grey tea latte.  Hey, a girl has to be rewarded for not having a heart attack right?

Because I love Megan

Megan has joined Girls on the Run at her school.   Here is the link:  http://www.girlsontherun.org/  and a description from their website: 

Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.


They are training for a 5K run in December.  Megan can have a running buddy.  We were trying to figure out who we knew that ran and would be willing to run with Megan when I came up with a brilliant idea (insert sarcasm here).  I could run with Megan!  So here I am, at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, putting my shoes on to go for my first walk/run.  The program I am following says  I can go from the couch to running in 9 weeks.  http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I've never really run in my whole life so this should be interesting.

Camp Rock 2 Party

Sometime back in June the girls and I saw a commercial for Camp Rock 2.  We saw that it was set to premiere on the Disney Channel on Sept. 3.  Brigid was sooo excited.  She has a Camp Rock comforter on her bed.  She loves Camp Rock.  She has the dolls from the movie.  So we decided to plan a premiere party.  The party was last night.  We had 16 kiddos here.  I bought snacks and drinks.  I found black plates, black and white polka dot napkins, and red and white napkins.  I put red tablecloths on the dining room and coffee tables.  I hung black balloons up inside and outside the house.  (black is a rock n'roll color my girls tell me).  At 7:55 all the kiddos came to the living room and sat down on the couches and chairs.  It was so much fun to see all these kids of various ages sitting together waiting for the movie to begin.  I think what I enjoyed most was how diverse the group was.  My friends Ali and Megan were the other adults in the house.  They sat with me and we talked, ate, and watched the movie and the kids.  By the time the movie was over I had kids all over the house and kids dancing on my living room coffee table.  Megan mentioned that it looked something like a frat party.  Table dancing, food on the floor, and at one point Brigid took her pants off to dance.  Katie showed up just as Ali was leaving so I had the chance to talk to her too.  I wish my camera hadn't died before I got to take lots of pictures.  I did get three so here they are:

The dining room with Caroline and Brigid who helped me set the table up

This was only a small part of the popcorn.  I ended up popping SIX bags for the kids.  At least two bags were on the floor in my living room when the party was over.  It might have had something to do with the popcorn fight the kids got into.

The gang's all here!!  What a blast!!!