Tough Choice

Well, we got the call we never thought we would...Yinghua Academy had a spot open for Ethan. Such a tough choice. So many benefits to knowing a second language fluently and Chinese at that?? Sounds incredible. But the IB program at Earle Brown is also a benefit and hopefully one the boys will continue after Earle Brown to assist with college. In the end our worries about how Ethan would do with all of his questions in an environment where he wouldn't know how to articulate them concerned us. That coupled with the thoughts of where we would move if we are ever able to sell the townhouse...probably not to the Yinghua neighborhood, but instead to one that more likely had an IB school nearby...that won us over. Plus I can honestly say that the Earle Brown Administration, faculty, building were all head and shoulders above the other schools we have visited. I'm excited to get in there and get Kindergarten started. It's a scary thought, but it's also exciting that we'll start a new chapter of having school-age kids. While we've had some tough choices already...what daycare to choose, when to move them to a big boy bed, when to start potty training, when to take off the training wheels...this was another tough choice and there will be many many more to come.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami 2011

The video and pictures from the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan are so surreal. I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like to be there and be in that madness and all of the chaos that will follow in the aftermath. My heart goes out to all of the families that have lost loved ones. It makes you feel so helpless sitting in the comfort of your own home while you're watching people suffer on the other side of the world. There was nothing they did or could have done to prevent this. There was no war that caused this. There was no way to predict it. It seems so unfair and I just hope that somehow in some way they get some sort of comfort in the coming weeks, months, years. I don't know how this would happen either. I just wish there was some way to help and know that whatever we are doing (be it giving money or whatever else) know that it was actually helping. My heart and prayers go out to all of the communities in Japan, Hawaii, and on the West Coast that have been affected in this incredible disaster.

Drama

There is quite a bit of angst, bitterness, and drama going on at work these days. Most of it stems from a recent announcement that they are consolidating our office space. This means those of us on the third floor are being forced to pack up and move to the fourth floor. There have been quite a bit of negotiations between our local team and the team behind this consolidation. Some of it has resulted in good things, but not all of it. I think most of the drama though is from the change. People don't like change. People don't particularly like the unknown. Most of these co-workers of mine have been there for 10+ years on that floor and to go to a new floor, with a new seating layout, with a new office concept....it's a lot to take in for everyone. Going from having your own comfortable place with pictures of your kids, magnets from a recent trip, awards you've earned to lugging your PC with you every day and looking at a blank, stark desk...that's a lot to take in as well. Part of me is looking forward to the change, but I could do without the drama that is coming with it in the weeks prior to the move. But until then it's just live with it, enjoy having a spot of my own, and not caring until March 24th arrives...then enjoy the change and hope the drama subsides.

Reality Show Junkie

So I've figured out that I'm somewhat of a realty TV show junkie. I watch most of them that are on network TV. Thank GOODNESS we do not have cable! :)

Last night Celebrity Apprentice started. I don't know why I watch it, but I think it's great to see these celebrities compete and fight and do manual work!

I'm a huge fan of Biggest Loser. That show makes me crave snacks every time it is on. I think it is a secret desire to get on the show (although I sure hope that would NEVER be possible). I just want to try the workout sometime.

LOVE Survivor! This season bringing back Rob & Russell totally makes it worth it for me. I love watching the show, reading the tweets during the show, and Jeff Probst's blog afterwards. I know I would never make it on that show, but I do think having some sort of "theme" park type deal with all of the challenges (although a huge insurance liability) would be so fun!

AMAZING RACE....my dream show. I would love to do this show. I don't know who I'd partner with or how I'd really do, but this is another one I love to watch and this season's 2nd chances is very cool to watch.

Big Brother might be my favorite. I'm not sure why if it's just because they are trapped in the house or what. But it makes for some good TV. This one I would never do either. I think I'd be awful and I'd miss my boys and Jay too much, but it would kind of be fun to try.

American Idol is another one we watch. I love saying "THIS" and Aidan will say "is American Idol". He'd be a great Ryan Seacrest someday. I enjoy the first few episodes where they show the bad ones and Jay can't stand them. Once they get to the middle ones, it's too stressful for me to watch without fast forwarding through it. But once it gets to the top 10 or so it gets better again.

Wipeout is a family favorite. We all enjoy watching it together. It's the one Jay would pick to be on if he could. The boys say he can't because they don't want him to get hurt or dirty, but it would be fun to watch him try.

We've watched Dating in the Dark, Beauty & the Geek, I survived a Japanese Gameshow...you name it and besides the Bachelor franchise...if it was on major network TV we've probably watched it. There's just something about watching these usually "regular" people being put in these different situations. It's all good. We watch too much TV, but it's entertaining!

Sick kids

The hardest part about being a mom...having sick kids. OK, I think worrying is the hardest part, but when they are sick the worried flags just fly that much higher. Today I was planning on working from home. Just wanted a break from the hum drum of the office and the chance to get a few things done that have been sitting on my plate for awhile. I knew it would be a light day, so when Aidan came down with a fever last night, I knew he'd be joining me in my work from home day. So many things run through my mind and admittedly a lot of times it is "Please don't throw up". It is amazing to me that with all of the things going around daycare that we don't have more stay at home/sick kid days, but thankfully, we don't. Or diseases....what are the chances you have one healthy baby, let alone two? Seems like these days it's insanely low that you are illness free. So, of course, when I have one of them at home with me, my mind wanders and worries about every little thing out there...what if this and what if that. Last month I was home with Ethan for a day. He was fine, but since his scare of dehydration and kidney issues last year....we worry even more. I'd almost hate to say it, but I would take stitches over unknown illnesses. At least you go there, get it numbed, stitched, and you can go home. We are truly blessed with these two boys and I know as they grow older and start going off to "big boy" school (as we call it) that it will get better. Hopefully they aren't arm in arm wrestling or slobbering/sneezing over toys in elementary school. But I also know the worry will never go away. Ethan's 1 year kidney follow up is now scheduled for May 26th. So that's another thing to worry about. UGH! Thankfully, Aidan's perking up and the Advil kept his fever away for most of the day. His ears are fine, his throat is fine, and minute clinic thought it was something viral. We'll keep him home another day and I'll stay home with him, but the worry won't stop. I guess it never will. I hear parents at work that still worry about their kids and I hear my mom still worrying about me. But I will feel better when this sickness has gone away.

Happy Meal

Well.....Ethan is now 5 and almost 1 month old. Aidan is 3 years and 8 months old and today they were both introduced to the Happy Meal. I'd done so well up until now not cluing them into the magical and mysterious Happy Meal. What kind of prize did I get? When can I open the box and look inside? Do I have the same toy at home? This past week I'd gotten Aidan one, but taken the prize out before he got the box, but then later Ethan found the Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 vehicle in my purse. Of course it was Hot Wheels so it was AMAZING to them and they wanted more. So tonight, I prefaced it with the announcement that they had to eat the meal (their choice of hamburger, cheeseburger, or chicken nuggets) if we went to McDonald's. Plus the enticement of a shamrock shake, it was not hard to get Mama to go through the drive through. YUM. Now I've tasted the sweet goodness of a Shamrock shake for the season. Luckily (to all of us) too the Happy Meals arrived with a different car than the one we received earlier this week. Even better....they both got different ones tonight. Now I'm hoping to convince them that they no longer have Hot Wheels in the Happy Meals going forward. We'll see if we can get off with only buying 3 Happy Meals EVER! :)

Singing in the car

The boys & I love singing in the car. I've ALWAYS loved singing in the car and I've been anxious to get them singing from the beginning. I would buy children's music CDs and we would listen to them over and over until I was so tired of "I've been working on the railroad" that I couldn't stand it. I just kept reminding myself of the story my mom would tell of me singing the Grease soundtrack at 3 & 4 years old. I kept wanting them to want to sing in the car as much I like to do it. I think Ethan was around 3 or 4 when he started belting out "Life is a Highway" from the movie "Cars". We now take turns with the iPod. When it's your turn you get to make a pick. We kind of go through phases. They love Adele singing "Chasing Pavements" which just happened to download on my iPod without my knowing, but oh well...it's been well worth the "free" price tag. The like some that I downloaded because I love Hip Hop class, so "Right Round" "Mercy" "Boom Boom Pow" are also favorites. One long lasting one that's been a pick for a while is one of my favorites by Kenny Chesney "Way down here". But I have to say if they are singing a soundtrack (like i did to Grease), I'd have to say that "Never Say Never" by Justin Bieber is the new winner. I took them to the movie on a whim because I wanted to hear the background story on this up & coming kid. I was impressed with how hard he's had to work to where he's gotten and how he would like to be a normal kid (even though everyone knows he's given up normal for fame). Needless to say we've been listening to a few of Justin Bieber's songs ever since we saw the movie. And I love watching them dancing in the backseat. I'm so glad they are interested in singing (however badly they happen to sing) in the car!