Category Archives: observations

Inauguration Dresses

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When I studied American History when I was younger I could have cared less about battles, policies, or explorers. Instead I loved to learn about the social history or culture- homes, entertainment, and clothing.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to view the First Lady’s Inauguaration Dresses at the National Museum of American History in D.C. I enjoyed this exhibit immensely and hope to take Caroline one day.

Seeing as today is Barack Obama’s inauguration I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the dresses the first ladies have worn to the occasion.

Mary Todd Lincoln, 1861

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I have to be honest and say this is not my favorite look because it seems over the top even for that time.

Add 100 years and then we have…

Lady Bird Johnson, 1965

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Looks like Lady Bird tackled a bear before coming to the inauguration.

Pat Nixon, 1969

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The picture actually doesn’t show how bright this yellow was – I’m talking vibrant yellow – Might have been better in white or a pale blue.

Rosalynn Carter, 1977

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Ummmm….no.

Nancy Reagan, 1981

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I like the dress but thought Mrs. Reagan was a little old to wear it the one shoulder number.

Hilary Clinton, 1993

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Hilary Clinton, wearing an unknown designer, was slammed for this dress. I think it could have been better without the flowy bits on the bottom half.

Michelle Obama, 2009

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This dress, designed by Jason Wu, received positive reviews, and gets two thumbs up from me.

picture source

Can’t wait to see what Mrs. Obama wears tonight!

Taking Pictures with Only One Child

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People with only one child do not understand.

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Just think how easy it must be for them to get a Christmas card photo.

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There’s never anyone touching or bothering someone in the picture.

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No one has suddenly sprouted bunny ears in the picture.

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There’s no arguing about everyone facing the same direction.

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But then again, I could be wrong.

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 Happy Weekend Everyone!

Disney Fun

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Well, that was quite a long break for me but one that was quite necessary.

You see, we had the holidays, then we went to DISNEY, and then my middle child got the flu.

Yep, even though he received the flu shot in October, he got the flu.

Apparently the flu shot covers three out of four types of the flu.

Well, he got the 4th one sometime while we were at Disney.

Mickey Mouse, roller coasters, and the flu.

Thankfully, he only missed the last day of fun and he felt so bad he didn’t care that he missed going on rides.

Here are just a few shots from our trip:

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Only rained one day

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Animation Class

Fun Fact: I won the teacher’s artwork by answering the following trivia question:

Name one of Mickey Mouse’s nephews... answer at the end

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Yes, we spent $45 on face painting on this trip but it was completely worth it

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Me: Let’s all three of us ride together

Alex & Caroline: No

Me: Please can we all ride together

Alex & Caroline: No

Result: Loser Mom is riding the Dumbo ride all by herself and trying not to look anyone in the eye

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Little girl souvenir haul: one princess nightgown, one cheetah, one princess bank

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Oh, and one princess hat

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And in case you were wondering, Mickey Mouse has two nephews, Morty and Fergie.

Years of reading Disney storybooks finally paid off.

Hope your holidays were wonderful!

Baby Jesus

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Caroline’s teacher told me she had the following conversation with Caroline last week.

Teacher: “OK class,we have all the parts to make Baby Jesus in front of us.”

Caroline- “That’s not Baby Jesus.”

Teacher – “Well who is it then?”

Caroline – “That’s Charlie Brown.”

Teacher – “You know Caroline, I think you’re right.”

Remember Newtown

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Really there are no words.

Just shock, horror, fear, anger, sadness.

Someone lost their oldest child.

Someone lost their youngest child.

Someone lost their only child.

20 little kids just starting out.

6 educators trying to save those kids.

Go hug your kids and tell them that you will love them forever and ever.

Go thank an educator who watches over your children everyday.

And don’t forget.

Ever.

Remember Charlotte.

Remember Daniel.

Remember Rachel.

Remember Olivia.

Remember Josephine.

Remember Dylan.

Remember Dawn

Remember Madeleine.

Remember Catherine.

Remember Chase.

Remember Nancy.

Remember Jesse.

Remember Ana.

Remember James.

Remember Grace.

Remember Anne Marie.

Remember Emilie.

Remember Jack.

Remember Noah.

Remember Caroline.

Remember Jessica.

Remember Avielle.

Remember Lauren.

Remember Mary.

Remember Victoria.

Remember Benjamin.

Remember Allison.

Remember this tragedy when people say we don’t need gun reform.

Remember this tragedy when officials talk about cutting funds for the mentally ill.

Remember.

Mr. T Preschool

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I was driving Caroline to school the other day when she said, “Faith and Ava were touching my nap mat during quiet time.”

I said, “What did you do about that?”

Caroline said, “I told the teacher.”

“And what did the teacher say about that?”

“She said, Stop touching that nap mat you fools!”

I sat there for a moment driving.

“Caroline, I don’t think your teacher said that.”

“She did.”

I’ve never heard anyone at our house say those words so I’m guessing she picked them up during a Scooby Doo episode.

Once  we got to school I told the teacher what Caroline had said. I told her I knew she hadn’t said it, I just thought it was funny.

The teacher laughed along with some of the other parents standing there.

As I walked away I started to smile and chuckle and the thought of a teacher saying, “Stop touching that nap mat you fools!”

Maybe this is a new education movement I’m unaware of.

“The answer is 8 you fools!”

“We never use pen during math you fools!”

“You always turn in your homework on Friday fools!”

I’m thinking of getting Caroline’s teacher some gold medallions to help bring her to the forefront of this movement.

Believe

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I think this will be the last year my oldest will believe.

In fact, he may not even get to the 25th but I’m crossing my fingers.

Now, we haven’t completely sheltered our kids – they’ve known sadness, been aware of world events, and been a part of serious dinner conversations.

It’s just that, to believe, is so magical and child like. Once he stops believing, he’ll be so much more grown up than he was just moments before.

He can rattle off the names of Civil War battles, go into detailed plane descriptions, and listen to eight straight hours of football coverage.

But he still believes.

When I hear him discussing reindeer characteristics and sleigh routes with his brother I smile.

So I think we may go see the Christmas movie before it hits the dollar show in March and buy the extra large gingerbread house to work on as a family.

And hopefully we’ll get through this last season with everyone believing.

Holiday Eating

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I just ate 2 pounds of toffee in the last day and a half,

proving that buying desserts at Costco should be outlawed.

Fortunately, those calories have been completely negated

as I drank skim milk with said toffee

thus insuring I have successfully maintained my “eat reasonable through the holidays” goal.

I’ve Got the Power

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By the time you read this I just might be a millionaire.

I mean a gazillionaire!

Yep. You guessed it.

I fell into the Powerball craze.

 

 

 

 

The jackpot is currently at $500 million and it’s going to be MINE, ALL MINE!

Well, except for the part where I give a lot to charity but really most of it’s MINE!

Oh, and maybe my husbands’ too.

When we discussed going to buy a lottery ticket he said, “Sure. Go buy one.”

Which of course meant, “Buy five. It will increase our odds greatly and we will become kazillionaires. There’s a 10 in my wallet.”

I obliged and bought the tickets.

Of course, I brought along my two oldest children because this was an important life experience.

Yep, taking them down the dark and dirty road of gambling.

As we were walking into the store, Andrew said, “Let’s buy a mansion if we win.”

(I’m sure he totally meant, let’s buy a house for someone else…yadda …yadda…yaddda)

At that, Alex, my oldest, said, “Andrew, we’re not going to buy a new house. Mom and Dad just refinanced the house and that was a lot of paperwork. They aren’t going to want to do that again. You have to think of something different you want.”

Practical. That will be good when we are BAZILLIONAIRES!

So, if I don’t post tomorrow I’m probably in Tahitit in the celebrity suite at the finest hotel there having a massage (contemplating how I will help the less fortunate, obviously).

Oh. And if you win? I’m totally your best friend, right?