A Magical Birthday Party for a Lovely Little Girl...

Well, if I say so myself, somebody had a most spectacular birthday bonanza!

I am still tired from the five year old ruckus.

Which is probably a good sign.

There were children, presents and juice boxes a plenty! Did I mention the magician who must specialize in preschoolers because wowza, did he have them wrapped around his rabbit hat. He brought tricks and glee, balloon animals and face painting for all to see!

And Miss E? Well, she was as entranced as could be.

And, somehow, the meltdowns were kept to a low roar as the dattacked Uncle Chicken Legs and swung from his body like a scene from Lord of the Flies, until he had to flee.

Come and see...

So, in short, I am thinking I am pretty darn SupaCool right now. Yeppers, I'm diggin' myself quite a bit in the afterglow of a well planned par-ty.

And I hope my not so little babe is too.

Hopefully this will make up for the notable lack of a 4 year old birthday party. Note to potential invitees - it is now official: there will be no 4 year old birthday party; we've moved on.

I plan on telling her that it was amazing, but all the pictures and video were destroyed in a horrible fire.

So, if she ever asks, it was fantabulous. You were there. So were circus clowns and an inflatable bouncy house. She had the bestest time eva (or at least until her 5th birthday party). You are still grateful you were invited, and you'll never forget it.

It's a CyberParty!

Hello my beloved Blogland,

Won't you join me in celebrating Lil' Miss E's one and only 5th birthday today? As far as I am concerned, it is one of the two best days in all of the world, and I hope the magic of today touches you as much as me and mine.

Five years ago today...exactly.


A mere Five weeks later she was already a star...


And this is who she has grown into.


I couldn't be prouder.


Not one bit.

Baby, this is for you.

I love you sweepie.

Fantastic Forecast for the Frugal: Freaky Friday is Still Free!

Spend less. Laugh more.

Feel better yet?

A Very Sheepish " Hey Now"...

So. It's been a while. Yessiree, indeed my last post featured the pumpkins of yesteryear's holidays.

Obviously, I have the attention span of a fruit fly. Maybe I should turn the blogging over the little Miss E; she is far more focused than her older and less wise mama.

But, as always, go forward basis...

The kidlets are a ruckus and, as always, life has a pace that is difficult to keep up with. The clock marches on with absolutely no regard for my wants and needs; self centered Father Time that he is. Except when it is -22 degrees out. Then his butt is slow as molasses...if only my typing fingers could thaw enough to get down to blogging bidness.

We are nearing the Kindergarten enrollment deadline for Miss E, which has left us in a bit of a pickle deciding what is the best placement for my girl of a thousand giggles. We are throwing around the idea of having her repeat preschool, an idea that the district doesn't support at all, but, which after countless emails, arguments, and official type meetings, we have gotten her team to stand solidly behind us. We have struggled with her placement as our district refuses to offer a full inclusion program so we are now drinking from every glass we can find, and have been pleasantly surprised and completely gratified to turn around and find her team standing next to us in complete support for all of our choices. The deadline creeps ever forward and on February 28, our placement cards must be in.

As of today we have applied for a full inclusion charter school, have a card in reserving another year of preschool (much to the chagrin of the Early Childhood Special Education budget) in her current classroom, and are deciding which public school to submit on our final card.

We will see where the cards fall...

In my quest to secure the best possible education for Miss E, I have been appointed to the Special Education Advisory Council for our district, which is a parent advocacy group comprised of parents and special education staff. At my first meeting I was able to whine extensively at the director of Special Education who handles a student population of over 8,000 students, and wowza, did that feel good.

Gabers is into everything and has turned into quite the Chatty Kathy. Of course he sounds a bit like the Kathy who overstayed her welcome at happy hour, but every day I understand more of what he is telling me. Maybe if I start drinking in the evenings, I'll understand it all. Thank the gods he is, as is Emma, patient with us, and isn't hurting us to much for saying "What? Your what hurts? You want to be an airplane? Oh, Elmo. Okay."

If only there was a sign for Elmo...

Scratch that. I grow to hate Elmo. And his world.

Except we did go to Sesame Street Live with the preschool posse again this year, and as always, it was wonderful. The production was an 8 on the tree hugging scale and included a techno song and dance about moving trash. Gotta love it!

And where is Miss E you might wonder? Why she was doing her best Lord of the Flies impression and forced Pinko Grammy into an impromptu game of "Get Away".

It was Gabe's first SSL, and he vibrated the entire time. When he wasn't begging people for food.

"Is that pizza? Can I have some? I've never eaten before and my mommy keeps me locked in the basement. Without pizza."

This one pretty much says it all, no?

And, as this was what my weekend was all about, I'll leave you fine Blogland, with this image (which is now burned into my head and starting to give me anxiety attacks).

Taken via my new fancy pants touch screen yet oh so free phone!

So my dear friend, B, your friendly reminder was received and noted.

I'm back.

How do you like me now?

Finding Our Great Pumpkin

This weekend marked The Fantastic Four's second annual pumpkin patch and apple orchard extravaganza. In the midst of the swarming bees, crabby cries, and plentiful hay, fun was had by all. Even though some mommies are thinking about bringing a hip flask next year to help dull the pain of the infamous "my child is havinga melt down" embarrassment. Of course that wouldn't be me. Nope. Not ever. I love it when my children scream at me.

But I digress. I know, you are shocked...

Country life at four dollars a pop.

Searching for the Great Pumpkin

Group photograph.

Yes, this is seriously the best I could do.

See how all four heads are pictured?

Yay me!

Hayride

And finish with my two hour meandering escape back to our urban abode. We only made it back thanks to Pinko Grammy's cell phone, quick mapping skills, and ability to not panic while her very adult (legally at least) daughter threw a temper tantrum that would make Gabe the Babe proud.

Thanks PG. When in doubt know that I am always striving for a kinder, gentler me, but next year, you are so coming with.

Freaky Friday Gets Schooled

And not very well might I add.

Clicky click to reveal all its' glory...

And again, Clicky click to supersize. It's worth it. trust me.

But, it gets better.

Seriously.

It's first period and where are your children today?

Hopefully not in Albuquerque.

The following is a partial list of actual written excuses given to
teachers in the Albuquerque Public School System by parents:

Please excuse Dianne from being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.

Please excuse Johnnie for being. It was his father's fault.

Chris will not be in school because he has an acre in his side.

John has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face.

Excuse Gloria. She has been under the doctor.

Lillie was absent from school yesterday because she had a going over.

My son is under the doctor's care and should not take fizical ed. Please execute him.

Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hit in the growing part.

Please excuse Joyce from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday she fell off a tree and misplaced her hip.

Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

Please excuse Blanche from jim today. She is administrating.

Ralph was absent yesterday because he had a sore trout.

Please excuse Sara for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.

Please excuse Lupe. She is having problems with her ovals.

Please excuse Pedro from being absent yesterday. He had diah(*crossed out*), diahoah(*crossed out*), dyah(*crossed out*) the sh**ts

Methinks the Albuquerque Public School System may have a slightly larger problem than just truancy if they believe these notes were written by the hand of a parent.

Giggle.

Getting it Down: 31 for 21

As always I'm the last belle to arrive at the ball, but I've brought my dancing shoes and am planning on Getting it Down for the next 24 days. We'll just have to see how that goes for me, my lil' toes o' weariness, and my toddler sized attention span. But, I do purport to have the highest of aspirations.

For those of you that are also late bloomers (gotta love my sistas), this is the second annual 31 for 21 challenge hosted by Tricia at Unringing the Bell. She is providing all of us challenge takers inspiration, support, and a shiny new button! Who doesn't want a shiny new button?

So Blogland, let's Get it Down!

Note to Self - that means you.

WonderShoes

Lil' Miss E has laced up her ballet shoes for her second round of dance class and, as of yet, is thrilled to be back in the studio. It has been more than a year since her last session, one of fun filled wileyness and mirror inspired antics, but one that wasn't as group centered as some mothers would have prefered. And by some mothers, I mean this one.

Two classes in and it appears as though she is definitely making an effort to use her listening ears and stay with the group. Or so she says...

And, for me, cuteness overload has begun again.

The Sun Shines Again...

The Fool wakes at dawn from his long, restless night to find that the wild river has, at last, come to an end, quietly floating him into a serene pool. There is a walled garden around this pond dominated by roses, lilies and splendid, nodding sunflowers. Stepping ashore, he watches the Sun rise overhead, bright and golden. The day is clear. A child's laughter attracts his attention and he sees a little boy ride a small white pony into the garden.

"Come!" says the little boy, leaping off the horse and running up to him. "Come see!" And the child proceeds to take the Fool's hand and enthusiastically point out all manner of things, the busy insects in the grass, the seeds and petals on the sunflowers, the way the light sparkles on the pond. He asks questions of the Fool, simple but profound ones, like "Why is the sky blue?" He sings songs, and plays games with the Fool.

At one point the Fool stops, blinking up at the Sun so large and golden overhead, and he finds himself smiling, wider and brighter than he has in a very long time. Since he started on this spiritual journey, he has been tested and tried, confused and scared, dismayed and amazed. But this is the first time that he has been simply and purely happy. His mind feels illuminated, his soul light and bright as a sunbeam. Like the great Sun itself, this child with his simple questions, games and songs, has helped the Fool see the world and himself anew, to wonder at and appreciate both. "Who are you?" the Fool asks the child at last. The child smiles at this and seems to shine. And then he grows brighter and brighter until he turns into pure sunlight. "I'm You," the boy's voice says throughout the garden, "The new you." And as the words fill the Fool with warmth and energy, he comes to realize that this garden, the sun above, the child, all exist within him. He has just met his own inner light.

- From The Aeclectic Tarot

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you that reached out to comfort me while the clouds gathered in my head. The ensuing days have all been so much brighter and all of your voices were part of the warming light I so needed to feel.

Miss E is walking better of late and while my visions of a full dance card at the feet of "the specialists" appears to be true, it is only because the powers that be cannot find anything wrong. Methinks this is undoubtedly good.

My WonderBabe still speaks a language I often don't understand, but she is speaking. To me. And every word I do get is a victory; every sign a triumph. As the clock ticks away it is I who has to stop listening to its arbitrary noise so I can hear more of my daughter's burgeoning voice.

I learn slowly, for sure, but I am not unteachable.

Emma has faith in me - I just know it.

And thank you for knowing it too.