Bikinis and Underwear

Several days ago the three of us are saying good-bye to our good friends who are backing out of our driveway to head home.  Hubby skips on over to the mailbox to retrieve our mail.  Munch is in my arms waving wildly to her buddy, Alex, as he drives away with his daddy.  Hubby then skims through the various postal pieces and suddenly pauses at the Victoria Secret holiday catalog clutched in his hands.  We chuckle at how the catalog is addressed to him as hubby flips through the pages.  Then, unexpectedly, Munch squirms out of my arms, lands on her feet, snatches the catalog out of Hubby's hands and races back into the house all the while exclaiming that she wants that "book." Hubs and I look at each other in momentary disbelief, snicker loudly then head on in also.   A block of time elapses and Munch is still quiet and presumably in her room.  I stick my head in expecting to see Munch engaged in some play activity.  What I saw equally shocked and amused me.  The scenario has Munch kneeling against her bed slowly and meticulously turning each and every page of the VS catalog that she placed on top of her mattress.  So engrossed she was with the glamourous content, she didn't even notice my intruding head by her doorway.  I report back to Hubs of this peculiar incident.  We both have a good laugh and think no more of it.  Day 2---we catch Munch AGAIN quietly perusing the catalog then daintily placing the revered booklet on her shelf where she keeps all things loved and cherished.  Still Hubs and I keep quiet. Day 3---I am working on the computer as Munch sashays in with the catalog in her tiny hands.  She parks herself beside my chair, opens the catalog to the shoe section (yes, people, I didn't know this but VS actually sells shoes among other things).  "Mommy which shoes do you like the best?"  I point to a pair of brown flat boots.  "Those are nice, Mommy.  Do you know which pair Vovo Lydia likes?"  I shake my head prompting an all-knowing smile from Gi.  "She likes these, Mommy."  Munch then points to a pair of stilleto heeled thigh high boots in turquois suede.  Really?  Would my 80 year old MIL actually select such a pair of shoes?  And why is my daughter whipping out the catalog to share with various family members without Hubs and I even noticing such as act?  No longer able to contain my curosity I ask Munch why she likes the booklet so much.  "Cause, Mommy, I love bikinis and underwear and and and this book has lots of bikinis and underwear."  Why, of course! Bikinis and underwear.  Why didn't I see the logic in this (not)?  Munch rushes out of the room and comes back several minutes later wearing considerably less clothes.  She has now donned a mismatched bikini set.  Extending her arms out to the sides and bending one knee, Munch proclaims---"See, Mommy,  I love bikinis and underwear!"

Priorities

Wednesday nights have become girls night for Munch and I.  Daddy plays basketball with his co-workers then heads over to Vovo Lydia to have dinner with her.  So Munch and I are left to do our mommy-daughter thing once a week.   This past Wednesday night, Gi and I are munching on our mac-n-cheese and shooting the breeze about school.  I ask her what is her favorite thing to do there.

Hey, tell Mommy what's your favorite thing to do in class.

Ah, Mommy, I like eating lunch with all my friends.

Uh, ok, well what is your next favorite thing?

Going out to the park (Gi-ism for playground).

Oh really.  Ok, what is your next favorite thing to do other than lunch and playground time?

Hmmm, I like going home with you, Mommy.  Oh and I like math and science too.

Whew!  I breathed a big sigh of relief when Munch finally mentioned an academic subject.  Here I am thinking my daughter will list her favorite subject matters like reading, math, computers, etc.  But noooo she gives me lunch, playground, and going home.  In that order.  Really???  Doesn't she know that she is the daughter of a teacher?   Oh such priorities five year olds have!

Happy Thanksgiving

Ok, how goofy is my daughter???  Only in south Florida can you throw on a bathing suit and play in the spa before the big Thanksgiving dinner.

another try at a family shot

There is nothing like a deep fried turkey that has been sitting in an apple cider brine for two days.  The Barefoot Contessa's spicy sausage dressing is delish.

Many thanks to Auntie Jessie for the yummy pies.  Vovo Lydia brought over decadent brigadeiros. 

October Already???

Gosh, is it really the end of October already?  Halloween is just around the corner.   A lot has happened since my last check-in.   My dear father-in-law suffered a stroke back in late September and is still under daily medical care.  He is making progress.  I have no doubt that he will get back to his baseline and continue to dish out his special brand of Portuguese stubborness for years to come.  Speedy recovery, Vovo Joe Joe!

Gon Gon is under house arrest DeOliveira style.  He is under our care and supervision while Poh Poh lives it up for a month in Macau.  While Gon Gon spends his days with us, Poh Poh is enjoying her extended visit with her mom and family in the gambling capital of the East.  Wishing Poh Poh safe return to us in mid November.

As for Munch, she is officially 32 lbs and 39 3/4 inches.  Whew, finally on the charts at 19th percentile!  She's girlie as ever and still sporting her favorite accessory---sassiness.  At the ripe old age of five, Munch now needs to wear glasses for classroom activities due to a little bit of astigmatism.  No worries though.  She loves her Barbie glasses - one in pink and one in teal blue.

Hubs is great although a bit on the tired side what with worrying about his dad for the last several weeks. On the up side, Vovo Lydia is driving again after many years of being driven around. After two refresher courses with a professional instructor, Vovo Lydia is out and about in her red Jetta. She drives to the rehab center everyday to keep my FIL company. Vroom, vroom, Vovo Lydia, we are so proud of you!

bratty witch of the East

getting ready to go trick-a-treating in downtown Delray Beach

my little Einstein

getting ready for the walkathon at her school

enjoying some Italian ice after the walkathon

class pic on walkathon day

It's My Birthday...

Have you ever heard this come out of a grown man's mouth consistently for four days straight?  If you have you are likely bobbing your head up and down sympathizing with me right now.  If you haven't you are cautiously not married or are lucky enough to have snatched yourself a modest sensible spouse.  Hubby started his birthday weekend this past Thursday (the actual date of his birthday) by taking some time off from work.  And like an out-of-control runaway train, Hubby worked his birthday to his advantage.

Ana, it's my birthday.  Do I have to finish the dishes tonight?

It's my birthday.  Can you make me some tea?  My throat hurts.

I need to sleep in.  Please don't wake me up early cause it's my birthday.

Ooo, ooo rub my back please... it's my birthday.

Can we have steak tonight?  It's birthday weekend after all.

Honey, give Gi a bath tonight please please.  You can do it this one time since it's my birthday.

Gi, it's Daddy's birthday...go get me a beer from the fridge, ok?

This morning, Munch wakes up and sleepily asks me if birthday weekend is over.  With great relief I let her know that her daddy is back to his regularly scheduled programming.  One year older and decidedly just as annoying but we love you to pieces, Daddy-O. 

Me Time

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not complaining.  I feel very blessed to have been a stay-at-home mom to Munch for the past few years.  I've watched her grow and blossom from a front row seat.  I have Hubby to thank for that.  Being a SAH mom is a job best appreciated only after many years of trials and tribulations.  I fall into that imperfect catagory.  I started out feeling overwhelmed and vociferous about the lack of time for myself.  I conveniently took it out on Hubby who was probably just as if not more overwhelmed and underprepared than me as a parent.  Me-time for me has now taken a definitively different turn.  For example, me-time can be found in mowing the lawn in 98 degree weather.  Really which family member is actually going to leave the inside of an air conditioned home to come out and demand quality time with you?  No one!  Not Hubby not Munch.  Go to your dental appointment with glee.  That's right, you read correctly.  No one, no matter how much they love you and require your attention, will want to make this office visit with you.  So enjoy your often sporadic adult interaction with your hygenist and dentist.  They are such good listeners and exhibit just the right amount of empathy.  For an hour, you get to sprawl out on a comfy dental chair and listen to new age music as another adult chats with you and cleans your teeth.  Have a long list of grocery items to get?  Selflessly offer to take on this tedious task by yourself.  Hubby won't be any wiser to your covert strategy to gain more me-time at your local supermarket.  He will think he won the honey-do-list lottery and will gladly stay home with the baby.  Go down every aisle and look at every clearance item.  No hurry no worry.  After about 2 hours of "shopping" you can safely head home ready with some stories of how the deli line was so long or how few cash registers were open.  You see that elusive me-time is there.  I just have to recognize it and work it to my advantage.

First Day of Kindergarten

Hubs and I couldn't be more proud of Munch!  No crying, clinging or hesitation as we left Gi to her first day of kindergarten yesterday. 

Fresh Mountain Air Does a Body Good

attempting to fish in Lake Keowee

3Ds in Issa Queena Falls

Munch decorating her own birthday cupcake at the cabin

presenting waterfall Buddha

at Stumphouse Tunnel---the tunnel that goes nowhere

celebrating Gi's 5th bday at the cabin

beautiful Falls Park in Greenville

down at the lake riding on top of a giant piece of driftwood

sharing a strawberry shake on our way down to Brunswick

another celebration of Gi's bday in an Italian restaurant in Brunswick

looking up at the cabin

first and only fish that hubby caught

big thanks to Uncle Mark and Auntie Sara for having us

Gi going down to the dock from the cabin

first family dinner at the cabin

Gi entertaining herself at a local Savannah hospital while Vovo is being checked out by the ER doc

pitstop for lunch on our way up to Savannah

fishing and relaxation

What does a trip to the ER, a volcanic spousal meltdown in a Walmart parking lot and a chilly waterfall splash all have in common?  Our family road trip to the moutains of South Carolina that's what.  We survived and we had a fab time despite all the ups and downs of family travels.

No Negotiations



Auntie Sara turned this polo into a dress by adding a skirt with a cute white trim.



Auntie Sara did the same thing here with a matching fringe.  Big thanks to our favorite auntie.

Don't worry, ladies and gentlemen, I am not about to launch into a discourse about the nation's debt ceiling.  I'm talking about school dress code and uniforms, people! That's right!   I'm talking about a more harmonious start to mornings come August 22nd.  I'm talking about lower blood pressure for middle age moms like myself.    I'm talking about less laundry and more money in my mostly empty pocket.  People, people, people, I'm just giddy with delight!  Come the end of this month, my fashionista Munch will march off to kindergarten to a school that has and will enforce a dress code.  Ahhhh, the smell of victory is sweet even if it is at the expense of my daughter.  I will no longer have to neogotiate, plead or demand what is appropriate to wear to school.  My little Munch will have exactly five choices to select from no more no less.  Uniforms, I love you.  You make my life simpler.  You are the great equalizer between aged mom and fiesty, stubborn five year old. 

Summer Fun 2011

Daddy and Munch

Poh Poh and Gi

Mommy and baby

Vovos and Gi

backyard pose



swimming with Uncle Mark



vovos in their condo

3Ds at the vovos

girls night with Shayla and Kayla

another great family dinner

Oh boy, it's been awhile since I've checked in with news.  The vovos are settling in nicely in their Delray condo.  Gi is finishing up summer camp next week and enjoying her daily visits with Uncle Mark and Auntie Sara.  Hubby is working hard and enjoying his parents' permanent transition to south Florida.  And I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that Munch will be starting kindergarten come this August. Looking forward to a road trip to South Carolina with hubby and baby.  Life is moving along in the D household.  I'm grateful and feel blessed.  A big smooshy kiss to Auntie Sara for another round of great photos.

3 Moms

singing happy birthday to Auntie Jessie

nice to have everyone under one roof for mother's day celebration

going to mother's day tea at the preschool with my two favorite girls



Gi and her two favorite teachers at mother's day tea

 Finally all three moms can celebrate under one roof---my mom, my mother-in-law and me!  It was an extra special mother's day for us as my mother-in-law, Vovo Lydia, is finally close by and was able to join in the festivities.  We also got to celebrate, good friend, Auntie Jessie's birthday.  We had a great day and are very thankful for all that we have.