Reason #476 why my family kicks a$$

I have the best family in the world. From my awesome biological family, to the great family I gained by marriage, to the friends who I consider family and who are probably ahead of me in any will.  :) I get a message today from my cousin (she is my dad's cousin, so I guess my second-cousin...regardless, she is my cousin) that she will be only a few hours from where we live come November.  She lives in New York where 99% of my dad's family still resides.  I have already been blessed to have my cousin Jaimie, her hubby, and her awesome kids come to town this past spring break from NY---and  yes, I miss them SO much! Well, now, Samantha (yes, my child and my cousin share the name) will be in Atlanta.  I am planning my trip with my crew to go spend time with her.  She is a pretty kick-ass chick...again, she is MY cousin and well, the Ponzillos are just that- AWESOME! ;)  Get this, she will be in the ATL for a roller-derby championship tournament (ok, I hope I didnt botch that...could be playoffs, death match, well, you name it...those chicks are rad so I do not want to offend with my lack of derby-terminology) and I think it will be beyond fascinating to see it in action.  Samantha (cousin) had a derby shirt made for Caroline a while back that reads 'Funky Monkey' as that is her roller-derby given nickname by my roller-derby cousin.  Well, get this---little Samantha got her name today.  Are you ready? Drumroll..... Sammy Davis Brusier.

I am in LOVE with this and come November, this little south GA family will be in the stands with two little girls (in bows most likely) sporting their 'derby-name' shirts for all to see.  Yes, we shall be a sight and I am pretty sure Caroline, excuse me- Funky Monkey- will be ready for her roller-derby debut shortly after.

Flashback-


The front reads: 'roller girl in training'

The back is all business with "Funky Monkey'

YAY, for great news to kick off my week!!!

You are wise, Grasshoppa...

I really thought I was going to be better and have more posts, but, well, things have been interesting to say the least.  I will not bore you all with certain topics that make the last little non-grey hairs on my head, turn, but let's just say that regardless with what happens in life, there is a plan.  I like to think I should have better control over certain things in my life, but I also realize that sometimes lack of control gets you to where you need to be...it can just be one hell of a ride on the way.

Ok, enough of that crap, let's get to the good stuff...my kids kick ass! Caroline has advanced from her white belt to her yellow-striped belt (yes, insert your 'oohs' and 'ahhs' here).  She did her test and knocked it out of the ballpark.  I know I am partial, but girlie-girl was all serious, super focused and had 'Chinese' hair working in her favor.  Ok, the 'hair'- we have been growing out her bangs and they are now long enough to be pulled back with her pony tails.  With that said, she does not sit still so by days end they are usually in her face again.  I didn't want her to have to push her hair back during her testing, so we put it in a high ponytail so those little buggars would stay put.  As I was twirling her pony tail to get the static out, I started to 'wrap' it to see if she wanted to wear it in a bun.  Well, she did...and freaked out over the new do.  We get to the car to head on and she says "Mommy, I am going to do really good you know why, well I have 'Chinese' hair now!"  It took all I had to keep it together, but she was officially in the zone.  She walked tall, she bowed like Daniel-san and controlled herself like Bruce Lee.  She made me proud (for the record, I would have been proud if she went up and farted on cue) and she made herself proud as well.  The awards ceremony was last night and she got her new belt...and icecream maker (long story).  Here is a little photo of the proud tiger-cub.

Now, I mentioned my 'kids' kick ass, so let's not forget sweet baby Samantha.  She is doing fabulous and besides a case of cradle cap- or as Caroline says 'cradle crap'- she is one super happy baby.  She is smiling, cooing, and growing like a weed.  I still find myself asking 'how?' as in "how did I get so lucky to be blessed with two perfect children?"  Maybe I am not the synical, stubborn, catty ass I think I am and maybe, just maybe, the big man apreciates my sense of humor (which can get confused for said traits noted previously).

Well, I have a lot to look forward to this week.  We are going to make icecream to celebrate Caroline's new accomplishment.  We are going to go plant-ass-crazy and replace the folliage that Jay so kindly fried with his 'fertilizer' and we are going to celebrate the birthday of one of the coolest  (she kicks ass and is quite amazing) women I know and have a blast.  So, family time, great friends time, and well...cocktails, and you can paint this chick happy.

Duces!

Monday funday, I really want a sundae...

Do you ever have one of those days where all you really want to do is eat junk food and wear stretchy pants so you have more room for said consumption?  I actually am having a great day (thus far).  Samantha is getting over a cold and must be going through a growth spurt as she ate like a T-Rex this weekend.  She is still super sweet and super happy....just super hungry.  Caroline was her sassy little self as well.  Yesterday, we (ok, me and Caroline) took on the spontaneous plan to re-do her room.  We grabbed some spray paint at Lowes and planned to just spray paint her dresser to 'match' her bed and be done with it.  Well, two pieces of painted furniture, shifting of curtains, new placement of furniture, pictures re-hung, and closets/drawers cleaned out later, girly pants has sweet new digs.  I must say that I had not planned it, but loved what we got accomplished.  Had I not completely jacked up cooking dinner, I would have thought I was super-mom yesterday.  Caroline story sidebar- as we are going through the re-do, Caroline 'finds' all of her stuff that she just cannot live without.  She goes through the garbage bag to ask me why I am throwing away a sticker, and begs me not to put up the pair of shorts that would go so far up her a$$ she would walk like a flamingo.  I love her, but she was pushing my buttons.  I asked her to do something and (in true Caroline fashion) it took me about three request to get her attention and for her to finally do it.  As she picks up the item, she states (in a tone that would warrant a time-out) "goodness, mommy...tone down the bossy pants."  It took all I had not to pee my pants.  I love her so much, but buddy are we in for it.

So, to the ice cream part. I do not want these times to end.  It is summer, the kids (ok, Samantha's activities are less exciting) have lots to do, and I just want to play with them, be at home and make sundaes.  It isn't too much to ask, is it?

Broken cub-promise already?

In TKD, the youngsters earn a stripe by learning (and repeating) the Tiger-Cub promise.  The promise is pretty much pointing out that they are to use their TKD powers for good and not evil. 

Story...

Caroline came home last week with a gnarly skinned-up knee.  When I asked her what happened, she informed me that she fell at the Y...then added that she was pushed by some boy.  She was not upset, so I figured it was not a big deal.  We bought some super cool 'special' bandages, doctored it up and she was able to hold her own (some favoring by the end) in TKD class that night.  The next morning (with the super-cool bandage) she was off and back to school the next day.  I go to pick her up from the Y and she pointed out that she fell on the same knee again- yep, she mentioned the- now infamous- 'pusher' who played a role.  Come Thursday, I am picking her up from gymnastics and before I could get to her, she comes hauling ass (I have never seen her run so hard) towards me and...yep, you guess it...trips and falls on the same darned knee.  This stage in the game it was kind of ridiculous how much her poor little knee had been subjected to.  She was in pain, and we opted out of TKD that evening as I had to carry her (note, Samantha was in her car seat on my other arm...my arms will be cut!) to the car.  TKD classes were cancelled for the holiday, so she ws able to recover nicely this past weekend and her little knee is back to normal.  Well, when I picked her up from the Y yesterday, as we were walking out, she totally called out the little punk who knocked her over twice.  By calling him out, I mean she said "mommy that's him!" as she pointed (I told her it was not nice to point...then I realized she was just highlighting the perp) to this little man-child sitting in the hall.  I believe he really did do it, because the look on his face was the "oh S%*^, I am in trouble" punk look he had (ok, he is a sweet-faced - probably only - 6 year old, but he hurt my baby so he is a punk:))  and he started squirming.  I distracted her from getting all worked up and out the door we went.  While walking to the car and I asked her what she would do if he pushed her again.  Please note, the answer I am looking for here is 'tell my teacher' or something along the right thing to do.  She thought about it for a second and told me that she would grab him 'like this' (she showed grabbing him by the head with both hands) and then proceeded to demonstrate a fantastic ‘head-butt’ wrestling move.   I reminded her of the TKD tiger-cub promise, and she said “well, I know I can’t do it, but if I could…that’s what I’d do.” 

 I think if she did not already have her green stripe, it would have been on.

To change, or not to change...

So, I am thinking of a new way to become a more interesting blogger.  I realized that I really do not have a centralized 'subject' for said blog..other than just the craziness that is my life...so, I am throwing some ideas out there. I am hopeful one will be appealing, one will jump out at me, or I will realize that I am not published or getting paid for it, so I will just keep it as is. 

1- Dear '________'- this could be broken down into a variety of subjects such as 'Dear (jackass in the white truck)' or 'Dear (woman who invaded my personal space in the check-out line)' kind of format.

2- A Caroline blog.  Seriously, she is the most entertaining, so maybe I just need to be able to chronicle her funnies in a blog that she can look back and reference when she is in therapy talking about what a crazy lady her mother is?

3- Dear Caroline. :)

Karate Kid

Caroline is an awesome child whom I adore and love more than life itself.  She makes me happy, grey-haired, and keeps me laughing all of the time- she truly is FUNNY as all get out.  While I laugh with her daily, recently I was given even more reasons for belly aches.

There is a relatively new tae kwon do center near our home and Caroline started inquiring about classes. I am not one to sign her up for everything she asks for the first time around -if I was like that, she would already be partaking in aligator wrestling, clown college, monkey training and getting certified to be a commercial fisherman- but, Miss Sassy Pants asked about 100 times so we stopped by. We thought karate would be good for her as it would teach her self-control and discipline- both things that would be greatly appreciated by all- twenty minutes later she had a new shirt and three 'trial' classes to see if she liked it. I figured it was the best $20 I spent that week.  We go to the first class and I only wish the instructors informed me to wear a diaper.  Caroline was ready to break a board and karate chop a brother.  She did very well, and after saying 'Yes Sir!' 50+ times she was psyched for this new adventure.  I knew she loved it (and that it sunk in) when on the way home I asked if she wanted to go back for another class.  She replied "MA'AM, YES MA'AM!"  I wasn't sure if she thought she was in TKD or the army, but I was basking in it. 

Three classes passed and she became officially enrolled in their program.  I must thank her grandparents as they are helping with this, as they are beyond supportive- and have always been too good to us.  Caroline can go as many times a week as she wants and besides the big part of it, they also take her to the classes that conflict with our work schedules.  Luckily, the center realizes that some mommies have to work, so there are 3 classes we can make it to with her...love that!  Her manners have improved and she seems to be paying better attention to things.  She hasn't lost her sense of humor in class though...that just wouldn't be my daughter and I think I would cancel if she started to lose her personality.   I am that mom who sits to the side and who laughs(out loud) throughout the entire class. With that said, I think I have found a new mommy-friend to make.  Another little girl recently started, and her mom and I sat by each other during a class.  She laughed the entire time through and shed tears...yep, that is my kind of mommy-friend.  So, we both sit and laugh at our children and each others, and I think we will get along just fine. Luckily, the other parents do not seem too serious at this stage that I can tell, but we shall see.  Lots of giggles, snickers and belly laughs so they have to be great peeps, right?

I hope to share photos soon, but I am usually laughing to hard to hold the camera steady.  With that said, the Funky Monkey has a pretty darn good kick and her 'chop' is improving. 


Following up with another 'with that said' I think all of the men in the family will be getting a protective cup for Christmas.

HI-YA!

I'm back...for real this time

DANG, where does the time go...and did I really have any more of it before now?  So, to catch anyone (reading, or who cares) up to speed, there has been a lot going on.  I am now the mommy of a 2 month old--yep, little Sammie Loo is already 2 months old ...I cannot believe it!  I am back at work (officially, and full-time...another story not for blogging) and in a routine.  Both of my children kick ass, and speaking of kicking ass Caroline is now taking Tae Kwon Do classes.  Yes, my friends, I have such blog-worthy material and stuff going on in my life I am ready to pick this back up. 

First and foremost: Caroline + TKD = AWESOME!