Year in review

It's the last day of the year and ironically, this will be my 100th blog post! Who knew when I started this that'd I'd really keep it going this long. But it really has been a positive in my life, giving me an outlet for my thoughts and some positive feedback that has encouraged me to keep focusing on my writing and given me confidence.

As I look back upon the last year, I have to say that all in all, it was a good one. Some of the highlights:

-I was a stay-at-home mom for an entire year! Wow. I had no idea I'd ever be a stay at home mom, let alone for a year, so I consider this a blessing and a treat. Now that I have some perspective (and a new job), I can honestly say that I am glad for how things happened, despite the stress that came along with the circumstances of being laid off.

-I got a new job for 2012! Finally, after months of searching, applying, interviewing and getting rejected, I landed a shiny new job that starts January 3rd. There is something about starting a new job in a new year that just feels right. And its a part-time job that will hopefully provide me with that elusive "balance" that I strive for - time for myself and for my kids and home life.

-I started a freelance writing career! One by one, through old colleagues or other random contacts, I picked up clients who actually wanted to pay me to do what I love - write. Its been an amazing experience and I plan to keep it up and see where it takes me. Someday, I may even get the guts to really start my own business full-time but for now, I'm happy with doing this on the side on my own time. 

-I've developed some amazing friendships. One of the best parts of this past year has been the time I've had to devote to friendship. My kids and I have reaped the benefits of these friendships through lots of playdates and adventures. 

-We spent lots of time at the beach. I took full advantage of not working and having access to a free place at the beach.We spent many family weekends at the beach as well as a nearly two week stint with the girls and various visitors. It was a blast and we made many memories.

-We enjoyed the holiday season. The holidays this year have really been special, thanks to the girls' excitement and enthusiasm. From Halloween to Christmas, we've enjoyed many special events and experienced the real magic of the season.

-I got through the baby stage intact! I feel like I have cleared a major hurdle at this point, and am fairly on top of my parenting game. The ages 1 and 3 were adorable but HARD, and I am loving this 2 and 4 thing. The girls are sleeping well, playing together, understanding rules and just generally easier to handle and more fun. I love watching Big A grow independent and become her own person; it truly takes my breath away sometimes. And Little A is the perfect foil to Big A's big moods. She is easy-going and has a great sense of humor and she adds joy to every day.

All in all, its been a great year and I'm really looking forward to 2012. I'll start a new job and Little A will start school, while Big A adjusts to a longer school day. It will be interesting to see how my perspective changes as I join the working mom ranks again. I feel a little apprehensive, but mostly I feel ready for the challenge. I think we're all up for it. Hope you'll join me for some more adventures on the other side of the fence.

Happy New Year!

Shhh...

I've been hesitant to write about this topic, but its too exciting not to share. I just don't want to jinx anything...

My girls have been playing together - a lot. And it.is.awesome! This morning alone, they have been playing (loudly) in the basement for over an hour with not a peep needed from me. Incredible! The payoff of two kids is here! Of course this is not 24/7, but its becoming more and more frequent and I am absolutely loving it. Not only because I can get so much done while they play, but also because I can hear how much fun they are having as they develop their friendship and it brings back fond memories of doing the same with my sister.

We played Barbies and school and rollerskating around the basement and Michael Jackson records for hours and hours and it was so much fun. Of course, she will tell you that when we played Barbies, she made me be "poor" while she got all the good Barbies and the one Ken doll and got to be rich. And when we played school she was the teacher every time and bossed me around. And when we listened to Michael Jackson, she might interrupt me to say "Go get me a snack - boss's orders" and I would listen.

Somehow I've blocked out these memories and only remember having fun. Watching my girls play together makes me hopeful that they too will enjoy a lifelong friendship and funny (differing) memories and someone to call five times a day and answer the phone with "WHAT?" They'll have someone to tell them they're being bitchy and to talk about their crazy parents (that would be us) and just in general, to go through life with. And in the meantime? I get some peace and the best kind of non-quiet...the sounds of two sisters laughing, pretending and just generally having a ball.

Sis and I pregnant together 

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah, blog readers!

We've been celebrating for a while now, first with a family party a couple of weeks ago, then with our annual extended family party, and last night "officially" with latkes, the menorah and gifts for the girls.

 

While we were making the latkes, which surprisingly turned out great, Big A told me that I was a good cook. I said her not really and she told me to "keep trying, Mommy, and you'll get better." Good advice from a 4 year old, I must say.

 

This year's most-wanted items included a miniature sandbox for Big A and a babydoll that plays peek-a-boo for Little A. Both girls loved their presents. Us parents scored too -- J got a new iphone (see ya in a month, hubby) and I scored a new laptop which was much needed as our computer is from 2004 - which is like 1861 in computer years. Wow, computers have come a long way!

 

One holiday down, one to go! Hope everyone out there has a wonderful season.

 

Proof that I've used our stove

 Tearing into the sandwich game

  

Leaping over the fence

This morning I put on a new dress, carefully did my make-up and took extra care with my hair. Big A watched me intently. "You look pretty mommy," she said. "Thank you," I told her, "I have an interview today." She pondered this for a moment. "So you have to look extra pretty?" she asked. "Yup, then maybe they'll give me the job."

Well 6 hours later, after said interview, the phone rang. Wait for it...I got the job!

When I first saw the ad for this job, I got a "feeling" - a this could be it feeling. I applied and waited. I talked to J about it for some reason even though all I'd done was apply. Then a month later, I got a call. An interview! I went in for an interview with a panel and a writing test. It went great. One week later they called to say there were checking my background. TWO weeks later they called to schedule a second interview. And finally, one HOUR later, they called to offer me the job. All in all, the process took nearly 2 months. I guess good things do come to those who wait.

Without going in to too much detail, I'll be working in education doing marketing and best of all, its part-time! I'm hoping it will give me a good balance of work and time with the girls. I'm also juggling a few freelance projects and will see how that fits in to the mix. A lot of changes are coming. It will be a great way to start the new year.

Tonight we were driving home from a playdate, talking about my new job and Big A said, "Mommy, make sure you look pretty when you go to work, so you don't lose this job too." Ah ha - so that's where I went wrong last time. Guess I'll be spending a little extra time on the grooming. Who knew.

Boobies

So today while Big A was in art class (which she is loving by the way), Little A and I ran over to Kohl's to look for an outfit for some meetings I have Thursday. I wandered back to the undergarment area and was flipping through some bras when Little A started shouting "Boobies, boobies!" and poking the bras. Apparently she thinks bras are called boobies, and it wasn't really the place for a lesson, so I just kept trying to hush her. Not to be stopped, she kept it up and then decided it would be really fun to drop some "boobies" on the ground. Like a whole rack of them.

I quickly gathered my selections and we went to the dressing room. "Mommy pretty. Mommy boobies. Mommy butt. Mommy NAKED," she shrieked loudly. Not sure what actually fit, I hightailed it out of the store. (And for the record, NO, I was not naked!)

Tonight I was putting my purchases away and had hung my two new bras on my dresser. She came in the room and said, "Mommy, two boobies! One for you and one for Daddy!"

Oh lord.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

How's it going up there at the North Pole? Hope you are having an enjoyable holiday season. I just wanted to send you a quick note with a few minor requests. Thanks in advance, old guy!

First, I would really, really appreciate it if you could somehow see to Little A's constantly dripping snotty nose. It's really gross. Yesterday in the middle of a store, she announced to me, "Mommy, I'm eating my snot!" - loudly. And sure enough, she was. She also likes to wipe it on the couch, my shoulder, my pant leg and any other surface within reach. Its really gross. Did I already say that?

Second, I would love it if you could magically take about 20 pounds off me. Is that too much to ask, Santa? Fine, 15, okay? And no, I am not interested in your "healthy eating plan" or your advice about not scarfing down handfuls of m&m's. And don't tell me to lay off the lattes. I will promise to really appreciate it this time and not call myself a fattie if you do that for me, k?

Third, if you could somehow stop the sibling squabbling, it would be great. I am so tired of the yelling, whining, crying and tattling going on around here. Its getting really hard to muster up enthusiasm over who touched who's two-bit McDonald's toy first. Or to squelch the urge to tell Big A to just hit Little A back already and stop being a wimp.

And if you could turn the 25 minute kid's shows into about 40 minutes, that'd be super. I mean, its for The Children's sake, they just can't get enough Umizoomi and Diego, you know? And its really annoying to have to put on another show when I'm in the middle of internet surfing...I mean doing meaningful stuff.

Also, do you think you could convince my 2 year old that a nap is still a good idea? That would be especially great. The afternoons of tired crying because I looked at her wrong/fetched her apple juice instead of cranberry/didn't play "Mommy" correctly (how is that possible? I am a Mommy)/dared to breathe are getting old.

Santa, one more thing? I hope I'm not asking for too much here, but I know you're such a powerful, handsome man so I'm sure you can handle it. Can you teach my children to wipe their own butts? It would be awesome to only have my own to worry about. Did I go too far, Santa?

I should probably throw in something about world peace here, but I wouldn't want to overload you, Santa. After all, you're only one man.

Merry Christmas!

~Queen A

p.s. Yes, Santa, I am aware that I'm Jewish. I hardly think that is relevant (see "Jesus was a Jewish Carpenter" et al).

They look so innocent, don't they?

'Tis the season

We've had a very holiday-centered weekend here. On Saturday we took a "Santa Express" train ride with a group of friends. The train ride was fun and in the middle, Santa himself (a really poor version) came on board and handed out chocolate lollipops. Today J and his mom took the girls to an Advent event at his mom's church. Not being Christian, I really don't know what that is, but it was great because I got a kid-free morning! And an excuse to put Little A in a very cheesy Santa-themed dress (thanks mom!). Then this afternoon, I got to take Big A to a spa-themed birthday party. I can't believe her classmates are turning 5. Eek. It was pretty cute, although we did learn that Big A seems to be the only 4-year-old that has no clue who Justin Beiber is. I'm not too upset about that...

Speaking of mom, as a Jewish mom, its hard for me to really know how to handle the season. Since J is Christian and we celebrate Christmas with his family, I feel okay with letting the girls believe in Santa and have fun with that. And its really hard to compete with Santa - I mean, a candelabra with 8 candles is just not that exciting. I guess I'm still working out my strategy. As kids, my parents didn't want us to feel left out, so we got stockings on Christmas. We pretended to believe in Santa for a long time in order to keep this stocking tradition alive. On Christmas day, we'd open our stockings, have lots of yummy food all day and play with our new toys and watch movies. It was one of my favorite days of the year. Its really not too unlike how we celebrate now. We spend the holiday with J's family, and I focus on the stockings for the girls - with girls this is really fun since there are multitudes of small-sized girl toys. This year I am introducing Polly Pocket to Big A which is making me WAY too excited. They get presents from the rest of his family and we have a yummy breakfast, play all day and then a big Christmas dinner. Still one of my favorite days of the year.

As much fun as the season is with kids, it is also simply crazy. Just Big A's school schedule alone is enough to drive one nuts. There are deadlines for an adopt-a-family, a lunch with Santa, a crazy sweater day and a class gift exchange. Add in teacher gifts and figuring out the holiday break schedule, throwing in J's schedule too and its enough to make your head swim. I can only imagine this will get more complicated as they get older.

All crazy aside, I'm enjoying the season, and love seeing the excitement of my girls with each event. There is definitely some magic happening here.

The girls on the Santa Express

Santa dress

Big A gets her hair done

Getting her nails done!