End of Summer Update

Well, we are almost there!!! School starts in 10 days for Mario, and 17 days for Luigi! Not that I am counting or anything, but jeez, this summer has dragged on for a while! Now, I realize that I haven't written anything for a while, so I'm here to give you an update on happenings in Mario World.

First of all, the reason I haven't been writing much is because I got a shiny new toy that I can't keep my hands off of! I love my new iPhone! It's so pretty, and smart, and full of fun things. I don't know how I lived with my "non-smart" phone for so long. Seriously. Bowser says I am a little too obsessed with it, but what does he know? Just because I carry it all over the house with me, and compulsively check my Facebook from wherever I happen to be, doesn't mean I am obsessed. A little crazed, maybe. But, not obsessed. Definitely not... Oh, look! Someone wants to play Words with Friends! Be right back...

Moving along... I struggled for the last few days with a preschool decision for Luigi. Man, I can really destroy brain cells by over-analyzing decisions. The preschool we love was just too expensive. I found another school that seemed awesome for a much more affordable price. After bombarding my friends with scrutiny of every last detail, a posting on Facebook, and crying 3 nights in a row to Bowser about how I could ruin Luigi's life with the wrong decision, I finally realized that it is just preschool. As long as I am happy with it and HE is happy with it, everything will be fine. We decided to go with the new and less expensive school and I feel good with my decision. It is a very fundamentalist church that offers the school, so as long as I don't scare them away with my ink and Green Day blasting out my windows in the mornings, I think it's gonna be great.

Peach is kind of making my crazy. My mother always said that someday I would have a daughter and my mother would get her revenge. Ok, Zaz, that day has come. Peach is well on her way to winning the Academy Award for Best Dramatic Actress. This girl can squeeze out crocodile tears at a moment's notice. And I swear she already knows how to manipulate her brothers to get whatever she wants. She is obsessed with her Paci and frankly, I haven't had the energy to take it away from her. Someday soon, the Paci Fairy is coming and I will be rid of the green oral fixation for good. When the boys are in school, we are moving on to potty training. And then, I will officially be baby-free, which is a little sad, but also incredibly exciting.
(**Quick update--last night, she gave it up! And the Paci Fairy left her a beautiful flower and some m&m's for doing such a good job! Yay!)

Mario is going to be starting third grade in just a couple of weeks! Third Grade!!! I remember third grade. I was in Ms. Morgan's class and she had this awesome pink VW Bug pencil holder/sharpener thing as a prize to whoever did the best at Math Minutes. Oh, how I wanted that car. I wanted it to sit on my desk, all shiny and pretty and MINE. Alas, I have never been a math whiz, and the car went to my friend Jellicle Cat. I'm still jealous. But, I digress... My Mario is now a third grader. I am taking him on a "date" this afternoon, just the two of us. Last night he said, "Mom, that sounds really boring to go to a restaurant and talk to each other." I had to explain that a date could mean doing lots of different things. "Ok," he replied, "But, could you PLEASE stop calling it a date? That is what boyfriends and girlfriends do when they want to kiss." Ummm... Ok... What? ...sigh...

Bowser and I are coming up on our 10 year anniversary this month. 10 years. When we look at our wedding pictures it seems like a lifetime ago. Who are those young kids, with no real responsibilities, no little people hanging off them, and with huge smiles on their faces??? That was us? Well, 10 years later, and I am happy to say that despite real responsibility hanging over us, lots of little people crawling on us at all times, and the worry lines that have sometimes replaced the smiles, I still kinda like him. I guess I'll keep him around for another 10 years, if he'll have me.

And that is about it here. We are getting close to the end of summer. I can't say I will miss this insanely hellish heat. Fall is just around the corner and it is welcome to come whenever it wants. Enjoy the last few days of break, everyone!

Cheers!
~Daisy

Camping

Every summer, my husband's family plans a big camping trip. The entire family gets together, heads up to the mountains and camps for a weekend. Sounds like fun, right? Oh, heck no! It's not that I don't love his family, because I really, really do. It's really more of a.... Well, a camping thing. I realize that I live in the most Outdoor Friendly State Ever, but here's the thing... Me and Nature, we don't like each other too much. In fact, my idea of camping is staying at a hotel with an outdoor pool and no room service. Cliche? Maybe. Totally true for me? Yes.

Bowser and his family have tried to convince me how much fun camping really can be. And, while they have pointed out some fabulous things about it, I have to say that my previous experiences with the Great Outdoors seems to outweigh whatever fun they may have in store. Allow me to present to you my arguments...

Point: We will be camping at a scenic lake in the middle of Rocky Mountain Country. Beautiful views all around and the peace and quiet of nature.
Counter Point: Beautiful views, yes. Also, bears and mountain lions, mosquitoes and ticks. All kinds of creatures that want nothing more than to eat me alive. Thanks, but no thanks.

Point: The Goombas love it! Fishing, running around, hiking, and more! They play so hard that they wear themselves out every day. It is good for their little bodies and souls.
Counter Point: Yes, great for the Goombas! Not great for Daisy. Fishing makes my stomach churn. I'm just not that into catching smelly, slimy things and skinning them for my dinner. Also, when I think "Outside," I think hot and sweaty. I do not like to be hot and sweaty. I like to be clean and pretty with my full face of makeup on. Last time I checked, our tent didn't come with a full bath and vanity. Yes, I am vain. We all have our flaws.

Point: Sitting around a campfire drinking beer and roasting marshmallows.
Counter Point: Ok, well, I really have no argument for this one because that does sound just plain awesome. I'd be happy to set that up in my own back yard.

Point: Sleeping out in a tent, under the stars is so peaceful and restful. The fresh air helps you get such a great night's sleep.
Counter Point: Have you ever seen a horror movie? Outdoors camping seems to be a prime location for bad guys and scary monsters. Sleeping with one eye open and jumping at every little sound does not sound like a great night's sleep to me. I'm just sayin'...

Ok, so I'm sure camping is not all that bad. Lots of people seem to really enjoy it! I am just not one of those people. Never have been, probably never will. I think while Bowser and the boys go this weekend, Peach and I will just "rough it" here, with take out food and some good old fashioned Disney movies. Maybe we will even get crazy and roast our on marshmallows on the grill.

Cheers!
~Daisy

When Will It End???

I realize that it is only mid-July right now, but I have to tell you, I am already counting days till school starts again. Don't get me wrong, I love summer break. We have had a lot of nice lazy mornings, sleeping in till almost 8 a.m. (which is almost unheard of in our house!), we have enjoyed days where we didn't have to rush to be anywhere at any certain time, and all of that is very nice and good. I remember being Mario's age and being so sad when summer would come to an end, but, my mother would practically be happy dancing around the house as the final countdown began in August. Mom, I totally get it now. I love the Goombas, but for the love of all things holy, I need some time away from them! Plus, all three of the kiddos have always loved and thrived on a schedule. That just doesn't happen so well during the summer.

Our vacation time has actually been going fairly well up until recently. Over the past few days I have started to notice signs that it is time for the summer season to show some mercy and come to an end. Here they are, in random order...

The Top 10 Signs Summer Needs to Come to an End...

10. You have watched all 100 episodes of Blue's Clues on Netflix MORE THAN ONCE, and you are starting to want to move your relationships with both Steve and Joe to the next level. You already have some interesting places to hide the "clues."

9. You have gone through 3 Slip n' Slides, 2 blow-up pools, 4 bottles of sunscreen, a bottle of bug spray, 438 gallons of bubble solution, and 18 packages of sidewalk chalk. And you still have a month to go.

8. You can really only grill hot dogs so many times before no one ever wants to see one again.

7. If you hear the words "but I'm so bored!" one more time, you are going to have to be locked away at the Funny Farm.

6. You are starting to consider just putting all of your fighting kids into one room just to see who comes out alive, rather than break up ANOTHER fight.

5. Your kids refuse to go to sleep before the last bit of sunshine has gone, and they wake up at the first ray of light in the morning. At least in the winter you can put them to bed at 5 p.m. because it is already dark out and they can't tell time yet.

4. Everyone has all kinds of weird suntan lines all over their bodies, and there is always that ONE little spot on the kids, where you missed the sunscreen, and of course they get a crazy sunburn on that spot.

3. You have given up and given in and don't even swat away the mosquitoes anymore. Resistance is futile.

2. You are looking longingly at your jeans, sweaters and boots in your closet, because you realize that tank-tops just aren't looking so hot anymore.

1. Even your 8-year-old gets excited when he sees the back to school signs out at Target.

Only about a month to go, Mommies. We can do this. And on the first day back, breakfast margaritas at my place.

Cheers!
~Daisy