On Our Best Behavior

Today Ellie had a birthday party for her favorite friend Hannah at Build-A-Bear. Hannah has an older brother Logan who is in Dayton's class so both kids went and it worked out really well.

The kids were super well behaved, polite and pleasant! They listened well and got along with the other kids. You just never know what you'll get so needless to say I was pleased as punch (whatever that means)! They each made a bear and had a lot of fun in the process.

The real pay off was the friends I made! Nicole is another little girl in Ellie's class who was at the party. She will be in Ellie's Kindergarten class in the Fall. Her Mom Vanessa is from Brazil and gave me her card so we can set up some play dates!

After talking with Hannah's Mom I was excited to learn that she also has a mine-yours-and-ours situation. While I know there's a lot of divorcees out there it was refreshing to talk to someone in a similar circumstance. Logan and Hannah are from her first marraige, she has a step daughter and a son from her second marriage. We chatted and are also going to try to set up some play dates which will benefit both Dayton AND Ellie. Double Score!

Let's face it, I was the real winner today! I love people, I love meeting people and I LOVE making new friends. With the kids there's an added incentive and makes it all the more satisfying!

On the B Side: I love watching the kids interact in various situations to see how they socialize and behave. I really was proud in a simplistic way to see them do so well! I also am so excited that I met some new people and made some new friends that will benefit all of us!

An Iron Maiden at Heart

In little ol' Danville Pennsylvania the mascot is the Iron Men given the historical significance of my home town. I miss it terribly but alas, I digress. The mascot is but a mere image is that of a posed bicep with bulging muscles. The only thing stranger than that are the school colors (which really are the town colors) of purple and orange! Yes, I was officially an Iron Maiden!

Today out office site had a team building activity for us consisting of a morning at the movies to watch, 'Iron Man'. I was skeptical and decided at the last minute given some prompting to attend and I a so glad that I did!!

While the movie was not something I would recommend for children it was nonetheless AMAZING! Robert Downey, Jr. was AWESOME! Above all else I was so excited that he is making such a killer come back and I loved the irony highlighted in the movie as it relates to his real life run ins with alcohol! He's a great sport and not at all what i would have imagined for a role like this but it works and it works well!

Keep in mind that I'm not really into action packed adventure movies about super heros (although Dayton and I do enjoy Spiderman together). I went into this one expecting to nap and from the get go it was engaging and the character development was rich. Four stars for this one and the shoot em' up scenes are the only thing that keeps me holding back that final star.

I will admit that after the movie the guys in the office were rolling their eyes at my analysis. Watching it reminded me of the aspiring rice cartel in China trying to take the form of OPEC given the undying desire for money in this crazy world of ours. It also struck me of the wars currently raging in our world and for that reason it was somewhat hard to watch at certain points. I'll stop before I subject anyone else to my random thoughts!

Regardless, I only cried once and remained awake the entire time! It really was a great flick and should certainly be seen over 'Made of Honor' this weekend! Today I felt like an Iron Maiden all over again! Now ladies dig up a babysitter, grab your hubbies and go enjoy yourselves Iron Man style! Iron Man did Danville proud!

On the B Side: I love when something catches you off guard. You form some kind of opinion based on limited information and then BAM! You find out you were way off base and really had no idea. These are moments that serve as ephiphanies that help us to see ourselves and our lives more clearly and allow us to shed pre-conceived notions. It's just too easy to form judgements and live in our own little paradigms! I love it when I suprise myself without even knowing it! Please tell me you've been there!

Just Say No to Poop and Stuff

Not sure how it works in the homes of others (but I'd be happy to hear about it!) but it has been my experience that Dad's typically serve as the 'cool parent'. Yes, Father's seem to be the fun, enjoyable, laughter bearing parent and frankly I think it sucks slightly BUT I did snicker today when Mark told me the following story as it made me feel slightly vindicated!

Mark picked up Kayla and stopped to look at another home on the way home. While they were being shown the home Kayla (who doesn't usually talk to strangers at all) says to the man showing the home, "My Daddy makes me say bad things. Britta is smart"

I snickered my cute litle pregnant head off when Mark relayed this story as he's always the one talking about poop and things of such nature. Needless to say he was thoroughly embarrassed and rightfully so! He's always trying to get Kayla to say something of that nature and I've been trying to help her see past his teasing and make good choices despite his silly promptings. Today was pay day!!!!

On the B Side: I love when kids cross into that zone and are able to think for themselves! I also love feeling like I am doing some good despite the fact that I sometimes merely feel like the cook, the chauffeur, the maid and the babysitter rather than 'the cool parent'.

My Heart Divided

I am so bitterly torn. Watch this and tell me your thoughts...

Could it ever be as good as it was written?

On the B Side: Regardless of my personal distress these dazzling vampires will devour those wimpy wizards at the box offie on December 12th! Down with H Potterpants!!!!