Great weekend with friends.....and admiration for a long time friend!

Friends and Marriage -

This weekend was great. My hubby and I went to the Kool and the Gang concert with lots of friends. It was nice to hang out with everyone. I don't miss the days of going out every Friday and Saturday night. But...I do miss hanging with my girls. Email, texting, and phone just don't cover hanging out in person. Luckily the night was uneventful (with the exception of Sonya calling security on some rude dude at the concert and Misch getting carried out of the Big E and puking on her front step). I thank my hubby for hanging with the girls and his boys for being such a sport. Although I think that all the boys thought they were pimp Daddy's with 16 girls on their side.

It was close to a High School/East Boston neighborhood reunion. The event was sponsored by Oldies 103.3, and the event was a fundraiser for local organizations. Our tickets were bought through East Boston Pop Warner, and benefited their organization. My friend Dawn (president of EB Pop Warner) was presented with a check to benefit the league at the concert. I have known Dawn since our bowling days (circa 1981, you do the math). Dawn was a teenage Mom. She got pregnant in High School, (graduated) and went on to college. She is now a married, a nurse, and a mother of 5 great kids. Her daughter is now 21 years old, and going to school to be a doctor. She has beaten all odds, and is a wonderful person. If, you have ever met Dawn you would know she wears her heart on her sleeve, and would give you her sleeve if you needed it. Friends like Dawn are hard to come by, and I am so proud to be her friend.

Parenting -

My son is still punished, it is killing me to keep on top of him to not watch TV, and play video games....but I have to set a precedent. My daughter had a nice time with Auntie Mimi and her sleepover night. This week is going to be tough, gonna try and get the kids back into a bedtime routine. Busy week ahead.

I am really nervous for the new school year. Cookie will be starting 6th grade and I pray he makes the right choices with his peers, and adapts to middle school with ease. Lizzy has lots of strides to meet this year on her IEP. I have seen a difference in her this summer, her memory skills are developing. My biggest concern is her concentration and focus. I don't know what I have done to my kids, but both I believe had ADD. My husband and I have never been diagnosed by a doctor with ADD, but I know we both have it. As adults we can control it. As a child you have too much going on to think about controlling your thoughts. My son was diagnosed officially with ADD in January 2009. I thank his 5th Grade Teacher for supporting his needs this year, it made a world of difference. It was the first year he had in school that he was able to go to sleep every night, and not get sick thinking about the next day in school. He truly was happy, and I believe it is because of the ADD adjustments we had on his 504 plan and a wonderful & caring teacher. My own ADD will take me to another subject....so I will end my blog for today with........ Happy to be in love with my husband, have good friends, and be a Mommy.

lots of luv!

Denise

Very exciting day for Mommy.........

Parenting Update:


Today I woke up nice and early. I was excited to accomplish a lot. Did a few more loads of laundry, worked (my paying job), and cleaned. The most exciting part of my day was Back to School shopping with my 7 yr. old daughter Lizzy. Last year I had some issues with her, because she did not like the clothes I bought her. Honestly, I NEVER thought she would give me any trouble with anything I buy, especially clothes (because I have such good taste....LOL). My son and hubby have always liked everything I bought them. Lizzy not so much. So, this year, I decided to bring her shopping with me, and let her pick her clothes, with some rules in place. Here are the basics of the rules:

1. No words across the butt of any pants.
2. If we buy a skirt, it must have shorts or she must wear leggings with them (she has not learned the concept of going down a slide with her legs closed).
3. No bad words on any clothing (yes, this is an issue with a lot of t-shirts these days).
4. Nothing see thru or revealing (she has no concept of what this means, but she will some day, I am training her young)
5. All items must be on sale!!!

We planned to shop at our top 3 stores: Walmart, Kohl's, and K-Mart. We started at Kohl's. My daughter is obsessed like most girls her age with the Jonas Brother's. So, we were on a hunt to get a Jo Bros backpack. We found 3 different designs of a Jo Bros backpack, and finally decided on one (this debate lasted 30 minutes). Lizzy was not completely happy because the backpack did not match her Jo Bros folder she bought about a month ago in K-Mart. After the backpack decisions, we moved onto clothing. My girl knows her size like any other girl....who loves clothes. She knows she is a size 14, and when she finds something she likes, it is an obsession to find the hanger with the color coded size 14 on it. It is really very funny to watch!!! Anyhoo, she finds a shirt that is a t-shirt with arm sleeves attached. Sadly, no size 14. I was quite releaved because the shirt was $17. Yes, it qualified under the rules (it was on sale)....but $17 bucks for one shirt....no friggen way!!! We did not have much luck at Kohl's. We left with a backpack and a new shower curtain for our 2nd floor bathroom

Our plan was to go to K-Mart next, but I wanted to go one of my favorite stores Lane Bryant (my godson gave me a gift card for Mother's Day). Lizzy was already asking for lunch, afterall it was noon time. So, I told her we would go to eat at Fresh City after Lane Bryant. She was held off and ready to go to a "Mommy store". Before, we went to Lane Bryant, next door was a store I have never seen before, called Justice For Girls. I asked Lizzy if she wanted to go in and see what kind of clothes they have, and she was onboard. It was like walking into the Lizzy zone. This store was perfect for the Jo Bro's/Disney generation of girls. The stars were aligned, we walked in and not only were the Jo Bro's playing through out the store, but they had a plethera of these shirts with arm sleeves in every color and print you could imagine. Lizzy was in heaven. My baby girl was on cloud nine. She actually wanted to try on everything. This was a first, she never has tried on anything in a store. As a mother and a shopaholic, this was a very proud moment for me. I was having a moment with my baby girl, we have a common interest. Not an interest that I have pushed her into, she really loves fashion and shopping for a good bargain. If anyone knows my Lizzy, they can tell you she has an outfit for every occasion, and often changes at least 3 x's a day. This was the highlight of my day.......maybe even the summer. We left Justice For Girls with:

• 2 shirts with arm sleeves
• 1 dress
• 1 skirt and 1 matching shirt
• a fluorescent blue arm sleeve accessory
• 1 Justice T-shirt (that matched the fluorescent arm sleeves)
• sequins high top sneakers
• 2 Hannah Montanna lip glosses (they were on clearance B1G1F.

All this for only $89!!! And we got a coupon for $25 off our next purchase. Now, I don't know if this Justice For Girls....is the new Tello's of my daughter's age (i.e. - disposable clothes ), what I can tell you is my daughter was as happy as I was back in the day, when I bought my first pair of Clipper Jeans @ Tello's. At the end of the day that makes today a very exciting day for this Mommy.

We never made it to Walmart. It really did not matter, we found our new #1 store.

Marriage Update:

Chris and I spoke 3 x's today on the phone during work hours. He has some employee/team issues going on at work, and he is not good with confrontation, and the issues require confrontation. So, he had to be talked off the edge a few times today, and I was there to listen, advise, and talk him off the edge. We passed and spoke briefly at the football field, only to ensure we were on the same page regarding pick up of Chris, Jr. (his practice is not at the same field as cheer practice) and to discuss what was for dinner. He was not thrilled, we had Taco's tonight, and he is not a fan. He would have meat and potatoes every night (I swear I am not exaggerating). Anyhoo, we had dinner together, and talked with the kids about their day, and it was another Cook Life Is Good dinner.

Life in general Update and coming soon:

PTO meeting tomorrow, our first board meeting for the 2009-2010 school year. Stay tuned......

Lots of love my friends!

Denise

(communication)

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(unconditional love)

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LOL
(laughing out loud)

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Happy family & marriage

Monday's update...starting my blog.......let's hope my ADD does not kick in by Friday.

Parenting Update:

Today was a trying day for me. I had to punish my son. He lied to me....and I am just fed up with his deceit. Honestly, I blame myself for not sticking with my threats through the years. For those parents out there....you know what I am talking about. I cannot tell you how many times both my hubby and I have said "When we get home your punished" and never stick too our promise to punish. Let me tell you a few things my son has done this summer.

1. He has gestured to hit me or scare me by shrugging his arms/shoulders.
2. He has spit at me (after I splashed water on him).....it still pissed me off.
3. He has been caught in a lie every day. (yes, EVERY day)
4. He constantly calls his sister retarded or special needs.

So, now he is punished until school starts. I can only tell you that today something kicked in, and I think the constant questioning from my son's friend over the weekend, has been repeating in my head since I have been home. Chris once again was threatened to have several things take away from him this weekend (ie. no smores, no mini golf, no pool, etc.), and he got all of these "fun" things take away from him for not listening or doing something (ie. #'s 1-4). His friend questioned: "I thought you said Chris could not have smores" or "I thought you said Chris could not swim today", etc. This really bothered me....that a pre-teen has a better sense of the "non-message" I am sending by allowing Chris to still participate in these "fun" activities, even though I told him he could not, because he did not listen to my warnings.....I STILL ALLOWED CHRIS TO DO EVERYTHING ---he had no consequences.

Today is a new day. Mommy is sticking to her "threats" and making sure both Chris and Lizzy both know what the word consequences mean.

Marriage Update:

Chris Sr., and I did not talk much today. He has some stuff going on at work, and it was his first day back from vacation.

We talked briefly about my decision to punish him. He was not happy that I took away football, and was very mad. I wish he would realize that Chris Jr., is only playing football for him and not because Chris Jr. really wants to or enjoys playing football. My heart breaks, because Chris Jr. denies that he is only playing for his Dad.

At the end of the day we ate dinner as a family and kissed each other good night......and Life is Good with the Cook family!!!!

Life in general Update:

Let's hope my ADD does not kick in by Friday. My son tells me I have ADD just like him. I usually don't keep my interest for very long. But....something tells me that I'll keep up with this blog......stay tuned!

(communication)

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(unconditional love)

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LOL

(laughing out loud)

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Happy family & marriage

Why am I blogging?

Okay...well I came up with this crazy idea thanks to my friend SC (she shall remain anonoymous until she approves my kudos). One day while hanging at the beach she said" Denise, you should really write a book". This suggestion came after some "grown-up" drinks and some conversation about my daily updates on Facebook. Although, initially I thought she was just being a good friend, I put some more thought into it, and here we are. I've always desired to write a book about one thing or another. After my thinking of and mulling over her suggestions....I thought it would be a good idea to start this family blog. It beats Family Therapy at $20 a co-pay per week. Soon.....you will read about life through each family members eyes. I warn you I promise this will be a reality blog.......sometimes I do not edit before I hit "save". My hubby and friends often tells me I share too much. This is your only warning. Please visit often and comment as much as you want.....

Love,

Denise

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LOL

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Happy family & marriage