Thank you Nana!

Today we spent the morning lounging around with Nana and catching up. Then we were off to run errands, followed by Nana's favorite lunch at Red Lobster. And then reluctantly, we took Nana home.

Thank you Nana Jessica for making this past weekend possible for us! Kerri truly enjoyed your visit, and I was able to enjoy my trip knowing Kerri was in good hands and having the time of her life. We miss you already!

Life with Kerri is awesome.

The Escape comes to an end!

I got to the hotel after "Mom's night out" around 12:30 AM. And just as I was going to go to sleep, my hubby called. I think he misses me! After saying goodnight, I packed and tried to sleep, but only managed to toss and turn for an hour and a half before my 3 AM wake up call. So I never did go to sleep.

After checking out of the hotel, I drove the empty streets looking for an open gas station. And once that was taken care of, I headed to Fort Lauderdale airport to return my rental car. And guess who was waiting for me? My new best friend Shannon at the rental counter! We had a few laughs (at 4 AM no less) and then he told me his first name and handed me his personal cell phone number, and told me to call him anytime I rent a car from this company. He promised me he would upgrade me for free to the highest possible car available, every time, anywhere in the world. I love my new friend!

Then I waited yet again for the screeners at the airport to arrive, and then went through insecurity, only to be pulled aside. Apparently, my CPAP machine had to be taken out, swabbed with some kind of bomb detection thing, and then rescanned outside of it's case, which meant that my entire carry-on bag had to be rescanned and repacked. But the agent was a doll and very apologetic, and he did his very best to try and put everything back the way he found it.

I was able to change my seat to an aisle seat, and the flight was uneventful. I watched a movie called "Mall Cop" but was too lazy to put on headphones so I just read lips and tried to guess what was being said. It made the movie that much funnier! Once I landed in NJ, I already had the three mile walk and shuttle bus shuffle down pat, so I found a comfy seat right in front of my gate, had a bite to eat, and began reading my book "My Sister's Keeper". I tried very hard not to fall asleep! And somewhere to the side of me, the continued saga of the Michael Jackson tragedy continued to play on CNN. Ugh.

The next flight was awesome, I had the very first seat, 1A! I could see the cockpit and all the bells and whistles in there. So I settled in for the short flight home. I was the first one off the plane, the second one to go through Customs and Immigration and the third one to get my suitcase and head out the door. And looked for the first restroom I could find!

I called hubby, and waited for him outside while he hurried from work to pick me up. And after a hello kiss (like in some romantic movie) and storing all my bags away, I buckled my seat belt and this comes out of hubby's mouth: "What do you think about living in Paris?" Good thing my seat belt was buckled! He had a phone interview, and another one scheduled later this week for some big company in France. We have a lot of thinking to do!

Coming home was fun, I could not wait to see Kerri and Nana. And I got the best reception ever! Kerri made tons of pictures for me, and a few necklaces that say "Mom" on them. She missed me! But she had a great time with Nana, who agreed to stay one more night so I could get some rest. And after some Chinese takeout, I went upstairs to unpack and that's the last I remember. Apparently, Kerri and hubby both gave me goodnight kisses, but I was out like a light at 7 PM.

Life with Kerri is home sweet home.

Kerri and Nana

Life with Kerri is picture perfect.

The great Escape, day three!

After a wonderful 7 hours of sleep, I had time to enjoy my morning, and lounge around until 7 AM. Then I was off to run errands again. My first stop was to the Fed Ex /Kinko's store to mail a package to my Dad. Then I took a trip down memory lane (University Drive) to the Argentine bakery. I bought myself some sandwiches de miga and facturas, and spent at least a half hour drooling over the grocery shelves. I was tempted, but did not want to tempt fate and customs on the return flight home!

Then the fun began. I picked up Tammie and Erin, and we headed to the Chinese buffet restaurant to await the arrival of the South Florida FCC families. It was our fourth year anniversary! And the place was packed, with so many new families and all the beautiful children playing with balloons and bubbles. I had a great time playing with the princesses Emma and Gracie, Livie and Sofi, Ethan and Katie, and Mae Li, and so many others! It was wonderful to catch up with everyone, and I even bought Kerri a new Panda outfit made by the amazing Jolene. After four hours, I really did not want to leave, but needed to take Tammie home (she had a horrible migraine).

In the evening, some of the Moms from the FCC group decided to have a "Mom's night out" at the movies, so we met up at the theatre to see the movie "Proposal". It was fun! And then we went to Ruby Tuesday's to have some dessert and close the place down at midnight. I don't think any of us really wanted to leave. And for me, it was goodbye, since I was leaving at 4 AM to go to the airport.

From left to right: Tammie, Grace, Candy, Me, Brenda and Minouche. Not pictured: Shari, Lisa, and Lori

Kerri, Nana and Daddy spent the day at the movies and saw "Up", and then they went to the big arches restaurant. Apparently, Nana gave Kerri a mani/pedi in purple nail polish! They are having a blast without me.

My trip was so much fun, and it was wonderful to see old friends again! But I am really looking forward to going home, seeing my family, and getting some sleep!

Life with Kerri is something I am missing.

Day two of my Escape!

After three hours sleep, I woke up early Saturday morning and enjoyed using the bathroom, and taking a shower all by myself. In complete silence. With no interruptions. I had almost forgotten what that was like!

I picked up Tammie and Erin in the morning, and we had a blur of errands to run. Around 10 AM, Erin's tummy was hurting, so we stopped for breakfast. Then we visited Game Stop, Walmart, Target, Publix and the liquor store. Off we went to pick up a bean salad at Tammie's house, and by 2:30 PM we arrived at Lisa's house for Maddie's 6th birthday party, followed by a pre-4th of July party - complete with fireworks.

After tears and hugs and taking pictures, I settled in to create my signature "Cup of Courage" Sangria drink. It was a hit! Of course, after just one little cup, I was ready to fall asleep, so I spent the next few hours sitting on the couch chatting away (hoping no one would notice I could not stand up).

Tammie and I clowning around (the bottles were empty for real!)

The "Sistas" from left to right: Jamey, Michelle, Lisa, Me (on the chair) and Tammie with our Cups of Courage!

Lisa, Michelle and Faith The beautiful Miss Erin

Cassidy and Casey

One of Faith's adorable sons and Erin

The sexy Mama Jamey

The Princess Olivia

The beautiful birthday girl Maddie!

It was wonderful to see all my "Sistas". Lisa sure knows how to throw a party! And after a very full and wonderful day, I took Tammie and Erin home and then went to the hotel, where I collapsed on the bed and slept more than three hours for the first time in two days. But first I talked to hubby and Kerri, who still did not miss me and where having lots of fun! Hubby set up a pool for Kerri in our backyard, and they had a blast eating junk and playing with Nana all day.

Life with Kerri is not the same from afar!

The Escape.

Today was day one of my trip to Florida. I tried to wake up Kerri to kiss her goodbye at 4 AM, but she just turned around and kept sleeping. So hubby gently tore me away from her room and took me to the airport. There was no one there!

After waiting for people to show up to work, and then get ready to go to work, I finally made it through insecurity and stood in line for Immigration/Customs, which was opening at 5 AM. My flight boarded at 5:30 AM, but we did not know what gate. And at 5:15 AM, an agent came out to announce that all the computers were down.

I did board my flight on time (barely), and was shocked at how little the seat and plane was. People had to stoop down to enter the craft so they would not hit their heads. Not me! For once in my life I was glad to be short(er). We had turbulence (note to self, do not attempt to drink hot beverages again when experiencing turbulence).

The Newark airport was a mess. There was construction everywhere, and after walking a marathon to take a bus to another terminal, I had another three miles of walking to do. Then I was treated to four hours of sitting and watching the Michael Jackson tragedy on CNN over and over again. I was more than happy to pre-board my next flight to Florida. Until the scout troop pack leader crammed his immense body in the middle seat and spilled over onto ME. I spent the rest of the flight leaning sideways into the window.

(Kerri asked me to take pictures of clouds, so this one is for her!)

Florida was hot and humid. I walked another three miles in the terminal to find my rental car company and that is when I met my newest best friend. His tag said his name was Shannon, and we hit it off and he upgraded me for free from the cheapest possible (my reservation) to a full size WITH GPS so I would not get lost! Then it was a mad drive on the Florida Turnpike in the thick rain to get to the bank on time. I stopped to pay a toll and the attendant recognized me from somewhere (or thought he did) and started telling me in Spanish how great it was to see me and how wonderful I looked! I still have no idea who he is.

At the bank, I was treated like a movie star, since my friend Tammie works there and has told them all about me. I met the lovely Donna, a teller who I recognized from Facebook. And then there was Anna, and Chris. More new friends! And of course, my friend Tammie.

I checked in to the hotel and then Tammie showed up and we went out for Sushi. They put us in a booth and we pretty much held it up with our (how do I say TATAS nicely?), um, cleavage. Note to self: voluptuous women dining together should always pick a table instead of a booth, so we have more surface space available for our food.

MMMmmmm, Sushi!!

My friend Tammie

After a wonderful meal and catching up, we headed to the specialty coffee store to get a Breve, which I thought meant small, but turned out to be Gargantua sized Caramel Mocha-latta-capa-frapa-chino-something or other. And that was a big mistake. More on that later.

We went to my room to chat some more, and then exhaustion crept in. I had only slept three hours, so Tammie went home and I got into my PJ's and watched more 24/7 Michael Jackson coverage on every channel while I unpacked. And just when I was going to go to bed, my friend Chris called to tell me he was on his way. So I got dressed again and had a wonderful visit, chatting with my dear friend until the wee hours of the morning. And at 3:30 AM I finally went to bed, only to find my eyeballs wide open and my brain on a caffeine overload.

So much for rest and relaxation! But at least day one of my escape was a success. And although I missed Kerri and hubby, they assured me they were doing just fine without me. As a matter of fact, hubby told me I should leave more often. Apparently Kerri decided to poop in the potty, go to bed by herself, and behave beautifully while I was not there. And she was having the time of her life with her Nana!

Life with Kerri is full of surprises.

Nana's here!

Today Nana came to stay for an extended long weekend, so that Mommy can fly out to Florida tomorrow. We had lots of fun, and Kerri has her wrapped around her little finger. What I meant to say is that she is monopolizing Nana. What I really mean is that we no longer exist once Nana is here!

Today was Kerri's last day of school. Summer has officially started, and Kerri could not wait to get out of school to play with Nana. She did not even want to hug her teacher goodbye!

I am still not packed, so I am keeping this short and sweet. I will be taking lots of pictures on my trip, and will ask Nana to do the same, so I will have lots to post on my return. I am really going to miss everyone!

Life with Kerri is special, especially when Nana is around.

Pretend play

Kerri has a vivid imagination. And lately, it is being used more frequently, especially when she is playing. Today we sat outside waiting for Daddy to come home from work. Kerri was clutching her naked doll. And the girls from a few doors down came over to play. All of a sudden, I was "Grandma", Kerri was "Daddy", one girl was "Mommy" and the other "Auntie". And I was thrust into a four year old's version of playing house.

In my day, playing house was pretty lame. But in Kerri's version, there were trips to the doctor and the store, a visit to the hospital, and Grandma had to babysit. Mommy and Daddy fought over who got to hold baby or rock her to sleep. And Auntie was ever willing to do household chores and make endless bottles and change stinky diapers.

Thankfully, the real Daddy came home, and Kerri's imaginary world came to a temporary halt. But now that Daddy is doing the dinner dishes, Kerri is playing pirate with Pookie, whom she has now named "Black Beard".

If you can't beat them, join them. I am going to pretend to walk the plank and get a few moment's silence at the bottom of the ocean (also known as my living room couch). Argh, mateys!

Life with Kerri is imaginative!

What we did today!

• A few days ago, Kerri told me she would not miss me when I left for Florida. But today I told her I was going to go by myself to the spa to get my hair done. And all of a sudden she did not want me to go. Not to the spa, and not to Florida. Or she wanted to come with me to both. Amidst my reassurances, there were tears, and lots of hugs from Kerri. As I left I could hear her crying, it just broke my heart.
• After the spa, I headed down the street to have my eyebrows and upper lip waxed at the Nail Bar (a manicure/pedicure place). As I was leaving, a lady commented on my hair. She said: "I just love your natural hair color! I would pay big bucks to have that color hair." I could not resist and started laughing, and answered, "I just did pay big bucks to have this color hair, and you can too, just go see Chelsea at The Spa across the street." She was honestly shocked, and asked me what my natural hair color was, and I told her I was totally (prematurely, mind you) gray.
• Then I picked up Daddy and Kerri and we headed to the bestest purchases store to buy Daddy his Father's Day gift. After much debate and with Kerri's input, we settled on a Cobalt Blue Nintendo DS Lite and an accessory kit in the same color. Kerri reminded us that her DS will be pink, and she wants one when I get back from Florida.
• After that fun, we headed to the grocery store to pick up items for our little dinner party on Sunday. We are not only celebrating Father's Day. We are also celebrating that eight years ago, on June 21, Hubby and I stood in a gazebo surrounded by an intimate few and exchanged our marriage vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. We had a more lavish wedding later in Canada in September, so we get to celebrate our wedding anniversary twice!
• So tomorrow Nana may come over, and Carol and Andre will be by later too. And then we got a call from cousin Kim who will be coming to visit for a few days in the beginning of July! We can't wait to see her and her beautiful baby.
• By the way, Daddy finally got to experience what I had been telling him all along: how Kerri says "hi" to everyone she meets in public. And I mean everyone!
• We wanted to wish all the special Dads in our lives a very happy Father's Day. That means you Grandpa Oscar, and you Godfather David, and you Uncle Andre, and all the other special Dads we know and love!

Life with Kerri makes every day worth celebrating.

School Family Picnic!

Today was Kerri's school Family Picnic Day. First, the kids lined up and were separated into teams. Kerri's first stop: the face painting station! Except that she would not let them paint her face, so she chose a rainbow for her hand instead:

Then came some playground time:

The next stop was the painting station, Kerri's absolute favorite! She painted with a sponge:

Then she painted with a balloon:

Then came one brush, then two handed, two brush painting:

And finally she resorted to her hands:

Too bad the paint is not washable, ugh! Kerri's next stop was the egg/spoon race:

Followed by our picnic snack:

Then it was time to throw rubber chickens!

And some mini golf:

And last but not least, bubbles!

After all the activities, we headed inside to watch a very cool DVD the teacher put together, with pictures taken of the class throughout the year. I was surprised to find I was in a few, and then mortified when I realized I was wearing the same exact shirt today that was in the DVD!

It was a beautiful day. I can't believe Kerri is done with Junior Kindergarten next Thursday! Where did the time go?

Life with Kerri is happiness.

Sweeeeet!

Because sometimes...

a picture....

is worth....

a thousand...

SMILES!!!!

Life with Kerri is sweet!

A day at the hospital!

Today we set out to the Children's Hospital. We had an appointment at 1 PM with a speech pathologist to re-evaluate Kerri for Kindergarten. But we went really early so we could meet Daddy for lunch. You see, he works for the university's medical facility which is attached to the hospital. So once you find a parking spot (good luck), pass the Swine Flu test at the front door, get a GPS unit, a map and a tour guide, you can actually meet him at the cafeteria!

We had a fun employee meal, and as we were finishing up, a clown came in for her lunch break. I am sorry I did not take a picture, Kerri's reaction was priceless! She asked the lady if she was a real clown, and kept staring at her big, shiny red nose. The clown lady sweetly chatted with Kerri and gave her a sticker that said she was a "special kid". It made Kerri's day!

After lunch we headed to our appointment, led by our fearless guide Daddy. He had to go back to work, but ensured we did not get lost in the maze of corridors. Kerri met a disabled child, who decided she wanted to sit with me and hold my arm. It was amazing to watch Kerri try to befriend and play with her, impervious to the child's obvious physical impairments. It's not that she did not notice them, she just didn't care! I wish more adults could be like Kerri. It was wonderful to watch the child's mother just beam and smile at us. I can only imagine how many stares or looks of pity she must have to put up with every day.

The speech evaluation went well, but I was dismayed to find out that although Kerri has progressed in learning certain sounds in therapy, she still scored with a severe phonological delay, and was only understood 50% of the time. No different than when we first started therapy, but she really has come a long way. The good news is that she will not only qualify, but be put at the top of the list to get speech therapy in Kindergarten through the school system. We just don't know when it will start. So we still have to go the private route until this kicks in, whenever that will be. But help is coming, eventually!

The other good news is that Kerri will overcome her phonological delay eventually with therapy. And that was wonderful to hear! She is above average on language, comprehension and vocabulary. So her only problem is pronunciation of sounds (and the elaborate system she has developed to substitute certain sounds for others!). Kerri's hearing test is scheduled for January, and the speech pathologist asked us to approach our pediatrician a certain way to ask for an evaluation for Occupational Therapy, which she is convinced Kerri is in need of. I shared my frustrations, but she gave me some tips on what to say (and what NOT to say) to the doctor to get what Kerri needs. So I will try again!

All in all, it was a positive experience, and Kerri made new friends and impressed a clown, a pathologist, and two moms in just one afternoon. I could not be prouder of her.

Life with Kerri is amazing!

Hair and the Fair

Before the haircut:

And after the haircut:

They cut six inches off the back!

Later, at the mall, Kerri checks out her new hair do in a mirror:


So, do you like your new hair Kerri?

Today we went to the school fair. This is Kerri in a bounce house:

Sorry about the quality, my camera focused on the screen:

But you can still see Kerri jumping away!

Afterwards, Kerri and her 4 year old friend Natalie played tug of war against Daddy. Natalie's older brother jumped in to help out. I did not take any pictures because I did not want to humiliate Daddy, who lost (on purpose - Shh!).

Afterwards, Kerri tried her hand at some games, and won every single time! Here she is waiting her turn for the frog jump - you hit the frog's lever with a hammer and it has to land inside a hole:

And on her first try, she won!

Here she is picking out a prize:

She also won a bean bag game, and a ball game. Here she is making a bracelet:

Kerri had lots of fun at the school fair!

Life with Kerri is my winning ticket.

Weekend updates!

• Friday, when I picked Kerri up from school, she started sobbing in the car. She told me that she had picked flowers (weeds) at school for me and that her teacher had thrown them away. Kerri has such a loving, giving heart. She is always gifting me with something when I pick her up from school: a pine cone, a twig, a dandelion. So, I took her to the grocery store and told her that she could buy me new flowers. She said "it's not the same." My heart broke for her, and swelled with pride at the same time. She did end up buying a huge bouquet of pink carnations that she picked out herself - and proudly stated they were for both me and herself.
• Kerri's garage sale went great! Here's the main reason why: Carol ended up giving away most of Kerri's things for free! There was one family who had just arrived from Israel, and they had two young daughters and very little money. We are so pleased Kerri's things will now be loved and played with again! Kerri did make considerate earnings too, and she decided to put the money in her piggy bank. She also gave Carol and Andre each a gift for their collections, as a way of saying thank you (or in lieu of a commission). All in all, it was a huge success for many reasons, and we are very grateful to our friends for all they did. By the way, Carol made a whopping $1.60 selling her own things, so most of the mula went to Kerri! And whatever was not sold was donated to a charity. It really was a feel good day!
• We spent Saturday shopping: Kerri bought bubbles and sidewalk chalk...and rain boots. Daddy bought a summer jacket and a backpack for his commute to work. Mommy bought ice cream cones for everyone at the mall! And we got Kerri's glasses fixed (again!), and started the paperwork process for a new referral to a pediatric opthamologist (after her doctor passed away unexpectedly). There is now a 1 to 2 YEAR wait, so we are going the private route and hoping Kerri will be seen soon, since her eye is really deteriorating.
• The weather has been absolutely fabulous! It is in the 50's during the night, and goes up to the 70's during the day. The birds start singing around sunrise, which is like 4 AM, so I am ready to evict them! And sundown is around 9 PM, so getting Kerri to bed is a chore, since it is still bright outside.
• Kerri got a haircut! Twice! Let me explain: Friday night Kerri was playing with her safety scissors. Her hair was in a ponytail. Later that evening, when she went to brush her teeth, I took the ponytail out. And a HUGE chunk of hair fell into the sink (it was being held in place by the ponytail). Kerri adamantly claims she did NOT cut her own hair. Hubby says it looks like it was cut. So, Saturday we went to the hair salon and Kerri's hair was chopped off. She now is sporting a longer version of a bob. I will post pictures later!
• Kerri's last day of school is less than two weeks away! And the following day, I will be leaving on a few jet planes. I am taking a solo trip to South Florida, without Kerri for the first time ever. She will be enjoying a weekend visit from her Nana, and Daddy is armed and ready with movie and museum passes galore. I suspect Kerri is going to have lots of fun! Daddy promised to cook, and said he would make Macaroni and cheese (the kind that comes in a box). I hope they eat more than chips and junk while I am gone! And as for Mommy, my weekend will be spent seeing friends and having some alone time - something I vaguely remember. The trip started out as a one day business trip, and hubby suggested I take the whole weekend and see our friends and enjoy myself. Although I am nervous about leaving Kerri, we have been preparing her for the trip, and I hope she will be so distracted with Nana that she won't miss me!
• I finally found a solution to our missing sock collection: I place the lonely sock in a separate drawer, and eventually hope the missing match will be found! So far my new lonely sock drawer has a vast membership, and more join the club daily. I think I will start an online dating site for the lonely sock club.Maybe I will call it E-pair, or Match-me! Maybe the squirrels in my attic have the missing socks and use them as tail warmers. It is a mystery.
• Pookie got a new ball! Carol and Andre brought him a tennis ball, and he is obsessed. After several hours of playing with it, hubby hid the ball. Pookie spent the next hour looking for it, and then moping. If you even say the word "ball", Pookie instantly starts searching. We have a collection of balls hidden on every floor of this house! When we move, I am sure we will leave a few forgotten balls behind, and the new tenants will think we were fanatic tennis players - who nervously chewed up the balls before each game.

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Life with Kerri makes every day special.

Spring cleaning!

Our friend Carol is having a community garage sale in her complex this Saturday. Since she did not have that much to sell, she offered to sell any items we wanted to get rid of. I normally Freecycle these things, and all of Kerri's clothes are handed down to a friend. But Kerri's possessions are a different story. She has every thing we have ever given her since she was a baby. Up until now, she would willingly give away her clothes, but not her possessions. We just chalked it up to an attachment "thing" and never questioned or forced her to part with them. That meant the entire basement playroom was overflowing. Until today.

When hubby and I talked about Carol's offer, we decided to approach Kerri with the suggestion. We told her she could sell her things, and whatever money she made would be hers to spend as she wishes. She could use that money to buy more things, things we have told her she could not have or would have to wait until her birthday or a holiday. Or she could save it. Convinced Kerri would refuse, we were shocked when she jumped on the opportunity (in her words) "to give other children a chance to enjoy her toys". Wow.

So last night we went through the entire basement, and we now have five boxes of books, movies, toys, even furniture! Kerri decided to sell her kitchen. I was sure she would not give that up. She is selling her rocking chairs, her table sets, even her Little People collection (and it is vast). I added all her toddler dishes and cups to her collection, and we now have enough to fill the Mama Mobile to overflowing. I warned Carol, even offered to help, but she is delighted to take this on herself, knowing she is doing this for Kerri.

So Spring cleaning has officially begun!

Life with Kerri is surprising.

School news

I have been asked what other fun things are happening at Kerri's school. Here are the school plans for the last month:

• Volunteer appreciation breakfast
• Talent show
• Spring Fair
• Butterfly release and picnic

I think I will skip the volunteer breakfast, and the Spring Fair is a maybe, but I will definitely be attending the butterfly release picnic! You see, Kerri's class has been learning about bugs the last month and they have raised butterflies in captivity. Kerri is super excited to see them fly away to freedom, and as much as I hate bugs, I will be there to share in her joy and wonder. Even if I puke.

Kerri's last day of school is on Thursday June 25th. And she starts Kindergarten in September. Where did the time go?

We have some decisions to make about the upcoming school year. Kerri's school has made some major changes that will affect Kerri. They are turning the afternoon Kinder class into French immersion, which means Kerri will be forced to go to the morning class at 8 AM with almost every other Kinder student. This means double the class size! And class is from 8:15 AM - 10:45 AM. Kerri has already stated she refuses to get up early to go to school. The school does not even have Kinder teachers yet, they have yet to be hired. And way too many teachers are leaving this school, so that is not a good sign. It's a small school with under 300 kids. The only other public school here is French immersion only.

Our only other option, which is not an easy one for us, is for Kerri to attend a very expensive all day private school across town. And this also would mean I need to find a job with a substantial salary and flexible hours. Since hubby took a pay cut to work for the University, and was out of work for so many months, we are still trying to recover. I wish I had a crystal ball sometimes, so I would not have to take so many leaps of faith! Then again, that's what life is all about, right?

Life with Kerri is what makes it all worthwhile.

Crazy Hair and Hat Day

Today is Crazy Hair and Hat day at Kerri's school, and to participate in the school spirit celebration, Kerri volunteered to wear a crazy hair do:



Kerri's friend Maria brought a crazy hat to school. here the two girls pose for a picture:

And here is Kerri with her teacher, who wore a crazy hat to school:

This one was just for fun:


Life with Kerri is always full of good spirit!

What we did on Friday

Yesterday Kerri went back to school. She had a lot of fun, and spent lots of time outside running around and playing. It was such a beautiful day, the teacher decided to let them have some free time. By the time we got home, Kerri's cheeks were very red and she was over heating. So, I stripped her down, put her into summer clothing, stood her in front of the air conditioner and handed her a Popsicle to cool her off.

Three Popsicles later, Kerri decided she was finally cool enough to go play outside again. I gathered all our multiple containers of bubbles and met all the neighbor kids on our front lawn. It was a bubble fest! And we ended up covered in soap, because almost all the kids managed to spill bottle containers as they switched and tried different ones.

After Daddy arrived from work, and watched the bubble fest for awhile, we headed to the back yard for an impromptu barbecue. Daddy made T-bone steaks while I made salad and french fries. And ice cream for dessert! It is starting to feel like summer is here. It's in the 40's at night, and can go up to 70 in the day. Beautiful weather! Now only if it would stay this way all summer long!

After dinner, Kerri and Daddy watched yet another Harry Potter film. Kerri asked Daddy if she could attend Hogwarts Academy when she is old enough. She is really into Harry Potter!

This weekend we are going to take it easy because I am still very sick. I have loads of laundry to do too. But I am going to try to convince Daddy to take Kerri to see the movie "Up".

Life with Kerri is magical.

The Lice Squad

Yesterday the Lice Squad came to our rescue. And while the nurse worked on Kerri's hair (she only had a mild case), we chatted. Especially Kerri. The nurse (who after 18 years in nursing switched careers and became a school teacher) told us Kerri was very bright. And that she expected that Kerri would shine in math and science - two of her favorite subjects, by the way.

We did receive an education about the proper way to treat Kerri. She asked us to throw away the chemicals, sprays and poisons we have been using on her. Instead, she provided us with an alternate, all natural way to treat her. And it worked!

We are now on a two day follow-up program, and once Kerri comes clean two treatments in a row, we are done. It was a very expensive few hours, but worth every penny. If anyone is interested in learning more, check out their website: http://www.licesquad.com/

We also went to the doctor yesterday. Kerri has a cold. I am on antibiotics again. Life is back to normal!

Life with Kerri is the best investment.

What did she say?!

It's been a busy few days so I will do my best to catch you up on all the interesting parts. Of course, I have a short term memory problem so I most likely won't remember most of them. Here goes:

For starters, the whole family is sick. Daddy is recovering from whatever he still had while we were in Florida. Kerri caught something at the birthday party last Sunday. And yesterday I finally gave up and joined them. Kerri has missed three days of school so far.

The lice squad is finally coming to our rescue! Yes, the professional nit pickers will be here tomorrow at 3:30 PM. I will have party banners waving (more like the white flag of surrender!). I hope we can put an end to this once and for all.

I forgot to pay our rent on the 1st. So on the 2nd, Nana Jessica came to visit (more about that in a bit). And so Kerri, Nana and I went to the rental office. Kerri entered holding Nana's hand. The receptionist commented on how cute Kerri was. Then I handed her the rent check, and she looked at our names on the check and commented that usually my husband is the one to drop them off. Then she asked if Kerri was my granddaughter.

Yup, you read that right. But wait, it gets better. I said no, the tall one is my niece (referring to Nana) and the little one is my daughter. So far so good, right? And then the receptionist leans over and says, "but then whose is she?".

Yup, you read that right too. And before I said some sarcastic or nasty remark, I checked myself, counted to ten, and said (a little louder this time), "She is MY daughter."

And with that, we left the office. I hoped Kerri would be none the wiser, but alas, that night after Nana left, Kerri went into a two minute monologue about how - even though she is little - she is responsible for other people's words and actions. And of course we straightened her out on that one. I could have ringed that receptionist's neck.

On a more positive note, Kerri and Nana had so much fun! And I had fun watching them have fun. They played Candy Land and Lite Brite. They made and decorated cupcakes together, and did a great job! They watched Harry Potter too (Kerri has been on a Harry Potter movie kick for the last few days). We were sad to drop her off, but you would never know it. We laughed and giggled all the way there! Let's just say Kerri was up to her usual antics. I can't explain it, because it was one of those you-just-had-to-be-there moments.

So tomorrow we all go to the doctor. Hopefully Kerri will feel better enough to go to school. Then the Lice Squad is coming to our rescue. It's going to be a busy day!

Life with Kerri is my daily reality show.