The non-sporty boy. He likes to dance!

Posted | 0 comments

The other day I read an article on HuffPost Parents about raising a boy that doesn’t play sports. I shared it on my Facebook page.

It resonated with many more people than I expected. It would appear that there are many non-sporty boys out there.

I guess I was sharing it as my own explanation for having a boy that doesn’t like sports. People normally ask what sports he’s doing instead of a general “what is he doing?”. I always launch into an explanation about how he tried all these different sports but never found his thing. Trying to explain. I see him struggle to answer it sometimes too. Although he is playing basketball right now, so at least he has that to offer. But let’s just say the college scouts are not making a bee line for the local YMCA’s courts. Um, no.

But I don’t want us to do that anymore. Why am I listing the things he has tried and doesn’t like? Why don’t I tell people that he draws, builds, and creates? He is loving his clarinet lessons. He’s going to take more acting classes. Fencing is something he’d like to try. They can ask him questions about all those things!

So in that spirit what he really loves, what he does, is dance.

I frequently tell people that there is nothing my boy works harder at or likes to do more than dance. Hip Hop dance to be precise. He is not a prodigy, but he’s really really good. And he loves it. So there you go.

The day I posted that FB status update we also went to his dance class and I took a little snippet of video…

Miss Twyla worked them really hard that day. He only learned those moves 15 minutes before I tried to stealthily record them through the glass door. In the car on the way home he said, “OMG that’s not a dance studio, that’s a murder room! I think I’m dying!!”.

He might have felt that way, but he’ll go back to that murder room. Week after week he will go. And love every minute of it. Because it’s what he does.

Refrigerator Light – how does this thing work.

Posted | 0 comments

Refrigerator Light – how does this thing work.

Ah the minds of 5 year olds. How do those work?!

Preschool Graduation – the baby is all growed up

Posted | 0 comments

I’m not gonna lie. This hurts. This hurts like all get out.

My baby just graduated from Preschool. That means he’s off to Kindergarten in the fall.

Kindergarten.

Elementary School.

With the big kids.

A giant backpack on his back.

Lunch made.

Jumping out of the van.

Running up the path.

Away from me.

AWAY FROM ME.

They are all moving away from me, all three. All the time. It’s the nature of kids. The grow. They move away from you. That’s what’s supposed to happen. But GAWD it hurts like a mutha.

I just want to keep them all right here, for just a bit longer.

I am having all the feels.

Next year means all the kids will be in one school. I got little brother into the after school program for the kindergarteners. That means one drop off. One pickup.

I have 8:30 – 2:45 all to myself. To do anything. Or something. I don’t even know what. What the hell am I going to do? But what if they need me? They’re so grown up, but still so little. Ridiculous.

ALL THE FEELS.

Sensitive letter writer strikes again

Posted | 0 comments

We are about to set off for Mexico on an Anniversary trip. That means NO KIDS. I am conflicted. I reeeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllly want to go but I’m nervous to leave the kids. I know their in good hands, but I will miss them. I worry. I’m crazy!

I think my daughter could sense this. She gave me this letter. I promptly put it in my suitcase to bring with me. Because that’s what neurotic mothers do.

She has become an epic letter writer. I see journalling in her future!

Red Jacket Beach Resort on Cape Cod

Posted | 0 comments

Our family recently took a trip down the Cape for April school vacation. We stayed at the Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth. We’ve been to the Red Jacket Mountainview Resort and loved it, so we were really looking forward to checking out what the Beach Resort had to offer.

The check in process was simple and friendly. The front desk even called as soon as we got in to make sure we found our room ok. I’m not sure that’s a regular thing as much as I think we looked a bit tired and confused about where to go (3 kids in the car for a couple of hours will do that to you ;-)

We stayed in one of the newly renovated townhouses. Amazing. The kids couldn’t stop saying “Oh Look!” and “Look at this!”. The oceanfront townhouse (37 steps to the beach – I counted) has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a completely outfitted kitchen, and a washer dryer.

The resort has 150 guest rooms with queen or king beds, cottages, townhomes and other deluxe accommodations with comforts such as complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, private balconies or patios, in-house vended laundry and available Jacuzzi rooms. A good portion of the rooms were renovated over the winter and look lovely!

We ate dinner at the restaurant at the resort the first night. It was pretty quiet and the food was average pub fare. I asked about it at the front desk the next day. They told me because it’s not high season they have a very limited menu. In the summertime they have themed buffets, out door patio dining, and it’s much more lively. But oftentimes families are looking for that quintessential cape cod restaurant experience and they go offsite after their day at the gorgeous Red Jacket private beach.

On our first full day the kids headed out to the Kids Klub after breakfast. Over April vacation they had all kinds of activities as a preview for summer fun at the Red Jacket. They check you in around 9:30 and it lasts until 1 pm. There are arts and crafts, games and a trip to the pool (in the spring).

My oldest really enjoyed the magic of Markus and Angelique Steelgrave. My middle loved going to paint night wither her Dad. And the littlest was all about the pool. They also had X Box One tournaments, culinary demonstrations, martini samplings, s’more nights at the beach campfire, movies on the big screen, an in-house caricaturist, and much more.  There are tennis and basketball courts to keep them busy and moving as well. In the summertime there are also hermit crab races, beach parties, pirate week, nature walks, live music, and poolside movies!

There is a gorgeous full service spa on the property as well. I spoke to a woman at the lounge who had just come from a massage and she couldn’t say enough good things about it!

The Red Jacket Beach Resort is a fun family getaway. We can’t wait to get back there this summer. We’re thinking we might head down for the Yarmouth Summer Celebration to catch the fireworks and all the other awesome stuff they have planned.

Ah summer… is it here yet??

Ready to book a trip? You can do that right here!

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

Disclosure: This post (and my sharing on social media) was inspired by my participation in a program with Red Jacket Resorts. I was given a complimentary stay at Red Jacket Resort. All opinions are my own.

Spring is finally here and you have my daughter to thank

Posted | 0 comments

I was cleaning up my 6 year old daughter’s room a bit the other day. I am always telling her to be careful of leaving things over the heating vent. So naturally my eyes landed on a piece of paper over the vent. It was a bit wrinkled and looked like a note. I hesitated momentarily because, privacy. But then I remember, six.

I also noticed who is was addressed to… “Muthr Nachr”

That’s Mother Nature to you :-)

I HAD to open it. Privacy be damned. It was addressed to Mother Nature for goodness sake! Amirite?

So I open it and read it and what follows melts me to a muthr puddle.

In case you can’t decipher it. Let me translate:

To Mother Nature,
It is Sisi. I’m here to tell you my mom is having a lot of trouble with the snow.
And we are having trouble with the snow.
Please make it stop. Please?
Thank you.

Love,
Sisi
Um, WHAT?

Are you dying from cute? Because I did!

So you all have my daughter to thank for the snow stopping and Spring finally being here. You’re welcome.

And this is her winter self portrait. Ad yes I know my special snowflake is super talented, but you can go ahead and comment on it anyway ;-)