heyMamas

Fancy

This is how my girls showed up to dinner tonight...

 

{Lily and Belle}

{And then the posing that went on as they made their way over to the table...OMG, dramatic!}

{I get the feeling that the teenage years may not be as smooth as I envision them in my head.}

Down Time

I just had the best five days with Drew and the girls.  My apologies for being so quiet here, but I really needed some time to just unwind and not have anything at all on my "to do" list.

Saturday morning, we drove four hours upstate to visit my sister and her family and we bowled, and watched movies and never made it swimming like we planned, or to the movies, but we hung out, and talked and talked, and the kids played for hours, and we consumed copious amounts of junk food.

We came home on Monday and spent the last few days lounging and watching movies.  We just got home from seeing Just Go With It, and it was a great movie.  We ate Chipotle and are getting into bed now to watch American Idol. 

I am going to miss Drew and the girls tomorrow like I always do the day after spending so much time with them.  It sucks.  Bad.

Lily decided the best way to combat these feelings we were all having, would be for me to stay home and when my boss comes looking for me for not having shown up at work, I could just hide in the refrigerator.

An innovative thinker.  I like it. 

The Money Effect

When we first moved to Long Island I knew it was only a matter of time before we would be up against certain situations where my girls would come home and say, "Sloane has this and Emily has that or Taylor has an ipad and she is only in second grade, why can't I have an ipad?"

I am well aware of the fact that children wanting something another child has is not a phenomenon specific to our town.  This is a normal occurrence no matter where you live any where in the world.  The level of the material possession may change but kids are kids and they want what other kids have and there will always be those kids that have more, or the latest gadget, or the best clothes.

Having said that, Long Island and New York are not exactly like the rest of the country though.  People here spend money hand over fist.  I am sure many of them can afford to buy these things, and some that do, probably shouldn't, but they do anyway.  Their priorities seem to be out of line and saving is not as important as spending is, and a keeping up with the Jones' attitude is a very real thing. 

Lately, we have found that trying to raise children in this environment where we are savers and many others are spenders, is definitely a rough road to navigate.  It seems that I am explaining on a weekly basis, the value of money and how we choose to spend or save ours, may differ from others and those are our choices. 

Everyone makes different choices.  Some people choose to be fiscally responsible and plan ahead and others are not as fiscally responsible and don't plan ahead.  I think my girls are getting it and someday they will thank us for teaching them the concept of saving. 

Lily has decided to take twenty five percent of her allowance and put it away for the house she wants to buy in Charleston, when she graduates college.

So we forge ahead because when I hear Lily talk about saving and the house she is going to buy, I am hopeful that some of our tremendous efforts are sinking in, but believe me a brand new pair of tall Uggs is much easier for them to understand.

Winning the Lottery

Belle's class has been doing segments with a Long Island Kidsday Reporter that has included various product reviews, stories and interviews.  Last week her teacher conducted a lottery in class and four children were picked to travel into the city, go to Planet Hollywood and meet Bailee Madison, the little girl in the new Jennifer Aniston movie, Just Go With It.

Belle got picked!

Planet Hollywood is only three blocks from my office!

And they didn't get into the city until 4:30pm, which means I got to work almost the whole day and still partake in a school activity with my girl!

What a coup for me....and her!

Once the kids got into the city and made it to Planet Hollywood, Bailee came out and was photographed by about twenty five photographers.

 

{I have never seen so many flashes going off at once and they must have taken at least four thousand pictures of her.  The flashes were constant.  I had a glimpse of how annoying paparazzi must be to celebrities.}

{Then she put her handprints into cement so they could add it to the other celebrity handprints that adorn the walls throughout the restaurant.}

The kids waited for Bailee to complete her various interviews and then she came to a private part of the restaurant and sat with them while they asked her the questions they had prepared.  Belle was so composed and acted like Bailee was just a friend.  After every answer that Bailee gave, she would say "you're so cute" to Belle. 

After Bailee left, we stayed and had dinner at Planet Hollywood.  The entire day was magical to Belle.  Just the train ride into the city was enough to give her a thrill.  

I am so blessed that I got to share something like this with Belle and I know she will never forget it, especially the part that had me right there by her side. 

I love you baby!

Happy Valentine's Day LOVERS!

{The following post was written by my ten year old going on thirty year old daughter, Belle.}

Hi, this is Belle at heyMamas.com wishing you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!

As you all know, Valentine's Day is about love and a special someone to celebrate with. I know me and my family are very busy visiting friends and family and with you too.

All those couples out there give each other a special Valentine's kiss and pretend your falling in love all over again.  Me and my Mom are very tight and love each other as the same goes for my Dad who are always going to be there for each other too.

All you lovers and couples HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

P.S seriously this is Belle, you're all the best and you all will rock each other's world's forever.

Love always Belle Daniels