Hula Boy and Hula Girl tried everything that was on the snack list. There were some definate favorites.
Laura, even though she gave her two cents was instead fired. She suggested beer! Although that may be the perfect snack the kids said it smelled like a skunk’s butt. (ok they have smelled beer and made that comment before)
Burfica you had a winning idea with Pizza Soup. Here’s why. Hula Boy LOVES pizza. Especially pepperoni pizza. We made it and he ate 2 bowls. That in itself is a record.
Kris the winning storyline led to break out laughter and HE ATE ALL HIS FLIPPING VEGGIES. As I sat dumbfounded at the massacre of Clone Broccoli I could not believe it. Sure I use to do stories about his food when he was a baby, but again I think my imagination was sucked out of me after child birth. Don’t know…lost my head.
Both kids agree that they enjoyed all ideas. Unfortunately they could not decide on one together. So………
BOTH KRIS AND BURFICA HAVE WON. See how easy that was? Now I just need to know how to ship these lovely prizes and what you would like. You have your choice between Starbucks and Walmart. Which one would you like?

You can email me at huladoula@gmail.com Congrads to you both.

I have always abstained from posting politically, but it is interesting what an 11 year old has to say. Let me first say that this post is not meant to offend. It is just a child’s questions and perspective on the inauguration. I know this may be offensive and I do not mean it to be. I need you to understand that children have a unique view on just about everything in this world.

Me - “So HG what did you think today while watching the inauguration at school?”
HG - “I get the big deal about changing of Presidents. I don’t get the whole big deal of Mr. Obama being the first black president. He’s a person. I’m a person. The only difference is the pigment in his skin because of the place where his ancestors were from.”
ME - “60 years ago this would not have happened. There would not have been a black president. He would not have been able to be served in a diner. He wouldn’t have been able to even use the same restrooms.”
HG - “Well that’s not fair. I learned about that in school. But isn’t he a person just like me? I mean that was YEARS ago. I was not even born. Why do people have to be angry so long? I mean our ancestors had land issue with the government. I don’t go yelling around that I am part Indian and to give me money and land. Yes, I like that I am Indian. I just don’t get it. ”
Me - “Yes. But the point is that even though you are Indian you have the option of claiming all sides of your heritage. Because your skin is white you generally relate to the Caucasian side of your heritage.”
HG - “I did not think I was claiming any side. I was just claiming ME! All of ME! But isn’t he like Irish or something else? I’m Irish too.”
Me - “That’s the beauty of America. Just like you…he is a mix as well. We just happen to be Indian and Irish mixed.”
HG - “So why didn’t you vote for him?”
Me - ” I voted for an Independent person.”
HG - “Are you mad that your guy lost?”
Me - “Nope. I wish he would have won but now it is not about winning or losing. It is about supporting and praying for our President no matter who he/she is. It is about showing respect for the position that he holds. We will see if his actions gain my personal respect.”
HG - “So then tell me again why him being President has anything to do with his skin color?”

So the idea of racism is lost on her. She had never noticed the color of her two best friends’ skin color until this. She had not known to be racist. She did not even know what it really was except from history books. I guess for me I would rather have her know what happened in history without carrying the anger and resentment of it forward. Take what happened as a lesson learned and still look at her best friend the same way she did the day before Inauguration Day.
I agree it is historic but I would rather look at him like a man that has a vision of change. I would rather judge his Presidency on the things he does in office whether that be good or bad that he does. I would rather stand in prayer because no matter what he does he will be under extreme scrutiny. If he succeeds I want him to succeed on his own merit and his policy not his skin color. If he fails I want him to fail as a President, not as a black man.

Our kitty Pooter that we’ve had for 18 years is sick. I have sat up with him each night for a few days now just to pet him and make him comfortable. He’s not suffering sick. You just know that he’s not feeling right. Honestly, it breaks my heart.
I don’t know how to tell him that it is ok to go. I don’t know how to let him go. I wish I could tell him how much I will miss him. I wish I could tell him about death so that he understood what was happening to him. I want so much to discuss with him old age and what that does to a body. I really want to just hold him all day and all night until he finally does peacably go. I don’t want to have to make the decision to have to put him down. Yet the moment that he acts like he’s suffering I know that I can’t sit by and watch him hurt.
After Hula Hubby and I got together I moved to Florida to go to school and be nearer to him. I moved into a horrible apartment with high as a kite neighbors. One day I went over and their cat was in labor. I saw him born. He want the runt of the group. He was so small. I fell in love with him. The day I took him I knocked on their door and they let me in. There was a guy on the couch forcing a kitten to inhale the smoke from his exhaling. He was smoking pot. I grabbed the kitten and ran out the door after leaving a note that read…”Here is 10 bucks for the kitten. That is more than you will get from the pet store. If you report me for taking this kitten, I have a copy of this note and I will also tell them why I took him. I took him because you all were forcing smoke from pot up his nose and I won’t stand for that. *&^*&*I^&*&^”
So we inherited a kitten. I was 21 when I got him and I’m 39 now. He’s just a part of our every day.
In all of this I just wish that I could help him understand that going to the light would be ok. I would also make sure to tell him that Macy (our dog) would be miserable without him. He makes it his business to make sure that the dog is not lonely. My heart aches to think that he doesn’t understand what is happening to him.
I know it may seem a bit over the top that I worry about him not understanding but I have to think that this happening has to be a little scary. My heart aches tonight. I know it won’t be long.

We will take yummy snack ideas up until tomorrow at 10:00 pm MST. Next week we promise we will try them. I will announce the winner in one week!!

I have decided that I want to do a contest. It was inspired out of a post on Twitter by VloggingMoms. She linked a post that was about healthy foods for kids.
What I plan to do is try out whatever recipe you leave in the comments. I will try them on Hula Boy because we know he’s the pickiest eater out there. Give me whatever you have. In the end you will be greatly rewarded.

Prize to the winner….$15.00 gift card from Bucky Stars. (Code word for S*arbuck*) If you don’t like Bucky Stars then you have your other choice which is a $15.00 Wal-Mart gift card.

Let’s see how creative you all are.

When I was growing up my mother constantly reminded me that pretty was only skin deep but beautiful came from the soul of a person. I find myself pondering even now how in the world I will instill that in my girl?
I know that as I look at my daughter she is a gorgeous girl. I also know the pressure from tv, magazines, and peers. I also know that being a woman now and having those same pressures put on myself then and now it is difficult to cope with body image and self esteem.
What I want for HG is to be able to not compare herself to others. To look at herself and see the beautiful gem that was created from love. No matter her shape, size, position in life, no matter career, single or married that she be able to look at herself in the mirror and not let it define who she is.
I am constantly saying to her that she has to take care of herself because her body is a blessing, but that who she sees in the mirror is what defines her. Her day to day actions, her choices, her honesty, her mouth, sometimes her pettiness, her heart that those are the things that define her beauty.
Because definition of beauty to me comes from within it does not give free reign to let the outer person go. In fact it is just the opposite. No matter what shape or size that if you take care of the outer person it will be to your benefit because then you have the whole package. Beauty inside…beauty outside.
“Pretty is as pretty does” whatever that means. Beauty is a light from the soul of a person that is seen through their daily actions. An obese person is capable of being beautiful. Just as a skinny person has that same capability. By choosing to live their life and give in a beautiful way. That is the difference.

Should I be afraid? Hula Girl and Genuine Niece getting a little crazy. Ah tween life.

There are just some pictures that are worth a thousand words but you can’t say them all. This is mine. This trip down memory lane is brought to you by a sniffling mother of a tween and 6 year old.

On Sunday I was suppose to spa while the children went skiing with HH. I had an appointment for after lunch. After lunch I was gathering everything I needed to put into the lockers, and a young mom came and sat down at the table next to me. Her little baby was screaming to all high heaven. He was unhappy. So I started talking with her about how things were going. I did my normal chit chat that leads into seeing if they are having a tough time with PP. As we were talking the baby just got worse and worse. I offered my help. She started to cry. I felt terrible. She explained that she had not had much sleep in the last few days. Her 7 weeek old son was not adapting to the change very well. She explained that this holiday was planned way before she found out she was pregnant. It was a family reunion. Oh the pressure. She had come out from Tennessee to be with her husband’s family at Christmas to ski. The baby was 3 weeks early but healthy so they decided to take a chance.
As I looked him over I could smell the sweet aroma of pants filled with breast milk. OY he was stinky. I asked if I could change him. Oh that poor baby had a rash with bleeding blisters. She explaned that he had had a rash for days and could not get rid of it. She had used brand after brand to get it under control. I went immediately up to the register and asked for Crisco! She had some medicated powder. Actually she had a pharmacy of cremes. I helped her apply the Crisco and medicated powder. He calmed down.
I held him gently in my arms as he got himself calmed down into a snuggling position. He fell right to sleep. She looked dismayed. I explained that babies generally fall asleep on me. I am a HOT mama. My body temp is very warm so they snuggle down in and fall asleep.
As we were talking I saw her eyes start to droop. Poor thing. I explained that I would be glad to hold him while he slept if she wanted to sleep in the chair beside me. You could see that it was not in her best judgement to trust me but sleep finally gave way and she went into a deep sleep on the table. The baby and her slept for 3 hours without hardly moving. As I held him and sniffed his wee head my non existant ovaries felt that longing.
When she woke up she woke with a start. He was already starting to squirm to be fed. She looked up at me with awesome relief. She took him and nursed him in a very calm and nurturing fashion. She had finally gotten some rest so she felt better you could tell.
As we talked she felt terrible about taking advantage of my time. I explained that I did not have much to get to. I would trade a day at the spa to sniff a baby’s head any day. I didn’t tell her that. She explained that she felt the pressure to be super mom and to follow the books to the T. Everyone was giving her advice, but hardly anyone was helping.
When her husband and family returned they noticed that she did not seem as frazzled. She told her husband what had happened. He got upset with her for handing him over to a stranger. I then handed him my card and explained that it was divine intervention that I sat beside her. She needed a bit of help and we were lucky enough to sit by each other. I also explained that I had had a hysterectomy last year and that all of my friends were done having babies. I only got to hold a wee one when strangers handed me their babies. And when I go on appointments that we start out as strangers,but end up as friends.
She was trying to be super mom. She was putting on a good face for her family and friends. Why do we do this as moms. We are strong, but sometimes we just need another woman to lift us up and help us.
That my friend is my mission this year. Seek out opportunities where another needs to be lifted up and do just that. Spas can wait. The joy of holding a tiny miracle waits for no person.

Going on the ski train tomorrow. No i’m not going to ski. Just going to go on the train with the family and going to enjoy watching hubby take the children for the day while I spa. Yes…SPA!! Love my Christmas present. Such is the life.