Dodge Grand Caravan Crew Review

 Check out our new ride!  Yes, we have joined the trend and bought ourselves a minivan...

 but it doesn't feel like a mini-van or drive like a mini-van...

 After a week or so of searching, we found and fell in love with this Dodge Grand Caravan Crew.

This baby is a 2011 with low mileage and a back-up camera and lots of storage space and a DVD player for those long rides...

 It gets good gas mileage and it is so fun to drive...

 It seats 7. Two captain chairs and a third row seat that still leaves tons of trunk space...

and my favorite feature (the real selling point for me) is the way these back seats convert to "tailgate seats" in one quick move.  I discovered this feature accidentally while test driving many cars one night and the salesman didn't even know it could do that!  

With soccer, family visitors, road trips and school right around the corner, it was time to upgrade us into  a more comfortable and spacious ride.  

Boy, these vans have sure come a long way from this, huh?

I am NOT a princess

Boy, did she get mad at me today.

I made her finish cleaning her room before watching Super Why.

She kept sneaking back to the TV when I wasn't looking.

I was on her tail, though.  Kept making her return to her room.

Her angry response to me?

"Mommy, you are NOT A PRINCESS!"

She then stormed back into her room to finish cleaning.

But, boy, did she think she put me in my place!

Big Buzz, Little Buzz

 They both have Buzz Lightyear pajamas and they love to be twins.

Matching pajamas from two years ago. Now Valentina wears his blue set of pajamas here.

Blue. Eyed. SOUL.

My recent obsession. Wikipedia defines Blue Eyed Soul here.  Blue Eyed Soul Artists are listed here. 

See any favorites?

I listen to Ray each morning while getting ready for work.  Just have to hear it.  Especially the way his voice moans at 4:25...my. goodness.

And David.  That voice. That passion. That...story.  (Mel, it makes me think of how you might feel).

And James.  Oh, James.  You give me something, too.  I can't get enough.

And George.  This is one of your best. Period.

And Citizen Cope.  You are on the verge of something wonderful.

And Peter. This song means something to just about everybody.

And Jason.  I don't know if I love this song or this video more.  

And Annie.  Never have I heard such a question as deep and meaningful as this.

And Adele.  You are everyone's latest obsession.

And Elton. Dear Elton. You are still the epitome of what music is. And what music does. And what music can do.  

And Bruce. You wrote the one song that is the ultimate LOVE SONG for me.  These lyrics just sum up for me the classic and perfect love. The one that's Tougher than the Rest.  It's not the one about swimming the deepest oceans or climbing the highest mountains. It's not about how beautiful someone is or how happy they feel.  And it's certainly not about your first love...it's about your last. 

Valentina 2.0

My sweet baby girl is TWO!  Another fabulous year of blessings...

I was very emotional this morning as I relived every moment of your wonderful birth.

You were due on May 15th and I was certain that you would come early like Salvatore did.  On the 17th, the doctor told me to go in the next morning at 9 a.m. for induction.  That night, I wanted to sleep with Salvatore and hold him while I cried and feared the change that was suddenly going to happen.  I made lots of promises about how calm and patient I would be with him and how he was always going to be special to me because he was my first and only son.  And while he slept, I didn't.  Around 1 a.m., I felt the familiar signs of quick labor.  I woke David up, called my dad to come over and stay with Sal, and off we went to St. Jude.

I remember the drive there was so peaceful, as the streets were empty and dark.  I was so happy that labor started on its own and I prayed for another wonderful experience.  We parked, told them upstairs that I was scheduled for that same morning and they admitted me right away.  I was at 4 cm.  I labored on my own for three hours until I got to 8 cm, and then took the epidural.  While I rested, Daddy rested.  Everyone there took wonderful care of me,  and by 8 a.m., they thought maybe you were ready. Not yet.  We stopped the epidural.

When my favorite doctor, Dr. Buchanan, finally started his shift at 9 a.m., we were all ready.  He sat down casually at the foot of my bed, and we easily welcomed you at 9:18 a.m.  Everyone gasped at how much hair you had and when I first saw your face, you opened your eyes and looked right at me.  I gasped and then cried a river at how much I instantly loved you.  Daddy and I both cried.  And you were such a good baby. I loved nursing you for 13 months.  I loved how attached you got to your big brother.  I loved how easy it was to grow into 4 and how you act independent and affectionate at the same time.  

(She and Benedict spent the night together here and this is how I found them in the morning.)

Valentina, you are the daughter that I always dreamed of.  You fit right in.  You make yourself heard.  You speak your little mind.  You try hard to figure things out.  You adore your brother.  You dance like the music is in your SOUL.  You scream and cry and fuss but always apologize and want a hug.  You help feed Benedict and put your dirty clothes away.  You love to dress up and wear your many favorite shoes. You look as beautiful with wild, unkept hair as you do with perfectly styled hair.  You sing the alphabet with gusto.  You prefer Spanish to English.  You feel empathy when others are sad or crying.  You pick yourself up and go on.  

That's my girl.  

I. LOVE. YOU.

Snug as a Bug in a Toy Story Blanket

37 things you may or may not know about me

1.  I have four little tattoos.  A taurus, dolphin, sunshine, and my arabic name. Had one on my right arm that I removed and yes, removing hurt way worse than getting it.  

2.  I don't own lipstick.  

3.  Or hairspray.

4.  I love Elton John.

5.  And rap music.

6.  My first car was a green VW 75 super beetle.

7.  I got 100% on my driving test, in a stick shift.

8.  I have lived in 14 different houses.

9.  I put the cart before the horse, with no regrets.  

10.  I was a cheerleader in high school.

11.  I love to fly.

12.  My brother was my maid of honor in my wedding.  And looked so pretty in that dress. Ha ha!

13.  I named my dog after the Pope.

14.  I love to go deep sea fishing and I can hook and release all by myself.

15.  I knew all of my multiplication tables when I was 5, from Montessori.

16.  I skipped first grade.

17.  I am a spelling snob.

18.  I actually like the way I look.  I'm aware of my haves and have-nots. I have accepted everything and decided to toss the list with changes I wish I could make and only change my attitude.  It was the hardest/EASIEST decision ever.

19.  I also let go of mommy guilt.  I do what I do and don't what I can't or won't.  

20.  I originally went to college to be a nurse.

21.  I have visited about half of the United States.

22.  I was born in Ohio. And seven weeks early.

23.  I actually enjoy cleaning and cooking. 

24.  I love to swim.

25.  I love movies.

26.  I LOVE music. 

27.  I drove while vacationing in Mexico City and Acapulco.  Mexico City boasts 22 million people, with very few traffic laws. Seriously, scary.

28.  I used to do Meals on Wheels.

29.  I like to cut the grass.

30.  I have learned to kill a few spiders on my own, if it means saving my children, but I still prefer someone else to come in and be my hero.

31.  I LOVE my mother in law.

32.  I secretly wish I could be a motorcycle mechanic.

33.  My husband and kids make me prouder and happier than anything.  And I don't take it for granted anymore.

34.  My dream is to travel to NYC. And Italy.

35.  I love chocolate. And hate pie. And coconut. And anything with lemon. And when people put nuts in desserts.  

36.  I must have my toe nails painted at all times, but hate having my finger nails painted.

37.  I cry every time I hear anyone sing the National Anthem. 

*Getting older has been easier.  I always tell my younger friends who fear it, to not.  You basically look the same, but you are smarter, and more confident, with more money. What is not to love about that?  I am learning to let go of a lot of things that don't matter. Like insecurity. And laziness. I am leaving competition to the sports teams and moving on with a simpler attitude.  That doesn't mean that life isn't hard or that I can't relate. But seriously, most of my issues were just that-issues, so I am letting them go.  It's as easy as pie.  Oh, wait, I hate pie. It's as easy as chocolate.