So What's Up with the Mouse?

So the kids were on break this week, so along with getting things done around the house it was important to spend some family time doing some activities that my kids love. We spent time playing games, going outside, watching movies, working on puzzles, but the big activity this week was going to Chuck E. Cheese. Yes parents that's what I said I entered the mouse zone on a week that would make any parent shake in their shoes! Lanie was asking to go from the beginning of the week, since we weren't going anywhere this week I thought it would be fun to splurge a little and have some crazy fun.
Going to Chuck E. Cheese is not just a family outing it is a major family event since we don't visit there often.I had to prepared for the day, I downloaded my coupons and refinanced on my home(just kidding of course). If you have ever been to Chuck E. Cheese you know that they are sittting on a gold mine. Anyway back to the story as we entered the building you could see the excitement building on the faces of my kids. The restaurant has bells and whistles, tickets, lights, pizza, cotton candy, and best of all rides. This restuarant has all that goes into any kids goodnight dream. The excitement mounted as their hands were stamped and they knew that the rides were within their grip only to find that we had to wait in line to get a table. Yikes! a long line for a table and food. A quote came to mind from my doctors office...parenting can be like being pecked to death by chickens! don't get me wrong I love being a mom, but when the kids see the rides, smell the food and have to wait it can be a little nerve challenging!
So we got our seats, ordered our food and were ready to roll. Lanie ran off to the big kid games where the tickets can be earned and the fun can be had. Kara and I headed to the "baby" area. She found a great slide that she loved and kept going on, the funny thing was it was the only free thing in the place. I gotta love a kid who can find bargains! I then saw a merry go round which she loved and smiled each time she passed.(Look for these pictures on the blog site)Every token that we spent on that ride was worth it. Lanie soon came back to find us with tickets and cotton candy (what every kid needs-- more sugar) she was all smiles and ready to keep going it was enjoyable to see the excitement she had over winning the cotton candy. Lanie was very sweet helping her sister to see what Chuck's place was all about. It was then time to eat so we enjoyed our pizza and some family time talking about the games and which rides were the best and then back to play time.
As Kara walked around she came to the area where they have the stand up machines with Chuck E. and his gang. She was so excited and waved Mou Mou she knew he was a mouse and that is a good thing in her eyes. As many of my readers know her love for another well known mouse Mickey! As I saw the excitement she had for the mouse I began to wonder what is up with the mouse? Who said to themselves hey lets take this small animal and make it lifesize and having him running around a restaurant where there are games and serve what every mouse eats- pizza! Don't get me wrong I have no problem with the mouse other than the fact that he should be gold instead of gray since he is making lots of gold from the money that walks in the door each day.
I just think it is funny that two characters that kids love are both mice. I wonder where people come up with this concept.After leaving the rides and games you get the most painful part of the time at Chuck E.'s -- ticket redemption. I feel like there should be a noise dum dum dummmm( that doom sound) Kids anxiously wait in line to make their decision on a bunch of gumball machine toys that will end up inbetween the car seats before you make it home. The decisions are as painstaking as the Geneva Convention. Once the decisions are made it is time to leave and kids leave the place in one of two ways with smiles or screams. Parents leave only one way exhausted.
Don't get wrong although I think Chuck E. is a little weird it does create great family fun for us and it is worth the money and the lines. So the next time you want a chance to let the kids run wild, add some smiles to your kids day and get a hankering for every mouses favorite food... pizza head over to Chuck E. Cheeses. Although it sounded like I am complaining we really did have fun it was just fun to share a parents perspective!
I am adding pictures to my site also so be sure to check them out!

Is there love in the air?

Some tommorrow is Valentine's day. A day that many would call a Hallmark holiday or a day that was created by florist across the nation to boost sales in what normally would be a slow time of the year.The number of red roses sold each year are probably more than any sold any other time of the year. I am sure that the amount of chocolate sold during this time of year only comes in second to Halloween. There is a lot of dough to be made on a day that was created to show your love for another.
Although Valentine's day is a very commerical day it can be a nice reminder to tell the ones that you love how special they are to you. A nice homemade card or a cute poem written out of love or being witty will always do my heart good.I also like the idea that Zales has that you should give a bag of diamonds but hey who can afford that one! I do like the idea of letting someone you love or someone you could potientially love know that your thinking of them is pretty special. I think back to my school days when you let that boy know that you liked him or how great it felt to have someone send you a flower with a special message.
I know may people choose to use this day as a day to get engaged. They have a special evening where they share their feelings for another and ask them to spend the rest of their lives with them. Valentine's Day must mean a lot to people to chose that day to make a commitment of a lifetime.
Although, I personally find Valentine's day to be a fun day to tell that special someone how much you mean to them you should remember to tell them each and everyday and make each day Valentine's day.(although my waistline couldn't take chocolate everyday and I would have make room for all those roses)

I think I see stars in her eyes

As many of you know Lanie is in love with theater. If she had a million dollars she would buy tickets to see Wicked everyday. She is a driven girl who knows what she wants and does what she can to get it especially is if it is something she is obsessed with.
Since last summer when she left Camp Blue Bay she talked about how she was definately going to go back and hopefully for two weeks! As she was reading through the brochure for this summer she saw that they are having a Showtunes week where they practice a play make the costumes, make the back drop and actually perform the show at the end of the week.Needless to say she is trying to figure out how to make it happens and reminds us about it frequently. We are going to see if she will be able to go to enjoy that this summer but let's just suffice it to say it is all she talks about so we will see what happens!
I keep telling her that she is on her way to broadway.She is definatley in the right place to follow her dreams with New York City just miles away.I am amazed at how she never grows tired of making plays, coming up with songs, and trying to get family members to be in her show or at the very least watch her show. I am hoping that we can get her into some acting classes this year they have a class that is geared for kids that want to act. She got a kareoke machine for Christmas that she likes, but her love seems to run more in the directing. She is kind of behind the scenes type person. She wrote a show for Christmas that the kids did and the family was so kind to sit back and watch which made Lanie feel very good. That love that the family has shown to her has encouraged her to want to do more.
She had a sleepover where the kids were going to do a show, I did feel bad for the other kids because Lanie loves it doesn't mean that everyone love it. It all worked out and they had fun "trying out" and practicing their parts. It was very cute.
All we can do as parents is encourage her in whatever dreams she has and maybe someday she will want to be a doctor or a lawyer, she does know how to debate! We will see what her future will bring because you never know where your children's dreams will carry them.
Hopefully someday you'll look in your mailbox and see tickets for a broadway show or open a playbill and see her name in print. We will see where her dreams take her but "I think I see stars in her eyes"

Buddy -- are you really my buddy?

So today I was thinking that I had not blogged for a while and began to think about what or who would my next installment be about. As I began to ponder I thought about each person in my family and how most things seem to be on a pretty even keel right now so what could I possibly write about. I then realized that I had a furry little animal using my lap for a pillow and snoring pretty loudly.So I am sure you have guessed I am talking about Buddy my dog but sometimes my enemy.
My dog Buddy is very cute a little chubby but that is kind of how we make them here at Burwell manor. He is somewhat of a lazy dog who is always willing to lay on your lap or snuggle on a nearby coat or pillow. Although he is lazy he is always willing to share with Kara any food she may want to drop his way or inadvertently share with him as he follows each of her steps. Sometimes Buddy gets on my nerves by the occasional pee accident or the chewing up of my shoes. He is always there to help reduce the number of toys we have by his ability to chew anything that is plastic or wooden which makes up most of the toys we own. There are times when he gets outs and runs and I want to just let him keep running but somehow he makes his way back home - darn!
Although I get annoyed by Buddy and always willing to give him to the highest bidder which doesn't seem to be anyone. He is a good dog. He is always there to greet you with a excited jump when you come home no matter what your day was like. He has a gentle way about him with children, Kara can climb all over the poor dog and he will just looks up with his sad eyes. I am very impressed with how protective he is with our kids. He loves to sleep in bed with Lanie, it is very cute to see him snuggle in next to her when it is time to go to bed. I was home with the girls the other night and Buddy was in with us as we slept, when Doug arrived home Buddy was there to make sure that the person that came in was someone we knew. I have to admit that he works better than any alarm system. I love it when Kara sees him and runs up to him and says "Hi Buddy Bud" and puts her arms around him.
Although I have realized that I am not a big dog fan I think every child should have a dog experience in their lifetime. I think my children have learned what it is to take care of something that is more than themselves and how to love an animal.
So I guess even if you are the highest bidder... I won't be able to take your bid since Buddy has a home here with us.