she's growing up!

And is apparently staring in the Olivia Newton-John Let's Get Physical video with that head band, but I digress.

We were at the Mall this weekend and hit the play area (and I'm sorry but there are some children in there who seem like they are days away from getting their driver's permit running around playing tag and just generally making it hard for mom's with small kids like mine to keep them safe. Huff... but that's a different post) and I saw a transformation happen right before my eyes.

My daughter went from toddler to full-fledged kid. I looked over and there were some older girls playing and O walked right up to them and joined in. Before I knew it the three of them were holding hands and cruising around the play land like they were the stuff. I guess when you're dressed like Aeriel- or Olivia Newton-John- people just want to be your friend.

So I either need to get a tail or some shiny spandex and a sweat band. I'm not sure that translates from the 3 year old crowd to the 30-something; but I'm open to input.

Anyhow... I knew later that day we'd really lost her when Steve suggested in the middle of the day that we "do b-a-t-h-s (FYI; the dashes indicate Steve spelling the word) now rather than later." At which point O yells, "I wanna take a bath." Whoa!

So I said, "OK, what does b-a-t-h spell?"

O: "bath". Hmmmm...

me: "What about m-o-v-i-e?"

O. with confidence, "movie!"

me: seeing the challenge and raising her 500, "O-l-i-v-i-a?"

O: "my name"

me: okay smarty pants : "m-o-m-m-y?"

O: "your name!"

me: "d-a-d-d-y?"

O: "daddy."

me: (ready to apply for college scholarships right after the conversation) "t-u-r-n-e-r?"

O: "BATH!"

Me: (to myself) whew, she doesn't have me beat yet!

little mermaid meets sleeping beauty

This weekend our family headed over to the Dayton Mall for round two of the dance along free ballet series (you may remember back in December we took O and she and I both got matching tutus!) Saturday they were doing Sleeping Beauty so we just had to go. Well, thanks to BeBe, O had a brand new dress-up to wear. A full mermaid costume (including annoying tail that gets in my way !) So while everyone else got into their tutu's O refused since "Aeriel doesn't wear a tutu." Duh! The good thing, this got me out of the wearing the size 3T tutu this time.

What is so funny about my daughter is that she can stay glued to YouTube ballet for an hour. Girl is mesmerized by ballet. But when it comes time to try it or get near it, she's not having it. At one point I dared her NOT to smile (parental disclaimer: I realize it is not good to bribe your kid into doing what you want by enticing disobedience, but let's face it- sometimes- it's the only thing that works!) and naturally it worked. But that was the only moment she broke a grin.

Don't misunderstand me though, girlfriend was f-a-c-i-n-a-t-e-d! Wouldn't stop talking about it-after- we got in the car. For two days she's been twirling and leaping around the house. But while we were there, she was all business. So for now, we'll keep taking her, showing her YouTube clips and hoping one day she'll match her face to her insides.

Take a picture, it'll last longer!

Remember that old 8th grade saying? It's so rude, condescending and I'm sure I NEVER said it to anyone. But here, in the case of the Great Koproski De-clutter Odyssey '09, sadly, it is true!

I've nearly killed myself trying to get my house in selling shape, because we pay the piper today! Our realtor (which by the way, I discovered during my last post that I'm a true idiot. I've been saying realtor WRONG for 36 years! It's true. I was shocked to find the spell check correct me when I kept typing in realAtor. How embarrassing. Why has no one corrected me all these years? I guess spell-check is my only true friend!) is coming today to photograph our house so that we can list it tomorrow.


In the process I have taken well over 25 bags to Goodwill, 11 bags of children's clothes to the consignment shops and heaps and heaps of stuff has gone straight to the garbage.

Toys are out of sight, small appliances are in cabinets and junk drawers now house minimal (dare I say necessary) junk. I'm pretty sure this is how normal people live. You know what, I kinda like it. I feel liberated. Free. Light. And yes, a tad bit psycho. Case in point, Steve came home this morning and left a newspaper on the counter and I had to talk myself down off the ledge. Doesn't he know we've turned over a new leaf around here? That leaf has no room for stuff laying around! Well, like I said, take a picture it'll last longer!

De-what?

We've come to the point in this whole house selling thing where we are taking the step to get serious. Serious -as in- hiring a realtor, hosting honest to goodness showings and having someone other than a For Sale By Owner sign market our home for us- serious. Guess what he told us, "You'll need to de-clutter a bit."

Apparently this man does not realize that next to the word clutter in the dictionary is a picture of me. I AM the definition of clutter. I try not to be. I really do. In fact, our mini-van has some new "rules". And I'm *mostly* enforcing them. (New rule added just the other day, no one-year-olds who like to throw their drink cups may drink milk in the new van.) We may have had a *small* accident this weekend with just such a milk cup. But now the new rule is being strictly enforced, I swear!

But back to de-cluttering my home. After the realtor left, I felt a bit overwhelmed, to say the least. His advice- just start moving one thing out a day. (Define "one thing") I mean I could nearly have a heart attack just looking at the attic. There happens to be a whole "wing" designated to baby clothes, baby gear and all other baby stuff you can imagine. I mean, isn't that where all baby things should have their final resting place? You never know when you may need that wipes warmer (even if i NEVER used it for either of my kids, neither did my friends who I lent it to and after a few weeks of it cluttering up their homes, they graciously returned it thinking "boy am I glad I didn't register for that useless piece of junk.")

So I took Mr. Fancy Pants' great advice and have begun to tackle "one thing" each day. But this one thing has happened to eat up three days! Sorting through and trying to sell back this baby crap. Olivia has had some very nice and very expensive stuff. (first born, what can I say?) And I've learned some great things about selling back that stuff. One, the stores are pretty picky. Two, the stores only buy seasonally. And three, no store is created equal as far as what is buy-backable.

I gathered (and I do NOT exaggerate) 11 of those enormous Zip Lock Storage bags crammed full of clothing, shoes and coats (THIS is how I found out about the seasonal thing!) and carted them all around the Greater Dayton area. I probably spent as much in gas as I made back in money. However, I am proud to say that I made $130 today. And I can go back in July and try again with all the winter stuff they were not willing to take from me. (And I have some super cute winter stuff, I'll tell you that right now.) I *might* be going back tomorrow with my maternity clothes. If I could even get $25 for that stuff, I'd be happy. I will not shed a tear to see those clothes leave my home! If you've had kids, do you just gag looking at your maternity stuff, or is it just me?

I did mangage to get through Olivia's closets today as well. I got several bags together to go to Goodwill. Oh, and sidenote- would you please promise me one thing? That you will never ever give another baby blanket at a baby shower as long as you live! I bagged up 9 pink un-used baby blankets of Olivia's. They were in the deep dark recesses of her closet. (She happened to be a particularly hot baby and barely required clothing, let alone baby blankets.) But still, even the coldest of babies would never go through that many baby blankets! I know they are soft, cuddly and practically irresistable, but for the love of Pete, stick with what's on the registry!

Tomorrow's project? The "wing" of the attic that has been dedicated to all of Steve's bachelor stuff. It wasn't cool then and it CERTAINLY isn't cool 6 years later. Pretty sure there ain't no store that's gonna give us money for any of that stuff. Sorry, sweetie but I love you though!

I became a mom today.

Nope, there's no word on Quinn. And this is an even more official way of becoming a mom than shooting a large watermelon from where the sun don't shine! We got a mini-van.

I don't know when I became too cool, but the last thing on earth I EVER wanted to drive was a mini van. This coming from a girl whose first car was a Ford Festiva (you remember, the roller skate on wheels of the early 90's?!) and whose second car was a Dodge Neon; whose third car was the NYC transit system and whose 4th car was a Chinese bicycle (you get the point.)

Well, upon entering this marriage gig, I moved up in the world and started driving Steve's super cool and sporty Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was the most glorious 5 years of my life. So glorious I decided early into the marriage I could make the Jeep thing work with any number of children (because my magic number of children at the time was 2... refer back to the shooting of watermelons from the human body!)

But then God did a sneak attack with the whole adoption thing. Wait a minute... this whole 3rd child, orphan boy plan was just a way to break down my pride and cross another "I'll never do THAT as a mom" statement off my list. Nice work, Lord but I'm on to 'ya.

But here I go and swallow my pride because I might have to say, our new Toyota Sienna is super cool and very luxurious. It has leather seats, built in DVD player (make that two cross off's the "I'll never do THAT as a mom" list.) and get this... BUN WARMERS for the front seats. I may have died and gone to heaven. So, take that you Jeep owner! My new car has automatic side door openers and even an automatic rear hatch opener. Olivia is SO FAR away from me, I barely know she's in the car (except when she's whining, crying, talking, singing, bothering her brother etc.) Okay, so I still know she's there, but at least she's really far away now!

So a lesson I've learned in all of this? Never say never! And if you too think you're too cool for a mini van, come on over to the dark side where our kids are far away and our buns are warm.

Film at 11

Um, you just might see my mug on the news tonight in a most wanted section... because I basically ROBBED CVS today.

I got all this for $1.17. Yep. I worked the system baby. Are you convinced yet? Coupons, ECB's you name it, I did it. And it worked. Although the money I saved may have to go toward Weight Watchers after I eat myself back above my goal weight, yikes. I have to admit I was a wee bit embarrassed checking out when 1/2 my order was some sort of sugary substance. Whatever.

Not only did I get all this stuff for $1.17, I also made 17 ECB's for my next chocolate shopping spree.

(Hey, at least I didn't bring home another razor- right, Steve?) Although, I have to admit I WAS tempted. I mean, shoot, if they were just handing razors out for free on the street I'd take one, right??

Anyhow, if you have not looked into this CVS/couponing thing yet, I HIGHLY recommend doing so. Not only is it economical, it's really really fun!!!

*** In case you care and can't get a good look here is what is pictured:

6 bags of Nestle Easter candy

5 bottles of Johnson and Johnson baby wash

1 Diaper Genie refill

1 ginormous heart shaped Russel Stover's box of chocolates

2 Recess Whipps candy bars

1 trial size bottle of ACT mouthwash

1 bag of candy jewelry

1 box of Carnation Instant Breakfast mix

$1.17 people!!! Crazy I tell you!!!

Candyland or Killmeland?

Back before Christmas I was so excited because Target had board games on super-duper sale. I planned ahead (maybe the first time, ever!) and snatched up Candyland for Olivia's birthday.

Having grown up an only child, I owned tons of games but rarely had anyone to play them with. My mom did a pretty good job of playing with me, but as I recall, I would have played them a lot more if I had my way (see, I told you I wasn't spoiled.)

So in order to give my children a richer childhood than I had, my plans are to play tons of games with them. When Olivia decided to end her rest time an hour early today and asked for a movie the thought occurred to me that it's time to stop relying on Barbie and Cinderella to help me out during the post-nap funk (mine NOT O's) and to start playing games.

Well... Bebe, I have a new found understanding of why you were one round and done on the game thing. It's REALLY FRUSTRATING playing a board game with a 3 year old!

Not only did she change from being the blue guy to the red guy multiple times throughout the first round, she would also decide she liked the card I chose better than the one she had (of course she did, the card I chose shot me all the way across the board and onto the cool pink square with the peanut on it.) But hey, that was my card and I wanted it.
AND THEN when I got stuck on some licorice and had to lose a turn, O's response was "Holy smokers" and then laughed. Nice sportsmanship, Olivia! geeze. So, in the end, I won! (Take that you cheater cheater pumpkin eater) But she wanted to play another round and I'm bored. So, I'm trying to decide if I'm going to put in Barbie's Diamond Castle movie or Cinderella- any votes?