Few weeks ago we took the kids to their first Symphony.  I was a little reserved even though the program was geared for kids 3 and older with a theme of Animal Carnival.  First I was not sure if I could con my husband to go see a Symphony and with kids.  He is not huge fan and on his scale symphony ranks on the same level as picking flowers or walking through the botanical garden.  He did use this time to relax well and I learned that some can nap during the Flight of the Bumblebee.

Second I was not sure how I can control two three year olds if they in fact decide it is a bit too boring for them, and they do like picking flowers in the meadow, or at least stepping on them.

Just to make sure they knew what was going to happen we had a little refresher course at home.

We read Zin Zin Zin a Violin a cute introduction to orchestra instruments and what makes them similar or different.   They were prepared.

Excited and thrilled

Holding their own tickets for the first time.  It is all about me and I doing things myself.

The great thing about the kids series is that it included arts, crafts, introduction to ballet cast

and our favorite. musical petting zoo

Where you could touch and try all different instruments

from larger

to smaller

and ones that were just about the right size

From strings to brasses (sanitized after each use)

and after all the hands on excitement we could sit back in our seats and see the orchestra unfold.

My daughter loved it, my son was getting a little antsy but really enjoyed the ballerinas (boys).

For more information about Richmond Symphony Lollipop Series click here or contact your local Symphony regarding family friendly series.

To say it has been a weird year is an understatement.  This year for me has been especially trying.  Not only did I loose a brother in law, deal with my father’s heart surgery but also stare at my daughters broken leg daily that is refusing to heal after over 3 months.

In reality though it is really nothing in comparison to my friend who lost a husband and a father the same year, or the turmoil of people of Japan, Haiti or Alabama.

So I will give you a more tangible excuses:

#1   Computer

Remember when my computer took a bath in paint water.  Well it is still recuperating even though I have gotten smarter and purchased this water proof keyboard.  It is washable so it should do some wonders for now on.  So it is detached from my computer and has to be plugged into the USB port, but that is what I get for being sloppy, or having kids.  Until they make waterproof and throw proof computer I am cut of from any new technology.

#2  Camera

About 2 weeks ago my super duper camera refused to work correctly.  There was a little tab of black “paper” that was showing up on the corner of every photo.  So my amazing husband decided to fix it by opening it up and removing it with pliers.  Yes the “paper” was removed but now my camera is not working at all and shows an error.  I guess after about 3 years of over 500 photos each and every day even a camera needs a break. 

#3  Photo Storing Software

I could still post since there a lot of recipes hidden on this computer, if I could find them.  If the program that I am using would not crash every time I would like to open a file, crop a picture or even look at one.  I guess I could just erase it and load it up again, but knowing  my luck lately it would probably erase all my photos associated with it too.  I could ask my husband’s help since he was so helpful with #2… but then he was so helpful with #2 and  #4.

#4  Phone

When all fails there is a phone, that now a days does everything.  It takes photos, videos, tweets, facebooks and even writes blogs for you by listening to your voice and reading your mind.  Well maybe not the last one but it only a question of time when you find an app for that too.  But when you do not have a iphone, well you don’t have it.

#5 The Dog Ate My Homework

Even though is tough to write a blog without computer, camera or phone I do realize that these are bad excuses.  I should have written, even about the bad stuff, found the silver lining in it and laugh.  But instead I took a break, had fun with my kids and sang.

To all the Moms that have forgotten their given names

To all the Moms that hear word Mom at least 20 times before they fully get out of bed

To all the Moms balancing your kids, the world and yourself (most likely in that order)

To all the Moms that do SO MUCH but at times still feel guilty that it is not enough

YOU ARE AMAZING !!!

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL !!!

YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA, EVER !!!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !!!