Puppy love

We have been discussing getting a dog in our house for about 8 years. Well, they have have been discussing and I have been saying a big fat NO.  At first my reason was that we didn't have a fenced in yard, now we do. Then I spent years enduring difficult pregnancies and I said that it wasn't the right time. Everyone respected that one.
Alex was born in 2006 and I had my hands full, no time for a puppy I screamed! and they all agreed. That one really bought me some time. Now my excuses are getting lame..... the last one was 'I love my hard wood floors'.

Now my youngest is speaking ( thanks speech therapy!) He is able to cast his vote. I am seriously out numbered.

Its not that I don't like dogs. I do. I pet a pup at every opportunity. So for the last 6 months I have really been examining my fear of owning my very own pooch. Maybe its because everyone in the house is finally house broken and as much as everyone is promising that they will walk, feed, pet and pick up poop, I know that the responsibility will ultimately fall on me.

I have little No experience with dogs at all. So, in my true fashion I am busy reading up on different breeds, studying their size and temperament. God forbid I should do something on a whim or be unprepared!  Here's my other problem : my husband and I don't even agree on what kind of dog. What is it with guys they have to have the biggest dog in the world? Bigger isn't always necessarily better people!  I have to say that some good things come in small packages. Having said that I am not looking for a purse puppy either.

I have come to some conclusions though. I will rescue rather than buy. Some friends have shared some great rescue sites with me - thank you!. My ideal dog would be small to mid size, great with kids, low energy (yes, I did just admit that I want a lazy dog), short hair (less grooming) and of course ......cute.

I just loved the little puppy that I saw in the pet store. A mix of an English bulldog and beagle. So, all you dog lovers and experts out there please help me. What should I get, where should I get him and then the biggest question of all...... what shall I call him?

My new obsession

I have to admit, I avoided it for years but I have been bitten, completely smitten and totally obsessed with the Twilight saga. It was not easy to avoid as the whole world seemed to be 'team Edward' or 'team Jacob'. I was happy to ignore the whole craze and thought that it was a tween fad that would soon pass. Ooooohhhhh how wrong was I?

Vampire movies and books were the furthest  thing away from my cup of tea. I picked up the Twilight book a couple of summers ago and I must have read the first chapter at least 6 times. I kept putting it down and just couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. I had lugged that door stopper of a book all the way to Europe and back and still, it stay unread and there it sat, on my night stand for over a year.

Eclipse, the 3rd installment arrived in theaters. I would never have gone to see it , except my group of au pairs wanted to and honestly, I was looking forward to sitting in a dark air conditioned room, eating candy and having no one talking to me. It sounded like bliss! What a perfect evening! and I didn't care what was playing.

So, I left the theater intrigued. Yes, I had started the saga backwards but at least I had started it. Within 72 hours I had watched the first one lets underestimate and say at least 4 times. According to my husband he was tortured by being forced into watching it and then continued to ruin it for me by asking stupid questions like: why doesn't Edward sleep in a coffin? why are these vampires out during the day time? Is that dude really that good looking? Why does Bella's dad allow her to speak to him that way?  I laughed at the last question because obviously my husband is not prepared for our daughter to become a teenager, and if he thinks he's been tortured now, well then, just wait!

I then ordered the second one 'New Moon'  and figured I would enjoy the film more watching it with my daughter than husband - totally right choice.

I took the kids to the pool at the weekend in the blistering heat. Sure I put sunscreen on them and there I sat, in the pool with the book. Three hours later I hadn't moved, the kids were starving and begging to go home and I was a lovely shade of RED. Caution: twilight is bad for your health!

My obsession hit an all time high when I took the kids to see Toy story 3 and then tried to sneak them into Eclipse, just for a peek. My daughter freaked out and gave me a lecture on how it was illegal and ....... get this....... breaking a commandment. I should have felt proud, instead I all I felt was disappointment :(

I was very sure of my team choice until I finished the book yesterday. Yes I read the book in 4 days :)
Help!!!  I was so sure that Jacob was the man! (or boy) but now I am not so sure. Usually I know what I want. How can I not have this locked down?

Help me figure it out. Please convince me to be on a team.... leave your comments

My Preemie baby

I decided not to write today but instead to share the video that I made over 3 years ago to celebrate Alex's 1st birthday. Turn the sound up. This was the song I sang to him when he was a baby. (poor kid, have you heard me sing???) Be warned though. I cry every time I hear this song!

 

Am I smarter than a 5th grader?

So last week was the 4th of July. The day Americans celebrate their Independence and I love to celebrate with my family. There is nothing better than hot dogs, burgers, melted marsh mellows and warm evenings filled with fireworks, friends and family. By next year I will be an American. I am finally becoming a citizen.

Earlier this week I went for my biometrics. Basically that means I was fingerprinted and had my mug shot taken. Wow, finger printing has come a long way. The last time I had it done they rolled my fingers along a black ink pad and onto cards now its all done on a huge scanner and it was over in seconds with clean hands intact.

As part of my naturalization I have to take a test. The first will be an English test and honestly, I don't think I'll have a problem with that unless they ask me to spell the words : colour or neighbourhood. I am pretty sure I will pass the English test with flying colors (see I can spell like an American). However, the one thing that scares me is the 100 questions on history and government.  The officer will pick 10 random questions from the list and you must answer at least 6 right in order to become an American citizen.

I looked through the booklet they gave me and honestly without studying I could answer at least 80% or 90%  right but knowing my luck I'll get the tough ones so I will study.  I wonder if regular American people would know the answers to some of these questions because have you ever seen Jay Leno's segment called Jay walking???  Jay goes to an Ivy league college and asks "who is the vice president?" and no one seems to know or even worse, he'll show them a photo of Obama and someone will proudly announce " I know who that guy is! Its Will Smith". I of course am rolling around laughing, its pretty entertaining but I cringe because I'm sure their parents are mortified.

So, I'm wondering.... am I smarter than a 5th grader?  I guess I'll find out by October. Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Take the test below and be honest when you leave me a comment on your score :)

http://constitutioncenter.org/naturalization-test/index.php

The circle of life

Carolyn, Sabina and Nick. On vacation in Wyoming in 1995

I came to NY as an au pair. I decided to be an au pair for a number of reasons.

1.  I went to work one day and looked at all the old ladies in the office and panicked. I loved my job but I was 22 and the thought of being there until retirement terrified me. So I got the urge to run which is hilarious as anyone who knows me, knows that I don't run anywhere! I sort of walk slowly at best.
2. I had traveled a lot and loved it. I had been to America 3 or 4 times. I had traveled the west coast and Florida but something about NY or Boston was appealing.
3. I had broken up with my boyfriend of 6 years. I was down in the dumps one minute and excited to exercise my freedoms the next. OK, so crossing the pond was a little extreme but did you ever know me to do any thing by half measures??? 
4. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to take a year out to try and figure it out. I had done a lot of babysitting and liked kids so, why not? I was only going to be gone a year. Right?

When the au pairs I work with tell me that they have the best host family in the world, I smile and shake my head and tell them  " No you don't, I have the best host family in the world"  Of course I am thrilled that my au pairs love their families and my hope for them is that they have an amazing year, just like I did.

I was supposed to be here a year and yet here I am sixteen years later. So, I have had the joy of seeing my host children grow up. Every time I see them I am blown away at how beautiful/handsome, tall and smart they are.

I am also reminded of how old I am and how quickly time passes. I went to Nick's graduation party tonight. Nick is 18 and graduating high school and will go off to college in the fall. Carolyn will turn 21 in a couple of weeks. Sometimes Carolyn babysits my kids. That always makes me smile and ... I guess this is what they call  'The circle of life'.  She is just one year shy of the age I was when I came to be her au pair.
They told me tonight that they read my blog, I had no idea but I hope they read this post.

Dear Carolyn & Nick, I want to let you know how much  I love you guys. Your parents opened up their home and hearts to me and changed my life forever and for that I am eternally grateful.  I am so proud of you both and hope you know just how important you all are to me and my family.

With love now and forever. From your first au pair Sabina.

                                                       Sabina, Nick & Carolyn 2010

How homesick will I be on Saturday?

I have lived here 16 years! 16! That's a long, long time and yet homesickness sneaks up on me every so often. There are triggers, I know when its coming and yet it doesn't make it any easier.

You would think that I consider NY to be my home but when I think of the word home, England is the only place I think of. Born in Spain, grew up in England, lived in the US 16 years, married here, bought a house here, had my children here and soon to become a citizen here and still my heart swells with English pride.

Don't get me wrong I love New York but.........

Here comes an event this week that will make me cry one way or another. The world cup. Just about everyone in England is raised watching, playing, and supporting football. No, I will not call it soccer!

Do I watch football all season long? No. I catch a game or two every once in a while on Fox sports or ESPN. Am I a die hard fan of any team? No but I do have a soft spot for my favorite team. Do I know all the stats? Nope!

But here's the thing: I do have the memories of my dad taking me to see our local team play every home game for the first 15 years of my life, and the memories of my teenage years spent in pubs drinking all day whilst watching England play. I remember where I was when we lost to Germany on penalties in 1990, I remember watching Argentina cheating us out of a final in 1986 and I even remember Spain hosting in 1982. There was always excitement surrounding the world cup.

4 years ago when the world cup came around I was distracted. There was no time to be homesick as I had just had Alex and he was still in the hospital. Every single game England played I had a good luck ritual. OK, so it didn't quite work seeing as we only got to the quarter finals. I used to dress Alex who was about 3 pounds at the time in the tiniest England onesie.

So, whats my plan this year? Well, I plan to surround myself with some English friends, massive amounts of wine, put my kids in their England shirts and hope that we win. If I am at home I know that my sister will call from her cell phone, in a loud London pub when Rooney scores so that I can hear the crowd roar. That will be the moment that I cry.

Even writing that last sentence was not easy. Note to myself: blogging is not good therapy for homesickness.

Every 4 years the English fans are filled with hope. We are lead to believe that this is our time and that we are the team to beat. I want to believe that it will happen this time. After all, I am rapidly approaching 40 and I have yet to see England win a world cup.

With a lump in my throat and hope in my heart I say "God save the Queen and God bless the England team!"

The strangest American Idol

Remember Bucky from American idol season 6? He came in 4th back in 2006.I met him when he was visiting the childrens hospital where my son was born.


I consider myself somewhat of an authority on American idol. I have watched every episode in the last 9 years, yep every single one. I love Simon Cowell. I think he's a genius, the show is super entertaining however this last season finale was entertaining for a number of different reasons. It was weird, very weird, very very weird!

After 7 citys, 100,000 dreams, 14 weeks of live performances, 500 million votes and this is what we ended up with...

Alice Cooper opened the show. What did we do to deserve this? Oh well it can only get better right?

Chris Allen the reigning American idol sang. Remember him? No, I didn't either. Cast your mind back, he was the guy who beat Adam Lambert last year in the shock finale. He was OK and less scary than Alice Cooper.

Then we were reminded about some of the worst auditions of the season - probably the highlight of the show. How ironic that the worst ended up being the best.

Then the Bee Gees showed up, their pants super baggy but their faces quite tight. Lord, how much work have they had done?

Then the annual appearance from David Hasslehoff sitting in the audience clapping. How does he get a ticket to the finale every year is what I wanna know....???

Michael McDonald was introduced and sang. Now, I admit that I am not his biggest fan however I thought that I would be able to pick him out of a line up if I had to. Well, apparently NOT. The man has had so much plastic surgery that he didn't even look like him. Not even a strange, younger or even cat like version of himself but..... not like him at all. In fact, I don't think it was him. Channel 5 are having a laugh at us viewers and sticking some random man who can sing like him up there and wondering if we would notice. Well, Fox 5, I did notice!

Then there was a man who made a song up about Simons insults. I'm just glad that Simon was not asked to judge him. It was, as us English would say...... RUBBISH. It was truly awful. It didn't rhyme, the man couldn't sing. Was this funny and I just didn't get it? as if that wasn't bad enough the biggest bunch of crazy past contestants came out on stage jumping around. Who let them out of the asylum? It was chaos on stage. Quite disturbing actually.

Some of the runner ups sang (out of tune) to a difficult Christina Aguilera song. Then out she popped up on stage putting them all to shame because she CAN sing, wearing sparkly tights and not much else but when you're that skinny you can get away with it I suppose.

Then came Daryl Hall and John Oates, big whoop, didn't recognize them either!

Crystal sang an Alanis Morissette song and changed the lyrics because of course they are too offensive for prime time. Alanis is a bad ass and has obviously been giving lessons to our once wholesome idol Carrie Underwood. Carrie appeared in the same black leather leggings and thigh high boots Alanis was wearing, singing a rather angry sounding song. For the love of God would someone put her back in a flowery dress and some cowboy boots!

Then as if I wasn't confused enough already....

Casey James (the seasons eye candy) was joined by Brett Michaels who, only last month doctors discovered that he had suffered a massive sub arachnoid hemorrhage. He was in critical condition in ICU. Less than a month later he looked the healthiest person I've seen on stage tonight. Strange!

Ryan announces idol is joining 'my space' online. my space? really? anyone remember my space? What the hell is going on?

The idol classic song "pants on the ground" was so jazzed up, it was virtually unrecognizable. They should have left the song just as it was. That's the way we all liked it, stick to the original people! As Randy would say: the arrangement was all wrong!

Then came Paula. Everyone was so happy to see her. We've missed you Paula! and then she started talking. She made some jokes, at least I think they were jokes, I have no idea what she was going on about. Some things never change!

Joe Cocker performed. Gosh, he looked in pain and I was so glad when he finished his performance as I swear that he was about to have a massive coronary or something.

All the previous American idols gathered and sang, no suprise there. I knew that would happen. Didn't Kelly Clarkson get chunky? but at least I recognized her!

Now lets get to the last performer of the night. Last but by no means least, Janet Jackson. Janet's had her share of weight issues. Shes been every thing from slender and fit to fat and flabby but this year she is the strangest shape. Very slim with an enormous Kardashian bottom. Gosh, has there been some enhancement there or what?

The last 5 minutes of the show is the announcement we've all been waiting for. The lights dim, drum roll please......... Ryan pauses for what seems like hours and in true idol fashion the underdog wins, the confetti falls, the winner cries and then sings so badly that we wonder how the hell they got to win.

I can't help but wonder if the finale this year is truly the finale of idol. Its the end of an era. Will any one watch next season with Simon gone? Didn't we only want to hear what came out of Simons mouth and not any one elses? This was the strangest season finale ever, of any show I've ever seen. I'm sure Simon wanted to shout "I don't want to be rude but this is complete and utter rubbish!!!"

Cruising the au pair world for 16 years

One of my favorite things to do every year is chaperoning 500 au pairs on a disco cruise boat around Manhattan. Cultural Care Au Pair do an amazing job each and every year they host this event. Even though the route is the same I am reminded of things that I take for granted. I see the same sights, the same lights but I always feel like I'm seeing them for the first time.
The first time I set foot on the boat cruise was 1994.I was a 22 year old au pair. As the boat sailed past the statue of liberty everyone rushed to take photos with our 35 mm cameras. I do have this one photo of me and another au pair who's name escapes me. I did the very same thing last week. It was a perfect warm evening and the statue of liberty always creates such excitement. There I was snapping a photo on my phone.
Two things spring to mind. Look how far technology has come in 16 years. I took a picture and within minutes 600 of my facebook friends saw one of the most beautiful photos I had ever taken. I felt compelled to share it. In 1994 I had to wait to get the film developed and sent it by snail mail to my mum in England. The second thing was just how beautiful and amazing New York city really is.
I live only 25 minutes away in the suburbs but its almost like you forget that there's a whole city that never sleeps right on my doorstep. I am caught up in the kids schedules, girl scouts and every day soccer mom life style but yet there really is a 'sex in the city' life out there I'm just not often a part of it.
I walked back from the pier to grand central station (my feet were killing me)through Times square where I stood in awe as I always do. It doesn't matter how many times I see the lights of the city at night I still love the vibe.
I love the fact that my work allows me to share the experience and magic of NYC with these au pairs who years from now will remember that boat trip.
Here's to cruising New York city for years to come!

If at first you don't succeed.......

Today is Monday. The same things happen every Monday. The phone doesn't stop ringing, the laundry needs some attention and the house is a horrible mess because my husband and kids have spent time in the home unsupervised over the weekend. Because I tend to work and be out of the house for the best part of Sunday I pay the price on Monday. C'est la vie! I try not to let it get me down but Mondays are the same thing over and over and over again. Talk about groundhog day.
There is something else I do most Mondays. Not every single one but a good 50% of Mondays. Which when you think about it that means that I do it about 26 times a year. I know some of you do this too and Monday seems to be the most popular day to do it. In fact on Sundays I get excited about it. Get your minds out the the gutter folks! I'm talking about dieting.
So, really, how crazy is this? I start the diet on Monday. Nothing extreme, no shakes, no pills, no purging, no surgery. If I lived every day like I do on Mondays I would weigh 95 pounds because I eat healthy, small meals and sometimes exercise. Well, obviously I don't eat like that every day because I wouldn't weigh ***. I am laughing, you really thought that I would share that with you? I don't want to admit the number to myself, much less to my 9 followers. By Tuesday I've fallen off the wagon with nothing but my big butt to cushion my fall.

I can no longer call it baby weight. Especially since I weigh more now than I did when I was pregnant and lets face it..... my baby's 4 years old.

If I were brave I'd tell you the number. If I were really brave you'd see a full length profile photo of me on facebook (Go on, look, you won't find one!) I do head shots only, preferably taken from a higher angle, or like my current one I am standing behind Donald duck. I love the cropping feature and I untag photos of myself. There I've admitted it.

Today is one of those Mondays. I figure if I don't try I'll never succeed right? but what is going to make it different this time? Maybe the new 'Mario Lopez' book I just bought called 'extra lean' I looked at the photos of course but didn't read it yet. Glossy colored photos of Mario cooking. Yummmm!!! I'd rather lick the pages than read them.

I have all the tools to succeed. I know what I'm supposed to eat and not eat, I have a gym that is open 24/7, I have diet books up the ying yang and supportive friends and family. So friends, tell me something that will motivate me please! People tell me to put a photo on the refrigerator of myself but I'm confused. Should I put a skinny one up to remind me how I could be or a fat one to remind me to STOP OPENING THE FRIDGE!

Serious answers and tips in the comment box please :)

Cinco de mayo or as I like to call it.... Cinco de Mario!

This was the best Cinco de mayo ever. Not that I have ever really celebrated the day before. For any one who doesn't know about this holiday, Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. The date is observed nationwide in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. History lesson over. A lesson that I only learned today. Gotta love google!

So, why am I excited about this Mexican holiday? Apart from the fact that I love to celebrate as many international holidays as possible and some of my wonderful au pairs are from Mexico. I have a great passion for Cultural exchange but if truth be known it has more to do with Mario Lopez.

I noticed that Mario Lopez would be coming to do a book signing in my area. I loved him in 'saved by the bell'. Remember that high school sitcom in 1989? I spent evenings flicking the channel between saved by the bell, fresh prince of Bel-Air, the Cosbys and beavis and butthead.(yes I did just admit that) It was truely great viewing back then! My daughter is currently watching the saved by the bell re-runs and not Beavis or Butthead, thank Goodness. My son kept asking when is George Lopez coming. That did make me and the other ladies on line chuckle.

Now, have you seen Mario recently? When he played A.C Slater back in the day he was cute (A.C stands for absolutely charming) but now...... WOW. We recently drooled over him in 'Dancing with the stars', he hosts the miss America pageants, is a reporter for 'extra' and according to my friend Christine was unbelievably hot in a few episodes of 'Nip/tuck' So I dragged my kids to stand on line with a hundred other middle aged desperate housewives for a signed book. Sadly, I didn't care much about what the book consisted of but I will share with you that its a diet/health book that will probably gather dust on the same shelf as my weight watcher books, Dr Phil's weight loss challenge and the biggest loser cookbooks.

All in all it was a great evening. We met him, if only for a brief moment, took some pics, he signed the book to Hannah (which made her day) but most importantly my daughter and I made a memory of which I'm sure we will remember in years to come. I can be a cool mom after all.

Happy cinco de mario!

The power of a mohawk

Alex sporting some hair height at 11 months



Who ever said that size doesn't matter?

Being vertically challenged myself ( 5 feet 0 inches short, when I stand up straight, in the morning whilst breathing in) Even then, my family are convinced that I am exaggerating and don't quite meet the 5 foot mark. I have always been short but you learn to compensate and use some tiny tricks to get by in this sizest world.

My son Alex, who has just turned 4 is learning very quickly that he might be more mature in mind than body and that he has been handed the short straw in the height department as he stands a petite 37 inches short. I know this because I take him to an endocrinologist on a very regular basis. So, just a few weeks before departing on a dream family vacation to Disney world he was measured. Now, most parents would have logged onto the Disney web site to learn of their restaurant choices, hotels and useful tips, I logged on to view the height requirements of the rides.

Here's my other issue. I also have a thrill seeking 11 year old daughter. I knew that juggling the two kids of different stature was going to pose a problem. So there I am viewing the 'family' rides we can all enjoy. Imagine my horror when I discovered that you have to be 38 inches to go on our favorite water ride!

Time to get creative!!! He needs just one inch. That's all. Yes, I could have added height with folded napkins in his sneakers, older kids can wear 'healys' (the sneakers with the wheels underneath adds a good 2 inches)but he's 4. Healys are not a good idea at this age! His regular sneakers add a half an inch so now all he needed was a half an inch.

Don't bother putting the mickey ears on the kids in the hope that they will add 6 inches, they will be asked to remove them :( So, for all you mommies out there with little boys......... I went with the somewhat fashionable, cute look that adds height. With some aaahhhhs from crowds of moms and grandma types...... consider THE MOHAWK.

With nothing more than a dime size blob of hair gel we were good to go. I held my breath as he stood up against the measuring stick as his spiked blond hair brushed against it. We let out a cheer, congratulated him on what a big boy he is, grinned from ear to ear and ran to join the line for the ride. Victory at Disney!