momindcity, Author at Mom in DCity

Back To School Round Two

September 4, 2012 by momindcity 3 Comments

Big day at our house today Zana’s first day of school!

Lira started last week, with some waterworks–

But she has since adjusted to life as a Kindergartner.

I had high hopes for Zana this morning, especially with all the smiles before we left the house.

We drove to school, chatting and singing the whole way. I even missed the exit because we were having so much fun. When we arrived, Zana happily grabbed her backpack and lunch box and walked inside. She shook her teachers hand, introduced herself and even smiled. Things were going great!

It’s a Montessori school so parents don’t walk into the classroom; instead we say goodbye in the hallway. The classroom is “their space.” I gave a quick hug and a kiss goodbye, and the sobbing began. The teacher quickly whisked her off into the classroom and I walked the other way. She never looked back. I did, and took this picture:

By the time I reached the stop sign, my lower lip was trembling. When I got back onto the freeway, the tears flowed freely. What was I crying about? She would be fine. We just went through this adjustment for summer camp, and it only lasted two days. I never cried like this when Lira started school or camp. Is it because Zana the youngest? Because she’s my baby?

I got some great (mostly sarcastic) advice from people I care about.

Dave: Maybe it’s a sign you should stay home with her. And have dinner waiting for me on the table every night when I get home.
Chase: You’re crying with Zana but didn’t with Lira because you’ve always liked Zana more.
Mom: She’ll do great. Remember your chart!

I had a hard time concentrating all day. Thought about going to check on her at lunch. Thought about calling the school. Thought about picking her up early. Somehow, I made it through the day.

When I got to the school for pick-up, Zana was on the playground. She ran to me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. Her teachers told me she stopped crying a minute after I left. She played, ate all of her lunch, sat on the potty, and even napped. To top it all off, Zana wasn’t ready to come home. She actually ran away from me and told me she wanted to stay and play. Go figure…

She went to sleep feeling like the big girl that she is. So proud of herself. But not as proud as I am.

Reflecting Pool Opens: Still Not Reflecting

September 1, 2012 by momindcity 3 Comments

Big news today, ladies and gentlemen: the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial reopened today.

Since this $34 million renovation happened just a few miles from home, I figured we should go check it out. At 34-mil I was expecting a reflecting pool that not only reflected but made me look 20 pounds thinner.

Dave and I dragged the girls into the muggy morning air for a 1.54 mile (tracking every step while tying to lose these pounds) walk around the National Mall. Of course, we stopped to get coffee at Ebeneezer’s (our favorite spot) on the way. Dave ordered our drinks and spent the rest of the morning making fun of me for my medium, skim, two pump, vanilla latte. “Are you sure you don’t want soy? Small latte in a large cup, perhaps? Half Splenda have regular sugar?” He believes there should be a two variable limit on coffee orders. I clearly disagree.

The girls were so excited about the reflecting pool that they started running as soon as we got out of the car. When when we arrived, I wanted to take their pictures. “No! I want to go to the reflecting pool!” I told them we were already there. “But I can’t see myself in the water!” Um yeah… pretty much. It seems 34 million dollars couldn’t quite solve that problem.

Don’t get me wrong, it was… nice. I mean… it’s the National Mall so it’s not going to be a dump. But besides the missing construction workers, tractors and fencing, I didn’t notice much of a difference. Something else I noticed: there was goose poop everywhere. It surrounded the entire reflecting pool. If you ask me, this whole project could have been done for 1 million, leaving an extra 33 mil for a pooper scooper. But what do I know?

It’s a cool spot regardless. Site of Martin Luther King’s “I Had a Dream” speech and Jen-nay’s dramatic wade through the water toward Forrest Gump. So much history.

The new walkway around the pool was a nice addition. And I’m glad the water isn’t as deep now, because one of these girls will surely fall in at some point.

In summary, the reflecting pool renovation was just “a’ight.” But I’m sure the tourists will impressed.

The Fresh Beats at Wolf Trap: Put Your Rockstar Jackets On

August 28, 2012 by momindcity 4 Comments

We had a great day. It was a super way… to spend …some time together.

Yes, I was singing those words as I typed them. And if your kids (or you?!) watch the Fresh Beat Band, you probably read them in song.

My girls are obsessed with the Fresh Beats. Not only is the Fresh Beat Band their favorite show, but they even told the teachers at camp to call them Marina and Kiki. The teachers actually believed those were their middle names, because they were so serious about it.

When we found out their tour had a stop in our area, we bought tickets immediately. Somehow me managed to keep it a secret until today, when we pulled Lira out of school early to go to the 3 o’ clock show at Wolf Trap. Side note: why would they perform on the second day of school? I know Virginia schools shaven’t started yet, so I’m calling this DC Public School discrimination, and I won’t stand for it! The NoVA soccer moms must not want to mingle with my grimy, city children….

Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout put their rockstar jackets on and rocked the Wolf Trap Pavilion in a way it has never been rocked before. A few thoughts and observations:

1. The parents like this band at least as much as the kids.

2. Twist was not wearing the same outfit that he wears on TV. If you’re going to wear the same outfit through hundreds of episodes, why change it for the live show?
3. Wolf Trap looks really nice with it’s wooden construction, but don’t be fooled. Run your hand across the railings and you’ll end up with a hand full of splinters. Just ask Lira.

splintergate — Moments before Splinter-gate

4. They teach the whole “encore” thing at an early age. I’ve never understood encores. Why not just play all of your songs instead of pretending you’re done and coming back to sing your top hits? Dave was screaming “we want more! we want more!” while everyone else shouted “Fresh Beat Band! Fresh Beat Band!”
5. Two 30-minute sets with a 15 minute intermission is long enough. Trust me.
6. Lawn seats might be the way to go. We splurged for the “Loge” seats, whatever the hell that means. I was surprised to see that we didn’t have our own private lodge. Not really. But what’s a “loge” Do you know?

7. Prepare for tantrums when your child figures out they can’t jump over the ledge and on to the stage with their favorite band. Zana is definitely a crowd-surfer in the making. Is crowd surfing even still cool?

8. The new Marina is hotter than the old one, according to Dave.
9. “Twist’s rap flow is up there with Jay Z, Dilla and Snoop.”— Dave’s friend Marc Wear, who was also at the show with his family.
10. Tired parents with cranky kids will run your ass over in the parking lot. This may be a Nick Jr. crowd, but they drive like they’re leaving a Megadeath concert and heading for the bar.

“A great day” might be headed your way too. The Fresh Beats are touring the country through mid-November. See them at your own risk. And prepare to “go bananas… na-na-na-na-na-na-let’s go bananas!”

The Best Mall Visits are After Hours

August 26, 2012 by momindcity 4 Comments

It was a rainy Sunday in the city, which means we were going stir crazy. As you may have noticed, our family is not so good at sitting around the house. I wasn’t really up for another puddle splashing trip to the park. So what to do…

Grocery run… done.
Frozen yogurt trip…done.

And suddenly it was 4 o’clock and we needed an idea. Dave decided to take us somewhere his dad used to take him on rainy days: Crystal City! (?!) If you live here, you know that the underground shops there are the most pointless excuse for a mall that has ever existed. It’s a series of stores and restaurants under high-rise buildings, mostly occupied by defense contractors. There aren’t any stores you’d actually want to go to (besides the As Seen on TV store… that’s worth a trip). But it doesn’t matter anyway, because everything’s closed on weekends. The girls were less than enthusiastic about the whole idea, but when we let them bring coloring books they were okay.

We parked (for free-yay) in the underground garage. The place was empty besides the security guard and a few people staying in connecting hotels. As soon as we got there, it was clear that Dave’s idea was pure genius. There were long hallways where the girls could sprint to their hearts content.

I’m guessing the whole thing is about a half-mile long and they ran from one end to the other and back. Not once did I tell them to slow down, stop screaming, or watch out. I didn’t have to! They crawled under stairwells, harassed Ronald McDonald and even sat down to color for a few minutes.

under the stairs — On the floor and I didn’t stop ’em

Before heading back to the car, we stopped at the fountains across the street. Since we didn’t have any pennies for wishes, Lira did the only other thing that people do at fountains: she practiced her “fashion poses.”

We did get caught in a downpour on our way to the car, but it was all worth it. The girls were happy, worn out and only slightly disappointed that Starbucks was closed and they couldn’t get hot chocolate.

Oh Crystal City, you sneaky surprise you. We will be back…

Triple B and Those Last 10 Pounds

August 24, 2012 by momindcity 15 Comments

I have decided that it’s time to lose those last 10 pounds.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been proud of my curves. In high school, when my nickname was “triple B” for “big bootie Besa,” I answered to it with pride. In college, when my pants split down the middle while I was shakin’ it at a club, I shrugged and moved on.

The pounds have been creeping on for a while. A little muffin top here, a little can’t-button-my-jeans there. But I hadn’t really thought about it much until I caught a rear-view glimpse of myself in a dressing room mirror. Game over– it was time to do something. On a side note, what’s up with the lighting in those dressing rooms? I thought they were trying to sell clothes in there, not rip self-esteems to shreds.

I won’t bore you (much) with the details, but I feel that a public declaration is in order. I’m counting on my MomInDCity readers to hold me accountable, ‘kay? Can you do that for me?

The plan started Monday (this is day 5), and so far so good.

I’m doing it old school and counting calories. There’s an app called MyFitnessPal, which is apparently cool because my college intern told me everybody‘s using it. And that includes my mom (really!), so it must be true. I’m also tracking my exercise, which is good for damage control– ate some gelato? go run 3 miles.

I generally enjoy healthy food, but I’ve also never met a cupcake I didn’t like. So this will be a challenge.

Anyone else on a weight-loss mission? I’d love to hear about it.

P.S.- You might be thinking “you don’t look fat in any of these pictures.” And you’re right. Because 1) I delete all non-flattering pictures of myself and 2) it’s all in my a$$.