importance of praise

So many times I go throughout my day and I forget to praise my child. I get caught up with "life" and all that's attached. I'm usually running here and there, forcing my son to move faster or stop dilly-dallying...and I sometimes forget to praise him on the great things that he does do (that sounds funny!).

Lately, when I have homework to do and I'm sitting at the table, I've been asking him to sit down with me and assigning him things to do in his workbooks. Now he's only 5, but he loves his workbooks and reading, so I'm really trying to encourage it. After every sheet he completes, he makes me read over it and put a star at the top if he got it right (something his teacher does in school). He gets such a kick out of it and is so proud of that little star because it means that he accomplished something, that he did good.

A few minutes ago, while studying for my next test, I glanced over at my homework assignments and one caught my eye. My professor's comment said, "Sarah, you do great work! Thanks Sarah, Very well done" and my face just lit up (I also came to the conclusion that she is my favorite prof this semester:-)

There's something so powerful in a small word of praise, and I'm not saying that in a boastful way. It stirs up some sort of happy euphoric emotion that satisfies the soul. Thinking about how great I felt reading that comment, makes me more conscious to praise those around me on a more constant basis because you never know when you can make someone's day:-)

weekend roundup

Well, it was a busy one! Here's a low-down of our adventures:

Saturday:

• 10:10 - arrived at the post office for B's passport (we're going to LONDON!) and realized that I should have gotten out of bed earlier...the line was long. We waited for about an hour!


• 11:30 - ran to Target for a hairdryer...mine broke the day before and my hair looked like this when I went to work on Friday...

• 1:00 - met up with friends & went to Please Touch Museum in Philly

Sunday:

• woke up, made homemade belgium waffle sticks for breakfast (I was a "good" mom this morning!)
• 11:00 - bday party at the wonderful place (cringe!) Chuck E. Cheese
• 3:00 - Citizens Bank Park for the JDRF Awards Ceremony for Fundraising Teams (we got an award!!!! Who-hoo!!!)

• studied, studied, studied, studied all night...and watched B play Wii...also managing to hit me about 5 times with the remote (he gets WAY too into it!)...what we do for our kids!

The Next Future Star

B in the Phillies dugout & on the manager's phone

And testing out a new camera at Circuit City...he just looks so cute here, I had to add it:)

wonderful weekend

This past Sat., Brady and I had the opportunity to see the Lion King on Broadway. It was such a great experience and a joy to be able to spend it with the little guy. I was very fearful that he would be terrified, hate it, or be bored, but surpisingly he enjoyed it. It was a long play (even for myself), and after intermission he was ready to leave, but he sat through it all, clapping at the end of every scene and laughing hysterically at all the jokes made.

I would recommend this to ANYONE with kids...it's a GREAT play

and there were kids younger than Brady in the theatre!

pic of B on the streets of NY

I grew up in NY and I'm in love with everything Broadway. So far, the running tally of shows I've seen are up to 4 now (Rent, Les Miserables, The Scarlet Pimpernel), but there will be more!!! Since I have Broadway on my mind, the next show that I desperately want to see is Wicked. I've always wanted to see Cats and I was sooo dissappointed when it ended it's run, but maybe there will be a hope that someday it will return!

We took the train up to Manhattan and got into the city at 1:37 for a 2:00 matinee (always perpetually late!). However, with the help of a nice cabbie, we made it to the theatre with 5 min. to spare! Phew!!!

Overall the train rides were a little long because we stopped at all the local stops...and there were times when the cars on the turnpike were going faster than us! But it was so much more enjoyable than driving (and cheaper!).

And on Sunday, Brady and I sat in to watch the Steelers take away the Superbowl title! I'm not a huge football person, but I was on the edge of my seat watching the last few minutes of the game. Congrats to all you Steelers fans out there :-)

Anyone else out there with Broadway experiences and recommendations of favorites? Please respond!!!

love letters

Yesterday Brady got his very FIRST love letter from his friend (wife-to-be, but if not at least prom-date-to-be) Sophia!

Sophia hugging Brady (summer '07)

Isn't she the cutest?!?!

Brady was beaming from ear to ear as Sophia delivered him the love letter. So now we know who his valentine will be:-)

polar bears, fender benders & a men's room fiasco!

What a weekend! It was certainly entertaining and amusing at the same time! Friday night we went out to dinner with our friends Jess and Mark and the kiddos! For the most part, the kids behaved in the restaurant and then we went to see the "polar bears" (i.e. the name for all the Malvern Prep's sport teams because they look like polar bears in their uniforms!) hockey team play. It's sad to admit, but this was my first hockey game ever (and Brady's too!). It was fun, despite the freezing cold temperatures, and they won!!!

Saturday was a low-key day. I got my arm checked for TB...all clear...then I went to try on a bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding. It's kinda weird that my sister is getting married (and so soon...this April!), but all-in-all I'm happy for them and wish them a lifetime of love!

Sunday was interesting, well only for the fact that it was an "odd" day. I didn't want to get out of bed, and so we didn't make it to church. Next week...next week... Brady had a bday party at the Oasis in Glen Mills in the afternoon. It was our first time there and he LOVED it. It wasn't so much fun for me, but I managed to email/txt/play games on my Blackberry to make the time pass. Soon after we got there, I took off to the bathroom (for some reason I can't stop peeing!) and didn't look to see which bathroom I went into. Just so happens that I was fixing my hair in the mirror (before peeing, because it's such a BIG priority!) and suddenly a man and his son entered. What did I do? Well, I just stood there wondering why they were in my bathroom??!!??!! Well, stupid me...I was in the men's room and I had no clue. After some blushing and embarassment, I quickly ducked out and ran to the ladies room.

On the way home, at a red light that had just turned green, we were rear-ended. Poor Brady had no idea what was happening. I wasn't even quite sure what happened, but I was getting that panicky feeling inside and I had to calm myself down before Brady would notice that his mom was a mess! I quickly stepped out from the car...and thank God, but they were a nice older couple that seemed shaken up too. But the greatest blessing through it all was my "beast of a car"!!!

This is the 2nd time I've been rear-ended in the past 2 months (what's up with me?) and so far, nothing but some scratchs on the plastic bumper. The other car wasn't as fortunate (it was a Saturn!) and the whole front end was smashed. Maybe my next car should be this:



instead of this:

daydreaming

wishing i was here...

rather than here...

sunday's sick kid

Well it's Sunday and I'm sad to see that the weekend is ending. The good thing is that tomorrow is a holiday and I'm off from class!!! Yey!

Yesterday my parents came down for the day and it was so great having my dad around to help me with things in the house. We got one step closer to finishing up Brady's room, so that was great! Then I went to a catering job with Roomy last night and it was such a great job. The wife of the family is an architect and her house was beautiful. They were so appreciative and friendly, of course loving Roomy's food and begging us to come back.

When I got home last night, Brady was coughing like a champion and practically up all night. He had a slight fever at 3 a.m., so I gave him motrin and went back to bed. This morning he woke me up with his coughing (he was in bed with me) and left the room to go to the bathroom. I must have fallen asleep and an hour later I finally got out from bed and he was lying on the couch. I asked him why he didn't come back to bed and he said that he didn't want to bother me with his coughing and throwing up (i.e. spitting phlegm up!). My poor baby...he's too sweet and thoughtful. Well his fever is up to 102 now and I just hate him being sick. I wish it was me!!!!

So, hopefully this will pass and he'll feel better soon. Right now he's on the couch being pampered and watching the entire season 1 of Ben 10...an excuse for me to get on the computer!