Best Day Ever - The Greatest Show on Earth!

This past weekend, we went to the Greatest Show on Earth, the Ringling Brothers Circus. I have to say, I haven't been that happy in quite some time, it was a nice change!

I think seeing it with Sarah for the first time really made it special and the fact our family was together all day doing something fun!


We arrived early to go down to the floor to see the pre-show festivities....we saw some dogs, clowns, acrobats, farm animals, and an elephant painting a picture. Sarah was so enthralled with it all. As we headed for our seats, she said Bye and waived to the people on the floor...which was fun to say "the fun has only started".


I love the Ringling Brother's show. The acts are great to watch, I still am in amazement with the guys in the cage riding the motorcycles. Sarah loved all the animals, especially the tigers and elephants. All she has been saying since the show is Animals, Animals, Animals....sorry PETA, we love circus animals.


It was the first day I think I didn't feel sad in a while, though I did get nostalgic the last time I went to the circus was with my Brother Jack, his daughter Kim and Andrew and Laura when they were young and got a little sad about Jack not being around anymore. But that feeling didn't last long. Now I will say, not happy about the $12 Cotton Candy or the $7 popcorn, but Sarah was happy with the snacks we smuggled in and we were fine doing without. It was truly a FANTASTIC show, the ringmaster and main clown were superb. The acts were terrific.

We ate at a Mexican restaurant after the show to round out our family fun day. I was so happy when we got home. Sarah was worn out and took a LONG nap. She actually fell asleep on me on the sofa for 2 hours. Normally I would transfer her, but having her snuggled up on me felt SO good. Days like yesterday are the kind you dream of when you think of being a parent. Fun activities together and sharing in the wonderment of your children.

Enjoy the photos documenting the day....


Step 1: The easiest way to get to the festivities is ride on mom's back. The view is great and hard to lose a child this way! Yes, we still baby wear occasionally, Sarah loves being on my back.


Step 2: After getting used to the crowds and funny looking clowns, get up on dad's shoulders to take in all 3 rings in the pre-show warm-up festivities. Daddies love the circus too!


Step 3: Come on Mom.....get in on the fun! I think this was the beginning of the spell Sarah was in during the whole show - SO much to see.


Step 4: On with the show!


Step 5: The TIGERS - as Sarah would say, Animals, Animals, Animals!


Step 6: Big finale, see ya next time! and thanks for a fantastic afternoon.

What a Man Wednesday....Is there a doctor in the house?

This weeks man is a special request from a very dear friend. I have to admit there was a time I had a crush on our man of the week.


Celebrity doctor promoting safe sex and sobriety. He is America's most listened to doctor on the radio or so his bio claims. He used to go on house calls with his dad the doctor as a kid and decided that was what he wanted to do. A football player and class president in high school, this doc went on to undergrad at Amherst, but went back to the west coast for his medical degree. Met wife at a bar and is the father of triplets. In his spare time likes to hang with his children, read by the pool, play the piano, ski and sing opera (he's a baritone & he trained for 12 years).


His radio show in Lovelines KROQ in LA, started out small and grew and grew to syndication and a show on MTV....which is when I had the aforementioned crush. Also hosted Celebrity rehab on VH1. Dedicated to helping young people connect, Dr. Drew has spoken on Capitol Hill for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and has participated in the State of Our Youth at the Carter Center with Rosalind Carter. He is a fave guest on daytime talk shows.


In 2006 he co-authored the first academic study on celebrities and narcissism published in the Journal of Research in Personality (Elsevier.) His latest book, Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America (Harper-Collins) will be released in March/April 2009.



I give you.............. Dr Drew Pinsky
Kathryn, this one is for you!

Blessed are those who mourn......

The most frustrating thing about having a speech delayed toddler is not being able to understand her when she falls or hurts herself. I immediately want to comfort her and make it all better. Of course I don't expect a 2 year old to be able to rattle off her symptoms and ills when she is under the weather, but I feel so bad when she is crying or just not her usual jolly self when sick and I want to make it all better and to stop those tears - and I don't know what exactly is wrong or how to stop it.

I guess this never goes away. When I was in the hospice room with dad, probably around the 2nd or 3rd day he was there, I remember thinking "just don't cry when you are there as you don't want his last memories to be of you sobbing". Well of course I am human and it being one of the most emotional experiences of my life, there were tears one visit. I remember I put my arms on the side of the bed and put my head down as I really started Bawling. Dad in his weak voice told me "Don't cry"....in such an empathic way, in the same way I tell Sarah not to cry. Its that painful sweet "I don't want to see you suffer" tone parents can have. Here we was, literally dying....his lips and tongue were chapped like nothing I have seen, thirsty, hungry and he was trying to make ME feel better. Such a sweet voice too.

Parents, well the good ones, never stop wanting to comfort their children. I am so blessed to have had my dad. I realized its OK to mourn him and be sad....when my sister and mom died, I kind of went on as if nothing were wrong with me and it caught up to me 9 years later. Of course dad doesn't want me to be sad and cry, he is in a much better place. He also knows that God is there for me when I need him. The ultimate good parent, He never wants to stop comforting us and he will never leave us.

I love you Sarah. I love you Dad. I love you God.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

What a man Wednesday returns!....Mr Darcy I presume

I am returning to the isle across the pond again. Born into an academic family, our man of the week spent the first 5 years of his life with his missionary family.

On his appeal to older fans:
I find I'm increasingly lusted after by people beyond pensionable age. I was told of a woman in hospital, diagnosed with high blood pressure, who was told not to watch any more 'Pride and Prejudice'. She was 103.

On his family's thoughts of his role as Darcy:
When he was first offered the role of Darcy, his brother incredulously remarked, "Darcy? But isn't he supposed to be sexy?"

Has personally promoted social responsibility for a while now, specifically by opening two ethical-coffee cafes in London called “Progreso” and “Covent Garden” aimed to benefit Fairtrade growers.

He looks good in whatever film era and seem to enjoy seeing him in film. Who else can be so hot dressed up in Jane Austin era clothes you know.....he is a dandy dandy!

I give you Colin Firth - who I think is hot in a low key kind of way which completely suits my mood today!

Superbowl Commercial you won't see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2CaBR3z85c

Check out this ad that was rejected by NBC. Its a real shame they didn't let the sponsor air the ad after they quoted them a price. I am disappointed in NBC as this is an incredibly tasteful and moving ad.

LIFE IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL.