Lucy -- Star of the Week!

Remember in my first post I said I didn't do baby books? That's not entirely true -- I kind of did about six pages of one for Leah, but that's it (it was one of those instant scrap books where you just have to place the pictures on the various pages). Lily has a photo album and well, the other two, they are lucky if I even print off a picture of them.

A few weeks back, Lucy was the Start of the Week at her preschool. It's an opportunity for each student to share more about themselves to their classmates. Plus, mom and dad are invited to come in, read a book, pass out a snack, and share the child's baby book. Say what? Um, no baby book for the Lu. Thankfully, I remember a little bit of PowerPoint from my working days and decided to make a digital baby book.

I hope you enjoy watching this as much as I loved making it!

Small Business Saturday

Thanksgiving is over. Naturally, our society and the media shout louder than ever “TODAY YOU MUST SPEND MONEY!" It’s BLACK FRIDAY, for goodness sake!! Some retailers even had the gall to open on Thanksgiving Day. The media coined this shopping day as “Brown Thursday”. Really? 

That’s the best they could come up with? With gems like “Fiscal Cliff”, “Weinergate”, and “Bradgelina”, you’d think they’d find something a bit catchier. May I suggest this simple, yet direct way to let consumers know you are making employees work on Thanksgiving: “Forget being thankful for what you have, come buy more stuff you think you need TODAY!”  Or, to shorten it up, just call it a “Thursday Sale”. I digress.  For whatever reason, 12:01 a.m. the morning after Thanksgiving wasn't early enough to sell you something.

All the big box retailers bombard you via the television, radio, internet, and newspaper, making you feel as if you don't shop today, well, then:

a) you will be the only one not doing it;

b) you obviously don’t want to save money;

c) you must be an agoraphobic if you are not willing to deal with the massive crowds.

If you decided to actually spend Thanksgiving with your family, or if you over slept your 2:00 a.m. alarm, don’t cry. More fabulous deals on televisions, tablets, power wheels and the like will surely follow in the coming weeks. Plus, there’s this neat invention called the Internet. With it, you can shop from home on your computer and basically get the same products, at the same prices, just like you would if you were shopping in the store. Wow!

Let me share another little nugget with you: If you missed the early bird Black Friday specials or felt as if your experience was mediocre, there is a remedy. It’s called Small Business Saturday. Small, locally owned businesses (yes, they still do exist!) all over the country have teamed together to encourage consumers to rethink how they spend their holiday dollars. Are they saying boycott Black Friday? No, of course not, that would be silly. (That’s why they have their own day!) However, what they do want you to know is that there are thousands of unique ‘mom and pop’ shops out there that are the backbone to so many communities, small and large.

What does that mean to you? First off, there’s no need to “parking lot stalk”; many mom and pops have plenty of free parking, all close to several other small businesses. (Genius!) Second, small business owner’s like their sleep; most don’t even open until 8:00 a.m. or later. (Nice!) And, when you buy local, over 50% of the money you spend actually stays in the community. (Cool!) To top it off, what you'd pay at a big box store is often times the same, or even less, at a store in your community. (Interesting!)

The purpose of this post is not to try and change consumer behavior; people will do what they want. I do wish, however, that consumers keep their local community businesses in mind when doing their holiday shopping, and even beyond. I am grateful to live in a small, self-sustaining community where I can get just about everything I need in town. I bet if you really thought about it too, you would probably come to a similar conclusion. 

Balcony Testing

When Adam was in college, he and his frat brothers would do something called "roof testing". They basically would hurl an item off the roof and watch it break. And when it did, man roars and expletives could be heard from blocks away. Good times, right?

After three girls, I wasn't quite sure what I would be in for when Charlie came along. As a baby, he seemed to eat and poop a lot more, but otherwise, he was "normal". Then he started to crawl. Then walk. Then be curious. Then destroy. By the age of one, this kid broke more toys and dishes than I could count. When Charlie discovered the stairs, and finally our balcony, his interest in physics was born.

I have concluded that Charlie has inherited his father's thrill for roof testing. Except, in Charlie's case, it's balcony testing. (Lord help us all when he gets to college!) He will throw anything he can get his hands on over the balcony. If it doesn't break, he will find another object until his appetite for shattering is fulfilled. He will then say, in the most innocent voice, "Oh, no! It broke!"

Yesterday, Charlie got his kicks from Leah's most prized possession: a teddy bear riding a unicorn through the clouds and stars music box (take a moment to absorb that mental picture). After a stern punishment, I had to put my thinking cap on. Do I hide it and pretend I didn't know where it was? Do tell her the truth? Do I try to find a new one? Do I glue it back together?

As Adam was leaving to go back to work from lunch, he asked, "You aren't going to try and glue that back together, are you?" "No, no. Of course not." I decided to go with option #4: glue it back together.

This is what I had to work with.

Because Leah got this gem at a thrift shop, finding another would be difficult. I was able to locate a picture of a very similar music box so I used that as my guide. I did decide to tell Leah the truth. She cried but was very hopeful that I could put it back together (at least one of us was!). After all, three key components survived the fall: the teddy bear, the unicorn head and the music box mechanics. Several hours later, this is what I got completed:

World's Hardest Puzzle

What the hell was I thinking? This was the worst puzzle ever! Maybe drinking will help. (The unicorn even shared.)

The more I look at this music box, the more frightened I become.

After taking a break to sleep for a bit, I was back at it today. Not too bad . . . from this side. As for the other side, something seems to be missing.

It's now noon, almost 24 hours since I began my quest. I have realized a) how important all those little shards of porcelain are, and b) I don't have the time or patience or skill for this crap. I'm calling this job done . . . for now anyway. Thankfully, I found one on ebay. It even had a Buy It Now option, so no need to battle it out with some other desperate mother! 

Photobomb Special

It's been a while since I've written about my brood. For some odd reason, I thought that once summer was here, I'd have more free time. LOLCOI (another excellent find on urban dictionary!). 

Anyhoo, I did have some time to pull some classic pictures I've taken over the years. This post was inspired by the story of Kevin Spacey's awesome photobomb. (Check it out if you haven't read it yet!) I also have a friend that is notorious for photobombing. However, I will protect her identity to allow her to continue her fun :)

Before I get to my pictures, here are some other notable, more famous photobombs:

(All photos from Buzzfeed.com)

Stingray photobomb. Quite possibly the best one ever.

Photobomb: electromagnetic style.

Photobombs can happen anywhere, even under water.

It takes balls to photobomb the President! 

Even this Husky like photobombing.

What doesn't this guy do?

Here's a collection of my very own photobombs. Enjoy!

I swear Adam was not photoshopped in!

Barbie is just plain creepy!

The lady in red is not happy
that my friend won the race!
And she totally looks like this girl! =====>>

Our haute look was sabotaged by Leah.
(This one is for my DG friends!
It is my goal that someday all my girls will perfect
the haute look that you inspired!)

Bella. 'Nuff said. 

Giant Barbie is sneaky!

Again, Bella just had to photobomb this picture of Leah.

Chubby thigh mirror reflection photobomb [censored].
(My intention was to take a picture of Charlie's sunburn for Adam.)

Childhood Masterpieces

Recently I've noticed an abundance of well-meaning child art on various websites (buzzfeed.com first comes to mind) in which adults interpret the message a bit differently than the child intended, or the kid completely throws their parents under the bus. 

It's no different here at the Pricehold. All of my children love to color (on walls, furniture, and other non-paper 'canvases'). But when they do manage to get the marker to the paper, some really creative illustrations appear.

Here are a few of my favorites from the big girls. (In time, Lucy and Charlie will create masterpieces of their own, on paper and not on my walls.)

If I had a $100, I would buy a stuffed peacock (naturally).

This is a portrait of me. Leah made it clear that in this drawing, I'm wearing my falsies. (False eye lashes, that is.)

I love my family, but I want to bludgeon this snowman.

Lily is correct: we do go to the movies a lot. However, we do not drive the Wienermobile there. 

For the record, we are not Amish. Or pilgrims. 
Or wear Ove-Gloves in the winter. 

I love how thin I look and what fabulous legs
Lily thinks I have!

And, my favorite. Lily created this the first week of kindergarten. My first thought was "Why in the world are they learning about Amy Winehouse?" Lily later told me the girl was me when I make my hair real big. 

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today, my grandfather would have turned 86. Sadly, he was called to heaven on Friday, May 24, 2013, less than two weeks shy of his birthday.

Prior to his recent health decline, my dad invited me to join him on a trip out east from May 18 to 21. Having four children and several kid-oriented events, I opted not to go. My sister Jessica was on a break from school and she was able to fly out.

A few days before their flight out to Philly, Dad got a call from his sister Chris. She told him to pray that he goes tonight. It's not looking good at all, she said. However, the next morning, Grandpa was sitting up in his bed, reading the paper. Clearly, stubbornness is a Touhey trait!

The night before Dad and Jessica left, Chris told Dad to bring a suit and Jessica to bring a dress. Grandpa had not eaten for 10 days. Surely, she said, he was waiting until his only son came to say goodbye.

I was in agony if I should fly out to say my goodbyes. Of course, my family in Delaware would welcome me but I had to be realistic about my responsibilities at home. After speaking with many family members, I decided to wait until he passed. I asked Chris to say my goodbyes on my behalf.

The days passed. Nothing happened. Dad and Jessica flew back to Minnesota. Grandma repeatedly asked Grandpa if he saw the angels. He responded with a firm "NO!" "Are you sure," she'd say? "Yes! I'm sure!"

Grandpa hung on for almost three weeks without food and then another three days with no water. How anyone could do that is beyond me. But, I guess that is not for me to understand. That was his path, chosen by God.

When I received the news of his passing, I was so upset. I regretted not going out east to say my goodbyes. I felt terrible that I was the only grandchild that wasn't there. I felt like I let him down.

The visitation brought me much peace. I had a chance to tell Grandpa all about my kids: what the girls were up to now and how Charlie, even though they never met, looked just like him. I also asked for a little help from above. Even though my kids are cute, they are naughty as all get out, and divine intervention would certainly be needed at sometime!

The funeral was bittersweet. We teased Grandma that the casket she picked for Grandpa was the same color as the Buick (platinum mist). Ironically, she pre-purchased the same one for herself. Of course, we offered to Bedazzle hers, if she wished, when it was her time. [Grandma acquired quite the jewel collection over the years and is known for her flashy diamonds, gobs of gold and fabulous gems.] Just for the record, Jessica and I still play dress up when we go to Grandmas. Trying on massive rings, bracelets and watches is something a girl never grows out of!!

My three dear cousins Carly, Alison and Laura (my only first cousins on the Touhey side), along with Jessica and myself were the pallbearers. I believe I can speak for all of us when I say it was an honor to escort Grandpa into his final  service.

Here were are outside the church,
 Immaculate Heart of Mary in Wilmington, DE.

After much soul searching, I know my grandpa is here with me. I've felt his presence and I know that he is at peace now. I was one of the lucky ones. Actually, all of us were - me, Jessica, Carly, Alison and Laura - we all had four grandparents in our lives until recently. I only know one or two friends that could say that. And even with greater sadness, my friend's parents are starting to pass on. 

I found this on a website when I was trying to find comfort when my grandfather was dying. My wish is that this may bring you some clarity and peace as it did me. 

It’s interesting that we have different words for birth and death, yet they’re two different words for the same thing. Think about it for a second. Suppose someone could have visited you the day before you were born. And they told you about the amazing world you were already part of, just hadn't yet experienced. Sunsets. Sunrises. That wonderful smell of coffee in the morning. The wonderful touch of a breeze on your skin, or the touch of someone you love. Light. Cold. Warmth. Love. It would have sounded like some fairy tale, no? Because at that moment in your experience, all you knew was darkness. You floated around in a little puddle of fluid. All those other things would have seemed like some fantasy. And if you were told that the reason you hadn't yet experienced any of those amazing things was because you were literally growing inside your parent, you would have said: What are you smoking? It would have seem so surreal as to be silly. Yet, it was true. And one day later, you were born into a more complete experience of the world, a world which had been there all along for those nine months; you just hadn't been able to experience it fully. The doctor cut the cord, and your parent reached out and pulled you close and with a tear-stained cheek kissed you and told you how much she’s waited a lifetime for this very moment.

Well, the analogy is: We’re still in our little three-dimensional womb. There is something much more amazing out there. We can’t comprehend it, but that’s OK. We have been in that situation before. We just have to trust. And when our time in this womb is complete, we cut the cord with this world, so to speak, and waiting there for us is God, with outstretched arms and tear-stained cheek, waiting to pull us close and hug us and tell us how much God has waited an eternity for this very moment.

source: http://blog.americancatholic.org/2013/05/in-dying-we-are-born-to-eternal-life/

This was my grandfather's funeral card. Sharing our Irish heritage has always 

been a prominent staple in our lives. 

I have this same blessing in my kitchen, as do many of my relatives. 

The Hockey Haircut

For as long as I can remember, I've known how to skate. Where I grew up, if you could walk, your dad would take you to the Community Center, lace you up in a tiny pair of skates and set you on the ice. Dad might let you have a metal folding chair to scoot forward, but that's it. If you fell, you got up. There was no hand holding or kissing boo boos. 

Once you figured out how to skate, the next logical step, especially if you were a boy, was to play hockey.

For 10 years, Minnesota did not have a hockey team. When the North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, there was a huge sense of loss, as well as a lot people saying "Norm Sucks". Unlike most states, the little PeeWees didn't have professional hockey athletes to look up to. Instead, they found awe in their local high school hockey stars. My guess is that is why the Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament is such a big deal. And by big deal, I mean BIG DEAL! The opening stories on the 10 o'clock news are tourney highlights, and there are specials after the news dedicated solely to the tournament. If you're lucky, you might get to hear the newscaster say something awesome like, "I love it when the little guys beat the snot out of Eden Prairie!"

For as prevalent as the tourney is, I must admit, I was unaware of the Hockey Haircut phenomenon. Thankfully, this tournament is available for all to watch on YouTube. Adam and I think it's really, really funny! We were dying laughing!

You may be asking yourself, "Why is Amanda posting this?" Here's why:

My son's hair.

Clearly, Charlie has the classic makings of epic hockey hair.


Keep on rock'n it buddy boo! We love you!