We have family movie nights pretty regularly. It can be hard to pick a movie because of the vast age range in our kids. But one thing that is always an easy choice for my kids is what candy to get. This night is ALWAYS an exciting event in our house because it means loads of CANDY. I allow pretty much unsanctioned access to gobs of gummies, chocolates, and what have you during movie night. I will buy a haul from the store, and they will shove their faces with it.

When we moved to Florida 8 years ago, I thought the upheaval would impact Gianna the most. She was 9 after all. She had a circle of friends and had grown up her entire life surrounded by our very large and very close extended family. However, she acclimated to the distance just fine. I mean, she misses parts of Pittsburgh, her old friends, school, and family, but she would NEVER move back. The cold is not for her, and she’s since made a whole life down here. By whole life I mean she has a serious boyfriend.

I joke, but you get the point.

No, I thought Gianna would have the hardest time. I never thought Scarlett would be the one to miss Pittsburgh. She was nearing 5 when we left. The child was a homebody. She never wanted to go anywhere. I had to bribe her to go to her grandparents’ house most days when I had to go to work. I didn’t think she’d miss anything as long as she had a roof over her head, food, her sister with her, and me nearby.

Obviously based on the fact that I’m writing this post, I was wrong.

When I was younger, I used to look down when I walked. Adults thought my low self-esteem was the reason I kept my head down. That I was afraid to make eye contact because I thought so little of myself.

I did have low self-esteem. But that wasn’t the reason I was looking down.

Pixar makes amazing movies that totally impact my life, especially Inside Out (1&2). On the surface, they are kids’ movies, but with so much depth. It’s truly impressive how they take complex topics like the brain and make them easy to understand. And these movies give me as a parent a relatable way to talk about the importance of sleep, imagination, how you change mentally as you grow, emotions controlling you, sense of self is separate from your thoughts…..ahhhhhhh the writers behind these two movies are freaking brilliant!!!!!!!!

My almost 10-month-old is not a snuggler. I attribute this to the fact that she is my only child who did not nurse 50,000 times a day and thus does not have an attachment to me, or my small chest, like the other 3 did. I don’t think she is a budding psychopath that lacks human connection or anything. She just doesn’t want to curl up on my lap yet or snuggle into my neck.

I’m not crying. 😭😭😭😭😭

But, this morning, she went against her natural ways.

Took the brood to the Tampa Fringe Fest yesterday. I never heard of it before but got an email somehow and was intrigued. It was inside and not that expensive – two must haves right now because it’s hot and we’re trying to be money conscious* which is so fucking hard with 4 daughters with mouths that want to eat and bodies that want clothing. Damn humans.

Anyways, if you were like me and never heard of the Fringe Fest, it’s local performers whose acts haven’t found a home yet. They operate on the “fringe” circuit until they get a spot on the main stages (if that’s their goal). The event is in Ybor which is a cool balance of indie vibes mixed with fear of getting shot. I like it though. Has character. And all the roosters running around freely like stray dogs gave me plenty of opportunities to make “cock” jokes. Fun fact, you can adopt a cock in Ybor.