Christmas 2011

Gee...it's December 29th, and I haven't written a blog about Christmas yet.

Blame Jeff.  He got me a Kindle Fire for Christmas.  And it has internet capabilities, so I can read all of your blogs and my e-mails and facebook, but it is kind of a pain to type on since I've never texted so basically I'm never on the regular computer to blog anymore.

Got it?

For the record, I got Jeff pajama pants and a running hat...so I LOSE in the spouse present competition this year.  (Jeff would like to point out repeatedly that he had numerous gift cards to Amazon that he had received as bonuses through work...so he didn't actually have to spend money on my delightfully fancy gift.  Whatev's.  Still makes me look bad...)

Christmas morning was hilarious and adorable and fantastic...as we expected.  We had put Andrew on the floor in Michael's room so that our early riser wouldn't discover the presents and open them before waking us up.  Andrew was thrilled to have guard duty.  Never-the-less, they came into our room at 5:15am...chatty and excited, with Michael proclaiming, "Mommy!  We were good!".   But despite their eagerness to tear into their loot, we just couldn't do that to our parents, having promised them the ability to "sleep in" until 6am.  We stalled them for FORTY-FIVE minutes in our room...ugh. 

We also tried to enforce my family tradition of each person opening their gift individually while others watch.  Jeff's family all tears into their gifts at once, which causes you to miss out on who gave them that gift and watching their face while they open it, etc.  I personally like the giving of gifts just as much as receiving...I want to watch other open.  The kids did mostly okay with it.  Michael occasionally laid down on his next present in a pout...but he mostly was excited to hand out gifts and we, of course, let the kids help us unwrap our gifts, which made them happy.  Lily was so so so excited to give her gifts to everyone.  There were many exclamations of joy, fist pumping, and jumping around in glee.  I don't remember much after I opened my Kindle.  Luckily, Jeff had hidden it in the back of the tree so it was my last gift opened.

The rest of the day was the typical Christmas afternoon.  Lots of opening impossible to open plastic and assembling teeny tiny pieces.  We had almost no toys with batteries...so YAY! However, waking up at 5:15 (after going to bed at nearly 9:00 Christmas eve) and with candy as their only sustinance...they were a mass of  misery by 2pm.  Tantrums, meltdowns, fits of rage, fits of grief... drama. 

It was lovely.  And irritating.  But mostly wonderful. 

Oh!  My Kindle is done charging.  See ya laters-

Christmas eve quotes

I told the kids this morning that tonight SANTA'S COMING!  Michael calmly stated, "Then I will find out if I get a present or coal."

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Andrew announced that tomorrow he would like to wait until after dinner to open his presents.  The rest of us can open ours in the morning, but he's going to wait.  When we asked him why he would ever want to do that, he shrugged and said, "I don't know.  I just want to change it up a bit."
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Lily keeps cleaning up for Santa.  After Michael spread his cars out on the fireplace yet again, Lily said, "How many times am I going to have to clean this up?"  Welcome to my world, Lily.

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Andrew wrote a card to his regular teacher and his Humanities (aka gifted) teacher.  We had a little fight over writing them, so I'd thrown my hands in the air and left the room.  He wrote...with no coaching from me... "Dear Mrs. L., Thank you for teaching me all I know.  You've given me the greatest gift of all, the gift of learning.  Have a Merey Christmas.  Love, Andrew."   Could this kid be any cheesier?  Also, she is going to save that card for all time, it is so funny.  What 2nd grader writes that?

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When Memere and Pepere came in our house, Michael gave them the obilitory tour...as if they have never visited before.  He showed them the box of Christmas cookies and announced, "These are our cookies.  That's all we eat...IS COOKIES!"

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My dad sleeps in around here.  You know, until 7 am.  Lily expressed some concern this morning that Pepere wouldn't wake up in time for present opening.  He'd better go to bed really early tonight.

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I know there's more.  I just am drawing a blank.  Will write more later...

WHAT?!?! It's December 22nd?!?!?

Boy-howdy.  I can't believe that Christmas is in 3 days.  This month has not gone exactly as I planned.  And once again it is a lesson in how being a procrastinator doesn't pay off.  Will it stop me from procrastinating next time.  No.  But still...lesson experienced.

We are mostly ready over here.  The floor is in need of a thorough cleaning (thank you for tracking dog dirt in, boys) and the guest bedroom (aka Lily's room) has not been overhauled yet and there is still quite a bit of wrapping to do AND I am helping with Michael's class party today AND Andrew's class party tomorrow and I have one more bells practice and the kids have Christmas Eve Nativity practice and my car is going to the shop Friday and...

Stop.

Let me tell you first about Lily's Christmas program.  It was AWESOME.  That child is a born performer.  She scowled the whole time because she was so intent on singing all the words...and she did.  I doubt I will enjoy any gift I get as much as I enjoyed watching Michael and Lily's performances.  Truly.

The kids are ready for Christmas.  Every day, Lily announces that, "Tomorrow is Christmas!" and then she quickly adds, "Not really."  Lily has also become quite devout, and kneels and prays at any nativity scene she comes across.  It makes us look like really really crazy Christians...but it is really really cute.  She got a children's Bible from her teachers for Christmas and all she wants to do is sit and read it.  Also, this is the first year she is really really excited to GIVE people gifts.  She literally gets giddy when she even thinks about giving Jeff his present...and she thought of the idea all on her own.  Wonderful.

Michael is terrified of Santa, so when the old man visits his class today I imagine it will not go well.  You also cannot go shopping with him, because even though he SEEMS like he isn't paying attention, the second he sees the recipient of the gifts you bought?  He spills the beans about what I went shopping for.  His appetite has gone downhill quickly...all he wants to eat is Christmas cookies and candy.  There are many fights throughout the day.  Michael does NOT get excited about giving people gifts.  Everytime we mention it or when we give someone a gift (like his teachers), he instantly throws a mini-tantrum because HE doesn't have a gift.  I think all those fall birthdays where his siblings got gifts and he didn't really ruined him.

Andrew is so much fun.  I can't believe that he just ACCEPTS all this Santa business, but he does.  He has not complained about having school all week (he has less days off than Jeff this year) because he just loves school so much.  He came home so excited to sing us a Christmas carol he learned at school to the tune of Jingle bells.  To give you an idea, one line is, "911, 911, Santa Claus is dead./Rudolph took a .22 and shot him in the head."  Lovely.  No wonder he loves school so much.  One more thing...sorry in advance, Linda...but it was really funny.  When he unwrapped an ornament from his grandmother he smiled and said, "This is nice, Mom, but I have a feeling when I grow up this will be a back of the tree ornament."  I smiled and told him that grandma had picked it out at the hospital because she wasn't able to get out and shop this year.  His little face melted and he said, "Oh.  That's really nice.  I'll make sure it isn't in the back...ever."

I have many more stories.  And I should write them down...because I know that remembering them someday will be WAY more important to me than how clean my kitchen floor was.

But now the children insist on being fed.  Lordy.  I guess I can't shirk that duty...

Worst Day of 2011

I'm going to go out on a limb and proclaim that yesterday was the worst day of 2011 for me.  The.  Worst.  I know this is tempting fate, since there are still 2 weeks left in 2011, but I'm putting it out there anyway. 

Thursday was great.  I had my first personal training appointment on Thursday morning.  The trainer was very nice and the workout seemed hard without making me want to kill myself.  My throat was hurting a bit, but it felt like the start of a head cold.

Jeff was home from work so that we could go to Michael's Christmas show at pre-school.  I cried like a baby, seeing my baby up there singing along.  He was Adorable, with a capital A.  And he actually sang!  Not like Lily, a.k.a. Aretha, but better than Andrew at 3...who just stood up there doing the motions with his eyes as wide as an owl.

Thursday night we had leftover chili for dinner...and I couldn't finish it because it burned my throat so bad.  Not a good sign, but I chose to ignore it because I had bells practice immediately followed by book club.  And I was not missing book club!  I'd missed my girl's night out cookie exchange last week because of damn lice...I was not missing again.  Unfortunately, by the time I got home from the cookie exchange, my throat was a throbbing burning hot poker of pain. 

I slept a whopping 3 hours that night.  Up for the day at 3 am...trying to sooth my throat with ice chips and popsicles and Advil.  I knew what this was...I just felt it a month ago. 

But this was worse...
a) There was no way Jeff was staying home or even coming home early...he'd just taken the day off and moved all his meetings to do that.  Screwed.
b) My entire body was in pain from the workout with the trainer.  Even walking was sending shooting pains up and down my thighs.  This does not couple well with the throat on fire.
c) Just like last time, I am in the middle of my period while enjoying the strep.  I get headaches...very mild, but annoying, the last few days of my period.  PLUS, it make me have to visit the bathroom a lot...which involves a squat...see b) for how painful that was.

Anyhoo...I made breakfast for everyone, got them out the door, took Lily to preschool and made it to the doctor, where I had to entertain my 3 year old for 55 minutes in the waiting room before they got us a room in the back.  Urgh.  The actual appointment was only 15 minutes?  It was clear what I had. 

Now I only had 30 minutes until it was time to pick up Lily again, so we race to the drug store and drop off my prescription, run back to the pre-school to get Lily, and drive across our little town to take Michael to speech.  Lily and I doodled in a side room while we waited for him...and I could tell I was spiking a fever.  I was shaking and freezing and sweating all at the same time.  The speech teacher looked at me like I had the plague and told me that I looked bad.  Thanks.  :)  Michael gets out of speech and we race over to the drug store to get the horse pills that they prescribe for sore throats...WTH.  My throat is swollen and tender...why do I need to swallow these bad boys? 

It's now about 1pm, and the kids and I are starving.  So once back at home, I make them lunch.  I am so feverish I can't get warm, so I keep my winter coat and hood on the whole time.  All our blankets and throws are in lice quarantine.  Michael keeps asking where we are going.  I eat some soft pears and soup and take my first pill.  Kids are eating lunch and watching a show. I am exhausted, since I've been up since 3 am.  But there's no time for a nap, because no one naps in our house and in 90 minutes I have to go to the bus stop to get B., the boy I watch.  I guess I could have cancelled on his parents...but it's not like my kids are sick, and I have to be up and taking care of them, so why not one more.

My fever breaks just before we go get B.  I trudge through the next few hours getting snacks for children and trying to clean up the house a bit.  Jeff gets home at the same exact time B.'s parents come.  We eat a quick dinner, and then it's time for Jeff to take Andrew to do his swim test at the gym.  If you do it this one night, you get 20% off the lessons.  So I entertain the 2 little ones a bit more, then turn on a show and finally...finally put them to bed.  Jeff gets home 20 minutes later...and brings me a chocolate shake.  I take a second pill and go to bed at 8.  Jeff tucks me in and points out that at least I no longer have lice.  True enough...this is better timed than it would have been last week.  ;)

This morning is better.  My throat is hurting at a 2 Motrin level rather than a 3 Motrin plus 2 Tylenol level.  My muscles are vaguely sore, but I walked down the steps without difficulty.  My headache is gone.  And I slept for 10 hours...so I feel well rested.  AND, Jeff is home today. 

So I made it through.  Now to muster then energy to bake all those Christmas cookies (supposed to be my weekend project), plan and shop for feeding my visitors next week, and clean up for them too. Oh, and wrapping and shopping for a dress for Lily (she has none?) and more wrapping and stocking stuffers shopping.   On second thought, I need another nap first.

Ouchy bells

There are two new developments that I've been enjoying in my life...which have nothing to do with children.  I KNOW, right?

First, I have joined the Christmas bell choir at church.  We only practice once a week, but it reminds me just how much I miss playing music in a group.  It makes me want to dust off my clarinet and treck 30 minutes to the nearest community band each week.  Except...probably not.  I'll just enjoy bells.

Second, we've joined the local gym.  Calling it a gym is super short selling it.  First of all, it costs A LOT.  More than I am comfortable with.  But we looked at lots of different options, and this one works best...if we use the crap out of it.  So now Michael is signed up for a gym class, Lily is taking a musical theatre dance class, Andrew will soon be in swim lessons (cost extra anyway), and I am doing their circuit weight training and running the treadmill (not yet, but soon?).  Tuesday I dropped Michael off at school, then took Lily to the KidsClub at the gym and did my circuit.  Lily did a snowflake craft and played with playdoh while I was gone...not just watching tv or whatever.  I could barely move after my workout.  Then I felt better.  The next morning I felt like the tin man in Oz...moving so stiffly and painfully.  Today I have a personal trainer appointment (you get 2 for joining...I am scared.)

I'm worried about going to bells tonight after going to the gym this morning, however.  My arms may not be able to life the bells off the table.  These hobbies may be incompatible.

A clarification

Apparently my last post made it sound like I am teaching my son that his aunt chose to have one child just so she could have gadgets.

Not my intention...and not how I think the conversation actually went...just how it sounded on here?  I of course know lots of people who have multiple kids with much cooler stuff than we have.  And I know there are people with zero kids who do not have the gadgets...

Tuesday night's conversation happened to be specifically about electronic gadgets.  Sometimes he asks why our house isn't as big as his friends or why we don't get to go to Disney.  This time, when addressing why certain people have better technology, nicer houses, better gadgets than us, Andrew specifically asked, "Why does Aunt Kate have an iPad and a Nook and Guitar Hero and everything cool?" 

And we talked about her decision to work and have only one child.  And we talked a little bit about cost of living.  And we mostly talked about how no one can have it all, and Jeff and I have made choices about how we spend our money.  And someday he will have to make choices as well.  And that for the rest of his life there will always be someone with cooler stuff than him.

Just to clarify...because I am NOT teaching my son that you have to choose between a big family and gadgets.  I don't think there is anything wrong with treating yourself and your family to fun gadgets.  It's all cool, man!  That's why they sell them...because it is amazing technology for people to enjoy!  Perhaps I should have really stressed that the key to him having gadgets and cool electronics someday is to NOT marry someone who is as cheap and stingy as his mother ;P

Sorry, Kate!  I really think it just came out wrong on the blog!  Andrew loves you!

Santa wishes

We aren't huge Santa people over here.  We like him, don't get me wrong.  But we don't push it too hard.  There's no threatening that he's watching, forced photos on his lap, or deep discussions about how he gets down the chimney.  Andrew has never gotten much into it, and the others have kind of followed suit.

We do write him a letter each year and put it in the mailbox at Santa's place in the mall.  That's usually as close as we get to the old man.  This year Michael and I were at the empty mall on a Wednesday morning and Michael was spying on Santa from upstairs.  Santa was deep in a conversation with one of his elves when he looked up, waved at Michael, and winked.  Best. Santa. Ever.

Anyway, Jeff was taking the older two Christmas shopping with him last weekend, and we decided we'd better get that letter written and delivered.  I wrote it, to save time.

Michael has been very consistent with what he wants Santa to bring him.  Every time you ask him he says, "I want a big fat train with no face."  Alrighty then.

Lily is also very consistent.  She has wanted some LEGO princess castle that she saw in a catalog last fall.  Except that Mommy couldn't find it anywhere and was worried that Santa might not bring it if it was not age appropriate.  A bit of internet searching later, we discovered she meant Playmobile instead...and so we had the correct name to write on the letter.

Andrew went blank.  It is hardest for him, since he just had a birthday 2 weeks ago.  I kept reminding him that he had a pretty nice life if he couldn't think of a single thing to ask Santa for.  He finally came up with the Wild Cats movie by Disney Nature.  

The letter was mailed off and all is well with the world. 

Until Andrew thought of something better he wanted Santa to bring him.  He shyly asked me last night if he could send another letter to Santa because he changed his mind about what he wanted.  Which led to another installment of our conversation series, "Why do other people have better things than us."  Sorry, Andrew, but Santa is NOT bringing you an iPod or an iPad for Christmas.  And Aunt Kate has all the cool things because she has an only child and works full time.  Would you like to trade Lily and Michael in and go to before and after care at school and daycare on holidays just to have an electronic gadget? 

Thankfully he said no.  I could have really backed myself into a corner on that hypothetical ;)

Coming up for air

Do you know how much TIME it takes to battle lice? 

Urgh.

Between the washing of sheets and laundry every day, the folding the laundry each day, the combing through Lily's hair 2-3 times a day (45-60 minutes EACH), the combing through my hair 2-3 times a day (30-40 minutes EACH), disinfecting the combs, brushes, etc., spraying down surfaces, sending new found stuffed toys on vacation in a bag in the garage...PLUS everyone still feels fine so I have to make meals for them and such.

Lordy. 

We are coming out on the other side, though.  Sunday we did a 2nd chemical treatment on Lily and me and we treated all the boys just to be on the safe side.  Yesterday was the first day Lily hair combed out completely clean.  I've been clean for 3 days or so.

Now it's time to get back.  Take back those 4-5 hours a day and use them for more fun things like baking cookies and cleaning the mounds of toys.

Oh, and blogging.  Must write down some of the cute things the kiddos have been doing.  And talk about joining the gym!  And more devious things my youngest has been up to.  Etc.  But not in the same post as lice.  So, later.

Heebeejeebees

Lily has had an itchy head for about 5 days.  Really itchy.  I checked her head for sticky nits, but only found dandruff.  Because, you know, I don't actually KNOW what nits look like.

Yesterday we were sitting next to each other and I literally saw a bug climbing in her hair.  I grabbed it and went to Master Google and...

As Scooby Doo would say...Ruh-Row.

I spent the next 3 hours alternating between washing a load of laundry and yanking lice out of Lily's hair.  I think I figured out what nits look like...but maybe not?  How am I a qualified de-louser?  How is a little suburban girl like me supposed to be able to buy a tiny box at the drug store and then competently kill parasites without some level of instruction or pictures or anything?  They literally don't even have a picture of what nits or head lice look like in that box.  WTH?  On-line they have pictures taken with an electron microscope.  Very helpful, since I happen to keep one of those under my kitchen sink.

So I don't know?   Is she good?  The box says she's good after one application...but the lice were still crawling around a few hours later in her hair.  Does that mean I failed?  I think I'm keeping her home from school just because I'm too horrified that I might have done it wrong and will continue to infect the school.

The worst is...she had a play date yesterday.  For the first time with this little girl.  At the little girl's house.  Lily was scratching her head at one point, and I even had a conversation with the woman about how I'd checked her head, but all I could see was dandruff and was it okay to use Head and Shoulders on a 5 year old.  Calling their house last night was...well...mortifying.  The grandmother was watching the kids since both parents were at work.  She sounded so disgusted and horrified and really really upset.  I just kept saying I'm sorry I'm sorry.  As if I did it on purpose.  As if I am a trained louse inspector and should have known that Lily had lice.

So grossed out.

After I had shampooed Lily's hair and was drying her off, she said, "Mommy, I can feel them crawling on my back and down my legs."  I replied, "No, Lily.  Head lice stay on your head.  What you have are the heebeejeebees.  When your mind tricks you into thinking they are everywhere.  I have them too."

Fast forward 4 hours.  I had put in the 100th load of laundry and finally asked Jeff to check me.  I'd checked the boys and Jeff and their short haired heads don't even have anywhere for lice to hide.  No worries.  I was certain I was okay because I only started getting itchy when I first saw that bug.

30 seconds later...Jeff pulls one out of my hair.  I jump up and run to the shower.  While waiting for the water to warm up (we were out of hot water...I wonder if it was the 100 loads of hot washing I'd done?), I raked through my hair in the bathroom mirror.  Not only did I find another louse...I found 2 gray hairs. 

COULD THIS DAY GET ANY WORSE?  I mean, really universe?  On the day I am infected with parasites you have to remind me that I'm getting old.  REALLY?

Jeff had to do the combing and looking for lice.  I am not confident that he did a good job.  I mean...he also is not a trained parasite remover/spotter...but he has the added disadvantage of not having much hair.  So he literally didn't know how to separate different sections of my hair to look.  He was just kind of moving the hair around.  So I'll have the heebeejeebees until sometime next week AND I'll be compulsively checking my head whenever I pass a mirror.  Which means there could be some kind of lice party happening on the back of my head and I'd never know it.

Looks like we'll be at home today.  Maybe I'll introduce a new game.  Instead of playing neighbor, perhaps we'll play chimpanzee friends instead.  Nit-picking, anyone?

A good cook

Have I ever told you that my mother is an incredible cook?  Really really wonderful.  Growing up, we were exposed to so many different homemade dishes that I didn't appreciate at all.  Mom was always trying new things and executing them beautifully.  Again...I turned my nose up and stuck my tongue out.  And baking!  She makes pavlova and lace cookies and homemade banana cake, homemade German chocolate icing...and on and on.  If I could have one eating related wish, it would be to go back in time and taste all the things my mother cooked for us...and just enjoy the cuisine she worked so hard to create rather than dismiss it.

I wasn't much interested in cooking as a kid.  At least that I remember.  I don't think I really liked food very well at all...just desserts.  So when I started cooking out of necessity...it was a bit of a disaster.

Some stories are now family legend...

Like when I called my mom in tears because the Tuna Helper called for tuna in spring water...and it didn't tell me how much spring water to add.

Or when I called her frantic from college because the recipe called for cooked chicken...how do I cook chicken before I put it in the casserole?

Flattened brownies, collapsing cakes, unrolled cabbage rolls, etc etc etc.

So it is part of my shtick to make fun of my cooking skills.  I am a self-deprecating humorist anyway, so this was just a natural avenue to follow.  It's just funny to sell myself as a horrible, miserable cook.  My poor family, blah blah blah.

But a few years ago, some things began changing.  Like, my mom started asking me for recipes of things I'd cooked for her.  Or my mom would call me for help with how to cook something I'd made before.  I started trying new recipes just because I was craving something...and it actually turned out good the first time.  It was fun to have people over and cook for them, because they seem to enjoy my creations and it wasn't stressful to cook.

-shock-

Last night, I went to a birthday party for a 35-ish neighbor (I watch her son).  It was at this little cooking school in our town.  The chef used to be the head chef of some swanky $200/plate restaurant in Philly...but he lives in our town and so opened this little school.  We learned how to make a swanky appetizer (towers of shrimp, greens, etc), a fancy little chicken roll on potato fritters with cranberry gravy and leeks (first time I'd ever made a chicken mousse...), and some kind of crepe for dessert.

These were complicated dishes.  And the chef is very French...and very difficult to understand.  And one of the other party guests was late, so for a while I was assembling 2 dishes.  Yet it was fun.

And out of 12 people in attendance, the chef picked my shrimp salad tower as, "Perfect.  Ook at zeeese one.  Is Perfect!"

Then the chicken dish...which was equally complicated...rolling chicken breasts, etc.  Again, the chef picks mine out of 12 and chooses it as the best.  He even complemented my technique with a few things...and he was not very complimentary.

The crepes...well, I've never been as good at the dessert/baking stuff.  I was NOT picked as an example or complimented on my technique ;)

But as I breezed through the demonstration and then glowed in the praises of Chef Jean Pierre, I realized that I AM a good cook.  I am a competent cook.  I have techniques and skills and confidence in the kitchen.

So no more jokes about my cooking.  I'll accept that it is something I'm actually kind of good at.

At least I'll always have my running skills to make fun of ;)

Ohio area bloggers

Just a quick note for all you bloggers/friends in the Ohio area.  We are going to be in Ohio A LOT in the months of June/July...so do you think we could organize a little Ohio/KY/PA blogger playgroup/get together thingy?

I'm thinking July 8th-12th would work best for me.

Discuss.

Grinchy

'Tis the season to be shopping and planning for your own family as well as giving to the many charities that collect for the less fortunate.  Our church has a tree with little gift request tags for kids, the MOMS club is collecting for a group that collects gifts for kids, etc etc.  It's fun to pick out a tag and then shop with the kids for gifts someone else wants.

I am happy to help.  Really. 

But a few of the tags have me feeling like maybe MY kids should have tags on trees.  Because I'm not getting them as nice of gifts as those tags are asking for.  I mean, dream big, and all that, but shouldn't some social worker let the kids know that perhaps at least one of their requests should be under $100?   I'll be damned if I get the kids an iPod.  I don't even have an iPod.  I'm not buying a 12 year old kid that I don't even know a gift that costs over $100...and that's if I don't include $ for music.

I know I'm a dinosaur...and a cheap one at that...but THIS makes me feel grinchy.

Oh, yea, we're back...

So Thanksgiving was wonderful.  As we sat around enjoying my family on Thursday, and then hung out at my in-laws for the rest of the weekend, I wondered why we don't do this more.  Why don't we make Thanksgiving a priority for getting back to Ohio?

And then we drove home on Sunday.  With 5,000,000 other people.  Lines for the gas pumps were 15 cars long at some stops...damn turnpike.  We did better than we thought, though...9.5 hours versus our normal 9...so traffic was moving pretty well.

And Michael spiked a fever as we were driving...and so we were back at the doctor yesterday...and we think his strep wasn't defeated by that round of antibiotics.  Every time I think about it, my throat starts to hurt.  But since it stops when I'm distracted...I'm pretty sure it's psycological.  :)

I'll write more actual stories some other time.  My house is DISGUSTING...and we have no food...and yes, I had all day yesterday to deal with these issues.  But it was 67 degrees out yesterday.  We didn't stay inside much.  I did rake 7 tarps full of leaves, though.  (we have a lot of dumping space for leaves at the top of our hill...so we rake onto tarp, carry to top of hill, dump, repeat).  I am on dose 2 of Motrin for my aching shoulders.  Damn genetics...thanks, Dad.

Here

Yesterday was a little bit of agony. Lots of rain and spray and hydroplaning on the turnpike.  My neck and shoulders are all out of whack today, and I'm pretty sure it's from the 5 hours straight of death-gripping the steering wheel and concentrating like hell.  Then it was Jeff's turn for the next 4 hours.

But we're here!  The kids have been happily playing in the basement.  I finished a 500 piece puzzle all by myself.  Why, yes, I DO enjoy puzzles.  And I don't like cell phones.  Why, yes, if they took 34 year olds in the nursing home I WOULD have a lot in common with the residents.

Funniest quotes from the trip?

Michael and Lily having a very serious religious discussion in the back seat.
M- Where does God live?
Me- He lives everywhere.
L- No, Michael, he lives right here, in your heart (places folded hands over her heart and tilts her head).
M- NO LILY.  GOD MADE THE WORLD AND HE IS EVERYWHERE.
L- -humph- Well he really lives in heaven.


At Cabella's, Michael spotted the polar bears and said, "Look!  The Snow-lar bears!"


Andrew, in true big brother fashion, singing in the backseat, "I'm going to fart on Lily's head."  When she protested, he insisted that he was just singing to himself.

Tomorrow...3 more hours in the car to get to my family's Thanksgiving.  Have a good one!

Frantic preparations

For the first time since 1998, I am spending Thanksgiving with my family.

We've spent 2 in that time at my in-laws...the one Thanksgiving we lived somewhat locally in KY, and the one my SIL Sara got married.

But never with my family.

I am excited. 

But, dear Lord, being sick has really thrown a wrench in my vacation preparations.  I have nothing done and we are leaving at noon today. 

The question is...WHY AM I BLOGGING????

This week's accomplishments

Let's see...after this morning's run to the pediatrician, here is what our fridge looks like:

Andrew does not have strep, but his ear has been dripping brain fluid   some mysterious clear fluid for the past 36 hours and it hurts him and he threw up 4 times at basketball practice this morning.  Turns out it is a serious ear infection with possible perforated ear drum...

So all that medicine is 2 bottles antibiotics for Lily, Michael, and Andrew..and bottle of less-yummy antibiotics for me, and ear drops for Andrew's oozing ear.

Next up?  Ohio!  We're coming to fully drugged up, so be ready!

Waking up thankful

I am waking up this morning with some pain in my throat.  HOWEVER, this is how I felt yesterday when I was pumped full of Motrin and Tylenol.  So I have high hopes that once my Motrin kicks in, I'll be feeling much, much better.

I am thankful today for penicillin.  And Motrin.

I am thankful for CVS Minute Clinic, which enabled me to get a quick strep test without a)waiting for the morning to go to the doctor or b)going to the ER.

I am thankful for children who behaved so so wonderfully yesterday.  Andrew literally swooped in and helped entertain the kiddos in the morning.  Lily and Michael played for hours yesterday morning with very little fighting.  Both then took a 2 hour nap, which enabled ME to take a 2 hour nap.

I am thankful for Jeff, who came home from work as soon as he possibly could.  Which enabled me to take yet another nap in the early evening and basically sit and relax the night away.  He also made dinner for the kids and me.

I am thankful for my immune system, which is using that antibiotic quicker than the nurses told me it would so that I feel much much better in just 36 hours, instead of 3-4 days.

Thankful.

Strep all around!

I took the 2 littles to the doctor this evening...positive on the quick strep test...and Lily has a massive ear infection on one side.

So I hustled my butt to the CVS clinic on the way to Andrew's swim lessons. 

Yup.  Major strep here too.

Unfortunately, the nurse said adults don't respond as quickly to the antibiotics with strep as kids do...so my kids should feel great by breakfast/lunch tomorrow...and I may not feel better until Thursday or Friday.

Oh!  And Jeff has super important training tomorrow that he! can't! miss!

Should be a grrrrrrr-eat day tomorrow!  Let's hope I can sleep at least a few hours!

My sick day

Woke up with throat on fire.  Drink hot cup of coffee.  Drink hot cup of tea. 

Jeff leaves.

Feed kiddos breakfast.  Rather, serve kiddos breakfast.  Break up several fights, much to the dismay of my throat.  Get them dressed, hair done, homework finished, lunch made.  Shuffle Andrew out the door.  Michael begins hysterically crying because he has to go to school.  Drag him to car.  Drag him into school. 

Lily and I run errands...mostly because of expiring coupons and the fact that I don't want to have to entertain her at home.  She needs new shoes, I get a hair cut, we stop at the grocery for more popsicles.  Back at home, Lily plays by herself very well while I drink another cup of hot tea and eat a second popsicle (the first one I downed in the car).  I finally wise up and take some Advil.  Duh.

Lily and I run to get Michael from school.  His teachers say he was just "off" today.  We go to the park for a pre-scheduled picnic playdate.  Michael plays a little...cuddles with me a lot.  He eats all his lunch.  Lily has eaten almost nothing in 3 days...complaining that her ear hurts every time she tries to eat or sleep.

Come home from playdate and put Michael down for a nap.  Tell Lily that Mommy needs to rest.  Make another cup of tea.  30 minutes later, Michael wakes up hysterically crying.  He is feverish and saying OW, but unable to pinpoint where it hurts.  We cuddle up together and all three have a popsicle.  Lily is whimpering that her ear hurts, I can't swallow or talk easily, Michael is just shivery and miserable.  I leave them huddled up on the couch watching Dora to make phone calls (and blog...of course?)

I call and make a doctor's appointment, and convince the nurse that they should be able to squeeze both my children in on one appointment this afternoon instead of 2 separate appointment 1 hour apart. 

I've set up a neighbor to watch Andrew while I take them.  I call Jeff to make sure he picks up Andrew when he gets home from work and feeds them both dinner.  Andrew has swim lessons tonight at 6:45.  I will have to come home from the doctor and probably pharmacy and make the littles dinner...which they won't likely eat, and then put them to bed.

I anticipate that at 7:15 I'll be able to change into my pajamas and curl up under a blanket with yet another cup of tea and watch some tv.

Some sick day.  In hind sight, I should have just come home from pre-school drop off and watched a movie with Lily.  I wasn't expecting the afternoon to be quite so unrestful.  Shame on me.  This day could have gone better.

Big Mama bites the dust

Oh.  How my throat hurts.  And my ears are clogged.  And my nose is quickly starting to feel like a lead weight on my sinus cavity.

And now begins my least favorite part of being a stay-at-home mother.  Meal producing, fight mediating, homework wrassling, activity planning, care taking, mess cleaning...all while feeling like CRAP.  No sick days for moms.  No naps.  No nursing back to health.  Just quick sips of super hot tea in between normal activities.

I can't imagine how I got sick ;P  Sunday night, I was up with sick-o kids at 10:30, 1:00, 4:00, and 5:15.  Last night I was up with sick kids at 11:30 and 1:45 and 5:15.  They are fine during the day, I'll have you know.  They just couldn't believe I hadn't succumbed to the virus yet, and wanted to collectively beat down my immune system.

Mission accomplished. 

Speech progress

I don't think I've mentioned it here...but Michael has been making astounding strides with his speech.

You know it's good when you meet his new speech teacher, and after a few weeks she admits that he's already met all the goals in his IEP.  He has consistent ending and middle sounds.  His articulation is basically at age level now.  People understand him easily...or as easily as they would any 3 year old.  It is very exciting.

So now he is working on his lisp...that Daffy Duck thing he does with his tongue for /s/.  He also is terrible with /s/ blends...he basically always leaves the s off when it is paired up in /st/,/sl/, /sp/ or /sw/.  I'm probably forgetting some... But this is why he was "Piderman" for Halloween.  He didn't like Pooky houses with piders.  He does like tickers and top signs.  He wakes up from his nap all weaty. He also omits the blend in the middle of words...and I can't think of any examples right now.

Every speech appointment, she tells me what they've been working on.  It is always prefaced with, "Now, this is totally age appropriate, but we're working on it anyway."  To which I asked if he was even going to qualify when he is reassessed in April.  She said she wants to keep him anyway if it's okay with me.  Huh?  Maybe this is why there isn't room for kids who really need the help...like Michael was 6 months ago when they couldn't find me a therapist?

Whatev's.  He's doing great.  He is understood.  He never shuts up.  It's fantastic.

Deep thinking with Andrew

Andrew has always been a deep thinker.  He has always asked good, thoughtful questions.  Some that keep me on my toes and some that make me realize how little I know about something.

Lately, taking him to practices and games has been a time ripe for questions and deep conversations.  No littles around.  Lately, I think he's been really noticing and internalizing the financial differences between families.  Here are some examples of our most recent (in the last week) conversations:

A- Mom, why do some people have iPhones?
G- Because they are really fun and useful and a new kind of technology that can do a lot of cool stuff.
A-Then why don't we have one?
G- You dad and I don't think we need one.
A- Do other people need them?
G- No. Not really. 
A- Then why do they have them and we don't?
G- Because they want them.  Sometimes you buy things because you want them, not because you need them.
A- Don't you want one?
G- Yes.  They look really cool and I think I'd have fun with it.
A- Then why don't you get one?
G- Well, everyone has to make decisions about how to spend their money.  And Dad and I have decided to spend our money on other things besides an expensive phone and high monthly fees.
A- Like what.
G- ...... (is this where we begin explaining retirement planning?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A- Mom?  Are we millionaires?
G- Heavens, no. 
A- Mom?  How do we get money?
G- Your dad works hard doing a job for his company, and they pay him money each month to do that job.
A- How much does he make?
G- That's private.  You don't need to know how much he makes.  He makes enough for us to have a wonderful life...a nice house, fun things to do, food to eat, etc.
A- But we can't get the mansions across the street.  What job do those people do?
G- I don't know.  But maybe more than one person works.  If mommy got a job, maybe we could live there (also: pigs may fly).
A- But how does he GET the money?
G- babbles on about direct deposit and banks...
A- How does a credit card work?  It's not money, right?
G- babbles on about credit and interest...
A- What about tax?  How come when you buy something they always add a little more on at the end?
G- babbles on about the government needing money and taxes and God knows what else.
A- Who decides how much money each person gets?  And how much things cost?
G- Maybe we should talk about something else for a little while.  This gets pretty complicated.

He's also recently asked me for details about graveyards...that one ended in tears when he worried that he might not have grandchildren to make sure his death wishes are carried out.  Lordy.

What else?  Just generally lots of questions about the material stuff in our lives.  Why haven't we been to Disney?  Why is our house smaller than some of his friends?  Why don't we have more than 1 tv?  Why doesn't he have a tv in his room? Etc etc.  The cool thing is?  So far it isn't asked in a whiny, disgruntled tone.  He is merely curious...really trying to figure it all out.  He seems contented with what we have...perhaps he picks that up from us?  Because I have lots of friends whose kids are constantly bickering with them to get the latest gadget.  Of course, many of those kids are older than Andrew.  So either he's picked up his parent's relative lack of materialism...or he's just too young yet.  We'll see...

Raptors

Today, we took the kids to a free program at our local library.  We just brought the kids, because it was supposed to be for them, and Jeff and I really wanted to go.  The Delaware Valley Raptor Center came and talked about some of their birds that they rescue.  And, of course, they brought live birds with them.

The had a kestrel (falcon), peregrine falcon, great horned owl, some teeny tiny owl, a red tailed hawk, and...a golden eagle.  With a 7 foot wing span.  In a room the size of my living room and dining room combined.  There were probably only 40-50 people present.  It. Was. Awesome.  I never imagined they would bring a full grown eagle to a little production like this.

The man who brought the animals was so funny and informative and really really good.  He told tales of the bad things people have done to hurt these types of birds...but then he told stories of how people have really helped them as well.  He never got irritated with the noisy, over-reactive kids (I did).  He told cautionary tales of how these animals have hurt him even though they know him (once a talon through his tongue and into his lower jaw.  Ouch). 

He told us the ways to tell a falcon apart from a hawk.  Hawks look annoyed all the time because of their brow ridge, and falcons have nice rounded cute heads.  Did you know that Laplanders used to keep trained golden eagles with them when they were taking care of their reindeer herds?  If a wolf started to threaten the herd, they would release their trained eagles.  The eagles would take down the wolf and hold it until the humans came to dispatch it.  If the eagle hadn't killed it first.  Can you imagine watching an eagle take down a wolf?  Did you know that owls have fantastic eyesight and hearing...in fact one of their eyeballs is as big as their entire brain.  He said, "Owls are NOT wise."  But they have no sense of smell...so they regularly come into the rescue center smelling like skunk...they hunt them because they can't smell them.  Etc etc etc.

It was fabulous.  Except for the little boy sitting next to Lily.  He was at least Andrew's age...and the worst behaved kid of the bunch.  It wasn't that he wasnt' interested in the birds...he knew a lot and paid attention.  He was just unable to sit still or be quiet...he kept touching Lily pretending he was a hawk or whatever, and making the animal sounds in her face.  She laughed most of the time.  I kept telling her to be quiet, because of course I can't tell someone else's child to stop screeching like a hawk and clinging to my daughter's neck like you have talons.  But when he started picking up crumbs or something off the floor and crumbling it in her hair, I'd had enough.  I grabbed Lily up onto my lap and told him to stop. 

His father was sitting right behind me.  Never said a word. 

Ugh. 

Good thing it was a fabulous program.  I just wish they'd have had it for adults only.  Except then Andrew couldn't have gone.  And he was CAPTIVATED.  We even went and adopted a kestrel from the organization after the program.

Thankful

This morning, as I cleaned up the vomit that my little girl spewed all over the recliner after sleeping a whopping 4 hours, I felt thankful.

 As I trudged around in my dirty bathrobe and made breakfast for the healthy boys through grainy, sleepy eyes while yelling at them to stay away from their sister, I felt thankful. 

As I realized that today was day 4 out of the last 7 that I was home with a sick child because my children insist on rolling around like a pack of puppies, creating the perfect petri dish in my own family room, I was thankful. 

I am thankful that I don't have to go to work.  That there is no nervous juggling of schedules or bartering for whose work day is more important and therefore can't be missed.  Thankful that the worst part of sick kids is a mind crunching boredom and restlessness and not piles of work that will have to be made up.  No subs to be called, no (important) meetings to be cancelled. 

This is why I like being a stay-at-home mom.  This is why I am so grateful to my husband for providing so well for our family.  Even though sick kids and all that comes from that (see vomit cleanup above) SUCKS, this is why I stay at home.  When I think about going back to work in a few years, it is the sick days that scare me most of all.  Who would ever hire me, when my children go on chain-illnesses like this?  How do other families do it?

So I will continue pushing Popsicles and wiping runny noses and rubbing Vicks on chests...and thank my lucky stars that I don't have to be as super as all the super moms out there.

At least until I get sick next week.  Then I'll be cursing the fact that I don't have daycare to send them to all day ;)

After all that...

...playgroup has been cancelled because Lily is sick. 

She was acting kind of droopy all day.  Very scientific of me, eh?  Droopy.

Now it is 10:30 and she is coughing like mad.  Well, I can't really tell how bad it is, because she is so damn dramatic.  But she seems to be having a hard time breathing without coughing. 

And I hate dealing with kids' coughs.  Nothing works.  They just have to get through that horrible first and sometimes second night.

I gave her honey.  It did nothing.  As usual.

Vicks is on her chest.  Doesn't seem to do anything.  Ever.

And there is a humidifier in her room.  Cold air, since the hot ones are dangerous.  They do a pretty good job of making the floor and bed wet, but I'm not sure they help the coughing.

And she has been given a popsicle, because popsicles seems to cure all ills.  Except that she is just kind of holding it as she sits in her dad's lap and coughing pathetically.

-sigh-

Looks like it's going to be a long night...

How to create an UNO Master in 7 easy steps

How to create an UNO Master.***

Step 1:  Allow the child to observe UNO games for the first 3 years of his life.  Preferably have older children play it, so that he is instantly interested.  He will probably take the cards, crumple them, knock over the pile, and enrage other children.

Step 2:  Attempt to teach the child the basics of play.  Sit him on your lap.  He will probably announce your whole hand and insist that you play every turn instead of taking turns with others.

Step 3:  When he seems to understand the basics and/or you are sick of his wiggly butt in your lap, deal him his own UNO hand.  He will likely throw himself on the floor in protest if he is not dealt any Skip cards.  Conversely, he may also get so excited when he does get a Skip that he forgets all the rules and just plays them all right away all at once.  Correcting him will likely lead to more flailing on the floor, screaming, and gnashing of the teeth.

Step 4:  Continue playing with the older children.  Eventually, the desire to be a part of the group will trump his insatiable desire to Skip people constantly.

Step 5:  When he is finally playing appropriately, there will be a brief period of "Bad Loseritis".  The child will more than likely only be able to play one game per sitting.  Or, rather, as many games as he wins plus the first game he loses.  That will be his last game of the day.

Step 6:  Create silly phrases that make losing more acceptable and fun.  Like when someone plays a Draw 4 on you, holler, "Curse You, Michael!"  or when you have none of a certain color holler, "I don't have any stinkin' greens!" or just generally make a big deal when you are losing...in a funny way.  Soon the child will mimic you and will find it fun to holler these phrases instead of getting upset.  Also helpful is making it a game of "who lost by the most".  Losers count up how many cards they have and then theatrically moan about how many cards they still have.  Pre-schoolers think this is hilarious and it will also make losing taste better.

Step 7:  Now that the child knows the rules of the game and can handle losing, play at least 20 games a day.  Preferably until the adult loses circulation to their feet or has a strong desire for wine to make it a drinking game.

Congratulations!  You have created an UNO Master! 



***Warning.  Once your child has become an UNO Master, there is no turning back.  You will be asked to play countless times.  This post was of course inspired by Michael, who is OBSESSED with UNO.  I honestly played at least 20 games with him today.  After every game finishes, he simply says, "Again."  And then I played at least 15 games with Lily during his nap time.  Another UNO Master.

Playdate update

The dad and his daughter cannot make it to our playdate on Friday, because they have some visitors flying in and he has to go to the airport.  I offered to just take M. for his while he goes to the airport...and he is obviously not comfortable with it.  I mean, we don't know each other really at all.  And his daughter is only 4.

And maybe he's a girl-phobic person, like I am boy-phobic.

Although I'm sure Jeff would tell me that it is impossible for a guy to be girl-phobic.

This is the same Jeff that keeps coming up to me and saying in a dirty voice, "I'LL have a daddy playdate with you."

Playdates with dads

I am not, and have never been, very comfortable around men.  This does not stem from any dark or haunted past.  It is more of a lack of confidence, I think.

I was friends with boys in high school...but we were always in a larger group.  I don't know that I would have been comfortable hanging out with them one on one.  In college, I often felt awkward and unconfident in the presence of my male counterparts.  (Which led to one of Jeff and my biggest fights in college...the one where he told me it was going to be a "guys only" night, and then I heard my (girl) friend A. in the background.  Jeff's response was, "Well, she fits in with them better than you." or something to that degree.  I was NOT happy with him...even if it was true.)

When I would babysit, the fathers always made me nervous.  Even the husbands of my friends now make me feel strange.  And this is not in a predatory or unsafe kind of way.  I feel I am portraying this all wrong.

See, I am uber-confident with women.  I know I can make them laugh and engage them in conversation.  Drop me into a large group of women, and I will canvas the crowd and find a niche I am comfortable in.  I am not bothered so much by women that I have nothing in common with.  I accept that I will not be liked by many of them and I simply do not get involved in drama (although I am a bit of a gossip).

With men it is the opposite.  I am quite certain that I am uber-boring to them.  I don't care a wit about sports or beer or finances and I'm not pretty enough to compensate for those faults.  Conversations feel forced, and I can't help but feel that they would rather be anywhere other than talking with me.  Drop me in a group of men, and I will wallflower my way to a quiet exit.

There have been exceptions to this, of course.  There have been a number of men who I instantly felt the desire to get away from.  Like an irrational women's intuition kind of fear.  I always felt badly about this, because there is no reason...no reason for me to have reacted in that way.  There were several fathers that I babysat for and a few boys in college that just creeped me out.  I always felt terribly about it, because I'm sure they were very nice people.  But there was no getting over that prickle on the back of my neck and the uneasy stomach.

Other exceptions?  There was this guy in college who I just instantly felt comfortable with.  We had almost nothing in common, yet I don't recall ever feeling uninteresting or self-conscious and I know I made him laugh a lot.  But that has been a rare thing in my experiences...which is why I married him. 

This long winded dialogue about my problem with boys brings me to my latest issue with pre-school.  There are several dads who drop off and pick up their daughters from school...every day.  And Lily is in love with them.  And I have been friendly and talkative with them because I am a civilized being and we have our daughters in common so that helps me feel more comfortable.

But our daughters want playdates.  And one of the dads called last week to see if we could set up a time to get them together.  So I invited them over to my house, since Michael naps after school.  It is something I do all of the time with other moms.  But after I hung up, I kind of panicked.  What the heck was I going to do with this man?  Offer him tea?  Talk about my expanding waist line?  Discuss The Help? 

So I did what any self-respecting boyphobic person would do. 

I invited the rest of the girls in the class and their mothers to come over also.

So now I'm having this huge playdate at my house on Friday.  Which I have to clean and buy food for.  All to avoid awkward conversations with a boy.

I think I may need therapy.

5 years ago...

5 years ago today...I walked into a house I'd never been to before. 

I just can't believe that it has been so long.  It makes sense...Lily was a newborn after all, and look at her now. 

But 5 years.

It feels monumental.   Which I guess is a sad statement of how our married life has uprooted us so many times.

I also is hard to believe that I lived in California for 9 months longer than this.  California never felt right to me.  I didn't wear it well.

This place feels like home. 

Beautiful day, crummy night

We had a lovely day.  Lovely.  Andrew had his first basketball clinic in the morning, which he loved.  He loved basketball last year, and this year looks to be no different.  The littles and I played with playdoh, read books, did the dishes and laundry, and generally bummed around.  Once Jeff and Andrew got home, we ate lunch, Michael refused to nap for the 2nd day in a row, and we went to a great park.  Andrew rode his bike while Jeff and I took turns racing after him, and the littles played on the playset.

We came back home and I read a book while Jeff baked with the littles.  All three kids played together nicely.  We had homemade sausage-vegetable soup while the kids happily munched on their pigs in a blanket.

And then Andrew left the dinner table and announced he was freezing.  He huddled under a blanket on the couch for the next hour.  He started complaining that his throat hurt and his nose turned on like a faucet.  It happened in 30 minutes...from perfectly fine to shaking and complaining under a blanket.

So I guess tomorrow's plans are shot.  Church (I'm teaching Andrew's Sunday school class), last soccer game, dinner and football with friends.  All down the drain if he is sick...except for the me teaching Sunday school.

As excited as I am to be eating soup for dinner...this part of winter I'm not ready for.  Chain sickness sucks.

The hike

A hike.  That's all we want.  Jeff and I want to enjoy the crisp fall air, crunch a few leaves, see some beautiful views, work our muscles a bit.

But unfortunately, we had to bring these guys with us.  (Good thing they are cute)

 Actually, that isn't a fair statement.  Andrew is delightful to bring on hikes.  He points out woodpeckers and blue jays.  He picks up different nuts and leaves and asks questions.  He tell us stories from school and asks questions about why some people have more money than others.  He never once complains.  He loves hiking just like Jeff and I.

 And, actually, Michael is very fun also.  He charges forward and collects stuff...sticks, rocks, nuts.  He wanders perilously close to the edge of the path and chatters and stomps so loudly that no wildlife would possibly stay within a 1 mile radius of us.  He occasionally asks to be carried, and eagerly munches on our granola bars, but then announces that his muscles got more energy and he's ready to walk again.  He is a powerhouse of energy and just loves being outdoors and the freedom to run away from us without reprimand.

 And then there is this one.

 Little Miss "I'll dress myself for hiking".  Running ahead for the first 100 yards, and then constantly whining and dragging her feet for the entire rest of the 90 minute hike.  Being carried so much her daddy's back hurt the next week (he spoils her).  Hunching her shoulders and claiming she is going to perish on the path.  Desperately hungry.  Horribly thirsty.  Alternating between sobbing and whining.  Unable to enjoy even a glimpse of nature or the animals that she supposedly loves.  Finally, after torturing us and herself for the entire time, she spies a hill and a squirrel and starts running at top speed after it for at least a quarter of a mile. 

I mean, I love her.  She is darling and sweet.  But, Lord, I hate hiking with her.  She is miserable.  She makes us miserable.

However. 

She went trick-or-treating longer than either of the boys.  She walked well over 1/2 mile to fill her loot bag.  No complaining.  No slowing down.  No whining or crying.  It was a pleasure.

So I think the next time we go hiking, I'm going to give her a sack and then stick a treat in her bag every once in a while.  We'll see if it works...

Sick

2 things.

First, all that running?  Going down the tubes...and quickly.  It is dark and cold in the mornings, and I worry about slipping in ice. (I know people do it, though.  I should ask Erin how she does it). I am not a good evening runner...just low energy by that time of the day, plus the whole dinner making/activities/homework rigamarole.

So Jeff and I looked at local gyms.  To find a treadmill.  Some have "free" babysitting, some have fantastic trainers (for double the cost), some are bare bones.  We are not willing to join a gym more than 15 minutes from our home...I know that I won't actually ever show up if I have to drive far to get there.  Cheapest in our area is $75/month for a couple membership.  No free babysitting at that one.  $75 to run in place.  We could buy a treadmill...except I don't know where we would put it.  I think our basement ceilings are too low.  And that is the only place we could fit one.  -sigh- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I took the kids all to the doctor last Thursday.  Lily had her well visit, and the boys were dragged along to get their flu shots.  We had not been to the doctor since April. 

The day after we went, Lily came down with a bad cold.  Then Andrew got it.  Then Jeff.  Now Michael.  And Lily still has it.  Poor things.  I feel like walking around in a hazmat outfit.  But as I call day after day to let the pre-school know they aren't coming, I think about the gym membership again.  I wouldn't be able to go with them if they were sick anyway. 

-sigh-

Off to another day.  I was supposed to be spending my Thursday morning alone shopping with a friend.  Instead, I will be tending to another sick-o.  These "free" Thursdays aren't working out quite the way I planned.  ;)

Michael's future plans

Michael is just super cute right now.  And you have to remember that he talks like Daffy Duck or Sylvester from Looney Tunes.  He spits all over you when he says his /s/'s.  It's Thhhhhh-uper cute.  Although, officially we are trying to break him of the habit.

Yesterday morning, he opened the door and walked outside in his pj's.  I ran over, yelling at him to comebackinsidewhattheheckareyoudoingitsfreezingout.  He came back in and said, "I just seeing if it's still Halloween outside."

Melt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I picked him up from school later that same day, he expressed great sadness that all the snow was melting.  And by that, I mean had a screaming tantrum in the backseat.

Me: "Michael, calm down.  Snow doesn't last very long.  If you want snow all the time, you have to go live with the penguins in Antarctica."

Michael:  -calming down- "Okay.  I'll build a house there when I grow up."

Me: "But what about swimming?  If it's too cold, you won't be able to go swimming."

Michael:  "That okay.  I'll wear a special suit with a mask to go swim."

At least he has a plan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was admiring his school picture and we were looking at his classmates together.  He doesn't know anybody's name.  Except Paul.

"Mommy, dat's Paul.  He's super annoying."

"Michael, that's not a nice thing to say.  I'm sure he's a nice boy."

"No, Mommy.  The teachers get him in trouble lots of times.  He is super super annoying."

"Well, who is your friend?  Who do you like to play with?"

"Nobody.  They all take my toys.  They are annoying."

I don't see a class presidency in his future.

Halloween 2011

Halloween...backwards, because I am still learning how to download pictures in this new blogger format.

The pumpkins.  (l-r) Andrew's frustration chop job, Lily's drawing, Michael's pick a picture out of the book)

The goons.  Andrew also had a face mask that we forgot until we got to House #3.  He ran back and got it.

Michael showing his muscles.  Lily showing how Ariel would look after a long night drinking.

What we trick-or-treated through.  Beautiful fall leaves and several inches of snow.  As the weather men said, it was "Snowtober".  (insert me rolling my eyes now)

Lily's Halloween parade the week before Halloween (I said we were going backwards)

The only pictures of our adventure painting pumpkins.  Notice there are none of the carving.  Paint brushes are only slightly less dangerous than large carving knives when deciding to let my guard down and grab a camera.

Michael's Halloween parade last week.  I submit that there is nothing cuter than a bunch of 3 year olds dressed in costume and led around in a confused line.



He was just so stinkin' cute.


 So that was our Halloween week.  Parades.  Snow.  Trick-or-treating in the cold.  Lots of happiness.  Lily woke up yesterday morning and said, "I love October.  It starts with my birthday and ends with Halloween."
Jeff added, "And there are lots and lots of sweets for both of those things."

Now begins November.  Let's see if I can remember to post every day, shall we?

Lily the tall girl?

We just went to the doctor yesterday. 

Lily gained 4 pounds in the last year.

She grew 4 1/2 inches.

No wonder she looks taller and leaner ;)

The duct tape years

A little more than a week ago, I talked to my friend Pamela after duct taping my vacuum back together.  She sighed in commiseration and said we've entered that stage of marriage.

You know the stage...your shiny new wedding gifts are starting to fall apart, but you don't have enough money yet to replace them.

Year 25, silver.  Year 50, gold.  Year 12 of marriage...duct tape.  Who knew?


BTW...after duct taping the hose back together, the roller brush and belt exploded into pieces on Saturday.  -sigh-  But it was cheaper to just buy those new parts than a new vacuum...so we keep clunking along with what we've got :)

Random pictures

What happens when Lily and I go shopping alone together? Shadow costume, that's what.

Random shots of Lily's 3rd birthday celebration...the one with Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandma is so smart...she brought flashlights for everyone. I don't think the 3 year old could have handled ANOTHER day of presents for no one but Lily.


Andrew had a "Star of the Week" poster to finish. We needed a shot of Shadow. Dumb dog is scared of the camera. So she kept rolling over in her submissive pose. We'll just add this to the list of things she's terrified of. Her food bowl being #1.
Morning of The Race. They took shots of us crossing the finish line, but I think that you had to donate a kidney in order to get a copy. (read: REALLY EXPENSIVE). Just in case you can't read the sentence on my shirt it says, "If it weren't for me, you'd have no one to pass" The back said, "If you can read this, then I'm not last!" It was a great conversation starter...and it made people laugh (at me? with me?)

After the race, we enjoyed Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Here's the view from lunch. That's the National Aquarium that we toured for a few hours.
Here's Baltimore's Inner Harbor from across the harbor at Federal Hill Park.
I have no idea where this photo came from. But it's cute, so I'll include it.

Field trips!

The preschool that my kids attend (and Andrew attended), goes on just one field trip a year. To a farm in the fall. And I have never gotten to go with them, because they don't allow younger siblings and Michael would totally freak out when I left him somewhere...and I just couldn't do that to my friends.

But this year was different. Michael is fine with being left behind now, so on Monday, I dropped him off at a friend's house and joined Lily at the farm.

Lily is simply a blast to watch with her friends. Everyone loves each other and they just run around hugging and playing and dancing. Cute. Well, the girls did that. The boys stood quietly by their mothers and held their hands.

The first thing we did was take a hay ride behind a tractor. All the girls hurried on and sat together...leaving no room for their mothers. My guilt at having missed these events quickly evaporated. Lily was totally fine. She hardly even looked at me. The boys mostly sat next to their mothers and on their laps for the hay ride. The girls barely looked out the sides and chatted like a bunch of ladies playing ma-jong.

Once we got off the tractor, it was time to pick apples and look for pumpkins. I took a motherless boy under my wing, since it was instantly apparent why mothers are needed on these field trips. Mother guilt...back on. So Lily, B., and I reached up high for apples and put them in our bags. Then we wandered over to the pumpkin patch and looked for the perfect pumpkin. Lily wanted "cute". B. wanted "clean". I just hope that other mothers looked out for my kiddos when I wasn't able to be there.

We had fun. I was grateful to be there and spend the morning with "just my girl". Lily must have been excited to, since she repeated that phrase 25 times that morning. Even though she ignored me for half the trip. Whatev's.

Michael's field trip was Thursday, when Lily was conveniently already at school. A friend of mine took Lily to school and Michael and I were off to a different farm. I was really excited about this trip, because I don't know any of the parents or kids in this class. Also, Michael only tells me horrible things about his horrible behavior (his teachers continue to deny this)...I was ready for some first hand observations. ALSO, Michael doesn't know anyone's names...when I ask him who he plays with, he tells me things like, "It's a boy. He has brown eyes and light skin." Gee, thanks for the info, Riddler.

We showed up and all the kids were hiding behind their mother's legs. What a difference a year makes in the socialization of the kids!

We took a hay ride...Michael was enraptured. I got to chat with the other mothers and observe the other kids. No one seemed to take notice of each other. Except for one little boy who was picking straw and trying to shove it down kids shirts. And hit. Interesting.

After the ride, we listened to the farmer tell us about the chickens and turkeys and horses and bunnies. Michael was quiet and polite and focused. He didn't shove and push the other kids. He got pushed around a bit, and just quietly dealt with it. Interesting.

There were lots of lines and needing patience. He waited somewhat patiently and never did any of the things he tells me about. That little boy from his class? A terror. An absolute terror...pushing and harrassing other kids, yelling at them. After he shoved Michael almost off a slide, the mother confided that she's already had several conferences with the teachers regarding her son's aggressive behavior. Perhaps Michael is just telling me what this little boy is doing every day...


It was delightful. Michael really needed me there...he is shy and easily intimidated. He was so excited to be there.

As sad as I am sometimes that I will never have another baby...I am really glad that I can now participate more fully in the lives of the children I already have. This part is really fun!