Andrew loves to torment his sister. Not Michael...he will do anything for Michael. But he loves to make Lily scream and moan. He thinks of psychological torture that sends her into rages like no one else can. But I know he loves her more than he loves to make her mad. Below is an example of his soft nature:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have discovered the song with Michael's name in it. I dusted off a children's CD that I didn't know we had and when this song came up, Michael lit up and kept repeating, "Di so ha my nay in ih." (this song has my name in it). He was more than thrilled. And it led to this conversation:
Lily: When does the song with my name come on?
Giselle: Well, there isn't a song with Lily in it on this CD. Michael is the name of a famous angel, and that is who the song is probably about.
Andrew: Someone famous in the Bible has my name too, right?
G: Yes, one of Jesus's disciples was named Andrew. I think it was Peter's brother.
Lily: Who has my name in the Bible?
G: No one. Lily isn't a religious name.
Andrew: Don't worry, Lily. Your name is a symbol of Easter...the Easter Lily. That's really special.
Lily beams happily at that.
What an amazing brother. What an amazing person. Oh, how I love my little Andrew. ;)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Trying again
Spacing seems to work fine if I compose in Edit Html.
Which is strange since I've never done that before. Nor has anything changed about my computer, processing systems, etc. Just randomly changes one day. Fantastic.
Oh, how I hate technology sometimes...
Which is strange since I've never done that before. Nor has anything changed about my computer, processing systems, etc. Just randomly changes one day. Fantastic.
Oh, how I hate technology sometimes...
Why does blogger hate me?
Okay, more proficient computer bloggers. Each sentence that I have typed in this entry has 3 lines spaced between it as I type. And yet when I publish, it magically takes out all the /enter/ spaces. Now, help me. What do I do to get this to stop?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Bad spacing
I have a cute little blog written, but the spacing is all effed up on Blogger...so to be continued...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Have I mentioned...
... that Michael can say his name now? 2 weeks ago, he suddenly started saying it as clear as day...with the /k/ in the middle and the /l/ on the end. Before he called himself "My". I am so excited for him. He is equally impressed with himself...he marches around the house chanting his name. As for his siblings? We are working on it. He has always called both of them Nee. I have no idea why. Now when pressed he will say, "Lih-ee" and "Nee-rew". Getting closer...
... that Andrew made it into the "gifted" program at school? We are really happy for him, because it means he'll get to do special challenging projects and have the same gifted teacher throughout elementary school. I figure that it is always good to have another professional in the school who knows your child well to advocate for them. In order to get this label, he had to pass through 3 stages...preliminary evaluations by the gifted teacher, a standardized test that gives an indicator of IQ, and then a one-on-one actual IQ test with the school psychologist. So now I know his actual IQ. Weird.
... that I love our new neighbors? Yesterday I was trying to scrub down our house a bit in preparation for the in-laws coming. Not that I feel I need to. Certainly they have seen my house in utter disarray and never once have commented negatively. But it seems like the nice thing to do if I have the time and energy for it. Why let them use the sink in the kids' restroom with toothpaste caked on every surface. Even though it will be that way again tomorrow...seriously...does anyone else have kids that spray their toothpaste spit like an aerosol can? Annoying. I digress. Lily was desperate to play pretend. I even pretended to be cleaning her castle as I was cleaning the bathroom. Finally, in desperation, and knowing that I wanted to do the kitchen floor, I called our neighbors. They have a son in Andrew's class and a daughter 2 weeks older than Lily. Sure enough, Ali was at home also bugging her mom to play. Although her mom was trying to write a paper for college...a bit more important than scrubbing the tub. So Ali came over. And the girls played for hours...quietly and happily. It was a dream! Until Michael woke up and wanted to play too. But even that wasn't too bad. And then when the boys came home from school, they decided to play at Garrett's house so they didn't get bothered by the girls. This must be a dream, right? Kids that get along? 3 houses away? A friendly, nice mother? Husbands that get along? It is almost certain that Jeff will take a job transfer now.
...that Jeff has been working AWESOME hours the past 2 weeks? He is training to be a scab...the union at a local plant is negotiating their contract soon, and Jeff's company is training their salaried employees to do the operators' jobs in case of a strike. The hours are 7-3 and the plant is only 20 minutes from our house. In his regular job, he leaves at 6:15...travels on the train for an hour...leaves work at 4:30...takes the train home and finally walks in the door at about 6pm. I am going to cry when his training is over and we're back to normal schedule. A girl could get used to this.
... that Andrew is taking chess? Our township is offering a class right after school...in Andrew's school. And Andrew loves it. I should have known. He is learning at lightning speed and is obsessed with plays and strategy. He can't wait to play with his grandpa this weekend. However, in his desperation for opponents, he's been trying to play with Lily. In frustration he called out, "Mom!?! Lily is terrible at chess!" to which I had to remind him that she is ONLY 4!!! But he has a hard time understanding that he can't just teach her the things he's learning. This morning, he was trying to teach her how to multiply. She gets all frustrated...of course...and I have to remind him that perhaps addition...or COUNTING...might be a better place to start.
...that Michael is really getting ready to turn 3? He has been having screaming fits of frustration. He is still an easy kid, but he's showing signs...oh. It makes us sad. But a little relieved too. I really don't want him living in our basement when he's 40, so a little independence isn't a bad thing. Right? That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.
... that Jeff and I have a couples-only trip planned for October? I'm so excited. There's one catch. I have to be able to run a 5-K in order to go. We will be running in the Baltimore Under Armour 5K in October...complete with a commemorative Under Armour t-shirt. I am going to start training in April...because I'm too chicken to run in the dark, and I have to have my running finished by the time Jeff leaves for work at 6:15am. I am not scared of people, by the way. I have been startled by way too many deer and raccoons and other such wildlife. :) So, anyway, the Couch to 5K training will begin April 1st. Of course, I'm due to get my period on April 1st. So that's a sucky way to start. But whatev's. I want a trip away...I'm DOING this. Which is exactly why Jeff planned it...I almost got to that level last summer...I was running 25 minutes at the end...but then Jeff started traveling (3 weeks in the month of August if I remember correctly...) and I just kind of let it go. Not this year.
... that another week has gone by and Andrew has not been put in danger or in need of a doctor? Phew on that one. I was really worried about the rule of 3's in regard to our parenting mishaps.
... that Andrew made it into the "gifted" program at school? We are really happy for him, because it means he'll get to do special challenging projects and have the same gifted teacher throughout elementary school. I figure that it is always good to have another professional in the school who knows your child well to advocate for them. In order to get this label, he had to pass through 3 stages...preliminary evaluations by the gifted teacher, a standardized test that gives an indicator of IQ, and then a one-on-one actual IQ test with the school psychologist. So now I know his actual IQ. Weird.
... that I love our new neighbors? Yesterday I was trying to scrub down our house a bit in preparation for the in-laws coming. Not that I feel I need to. Certainly they have seen my house in utter disarray and never once have commented negatively. But it seems like the nice thing to do if I have the time and energy for it. Why let them use the sink in the kids' restroom with toothpaste caked on every surface. Even though it will be that way again tomorrow...seriously...does anyone else have kids that spray their toothpaste spit like an aerosol can? Annoying. I digress. Lily was desperate to play pretend. I even pretended to be cleaning her castle as I was cleaning the bathroom. Finally, in desperation, and knowing that I wanted to do the kitchen floor, I called our neighbors. They have a son in Andrew's class and a daughter 2 weeks older than Lily. Sure enough, Ali was at home also bugging her mom to play. Although her mom was trying to write a paper for college...a bit more important than scrubbing the tub. So Ali came over. And the girls played for hours...quietly and happily. It was a dream! Until Michael woke up and wanted to play too. But even that wasn't too bad. And then when the boys came home from school, they decided to play at Garrett's house so they didn't get bothered by the girls. This must be a dream, right? Kids that get along? 3 houses away? A friendly, nice mother? Husbands that get along? It is almost certain that Jeff will take a job transfer now.
...that Jeff has been working AWESOME hours the past 2 weeks? He is training to be a scab...the union at a local plant is negotiating their contract soon, and Jeff's company is training their salaried employees to do the operators' jobs in case of a strike. The hours are 7-3 and the plant is only 20 minutes from our house. In his regular job, he leaves at 6:15...travels on the train for an hour...leaves work at 4:30...takes the train home and finally walks in the door at about 6pm. I am going to cry when his training is over and we're back to normal schedule. A girl could get used to this.
... that Andrew is taking chess? Our township is offering a class right after school...in Andrew's school. And Andrew loves it. I should have known. He is learning at lightning speed and is obsessed with plays and strategy. He can't wait to play with his grandpa this weekend. However, in his desperation for opponents, he's been trying to play with Lily. In frustration he called out, "Mom!?! Lily is terrible at chess!" to which I had to remind him that she is ONLY 4!!! But he has a hard time understanding that he can't just teach her the things he's learning. This morning, he was trying to teach her how to multiply. She gets all frustrated...of course...and I have to remind him that perhaps addition...or COUNTING...might be a better place to start.
...that Michael is really getting ready to turn 3? He has been having screaming fits of frustration. He is still an easy kid, but he's showing signs...oh. It makes us sad. But a little relieved too. I really don't want him living in our basement when he's 40, so a little independence isn't a bad thing. Right? That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.
... that Jeff and I have a couples-only trip planned for October? I'm so excited. There's one catch. I have to be able to run a 5-K in order to go. We will be running in the Baltimore Under Armour 5K in October...complete with a commemorative Under Armour t-shirt. I am going to start training in April...because I'm too chicken to run in the dark, and I have to have my running finished by the time Jeff leaves for work at 6:15am. I am not scared of people, by the way. I have been startled by way too many deer and raccoons and other such wildlife. :) So, anyway, the Couch to 5K training will begin April 1st. Of course, I'm due to get my period on April 1st. So that's a sucky way to start. But whatev's. I want a trip away...I'm DOING this. Which is exactly why Jeff planned it...I almost got to that level last summer...I was running 25 minutes at the end...but then Jeff started traveling (3 weeks in the month of August if I remember correctly...) and I just kind of let it go. Not this year.
... that another week has gone by and Andrew has not been put in danger or in need of a doctor? Phew on that one. I was really worried about the rule of 3's in regard to our parenting mishaps.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
All boy
Michael would like to prove that despite last week's infamous "Daddy Tiana" photos, he is all boy. He has huge muscles. And he has a full tummy. So he told me before I snapped this shot. Only later did I realize he said he had a full tummy because he had stuffed about 10 pieces of pretend food down the front of his costume.
No delicate princess here...
No delicate princess here...
If you met her, you'd like her
Most of you only know Lily through this blog. It is clearly evident that Lily challenges me. She irritates me. She is stubborn and irrational and emotional.
But she is really quite delightful. Or she CAN be. Which may be why it is even more frustrating when she is a screaming irritable ball of nerves here at home.
She has been driving everyone at home CRAZY the last few days. She is sick, which makes her grumpy. She isn't eating because she is sick, and her low blood sugar makes her crabby. And she refuses to sleep more than her 11 hours, 2 minute limit despite being sick...and that makes her tired and cranky. She's been a bear. Screaming at everything. Tearfully badgering her brothers to play with her and then 2 minutes into playing she is screaming at them. They won't play the part she wants them to. Or they won't say the exact phrases she wants them to. Then they hit her (Mike) or they stop playing with her (Andrew) and she is screaming that they have stopped playing with her. She is picking fights with the grownups. On Sunday at 9 am, she announced that she would NOT be eating lunch today. She wasn't hungry. We looked at her a little confused, but we certainly didn't fight it...it was only 9 am. She continued for the next few hours to try and goad us into a fight about making her eat. "I am NOT eating. I HATE eating." Etc etc etc.
As you can imagine, after 3 days of this, our nerves are a bit frazzled. So when I had to take her into the dentist yesterday morning, I was worried. She was a bear again that morning, arguing and fighting every step of everything we did. I made her wear socks inside her rain boots! I made her get her hair brushed out of her face! I didn't magically make chocolate chip waffles appear! Andrew the lion had the gaul to roar! Etc etc. The hygienist took her back first, and she balked a little. I swear I heard fighting and screaming from the back of the office...although I honestly couldn't say if it was Lily...I certainly assumed so. 15 minutes later (or so), out comes the hygienist to get Andrew and return Lily. Lily almost skips out of the back. The hygienist said, "Oh my God, she is the cutest thing ever. She just chatted a storm with me. She was so good and sat still and let me clean her teeth really good. What a sweetheart."
???
-sigh- Then she accompanied Michael and I back for his first dentist appointment ever. In hindsight, taking him to the dentist barely a week after the nose extraction was not smart. The offices are a little too similar. I mean, who can tell if they're looking in your mouth or up your nose? He was hysterical and thrashing and screaming. Lily was helping the dentist by being his model. She even handed him tools he needed at one point. She was charming. Cute. Smiling. Personable. I really wanted to take this sweet child home with me.
???
Last night, I took Shadow to the groomers. Lily came with me to drop her off, because she was so concerned about her precious dog. I repeated over and over to Lily that it is good for Shadow to get groomed because her hair was getting so long it was matting and catching all the leaves, etc etc. Lily was stressed because Shadow was stressed. We walked in and I handed Shadow over to the grooming assistant. Shadow was shaking like a leaf. I fill out the waiver form, etc, and when I look down at Lily, her eyes are welling up. She was about to burst out crying. I asked the groomers if Lily could say goodbye. She brought the dog back out and Lily gave her an anguished hug and whispered something into Shadow's ear. Then she started quietly crying. The groomers melted into a puddle of empathy and promised that they'd take good care of her. I hugged Lily and again reminded her that it doesn't hurt Shadow and she'll be so cute and happy after it was done. Lily asked if they would put bows in her hair.
-
-
I'm in deep trouble if something ever happens to this dog. She loves her more than any person.
-
-
On the way home from the groomers, I had another sweet Lily moment. We passed Lily's favorite house in our town...a 250 year old pink Victorian. She went into her story of how she is going to have babies and let me hold them (our deal for if she insists on growing up). Then she said, "You know what mom? What is grandma's real name? If I have a baby I think I will name her Linda. Because I love my grandma."
-
You hear that, Grandma? She's ready for your visit this weekend...she's already naming her children after you :)
But she is really quite delightful. Or she CAN be. Which may be why it is even more frustrating when she is a screaming irritable ball of nerves here at home.
She has been driving everyone at home CRAZY the last few days. She is sick, which makes her grumpy. She isn't eating because she is sick, and her low blood sugar makes her crabby. And she refuses to sleep more than her 11 hours, 2 minute limit despite being sick...and that makes her tired and cranky. She's been a bear. Screaming at everything. Tearfully badgering her brothers to play with her and then 2 minutes into playing she is screaming at them. They won't play the part she wants them to. Or they won't say the exact phrases she wants them to. Then they hit her (Mike) or they stop playing with her (Andrew) and she is screaming that they have stopped playing with her. She is picking fights with the grownups. On Sunday at 9 am, she announced that she would NOT be eating lunch today. She wasn't hungry. We looked at her a little confused, but we certainly didn't fight it...it was only 9 am. She continued for the next few hours to try and goad us into a fight about making her eat. "I am NOT eating. I HATE eating." Etc etc etc.
As you can imagine, after 3 days of this, our nerves are a bit frazzled. So when I had to take her into the dentist yesterday morning, I was worried. She was a bear again that morning, arguing and fighting every step of everything we did. I made her wear socks inside her rain boots! I made her get her hair brushed out of her face! I didn't magically make chocolate chip waffles appear! Andrew the lion had the gaul to roar! Etc etc. The hygienist took her back first, and she balked a little. I swear I heard fighting and screaming from the back of the office...although I honestly couldn't say if it was Lily...I certainly assumed so. 15 minutes later (or so), out comes the hygienist to get Andrew and return Lily. Lily almost skips out of the back. The hygienist said, "Oh my God, she is the cutest thing ever. She just chatted a storm with me. She was so good and sat still and let me clean her teeth really good. What a sweetheart."
???
-sigh- Then she accompanied Michael and I back for his first dentist appointment ever. In hindsight, taking him to the dentist barely a week after the nose extraction was not smart. The offices are a little too similar. I mean, who can tell if they're looking in your mouth or up your nose? He was hysterical and thrashing and screaming. Lily was helping the dentist by being his model. She even handed him tools he needed at one point. She was charming. Cute. Smiling. Personable. I really wanted to take this sweet child home with me.
???
Last night, I took Shadow to the groomers. Lily came with me to drop her off, because she was so concerned about her precious dog. I repeated over and over to Lily that it is good for Shadow to get groomed because her hair was getting so long it was matting and catching all the leaves, etc etc. Lily was stressed because Shadow was stressed. We walked in and I handed Shadow over to the grooming assistant. Shadow was shaking like a leaf. I fill out the waiver form, etc, and when I look down at Lily, her eyes are welling up. She was about to burst out crying. I asked the groomers if Lily could say goodbye. She brought the dog back out and Lily gave her an anguished hug and whispered something into Shadow's ear. Then she started quietly crying. The groomers melted into a puddle of empathy and promised that they'd take good care of her. I hugged Lily and again reminded her that it doesn't hurt Shadow and she'll be so cute and happy after it was done. Lily asked if they would put bows in her hair.
-
-
Lily reunited with Shadow this morning. Notice the purple bow in Shadow's hair.
Also, please note that this is how Lily cuddles with the dog each morning. It's love, I tell you.
I'm in deep trouble if something ever happens to this dog. She loves her more than any person.
-
-
On the way home from the groomers, I had another sweet Lily moment. We passed Lily's favorite house in our town...a 250 year old pink Victorian. She went into her story of how she is going to have babies and let me hold them (our deal for if she insists on growing up). Then she said, "You know what mom? What is grandma's real name? If I have a baby I think I will name her Linda. Because I love my grandma."
-
You hear that, Grandma? She's ready for your visit this weekend...she's already naming her children after you :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
What a week...
Monday: Dental appointments for all 3 kids at 8:30 am. Drop Andrew off to school. Gymnastics for Lily at 11:30...entertain grumpy 3 year old for an hour. Andrew home from school at 4. Do homework, get dinner early, baseball practice 5:30-6:30. Shadow to groomers at 6 pm. Church education committee meeting 7pm...if Jeff and Shadow are home by then.
Tuesday: Andrew and Lily off to school. Michael Creative Parenting class 10:30. Pick Lily up from school 11:45. Andrew home from school at 4, do homework, then meet Uncle Chad in downtown Philly for dinner at 5:30.
Wednesday: Kids sure to be grouchy from going to bed late. But it's okay! Wednesday is our lazy day! Andrew to school and then chess club after school. Otherwise...I will need to clean and meal plan and shop for our visitors coming later in the week.
Thursday: Andrew and Lily to school. Michael has speech at 9:30. Pick up Lily and her friend Sara from school (mom has a dental appointment). Feed lunch and entertain until Sara's mom comes to get her (the girls don't play well together).
Friday: Andrew and Lily to school. Playgroup in the am with Michael. In-laws come for a visit in the evening! Time for a fun weekend!
Add in the usual laundry, baths, food prep and shopping, picking up the house. Actually, now that I write it out, the end of the week doesn't look so bad. I'll be able to pick up the slack then. ;)
Tuesday: Andrew and Lily off to school. Michael Creative Parenting class 10:30. Pick Lily up from school 11:45. Andrew home from school at 4, do homework, then meet Uncle Chad in downtown Philly for dinner at 5:30.
Wednesday: Kids sure to be grouchy from going to bed late. But it's okay! Wednesday is our lazy day! Andrew to school and then chess club after school. Otherwise...I will need to clean and meal plan and shop for our visitors coming later in the week.
Thursday: Andrew and Lily to school. Michael has speech at 9:30. Pick up Lily and her friend Sara from school (mom has a dental appointment). Feed lunch and entertain until Sara's mom comes to get her (the girls don't play well together).
Friday: Andrew and Lily to school. Playgroup in the am with Michael. In-laws come for a visit in the evening! Time for a fun weekend!
Add in the usual laundry, baths, food prep and shopping, picking up the house. Actually, now that I write it out, the end of the week doesn't look so bad. I'll be able to pick up the slack then. ;)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Another stellar parenting moment
I am in charge of doling out medicine. Medicine and feeding the dog. No matter what and from the beginning of our small charges' lives. Otherwise we may both feed the dog and create a giant rolly-polly Shetland Chi-cocker. Or conversely each of us will think the other is going to feed her and she will starve to well below her 12 pound weight.
Friday night we had a breech of contract. Lily and Michael are quite miserable with a cold. Sorry to Mikey, because he is under 4 and therefore cannot take cold medicine. Suffer in silence, kiddo. But Lily is now 4, so she is allowed a carefully measured teaspoon of the stuff. Which we only give at night to help her sleep. And I know that there have been recalls because it is so easy to overdose your kid on this stuff. Just as the kids settled down to watch their pre-bed tv show, I gave Lily her decongestant and made sure she drank up every last drop.
Fast forward 30 minutes. Jeff put Lily to bed and I put Michael to bed as per usual. I was checking e-mails, etc., and Jeff passed through the computer room on his way to watch basketball with Andrew. "Oh, by the way, I gave Lily some decongestant before bed...she just seemed miserable."
"Nononononononononono! I give the medicine!" I believe was my mature and well reasoned reply.
We paged the on-call doctor, who promptly called us back and reassured us that a mere double dose will not cause respiratory distress, etc. Especially in a child with no history of lung issues, etc. But she did say, "However, this type of medicine can cause restlessness...so you may be up partying with Lily all night."
How true.
Except it wasn't a party as much as Lily waking up every hour sweating and screaming and delirious. She had no fever. She was just unable to stay asleep. She finally passed out for good at 11:30...about 4 hours after her double dose of medicine. The good news is, she woke up at 5:30 as per usual and refused to nap. So Saturday was lots of fun... And Michael was up coughing, and Andrew woke me up as he was sleep walking. WTH happened to resting up on the weekends?
We are really batting zero around here. Except for the broccoli thing. Does getting your kids to eat green vegetables balance out overdosing and feeding small choking/nostril sized objects? Yah, I didn't think so.
Friday night we had a breech of contract. Lily and Michael are quite miserable with a cold. Sorry to Mikey, because he is under 4 and therefore cannot take cold medicine. Suffer in silence, kiddo. But Lily is now 4, so she is allowed a carefully measured teaspoon of the stuff. Which we only give at night to help her sleep. And I know that there have been recalls because it is so easy to overdose your kid on this stuff. Just as the kids settled down to watch their pre-bed tv show, I gave Lily her decongestant and made sure she drank up every last drop.
Fast forward 30 minutes. Jeff put Lily to bed and I put Michael to bed as per usual. I was checking e-mails, etc., and Jeff passed through the computer room on his way to watch basketball with Andrew. "Oh, by the way, I gave Lily some decongestant before bed...she just seemed miserable."
"Nononononononononono! I give the medicine!" I believe was my mature and well reasoned reply.
We paged the on-call doctor, who promptly called us back and reassured us that a mere double dose will not cause respiratory distress, etc. Especially in a child with no history of lung issues, etc. But she did say, "However, this type of medicine can cause restlessness...so you may be up partying with Lily all night."
How true.
Except it wasn't a party as much as Lily waking up every hour sweating and screaming and delirious. She had no fever. She was just unable to stay asleep. She finally passed out for good at 11:30...about 4 hours after her double dose of medicine. The good news is, she woke up at 5:30 as per usual and refused to nap. So Saturday was lots of fun... And Michael was up coughing, and Andrew woke me up as he was sleep walking. WTH happened to resting up on the weekends?
We are really batting zero around here. Except for the broccoli thing. Does getting your kids to eat green vegetables balance out overdosing and feeding small choking/nostril sized objects? Yah, I didn't think so.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
What's the opposite of photogenic?
Last week I vowed to take more photos. -sigh- I'm just not a good photographer and my kids aren't good subjects. Observe:
Still with the head up. When will this child learn how to smile for a camera that isn't in a professional setting?
???
Michael is willing to play anything. Gender roles are non-existant for him. I present: future blackmail photos of Princess Tiana and Spiderman.
Daddy Tiana pushing his baby stroller
Showing muscles and taking a princess spin.
Terrible lighting and eating...but she heard me taking pictures of her brothers and insisted.
Michael smiles as I ask...Andrew doesn't
Michael checks to see what his brother is doing.
Nice shot of the teeth coming in, I suppose. And at least he's not dorking it up for the camera. More of those kinds of shots later.
Still with the head up. When will this child learn how to smile for a camera that isn't in a professional setting?
???
Michael is willing to play anything. Gender roles are non-existant for him. I present: future blackmail photos of Princess Tiana and Spiderman.
Daddy Tiana pushing his baby stroller
Showing muscles and taking a princess spin. 
Terrible lighting and eating...but she heard me taking pictures of her brothers and insisted.
Michael smiles as I ask...Andrew doesn't
Michael checks to see what his brother is doing.
Silliness ensues.
Brothers.
Brothers.
You get what you pay for, I guess!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
You can pin that award right here on my t-shirt
I have devised a way to make my children eat broccoli.
It is quite brilliant, if I may say so myself.
It may well be my shining moment as a mother. If I don't win the Mother of the Year award for this one, it is quite possible that I will never achieve it.
Last night, I made steamed broccoli. No salt, no butter, no cheese. Just steamed broccoli.
Tonight, Andrew ate 3 helpings of broccoli (about 5 pieces per helping). Lily, yes MY LILY, ate 2 helpings. Michael also ate 2 helpings.
Now you are dying to know my secret, aren't you?
It is well established that we do a lot of pretend play in this house. So one night a few weeks ago I speared a head of broccoli and dramatically said, "Yum! I like eating trees! I sure hope there's nothing living in this tree!" I started chewing and then exclaimed, "Oh! Monkeys! I'm eating monkeys!"
As you can imagine, it soon became a game to see what animals were living in their broccoli spears...I mean, trees. And the only way to find out is to actually eat it. Lily literally doesn't even notice that she's eating the broccoli, she is so eager to tell me what animal is living in her tree.
They just can't shove it in fast enough.
-sigh- It doesn't happen all that often...this self-satisfaction in motherhood. And I swear if one of you tells me that broccoli has just been found to cause stomach worms or something, I will stick my fingers in my ears and sing la-la-la.
Also last night we enjoyed my kids' favorite baked chicken. It is going into heavy rotation, since the last 2 times I've made it, the children have eaten 2 chicken breasts between the 3 of them. (that's a lot for my kids). I shall share:
Parmesan-Dijon Chicken
Melt 1/2 stick of butter. Add 2 Tbsp of Dijon mustard and mix.
Mix 3/4 cup bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese in a baggie.
Dip chicken in the butter/mustard mixture. One by one, shake the dipped chicken in the bag of crumbs/cheese until coated completely. Place in a baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
A new family favorite :)
It is quite brilliant, if I may say so myself.
It may well be my shining moment as a mother. If I don't win the Mother of the Year award for this one, it is quite possible that I will never achieve it.
Last night, I made steamed broccoli. No salt, no butter, no cheese. Just steamed broccoli.
Tonight, Andrew ate 3 helpings of broccoli (about 5 pieces per helping). Lily, yes MY LILY, ate 2 helpings. Michael also ate 2 helpings.
Now you are dying to know my secret, aren't you?
It is well established that we do a lot of pretend play in this house. So one night a few weeks ago I speared a head of broccoli and dramatically said, "Yum! I like eating trees! I sure hope there's nothing living in this tree!" I started chewing and then exclaimed, "Oh! Monkeys! I'm eating monkeys!"
As you can imagine, it soon became a game to see what animals were living in their broccoli spears...I mean, trees. And the only way to find out is to actually eat it. Lily literally doesn't even notice that she's eating the broccoli, she is so eager to tell me what animal is living in her tree.
They just can't shove it in fast enough.
-sigh- It doesn't happen all that often...this self-satisfaction in motherhood. And I swear if one of you tells me that broccoli has just been found to cause stomach worms or something, I will stick my fingers in my ears and sing la-la-la.
Also last night we enjoyed my kids' favorite baked chicken. It is going into heavy rotation, since the last 2 times I've made it, the children have eaten 2 chicken breasts between the 3 of them. (that's a lot for my kids). I shall share:
Parmesan-Dijon Chicken
Melt 1/2 stick of butter. Add 2 Tbsp of Dijon mustard and mix.
Mix 3/4 cup bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese in a baggie.
Dip chicken in the butter/mustard mixture. One by one, shake the dipped chicken in the bag of crumbs/cheese until coated completely. Place in a baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
A new family favorite :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
BFF
Andrew: Mom? Are you my BFF?
Me: Yes, of course!
Andrew: Great! I never knew you were a Buffalo Fire Fighter. (breaks into uncontrollable giggles)
15 minutes later...
Andrew: Mom? Are you my BFF?
Me: I'm not falling for this again. No way, I'm not your BFF.
Andrew: How sad. I guess we aren't Best Friends Forever. See how I did that, Mom? No matter what you say I get you. (breaks into uncontrollable giggles)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew was reading me Encyclopedia Brown one night before bed. After struggling with the pronunciation a few times, he asked me what an encyclopedia was.
I told him it was what people used before there was the internet. He seemed satisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff and I were enjoying the LL Bean Home catalog. I don't know if I like the furnishings so much as the homes that serve as the backdrop for the photos. Andrew asked how we could get our house into a catalog. I explained that we didn't have an interesting enough kind of house...no views of the ocean or mountains in the background.
Andrew offered to pose in the pictures to make our house more interesting. He demonstrated by flailing about and screaming with his tongue hanging out. Then he immediately broke the pose and said, "Child not included."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me: Yes, of course!
Andrew: Great! I never knew you were a Buffalo Fire Fighter. (breaks into uncontrollable giggles)
15 minutes later...
Andrew: Mom? Are you my BFF?
Me: I'm not falling for this again. No way, I'm not your BFF.
Andrew: How sad. I guess we aren't Best Friends Forever. See how I did that, Mom? No matter what you say I get you. (breaks into uncontrollable giggles)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew was reading me Encyclopedia Brown one night before bed. After struggling with the pronunciation a few times, he asked me what an encyclopedia was.
I told him it was what people used before there was the internet. He seemed satisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff and I were enjoying the LL Bean Home catalog. I don't know if I like the furnishings so much as the homes that serve as the backdrop for the photos. Andrew asked how we could get our house into a catalog. I explained that we didn't have an interesting enough kind of house...no views of the ocean or mountains in the background.
Andrew offered to pose in the pictures to make our house more interesting. He demonstrated by flailing about and screaming with his tongue hanging out. Then he immediately broke the pose and said, "Child not included."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Small but smart
Last week, Michael was sitting in the back of the car and talking about...who knows. This is the hardest time for me to interpret his speech...alone in the car. Because there are zero context clues and the possibilities of what he could have seen/thought about are endless. He babbled something incoherent and I made a guess.
He sighed and said, "Dat naugh wha I say'n, ma" (that's not what I'm saying, Mom)
I asked him if he'd like to try again and he said no and sadly gazed out the window.
Break my heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conversely, today he was sitting in the back of the car and we were talking about what to have for lunch. Lily said she wanted a peanut butter sandwich, NO JELLY! Of course. And then she asked if jelly was good for you.
Michael pops into the conversation and says, "Jeh-ee. J-J-J Jeh-ee. Jeh-ee star wi J!" (Jelly starts with J!)
I swear this kid will be reading before he speaks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael rolled the baby stroller up to Jeff and I this weekend. He said, "I da Daddy an di my bay-ee" (I'm the daddy and this is my baby)
Lily pipes in from across the room, "And I'm the mommy. But I'm eating, so Daddy is going to take care of the baby."
Jeff and I chuckle at how we are teaching our children the roles of parents. He ribs me for teaching my daughter that the daddy should take care of things while mommy eats.
And then a few minutes later, Michael brought me the baby and said, "Ma? Bay-ee poo." I told him he'd better change the baby. He replied, "You do it. Daddy dough cha poo." (Daddys don't change poo)
Guess who got ribbed then?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We were at a friend's house for dinner and Michael was putting yet another baby doll to bed. He wrapped her up and placed her carefully in the crib. Then he said in a whispering voice, "Bay-ee slee. I scee bay-ee. BOOOOOOO! Waaaaaaa!" (Baby sleeps. I scare the baby. Then he screamed at her and made a crying sound). Repeat 20 times. So stinkin' cute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He sighed and said, "Dat naugh wha I say'n, ma" (that's not what I'm saying, Mom)
I asked him if he'd like to try again and he said no and sadly gazed out the window.
Break my heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conversely, today he was sitting in the back of the car and we were talking about what to have for lunch. Lily said she wanted a peanut butter sandwich, NO JELLY! Of course. And then she asked if jelly was good for you.
Michael pops into the conversation and says, "Jeh-ee. J-J-J Jeh-ee. Jeh-ee star wi J!" (Jelly starts with J!)
I swear this kid will be reading before he speaks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael rolled the baby stroller up to Jeff and I this weekend. He said, "I da Daddy an di my bay-ee" (I'm the daddy and this is my baby)
Lily pipes in from across the room, "And I'm the mommy. But I'm eating, so Daddy is going to take care of the baby."
Jeff and I chuckle at how we are teaching our children the roles of parents. He ribs me for teaching my daughter that the daddy should take care of things while mommy eats.
And then a few minutes later, Michael brought me the baby and said, "Ma? Bay-ee poo." I told him he'd better change the baby. He replied, "You do it. Daddy dough cha poo." (Daddys don't change poo)
Guess who got ribbed then?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We were at a friend's house for dinner and Michael was putting yet another baby doll to bed. He wrapped her up and placed her carefully in the crib. Then he said in a whispering voice, "Bay-ee slee. I scee bay-ee. BOOOOOOO! Waaaaaaa!" (Baby sleeps. I scare the baby. Then he screamed at her and made a crying sound). Repeat 20 times. So stinkin' cute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Human popcorn popper
Today Michael stuck a popcorn kernel into his right nostril.
I can't really think of a witty and clever way to start this story. So that's how we'll begin.
The speech teacher had just left our house and I was needing to make a few phone calls and finish up the breakfast dishes in the hour before it was time to pick up Lily from pre-school. I popped a mini-bag of popcorn and planted Mike in front of the tv.
I hung up the phone from calling the other speech services people and Mike came running up with his empty bowl. He said, "I ha bee my no. Geh my ou?" It is times like this I wish I could wave a magic wand and cure his speech problems. Eventually I figured out that he was pointing to his nose while saying this. And translated it into "I have a bean in my nose. Can you get it out?"
The answer was, of course, no. I could easily see the popcorn kernel (not a bean like he insisted). But I couldn't grab it with tweezers. And I couldn't get around it to pop it out with a Q-tip. So I called the doctor's office. Set up an appointment. Called a friend to see if she could pick up Lily from school. Grabbed some peanut butter crackers and an apple to feed Michael on the way. He was not in pain...just uncomfortable. And irritated as heck that I kept interrupting his furious nose picking (he wanted it OUT!).
We were at the pediatrician's for 30 minutes. At one point we had a nurse and myself holding him down while one doctor held open his nostril and the other stuck long tweezers up his nose. They tried sticking pepper up his nose to make him sneeze. They stuck an oxygen pumper things over his mouth and tried to blow air out the nostril while holding the other shut. They tried this little scoopy thing that had a long handle. They could not get it out. Michael was screaming so loudly that he broke blood vessels in his cheeks and neck. It was kind of unspeakably horrible. I have so much empathy for parents of children with chronic illnesses. It was hard to submit him to pain and fear and stress for the good of his health.
My doctor got Michael an appointment at the ENT for 2:15. It was 12:30 at this time. I called my friend and arranged to pick Lily up. She insisted on keeping Lily until this whole thing was settled. God bless her. Lily would have been traumatized.
Mike took a 40 minute nap and then I dragged him out of bed and took him to the ENT. He charmed the entire waiting area...one lady was even making tunnels out of her folders for him to drive his trains through.
We were called back to the room and the doctor quickly looked up Mike's nose. Michael immediately started fighting because he was still so upset by the morning doctor wrestling. I held his legs tight between mine and kind of straight-jacketed his arms with mine. I pinned his head against my shoulders. The doctor sprayed some anesthetic and then some decongestant. Then he suctioned out Michael's nose. Michael is screaming and thrashing through this whole thing. It took all my strength to restrain him. A nurse came in (how did she know to come it, I wonder?) and helped by basically laying across Mike and me. With a long spike, the doctor managed to spear the kernel and pull it out.
We had another slight struggle as the doctor peeked in to make sure there was only one kernel stuck inside. Mike went with the nurse to get a sucker...he was all smiles when he came back. She gave him 2 stickers and a sucker and all was forgotten.
The kernel was slightly popping open. Apparently it was cracked and the moisture and heat from Michael's nose was causing it to expand. We were just that close to needing surgery and general anesthetic to get this thing out.
It was a trying day, to say the least. Thank heavens for friends willing to take Lily. Thank heavens for an easy going agreeable boy. Thank heavens for wine and take out...because that's all I'm up for tonight. ;P
I can't really think of a witty and clever way to start this story. So that's how we'll begin.
The speech teacher had just left our house and I was needing to make a few phone calls and finish up the breakfast dishes in the hour before it was time to pick up Lily from pre-school. I popped a mini-bag of popcorn and planted Mike in front of the tv.
I hung up the phone from calling the other speech services people and Mike came running up with his empty bowl. He said, "I ha bee my no. Geh my ou?" It is times like this I wish I could wave a magic wand and cure his speech problems. Eventually I figured out that he was pointing to his nose while saying this. And translated it into "I have a bean in my nose. Can you get it out?"
The answer was, of course, no. I could easily see the popcorn kernel (not a bean like he insisted). But I couldn't grab it with tweezers. And I couldn't get around it to pop it out with a Q-tip. So I called the doctor's office. Set up an appointment. Called a friend to see if she could pick up Lily from school. Grabbed some peanut butter crackers and an apple to feed Michael on the way. He was not in pain...just uncomfortable. And irritated as heck that I kept interrupting his furious nose picking (he wanted it OUT!).
We were at the pediatrician's for 30 minutes. At one point we had a nurse and myself holding him down while one doctor held open his nostril and the other stuck long tweezers up his nose. They tried sticking pepper up his nose to make him sneeze. They stuck an oxygen pumper things over his mouth and tried to blow air out the nostril while holding the other shut. They tried this little scoopy thing that had a long handle. They could not get it out. Michael was screaming so loudly that he broke blood vessels in his cheeks and neck. It was kind of unspeakably horrible. I have so much empathy for parents of children with chronic illnesses. It was hard to submit him to pain and fear and stress for the good of his health.
My doctor got Michael an appointment at the ENT for 2:15. It was 12:30 at this time. I called my friend and arranged to pick Lily up. She insisted on keeping Lily until this whole thing was settled. God bless her. Lily would have been traumatized.
Mike took a 40 minute nap and then I dragged him out of bed and took him to the ENT. He charmed the entire waiting area...one lady was even making tunnels out of her folders for him to drive his trains through.
We were called back to the room and the doctor quickly looked up Mike's nose. Michael immediately started fighting because he was still so upset by the morning doctor wrestling. I held his legs tight between mine and kind of straight-jacketed his arms with mine. I pinned his head against my shoulders. The doctor sprayed some anesthetic and then some decongestant. Then he suctioned out Michael's nose. Michael is screaming and thrashing through this whole thing. It took all my strength to restrain him. A nurse came in (how did she know to come it, I wonder?) and helped by basically laying across Mike and me. With a long spike, the doctor managed to spear the kernel and pull it out.
We had another slight struggle as the doctor peeked in to make sure there was only one kernel stuck inside. Mike went with the nurse to get a sucker...he was all smiles when he came back. She gave him 2 stickers and a sucker and all was forgotten.
The kernel was slightly popping open. Apparently it was cracked and the moisture and heat from Michael's nose was causing it to expand. We were just that close to needing surgery and general anesthetic to get this thing out.
It was a trying day, to say the least. Thank heavens for friends willing to take Lily. Thank heavens for an easy going agreeable boy. Thank heavens for wine and take out...because that's all I'm up for tonight. ;P
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
BRAT diet
We have a little case of the...um...how do you say? runny poo's? going on over here. Andrew, Lily, and I are the only soldiers in the battle for the toilet right now...but I'm pretty sure the others will fall soon. It's not too bad. We feel mostly okay...just a little tired and crabby and occasionally crampy and sick. But not too bad.
So when one of us catches this...ahem...problem with number twos...I quickly adopt the tried and true BRAT diet. And it has nothing to do with those utterly disturbing dolls sold at Target (one has a belly-button ring!?!)
BRAT:
Bananas
Rice
Applesauce
Tea/Toast
Apparently these 4 foods are a bit binding as well as being easy on a queasy gut.
Like I said...this is tried and true...passed on down for generations. Or at least ONE generation. And it works for most people. Except for my daughter. Who is a strict follower of the CIMP diet.
Never heard of it?
CIMP diet:
Cereal/chocolate
Ice cream
Milk
Peanut butter
Notice how there are no overlaps.
-sigh- She's going to have the runs for a while.
So when one of us catches this...ahem...problem with number twos...I quickly adopt the tried and true BRAT diet. And it has nothing to do with those utterly disturbing dolls sold at Target (one has a belly-button ring!?!)
BRAT:
Bananas
Rice
Applesauce
Tea/Toast
Apparently these 4 foods are a bit binding as well as being easy on a queasy gut.
Like I said...this is tried and true...passed on down for generations. Or at least ONE generation. And it works for most people. Except for my daughter. Who is a strict follower of the CIMP diet.
Never heard of it?
CIMP diet:
Cereal/chocolate
Ice cream
Milk
Peanut butter
Notice how there are no overlaps.
-sigh- She's going to have the runs for a while.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Last week in photos..
There were only 4 photos on my camera from the last week. Pathetic. I am going to take at least one photo a day this week. It is now on my to do list. Which we all know I finish dutifully each week. ha ha snort ha ha...
Michael's train track breaks a lot. Probably because we build it on carpet. But also because it is played with a lot. So I rebuild it at least once a day. Actually, only once a day...if it gets broken twice, I put it away until the next day. One such day, Jeff came home from work and Michael immediately ran up and complained, "Da? Ma put away my trains. My NEW TRAINS." Dripping with accusatory indignation. Another day last week, I just found him doing this...trying to read the plans and put the pieces together. He was in no way accurate, but it was adorable to watch him check the map and then say a letter, "nee 'F'" and then find a piece from the pile and put it together.
I gave Lily cut up construction paper to make a mosaic flower. Instead, she glued the pieces to her fingertips and declared that she was a tree frog. Her finger pads were even sticky like a tree frog. You just can't get this girl out of her own imagination...
Lily has also been stealing my camera during her afternoon "quiet play time." I keep finding shots that I didn't take in my camera. But she isn't very creative with her shots...none of her face, her feet, her bum...like Andrew would do. She has only one subject in her photography...Shadow.
Finally, I stripped our basement door of all the snowmen and penguins and other wintery school projects. This morning the kids and I (read: just me) created this basket to provide the back drop to all the spring/Easter projects sure to come our way soon. And they better come. Because if I open another backpack and find a colorful mitten or cute little snowflake? I am going to go ape-shit crazy!
Michael's train track breaks a lot. Probably because we build it on carpet. But also because it is played with a lot. So I rebuild it at least once a day. Actually, only once a day...if it gets broken twice, I put it away until the next day. One such day, Jeff came home from work and Michael immediately ran up and complained, "Da? Ma put away my trains. My NEW TRAINS." Dripping with accusatory indignation. Another day last week, I just found him doing this...trying to read the plans and put the pieces together. He was in no way accurate, but it was adorable to watch him check the map and then say a letter, "nee 'F'" and then find a piece from the pile and put it together.
I gave Lily cut up construction paper to make a mosaic flower. Instead, she glued the pieces to her fingertips and declared that she was a tree frog. Her finger pads were even sticky like a tree frog. You just can't get this girl out of her own imagination...
Lily has also been stealing my camera during her afternoon "quiet play time." I keep finding shots that I didn't take in my camera. But she isn't very creative with her shots...none of her face, her feet, her bum...like Andrew would do. She has only one subject in her photography...Shadow.
Finally, I stripped our basement door of all the snowmen and penguins and other wintery school projects. This morning the kids and I (read: just me) created this basket to provide the back drop to all the spring/Easter projects sure to come our way soon. And they better come. Because if I open another backpack and find a colorful mitten or cute little snowflake? I am going to go ape-shit crazy!
Friday, March 04, 2011
Fast takes...
-- Around here, we have ice pops around for injured mouths, fingers, head cold remedies, etc. They are as effective as boo-boo bunnies and bandaids for miraculously curing ailments. Lily had a head cold last week, and in order to get some fluids in her she was eating an ice pop. Michael immediately came up to me holding his index finger saying weakly, "Ma? My finger hurt. So hurt. Poor finger. Need popsicle."
--Lily has finally clicked with another child at pre-school. Two weeks ago we invited little M to play at our house, and the girls have been inseparable since. Lily makes pictures for her and talks about playing mermaids and princesses with her at school. Lily is also no longer fighting about going to school. Not a coincidence. Today I mentioned it to her teachers, and they said that they have to separate the girls a lot because they won't stop talking and giggling. -sigh- One extreme to the other.
-- I was talking to Andrew about S____n Summer Camp happening again this year. I want to change it up, and instead of having "wet n wild Wednesday" etc., I'm thinking about picking a topic or theme each week and then exploring that topic through art, science, games, etc. Like for July 4th week, we could visit Independence Hall, and decorate our bikes and have a parade, make a red white and blue flag cake, etc etc. I told him that I'd appreciate any ideas he had for themes. He nodded seriously and said, "That sounds good. But every once in a while I might want to do an independent study."
-- Lily got a paper cut on her knuckle yesterday. You would have thought someone put her in a bathtub of ice and stole her kidney, the way she was screaming. After I kissed it and bandaged it up, she declared, "I am never reading a book ever again."
-- I was eating dinner with the kids and Michael reached for my glass of milk. I gasped and dramatically said, "Excuse me? What do you think you are doing?" Michael said clearly, "Cu-P" and reached for the glass again. Because a while back, that was how we were encouraging him to add the ending. Silly.
--Lily has finally clicked with another child at pre-school. Two weeks ago we invited little M to play at our house, and the girls have been inseparable since. Lily makes pictures for her and talks about playing mermaids and princesses with her at school. Lily is also no longer fighting about going to school. Not a coincidence. Today I mentioned it to her teachers, and they said that they have to separate the girls a lot because they won't stop talking and giggling. -sigh- One extreme to the other.
-- I was talking to Andrew about S____n Summer Camp happening again this year. I want to change it up, and instead of having "wet n wild Wednesday" etc., I'm thinking about picking a topic or theme each week and then exploring that topic through art, science, games, etc. Like for July 4th week, we could visit Independence Hall, and decorate our bikes and have a parade, make a red white and blue flag cake, etc etc. I told him that I'd appreciate any ideas he had for themes. He nodded seriously and said, "That sounds good. But every once in a while I might want to do an independent study."
-- Lily got a paper cut on her knuckle yesterday. You would have thought someone put her in a bathtub of ice and stole her kidney, the way she was screaming. After I kissed it and bandaged it up, she declared, "I am never reading a book ever again."
-- I was eating dinner with the kids and Michael reached for my glass of milk. I gasped and dramatically said, "Excuse me? What do you think you are doing?" Michael said clearly, "Cu-P" and reached for the glass again. Because a while back, that was how we were encouraging him to add the ending. Silly.
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