This week

I don't even know where to begin.  So I'll just do a list of things that have happened/are happening this week.

--I had to buy Andrew more pants...again.  That kid just refuses to stop growing.  I swear, I bought his all new pants in the fall.  And while in Ohio, I noticed his pants were too short.  At least Michael's hand-me-downs will be barely worn?

-- Michael is spending an inordinate amount of time in time-out, due to his latest phrase.  "I hate..."  Whenever anything doesn't go his way, he announces angrily that he hates you.  Or his teacher.  Or this hat.  Or whatever.  It is really tiresome and annoying and rude...so time-out it is.  At this point it is already a habit, so it will probably take a bit of time to break him of it.

--Lily is at the annoying stage of beginning reader.  Just because they have successfully read a few easy readers, they assume that the entire world of the printed word is decipherable to them.  She gets frustrated.  I get frustrated.  You know the drill.

--I may actually have to start doing homework with Andrew.  He has missed one spelling word on the last two tests...perhaps we'll have to review the words.  And he asked me for help with the wording of one of his math questions...and I literally didn't even know what unit they were on.  Slacker mom.  Need to start paying more attention.

-- I'm in love with Jeff's new boss.  I mean, I've never met him.  But I love how interested and involved and...managerial he is towards Jeff.  And he sent us flowers (from the department) in sympathy.  Love!

-- I've been really good about going to the gym.  Well...only about 3 days a week...but I haven't quit yet!  And my eating has been better also.  I'm drinking WAY more water and trying to eat less/better.  No real results yet.  Not getting discouraged yet.

-- I got Michael enrolled at the new preschool.  His current pre-school (where we have been for 6 years now) is making me feel bad.  How much they are going to miss Michael, and what are they going to do without a member of our family there.  My explanation to them has been that I can't get Lily to the kindergarten bus AND get Michael to pre-school if I go there.  It's just a little bit too far away.  They tell me they will work with me...I can drop him off early or late, whatever.  I just can't tell them that while the bus thing is technically true, I also don't like the teachers for the 4 year old program.  I can't tell them...because Lily is in that class for the next 5 months.  Don't push me to say it!  I'm a big blabber mouth and am likely to spill the beans.  And ruin the rest of Lily's school year.

-- My house is a cluttered sty.  Yesterday I tackled the basement.  I couldn't even tell you how long it's been since I dealt with that room.  Months.  I vacuumed up some spiders the size of gerbils down there.  I took out 2 bags of garbage and took way 6 different toy sets that are too young for the kids now.  They went immediately down there this morning and played for 90 minutes.  -sigh-  Can't we just have a clean room for more than 12 hours?  Please?

--I thought exercising was supposed to give you more energy.  When does that happen exactly?  Also?  I just had to look up the spelling of exercise...AGAIN.  I think there is something significant to the fact that I can't even spell that word.  My body clearly rejects the whole idea.

--February 2010 and February 2011 I had trips to Southern California.  Nothing this year.  I'm kind of bummed.  I really appreciated that weekend of sunshine in the middle of dreary winter.

-- I'm totally into my Kindle now.  I've figured out the library thing, and my MIL showed me a website that highlights free books for a limited time each day on Amazon.  Now I just have to tear the thing away from my annoying kids so I can actually read on it.

-- I'm cold.

-- I made pumpkin bisque for dinner last night, in our attempt to eat vegetarian one night a week.  Turns out pumpkin bisque is good for about 10-15 bites before you get sick of it.  An appetizer type of dish.  Not a whole meal.  Too bad I'm not the type of hostess that serves multi-course meals.  Unless you count veggie trays and pigs in a blanket as courses.

-- I should go tackle another room of clutter now.

--Our master bathroom has been sitting stripped of wallpaper for 3 months now.  It will take 2 hours, MAX, to paint.  Still not done.  Loser.

-- I got Michael a table lamp for his room since he has no light switches.  I have no idea how early he's been waking up, but judging by his tantrums, sensitivity, and "hating", I'd say he was up REALLY early today.

-- Jeff was reprimanding Michael yesterday, and Michael smiled and said, "Yes, sir!"  Don't know where he's heard that, but it was funny.  Little booger gets away with murder.

-- Enough randomness for one day?

Memere

She didn't have a powerful, meaningful, society changing career.  She never beat any world record or won any awards that we've heard of.  She was never on television or the radio and was certainly not famous.  She never had a mansion, or a yacht, and she never saved a group of people from a burning building or developed the cure for cancer.  She lived a quiet life being a doting wife to her husband, a faithful Catholic, raising her 2 children, moving around the country (and once out of it), and living independently as a widow for 32 years.

Yet her life was a gift to all that were lucky enough to know her.  Her gift to all of us was unconditional love, uplifting positivity, kindness, sincerity, and honesty.  She made friends...life long friends, every where she went because of her magnetic, genuine, lovely personality.  She saw the best in all people and the sunny side in all situations.  Or if she didn't, she was sure good at faking it ;)  She was and is an example as to how to live a successful life.  Leaving a host of happier, uplifted people in our wake, not through grand life changes or showy gestures, but by caring about each interaction with the people you meet.  She inspires me to be kinder, more content, and more grateful for the little unglamorous life I've been given.

Oh, how I will miss you, Memere.

November 18, 1919-January 16, 2012

Lily is reading!

It seems silly now that I used to think my mom couldn't be excited for me just because my older sister had already done everything first.

Lily is reading.  And I couldn't be more excited.  Truly.

She and I have been reading this set of sight word books for about a year now.  Off and on.  A lot of off and then sometimes I'd have a burst of "I should be a good mother" and we'd pull them out and read a few.  You know the types of books...big pictures with repetitive sentences underneath so they can use the pictures to help them.  I love books.  I love desks.  I love paint.  I love school!  We had them from Andrew, and Lily wanted to try...so voila!

Then when we were at Michael's speech a few weeks ago, she and I were coloring.  I decided to write one of those sight words on the back of the sheet.  No context.  Not in the same order or the same book.  You.  What.  Are.  Of.  Can.  Look.  Like.  It.  Is.  The.  I'm forgetting some, but you get the idea.

She knew them all.

So we've amped up the reading a bit.  Getting real books out of the library.  And she really knows those sight words.  And she is really sounding out 3 letter words.  And she can use context to figure words out.  And if I chunk words up, she can figure it out (like going).

She read 51 pages of Hop on Pop with very minimal help on Wednesday.

She read 51 pages of Go Dog Go last night.  (she actually was watching the pages.  She'd heard me tell my mom, so when we got to page 51, she pointed at the number and announced that she'd read enough.  Silly girl).

I can't believe how exciting it is to watch someone learn to read.  Again.  She is amazing and I'm so proud of her.

(and don't tell Andrew, but she is WAY more fun to read with then he was.  He used to get so frustrated that at the first word he didn't know, he'd quit and throw the book.  She furrows her brow and tries and tries again to sound that word out right.  Determined little thing.  Future CEO.)

Signs of disaster

Michael is a great name for this 3rd child of mine.  Jeff loved when I named him Mischief Maker Michael in a previous blog.  But he also could be called Master Manipulator Michael.

This child is cute.  CUTE with a capital Q.  Everyone we come in contact with comments on how cute he is.  It is alarming how much he gets away with...globally...because of his cuteness.  And he does not use this power entirely for good.

He has discovered that people melt when he tells them "I love you."  How could you stay mad when those big eyelashes bat over those hazel green eyes and those pouty lips say quietly, "I love you, Mommy" followed by a deep hug?  I am POWERLESS over here.

And he knows it.

I realized that he is cognizant of his powers one day about a month ago.  He was sneaking into Andrew's room to play with his Heroica game.  I said, "Michael.  You should not go play in Andrew's room.  He will be really mad at you."  Michael replied, "It's okay, Mommy.  I'll just say 'I love you'."

And I started to notice that he defuses all the chaos left in his wake with sweet little sincere sounding calls of love.  Little stinker. 

Hits his sister with a car?  All I hear from the next room is, "I love you, Lily."

Knocks a cup off the counter with his ball?  Michael hollers to me, "I love you, Mom!"

So now, when Michael comes running up declaring his love for me, my first response is, "What did you do?"

Leftover night

I used to hate leftover night.

When I make dinner, the kids have to eat what they will from it.  I don't make anything else.  It has been this way for years, and yet children are dumb.  They continue to whine and complain and protest the policy...as if we will finally buckle after all these years.  While I still don't always enjoy eating leftovers, I really enjoy the peace of those nights.  Because we have a policy at our house that leftover night means "kid food" night.   If all I have to do is nuke my own dinner, I'm willing to make something else for them.

Tonight we're having leftover beef stew.

Last night it was fresh out of the crock pot.  Jeff and I sat down to a steaming bowl of yummy beef stew in a delicious broth with fresh crusty bread to sop it all up with.  And there was much crying and carrying on that they were expected to eat it.  Then there was much crying and carrying on when they didn't get milk before bed because they didn't eat said dinner.  Next verse, same as the first. 

Tonight Jeff and I will sit down to a steaming bowl of yummy beef stew with crusty bread to sop it all up with.  But the children will be quietly and happily eating chicken nuggets and mixed veggies.  We're the only house in America where the kids cheer that it is leftover night.

I'm not about to break down my rules just for a more peaceful eating experience.  Every once in a blue moon they try and like something that I make.  But I may introduce a new rule.  Nights where the kids have to eat "real" food are wine nights for the adults.  It may make all the caterwauling more bearable.

A moment with Andrew

Andrew has a homework sheet that comes home every night to let us know what homework he has due.  Since Monday, it has spoken of spelling homework, although Andrew's spelling folder has not come home yet.  When I asked Andrew about it he simply told me that Mrs. L. hadn't passed out the folders yet.

So I sent an e-mail to her about it and she replied, "The folders were given out on Monday.  Andrew is not always the neatest so it may be in his desk or on someone else's desk.  I often find his papers spread all around his table group.  :)"

This morning I told Andrew that the folders had been passed out on Monday.  He started to protest but I interrupted and told him what Mrs. L. had said in the e-mail.

He stopped protesting, shrugged, and said, "Well, she does have a point there."

A moment with Michael

Scene:  Giselle, Lily, and Michael are trapped in the house.  Giselle is on the couch, laboriously peeling the paper off of old crayons so she can hopefully do a craft with the wee animals children later on.  Lily is bouncing from rocking chair to recliner and back again, entranced in some pretend game in her head.  Michael has taken the stool from the bathroom, propped it up on the fireplace, and is sitting on it while hoarding toys around him.

Lily: Michael, can I play with that train?  Michael?  Miiiiiiii-CHAEL!  Can I PLEASE play with this train?

Michael:  Lily, I am a statue.  Say, 'Statue Michael can I have your train."

Lily:  Okay.  Statue Michael, can I have your train?

Michael:  Yes.

Oh what a morning!

Andrew was reading to me this morning.  The book we've picked for his next book report is fabulous, but there are a number of vocabulary words above his level...hence him reading to me so I can check his comprehension.  We try to do his reading at night, but it just didn't happen.  So he was reading to me, and I noticed that for the second day in a row my head was kind of itchy.

Do you see where this is going?

After discovering that indeed the lice are back on my head, I did the medicated wash (I had an extra bottle) and combed through my hair.  I announced to Andrew that he was going to have to buy lunch today since I needed to do my hair and then check Lily's.  He left for school and I was about halfway through my head of hair.  With 10 minutes to spare before leaving for pre-school, I wet Lily's hair down and did a quick but thorough check of her head.  Nothing.  Nada.  Hallelujah!   We frantically put on shoes and coats and head out the door.  My keys are not where I left them on the steps that morning (I had gotten something out of my car, so I specifically remember leaving them on the steps).  I asked Mischief Maker Michael if he'd seen Mommy's keys.

"I put them in Andrew's bag."

I frantically look in our junk drawer...no spare key...Jeff must have it on his key ring.  I call my friend that lives close and she agrees to spin around and come take Lily to school.  As I call out the garage door to tell Lily to come back inside, the hall closet door falls apart and hits me in the back.  It is dangling on it's hinges and I can't pull it off, but I can't leave it to hit the opposite wall.  The phone begins to ring.  I yell at Lily to get the phone.  She can't find it.  I yell at her to come and hold the closet door up.  The phone stops ringing.  I get a kitchen chair to prop up the closet door and check my messages.  It is Andrew calling me from school to tell me that he has my keys.

My friend gets Lily and offers to come back and take me to Andrew's school to get the keys.  But I don't really have anywhere to go, and I hate to put my lice infested head in her car.  So I decline, but ask if she could bring Lily back home.

So here we are.  House falling apart.  Itchy infested head...again.  Laundry being run for the umpteenth time.  P.O'd at my youngest.

How's your day going?

Problems with the Kindle

1) The children love it.  Before, I could read while eating my breakfast/lunch/dinner, and the children ignored me.  Now, they see the glowing screen in front of my face and they are instantly harassing me to play angry birds or slashing fruit or some other stupid game that they like.  And, no, I don't have another paper book to read...I only read one book at a time.

2) The whole library system is a bit disappointing.  I mean, I am a HUGE library user.  I am there at least 3 times a month and I utilize their hold system and library transfer system and everything else.  I like that it is free and easy and everything else. 
      I am on hold for my book club book (my first e-book hold), and I am 1 out of 1 on hold.  I have been on hold for a week.  You can only check out ebooks for 2 weeks, so I am certain that I'll get it on time.  HOWEVER, I am already stressing over what happens if I don't get it in the next week.  Will I call and question the librarians about how the other person could still have it if it has been 2 weeks already.  Does that mean there is some secret way to extend the 2 week deadline?  I just don't TRUST the e-book system yet.  It seems fishy to me in the first place. What are the chances that the other person checked it out the exact day I put it on hold?  (maybe high since it was Christmas day, and probably lots of people got new iPads/Kindles/Nooks and were checking out books at the library). 
     ALSO, the library has lots and lots of romance novels and self help books, but not very many of the books I want to read.  Like Divergent.  The book that 5 different sources have told me to read.  They don't have an ebook of it.  After striking out while looking for books on my "to read" list, I decided to look up some of my favorite authors.  Anne Rice only had one e-book total...and it was the entire vampire series in one e-book.  Did I mention you can only check these out for 2 weeks?  Urgh.  Another series that was recommended?  They have book 2 and 4.  That's helpful.

3) I was excited about the prospect of sharing books with other Kindle users.  Many of my book club buddies have them as well as my MIL and SIL.  HOWEVER, I have yet to meet anybody that has ever actually shared a book.  And some have tried...and failed. 

4) I don't buy books.  I read too fast to make it financially sound.  Well, sometimes I do, but only if I think I'll read it again (almost never happens) or if I think someone else will enjoy it.  I go to book stores to find titles that I want to check out from the library.  But it is starting to seem like buying e-books is the only way to go.  Which makes me sad....I hate spending money.

And that just about sums up my upper middle class problems for the day!

Off to school with you

Andrew got a bum deal this year.  Jeff has no work today.  Lily has no school.  But he had to get dressed and ready to head back today.

His teacher e-mailed us late last night saying she had lost her voice over the weekend and wouldn't be in today.

So I was making my breakfast after receiving his teacher's e-mail and really feeling like school today was optional.  I mean, everyone else was still on vacation in our house and he was just going to have a substitute, right?  Shouldn't I just let him stay home from school?

Then he ran through the kitchen yodeling at the top of his lungs, followed closely by his screaming sister.  He stopped and pointed at 3 different Post-it notes that he had stuck on his shirt.  They read, "I farted" and "I'm hungry" and "Lily is annoying."  He laughed hysterically and ran off again, while Lily trailed after him yelling, "I am not annoying!"

40 minutes later, I booted him out the door and to the bus stop with a sigh of relief.  We are ready for school!

Resolutions

Oh, man.  Is it really 2012?

I am going to resolve, again, to lose weight.  Despite resolving to do this for the last 8 years or so, I still am deluded enough to think it may actually happen this year, instead of me gaining 3-5 pounds like I have in the past.

Different this year?  Gym membership.  Confidence from actually running a 5K last year.  Looming mid-life crisis in August when I turn 35 and my baby girl starts Kindergarten and my baby is in pre-school 4 days a week.  Crisis is LOOMING people.  And I would like to be 15-20 pounds lighter when it hits. 

GOAL:  Exercise more.  Use the gym.  Run another 5K this year. 
                  I went for a run this morning, since it is in the 50s.  I have majorly slipped from my 5K status...but I am months ahead of where I was last April.

GOAL:  Eat less sugar. 
                  I have no strategy for this...but I have no self control when it comes to sweets.  So I guess my strategy should be to not have any in the house.  The kids don't need it either, right?  I can always get mini-marshmallows as bribery for them...I hate them.

GOAL: Make no more goals.  Concentrate on exercising and less sugar.  That should be plenty to fail at for this year.

Here's to a skinnier mid-life crisis in August!