Yard work with 3 kids under 6...a How To...

Step 1: Recognize the need to do yard work. An easy way to tell? If you haven't done any yard work for 3 years in a row...you probably need to do some. Our problem? Weeds and no mulch left. Although enough mulch for the dog to track in the house.

Before shots. I wish I'd taken some pictures before I'd spent 10 days weeding these enormous beds. I filled 7-9 huge plastic bags...with just weeds. Scary.

We did NOT tackle the entire backyard. This is the top of our hill. Somewhere under all that is a nice paved patio with lights and a fence. Scary. That is our Everest. Maybe when the kids are teenagers (read=free labor)

More before shots

My poor barren mailbox.

Imagine covered in thistles and these annoying vines. My back aches just looking at it.

Step 2: Order a pile of mulch larger than your first born child. Have dumped in parking area so you are forced to deal with it immediately.

Step 3: Start working hard...or find someone else to. Have a few heart attacks when your husband lets the 5 year old play with the pitchfork on top of the mountain of mulch.

Hey? Isn't that big guy supposed to be working? Is he drinking a glass of water while the 5 year old toils?

Step 4: Provide lots of outdoor toys, so the children stay happy while their parents ignore them. Oh. And it helps to order up a weekend of picture perfect spring weather.

The lazy fireman. He has his feet up so they don't touch the grass ;)

Hey! There's that big guy again. Why is he playing football instead of pulling weeds?

Step 5: While the adults are pre-occupied, have 5 year old steal camera. And take 63 photos before you catch him.

New shoes bought because old ones were destroyed by mountain of mulch.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post some "after" shots. :)

Today's goal: take pictures

We took the family for portraits on May 2nd. Apparently, this gave me the excuse to put away the regular camera for 3 weeks. So today's goal? Take pictures. Here are some from weeks and weeks ago that I just downloaded.

If you come to my house, take note. THIS is what happens every 15 minutes in my kitchen. Why don't I babyproof, you ask? 1) My cabinet doors are quite literally falling apart, so adding anything will likely destroy them. 2) Look at how much fun he's having!

How could you be upset at a little destructor this cute?

Lily shows off her cute jean skirt...and I have no recollection why she is all wet. I'm sure there was a story behind it, which is why I took a picture. New goal: take pictures and then download them promptly so I remember why I took them.



A brief moment of peace. I'm sure a few seconds after the flash, Lily beat his punk-&ss down for touching her "pin-cess" stuff.

Still not walking, but Michael is starting to prefer to cruise anywhere and everywhere. I will definitely try to capture on film him walking behind his favorite walking aid...Lily's pink stroller. That'll be one to save to bring out on senior appreciation slideshow night. :)

Honestly? Could I have a more laid-back child? He just decided to chill out on the kitchen floor. Which is looking spectacularly clean, I might point out. THAT is like catching a photo of Big Foot...

At the end of April I was brave enough to take the kiddos to the Please Touch Museum alone. Andrew drums on some random employee that wanders around...letting kids drum on his snare drum. Weird. But the kids loved it!

Oh! How I am tiring of the head tilt!

Michael gets into the action at the museum. I was actively NOT thinking of all the germs.

Here's a little video of what COULD happen if Lily would just PLAY with Michael instead of pushing, hitting, shoving, and screaming. Please excuse the annoying 5 year old who interrupts because he wasn't a part of it. That's why you hear Lily saying, "A-ew. Stop doing that. Get out of the way." Argh.

And this is kind of the same thing, except that I love Michael's reaction when he falls down (with a plastic potato chip in his mouth). It is so typical of my laid-back boy. He glances at me, does a low whine, and then gets back to business. Love him! And the other two also...

Sick and whiny

It all started with Lily. Darn little hand-licking typhoid-Lily. It's just a head cold. Nothing serious. But it is POTENT. Sweeping through our house. Lily was bleary-eyed and shuffling Saturday-Monday. I started feeling it Sunday night and spent all day yesterday in a fog. This morning Andrew woke up with a barking cough and runny nose. Luckily, it seems to be quick moving. It had BETTER be quick moving, since we are having a metric ton of mulch dumped on our driveway Friday afternoon. I'm only slightly exaggerating...we decided to only do the front yard after we measured and discovered that it will cost almost $300 just for the front flower beds...that's how much area there is. Ask me how we plan on spreading said mulch with 3 children running around. I don't know. We'll just be doing it until midnight or something. But we HAVE to do mulch...it is our 3rd summer here and we've never done it. I've been weeding and clearing the gi-normous flower beds that the previous owners delighted in (and are the bane of my existence) for weeks. It has to be done in 15 minute increments. Pull a few weeds, run over and take a paint brush out of Michael's mouth. Pull another couple of weeds, put a band aid on Lily's knee after she falls for the 100th time. Pull another couple of weeds, take sand out of Michael's mouth. Etc etc. Anyhoo...just LOVE yard work. I figure we'll get rid of the mountain of mulch by June 2012.

Some randoms:

While I was dinnering with my friends, Lily pooped on the potty. Really pooped...as in, she was dancing around naked after her bath (timer go beep beep I get dressed), and she suddenly told Jeff that she needed the potty. Once placed up on the potty she shooed Jeff away, just like she does when she's going in her diaper. Sure enough, success! Jeff made sure to tell me when I got home, so that I could make a big deal of it in the morning. Yesterday morning, I went to get her and I said, "Lily! Daddy told me you did something very exciting last night!" She looked confused and then her face lit up, "I eat cupcakes!" Not quite.

Michael desperately loves his siblings. Despite the fact that they are not very nice. Lily very very occasionally will play peek-a-boo with him. He LIVES for this. Last night she grabbed a Frisbee off the floor (hello, house of clutter?), and peek-a-booed with him half a dozen times. For the next hour, he kept bringing it to her and dropping it in her lap. She would throw it away and say No, Mike. And he'd go get it and bring it back...desperate for just one more turn with the peek-a-boo.

Also about Mikey....he has this really cute habit. He has started getting frustrated with things...like when the baby stroller goes to fast for him to walk behind, or the block won't fit in the bowl, etc etc. When he gets really really frustrated, he doesn't scream or throw the toy or cry. He lays down on the floor in defeat. All stretched out with his head resting on the carpet. It is the cutest thing in the world. My gentle, laid-back boy.

Andrew has really been eating more variety lately. Finally! We have always made him try one bite of what we are eating, and then we would make him PB&J. Since January, he's had to make his own sandwich. Except that he is really liking our food more. He ate 3 asparagus the other night! And half a fillet of salmon! And baked beans! And tuna casserole! Not in the same meal, don't worry. The only downside of this is the rubbing in he does to his sister. Because she has to try one bite also, but she screams for a full 30 minutes every night in anticipation of this one bite. Every. Night. SCREAMING for 30 minutes. Then she'll take her bite with big crocodile tears rolling down her face and she chews it as if she is a contestant on Fear Factor. Meanwhile, Andrew is in the background saying, "Look, Lily. I really like it. It is so yummy, I'm really eating it good." Ugh. Pat yourself on the back a bit more, son. (for your information, this is my mother's greatest delight, as I used to do the SAME thing to my older sister when I was this age.)

Nothing else today! Must go down some more Sudafed! Yippee! Druggie high for the rest of the morning!

Weekend

So we had a nice weekend. I can't remember what we did, but it was nice. Seriously, soon I will have the memory of a rutabaga. I was talking to my mother this morning, and I COULD. NOT. REMEMBER. what we did just 24 hours before. Ugh.

So just as a mental exercise...

Saturday: To New Hope for a visit to our favorite French bakery, feeding ducks and their babies in the Delaware river, wandering around looking for change to feed the meters with, trying to come up with 5 year old explanation for the photos of same sex couples making out (it was pride weekend there...quite frankly, I don't like it when there are hetero pictures of couples making out either...). Andrew had a bowling b-day party that afternoon...he'd never been bowling before and had a great time. He was quite surprised at how difficult it was. I mean, he's like a pro-level on the Wii. That night went over to my friend's house to sit in her house while she went on a date with her husband. Enjoyed flavored Bailey's (yum to the yummo!)

Sunday: To the mall so that we didn't kill our children due to all their fighting/screaming. Try not to kill the children at the mall due to all the whining/screaming. Jeff takes Andrew to flag football (he scored another touchdown!), while I got ready for girls' night out. Jeff comes home and I promptly leave to go pick up some of the ladies. Why I offered to drive to NJ, I'll never know. I had 4 backseat drivers all with different opinions on how to get to the restaurant. Argh. YOU drive if you know how to get there. Otherwise let me blindly follow my Tomtom and get there my way...regardless of if it saves me 4 minutes. Have a great time out with my friends as we said farewell to my friend who is moving to California in 2 weeks. It's strange to be the one left behind...I've never really had to do that before. Have conversations about religion and sex...get scared about how young everyone got started...with the sex, not with the religion. Start calculating how many years Andrew has until he is the age that some of their husbands were...6 years. Drink more sangria. Get home to a spotless kitchen, homemade cupcakes, and word that Lily asked to use the potty and then actually did successfully. Amazing.

So that's that. I woke up with a major congested head, so this week should be a blur as well. Love life through a head cold's vision. ;) I predict lots of tv. And not much creative blogging. Oh, wait. That's normal ;)

Speaking of one-upping

I just had the strangest conversation in the waiting hall at Andrew's pre-school.

I admittedly have a difficult time keeping my mouth shut and not starting conversations with total strangers. This is especially difficult at the pre-school, because I think people's other little kids are cute, so I ask about them, etc etc. I am learning that maybe I should not do this...partially because I'm becoming more aware that I may actually offend someone by starting a conversation (this post could have been me talking to her in the elevator..oblivious) or I will just annoy other people who really don't want to talk to me...as evidenced by today.

Today, I noticed a woman walking in with a little boy on her hip and a toddler girl tripping along next to her. I resisted speaking to her. Then she started "walking" with the baby by holding his fingers. So I started a conversation. It went like this:

Me: Oh! He's so cute! How old is he?
Her: 10 months. Not quite ready to walk though.
Me: No rush, right? And how old is your daughter?
Her: 2.
Me: Oh! You had them close together too!
Her: I have 5 kids.

I pause, wondering how to respond. You win? Congratulations? What the hell does that have to do with our conversation? Instead, I said:

Me: So this is nothing for you, I guess...ha ha.
Her: That's right. Easy for me.

End of conversation.

It was just so...dismissive. Like I could not possibly relate to her and should not have a conversation with her because she has 5 kids. Like she was saying, "Wait a minute, here, before we get too friendly...I have 5 kids so don't even TRY to compare yourself to me."

I should really really learn to just not talk to strangers.

(in contrast, there is a girl who is #5 of 7 kids in Andrew's class...her mother is nothing but sweet and knowledgeable and not judgemental or superior at all. So this isn't a judgement of mother's with more kids...just a judgement of her ;) )

A weighty topic

Oh! You guys! I must briefly talk about the booooooring topic of my new weightloss/gethealthy plan. It is NOT a Die-et. I HATE Die-ets. There is a good reason that most of that word is DIE. I am not following any specific plan...just do more, eat less. I may eventually have to join weight watchers or something...but I'm pretty sure I don't have the attention span to count my points, and all the jazz (that attention span is one of the main reasons I have a bicycle tire circling my waist).

Anyhoo, I know this is not a new topic. Which is why I haven't brought it up even though I started several weeks ago. Usually I start with my exercising (seriously can't spell that word) and eating well, and then I lose interest after a few days or maybe a whole week if I'm really good. What usually brings it crashing down is a really crazy bad day with the kids, where I have zero adult interaction, no shower, the absence of good naps (for the kids). On those days, my resolve goes down the tube as the little voice in my head says, "Who cares if you are fat and lazy? You never see anyone, you never get to do anything, and the kids have been running you ragged all day, so enjoy that brownie and sit on the couch."

But this time I got SERIOUS. I printed out a calendar and marked 6 weeks. Goal? Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 times a week. If I make it 6 weeks, I get an I-Pod. That's right...I think I'm finally going to give up my schoolbus yellow cassette walkman that I got in college that has gigantic ear pieces and a huge 5 pound cassette player to carry around...but only a short short wire from the ear pieces to the player. I literally have to walk bending my arm to hold it up by my breasts...wire not long enough to fit in my pants. I am sooooo cool. If I miss a day, it starts all over and I must do 6 more weeks to get my present. I have hung this calendar up in the bathroom, and Jeff keeps me accountable. Any physical activity counts...usually it ends up being a mix of long walks with the dog and doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. Which Jeff tried last night while I was at book club, and he said was HARD. Which gave me intense satisfaction. ;)

But the KICKER...? I took a picture of myself in nothing but a sports bra and spandex shorts, and I've posted it on my fridge and in my bedroom. I would post it here to show the monstrosity that my body has become, but I don't really want to get slapped with a class action law suit for blindness caused by my photo. I go through my day craving my fatty nasty foods (soooo yummy), but as I consider getting take out *Just Once*, or buying myself a candy bar in the grocery check out line, or whatever, I remind myself of that disgusting picture and how good it would feel to take an "after" picture to post next to it. I have so little self control that the only sweets in the house is a giant bag of mini bags of M&Ms. Jeff has them hidden somewhere in the house (I have enough self control not to go hunting for them). I get a bag at the end of the day if I'm good. It's like I'm 3 years old...that's how I'm handling this.

I am in the middle of week 4. I am doing it! I am really sticking to exercising, Jillian isn't kicking my butt nearly as much as she did in the beginning, and even when I have bad days of giving in to cravings, I haven't given up yet. Weight loss so far? 1 pound. Which is discouraging...but I try not to think about it. My first goal is about time...not weight. Besides, I know the weight loss thing won't be easy...I was practically a bulimic for the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy with Lily, throwing up 3-5 times a day for 2 months...and I only lost 10 pounds in those 2 months. Seriously...if THAT kind of calorie cutting won't work, we're just going to make small goals ;)

So, since I have been mildly successful with starting to exercise (and I'm slowly learning to spell with without spell-check), I am announcing it here. On April 22 (a few days after I started and when I took the horrid picture), I was 170 pounds. A nice round number to start at. I would like to get back to the number I was when I got married 10 years ago...140-145. I am 5'9" tall, so that seems like a reasonable number...no way can I get back to my high school weight of 120...3 kids have ruined me for that ;) I have no time goal for getting to this weight...it's just my final goal. And Jeff has promised me that if I get to that goal...no, no, WHEN I get to that goal, he will send me on a trip *without my kids* to visit my best friend Pamela in California (whom I haven't seen since Andrew was 18 months old). I haven't quite told Pamela this, so hopefully she'll take me. Luckily it will probably be like 2 years before I get there, so she'll have plenty of time to prepare ;)

Wish me luck! Hopefully in 5-6 months I can post those pictures... with a "improved" picture after it. And then in a year or so...? Maybe after pictures.

It could be so easy...

Sometimes I'm amazed at how easy it could be for us to make the world a happier place. I am usually struck by this when I am confronted with the east coasters' stereotypical bluntness.

Last week I went to a certain big name book store with the 3 children by myself (me=glutton for punishment). I really wanted a Berenstain Bears book about siblings fighting, because it is so relevant in our house (me=taking said fighting children into a quiet book store=stupid). I COULD have gone on-line and taken 2 seconds to order it and had the nice postman deliver it right to my house. But where is the fun in that? There is a train table at the book store! And teeny tiny aisles that strollers don't fit through and long winding check-out lines that take you past Breakable! China! and Collapsible CD Displays! Oh! What fun the book store is!

While my children were playing with the train table (read: fighting over the one Thomas train with the colorful paint splashed on it), I was drooling on myself with boredom...in a giant bookstore! I knew I should not stray more than 5 steps away from the play area, lest my children wreck havoc on the store. But this limited my reading selection to child cook books (Me=not that big of a glutton) and parenting magazines. Ugh. Parenting magazines...I'm here with my CHILDREN...surrounded by the fruit of my loins that surround me every minute of every day. In the few moments of peace (Lily and Andrew ganging up on Michael when he sucks on the sacred Thomas train), I don't want to read about how to make a craft with my kids out of only paperclips, tissue paper, and soap flakes (like I even know where to GET soap flakes). I also do not want to read how every other mother is using every minute of their day productively...teaching their children life lessons, getting into shape while they shop in the grocery store for their organic produce that they will feed their children who love veggies. No. I want a chance to look at the new releases that are placed all the way at the front of the store in a delicious looking display that I rush past as I chase my offspring to the back of the store. Pretend for a minute or two that I still have a brain that wants info NOT related to parenting and that I may want to spend some time not cleaning my house or teaching my children and instead reading a novel.

So I have a brilliant idea! Why not put one teeny tiny book display back by the children's area with best sellers? New releases? One God-forsaken book on future careers?

There is a hapless worker shelving books in the childrens' area. I saddle on up to her, keeping one eye on the gremlins. I mention my idea to her, laughing kind of nervously.

Here's what COULD have happened. She could think -in her head- that I am a nutcase, and why would they want to separate their inventory and chance children goobering on the "good" books, etc etc. But SAY OUT LOUD, "Wow! Okay! I'll let my manager know." She turns back to her work and forgets that I even exist, and I go through the rest of my day feeling satisfied and smarty and like I've made the world a better place. I leave feeling like sunshine and maybe sing to my children. THAT EASY.

But instead, she looked at me as if I had instead suggested that they install a meth lab in the children's section and said, "What-ever."

So I leave feeling stupid and angry at people in this part of the world (which is totally unfair because I'd say over half the people I meet are friendly and wonderful). I rush to leave the store and maybe flick off a stranger because I'm now angry at the world. (No..did not happen...but COULD HAVE) And then I write a very passive aggressive post.

See how easy it would be to just make the world a bit happier?

My favorite things about being a mother (shhh...)

Life is a lot of one-upping, isn't it? In all aspects of life, no story can be told without someone in the crowd having a "better" one. Brian Regan (my favorite comic of all time) has a whole bit about this...like, if you've only had 2 wisdom teeth taken out, don't even bother trying to tell the story, because the 4 wisdom teeth people will come out and beat down your story.

Motherhood is very much like this. "You think YOUR baby had colic? Well, MY kid cried for 20 hours every day for 15 months." "You think you potty trained your kid early? Well, MY THREE KIDS were all potty trained at 14 months." "You think you have no time alone? Well, my husband works in Asia and my mother is allergic to my house, and my kids ate the last babysitter...so I'm really alone." Etc. etc. It's as if we are AFRAID to say that we enjoy things, or that we have good times...because then no one will feel like we are really doing a hard job. We've got to exaggerate the bad stuff just to legitimize our experience. One of my biggest pet peeves it when I tell people that I'm a stay-at-home mother and they say in a sticky-sweet, overly dramatic tone, "Oh! That's the hardest job in the world." No it's not. It's challenging, but I'd hardly call it the hardest job in the world. Anyone with a functioning uterus and access to a penis can qualify. I don't even have to go out and make money. It's hard to be a GOOD mother, whatever that means. You don't know that I'm GOOD at this...my kids could be sitting in a dirty diaper all day eating cheerios off the floor for all you know. Oh, wait,speaking of...I've got to go change Mikey's diaper.

What-ever! Here are some of my favorite things about being a mother *

1) My kids think I'm beautiful...despite all evidence to the contrary. I was wearing a new red shirt last week (it cost $9 at Kohl's..so not too nice) and Andrew looked at me and said, "You are so pretty in that shirt."

2) Michael still wakes up once a night for milk and a cuddle. And I...gasp...like it. By 4 am, I'm all stiff and sore from lying in bed all night and I need to pee anyway. So I get to get up and stretch, and really? There's nothing like a warm, limp baby snuggling up against you in the rocker. I LIKE it.

3) I really like children's books. Nothing makes me happier than sitting on the couch with a big pile of books, all covered up with my very own, home-grown children. We read until I'm hoarse. Or until Michael threatens to eat one of the books.

4) Lily's tantrums are cute. In between being exasperated with her, I love watching her fight for what she wants. All puffed up and furious...she is full of self-confidence and self-righteousness and determination. I think how she grins and nods when I tell her how beautiful she is. How she yells, "I love vaginas" when I change her diaper. (weird, I know). I think of how pre-teen and teenage girls look, so desperate to fit in, so certain they are ugly, so convinced that they are dumb and incapable...and I wish Lily could just bottle up what she has right now and use it in the hallways of junior high. In some ways, I want her to stay just the way she is.

5) Kids really make you experience life for the first time...all over again. When Michael wants to flip light switches all morning and afternoon, it can get tiresome. Until you see the look of wonder and amazement and JOY on his face when he does it. And then you think, gosh, that IS amazing. Electric lights are a miracle...you just flip this little gizmo over here and the room lights up over there. FANTASTIC. I've totally been taking this miraculous invention for granted. And that goes for seeing a rabbit in the yard (nothing is more exciting), finding an ant during a walk, or catching a ball. Things we don't think about, but really are kind of cool. I get to remember...a million times a day.

6) Having discussions with Andrew is really getting fun. He has so many ideas of his own and has really developed a curious, discriminating mind and a gentle, conscientious heart. I love him so much more NOW than I did as a baby, because he is his own person and I am enjoying getting to know him. It makes me excited to find out what Lily and Mike will think about things someday.

Oh! There are so many more. But they need me now, so I'll have to stop typing. Being needed is another. Being the person to kiss and make everything better is another. Making me someone my husband needs is another. Being the best comic, best artist, best chef is another. Folding teeny tiny clothes...I love the way they look. Having an excuse to spend an hour in the sunshine of a playground. Giving me a bridge to meet new people...motherhood is a great conversation starter. Giving me a decade or so to NOT have to worry about what I want to be when I grow up. Making me bellylaugh every day about one thing or another.

Mostly, I cherish those moments when I look at all 3 of them and remember how lucky I am to get to do this. It isn't a given... Through all the frustrating, brain-melting moments...having them is really wonderful.

Seriously, I should now stop typing and go take care of them. Or else next Mother's Day, I might be writing about how great they like the foster care system.


* Giselle reserves the right to complain about all of these very same things in other posts.

A giant playgroup

I'll be honest. Playgroups save my sanity most weeks. I only get half of any one's story because at least one of my 3 kids interrupts me...despite my attempt to ignore them. Someone is always fighting or getting hurt. But being connected to these other women is so soothing to the soul. Andrew is always wrestling or growling or some other aggressive behavior. Know what? The other 4 & 5 year old boys are doing the same thing. Lily is throwing tantrums hourly. Know what? The other 2 year olds are too. This mom has a great recipe to get her kids to eat veggies and that mom has the best cure for diaper rash. Sounds thrilling, eh? Occasionally we discuss current events too. But usually the kind that comes from People magazine or the TV guide. There is a reason my brain cells are fusing.

The only bad part of playgroups is that you have to host every once in a while. I don't really enjoy this part...partly because I'm a terrible hostess. My house is not baby proofed, so I always greet everyone with a reminder that choking hazards abound, the steps are not gated, and the cabinet doors are cracked and dangerous. Then there's the lack of decorating, which I have said before doesn't bother me in the least...until people come over. Then I just walk around noticing how there are no curtains and the walls aren't painted, and, gee, a picture or two on the wall wouldn't hurt, eh? (all of which is instantly forgotten when they shut the door behind them).

I had evening playgroup over last Thursday. It used to be Andrew's morning playgroup, but then they all were enrolled in different pre-school programs on different mornings, so we moved it to 4 pm. Which sounds nice...because even the working moms in our group can make it. But our children are much bigger now than they were when we started this playgroup...they are louder and more destructive and take up more space. Also, their younger siblings were helpless babies and toddlers when we started...and now they are legitimate destructors and fighters and eaters as well. So it is A LOT when we get together. But somehow we decided that whoever hosts should make dinner for the kids, so they don't go ape-shit crazy around 5 pm. Which is actually a very good idea...because it is distracts the children for a good portion of the night.

So I've never hosted this group. I actually never even went at the beginning of the school year, because Michael was going to bed around 6, so it wasn't really worth it. But now we are going regularly, so now I needed to host. I decided to make dinner for the grownups as well to make up for the 8 months of mooching off of them. I spent the morning cutting veggies and fruit, making deviled eggs, guacamole for the adults, and some shredded chicken for sandwiches, stocking up at the grocery store, getting out serving trays and bowls for snacky food, etc...all while getting Andrew to and from school, keeping Michael from killing himself (see below), and Lily entertained. That evening, there were 14 kids, 6 mothers, 1 dog (locked up, of course) all over for dinner! Jeff came home, commented to me that there didn't seem to be enough adults to account for all those children, and went outside to mow the lawn. He threatened to grease up his hairless chest and mow shirtless...you know, to entertain the lay-days. He did not. I wouldn't want to make them jealous (ha ha...snort...ha ha)

It was actually quite fun. The grass was long and wet, but the kids went outside to play on our play system anyway. Nobody found our foam swords (another hazard at our house), and other than Andrew body-slamming the girls and getting into trouble 10,000 times, everyone had a good time. When they left, our house was in shambles...but that's not really strange for us ;) The next day was the worst. The floor was sticky from smashed strawberries and chocolate cupcakes. It was raining, so every time the dog went out, she brought in the fresh grass clipping on her fur, which then stuck to the sticky floor. My kitchen was tarred and feathers, basically. I can't wash the floor when the children are awake...the little children, that is, because Michael won't get out of the way of the sponge and Lily insists on walking in the wetness...which always results in falling. So we just stuck to the floor all morning. Ew.

But it is worth it. Because tomorrow, I get to go to someone else's house and have my kids fed and worn out. And I'll probably discuss the latest celebrity who lost 50 pounds after childbirth by Just. Breastfeeding. Nothing gets us more riled up... ;)

Randoms:

--One of my favorite things about 2 year olds is their speech development. It goes through phenomenal changes during that 12 month period...and each little speech impediment is so brief...and so cute. I was almost sad when Andrew lost his little speeching quirks. Lily is still a long way off from losing it, but now she is mostly understood by strangers. So I know it is coming. One of my favorites right now is her requests for "yoop-yoops". Froot Loops. We got a box for our trip to Ohio and we are STILL finishing it off. I almost want to buy another box just to hear her request for yoop yoops over and over again.

--Michael is OBSESSED with the fans and light switches in this house. Lily went through this as well. He just points at the switches and grunts, then points at the fan and grunts. Over and over. And if you let him play with the switches...oh! The face of pure joy!

--Andrew made up a joke. "Q=What did the boy say to his mother after she handed him a PB&J sandwich? A= I'm very grape-ful!" Pretty good, eh? He finally understands puns!

--We go through eating phases in this house. One week, I can't have enough yogurt stocked up. The next week, nobody likes it. Argh. Last week (and this) is apparently a "No yogurt" week. I had some that was going to expire, though, so I was pushing it. Which simply resulted in opened yogurt containers covered in plastic littering our fridge. Cut to finding Michael sucking on a drinkable yogurt container...that he dug out of the recycling bin. Ew. Evidently I need to start serving him from the trash cans to make things edible.

--Speaking of Michael, this kid is clever! He is going to be my engineer...no talking, just quietly figuring stuff out. He can now un-latch the dog's kennel...which my older two children have not figured out yet. He found that my china hutch can easily be opened...and when I pile bins of toys in front to discourage him from it, he just methodically moves them to get to the doors. He's got light switches figured out...he even knows which switch goes to which light...as evidenced by him pointing and grunting as he sees a light, then reaching for the exact switch to turn it on. He can flip the toilet seat up in a flash...another thing my other two never quite figured out as babies. -sigh- It would be more aggravating, except he is just having a blast...which is quite fun to watch.

A fun mom

Andrew's siblings have really been irritating him. They prevent him from getting to do things when they take naps, they get into his stuff when they're awake, and they aren't tough enough to wrestle with (without him getting into trouble, that is).

He's taken to contemplating being an only child. Here's an excerpt from a conversation with him last week:

A- "Mom, I really wonder what it would be like to be just you and me and Dad. Sometimes I think it would be nice."
Me- "No one would get into your toys, bug you, and stuff, huh? But think how much fun you had playing pretend with Lily this morning. Think of your cousin Colin. He never has a brother or sister to play with."
A- "Yah, that's true. But he has a fun mom."


Ouch.

But since he's been feeling a bit neglected as of late, he and I went on a date yesterday afternoon. We went and saw "Earth", the Disney Nature film. It was FANTASTIC. Andrew ate an entire bag of Twistlers (?!?), drank Coke, and must have thanked me 1,000 times for taking him. We had so much fun. And we are still talking about the movie today. Reminded me that I need to get out with him alone more...so we can learn to appreciate each other.

Family photos

We had family portraits taken today.

Priority #1: Picture of 3 kids together

Priority #2: Mikey's 1 year portrait

Priority #3: Family portrait

They were running 1 hour late...so it ran into nap time. The place is 30 minutes away...so we were staying, damnit.

We got a lot of shots like this:

Mikey nervous laughter

And some like this:

Lily strangles Andrew while Michael looks on

A lot of Mikey looking bewildered...

Many many sideways shots that I can't seem to turn for y'all.

And a lot of Michael trying to escape:

By the time we got to the full family shot, Andrew and Michael were done smiling, and Lily would only sit down if she got to hold the toy monkey that they use to try and make kids smile (and scare Mikey, incidentally)

But in all the chaos, there was a little magic. My little uninhibited Lily took some GREAT shots.

This, people, THIS is Lily's real smile. Eyes lit up and NO HEAD TILT! Isn't she beautiful?

Mikey and his smile

Nice profile

Just a beautiful head shot of my girl. Crazy hair and all

My bashful Andrew. Still stinkin' cute after all these years. He was an ANGEL the whole time.

Lily dancing for the camera woman.

The final shot of the 3 kids that I got a bazillion copies of.

The walk

So I walked in the March of Dimes walk this past Sunday. It was hot and fun and 6 miles (although we also had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to the parking area and back...shouldn't that count?). I had a great time chatting with my 3 friends that also walked, got a bit choked up as we read the poster boards about some of the babies, and got a few blisters from my sneakers. Um, I've had them for 4 years...shouldn't they be broken in by now? It made me wish that I could always socialize like this...instead of sitting around eating. We got to talk and get away from the kids, with the added benefit of feeling good about what we had done. But I doubt I'll be able to convince my friends to "walk" as a social outing. Which is why I'm fat. Why aren't my friends?

Anyhoo, one of my favorite things was walking out my front door and leaving Jeff with the 3 kids. I was busy getting ready in the morning...getting dressed, printing out my pledge sheet, getting suntan-lotioned up, etc...so I wasn't much help to him. And I found a sick, deep-seeded pleasure at watching him struggle with the kids. I swear to God, when I heard him yelling at Andrew to leave his sister alone, I almost broke into a happy dance. And listening to Lily ask him over and over to play castle AND take Mikey away all while Andrew begs to be read to...and then watching him struggle to address everyone's needs and desires... I'm getting a little light headed just recalling it now.

I'm not really that mean. I don't think I like seeing my husband uncomfortable and overwhelmed. But... Being a stay-at-home mother, you don't get performance reviews. You don't get periodic recalibration of your job description and goals. You have no idea what kind of job you are doing until one day you realize that your kids are contributing, functioning adults. And even then it can be a crap-shoot...because you could have one screw-up and one CEO kid...how to you rate that kind of parenting? So listening to Jeff get frustrated makes me feel better...because I get frustrated. Watching Jeff struggle to make everyone happy makes me feel justified that I can't make everyone happy.

Also? I think it is good for him to see what exactly staying at home entails. Jeff has never once made me feel like he thinks I have it easy. He never complains that I have the lighter burden to bear. But I know he must feel that sometimes. He's sitting in his office in the middle of a chemical plant on a gorgeous day. He's got to be thinking how great it must be to be at home enjoying the great outdoors with 3 fun playmates.

The best part was coming home 3 hours later. The kids were still in the their pjs, even though it was a gorgeous day out. The baby had refused to nap, the children refused to dress, and there was much fighting and boredom. It embodied my daily frustrations...although I should admittedly be better at it, since I've had years of practice ;)

No, no, the BEST BEST part was when Michael saw me. He's rarely been away from me...usually I steal away from the house when he's napping or already asleep at night. He saw me and LIT UP. Then he desperately worked to get over to me (he was mid-climb on the Elmo couch when I arrived). Once he got to me, I scooped him up and he instantly cuddled his head down on my shoulder, pressed his entire body close to me, and started patting me on the back. We sat like that for 5 minutes...precious precious baby. Then he started whining and crying...he was desperately thirsty, but never thought to ask Dad for a drink. ;)

So I think I'll definitely do the walk next year. Too bad their won't be a baby there to great me...

Rip Van Winkle

So...um...I think I must have fallen asleep for a few months. Because last thing I remember, it was Tuesday, April 21 and it was in the 40s and raining. But now it is in the 90s. So I slept until, like, August, right?

Oh, no, wait...that's right. There's no sleeping in this house. It's too damn hot. -sigh- Someday I'm going to live in a one-story house so there isn't the 20 degree discrepancy between the first and second floors.

Okay, enough complaining about the hot weather. No, wait, one more thing. Okay, so I'm SUPER grouchy when I'm hot. SUPER. I like the cold because you can always add one more layer of warmth to your body...or drink something warm, etc. to help change your temp. But when it's HOT...oh...you just can only get down to the skin. And then the hot children still want to be held and cuddled. And your husband still wants to... Ugh. I just am crabby. And if I were to move to Houston...this would be December. Oh. My. God. If we ever have to move to Texas, I think I will just shoot myself in the head. Because living with this heat in the WINTER....I can't even imagine how I would react to the summer temps.

Seriously. Enough.

Oh, and I need advise about my dog. And apparently how to spell advice. Michael is OBSESSED with her...as I have mentioned. And he is not gentle. And he is super-de-duper excited and squealy when near her. And she has started snapping at him. No teeth on skin...yet... I wouldn't blame her...who would want harassment from a 1 year old. Except that he is slow and not walking and not climbing. She is quick and agile...there is no reason she can't just move away from him. But she CHOOSES to sit next to him. She CHOOSES to stay near him. And when he starts to pull on her or touch her, she should just WALK AWAY. He is not very fast (compared to her).

So I don't know what to do. It is too hot to leave her outside whenever Mikey's awake. I can't really shut off a room to keep her in. I can't put her in her box, because Mikey's even more obsessed with her when she's in there, and then she really is cornered. I can't watch Mikey's every move and intercept each exchange between him and the dog because I have two other children. I am trying to teach him how to be gentle, like I did with the other 2 kids. I just am not around him as much as I was with the other two (terrible sounding, I know). But because Shadow is too STUPID to walk away, I don't know what to do. I would feel horrible if she finally did bite and hurt Michael. She's really a good dog...just dumb. Any advice would be appreciated. ;)

The clip show episode

Michael's new favorite activity. Fitting into the cabinets.

Andrew on Wacky Wednesday. Inside out pants, different socks, different shoes, Daddy's shirt, and Dr. Seuss hat. Fun day!

Andrew and Lily playing nicely. This lasted about 45 minutes...hence photo worthy. Moments like this make me really glad they have each other. And it helps to balance out all the fighting.

Newsflash: It is much harder to blog when you have 3 children. I know, I know, shocking. It is true that there is less time to sit and write a thoughtful blog. But also...there are 3 children all doing cute and funny things. So rather than one well put post, I seem to have a lot of posts like this...little groupings of crap. Kind of like when a sitcom puts together a "new" show that is really just a bunch of old clips. Fun...but not very creative.

So here comes my clip show:

1) Stop me if I've already told you this...Andrew is seriously transforming into a pre-pubescent girl. He is moody and emotional and says things like, "Sometimes I don't feel like I'm part of this family. I don't know why...my heart just feels it." Or if he doesn't get my attention immediately, "I think I'll go sleep for a million years. No one will care." Oh. My. God. I know it must be hard having two very needy younger siblings. But, honestly? It's been a year...let's adjust. (Gee, where does he get the lack of flexibility from...hmmm...let's think...)

2) Lily is a RIOT. She is often infuriating, but as her language gets clearer and clearer, she just cracks us up. Some of her latest...(uh-oh...we're going to go into an outline form)
a) "I have a kes-tion" This is usually said right before she goes into a long story about something. There is never a question at the end.
b) Lily spends a lot of time in time-out on our staircase. She was there this week for hitting, and she heard us turn on the tv for Andrew. She starts yelling, "Guys! I gotta get out of here, guys!"
c) Jeff came home from work this week and asked Lily what we had done. With a disgusted tone of voice, she said, "Nothin'"
d) She got out a game where you dress these bears with magnet clothes. I warned her that if she didn't play at the kitchen table, then Michael would probably want to play too. She played happily for a few minutes and then Michael started her way. She stood up, looked at me with a furrowed brow and said in the most pleasant voice, "I'm going to get MAD." Then Michael changed direction and she said, "Oh! Dat's okay. I not be mad anymore." and sat down to play.
e) She is infernally bossy. Is infernally a word? I don't care. She tells Andrew what he should eat for breakfast, she tells Michael what he should play with, she tells us what music to listen to, what color is our favorite, what shows to watch, and what activities we should be doing. We, for the most part, do not listen to her. Must be frustrating...maybe that is why she tantrums so much.
f) She regularly refers to Michael as "my brudda". She never refers to Andrew that way.

3) Michael is showing his smarts. Unfortunately for me, his smarts are of the "figuring it out" variety. For example, he has found that he can chew up the dog food easier if he dips it in the water bowl first. Uh, yea, gross. I was lying Lily on her bed to change her and Michael booked it over to the stack of clean ones and handed us about 6 clean diapers. Then he wandered off to do something else. Like he KNEW what we were doing. He calls Jeff dada. He points at everything and asks, "Dah?" He WILL NOT say mama...instead smiling mischievously and saying dada when I ask. He giggles maniacally at Shadow...he loves to hit her with things, pull her hair, and most of all feed her. She snapped at him a few days ago when he had a good handle on her collar. He was so so so upset...like he'd been betrayed by his best friend.

4) I'm confused about phrases such as "hooked up" and "worked out". When someone sees a person who they "hooked up" with, does that mean sex? Making out? Went out on a date? I don't know how to imagine it in my head. And "worked out"...does that mean at a gym? Or does just a stroll around the neighborhood count?

5)I signed us up for professional portraits next Saturday. Lily hasn't had one done since she turned 1. Our family not since Andrew was 9 months old. We'll see how it goes. I've got the big plan to get a nice family portrait every 5 years of our marriage so that when I'm old and gray I will have a big wall of pictures from our wedding day on showing our family changing in 5 year increments. I'm kind of hoping that someone will be crying or harassing each other, that my eyes will be baggy and tired and Jeff will look like he wants to escape. Because otherwise it won't be an accurate depiction of this time in our lives. Of course, that's what this blog is for.

6) I'm walking in the March of Dimes walk tomorrow morning. I signed up months ago, but never asked for money, because that makes me uncomfortable. Now it looks like it's going to be in the 90s. 6 mile walk in 90 degree heat? This could well be my last post.

7) Jeff and I are spending every night discussing our anniversary trip -ALONE- to the Adirondacks in June. I'm worried that once it is finished we won't have anything to talk about. Except how we never get to be alone ;) Or how many poopy diapers we've changed that day.

Speaking of marital bliss, I think Jeff is going to leave me if I don't help him with the kids right now. Of course, he wouldn't...our deal is still whoever initiates the divorce gets the kids. ;)

Ice cream for dinner

We are admittedly lax on making our kids do anything around the house. Occasionally we remember to have them help us with picking up, but we hardly have regular chores. Off and on I get a chart for Andrew and that helps motivate us...but usually we just do the chart so he can earn something that he really wants.

The latest? He really wants a new Wii game. So we dusted off the old chart and thought of 6 goals that he can earn stickers for. I like this chart because there are smaller goals set...so you get something at 10 stickers earned, 21 stickers earned, and then 40 stickers earned. Andrew has YET to clean the bathroom sink or to wipe the pee off his toilet (I keep getting to it first, believe it or not). But he is rockin' the "eat 3 bites of a veggie" and "try a new food". These used to be the most challenging when he was 3 and 4...I can really tell he's growing up...he has no problem anymore...which makes me wonder why he doesn't eat them normally. ;)

So he earned a prize on Monday night...one of the early prizes. "You choose dinner." This was quite overwhelming to Andrew...such a huge decision. It took him nearly 12 hours to decide what he wanted to have...and I'm sure you've guessed what it was based on the title of this post. Ice cream. I immediately start thinking of these fabulous ice cream sundae's, what a cool mom I am to let him have ice cream for dinner, how much I would like to have that for dinner, etc etc.

We went shopping yesterday to pick out the ice cream. This is tough for Andrew, since he detests chocolate (yes, I'm considering genetic testing...but I'm afraid what we would find). We stood in front of the freezer case and pondered all the flavor choices. Well, I did. Our conversation went something like this:

Me- Wow, Andrew, Look! There are so many to choose from. There's cherry vanilla, raspberry swirl, strawberry...

Andrew- I want vanilla.

Me- Really? But look at this one. Doesn't it look yummy? Something different for a change.

A- No. Vanilla is my favorite. Where is the vanilla.

M- Okay, okay. Here's vanilla. Now let's go look at the toppings.

A- I want rainbow sprinkles.

M- Like the ones we have at home? How about waffle cone bowls? Whipped cream? Cherries? Syrup?

A- Just sprinkles.

M- sigh.

Sometimes your children are just different than you. And even though having a bowl of vanilla with a few boring sprinkles on top doesn't seem like much of a prize to me...Andrew was thrilled. Literally jumping out of his skin excited as dinner time approached. Lily was so confused/delighted/shocked that we were serving up ice cream she was almost hysterical..."We having ice-ceam? I want ice-ceam now. Mommy? Ice-ceam. Peese." I think she wanted to get that bowl in front of her before I changed my mind. And we tried to explain to her why and how Andrew had earned it. But apparently it is not something she can understand since she turned to him and said, "A-U, dank you for the birt-day." And then she began shoveling spoonfuls into her mouth (they. could. change. their. minds. at. any. moment.) Andrew polished off his bowl and then asked for something healthy so his tummy wouldn't get sick.

-sigh- WHAT? Judging by the level of disappointment I had at Andrew's reward, apparently I need to get my own chart and earn ice cream for dinner. Except I would have brownies, fudge, caramel, mmmmm...I'm just getting started.

Obsessing about change

Ah...change. I've always said that I don't handle it well, but I have to admit that the past 10 years have trained me otherwise. I think that I handle it quite swimmingly now. (Um, YES, I'm writing this by the seat of my pants. Um, NO, I will not go back and change the word swimmingly.)

When we lived in California, I was a mess. How I got out of there with an intact marriage and no scarring on my wrists is amazing to me. But I actually started enjoying it the last few years there, which I think is a sign that I had finally adjusted to living far from home (so it took me 4 years to adjust...I told you I was bad at change). Life in California, regardless of whether I was happy or not, was full of me imagining moving away. I knew that we were not in California forever. I spent much of my free daydreaming time imagining where we would live next, what our house would be like, how close we would be to family, etc etc. Not a very productive way to live, since it prevented me from putting down roots and making connections.

Then, oh happy day, we moved to Louisville. I had never set foot in the city, but it was only 90 minutes from where I grew up...as opposed to 5 hours by plane. We picked a beautiful house and within months that friendly mid-western/southern city had adopted me as one of its own. Now here was a place that I could relax and feel settled. Except...Jeff was miserable. MISERABLE. So I knew that it was also a temporary assignment and to not get too attached. Sure enough, 18 months later we were picking up and moving to Philly...another city I'd never set foot in.

HOWEVER. Philly was the site of the international HQ of Jeff's company. There were 3 plants, central office, research, and central engineering...6 different sites for Jeff to change jobs as much as he wanted. Which translated to me as...No. More. Moves. Here, finally, was the place we were to settle in. And for the first time in our married life I was driving by the high school thinking about when Andrew would start there. I was looking at neighborhoods with large houses and imagining moving up into them in 10 years or so. I was cataloging all the places that we could visit when the kids were in elementary school. Making friends that would be with me for life. A very nice way to live...this permanent thinking.

Until Jeff's company got sold this month. Now Philly isn't the HQ. Now the future is uncertain once again. And I find myself slipping back into the "old" way of thinking. My protective layering to prepare myself for another move. I find myself daydreaming about how to get our house ready to sell. What the cost of living will be in the new location. How close will I be to family. Etc. All this...and we have no indication yet that anything is changing for Jeff's job. All that has changed is my mindset. Back to obsessing about the next move. Which could be in 4 months or 4 years. But it is almost certain to happen.

-sigh- How do I pretend to myself that this is permanent? I like living like that much more, but I think one of the ways I cope is to imagine every possible outcome so I feel more prepared. I just have to figure out a way to fool myself... Because Jeff is seriously going to go postal if I ask him one more time, "Did you hear anything at work today?"

Making them better people than me

So the blog world (or my little one) has been all abuzz about religion and beliefs and stuff. Whew...heady. And this after I just read the Newsweek article about religion disappearing in America (or something like that...) For the record, we do not currently attend a church. I like the idea of church and the whole community thing, etc. I personally don't quite get it...listening to faithful people explain how they "found Jesus" is kind of like me listening to America's Next Top Model. I hear the judges tell the models to "be fierce" and "be present in the photo" and it means nothing to me...my pictures would never improve because their advice is gibberish to me. As it is gibberish when someone tells me to "open my heart to Jesus" or "quest for Him" ...uh...huh? And, quite frankly, organized religion bugs me sometimes. Like everything good is because of God but nothing bad is...there is a comedian who says athletes always praise Jesus when they win but you never hear the losers saying, "Jesus made me drop the ball!"

My children have each been baptized. Andrew goes to a Presbyterian pre-school where he learns much about God and Jesus and seems really really interested. We talk about God sometimes. I would love to expose them to religion, because I am quite envious of people who have a strong faith. I think it brings much comfort and peace in times of strife, and although I can't seem to find that, I would be happy if my children did. But we have lived here 2 1/2 years now, and we have yet to step into a service. I don't know why...I think we just don't have it in our routine and we just don't miss it. Maybe if we actually started going...maybe next week. Oh, wait, I'm walking the March of Dimes walk next Sunday morning. Okay, maybe the next week after that...see how it goes?

Some people think it is hypocritical to baptize my children if I am not going to take them to church each week. Except...I feel it is kind of like an immunization. Just in case they get the religious bug, they've got the first step down. Or if they marry a Catholic or Christian...they can get married in a church. I feel like I am constantly trying to make my children better people than me...I cut up mango for my sons even though I HATE them. I encourage them to wait to eat their snacks and candy until after 11 am, even though I sneak some in the early morning hours. I send Andrew out to run a lap around the house when he is bored, even though when I am bored I nosh on bad food and make myself fat. I just keep hoping that by planting these seeds, they will grow up and be healthier and more in touch with God and fitter than me.

But, of course, that is not how raising children really works. They pretty much learn by example, so while they are listening with their ears, but it rarely sticks in their brains. They are actually just watching my every move and absorbing how life works that way. And in the end...when they hit adulthood...one of two things will happen.

1) They will, despite their best efforts and intentions, end up just like Jeff and I. It will creep up on them...one day they will say a phrase to their children, or see their waistline billow out, and suddenly they will have the epiphany..."OMG...I am my mother (or father)."

2) They will hate Jeff and I...really and truly hate who we are and what we stand for. And driven by that strong emotion, they will become exactly the opposite of us. They will be marathon running Bible beaters who eat no meat and have clean houses.

I think #2 might be a better option for them as far as becoming well-rounded people is concerned...but I really don't want them to hate us. I suppose I should instead start working on my "teach by example". Now where are my running shoes? And that dusty old Bible? -sigh- I think I'll go eat another cinnamon roll while I decide what to do first.

***edited to add: In re-reading this post, it sounds as if I am down on my own parents. I grew up in a house hold where we went to church every Sunday, ate healthy food, and lived very neat and cleanly. And I still love my parents, even though I am NOT following the good example that they set for me. ;) I guess really each person gets to choose for themselves...but my parents gave me the tools and example to know what the good choices should be...even if I don't do them ;) Perhaps there should be a #3...

#3- Your children will not be better than you until they have their own children...when they will be inspired to live your life lessons and finally build on that foundation you set so many years ago...just to start the cycle again.

Back in the saddle

I can hardly believe that it has only been a week since we packed up the car and headed back here to PA. I swear, the last week was 15 days long instead of the usual 7. I SWEAR. I had 16 days in Ohio with other adults keeping me company during the day, playing games with my children, going interesting and fun places every day (almost), doing the food preparation, clean up, and just general commiseration at the antics of my 3 children. It is so...restorative to have someone else to roll your eyes at when the 2 year old throws a fit when you serve her the very food she's been whining to get for the last 20 minutes.

Anyhoo...we've had a week of adjustment. For me...holy CRAP it is lonely to be a stay at home mom. For the kids...holy CRAP, Mom is a lazy son of a monkey who doesn't want to entertain us every minute of every day. For Jeff...holy CRAP, the house is friggin' LOUD and WHINY and EMOTIONAL when I'm not a bachelor. It didn't help that the beginning of the week was slow (no school Mon or Tues) and rainy and cold and Michael came down with some kind of high fever so we couldn't really socialize with anyone. -sigh- But the last few days of the eternal week were quite nice, filled with sunshine and bike riding and antibiotics. Tomorrow is Monday again and it is supposed to be in the 40s and raining again. -sigh-

Being away from home and routine for so long really changes you. Like, I was taking so many pictures that now whenever Lily is nice to Michael she says, "Take a pit-cher, Mommy? Of Mikey and me?" I have a whole new appreciation for my dog after 2 weeks of cleaning up crumbs off the floor in Ohio. No WONDER I don't wash my floor as much as other people...I have a mini clean up crew. Hence the rotting teeth. And school? It was like retraining Lily to drop off and pick up Andrew...such a struggle again this week. But our toys are like NEW. Awesome. But playing with the kids...yikes. I set a timer for myself to play with Lily...10 minutes was all. I thought my brain was melting from boredom. 10 minutes! I really have to build up my tolerance again.

Lordy...this is a boring post. I shall try to be inspired. Take note of the cute antics of my children. And all that crap. Instead of hiding in the bathroom counting the minutes until Jeff gets home.

Michael's favorite person

Well, I was watching Andrew ride a bike out the front window with Lily when I heard Mike laughing uncontrollably in the kitchen. Yes, I had left him alone in his high chair. So what else is new? And, yes, he was feeding the dog. He missed her so much. Enjoy my Michael's giggles.

My mom's birthday was on Tuesday, and Lily called her in the morning and sang her Happy Birthday very sweetly. It was on key and perfect. My camera was out of batteries, so this is a bit delayed. Despite the ragged hair, this is actually Lily, not some ragamuffin that we picked up off the street as a charity case. The first version of the song (on the phone with my mom) was much louder and much cuter....and I suspect even made my mom teary eyed. But you get the idea. This time she was much more concerned with getting to see the final result than actually performing. -sigh- Take what you can get.

The pictures...Part 6 of hopefully 6

Oh, dear Lord. I'm sick of these photos, so I can't imagine you all. But this is it. Our Easter egg hunt is on video...the real video camera, so you won't be able to see Lily's tantrum and then Andrew's tantrum and then Lily's next tantrum...with a little egg hunting in between. ;) Tomorrow, back to our regularly scheduled programming...whining about the baby being sick again...2 seconds after we returned home. Ugh.

Hot tubbing with Daddy this time. It was F-ah-reezing out...about 45 degrees I think. I've never been so glad to not have a bathing suit.

The baskets all cute and pretty the night before. We e-mailed the Easter bunny (found it on Google) and let him know we'd be traveling on Easter Sunday. He happily obliged to our request to hide eggs on Saturday instead.

Trying to pose with baskets. Classic bedhead Easter photo.

We visited a sheep farm later that day. I only took this one picture because I was having so much fun. Oh, and I was helping keep little ones out of sheep poop (unsuccessfully). This is Andrew with a lamb that had been born that same morning. We actually missed seeing a new lamb being born by just a few minutes...I saw it in a field with it's mother all bloody and gross...the kids got to see the farm dog herd the animals and help the (dumb) sheep find its new baby. We also got to meet the llama who "owns" the sheep...did you know they protect the flock from coyotes and other preditors. And on and on...I'm such a nerd, but, then, Andrew gets it honestly. He had so many questions for the farmer. I loved it.

Frozen. Crazy.

The pictures...Part 5 of ?

As part of the 1st birthday celebration, Mike got his hair cut at Grandpa's barber...

Before

Before...getting curious about what is about to happen.

The first cut. No, I don't save the first lock of hair. Technically I've been trimming it out of his face for months now. I'm not sentimental that way...

Love this shot...

After, on the way home. He'd run out of patience so we didn't get a good "after" shot

From the side

From the front

This is what he was distracted with, and so couldn't pose for an "after" shot.

Lily shows no fear...as usual