A Dirty Hoe

I have found my new favorite drink. :) It is so lovely in color and taste that I cannot pass it up. My two biggest problems with this wondrous beverage? Stopping before they do me in and the cost of them at the bar. At $8.50 a pop they had better be worth it and they are.. oh yes they are. :)

WTF

The Christmas tree and Decor have been up since the day before Thanksgiving. I am so sick of not being able to REALLY clean because of all the crap clutter. If it were up to me we'd be in the process of taking it all down right now but the husband insists we have to wait til at least New Year's Day. So in other words let's leave it all up til then so on my 2 days off I can f-ing deal with the major pack up. Awesome ! Not really.

**** just a side note.. I sit here at work with jeans, and furry Ugg boots and a turtle neck and sweater on and I'm Frickin freezing !!

Back to my original rant. Before I can even start to pack up the decor I need to find places for all the loot the kids raked in on Christmas from the 4 different households. Too much crap and not enough space.

I need to get prices for carpeting in my basement rec room so the kids will willing play down there again. After the water damage we just put it off.. but now I need that space so it's on. I also need to get rid of the beautiful glass top coffee table that I have down there because while it was nice before the kids showed up now it's not practical at all.

So many things to do and not enough time to even make a list of my things to do. Where the hell does the time go and how did I get so far behind ?

But what the hell.. let's just accept more invitations to parties and schedule outings with the kids. It's just my sanity that gets left by the wayside.

Ghosts of Christmas Cards past....

2008




2007



2006

Psychotic Break or Lightbulb Moment?

It all started last night when I got the Christmas present from Aedan that he made for Jim and I at school. It is a ceramic bread warmer. Complete with a snowman and his name carved into it. He was so excited to show me and tell me how they made it and that "it's ceramic Mom so if you drop it it will break". If that wasn't the most wonderful thing I've ever received I don't know what will be. But then I go into his tote and pull the folder and a bunch of papers out. I find a Christmas card he made for us. A perfectly beautiful Christmas tree painted on the front complete with colored balls and a yellow star at the top. I open it up and the message inside is in his print. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Mom and Dad. Love, Aedan. The tears start flowing and I gush over it to him and how wonderful it is. Then I gush some more when I see the handmade gift bag the bread warmer was in. Apparently it doesn't take much to make me happy when it comes to my kids.

The psychotic break may have come this morning. I'm driving with the girls and listening to Christmas music on B101. The Boss comes on with Santa Claus is coming to town. So I'm singing out loud. Telling Chloe that this is one of my favorites renditions of that song blah blah. Then my mind starts racing and I'm thinking how blessed I am and that it's Christmas and I start bawling. Bawling and singing along with Bruce and wiping tears. And then I laugh at myself.. thinking this used to only happen when I was pregnant. So the song finishes and I recover. Then about 15 minutes later Whitney Houston comes on with "Do you hear what I hear?" and the floodgates open up again.

So either I'm just getting really sentimental in my old age or else I need some serious mood altering drugs.. Hoping it's not the latter.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Not really but hey we are close enough. :) I am finally starting to get excited for Christmas. The kids being excited helps. I am still behind in comparison to years past. I have never been wrapping gifts this close to Christmas. I am usually totally finished by now.. but circumstance beyond my control have affected my productivity this year.

I am enjoying watching the kids enjoy all things "Christmas". The Songs, lights, presents, Santa and the stories. We have a stack of Christmas books and movies that get packed away with all the decorations. So from Thanksgiving til a week after New Year's Day we read loads of Christmas books.

Alexa is starting to talk more which is really nice.. but her favorite words are "No" and "Mine" .

Aedan is doing really well in Kindergarten in spite of the rough start.

And Chloe.. well Chloe is Chloe. She has an attitude but can be sweet as pie when she wants to be. She is a sponge and is learning so many new things.

I just hope everyone is dazzled by the magic that is Christmas and Santa does not disappoint this year.

In case I don't get back here before Christmas and the New year I wish everyone who reads this the Merriest of Christmas's and a joyful, healthy and prosperous New year full of wonderful surprises.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Really? Not from where I'm standing currently. I still fee crappy 2 weeks after the swine flu hit me. All 3 kids are coughing with runny noses that won't seem to leave either. The only thing I can say is that I only have to get lottery tickets, 1 gift card and beer in the next 10 days in order to be ready for Christmas.

Cards have been sent, house is decorated and tree is done. The wrapping is almost wrapped up. And I don't really need to cook for anyone so that's a good thing. So why am I not overjoyed and celebrating the season? Not sure. I can only attribute my attitude to not feeling well. I'm hoping that I can turn this around by next week.

Down for the count

Despite all my efforts to the contrary the swine flu has struck my home. I have been suffering all week. Drug my sick ass to work because I refuse to owe this company any more time than I already do. Didn't find out it was H1N1 til I was already recovering. Lucky me. I'm not dying and it was no worse than the regular seasonal flu I used to get when I didn't get the shot. But this time I woke up at 5:30 and got myself, 3 children and 1 dog ready and out of the house at 7 a.m to go tow work for 8 hours and then commute another hour home to make dinner and do laundry and get ready for the next day. All while I was dying.. or felt like it.. or I take that back.. wished for it. Seems Alexa might have had it for the 3 days prior to me. I pray she didn't feel as bad as I did. :(

Evil Genius Muwahahahaha

If only he would use his intelligence for good. I am exaggerating of course. We had conferences last night. We met with the Kindergarten teacher. I was worried that the issues would be behavioral. And I was right on the money.

She said he is very intelligent and meticulous and a bunch of other good things. But as soon as he is given a couple seconds or minutes of *in between activity* time he gets sidetracked and that is where the problems arise. He will goof off trying to get the other kids to laugh and be everyone's friend.

So the teacher is going to try a new tactic and so are we at home. Positive reinforcement. From what she says he thrives with it so we are going to tell him something positive as soon as he wakes up in the morning and as soon as he gets home at night.

Next conference is in January.. I'm hopnig the behavior is better by then.

The Eye of the Tiger

Meet Rocky.... Rockstar... Rock. You can all him whatever.. he doesn't really know his name yet anyway. He is an 11 1/2 week old poodle/ yorkie mix. He won't grow larger than 12 pounds and is a non shedding dog. Two pluses in my book. The kids love him and so do I.

He is a wonderful addition to our family and I am so grateful that he is such a great puppy. As I type this he is sleeping under my desk at work. Yes, I bring him to work. My boss agreed to it so I wouldn't have to leave him home all day. We are dog friendly here.. there were 2 golden retrievers and 1 cocker spaniel here every day for the 1st 12 years I worked here. So a new puppy is a good thing. Everyone likes him .. well most everyone.. he tends to migrate towards the office of the 1 person that is not super fond of dogs. Oh well.. kick him out :)

And I was happy to find out that it's not as hard getting 3 kids and a dog out at 7 a.m. as I thought it would be.. just requires alot of nighttime prep. All is well in my little world.. let's hope it stays that way .

Ho Ho Ho and all that stuff

We are in full swing preparing for Christmas. The outside decorations are up much to the dismay of certain neighbors. Not lit mind you but up all the same. Our house could compete with the Griswalds if I don't pull in the reigns and nix alot of Sparky's wishes. But I digress.

I have started shopping, check that, I have BEEN shopping.. I started in October. I am just about done all 3 kids and only have stocking stuffers to buy. But I now realize why some people are still shopping a couple days prior to the 25th. My kids keep seeing things they want. So where does one draw the line? Do you give the child a cutoff date for their requests. Like "Sorry buddy.. you didn't ask for that before such and such date so you can't have it". But then you have to factor the Jolly man in red into the equation. They think if they ask Santa it shall be. So we have to pull the "well Santa knows that I said no so he won't bring it even if you ask". Of course this is only if they actually SIT on his lap and ask. Chloe "claims" she sat on Santa's lap at day care last week.. I'll believe it when I see it. She hasn't sat calmly on the big man's lap since she was a new born. Alexa will most likely be the jumper this year. Aedan will only sit because he thinks he won't get a darn thing without addressing Santa directly. Thins brings me to a complaint. Santa is already at our mall. Can't these money hungry malls hold off to at least Black Friday to bring him in ??

We are going to meet a new puppy tomorrow morning. God help me yes I would love a dog. The clincher is Chloe. She runs from the 8 week old pomeranian next door. So I told the breeder everything is contingent on Chloe being calm and enjoying the dog's presence. If she bolts then we go to pet plan #2 which is a guinea pig or hamsters. She really wants hamsters or the GP and is not so crazy about the puppy idea. so I guess we'll see.

Tonite we clean the living room and move furniture so Sparky can put the tree up. We'll decorate etc over the next week or so. We need to do it in phases now that we have 3 little ones to tend to.

We aren't trying to skip Thanksgiving but we need to find the time for everything in between the regular running and all the extras like b-day parties etc.

Now.. if I could have a helicopter that could fly me to the 4 different golf courses to get Jim's presents I'd be in heaven.. but since I don't I'll have to fit those trips in too..

Unwanted advice

OK.. So I post something on Facebook. It's just a statement. I did not say "hey everybody what do you think?" So why does everyone feel the need to warn me and tell me what I'm doing is wrong etc. I mean seriously people. I'm a big girl I can make my own decisions an I can regret them all on my own. Thank you very much.

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Veterans Day every year is a happy day in our house because it's the day that our First Born and only Son was born. Thanks to Aedan I got close to 4 months off of work paid. You caused a ruckus in there and yet didn't want to come out. My womb was your own little studio apartment with free meals and a great heating system.

You are most definitely my child and I am finding as you grow older you will be a force to be reckoned with. Your natural wit and hair trigger temper give us loads of laughs and frustrations all at once.

I am constantly amazed at your clever ability to figure things out. And the ease with which you learn new tasks. These two traits will get you far so be sure and hone those skills. Keep your body moving, your mind working and your heart open and you will find happiness in whatever you do.

I hope your day today is as wonderful as mine was 6 years ago. Happy 6th Birthday Aedan !

Our Little Trip to the Store

It was supposed to be quick and simple. Go in with A & C so they could pick their cakes design for Saturday's party. As soon as we arrive at the bakery counter Aedan starts climbing.. after a couple polite "please don't climb"'s I resorted to "get down or I'll smack you" . Chloe wanted the butterfly cupcake cake and took a bit of coaxing to get her to even look at the book. Got the Star Wars Cake and the Little Mermaid cake ordered. Then to pick out cupcakes for his Kindergarten class and get the rice krispies and marshmallows for his Day Care treat. Allergies prevent me from just sending whatever to Day care.

All through thee store they are running and yelling and choking each other and doing everything to drive me over the edge. I am sure I'm on the highlight reels at Giant threatening my kids with bodily harm.

So we get into the car and Jim really lays into them for not listening etc. So I tell them they are getting their asses beat when we get home and going to bed early etc. and Jim reiterates it. We run thru Sonic and after that are driving home. I'm fuming and I got an idea.

"Here's the deal " I say. "Do you want your ass beat or do you want to go to bed early?" "you pick."

In the dark of the van I hear a little voice say "I'll get my ass beat please"
At which point I look at Jim and we both crack the hell up..

Aedan chose early bed. Chloe will sell all her toys if it means she can stay up later.

It's a pig sty in here

What I am referring to is the health related issues and not the cleanliness of my home. Of course every day at approximately 7 pm my house looks like a bomb struck it but that's besides the point.

Everything I'm reading says that it isn't Flu season yet so if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms with a fever then you most likely have the swine flu. So in essence since October 19th we've been dealing with flu-like symptoms..slowly making it's way thru each child. It is currently dragging the boy down. I would put money on the fact that the swine flu has made it's way through each child and will eventually hit me at the most inopportune time. And once I have recovered the man will get struck and will be dying I'm sure when I had just recovered after working full time and taking care of everything while popping meds to keep me on my feet.

Oh lord please let it be gone and not catch up with the man or else I may have to ship his ass off to some other house while he wallows in his illness.

1...2...3.. strikes you're out at the ol' ball game !!

I can't tell you how long I've enjoyed the game of baseball or should I say watching the Phillies play the game of baseball. All I know is that I have never enjoyed a season as much as this one. Maybe because the Phils are the champs.. I just don't know..

So when I see articles like this I get a little punchy and want to call someone out..

NY Post Mocks Phillies as "Frillies"

You don't want to get into a pissing match with the Phillies' fans.. you will always lose..

Just know that come Wednesday my ass will be parked in front of my TV praying that the Phightins hand the "Wankees" their ass on a fine silver platter. Phils in 5..

Parenting 101 - F

I've failed. At least that is how it feels to me. I suppose I am more embarrassed than anything. My child was not raised to disrespect anyone or disrupt the class when he should be learning.

I received an email from Aedan's Kindergarten teacher today. Phrases like "class clown" and "incredible persistence after being asked to stop twice" stand out from the 3 paragraph email describing my eldest child's behavior. According to her this is not the first time it has happened but the instances before have been miniscule and this is actually a *last straw* type email. She's hoping that bringing this to our attention now will straighten him out. Truthfully.. knowing him, I doubt it. My boy can be incredibly stubborn when he wants to be. An unfortunate character flaw he inherited from his Mother.

If it was just him goofing off I'd take it less seriously but because he is disrupting the rest of the class with his shenanigans we've had to pull out the big guns.

No DSLite for his birthday unless we see a significant improvement in the next 4 weeks. And when /if it happens again he doesn't get to go to the library with his class. I think the lack if Library will really kill him. He looked truly upset when I told him that was the consequence the next time he steps out of line.

If this doesn't work we may have to look into reform schools for grades 1 thru 8.

A Jinx

Seems I may be a jinx.

I say "way to go " with regards to the Phils triple etc. last night .. and BAM! the ding dang dodgers come back to within 1...

I say I'm thankful that my family is happy and healthy.. and BAM! Day care calls to report Alexa's 103 temp.

Can I go home and climb under the covers with my baby and watch good movies please ??

Not a Nice One

Aedan tells me this morning
"Mom, I had a dream and it was not a nice one"
Me: "oh really? What was it about?"
Aedan: " all of us were in it and there was a monster and it killed Daddy."
me: "Oh boy I'm sorry Monk. You know monsters aren't real and it was just a bad dream" right?
Aedan: "yeah"
Me: "When did you have that dream?"
Aedan: "right now when I woke up"
Me: "Why didn't you come get me"
Aedan: "Cause I can handle it"

Little does he know there are real monsters out there. They just don't look all green and furry with fangs. They look like everyone else.

Happy 4th Birthday Princess Chloe !

Not much I can say. She's 4 today and I can remember the day of her birth like it was yesterday. Such a wonderful day. Over the past 4 years she has made me happy and sad, laugh and cry and go a little bit insane. She is the epitome of the middle child and I wouldn't have it any other way.

She is my daughter and I love her.


Chloe in Pictures

Sharing Time

Now that school is in full swing I have to find new ways of getting information out of Aedan. He's not big on sharing most days. You have to practically pry the information out of him.

Last week was Fire Safety week at Daycare and Kindergarten. The fire house across the street from DC sent a truck and a couple firefighters over to talk to the kids etc.
We didn't hear much about it. Then yesterday when we were going out we saw the ladders extended at the firehouse. So I draw their attention to it. We asked Aedan if they did that when they came to his school. No .. buuutt, we got to sit in the front seat of the fire engine and then we went into the burning house. Wait. What ?!? Apparently they have this mobile home or something like it that they put the kids in and then "fill it with vanilla white smoke". They have to get down and practice escaping the burning building. He thought that was very cool.

Then last night he put a blow pop on the counter.
I said "Where did that come from?"
He says "OH. I got to pick from the treat box"
Me- "Why?"
He replies, "Because I guessed the smelly hands flavor"

*scratching head*

"OK. What is smelly hands?"

"well. it's like lip gloss but not lip gloss. We put our hands on top of our head and Mrs. G rubs the gloss on there. We sniff it and have to tell her what flavor it is. If we get it right we get to pick from the treat box. "

Oh well that explains it.

I'll need to check in with him more often and bug him for info so I don't miss any more smokey houses and smelly hands.

Memory Lane

I've been feeling very nostalgic of late. Probably as a result of the phenomena that is Facebook. "Seeing" and being in contact with old classmates and friends has brought a smile to my face. Meeting up with them has and will be even more fun. It seems to me not much has changed except maybe everyone's physical appearance. I mean 20-some years can do a number on you when you aren't looking. I am evidence of that. And yet it's so easy to fall right back into the old relationship. I hope it continues to make me smile.

In talking with my Step-Mom last night we were discussing some movies that myself and my cousin watched over and over and loved. I decided to google one of our favorites movies and found that I could get it on VHS new for $51. What ?!?! Shipwreck! from 1978 was the most watched movie in my father's house. And we only got to see it because a co-worker of his taped it from HBO for us. It was a crappy copy at best. I can only imagine what it will look like when Susan digs it out of the basement cabinet. The thought of that movie took me back so many years to nights with a big aluminum mixing bowl full of air popped popcorn floating in melted butter. Those were the best nights.

Music is also taking me back lately. Mostly to College but every once in a while I get a flash back to my childhood when a song comes on the radio. It makes me crave more memories.

I'm starting to understand the grin that came across my parents and grandparents face when they were relaying a story from their own childhoods. Remembering makes people happy most of the time. The happy memories tend to shine a little brighter than the sad ones in the shadows of our minds.

All this has caused me to want to find out more about my ancestors. So I have a request in with my Mother to get as many names and birthdates/years of her family so I can start to research my roots. Should be interesting.

Now I need to go google a couple more movies to see if I can get my greedy nostalgic hands on them

Well check

I had Alexa's well check on Monday. This child can warm up to anyone if she is well rested, fed, and given some time. None of which is usually the case when we go to the Dr. We only manage to get the appointments that fall right around dinnertime. So she is usually miserable. And if she isn't miserable going in.. she does the 180 when we are in the exam room and the nurse looks at her. I was smart this time and wore a short sleeve shirt so that I wasn't overheating while she clung and screamed and literally tried to climb inside.
She is 24 pounds and 6 ounces at 18 months. She is about the same as the other two at this age but she is much thinner simply because she taller than they were. Two Immunizations, a flu shot and some serious screaming later she is growing nicely and everything looks great says Dr. McW.

Now if we could just work on her people skills we'd be A-OK.

Finallly I'm in the Know

Our school district is 1/2 day kindergarten. The reasoning flying around for it not being all day were 1. Too many Stay at Home Moms, 2. Not enough teachers, 3. Not enough room and 4. Not enough money.

I finally got the dirt this morning and it's even more disappointing than the reasons listed. Seems we are not a Title 1 school. Which in layman's terms means we don't have alot of kids getting free lunch. And we are not "Established" which means we don't have enough money coming in.

Don't get me wrong. I don't desire to be a Title 1 school. I'd much rather have the "Established" classification.

Either way, because of our status, we may not even be full day come 2011 when my Chloe starts Kindergarten which is what we were hoping for. If I didn't work 40 hours a week with about 8-10 hours of commuting to said job I may not be as keen for the all day K. But my status being as it is, that's what "I" need.

It all comes back the same old mantra.. I need to hit the lottery.

Little Person .. Big Attitude.

I am amazed that at the ripe old age of 18 months the Littlest Person has developed an attitude. She has a temper and a comedic side. A sweet and a sassy side.

Don't piss that one off. She has begun the "slam and toss" method of anger management. If you offer her something and she really doesn't want it it will get slammed on whatever surface is in front of her or else she'll chuck it across the room. Not fun when it's yogurt.

She has this expression where she'll lower her head and just look up with her eyes at you and sneak a little grin out that showcases her left dimple.. even if you are angry about the yogurt flying that look will melt your heart in a second.

She has a hearty little belly laugh and her eyes dance when she's entertained. She truly is one of a kind.

It amazes me how different and also how similar all 3 kids are. I'm enjoying seeing all the facets of their personalities from day to day.

All Lovey Dovey

Aedan and Chloe don't get along well all the time. They can play nicely and then it can get ugly with the games of *keep away* and *punch the baby doll in the head* along with Princess Tattle. Some days I'd like to lock them in a room and let them fight it out. Some days they are super nice to one another and sometimes they are attacking each other. Isn't 5 and 3 a little early for this ?? I am not prepared. Someone will get pushed off the couch if they cross the *line*. Don't touch my stuff! It's not like they are together all day. I was under the impression that absence makes the heart grow fonder.. Hell it makes my heart grow fonder of them when I am at work all day. That's for sure. I can be at home for about 30 minutes at night and wonder why I was missing them.

Maybe it's the way Aedan now stops to give both his sisters a kiss before he gets out of the car each morning. Chloe grabs him and holds him in a bear hug until I tell her to let him go. It's very sweet and it reminds me of why I love them so but dag couldn't they do that all the time? Nope.. Aedan has to do something to annoy her which cause her to switch to banshee mode and rush him full force with a scowl on her face growling at him.

Willy Loman he is not

I received the Fall Fundraiser Packet in Aedan's tote yesterday. The envelope has pictures of all the prizes you can earn by selling all over it. Aedan immediately decided he wanted to get the remote control race car. You have to sell 50 items to qualify for that particular prize. I don't see it happening but I don't want to dash his hopes.

Jim asks him if he wants to go next door to see if they want to buy anything before the other neighborhood kids hit them. He says YES! Then I turn around and he's standing there with his Hot Wheels case of 150 cars lugging it across the living room. I look at him and ask what he's doing. He says I have to sell 50 of these. I controlled my amusement and said calmly "honey no. You don't have to sell your cars" He looks seriously concerned on the verge of upset and says "YES I DO !" I help him put down the case and lead him to the paperwork and show him what needs to be done. He let out a huge sigh of relief, grabbed all the paperwork and ran out the door with Jim in tow to get selling.

Books Glorious Books

My kids have always loved books. But over the summer we spend more time outside so once we come in for the night it's bath, snack and bed. Now that the weather is cooler and it gets dark a bit earlier we come in earlier. Aedan's teacher gave us a chart to keep track of the books he reads each day. So of course the competitor in him wants to read more each day than the day before. I can't keep up the pace he is setting. Seven or Eight books is too much most nights. I am so happy that they both enjoy it though I hope they continue to enjoy reading as much as I did in my younger days and even now when I can find time to enjoy a good book.

Aedan was ecstatic on Monday when he had library and was able to pick out a book and bring it home. I promised him I would find time to get us over to our public Library so he could do the same at home.

The baby won't sit still for a book but she's still young. There's hope for her yet.

Men

Men can be super stupid if they want to. Although sometimes I truly think they just don't realize they are being idiots.

Man is in the doghouse currently.
Sunday he golfed from 7-12 came home and proceeded to head next door to watch the football game with the neighbor.
While he was gone (he took Aedan with him) I took the girls and we went coat rack hunting. I found a fancy one at the furniture store and bought it knowing I could return it. I lugged that sucker out and worked it into the van all by myself.

At halftime Jim is outside with the boys tossing the football. He agrees with me that this coat rack is not what we need. So I say I need to take it back today or tomorrow because it was on sale and I only have 24 hours. I say. "you watch the kids and I;ll run it back" He looks at me all serious and says. "I'm going to miss kick off for the 2nd half". I told him that sucks and loaded the rack back in the van and was gone approx. 15 minutes. He comes home from the game and proceeds to get angry at Chloe because she's wearing the neighbors shorts. Apparently she peed while she was over there and was given new pants to wear. Blah blah..

Then he sits on his butt and takes a nap in the recliner for 1.5 hours.

now... I have pretty much done nothing but chores and housework while home the whole weekend. And he spent 9 hours doing his own thing on Sunday. This is in addition to the 5 hours he works every Saturday morning.

If I wasn't pissed enough about all that.. while at the Dr. on Monday (see other entry) I called his phone to have him drive the 1 mile over and pick up the girls so I can deal with Aedan. He ignores the call. And I am stuck in radiology waiting room for over an hour with 3 hungry tired children.

Now. if his body was found in a ditch somewhere and the evidence was pointing to me.. would you convict?? I think not.

Better safe than Sorry?

I'm not so sure after last night. I surely was sorry at a few different moments.

On Sunday, while I was cleaning and doing various chores to get ready for the week Jim was next door watching the football game with the neighbor. This was after his 5 hour golf game. I won't get started.. that's another post in and of itself. Aedan and he were outside tossing the football around during halftime. Aedan must have hurt his finger because he came in and asked for ice. I never even looked at it. He wasn't crying or anything. Gave him the ice and he went on his way. Later that night while brushing teeth he was complaining it was still hurting. I looked and it didn't look good. Swollen and purple from the knuckle to his hand. So yesterday I call the Dr. to get an appt. to have the Dr. take a look at it.

I leave work early and pick up the girls at Day Care and then head home to get Aedan. We get to the Dr. for a 4:30 appt. The Dr. is also concerned so she sends us upstairs for x rays. First I have to register him. SO I cart all 3 kids with me into that waiting room. They are JACKED up. After waiting there for 15 minutes they call us into an office to register. They are slightly better behaved in there. Oh wait.. I almost forgot.. I called Jim on his cell to see if he can drive around the corner and pick up the girls. He did not answer. Nice. Thanks so much. Headed back into the room where I threaten the two bigs with bodily harm if they don't knock it off.

Once we get registered we head up to radiology. There are like 4 people in front of us. Again.. had to threaten. The baby is getting pissed over EVERYTHING. She just screams and you don't know what she wants. Needless to say I was not prepared for an all nighter. otherwise I'd have candy, books and small toys with us. It was dinnertime and I had nothing to keep them busy. Ten minutes before they called us aback I found a lollipop in the bottom of my purse that I tossed in there for our last outing. I gave it to the baby and promised the other 2 their own gum/mentos if they sat still and behaved til we left. That seemed to help. We go in and get the x-rays done and head out. Apologizing to the other waiters on our way out. Chloe yells "see ya fools" and I was mortified and threatened to leave her in the elevator.

So now today we wait for the Dr. to call with the X-ray results. I hope it's broke simply to make last night's horror show worth the trip.

Paranoia Set in

Last Monday Chloe woke up and I noticed 3 bug bites on her leg near her ankle. I figured she'd gotten bitten the night before out playing. No big deal. Then Tuesday she wakes up with one on each arm also.

I get a little concerned but not too bad. I check the bed etc for a mosquito. Nothing.

The next day someone jokingly suggests bed bugs. That's all I needed. I spend the rest of my work day googling bed bugs, viewing pictures, reading descriptions of what they look like, what their bites look like so on and so forth.

I get home that night and check the bed again. nothing. I pull the sheets and mattress pad and put them in the laundry on hot. That should do it right?

The next day still worrying. I don't want everyone else to have them too.. so I pull her sheets and mattress pad, quilt and extra blankies and put them in the wash again. on hot. While they are washing I pull her bed out and vacuum everywhere.. the whole carpet, down where the carpet meets the baseboards completely. Then I wipe down the whole bed frame. And I take all her stuffed animals in the bin next to her bed and plop them in the dryer for 40 minutes on high heat. I chuck a few things that seem to simply be collecting dust and call it a day.

No more bites since then. Probably a rogue mosquito but you never know with these things so it's better to be safe than sorry. Which brings me to my next entry.. stay tuned.

Some Kind of Wonderful

Despite the pouring rain today I stopped to think and thought.."We are in a pretty darn wonderful place right now."

Back to school is in full swing. All 3 kiddies have adjusted to their respective schedules along with their respective teachers.

Soccer season has started. And even though there is more running required it is fun running because the Boy loves soccer.

The hot summer temps are a thing of the past making way for the wonderful cool temps we are having now. Which means jeans and sweater weather, no A/C driving up my electric bill and playing outside without sweating our asses off. Gotta love it.

Day care costs are at an all time low. Which in and of itself is WONDERFUL.

We are reading books every night since it's getting dark earlier and Aedan needs to keep track of his lap reading for school. Chloe has a new interest in books again and is reading them to herself and anyone that will listen. I am amazed at how she can pretty much tell the story just by hearing it once or twice and then looking at the pictures.

Kids' birthdays and Christmas are coming. Not necessarily a wonderful thing but the fact that I have a list going already with ideas on it is wonderful. The clubhouse is booked for the party because I get it free due to my volunteering as a key person for the association. Otherwise I'd have everyone crammed into my house yet again.

Halloween is soon and I am covered for the girl's costumes and we have a few possibilities as far as Aedan goes. He's difficult and I refuse to spend $80 on a decent costume.

Today is Friday and that is wonderful. As is the fact that we have an ice cream social tonight at School and a friend's annual picnic to attend tomorrow.. Should be a good weekend.

What would make it even better is if I can get all the kid's new clothing washed and switched with the summer stuff. that would make my weekend.

really??

I mean seriously. Can you be more of a 2 faced Bitch ?

*** Background - we have a to do box with everything that need sot be typed in a day and go out. It is in DATE order meaning.. the work that needs to be done 1st is on top. So The Bitch gets in earlier than anyone that types this work. She picks through the box and decides what she wants to do. takes it to her desk and stacks it under her telephone message book. As if no one can see her hoarding it there. She grabs thing off the fax and holds it if she wants to do that instead of other stuff and the same with the emailed requests. She will literally see what's in there and decide if she wants to do it.. if she doesn't she'll busy herself with other work till someone else does what she has skipped. I've grown accustomed to her little game and just blow it off most days. Today is an exception.

***Today - She had her pile going. I went to grab some more work. (one at a time mind you and from the top only) and there was a bond there with notes from her and some additional paperwork that needed to go with it (that was purposely pulled from a file). I looked at it and realized why she wasn't doing it.. Because it's a pain in the ass piece of work and just annoying. So She must have seen that and PUT IT BACK.

But now that I have it I have to do it. Fine. It's my job. But picking up after her and taking her sloppy seconds sure as F-ing Hell ain't my job. I hate her most days.

Love Her

Seriously.. I Love the Kindergarten teacher. I figured I'd like her after meeting her but she's a amazing. :)

How many teachers will respond to your stupid email at 8:56 pm ?? I haven't dealt with teachers before but I think that's above and beyond. :)

Issued an Ultimatum

To the Boy. If you do not come home with 2 jackets tonite you will not go out to play.
He wore 1 jacket to school last Tuesday. Forgot it at morning day care. I sent him in on Wednesday wearing another jacket. Grabbed the one from Tuesday and took it with me. He came home Wednesday afternoon sans jacket #2. I drew instructions in picture form and put in his H&S folder so that he would remember to bring it home along with his water bottle. No dice. Thursday evening no jacket. Off from school on Friday. He only has so many jackets. And I can't get to his Kindergarten class to get it myself or I would. I feel like a Dumb-ass Mom emailing the teacher and asking her to remind him to put it in his tote bag. He is supposed to be learning responsibility. But while learning that lesson is he supposed to go without a jacket on the cool mornings and possibly get sick ? I think not.

So I can only hope the threat er .. I mean ultimatum does the trick. Otherwise he'll be quite cold tomorrow morning.

All in a Day's Work

We have reached the end of our first week of Kindergarten. As a matter of fact they have off today for a long labor day weekend. But I will refrain from going off about that.
All week we get home from work and school and we start the chat with Aedan about how his day was and what did he do. I've been frustrated because his answer is "fine" or "nothing". I want to know what he's doing all day. If he's happy or sad, lonely or friendly.

It really ticked me off so I posted it as my status at Facebook.. A couple friends suggested I wait to ask him. And to try doing it at bedtime. He came home exhausted yesterday and proceeded to nap for 1.5 hours after dinner. He woke up miserable but quickly cheered up after a bit. At bedtime I tucked the girls in and headed for his room.

I tucked him all in and laid down next to him. I proceeded to scratch his back because he loves that and it relaxes him. I asked him how is day was. I asked him how day care was, and who he played with and who he rode the bus with. I asked him everything possible and he answered me. Actually gave me answers that were more than one word. He described a book that the librarian read to them and how he was mad because he didn't get to play basketball in the gym during phys ed. And that he rode the bus home in a seat all by himself. That last part made me a little sad for him but I turned it around and told him how much I loved having the seat to myself so I could stretch out and read. It didn't seem to bother him.

So thank you my dear friends for your suggestions because it was right on and it made my evening to finally know what is going on in the boy's life when he isn't with me. :)

Feeling something

I'm not exactly sure what I feel. Empty? no. Not complete? no. I'm not sure.. But I feel something everyday after I leave Aedan at his day care center and hit the road with the girls to their day care. I miss him. I guess I am so used to having him with me for that hour from home to school. He's only 2 minutes from home now so the car ride is quick.

As much As I wonder what he's doing and I miss him he still puts me over the edge within 5 minutes of seeing him. Must be because he's also a scorpio.. he knows exactly what will get me riled up and he just keeps at it til I flip out.

Why is irritating your Mother so much fun ? Well I take that back because sometimes I really enjoy irritating my own mother.

Anyway.. I feel something.. not sure if it's glee, remorse or loneliness now that the boy is not in the car with me for 2 hours.. I'll have to get back when I figure it out.

A Whole New World

It's a big world out there. And the Boy is running full speed ahead. Aedan started kindergarten yesterday. He woke up happy and didn't need to be prodded into anything to get ready. He was all smiles. Once we got to the day care where he will spend his mornings we went through the routine and he went his merry way with the kids. I could tell he was nervous but he didn't cling or anything. We left him there and went home. Where I bawled my eyes out. It probably would have been way worse had he clung to me.

We went back around noon to see him get on the bus for Kindergarten. I was lucky he acknowledged my presence. I had to tap him on the shoulder to get him to say hi to me.

The bus came and he got right on waving out the window to me and Jim and the girls.



He had a wonderful day and I'm so proud of him.

An Ending and a Beginning

Today is Aedan's official last day at preschool. He'll go back on occasion but today he is a preschooler and the next time he shows up he's considered a *camper*. It is so bittersweet. Come Monday he'll be what we refer to as a *Big Kid* . I get butterflies in my stomach when I think of his 1st day of Kindergarten. I think about the nervousness he'll have walking into his classroom for the 1st time without me. I can tell he's nervous. He has this unsure look in his eyes when you mention it and then he gets that look like he's on the verge of tears. I know that look well and I hate it. I have been doing my best to talk it up and make sure he knows its supposed to be a fun time. From the bus ride to the playground right outside. His classroom is seriously cool. His teacher loves being a K teacher and has been for 18 years, 11 at this particular school. She is currently in the middle of earning her masters degree. She has a such a wonderful attitude and I am glad Aedan got her for his 1st teacher. The first week is only 4 days long as is the 2nd week due to the Labor Day holiday. We have pictures, market day, and an Ice Cream social in those 2 weeks. And We also have the pond installation to look forward to in the outdoor classroom. Here are the plans. outdoor classroom plan

Everything is so exciting and new and confusing at the same time. The confusing part is mine. All mine. Between all the forms I filled out for registration, the ones we got the other night to fill out and the ones I will get Monday night to fill out I am about knee deep in paper. And they are going green so that's not even 1/2 the paperwork we'd normally have.

I'm just hoping that we can all settle into the new routine quickly and without too much drama.. but knowing my family, there will be plenty of drama. So here's to the end of preschool and an exciting new beginning to big kid school.

Are you serious?

I was stunned. Speechless. Dumbfounded.

I have a health assessment paper that I need filled out for the day care that Aedan will be spending his mornings at once Kindergarten starts. I lost the sheet for a bit so now I'm scrambling to get it done by Monday.

I know there is a $2 processing fee. So I call the office to see if can fax the form over and simply pay the $2 when I pick up the forms.

"NO." Wait.. What ? "No. We have to have the $2 before we can fill the forms out." Um.. Are you serious? "Yes."

I proceed to hang up, stir from my stupor,and mutter expletives that shouldn't be posted here as steam shoots from my ears.

The Countdown to Kindergarten

The first day of school is just about a week and a half away. I think I'm more nervous than the boy. I just keep running the day over in my head and thinking about how I'd feel. I'm a grown woman so I can handle it.. kinda. I know he's nervous even though he doesn't put it out there for everyone to see. I'm just hoping his 1st day is the most exciting day ever for him :)

Double Standard

OK.. I need to get this off my chest.
The Eagles signed Michael Vick. Everyone that could care less is hooting and hollering that he did his time and he should get a second chance etc. How about I toss a few tid-bits their way. Michael Vick was making $$$ hand over fist with his little operation and only regrets it because he was caught. Statistics show that most of the more obscene and heinous criminals started out abusing animals.

So I pose this question. If it's true that he did his time and should have a second chance why not all criminals. For example. That Sexual predator that likes to video tape himself sexually assaulting young children. Why not give him a second chance .. hell why not let him get a job at YOUR child's school ? I mean as far as you're concerned everyone deserves a second chance and he was sorry (he got caught) so why not let the predator have the job as a janitor at a day care center?? or to coach your kid's football team?

No you say ?? Well why the hell not?!?! I mean everyone deserves a second chance right??

Screw second chances. Lock their asses up if they hurt or murder people and animals.. or better yet.. zap their asses and toss them into a landfill. That's what they do to most of their prey.

I have no patience for all of you that find football and winning more important than a human or animal's life. Shame on you.

Walking for the Cause

I have signed up to walk in the Race For Hope on November 1st. Race for Hope
And also the Purple Stride walk on November 7th. Purple Stride

Both are super worthy causes to get me off my ass and moving. And at the same time raise money and awareness for Brain Tumors and Pancreatic cancer.

I've never done this type of thing before so I'm just hoping I can make the 5 K. hahaha...

Flash Back

I got a serious flashback to my teens and early 20's when I got out of the shower yesterday and saw a huge ass hickey on my neck. In a split second I cold see the steam shooting from my ears and I flew into our bedroom where my loving husband, the offender in this case, was sleeping in due to some medical testing he had appointments for. I said "look at this! WTF !?! " He chuckled and said .. "put some makeup on it" Yeah sure.. the person who rarely wears makeup and ceratinly doesn't own any foundation that isn't expired shold put some makeup on it... Ass..

So as a result I was tormented at work.. one co-worker didn't say anything because she thought maybe I had a skin condition.. then proceeded to post it in her status on FB..

It's all fun and games til someone gets a hickey.

Sharks... um.. no.

We picked up our sharks and 2 fish for Chloe. All 4 are semi-aggressive and their names sound vicious. That's about the only scary things about them. The Bala Sharks are technically NOT sharks.. they are large minnows that have fins like sharks, thus the name. And the Tiger Barb are called that because they are striped in orange and black like tigers.

I wish the Man and the Boy did a little research before picking. Everything I'm reading says that the bala sharks need at least a 55 gallon tank.. yeah .. our 5 gallon might not cut it.

I'll be one of those poor souls that has a reptile too large to keep that lets it loose into the sewer system and it terrorizes the neighborhood til animal control comes and captures the thing. Just great..

The hamster (I've downgraded my wishlist from the guinea pig) is looking better and better.

A cuddly companion? I think not.

Before vacation while shopping at Petco for yet another snail to clean Dip & Dots' (frogs courtesy of the OC boardwalk) cube aquarium Jim and the Boy came across sharks. Small freshwater sharks. So Jim tells him that after vacation we can pull out the aquarium we have from our last foray with aquatic pets and set it up for the sharks.

This past Sunday we head to Petco to get the sharks. We have to pass the furry little rodent pets on the way to the back. So we stop and I check out all the ferrets and hamsters and bunnies and rats.. and I come to the Guinea pigs. Oh how I want A GP. A super cute little furry guy that I can cuddle and squeeze and not have to walk in the rain. Oh how I love the twitchy little face. So I think I finally have Jim caving. I want to wait a bit and keep going over things in my head so I'm sure .. really sure. But I am getting excited at just the thought of that little rascal running through the house in an exercise ball..

Back to the sharks.

Found them and another AGGRESSIVE fish to put in there, that is slightly cute and won't get eaten by the sharks, for Chloe to call her very own. Spoke with the Petco person and found out we need to set up the tank for at least 48 hours running the filter before we could drop those bad boys in there. So we browse the fancy tanks and stands and rocks etc. If we don't manage to kill these off too soon we may just invest the $$ and put a large tank with a stand in the corner where the Littlest Midget has her high chair currently. That's going as soon as I can get to my Dad's and get our extra chair. :)

So tonite is pick up the sharks night. Send me some willpower so I can refrain from snatching up the black and white GP I saw on Sunday that I want to name Flower.

Some Cheese with that Whine ?

I can't remember the Boy doing this or maybe I simply blocked it out because it was so traumatic to me. The whining and moaning and screaming and tantrums literally drive me to drink. The 3 year old has hit a stage that I cannot mentally handle. I snap after a while. Not a proud moment and I'm doing my best to keep my wits about me in these trying times. But Gooollllyyyy.. she can reduce a sane person to a drooling jittery mess in a matter of seconds with her whining and screeching.

Pleas let this be a short phase.. because neither one of us may make it through.

Loyalty be damned

Backstory.. with the flooding downpours last weekend our Daycare was under water. It took all week to get back up and running.

In the interim the kids spent their days in another branch of the DC. A bigger.. much nicer branch. All 3 kids LOVE it. So much so I'm considering moving them (the girls) to the bigger center after Aedan starts Kindergarten. I wonder if they would be as happy without their transplanted friends with them? And in addition to their happiness I feel very disloyal (is that a word?) to the teachers at our current center. They love my kids and they really are easygoing when it comes to certain rules.. but still the size and the perks at our temp center are to die for... bigger and better outside playground, larger classrooms... Chic-fil-a on Fridays . yum.

So many decisions. I suppose I can wait and see how things are when we get back on Monday.

Paging Dr. Rizzi

Alexa's tube Surgery went off without a hitch. Well except the part where they told us to be in Philly at 6:15 am. And the she wasn't rolled back to the ER til 9 am. She made out fine and was only gone for about 15 minutes.. Dr. Rizzi called me on the waiting room phone to tell me how she did. And 2 minutes later we joined her in recovery.

The funny part, that I actually felt a little bad about laughing about in retrospect, was how she was after they gave her the *giggle juice*. In lay terms.. a sedative to keep her from freaking out when they took her away from us. Ten minutes after they gave it to her she was happy as can be. She was overly friendly to the anesthesiologist which is not her at all.. she follows the Stranger Danger Rule to the nth degree. She was laughing and rolling around on the gurney like a drunk and high little midget. I so wish I had a video camera so I could have taped it to view when she was 21.

Hopefully this will be the end of the torturous ear infections and subsequent seizure. Let's all hope so.

The Latest and Greatest

Haven't updated in over a week due to vacation. :)
Vacation was fun and extremely exhausting. I now need a vacation away from the man and the midgets. Too bad I have a job otherwise I might be on a plane today headed someplace warm and relaxing. :)

Short version. We hit the beach everyday. Aedan loved it sand and water. Chloe loved the sand and a little water. She'd venture in up to her knees. Alexa loved only the sand ... screamed bloody murder if her toes even hit the wet sand let alone the water.

Ate way too many goodies and hit the boardwalk in Ocean City 3 times. All 3 kids enjoyed riding the rides and I even braved a few bigger ones much to the Man's surprise.. I'll never get on one of them again... but hey .. I did it without throwing up.

Alexa took a dive down the wood stairs. and luckily my niece caught her about 6 steps down so she had a fat lip and a bump on her head. No concussion thank goodness.

Brother in law is doing better and will hopefully be moved to Rehab today. We continue to pray and hope for the best for him and the whole family.

While on vacation the Man's Dr. called and left a message that they would like to schedule follow up tests from the CT Scan he had back in May. Of course my thought run straight to the negative. He called today and they saw a lesion on his liver too small to diagnose. So he goes next week to have an ultrasound so they can check the lesion and see what it's all about. Worrying here as I always do.

Last night we got a call from Daycare. The facility got flooded with about an inch of water from the horrid rainstorms we had. So no DC for them. I called and enlisted my niece to babysit today and tomorrow also. We have tube surgery for the Littlest Midget tomorrow. My biggest fear is that she will wake up overnight and want a bottle of milk and I won't be able to give it to her. So I pray she gets the 1st appointment for surgery and won't have to fast more than a couple hours.

I think that's it for now.

My faith is surely being tested

I cannot even assemble words to explain what I am feeling at the moment. My brother-in-law. Jim's sister's husband had surgery to remove brain cancer on Friday and has been given 3 - 12 months to live. I can't fathom how SIL is feeling. I can only suppose it's like the world has fallen out from under her. Like she can't stand or move. Like she is drowning in nothingness. Because I can only imagine that that is what I would be feeling if I had gotten the same news today.

Tom is the guy that is willing to share what he has with you no matter what. Willing to give you the shirt off his back. Eager to lend a helping hand even if he just met you. Always quick with an interesting history lesson about some dumb piece of information or a joke to cheer you up.

And now it's like he's being taken away from us .. and he is. Too soon.

Today I feel glad that I don't spend my sundays in church praying for something that will never come.

Down the Shore

3 crappy, long, boring work days left before I leave for a blissful week at the jersey shore. Yeah .. the Jersey shore... not a 5 star resort and yet we love it and go back every year. We wouldn't have it any other way. We love us some beachin' and boardwalkin'.

We will pack as much as possible Friday night so we can be on the road by 7:30. Check in isn't til 2 but we have family already down for vacation so we can visit for a while before checking in.

I am so excited for some relaxing days that do not include laundry and dishes and lunches and day care prep.

I am excited to take pictures like crazy.. the possibilities are endless when you have a beach and dunes and a bay and countless other sites at your disposal for a photo shoot. :)

Found the lost teeth..

Aedan lost two.. but Alexa has topped that. She is currently cutting 7 .. count em.. 7 teeth. Four of these are molars. Talk about Ouch ! No wonder she is miserable with a temp, a runny nose and runny diapers. It's really a joy at my house these days.. let's just hope the cutting part moves quickly.. or else I may have to cut myself.

Things that make you go Hmmm...

Sometimes I sit and just think. About anything and everything.

1.. while chatting via FB last night with my sister she told me she had a dream that I died and that she woke up crying. That reminded me of something Aedan told me last week. He had a dream that He and I both died. I've found out in past research that a death in your dreams means that person (the dead one) will go through a major life change. So.. I know Aedan's move to Kindergarten would be his life change.. what would mine be ?? Interesting... I suppose we'll see soon enough.

2. I wonder how I do it. Meaning. Get up at 5:30 every day and get myself and the 3 kids ready abnd out the door by 7 to get to work by 8:30. This is after staying up til after 10 most nights folding laundry, cleaning, getting things ready for the next day and general house work. I can't doo much while the 3 kids are awake so once they hit the hay I can bust out the cleaning and prep work. I should fall over at approx. 4 pm every day but I don't. I suppose my body is just accustomed to it now? Now if all this running around did something for my waistline I'd be a happy camper.

Countdown is on

In honor of our upcoming vacation I have changed the photo to last year's family vacation pic. :) I'll compare pics after this year's getaway :)

A Candidate for Juilliard

I swear Chloe could get a full scholarship to Juilliard with her most recent adaptation of a shakespeare character. During dinner last evening I told her she had to try at least one piece of chicken before she said she didn't like it. Finally she puts the piece in her mouth and begins to chew. She makes a face to spit it out I tell her not to and to swallow it. She gets this grimace on her face and proceeds to choke it down. Now when I say *choke it down* that's what I mean .. literally.
She begins to swallow and grabs her throat and makes choking and gurgling noises while throwing her head back. She continues to grab at her throat which looks as if she's trying to claw away at her neck to clear the poison. She acted as if she had just swallowed chicken coated in arsenic and acid.

I looked at Jim and shook my head and we both just lost it. And then she finished the rest of the chicken.

I *should* eat my own arm.. it would help.

OK. I smoked for um... about 17 years. Never while pregnant or for several months thereafter. As soon as that little stick showed + I stopped cold turkey. It was easy. But I always went back.

Now I have been smoke free for almost 8 months. It was actually easy. It must have been *my time* .

Now here is my issue. Between the non-smoking, post pregnancy extra 5 pounds, birth control pill, and steroids for my asthma I am at my all time highest weight. Not counting pregnancy weight of course. Instead of smoking I snack. Which is not a good thing. My metabolism changed when I hit 35 and stopped smoking. I can't eat whatever I want anymore. And I like to eat whatever I want.

I don't like the way I look. This is the 1st time in my life I can say that. Hubby says I look good to him. What the hell does he know? He's a typical man. if he's getting any he's happy. All I know is none of my favorite clothes fit nicely anymore. I'm sick of trying to squeeze my ass into a pair of pants only to decide they are too tight and search for another pair.

I want my old body back. So now I have to see what I can do, with the teeny tiny amount of free time I do have, to try and drop about 15.

Wish me luck because if I have to give up eating someone may die.

Head Shots

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

I just got a call from Day Care . The voicemail message was from Aedan's teacher and she said "it's not bad thing it is good". So I call back and she tells me Aedan wants to tell me something. :)

"Mommy I lost my 1st tooth"

We've been working on these 2 loose ones for over a week now because their replacements are already coming in behind them.

So now the Fairy needs to count her cash and see what she thinks a 1st tooth is worth.

Ears to you

Tomorrow is that day. The day we have the ENT appointment and will most likely (99% Sure) schedule the surgery for the littlest Miss to get tubes. I know it will be for the best but gosh that whole idea of anesthesia freaks me out. How can her tiny little body handle it ? On a similar note. how can her little body handle another seizure as a result of a fever that is the a result of another ear infection... I'd rather have the tubes to try and avoid the seizure as much as th anesthesia scares me.

The Curb Dwellers

This is what my family and the neighbors are referred to as by a few PITA neighbors..

**ANNOUNCEMENT**

We, meaning about 10 of us, will be on the curb this evening enjoying some cold refreshments of an alcoholic nature and supervising the children playing in the street. If you do not enjoy the company of children and a good time being had by all steer clear of Royal Court. If, on the other hand, you enjoy a cold beverage and enjoyable company, swing on by and we'll hook you up . :)

Put the Kibosh on Naps

In preparation for Kindergarten the Preschool/Camp Teacher has removed nap time from the daily routine. All I can say.. Oh no ! Aedan can hang with the best of them without a nap. As long as there is no car ride in the mix. Since camp has started and the schedule without naps Aedan falls asleep in the car on the way home at least 4 out off 5 nights a week. He plays hard. If he didn't have that boring car ride home he would be OK and not fall asleep. But since the commute home is approx. 35 minutes on a good night he can have a cat nap.

Last night was the worst. He spent all day at the park with his class. In the heat and sun so naturally he falls asleep. We get to the hairdresser and I wake him up and leave him with Jim for the haircut. I take the girls home and in 10 minutes the boys arrive home. Aedan still has bushy hair and he storms to his room. Apparently he had a total and utterly embarrassing meltdown in a salon full of women. Swimming, outside time and fireworks viewing next weekend were taken away til further notice. I had my own appt. a 1/2 hour later. So I had a talk with him.. He had to apologize to Jim, and Angela (hairdresser) and if he went with me to get his haircut the restrictions would be pulled. He agreed. And the rest of the night was peaceful and happy.

I understand the nap removal is to prepare them for kindergarten and it's better to start now so he's ready in September but damn.. I don't like seeing my kid flip out like that due to lack of sleep. Not to mention he has picked up bad habits, for use during the meltdowns, from a certain child (Eddie Hascal type) in his class that I truly do not like and is considered unacceptable behavior in my house. Calling oneself Stupid, saying I hate myself and smacking your own head is beyond unacceptable and I am angry that he has picked that up.. We have had multiple discussions about it and every time he pulls it at home he has to go to his room. We don't use the word stupid or hate.

I just hope that as of August 31st he is ready for a full day and we can avoid these meltdowns.

My Countdown is on

Just a day and a half more to my dream floors. :) I take that back.. dream floors are self cleaning.. LOL . Anyway a couple days til I get my new flooring on the entire first floor. No more stained carpeting. Just sleek and shiny hardwood laminate that can easily be wiped up. As the mother of three "mess makers", which I tend to call them often, I find this floor to be perfect. I'll invest in a dust mop and the laminate cleaner and bask in the glory of it all.

It's funny how a grown woman can get excited about such mundane things. Like flooring or a vacuum etc. I guess our priories change as we grow and mature. It is evident in my wish list these days. Flooring - Check. Washer & Dryer. New Shower. you know .. the essentials.

Not too Far Off

Kindergarten that is. The Boy starts kindergarten on August 31st. Not too far off if you ask me.. most of the summer left and yet just around the corner. I'm starting to get nervous for him. A new school.. a couple kids he may know from soccer .. at least I hope. We'll hopefully see some friends at Open House in August. I'm nervous for him being at Day Care for the mornings and then nervous for him getting on that bus to go to school and nervous about being at school and coming home on the bus. I'm just nervous about it all. Tomorrow is an appointment to visit the Day care where he will spend his mornings. I hope he likes it because it would really suck for him if he didn't like it. :( They only have one spot left so I need to get my fee in to hold that spot. It's the ideal spot for us because I drive past it on the way to our other day care and work every morning.

I just get very nervous with him being up there near home and so far away from me during the day. Luckily I have 2 wonderful people on the emergency contact list that can be there in seconds. :)

As nervous as I am that is how excited he is. He had no problems on orientation day going on the bus with the other kids and going to his classroom with the teachers. He is very excited to be going there and then to my neighbor's house for 45 minutes after school. I just hope I can get excited soon. My stomach is all topsy turvy just thinking about it.

Friends I've never met.

Over the course of the past oh.. say about 10 years I have participated in a couple website message boards. They were resources for me to find women who, like myself , were trying to get pregnant and looking for information. This soon turned into a place to fret and complain about NOT getting pregnant. And then a resource for infertility followed by miscarriage. It became my refuge and a place where I always had support and someone who knew how I was feeling and would offer a cyber shoulder and some hugs when things weren't great. All of these women went through the most trying times in my life and also the most joyous. They are all true friends and yet I've never sat and had a drink with them. Well all except one lovely lady that lives near me. :) I consider them my friends and refer to them as that in conversations. I value their friendships and I hope that one day I can meet them in person so I can give them a real hug. I so wish I could chat their ear off while sharing a wonderful conversation about our lives and having a cocktail while watching our children play together. These women know me in and out and like me anyway. :) Maybe because there is no expectations. We expect nothing from each other .. just an ear when we have something to say and a little hug now and then. Some days we can have each other in tears from laughing so hard and then the next day we are commiserating about one thing or another.

It's a wonderful setup .... except I want to hang out with my friends. So someday everyone from Canada, to California to Texas and Georgia to North Carolina, and England will hopefully meet up and have a blast !

So much to do .. so little time

That is pretty much the motto I live by. It seems there is never enough time. At least not in my world. Always doing laundry, making lunches, changing diapers, picking up toys, running errands, going to a party, working, cleaning you name it.. it's on the list..

Today's to do list:
- call for flooring estimator appointment
- make pedicure appt. for July so I can get in on a Sunday.
- make haircut/hi-light appt.
- finish AFLAC claims
- sort through 800 photo prints and organize in to albums
- work
- dentist appt. this evening
- make lunches for tomorrow
- laundry
- bathe all 3 kiddies and cut nails before bed

Now.. of course not all of this will get done today.. but hey it's the stuff that needs to be done.. I won't go into what I need to do for this weekend.. a couple shopping trips and a snack to make before Saturday to add to the list of my daily chores. Oh and my car needs an oil change.. the little wrench light came on yesterday. lovely.

No wonder I need a cocktail every few days.. keeps me sane. Otherwise my OCD will go bat shit and I'll collapse.

Night swimmers

And I don't mean us, the owners of the pool. We purchased one of those Easy set pool for the first time this year because the kids loved the neighbor's so much last year. We swam yesterday. No issues. Pool was fine and when we were done we closed it all up etc. My neighbor calls today to ask what's up with my pool and did I even see it? No I say and what do you mean?

Apparently it's lost alot of water since we closed it up yesterday. So either we have a leak (she can't seem to find one or any water pooling around the pool to confirm a leak) or someone was getting in and out alot without the ladder, thus letting bunches of water out from the side. I'm leaning towards the latter. So now the back light will stay on and if or when I catch the little shit that's doing it there will be hell to pay.

She's no dumb blonde.

She may be a natural blonde but she amazes me daily. She has backslid on the whole potty training issue and yet other things are mastered and continue to improve.

We were all at the Dr. yesterday for Chloe and Alexa. Chloe is sitting on the table with Alexa and she's reading her a Dora & Diego book.. so I start pointing to things and asking her what they are etc.

As a test of sorts I pointed to the page number... "what's this ? " "Seventeen" My jaw drops in astonishment.. so figuring it's a fluke.... I turn a few more pages.. and point again.. "Twenty Four" ... Um.. OK.. try again out of order in case that's how she knows them.. gets them right every time.. although she hesitates on the 6 and 9 numbers..

I tell her she is awesome and give her a high five.. wow.. I knew she could identify colors and shapes and some letters.. but at the age of 3 recognizing double digit numbers is pretty advanced in my mind. I'm not even sure Aedan can do that.. looks like we have a test tonite for Aedan. See what he's learning these days

Worst Nightmare

Any (sane/normal) parent will attest that their worst nightmare is something happening to their children. My own worst nightmare came to fruition on Tuesday. As I was packing up to leave work at 4:10 A call came in from Day Care. It was Chloe's teacher Miss Becky so I assumed it was her allergies. I answered the phone and she told me who she was and then passed the phone to Miss Stefanie, Alexa's teacher, who is a bit upset. She manages to blurt out something about a temperature of 101.6, Alexa going still and stared at the ceiling and then her eyes rolled back into her head and she stared seizing. At this point she's crying and so am I. She said she cleared her airway and they called 911. I told her I'd be there in 5 and hung up.

As I was crying and driving over to Daycare the paramedic called my cell. He asked what hospital I preferred and we went over a bit of family history.

I got there and RAN past all the emergency vehicles into the school. I immediately see a paramedic carrying her from the back classroom to leave. She seems out of it and doesn't even acknowledge me. Which is NOT like her. We get out to the ambulance where I give my van keys to the director and tell her that my Mom would be there for the other 2. And off we go.

Finally after a bit in the cold ambulance and her without clothes Alexa starts to *wake up* . Her blood sugar is checked and that is fine.

We get to the ER and go directly back to a room. That is where she realizes I'm there and wants only me. I hold her until they need to start working.

I had calmed down and held myself together pretty well even after the Dr. suggested that a spinal tap would need to be performed if other tests didn't come back they way we needed them to.

A failed catheter attempt, 3 only partially successful iv attempts before they blew the veins. They got just enough blood to test. And they couldn't give her iv hydration because they couldn't manage an iv. And the whole time she screamed and screamed while myself and Jim comforted her and held her down. This is when I broke down again. While my 14 month old is fighting like you wouldn't believe to get away and me and her father are holding her there so they can torture her some more.
They got some motrin into her at one point, got some juice into her and after 5 hours she was released with a diagnosis of an ear infection. She got a strong antibiotic injection in each leg and we were sent home with instructions to get the ammoxicillan Rx filled and keep the tylenol and motrin going back to back every 4 hours.

All of this because of the gosh darn ear infection. My child's life and my own happiness flashing before my eyes.. because of a damn ear infection. Every time from now on that a child of mine gets any fever .. low or high I will suddenly be on alert worrying what could come next.. fun times.

Wiggle it..just a little bit...

During our before bed tooth brushing session last week I noticed a new tooth coming up behind Aedan's lower front baby tooth. I pointed it out to him and he was excited. He ran down to show his Daddy, who then proceeded to tell him that that baby tooth better fall out or else he'll need surgery so that his teeth stay straight. Now what freaking grown man purposely tries to scare a child like that?? My husband because he simply doesn't THINK before he speaks. I told Aedan to ignore him and put him to bed. I then went downstairs and ripped Jim a new one. He conceded that he was wrong.. Damn skippy buddy so keep your trap shut about things you do not know. So in the days that followed the baby tooth is all wiggly. Aedan had a dentist appointment last week for a cleaning. The dentist said that the new tooth is fine and to keep wiggling the baby tooth so it will fall sout soon because they don't like to leave it for more than a couple weeks. I filled both Aedan and Chloe in on the benefits of losing a tooth and how the tooth fairy comes. Chloe wanted to know if she was nice and I told her that the tooth fairy is indeed nice .. she leaves money for your old teeth.

So for now we wiggle and wiggle hoping it comes out on it's own and hoping that he doesn't swallow it by accident.

My Hookup

I am so glad my Mom came out of retirement and got a new job. Because she keeps me all stocked up on J&J meds and toiletries. She got a job as a contractor for McNeil Pharmaceuticals. Which means she gets to shop at the cheap store. :) Nothing like getting your Motrin, infants and children's tylenol and Aveeno products for next to nothing.. well actually nothing for me cause she never asks for the money. :) It's amazing how fast you can go thru that stuff when you have 3 kids. Not to mention you have to have a bottle of each for each child at daycare. That adds up pretty darn quick. She just dropped off my latest fix. :) Thanks Mom..

Humiliation at Age 5

And it made my blood boil. Our street is a big circle with an "island" of grass and trees in the center.. pretty large. The kids in the court play on it daily. Sunday night Aedan was playing with S, K & E. All older kids.. S=13, K=9 & E=11. The other kids were playing elsewhere. All of a sudden I hear Aedan crying.. So I get up an start to go over .. Sam comes running over and says that E & K pantsed Aedan. Pantsed = pulling down of pants for embarrassment. Only this time his underwear came with the shorts. So I look over and Aedan takes a swing at her (E) and laughs. K's parents immediately yell at her and send her inside. E disappears. Her parents are out so I can't go talk to them. Not to mention her dad is a real a$$ and is the subject of many discussions about drunk driving and drug use. Not to mention car accidents and lawsuits. But that's a whole other story. Anyway.. if they were home I wouldn't go there by myself to complain because he's huge. We soon find out from Aedan that K in fact did NOT take part so she's off the hook. Aedan seems unshaken even though I know it had to be embarrassing for him if he cried. So playtime with E is off limits from now on.. She's always been a bit sneaky but she was nice to him so we over looked it. No more.

Jim comes home Monday night and marches down to the house. Talks to the Dad and the Dad calls her down and asks her what happened. She claims Aedan did it to her twice before she did it to him.. I don't think so.. I have 2 other kids saying she told Aedan to stand up on the stool so she can show him something. Little witch. We'll see how funny she thinks it is when she is the one platying all by her lonesome this summer. Because now K can't play with her either.

Pomp and Circumstance

Pre-School Graduation. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes...

Helen: I can't believe you don't want to go to your own son's graduation.
Bob: It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade.
Helen: It's a ceremony!
Bob: It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity, but if someone is genuinely exceptional...
Courtesy of "The Incredibles"

As much as it really isn't a momentous occasion we still treat it as such because of the big step to the BIG school. :) We had camera and video camera in hand. Programs at the ready and primo seats.. well for a bit at least then I had to be the annoying person running all around trying to get the best shot.

It was a great little ceremony. The kids performed "Upside Down " by Jack Johnson as their *act* and then while the younger kids performed their acts the graduates got ready for the dispersal of diplomas. They came back in cap and gown to pomp and circumstance. Parading in with huge grins. I was very proud. :)

I cried during their singing number but not during the actual graduation. I was sad for him because his BEST friends will no longer be with him everyday. He'll get to see them on school holidays but other than that we'll be lucky if they get together twice a year for a playdate.

Next year he'll make new best friends that he will hopefully have for a very long time but we will always remember his first REAL friends. :)

Congratulations my Graduate !! Watch Out Kindergarten !!

Cutting the apron strings

Today was kindergarten orientation day. I was nervous. Not sure exactly why. It's not like I'm the one starting kindergarten at a new school with a bunch of people I didn't know. Although the thought is enough to give me hives. So I wondered how my 5 year old will do. If today is any indicator, he will be just fine. When called to line up for the bus ride he let go of me and got right in line. I didn't see him for about an hour after that. He went to the classroom and did some activities to test their skills. He came back with a big smile on his face. I'm still hoping for the afternoon placement since we only have 1/2 day kindergarten so we will see how that goes. We also got an idea about the Outdoor Classroom they are constructing in the courtyard. The school is built in a huge circle so the courtyard in the middle is currently green. It will have a pond with water fall with fish and turtles etc. and another section where each grade will plant things and watch it's progress throughout the year. There is so much being put in it's hard to get it all in here but when it's done it will be spectacular. Now I just hope I can make it through the 1st day of school, August 31, 2009 without falling apart because I know Aedan is ready and he will be the one I lean on. :)

My own explorer

I somehow managed to forget how fun the babies are at this age. Alexa is discovering so many new things lately. She is the captain of her own ship, she marches to her own beat.. etc. etc.

She has discovered her tongue and she makes the funniest noises while babbling and talking. She has discovered the joy and yummy goodness of chocolate milk. She has discovered that if she screams loud and long enough she'll eventually get what she wants. And if that doesn't work she throws herself on the floor and slams her head into the floor. She must have learned that cute little move from her older sister. Chloe was famous for her tantrums. She can still flip out with the best of the psychotics. She has discovered that walking is a much faster mode of transportation with less injury to her little knees. She has also discovered the joy of sleep and how much happier Mommy is in the morning when she gets a good night's rest.

As much as I hate to see her grow up so quickly I am really enjoying all her new discoveries.

3..2..1.. Lift Off !!!!

I officially have a walker. :) Alexa started walking a bit last week and now is all over creation on 2 feet instead of beat up knees. :)

She is 13 months old so of the 3 kiddies she is my slacker.. waiting 3 months past the other 2 to start walking. Oh well.. at least she's up on 2 feet now..

The Honesty of Children.

Walking into Daycare to pick up the kiddies on Friday afternoon I was happy to see Aedan's class outside playing Red Rover. His little buddy Ryan ran up to me and said, and I quote.. "Aedan's Mom.... You look good!" It caught me off guard. But then I smiled and thanked him. Kids are honest to a fault sometimes. Apparently Aedan's teacher has been asked why she's getting fat again. (She had gastric bypass 2 years ago). Kids don't know any better. We have a rule in my house that weight and size don't matter. It's rude to discuss someone's weight and to comment on it. While driving down I-76 towards the zoo yesterday Aedan was discussing the guy in front of us on a motor cycle. He thought the guy was a kid. I said "No Aedan.. he is just smaller and really skinny so he looks younger" I was quickly chastised .. "Mom! it's rude to talk about weight" Jim immediately started laughing and I apologized.

I know I need to lose a few.. OK.. a bunch rather then buying all new clothing.. but I will revel in my compliment for a little while longer..

Operation Restoration

As was expected the damage from the fridge leak was worse than we first thought. Besides soaking the ceiling and carpeting in the basement rec room it also damaged the flooring in the hall closet in my dining room and in the powder room. So the kitchen floor, powder room floor and basement are definitely getting replaced. I'm not sure about the carpeting in the dining room which encompasses the whole 1st floor.

I called and scheduled the fridge repair service on Monday night. They were SUPPOSED to come out on Wednesday from 1-5. I arranged to have my father drive an hour and take off work to be there to meet the repair guy. He got there by 12:30 and I called home to check my messages to make sure Sears hadn't called... well they had.. even though I gave them my cell to cal with any changes etc. the message relayed that they would not be there on Wednesday. I WAS LIVID. I was so pissed I could feel my face go red and feel the steam coming out my ears. I called them to rant and truthfully I didn't even recognize myself. I have never been so angry and taken it out on a complete stranger as I did on Wednesday. I was so offensive the service rep asked me to control my language and calm down or else he'd have to end the call. I think my personality split that day due to stress and the evil twin called Sears. Anyway.. they refused to send anyone out so I canceled it and canceled the warranty I had set up. I have appliance Dr. coming tomorrow.

We still have the loud fans blowing in our basement drying things out. They came and got the one from the kitchen and bathroom yesterday. We had a quiet night which was nice not having to yell at each other over those things. So now they will come today to get the ones from downstairs. Then we wait. They took all the measurements and will submit everything to Nationwide. Then they tell us what they will cover as far as replacing stuff. I'm not sure they think we should live like this. My one year old is crawling and walking all over and the exposed sub-floor that is full of shredded wood. There are wood chips everywhere.. even after vacuuming they seem to reappear... ugh..

I just want a clean new floor.

Soccer Mom Status

I have officially become a soccer Mom. It didn't happen when Aedan started soccer 2 years ago. It didn't happen when I got a minivan and toted him to soccer in it.

It happened last night when I uttered the word "Bullshit" during his game. Not loud enough for anyone to hear but even I was surprised to hear myself spewing profanities at a 5 years old's soccer game.

Aedan is always on the *aggressive* game field with a couple other kids from this team. So they were playing the aggressives from the other team. Right off the bat we could tell that this team might give us a run for our money. A far cry from the past 5 games where we went in and massacred the opposing team. Not sure why but the kids play well with each other and feed off each other's energy. So they have dominated every time out. So they start playing and about 5 minutes in I realize the other coach is pretty much letting the kids do what they want and have fun. Which is code for NOT PLAY BY THE RULES. OK.. I understand at this level it's for fun and that's why there is no ref or goalie. But they are supposed to be learning the basics and the rules. To me that means follow the rules because when you move up in the fall the rules are the same except there are goalies and refs and you get penalized for not following said rules.

We don't have goalies. Period. So don't let your kid stand in goal for 90% of the game. We missed out on a couple goals because of this kid literally standing IN the goal. And when we score you take the ball back to center you line up in your positions and start over from there.. you don't get on the ball and run it down field before anyone can catch up. And when the ball goes of of bounds you don't dribble down field while still out of bounds and try to score that way.

Allowing the kids to play how they want will only cause big disappointment in the future when they are penalized along with the rest of their team. If you are in charge of teaching the basics then you had better teach them the right way.

We ended up winning 12 -3 simply because they were only aggressive to a point. They couldn't follow through with the goal once they got down field. Maybe the coach should concentrate on the rules during their next practice and maybe they'll pull it together for their next game..

Next week is our last spring game and it will be sad because Aedan has made some good friends. I hope he has a couple on his fall team and possibly in his kindergarten class come September.

Soccer Mom out..