Heading to an afternoon birthday party for one of our favorite newly-turned-4-year-olds ~
me: I had better stop and grab a coffee on our way out. I am still pretty tired and a little crabby, I think.
the muss: You should make it a large.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
so proud
The Muss is a fantastic student.
We had parent/teacher conferences today for our favorite 1st grader and it went swimmingly. Her teacher was beaming as she told us how the Muss is doing in each of her subjects, went over her (very subjective) report card and told us about the "extra" things she has her doing.
I guess the Muss and one other student are so far ahead in some areas (read: reading) that the teacher has them do other worksheets/projects when she is working with the rest of the class. I already knew she was doing very well with her reading, heck, she was using inflection as a 5-year-old. A lot of adults I know don't even use inflection when they read. I was fairly advanced in this area when I was younger as well. From my writing you can clearly see that it ended there and I didn't advance much past AP English in high school. I make do.
Her teacher spoke of how the Muss is always volunteering to help her and other students. How she is always smiling and always willing (and excited!) to do whatever is asked of her. She is a joy to have in the classroom.
I wish that was the same kid I picked up from school. I tease. We have our difficulties, what parent doesn't? I do know that it is hard to "keep it together" all day and so a little falling apart is necessary once she gets home. I have the same problem.
We had parent/teacher conferences today for our favorite 1st grader and it went swimmingly. Her teacher was beaming as she told us how the Muss is doing in each of her subjects, went over her (very subjective) report card and told us about the "extra" things she has her doing.
I guess the Muss and one other student are so far ahead in some areas (read: reading) that the teacher has them do other worksheets/projects when she is working with the rest of the class. I already knew she was doing very well with her reading, heck, she was using inflection as a 5-year-old. A lot of adults I know don't even use inflection when they read. I was fairly advanced in this area when I was younger as well. From my writing you can clearly see that it ended there and I didn't advance much past AP English in high school. I make do.
Her teacher spoke of how the Muss is always volunteering to help her and other students. How she is always smiling and always willing (and excited!) to do whatever is asked of her. She is a joy to have in the classroom.
I wish that was the same kid I picked up from school. I tease. We have our difficulties, what parent doesn't? I do know that it is hard to "keep it together" all day and so a little falling apart is necessary once she gets home. I have the same problem.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
on the way home from tennis lessons
Note: I am not perfect and my kids do get drive-thru from time to time.
Not often, though. I swear.
Tennis gets over at 6:20 PM and I just cannot muster the energy to rush home and cook dinner. Since we usually eat at 6P, this would make it at least an hour late, so we usually pick something up on Tuesdays.
Heading to Taco Johns~
Me: I haven't had an Super Potato Oles in for-evah, can't wait.
the Muss: Hmmm, do they wear a cape?
Boo: Super Potato Oles to the rescue!
Not often, though. I swear.
Tennis gets over at 6:20 PM and I just cannot muster the energy to rush home and cook dinner. Since we usually eat at 6P, this would make it at least an hour late, so we usually pick something up on Tuesdays.
Heading to Taco Johns~
Me: I haven't had an Super Potato Oles in for-evah, can't wait.
the Muss: Hmmm, do they wear a cape?
Boo: Super Potato Oles to the rescue!
Monday, October 1, 2007
happy birthday to me
I'm 29 years old and I'm sticking to that.
No, really, today I turned 38. Speeding toward 40 at a rapid rate. I'm not one who is really hung up on ages, except when you mention mine. I don't feel 38 and (personally) I don't think I look 38. Whatever 38 looks like, I guess. I did that test thing at realage.com and I was only 21 yrs 8 mos old. Now, I really would not want to be 21 again, but hey, that thing is scientifically accurate, right?
I started the day by taking the Muss to school. Then headed out for a day of shopping with my mom. I have been feeling some tension in our relationship so it was really nice to spend the day with her just relaxing. I think I may have repaired some things in my head. Mothers and daughters seem to have such complicated relationships. I am a little apprehensive about the future since I have 2 of them and they both seem to have too much of me in them. I am going to surmise the teenage years will prove to be difficult.
The kids made me some very cute cards today while I was out. Boo's drew a picture of the two of us in his. The Muss wrote a long message wishing a "happy birthday to my 38-year-old mom." Thanks, I appreciated that.
My dad dropped off some flowers and a card. The cash included was very helpful in covering some of my shopping expenses from the day. J.'s mom came over, brought balloons and made dinner.
All in all a lovely day.
No, really, today I turned 38. Speeding toward 40 at a rapid rate. I'm not one who is really hung up on ages, except when you mention mine. I don't feel 38 and (personally) I don't think I look 38. Whatever 38 looks like, I guess. I did that test thing at realage.com and I was only 21 yrs 8 mos old. Now, I really would not want to be 21 again, but hey, that thing is scientifically accurate, right?
I started the day by taking the Muss to school. Then headed out for a day of shopping with my mom. I have been feeling some tension in our relationship so it was really nice to spend the day with her just relaxing. I think I may have repaired some things in my head. Mothers and daughters seem to have such complicated relationships. I am a little apprehensive about the future since I have 2 of them and they both seem to have too much of me in them. I am going to surmise the teenage years will prove to be difficult.
The kids made me some very cute cards today while I was out. Boo's drew a picture of the two of us in his. The Muss wrote a long message wishing a "happy birthday to my 38-year-old mom." Thanks, I appreciated that.
My dad dropped off some flowers and a card. The cash included was very helpful in covering some of my shopping expenses from the day. J.'s mom came over, brought balloons and made dinner.
All in all a lovely day.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
happy 2nd birthday kiki
Oh, my baby love, where to start.
You are an amazing creature, kind of a cross between a sprite and a toddler. You have this magical way of making each person in the room feel like they are the most important person to you at that time and place. I just don't know how you do it, but it is a skill, a very enviable skill. You have so many words too. Not only are you magical and cute, but smart as well. We can onlly hope that you use those gifts for good and not evil.
Today was a marked day for you in the word department. It is like someone whispered in your ear when you woke up that today you are no longer a baby and you are officially a toddler, grow up! Today is the day you stopped saying "da" for "yes" (like a good little German baby) and started saying "yes." We had not been correcting the "da" when we heard it, but actually encouraging it. We encouraged that just like we encouraged the Muss to continue to say "fagel" for "squirrel" and for Boo to continue to say "planet urf" for "planet earth." We love the little interpretations of English that you all come up with and we let you use them as long as we can. Or until someone with better sense tells you the correct way to say things.
You are just a wee thing still, only 24lbs, but you eat like a champ so I can't complain. Well, I could complain that you would rather eat chips and french fries for every meal instead of something nutritious, but you do give in and eat green things and other good for you stuff when forced. You often pound on your table demanding green beans and "noonles." Then we give them to you.
Watching you grow over the past year has been one of the highlights of my life. And I'm not just saying that. The age of 1 has been one of my favorites for all 3 of you, but knowing this was my last 1 to be 1 made me savor it. I held you in my arms until you fell asleep when you needed me to. I carried you around while doing everything when you wanted me to. I answered the same questions hundreds of times because you asked me to. I kissed and hugged you a gazillion times because I needed to.
My favorite thing you do (and I promise it was hard to pick just one) is when you climb on my lap and take my face in your little hands with the sweet dimples where one day knuckles will be and you look me straight in the eyes and say "momma" in this little voice that is so full of love I can feel it in my soul.
You are full of love, hugs, kisses, touches and light.
You are an amazing creature, kind of a cross between a sprite and a toddler. You have this magical way of making each person in the room feel like they are the most important person to you at that time and place. I just don't know how you do it, but it is a skill, a very enviable skill. You have so many words too. Not only are you magical and cute, but smart as well. We can onlly hope that you use those gifts for good and not evil.
Today was a marked day for you in the word department. It is like someone whispered in your ear when you woke up that today you are no longer a baby and you are officially a toddler, grow up! Today is the day you stopped saying "da" for "yes" (like a good little German baby) and started saying "yes." We had not been correcting the "da" when we heard it, but actually encouraging it. We encouraged that just like we encouraged the Muss to continue to say "fagel" for "squirrel" and for Boo to continue to say "planet urf" for "planet earth." We love the little interpretations of English that you all come up with and we let you use them as long as we can. Or until someone with better sense tells you the correct way to say things.
You are just a wee thing still, only 24lbs, but you eat like a champ so I can't complain. Well, I could complain that you would rather eat chips and french fries for every meal instead of something nutritious, but you do give in and eat green things and other good for you stuff when forced. You often pound on your table demanding green beans and "noonles." Then we give them to you.
Watching you grow over the past year has been one of the highlights of my life. And I'm not just saying that. The age of 1 has been one of my favorites for all 3 of you, but knowing this was my last 1 to be 1 made me savor it. I held you in my arms until you fell asleep when you needed me to. I carried you around while doing everything when you wanted me to. I answered the same questions hundreds of times because you asked me to. I kissed and hugged you a gazillion times because I needed to.
My favorite thing you do (and I promise it was hard to pick just one) is when you climb on my lap and take my face in your little hands with the sweet dimples where one day knuckles will be and you look me straight in the eyes and say "momma" in this little voice that is so full of love I can feel it in my soul.
You are full of love, hugs, kisses, touches and light.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
difficult start to 1st grade
I'm not quite sure if it started as more my problem that the muss', but 1st grade is getting off to a rough start.
The day the class lists were posted on the school doors I zoomed by on my way home from work to check them out. I figured I could take the muss up later and she would be none the wiser that the momma already knew. Well, it was grim. All but one of her best buddies from last year were in the other class. Even worse, all the moms I had become friends with were in the other class. I was beside myself. I think I may even have had a panic attack right there at the door to the school. It is all a blur, I don't quite remember.
I went home and put on a happy face and decided I wasn't even going to bring up the class list issue. If she was not dying to know, I was not going to tell her, or take her, or even mention that school was starting soon.
She didn't ask about it until Friday of that week. Then I broke the news to her. She took it better than I had taken it. She was fine. Seems she has the same put-on-a-happy-face skill that I have mastered.
Fast forward to tonight, the 3rd day of school. The Muss has been C...R...A...B...B...Y all week. Very crabby. She, however, maintains that nothing is wrong, which I know is not true. So, after tucking her in and going back downstairs, I hear her sobbing. The dam finally broke and maybe I can drag from her the problem. It was what I thought. She hates 1st grade (never been a fan of change, that one), she hates the classroom, they don't get to do anything fun, all her friends are in the other class, no one likes her in her new class, the list goes on and on. At least she is talking to me finally.
So, we spend the next hour, past bedtime, going through every issue and talking it over. I think I may even have made myself feel better in the process. Woohoo, momma, heal thyself.
We will have to see how the next few days and weeks go, but I think we will make it. If she can make new friends, so can I.
The day the class lists were posted on the school doors I zoomed by on my way home from work to check them out. I figured I could take the muss up later and she would be none the wiser that the momma already knew. Well, it was grim. All but one of her best buddies from last year were in the other class. Even worse, all the moms I had become friends with were in the other class. I was beside myself. I think I may even have had a panic attack right there at the door to the school. It is all a blur, I don't quite remember.
I went home and put on a happy face and decided I wasn't even going to bring up the class list issue. If she was not dying to know, I was not going to tell her, or take her, or even mention that school was starting soon.
She didn't ask about it until Friday of that week. Then I broke the news to her. She took it better than I had taken it. She was fine. Seems she has the same put-on-a-happy-face skill that I have mastered.
Fast forward to tonight, the 3rd day of school. The Muss has been C...R...A...B...B...Y all week. Very crabby. She, however, maintains that nothing is wrong, which I know is not true. So, after tucking her in and going back downstairs, I hear her sobbing. The dam finally broke and maybe I can drag from her the problem. It was what I thought. She hates 1st grade (never been a fan of change, that one), she hates the classroom, they don't get to do anything fun, all her friends are in the other class, no one likes her in her new class, the list goes on and on. At least she is talking to me finally.
So, we spend the next hour, past bedtime, going through every issue and talking it over. I think I may even have made myself feel better in the process. Woohoo, momma, heal thyself.
We will have to see how the next few days and weeks go, but I think we will make it. If she can make new friends, so can I.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
the hits just keep on comin'
It has been a trying summer.
I thought the biggest issue would be the Muss without enough constructive activity. She really took to the whole school thing. No, it is not her, it is Boo. He is most certainly a 4-year-old boy testing every limitation and boundary that could possibly be placed around him. He has become obstinate, sassy and, well, just a plain little shit. Damn good thing he is cute otherwise he may not still be living.
Today he completely reverted to 2 years of age.
J. made the questionable decision to schedule Trooper a vet appointment while I was at work. Normally, we never do these type of things because taking all 3 kids to a vet's office for an hour turns into an eternity and also increases the urge to strangle children. But, no, J. has been super-stay-at-home-dad all summer and he can handle it.
Pardon me while I pick myself up off the floor where I have fallen from hysterical laughter. I have taken all 3 to the office of our family physician on occassion (when left no other choice) and it is not pretty. Not pretty AT ALL.
So, back to the vet. The kids are running around like little possessed demons with sparks flying off of their heads. They are then confined to an 8X8 room to wait for the vet. After what seemed like, yes, an eternity , but was really about 20 minutes, the vet comes in. Our Dear Trooper has been having some issues lately and J. wants to address them with the vet. Troop is pushing 8 and is a large breed of dog so this means he is a little long in the tooth thus he is having the sort of issues one would think an older dog would have. So while J. is talking to the vet, Boo and Kiki are under the table in the room coloring on the base of it. Yes, the assistants at the office gave my children crayons and didn't cover every surface in the building with paper. What were they thinking anyway? J. nips that in the bud, picks up a writhing, squealing Kiki and continues his discussion. They chat, everything is fine, then J. is mid-sentence and the vet calls out, "no, hey, don't do that" and J. turns to see Boo frantically scribbling all over the WALL.
*sigh*
That is right, the wall. Of course he apologized up and down and offered to clean it up, but they said they would take care of it. Maybe they know about the Magic Eraser.
So later, Boo is so busy frantically playing outside he forgets that he may need to stop and address his normal bodily functions once in awhile. Since he has forgotten this, he ends up peeing his pants. Seriously? The boy is 4 1/2?
This is all in addition to the usual crazed, frantic (are you seeing a pattern?) behavior that drives us to drink. Some of our favorites are the Wrapping Up In A Blanket And Rolling On The Floor While Frantically Laughing, the Running Circles Through The Living/Dining/Kitchen Areas While Frantically Laughing and the Poking My Sisters With Anything In The House I Can Find While Frantically Laughing. All good ones for sure.
Now I'm thinking he seems frantic a lot. Is this 4 or is this a bigger issue? We don't give him any caffeine. He rarely has chocolate and we keep all artificially-sugared items to a minimum. What is causing this? Is this 4 or is this a bigger issue? Am I breaking him in some way?
Sound like something to ask our family physician about next time I take all 3 of them in.
I thought the biggest issue would be the Muss without enough constructive activity. She really took to the whole school thing. No, it is not her, it is Boo. He is most certainly a 4-year-old boy testing every limitation and boundary that could possibly be placed around him. He has become obstinate, sassy and, well, just a plain little shit. Damn good thing he is cute otherwise he may not still be living.
Today he completely reverted to 2 years of age.
J. made the questionable decision to schedule Trooper a vet appointment while I was at work. Normally, we never do these type of things because taking all 3 kids to a vet's office for an hour turns into an eternity and also increases the urge to strangle children. But, no, J. has been super-stay-at-home-dad all summer and he can handle it.
Pardon me while I pick myself up off the floor where I have fallen from hysterical laughter. I have taken all 3 to the office of our family physician on occassion (when left no other choice) and it is not pretty. Not pretty AT ALL.
So, back to the vet. The kids are running around like little possessed demons with sparks flying off of their heads. They are then confined to an 8X8 room to wait for the vet. After what seemed like, yes, an eternity , but was really about 20 minutes, the vet comes in. Our Dear Trooper has been having some issues lately and J. wants to address them with the vet. Troop is pushing 8 and is a large breed of dog so this means he is a little long in the tooth thus he is having the sort of issues one would think an older dog would have. So while J. is talking to the vet, Boo and Kiki are under the table in the room coloring on the base of it. Yes, the assistants at the office gave my children crayons and didn't cover every surface in the building with paper. What were they thinking anyway? J. nips that in the bud, picks up a writhing, squealing Kiki and continues his discussion. They chat, everything is fine, then J. is mid-sentence and the vet calls out, "no, hey, don't do that" and J. turns to see Boo frantically scribbling all over the WALL.
*sigh*
That is right, the wall. Of course he apologized up and down and offered to clean it up, but they said they would take care of it. Maybe they know about the Magic Eraser.
So later, Boo is so busy frantically playing outside he forgets that he may need to stop and address his normal bodily functions once in awhile. Since he has forgotten this, he ends up peeing his pants. Seriously? The boy is 4 1/2?
This is all in addition to the usual crazed, frantic (are you seeing a pattern?) behavior that drives us to drink. Some of our favorites are the Wrapping Up In A Blanket And Rolling On The Floor While Frantically Laughing, the Running Circles Through The Living/Dining/Kitchen Areas While Frantically Laughing and the Poking My Sisters With Anything In The House I Can Find While Frantically Laughing. All good ones for sure.
Now I'm thinking he seems frantic a lot. Is this 4 or is this a bigger issue? We don't give him any caffeine. He rarely has chocolate and we keep all artificially-sugared items to a minimum. What is causing this? Is this 4 or is this a bigger issue? Am I breaking him in some way?
Sound like something to ask our family physician about next time I take all 3 of them in.
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