My 5 year old son and I were out shopping for Easter eggs to give to his teacher for the egg hunt at school. His first reasoning behind choosing was what type of candy was in the eggs. Then, we found the amazing prospect of a pack that had a Golden Egg! The joy that came to his face imagining being the child that found the coveted Golden Egg until we read the pack and discovered we had to place the coveted item in the Golden Egg. All the charm was lost when the mystery was gone. He ended up choosing some Avengers eggs and a pack of sports eggs.
He came home from school yesterday and ran upstairs to inform me that he had a new girlfriend. Somehow my 5 year old son goes through girlfriends faster than my 7 week old goes through diapers. After asking him who she was and getting his response, he suddenly realized he had something in his hand. He looked up at me with this look of having conquered the world and said to me "And you know what else Mommy?!". I could see the item so I just responded with a jaw dropping look of "How in the world?!". He said "And even I got the GOLDEN EGG! And I didn't even bring it!" I could see the tape was still on it so I asked him if he had discovered his prize yet. As he tore the tape off and cracked open this over sized, poorly painted, treasure, he suddenly looked up at me and screamed "I KNEW IT WAS YELLOW NERDS!!"
Today we head over to the high school to partake in the Egg Drop. These things have such potential every year to be so much fun. It all depends on the crowd, the weather, and the attitudes of the other children. The pure adrenaline that rushes through each one as the helicopter comes overhead, hangs this gigantic bag (that looks big enough to swallow an elephant) outside the door, and rips it open allowing thousands of promising candy filled colored eggs to land on the football field while they are forced to stand their ground at the side lines.
The first year we went to this location, my son was under 2 I believe or had just turned two a few months earlier and my daughter had just turned 5. They separate them into age groups so at the time my son was small enough to be in the corral with the other toddlers. My daughter however was just inside the age bracket to go onto the battle field which we should have been informed before hand to bring their shields and helmets to such an event. My Mother accompanied my daughter and I stayed with my son in his corral. The whistle was blown and apparently, the older children had been starved for a week beforehand based on the snarling and gnashing of teeth that could be heard for miles.
My son managed to fill his bucket as did all the other toddlers so we headed to the gate to wait for his sister. As we stood there and waited we watched all the empty buckets being held by the beaten and tear stained faces pass by us. Thousands of eggs. THOUSANDS! I could not believe this many children were leaving empty handed. As I began to wrap my head around what exactly happened and started to realize there was a real possibility that this event which I talked up so much to my children now had such potential to be the biggest disappointment. I looked down at my son's full bucket of eggs and noticed a good portion was missing when I saw the sweetest gesture from a 2 year old. As each child passed with an empty bucket, my sweet little man was putting one of his own in theirs. I hugged him, loved him, told him how sweet that was, and begged him to stop because if his sister's bucket was empty, we would all be much better off for the remainder of the day if he shared with her.
Of course, Eva finally came around the bend with an empty bucket. A sad expression to match it and a grandmother that was just as exasperated and shocked as I was. The past couple of years we have had better luck. As we prepare for battle this morning, I ask that you keep all these children in your thoughts that their buckets be filled, their bellies the same, and their bodies and faces be unharmed.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Morning Routine
I now realize my error and yet I have no desire to correct it. I am known by some as lazy and by others as motivated and a hard worker. Let me speak the truth. When it comes to myself and my family, I unfortunately do the minimum amount to keep us happy. Let me explain.
At work I am a volunteer to do whatever needs to be done. I overload my plate so to speak. I am also known as organized and even a little OCD. Ha! At home is a different story.
I have a pretty good sized laundry room that is storing many neat piles of clean laundry each separated by owner. My "laundry room" is currently the nursery because Tyler is still in the bassinet in our room. I also have a milk crate that doubles for a sock bin. I couldn't tell you the last time I matched socks.
My amazing fiance is the best at keeping the dishes done. I have managed to keep the house clean enough after having Tyler to keep Josh from complaining. Bare minimum I tell you!
Now back to my error. I used to wake up my 8 and 5 year old every morning by going into their room, turning the tv on, and nicely telling them that I was getting breakfast started and to come downstairs as they wake up. This method was allowing about an hour to get ready. This method also allowed spare time or at least what they thought was spare time. Spare time leads to fits about shoes that aren't tight enough, pants that don't feel right, sleeves that are too long because he wanted to wear short sleeves even though it was -38 degrees outside, tv shows that made them feel as if they were to look away from them the sun would explode and we would all die, and the computer or phone game that they would sneak and play that apparently destroyed any ability to communicate as a human being and all fear and common sense would become completely numb to any threats.
These never ending battles lead to my snooze button, aka my dread button, being pressed longer and longer until our morning routine is now down to 20 minutes. I know it seems like a monstrosity to expect this age to rise, get dressed, eat, brush their teeth, and get in the car in 20 minutes. I initially agreed and kicked myself every morning for rushing them and placing such an expectation on them. Initially.
I have realized my error in giving my children unhealthy packaged muffins, cereal in a Ziploc, or a poptart in hand as we walk out the door. I have realized my error with rushing that I occasionally forget to brush ones teeth, wash a face, give vitamins, or brush hair. I realize my error of allowing my children to wear socks that don't match every now and then because I don't have time to rummage the sock bin that morning.
While I'm realizing my error I'm also realizing how much smoother our morning routine is. I start by throwing their clothes at them, turning their light on, and informing them every morning that I slept late again and we have no time to mess around...Get Dressed Now! I then go downstairs, get their breakfast bags ready and sort through backpacks. As they emerge from their caves looking like coma patients, they are completely dressed and I tell them to grab their shoes and brush their teeth. After the shoes have been applied, I proceed to fix their hair while their toothbrushes are still in their mouth. Do you understand they can not scream about a painful brush stroke while the fear of choking is imminent? The only thing left is jackets and backpacks. I may be a genius!
What works for my family may not work for others but for now my dread button will continue to be pressed many times per morning. Now if I can just cure the fights that start the moment the car is in sight. Who will close the garage door? Who will get to sit next to the baby? Who will get their seat belt on first? Who will get to hear the song they want on the radio? WHO WILL MAKE IT OUT ALIVE!!??
At work I am a volunteer to do whatever needs to be done. I overload my plate so to speak. I am also known as organized and even a little OCD. Ha! At home is a different story.
I have a pretty good sized laundry room that is storing many neat piles of clean laundry each separated by owner. My "laundry room" is currently the nursery because Tyler is still in the bassinet in our room. I also have a milk crate that doubles for a sock bin. I couldn't tell you the last time I matched socks.
My amazing fiance is the best at keeping the dishes done. I have managed to keep the house clean enough after having Tyler to keep Josh from complaining. Bare minimum I tell you!
Now back to my error. I used to wake up my 8 and 5 year old every morning by going into their room, turning the tv on, and nicely telling them that I was getting breakfast started and to come downstairs as they wake up. This method was allowing about an hour to get ready. This method also allowed spare time or at least what they thought was spare time. Spare time leads to fits about shoes that aren't tight enough, pants that don't feel right, sleeves that are too long because he wanted to wear short sleeves even though it was -38 degrees outside, tv shows that made them feel as if they were to look away from them the sun would explode and we would all die, and the computer or phone game that they would sneak and play that apparently destroyed any ability to communicate as a human being and all fear and common sense would become completely numb to any threats.
These never ending battles lead to my snooze button, aka my dread button, being pressed longer and longer until our morning routine is now down to 20 minutes. I know it seems like a monstrosity to expect this age to rise, get dressed, eat, brush their teeth, and get in the car in 20 minutes. I initially agreed and kicked myself every morning for rushing them and placing such an expectation on them. Initially.
I have realized my error in giving my children unhealthy packaged muffins, cereal in a Ziploc, or a poptart in hand as we walk out the door. I have realized my error with rushing that I occasionally forget to brush ones teeth, wash a face, give vitamins, or brush hair. I realize my error of allowing my children to wear socks that don't match every now and then because I don't have time to rummage the sock bin that morning.
While I'm realizing my error I'm also realizing how much smoother our morning routine is. I start by throwing their clothes at them, turning their light on, and informing them every morning that I slept late again and we have no time to mess around...Get Dressed Now! I then go downstairs, get their breakfast bags ready and sort through backpacks. As they emerge from their caves looking like coma patients, they are completely dressed and I tell them to grab their shoes and brush their teeth. After the shoes have been applied, I proceed to fix their hair while their toothbrushes are still in their mouth. Do you understand they can not scream about a painful brush stroke while the fear of choking is imminent? The only thing left is jackets and backpacks. I may be a genius!
What works for my family may not work for others but for now my dread button will continue to be pressed many times per morning. Now if I can just cure the fights that start the moment the car is in sight. Who will close the garage door? Who will get to sit next to the baby? Who will get their seat belt on first? Who will get to hear the song they want on the radio? WHO WILL MAKE IT OUT ALIVE!!??
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Maternity leave
As I begin to create my first blog post, I suppose I will elaborate on my intentions first.
Everyday I log onto my Facebook with intentions of catching up with everyone else's business. Some may call me nosy however, I have plenty of status updates to read where people obviously want nosy people to keep up with them. I have no guilt or hesitation after my snooping to then call the appropriately related people associated with the juiciest status updates to discuss the publicly displayed and jaw dropping material I have just read (usually my mother or fiance). I however, finish my daily snooping and gossiping without posting anything that would give anyone else a rush of satisfaction enough to pick up their phone and discuss my latest audacious post. I will occasional post a cute picture or phrase from one of my children or a proud moment. No politics, no religion, even though I have strong feelings on both. This blog probably won't divulge any political or religious information either although I do aspire to be a little more open with the public display of jaw dropping material.
With that said, I will allow my first blog post to be some background information.
I am currently 29 and as far as fairy tales go, I have everything my dreams imagined. My fiance and I just bought our first home in September of 2012 after conceiving our first child together. I have two other children from previous relationships and if there was ever a model step-parent, it most certainly would have to be Josh. He has never been anything less than a "Daddy" to my children. They adore him and that speaks volumes! After giving birth to our son on February 10th of 2013, we discovered the carrier did not fit in my little Rav 4 so the day after leaving the hospital, I was upgraded to soccer mom. We purchased my first ever new car and damned if I finally ended up with a God forsaken mini van. I have grown to love it but it was not in my fairy tale.
My oldest child is 8. Eva Diva will always be unlike any child. There will never be any comparison. I will undoubtedly have plenty of follow up posts explaining that comment. My middle son is 5. Jayden will be starting Kindergarten next year with Eva hopefully going into 3rd. Tyler Anthony is now 6 weeks old which leads me to my title selection. I am currently on maternity leave and finally feeling well enough to allow cabin fever to set it. They say every pregnancy is different and Lord have mercy are they right. I always wanted gobs of children but Tyler may have cured me. After bleeding during the pregnancy starting at 10 weeks with a subchorionic hemmorhage and the doctors telling me I was having a miscarriage and sent me to bed rest, I continued with the pregnancy with multiple other bleeds, plenty of time out of work, and lots or worried family.
Josh is 36 and this is his first child. He has always been amazing with children but he hides his stress, worries, general feelings very well. I made the comment the other day to someone that you would be SOL on knowing how he's feeling unless your sleeping with him. After delivery, I hemmorhaged again with a very high fever. Long story short...multiple ER visits and doctor visits leading to a UTI (twice) and I still had placenta in my uterus so I had to go in for a D & C. Very intense trying to get this child into the world and survive myself. Our next bundle of joy will come after a good while.
Everyday I log onto my Facebook with intentions of catching up with everyone else's business. Some may call me nosy however, I have plenty of status updates to read where people obviously want nosy people to keep up with them. I have no guilt or hesitation after my snooping to then call the appropriately related people associated with the juiciest status updates to discuss the publicly displayed and jaw dropping material I have just read (usually my mother or fiance). I however, finish my daily snooping and gossiping without posting anything that would give anyone else a rush of satisfaction enough to pick up their phone and discuss my latest audacious post. I will occasional post a cute picture or phrase from one of my children or a proud moment. No politics, no religion, even though I have strong feelings on both. This blog probably won't divulge any political or religious information either although I do aspire to be a little more open with the public display of jaw dropping material.
With that said, I will allow my first blog post to be some background information.
I am currently 29 and as far as fairy tales go, I have everything my dreams imagined. My fiance and I just bought our first home in September of 2012 after conceiving our first child together. I have two other children from previous relationships and if there was ever a model step-parent, it most certainly would have to be Josh. He has never been anything less than a "Daddy" to my children. They adore him and that speaks volumes! After giving birth to our son on February 10th of 2013, we discovered the carrier did not fit in my little Rav 4 so the day after leaving the hospital, I was upgraded to soccer mom. We purchased my first ever new car and damned if I finally ended up with a God forsaken mini van. I have grown to love it but it was not in my fairy tale.
My oldest child is 8. Eva Diva will always be unlike any child. There will never be any comparison. I will undoubtedly have plenty of follow up posts explaining that comment. My middle son is 5. Jayden will be starting Kindergarten next year with Eva hopefully going into 3rd. Tyler Anthony is now 6 weeks old which leads me to my title selection. I am currently on maternity leave and finally feeling well enough to allow cabin fever to set it. They say every pregnancy is different and Lord have mercy are they right. I always wanted gobs of children but Tyler may have cured me. After bleeding during the pregnancy starting at 10 weeks with a subchorionic hemmorhage and the doctors telling me I was having a miscarriage and sent me to bed rest, I continued with the pregnancy with multiple other bleeds, plenty of time out of work, and lots or worried family.
Josh is 36 and this is his first child. He has always been amazing with children but he hides his stress, worries, general feelings very well. I made the comment the other day to someone that you would be SOL on knowing how he's feeling unless your sleeping with him. After delivery, I hemmorhaged again with a very high fever. Long story short...multiple ER visits and doctor visits leading to a UTI (twice) and I still had placenta in my uterus so I had to go in for a D & C. Very intense trying to get this child into the world and survive myself. Our next bundle of joy will come after a good while.
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