24 days left

Sunday we made a quick run to the mall to return some pants and $150/three hours later we emerged with this -

I read a blog post from somewhere last year about a mom who bought new ornaments for their children every year showing something they were really into that year and thought it was really, really cute idea. Each one picked out their own ornament - since there was one of a child throwing a fit or sitting on a potty (our two big things this year!)

I also bought one family one for this year with the date - my stepmom does this and I like that tradition as well... it's kinda cool to go through the tree and find the one from 1976 and see how holiday fashion has changed over the years. Rounding out our little oranment spree was one I picked out to celebrate our adoption finalization last year:

I never found an ornament I liked last year and never made it to Hallmark, so a year late, but done, none the less.

I also picked up a couple of articles for clothing for both children and scored a new pair of pants for me. They really were bargains, despite the outflow of cash. And now, I won't have to go to the mall for the rest of the holiday season!

Linen Closet

As promised… my organized and clutter-free linen closet. Minus about 20 pillow cases. I swear they were multiplying in the dark!

 

26 Days Left

Do you buy the school pictures? This is the first year for us… or rather the first for me to pay for them. Working in a school, I get a small package for free – because every adult not in the entertainment business needs 10 2x3 headshots – and I usually just toss them upon receipt.


Lala’s school is offering them and although I’m not thrilled with how they turned out, many others have said they are VERY cute and I must order something to preserve the moment. World’s biggest scam, I swear. Even if every parent only orders the cheapest option, at $15 per student (200 x 15), that’s $3000 for two hours of work. Multiply by that all the schools in the area… major cash. The photos are produced by machine, so it’s not even really creating actual jobs for people! By the way, that $15 is for ONE 8x10. The photo packages (complete six billion wallet size – really? Who needs more than two?) start at $50. And if you have more than one kid in school? Major expense! I am soooo in the wrong business…

As I write this $30 poorer (I had to buy some for Lala’s bio family and they were pretty cute in a crappy school picture sort of way), I am mentally preparing for our first professional family photo shoot. It’s outside… and currently it’s raining outside. The weather report for tomorrow says ‘mostly sunny’. I am excited about getting professional photos of me and the kids. First, because I’m taking the photos all the time, I’m never in them. Second, the cuddler is an expert at the quick head turn. (I have a million photos of his profile.) We’re going to wear matchy outfits, because that is the way I roll. Rest assured, NY friends, we won’t be wearing any shits with holiday décor and no sweaters with reindeer will be allowed. Red shirts/sweaters (OMG! Is the cuddler cute in this outfit!) and some sort of appropriate pants.

Not only a first for our family, but also xmas card material done in time to get the cards by Thanksgiving weekend. Yippee!

Day 27 - Holiday Relaxation

Think she'll look this happy after a flu shot?

To tell the truth, I was never really big on the whole flu shot thing. It seemed like every time I got one, I was sick more often than the years I didn't get one. This thinking went out the window with the addition of kids. Single parenting is all about being honest with your limitations.

When I'm really sick, all I want to do is sleep it off. And I'm not very polite about that request, either. Now add two small children with no adult supervision while I'm sleeping. Disaster in the waiting? Why wait! It'll happen almost instantaneously. I can't afford to be sick! Or rather, my furniture can't afford for me to be sick. Nor can I afford to have children who are sick for weeks... really I can't even imagine the horror. (I know it's coming soon at some point, just not this year, please?)

To ensure a healthy holiday full of people in a good mood (and not grossed out), we're all getting flu shots today. Link to Flu Shot information

Day 28

We started the chore charts yesterday… they were a big hit until I wouldn’t:

1. let them check off boxes indiscriminately 
2. let them use the dry-erase marker any more after both had wiped out checks received for making their beds four times.

 Obviously, it’s a work in progress. Perhaps after if becomes a habit to mark things off, we can move on to getting rewarded for filling up the paper. Right now, neither child is able to comprehend “working” and “waiting” for a prize. I have my hands full trying to keep them convinced that just because it’s dark outside, that doesn’t mean we need to go trick-or-treating right now.

Today, I’m cleaning out the linen closet. There was a lot of storage space when I first moved into my house. Now, two children later, I have none! And saving those sheets for a mattress size I no longer own seems a bit silly. Also, the placemats I’m never going to use (styled from 1982)… they need to go as well.

I’ll try to post a photo later. The darned ipad just won’t let me work my blogging magic!

Countdown to a Relaxed Holiday: Day 29 Mess Makers

Do your kids do chores? When did they start? And how did you start them off?

This is an area where I’m lacking in parenting skill. I’ve gotten the point where I’m starting to not buy my children any toys that have parts because I’m so sick of picking them up all the time! And I don’t want to be a parent who just tosses everything into the garbage – which apparently my own parents did… my father recently admitted this to me, when I remarked that my own toys always seem to have parts that disappeared, while my children’s small toys ended up buried in the couch.

For the life of me, I cannot motivate my children to pick up their toys. Make a bed? Sure! Put away silverware! They fight over that little chore. Put a toy back into it’s bin or shelf? Not for a million dollars. Or chocolate candy. I’d post a photo of my daughter’s room, but it’s so embarrassing that I just can’t bring myself to admit that it looks like the disaster that it is. I know that I need to tackle it, but the thought that I will have nearly the same level of mess in less than 4 hours makes me want to cry.

And, I am becoming obsessed with the thought of all the holiday toys coming into the house. How many parts will all those toys have? How do I keep them together? How do I get my children to pick them up without me nagging, screaming, crying? Should I just give up and only allow stuffed animals and naked dolls into the house?

Today, the kids are getting their own routine chore charts. We’ve got to start somewhere!

I found printable charts with current cartoon characters here.

30 Days to a Relaxed Holiday

Everyone seems to be on one of those 30 day kicks... 30 days to some sort of perfection. And it works. 30+ days is what researchers say is needed to create a new habit. Who am I to disagree with woefully underpaid researchers desperate to become PhD's? (because who else would take the time research this?) So I'm creating one for myself. Feel free to join or not.

I am one those holiday people. The kind that gleefully looks forward to holiday newsletters, actually eats fruit cake and has an extensive collection of holiday music. Most of my shopping is already done.  It is, however, because of this that the holiday tends to sneak up on me. I think I have everything planned… and then WHAM! it’s the holiday season and I have no time to complete any of my grand plans.

Starting today, I’m working towards having a relaxing and festive Thanksgiving dinner. It’s exactly 30 days away - a strange coincidence? Divine inspiration? Opportunity knocking?

First and foremost is getting some type household management routine. It is laughable the number of times I have forgotten an important appointment or some item the kids need (like diapers!) because I’m rushing to squeeze everything in. It’s also laughable the amount of time I waste doing things that are relaxing, but basically non-productive. Last I week I made a list of things I need to do on a daily basis to keep us moving forward in an orderly fashion. It’s quite a list, let me tell you. At the same time, it’s really not… if you listed out all the things you do during a day, it would be extensive – this list is more of “don’t forget” type of thing. Because it’s always that thing you forget to do that starts the cascade into chaos.

Saturday Breakfast

This morning we had the best fall breakfast! Pancakes and homemade apple sauce.

Homemade apple sauce is probably the easiest fall treat there is... Peel apples, slice and put in pot with a bit of water. Heat and cook until soft. Drain water (because measuring the water amount is for Mom's with a helper at home) and mash with whatever is handy. A fork will work, but I find that the barely used pastry blender works fabulous! Add cinnamon.

No preservatives, no added sugar (for apples?!? Does anyone need that much sugar?) and it makes the house smell fabulous!



- Posted using my iPad

Butt Kicking

I'm getting my butt kicked this school year... My to-do list is never ending at work and time seems to be just flying by!  Add in all the new things from home (uniforms! teacher conferences! potty-training!) and work (committee meetings! National Boards!), equals hanging on by the seat of my pants.

For what ever reason, I no longer have any routines - this may be part of the problem. I've lost my flow.

I took a break from grading during class (and that means I'll be catching up next week.. yipee!) to start to create a routine for home. Maybe if I can get some sort of port in the storm, I won't be so crazed all the time. Doesn't having your home be a haven just make dealing with all the craziness that much easier? Right now, I have a moutian of laundry to do, a child who has removed every single play thing/book from every drawer, bin or shelf and left on the floor, a sink full of dishes and darkened living room that is definitely not cozy.

How do you tackle the busy times? Lists? Schedule? Work til your done and hope it lasts?

Conversation

Lala has recently discovered story-telling. To say they’re fanciful, is an understatement. Last night, she told me a story about her, as a grown-up, taking care of me, when I was a baby. Apparently, we went to flew chickens and ran into a dinosaur, who tried to eat me. Luckily, Lala had a bottle of ketchup, which she used to squirt the dinosaur in the face. It changed him into a square pumpkin.

Even the cuddler has a hard time following, but they very imaginative.

Our Week

Something learned this week… it is totally worth it to pay someone to play with the kids for a Saturday afternoon so I can get work done. You know, should I choose to do work during that time instead of reading blogs, shopping and following the whole PR debacle over TheBloggess. Also discovered I should move to the Midwest as this is where “all the jobs are while pursuing the news. Who knew? (so out of the news cycle… I didn’t even know there was an 8 hour police stand off 5 blocks from my house!!!)

Last week was Lala’s first school concert. I survived, but video taped it.  And promptly sent it to friends and family. I know they abso loved it. Or at least, they had better lie enthusiastically and tell me they did. You know who you are.

The cuddler’s developmental evaluation went OK. He’s pretty good on the gross motor skills, but his language was at the bottom of the “normal” area. We may be back at the of the school year for a new evaluation to see if he’s languishing. From now on, I must make a concerted effort to speak clearly and not think his weird pronunciations or phrasing is cute. But they are! Also, must refrain from swearing in front of the cuddler, because those words he picks right up and are clearly pronounced. Durn-it!

Enjoying Freedom

The first thing we did after Lala was declared free of swallowing issues…

 

and it never tasted so good!

90 Second Update

It’s been awhile… but with Go*gle and Fac*b*ok changing their formats I’ve been all sorts of discombobulated.

• Lala started pre-school, which she loves. This brings a whole new level of organization I need to achieve every day. Uniforms, paperwork, supplies, fundraising. Providing snacks brings a whole new level to preparation on my part as the school hours are almost exactly my working hours.
• The cuddler is not potty trained. Nor does he seem to be in any hurry to latch on this idea. As such, I’m basically giving up until, I dunno…, he’s 5? Obviously, he’s not going to be forced, cajoled, bribed or loved into doing it, so screw it. It’s not like he’s in high school or something equally shaming.
• I finally got my tax refund!!! And then I paid bills and put the rest into savings. I know! I am that exciting! Actually, I just don’t have time to shop for anything I really want and I don’t really need anything.
• I’m doing National Boards for teaching, as well as everything else at work. This is the the biggest reason I haven’t been online much. I just don’t have time for and keep up with the laundry.
• Sooooo not keeping up with the laundry.
• Not only did I mow the lawn yesterday, while the kids were awake and in the yard, but I actually fertilized in preparation for winter. Before the rain started people! Before!!!!! (In the next few weeks it will start raining here. It won’t stop until sometime around the end of April.) This means that I might actually have a chance that I won’t have a two foot high lawn when it finally dries out enough to mow again. Yay me!
• Lala’s dysphagia has officially been deemed mostly cured. We had, what I hope will be, our last swallow evaluation last week. While there was a slight issue, for the most part, they said to drink normally and watch for infections.
• This week the cuddler has a developmental evaluation with our local school district. His speech isn’t as clear as it should be… maybe. I’m probably not a good judge, and he usually speaks so low to strangers that it’s hard for him to be evaluated by his regular doctor. I’m hoping they’ll be able to get more out of him in a 40 minute evaluation and he’ll be deemed not eligible because he’s not really showing a problem and it’s just shyness or something. On the other hand, if he is eligible for services, he’ll be thrilled because it means he’ll go to “big boy school.” To say that he is jealous of his sister going to “big girl school” is like saying the Pacific is a bit wet.
• Lala got to visit with her oldest bio sister in August. It made them both pretty happy.
• After two years of living in the same small region, we finally “ran into” the cuddler’s bio mom at the grocery store. Actually, I’m surprised it didn’t happen earlier. It’s just not that big of an area. His bio mom has always been very appropriate whenever we’ve seen each other and this time was no different. It did make for a very confusing conversation afterwards. Both kids are still too young to really understand who everyone really is and what role they had in their lives… or what role they now have. Lala does not understand why the cuddler’s BM  isn’t her BM, etc. and I’m really at a loss as to how to explain in a way that gives them some understanding. Ideas?

60 second update

• The cuddler is finally into potty training! Apparently, I just needed to bribe him with candy. We’re starting slow, but he is learning.
• Lily is graduating out of her swim class at the end of the week into a more advanced one!
• Received yet another letter from the IRS telling that they will need another month to review the four pages of documents for my refund. Was really hoping to get if before I filed for 2011 taxes, but that doesn’t seem likely.
• Summer is going by way too fast for my liking and I haven’t accomplished as much as I hoped I would by now.
• I have read about 30 books. (I read fast) Thus explaining why I haven’t accomplished much so far.
• My back yard looks like a wild meadow. I really need to mow today while the sun is still shining.
• Although time is moving quickly, the weather has not really been that summer like. It’s getting to the point where I’m glad I didn’t waste money on summer clothes for myself.

New Car

If the IRS ever decides to pay my tax refund… or officially denies me, I’ll be purchasing a car. I’d buy one now, but I could get a much better deal with that wad of cash and why not wait? After all, the IRS keeps stringing me along with 30 day promises. It would be so nice if I could do that with some of my bills. Just string them along indefinitely, with no penalty.

In the meantime, I’ve been window shopping for the past six months.

What do you drive? The ever-popular mom van? Lots of room, but limited gas mileage? An SUV? Safe, tough, cool mom type?

Netflix, kids and movies

I’m sure you’ve heard about the Netflix price jump.. even if you aren’t a subscriber. People are more upset about this than the economic woes of our government or dumbing down of our education system (even more!). Shocking, I know.

It makes me wonder exactly how much TV people are actually watching, examining how much we are… and is it time to cut back? I’ll admit it. TV is some times the only thing that saves my sanity. Then again, it doesn’t. My son’s current obsession with Dora means there is a lot more whining to watch Dora at all times  of the day, thus almost forcing me to buy Dora movies. Or maintain a streaming movie membership.

How much TV do you let your kids watch? None? A couple of hours? Not sure, because there is a TV in every room, including their bedrooms?

When I was a nanny, (seriously, I was just like Jo Frost. So good! And so bad with my own!) the kids I cared for watch a maximum of two hours – and NO video games during the week. As pre-teens, people. I was that good. Now, not so much. Am I the only one?

Summertime, and the living is easy.

We survived our first vacation of the summer. Of course, the first night had me declaring that we would never leave home again. Both kids were just too keyed up to go to sleep, even though they were really, really ‘I’ve-lost-my-mind-and-can-no-longer-function” tired. As was I. For the rest of the trip, my goal was to ensure that they were so tired by bedtime that they just might go to sleep at a normal time. It must have worked, because they not only fell asleep at a decent time, but did so while sleeping in the same bed!

Now we’re back the usual schedule of eat, swim, eat, nap, eat, swim, eat. With some bike riding thrown in.

Lala finally did figure it out. Now, every time someone rides by on a bike, she points out that the rider is “moving their feet up and down, just like me!” She is incredibly proud of her herself for figuring out how to make the bike move. I’m sure that steering will come along soon too! At least, hopefully, before a major injuries occur. A major plus living on a flood plain is that everything is relatively flat…because steering and braking may be a problem.

The Cuddler turned three yesterday. Although I still call him my baby, he’s not. Fully into the “I do it!” stage, he’s becoming quite independent. So far, it’s displayed in his refusal to do anything. No go on the big potty! No pick up toys! No watch Elmo! No! He’s also developed an obsession with Dora. I don’t know it it’s the interactivity of the show or what, but somehow it totally sucks him in. I’m drawing the line at buying him Dora clothes, though. The high heel shoes are plenty.

Wordless Wednesday

Riding a bike

What age is best for riding a bike? It seems like kids are getting them younger and younger these days – and they’re made smaller and smaller.

I mentioned before that the cuddler was receiving a bike for his birthday. My mother purchased one for Lala last week and so I gave the kids the bikes yesterday. I figured that they would be able to get more use out them if they had them at the beginning of summer, and we could avoid the whole ‘birthday present jealousy’ thing. Also, I apparently have patience issues.

While both were excited to see the bikes, that wore off pretty soon. Apparently watching others ride a bike is not as easy as riding it yourself. Learning how to ride a bike is not as easy as “riding a bike”, apparently.

Any tips on teaching them? Both have training wheels so balance isn’t an issue… just getting the concept of pushing the pedals forward to move the bike forward. Maybe they’re just too young? I don’t think I got a bike until I was in grade school, which is when most of my friends seemed to get them as well.

Fourth Of July

Lala and the cuddler are still trying to understand the concept of “birthday party for America”, but they do know something is up since Grandma is still visiting (instead of heading home for work on Monday) and every five minutes there’s another loud firecracker bang!

We’ll be enjoying fresh stawberries, treats galore and hopefully some time in the pool before ending the day with fireworks.  Not too many fireworks… “we” don’t like the loud bangs and find the noises pretty scary.  Sparklers it is!

Happy 4th!