Today the kids once again dressed so peculiarly stylishly that I wanted to snap a photo as a follow-up to yesterday’s post.
However, I could not get them to stand still long enough without fighting about where to stand, to snap a picture. Yes you heard me. The fight was about who stands in the middle.
Have I mentioned that it is just DAY TWO of spring break and they are already driving me to insanity?
Are school break weeks longer weeks for any other moms or is it just me?!
While I looooove summer, the only downside is that I don’t have any free time. I’m finding my house is messier and we have less fresh groceries because every task is kid accompanied…
That includes exercise. I kickbox at small studio so there’s no daycare like you might find at a gym. Luckily the kids are comfortable and familiar with the setting so that’s half the battle.
On the days I want to attend a class I start prepping the kids in advance. We’ll discuss plans for the day in a positive way. “Mom is going to go kickbox right before we go to the pool.” This way the focus is on the pool.
Yesterday we had a full day of pool and beach and my husband was working late. While we were still at the beach I asked the kids if they wanted to stay up late, watch me exercise, and have the potential of a great reward. They agreed.
Since the class was in the evening I made sure to give them a filling dinner prior to leaving. And oh my god this was their dinner conversation:
5 year old: “god’s alive forever”
6 year old: “yeah he and santa never die”
other 6 year old: “neither does mrs. claus”
I couldn’t make this stuff up!!!
They each packed up a bag of toys and thing to keep them busy and when we arrived at kickboxing they settled right into their activities.
I got myself a spot in the outer region of class so I could keep ears and eyes on them.
Well they did chastise me a bit about my lack of speed. I did have to share my water 3 times. And, I did have to caution them to keep the volume down while they got into a very competitive game of hide and seek.
But otherwise, they really did a great job getting through the hour.
And the best part, for them, was yet to come. The reward was a visit to Dunkin Donuts which is conveniently located within the same parking lot. And lucky for them, ice cream addicts, this one has a Baskin Robbins within.
As we left the store x3 cones a guy by the door said to me, “Hey Mommy….you’re doing a great job…a great job…” How random and nice. On the way back to the car we passed 2 people who had kickboxed with me who praised the kids on their excellent behavior! It really helps to get good feedback!
How do you make time to excerise?
Though sickness still continues to live in my house, we went out Saturday to our town pool’s grand opening. You know I’m not right when I’m not snapping pictures and I just didn’t have the energy. But here is what the awesome, renovated pool complex look like…
I’m so glad the kids are at ages where I don’t need to hover constantly for fear of drowning. I still watch them but I can relax a bit.
Belmont Stakes was happening this weekend too. Since my town is so close there’s a big festival always held the Friday night before in our town. We took the kids for an hour so they could run around and see their friends. We ended up losing 2 of the kids, each at different times, for like 2 minutes each. So we figured it was time to wrap it up.
Last night after dinner we played a little at a park close by. I love watching the kids use their imagination in play. They had some complicated scenario where they all had to be on top of each other for safety…love!
Summer is my favorite season. We get outside as much as possible and will be living at the beach and the pool. How do you keep your kids occupied in the summer?
What were you thinking? I asked my son while we looked at his first grade photo proof.
I was thinking about monsters
…said the Macaulay Caulkin wannabe.
His twin sister took a gander at it and asserted her opinion on the matter…
Well that is the worstest picture I’ve ever seen.
I asked her why she thought he had that face on and she astutely replied,
It’s because he’s shy, mom.
Thank goodness for retakes…or not… 
So here I was acting all cool about the hurricane coming. And then the night it arrived, Saturday, I could not sleep at all. Before bedtime my area was issued a tornado watch. I was just listening to the wind howling and panicking about my kids being swept away. It’s all about the kids, obviously. I mean, if I didn’t have kids I would have gone to sleep and dealt with whatever in the morning. But I had read about a boy in Virginia who was killed when a tree fell on the roof and I just freaked thinking about my innocents in the rooms nearby sleeping.
The next morning a bunch of friends in my town had no power. My husband thought we were lucky (and was a little cocky about it) but I had a feeling that wasn’t the case. I hurried to make my cup of tea (need caffeine in a.m.) and prepare for an outage as the wind was still howling. It did go out about 11 on Sunday and didn’t get on again until Monday afternoon.
We took a drive when things seemed to calm down outside and saw lots of disturbing images.
This road is right behind our house. I think the part of the tree blocking the road was already moved in this photo because it took a power line down with it. We think our power was turned off because someone reported a gas line exposed here (though there wasn’t one). We saw downed trees and debris everywhere.
We found a pizza joint that was open but not fully operational yet so my husband gave the kids their first experience with scratch tickets while we waited.
They had such a blast and were so excited to “win”.
When we returned home they all had a hard time getting used to no TV or computer but they soon got involved in other things like puzzles and coloring.
We were anticipating being without power for several days so I am grateful it was only a little over a day. I have to say there was something so nice about being forced to be home. And I am so thrilled I did not cheap out on my Kindle cover and was able to read with light!
How did you or how have you managed through hurricanes?
Today I had some great one on one time with my daughter. We just left a 6 year old girls only party at Cold Stone Creamery.
Who would’ve thought they do parties? The kids got to see how ice cream is made and walk in the freezer
Of course the highlight was when she made her own concoction: cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears, marshmallows, Kit Kats and sprinkles (gag!). Now she’s bouncing off the walls!
We’ve got another birthday party tomorrow. Is it me or are you also finding yourself going to way more parties in the spring?
I appreciate all the messages I have received inquiring about how things went on Friday. I’m still recuperating from the utter exhaustion of it all, but it went very well. I really can’t believe how well the kids pulled it all off.
First there was the hair salon.
I never imagined I would have time to sit, and to accept the offer to have my makeup done! I had figured the little one would be squirming around, but they handled the grooming like little ladies. Meanwhile, my husband took the little big man and got him dressed. And I couldn’t stand it when I saw him!
I was able to snap some photos at our next stop, the reception hall, as we had to wait around to have some photos taken.
The Easter candy she’s holding was part of a bag of it that I believed would get us through the entire day. It was gone in twenty minutes! Thankfully we stopped at McD’s for some sustenance.
My own little married looking couple graciously shared the twenty nuggets between them, like the true white trash we are…in the parking lot!
Yes, beer too (daddy’s sustenance!)
The next step was most exciting, the ride in the stretch limousine. God help that limo driver who had to deal with the aftermath of my kids in their first limo. Every glass was handled, every ice-cube sucked on or thrown, but only about 6 bottles of water were opened. All with the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom who had probably been anticipating a calm pre wedding ride!
And then the church.
They accomplished the task…I’m so proud! The kids walked down the aisle and then sat in the pews and semi quietly watched the ceremony. I couldn’t believe it. My daughter wanted to know if she had just witnessed the bride’s “first kiss”.
Another highlight was in the cocktail hour when they each got a Shirley Temple which my son keeps referring to as a “Shirley Tirley”.
By this time it was an hour past their bedtime on a very busy and exciting day. Try as they might, by 8:45 p.m, 15 minutes into the reception, the kids had had enough.
The babysitter was at the house waiting. By the time they were home the kids were in full-blown cranky turmoil, pulling on my dress, hanging onto my toes, begging me not to leave.
Still, the wedding was a success! And now I just need to sleep for like a year….:)
Oh and speaking of sleep, I couldn’t believe it when I saw a few other young children dancing and running around at the wedding as it approached midnight. What’s your experience been? Do your kids crash like mine or make it through late night parties?
(I just wrote a fabulous post that somehow didn’t save so you are going to get the unfabulous version, unfortunately.)
We were at my in-laws wonderful Florida condo recently and although there was a gorgeous pool, and a more gorgeous private beach, my kids were almost more fascinated with the elevators and long hallways.
But they fought non stop for the first couple of days.
The source of the continuous shoving matches was about who would open the door, who would be first to get out the door, who would push the elevator call button, who would push the elevator floor button, who would push the button to leave the building, etc, etc.
They were all pushing my buttons on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation.
So, I came up with a plan, an ingenious plan, I think. Each kid was assigned a day. And it worked out that they each got 2 whole days. On the identified child’s day, that individual would get to push all the buttons, open all the doors, and do everything first. Each morning they announced whose day it was and really respected it.
And, they never fought again…………………………………….about pushing buttons, that is!
What ingenious solutions have you come up with to manage brawling children?
I dropped the little one off at school this morning. She sat down at the table and made this face.
What was she thinking? She looked so serious and deep in thought, way beyond her 3 years. I stared at those cheeks and chubby little fingers all morning while she was at school. Was something bothering her about being in school? Was she not feeling well?
I was relieved when she raced out at dismissal happy and content. She said she had a great day and was “a good listener”.
My worrying is out of control sometimes. How do you manage your worries about your kids?
How many of you remember the last moment of complete exhilaration you experienced?
I can’t express how enjoyable it is for me to watch my children chase bubbles. The giddy giggles are awesome. Moods seem to transform instantly when bubbles appear.
I don’t want them to ever outgrow these joyful moments!
What gives your kids the greatest delight?
