A Mommy Morning Moment

Sometimes my husband shakes his head over some of the things that happen between me and the girls while he is at work....his comment always is "that never happens to me."......Now this is how our Friday morning went….the girls spent 5 minutes or more watching the garbage truck out their window, do its business while they were standing on the rocking chair in their room….Then when they were dressed they insisted on reading books…when I got cross and told them to "get down stairs, mommy was not foolin’ around anymore", they took off, with books in hand down the stairs. Okay…so Emily got her coat and shoes on first…and Sophia decided to run off so I would chase her . While she was running away I was getting the bags at the front door. I finally corralled Sophia to get her coat and shoes on.  In the meantime, Emily had gotten into my purse and shook my wallet, contents and all...all over the floor. While I am getting that straighten up, Emily took off with my purse….I asked her to come back and she didn’t so I went hunting for them…Sophia had ran off too. Then I heard Emily say “oh no, a mess… mommy” I thought oh great…here she got a hold of a glass of water and dumped it in my purse! I caught the tail end of her pouring it in….She had gotten up on the kitchen chair, got the glass of water down and poured it in my purse. I got cross and told her that was bad behavior and she was on time away….all this before 7:20am!

When we were driving away Sophia has a fit cause she did not have her monkey book…she saw that Emily had Mickey’s Nap (I did not know that she grabbed it)…So I went back (thinking of my dear husband doing this...cause he does) and got the monkey book for her. Then we were blocked in the driveway by the recycling truck…who took its sweet time, dumping the sorting bin into the back of the truck…so we waited….The girls liked it...they were waving to the guy. I was not so jovial! I am sure I looked at the guy like Mrs. Hennigan in sunglasses!

The whole ride to Michelle’s I told them that the books stay in the car. When we got to Michelle’s, Emily was okay with that rule, but not Sophia. She hit me with the book…left a bit of a scratch on my face, then threw it into the front driver’s seat. I tell ya…patience was thin at this point. Then Emily had a fit that I was leaving…she was crying and reaching for me. I held her a bit but trying to pry her off was like Velcro. I e-mailed MM to see if she settled and this is what she had to say.

• She settled in quick. She ate and went to play and has been fine. They both were excited to go for a walk today. When we got back Emily says to me "nice walk". I think we're all excited for some nice weather!!

 SO……that was the morning….The evening shaped up to be a little more mommy style...Christine and her daughter Allie popped by to soothe my soul with some great wine while Allie watched the girls in the bath.....it was a nice finish to a hectic start to the day.

Cheers!
R-xo

It was a Mardi party!

We are so thankful to have such a great home daycare. MM runs her ship like toddler boot camp..well maybe not quite like that, but some days I am amazed at what she can accomplish and not lose control.  Like painting projects, getting them all dressed and outside for some fun or baking and havin all the kiddies take a turn at stirring the batter.  Each week there is a theme or focus of learning and this week is Mardi Gras.  So in true MM style.....there was a Mardi party.  I love getting pics at work from her.  The girls always look like they are having a ton of fun and that makes me feel better for working full-time.  Enjoy the party!

Sophia

Emily

MG

The Big Girls are 5

The big girls are 5 – hard to believe that 5 years ago they were such little peanuts and the first twinadoes to hit this family.  The birthday party started at the local swimplex.  Lots of family and friends dawned their bathing suits, no tan lines visible, and splashed around.  Our girls are too little for the big pool so we cozied up with MG and gramma in the warm pool.  MG seemed to have a meltdown as she was not able to go with the big girls and cousins down the big twirl slide.  I don’t blame her…Emmy and Sophia are not her style when it comes to swimming.

This year the swimming went a lot better.  Last year the big girls had a swim birthday party too, but that was the first time Emmy and Sophia had ever gone swimming.  I can remember it like it was yesterday….lots of crying and disorganization, especially in the dressing room.  It was not an enjoyable experience.  That experience was not lost on them and for the rest of the summer every time they got close to water they would cry and turn away.  My sister did an experiment with Sophia…She turned her towards her backyard pool and she would start to whimper, then she would turn her away and she would stop.  Look at the pool…don’t look at the pool...it was funny, but not to Sophia… and that is what sparked the swimming lessons this past fall.

The day ended as per the usual…lots of food, lots of drinks, lots of people, lots of cake and lots of presents.

 

On another  bright note!  Emmy and Sophia did go to sleep in the big girl’s beds, no playpens, no problem.  This must have gotten my husband excited because this week he got the toddler beds assembled, cleaned up and brought them upstairs.  When I saw that…I started to have a panic attack!  I am not ready to deal with this yet  I am not ready to have them run out of their room in the morning or the middle of the night, what if I sleep right through and do not hear them running around?

He must of saw the look of panic on my face and told me to relax, he would take the beds back to the garage. (this was not the reaction he expected...sorry honey!)  I almost could not believe that my heart started to race when I saw those beds…except that it did.  Wow….I guess I need to get mentally prepared and that was my warning!

For some reason I have 2 years in my mind..2 years old to start potty training and introduce the toddler beds.  Maybe I need to rethink this….as at daycare they are going on the potty up to 2 times a day and Emmy will take her pants off and want to go potty.  She know the feeling so maybe I should go with it!

Happy Birthday L&M!

Cheers R - xo

Stop drop and spread your wings!

 Last winter the girls did not get the concept of fun in the snow.  I would set them in a snow bank, but that mostly ended in frustrated whining and some tears.  They did not like being stuck and did not like the cold snow.  This year has been a whole new ball game….Although it has been cold, Hubby gets them out a lot, especially on his “daddy daycare” day.  This day daddy was at work and I was taking them out…honestly to kill some time and energy on their part.

They both like to touch the snow with their fingers and then quickly eat it….kinda like they are licking frosting off of a cake, but the concept of falling on their backs in the snow was a tricky sell.  Of course, I had to demonstrate, but as I was demonstrating I had Emmy running to the roadway and Sophia falling face first in the snow bank (she tripped).  When I got them corralled and showed them the “angel” mommy made they wanted to investigate.  Emmy promptly stepped on the head and Sophia, well she tripped again and went head first into the snow….so far this was not a great experience. 

Then a doggie came along and all crying stopped while they watched the dog go by.  In the meantime I made another snow angel and drew a face on it.  Emmy discovered the newly designed angle and said “mommy funny eyes” and Sophia discovered the “beep, beep” and “mouth.” I thought… this is good….so I said “ let’s make a snow angel and put a face on it.”  Vummm..both fell on their backs and waved their arms like they were in the snow angel Olympics!  I was grinning from ear to ear, laughing and cheering.  I wanted to run in and get the camera….but knew that was not a wise parenting move and that proved to be true.  When trying to get up both angels were wrecked, but I drew a face on them anyways.   We ended the day with me pulling them in the sled, which the Bells got them for Christmas, around the back yard and down the slide a couple of times.  By then I was pooped out!  So I am not sure I achieved my goal of tiring them out!

Cheers!
R

Sick and Tired

Sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Me too!!

I have noticed on facebook, through conversations with friend and coworkers and other social media that being sick this season seems to be toxic.  Whatever "bug" is going around must of cashed in all its travel miles and is taking the trip of a life time.  In our house, the month of December was a write off, the bug had gotten all of us...the girls and I twice.

I blame the "bug" for having a keen sense.  As it always shows up when my husband is working and I have the girls on my own.  The "bug" also knows how to spoil plans and holds us hostage to our family room.  I tell ya...this "bug" knows it stuff....and I just want to squash it!

It is now the end of January and all seems well...lets hope I am not jinxing it.  I must say I am looking forward to April showers bringing on May flowers this season!

ciao
R - xo

I cannot say I am sad to see 2010 go...but

Reflecting on what I would say was the most challenging, frustratingly emotional yet joyous year of my life.

2010 was a year of change as a 4 member family.  Darcy's shifts changed at work to 24hrs (whoot!), we bought a house and then had to get ours ready for sale.  The girls celebrated their first birthday in style!, I went back to work full time, we moved and the girls started daycare.  My best friend got married and a few more are starting the journey to motherhood.  In 2010 the girls had the most developmental year of their lives...they learned to… eat real food, crawl, sit up on their own, rollover, sleep through the night, drink from a bottle, then a sippy, walk, talk our ears off, test our patience, eat food with utensils, get some funky childhood sickness that transferred to their dad and me, brought home their first art projects and of course, let their little personalities shine, oh…sing, we cannot forget the singing!

They also learned to… hand me toilet paper, that the shower is daddy's, mommy likes her slippers brought to her, the swings are called wee wee's cause that they are! and to "sit on your bum" in the wagon for rides.  Swimming is more fun than they thought, when the door opens and beeps... "daddy's home" and climbing gets them into trouble.  They know the difference between "mommy toffee" and "mommy's yine" which is very important, that yukys go in the garbage and according the Emily all socks are blue.   They most certainly need to know what the other is up to.."sissy are you?", "sissy kying, sissy seeping" and "no want it sissy"   

2010 was a year of loss…we lost our 4 -legged child in a way we were not prepared to deal with, we lost our best friend to a disease I still cannot understand, my husband's family lost uncles that were cherished and my family went through the devastating news that my father had cancer and all the uncertanity and challenges that brought with it.

But in 2010 I learned that love is sometimes patient, love is kinda crazy and love is blinding.  I've also learned that time is precious...as I look back at our life one year ago, we were living a different life....the girls could not sit up on their own and now are climbing the stairs and brushing their teeth....all on their own.....2010 has been a year of triumphs and tears...and all I can say is...hello 2011!
Publish Post
Ciao
R - xo

Christmas Traditions - The Santa picture!

Part of Christmas traditions is the token picture with Santa.  My mom has years of pictures of us sitting on Santa's lap.  Sometimes we are laughing and sometimes we are upset, but looking back at those photos are priceless....the bad hair and of course the bad fashion.  In our later years we were not so cooperative...I felt like a tool sittin' on Santa's lap at 18 years old with my 2 sisters...( I drew the line at that!) So why would I deny my girls the same memories?  The trip to the local mall to get the picture was uneventful and to our surprise there was no line up.  Santa suggested we do a family photo first...get the girls warmed up and sitting close to Santa while were we holding them...so we did. (I was not prepared for a photo of me....as you can see!)  but oh well is it for the girls right?  They both seemed okay so then.......

we did something Sophia thought was not so funny....we dropped them on Santa's lap and ran, well not literally ran, but backed up pretty quick.  Emmy was fine with it...as my niece Shelby said Emmy looks like she is saying "give me a lick of that candy cane" Sophia..well the photo says it all.

In the days/week to follow we asked Sophia if she would like to sit on Santa's lap.  She said " no, no, no want it" waving her arm in front of her like she is clearing a table.  I guess she remembers....I hope this is not one of those incidents she hangs on to.  I guess when Christmas 2011 rolls around and it is time for "the Santa picture" we will know for sure

Cheers!

R-xo