Should be a busy day! Happy Halloween everyone! As Sylvie said this morning....
"Mommy, we have a yot of 'at-tivities' planned for today."
That sums it up nicely don't you think?
I'm so excited! Must charge the camera....
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Hobby Lobby
I have an hour lunch. I get paid hourly and things are slow so I might as well fill the hour right? Since it's downright frigid out, I decided to get some popcorn I needed to get (and forgot to get this weekend) for Logan's preschool program. Who puts on preschool programs at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Wednesday? Thank goodness I will have grandparent attendance. I have gone to plenty of these programs but this one, I'll send in the grandparents. He'll be thrilled. The "programs" are very low-key anyway.
I digress...back to the lunchtime errand of popcorn. I was going to meet with a co-worker for lunch, but that's tomorrow now, so I figured I'd get something at Jewel (a local grocery store) and get the popcorn. This Jewel happens to be the absolutely most ginormous Jewel I have ever seen- holy cow!!! But right next door is the Hobby Lobby. In the 'burb I live in, things tend to be a bit more scaled down in size and our Michael's would probably fit in this Hobby Lobby's lobby. Yes, they had a LOBBY. Like 50 feet long and 10 feet wide with displays and doors and windows. Wow! I was impressed. I almost stopped in my tracks at the enormity of the actual store when I walked in. It is totally overwhelming. I almost ran back out but realized it would take me a good 10 minutes to get back through that lobby and to the popcorn aisle at the Jewel-on-crack, so I decided to trek on through.
I looked to the right. A third of the store was fake plants. One of my friends enjoys flower arranging and I have bought a fake flower or two to adorn a fun modern vase in my time. But seriously, this was like putting the Morton Arburetum in fake form inside of the store!
Looked to the left. Halloween. Only three aisles. No big clearance tags yet. Then Christmas. I actually really only buy decorations for the Christmas holiday, so this was fun and whimsical and did tug at the heartstrings a bit. I love making a holiday home...but wait. Just because it snowed yesterday does NOT mean it's time for Christmas yet does it? There have to be at least like 100 days left of shopping right?
Okay, deep breath. There's scrapbooking. Oooh I could spend a lot of money there and I haven't scrapbooked a lick in ...well, ever. I just like the paper. So let's avoid those 10 aisles.
Then...lots of arts and crafts. That's where I would get sucked into buying a ton of stuff for the kids. Let's skip it and say we did. Then....drafting supplies. Love those! So glad I don't have to buy any more of those. I think those companies own me by now after 7 years of college! All I can say, first week of college "go get the architecture 101 kit at the bookstore" "that will be $350 please." And then refill over and over for the next 7 years.
Okay, onto the good stuff. I'm very into quotes lately and I had better not get invited to one of those parties where moms tell you how sweet your home will look covered in words because I will have to declare bankruptcy after...or at least answer to Jorge why the heck our home needs words all over the place. Sweet simple. Love it!
Cloth! Fabric! I have a few projects in my head to I'm not just wandering as aimlessly here, in these 12 aisles, I have some missions and I'm taking mental notes on the prices. I feel a tug at the old memory of making curtains and a cover for the futon in Logan's room when I was pregnant. I was so proud of these beauties. When we sold the house, the couple requested the curtains and I knew they were to be left, but it still was hard to let them go! But alas, they were getting married and loved the idea of Logans' room as their future baby's room so how could I squalsh that dream? Instead I made the realtor promise to tell them not to look too closely at the hems!
It made me miss some craftiness I have inside. But it also made me realize while I am busy with a life of being a mom and CEO of my castle, I still find time to be crafty. Be it presents for others, a cute craft project for the kids, or a little impromptu sketch of what we could to do remodel the house (or 50 of those), I keep my mind afire. I saw a show on TLC about women who needed help organizing or with some issue. This particular woman was too OCD about everything with her kids and had forgotten to enjoy them. I don't have that particular problem. I will gladly put those dishes off for some coloring. With markers. But she started a list of all the things she liked to do pre-kids. And I am happy to say my list is something that I still try to incorporate in my life. With my kids.
I didn't buy anything at Hobby Lobby but I will. After I figure out how much fabric I need to make 2 capes for 2 superheroes from their mommy at Christmas. Better get cracking but I can't wait to see them open them!
I digress...back to the lunchtime errand of popcorn. I was going to meet with a co-worker for lunch, but that's tomorrow now, so I figured I'd get something at Jewel (a local grocery store) and get the popcorn. This Jewel happens to be the absolutely most ginormous Jewel I have ever seen- holy cow!!! But right next door is the Hobby Lobby. In the 'burb I live in, things tend to be a bit more scaled down in size and our Michael's would probably fit in this Hobby Lobby's lobby. Yes, they had a LOBBY. Like 50 feet long and 10 feet wide with displays and doors and windows. Wow! I was impressed. I almost stopped in my tracks at the enormity of the actual store when I walked in. It is totally overwhelming. I almost ran back out but realized it would take me a good 10 minutes to get back through that lobby and to the popcorn aisle at the Jewel-on-crack, so I decided to trek on through.
I looked to the right. A third of the store was fake plants. One of my friends enjoys flower arranging and I have bought a fake flower or two to adorn a fun modern vase in my time. But seriously, this was like putting the Morton Arburetum in fake form inside of the store!
Looked to the left. Halloween. Only three aisles. No big clearance tags yet. Then Christmas. I actually really only buy decorations for the Christmas holiday, so this was fun and whimsical and did tug at the heartstrings a bit. I love making a holiday home...but wait. Just because it snowed yesterday does NOT mean it's time for Christmas yet does it? There have to be at least like 100 days left of shopping right?
Okay, deep breath. There's scrapbooking. Oooh I could spend a lot of money there and I haven't scrapbooked a lick in ...well, ever. I just like the paper. So let's avoid those 10 aisles.
Then...lots of arts and crafts. That's where I would get sucked into buying a ton of stuff for the kids. Let's skip it and say we did. Then....drafting supplies. Love those! So glad I don't have to buy any more of those. I think those companies own me by now after 7 years of college! All I can say, first week of college "go get the architecture 101 kit at the bookstore" "that will be $350 please." And then refill over and over for the next 7 years.
Okay, onto the good stuff. I'm very into quotes lately and I had better not get invited to one of those parties where moms tell you how sweet your home will look covered in words because I will have to declare bankruptcy after...or at least answer to Jorge why the heck our home needs words all over the place. Sweet simple. Love it!
Cloth! Fabric! I have a few projects in my head to I'm not just wandering as aimlessly here, in these 12 aisles, I have some missions and I'm taking mental notes on the prices. I feel a tug at the old memory of making curtains and a cover for the futon in Logan's room when I was pregnant. I was so proud of these beauties. When we sold the house, the couple requested the curtains and I knew they were to be left, but it still was hard to let them go! But alas, they were getting married and loved the idea of Logans' room as their future baby's room so how could I squalsh that dream? Instead I made the realtor promise to tell them not to look too closely at the hems!
It made me miss some craftiness I have inside. But it also made me realize while I am busy with a life of being a mom and CEO of my castle, I still find time to be crafty. Be it presents for others, a cute craft project for the kids, or a little impromptu sketch of what we could to do remodel the house (or 50 of those), I keep my mind afire. I saw a show on TLC about women who needed help organizing or with some issue. This particular woman was too OCD about everything with her kids and had forgotten to enjoy them. I don't have that particular problem. I will gladly put those dishes off for some coloring. With markers. But she started a list of all the things she liked to do pre-kids. And I am happy to say my list is something that I still try to incorporate in my life. With my kids.
I didn't buy anything at Hobby Lobby but I will. After I figure out how much fabric I need to make 2 capes for 2 superheroes from their mommy at Christmas. Better get cracking but I can't wait to see them open them!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Downloading
After a day away from Sylvie she was pretty quiet from 6 til 9 pm. A bit of silliness, some hugging, only one temper tantrum when I dared to turn off her ballet movie for a moment, but all in all, not too much insight into her day away from me.
That is until "Mommy, I want you to sit with me in the chair. Me in your lap. With puppy. And Princess Milk. Isn't that cow so funny mommy? Daddy bought me that cow. Daddy so funny. Daddy coming home and Logan going to put on his mask and I show him my puppy and I love daddy and daddy and daddy and daddy and today my puppy was flying with Logan in his mask and and and and...." yes. One Looooong run-on neverending sentence. I think she was downloading her entire day. Perhaps it was an attempt to thwart bedtime. But tonight I think it was actually because she forgot she had so much to tell me and she wanted to empty her head of thoughts before bed.
Love the snuggles. Love the girl.
That is until "Mommy, I want you to sit with me in the chair. Me in your lap. With puppy. And Princess Milk. Isn't that cow so funny mommy? Daddy bought me that cow. Daddy so funny. Daddy coming home and Logan going to put on his mask and I show him my puppy and I love daddy and daddy and daddy and daddy and today my puppy was flying with Logan in his mask and and and and...." yes. One Looooong run-on neverending sentence. I think she was downloading her entire day. Perhaps it was an attempt to thwart bedtime. But tonight I think it was actually because she forgot she had so much to tell me and she wanted to empty her head of thoughts before bed.
Love the snuggles. Love the girl.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Cry Babies
Tonight we went to a Halloween Party at the park district. We brought along a friend who is in 1st grade. All the kids were excited but a bit nervous about this enormous blow-up dracula we had to walk underneath to get into the party. Our little friend got inside and burst into tears! He said "Kristin, this might be too scary for me." Sylvie even let go of my hand to let me give him a big squishy hug. I told him we'd take it slow and it wasn't a haunted house, it was just games and we could ignore the other scary decorations for now. We gave him some breathing space and we all were happily waiting in line for typical carnival games. After the first candy prizes, all eyes were dry in our group.
I had been to a family picnic and met up with some friends last summer. One little boy was also around 6 or 7 and of course looked so old next to my little 4 year old! Anyway, his snowcone paper broke and he burst into tears.
I think when you start with little babies and watch them go from crying as their main form of communication to being so incredibly brave and verbal you forget that they get scared, sad and mad enough to cry. When this happens, it throws you for a loop! I kind of like it though because it reminds me that all kids are just kids, not just miniature adults, and they still need plenty of love, hugs and reassurance along the way, even at fun family events.
I had been to a family picnic and met up with some friends last summer. One little boy was also around 6 or 7 and of course looked so old next to my little 4 year old! Anyway, his snowcone paper broke and he burst into tears.
I think when you start with little babies and watch them go from crying as their main form of communication to being so incredibly brave and verbal you forget that they get scared, sad and mad enough to cry. When this happens, it throws you for a loop! I kind of like it though because it reminds me that all kids are just kids, not just miniature adults, and they still need plenty of love, hugs and reassurance along the way, even at fun family events.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Aww.....Awwwwww....AWWWWWWW!
I can hear the oohs and aahs now......Abby's new "lookout"
Logan strutting his "galloping" moves
Sylvie the "Bella Dancerella"- she watches this "Dance along" movie and is getting really good. My mom bought her a dress just like the kids in the movie so I had to take pictures.
And her "curtsy."
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Beverly Cleary
I just read a fantastic article about the author of the "Ramona" books. She graduated from the University of Washington (so did I!) so she was profiled in their "Columns" magazine. The article was about her life, her writing, her family. They spoke of her life during the Great Depression where she could get 2 Ritz Crackers and tea for 2 cents that she looked forward to. She was living on $35 a month. Even with inflation that can't be much! It terrifies me to think of life in a depression and I can only pray that our economy takes a turn for the best.
Reading about her life, she wrote about sitting and writing in a rainstorm and it brought back a flood of memories. Do you feel like your life has "compartments?" I do. Like I am cruising along happy in this little world that is mine and then WHAM I'm mentally back to my days as a child laying under our glass coffee tables imagining I am walking on the ceiling. Back to the pool and back to gymnastics- being afraid and brave all at once. Feeling the intensity of the physical exertion of treading water or the perfection of feeling and knowing you did the vault correctly. I remember my written first story about an elephant and my brother's insanely beautifully illustrated books.
I still have a binder of stories. I spent so many hours filling my mind with ideas and could barely contain myself getting them onto paper. I wrote about kids my own age. With hoards of siblings. And I don't think I was ever the oldest (though I am in real life). I would write their names, ages and interests in a list. Names were always fun for me. I remember writing lists from the Baby Name books when I babysat for my own writing! The kids in my stories walked around in houses that had floorplans that I had to draw alongside the story. Guess somewhere along the line I decided I'd rather do architecture than writing. Reading that passage about Beverly Cleary really brought back those feelings of writing again in such an enjoyable way I had to share. And I loved the Ramona books. Not so much the Henry books , the ones about the Mice or Dear Mr. Henshaw. But Ramona and Beezus, I even had the PBS series on tape that I used to watch over and over.
Sigh, life is sweet. So many things to experience. I like to picture all these little life events becoming a tiny piece of who I am and indirectly becoming a piece of what I am as a mother.
Reading about her life, she wrote about sitting and writing in a rainstorm and it brought back a flood of memories. Do you feel like your life has "compartments?" I do. Like I am cruising along happy in this little world that is mine and then WHAM I'm mentally back to my days as a child laying under our glass coffee tables imagining I am walking on the ceiling. Back to the pool and back to gymnastics- being afraid and brave all at once. Feeling the intensity of the physical exertion of treading water or the perfection of feeling and knowing you did the vault correctly. I remember my written first story about an elephant and my brother's insanely beautifully illustrated books.
I still have a binder of stories. I spent so many hours filling my mind with ideas and could barely contain myself getting them onto paper. I wrote about kids my own age. With hoards of siblings. And I don't think I was ever the oldest (though I am in real life). I would write their names, ages and interests in a list. Names were always fun for me. I remember writing lists from the Baby Name books when I babysat for my own writing! The kids in my stories walked around in houses that had floorplans that I had to draw alongside the story. Guess somewhere along the line I decided I'd rather do architecture than writing. Reading that passage about Beverly Cleary really brought back those feelings of writing again in such an enjoyable way I had to share. And I loved the Ramona books. Not so much the Henry books , the ones about the Mice or Dear Mr. Henshaw. But Ramona and Beezus, I even had the PBS series on tape that I used to watch over and over.
Sigh, life is sweet. So many things to experience. I like to picture all these little life events becoming a tiny piece of who I am and indirectly becoming a piece of what I am as a mother.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Random things
1- Grape Jello....is really yummy! I never had it before. Logan picked it out.
2-Logan has two sets of twins in his "Car School" this year. Both sets are fraternal. And I'm pretty sure he has a set of twins at "Bus School" as well. They were both sitting together and told me the electricity went out at each of their houses and I looked and they were identical!!! So either they are brothers and look a LOT alike or what appears to be identical twins. When I asked him about "twins" he said no, but today I asked again and he understood what I meant and said "yes!"
3-Logan cried about going to school for his grandparents today. I asked him why he cried and he said "I wanted to go to Toys R Us first." The kid has priorities right? Logan and his need for toys is like 400% out of control.
3-Is there anything more lovely than sashay-ing through the living room with your daughter laughing hysterically?
4-I saw a car accident today. I was driving thinking how I really didn't want to crash into the mess in front of me (a large truck turning) and hoping no one hit me from behind. And then about a block later, the car two ahead turned right and the minivan slammed its' breaks and hit it. So grateful it wasn't me today. So sad for the people affected.
2-Logan has two sets of twins in his "Car School" this year. Both sets are fraternal. And I'm pretty sure he has a set of twins at "Bus School" as well. They were both sitting together and told me the electricity went out at each of their houses and I looked and they were identical!!! So either they are brothers and look a LOT alike or what appears to be identical twins. When I asked him about "twins" he said no, but today I asked again and he understood what I meant and said "yes!"
3-Logan cried about going to school for his grandparents today. I asked him why he cried and he said "I wanted to go to Toys R Us first." The kid has priorities right? Logan and his need for toys is like 400% out of control.
3-Is there anything more lovely than sashay-ing through the living room with your daughter laughing hysterically?
4-I saw a car accident today. I was driving thinking how I really didn't want to crash into the mess in front of me (a large truck turning) and hoping no one hit me from behind. And then about a block later, the car two ahead turned right and the minivan slammed its' breaks and hit it. So grateful it wasn't me today. So sad for the people affected.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Our Pumpkin Patch Fun
I know everyone has their own pics, but I'll show them anyway! We went to the Children's Farm in Palos.
First we saw the farm- Sylvie's favorite. Until we went INTO the barn, then she had a few moments of panic. Then she got over it.
With ducks....
And horses
And a sweet pony with a very soft nose! He kept trying to eat my camera though.
And an attempt to take a picture with daddy
A tractor drove us to the pumpkin patch
Sylvie was a bit nervous. Like her father, she nibbles her nails when she's nervous.
Logan liked it!
"Wait for me!"
We wanted to be able to carry a pumpkin home, so the kids kept "testing" the different pumpkins out to see if they were too heavy. We actually didn't find one they wanted. But that's okay, they didn't seem to mind
Beautiful day! We each picked one small pumpkin to bring home from the farm area.
First we saw the farm- Sylvie's favorite. Until we went INTO the barn, then she had a few moments of panic. Then she got over it.
With ducks....
And horses
And a sweet pony with a very soft nose! He kept trying to eat my camera though.
And an attempt to take a picture with daddy
A tractor drove us to the pumpkin patch
Sylvie was a bit nervous. Like her father, she nibbles her nails when she's nervous.
Logan liked it!
"Wait for me!"
We wanted to be able to carry a pumpkin home, so the kids kept "testing" the different pumpkins out to see if they were too heavy. We actually didn't find one they wanted. But that's okay, they didn't seem to mind
Beautiful day! We each picked one small pumpkin to bring home from the farm area.
Big boy stuff
Logan has been getting so big lately. He's very into
-the calendar. He obsesses over what is when. And he sings the days of the week song with this sweet little voice- I love it! He also sings 'Happy Birthday' and 'ABC's.' May seem like "what, your almost 5 year old is just starting to sing? But when you have speech issues, songs may not be top on your 'to do' list.
-Paying attention in church. He was trying to do the sign of the cross and in general listened to my comments about what was happening. Sylvie on the other hand was pretending to write letter and numbers and started talking very loudly about what she was writing!
-Sharing- he's very good about trying to share and understand sharing
-Night terrors- certain things still scare him. He revels in saying "boo!" to scare us and likes things to be scary but I think he's still a bit worried about that line of what is real and imaginary
-Games- he knows he's not supposed to cheat at Candy Land. He sometimes does it anyway, and still doesn't want to lose, but usually takes his anger out on Sylvie's incessant cheating instead.
-the calendar. He obsesses over what is when. And he sings the days of the week song with this sweet little voice- I love it! He also sings 'Happy Birthday' and 'ABC's.' May seem like "what, your almost 5 year old is just starting to sing? But when you have speech issues, songs may not be top on your 'to do' list.
-Paying attention in church. He was trying to do the sign of the cross and in general listened to my comments about what was happening. Sylvie on the other hand was pretending to write letter and numbers and started talking very loudly about what she was writing!
-Sharing- he's very good about trying to share and understand sharing
-Night terrors- certain things still scare him. He revels in saying "boo!" to scare us and likes things to be scary but I think he's still a bit worried about that line of what is real and imaginary
-Games- he knows he's not supposed to cheat at Candy Land. He sometimes does it anyway, and still doesn't want to lose, but usually takes his anger out on Sylvie's incessant cheating instead.
L-O-G-A-N spells 'Logan'
and S-O-G-A-N spells 'Sylvie' - well, at least that's what she told me the other day.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A new place.....
My happy husband will be traveling like a fool for work in the coming months. On his list is....
First this......
Then this......
In case you haven't seen those particular buildings around, I'll let you in on the secret that they represent....
LA- he's gone before and will be working on a competition so he's really excited. The office is actually in beautiful Santa Monica! He'll be working on it for 3 weeks to a month.
Shanghai, China!!!!!! - Wow! He got asked to go and learn some software there. What do you think he's going to say- no? So it's for a few days in November. He's always wanted to go to Asia so there you go. I told him whatever he is doing to appease the gods to keep doing it because it's working. Lucky man!
First this......
Then this......
In case you haven't seen those particular buildings around, I'll let you in on the secret that they represent....
LA- he's gone before and will be working on a competition so he's really excited. The office is actually in beautiful Santa Monica! He'll be working on it for 3 weeks to a month.
Shanghai, China!!!!!! - Wow! He got asked to go and learn some software there. What do you think he's going to say- no? So it's for a few days in November. He's always wanted to go to Asia so there you go. I told him whatever he is doing to appease the gods to keep doing it because it's working. Lucky man!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sixth Photo
I got tagged by Beth! I'm supposed to find the sixth photo in the sixth album in my online photo storage site, and share it along with the memories it evokes.
So I use photobucket and I have 48 pages of photos. This is the 6th from last photo....
It's Sylvie at few weeks old. I brought her to Kohl's on a mission to find some cute dresses and put them all on her and took photos while Jorge laughed in the next room.
And if I got to the 6th from last page, this is the 6th picture.....
This is Logan's adorable Christening outfit my sister got him. He was a bit too big for it, and the "backup outfit" was a bit too huge, so we put it on him anyway and he looked sooooo cute! It's almost impossible to believe that the almost 5 year old running amuck in my home is the same as this precious little one
So I use photobucket and I have 48 pages of photos. This is the 6th from last photo....
It's Sylvie at few weeks old. I brought her to Kohl's on a mission to find some cute dresses and put them all on her and took photos while Jorge laughed in the next room.
And if I got to the 6th from last page, this is the 6th picture.....
This is Logan's adorable Christening outfit my sister got him. He was a bit too big for it, and the "backup outfit" was a bit too huge, so we put it on him anyway and he looked sooooo cute! It's almost impossible to believe that the almost 5 year old running amuck in my home is the same as this precious little one
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
In your subconscience....
What do you dream of? Do you dream of being a millionaire, dream of traveling, a few days guilt-free sans kids?
I dream of that illucid third child. Dont think it'll happen. Our car, life, careers, house, etc etc are set up for the perfect 2 child, boy/girl family that we have.
And yet, when I have a moment, like driving without children in the car ,that's what I dream of. Having enough, money, energy,and time to fit that third child in somewhere. Logan sometimes tells me he wants a brother. I would love love love another boy. I adore Sylvie but maybe 1 girl is plenty. She sure is plenty!
Anyway, don't usually talk about my incessant desire for another child but how would I be honest if I never 'confessed' it.
If you feel up to it, tell me what happens in your subconscience!
I dream of that illucid third child. Dont think it'll happen. Our car, life, careers, house, etc etc are set up for the perfect 2 child, boy/girl family that we have.
And yet, when I have a moment, like driving without children in the car ,that's what I dream of. Having enough, money, energy,and time to fit that third child in somewhere. Logan sometimes tells me he wants a brother. I would love love love another boy. I adore Sylvie but maybe 1 girl is plenty. She sure is plenty!
Anyway, don't usually talk about my incessant desire for another child but how would I be honest if I never 'confessed' it.
If you feel up to it, tell me what happens in your subconscience!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Behind this mask....
Is a REALLY big smile. He's excited about dressing up for Halloween this year!!!! First time ever!!!!!!!
Backyard Visitors
Yesterday our neighborhood was abuzz with activity. The neighbors to either side of us were working on home improvement projects and the kids were all home from school. I was talking over the fence and noticed a bunch of movement. Turns out there was a patch of grass swarming with 100's of some flying creature I will call baby flies. Being the good terrified person I am, I grabbed a can of fly spray and nuked them. Sometimes Mother Nature and I do not have a whole lot in common.
Then, a bit less disgusting and more fun, Logan and I got into some tennis matches. He's so good! I'm really wanting to get him to one of the many nearby courts and let him wack the ball back and forth. In the yard we had trees and such in the way. But he's really getting the hang of it. With a few new cans of tennis balls bouncing around we saw a 4 year old neighbor girl looking longingly at us and we invited her over. She doesn't live next door, but visits. She was brave enough to come over and she and Sylvie got along so well! I'm really seeing Sylvie enjoy being social now. She loves older kids and last weekend got along swimmingly with a few little 3 year old girls at a playgroup. I feel like Sylvie has really turned into an almost 3 year old and is so completely different than she was just turning 2. How fun!
Then, a bit less disgusting and more fun, Logan and I got into some tennis matches. He's so good! I'm really wanting to get him to one of the many nearby courts and let him wack the ball back and forth. In the yard we had trees and such in the way. But he's really getting the hang of it. With a few new cans of tennis balls bouncing around we saw a 4 year old neighbor girl looking longingly at us and we invited her over. She doesn't live next door, but visits. She was brave enough to come over and she and Sylvie got along so well! I'm really seeing Sylvie enjoy being social now. She loves older kids and last weekend got along swimmingly with a few little 3 year old girls at a playgroup. I feel like Sylvie has really turned into an almost 3 year old and is so completely different than she was just turning 2. How fun!
I just...
Wasted over an hour doing nothing. Watching tv, chewing gum, and checking out the internet. Can I consider it a vacation and not get into the guilt of all that I SHOULD have been doing?
Today I discovered a sweet little outdoor area and waterfall a minute's walk away from my office. I'm thinking of bringing my gym shoes to I don't worry about getting my work shoes all wet and muddy. My co-worker is hoping to get in some good walks with me before the snow flies. Should be fun! Have I mentioned that I like my job yet?
Today I discovered a sweet little outdoor area and waterfall a minute's walk away from my office. I'm thinking of bringing my gym shoes to I don't worry about getting my work shoes all wet and muddy. My co-worker is hoping to get in some good walks with me before the snow flies. Should be fun! Have I mentioned that I like my job yet?
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Pump it Up party!
I figured I'd give our first experience for a Pump it Up bday party a review...
+ Clean! Clean bathrooms with two stepstools including one for Sylvie's height. They made the kids use hand sanitizer before eating
- Good rhythm to the party, but hard to predict. It was a bit confusing. They started in one room and moved to another. The shoes were moved to the next room, but my kids had their shoes on because they stopped at the bathrooms so we came back to an empty shoe rack.
-Should have been one small single bathroom in the main room. Only room was in the lobby. Not a great idea to leave the kids alone if you are the only parent with them
+ Sylvie normally wouldn't have enjoyed an experience like this but if I wanted Logan to go, she had to come too. She has done bouncy things, but she's just scared by the mass chaos. The first room had a big flat jumpy area outside of one of the bounce houses for her to jump on with me holding onto her. The second room had a few little cars you can drive around- so cute! She loved that. I hate that most indoor playlands are made for older kids with no provisions for the younger ones or assume all kids are going to go jumping feet first into a ball pit or tunnels. Until you have shy quiet kids or ones with balance issues (Logan) to overcome, then you don't quite get it.
+Time of day of the party. To save $ getting the weekday rate I'm sure, the party was on a Friday from 4-6. Worked for us.
-Having a party at that time of the day and then only serving cupcakes and candy treatbags. My kids didnt' have any desire to eat anything healthy after the party for dinner. It was much later that I got Logan to eat some veggies. Sylvie went to bed with only cupcake frosting in her tummy.
+Serving cupcakes- easier than cake for serving 22 kids.
-Serving drinks and giving a choice in open cups. If I do a party like this, I'll go for juicebox type drinks. It was chaotic as the parents all listened to the kids screaming for their drink of choice. Plus, the ENTIRE cup of Logan's applejuice landed on Logan's lap.
-Opening presents. At Chuck E Cheese last year for same child's bday, they didn't open gifts. This year bday child sat in the chair and all the kids got to see the gifts. I thought it was cute and well-done. Dad and mom got to take pics and write down who gifted what. The employee/helper did all the helping. Help unwrapping, put all gifts into a big bag to bring home, trash went into a trash bin on the other side. Kids really enjoyed sitting in front of bday boy watching unwrapping.
-Noisemakers. For the love of god....in an enclosed area, do NOT provide 22 children with noisemakers!!!! Ugh almighty!
-Climbing wall- pretty cool experience that they had this. IT was the type with a harness and ropes and such. But three kids caught their pant-legs on the climb up and were hanging upside down. That could be remedied simply by putting these little straps around pant legs that they sell for bikers. Three kids!
All in all, Logan played well in the play areas. Sylvie did decently as well. Logan was totally and completely overwhelmed by all the craziness of the cake and presents. Thus him not paying attention and spilling applejuice all over himself. I really really see the difference between a 7 year old and an almost 5 year old. I'm thinking if Logan has a party with friends, it won't be 22 kids and it won't be at a place like this for a few more years!!!!
There's my review!
+ Clean! Clean bathrooms with two stepstools including one for Sylvie's height. They made the kids use hand sanitizer before eating
- Good rhythm to the party, but hard to predict. It was a bit confusing. They started in one room and moved to another. The shoes were moved to the next room, but my kids had their shoes on because they stopped at the bathrooms so we came back to an empty shoe rack.
-Should have been one small single bathroom in the main room. Only room was in the lobby. Not a great idea to leave the kids alone if you are the only parent with them
+ Sylvie normally wouldn't have enjoyed an experience like this but if I wanted Logan to go, she had to come too. She has done bouncy things, but she's just scared by the mass chaos. The first room had a big flat jumpy area outside of one of the bounce houses for her to jump on with me holding onto her. The second room had a few little cars you can drive around- so cute! She loved that. I hate that most indoor playlands are made for older kids with no provisions for the younger ones or assume all kids are going to go jumping feet first into a ball pit or tunnels. Until you have shy quiet kids or ones with balance issues (Logan) to overcome, then you don't quite get it.
+Time of day of the party. To save $ getting the weekday rate I'm sure, the party was on a Friday from 4-6. Worked for us.
-Having a party at that time of the day and then only serving cupcakes and candy treatbags. My kids didnt' have any desire to eat anything healthy after the party for dinner. It was much later that I got Logan to eat some veggies. Sylvie went to bed with only cupcake frosting in her tummy.
+Serving cupcakes- easier than cake for serving 22 kids.
-Serving drinks and giving a choice in open cups. If I do a party like this, I'll go for juicebox type drinks. It was chaotic as the parents all listened to the kids screaming for their drink of choice. Plus, the ENTIRE cup of Logan's applejuice landed on Logan's lap.
-Opening presents. At Chuck E Cheese last year for same child's bday, they didn't open gifts. This year bday child sat in the chair and all the kids got to see the gifts. I thought it was cute and well-done. Dad and mom got to take pics and write down who gifted what. The employee/helper did all the helping. Help unwrapping, put all gifts into a big bag to bring home, trash went into a trash bin on the other side. Kids really enjoyed sitting in front of bday boy watching unwrapping.
-Noisemakers. For the love of god....in an enclosed area, do NOT provide 22 children with noisemakers!!!! Ugh almighty!
-Climbing wall- pretty cool experience that they had this. IT was the type with a harness and ropes and such. But three kids caught their pant-legs on the climb up and were hanging upside down. That could be remedied simply by putting these little straps around pant legs that they sell for bikers. Three kids!
All in all, Logan played well in the play areas. Sylvie did decently as well. Logan was totally and completely overwhelmed by all the craziness of the cake and presents. Thus him not paying attention and spilling applejuice all over himself. I really really see the difference between a 7 year old and an almost 5 year old. I'm thinking if Logan has a party with friends, it won't be 22 kids and it won't be at a place like this for a few more years!!!!
There's my review!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Busy Day!
Get the kids up and dressed and teeth brushed and breakfast in the tummies + Get Logan on the bus + Pack up and head out to a playdate at the park + Get home and change Sylvie into jammies + Do dishes + Change Sylvie back into real clothes + Make lunch + Meal plan and coupon based on weekly ads and figure what to get at the grocery store while the kids are cutting up newspaper ads, playing some very messy water game on the kitchen table while begging/threatening them to get them to please eat their lunch + Go to the park + Get a bazillion groceries (saving $45 with all my planning!!!!) + Lugging all that stuff inside while kids obsess over which bag contains mell-marshellos (according to Logan) + Put said groceries away + Empty old stuff from fridge + Wash and cut up strawberries to fill kids tummies + Start baking sweet potatoes for dinner casserole = ONE TIRED MOMMA!!!!!
And to think, I had this wild idea that today I would clean. Try Survive!
Okay, time to break up some sibling rivalry and perhaps attempt to clean up, do a load of laundry, keep making dinner, get Logan to do his homework, plan for a presentation at his school tomorrow, etc etc etc etc etc. I really miss Sylvie's naps on days like today!!!!
And to think, I had this wild idea that today I would clean. Try Survive!
Okay, time to break up some sibling rivalry and perhaps attempt to clean up, do a load of laundry, keep making dinner, get Logan to do his homework, plan for a presentation at his school tomorrow, etc etc etc etc etc. I really miss Sylvie's naps on days like today!!!!
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