And They're Off!

Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Drag myself out of bed, cling to the stair rail to go downstairs and wake up the Diva for her first day of 4th grade. Tap her. Rub her back. Call her name. Once, twice, three times. Listen to her yawn and stretch and make her puppy like whimper noises before she finally opens her eyes, looks out the window and informs me that it’s still dark outside. Uh yeah, I know. Just wait til this winter!

6:20 am is much too early to be waking children up for school. I didn’t even get my coffee. The Diva got dressed in one of her new uniforms, and of course she looked adorable. I braided her hair keeping one eye on the clock so I would know when to wake up the other two sleeping beauties. She was pretty excited to be starting at a new school. This one is my pistol, and I’m really hoping that the change in schools will help her behave a little better. She’s that kid. You know the one. “There’s nothing you can tell me I don’t already know,” kind. And she has difficulties making friends because she has to be the boss of everything. A result, I think of being the second youngest and never having say at home.

I reminded her that today was a new day, a new school, new kids, and a chance to start a great year. She was all grins. My fingers are crossed for her.

By now I was a little more awake, and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. Unsuccessfully, but trying at least. I woke up the other two who are starting their first day of “intermediate” school. (5th and 6th grade) Our school system is trying something different this year and rather than having 2 junior highs for 6- 8th grade they took the jr. highs and divided them. 5th and 6th in one building. 7th and 8th in another. Big school, lots of kids. It makes me a little sad to think of them growing up on me.

They woke up a lot easier than I thought they would, and both were dressed and ready to go within 10 minutes. Excited much? Haha. I thought we had everything ready to go, but of course there are always the last minute things. Bashful couldn’t find a belt she wanted to wear and then decided to change her shoes. Then of course her hair wasn’t doing what she wanted. Oh drama!

Big Little Man didn’t care. His shirt was half tucked, half un-tucked. His hair had a rooster thing going on in the back, and he had a little dried drool in the corner of his mouth. Of course I totally Momma Beared him and got him all straightened out, even licking my thumb and wiping the drool away. Gross right? Who does that?! Apparently I do.

The Divas bus sped right by the house and she came in all bewildered so I assured her I’d get her to school. Then Big Little Man went out to wait for his bus and almost climbed onto his sisters’ bus. Bashful must have zipped and un-zipped her backpack five times to check that everything was in order.
It was soooo cute watching them get ready and get on their busses, but a little bittersweet as well.

Of course Bean wanted to go to. Each time the busses pulled up she would proclaim, “I go to school too!” she leaned over the back of the sofa and watched out the window. Every time a bus pulled up she’d squeal, “Bus! Bus!”

She was pretty disappointed that she wasn’t going to school with them. But a banana, her Peter Rabbit, and some Oswald seemed to make her content.

I’m finally sipping some much needed coffee, and enjoying the few moments of quiet. I’m excited to hear how the kids first day went, but I’m also thinking that despite the early departures I’m probably going to enjoy the few hours a day when the house is a little less crazy.

Mmmm. It’s Momma time!At least for a little bit until I have to leave for my ultrasound appointment. I'm def going to enjoy it for a bit!

School Daze

Where did the summer go? Oh yeah, that's right, it's still here, we just have a weird school system who think it's brilliant to start the kids in school in the middle of August when it still doesn't get dark til 9:30 and the temperatures still soar in the 90's. None the less, today is officially the last day of the kids summer break. I kind of have mixed emotions about this.I feel like we had so much more to do to enjoy the summer, but being sickly the past month with the pregnancy and the hot, muggy, weather made it difficult to do some of the things we'd planned. I have to admit that I'm also looking forward to the kids not acting insane because they are bored.

Seriously?! Did you know that kids start picking fights with each other and loooking for reasons to be in crappy moods when they get bored? It's true. Mine seem to have come to a group concensus that since it was too hot to be outside for very long, and they are limited on how much they are allowed to play video games, they would make everyone in the house miserable by picking, fighting, whining, and being all around difficult.

That I will definately NOT miss. A little more quiet and less arguing during the day will be a nice change. However, I'm not looking forward to the 6:45 AM wake up schedule. Or the homework time when they whine and fuss because they don't want to do it.

School uniforms are purchased. Shoes are bought. School supplies.... well as that is there Dad's apparent contribution we are still waiting on those (love not having them yet, the day before school starts- but that's a gripe for another day)

I think we are pretty much ready.

And now I have to add a big THANK GOODNESS because as I wrote this I heard the kids wrestling and arguing, and then some crying. They come upstairs and one has a big red mark by her eye, the boy has a red mark on his neck and the other is telling me all about the wrestling scene that waas going on downstairs.

Uh Yeah,.... definately ready for school to begin!!!

1+1=8

So…..the big surprise of the summer for our family?

We’re having a baby! Yes, you read that right. Little baby Mallison should be arriving March 17th if the doctors estimated due date is correct.

Surprised? You betcha! While The Man and I had discussed having a baby “SOMEDAY” we definitely hadn’t planned on finding out just a month after the wedding that we would be adding to the family so soon. However, I know that it’s a blessing regardless of timing. And of course, I can’t help thinking that God is telling me once again that His timing is not always My timing.

Ok, God. Gotcha.

I have to say I was surprised by the revelation. Surprised enough that I took 4 pregnancy tests. Ha, I know, I know it’s a little ridiculous, but it’s true. After being teased by friends that I was, and realizing that I was in deed late for that wonderful gift I get every month I decided to take a test.

I thought maybe I’d gotten a bladder infection or that the changes from the wedding and all the buzz after had just put my body into “forgetful” mode. Uh not so much! I knew I’d had my monthly visitor just three days before the wedding, because I was horrified that it would still be around when I put on my gorgeous wedding dress.
“Everything is just running a little behind.” At least that’s what I told myself. Then I had a rummage sale with my friend, and we were talking. I mentioned that I was nearly 9 days late. She convinced me that I should test. I say convinced because I have a history of panicking when I’m just a couple days late- running out and buying a test- only to get a negative and then a day later getting my visitor. So this time I decided not to freak out and just wait.

Ha. Fooled me I suppose. So I woke up the morning after we finished our rummage and took a test. It IMMEDIATELY showed me a PLUS sign. It was only 7am and I was groggy. I told myself it was wrong and went back to bed. Later, I went to the store and bought another pack. Next morning I took another and to my surprise the result was even brighter and appeared so fast that the urine (I know gross) didn’t even make it all the way across the stick before the PLUS sign appeared. Two more tests throughout the day gave me the same result. WHOA!

I wasn’t sure how to tell The Man, or if I even should until I had a doctors confirmation, but I decided that with this being his first pregnancy he deserved to know asap. Besides I didn’t want to have to wait until the doctors appointment alone. Right?

So I took a big black marker and wrote on my tummy “Baby on Board” and I wrapped the tests in a small box to look like a present. Boy was he surprised when he saw the writing on my tummy. He cocked his head to one side, read slowly then looked at me, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Are you serious?”

I handed him the gift and he unwrapped it to look at the tests.

A week later at the doctor office they did indeed confirm the news. Baby Mallison was currently baking away in my belly.

So,…. The 7 of us will go to 8 in 2011. Despite the surprise of it, we are all excited to see how this little one will enrich our family. Now if I could just get over the morning sickness, fatigue, and peeing constantly……

Oh the Joys of the Tempestuous Two's

I’m not really sure what happened over the past few months to my precious little toddler. It’s like she turned into this spicy little diva who likes to throw fits when she doesn’t get her way and who has the sassiest attitude I’ve ever seen on a two year old.

Not that she isn’t still sweet and endearing and full of humor as she has always been, there’s just been a scoop of sass added. Sometimes the moments are cute and I have to fight not to laugh at her, as I know that she’ll just continue to do it. Other times I’d like to find the nearest pillow and throw it over my head in the biggest act of ignoring possible.

Case in point- She wanted a fruit snack the other day. Her oldest sister- my 18 yr old was the object of her “personality” on this occasion.

2 yr old- I wanna fwoot snack

Oldest- Ok just a minute.

2 yr old- I wanna fwoot snack. I wanna fwoot snack. (this time adding the pouty lip)

Oldest- Give me a second.

2 yr old- (Stomping a foot) I wanna fwoot snack!

Oldest- I do Not have to jump up the second you snap your fingers!

2 yr old- Snap, snap, snap! (while she snapped her fingers.

Second case in point- she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to be so The man told her to stop or she was going to get a spanking. She continued and he told her. “I’m not kidding. If you don’t stop I’m going to spank you, I promise.” What does she do? Hold out her finger for him to pinky promise her. Oh good grief!
And while those are the moments that are smile worthy, there have been a few that prove to me that she is getting older, getting her own personality, and maybe a little attitude.

One afternoon she was upset. The man was going to take the kids swimming so they had all changed into their suits, but we were waiting on a call to know when it was ok for them to go over. She couldn’t understand the waiting and was growing very, very impatient. I was in the living room with the man and a few of the kids watching t.v. When she realized they weren’t leaving right away to go swimming she got peeved. She repeated over and over that she wanted to go swimming. No amount of explaining would ease her or calm her frustration. She started crying, flailing a bit, and even slammed onto her bottom. When that wasn’t the magic solution to her devastating problem she started kicking the couch. Then she stormed off down the hall crying and yelling that she wanted to go swimming.

Once in her room she continued and even closed her bedroom door. Initially I tried to let her throw her fit. After all she wasn’t doing it in front of me, and had taken it to her room. But she got louder and it sounded like she was kicking or hitting the wall.

When I entered her room she was lying on the floor and kicking her closet doors. I scanned her room and was surprised to see that she’d thrown a pile of folded clothes all over the floor. I sternly told her to stop and pick up her clothes. Now let me explain being stern with her is difficult because she has those blue eyes and that sweet mouth and she knows how to bat her eyelashes. But I did it, and apparently it worked because she started picking up the clothes. I convinced her to come out to the living room and sit whole we waited, and explained to her again that we were waiting on the call and then she could swim. That worked for about 5 minutes and then she started whining and fussing again. Within 5 minutes she’d fallen asleep on the couch, and three minutes after that we got the call to go swimming.

I’m pretty sure that the episodes like that happen when she is tired. Which is a lot lately because she has transitioned from a crib to toddler bed, and we’ve been struggling to get her to go to sleep and even stay in bed. But that’s the subject for an entirely different blog. Regardless of the reasons, it’s the moments like this that make me want to stick my head in some sand.

So how about any of you other mom’s of toddlers? Are you also discovering that they are quite tempestuous as well?

Yakkity Yak- Don't Puke Back

I made my least loved trip to the grocery the other day and The Man was sending me texts of what he thought I might forget to buy or whatever random thing he could think of that we needed. My alert would sound and of course I’d check to see what it was.

Diapers and wipes. Yep those are on my list cool

Trash Bags. Agh almost forgot those!

Cheese. Of course we MUST have cheese for all HIS many dietary needs. If it’s not covered in peanut butter, it’s covered in cheese.

Fever. Wha? I need to get a fever? Did he mean Lever? Do we even use that stuff? Is he saying I need to wash my 2000 parts?

Nope. FEVER. Like burnin' up hot, you give me fever, etc.

Oops not a part of the shopping list. Oldest Little Man was now showing symptoms that every other kidlet in the house had already been developing. Low fever, achy, sore throat, weak. Yay for Mommy! No so much =/

I do not enjoy sick kidlets. It makes me sad. Not to mention I usually end up cleaning someone’s bedding at least twice because they don’t make it to the bathroom to yack.

Case in point- I took little diva to the doctor Wednesday as she was the first who really seemed to be ill at that time, and the one with the most symptoms and a really raw looking throat. After being put on antibiotics for strep (even though cultrue came back negative- but she had puss on her throat and hospital lab might show a positive then she'd be sick on holiday) and meds for allergies we get home to discover that Blondie, my other daughter, has thrown up not only in her bed, but was leaning over and managed to get her brothers bed as well. *gag* *gulp* *swallow*. That is like the third time she has done that to me in the past 6 months. I really, really wish if she’s not going to make it to the bathroom that she’d just sit in her bed and soil just ONE set of bedding and spare the other and the carpet! Eww and ewww. I'm normally the one who ends up cleaning it up. I think though that my stomach was created to entertain anyone with a strong one, because I really really hate throw up or bodily fluids, and can't seem to hold back heaves. I was very thankful that The Man cleaned the mess up before I got a chance to see it, because I'm positive there would have been another mess to clean, MINE.

Luckily when I called the doctor to let him know that they were all pretty much acting the same as the Diva he saw earlier, he didn’t make me haul all three of them in. But we did get meds and hoping that by this afternoon they will be well on their way to feeling better for this weekend of celebrations.

Of course I’ll be drowning in a mountain of bed spreads and pillow cases for the day, But better today then tomorrow or Sunday! And as long as we don’t have to add to that mess Ima be a happy Momma!

On a side note while grocery shopping with Blondie and running errands, going to the bank, paying bills etc, I think she finally realized how much money goes into raising a family. She was pretty astounded at the grocery bill at both stores, and it wasn’t even one of larger normal ones. Maybe at least one of the kids will appreciate that money doesn’t grow on trees, that electricity, water, and their cable isn’t free, and that it cost some major Benjaman’s to make sure that they have “Good Eats.”

It Has BEGUN! (new system for kids!)

So after dealing with whining/ crying/ pouting/ eye rolling etc I have decided that my kids need to know just exactly what is expected of them daily.

Kids always want to play, watch t.v., play video games etc, but when it comes to chores,....even just the simple ones they seem to have a freakin' cow if I even mention them. Oy vey! They want to play play play but don't want to help around the house with the messes they create.
Umm Momma says enough of that my little gremlins. Summer time doesn't mean I get to stop doing the things that need to get done so you don't either!! And hey! If we get them done we can enjoy the day, do what we want and have muchos fun!!!

Thanks to Rachael I got the foundation for an idea regarding how to get them to do the chores expected without all the "issues" included. I am REALLY hoping it works!!

What are we doing? A poker chip/ banking system.

I give them a list of the chores expected of them such as : making bed, cleaning room, putting dirty clothes in laundry room and not on bedroom floor, putting away their clean laundry, unloading dishes from dishwasher, folding their laundry, straighening up their messes etc. Then they have to complete them to earn chips/ tokens. (we are using poker chips because we have an extra case)

Each of them get a mason jar that their earned chips go into. Then they can use the chips to pay for priveleges such as psp/ds/gameboy time. Xbox / gamecube/ ps3 time. TV time and control of the remote. etc. They can use their chips (worth a set amount) for the time to pay for priveleges, or they can cash them in to spend. However, they can NOT be changed back.

Also, their chores have to be done by a set time. If they are not than any of the kids can do the set chores for extra chips.

They can also fail to earn chips if they don't do the chore right, complain about their chores or argue and whine. Or if they lie about doing chores.

I have high hopes for this system. I've printed out expected chores for each child, what it cost to earn specific things, and the rules. All of these will go on the fridge so that they can readily see them.

I will most def let you know how it goes!! FINGERS CROSSED!!!

I can't see me lovin' nobody but him....

There are moments when I wonder just how exactly it is that The Man always know when I am about to wig out over something. He always seems to meet a need just as I feel like I'm about to stumble over the edge of some seemingly ginormous black hole. Thank goodness he cares enough to take my hand just before my foot leaves the ground and meets the air!

Of course, when you yell at your kids to make their beds on and really meant to say get your shoes on, I guess that's a huge clue that something is a little off that day. So maybe he's not ingenious or doesn't obtain some master mind reading power that tells him when it's one of those days, but he's still great at zeroing in on it and helping me to relax, re-think, or re-boot.

I am really blessed to have a man who so willingly accepts even the crazy days, loves my kids, and me even more for how much I love them, thinks (most days anyways) that even some of my neurotic tendencies are cute, and plans surprise moments for me to help take the edge off the not so great moments.

I really never thought I'd find someone who could put up with me like he does. Guess I'm a pretty lucky woman! Of course he's pretty darned lucky too. I mean he got a sensitive, sweet, hottie who likes cleaning, cooking, and cuddling, and doesn't mind that he can be a bit of a computer/ video game nerd.

Winners go US!

=)