For the past 3 years, I've lost weight, put on weight, lost the weight again and then put on double the weight I lost. I've had many excuses, but I know the reason is I've just been lazy in caring for myself. I made the decision to put myself last at some point and it has killed my self confidence. Our children will all be in school for the first time this fall and tomorrow is the day I start getting some of my 30-something self back, my health and stress in check, and the confidence level I want my children to see and my husband to rediscover as something sexier than the housewife in 'comfy' clothes.
I will continue to post my progress and failures. I'm optimistic for progress.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wanted: One-Big-Frosty-Salted-Margarita, Extra Booze Please
I've had the most wonderful opportunity to care for 3 additional kids this summer. And some days, all 9 of the grandchildren in our family were able to spend time together this summer. Here are the revelations that I've come to recognize. Some I've attempted to improve upon. And then, after some hard-core-slap-me-in-the-face realization, I just let it all go and try to get 10 breaths in before I commit myself to the padded room.
1. Kids pick their noses. What they do with their findings isn't always pleasant. I've encouraged tissues, but most days the 'gold' ends up on sleeves, pillows, furniture or most unpleasantly, in a mouth. Does ACT or Crest make mouthwash that truly takes care of boogers? Perhaps a good dose of Listerine would kill the curiosity to dig for gold?
2. Children don't do a good job at wiping their own butts. As much as one would like to think their child is potty-trained at 5 or even 7, the proof is in the underwear. I've attempted to do a 5 kid seminar at the bathroom door, with toilet paper in hand, on the proper way to wipe your caboose. I'm reminded of the age old saying..'you can lead a horse to water...' So, as much as I'd like for my youngest niece to wipe her own butt, the minute I hear her yell, "I'm DONEEEEEEE," I go running to the bathroom. I can usually catch her butt before it slides across the toilet seat and repaints it another color, along with the rest of her backside and she drops her entire dress in the toilet and then requires a wardrobe change. On the days I don't catch her, I keep an extra set of clothes, the paper towels, and Clorox stocked in all the bathrooms.
3. Small children will eat with their fingers and make noises that sound as if they are piglets at a feeding trough. You can put appropriate silverware (the right sized fork, spoon, spork) with a napkin next to the plate, or even two napkins if you deem necessary, but that does not mean they are aware of their existence when they see spaghetti that just beckons a twirling on the finger and a slurping down the hatch. This is followed up by washing it down with a lidded cup with a straw, that they insist on tilting to the ceiling. Inevitably, that 1 millimeter space between the straw and the hole in the lid, lets the chocolate milk run down, their chins and into and on the outsides of the fronts of their shirts. Here's a bit of advice for the maker's of children's shirts.. Don't bother with white or yellow material.
4. The time required to properly and safely secure 6 children in a vehicle before departing..SUCKS. And even though your mini-van touts that is seats 8 persons, what they really meant to say is that it fits 5 adults and the one in the last row can not have legs. Because if you have ever crawled into the 2nd row of a mini-van and tried to buckle those 3 children, (warning..run on sentence) one in a 5 point harness car seat, and 2 in boosters, where the seatbelt latch mechanism is so far hidden in between the seats, not to mention the digging you must do to find it between the actual crack between the van seats, all the while your armpit is smothering a child in the second row and your legs are balanced on the console, hoping it doesn't decide to bust a move while the ice cold soda you prepared for yourself awaits the completion of this feat....you will find this to be the biggest BITCH of your day! Keep your profanities in check.
5. Kids today are just not appreciative. I find myself saying, 'tell Mr. and Mrs. So and So, or your Aunt, your grandma, 'thank you for...' more often than I hear my own kids just instinctively saying the words themselves. It embarrasses me that they are seemingly ungrateful when having not a care in the world and leading such privileged lives. I often wonder if I do not say 'thank you enough' or they don't hear me saying it enough? Or, if because I am conscious of it, I do say it often and they just don't deem it necessary, when something falls into their hands, whether it be a toy they've wanted or someone's time. This needs serious correction and attention. My fall project.
6. The dispensing of toothpaste onto a toothbrush was not meant for those that have not yet cleaned a bathroom. I am convinced toothpaste, no matter the brand or variety, because I have indeed tried them ALL, could be used as a multipurpose adhesive: grout, glue, coagulant to stop bleeding and maybe even wall puddy for hanging photos? If you doubt it's a pain in the *ss to clean up, have a 5 year old spit and smear a half tube all over your bathroom sink, mirror, hand towel and light switch. I bet you'll contemplate the cost difference between having a mouthful of baby teeth yanked and dentures made verses toothpaste and bathroom cleaner over 5 years time.
7. Kids will wait until the last possible moment to pee or poop. If you are leaving, and attempting to be proactive by having them all use the bathroom, it doesn't matter. One or all of the children will inevitably have to pee. And it always comes right when the meal at a restaurant is delivered to your table, you just got into a swimming pool, you just waited in a 45 minute line for an event and finally maneuvered through a very large crowd to find your seats...OR..you just got 5 minutes down the highway on a 5 hour road trip. And, if you are lucky enough to have more than one child requiring full time attention, you get to take them all to the restroom, no matter where you are or how filthy it might be once you get inside. I think most of my trips out of the house are planned around toilet breaks and whose restrooms are the cleanliest.
(still part of #7) And why can't a child dry themselves off when exiting a swimming pool in the quick attempt to get to the toilet before peeing themselves? I mean, if you know 'its' coming, stop doing the potty dance while grabbing yourself and get the flip out of the pool! Grab a towel, dry yourself from the hair down and properly remove your swim suit after entering the bathroom AND, before sitting yourself on the toilet. Wet toilet seats in public places gross me out enough. I'd rather not see that at home and think that someone might have just urinated all over the seat and left it there.
8. Kids don't see the multi-purpose function of a Happy Meal box or kid's meal sack. Sure, it has Littlest Pet Shop and Iron Man printed all over the sides, it is even perforated for your paper ripping pleasure, but really kids...it's dual purpose is a trash receptacle for your garbage when you are done shoveling down the fries, dropping half of the 4 puny little honey mustard laden nuggets on the carpet in the vehicle while you are too enthralled with 101 Dalmations on the DVD player. Not to mention, it would be really nice, if you could keep the straw that I thought would help aide in consuming your chocolate milk, in the bottle itself, rather than painting the windows. Chocolate milk is not a water color. It doesn't make a pretty rainbow when it dries. But you probably already know this since you tried to lick it off so that I didn't see what you were doing as I glared back in the rear-view mirror. A Happy Meal would make even mom 'Happy' if the child could manage to put the fry wrapper, honey mustard container, nugget box, empty drink container, straw and toy wrapper BACK IN THE BOX and carry it with you before departing the vehicle.
9. Kids become really helpless when they know you are close and listening. It's amazing how their legs shut down on a swing, when you just sit down on the bench to read a book. Or how they forget to check the toilet paper roll before they sit down. They forget to put their finished plates in the sink, shut off lights, close doors, make beds, put the dirty laundry where it belongs, turn off the television and handheld devices, and the list goes on...the patience thins...the entrance to the padded cell gets closer.
--------------
This summer hasn't been so much realization for me, as it has been a test of my patience and endurance. When I was pregnant with our twins, my mom told me that this is exactly what I needed. I thought she was nuts. She said, and I knew she was right when she said it but would not have admitted to agreeing with her, 'that I did not have a lot of patience for anyone. My tolerance for learning, taking the time to have others teach me something or give me criticism was not there. My patience for accepting others help was not there because I was a bit of a perfectionist and GOD forbid, they didn't do it MY way. I was impatient and I took this frustration out on others unknowingly.' Perfect recipe for a mom-to-be.
My mother was never more right when she said having twins was exactly what I needed. Add to that, a 3rd child two years later. And to think five years after the first two were born, I took on 6 children. I know there were moments when maybe the neighbors heard me at the top of my lungs but, I don't believe if you asked one of the kids what they remembered about their summer, it would be that mommy/auntie screamed a few times.
They had fun. I had fun. They learned a lot. And I learned more. I learned patience. I learned to pick my battles and arguments. I learned, at 38, when you stop arguing and start listening, children will listen to you. They learned to assess a situation and find their own solutions before tattling. They learned that 5 minutes IS a long time out when you are stuck in the laundry room corner, staring at the spider webs on the window panes and your other 5 cousins are playing outside. They learned that Johnson and Johnson smeared over the lips wasn't worth getting the last word and that it doesn't make the cool bubbles like it does in the bath tub. I learned that children are listening, even when you think they are not. I might have eyes in the back of my head, but they have the hearing of a bat and can repeat even the slightest conversation, verbatim. Curse words clear as day.
I got more than I bargained for this summer with three extra kids. I got a free early childhood development crash course and life's lessons re-learned. It was no vacation overseas and somedays it was no day at the beach, but as a mom who is about
head back into the working world outside of the home, I soaked up every minute of the spunk and vigor of 6 kids who have a voracious zest for life.
1. Kids pick their noses. What they do with their findings isn't always pleasant. I've encouraged tissues, but most days the 'gold' ends up on sleeves, pillows, furniture or most unpleasantly, in a mouth. Does ACT or Crest make mouthwash that truly takes care of boogers? Perhaps a good dose of Listerine would kill the curiosity to dig for gold?
2. Children don't do a good job at wiping their own butts. As much as one would like to think their child is potty-trained at 5 or even 7, the proof is in the underwear. I've attempted to do a 5 kid seminar at the bathroom door, with toilet paper in hand, on the proper way to wipe your caboose. I'm reminded of the age old saying..'you can lead a horse to water...' So, as much as I'd like for my youngest niece to wipe her own butt, the minute I hear her yell, "I'm DONEEEEEEE," I go running to the bathroom. I can usually catch her butt before it slides across the toilet seat and repaints it another color, along with the rest of her backside and she drops her entire dress in the toilet and then requires a wardrobe change. On the days I don't catch her, I keep an extra set of clothes, the paper towels, and Clorox stocked in all the bathrooms.
3. Small children will eat with their fingers and make noises that sound as if they are piglets at a feeding trough. You can put appropriate silverware (the right sized fork, spoon, spork) with a napkin next to the plate, or even two napkins if you deem necessary, but that does not mean they are aware of their existence when they see spaghetti that just beckons a twirling on the finger and a slurping down the hatch. This is followed up by washing it down with a lidded cup with a straw, that they insist on tilting to the ceiling. Inevitably, that 1 millimeter space between the straw and the hole in the lid, lets the chocolate milk run down, their chins and into and on the outsides of the fronts of their shirts. Here's a bit of advice for the maker's of children's shirts.. Don't bother with white or yellow material.
4. The time required to properly and safely secure 6 children in a vehicle before departing..SUCKS. And even though your mini-van touts that is seats 8 persons, what they really meant to say is that it fits 5 adults and the one in the last row can not have legs. Because if you have ever crawled into the 2nd row of a mini-van and tried to buckle those 3 children, (warning..run on sentence) one in a 5 point harness car seat, and 2 in boosters, where the seatbelt latch mechanism is so far hidden in between the seats, not to mention the digging you must do to find it between the actual crack between the van seats, all the while your armpit is smothering a child in the second row and your legs are balanced on the console, hoping it doesn't decide to bust a move while the ice cold soda you prepared for yourself awaits the completion of this feat....you will find this to be the biggest BITCH of your day! Keep your profanities in check.
5. Kids today are just not appreciative. I find myself saying, 'tell Mr. and Mrs. So and So, or your Aunt, your grandma, 'thank you for...' more often than I hear my own kids just instinctively saying the words themselves. It embarrasses me that they are seemingly ungrateful when having not a care in the world and leading such privileged lives. I often wonder if I do not say 'thank you enough' or they don't hear me saying it enough? Or, if because I am conscious of it, I do say it often and they just don't deem it necessary, when something falls into their hands, whether it be a toy they've wanted or someone's time. This needs serious correction and attention. My fall project.
6. The dispensing of toothpaste onto a toothbrush was not meant for those that have not yet cleaned a bathroom. I am convinced toothpaste, no matter the brand or variety, because I have indeed tried them ALL, could be used as a multipurpose adhesive: grout, glue, coagulant to stop bleeding and maybe even wall puddy for hanging photos? If you doubt it's a pain in the *ss to clean up, have a 5 year old spit and smear a half tube all over your bathroom sink, mirror, hand towel and light switch. I bet you'll contemplate the cost difference between having a mouthful of baby teeth yanked and dentures made verses toothpaste and bathroom cleaner over 5 years time.
7. Kids will wait until the last possible moment to pee or poop. If you are leaving, and attempting to be proactive by having them all use the bathroom, it doesn't matter. One or all of the children will inevitably have to pee. And it always comes right when the meal at a restaurant is delivered to your table, you just got into a swimming pool, you just waited in a 45 minute line for an event and finally maneuvered through a very large crowd to find your seats...OR..you just got 5 minutes down the highway on a 5 hour road trip. And, if you are lucky enough to have more than one child requiring full time attention, you get to take them all to the restroom, no matter where you are or how filthy it might be once you get inside. I think most of my trips out of the house are planned around toilet breaks and whose restrooms are the cleanliest.
(still part of #7) And why can't a child dry themselves off when exiting a swimming pool in the quick attempt to get to the toilet before peeing themselves? I mean, if you know 'its' coming, stop doing the potty dance while grabbing yourself and get the flip out of the pool! Grab a towel, dry yourself from the hair down and properly remove your swim suit after entering the bathroom AND, before sitting yourself on the toilet. Wet toilet seats in public places gross me out enough. I'd rather not see that at home and think that someone might have just urinated all over the seat and left it there.
8. Kids don't see the multi-purpose function of a Happy Meal box or kid's meal sack. Sure, it has Littlest Pet Shop and Iron Man printed all over the sides, it is even perforated for your paper ripping pleasure, but really kids...it's dual purpose is a trash receptacle for your garbage when you are done shoveling down the fries, dropping half of the 4 puny little honey mustard laden nuggets on the carpet in the vehicle while you are too enthralled with 101 Dalmations on the DVD player. Not to mention, it would be really nice, if you could keep the straw that I thought would help aide in consuming your chocolate milk, in the bottle itself, rather than painting the windows. Chocolate milk is not a water color. It doesn't make a pretty rainbow when it dries. But you probably already know this since you tried to lick it off so that I didn't see what you were doing as I glared back in the rear-view mirror. A Happy Meal would make even mom 'Happy' if the child could manage to put the fry wrapper, honey mustard container, nugget box, empty drink container, straw and toy wrapper BACK IN THE BOX and carry it with you before departing the vehicle.
9. Kids become really helpless when they know you are close and listening. It's amazing how their legs shut down on a swing, when you just sit down on the bench to read a book. Or how they forget to check the toilet paper roll before they sit down. They forget to put their finished plates in the sink, shut off lights, close doors, make beds, put the dirty laundry where it belongs, turn off the television and handheld devices, and the list goes on...the patience thins...the entrance to the padded cell gets closer.
--------------
This summer hasn't been so much realization for me, as it has been a test of my patience and endurance. When I was pregnant with our twins, my mom told me that this is exactly what I needed. I thought she was nuts. She said, and I knew she was right when she said it but would not have admitted to agreeing with her, 'that I did not have a lot of patience for anyone. My tolerance for learning, taking the time to have others teach me something or give me criticism was not there. My patience for accepting others help was not there because I was a bit of a perfectionist and GOD forbid, they didn't do it MY way. I was impatient and I took this frustration out on others unknowingly.' Perfect recipe for a mom-to-be.
My mother was never more right when she said having twins was exactly what I needed. Add to that, a 3rd child two years later. And to think five years after the first two were born, I took on 6 children. I know there were moments when maybe the neighbors heard me at the top of my lungs but, I don't believe if you asked one of the kids what they remembered about their summer, it would be that mommy/auntie screamed a few times.
They had fun. I had fun. They learned a lot. And I learned more. I learned patience. I learned to pick my battles and arguments. I learned, at 38, when you stop arguing and start listening, children will listen to you. They learned to assess a situation and find their own solutions before tattling. They learned that 5 minutes IS a long time out when you are stuck in the laundry room corner, staring at the spider webs on the window panes and your other 5 cousins are playing outside. They learned that Johnson and Johnson smeared over the lips wasn't worth getting the last word and that it doesn't make the cool bubbles like it does in the bath tub. I learned that children are listening, even when you think they are not. I might have eyes in the back of my head, but they have the hearing of a bat and can repeat even the slightest conversation, verbatim. Curse words clear as day.
I got more than I bargained for this summer with three extra kids. I got a free early childhood development crash course and life's lessons re-learned. It was no vacation overseas and somedays it was no day at the beach, but as a mom who is about
head back into the working world outside of the home, I soaked up every minute of the spunk and vigor of 6 kids who have a voracious zest for life.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
6:38 AM and My Awesome Day Begins!
I finally make it out of the house after forgetting my camera, then the extra camera batteries. Back in the house and the dog needs to pee. The dog is out. Then the dog's leash run gets stuck on a deck chair. Problem solved and the dog is back in the house and I can finally leave.
I back out of the drive, turn on good tunes, and experience a 1/4 mile whiff of skunk funk balanced by the sweet smell of corn fields. I headed towards the hot air balloons in Chillicothe, Illinois, or so I thought. I had a few happy accident stops along my way and really didn't end up at Three Sisters Park until 8 AM, which apparently was too late to see any hot air balloons. While I was bummed about that, prior to arriving at the Balloon Fest entrance, I stopped at St. Mary's (the older church in the cemetery) in Kickapoo and took some photos of reflections of the cemetery in the windows, while focusing on a crucifix and stained glass inside the church.
I decided to follow Trigger Road and then saw a sign for another cemetery that I hadn't been to yet. Dickison Cemetery is in Radnor Township and was established in 1834 by Griffith Dickison. A small cemetery, but it had several uniquenesses that were photo worthy. I found a monkey and an unopened Budweiser toast to a gentleman who would have been a year older than I, but he passed in '07. I also found a lot of grass clippings all over my feet when I got back to my vehicle. They had just mowed and it was thick. The wildlife was also running crazy through that cemetery and it sort of startled me at first. I saw 2 deer, one being a buck that I mistook for someone spying on me until I investigated further and it moved. I also saw 2 frolicking bunnies and a squirrel.
Along 'this?' road, which I have yet to look up on a map, I also found Leslie Rutherford Park. I would highly suggest it for a family outing or a hike. Large fields and lots of trees and wildlife. I will definitely be back this fall. If you'd like to visit it, I'd suggest a map.
After basically doing a u-turn at Three Sister's Park, I decided to hit up the Farmer's Market on the Peoria Riverfront. It was starting to warm up and since I'm not one for temps above 75, I decided to make it a quick trip through there. I picked up some garlic and purple carrots, a bag of peaches and a loaf of French bread. With my purchases in hand, I tried darting back to my vehicle, but saw a few more photo opportunities and took advantage. I've always been attracted to what I refer to as the the fire escape building. I believe it is known by residents and businesses at 401 Water Street. I could walk around that building several times and see so many different camera angles or approaches that would make for a great photo. I limited myself to about 15 minutes of snapping shots and then booked it back to my van.
I had about another hour's worth of time before I knew I should be home because the kids would be done with breakfast and ready to swim and then I should be making the family some lunch. I took the backroads home, as I usually try to do when I'm alone and stopped at the most beautiful field I've seen this summer. I've passed it twice and I couldn't pass it up this morning. The colors speak volumes and just scream SUMMER! Despite the sweat starting to accumulate under my ball cap, I stood out there for a half hour and took in the view through my camera lens, but was eager and ready for some AC. The warmed up dash was now registering 85, ten degrees more than I can handle!
And because I've shared this field location with another blogger, who I consider a more accomplished photographer and still have yet to meet, I'm only posting two of my sunflower photos because she puts me to shame and I look forward to seeing more of her talent with this subject matter.
I back out of the drive, turn on good tunes, and experience a 1/4 mile whiff of skunk funk balanced by the sweet smell of corn fields. I headed towards the hot air balloons in Chillicothe, Illinois, or so I thought. I had a few happy accident stops along my way and really didn't end up at Three Sisters Park until 8 AM, which apparently was too late to see any hot air balloons. While I was bummed about that, prior to arriving at the Balloon Fest entrance, I stopped at St. Mary's (the older church in the cemetery) in Kickapoo and took some photos of reflections of the cemetery in the windows, while focusing on a crucifix and stained glass inside the church.
I decided to follow Trigger Road and then saw a sign for another cemetery that I hadn't been to yet. Dickison Cemetery is in Radnor Township and was established in 1834 by Griffith Dickison. A small cemetery, but it had several uniquenesses that were photo worthy. I found a monkey and an unopened Budweiser toast to a gentleman who would have been a year older than I, but he passed in '07. I also found a lot of grass clippings all over my feet when I got back to my vehicle. They had just mowed and it was thick. The wildlife was also running crazy through that cemetery and it sort of startled me at first. I saw 2 deer, one being a buck that I mistook for someone spying on me until I investigated further and it moved. I also saw 2 frolicking bunnies and a squirrel.
Along 'this?' road, which I have yet to look up on a map, I also found Leslie Rutherford Park. I would highly suggest it for a family outing or a hike. Large fields and lots of trees and wildlife. I will definitely be back this fall. If you'd like to visit it, I'd suggest a map.After basically doing a u-turn at Three Sister's Park, I decided to hit up the Farmer's Market on the Peoria Riverfront. It was starting to warm up and since I'm not one for temps above 75, I decided to make it a quick trip through there. I picked up some garlic and purple carrots, a bag of peaches and a loaf of French bread. With my purchases in hand, I tried darting back to my vehicle, but saw a few more photo opportunities and took advantage. I've always been attracted to what I refer to as the the fire escape building. I believe it is known by residents and businesses at 401 Water Street. I could walk around that building several times and see so many different camera angles or approaches that would make for a great photo. I limited myself to about 15 minutes of snapping shots and then booked it back to my van.
I had about another hour's worth of time before I knew I should be home because the kids would be done with breakfast and ready to swim and then I should be making the family some lunch. I took the backroads home, as I usually try to do when I'm alone and stopped at the most beautiful field I've seen this summer. I've passed it twice and I couldn't pass it up this morning. The colors speak volumes and just scream SUMMER! Despite the sweat starting to accumulate under my ball cap, I stood out there for a half hour and took in the view through my camera lens, but was eager and ready for some AC. The warmed up dash was now registering 85, ten degrees more than I can handle!
And because I've shared this field location with another blogger, who I consider a more accomplished photographer and still have yet to meet, I'm only posting two of my sunflower photos because she puts me to shame and I look forward to seeing more of her talent with this subject matter.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
You Could Fry an Egg on Our Driveway
It's hot. My mind is fried. Involuntary abstinence does indeed suck. And the new Hy-Vee is sadly, just another grocer.
And no, my mind is not fried from the temperatures this week. Although, climbing in our mini-van earlier today, quite possibly, could have done some slight damage. My brain is actually a bit mushy from all the business of caring for 6 children under the age of 7.
For the past couple of weeks, my family and I have been hosting my sister's children for an extended summer vacation. Our kids are all of the same age range, and between the normal kid fights and lack of much needed naps, they have truly been enjoying this summer. It will be one they won't forget. They've been riding bikes, playing squirt guns, taking swim lessons, swimming in our pool at home, playing on our playground and swings, enjoying local parks, seeing movies, visiting relatives and taking in a lot of Vitamin D from summer's abundance of sunshine.
One recent observance of mine is Trojan® has nothing on this new found form of birth control, involuntary abstinence (extra kid care). By the end of my days over the past few weeks, with 3 of our own children and my sister's three on vacation here, I have not one ounce of physical energy left, much less any enthusiasm to jump on my husband. But mentally after hours of constant movement and child entertainment, it's like clocking off 2ND shift of a service job and needing to relax or wind down for a few hours before heading to bed. This part is awful, because I find myself showered, in bed or on the couch, wide awake, while my husband's mind had been working in overdrive all day at the office and is now turned off and the snoring has begun. Thank goodness, it's only 4 days and 3 nights a week.
----Insert review of new Hy-Vee here...
I do believe I am a glutton for punishment. Perhaps this is my wild side eagerly and somewhat sneaky-like trying to reel me to some dark side? My mom and I ventured out with all 6 kids yesterday to visit the new Hy-Vee at Sheridan Village. I was determined to park by a cart corral, as it is a force of habit with me. So, I rounded the parking lot once before spying a woman with one bag left to put in her trunk. We parked center aisle, and near Smoothie King. While vehicles were jam packed in there, carts were sparse throughout the lot. We were lucky to secure two of them and then were able to strategically place 4 of the kids inside the carts. The other two kids we had climb on and ride to the door. The parking lot was bustling like the early 80s as I remember it, but also rude with honking horns and fingers and arms flying in gesture, yet not surprising on a hot and steamy opening day in July, 2010.
The store was shoulder to shoulder, cart to cart with patrons just as crazy as us for venturing out at early lunchtime on a weekday. The store offered an expected array of specials as heard through the online grapevine. Also offering a host of freebies and chaos. I was trying to take note of any items that would catch my eye or prices that would keep me coming back. Nothing really jumped at me. There were a few organizational aspects that made food items aesthetically pleasing and 'available' in a convenient eye level and reach of the arm, sort of way. Beyond that, the check out lines reminded me of a ladies restroom line during intermission at a Broadway show or a high profile concert performance. I had 14 items. Two above the allotted 12 items or less lane requirement. Luckily, I was spied by a manager, or perhaps it was the kids now in meltdown mode, that got us moved to one of those 12 items or less checkers. His name tag read Ben D. Because I had a lot of 'special offer items' he had to type in a lot of codes, which gave me a few minutes to ponder that name tag. All I kept thinking was how his name could have been one used in pranks when I was in high school. Poor guy. I'm hoping his last name was Davidson and not Dover.
I will probably go back sometime. There was nothing special about the store, but I do like a good selection of product, polished floors, a clean store, good lighting and employees ready to please. I'm hoping they continue to live up to their opening day hype.
----End insert.
I am overjoyed to be sharing these six weeks of childcare with my mom and my other sister and her family, because I'm realizing I could not have done it all on my own. On the day I hand them back over to the other family members, I do have a sigh of relief as I'm ready to enjoy my own family, JUST US. It makes me appreciate how quiet our house is without an additional 3 youngsters. Our own kids need some quality time with mommy and daddy during the week and more importantly, my husband and I need quality time together even if we have to lock ourselves in our bedroom! We've learned to utilize time when we get it, even if it's literally just minutes.
I look forward to tomorrow. We have a swim lesson in the morning, then lunch, then nap/rest time and then I get to hand off the extra three kiddies to my sister. They are usually ready to go as we've had our share of each other for the week and we could all just use a break.
I'm also looking forward to some reprieve from this heat and I'm hoping August brings some cooler temps!
And no, my mind is not fried from the temperatures this week. Although, climbing in our mini-van earlier today, quite possibly, could have done some slight damage. My brain is actually a bit mushy from all the business of caring for 6 children under the age of 7.
For the past couple of weeks, my family and I have been hosting my sister's children for an extended summer vacation. Our kids are all of the same age range, and between the normal kid fights and lack of much needed naps, they have truly been enjoying this summer. It will be one they won't forget. They've been riding bikes, playing squirt guns, taking swim lessons, swimming in our pool at home, playing on our playground and swings, enjoying local parks, seeing movies, visiting relatives and taking in a lot of Vitamin D from summer's abundance of sunshine.
One recent observance of mine is Trojan® has nothing on this new found form of birth control, involuntary abstinence (extra kid care). By the end of my days over the past few weeks, with 3 of our own children and my sister's three on vacation here, I have not one ounce of physical energy left, much less any enthusiasm to jump on my husband. But mentally after hours of constant movement and child entertainment, it's like clocking off 2ND shift of a service job and needing to relax or wind down for a few hours before heading to bed. This part is awful, because I find myself showered, in bed or on the couch, wide awake, while my husband's mind had been working in overdrive all day at the office and is now turned off and the snoring has begun. Thank goodness, it's only 4 days and 3 nights a week.
----Insert review of new Hy-Vee here...
I do believe I am a glutton for punishment. Perhaps this is my wild side eagerly and somewhat sneaky-like trying to reel me to some dark side? My mom and I ventured out with all 6 kids yesterday to visit the new Hy-Vee at Sheridan Village. I was determined to park by a cart corral, as it is a force of habit with me. So, I rounded the parking lot once before spying a woman with one bag left to put in her trunk. We parked center aisle, and near Smoothie King. While vehicles were jam packed in there, carts were sparse throughout the lot. We were lucky to secure two of them and then were able to strategically place 4 of the kids inside the carts. The other two kids we had climb on and ride to the door. The parking lot was bustling like the early 80s as I remember it, but also rude with honking horns and fingers and arms flying in gesture, yet not surprising on a hot and steamy opening day in July, 2010.
The store was shoulder to shoulder, cart to cart with patrons just as crazy as us for venturing out at early lunchtime on a weekday. The store offered an expected array of specials as heard through the online grapevine. Also offering a host of freebies and chaos. I was trying to take note of any items that would catch my eye or prices that would keep me coming back. Nothing really jumped at me. There were a few organizational aspects that made food items aesthetically pleasing and 'available' in a convenient eye level and reach of the arm, sort of way. Beyond that, the check out lines reminded me of a ladies restroom line during intermission at a Broadway show or a high profile concert performance. I had 14 items. Two above the allotted 12 items or less lane requirement. Luckily, I was spied by a manager, or perhaps it was the kids now in meltdown mode, that got us moved to one of those 12 items or less checkers. His name tag read Ben D. Because I had a lot of 'special offer items' he had to type in a lot of codes, which gave me a few minutes to ponder that name tag. All I kept thinking was how his name could have been one used in pranks when I was in high school. Poor guy. I'm hoping his last name was Davidson and not Dover.
I will probably go back sometime. There was nothing special about the store, but I do like a good selection of product, polished floors, a clean store, good lighting and employees ready to please. I'm hoping they continue to live up to their opening day hype.
----End insert.
I am overjoyed to be sharing these six weeks of childcare with my mom and my other sister and her family, because I'm realizing I could not have done it all on my own. On the day I hand them back over to the other family members, I do have a sigh of relief as I'm ready to enjoy my own family, JUST US. It makes me appreciate how quiet our house is without an additional 3 youngsters. Our own kids need some quality time with mommy and daddy during the week and more importantly, my husband and I need quality time together even if we have to lock ourselves in our bedroom! We've learned to utilize time when we get it, even if it's literally just minutes.
I look forward to tomorrow. We have a swim lesson in the morning, then lunch, then nap/rest time and then I get to hand off the extra three kiddies to my sister. They are usually ready to go as we've had our share of each other for the week and we could all just use a break.
I'm also looking forward to some reprieve from this heat and I'm hoping August brings some cooler temps!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Dad's Day
It is a celebration with my husband because he is an AWESOME dad and his greatness needs no explanation around here, just ask any one of our kids. They go running to him every day when he gets home from work. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!" He lets them get muddy and grass stained. He lets them do adventurous (cough cough..dangerous) activities that I would hesitate over. He lets them get their hands dirty. He lets them swim in the bathtub. And supposedly he gives better kisses, because mine our too sloppy and our one daughter always wipes mine off her face...!?? He also gives great hugs and he says, "I love you" every day and night.
It is also a sad day for me because my own father has passed.
I'm feeling a bit melancholy as I sit here and type this at 1:37 AM (the only time it is truly quiet in this house). The only thing that keeps coming to my mind is that I'm so thankful my husband is the father to our kids, that my dad was to me. Our children get to enjoy living as kids and not having a care in the world because he works very hard to provide that for them. My father liked my husband when I first introduced them, while we were dating. My dad probably knew a lot more than I did at that time and he's probably wishing he could say..'I told you so!'
In my mind, my dad spends his days sitting on a John Deere in heaven with charcoal heating up on a Weber ('cause GOD knows a real man doesn't use gas!'), smoking and drinking a beer, while he laughs at all the goofy things our children say and do, while we try to keep up with them!
And I owe a 'thank you' to my father-in-law, although I doubt he'll ever read this. Even before we knew my dad was terminally ill, my father-in-law had always done the 'dad' type things for us and continues to do so. He endlessly helps us do repairs with our house. When he visits he can't sit still. He will mow the lawn. Fix anything that needs fixing. Clean anything 'outdoors' because he still likes to live in the '50s stereotype, but that's ok, because I'm not great at using a power washer. He'll run to the hardware store. And he also makes our kids very happy. I do say 'thank you' and appreciate everything he does do for us. I know if my dad were around, we'd probably have so much help, I wouldn't have a honey-do list for my husband!
Happy Father's Day!
It is also a sad day for me because my own father has passed.
I'm feeling a bit melancholy as I sit here and type this at 1:37 AM (the only time it is truly quiet in this house). The only thing that keeps coming to my mind is that I'm so thankful my husband is the father to our kids, that my dad was to me. Our children get to enjoy living as kids and not having a care in the world because he works very hard to provide that for them. My father liked my husband when I first introduced them, while we were dating. My dad probably knew a lot more than I did at that time and he's probably wishing he could say..'I told you so!'
In my mind, my dad spends his days sitting on a John Deere in heaven with charcoal heating up on a Weber ('cause GOD knows a real man doesn't use gas!'), smoking and drinking a beer, while he laughs at all the goofy things our children say and do, while we try to keep up with them!
And I owe a 'thank you' to my father-in-law, although I doubt he'll ever read this. Even before we knew my dad was terminally ill, my father-in-law had always done the 'dad' type things for us and continues to do so. He endlessly helps us do repairs with our house. When he visits he can't sit still. He will mow the lawn. Fix anything that needs fixing. Clean anything 'outdoors' because he still likes to live in the '50s stereotype, but that's ok, because I'm not great at using a power washer. He'll run to the hardware store. And he also makes our kids very happy. I do say 'thank you' and appreciate everything he does do for us. I know if my dad were around, we'd probably have so much help, I wouldn't have a honey-do list for my husband!
Happy Father's Day!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Rainy Days and Mondays
Love the Carpenters...love them! I need to find my records because a cd just doesn't sound the same.
Yeah..it's been raining for what seems like a monsoon season around here. Enough with tornadoes and thunderstorms, high winds and endless rain! I'm getting a bit annoyed and tired of it. It's not like a cool rain that brings the temperatures back to normal and the humidity ceases. No. It seems like this rain just keeps coming and brings more humidity with it. I think mother nature needs to give it a rest so we can enjoy summer!
This is the prelude to a dry, cool summer, right? And this week I'll be able to turn off the AC, open the windows and sit outside without mosquitos, right? And our plants will be flourishing because they've had so much rain? And the kids will go to bed so soundly because they've played outside all day and are just exhausted? And the rest of my summer will be as sunshiney as the dress Karen Carpenter is wearing?!?!?!?!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Summer Is Here
In a previous post, I said my summer started June 1st. It's here.
I'm not a huge fan of summer. There is a list at least a mile long of the reasons I dislike it, but every summer since my husband and I have had children, I try to make the summer about them, rather than myself. I remember having great summers as a kid. I want them to experience all that 'greatness.' I remember being outdoors all summer long and I don't remember any of the negatives that tend to bring me down as an adult. I really try to see these 4 months through my kids experiences and appreciate summer's potential and what I can relearn and experience again.
Summer's BEST through my children's senses:
1. Sand.
The texture through fingers and toes excites them. Whether it's 4 new bags in the sandbox, a huge cup of water poured over it, or feeling it flow out of the hole intended for the umbrella in the middle of the sandbox; the FEEL of sand is gritty, crumbly, pasty and pure summer fun!
2. Playgrounds.
Whether it be the new one we are so thankfully inheriting from a very generous neighbor or one of the many in the park district, the sensation of flying down a curly slide..even better on your tummy, swinging to the sky (and then jumping off!), standing at the top of a tower and yelling down at friends or jumping onto a fireman's pole and sliding down till your butt hits ground is exhilarating enough to want to do it over and over and over again. I wish there was an adult sized one around town! I still enjoy swinging. Tire swings...even better!
3. Popsicles.
No matter the size or the flavor, these are always a culinary, cool-down, delight. Oh, each child does have a flavor preference (changing daily) and because they usually come 50 in a box, there is never a problem finding the favorite color and plenty to share with the neighborhood kids.
4. Swimming.
We are all signed up for lessons, thanks to some local parent input! I haven't decided on what size pool we will have in the backyard, but we will have one soon. Splashing is one of summer's best feelings and the cool water feels so good on a hot summer day. Sometimes, they don't even mind being tossed in by mom or dad!
5. Bugs.
Worms (best after a rain). June Bugs (hearing them crunch as they get whacked). Wasps (watching them create a nest is so cool). Bumble Bees (seeing who can find the hugest ones over a row of flowers is so exciting on an early morning). Flies (the thrill of being able to wield a fly swatter at age 5...pure excitement). Gnats (gnat hats...the huge gathering of them that sometimes assimilates over one's head for no apparent reason and then follows that person...a child AND adult conundrum). Spiders (long legs is fine, hairy little ones scampering across the bedroom floor, late at night at very high speeds is worthy of a high pitched scream) . Mosquitos (can't stand the bites, but being able to identify them and tell mom every 5 seconds where a new one has landed is very informative and preventative in nature). Lightening Bugs (Best summer bug of all time! The more you can catch, the merrier your home-made Mason jar flashlight will be).
6. Small town Carnivals.
Sugary, greasy goodness! And oh the rides!
7. Fun driving with the windows DOWN!
Our kids, like our Beagle, love to have their face skin flapping near an open vehicle window. I accommodate this request as much as possible because we usually ride with windows down, no radio on and lots of laughing and giggles coming from the backseat. And the fun driving comes into play on an open stretch of road (Devil's Washboard Road in Glasford is a good stretch of road OR the hills on W. Middle Road from behind the Peoria Airport heading to Cameron Lane!) and slightly speeding or swerving just to create that fluttery stomach feeling!
8. Minimal clothing.
I think our kids have been exhibitionists since birth. They didn't inherit that from my husband or myself! But, if they could get by in just undies while playing outside, they would. I try to accommodate their 'lifestyle' by purchasing tank tops, comfortable thin shorts and flip flops, so as not to make the neighbors talk. 'This' bare minimum is required to play outside and seems to be 'ok', but they still insist on getting totally soaked or filthy down to the covered parts!
9. Garden Hose.
The pure thrill of grabbing it while mom and dad are engrossed in yard work and THEN finding out that you have control of it and can hose whatever you want with shockingly cold water!! Oh the joy!
10. Slip-n-Slides.
The longer the better. As a kid, I learned you could put several together OR...add on with black, industrial strength garbage bags. We have a really great hill in our front yard and the kids are now at the age where you don't have to 'toss' their body down the slide. Adding greasy sunscreen makes them go even faster..or so I was told.
11. Ice Cream.
Any kind. ANY WAY...in a cone, soft serve, waffle cone, banana split, milk shake, Breyers, Edy's, Blue Bunny, DQ, Spotted Cow, or any treat from a local Dairy Barn type...serving it up from a window! (OK, this is probably MY summer's BEST but, the kids never complain when I say ice cream)
12. Trails and Paths.
The mystery of not knowing where you'll go or what you'll find and then the discovery of the end can entertain sight, smell, touch and feel. Taste might not be so good on a trail, but because of our kid's ages, taste happens. My husband and a neighbor recently mowed paths through a field that we share between our houses. The kids run through there almost every day coming to the back door with a new discovery or finding.
13. The night sky.
Where we live, we can see so many stars and their patterns at night. We can also see city lights (Yes, Peoria has a skyline!) and we also have the BEST lightening shows. We can't wait for July 4th!!
14. Hot Dogs and S'Mores.
In asking my kids what their favorite things about summer included, they said...'the food.' So I asked, what kinds of foods do you like? And knowing full well they would not give me the answer of 'the delicious Sea Bass dad grills' or 'the perfectly grilled Ribeye with sweet potato fries,' it came out exactly as I imagined. Hot dogs and s'mores. Cooking anything where you can use a iron stick with a sharp poker on the end...OVER FIRE...is pure KID FUN in the summertime!
In talking with our kids and creating this list, I remember summer being a GREAT BIG LOAD of sensory overload and never wanting it to end. August comes way too fast. Slow down. Get lost. Get sticky. Stick out your tongue and taste raindrops. Because at the end of a great summer day is an underwater sea adventure waiting in a bathtub full of bubbles with mermaid Barbies and 32 oz. tumbler cups for drenching siblings!
I'm not a huge fan of summer. There is a list at least a mile long of the reasons I dislike it, but every summer since my husband and I have had children, I try to make the summer about them, rather than myself. I remember having great summers as a kid. I want them to experience all that 'greatness.' I remember being outdoors all summer long and I don't remember any of the negatives that tend to bring me down as an adult. I really try to see these 4 months through my kids experiences and appreciate summer's potential and what I can relearn and experience again.
Summer's BEST through my children's senses:
1. Sand.
The texture through fingers and toes excites them. Whether it's 4 new bags in the sandbox, a huge cup of water poured over it, or feeling it flow out of the hole intended for the umbrella in the middle of the sandbox; the FEEL of sand is gritty, crumbly, pasty and pure summer fun!
2. Playgrounds.
Whether it be the new one we are so thankfully inheriting from a very generous neighbor or one of the many in the park district, the sensation of flying down a curly slide..even better on your tummy, swinging to the sky (and then jumping off!), standing at the top of a tower and yelling down at friends or jumping onto a fireman's pole and sliding down till your butt hits ground is exhilarating enough to want to do it over and over and over again. I wish there was an adult sized one around town! I still enjoy swinging. Tire swings...even better!
3. Popsicles.
No matter the size or the flavor, these are always a culinary, cool-down, delight. Oh, each child does have a flavor preference (changing daily) and because they usually come 50 in a box, there is never a problem finding the favorite color and plenty to share with the neighborhood kids.
4. Swimming.
We are all signed up for lessons, thanks to some local parent input! I haven't decided on what size pool we will have in the backyard, but we will have one soon. Splashing is one of summer's best feelings and the cool water feels so good on a hot summer day. Sometimes, they don't even mind being tossed in by mom or dad!
5. Bugs.
Worms (best after a rain). June Bugs (hearing them crunch as they get whacked). Wasps (watching them create a nest is so cool). Bumble Bees (seeing who can find the hugest ones over a row of flowers is so exciting on an early morning). Flies (the thrill of being able to wield a fly swatter at age 5...pure excitement). Gnats (gnat hats...the huge gathering of them that sometimes assimilates over one's head for no apparent reason and then follows that person...a child AND adult conundrum). Spiders (long legs is fine, hairy little ones scampering across the bedroom floor, late at night at very high speeds is worthy of a high pitched scream) . Mosquitos (can't stand the bites, but being able to identify them and tell mom every 5 seconds where a new one has landed is very informative and preventative in nature). Lightening Bugs (Best summer bug of all time! The more you can catch, the merrier your home-made Mason jar flashlight will be).
6. Small town Carnivals.
Sugary, greasy goodness! And oh the rides!
7. Fun driving with the windows DOWN!
Our kids, like our Beagle, love to have their face skin flapping near an open vehicle window. I accommodate this request as much as possible because we usually ride with windows down, no radio on and lots of laughing and giggles coming from the backseat. And the fun driving comes into play on an open stretch of road (Devil's Washboard Road in Glasford is a good stretch of road OR the hills on W. Middle Road from behind the Peoria Airport heading to Cameron Lane!) and slightly speeding or swerving just to create that fluttery stomach feeling!
8. Minimal clothing.
I think our kids have been exhibitionists since birth. They didn't inherit that from my husband or myself! But, if they could get by in just undies while playing outside, they would. I try to accommodate their 'lifestyle' by purchasing tank tops, comfortable thin shorts and flip flops, so as not to make the neighbors talk. 'This' bare minimum is required to play outside and seems to be 'ok', but they still insist on getting totally soaked or filthy down to the covered parts!
9. Garden Hose.
The pure thrill of grabbing it while mom and dad are engrossed in yard work and THEN finding out that you have control of it and can hose whatever you want with shockingly cold water!! Oh the joy!
10. Slip-n-Slides.
The longer the better. As a kid, I learned you could put several together OR...add on with black, industrial strength garbage bags. We have a really great hill in our front yard and the kids are now at the age where you don't have to 'toss' their body down the slide. Adding greasy sunscreen makes them go even faster..or so I was told.
11. Ice Cream.
Any kind. ANY WAY...in a cone, soft serve, waffle cone, banana split, milk shake, Breyers, Edy's, Blue Bunny, DQ, Spotted Cow, or any treat from a local Dairy Barn type...serving it up from a window! (OK, this is probably MY summer's BEST but, the kids never complain when I say ice cream)
12. Trails and Paths.
The mystery of not knowing where you'll go or what you'll find and then the discovery of the end can entertain sight, smell, touch and feel. Taste might not be so good on a trail, but because of our kid's ages, taste happens. My husband and a neighbor recently mowed paths through a field that we share between our houses. The kids run through there almost every day coming to the back door with a new discovery or finding.
13. The night sky.
Where we live, we can see so many stars and their patterns at night. We can also see city lights (Yes, Peoria has a skyline!) and we also have the BEST lightening shows. We can't wait for July 4th!!
14. Hot Dogs and S'Mores.
In asking my kids what their favorite things about summer included, they said...'the food.' So I asked, what kinds of foods do you like? And knowing full well they would not give me the answer of 'the delicious Sea Bass dad grills' or 'the perfectly grilled Ribeye with sweet potato fries,' it came out exactly as I imagined. Hot dogs and s'mores. Cooking anything where you can use a iron stick with a sharp poker on the end...OVER FIRE...is pure KID FUN in the summertime!
In talking with our kids and creating this list, I remember summer being a GREAT BIG LOAD of sensory overload and never wanting it to end. August comes way too fast. Slow down. Get lost. Get sticky. Stick out your tongue and taste raindrops. Because at the end of a great summer day is an underwater sea adventure waiting in a bathtub full of bubbles with mermaid Barbies and 32 oz. tumbler cups for drenching siblings!
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