Birthday Recap

Yesterday was my little princess' 2nd Birthday! It was a nice day, low key.  She was running a low grade fever the day before so we layed (grammar??) low for the day.  I was busy in the kitchen preparing these cupcakes, and this yummy recipe for dinner!  It seemed perfect for the snow/ice we received during the night. After rest time we headed to the mall (gag!) to Build-A-Bear and both kiddos picked a furry friend.  I am not sure why this was what we decided to do for the birthday since I am not shy about proclaiming my hatred for stuffed animals.  BUT, they LOVE them, so I push my disgust aside and do what's best for my precious little angels.  All in all it was a nice quiet day, enjoy the photo tour of my baby girl's 2nd b-day....  TTFN!

Part 1 of Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Yum!

Birthday Girl unsure of her fancy get up

'Washing' their newly stuffed friends, notice birthday girl's fancy duds didn't last long

Happy Birthday!

Make You Feel My Love

While listening to Pandora Radio lately, I heard Adele singing a long time favorite song, originally written by Bob Dylan, Make You Feel My Love.  I never really listened to the lyrics the song, or tried for that matter, I just know I loved it.  Now that I have children, I get it.  I tried to search for who Bobby wrote the lyrics for but came up with nada.  I would like to think he wrote it for his children, because that is what it makes me think of.  This song makes me want to cradle and rock my kids until they are 40!  My son has been having a bit of a wild streak lately and we are really butting heads, but that is for another day!
This song really makes me step back and appreciate this time we have together that we will never get back.  I wish he could know I feel this way instead of the disciplinarian I portray in reality.  Someday he can look back and read this and appreciate my motives.  Check out the wonderful lyrics here.  I also found an amazing duet between Alicia Keys and Adele which I have included for your viewing pleasure.  TTFN!!

I love you my little angels!  

No, there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

Enlighten Me

Now that my husband and son are at the pool and I have my daughter successfully hooked on the Elmo Loves You DVD, I can write about my ponderance (is that even a word?) of the  day.  I thought playdates and playgrounds were supposed to be fun.  When I had just one child the playground and playdates were great.  I could talk to the other moms while my child got socialized and tired out for a lengthy nap.  Enter Baby #2 and all that goes straight out the window.  If I am missing something (besides rolling con un nino) or if there is an easier way, please, please fill me in.  My daughter is everywhere. I mean scaling cement walls while teetering on the edge, about to crack open her skull on the macadam below.  Meanwhile, my son is somewhere else, possibly being abducted while I try to carry on the semblance of a conversation.  And I really try to interact with at least one child at a time, but they are obviously into doing different things and one of them doesn't involve sitting still digging quietly in the sand.  On the other hand you obviously feel that you should, and WANT to, interact with the adults that you are meeting there!  Seriously, I don't get it.  So basically in the future, I plan to have zero expectations for adult interaction and have my son tag along with me while we chase E around, or I can find someone to install a padded room and never leave my house.  Sounds like a plan..............

Back the to Apple Tree

I wonder if when g-d was conceiving his master plan of procreation he meant for us to become our parents?  I wrote about my son not being like me at all in the sense of his hoarding and messiness.  But he is so much like me in many, many other ways.  I can hear him now in my mind, as I write this, "Mom, seriously, I'm gonna freak out!"  I wonder if he will grow up to be like me?  Good lord.
As the years go by I find myself becoming more and more like my parents.  I am such a blend of both of them.  The other night, two anecdotes illustrate how. First, I was getting ready to go to see Water for Elephants with two friends.  I texted one of them and asked her if we were going somewhere beforehand for a bite to eat.  She said yes.  Then I asked her if I needed to look 'presentable?'  That is so my dad.  He always asks that when getting dressed up for a night out with the family or just my mom.  He will come down show us his ensemble and ask, "Do I look presentable?"
Aside:  If you haven't seen the movie and/or read the book, you must.  It is awesome.
Segway to how I am like my mother:  The book is pretty suspenseful and keeps for on your toes.  I literally could not put it down last summer because I needed to know what was going to happen next.  Anyway, I have always loved suspense and thrillers.  Movies and books.  I read Christopher Pike books like they were going out of style in elementary school.  Weird books like this.  Why the hell did my mom let me read that crap!?  Anyway, I always remember my mom disliking suspenseful movies as a kid, for example Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  She would get up and leave if she couldn't take it.  It never really bothered me, until the other night.  I was like a scared little bunny.  Knees curled up and nails in my mouth.  It's not even scary, it was just the suspense that was killing me!  I didn't get up and leave, but I did cover my eyes a few times.
All in all, my parents are two, wonderful, generous people and I am lucky to have their traits!  TTFN!

Why Re-Invent the Wheel: Butterfly

Spring is a wonderful time to do a lot of Science in a classroom.  We have a lot of great things going on right now including studying the life cycles of Butterflies and Frogs.  We have live tadpoles and caterpillars that we will watch go through their metamorphosis before our very eyes.  The children are ecstatic!  And, quite frankly, so am I.  Being that this is preschool age, finger paint is a MUST.  So we dipped their hands in the stuff and made two marks on one side of the paper.  Then we simply folded the papers in half, pressed firmly, and Voila!  Butterflies.  We also are going to allow the children to do a second layer in a different color once these dry.  Aren't they adorable?!  We use Lakeshore Washable Fingerpaint and  Lakeshore Fingerpaint Paper which does a wonderful job.  Regular construction paper sometimes gets too soggy.  Also, you can't teach about butterflies without reading Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  

Here is a list of Mr. Carle's other works as well.  He is a most wonderful author.  As promised, these ideas can be implemented in the home or school setting.  Also, don't forget to read with your child for 20 minutes a day for ages 3-5 to build a better reader.  This can be all at once or split into chunks of time.  

TTFN!

Allowance

So we have decided to start giving our son an 'allowance' on a trial basis.  We seem to have gotten to that point where he wants 'stuff' all the time.  Now, my husband and I have really tried hard not to get into the habit of buying him things every time we go somewhere.  We have been pretty consistent with it, but lately, our 4 year old just wants things.  Even when he does get something new, he immediately begins to covet the next thing he wants. Like, hello, Live in the Now!  After having a discussion with a friend yesterday at work, I am not totally convinced that I want to attach these things to monetary value, but I do want to him to begin to realize that we need to save our money up for the things we want to buy.  And we don't just go out and buy new stuff just for fun.  Maybe I should practice what I preach.  Now, you may be wondering why these are the 'chores' we I chose.  Shouldn't he be doing these things already? Aren't these expected behaviors?  Well, we have to start somewhere, peeps.  This is going to be a work in progress, a fluid document.  So let's start with things we want him to be doing and reward him for them.  Then, replace these with more 'chorey' types of things and these items will become part of the daily routine.  Also, I got this supercute Chore Chart  here.  We are going to use a Dot Art Painter (aka bingo blotter) to mark off when he does the chore.  Super fun for him!  

Today also kicks off our Spring Break, woohoo! So now is a great time to start cracking down on his housework and hoarding.  TTFN!

**Piggybacking on Spring Break, I am not sure if I will have daily postings due to our packed schedule, but I will do my best!**

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

I have commented on two blogs this week about the importance (at least for me) of getting up before anyone else in my household does.  Let me clarify, this only happens during the week.  On the weekends, I slumber until I hear my name being called or someone playing in their crib.  Let me make this simple, here is what I accomplished today, all before 7 a.m.

1.  Shower and go through the awful process of 'getting ready'
2.  Make coffee
3. Pack lunch for preschool and remember to put Spring pics back in the backpack to be returned to the photographer
4. Write 3 blog postings
5. Check gmail, yahoo, and outlook emails and facebook notifications
6. Pack my bag (breakfast, lunch, water, snacks, things to be mailed, candy)
7. Drink a cup of coffee
8. Dry hair
9.  Run dishwasher
10.  Carry laundry basket of folded clothes upstairs otherwise a certain one year old will tear it up!
11. Pour travel mug of coffee and out the door (7:15 a.m.)
If that is not productive, I don't know what it.
Now not every morning goes so smoothly, especially if one of the kids wakes up early.  But most days this time is sacred to me.  So if you want to feel great about yourself and alleviate some stress for when you get home, go sharpen your beak and catch a big fat slimy one!

I am loving this artist, and I am pretty confident this is what some of my readers are thinking about my topic :)

T-Ball

Today was supposed to be my son's first official t-ball game! We had opening ceremonies which began promptly at 9 a.m.  Getting my son suited up for the morning festivities brought such joy to my heart! I know it sounds cheesy, but seeing him in his little cleats and pants and jersey was just so stinkin' cute!  Very reminiscent of myself back when I played softball.  I was able to find two pictures, one from the spring of 85' on the left and the other from 86'.  My husband has always said I look like Tanner from the Bad News Bears (in the left pic).  Coach J. says his t-ball team is kind of similar to this classic movie as well.
Well, imagine the screeching brake sound you hear in cartoons.  The first paragraph was written prior to 3 pm, and soon after we experienced rain and hail.  Hence, our first game was cancelled! Bummer!  At least we got some cute pics of the kids this morning and some vintage softball pics of myself :)  As for future games, Emmie and I will be rocking this Double Chair with Umbrella & Cooler in case of impromptu weather.

Enjoy the following pics!

For My Children

Willow Tree Beautiful Wishes

This is my wish for you: 

Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, 
Rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, 
Hugs when spirits sag, sunsets to warm your heart, 
Friendships to brighten your being, beauty for your eyes to see, 
Faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, 
Patience to accept the truth, courage to know yourself, 
Love to complete your life.
-Anonymous

Enjoy your weekend.  TTFN!

Sometimes Cats Do Have Dogs

Sometimes apples do fall far from the tree.....very very far......The following pictures illustrate my frustration on a daily basis with my son who, as I mentioned before, is a certified hoarder.  I am growing more and more concerned that one of these days he is going to bury himself alive (just like TLC) and I will not find him until he is like one of those stiff, flattened cats found under some lady's decades of newspapers!
Why am I concerned? Please observe the following evidence:
Exhibit A

upon entering standing in the doorway

Exhibit B

To the right of entry

Exhibit C

View to the inside of the tent

Soooo, where did I go wrong? This was certainly not what I had in mind when I started reproducing my little band of minions.  I envisioned little angels cleaning up toys and putting them in the correct bins before taking out another toy. Oh, and without being asked.   Clearly, my plans did not go as expected.  

No, in all seriousness, I just don't get how someone could CHOOSE to live like this?  It's really incomprehendable to me.  I love organization, bins, label makers, etc.  It's like heaven.  I have to say that I have come a long way, and I allow this behavior to go on for days before I explode and go on a  tirade of cleaning.  For example, just now, my daughter picked up a goldfish from an undisclosed location on the kitchen floor and I didn't even flinch.   Luckily I married someone who is right there with me.  

I know I have a long way to go in reference to my neurosis, but knowing is half the battle, right?

Cups in a Cupboard

A recent blog by someone near and dear to me sparked my memory that I had taken this picture a few weeks ago of the plethora of sippy cups in my household.  Why does one family need this many?  I often look in here and think it's time to get rid of a few, but I just can't seem to part with them.  Part of the reason we have such a large collection is that it took me a while to find anything except Munchkin brand that my daughter would tolerate.  Now she likes all of them!  Now it definitely comes in handy to have so many considering both of my kids have one for milk and one for water on a daily basis.  That's four a day.  And sometimes more if we can't find one, or if my husband or I don't know the other poured a beverage for our little cherubs.  Not to mention, there is almost always a cup being found with some kid of foulness inside of it. It's really ridiculous.  We can run the dishwasher with only sippy cups on a nightly basis.  We are not even going to venture into the cabinet with bowls and snack cups (even a Gyro Bowl).  

Please assure me that I am not the only one with gobs of kids plasticware taking over my kitchen...............

Why Re-Invent the Wheel: Popsicle Saver

I have no idea where I saw this idea but I am so glad I remembered it when I did!  While grocery shopping the other night, I decided I needed to have Klondike Ice Cream bars.  Of course I shared with my little boy, who has definitely inherited my sweet tooth.  He sweetly asked me, 'Mommy, can I eat it on the couch?'  Now, normally I would balk at such a suggestion, but this kid has got my number AND I am so exhausted at this point after a full day of work and then the evening routine, and THEN a trip to the grocery store that I just don't have the energy for his negotiations.  This magical idea popped into my head and it worked gloriously!  No worrying about drippings on the couch and no tantrums and/or endless persisting from 4 year old.  It's a win-win.  Why re-invent the wheel?

Bienvenue au printemps!

Well not quite yet, but only a few more days!  There is nothing more I love than getting outside with my family, opening the windows to let the fresh air in, and enjoying a crisp glass of wine on the patio on a warm evening.   I spent a lot of time this weekend getting my 'garden' ready for the new green sprouts to make their way into the world.  This is something you may not know about me, but I tend to my plants almost constantly starting this time of year.  I love to stand outside in the warm evening and water them, pretending like I actually know what I am doing.  I also encourage my son to help me in the garden so he can appreciate the life cycle of plants and caring for personal belongings (responsibility, see Heigh Ho Heigh Ho).

When my grandmother moved from her home in Havertown, PA to an apartment in Wayne, she gave my parents some of her irises.  Some were then given to me when we bought our house and I now have numerous plants that bloom, gorgeous purple flowers every spring.   So it means a lot to me to take care of them.  When we move from our current home, I plan to take a few with me and keep the traditional alive.  I also love my hydrangea plants that were given to me on mother's day two years on a a row.  They will be going with me as well!

At every change of the season I like to look around for home decor to match.  I mean I don't go crazy and buy matching throw pillows and hand towels, however I do pick up little pieces, like the one picture above, to place sparingly around the house.  This is one I just found at my local Home Goods, which I check our regularly for just about anything to decorate my house.  I love this piece because it is a bit primitive being that is is a sampler (a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework), but the robin egg blue frame brightens up the traditional brown or black.  I also have a hard time finding Spring decor that is not 'Eastery,' and there are no bunnies or easter eggs in sight on this one!  The ribbon flowers and pearl and button centers are so perfect; a big warm welcome to Spring...............

Heigh Ho Heigh Ho

It's off to work THEY go. BTW, who knew it was 'heigh' and not 'hi'?  Weekends are great times to catch up on chores, especially when evenings are the only time you have to do them, and that is not an option b/c you are dead tired and really need to be spending time with your children and/or significant other.  Also, let's be real, chores suck and I have waited 4 years to delegate.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I can ask my son to go and feed the cat nowadays.  As I am learning, my son loves to "help" me with everything!  I welcome the help for some things and definitely not others.  Here is a list of chores I find appropriate for a 4 year old:
1.  Feeding animals (if you have a dog is not protective over his/her food)
2.  Putting dirty clothes in the hamper (that word is really old-fashioned don't you think?)
3.  Sorting laundry
4.  Dustbusting
5.  'Washing' dishes in the sink (of course you have to re-wash but they think its great fun)
6.  Cleaning up toys
7.  Neighborhood litter clean up (Mine has this 'Grabber' to use so he does not have to get his hands dirty)
8.  Putting items in the recycling bin
9.  Putting sippy cups in the refrigerator
10. Help put groceries away

There are many things I DO NOT  want help with(i.e. anything that involves open liquid containers or permanent ink), but I am trying to keep this positive, so use your own judgement in order to preserve your sanity.

Lakeshore Learning

Looking for something to do tomorrow morning?  I totally forgot about this amazing program held at a Lakeshore store near you.  If you don't have one nearby, sorry :(  But feel free to visit me and I'll take you!  A friend reminded me a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to go yet, but I look forward to it.  My son is the perfect age for this.  The Lakeshore Free Crafts for Kids are weekly (or weekendly) and really adorable.  My mommy friend went for Valentine's Day and enjoyed herself thoroughly.  The store is also uber amazing. Their products, while a bit pricey, are good quality and oh so much fun. I know there are a few of you who loved to play teacher as a kid, so go to Lakeshore and play to your heart's delight!

Why Re-Invent the Wheel

For Wednesday posts, I will tap into my bag of teaching ideas.  These ideas can be used in the school setting or at home.  Some I have thought of myself and some I have borrowed from others.  I have used them in my classroom and am sharing them with you to use, hence the title, Why Re-Invent the Wheel.  Over my past 11 years of teaching (ouch!) I have perfected being an underachiever and I am not ashamed.

This week we are talking about Fairy Tales.  Everyone loves a good Fairy Tale and almost everyone knows the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  This is the version I read today.  There are MANY versions!  We did a simple sort/size activity following the read aloud as follows:
Biggest to Smallest

Draw pictures of three bears using a stencil, going from biggest to smallest. Copy the pictures so that there are enough for each of the students in your group. If you don't have a stencil, simply draw different size bears.  Let them decorate each bear, and discuss the differences between them.Cut out the bears and place one set of bears on a surface everyone can see and label them “Small,” “Bigger,” and “Biggest.” Take three similar toys of different sizes, such as blocks or cars, and have students sort them beneath the picture appropriately.
You can take this one step further (to keep in a portfolio) and glue the bears on a large piece of construction paper in order from biggest to smallest.  Label the picture, "The Three Bears" and call it a day :).  

I like this activity because it uses other items to help children generalize the skill of sorting and awareness of size.  I also like the artistic element that children can create their own interpretations of Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear.    

*If you plan to complete this activity in one sitting allot at least 30 minutes, including reading the story.  

Caught in the Act

It's truly amazing how quickly they learn where the goods are................

Silly Willies

Get your mind out of the gutter! Or am I the only one who thinks of inappropriate things when I hear the word willy?  How can I not after actually going to see the Puppetry of the Penis show back in Fall of 2004 (?) at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre.  I can't remember the exactly, but I DO remember the show.
Getting back to the subject, today in school we had a few moments before lunch where I had nothing planned (shocking) so we explored this CD, which has one of our favorite movement songs, The Mack Chicken Dance is awesome (song list and music samples). It's a medley of the Chicken Dance, Its Bitsy Spider (not eensy weensy, which I don't understand why people say that and find it infuriating) and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.  We found that we also now love Silly Willies!  Great beat and fun moves for the littles.

Is it me or are these guys (or at least their pose) a little reminiscent of the Ambiguously Gay Duo on SNL??

*Remember children ages 2-5 benefit from 1.5-2 hours of DAILY physical activity!  If you would like more information and/or ideas for implementing structured physical activities into your daily routine, feel free to contact me via email.

Amazon Mom

No, I am not talking about the huge women.  What I am talking about is Amazon Mom.  I am an avid user of Amazon.com for many, many things.  I have even ordered nail polish.  Great color too!  Amazon's new feature site, tailored to you and your gaggle of munchkins.  I just joined and am anxious to see how well they deliver.

Guilt Factor

Times I feel like a crappy mom: Right now. 
My 4 year old son is a certified hoarder. He takes my personal belongings on a regular basis.  Personal belongings include chapstick, eye cream, candles, pillows from my bed, and various other random items.  Naturally, when I realized that my glasses were missing I went straight to him and demanded to know where he had stashed them.  I have been searching every hiding spot (b/c although he is smart, I am smarter and know all of them) like a lunatic, to no avail.  All I remember is that I last saw them on the kitchen table.  I realized today that I was using them while reading on my school issued laptop.  THEN I realized that I must have put them in my laptop case when I took it back to school!  It was a glorious revelation.  I actually made my son go with me to school (after contract hours? Gasp!) and check my laptop case because I typically do not bring it home with me.  Alas, there they was!  Getting to the point, I feel awful that I have been hounding him for weeks and making him feel bad, when he actually had nothing to do with it.  What is a mother to think when every time she turns around something is missing, i.e. deep pore cleansing mask??.  However, I am pretty sure this won't be the last time, and it happens to everyone............right?  


P.S. This it totally Karma.....and it is a bitch