Ready, Set, Learn!

We have gotten the list of school supplies and are prepared to bring them on the orientation night. And..let’s not forget about the skechers

All that I heard from Kelsey at the shoe store was how great skechers are. She is an advertisers dream…”Mommy, they will help me jump higher, and run faster, these shoes are GREAT!”

Kylie was also unconvinced of the superiority…
Kesley said: “Kylie you should get some Skechers too, they are the best, don’t you want to run fast like me?”
Kylie: “No, Kelsey. I want the princess light-up shoes.”

So we left with a pair of Skechers and the Princess light-up shoes.

 

Chuga-Chuga

So it is already August, which means summer is almost over and school begins soon. I am eager to purchase school supplies with Kelsey and smell her first #2 pencil get sharpened, get her some new shoes (she has requested Skechers). Her first of many years to come of requests to have something, “like her friends”. I am excited for her, because I remember the excitement of the first day of school, getting to know new friends and seeing old friends. Hopefully all will go well!

On another front…my car is having issues…major issues. I think it might be possessed! First I began hearing dying cow moans coming from the fan, then space alien shrieks from the fan, my coolant system had some issues which is now repaired, my check engine light is on (they say it needs a new oxygen sensor), my timing belt was replaced, it dies out after I first start it in the morning, and now the radio seems to be shorting out. Either someone is tampering with it, the aliens are trying an experiment on me to see what will drive me insane, or it is possessed with a spiteful car repair ghost that has some issues that need to be sorted out. I prefer to blame the fictitious before considering that my car is a lemon!

 

Squeaky Clean

Kelsey came home yesterday explaining that she would be taking showers from now on because baths are for babies. We tried to explain the benefits of baths vs showers and the fact that adults take baths too, but she was unconvinced. Later in the evening she said that she needed a shower, and we asked why since she had just been bathed the day before, and she said, “Some boy threw sand in my hair.” So she took a shower.

Kelsey is a strong willed caring child, she has so much internal strength and energy but is also driven and feeds off the energy of others, particularly her peers. She does not have a particular interest in wearing dresses or playing with dolls. In fact, most days she prefers tag with friends over sitting with her little sister to dress dolls. With that explained, the sand in my hair comment threw me for a loop!

We talked more about the incident this morning…
Apparently, the little boy was “just joking” and probably has an interest in Kelsey. She said that she told the teacher and the little (5 year old) boy was told to stop it, which he did. We did some role playing and practiced words to use in trying to get her point across about not liking sand in her hair. She kissed me and said, “Thank you, Mommy”.

We’ll see how today goes with hopes that our water bill does not increase dramatically as the result of the start of school! I suppose I could send her to school in a shower cap?

 

Sugar High

My little sweet-pea Kelsey started the school sponsored summer program and is eagerly and excitedly preparing for kindergarten.

She is very excited to go to her “school” everyday and thrilled that kindergarten is starting soon, however everyday she points out as her highlight of the day; the food. She reported back the first day that they served candy in their cereal, she said it was called “Lucky Charms”. The next day I asked her about the cereal and she said that she discovered a new and better cereal with colored cherios and sugar called “Fruit Loops”. And then yesterday she said they had candy for snack time too. She described it as vanilla and chocolate frosting spread on crackers with chocolate chips on top. I have not been surprised with all of these little treats since the trend for school lunches have not been the healthiest and the obesity rate among kids is not the lowest in the United States vs other developed countries. What has surprised me is that my little sweet-toothed child has requested that I start preparing her lunch. She has asked everyday for the past week; could you prepare my lunch today (she has only been in the program for one week and one day). Last night she said, “A salad would be great for lunch tomarrow, could you make me a salad?” Today she said, “I would love some Tomato Basil Soup today for lunch, could you mix some up?”

Perhaps she is making some good food choices based on her healthy diet and upbringing or perhaps she is tired of the crash after the brief sugar high she experiences. In either case I have bought a lunch sack and containers to begin the process of preparing school lunch for her, the beginning of many years I am sure.

 

Avoidance

Avoidance does not make something go away, it just gets buried deeper inside. So here I am two months later finally coming back to blog. I have not given it up…just managing other projects in my life with less than enough aptitude, so this break has been a long one.

Alot has changed.

Although I still look the same, my family still looks the same. The problems are still the same (the she-law, the preschool debockle for Kylie, letting go of my independent 5 year old-Kelsey, my dog who eats anything and pays for it later, the newly diabetic hubby now attached to a pump). Wow, I summed up the problems in a paragraph! I wish they were that easy to get through.

There is something about the freshness of Spring to help deal with troubles and seemly impossible tasks. Amongst the spring cleaning this weekend I had the opportunity to go through some old pictures of the girls. Notably their baby pictures. I was amazed at the transformations and fondly remember the days holding them and dreaming about them as they would grow and become talking, walking, independent little people. I dreamed about how they would “turn out” and dreamed they would have good sense of humors, be healthy, and enjoy their lives along with other people around them. Reflecting on how they were has helped me to see how they are and who they are becoming. Everything that challenges me is a normal progression of life, I just need to sit back and enjoy the ride and keep snapping pictures along the way.

 

Color Me Happy

I have mentioned in public and private settings, once or twice, of the fear that my youngest isn’t picking up on things-such as colors.

As a parent, there are so many things to fear; looking both ways before crossing the street, germs and megagerms infecting your children, and setting your child or children up for happiness and intelligence. It is the latter that has taken much of my attention with Kylie. She is a funny and happy kid; she can crack a joke about nothing and make everyone in the room laugh (she is 3 years old by the way). She has had many colds and fevers this winter that have drained my energy and I am sure hers too. A few weeks ago, I was reading “Brown Bear” to her. As children do, she was reciting the story, but was leaving off the color of the animal. I did not think much of it, until the end of the story where there is a picture of all of the animals and a cue to recite all of them. Again, she skipped the colors. It was no biggy at first until I began to run the scene through my head, she is young and will start school young with an August birthday. It all comes down to; I want her to succeed. I vigorously began working with her on colors, but she did not seem to be getting it so I have left it alone for the last few weeks.

Two days ago I was picking her up from day care and the daycare lady said, “Kylie put your mittons on, its cold today.” Kylie replied, “No”, as many 3 years olds respond. Again the daycare person said, “Kylie, with all of the colds you have had you need to wear your … by the way what color are they…your mittons.” My heart sank, I responded quietly, “You know, she does not know her colors.” Daycare person responded in a smug way, “YES she does, she has been putting on a big act for you.” I sighed, “Ok” Daycare lady said, “Kylie before you leave what color are your mittons, before you get your Valentine balloon you need to tell us.” Kylie said, “Purple.” And then she laughed. Daycare person said, “Kylie come on.” “Purple!” she said again (the actual color is green). The daycare lady said, “Ok, no balloon for Kylie.” Then she said, “No! They are green!”

I just have to continually repeat this to myself, “this too shall pass.”

 

Just alittle Manic Maybe

I have taken up new interests (obviously since I haven’t blogged for over a month). Maybe the lull in tv shows, since the writers strike, has forced me to get off of my butt and do something. The “House Hunters” repeats were bound to get to me after a while.

My new interest is exercising. And while it seems trite and maybe even alittle boring, I have found it entertaining. It helps that the girls have a child care area to go to that they have enjoyed. The below zero weather was causing a bit of cabin fever and frost bite. So I have taken comfort in Group Classes including Cardio Kickboxing (kickin my butt), and Strength Training. Yes, me and the BOSU have become one.

 

Holiday Health

It never fails each year the holidays bring cheer, laughter… coughs, runny noses, and fevers. This year has been no different. Both girls have had the fevers, coughs, runny noses, croup (just Kylie), and yesterday I began to feel feverish myself. Luckily for me I was home with the girls because their day care provider called in sick.

What is it about the holidays?

I think it is the ripple effect of day light savings time.
-less sleep and more darkness and inside time

Or the shop till you drop effect.
-touching infected shopping carts and more people in closer spaces

The stress of overspending and overeating.

Well, at least we had our flu shots so we will not get the flu

From my family to yours:

Happy Holidays!
May you find happiness and health in the New Year!

 

Signs of Advent Neglect

Last year I tried, and bought a cheap Advent Calendar with cheap chocolates. The only problem was that I realized two weeks into December that we had been forgetting to open the nasty little things.

This year I gave it a brief thought, and then decided we would skip the Advent disaster of last year.

However, friends, family and others have reminded me of the importance of this occasion. A very good friend actually sent my girls an Advent Calendar in the mail the other day. With a note saying, “I remember the memories of having an Advent Calendar to open everyday as a kid. Enjoy!” My mother bought the girls Advent houses, as well.

It appears that despite my attempts to avoid the Advent Calendar scenerio for my kids, I have been reminded of the special memories and the importance of having traditions and special things to share with each other. I suppose next year I will have to put a little more effort into it.

 

Daycare gifts

I was trying to figure out what to get for our daycare provider since she does such a hard and appreciated job for us all year long with our kids. Most years I get her a gift card; one year to Kohls, several years to Barnes & Noble, and a few years fancy chocolates. She has always written a thank you which was appreciated, but it is hard to know what she appreciates the most because she is a very no-nonsense kind of gal. I thought a spa gift card would be cool, but honestly, I don’t know if she would like it?

I did a google search on the topic and found some of “the worst gifts” given, it made me chuckle…

I will probably go with the trusty Barnes & Noble gift card again, any ideas?