I Mom So Hard

Guys, I know I often write about what a mess I am, but I gotta' say, right now, in this moment, I AM KILLING it. 

After the first week of school, I made some adjustments to our evening routine and--BAM--we're working like a well-oiled machine. Homework? Handled. Extracurriculars? Got 'em covered. Family dinners? Still happening. Bedtimes have been stretched a wee bit and our already loose shower schedule has picked up even more slack, but the kids aren't struggling to wake up and flies aren't following them, so we're good. 

And this weekend? Let me TELL you about this weekend...

• Kids' Halloween costumes picked and bought. 
• Flu shots administered. 
• Birthday present (for next weekend) bought and wrapped. 
• Banana bread baked. 
• Errands done.
• Laundry washed, folded, AND put away.

And I just wrote this blog post. AND it's only NOON! Say what? Don't mind me, I'm just going to be reading leisurely the rest of the day (because I also already have dinner prepped and ready for the oven!)

However, even as I bask in the glory of an impending afternoon with nothing much to do, I realize it's only possible because we've had two weekends in a row with nothing on the calendar (and last weekend we scored play dates for the kids on both Saturday and Sunday.) All hell breaks loose again starting next week and probably won't let up until after Thanksgiving...which means after Christmas...which means after Nick's birthday. So, that's cool. At least I'll have material for this blog...

First Day of First Grade!!!

Looking sparkly and ready to shine!

Lainey’s off to first grade! So far so good! Her besties are all in her class again this year (for better or worse—we shall see), and I’m really happy with the communication style of her teacher so far (although the bar wasn’t set that high from last year).

We may have been a bit over zealous with fall activities, however. She will continue swim lessons on Thursday nights and gymnastics on Wednesday nights. We switched her from lessons at the YMCA to a real gymnastics school, because she just wasn’t learning much. From just one class at the new place she made a huge skill leap (same thing happened with her swim lessons). It’s nice to have another option, but it also means I can’t take advantage her afterschool program at the Y to fit-in the lesson.

She’s also signed up for Girl Scouts (only one Friday a month), and I promised her last year she could take the afterschool cooking class (also on Wednesdays). For her to participate, I have to leave work 30 minutes early to get her. I piggybacked gymnastics for the same night, because I know I’ll be home early and we’ll have time to get ready for class. I am so relieved that the YMCA basketball league we signed her up for isn’t moving forward, because there aren’t enough kids. It would have been TOO much! Seriously…what were we thinking?

Right now, everything takes place on week nights, but I can move swim or gymnastics to the weekend if it becomes too stressful. I’m trying to take advantage of the early years with little to no homework and keep extracurriculars during the week, so our weekends are free. Free to sign-up Nick for something that is…

Welcome back to school!

Farewell to Foxy

While our Florida getaway was fantastic, we returned to sad news on the home front. Nick's fish, Foxy, swam off to the bluer sea of the beyond. And judging by the condition of the mortal remains, he met his maker about five minutes after we walked out the door last Saturday. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Foxy had been looking a little worse for the wear lately, so we had been preparing Nick  that he wouldn't be around much longer, but we weren't sure how he'd take the news. When we told him Foxy died, his first words were, "who's Foxy?" Mark and I couldn't help but laugh, which made him think we were kidding about the whole thing. But, when we explained that we were talking about his fish and that he really was dead, his little face dropped and his shoulders deflated. Mark picked him up in his arms and Nick raised his head stoically and said, "Take me to the office." We told him we'd already removed Foxy from the tank, but he needed to see it for himself. In the end, we let him see Foxy's body. He found it more interesting than disturbing and had lots of questions on why Foxy looked the way he did (but, thankfully, no questions about what happens after you die.)

He chose a spot to bury Foxy in the backyard, marked the grave with some sticks, and that was that. We told him he could get a new fish this weekend, but he hasn't mentioned it again, so we aren't either. Molly (Lainey's fish) better beware...with one fish out of the picture, I think Mark is mulling the easiest way to send Molly on her final swim...

R.I.P Foxy

Vacation All I Ever Wanted...

We recently returned to life as we know it after a four-day break to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. I cannot overstate how much I had looked forward to this trip. My need to get away was not so much driven by my job, but more the need to escape of the daily grind and general scurry and hurry of life with kids. Mark and I made a promise not to rush anything on this trip and just be lazy. Aside from a schedules boat ride, we stuck to it and just let the days fall where they may. We threw out all rules around bedtimes and nutrition, too. The kids were super helpful in making me stick to this one...every time I wavered on handing over yet another treat, I would hear small, but firm voices saying, "You said 'no rules on vacation!'"--and the ice cream or the donut or the cookie would be promptly handed over.

We stayed at a condo building that only had four units, and we were fortunate to share the space with really great people. The unit above us was empty, so our space was really quiet. A retiree, who owned a unit, was staying next to us and she was a great source of info--and a grandmother, so loved having the kids around and didn't mind their enthusiasm (a.k.a. LOUDNESS). The fourth unit was occupied by really great family with an 8-year-old girl, Lulu, whom Lainey totally hit it off with. Their son, Sam, was 11, so Nick lost out on a playmate again. Womp. Womp.

Lulu!

We ran into some residual weather from Harvey, but luckily the really big storms hit during the night. And when it did rain during the day, we just kept swimming in the pool--the kids thought that was awesome! Truly, I think those kids would have stayed in the pool from sun up to sun down, if we'd let them. Two little fishies! Nick enjoyed playing in the sand, but wanted nothing to do with the ocean. One taste of salt water and "his whole day was spoiled!" Lainey didn't love her first introduction to salt water either, but she adjusted quickly and really took to the waves.

Swimming in the rain

As deep as he would go

King of the Sand

Catching waves

The one activity we ventured out for (other than eating) was a dolphin tour boat ride. We kind of struck out on the dolphin viewing (one played for a bit right as we headed out, but we didn't get a good view from our spot on the boat), but Lainey still had a lot of fun on the boat. Nick did not--he was a grumpy, grumpy boy.

Grumpy Gus and the gals

At least someone had fun...

As much as I would have loved to stay a few more days, I think we hit it exactly right on timing. Mark and Nick's skin had definitely had enough of the beach, delicate little flowers that they are, and Lainey's hair was turning to straw from the salt water and chlorine. I still took the full week off and used Thursday and Friday to knock out chores and various appointments for the kids, so we can head into Labor Day weekend with nothing to do, but chill and have fun. So long summer--you were fast and furious, but oh so fabulous!

Farewell Florida...until next time...

The Little Buddy Blues

There are a lot of perks that come with being the baby of the family (I should know), and Nick definitely reaps those rewards. But, sometimes being the little brother can really stink. Like when your older sister doesn’t want you tagging along with her friends anymore.

My heart broke for Nick last night. Lainey’s friend stopped by to ask Lainey over to play. Nick and Lainey were in the basement playing together when I called down. An excited voice shouted back, “I want to go to Vika’s!” Unfortunately, it was Nick’s. Ugh.

Even though I told him he had to stay with me, he still scrambled up the stairs and hurried to untangle his inside-out socks. His face was set in earnest concentration that turned to panic as Lainey slipped quickly into her crocs and bounced out the door. I was hoping Lainey and Vika would escape down the block quickly, but Lainey stopped to get her bike from the garage, giving Nick enough time to get his shoes on and outside. He chased them down the driveway and half way up the block before finally conceding they were leaving him behind. Then he collapsed on the sidewalk crying.

I scooped him up, carried him inside, gave him a cookie, and let him watch TV. You know, the basic prescription for any broken heart.

This isn’t the first run-in we’ve had this summer with trying to separate Nick from Lainey. Unfortunately, while Lainey has several playmate options within arm’s reach, Nick does not.  So, when she runs off, there’s no one to easily bring to Nick. I think (hope) that will change when he starts school next fall, but for now he’s just left behind. And while often the other parents/playmates are happy to have Nick tag along, Lainey isn’t always down with that. And that’s okay. She needs to have her space and her time without Nick running at her heels. I’m just thankful that Nick’s a kid who could stand to eat a few more cookies…because I think there will be a lot more condolence sweets headed his way.

Hang in there, Little Buddy! Your day will come…

Kitchen Glory

The kitchen is DONE! Well, in truth, it’s been done for about 3 weeks, BUT they just finalized a few

minor punch list items yesterday, so I’m not that delinquent with this post.

Now, I understand that there are people in this world facing real struggle, but let me tell you, surviving those 10 weeks (yes, TEN WEEKS) without a kitchen was brutal for this pampered little snowflake. I almost wept with joy the day our contractor said I could start using the sink and dishwasher again.

While I never would have guessed it, the sink is my most beloved feature of the new kitchen—even more than my French-door, bottom freezer refrigerator—and I love that gorgeous piece of stainless steel. But, the sink, oh the sink, in all of it’s deep, full-sized glory is making cooking prep and clean-up so much easier! It can dump dirty dishes as I go, keeping my counters clear for other prep, and still have plenty of sink room to use the hanging colander or just simply washing my hands. And after the cooking is done, all of my pots, pans, and cookie sheets fully fit for soaking and cleaning. No more washing half of a casserole dish and then flipping to do the other half. Game. Changer.  

I also now have a double-oven, more cabinet space, and gray ceramic tile floors. Why a special call-out to the floors, you ask? Because they are no longer covered in white linoleum that even Cinderella’s mice armed with pure bleach and hopped up on Adderall couldn’t make look clean. Gray ceramic, on the other hand, hides all. (Subsequently, white socks are now banned from my house.)

Our new counter-height table gets delivered tomorrow—hurray, hurray—which just leaves us to find stools and window treatments! Then we can officially check the kitchen off our home renovation list. It’s been four years in the making, but worth the wait!

This photo doesn't give the sink the glory it deserves

Don't mind if I do bake things at two different temperatures

Hey there, coffee nook--thanks for freeing up precious counter real estate

One Tooth Down...

After three LONG months of wiggling, Lainey finally lost her first tooth on Wednesday. As her impatience grew with the tooth's slow progress in freeing itself, Lainey took to eating whole apples and--WHAM!--it was out within two days.

When we first found out the tooth was a bit loose, I asked Lainey how much cash she thought the Tooth Fairy would cough up for it and she said "two dollars." I thought that was reasonable, but so much time lapsed that I forgot about the conversation. So, on Wednesday, I mentioned that the Tooth Fairy would be bringing her a dollar that night, she said, "Oh. Just a dollar?," with just a hint of disappointment in her voice, but she didn't argue. When I was talking to Mark, I remembered the "two dollar" conversation and we decided to pony up. She was VERY excited to see the extra cash in the morning.

She has another loose tooth in the works (actually, this tooth was loose before the one she lost), so looks like Lainey will have another cash windfall soon!

I think she's adorable with one less tooth!