Outdoorsy

Since the school year started, I am ongoingly sorry that I don't make a better effort to get all 3 kids outside right when Michael arrives home from school.  Especially on days like today (well, Wednesday actually) when the temperature is moderate, the sunshine is warm & it's perfect weather for a walk/bike ride around the neighborhood.

I always think we can squeeze it in later but by the time everyone has a snack & goofs around, it's just about time to start dinner...Michael has homework...there is fighting...someone is howling about an injustice...and by then I'm just salty and don't feel like making any effort at all.  And there isn't time after we eat because it's already started to get dark earlier in the evening & once we do the time change, it will be even worse.

So I decided that today was the day.  We were already outside when Michael's bus arrived.  After he went inside for a quick bathroom break,  I gave each of the kids a treat from their Halloween stash and with some degree of whining from Michael, we set off on our walk.  Michael had to ditch his bike before we even started because it turns out both his tires are pretty much FLAT.  He was a pretty good sport about it after I told him I would dump all his candy into the trash if he ruined the walk.

Neither Michael nor Liam did a great job of listening and I was convinced we wouldn't make it home before someone got hit by a car.  Also, we usually stop at one of our neighbor's yards to look at the coy in their little man-made pond & today, I'm lucky that no one fell in (again with the not listening).  Chloe was buckled into her bike for most of the walk which is the only reason why she stayed put.

The debt to income ratio in this instance was undesirable to say the least.
Energy expelled (by me) was much greater than the fun had (by anyone).

I'm going to try again tomorrow anyway.  Practice makes perfect, right?

Cinderella (Shotgun Wedding?)

Liam's favorite story right now is Cinderella.  He requests it almost every night.  He snuggles up next to me & doesn't move a muscle.  Michael pretends to be uninterested but the part where the mice mend her dress sucks him in every time.

At the end of tonight's dramatic reading (by yours truly), Michael asked, "Why does Cinderella marry that guy?"  Feeling perhaps a bit cynical, I replied, "I don't know- hopefully she liked him.  Maybe they should have dated a while before getting married."

(In my mind, I am thinking, "Why did I just say that to my 3 and 4 year old? This is just a fairy tale and I have plenty of time to worry about reinforcing stereotypical gender roles, unrealistic expectations, the notion that women are helpless & men need to save them, blah, blah, blah)

Michael thinks for just a moment.  I can see the rat running on the wheel inside his head.
Then he says, "Maybe she wanted to have a baby"

I was kind of relieved--mostly because I thought he was going to say that maybe she was already PREGNANT.  Even though I'm not sure he knows that exact term- I thought he might suggest that in his own words.

So I just let that slide for a minute and he went onto say, "Well, you had babies". Then the conversation turned to our family and how much I love my babies and I was off the hook.

But while I was folding some laundry, I got to thinking- Did Cinderella have a shotgun wedding?* And how am I going to explain more complex issues to my kids? Because while I want them to understand our values/beliefs, children have been born "out of wedlock" within our families so I don't want them to be judgmental.  Let's hope we can ease into these discussions...

Maybe I do need to get a job--and speaking of that, I haven't heard ANYTHING after that interview even though I followed up.  I guess I will cross that prospect off my list (which means that I no longer have a prospect list).

*I don't think Cinderella had a shotgun wedding.  The two of them danced all night in plain view of everyone at the ball & she had that damned curfew.  And let's face it, the prince already loved her and if you were Cinderella, anything would be better than living with those 3 beeyotchy women.  Even if you had nice little mouse friends.  And yes, I am accepting suggestions for what type of hobby I can pick up- because I am clearly in need of one ;)

Looking for product info...

Do any of your kids have the Leapfrog Tag or Tag, Jr. reading system?
I was thinking of getting it but then I read a review that said you have to download each book.

I was under the impression that it is more of a "plug and play" type of deal where you buy additional books to use with the initial system.

Any input would be appreciated- I don't want to get it if it is going to be high maintenance...Thanks in advance friends :)

At home today

After posting last night about my current full-time work versus SAHM dilemma, I find myself at home today with my beloved boys who have colds. Liam is a little worse off than Michael but they are both less than stellar.

I probably could have taken them to school and gone to work as usual...but I took pity on them- and myself if I am being honest- and gave us a sick day. I may end up taking Liam to the doctor after nap time because his snot is a gross green & it's highly likely he has a sinus infection or something along those lines. So the sick day is not a waste.

We have not been housebound. We took a quick trip to get a few grocery items and pick up a post-lunch donut treat (and a caramel latte for mommy).

Even so, the boys are CRABBY and SHORT-fused. Work would have been less taxing for me. I found myself getting very frustrated, yelling, threatening "NO DONUT" and all that nonsense. I began to wonder if staying at home was really in our family's best interest if I am crazed after only a few hours.

Finally took a step back, took a deep breath and adjusted my perspective. They really aren't feeling well, they are irritating each other, we waited in line FAR too long at the store due to cashier incompetence/over-chattiness. Their patience was shot...mine was hanging on by a thread as well so I get how they felt.

Once I adjusted my expectations to an appropriate level and took a different approach, things smoothed out quickly. We returned home, unloaded, caught a quick episode of Max & Ruby (seriously, WHERE are the parents of those two??), had lunch and now nap time is in progress. Liam is in a coma and Michael is rearranging the contents of his entire room- quietly.

I could do this- I CAN do this...whatever decision emerges as right for us, we will make it work. Isn't that what we all do each and every day?

Fast Food

I really try to avoid feeding our family fast food but inevitably, it happens more often than I would like it to...

So I am looking for ideas for quick, easy, semi-healthy meals. I am doing okay with planning for the most part but I can't do one of those deals where you have a weekend cooking frenzy and then use various things during the week. I need more of the 15-20 minute prep that I can do in the moment. And in general, Thursdays and Fridays are my weak points in the week when I just want to take the easy way out.

If you have any ideas or shortcuts that work for your family, I am open to ideas!! I have found a few here and there but I figure that you are all trying to feed your families well without spending hours cooking everyday...so I am asking the experts. I am looking forward to reading ideas :)

A Pretty Clean Slate

Well, I did it- took the personal day, took the boys to daycare and came home to do some pretty serious cleaning. While my goals turned out to be a bit too lofty, I got enough done to feel good & have a 'to do' list that Mike and I can both work on. BTW, Mike is pretty good with taking care of housework- as long as he has a list to work from. He pretty much always cleans the bathroom and vacuums the staircase- both of which I hate doing.

Our house is not big at all...but it took me a long time to take care of the upstairs (3 bedrooms) and I really didn't too much to our bedroom because I was running short on time and still needed to deal with the downstairs. Kids just acquire SO MUCH STUFF and then you have to pull out old clothes and pack up baby toys, etc. It's just so time-consuming...but I stayed focused today instead of running around in a million different directions. It's nice to know I can still focus when given a moment of quiet. Overall, I am happy with the results. I just need to finish up our bedroom and some parts of the kitchen.

I missed the boys a little bit but fought the urge to go pick them up at lunch time- it would have thrown off their naps and that wouldn't have been good for them or me! Plus, I am now looking forward to the 3-day weekend and am happy to know that I won't really have any pressing tasks other than to enjoy time with family and friends.

I do realize that this feeling of accomplishment will fade and it will feel more like an exercise in futility. Because by tomorrow evening, it will all look like a tornado hit and I will wonder why I wasted an entire day cleaning...C'est la vie!