Superpaige's Pad

The Trials of a Busy Mom

Category: Kids (Page 17 of 19)

It’s his decision

October 5, 2007 / / 5 Comments

3:30 the phone rings.  It’s Cole’s friend, asking for him.  When I told him he had gone to a different friend to play, he mumbled something about the campout.

Campout?  I ask, What campout?

He mumbles something about a campout and that it’s probably too late, since they are supposed to be at the scout master’s house at 4:00.  Then he tells me to hold on just a minute, and he puts his mom on.  She asks me didn’t I know about the campout to Camp Floyd?  You know, the one they signed up for in the spring?  I’m wondering how I would know that.  Probably on that note from the scout master in the middle of the summer that outlined a few months worth of things.  Things I should have written on the calendar, but for some reason did not.

So, I called Cole at his friend’s house, to see if he wanted me to rush over and get him and help him pack for this campout.

No.  He said.  It’s too late, and I didn’t remember about it.  He gives me all the reasons why he didn’t know, and that I didn’t tell him about it.

I kind of lost it a tiny bit there in telling him that I can’t be responsible for telling him about every single SCOUT activity that he has.

But he decided that he would rather not go this time.

So, I need to let it be his decision, and let it be all right to miss out on this one thing.  It’s his decision, right, and if he doesn’t want to do it, I can’t force him to do it.  Even though I know it will be tons of fun, and every scout activity is always a good thing for them to do.

But it’s not my decision.

Ugh.  Letting them grow up is hard.

Random, disjointed thoughts. But at least I have thoughts.

September 25, 2007 / / 6 Comments

Any of you who know my friend Robin know that she’s got a little obsession with Vanagons. Well, I must have been channeling Robin in my dream last night. I dreamed that I was garage sale shopping (also something the Robin is a pro at), and I was buying some things from one family. I noticed they had a white vanagon sitting there, and I asked how much they were asking for it.

“Oh,” said the guy, thinking, “if you really want it, you can just have it.” Well, I couldn’t pass that one up, even if it didn’t run very well. He gave me the keys, and I drove it away. At home, I looked it over, and it was spotless! There was a cool kitchen in the back, and places to store everything. I couldn’t believe my luck. I called Robin immediately to tell her what I had found. (Of course, my dear husband was NOT pleased that I would bring ‘that junky thing’ home, and asked what we were going to do with it, where we were going to store it, who was going to insure it, etc.) I think the cold medicine might be affecting my dreams, y’all.

So, Robin, if you’d like to take a look at my dream vanagon, it’ll be parked at the end of the driveway in my dream last night.

***

My friend Lisa mentioned that she’s going to have to start potty training her twins. I do not envy her that job, because as you may know, I’m a failure in that department. How’s that going? you may ask. Well, let me tell you. The other day, I sent John in to use the potty before preschool. I had helped him take his shorts off and he was pulling down his pull-up, when I walked away and gave him some privacy (sometimes he wants me to stay there, sometimes he wants me to go–I never know). Soon I heard the little splashy sound that could only mean he was using the potty. So I walked back in there, but noticed the wood floor was wet. I was looking down at the floor, wondering if something was dripping or we had spilled something on the floor in the hall (I know, I know–how dumb am I?). When I looked up, I saw John on the floor trying to wipe up his little “accident” with Kleenex. The whole floor was wet, and there was nary a drop in the potty. “What happened?” I asked him in an unexpectly calm voice. He looked up at me with confusion on his face, and said, “I was just standing there, and stuff came out on the floor!” He honestly had no idea what was happening. So, no. We’re not really all the way there on the potty training front. Although this morning he did say to me ‘I want to use the potty’ instead of ‘I want breakfast’. So baby steps, people. Baby steps. Maybe by the time he’s a senior in high school he’ll have both number one and number two down.  We hope.

***

Heros?  Did you watch it?  I was kind of confused, with all this time between episodes (and I missed the first few minutes.  Do you think that might have helped?  I’m excited for all the new shows that are starting, and all of our old favorites that are coming back on.  Our tivo runneth over.

***

We have a little concert-ette tonight for the bell choir.  It’s a benefit dinner for the Cathedral of the Madeleine held at the Grand America Hotel.  We’re only playing four songs, so it should be fun.  Not the pressure of a full out concert, although we won’t have any time to rehearse or warm up before, so we’ll be starting cold.  I guess I’ll have to run through the music in my head today.  I’d invite you, but I believe it’s about $150 a plate.

***

I saw both Becoming Jane and Hairspray this weekend.  While I enjoyed Becoming Jane, and thought it was visually beautiful, I can’t say I loved it like I did Hairspray.  I wanted to get up and dance with that cutie Zac Efron, and sing along.  When each song was done, I felt like clapping and cheering as if it were live theater.  I think I’ll have to be getting that soundtrack!

***

Ryan had to take the amplifier in to work today.  I’m not sure why.  He probably told me, but in my cold medicine induced state, I don’t really remember.  But that means I have to listen to radio through a crappy little boom box thing.  I have to tune with this silly little round thing and try to figure out what station I’m listening to.  No nice button on the keypad that instantly brings me to the station. And when I go upstairs, it’s even worse.  All I have is my 20 year old clock radio in my bedroom that only tunes into about two stations.   Man, do I feel sorry for those of you who don’t have a whole house audio system.  And I feel sorry for me, that I don’t have one today.  If I didn’t have two or three contests I’m listening for, I wouldn’t worry about it.  I know, you really feel sorry for me, don’t you.

I’ll stop talking now.

Someone’s a little obsessed with Pirates

September 11, 2007 / / 0 Comments

John is playing with his little leap frog phoenics library thing, that plays letter games and supposedly helps to teach kids the alphabet. I say supposedly because he doesn’t know any of his letters. Each letter plays a different song. He’s pushing the letters telling me what songs they are. He pushes the Y, and it plays Yankee Doodle. He tells me that is the David Jones song. ”

David Jones is a very bad guy in the pirate movie,” he says about an inch from my face, “The pirate movie that has Jack Sparrow in it.”

What? How does he know all this stuff. We’ve never let him watch Pirates of the Caribbean, have we? So, I ask him, “Have you seen that movie?”

“No,” he says, pushing the Y button again, “Hunter has.”

Well, Hunter must have seen it quite a few times if JOHN, who has not seen it, can remember the character’s names.

play a game

September 7, 2007 / / 0 Comments

John came to me and said, “I want to play Ho-wa-a-boo.”

“What?” I asked. I mean, I understand 3 year old, but this one throwing me for a loop.

“Hula-a-boo,” he said.

Realizing he meant the game “Hullabaloo”, but still wanting to tease him a bit, I said, “Hula-blue too?”

“No!  Ho-wa-a boo!”

“Oh!  Hullabaloo.”

“That’s what I was saying!”

Fairies. I’ve got to get me some.

September 6, 2007 / / 3 Comments

Yesterday in talking with Jenna, she told me that the desk fairy had come to their classroom and she had the cleanest desk, and she got 12 candies!

“Wow!” I said, “that is so cool!  Do you think the desk fairy has a cousin?  We need a visit from the room fairy.”

“No, Mom.  I asked her, and she said she has no brothers or sisters.  Or cousins.”

“Well, maybe I can ask the teacher how to get ahold of a room fairy so she could come and check your room.”

“No.  I’m pretty sure there are no room fairies,” she said with authority.

That’s what she thinks. He He he he.

Enjoying the quiet.

August 24, 2007 / / 1 Comment

The kids have been in school for 4 days now, and it’s just John and I at home.  And I have to say, it’s going quite nicely.  I’m able to get a few things done, a little bit organized, and have some fun with just John.  I’ve never ever had a 3 year old at home without having a younger child, so this is new territory for me.  Yesterday we went to the haircut place to get his hair cut.  He looks SO DANG CUTE with his new short haircut, by the way.  Afterwards, since he was a good boy, we got lunch at Wendy’s.  As we walked into the house, he asked me, ‘Where’s Jenna’s lunch?’  He misses Jenna!  I explained to him that Jenna goes to school all day, now, and eats lunch at school, instead of at home with us.  And at that moment, I was very glad that John won’t be leaving me to eat lunch at school for a few years yet.  I miss the other kids, and I would most definitely miss my little guy.

Today he actually gets to go out to lunch and shopping with his grandparents for his birthday.  They take the kids out to eat and then shopping.  John chose McDonald’s for his lunch place, and then he didn’t care where they were going shopping.  Probably Wal-mart.  It’s always fun to see what kind of toy or gift they come home with.  This is his first time to go out with them, since they only take the 4-12 year olds.  After 12, they still take them out to eat, but just give them cash instead of shopping with them.  It’s a nice tradition and something the kids look forward to.

So I’ve been writing letters to local businesses asking for donations and support for our PTA Reflections contest, which I am in charge of again this year.  I’m trying to come up with a skit to introduce the theme for this year, which is, “I can make a difference by…”.  Hmmm.  Any ideas?

And I’ve been de-sequining a shirt.  Yes, you read that correctly.  De-sequining.  I bought this cute shirt at Kohl’s the other day for 30% off of $4.  I like it, and it’s a good color and everything, but it’s got these silly sequins scattered around the shirt.  I don’t have anything against sequins, per say.   If you are a nine year old girl, you probably really like them.  And they aren’t that noticable, so I don’t really mind them, except that they are scratchy.  Every time I move my arms or do anything that rubs against the shirt,…scratch, scratch, scratch.  Well, that simply won’t do, so I just cut them all off.  Because I’m creative like that.  I like to take regular clothes and make them even plainer.

So, there you have it folks.  The excitement that is my day.  I’m kind of enjoying it.

Wishful thinking

August 21, 2007 / / 4 Comments

Today was the first day of school.  Even though two kids forgot their lunches, they seemed to all enjoy their first day in their new classes.

Here’s my list of what I sort of thought I’d get done, now that 4 out of 5 of my kids are gone to school all day..

Organize my recipes;
Sew curtains for my office;
Sort, wash and fold all the laundry, including match up that whole basket of socks;
Mail 2 packages;
Do something fun with John.  Maybe go to the Zoo;
Make a delicious and nutritious dinner that all the family would eat and enjoy;
Clean out the pantry and the mudroom.

Here’s what I actually got done:

Go to curves (hooray for me!  I have to figure out exactly how early I need to go and still get back home in time to help everyone get ready.  Today I left at about 10 minutes to 7, and got home about 7:35.  Cole has to leave at 7:45, so that may not be early enough to prod him to do the things he needs to get done in the morning).

Attend the “Back to school Bus Stop Breakfast” that I organized.  It was fun, the kids were all so excited to start school, and the moms all took lots of pictures.  Great neighborhood tradition.

Go shop at Kohl’s.  I had to use that 30% off coupon, and had to return one thing.  So, I returned one item, bought a bunch more, and picked up some much needed socks for a lot of the needy feet in the family.

Went to Costco to get gas (empty!) and Pull-ups (we were down to NONE), eggs and garbage bags, and a few other needed items.

John had a picnic with his friend, and then they played with trains.  Not a huge outing, but at least he had some fun.

Sliced about 1/2 of our peaches that I picked from my very own tree yesterday!  And they are beautiful and oh-so-delicious!  I’ve been cutting them up and then freezing them on a cookie sheet so that when I put them into a gallon Ziplock bag they won’t all clump together.  Then they are perfect for smoothies.  Yum!

Cleaned all the kids’ crap off the counter.  It looked nice until they came home from school, and now it’s piled with stuff again.

Bought some treats to give to the kids teachers.  A back to school treat, if you will.  And I’m making up a basket of treats and diet coke and aspirin for the office ladies, too.  I’m hoping to deliver those tomorrow.

Made dinner.  Fried rice.  Not well received by the masses, but I don’t really care, now do I?

And now that two of the kids are off to their evening activities, (soccer practice and scouts) and the other kids are watching a tivoed episode of Madeline, I’m tired and don’t have the energy to do any of the things on my list.  And it’s ok.

Don’t tell and they won’t ask

August 16, 2007 / / 1 Comment

Some of you may know that I my policy is not to tell my kids anything until the last minute.  If we are going to do something fun, they don’t find out about it until right before we go.  Vacations?  I try not to tell them until a day or two before we leave.  If someone’s coming to visit, I write it stealthily on the calendar and try not to let them know what it means.  Why?  Two reason, mainly.  1-Plans change, and 2-Because I can’t stand the pestering.

Mom, when are we going to do that fun thing?  How many more days?  Are we doing that fun thing today?  Right now?  Let’s go RIGHT NOW!!  When we go do that fun thing, I’m going to take my whatever with me.  Is it time for that fun thing?  Is it?  Is it?  Hmmmmmm?  And this goes on and on and on.

Some parents might think I’m depriving my kids of the anticipation, of the counting down on the calendar, the fun that is waiting.  Whatever.

John got an invitation to a birthday party this week.  Being only 3 (well, almost 4, actually), he doesn’t get to go to many parties, but all his little friends are turning 4, so there will be a few parties in the near future.  He doesn’t really understand the concept of getting an invitation a few days before the party so that the moms can plan and get a present.  So every day about 53 times a day he talks about Carl’s birthday, and finds things around the house that he can give Carl for a birthday present.  Then he asks me where Carl’s cake will be, and talks about the spiderman invitation.  It’s quite cute, even though he’s annoying the heck out of me.  I told him that we had a nice shark book to give Carl, and that we would wrap it soon.  So, right after breakfast today, he asked me where was the shark book, and could we wrap it, and he was going to give Carl a big car with the shark book.  So, being the average mother that I am, I got out the shark book and showed it to him.  I got this cool pop-up shark book for a great deal a little bit ago, and even though I think it’s a little bit advanced for a 4 year old, I think he’ll enjoy it.  Lucky for me, it’s wrapped in plastic so John can’t open it and look at it wrinkling all the pages before we give it to his friend.

The party is tomorrow.  I think he’ll only ask me about 84 times about it today, so I can handle that.

Unfortunately, tomorrow is also Back to School night (the kids are SO excited to meet their new teachers, can you believe it?) AND a cool party for Megan with her friends to watch High School Musical 2, AND the other kids get to go to Grandma and Grandpa Erickson’s house to sleep over.  So they have all kinds of things to be excited about, and to ask me WHEN they will happen.

Patience, my dear.  Patience.

Oh, and before I forget, thank you all for your nice comments on yesterday’s post.  I’m glad I’m not alone in my wanting to be alone–just once in a while.  I actually did send the two small kids over to a friend’s house, one friend came over here, and I stealthily crept up to my room and had a little nap.  And I’m feeling a lot better today.

Clothes shopping in one hour or less

August 8, 2007 / / 5 Comments

After driving to Payson to return the borrowed flute (gave him a thank you note with $20 in Toys R Us gift cards, by the way), and before the afternoon showing of Shrek the third, I realized we had an hour to kill.  I was feeling a tiny bit guilty that I haven’t really bought my kids any school clothes.  Nope.  Nothing.  So, I hatched up a plan where I give them an allotment of money to spend on whatever they’d like to buy at the children’s clothing store.  I thought $20 was both reasonable and generous.  They are just kids, after all, and they still have a lot of clothes they can wear.  If they didn’t find things to buy, or didn’t use their full $20, they could get the balance–divided in 1/2–in cash.  So, if they only spent $10 of their $20, they would get $5 back.  Unfair and a bit arbitrary, you say?  Well, it’s my plan, and my money–so there.  I explained this to the kids on the way to the store, and Cole, always hard up for money, said, “Can I just take my 10 bucks right now?”  I told him to look around.  Maybe he’d find something he liked.

In typical Natalie fashion, she wanted to know exactly how much she could get, and was there any money left to buy more stuff?  A headband or two to go with her cute new outfit of a shirt and skirt, perhaps?  She actually went over by 50 cents.  She’ll have to pay me back.  Jenna wasn’t all that interested, nor could she make up her mind.  She did find two cute shirts and a headband, and I think she gets $2 back in cash.  Megan found some cute cargo pants that we can cinch in real tight to fit her skinny frame for a year or two, and a green stiped shirt to go with them.  $19 for her, so she’ll get 50 cents back.  Cole found a shirt for $6, and he’s happy to get $7 back (he needs money to buy the Ryan Shupe CD that we got autographed).  John doesn’t care about, nor does he need any new clothes right now.  Besides, he had been asleep in the car, so he was too busy hanging on me and whining and fussing to notice that we were even in a clothing store.

There you have it, folks.  Back to school shopping in one hour or less.

Oh, and Shrek the third was funny but too long.  And I really appreciate Jenna’s waiting to throw up until after the movie and the drive home.  That shows great self control, don’t you think?

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