Saturday, August 30, 2008

First week recap...

The girls started school Wednesday. They also started soccer.

As far as school goes, they awoke that morning and were dressed and ready to leave well in advance of school time. Usually we're running out the door at the last minute. Einey really likes her teacher and her class. She doesn't have any new kids in her class this year and the number of kids dropped to just over a dozen kids - which is a nice little number. She misses some of the kids who were in her class last year though. Meenie really likes kindergarten. She got a little more kids in her class than Einey does. She has been busy learning the ropes at school - lunches, how to buy ice cream and of course, playing with her sister and her friends at recess. Hopefully as the year progresses and she makes her own friends, she'll become a little more independent. She's also been busy making new friends. Moe was sad the first day of school. She doesn't start until this week, so she was sad to be without her sisters. She enjoyed going out to lunch with just Mommy and Daddy the first day. She also enjoyed going into her classroom and meeting her teacher Friday. Her only comment when we left was "but I didn't make any friends".

I also had a friend from Texas comment about the girls first day of school outfits "Jackets and sweaters in August?!" Um yeah. It was cool in the mornings so they were needed. It's actually been cool for awhile now, but I here it's supposed to warm up by the end of the week. One can only hope.

I mentioned soccer started the same day as school. So of course, the girls were exhausted that night. Einey did good, but complained alot she was tired and gave me some lip. Her coach (new for her this year as they separate the girls and boys at her age) was really fantastic with her, even with her being a tad mouthy. Meenie did great. She loves soccer and has the same coach she's had for a few seasons. Moe started on Thursday, with coach mom, or soccer mom as her sisters called me. All I can say was when all the kids were following directions, anyone want to guess who was hanging from the goals or throwing a temper tantrum? Yup. The coaches kid. Moe. To bad I couldn't put her on a different team :P . Seriously though, once we got into it, she got better. She and the rest of her teammates did really well for their first time. I think it's going to be alot of fun this season.

Anyway, thats about it.

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Speaking of it being cool. I had to run to Wal-Mart to get some last minute school supplies (I got one thing wrong and just got Moe's list yesterday) and you know what they had near the registers? Ice melt. In August. I do believe that beats FOM's find of Halloween Attire in August. Of course, come December, it will be sold out.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Driving by

Tonight I saw something I always dread. I saw a plane crash. Or more specifically, I saw a plane that had just appeared to have crashed, with emergency personnel racing across the field to reach it. I hope and pray that the pilot and passengers are okay.

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We live down the street from a small airport. We have planes flying over our heads all hours of the day. On lazy summer days, we lay in the backyard and watch the planes. And parachuter's. My heart always skips a beat when I hear the engines sputter. Or when I see a parachuter go into a quick downward spiral, only to pull out a second later.

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We were on our way home from soccer practice. We passed the cop with a truck pulled over. The girls asked questions. A little further down the road, I see reds and blues in my rear view. I pulled over. The cop car and another truck raced by. The girls asked questions. Further down the road, we see two more vehicles coming at us. There's only two possible roads they could go. I see them turn towards the airport. More cars come. The girls ask questions. I answer that I think something happened at the airport. We see more vehicles, coming at us and from the side road. Now the cars in front of us braked. And there, out the right side of our windows, we saw the plane. And the cars racing across the tarmac. The kids asked questions.

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I do hope everyone is okay.

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Update Thursday morning - The newspaper report indicated that the pilot "escaped serious injury" when the plane lost power while approaching the runway and flipped over. This morning, the plane was still upside down in the field with a cruiser in the back. When we went back by this afternoon, they were using a crane to hoist it onto a flatbed. I had to drive around all the cars which stopped to watch.

Monday, August 25, 2008

ABC's of summer

Now that summer is winding down and school is set to start soon, I thought I'd do a quick recap of our summer format "borrowed" from In the Trenches.

A is for alligator, to which there wasn't any in the lake, despite the fantization of the lifeguards.

B is for blueberries, freshly picked from the fields.


C is for cicada, which emerged in the backyard.


D is for dragonfly. Big, small, red, green, blue or orange. Zipping here and there, stopping to rest.

E is for earrings in six newly pierced ears.

F is for flowers.


G is for new green grass, in the new back yard.

H is for horses, which make parties more fun.


I is for ice cream.

J is for jungle gym, in the back yard. Flips and spins, imagination takes hold.

K is for kindness.

L is for Lyme Disease carried by deer ticks picked up by Meenie in the field picking strawberries.

M is for mud pies made by Moe with her friends the lifeguards.

N is for new tires on the van.

O is for Olympics, which occupied many nights.

P is for penicillin of which there were two. Two separate illnesses, two separate doctor's visits. One type of antibiotic.

Q is for quiet days by the lake.


R is for reptile. Snakes, toads, lizards and frogs. Those are among the things we caught. Little girls with a love of things slimy.

S is for swimming. We went swimming almost every day. If we weren't at the lake, we were at grandma's new pool!




T is for toads, living under a rock.

U is for umbrellas, which were needed in New England for the better part of August.

V is for visits from friends from far away.

W is for wishes on the first star of night.

X is for xtra long vacations with dad.Seven weeks total, and despite all the sickness, we had fun.


Y is for yesterday - our back to school bash, the perfect way to end the summer.

Z is for zzzzzz. Which is what we'll probably be doing that first morning of school.

I'm kicking myself because I did leave my camera home for many of our activities this summer. I opted to enjoy the enjoy the summer without the lens. We had a great summer despite the illnesses that besieged us. The girls were great, and kept the fighting and whining to a minimum. It was great seeing them work together and play together. And it was great seeing Meenie learn to swim (and enjoy doing so) this year.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Life's lesson on being a hostess #1

Today we celebrated the end of summer with our second annual back to school bash. We invited some great families - kids who go to school with the girls - over for a afternoon picnic. We provided drinks, cake, and the basics, and asked each family to bring an appetizer or dessert. We picked up books for each child and had them do a picture scavenger hunt. They were given a picture of various objects in the yard (and at each object were some gems) and they had to bring back a gem from each item. At the end they got a book.

At the end of the day, after everyone had left, we sent the girls into clean the playroom (which, may I add, was much cleaner than when it's just the three girls!). Of course, the complaining started - "why do we have to clean it", "we didn't play in here" and my favorite "We ALWAYS clean at our friends houses, why don't they clean up?". These came as Husband and I were putting away chairs, picking up dishes and putting away bottles. It was a great way for us to tell the girls that after parties, adults and children need to put stuff away. So in a way, we were picking up after our friends as well. Since they saw us cleaning, they quickly went in and had the playroom cleaned in less than five minutes (it really wasn't that bad). And we were finished not to long after that.


Oh, and I did have to remind them, that they don't always clean up after themselves at friends houses - and not just after parties.

It's part of being the host!

And as for the party - we had a blast. We have a GREAT group of friends - and some new friends as well. As Husband remarked (and like he always does) he loves spending time with our friends - it's always alot of fun. He loves that we have so many wonderful friends. And I do too. (And yes, by friends - I do mean people we met after sending our kids to school - so their friends parents). Definitely a great group of people! We couldn't ask for better friends.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Today, Addy awarded me this award. I am very happy to accept this award and of course, pass it on. The following are seven blogs that I look for in my feed reader. The first two ladies are new mothers to their second children - both boys. I remember those days well of having a toddler in the house and a new baby. The third blog is a mother of two, who writes about work and home and for her, how both sometimes mix. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh blogs are moms of boys, in which, I get to glimpse the unknown. Take some time to stop by and visit them if you get a chance.


As always ladies, pass it on to seven others, link back, add the button, and let those you send it to know.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Whirlwind and the case of the missing tomato plants

Earlier this spring, when I was transplanting my not-so-upside-down-tomato-plants, Moe decided to help. She was inpatient as I was planting some other baskets at the time and decided to pitch the tomatoes off the deck. I found most of them, and a few couldn't be salvaged, but I was still missing two plants.

Fast forward to this week. I noticed something (a weed?) growing taller and taller in one of my hanging baskets this week. I finally took the basket down this week and found:



Yup, it's got cherry tomatoes growing in it!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

It's been that long?

I just saw an announcement, my high school class is getting ready to have our ten year reunion. Ten years? Already? Sometimes it seems like just recently that I walked those dingy halls. Other times, it seems light years ago. Since we live close to my old high school, I've watched it undergo changes over the past years. There's a new track, and a football field. Just this summer, they've been trucking in building materials for a new roof and an addition. My old shop is closed up. Gone. There are new teachers, and a new generation of kids. My friends daughter starts school there in the fall. How is that possible?

And just like the school, I've changed the last ten years.

Ten years ago, I graduated, Salutatorian of my class. From a school that I didn't fit in at. A school I went to because my sister went there. The school where being in the right place at the right place, brought Husband and I together. A chance meeting after walking past each other for almost a year. Ten years ago, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I was going to be a teacher. I was going to go to college, earn my degree and have children. And teach. Ten years ago, Husband proposed to me on a moonlit beach. Ten years ago, I started on my path to becoming a teacher.

(Almost) Nine years ago I walked down the aisle. Husband and I embarked on this journey of joining our lives. Despite being in the middle of classes (and duh, I took a 6 class caseload that semester), we took off for the Caribbean. (And yes, I had to pack textbooks, as I had exams when we returned. Lucky for me, we had flight delays on the return trip so I could study. Unlucky, our plane landed at 2 am and I had class at 7.)

Eight years ago, I graduated from college, with an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. I took a part-time job at a preschool while weighing my options. Eight years ago, we found out we were expecting our first child. Eight years ago, we lost that same child (a second trimester miscarriage). Eight years ago, we brought our first home. About 15 miles from my childhood home. And 1 mile from Husband' s childhood home. Eight years ago, we brought a puppy, while waiting for the green light to go again.

Seven years ago, I was pregnant again. Seven years ago, I gave birth to a happy, healthy Einey. Seven years ago, I left my job and became a stay at home mother. Seven years ago, I made my first "mom friends" - we still keep in touch! Some have become best friends.

Six years ago, I found out I was pregnant again.

Five years ago, I gave birth to Meenie. And then had my first surgery as an adult.

Six months later, (and four years ago), I found out that I was (surprise!) pregnant again. Almost four years ago, Moe, determined to make an entrance, entered this world, ass first. She's been turning our world upside down ever since. I also became a soccer mom.

Three years ago, I had another surgery. Three years ago, I found out what it's like to have a sick child, a very sick child. It's an experience I hope to never repeat.

Two years ago, my oldest started kindergarten. It was her first foray out into the world without us, and I was scared. I wanted to nurture her, be by her side, comfort her. She's been great. She loves school and that year, cried when they had days off.

One year ago, Meenie joined her sister at school. I became vice president of our soccer league.

Now, I'm getting ready to send all three off to school (and Binky, it's much easier than two years ago!). I'm coaching a soccer team and starting a Daisey troop. I have a great house, an amazing Husband, three wonderful kids and a dog (and two lizards). This year, it's time to decide what I want to do with my future. Do I go back to school (and thus, have us paying four tuition's?)? Do I look for a job? I've got a year to figure it out and then do what I need to do to reach my goal.

Sometimes, I look and think, wow, I haven't done much in those years since high school. I don't have a job, nor have I held a tradition full time job. I still live in the same area, a small town with it's own issues and stigmas. I'm not successful like some of my classmates.

But then, I just look at my sweet little girls and think of how blessed I have been. I've been lucky enough to live my life the way I want. To watch my girls grown and learn. To teach them many things they couldn't have learned in school. To listen to them laugh. To pick them up when they've fallen. And for that, I know I've been successful.



Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Two weeks...

Two weeks. Fourteen days. That's the first day of school. I'd like to say that I'm looking forward to it, and in a way, I am, but... In reality, the girls have overall, been great this summer. And they've been home a long time - since the beginning of June. And I thought they would get on my nerves alot, but that's only happened a few times. Husband starts vacation tomorrow, and he's off until they go back to school. So hopefully we'll get some things finished. Things we couldn't do the month of July when the girls were sick. And hopefully, now that it's stopped raining (been 2 weeks) we can get out more.

So, while I think the kids are missing their friends, I've realized how much I like our laize-faire lifestyle. No plans, wake up when you want, and do what you want days. Hitting the beach or staying in your pj's all day. It's been fun, with out needing a clock to answer to - and half the time, I haven't even realized what day it was! I know it will be a huge transition to get used to being up, fed and out the door by 8:15 every morning.

Plus, this is my first year with no kids. Well, no kids three mornings a week. While I love spending time with Moe, I think she needs to be around other kids and other adults. I think she (and I) am ready (see Binky, I can do it!). Next year, I'll be on the search for a job. Or going back to school. It all depends on what Husband's work situation is like at that time and whether he's working or in school (finally!!!).

So back to what I haven't done. I haven't ordered any new uniforms. Most of the stuff I need is winter gear, so I should be able to squeak by on ordering until September at least. Except, she wants the new jumper. The new jumper is ugly. Real ugly. I haven't gotten Meenie or Moe any new school clothes yet. I'm sort of waiting until Target opens in October. That and they are just going to be wearing shorts the first few weeks anyway. I did make them some new skirts and dresses (before I broke my sewing machine - need to get it fixed as Moe's first day of school outfit is not done) since I hate trying to find one's that I think are an acceptable length without spending an arm and a leg on them.

I did order Moe's backpack and lunch box and Meenies lunch box. Einey and Meenie are reusing their old backpacks/lunch box. Meenie got a new lunch box this year as she cannot seem to remember that if you open a juice box, throw it away!

I have brought everything on their back to school lists. Well almost everything...

Here's what we needed to supply.

Second Grade:
  • 5 No. 2 Pencils Please Sharpen (need to pull some out of the pencil box here)
  • 3 Black Erasable Pens
  • 2 Red Pens
  • 1 Large Eraser
  • 1 Pair of Scissors
  • 3 Glue Sticks
  • 1 Box of 24 Crayons
  • 1 Box of 8 Washable Markers
  • 2 Thin Blue Whiteboard markers (were a pain in the ass to find)
  • 2 Marbled Journal Notebooks (not marbled but still composition notebooks)
  • 1 Plastic Shoe Box to hold Supplies
  • 5 Folders with Pockets (5? Yikes!)
  • 1 Box of Zip-Lock Quart Size Bags
  • 1 Box of Tissues
  • 1 Container of Disinfecting Wipes
  • 1 Hand Held Pencil Sharpener

Kindergarten:
  • Backpack
  • 1 Pocket Folder with name clearly visible on front
  • 1 pair blunt Fiskars scissors
  • Art Shirt (Need to buy a new shirt with intent of it getting destroyed!)
  • Box of 16 Crayola Crayons
  • Box of Kleenex
  • 1 Set Wide Washable Markers
  • 1 Set of Watercolor paints and brush
  • $10 for items for Oriental Trading
  • 1 Pencil
  • 1 Sponge
  • 2 (4 oz) White Elmers Glue
  • 1 Container of Disinfecting Wipes
  • 4 Glue Sticks
  • 12x12 top loading scrapbook
  • 3 boxes of clear adhesive dots (packed 300 or more)
  • $10 for scrap booking supplies
  • Nap Mat if she's going to nap (she's not)
These are broken up to send in over three days.

Preschool:

I haven't gotten that list yet, but if I remember correctly, it's only a few items.

Next weekend, we have our annual back to school party planned. But I'm not sure what I'm doing for games this time, I know I want to do something with books. So, I still need to order a ton of books. Books for preschoolers, kindergarteners, first, second and fourth graders, as well as a few for younger siblings. I pretty much know what I am buying, but could use some advice for the fourth graders. Anyone? Last year I did a school supply scavenger hunt and it was fun, I just wanted something different this year.

Anyway, 14 more days...

Saturday, August 09, 2008

At the end...

Lately, it feels like I am at the end of my rope when it comes to Moe. Many times, I forget that she's only three (she's one month shy of her fourth birthday). The way she usually plays with her sisters, she acts much older. Her vocabulary is way beyond her three years (although her articulation isn't all there - I've had her checked and probably will again in the fall, but they say she's right on track). Yet there are things she can't do or doesn't know that put her right on level (or slightly below) that of her peers. The almost daily temper tantrums have made me step back and realize that she's still young. She's still only three.

Like I said, I usually think of her as being much older than her three years. But not this week. This week, I just don't know. She's started pinching (her sisters, Husband, me). Just this morning, she pinched Einey Because "she was touching me" and whacked Meenie with a wooden flagpole (why Husband left it under a couch???) because "she was touching my pants". When I asked her if that was acceptable behavior she told me know. When I asked her what we do, she told me, you ask them not to. So she gets it. But she doesn't act it. She spent alot of time sitting in the corner this morning.

This afternoon, she was hungry. Hungry because she didn't finish her break fest. So I made her a sandwich for lunch (after debating between pb&J and bologna and cheese). I gave her what she wanted, but somehow the dog ended up with it. Then she wanted an orange. Which once \peeled and cut, she didn't want. She knows that's not acceptable - that she cannot ask for food and then not eat it. So I made her wait. And she cried, "I'm hungry". And I made her sit. And wait. Finally, I let her have some blueberries and whipped cream. Where I found a bowl of blueberries but no cream "I'm not hungry anymore". So I sat her down, and hand feed her blueberries, while she was telling me "I'm not hungry". If I didn't, I would hear all afternoon "I'm hungry". Even when she eats (which she normally does), she's always hungry.

In just over a month, she starts school. And sometimes, I wonder if she's ready. I wonder if she has the maturity to be in a classroom for three hours, three days a week. Will she just get what she wants (she's not afraid to just take what she wants, when given no for an answer). Will she climb cabinets to get what she wants. Will she pinch or be mean to other people? Will she cut her hair (again? Will she listen? Will she spend time with the principle? Will they call me to get her early? I just don't know with her.

I hate that I have a hard time getting through to her. Her sisters, although both have had their issues and rough patches, were never this difficult, this stubborn, this independent. I just wish I knew how to handle her. I wish I knew what to do.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Lazy Days of Summer...

Every day, I sit down and try to think of something to write, but come up blank. It's been a blah week - cool and rainy so we've kind of just hung out.

Last week, we spent a majority of the end of the week and weekend over at the girl's school cooking clamcakes and chowder for their annual bazaar fundraiser. It was fun, but nothing to write home about.

Monday I picked out my soccer team (Moe has a ton of our friends on our team!). And found out when my other girls would be playing. So with three girls playing, we have practice three nights a week (thats one night less and one girl more than the spring season). Monday we also tried to go to the EcoTarium. Only to get to Worcester and find out they are not open on Mondays. * Neither is Higgins Armory. Shit, shit and more shit. By this time, it's 12:30 and we didn't want to drive to Providence (Roger Williams) or Mystic (Aquarium). Husbands allergies were acting up so he didn't want to go to Davis Farm. Some quick thinking and I knew we could get to Southwick's if we hopped on 140 S to Milford and picked up 16 there. On the downside, it's pretty dang expensive to get into. And Einey complained the whole way there that it was stupid. On the flip side, we all (including Einey) had a blast. The highlight of the trip was (of course) the Discovery Center. The girls got to pet snakes, skinks, tortoises, a hedgehog, geckos and a baby kangaroo. One good thing that I noticed was that even though our plans changed and we weren't familiar with the roads, I was very relaxed. That's something that hasn't happened since before the panic attacks started.

Tuesday is a blank. I have no clue what we did. Tuesday I worked at switching my veggie garden weed field to a flower bed. I give up on veggies in the ground - out potted one's did much, much better, so that area will be all flowers now. Well flowers and strawberries. So I'm digging weeds, planting plants and spreading mulch. We'll see what it looks like next year.

Wednesday swim lessons were canceled, but I dropped Einey off at a friend's house. I took the other girls shopping for school supplies (we are almost done!). In the afternoon, we went to a playdate at another friend's house. It was nice to be able to sit and talk to friends and have the kids behave.

And that brings us to today. Today we had some friends over for lunch and to make tie-dyed shirts. It was nice enough while everyone was here to have it outside. They did the shirts and then played for awhile. The girls liked seeing some of their school friends. I intended to take pictures, but with all the kids and the dye, I was trying to make sure everyone stayed relatively clean!

So, nothing too exciting going on. Just enjoying the last few weeks of summer!

* And seriously, what is it with things being closed on Mondays? Is this just a New England thing?

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Psst...

In case you haven't heard, the economy is in the dumpster. Kristin, at Motherhood Uncensored created blog the recession (see the link on the side?). So, for the month of August, click through blogs on your feed reader. You don't have to leave a comment (although comments are always appreciated). If you have a few minutes, click around through older posts. You may just find something interesting there.

That's it. Easy peasay lemon squeezey. Easy as pie. So take a few minutes, check out some other site's. You may find something you like. And in the meantime, it gives me incentive to actually update my blogroll. Which I will. Hopefully this week.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Shoes, oh my!

Today I got the brilliant idea to take the girls school shoe shopping. OMG, what a freaking mistake that was. I figured, we'd go in, they'd find something and we'd be done (we've always done that in the past). I didn't of course, think they'd take off in different directions. I didn't account for Moe wanting to pull every box of shoe randomly off the shelf and try them on. I didn't think that they'd try on these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Before finally settling on these, these and these. I didn't even get to the dress shoes, we were worn out by that time. I did want a certain pair for Moe, but they didn't have them (I should have gotten them last week, but I would have gotten the wrong size). They also didn't have these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Or these. Which is probably a good thing.

Oh and sizes, it took three pairs each before finding the right sizes - 10, 12 and 13.

Next time, I take reinforcements!