Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde

Just like there are two sides to every story, there are also two side's to Moe. There is the blue-eyed, freckle faced little girl who loves to snuggle and then there is the green-eyed torrent who is a match for no-one. I won't lie and say life with Moe has been easy, but for the most part it has been fun. But this summer (and the future) scare me. I don't know if I can control her (nor do I think anyone can control her). And in the future, I see her wild-eyed, laughing as she rides off on the back of a Harley, but at the same time, I know that she have anything to hide- it's not her nature - she's very to the point.

But back to the here and now. This summer may be the summer to break me. I don't know if I can control her strong willed nature. I don't know if I have the energy or strength to match hers.

"Moe, stop touching the poison ivy. Yeah so, I want to see what it feels like"

"I love you momma, can we snuggle?"

"Moe, did you dump calamine lotion out the window? Why? because I see a trail of it down the roof. Yes."

"Can I make you a coffee Momma?"

"Moe, you need to stop writing on the walls. Where did I write something? It says Can I have a playdate with K? on the inside drawer in the bathroom. Oh, yeah. Well, can I? No, not until you stop writing on things"

"Momma, do you want to last one? It don't matter (meaning I don't mind) if I don't have one"

"Yeah so what, I don't care" "Momma, is it okay if I water the plants for you?"

She's always been a high maintenance child, enough balance of sweetness to counter act the wild child inside. And she definitely controls who sees what. There are those who only see the sweetness in her - who tell me how lucky I am to have such a sweet, funny helpful little girl. Who ask, does she ever stop smiling? Who I'm not afraid to let Jules visit with alone because "she is always so well-behaved". And then there are others who must leave after visiting wondering what goes on in our house, how can she be so out-of-control. Who ask "is she always like this?" Who probably need Tylenol and a stiff drink to recuperate after a visit with her.

I just hope that she let's the blue-eyed sweet child out a little this summer. Or you'll find me in a corner come September.....

Little monkey

The other day, The Big Kid asked me if I knew that Meenie was locking the door when she used the bathroom. I replied that I did know and also thought the Moe was doing the same.

"How the heck can Moe lock the door?" came his reply. *

"I'm not sure, but I've heard her do it" I told him.

Evidence: The lock. See it waaaay up at the top?

See Moe.

See Moe reach the lock? Yeah, that's how.

It seems like we have a monkey on our hands.

*Prior to catching Moe in action, The Big Kid did say, I bet she's climbing into the linen closet.

Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for my family and friends. For good health and the Big Kid's job (because for as much as I complain, at least he has a job). I am thankful for my kids and the laughter and love they bring to my life. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I will leave you with How to Cook a Turkey
By Moe
First Grade
Age 6.

Do you know how to make the best turkey? No? the secret ingredient of my family recipe is sugar. First my dad pulls off the feathers of the turkey next, my mom puts the turkey in the pan we put some and mayo on top of the turkey Then my mom cooks it in a hot pan and my dad puts the oven to 1000 degrees. we cook the turkey for 50 seconds and we know it is done when it looks dead.

(copied verbatim from her paper)

If I end up at the hospital with food poisoning, it's because we used Moe's recipe for dinner :D

Pure exhaustion

Today was a busy day*. A full day of school. The first cheer leading practice of the season until 4:30 for Meenie and Moe. The last soccer practice of the season from 5-6 for Meenie and Moe. And then to the theater at 6 for auditions for the Christmas Cabaret for Meenie and Moe.

So it was no wonder when Moe's name was called around 7pm, that she walked across the theater to me from her seat near the director and burst into tears. She couldn't think of a song she said (they just had to sing any Christmas carol). So I sat with her in my arms while the rest of our group auditioned.

My poor little girl - she was beat. Although she did come home and once she decided what she wanted for dinner and ate - she finished her homework. Now she's tucked snuggly into her bed, fast asleep.

*normally we do not let them have more then one activity at a time, but today was one of those fluke days :(

Juju-Bean's Coffee Shop

Having a single serve coffee brewer is great. Having one that works (we went through 2 in just under 2 months before the wonderful people at Keurig sent my my third system, their customer service is awesome!) is even greater. Having your own personal coffee barista is beyond awesome.

Sometime over the summer, a new shop moved into town my kitchen. It's called Juju-Bean's Coffee Shop. And henceforth, I was officially fired, no longer allowed to make my own coffee - I got yelled at and chastised and given the stink eye any time I attempted to make myself a cup. It was also declared that from that point forward, all cups of coffee were subject to a $1 per cup charge.

Making the right choice - Mocha Nut Fudge -YUM!

Getting started

Adding just the right amount of Equal - 4 for me - 5 for Dad

Half and Half

A little stir (sometimes ice at this point if it's hot out)

A little taste test - burning hot

Finishing touch - whipped cream - and sometimes caramel

The girl may be 5, but she seriously knows how to make pretty darn good coffee! Now I'm just wondering what I am going to do when she goes back to school!

*For the record, she is completely supervised while making the coffee and knows not to pick up and move the hot cups. We would never let her do this if we thought she would get hurt by it.

Bye-bye hair

It occurred to me that not only have I been neglecting this here space, but many, many things have happened recently, so I will try to catch up on some of the important highlights.

Unlike in the past, where Moe would routinely chop of her hair, she actually let it grow. And grow. And grow.

And on May 22nd, Moe and Meenie each cut off 12 inches of hair which they donated to Wigs for Kids.

Before

After

I'm so proud of them for their decision and for sticking to it. Because let me tell you, each morning, it was a bear to comb all that hair! Their new shorter do's are much easier to take care of and will much cooler this summer!

My baby...

First day of school

June 4th (yes that long ago), my baby did it, she graduated kindergarten. We had some bumps along the way and going into kindergarten, we knew it was a big possibility that she may have had to repeat it. Mid-year, she was still struggling a bit. Come March, when it was make it or break it time, her name was still in the retention pile. Her teacher , bless her, kept putting her paperwork back to the bottom. And then suddenly, it clicked. She brought it all together and showed that she could do it.

So without further adieu, I introduce to you, the First Grader....

Last Day (bringing us her kindergarten scrapbook)

Her last day was bittersweet. We are so proud of her for all her hard work. But at the same time, we absolutely LOVE the kindergarten teacher. It's so sad to know that we will never have another child in her class again.

Please tell me I'm not the only one with this problem. Please?

This came home with Moe today. Please tell me I'm not the only one who gets note's like this (I got one a few months ago that said "I will not throw blocks in school any more".

Her explanation on WHY she was climbing on the sink? Because she wanted to see if her new big girl tooth was getting bigger yet.

Proof is in the bottom of the cup

I've written about Moe's coffee addiction several times in the past. The other day, I was at an event for our local moms group and came across a picture I hadn't seen in a long, long time that was taken by a friend. It was taken in May 2007 and Moe was 2.5 years. Apparently I wasn't paying attention and Moe helped herself, as she often did.



I was also suddenly overcome with a sense of lost time. When did these little girls (all cropped out of the picture) become such big kids? Two are finishing 1st grade and the other 3 are finishing kindergarten! How time flies!

The Princess and the Pea

As parents, we cannot wait for our infants to sleep through the night. I remember clearly one day, when Moe was around 11 months old, Moe slept through the night for the first night ever. I awoke with a start and ran to her room, just to check on her. It was an oddity for her not to wake up hungry. In the weeks that followed, I remember felling like I awoke fro a fog. I was clear headed and well-rested. And it scared me to realize just how exhausted I had been in the past - how I was living in a fog.

Our children grow and we expect to be able to continue to get a good night's sleep. And then you make the transition from crib to toddler or twin bed. You give your child a new found mobility. After the novelty of being able to get out as they please (assuming of course, that they weren't already vaulting over said crib rails anyway) they again sleeping through the night.

Then comes potty training and night training. They sometimes awake during the night to use the potty. Older children may quietly walk to the bathroom, do what they need to and head back to bed. As a parent, you awake when you hear them, just because that's what you do. Children like Moe, will wake, walk past the door to the bathroom, stand silently next to you so you awake with a start OMGthere'ssomeoneinmyroom. Once your heart stops beating out of your chest, she'll tell you she needs to use the bathroom, before walking out, using the bathroom and going back to bed. Eventually, that too will pass.

This to shall pass. It's a mantra for parents.

Then you may get a puppy. A puppy, who too, needs to go out during the night. But said puppy is amazing, only waking the first two nights to go out and thus sleeping through the night after that. At a mere 8 weeks old or so.

Which brings us to the princess and the pea. Current nights find Moe crawling into my bed - either the end of the bed or lodging herself on her father's side (if he's still awake studying) or wedging herself between us. We'll nudge her if she's awake and send her back to her room. If asleep, I'll pick her up and carry her, long arms trailing by my side, back to her room.* More often then not, she'll reappear back in our room hours later. She can't sleep. Her bed is not comfortable she tells us. But our bed is just fine. We've moved the stuffed animals off where she sleeps. All that remains is her American Doll Girl as she calls it. She's got warm blankets and soft blankets. A comfy pillow. A warm room. There's no reason she shouldn't be comfortable.

I don't know what else to do. The only plausible explanation I can think of is she shares a room with Meenie. Meenie likes a nightlight. Moe often complains she doesn't want the light on. But we don't have enough bedrooms right now. In the not so distant future (we hope) we will.

But this cannot go on. I'm tired. It makes me cranky. It makes me forget. I've had more then one person on more then one occasion ask me if I'm feeling well. I've laid down to take a quick nap while the kids are in school, only to awake and find out I overslept by 45 minutes.

I'm hoping, this to shall pass. Sooner then later. Maybe with the spring will come a need not to be snuggling next to a warm body.

*Some nights, I'll drag a blanket in a curl up next to her in her room. With hope that Husband will get sleep and be well rested. He needs his sleep. He needs to do well in school and pass his tests. Her bed, as I've found is plenty comfortable.

Lend a helping hand....

Husband asked Meenie if she could go down into the basement to ge thim a can of soda. Then has asked Moe to go with her (knowing that they all hate going into the basement themselves).

Moe turned to husband and said "babies need some one to go with them. Meenie IS NOT a baby."

Man, between the eye rolling, the shrugs and the "duh's", "whatevers" and "sooooo" that come from her.... I'd swear she was 16, not 5.

Best note home from school ever

Click for larger view

Aww, I really wanted to go to the moon!

Seriously, this is just another reason why I love our kids school.

Lunar rover mentioned above

Oh and the weather mentioned above- was a forecast of snow and sleet. Which it did for a bit, no accumulation (actually, I laughed when I read the weather statement on the weather station that mentioned record snow was recorded at BDL as a trace amount).

Better sleep with one eye open...

Ever have that feeling that someone is out to get you?

Yesterday was a rare morning where Husband had the day off. Even rarer was the fact that he helped make lunches while I was combing hair, helping with belts, ties, shoes and packing snacks. I made Meenie's sandwich while Husband made Einey and Moe chicken ceasar salad as per their request. He added the pasta, the chopped celery, the chopped carrots, the chopped turkey (shhh!) and the dressing. Just like mom makes. But apparently he went a step further and added something else.

So.........

When we picked the girls up from school, Moe looked at me and said "I only ate one bit of my salad, it had some red stuff in it". Looking at Husband, I said "what did you add to the salad". "Dried Cranberries he replied". He looked at her and said "but you like dried cranberries". She said "but I didn't know what it was".

Obviously he didn't learn from the time Einey was in kindergarten and accused us of putting poison in her salad for lunch one day (we added bean sprouts, which she likes but had never had in salad).

Obviously, I'll be making lunches from now on.

Happy Birthday, babycakes!

Today, my baby girl turns five. FIVE!

No longer is she a whirling mass of instability. There is thought behind her chaos now (heh).


She's a thinker, a climber, a coffee drinker.

She loves owls. And friends.

She's considerate and caring. She's independent. A super puzzle solver.


She a kindergartner now. A soccer player. A scout.

No longer my little blue eyed baby.

Happy birthday, babycakes, you'll always be my baby!


Moe's birthday - age 4 (and links to other great Moe-ism throughout the years).

Today....

Today I woke up early and refreshed.

Today I had to drag my four year old out of bed.

Today she missed breakfast because she was dawdling.

Today she threw her backpack on the ground, stomped her feet and crossed her arms, like only a teenager should do.

Today she declared "I don't want to go to school today. School is bor-ring. All we do is play".

Today I had to carry her bag to the car.

Today I had to take her by the hand up to the play yard.

Today she clung to my leg.

Today I had to hand her to her teacher.

Today she cried. "Mommy, mommy, I want mommy".

Today my heart broke.

And so starts day 4 of kindergarten.

Kindergarten

Here's a letter I sent as a cover to some friends.

"Many of us moms sent our kids back to school this week. For some of us, the summer went by way to quick, and we weren't ready to make that transition back to school - especially with all the rain we had. For some, school got out late last June and started this week - not nearly as long as we'd like. For others of us, we couldn't wait to see our kids back to school. Either school got out early last June or our kids were getting bored. For many of us, we'll be giving up that freedom of the summer schedule - no schedule no worries. We'll be trading in our bathing suits and sunblock for soccer, dance and scouts. For football and cheerleading. Schedules will be dictated by the ringing of the school bell. Mornings which for the last 8 weeks were a leisurely wake up, with a cup of coffee and cartoons, will be a blur of breakfast and getting dressed and packing bags, to make sure we hit that bus or make it to school on time. Some of us moms have just kissed our youngest child on the forehead as they head off for kindergarten. Bittersweet, our days are now filled with silence and not in the best way. For us, it's time to turn a new page in our roles as stay at home mothers."

Wednesday, I sent Moe off to kindergarten. last week, she was going 1/2 days, this week she'll be going for full days. I have been a stay at home mom for the past 7 1/2 years, minus the first 7 months for Einey's life. For me, this is my first time without kids. Way back in time, after I started staying home, I thought I would be going back to school when my kids were in school. The goal was for me to get a degree in nursing. And it's still something I'd like to do. However, Husband is in school right now. He'll be in school for the next two years. And there is no way we can afford to send five of us to school (although technically, we're not paying for Husband to go to school, however, he's not working overtime right now). So for now, I'm going o continue subbing in the local public school district and keep my eye on any jobs that come around.

Sending Moe off to school was easier then I thought. I was a wreck when I sent my oldest. I thought for sure that I would be a little weepy as I sent Moe through the door, in her little line of friends. Instead, it was Moe who clung to me at the last moment, not quite sure that she wanted to go it. With a few extra hugs, she released her grip on me and headed on her way. She's growing fast, it's hard to believe that in a few short weeks, she'll turn five.

I'm excited for her. For me. For us. There are so many things going on and so many paths we are walking on. But they will all come together soon. Until then, we keep on walking, where ever the paths lead us.

Edit 8/31: Day 4 was not a good start.

Come here and look...

"Momma, Momma, look at what I found" she whispered as she held her cupped hands high. There was a smile on her face and a twinkle in her clear blue eyes as she looked up into the deep brown eyes of her Momma.

"What is it? What did you find?" she asked.

"Here Momma, look" she whispered.

Taking her tiny cupped hands in her own, she marveled at the differences. She slowly spread her tiny hands apart, revealing the itty bitty red with black spotted creatures carefully held inside.

"It's a ladybug*. See! Isn't is cute? her name is Gem Hunt" the little girl said.

"It is very cute. Why don't you go find a plant for it to live on. You cannot take it out with us" her Momma told her.

"Please Momma? I'll hold it between my hands like this. It can't get cold if I hold it".

"It's way too cold out today, it will freeze".

A few minutes later, the little girl reappeared carrying a yellow and green container.

"Look Momma, I found it a home. It can come with us now" she smiled.

"That's a great house for it, but I'm afraid it still won't keep it warm".

"Oh" she frowned.

"Here, let's leave it here and it will be waiting when we come home".

Carefully, they set the container on the counter top.

Hand in hand, the little girl and her Momma walked out into the chilly air. And the ladybug waited.

* What a difference a year makes! Moe is finally not afraid of ladybugs!

Waiting for the crash

Mr. Starbucks Man,

Thanks for giving my coffee obsessed preschooler a free caramel mocha-coffee-latte-chino when I stopped in today. How could you have known that she had cookies, candy and cupcakes for breakfast (on account she's a sneak and nothing is too high for her to find). While I'm sure she believes you are her best friend now, I now have to wait for her to come down from the sugar high she's been suffering all morning.

Sincerely,
Moe's Mom.

Happy Birthday Baby-cakes

Moe, my little peanut, my baby cakes, today you are four. Four! I can hardly believe it. This year, you started school. You go three mornings a week, but are having so much fun. You come home and tell me stories about the kids in your class. I can only imagine the stories they are telling about you. You also started playing soccer. A sport you've wanted to play since you could walk. Only now that you can play, you don't want to. This past weekend, you went in on your turn, eager to play. You sped off down field with the ball, scored and ran off the field. Total playing time for that game was 2 minutes, 15 seconds.


I've watched you blossom from the active baby to the ever inquisitive, curious and always getting into trouble toddler to the big girl you are now. While you still cannot write your name, you are leaps and bounds ahead, trying to process things like your older sisters. You know the life cycles of bugs - in fact, we released your precious Gem Hunt, the last of our caterpillars turned Monarchs yesterday morning. You have the air of a big kid in a little body.
Happy Birthday Baby cakes! I love you.

The Best of Moe:
Moe's Birth Story
Two
Three
Stealing Silverware
Oh yes
Maybe they're looking for their babies
Found a peanut
Moe's coffee addiction

Moe-isms

When picking Moe up from school the other day, I asked if she wanted to go get smoolies*

Only if I can get a coffee smoolie.

No, you cannot get a coffee smoolie.

Fine, then I'm not going to have any.

Fine be that way. I'm getting a coffee though.

Fine, I guess I'll have a coffee smoolie.

No.

Then I'm not having anything.

Fine.

*Smoolies = smoothies

****************************************

We were working on her "homework", tracing the letter "A". As I started to erase a part to have her fix it, she looks up and asks "are you crazy momma?" Um, yes, yes I think I am.

****************************************

*holding up four fingers - I wish we had this many kids in our family mommy.

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.