What to do on a rainy day when there is no school?  Charlotte suggested playing hospital.  Fortunately her dolls and stuffed animals were the patients, not her parents.  I gladly retrieved the bag of bandages, gauze and first aid tape we saved from a burn Sissy had on her hand as a baby when I stupidly put a humidifier on the floor of her nursery that blew hot air.  Of course she crawled over and put her hand on it when I had my back turned a few seconds. 

Thankfully today the stuff was for pretend injuries.  She used her doll bunk bed rolling trundle as a stretcher and enlisted Thomas to be a first responder.  I overheard her discussing Nemo’s fin injury.  And it appears from the photos I asked them to take of those admitted that the Tooth Fairy, Kit and a dog were being triaged.

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As I stood outside Charlotte’s kindergarten classroom waiting for her this afternoon, it never occurred to me how much stuff she would cart home for the summer.  Will I remember to go over math problems and spelling words in addition to making sure she regularly bathes and brushes her teeth?  Hard to say.  Her teacher was nice enough to put together booklets of stories and worksheets to make it easier for moms and dads to keep the learning going.  My plan is a weekly trip to the library for new books that will help meet the suggested 10-15 minutes of daily reading.  She insisted I not toss her worn and torn Bratz backpack.  But the collection of plastic rings off her daily snack milk bottles had to go.  Before I could get her sack of belongings in the door, she was heading down to get two neighbor girls to play.  Quality time came tonight when she read a book to me about foals.  Fascinating to her that at 4-years-old a horse is considered an adult.  Amazing the things you learn from a soon-to-be first grader as that was news to me as well.  She fell asleep when it was my turn to read a couple chapters from Heaven is for Real–a book we’re getting through together.  Great start to summer break, actually.

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Aunt Bird and cousin Liam

I have found in life, at times, it’s best to set your expectations low.  That way you won’t be too disappointed.  Going in to Saturday with severe weather overnight and some 40 kids arriving at our house around 10am, I didn’t want to picture Charlotte’s 6th birthday party going off flawlessly.  But thanks to an enthusiastic DJ, all-hands-on-deck grandparents and parents, well-behaved children and an hour of dry sky–it pretty much did. 

DJ Kris McGrane

The first half was spent dancing, limboing and playing on the swingset.  Then when a few sprinkles came we moved in the garage for eating pizza and cupcakes, singing Happy Birthday and eventually hitting one another with pool noodles.  Minus the adults on the last part.  Having it outside worked fine with that many attending.  Had it been inside, this entry would likely have a different tone.  On to Thomas’ 4th birthday party in July where fewer names will fill the invite list and a rain date will be scheduled!

Close friend Darlene

Nana's lap

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 47

Six years ago tonight I was big.  Like 225 pounds of a pregnant lady big.  I delivered Charlotte via C-section the next day.  This many birthdays later, my daughter is now the vivacious and high-spirited kindergartner I envisioned when she was cramped in my belly at over nine pounds a week past her due date.  Tomorrow I will give birth to the party that sounded good in the planning stages but is shaping up to be two hours of chaos.  Of the 22 kids invited from her class, almost all are coming.  Of the 20 or so neighbor kids and siblings I included, almost all are coming.  So my assumption that maybe half wouldn’t be able to make it due to the holiday weekend was way off–39 children RSVP’d yes.  Throw in my family, adult friends and some parents… let’s just say the cupcake cake includes 75 and the 14 large pizza order breaks down to 112 slices.  Before you write about the ridiculous nature of the whole shindig, let me explain two things about my party strategy where my kids are concerned:  First, if possible I refuse to leave classmates out.  It breaks my heart to see children’s reactions when they learn (usually in the cafeteria) that they’re not invited to a particular birthday celebration.  Second, if there is something I am going to spend money on it’s not going to be a pair of expensive shoes for Mommy or a designer watch for Daddy.  In our house, we had kids knowing our resources would shift to them.  And more than 50 of our new best friends, in this case.   P.S.-I may revise these rules come Sunday if our yard or house is trashed.  The latter should it rain!

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Of course we know our kids (well, at least the younger ones) are listening closely to every word we say.  But it’s like reality TV stars who admit after a while you forget the cameras are there.  We can’t edit ourselves 24/7, so we say what comes to mind so freely some times we wouldn’t believe it came out of our mouths unless someone recorded it and played it back.  This happened to me yesterday.  At a dinner “meeting” with the other moms in Charlotte’s Daisy troop, one of them told me she asked my daughter if she was excited for her birthday.  “No,” she said Charlotte told her adding, “my mom says the older you get the more work you have to do.”  What?  I don’t even remember saying that.  Doesn’t really sound like something I would say, actually.  But I like her logic.  It’s true.  With every passing year should come more responsibility and commitments–until maybe retirement.  I guess I could have added that since my generation won’t be eligible for the maximum amount of Social Security (if at all) until like 75, at six-years-old she can look forward to full benefits around 90.  So enjoy it now, sister, because with all the homework and college courses to come you’ll be working hard the next 84 years or so!

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You know you’re not getting enough sleep when you come into work, as I did today, and think a new co-worker is actually a high school student!  “Are you Kera’s job shadow?” I asked the young woman sitting next to reporter Kera Mashek’s desk.  Then when we made eye contact quickly followed it up with, “I know you,” still unable to make the mental connection.  “Tara, I’m Denise,” our new weekend morning meteorologist.  OMG , I need a nap.  In my defense, she did have her hair pulled back which is different from how she wears it on-air.  But she’s worked here for about six weeks and I have been around her numerous times in the studio when she’s at the weather center with Mark.  It’s moments like this when you realize, God willing, you still have a lot of years ahead… but where are you going to get the brain power to live them?

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It occurred to me while having  lunch with a friend today that every other thing I said was prefaced with one of the following phrases:  I told Dave, Dave said, So I agreed with Dave, But Dave thinks… those of you who can finish your significant other’s sentences will relate.  When your whole world is wrapped up in coupledom, it’s tough to have a conversation and not include the one who shares your life.  Thankfully, my friend knows I am allowed to leave the house and do things on my own.   It just struck me when I listened to myself and replayed the comments in my head later how much my thoughts and choices are derived from the culture of our marriage.  And that’s not a bad thing.  In fact it made me wonder if the person who never mentions the man or woman in their life is setting the stage to live without them.  Just a thought.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 47

What started as a morning jog through the neighborhood around 6:30 Sunday ended with me in a police cruiser.  I was in the front seat pointing out where the dog lived who attacked me from behind.  His owner, a guy I’ve never seen, had walked outside to smoke with the animal on a leash as I approached.  “Hi,” I said and don’t remember getting a reply.  His dog spoke volumes when I felt something on the back of my left leg shortly after.  I stopped and the dog darted in front of me as I tried to act calm and cool.  The owner called him off and that’s when my adrenaline rush subsided and I looked down to discover the hole in my sweats and teeth marks in my leg.  The guy said nothing.  So I said, “If I have to get a rabies shot, I’m sending you the bill.”  Again, crickets.  Off I marched to cry on Dave’s shoulder.  My husband was obviously upset that the dog was let off the leash when I was slowly running ten feet away with my back turned.  A police officer gave me the option of fining the owner–I said don’t.  But later regretted it when the animal control officer said he was very “blah” in his response to the whole thing and appeared to have just gotten out of bed after partying.  Interesting.  The good news, I did not have to get a rabies shot as the dog’s shots were up to date.  The bad news, I had to get a tetanus shot and my insurance will not cover it.  Thankfully no child was around.  This animal can jump.  (Yes, Dave laughed when he heard it was an overweight chihuahua!)

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When you factor in picnics, a day off and early dismissals… a regular school schedule is over for my kids until late August at this point.  Thomas is done Thursday, Daddy the following Tuesday and Charlotte the next day.  I am ready for them to be home with me when I’m there.  But five days a week and weekends?  We will get on each other’s nerves, for sure.  We’ve intentionally under-scheduled June, July & August where kids’ activities are concerned so we don’t have to be at an appointed time and place on a regular basis.  But we have a lot going on–Dave’s family visit in June, a vacation with the kids in July and one without them in August.  Right now I am in build-up mode to Charlotte’s party a week from tomorrow.  It’s cool her birthday celebration happens every Memorial Day weekend.  A perfect kick off to a family-focused summer.  (P.S.-Yes, I will admit way too many children and parents were invited.  Who knew they wouldn’t have other plans on a holiday weekend?)

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 47

It all started over a toaster waffle.  Thomas usually wants his syrup in a little bowl on the side, but recently has requested it on top of or on the plate with the waffle instead.  So when I confirmed this morning that he wanted it on the side, I thought he meant touching the waffle but not on it.  Wrong!  He overreacted, as 3-year-olds do, when he discovered my error and proceeded to pick up and toss the waffle in the trash.  I promptly carried him into his room for a time out, explaining there are people who don’t have enough food to eat and we will not waste it in this house.  During his time out, he threw his puzzles on the floor.  That led to him losing DVDs for the day when he refused to pick them up.  He also lost treats when his sister told him goodbye and Thomas said he hated her.  Then he stood on her American Girl doll, Kit, who granted was left on the living room floor.  I slapped him on the leg (not too hard, but enough to let him know I meant business) when he would not take his feet off her stomach.  Breaking the silence in the car on the way to preschool, I told him Mommy & Daddy don’t want to take things away but when he does bad things that will happen.  I asked him what he wanted to tell me and he said he was sorry followed up with whether he could get DVDs today.  Not today, I answered, but tomorrow if you’re good.  “Okay, Mommy.”  And the drama was finally over–for now.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 47