Monday, September 22, 2008

Going, Going, Gone!

Going....

Going...

GONE!

"It Won't Stop Moving!"

I hear this from my 3-year old as he comes walking into the bedroom. 

"What won't stop moving?" I ask, a little afraid of the answer.

"My arm, it won't stop moving" I realize he is trying to take his shirt off and when he pulls on the sleeve, he doesn't understand to bend his elbow to pull his arm through. The arm just keeps moving and he can't get his shirt off.

"What are you doing" I ask him.

"I picked out my own clothes" he tells me.

This is a first and is sure to be very interesting. Most mornings it is a total battle to get him dressed and out of his jammies. To avoid a fight he will most often get to wear 'comfy' pants as he is at least willing to get dressed then. I am excited he was willing to get dressed and even picked out his clothes. With nervous trepidation, I went into his room to see his outfit for the day. I wanted to honor what he chose to encourage this step in independence.

Which is why left the house dressed like this:
It could have been worse, way worse!

What Not To Do on a Friday Night

Do not go to Safeway, the grocery store of all temptations, after a long day, with crabby kids, emotionally crazed, craving sweets, and with no-health conscience husband in sight.

If you do, this may happen:
I have to say, I really did enjoy my time to myself.

Friday, September 19, 2008

2:20

What's the only good thing about both boys waking up from their naps at 2:20, after only sleeping an hour at the most?

An early bedtime.

Why is that important?

Because hubby is going out to dinner with friends and I am on my own. At least now I will only have to make it until 7:00 before I can put on my comfy pants, grab a gallon of ice cream, and a good romance novel and settle myself on the couch.

I must confess when I heard the little one start to cry I almost cried myself.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Gift of Time

I have been trying to look for a silver lining in the midst of the ongoing strike. Everyday I think of my co-workers who are walking up and down the sidewalks. I think of the kids missing school, especially the ones who rely on us to feed them breakfast and lunch. I think of the bus drivers, the office managers, the aides, who will also be feeling a financial crunch if the strike is not resolved.  I am sad for the choices that have been made to put us in this position. Even thought the tentative agreement that was given to us was not good, I am still sad we voted no. I had hoped to be back in school by now. 

Today I found a reason to be glad we were on strike.  For weeks now I have known that Jack's first day of preschool fell on a Thursday. This is my one day I work. It seems every year I end up working on a special day (the boy's birthday for example).  It wasn't too surprising that I would work on a special day again this year. I reminded myself that my husband never gets to do the special things. He is always working, and misses most "firsts". This time he would get to take Jack to school for his first day. I had already planned the outfit for Jack, had reminded my husband to take pictures, and was preparing myself to leave for work without even kissing Jack goodbye on his first day.  

But luck would have it, we are still on strike.  Not just on strike, but on shifts. I was not at the last meeting so I was assigned a shift. I walk the picket line from 12:30-4:00.  This means I can take Jack to preschool. I was so excited today to be with Jack as we got ready, dress him in his new school clothes, attempt to take pictures of him, and then to drive him to school.

What I wasn't prepared for was leaving Jack at the door and walking away. I took him last year for a one day a week 2 year old class and was in no way prepared to be emotional today. It was quite a surprise as I walked down the stairs and to my car quickly, so I would not be seen crying. It was a brief moment of emotions but surprised me none the less. 

My little baby is growing up too fast.
The strike did not just give me the opportunity to take Jack to school today, it also gave me time with my little one. Before picking Jack up, Micah and I had
 some time to be together. We stopped at our favorite coffee shop for a little coffee and scone.  Note to self, do NOT go there at 10:30 on a weekday. Apparently that is when only grown-ups with laptops are allowed in the coffee shop and not only are no tables available, no one is talking! After a few brief moments of screaming we were back outside with our treats and our drinks.  We sat for a while outside watching cars, buses, and dogs go by.  I took time to enjoy this time with Micah. Most days he is swept up in the whirlwind that is Jack and I miss the time I have to just enjoy him. We sat outside for a little while today looking at birds (just crows, Jeanette!) and smiling at each other. 
While I am anxious to have the strike be over and done, I will cherish the time I had today. Time to see my oldest start his first real day of preschool. Time to sit with my baby on the back step looking at the beautiful blue sky.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Do I Have Boys or Girls?

That is the question I keep asking myself when I walk by the playroom and see this:
To be fair, my mother-in-law got these chairs from her neighbors at a pseudo-garage sale. I mean pseudo because the neighbors had opened up their garage intending to clean it out by taking things to the Goodwill, when my MIL ran over. She saw kids things and assumed it was a garage sale.  Pretty soon more people stopped by and the family ended up making money off of what was just supposed to be a dump run!

When I heard they were pink, I said no problem. I can get replacement covers that are more boy appropriate.  I just haven't done it yet. I looked on line and the covers were a little more expensive then what I wanted to spend. Since I got the chairs for free I should not be complaining but I am kind of a cheap skate when it comes to my kids.  If you ask Jack where he got his new pants he will be sure to say "The Goodwill". His dollhouse - from the street corner. And yes, I did say "dollhouse".  

The stroller in the picture was not a 'free' find, but a requested birthday present for Micah. He loves babies and I thought he would enjoy pushing the stroller. He does. Sometimes it has the baby, sometimes cars, or planes, or balls. Whatever he finds to zoom around the house.

Should I be worried that the playroom is overrun with pink chairs and a pink stroller, not to mention the dollhouse in the kitchen?

I would be except in the other corner I have this:
What is that, you say? It is a mini-trampoline. The kind you will mostly find on the street corner for free, or marked down 75% at the Goodwill. Why do I have it? Because my oldest has so much energy that we are trying to find creative ways to burn off that energy, while trapped inside the house. With rainy weather coming I am in need of some good ways to get the wiggles out!

Besides, look how cute they are in their chairs:

Yes, I do have boys. Just boys who are secure enough in themselves to love the pink chairs!