Show a Little Love

Valentine's Day is coming up, and like many of our celebrations, it's come with the stress of forcing my kids to put heart stickers on paper for their little classmates. Just like with thank-you cards, their best friends end up with three or four each, and good luck for the rest to the crowd. They are really caring souls, just a tad selfish, as is wont for the young crowd (and old, lets be honest). As selfish as we can be, we really do love each other, although it's not always easy for the random onlooker to tell. Besides the old standbys of punching, hugging, attacking with swords, kissing and the old standby, showing with gifts, here's a quick checklist of ways we show our love in this family.

1. Protection: When mommy threatens to drive off with Donovan unbuckled as he throws a tantrum, Keegan shrieks in horror and complete panic to his badly behaving brother, "buckle yourself, buckle yourself, buckle yourself" while telling me to just give him what he wants.
   
2. I love you so much it hurts: Five minutes before the kids are supposed to be asleep, Dad manages to rouse them into a frenzy by reading books in a silly way, sitting on them on the couch and then attempting to carry the boys by only their ears, usually resulting in hysterical laughing and then eventual whining and crying.


3. Pure and total ownership: Donovan's soft little belly, it's mine, to blow raspberries on whenever I want. My arms, Donovan's claims these are his, especially when I'm trying to type, turn a page in a book, take a shower, pretty much anytime I need them and he wants me. He affectionally grabs my arm in a death grip. He also has a weird nose fetish, grabbing and kissing random our noses at every opportunity.
   
4. Unwanted affection: Keegan, my sweetie, longs to hug his sad brother and kiss that chubby cheek. Donovan, never one to give anyone what they want, repeatedly pushes him away, but later in the bath shows his thanks by sticking his but in his face and laughing hysterically.


5. Sharing our toys: Yes, we love our cars and racetracks, computers and iPhones, puzzles and nerf guns, but, on occasion, we lovingly share. If lovingly can be describes as "as soon as I write this email" or the famous "when I'm done."

This post was written for Parent Blogger’s Network blog blast. They’re collaborating with LIFE, a non-profit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education.

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

I used to hang with the cool kids

I've known two people who've been on game shows, that is just how famous I am. 'Course these weren't exactly the Price is Right, or Wheel of Fortune, which I used to love before they just went to cash prizes and you could no longer buy those couches and TVs with your hard earned winnings. We used to wonder if they had these minimum and maximum intelligent levels for each game show, I'll leave you to guess who'd be on Jeapordy and who would "spin the big wheel."

No, my college roommate was on the short-lived and likely seldom-watched MTV's Remote Control, and when she lost we laughed and laughed. I still remember the final question before she was ousted - I can't remember the wording exactly but something like "The round little noodle shaped like an 'o' " and she answered "tortellini" making her sound like a total elitist snob and at the same time a bit dirty in the way she said it. God we laughed, but it was mostly dumb luck that made her lose.

My other wicked-smart friend nearly won, you got it, Ben Stein's Money. He's seriously one of the smartest guys I've ever known (Armando, I don't know Ben Stein) and we were so bummed he didn't win. That was one of the best game shows ever!

Head on over to Parent Blogger's Network to talk about your own game show stories. And you could win a shopping spree on Oliebollen.com

You Dressed Youself, Good Job

It's another blog blast from Parents Bloggers Network and frankly, any topic that gives me an excuse to show off my fashion challenged creative kids I'm all over it. So thanks. Anyway, it's all about the matching clothes - do you love to have your kids match? Do you wish you could dress them every single little day and, maybe, even the same outfits for two brothers who wear the same size. Who would do that?

Would you buy the explanation that a tip I got from my mom, dress your kids alike when you travel in case you lose one and you can just say "have you seen a little boy who looks just like this?" was the explanation behind this. Me neither. As cute as I think these buggers are, I honestly don't really care that much how they dress, and in fact once showed up at an outdoor party on one of the hottest day of the year, one wearing a tank top and shorts (I don't think the kid has ever been cold) the other in long sleeve shirt, jacket, pants, socks, all his choice. I kept insisting out loud that I was NOT an overprotective parent.


Not sure if it's because my mom was a bit obsessive about coordinated outfits. We'd never buy pants without a matching top, preferably the same color, and I found myself begging for just a plain shirt of a different color. Or I'm just grateful and so excited when they dress themselves? Yes, occasionally I get them to dress like this, purchased by grandma, of course.

But them check out his shoes? Not even the same size I noticed later.

This is actually how you'll find him dressed most of the time. Don't think this meets the health code.

Why yes, there is a stuffed pig under my helmet, and I'm off for a "run" not a bike ride. Wanna make something of it?

This is the absolute best out fit, ever. And everything but the backpack was purchased at a garage sale by the above named grandma. Note the excellent bling in the shape of a giant heart.

But isn't he just the sweetest? Wait, this actually matches (he probably peed in the above shorts).

I might be lucky as I have sons, who frankly wear soccer kits half the time, but I would hope I'd allow a daughter to be just as creative, or, more accurately, put on whatever the heck they want provided it's clean, comfy, and shows the right superhero of the week.

Now get yourself over there and have a chance to win a $250 VISA gift card, plus a Polly Pocket Pop ‘n Swap Fashion Frenzy set.

This is Why We're Always Late

Picture this, a frazzled looking mom standing at the door, computer bag and purse over one shoulder with a travel mug of coffee, backpack over the other shoulder and Transformer lunch bag in that hand. Are the kids anywhere to be seen? Of course not, one is "just getting a toy" the other is kicking a ball around, still shoeless. And this of course is 20 minutes after I've said "we're leaving in 5 minutes." And of course by the time we leave, I've set my freshly brewed coffee down and forgotten it.

"We need to leave right now. Do you want to have to run to school? I don't want to be late." All extremely useless little phrases. Things have improved in the morning from this, but as a family who abhors routine, I don't think we'll ever get it down to a science. I mean, you can see my kids are totally serious, obedient little buggers, it's hard to believe they'd rather goof off in the morning. We did manage to make it to kindergarten graduation with only 6 tardies, 14 tantrums and not a single broken bone.

School year routine, at least this past year:

Donovan usually up by 6 or 6:30 am, Keegan soon after that or has to be woken up at 7:15.

Chocolate milk and TV for the kiddos, as we negotiate how long I stay downstairs. At 4 1/2, Donovan still sometimes gets mad if I dare to pee before I go downstairs, get his milk, watch him turn the TV on, etc. The stern lectures are finally paying off.

M/W/F - I take Keegan, Daddy sleeps and Donovan watches TV and plays in the computer until he gets up. They have leisurely breakfast around 10am, walk the dogs, and he tries to get him there by noon. Occasionally the laundry gets folded, but somehow they never have time to get the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

T/Th - mommy gets up and gets everyone ready, except shoes, which somehow seems to take longer to put on than an entire outfit. If I'm feeling generous, I'll pop a few pieces of french toast in the toaster. Daddy takes them both to school . Then I get myself ready, walk the dogs, maybe even catch a little snooze if there is no morning meeting.

But all bets are off if I, say, have an 8am conference call, or am annoyed or sick and make my husband get up, or if the kids are cranky, too hungry, not hungry enough. Pretty much the only given is some adult attempting to rush kids out the door while they insist they need to bring a toy, and me both apologizing for getting upset while simultaneously explaining why it's their fault we're late. I know, not productive. At least next year I, in theory, will get to drop Keegan off instead of worrying about parking and walking him to school, which I'll probably miss terribly. And I hope Donovan will finally be able to dress himself.

Now it's summer, where pretty much every single week, if not day, will be different. Except mommy will mostly be at work, while the rest of the family will be outside playing soccer or resting in the house. So far I've come home two days in a row to two naked boys, fresh out of of the pool. I may miss the fun, but at least I'll only have to get one person ready in the morning.

This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a contest sponsored by KRAFT BAGEL-FULS.

Oh Crap Do I Need to Buy a Gift?

I have to admit my husband is the more romantic one in the family. He's written me poems for anniversaries and valentine's day, bought me expensive soaps and stuffed doily hearts in my daytime. I'm the one who lets these events sneak up on me and then panic about getting a gift. I once bought him pie plates and a nice teapot, I think it was our 2nd valentine's day. In my defense, I'm a practical girl, Dutch Babies were one of the few things he liked to make and he kept complaining he was missing his plates since his move.

Like everything since kids, however, we have less time to ponder the perfect gift, or maybe he's just run out of ideas. There's been a lot of gift certificates, and I shouldn't complain, but I have a bad habit of losing them, and they just don't have the personal touch. For a recent spa gift certificates, instead of finding a place within his self-imposed budget, he got an amount that doesn't quite cover a whole treatment. He occasionally still scores, with a nice journal after I started blogging, and a beautiful artsy business card holder which I needed and loved. Some he gets eventually, like the GPS, where the first eBay score was a bit of a bust, but he made up for it at Christmas. He's also bought me stuff he himself would love, like coffee cups and a mouse pad with the kid's photo on them, which I'm expected to use at work or I'm not a very proud mommy.

But frankly it's the less expensive, but more personal gifts that I have treasured. The photo of the kids with "I Love Mommy" photoshopped in. Scrapbook pages he made with the kids, when he doesn't even know what scrap booking is. A $50 jar of face cream is nothing to scoff at, but when finances are a source of tension and I already know what my face likes, I just can't help but think of what we could have done with that money. What I have always wanted was someone else to be in charge of breakfast and dinner one day, or for my husband to do something like go through the kids clothes and donate all the too small ones...a girl can dream.

I love the idea of Get In Her Head, the sponsor for this weeks Parent Bloggers Blog Blast. It's "a free service for couples who want to get it right every time." Plus this way I won't have to remember that CD he's asked for, or have already got stuff he didn't want when he drops that hint. I'm glad to see there's also a get in his head option.

I Can Change a Tire Without Breaking a Nail

That's right, I know how to dial AAA. Okay, I have changed a tire, and my oil, even given my old beater a tune-up, but really, these days that's not what's going to feed my kids or keep them healthy. Parent Bloggers Network wants to know what we can do as well as any man out there. Well, quite a bit, man, I took auto mechanics and have an engineering degree, what can't I do? Given this, you'd think I'd be more into cars, but I don't mind the occasional dent and can barely get past looking under the hood anymore. What I can do is sign up for Ask Patty's new MyCarPage feature, a personalized website for your vehicle. I'm also not afraid of spiders, although I have screamed "like a girl" when I had to pick up a disemboweled rodent, eeewww. And I could also give you the "easy" answer here, which is I earn the big bucks in the family. Yes, folks, I go to work when the kids are sick or there's an in school service day. But I don't even think that's a typically male role anymore.

But what I really pride myself on doing, especially when daddy's out of town, is the guys method of playing with the kids. I don't stick to red light/green light or checking my email while they play pirate on the play structure. Well, sometimes I do. But I'm also out there kicking that soccer ball around, having sword fights and rolling around in the grass. Sure my five year old can now beat me at the ball, but I'm trying my darnedest. Not to mention wrestling on the couch, racing cars, telling dirty jokes, and drinking sparkling water and burping, although I might grab the camera when we start to laugh hysterically. I draw the line at watching soccer games all day, but I can be an energetic and silly substitute in a pinch.

My Smart Little Writer

Given the number of advanced degrees in my family, I don't doubt my kids are above average intelligence. On the other hand, there's enough bragging coming out of dad and grandma that I try to be the voice of reason, teach my kids some humility, and explain that even if dad constantly talks about how fast you are, it doesn't mean you need to boast about to your friends. But today, it's my turn to brag about my kids.



It's pretty timely, in that today was kindergarten academic testing day. As much as I wish we could go back in time, when they didn't worry about teaching reading, much less academic testing, his results did bring a little smile to my face. He's reading at a first grade level, and even better reading actually brings a smile to his face. I'm constantly impressed by the amazing pronounciation of spanish, and dad is just thrilled about his social skills, an area daddy didn't quite excel at in kindergarten.

And what I'm even more thrilled about are the books K's creating, with the help of a new stapler, which are scattered around our house, in various stages of completion. Here we've got "Thick Mo 3," a book about a ghost and a mystery tree. There's also one about battling girls, and "Spiderman vs Venom" among others. He even makes blank ones for mommy and daddy to fill out.


One of the highlights of my elementary school years was winning "best book" in 2nd grade for a handwritten story project (we all got prizes) and it thrills me to no end to see him this excited about making his own books. I didn't regain real enjoyment in writing until halfway through college, so I sure hope this stays with him. I don't necessarily want all his books to include ways to shoot girls, and his creative spelling could use some work, but today we're focsusing on his creative talents.

It's brag about your child day over at Parent Bloggers, and they're giving away cool prizes, including a great sounding book by Jenifer Fox.

Forget sneaking food, Location, Location, Location

I've always fed the kids what I eat, so mealtimes at our house are a really pleasant experience. We have wonderful conversations and eat a variety of healthy foods every night. And if you believe that, I've got a really lovely piece of land to sell you in Florida.

Seems Mrs. Jerry Seinfeld has written a book Deceptively Delicious and the Parent Bloggers Network is going to give me (okay, one of us) a $250 gift card for use at Williams Sonoma (ahh, heaven) for writing up our picky eater stories.

I did the sneaking food in when they were much younger, and I could serve them potato pancakes made with mashed potatoes and pureed broccoli (leftover from baby food days) or, okay, my minds a blur from that time. But perhaps because my mom thought smothering vegetables in spaghetti sauce was a sure fire way to get them to taste good, and I preferred them as plain as possible, I keep the food simple.

We had a rule in our house growing up, we were allowed to choose one thing not to eat. I did have this wierd things about unmelted cheese, but I easily picked my one thing, and I even eat that now. My brother choose something new every night, and had the "I'm full I'll take this for lunch tomorrow" approach down pat.

I'd love my kids to eat like I do, but I'm just hoping I still have a chance there. For now it's all I can do to have at least two nights a week where we don't have mac'ncheese or chicken nuggets. We've got two picky eaters in this house, and one is fully grown so we'll not talk about him. My only rule for dad is he's not allowed to make gagging sounds if he doesn't like something. He can't even follow that rule with cottage cheese, which fortunately both my sons love.

So what does my little picky eater (the 3 1/2 YO) do - well, doesn't eat dinner, for one, how's that for picky? Give him yogurt, cottage cheese or anything sweet and he'll gobble it up, but he's very good at getting me to give him something he can play with (ice cubes to cool the food down, glass of water or bowl of peas) and he pretty much eats nothing, while I tell him 3 or 4 or 100 times not to play with his food. My other son(5) usually eats his dinner, and on the occasions where we have dessert is too full to eat it, wierdo.

What I used to do, especially when they were really picky toddlers, is try new locations. There have been many an after preschool/work picnics in the park with cheese sticks and PB&Js which to me is a pretty darn healthy dinner. The last few times we've tried that approach my little guy actually ate his dinner, then proceeded to throw it all up later that evening. So now I don't even ask him to try something, just plunk it down and eat my own meal, but I do ask him not to fling stuff across the table. And that 15 times thing (kids need to try new foods at least 15 times), that gets real old when one child likes to dramatically sweep away a plate containing something he doesn't like, and the other proclaims his dislike of a certain food in a loud and whiny voice if you attempt to serve it, gasp, a 2nd or 3rd time. So that's still a work in progress.

My kids do like fruit and vegetables, although they certainly don't eagerly chow down on broccoli and green beans every night. But there favorite thing to grab at the farmers market or grocery store is a big ol' carrot to munch. I'm getting their first eye appointment soon, and expect them to pass with flying colors.

Seriously, how young do I think I am?

I am a total sucker for trends and discounts, I'll admit it right now. I am also to busy, lazy, a product of my mom, to actually try on clothes at the store so I bring home stuff to try on, then hope I'll get around to returning what doesn't fit, or worse yet, wear stuff that doesn't fit.

Like these chords, who was high to wear low rise turquoise chords. Sure they were on sale and in style for like 10 minutes, but my stomach, even pre-children, mandated something quite long to prevent the belly protrusion. So why are they still there, taunting me from the closet (or not, since the closet is such a mess post-move that I rarely look on that side and never at batch, which include the too small skirts hanging in my kid's closet)? Why, because of a matching belt and scarf, of course.

And then there is this skirt. Adorable, ain't it? For someone younger who doesn't ever need to bend over. As sweet as those ruffles were, it was not that flattering for a curvy chick like me (weird straight waist that it had). I rarely buy color so thought I could use some bright stuff, but perhaps a red was not the right choice, since I don't think I ever had a pair of shoes that went. I was also to nervous to wear anything but a conservative sweater set, so really, what was the point? I may have gone dancing once or twice, but that just isn't happnen' anymore 'cept for weddings and outdoor festivals so perhaps it should go? But what if, perchance, we have red day, ala color-themed days at kindergarten. I would have nothing to wear.

I so could use a coach bag to complement my no longer fashionable clothes.

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It's another blog blast from Parent Bloggers Network with a chance to win a $250 Coach gift certificate? Check it out - “So You Think You’ve Got Style?” sponsored by Harper Collins’ latest title - “The Little Black Book of Style” by Nina Garcia, ELLE fashion director and Project Runway judge.

Just where does it go?

I've got exactly 12 minutes to finish a blog for a Parent Blogging Network contest. It's all about time, something parents always seem to want more of. I admit I'm not the most efficient when it comes to time, and I probably should devote more of mine to sleeping and less to Internet and TV if I want my face to stop sagging, but this post is focused on the "time to get the dang kids ready."

Seriously, they get up at 6am and yet we CANNOT seem to make it out the door before t-15 minutes before school starts (9am if you are counting). Now I don't think the new search blog Light Iris is gonna help me with that issue, although I'm totally betting that I could quickly find some tips on getting the kids ready. I've already started to make sure they pack their little backpacks and lay out their clothes, which has worked for a whole day. I know choices are important for a 3 year old, but man once he gets focused on something, it's like "when I'm finished" or "after I'm done" and now that they are watching movies instead of nice 30 minute Dora episodes (I know, I know) we cannot wait until it's over. So I resort to "I'm turning it off unless you get dressed" followed by "get your shoes on" etc. Given that my kids wear the same size, and we don't have fricken two of everything, we also get the whole "I want to wear that" and "those are my shoes!." My four-year-old has been a total trooper, often letting his rascally little brother have his way.

And don't even get me started on getting them home from preschool or their grandma and grandpas, where the whole shebang starts all over again.