My new uniform
I think a uniform life would suit me fine, just based on this week. On Sat. I bought a new black cardigan on the clearance rack. It's merino wool, just the right style, fit, weight,length everything you'd want a black cardigan to be--except that it's dry clean only.
I just can't seem to take it off. Any other sweater in my closet (and it's sweater weather--burr) is inferior. Really, there's nothing I'd rather wear right now. I haven't even really mixed up the outfit--jeans, white t-shirt, beloved cardigan, well I do have on a turtleneck today. ALL WEEK LONG!!!! I am glad it's also coat weather so the people at school who see me every day only see my coat and not that I have on the same sweater...that has now no real stains but has been used for a couple of nose wipes and to catch a few crumbs. I guess it better get real dirty since that is the only way I can part with it for a day or two while it's at the dry cleaners. HELP!!
My newest obsession
It's collecting metal die cast cars from the movie CARS!!! This has got to stop. We got a couple for Christmas from Grandma and a couple more for Matthew's birthday from Grandma. Monday, I bought an 8 pack--Dinoco 400--to reward Matthew for getting a certain number of stickers. (I bought this mostly because it had a green Chick Hicks.) One sticker for each time he goes...5 stickers for a car. It's worked beautifully. Well a second trip to Target today resulted in me buying another 7 Cars (of course to save for Matthew). Now that he gets it, will have like 10 stickers for one car. But I am on a quest...I want Mater, Luigi and Guido! Help!
Sources of Inspiration--or--Many Thanks to Jo!
Well I know some people have watched Supernanny on occasion, I have never been much of a viewer (you know how I feel about reality television). I did see in a promo that this week was "celebrity supernanny" and my interest was very piqued. So I thought well, I will tape this. The celebrity is Wendy (of wilson phillips--not the one who had the gastro bypass although she was in the episode). She has 3 and 4 year old boys and 6 week old twin boys and a nice husband. You could see how Jo wanted to help them as they were a nice family.
Anyways, Jo used her paci-fairy technique on the 3 year old boy who still had a paci at bedtime. I thought wow, this could work for Matthew and what we are trying to give up--pullups. So after changing his pullup today I announced that we should mail the rest of the pullups to the pullup fairy, who would then deliver the pullups to a baby who needed them from a big boy, yadda yadda yadda. We picked baby Quinn as the "recipient" since we had just seen him in Dec. We picked out a shoe box (plain white, from Caro's new tap shoes) and had Matthew place the pullups in it. Then we wrote on it, decorated it with stickers, included some fairy tokens like sequins, jewels and other treasures from Caro's craft box. Tied it up with a big fairy ribbon and left it by the mailbox. Then said, let's put on underwear. So he wore underwear all day, had many accidents, and never once peed in the potty. But, he was willing and this is a HUGE step for us. I had prayed for him to have the desire to wear underwear and I guess it worked.
I just got home from the gap where I found (after looking at 2 other stores) NINE different pairs of green underwear (yeah for potty training around St. Pat's! 3 shamrock pairs), which are what he requested (green underwear). And then we also said the pullup fairy would bring him a new train which we put in a huge envelope marked with his name in the mailbox. So I am out $20 for Iron Arry and Bert and--don't laugh--$40 for the cutest pairs of Gap underwear (which I just really hope hope hope he does not go #2 in), but in the long run I think it will work! I just have to remember any progress is good progress. Tomorrow's strategy is of course the green underwear as well as keeping a potty close to him at all times. Here's hoping! It's going to be a long road...hope your saturday was equally exciting.
And just an end note: Some may feel the paci/pullup fairy is a bit deceptive, but as Jo said, sometimes you need a little bit of magic. So we bought into it.
We love the Met
Spotaneously we headed down to the City for an afternoon at the Met with some good friends. It was great. I was a little intimidated to be without Mark with four kids at the Met, including one in a stroller and one who has a hard time staying close, but it was amazing. It was a good day to go since it was free for Family Week, it was cold outside and there were lots of other kids there too.
We started with Egypt and took a good look at lots of mummies. The kids were fascinated. We found our way to Arms and Armour. Josh said he wanted to see the paintings so we headed upstairs to 19th Century European Paintings which is my favorite place in the Met. We enjoyed looking at Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir and Degas. We ended at the gift shop and picked up a couple of treasures.
The Met is one of my favorite places in New York. I've had some very memorable times there--including a trip with my brother where we stumbled upon the Roof Garden which I absolutely love. Mark and I went on a great date night prior to Sam's birth. Josh and I had a wonderful time going with a school group when he was in Kindergarten. One things for certain, just ask, and I will always say yes to going to the Met.
Distinguished career
Photo courtesy of AP. It ran in the Seattle Times.
Perfect timing
It's a 60 degree day in February! But, between rainstorms, I said, I gotta get these kids outside in the fresh air and me too!
Dad's working, so it was just me. Where could I go that was free, outside, didn't matter if the ground was wet, and entertaining and manageable for all 4 kids? The Bronx Zoo!
We just got back a few minutes ago and it was fabulous. The older kids chose our path, they have been there many times and could read the map and knew what they wanted. We called it bird day--world of birds, birds of prey, aquatic birds.
And now it's pouring down rain. But we are cozy in our house waiting for friends whose dads are also working today to come over for crafts and cookies!
It was just this unique window. I am so glad we took advantage. Some days things just work out.
Boo for Saturdays when Dad are at work
I know I am not totally alone in this. Mark rarely works on the weekends, but this is one he just can't avoid. So, we powered through. At least I got a chance to go to the gym this morning.
We had to get creative a couple of times. Someone wanted to do a "craft" which after 50 suggestions, I finally got the message that crafts do not include any drawing or coloring of any type. So the only trick I have in the craft box was feathers--we stuck them in playdoh and made bird families. Josh made cupcakes from a mix, did the whole thing himself from start to finish (except I actually placed them in the oven.) We had fun decorating them--pink for valentines and green for St. Pat's.
We also worked on our latest puzzle a bit. We made a trip to the library during a birthday party and stocked up on some books and DVDs.
Even though we don't have Dad around today, Saturdays can still be fun. Plus no pressure of dinner, we just finished our waffles : )
Stuff about the kids
Matthew can no longer tolerate having wet hair, so he asks me to blow dry it after his bath, which is actually quite relaxing and soothing for both of us.
Caroline (who should really be having her hair blown-dry since she prefers it straight--we battle the wave in it) does not like to have her hair blown dry. She also makes bathing an event. She's like the spa-bather...it's not quick, 20 minutes at least, temperature on the cool side. Oh well, she's the only girl. Go ahead, Caro, indulge!
Samuel has taken to the underwear over the diaper look. He's in love with all things Thomas including Matty's Thomas underwear. Yesterday after returning from the gym, Mark said, don't laugh, but Sam is only wearing a diaper with 3 pairs of Thomas underwear over it. Well, I am glad some little boy in this house wants to wear underwear.
Sam gets his stitches out tomorrow morning. He's been so good at not touching his injury. I am a little intimidated about going to the plastic surgeon's office. Will they be thinking, "Tuck here, lift there...."
Josh is thinking he's the third parent in this family. It's good and bad, but does drive me a little batty sometimes. I know that first children can be terribly bossy. The younger kids are mostly patient. Don't tell the dentist, but he's getting 13 mini candy bars for passing off his articles of faith--he did the last ones today!
Mark worked late one night so we had a movie night. We agreed on the Game Plan (I know, that one with the Rock) and actually quite liked it. (I love on-demand, same price as Blockbuster but no returns!) The football was appealing for Josh, the ballerina daughter was appealing for Caroline, and it entertained me too.
In non-kids news, Mark and I are really enjoying Lost this season. Can't wait until Thurs! What a perfect valentine : )
It's not easy being green
Kermit is right! This is a lot of work.
I am trying to be a super good recycler. Our county has just enacted a law I guess that says if they find recycling in your trash, you get a summons. Since Mark reminds me that this is like throwing money out with the trash, I happily comply.
Garbage has never been treated better than how I treat my garbage! Plastic containers from ricotta, yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese all carefully rinsed out. Some are even put in the dishwasher if they are being stubborn. Cardboard boxes broken down and put together with like-cardboard. Newspapers, white paper, and magazines stacked together in used paper shopping bags. Wednesdays are a sweet day. The garbage truck comes and hauls it all away. I spend a lot more time sorting and stacking. I used to put our recycling in our front hall closet (and still do with newspapers), but food related stuff gets carried down to the garage now, several times a day. Matthew's new job, I am hoping.
I love my reusable shopping bags, and get frustrated when I forget them. Not only do I use them at the grocery store, but I use them all over the house for various things. They are not only helpful for library books, but also for carrying stuff to go upstairs from downstairs and stuff to go downstairs from upstairs.
Change (a word so overused now appearantly) is hard, but worth it. Now we have more recycling than garbage. But it would be nice to have neither I suppose. Maybe I should have been a pioneer.
all set for super
Well, it's just going to be a Super Week!
After our whole week of illness, (and now everyone is better), I'm grateful for good health and ready to move on.
(I did write this earlier today and since writing, I took Sam to the ER for stitches in his chin as he fell off a kitchen chair and split his chin open). But still feeling the rest of it, so I decided to post.
Last night's Superbowl was the first super event of the week. We loved it! We love the Giants. We weren't really into the Giants (being super Yankees fans) until the game against Green Bay...but now we are and we love our QB, Eli! And that catch! You know the one that lead to the second touchdown. Amazing.
It's a super day today since it's all about getting back to normal. And it's a day I feel like celebrating Mardi Gras. As a former Louisiana Baton Rouge missionary, early Feb. means lots of good cooking, parades and king cake. Well, actually, good cooking all the time. If we weren't having cake tomorrow (see below), I'd order our family a king cake from Gambino's. But my chicken and sausage jambalya is in the crock pot, so we are good to go.
And it's Super Tuesday around here because not only do we get to vote but it's our super boy, Matthew's birthday, who we just adore. He's going to be 4 and we are looking forward to a good day with a mid-day birthday party with his school and church friends and a family party in the evening.
Hope your week is super too!
