Meet Cheesy McQueen

Welcome Thanksgiving break!!!!! How I love having my big kids home during the day!  No waking up early to make lunches and tie up loose ends, no uniforms, and a little extra time in the morning to hang out and play.  This morning, Liam and Jack helped to make banana pancakes and we went to work building a play mobile castle.  Dixie Belle Boyds went to work eating any toys she could sneak before being caught.  Amelia worked on sleeping in (lucky thing).

Then, we were off to the gym.  Kids to kids club and I to a crazy hard step and weights class.   I followed that with a shower in peace.  Funny how a shower at the gym is more private then a shower at home.  No one even opened the shower curtain to comment on my various body parts!  Next, off to Michael's for Chirstmas card supplies and home for lunch.  With a little extra time, we had a water drinking competition (I won, yes, I've still got it) and the kids constructed their own sandwiches:  butterless grilled cheese in the sandwich maker.  Liam was given the choice:  light cheese, medium, lots of cheese or...Cheesy McQueen.  Of course, he went with the McQueen.  Here is his creation.

                                                  
                                           Don't you See the Resemblance?

I think the onions are supposed to be the front and back windows.  I'm not too sure how the carrots fit in.  We couldn't put the bread together (of course, that would ruin it), so it was baked in the oven.  The problem: Liam couldn't bring himself to eat, and thus kill, McQueen.  So, we settled on him taking a few portraits so that he could live on forever.  He never did eat the carrots.

Long Live Cheesy McQueen!

Single Parenting Take 4

If Joey had red hair, this trio would be a perfect Match to my three.

Why is it that when my children are sick they still have abundant energy?  No lethargic, cuddlers taking long naps.  Nope, mine get really crabby (in fact mean) and are still bouncing off of the walls.  Why do I bring this up?  You guessed it, I have a sick child.  


My first clue that something was wrong happened this morning.  Just as finished step class, the kids club attendant came to get me. Since Liam is not in diapers and never gets lonely for me there, I knew that he was either a) sick or b) naughty.  To my delight, the answer was c) both a and b.  Apparently, my Liam had a massive and violent temper tantrum that included him kicking the attendant and calling her "stupid" (I'm so proud).  When I came to collect him, he was hiding in shame.  He also had a slight fever.  The very kind caregivers were understanding as he has never done anything like this before. I made sure to blame big brother and sister for the introduction of the word "stupid" to his vocabulary (when they say it I blame the Junie B Jones books they read in Kindergarten). I had to carry him out screaming, flailing, and kicking.  If I would have known that this was how my gym experience would end, I would have chosen lighter weights during class.


So, a slightly runny nose and a slightly feverish boy meant a complete rearrangement of my schedule.  No preschool for Liam tomorrow.  Which leads to no childcare, which leads t no Pre-K Kindermusik class for St. Luke's tomorrow.  No husband to hand off to so...no family outing for Amelia's end of the season soccer party.  Many thanks to the lovely and understanding Mrs. M for bringing her and, hopefully, bringing her back.  They are still out partying.

Single Parenting, Take 3

I'm not sure what is different about this time.  But, after being gone for 3 days, Liam no longer calls his father "Daddy".  He is now referred to as "John".

To be honest, it was much harder to have to go it alone when my kids younger.  Now, our lives are so busy that I don't seem to notice that I am on my own until the day comes to a close.  The biggest frustration to me is that I can't go anywhere alone.  I usually hold my grocery shopping,  dog hikes, and errand running until John comes home from work.  Or, save it for the weekend.  Now,  every trip is a lively adventure.  The one thing that I can't bring the kids to that pains me most is yoga.


The bright side of this change in routine is that I had to fit a yoga class into the only window that was available to me.  Today, during my one free morning while Liam is in preschool, I tried a class that I had never gone to before.  Labeled as a basic flow class, my ego didn't even think to consider going.  I am so glad that I did!  I knew that the instructor was amazingly gifted, so I'm not sure why I was surprised that I got so much out of it.  In a nut shell, it was a reminder that everything needs to be built on a good foundation in order to bring fulfillment yoga and life alike.  I left feel more grounded and inspired then I have felt in a long time.  

Single Parenting Take 2

The happy times of yesterday continued into the day.  In this chilly weather, I spent as much time as possible next to the fire with a book and someone to snuggle.  I feel a little guilty that while we are toasty and warm in our cozy home, John is freezing cold and sleeping elbow to elbow with loudly snoring sailors.  But, he probably hasn’t been pelted by “I hate you” for the better part of the afternoon.

In preparation for the battle of wills with my three year old, I spent the morning in heavy bag boxing.  If I haven’t said it enough before, I LOVE BOXING.  Maybe, it’s the little person complex in me trying to feel badass.  Maybe, it is the pent up energy from all of the times I have had to bite my tongue with my fiery three year old.  Maybe, it is just a super fun, sweaty workout.  Whatever it is, it left me ready to conquer the world.  Or, if not the world, sneaker shopping and another trip to China Lake with Liam and the dogs.  My advice to all mothers of young children:  You must try boxing!!!!!  It is an amazing stress relief. 

The heavens smiled down on me and moved Jack’s soccer coach to cancel practice at the last minute.  An afternoon with nothing planned!  No carpool, no errands, no meetings, nothing.  So, back to the fire it was for homework and warm milk.  The kids were thrilled that I had baked English Muffins and served them breakfast for dinner.  I was happy to slack on meals with no other adult to cook for.  That is one of my favorite parts of single parenting, lazy meals and no complaints.  It almost makes me want to convert to boring meals all together.  But , not quite.

Well, I just got a hair stroke and a gentle “ I love you, you’re a good mom” from my angry dictator…..

Day 2 gets 4 stars!

What is your favorite stress relief?

Five Little Vizslas

This week I find myself single parenting.  John left at 6AM to go underway with a sub and the children and I to carry on as usual.  The extra hour of sleep left everyone but me extra spunky.  After a chaotic and painful trip to the food co-op, I could see the energy oozing from my children’s pores.  I am not sure what was louder on the car ride home, the lively sounds from the backseat or the screaming in my head.  No, it was probably the real screaming that I delivered back to my noise-makers.

The next stop was to run the energy out of our dogs at China Lake.  Which brought on a chorus of moaning and back talk.  Really, not much would have been different if John were home.  I would have had someone to complain to at the end of the morning.  Instead, I complained to myself.   Which, only made me feel more crazy and out of control. 

I knew that the outdoors would make everyone feel better.  I was right.  My five little vizslas flew out of the gate (or mini-van) and didn’t stop.  Pure, raw energy released.  After 45 minutes, the clock was ticking to get home before the howls of hunger set in.  Just as no one wanted to come in the first place, now no one wanted to leave (please say this is not just my children that do this).  Home for lunch and an afternoon nap for Liam, everyone was happy.

 Zonked Out Doggies by the Fire

The afternoon was left for games, cleaning, crafting and sprucing up our family center.  Liam screamed for most of the day.  I think it is just habit now.  No middle ground, only “I love you” or “ I hate you” with a ratio of about 1 to 20.  Now we are off for build your own sandwiches followed by “Meerkat Manor” (my children’s newest favorite).  Followed by the sweet silence and the peace of knowing that everyone is safely sleeping in our warm, cozy house.  Tomorrow is another day.

A site worth looking in to

If you are a Minuet parent or a parent of a young child, I have a website wort looking into.  For a while now, Kindermusik has had a sister site, http://play.kindermusik.com.  On this site, you can purchase music and download your class songs.  The site has recently been updated to include lyrics and home activity books as well.  If you are currently enrolled in a class, this is all accessible to you.

I hope that you will find this useful in continuing your musical experiences outside of the studio.

If you have already registered at Play Kindermusik but did so before the home guides were available, here is what you do:   Go to the MY ACCOUNT page of play.kindermusik.com and click on the GREEN button to receive the Lyrics & Home Activities PDFs -- it's EASY!


Right now, my Liam's favorite class song is "Mister Sun".


What is your child's favorite Kindermusik song?

There are many times when being the third child really stinks.  You only wear hand me downs, you get dragged around all day running errands, and dropping your brother and sister off at school and activities, your parents are burnt out from years of “playing” so you have to beg your siblings who rarely say yes, you have 4 people to boss you around, and the list goes on.  When Halloween comes around, being the youngest is great.

Just one of the big kids ready for candy 

Liam made out like a bandit this year.  There is NO WAY I would have let Amelia or Jack trick-or-treat until their bags were too heavy to carry.  When Amelia was three, the parties she was invited to served apple slices, pumpkin seeds and milk.  Liam, on the other hand, got in on the big kid’s parties.  Cupcakes, cookies, candy corn,  and soda were featured on the party spreads this weekend.  The tables were eye level and parents were distracted.  It felt pretty good to be the little brother.  Those poor kids from preschool were probably at home painting pumpkins or making leaf rubbings with there enthusiastic parents.  Liam was eating guacamole that had been barfed up from a jack-o-lantern.  He was the coolest  three year old on the block.   Halloween had arrived.

The Booty

Who said being the youngest doesn't have it's rewards?

Are you more lenient with your younger children?