Hey!

It is never a good sign when you have to recover your password to log on to your blog.  It looks like it has been nearly a year since I've written anything.  That is pretty bad.  I do miss looking back and reading what I've written.  So here goes nothing! 

I'm taking a break from my Picture a Day plan.  I've been making a daily photo book since before the kids were born.  Lately, I haven't been too careful about a picture to represent EVERY day, but I still take one most days.  This year I'm trying a picture a week, that is attached to a prompt.  I'm using the prompts on this website: http://www.audreyannphoto.com/blog/.   

So far I'm two for two. 

Week 1:  Take a picture on the road that leads to your family's home. 

 Week 2:  What activities do you together as a family when you're at home?  Although I don't cook much, I do make this recipe at least once a month.  The kids were so excited that we were having chicken roll-ups because they can help. 

Life

                “It’s a baby tiger!  Cheer, cheer.”  The sizzle of chicken in a hot pan.  The occasional bark of the dog.  “Mommy, its Christmas.  Not real Christmas, fake Christmas.”  Sounds of dinner.

It has been weeks since I’ve made dinner at home.  Stress.  It has gobbled me whole and has yet to release me.  I spend most of my “free” time grading, thinking about what I should be grading or feeling guilty that I’m not grading.  The next two weeks will be full of grading.  The end of trimester coupled with spring conferences have mixed to create the perfect storm, one that I wish I could just sleep through. 

Back to dinner.  S and E happily played while I cooked.  It was Christmas.  Then it was Papa’s birthday.  Then the dollhouse people were on a trip in a late 80s wood grain paneled minivan, scaling high mountains of silver stainless steel.  (The dolls from a more recent time had hitched a ride on the back of a GIANT green John Deere tractor.)  Their imaginations at work.  It was awesome to listen to their stories, much of which I was trying to remember.

Days like today remind me of how grateful and blessed I am to have a soundtrack of three year olds to listen to while I cook. 

Blogtember

(Since I did such a great job in May, ha!)

 

 

I'm starting with Day 3: Unsolicited Advice.

 

I spent my fair share of time sitting on the side of an 18 inch baby pool this summer.  While there I got to watch parents and their kids navigate the joy of swimming.  As a former swimmer (almost every day of my life from 8-18), lifeguard (3 years in high school at an indoor pool = year round) and swim coach (my sister and I were co-head coaches of our neighborhood team when we were 18 and 19 and our team grew from about 70 to nearly 130 kids in the 3 years we coached) I feel qualified to give some advice on how to teach kids how to swim.

 

So here we go:

1. Don't make your kid spend every moment in some sort of floatation device.  The first part of learning to swim is learning to float and it sure is hard to learn when you are strapped into or stuck in a tube.  Buoyancy takes time and it feels a little weird, but kids need to experience floating on their own.  Also, telling them they can't swim without it will cause dependency.  (Yes, I know they probably can't swim without it, but look at number two.)
2. Watch your kids like it is your job while you are around water.  BECAUSE IT IS!  I don't care if there is a lifeguard or another parent around, be aware.  There is nothing worse than having your child drown because of negligence.  Also, it is so super hard to erase that scary memory if your child has a near drowning, for you and your child.  The last time I was at the pool there was a mom there with a 3-4 year old and an 18 month old.  Her son older son made it out of the gated baby pool area to the big pool by himself and was standing near the steps for almost 5 minutes before she realized he was gone.  She also was not one of the 6 moms sitting on the edge of the pool and her 18 month old was pulled up out of the pool more than 4 times by other moms.  If your child can't stand up when they fall in shallow water you shouldn't be more than an arm's length away and your child shouldn't be in the water without you if they can't swim on their own.  (And I mean without a floatation device on their own.)
3. Watch your reactions.  Your child goes under, you're close by so they aren't under long... celebrate!  Tell them how great they did and how awesome it is that they got their face wet and went underwater.  Even if you have to take deep breaths to control your racing heart.  Little people learn by watching us.  If you act scared that they were under water, they're going to be scared to go under.
4. Teach your toddlers how to get out of the pool.  Make them climb up the ladder or out of the side of the pool. 
5. Make sure your child knows the expectations and rules to follow while you are around water.  Two good basics that are non-negotiable:
• Don't get in the water until I get in. 
• Always give a signal for jumping in also.  (Wait until I say 3.  1, 2, 3...)
 

Most of all have fun with your kids around the water.  If you love it (or you fake it), they will too!

 



Micellany Monday

 

1. Today was our first day back to work after summer break.  I have always struggled with transitions.  I LOVED my summer vacation with my little family. 
2. My daughter, E, decided to push more than just "her" button on my keyboard.  (Her button is the HP sign on the bottom of my keyboard.)  Now my screen is super enlarged, but only the Internet.  I wish I could figure out how to make it normal.  Maybe she'll fix it.  I figured it out!
3. Speaking of E... she is learning so valuable life lessons today.  I'm not sure I'm ready to discuss body parts with her but I guess that comes early with a twin brother.  I think she gets that girls, like mommy and E, don't have P's, as she was calling them today. 
4. As well as starting a new school year I'm starting a new job at a new school.  I decided that after 9 years at my old school it was time for something different.  My new school is pretty different than my old school.  Larger, newer and with a much different population.  I'm excited, nervous and hopeful.
5. One of the reasons we picked this house to move into last August was the neighborhood pool.  We didn't use it as much as I thought we would this summer, but we did use it pretty often.  I am amazed at my little swimmers.  I can't wait until I can get them into non-parent/tot lessons this winter.  S is really getting comfortable in the water.  He blows bubbles, likes to try to float on his back on his own and is loving the noodle.
6. I'm super weepy this week.  Not sure what is up with that.  Back-to-School Blues?

Worst Traits

(A continuation of Blog Every Day in May, which I didn't do.)

 

1.  Procrastination

2.  Difficulty finishing stuff-- like blogging every day in May

3.  Lack of Courage  (I hate confrontation.)

Miscellany Monday

 

• I'm in a funk this week.  Mr. P has surgery on his ankle on July 3rd and I've been nurse/stay-at-home mom for the last almost week.  It is exhausting!  I've never had a calling to be a nurse and I don't love taking care of people.  It is incredibly frustrating annoying not sure what it is but it isn't fun to be in charge of everything and have your right-hand man there but unable to do ANYTHING.  Ugh. 

  
• We had a great 4th of July.  We went to a parade, took good naps and watched fireworks.  Mr. P was a trooper and even made it out.  I wasn't sure about walking in the dark, with crutches on the rocks but he made it!  E spent the show with her fingers in her ears.  She still doesn't love loud noises.  I think she liked the actual fireworks though.  The funny thing was when we made it back to the car she asked for a wipe.  Her whole hand was covered in melted chocolate.  I guess she spent the whole time with an uneaten M&M clutched in her fists. 

 

• I took the kids camping over the weekend.  Not by myself though.  There were 21 of us in total, over half were "kids" although two are technically adults.  It was a great time but man, again, I missed my other half.  It was great to get out of the house. 

• While we were camping we spent quite a bit of time throwing rocks into the nearby reservoir.  If you look close you'll see that S's clothes are soaking wet.  I encourage getting your feet wet, it is kind of my thing.  If you are close by you should get in, if it is allowed.  Well we all got our feet wet and S and E started picking up rocks while still in the water.  S lost his balance and fell.  He only fell to his knees and it didn't faze him a bit. 
• Today is Mr. P's birthday... number 34.  I've totally failed on the celebrating this year.  I'm hoping to have a redo next month.  Maybe we'll be able to actually celebrate.  We did go to his favorite restaurant for lunch and got 1/2 price shakes at Sonic.  It was the first time he'd been out of the house since the 4th.
• I decided today was a good day to try again with potty training.  S was doing great about 6 weeks ago but now has no interest in going on the potty.  E just wants the M&M, so she'll try as often as you let her.  She actually went first thing this morning and proudly wore her sticker all day.  I'm looking for any tips.  I bought big boy/girl underwear to try.  Maybe being wet will help them.  Any thoughts?  Should I give up trying to do both at the same time?

 

What Makes Me Really Happy...

Today I'm playing catch-up.  Here we go, Day 14 on Day 18, ten things that make me really happy:

1.  A good night's sleep or a much needed nap, especially in clean sheets.
2.  Sitting down and reading a magazine from cover to cover.
3.  Snuggling with my kids.
4.  Laughing so hard it makes my cheeks and/or my stomach hurt.
5.  Getting great deal on something I really wanted.
6.  Shopping with my mom and sister.
7.  Watching cheesy Christmas movies, under a warm blanket with a cup of Chai Tea. (This only happens during the holidays.)
8.  Helping my kids learn something new or when one of my students at work finally gets it or when they are engaged in what we are doing in class.
9.  Swimming.
10.  Being able to capture a special moment with a picture.

Public Apology

Dear Family,

I apologize for my lack of patience.  Some days it all gets used up with the big kids I teach at work.  They do their best to get to me and most of the time I make it home with a tiny bit of patience in my reserve.  I try to not let the toddlerness get to me but lately I just can't seem to get past it.  I know you are little people trying to learn  your limits and I'm trying my best to keep calm when you repeatedly ignore my requests or shriek/scream when you don't get your way.  I promise I will try harder to relish in the little moments that make me love being your mommy. Oh, and I'll promise I WILL make dinner for you more than once this week so you can learn good eating habits.

Mr. P, I'm sorry to letting my mind get in the way of my heart.  I still struggle every day with baby-wanting fever, even though we are so lucky to have two jumping, screaming, giggling toddlers running around our house.  I get stuck in the fact that my body doesn't work the way it should and that interferes with other wife stuff.  You are certainly growing into being a daddy and I am so glad that you are able to calm the shriek/screaming little girl when I can't do it anymore and that you and I are on the same page with a certain little boy who is testing us. 

Love,
Mommy

Non-related picture of the perfect spring evening we had here.  Can't wait for summer!

I miss...

(I'm really liking these posts that I can just write a list.)

• Free time.  You remember the days, don't you?  It was summer vacation and you were childless and you didn't have any obligations or anything to do.  I love just sitting with my scrapbooking stuff and creating or sitting on the couch vegging or wandering around the store looking for nothing in particular or staying up late and sleeping until you felt like getting up.
• Living near/with my friends.  I often need outfit advice and I miss having friends that live in the next room.  Our I'm watching The Bachelor and I need someone to talk to.
• Working out.  My body seems to fail me a lot lately; my shoulders hurt when I swim, my knee hurts when I run and so on.  I miss working up a sweat, pushing myself, and the great feeling I had when I was done.  Maybe yoga will be my answer, now I just need to find the time.
• Snugly babies.  Or I should say MY snugly babies.  One of my favorite parts of being a mom is napping with my tiny little baby.  The heavy weight on your chest, you just can't beat it.  Not to say you can't snuggle with a toddler, it is just more like holding a barn cat.

Me and E almost a week after she got home from the hospital.

An out of order response to writing most days in May.

Sell yourself in 10 words or less:

Passionate
Creative
Curious
Compassionate
Empathetic
Supportive
Planner
Analytical
Flexible
Patient

The Thing I'm Most Afraid of...

is losing those who are close to me.  About once I week I get this brief moment of panic when I think of losing one of my kids.  I just don't know what I would do and I really don't know how parents can move on after that.  I don't have anxiety or panic about them getting hurt or falling down but mostly as I tuck them in the thought flashes through my mind. 

Other than that deeper fear I also a really afraid of SNAKES!  I hate them.  Our new house has snakes and I'm already getting nervous for the warmer weather?  Any thoughts on how I can keep them out of our backyard?

**I'm running about a day behind, oops!

Favorite Quote

I love quotes, and words, and typography.  It is always nice to refer to someone else's words when you can't find the right ones.  So that being said I have a number of favorite quotes, or ones that speak to me. 

This first one I heard when I was in high school and I still love it.

Some other favorites that I try to remember about how to act.

And then a couple of quotes that describe me.

Uncomfortable.

Things that make me uncomfortable:

1. Awkward hugs and cheek kisses.  You know the kind, mostly the ones you aren't ready for, you're not standing in the right spot, or if you're a teacher to older children, the ones where their head hits in a bad spot and they go in for an unexpected front hug.  I'm not naturally a hugger so most of the time it is uncomfortable.
2. Confrontation.  I'm a typical middle child and I dislike conflict.  I don't like having to confront anyone... a co-worker, a store clerk, or the person who answers the customer service line.  I also get uncomfortable around other people conflict.  I have many friends who love the Real Housewives of ___________ but I just can't do it, to much fighting for me.
3. Perceived social awkwardness.  You know when you see someone, or hear someone start to say something that isn't right for the situation or the audience.  I get uncomfortable for them.  Maybe I'm too empathetic.
4. Running while anyone is watching.  Another good reason why I don't run anymore. 
5. Ending phone calls that aren't going anywhere... sorry mom.

Day One

I should read the directions before I decide to do something.  :-) 

A short paragraph about me:

I was born on a cold winter day, not really sure if it was cold but it was winter, to an amazing family I often refer to as the Cleaver's.  My mom stayed home with my older sister, younger brother and I.  My dad worked and spent a lot of time with us kids.  My older sister, by 18 months and I are very close but spent much of our childhood fighting.  My younger brother is 5 years younger and I have great memories of dressing him up like a girl.  I grew up in the water.  I started swimming when I was 8 and swam on a year round team until I was 18.  I loved it and still do.  I graduated from high school and attended our state college where I attempted to step out of my sister's shadow by joining a sorority.  It was great for me.  I'm not naturally outgoing, but it gave me a push to talk to more people and come out of my shell.  I met my husband the same semester and I pledged my sorority, and no he is not a frat boy.  :-)  I graduated and got my teaching license and then got engaged, got married, bought a house and got a dog.  Then a year later finally go my first teaching job.  Six years later, after 4 years of infertility, we welcomed our twins, S and E.  This summer we will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary. 

Everyday in May?

Is it too late to start blogging every day in May?  I have been on a hiatus, for no real reason just don't feel like it when I have the time.  But this is my memory.  Most days I can't even remember if I have brushed my teeth much less the funny thing S or E said.  So let's start there...

• In the last couple of weeks S has been telling me, "No go to work Mommy."  Ugh, breaks my heart.  He has been super snugly and a little clingy lately.  He just wants me close.  "Sit right here Mommy."  And my returns from work have been met with a big smile and the cutest, "Hi, Mommy." 
• I know they have done it before but S and E really are having the greatest conversations together and SO funny.  They're starting to ask each other questions, which I think has been the biggest change.  E will ask if S is okay, "You okay Sam?" and give him a hug if he is sad.  Unfortunately he often replies with a push for some space.**Update: Conversation heard in the car today (5/3):  E-"Chicken" S- "No chicken" E- "Chicken" S- "No chicken" E- "Chicken" S-
  "No chicken I don't see them."  E- "Chicken"
• I'm starting to hear more of those phrases that I must use a lot.  E the other day exclaimed to her doll, "Oh   my   goodness!"  Ha!  I found myself saying that a few times the next day at work.  She really is mimicking lately too, but not whole phrases, really just the ends.  Sometimes Mr. P and I will talk slow so she can repeat and we can giggle at what she says.
• We are developing a routine for morning good-byes.  First we do knuckles, then fives, then hugs and kisses.  Then sometimes it is repeated.  Then there are some "Love yous" and sometimes I'm instructed to hug MiMi (our nanny) or to give her fives.  (I'm not a hugger, so it would be awkward to hug the nanny goodbye.)  Then I'm usually told, by S, "No take my car."  Which means he doesn't want me to take the minivan, which is "his" car.  Silly boy.
• E has begun negotiating, which is funny because normally it doesn't matter.  She has begun asking for, "Just one more."  With her finger up.  "Just one more Mommy."  I think sometimes she is just making sure this is the last time or the last one she gets.  Most of the time we  haven't told her she was done and she is asking for one more.  She will say just one more time as she goes the slide for the last one before we go home and before she eats the last jellybean I've given her.  It is pretty cute though.

Two is such an entertaining age.  The things they come up with just kill me some days. 

Testing, Testing...

It is testing season over in my neck of the woods.  We have spent the last 8 days testing and we still have two more to go.  I'm also reading Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech aloud to my kids so poems inspired by the poems in her book are being composed in my heard during my hours of active proctoring.  I don't normally think in poetry so it is kind of fun.

 

 

Wooden Graphite Based Number 2 Pencils

Inspired by William Carlos Williams

 

So much depends

upon

 

An empty plastic container

filled

 

With perfectly pointed

pencils

 

Sitting on the wood grained

desk

 

Straight Rows

Inspired by William Carlos Williams

 

So much depends

upon

 

Seventeen silent students

sitting

 

In straight

rows

 

I also began a poem inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's Bells poem, that describes the events that took place when I tried to take S and E to the store yesterday.  It is called Wails but I'm not done with it yet.  It is amazing the things you come up with when you are forced to wander silently for an hour or two a day.  I sure will be glad when Friday comes and we can get back to teaching!

Miscellany Monday

 

It seems as though these are the only posts I can get written lately.  I have all these thoughts and they fly out of my head as soon as I sit down to type. So here we go:

 

• The relationship between my two little people is quite amazing.  Whenever something happens to one of them the other is usually there to try to make the other happy.  Unless, of course, they caused the unhappiness.  Tonight S accidentally hit E with a plastic tub, you know they kind that held the cars that were dumped on the floor.  He immediately went up to hug her and asked, "Okay?"  It was pretty cute.  Later S was upset because E was sitting on the riding car that he wanted, so I convinced her to play with the stroller, then S was mad because he wanted the blocks in the stroller.  Oh to be a two year old!  Well, in an attempt to distract him I tried to give him some carrots that were ready to eat for dinner.  He wouldn't take them from me (there was a little scuffle between the two over the blocks which resulted in me taking them, so I became the enemy), but he took them when E, on her own, offered him some.
• I'm totally obsessed with Harlem Shake videos on YouTube.  I'm a little behind the times and just figured out what it was all about this week.  My current favorites are:

I could do without the swearing at the end of the second one, but I love the Gangnam Style too.  We are currently working on our own video.  Maybe I'll convince the play group on Saturday morning to join in.  There should be a toddler version!

• Last week I went to the doctor to get over my cold which turned into a sinus infection and to have the little blisters on my hand checked out.  I left with an antibiotic, nasal spray and a steroid cream for my hands.  I guess my overly dry skin caused the little blisters, which are not contagious.  While I was there I figured I get my cholesterol checked.  I have been avoiding this since July.  It was last checked the July before and was slightly elevated.  I attributed it to the fact I had babies in January and I was eating whatever I could find and I craved sweets the whole pregnancy.  Well, that and my sweets addiction.  I was convinced my cholesterol would still be high.  I got a call from my doctor's office today saying everything looks good and to keep up the good work.  Umm... I haven't really changed any of my eating habits and I can't say I worked on it.  So I guess that means my once a week donut habit is okay, right?
• Along with Harlem Shake videos I'm also obsessed with decorating my house with typography.  I love quotes, always have.  I used to, before Pinterest, have a binder full of my favorites.  I'm starting to try to make my own but I don't love my handwriting and I REALLY don't like my handwriting when I try to write with a paintbrush.  I'm wondering when my husband will realize he is surrounded by words.



To do list:

I occasionally make to do lists but I don't use them very well.  It seems as though lately I have way TOO much to do.

HAVE TOs:

1. laundry
2. clean the tile floor
3. get ready for conferences next week
1. organize data
2. organize printouts of data
3. finish grading last week's science tests
4. grade Friday's spelling assessment
5. grade Friday's reading responses
6. grade last week's narrative summaries
7. reflect on data
8. print out current grades
9. write down all thoughts so I don't forget what I need to say
10. update ILPs
11. figure out when state testing days are and make a schedule for parents
12. plan for the week so I won't have to do it after my 12+ hour days
4. put away laundry
5. get over my cold (It showed up on Friday, lucky me.  It seems to be the same cold I've had about 4 times since before winter break...sore throat, stuffy, headache, exhausted.)

NEED TOs:

1. clean the bathroom  (The master bathroom tub has been a great fun place to throw femine products for the kids.  I let them because it keeps them out of everything else.  BUT it is time to try to USE the tub.)
2. clean the other bathrooms
3. figure out what I'm going to eat the nights (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) that I work until 7 pm this week
4. send back shoes that are still too wide, although they are narrows, to Amazon
5. make a photobook on Shutterfly before the 28th so I don't lose my $20

WANT TOs:

1. hang my new air plants that my sister gave me for my birthday above the clean bath tub in our bathroom
2. hang S's Dr. Suess prints of his name that he got for Christmas
3. finish E's name for her wall
4. find and paint frames for the playroom
5. organize my craft room
6. sleep

Miscellany Monday

 

I wasn't sure I had anything for today but surely I can come up with some random stuff.

 

1. This morning as I was leaving for work I grabbed my scarf to put it on and E said, "Mommy's blanket."  Silly girl.
2. On a similar note we do gymnastics on Mondays and we alternate weeks with S and E.  It was S's turn this week but E came and Mr. P met us there.  On our walk into the rec center S pointed out doggy poop, although I never did see any.  Most of it was snow or leaves.
3. S can lock the dead bolt on the front door.  We need to find a place for a key just in case we get locked out.
4. I turned 33 yesterday.  I took about 5 videos of the kids singing Happy Birthday to me. 
5. My husband must have found my blog because he is on a roll with presents for the last two holidays.  Thank you Mr. P!  Yesterday he gave me a spa gift card (with instructions to NOT use it on my hair cut), an elliptical (not sure it this counts as a present), flowers and Starbucks when I got up. 
6. I took Friday off, for my birthday, and we went to breakfast at my favorite place with my parents.  S, who has always been a direction giver, has no started demanding you eat or drink more.  He decided I need more coffee and he needed to help.
7.  We had a snow sculpting contest in town over the weekend.  Once it was over we finally got winter weather.  The rest of the week was 60.  We drove by Friday and S wanted to see "more big snow."  On Saturday he just really wanted to throw the snow.  We always are looking for free things to see or do with the kids.

Toys

Even after Christmas AND a 2nd birthday my kids play with a lot of "non-toy" toys.  Lately their favorite has been canned food.  The cans are in our corner lazy Susan cabinet that I can't justify child locking.  The cabinet is routinely emptied, the cans lined up and moved around the house and then, thankfully, returned.  Yesterday S and E decided that the cans should be cooked on the grill and moved with the shopping cart.  I'm not sure they believed me when I told them that the cartons of vegetable broth were NOT milk and that they really won't like what was in their if they managed to open one.

It goes almost without saying that we like boxes at our house.  This lovely uncaptioned picture is of E after the "house" fell down.  It was really hard for me not to sing a Wizard of Oz song as I took this picture.  The silly girl was perfectly happy laying inside the house.  I guess she isn't claustrophobic.