The kids’ daycare is about 20 minutes from our house. Most mornings are uneventful because the kids are still half asleep.
The afternoons are a different story. I suppose it’s a good thing they don’t want to leave daycare because they love it so much. Not such a good thing for Mommy when I have to fight with them every afternoon.
Yes, I have carried both of them, at different times, to the car kicking and screaming. Literally.
(The kids were kicking and screaming. Not me).
So, I invented a game. We have a book at home called “Let’s Go” and each page has different things that “go”.
Seems like an appropriate title for the book, no?
They have become fascinated with buses. Yellow buses to be specific.
So, everyday we look for buses on the way home. And, now I have created bus fiends. As soon as we get in the car, they both start:
“Yellow bus”?
“Please”?
“Bus, Mommy”
Most days, we see at least 4 or 5 on the way home. And the kids clap and yell with pure glee. I am suddenly the most amazing mommy e-ver!
If one of the kids spots a bus first, we all give each other high fives. It’s quite a scene when I’m reaching behind the driver’s seat to blindly slap a hand.
And, if we don’t see any buses, I have a Plan B. After all, if the kids don’t get their bus fix for the afternoon, there’s a very good chance they’ll take over the car and we’ll veer off the road into a ditch. Hey, it could happen.
The out of service buses for the county are parked at the middle school around the corner from our house. I told the kids that’s where the buses “sleep”. So, if we don’t see any buses, we drive past the parking lot and quietly drive through as the buses get their zzzz’s.
One day last week, we were about ½ way home and we hadn’t seen any buses yet. I started to panic because the kids were getting restless and begging for me to find a bus. I started calling the buses.
“Bu-us? Where are youuuuu”?
And, the kids started calling them.
“Bus? Are youuuuu”?
As if that will help? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Finally, Christopher says, “Bus night night?” and then he started snoring. Seriously, the cutest thing ever.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Birthday Decorations
I've been a busy girl. Here are some of the decorations that I made for the twins' birthday party in October.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Birthday Countdown
The twins' 2nd birthday is coming up soon and I can't believe it. I started researching ideas a few months ago.
I knew I didn't want to have it at our house again. We live in a fairly spacious townhouse but I've learned very quickly that it becomes the Incredible Shrinking House when we entertain. Here's a scene from last year's celebration.
Pure chaos. The twins and I are in there somewhere:
I finally figured out the perfect venue. There is a county park around the corner from our house and we love to go there. It has 5 age appropriate playsets and the kids love it. My nieces range in age from 3 to 10 so I needed something that would entertain everyone. There is a picnic pavilion nearby so I planned to keep it simple with pizza and cupcakes.
Aside from the convenience, I needed to keep it budget friendly. With the kids' in daycare full-time, we've really had to budget our money and make wise choices. The pavilion rental was only $79 for 6 hours and the playground is free. And, I'm keeping it to family only.
Perfect.
I printed off the rental agreement for the pavilion back in June. I figured I had plenty of time because it was well, June.
And besides. We go to that park at least twice per month and the pavilion is ALWAYS empty.
Yeah. You know where this is going, don't you?
At the same time, I started researching birthday invitations. The kids absolutely love Sesame Street so I knew the theme. I found a really cute template on Etsy and almost purchased it for $20.
Then my frugal side kicked in and I thought I could make it myself. So I did.
I finally called to reserve the pavilion this week and damn if it isn't booked. Not only for the day that I wanted but for the following Saturday as well.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
I was at work when I called and of course, I immediately went into panic mode. Now what?!
The thoughts that went through my head were pretty comical..... and unrealistic.
In the end, I compromised and I really hope it works out. I'm going to have everyone meet us at the playground from 10:30-11:30 and then we'll come back to our house for pizza and cupcakes.
I'm not happy about having 21 adults/kids in my house because it's what I wanted to avoid but at least I'm minimizing the length of time that we're bumping into each other.
And, thank God I didn't pay for the invitation because now I can change the wording to read the new plan.
Here's my custom, self-made invitation (with personal information hidden):
I knew I didn't want to have it at our house again. We live in a fairly spacious townhouse but I've learned very quickly that it becomes the Incredible Shrinking House when we entertain. Here's a scene from last year's celebration.
Pure chaos. The twins and I are in there somewhere:
I finally figured out the perfect venue. There is a county park around the corner from our house and we love to go there. It has 5 age appropriate playsets and the kids love it. My nieces range in age from 3 to 10 so I needed something that would entertain everyone. There is a picnic pavilion nearby so I planned to keep it simple with pizza and cupcakes.
Aside from the convenience, I needed to keep it budget friendly. With the kids' in daycare full-time, we've really had to budget our money and make wise choices. The pavilion rental was only $79 for 6 hours and the playground is free. And, I'm keeping it to family only.
Perfect.
I printed off the rental agreement for the pavilion back in June. I figured I had plenty of time because it was well, June.
And besides. We go to that park at least twice per month and the pavilion is ALWAYS empty.
Yeah. You know where this is going, don't you?
At the same time, I started researching birthday invitations. The kids absolutely love Sesame Street so I knew the theme. I found a really cute template on Etsy and almost purchased it for $20.
Then my frugal side kicked in and I thought I could make it myself. So I did.
I finally called to reserve the pavilion this week and damn if it isn't booked. Not only for the day that I wanted but for the following Saturday as well.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
I was at work when I called and of course, I immediately went into panic mode. Now what?!
The thoughts that went through my head were pretty comical..... and unrealistic.
In the end, I compromised and I really hope it works out. I'm going to have everyone meet us at the playground from 10:30-11:30 and then we'll come back to our house for pizza and cupcakes.
I'm not happy about having 21 adults/kids in my house because it's what I wanted to avoid but at least I'm minimizing the length of time that we're bumping into each other.
And, thank God I didn't pay for the invitation because now I can change the wording to read the new plan.
Here's my custom, self-made invitation (with personal information hidden):
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Temper Temper
I don't know what happened to my sweet little boy.
Someone has replaced him with a screaming, kicking, hot-headed mess.
Both kids started with the "Terrible Twos" around 18 months so we've experienced temper tantrums with both of them.
Kendall is my drama queen, pure and simple. She'll start crying over something and you can tell that she's over it within a few minutes but she continues to "fake cry" for another 10 minutes. Looking over her shoulder the whole time to see if I'm watching.
Christopher is definitely quicker to throw a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants but he was also easier to calm down.
Until the last week.
When he doesn't get his way, he has started throwing himself down on the ground, kicking and screaming with face bright red. He would usually allow me to come over and hug him and that would calm him down but something has changed.
He has turned into the Incredible Hulk. Yes, sometimes he does rip his clothes off.
I'm really hoping it's just another phase of toddlerhood.
On the brightside, it will make his Halloween costume easy.
Someone has replaced him with a screaming, kicking, hot-headed mess.
Both kids started with the "Terrible Twos" around 18 months so we've experienced temper tantrums with both of them.
Kendall is my drama queen, pure and simple. She'll start crying over something and you can tell that she's over it within a few minutes but she continues to "fake cry" for another 10 minutes. Looking over her shoulder the whole time to see if I'm watching.
Christopher is definitely quicker to throw a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants but he was also easier to calm down.
Until the last week.
When he doesn't get his way, he has started throwing himself down on the ground, kicking and screaming with face bright red. He would usually allow me to come over and hug him and that would calm him down but something has changed.
He has turned into the Incredible Hulk. Yes, sometimes he does rip his clothes off.
I'm really hoping it's just another phase of toddlerhood.
On the brightside, it will make his Halloween costume easy.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Don't Quit Your Day Job
I was singing to the twins on the way home tonight.
Kendall, "No, Mommy"!
Me: "Do I really sound that bad"?
Christopher: "Yes".
In other news, Christopher has reverted back to being 6 months old by waking up at 4:30 every day this week.
I think Monday and Tuesday mornings were because I had the AC hiked up to 77 and their bedroom was the temperature of Mercury.
Tuesday night, Christopher refused to put his PJs on and wanted to sleep in his diaper. I got the hint and turned the AC back on.
Wednesday morning, I think he woke up because their bedroom had accumulated icicles from the AC being back on. I guess sleeping mostly naked in a diaper with the AC isn't very comfortable.
This morning, he insisted on coming downstairs and once I tried to get him settled on the couch with me, he announced "Poo Poo".
I'm thinking we'll probably have to do some sleep training in the mornings now. With the kids sharing a room, there's a very fine line of letting him cry it out and settling himself back down and risking having 2 kids awake instead of 1.
Stupid toddler beds....
Kendall, "No, Mommy"!
Me: "Do I really sound that bad"?
Christopher: "Yes".
In other news, Christopher has reverted back to being 6 months old by waking up at 4:30 every day this week.
I think Monday and Tuesday mornings were because I had the AC hiked up to 77 and their bedroom was the temperature of Mercury.
Tuesday night, Christopher refused to put his PJs on and wanted to sleep in his diaper. I got the hint and turned the AC back on.
Wednesday morning, I think he woke up because their bedroom had accumulated icicles from the AC being back on. I guess sleeping mostly naked in a diaper with the AC isn't very comfortable.
This morning, he insisted on coming downstairs and once I tried to get him settled on the couch with me, he announced "Poo Poo".
I'm thinking we'll probably have to do some sleep training in the mornings now. With the kids sharing a room, there's a very fine line of letting him cry it out and settling himself back down and risking having 2 kids awake instead of 1.
Stupid toddler beds....
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