Bowling, anyone?

I just signed the girls up for 2 free games ... A DAY ... ALL SUMMER!

Bowling <----- Click your state to find available bowling alleys.

You can also sign up for 4 adults to play all summer for a one time $25 fee.  Not bad, not bad at all.  Yay for free air conditioned activities :D

Snow and Pajamas

I was getting lunch ready for Maddy and Daisy when Kaity ran outside to play in the "snow". A few minutes later, I hear the door close as someone else ran out. I stopped what I was doing about to call Apani back in because I knew she couldn't possibly have cleaned her mess that fast. So I get to the door and see that it's Maddy. And forget the cold, I had to grab my camera.

Yes, that is her SITTING half naked in the snow after making a snow angel.












Yes those are slippers! Is she just so darn cute?!

Trying, I am

I really don't like children...
Not mine, I love mine. And chances are, if you're reading this, I love yours too.

As I was tucking the girls into bed tonight, Abby told me that Kaity licked the floor because the girls on the bus told her to. I send her to school hoping she will be safe and cared for and the kids are pushing her around. She's such a sweetheart and they are taking advantage of her. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm failing her, like I'm not teaching her how to love and respect herself. Why didn't she say NO? How dare those little girls!! This is not the first time Kaitlyn has been pressured to do something. What am I doing wrong?

I really "hate" motherhood, sometimes. I wallow around in my own personal pity party and self loathe wondering what kind of mess I've gotten myself into, while dipping my hands into a box of chocolates trying to ignore the nearly constant whining between Maddy and Daisy, hoping that with just enough dark chocolate I can drown them out. It doesn't work and I'm going crazy. Days are difficult and stressful and all I want to do is runaway, or hide in the bathroom for a minute or 10. But I don't, obviously runaway. I like to think that with chocolate and a deep breathe I can get through anything, but I don't. I try, though. Apparently, I'm not trying hard enough. Things like this happen and it brings me even deeper down.

I feel like I spend more time being a drill sergeant than a mother. I yell and yell and yell. And then I yell some more.

Every night, I go to bed, regretting many things I've done during the day. Wondering what I could have done differently and pray that tomorrow will be better. Tonight, I'm looking back on the past 7 years, wondering what I've taught them. They are all good kids. I'm always approached by teachers at school and church and the people who get stuck in the pew behind us who do nothing but compliment us on how well behaved they are. So I must be doing something right, but why is Kaitlyn letting people walk all over her? I may be doing something right, but I'm also doing something so wrong. How do I teach a child to love and respect themselves and know that it's ok to say no. I thought I've made that clear, but obviously I haven't.

I've been contemplating home schooling and as hard as it would be, I'm beginning to think, for Kaitlyn, that might just be what's best.

So tonight, instead of worrying about the wrongs I've done today, I'll cry in prayer about the ones I've made for the past 7 years.

Now, Where's my chocolate...I've got another party to attend. Party of one, over here, care to join me?

I should be

... preparing lunch boxes
... packing the bookbags
... laying out uniforms
... finding the shoes, scarfs, mittens, and hats
... setting my alarm
... FINDING MY PHONE SO I CAN SET SAID ALARM
... cleaning
... folding laundry
... sleeping

We're all ready to go back to school, but I'm not prepared for waking up at 6 again. Who am I kidding? I never got to sleep in, but at least I didn't have to jump out of bed and walk 2 miles in the cold.

Maddy, Daisy, and I shall miss them, but I'm sure they will start fighting as soon as they walk in the door and I'll be reminded how important time apart is!

Eggbert

We saw Eggbert. I don't know what a big egg with a crown has to do with Christmas, but if you grew up in Orange County, you saw him every year...and he knew your name...everyone's name. I just found out that after the owner died, there was a huge fire destroying everything. They only just realized Eggbert survived. This was his first year back. It was very exciting.

Even the New York Times wrote about his return.

Christmas, country style

When I think of Christmas as a child, I think of two traditions. The Dyker Heights lights and Eggbert.

While we may not get to see the lights in Dyker Heights, we do get this!



This is one of the families homes from the girls' school. I think we can settle with this.

Tomorrow, we're going to Devitts. Nearly every Thanksgiving we came upstate to my Aunt's house for the weekend and would go see Eggbert at Devitt's. Then we would shop at the nursery and my brother and I would get to pick out a new Christmas ornament. Several years ago, the owner of Devitts died and the nursery closed, so I haven't been able to bring the girls. The whole community was devestated. Everyone went to Devitts after Thanksgiving, it's a tradition. Well, I just found out that some old employees bought the store and it's open again! Yay! And the best part...Eggbert is back. Who's Eggbert? You'll just have to wait and see....

I love this kid!

I'm not talking about one of mine. I don't know where this kid, Preston Leatherman, came from, but he's hilarious! I saw the video yesterday and must have seen it at least 20x already and I"m still laughing!!!