Mom goes on strike!

Last night for the millionth time during dinner I heard "I don't want this, it's gross!"  That was enough for me.  I kind of went of the deep end and told the kids I was done, I was no longer cooking. 

The next morning I woke up to the girl and boy telling me to get up, they were making breakfast.  They created a great menu with foods and drinks for me to choose from. 

The boy looked at me and said, "we're trying to get you to cook dinner again."  It might have worked :)

Dinner Time

As I sit in the other room I listen to my two kiddos talking while eating dinner.  The conversation is fairly nice.  Next thing I know the girl is saying, "ha ha you dropped your hot dog, now you don't have one."  Nice kid I know.  I stay out of it and just listen.  The boy picks up the hot dog and replies "I'll just wash it off."  The girl replies, "it will be cold."  He declares in a stubborn voice, "I'll wash it with hot water!"  I still sit here very quietly and listen as the boy heads off to the bathroom, runs water and heads back to the table.  He takes a satisfied bite and declares, "see still hot!"

God I love listening to them!

I don't starve my children!

I know it's been a while but I had to share this...

We rushed home from school today.  We have yet another softball game, that I hope won't get rained out!  Anyhow, as we run through the door, go through backpacks and such the girl yells "Mom, I need a snack."  I told her no as I was getting dinner ready as we spoke.  Healthy no but ready in a pinch yes, yummm hotdogs in a crescent roll.  She looked at me with pleading eyes and an exasperated look on her face and said "Mom, I'm literally starving to death!"  I couldn't help but grin and send her off (without a snack) to get her uniform on....dinner will be ready by the time I finish this blog. :)

Like or Like Like?

I was subbing in a 5th grade class last week.  I introduced myself as I normally do.  I like to tell the classes I'm in a little about myself.  I always lead off with my name and some information about my 2 kiddos.  Two girls in the class started to giggle so I asked them what was up.  One announced that her brother was in my daughter's class and he "liked" her.  The other little girl made a similar announcement on her brother's behalf.  I smiled and told them that was great, the girl can always use more friends!  They both giggled some more and said, "no, they don't like her, they like like her."  They really made it difficult to turn around!  I announced "the more friends the better!"  I then switched subjects pretty darn fast! 

She kissed him!

I had the pleasure of subbing in my kids school yesterday.  I was in Kindergarten which means I got to go to the playground at the same time the boy did.  He was waiting to go on the monkey bars and I was standing next to him, he leaned down and gave me a kiss.  I overheard a little girl from my class whisper to another little boy, "she just kissed him on the lips!"  I laughed out loud and then informed her that he was my little boy.  She looked confused for a minute then it hit her.  She then looked at me and asked, "is that why you kissed that little girl in the cafeteria?"  I tried to stifle my laughter as I said, "yes, she's my daughter."

The storm

We have all laid in bed at one time or another watching the flashes of lightning and counting...one Mississippi...two Mississippi...and waiting, three Mississippi for that big clap of thunder.  It tells us how far away the storm is.  As a parent I no longer count for the storm, I count for the kids.  If I'm lucky enough to be awaken by a clap of thunder I begin my count, one Mississippi...two Mississippi...and listen...three Mississippi, for the patter of little feet, the timid voice next to my bed "Mommy the thunder scared me" and then the warm little body that climbs in as close as he or she can get just to feel secure.  I have to admit, it's one of my favorite mommy moments.

I picked the girl up from a playdate the other day.  She looked very worn down so once we got in the car I asked her what was up.  She looked me straight in the eye with a scowl on her pretty little face and informed me that her friend had "pissed her off."  After I tried to stifle my laughter I explain that she couldn't use that term.  She said with such energy "mom I don't care, she did!"  I have to admit that even though her choice of words were not exactly the best, I was glad she was able to express her feelings....right?

Love notes

I think of my kids many times during the day, mostly on my own and sometimes with help from them.  They leave little reminders of themselves all throughout the house to remind me how much they love me:

• shoes on the steps for me to trip over
• an un-rinsed bowl to scrub the cereal out of once they're off to school
• a lunch left behind on the counter so I get to have one more visit while dropping it off at school
• books left around the house for me to sit on 
• clothes that are inside out for me to fix after the 2nd load of laundry
• and oh so many more things...

I love my children so very much and everyday they leave there little "love notes" to remind me how much they love me.

Patience

On the way home from a friends birthday party the boy declares, "Mom why didn't you tell me to go potty, I've got to go now."  I must add to this story that we are only about 2 minutes from the party and it's raining outside.  I got really angry and told him it was his responsibility to go to the bathroom when he had to go.  The girl, who is sitting behind me, says "mommy, take a deep breath and count to 10, you'll feel much better."

We stop at a McDonald's, run in and out and are on our way in no time.  The boy has a sad face and says, "I'm sorry mom"  I felt horrible!  I told him it was okay.  The girl pipes up, "you feel better cuz you counted to 10 mom!"  Of course it would take a 7 year old with very little patience to teach me some!

Chuck E. Cheese

A birthday in a child's life is crazy.  The kiddo is happy to have a party, gifts and cake while the parents often dread the party, gifts and well lets face it the cake's not too bad!  The boy decided on Chuck E. Cheeses for his 6th birthday party location.  Don't judge me, I too said I would have home parties as long as possible.  Once we started splitting up the kid party and the family party, I said enough!  So we let Chuck E. take this one.  The games were great, the pizza was....pizza, the staff was wonderful.  I would definatly go back there again for a party. 

Now we get to the real reason for this blog.  Have you ever tried leaving Chuck E. Cheeses?  When it's time to go, the kids have used up all their tokens, are very tired and have fists full of tickets.  It's time to turn those tickets in for a prize!!!!  Oh crap!  My darling husband decides he's going to do me a favor and take all the gifts out to the car.  He waltzes off with a half grin and a shrug of his shoulders.  Where does that put me?  At the prize counter with 2 tired kids, a ton of prizes and not enough tickets for each kid to get what they want.  The boy chooses his prize first.  He had won 1000 tickets in the ticket booth for his birthday.  He decided on a nice sparkly ball.  The girl breaks down in tears, a "I want that too"  sob coming from her open mouth.  First the boy gives his remaining tickets to the girl but it's still not enough for another ball.  Of course there is nothing else she wants!  After 10 more minutes of me naming EVERY prize she can get (btw- Daddy is still "loading the car") the boy looks at the girl and slowly hands her the ball.  She lights up until I quickly say no.  Mean mommy hits again!  Luckily after another 5 minutes she finally picks a rainbow slinky to take home with us.  Our time at Chuck E. Cheese has come to a close, at least until the next party!

6th Birthday

Okay true Mother of the Year moment...

On the eve the boys 6th birthday I went in to put him to bed. I snuggled in with him gave him a few tickles and pleaded with him NOT to turn 6. He laughed and tried to explain to me why he couldn't stay 5. I continued to plead with him and giggle. I finally told him that I'd be okay, he can turn 6 I'll just be a little sad. I loved him up and head out the door. As Daddy went in the boy burst into tears. A confused Daddy tried to figure out what happened. It turns out the boy is crying because he thinks he's made Mommy sad. I had to return to the room to try and calm him down. Guess he doesn't get joking yet....oops!

It snowed!

It snowed today and the kids were so excited about playing in it! They came home from school, suited up in their snow gear and headed out the door. In less than 1 minute the boy was back at the front door crying! The girl had decided to throw a snowball right at his face and it lodged between his cheek and his hood. He couldn't get it out and was freezing! Siblings are great fun!

Back to school

It's the first day back to school after the winter break.

The kids alarms didn't go off so into their rooms I go. I slowly wake each one with some warm words and some gentle shakes. I turn the lights on dim and walk back into my room to get myself ready.

10 minutes later I head back into their rooms only to find the little buggers still in bed! I turn the lights up all the way and repeat my attempt to arouse them. The boy hops out of bed, stomps over to where I stand in the doorway, crosses his arms and declares "my throat hurts!" He then returns his warm little PJ'd body to his bed and throws his covers back over his head. After several attempts I coerce him out of bed and into his clothes.

I go back to my room to finish up getting ready...the girl comes in, throws her arms around my waist and presses her warm check to my stomach and decides to carry on a conversation (her way of procrastination). I finally shoo her off to get ready.

The morning pretty much progresses like this, at a very slow pace.

It's finally time to get on the bus and head to school. As I watch them board, my arms ache to hold them and give them one last hug. They've been driving me nuts all week and now all I want is to have them with me. The crazyness that is parenthood!