The girls’ school is prohibited from celebrating holidays, so they had “Crazy Hat Day” on Feb 11th… only one other child (out of 22 total) wore a hat. 

We’ve noticed that while napping, the girls seem to gravitate towards us during playtime. (Usually we wake up on the bed amid markers, pencils, cars, puzzle pieces and books… but this time Daddy fell asleep on the floor.)

We decided to do something spontaneous and fun this year (meeting my need to get out of the house), and spent the weekend after their birthday at a nearby waterpark.

I wanted to start the adventure with a fun attitude!  And while Silly String is fun…

I learned that it is nothing more than wet confetti.  (I seem to remember tons and tons of string as a child… but no.  Tons and tons of tiny little moist pieces that I must have spent a good 45 minutes removing from the hotel beds and carpeting so that we wouldn’t be stepping in it and tracking it all around.  Not to self.  No more silly string!)

We ate lunch, then played in the water park, then Daddy and I napped (while the girls watched tv between their 2 SETS of bunk beds) and then had pizza in the room for dinner and then went to the regular hotel pool and then back to the room to crash after Daddy read a bedtime book (on top of one of the bunk sets).

The next morning we got dressed into our bathing suits for breakfast (a very yummy buffet with nice warm cinnamon rolls) and then went back to the water park again.  The girls really seemed to have a fun time, and we enjoyed taking in their joy!

January 7, 2010

4 Years Old and on their way to school (Yes, it’s Mommy’s fault for not coordinating so well)

Having cooled the cakes outside wasn’t such a great idea… so Mom scrambled to make another cake and the girls enjoyed decorating!

I had a dream that Reid died.

And woke up.

And THEN realized that he had already died. 

Just a couple of things to run by you Gentle Readers in an attempt to flesh out the whole Blog Reading Experience.

First up, an invitation to sign the Guestbook if you haven’t already. Just a place for all of the folks who come to visit either just once, or on an ongoing basis, or even if you’re just lurking (you know who you are…) throw a comment in The Guestbook Post. I think it would be nice for the kids to know who had a vested interest in their lives when they were growing up. So stop by and say hi!

Second up, just another plea to help with the kids’ future income. In these (frighteningly) uncertain times, it’s nice to know that people will shell out money (even if it is fractions of a cent) for doing something as simple as clicking a link. If you click on the Ads on the right of the screen, it opens up another window with that ad. That’s it. Clicking will not erase your credit history, or make your toaster explode. It won’t send you spam email, and won’t give you horribly disfiguring skin conditions. Since this is the kids’ blog, all those millions will go to them in the hopes that it will take some of the sting out of buying college textbooks. At least that’s what I tell myself. So click on the link every time you visit!  Please!

BUT WAIT, THERE”S MORE! I’ve modified the links in the sidebar to include a few new pages of note…under the categories.

• Micronomic Earning: A page dedicated to all the earn-millions-a-fraction-of-a-penny-at-a-time. If you like any of these and want to try them, click the sites to find out more. And yes, I am making a little money from these, so they’re not all bunk.
• My Take on Reality: This was the old “Reality” article I pinned to the top of the blog. Basically, after 35-odd years, I finally figured out what it all means. To me.
• Toolbox: Software, webapps, and other tools that make me the efficient monster that I am. Maybe you can pick up a hint or 2 to apply to your life?
• Viscouse’s Wish List: I’ll just cut to the ol chasearoony. I need stuff. Here’s what you can get me, for those long night you’ve sat awake in bed thinking, what the hell can I get this guy?
• Yet More Links: More, well, links. Just interesting things.
• Updated the FAQ.  Let’s hope it doesn’t need to change again.

Lastly, I’m always looking for constructive criticism to make the blog better. I’m doing this (partially) for you, so tell me what you want to see or omit.

Me (in car):  So, when we get home we could put on our snowpants and shovel outside, or we could work on Valentine’s, or (some 3rd option that I totally forgot).

I:  Snowpants and shovel!
Me: I hear 1 vote, what about you Lessa?
L:  I want to do Valentine’s.
Me: You don’t want to go out in the snow?
L: No.

<pause>

Me: Well… I guess that could actually work.  Lessa you could work on Valentine’s inside while Ivy and I go outside to shovel.

<fast forward to the house>

Me: Okay, let’s get our stuff together.
L: I want to go outside too!
Me: you don’t want to work on Valentine’s?
L: No.
Me: OK. 1st lets all go to the bathroom.
I: But MOMMY, I don’t have any pee in my body!
Me: Really?  Why don’t you just try.
I: No mommy, there’s no pee in my body!
<L uses potty>

Me: Ok, let’s get ready to go outside before it’s too dark.
L: I don’t want to put on pants, I want to work on Valentine’s.
Me: But you just told me you wanted to go outside?
L: I want to work on Valentine’s.
Me: Ok (whilst bundling one child and removing valentines from a box for the other)

Bundling: on top of dress and tights, add a pair of pants, a pair of    socks, a pair of snowpants, boots, a pair of gloves, a pair of mittens over gloves, coat, scarf, hat and hood.

Me: Okay Ivy, let me get my boots on and we’re ready to go….
L: Mommy, I want to go outside too!

(You’ve GOT to be kidding me!)

Me: Ivy, let me help you down the stairs and you can go ahead and play in the front yard while I bundle up your sister – but I need to be able to see you.
I:  Ok mommy.
Me:  Lessa, Mommy’s not very happy.  Ivy’s outside all by herself right now because you said you didn’t want to get into your pants.
<Bundle Lessa – who is very agreeable at this point in time.>

Me: Okay Lessa, let’s go outside.
I:  Look Mommy!  I’m shoveling!
Me: Yes, and you’re doing a great job!  Lessa, do you want to go get your shovel?
L: Yes, Mommy.
Me: It’s over there by the stairs… no honey, not those stairs, the stairs on the side of the house.

<I pick up my shovel and make a couple of passes over the driveway… but even before Lessa returns w/ her shovel…>

I:  Mommy, I have some pee in my body.
Me:  Really?!  Can you hold it.
I: <slight pause> yeah.
Me: Ivy, are you able to hold it for a while and keep playing?
I: yes.

<3 seconds later>

I: Mommy, I have to go pee really bad.
Me: Okay, let’s go inside.
<strip off all layers of clothing for her to get to the bathroom in time>

<Lessa works on shoveling under the trees while Mommy shovels the driveway>

L: Mommy, my hands hurt.
Me: From the cold?
L: Yeah.
Me: Okay, why don’t you put your shovel away?
L: Ok

<Mommy works to finish shoveling sidewalk, and then Lessa returns>

Me: Do you want to put Ivy’s shovel back or do you want to go inside right away? <with the vain attempt of buying just a few more minutes of shoveling time>
L: Ivy’s shovel.
Me:  Great!  Thank you, you’re a great helper!
L:  Oops I falled.  Oops I falled. Oops I falled. (laughing each time)

<I help Lessa into the house and strip her of all layers of clothing.  And see Ivy, sitting on the portable potty right by the front door while watching us from the storm door window.>

Me: Ivy, go ahead and wipe yourself.
I: Ok mommy.
Me: Lessa are you still cold?
L: Yeah.
Me: Go get Daddy’s blanket and curl up on the couch with it.

<I finish by shoveling a path to the garage and getting soup out of the freezer to make for dinner.  When I walk in the door…>

L&I: Yeah!  Mommy’s home!

<Both girls sitting together on the couch, under Daddy’s blanket, staring at a blank tv waiting for me to turn it on.>

***

They ARE little darlings. They ARE little darlings.
(Sometimes it’s good for me to just repeat this over and over!)

***

I wish I knew how long this all took, maybe an hour?  Hour and a half? Each child was outside for less than 10 min.