Once...Twice... Three Times a Mommy

Our Preschool Graduate

2008-05-07T20:53:00.005-05:00

Cassidy graduated from preschool today. Jim missed the program as he is off boating with his college buddies but I went with both cameras and took video and pictures. Cassidy was adorable in her shirt and mortarboard. First the kids did the pledge of allegiance. Then they sang several songs. They each got an award. Cassidy's was for most affectionate. Finally they each got a diploma before getting to have some snacks.

Our family even got mentioned during the teacher's talk. This is the end of a half of a decade. The kids have been going to this preschool for the past five years straight and now we are done. It is kind of sad but also a little exciting. I will have all three kids in full time school next year and actually have the day to myself for the first time in over 8 years. Whatever will I do with all that time?!?!?

Nick's Good Day

2008-05-07T20:47:00.002-05:00

Nick was chosen to have a piece of art exhibited this past weekend as part of the district's art fair. There weren't too many from his school which made it even more special. He brought home his ribbon for this today and was totally excited about that.

Here is a picture of him with his art. His piece is at the far right top -- the many colored hands.

Cooper Is Having a Good Week

2008-05-07T20:37:00.003-05:00

And it is only Wednesday!

Monday he got a Hawthorn High Five. I too was not sure what the heck that was at first. What is means is that he was recognized by name during the afternoon announcements to the whole school that he was modeling good behavior for the other kindergarten students by getting in line and being quiet. He was very excited about the recognition and Nick was impressed too.

Tuesday Cooper got to go on a field trip to Kaleidoscope -- an interactive craft place downtown. He wasn't too impressed with that but was excited about eating his snack lunch at the park afterwards. I got to go two years ago with Nick but wasn't able to this year. Maybe next year.

No exciting news today but still a good day. But we are all ready for school to be over. Too bad for us as with all the snow days we had this year the kids are going until June 3rd!

Only A Mother...

2008-05-07T20:16:00.004-05:00

...can listen to the same knock-knock joke 27 times without hollering "Nobody's Home!"

...will be a Scrabble partner with a kid who thinks "cookie" begins with "k".

...knows the location of every drive-through window in town.

...will try to hide a leafy vegetable in a cookie.

...can deal out emergency lunch money from the dryer lint filter.

...is limber enough to wrestle a fitted sheet onto the top bunk bed.

...invests fifty dollars in stale macaroons to help send the French Club to Disneyland.

...will attempt to grow hydroponic tomatoes in one night for a last-minute science project.

...can see across town and locate a missing show from her office desk phone.

...can switch from cook to catcher in an instant.

...seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

A Mother's Dictionary

2008-05-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Mother's Day!

• Dumbwaiter: one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

• Family Planning: the art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you just on the edge of financial disaster.

• Feedback: the inevitable result when the baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

• Full Name: what you call your child when you’re mad at him.

• Grandparents: the people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them right.

• Hearsay: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

• Impregnable: a woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

• Independent: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

• Look Out!: what it’s too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

• Prenatal: when your life was still somewhat your own.

• Prepared Childbirth: a contradiction in terms.

• Bottle Feeding: an opportunity for Daddy to get up at 2:00 a.m. too.

• Puddle: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

• Show Off: a child who is more talented than yours.

• Sterilize: what you do to your first baby’s pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby’s pacifier by blowing on it.

• Temper Tantrums: what you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

• Thunderstorm: a chance to see how many family members can fit into one bed.

• Top Bunk: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

• Two-Minute Warning: when the baby’s face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

• Verbal: able to whine in words.

• Whodunit: none of the kids that live in your home.

Busy May So Far

2008-05-05T17:25:00.003-05:00

The kids had another sitter on May 1st as Jim and I had to go to a barbeque for his work. The weather was a bit scary with the tornado sirens going off while we were there. But they never went off at our house so the kids were fine. We were fine too as the tornado hit quite a bit north and east of us. The weather was bad again at 2:00 am with over 60 mile an hour winds. But again we were fine.

Friday was movie night at our house and I watched Back to the Future with the kids.

Saturday night was another night out for Jim and I and another babysitter for the kids. We went to the Grand Street Cafe on the Plaza for dinner. The food was excellent. We were home by 11:00.

Yesterday we went to the school district's art fair. Nick had a piece displayed. Then I went to the grocery store. Finally Jim had hockey and Nick had baseball practice.

Nick has practice again in about 30 minutes so I better finish up. Maybe I'll be back again this month with updates as May is shaping up to be another busy month.

April 2008 Highlights

2008-05-05T17:05:00.005-05:00

Now I know that April was incredibly busy with many birthday celebrations.

We started by celebrating Lily's 4th birthday on April 5th. All the family was invited and luckily the weather cooperated. We had hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and the kids played on the swing set and in the bouncy thing. We adults got to hang out and drink beer and enjoy the day. As Jim told Mark and Kelly later, it was the best kids' birthday party we had ever attended.

We were also supposed to go to a party for James, Lisa's husband, that day. But it was cancelled because James had to fly out to West Virginia for his grandmother's funeral. :(

The next weekend was Avery's birthday. His party was supposed to be on Saturday but was postponed until Sunday due to the weather. The whole family went to a party at Bill and Julie's house the night before and again there was barbeque and drinking. My sadistic sister managed to host an event again at which I was hungover. At least the miniature golf was outside in the bracing cold which helped. After mini golf my dad gave all five grandkids a set of their own golf clubs so we hit the driving range too. Then onto my sister's house for cake before finally getting to crash on the couch.

The following week was Cassidy's birthday. First we brought cupcakes to CDO on Thursday, April 17th. The next day we went to JCPenney for birthday pictures. My sister's boys were off from school so she tried to get their birthday pictures done too but they were not cooperative. Afterwards we had lunch and did some shopping before I had to pick up the boys. Saturday I hosted a tea party at a tea shop in Smithville. It was just the girls so Jim took our boys and Lisa's boys with my dad to the driving range. My mom, granny, sister and I went with Cassidy for tea and cake and dressing up. Lily was there too with her mom. Also Ayla from school was there with her mom. Larissa, our neighbor, was there with her mom as well. Afterwards we had cake at home with the boys. Sunday the 20th was Cassidy's real birthday. She got a big Fisher Price dollhouse from the family. Cassidy's birthday celebration continued on the 21st with cupcakes at her preschool and finally finished on the 23rd with cupcakes at her gymnastics' class.

Cassidy went to kindergarten round-up on April 21st and is officially enrolled in kindergarten in the fall. She is also going to two weeks of summer school this year.

I got to indulge in a pedicure on April 24th while Cassidy was in school all day. I went to a movie with my friend Stacy this month too -- Fool's Gold.

Our neighborhood garage sale started on Friday April 25th. Cassidy hit the sales and found some bargains. I got her a huge bag of clothes for $20 and Cooper a game boy for $10 with five games. I got Nick a bunch of baseball pants for a quarter each.

Later that day, Cassidy had her five year appointment. She had to get 4 shots which really hurt and then we went to McDonald's for lunch and ice cream.

Even later that day was Peace Festival at the boys' school. Both of them performed with their class and we got to see huge kites too.

We went to yet another birthday celebration the next day for Carter. It was a pizza party and sleepover. He had a few friends over and one was horribly obnoxious. I have never been quite so happy to be able to leave a party. Afterwards I took the kids over to Lori's house. The kids played while the adults enjoyed the new outdoor fire pit and privacy area. We got home around midnight but I still managed to get up with the kids and take them to McDonald's before we had to pick up Nick at 9:00.

Finally we closed out April with an anniversary celebration for Jim and I. We have been married 14 years. I got a sitter so that we could go out for dinner at our favorite Italian place, Garozzo's and then we went to Howl at the Moon at the new KCPL district for a couple of drinks before getting home at 9:00. We are such the party animals in our old age.

March 2008 Highlights

2008-05-05T16:43:00.009-05:00

March was a long, wintery month with not a lot going on.

Jim and I took the boys to the opening night of the Brigade (arena football team) on March 1st. It was fun but I am not too impressed with the upper section of our new Sprint arena. It is VERY steep to get to the seats and they are tight. Jim barely fit and while he is a big man, he is far from the biggest I have seen.

The kids spent the night with MooMoo on March 8th so that Jim and I could celebrate another 40th birthday -- this time our friend Julie's. Luckily there was no family obligations the following day and I made Jim pick up the kids and drop Nick off at a birthday party at 2:00. I did manage to pick him up.

Nick had a school program on March 11th. He had a small part as a narrator.

The kids were on spring break from March 17th until the 24th. Lisa and James took their boys to Vegas to visit my sister but it was just too much money for us right now. Instead I took the kids to see Horton Hears a Who on Monday. We had a playdate with our neighbors, Larissa and Devon on Tuesday. We went to Power Play and made Easter Eggs on Wednesday. We drove with my mom to Omaha on Thursday and spent the day at their museum there. We spent the night and headed home fairly early on Friday.

Friday night I took Cassidy to see the Disney Princesses on Ice with my friend, Kelly and her daughter, Lily who is also Cassidy's very favorite friend and boat buddy.

We had a quiet day at home on Saturday and then were very busy on Easter Sunday, the 23rd. We had Easter baskets and an egg hunt at home. Then it was on to my mom's house for Easter dinner and another egg hunt. Then on to my dad's house for dessert and another egg hunt.

Finally on the 29th Lisa and I went to a charity brunch for my sorority. It was also an auction and although I had no luck, my sister managed to score Royals' tickets. Afterwards we hit the Plaza for some shopping and a late lunch at the Cheesecake factory.

Maybe I had a busier March than I realized. ;)

February 2008 Highlights

2008-05-05T16:27:00.005-05:00

The biggest event of February was that my baby turned EIGHT! Nicholas or Nick as he is now known decided against a big class party or an expensive party (last year we went to the Great Wolf Lodge). Instead we had a small family party here on Sunday, February 10th. He got a larger than normal gift from us -- a Nintendo DS. I thought that would be an easy find but I looked all over the place without any luck before finally having to order it on line. I did manage to get it in time for his party and he loves it.

Cassidy and I went to the boys' Valentine parties at school on February 12th. I am not sure how I will be able to make it to all three kids' parties next year but I guess I will try.

Jim and I also celebrated with my good friend, Lori's birthday on February 15th. The kids spent the night with Grandpa while we spent the night in a hotel. There were about 20 of us prepartying at the hotel until 9:00 and then on the party bus until about midnight. It wasn't an early enough night though as we had to be at my sister's house by noon the next day to celebrate my Dad's birthday. I swear she plans these things just so I will be hungover at them.

We also had lots of snow in February. The kids missed three days of school. I did get out some though and was able to meet my friend Stacey on the 28th for lunch after my Lasic surgery follow-up. And Cassidy and I met my mom at Power Play for lunch the following day -- February 29th -- Leap Day and the last day of February.

Even More Hopelessly Behind Than Normal

2008-05-05T16:02:00.001-05:00

No posts for February, March or April! Two of those months I have kid birthdays even and no update. What a bad mom I am! What a bad blogger!

The Plight of the Oldest Sibling

2008-05-05T15:34:00.002-05:00

The plight of the older sibling
First-born kids really do have it tougher, new research finds

The stereotype of the responsible first-born and the reckless younger sibling seems to hold true, according to new research on parenting and birth order.

By Melissa Dahl
Health writer
MSNBC
updated 8:44 a.m. CT, Mon., May. 5, 2008

There are two Jones brothers, Joshua and Justin. But when something breaks — like the time a soccer ball crashed through a garage window — it’s usually Joshua who gets the lecture: You’re the oldest, his parents remind him. You need to set an example. Your younger brother is watching.

Now, a new study has confirmed what first-borns like Joshua have always suspected: The oldest kid in the family really does bear the brunt of parental strictness, while the younger brothers and sisters generally coast on through.

“The folklore is that parents punish the older child more than the younger ones,” says Lingxin Hao, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University and an author of the study, published in the latest issue of the Economic Journal. “But it isn’t just folklore — this is a national pattern.”

First-borns who dropped out of school were 20 percent less likely to be getting most of their annual income from their parents than younger siblings in the same situation, Hao and her team found after reviewing annual surveys, involving more than 7,000 kids each year, conducted from 1979 to 1994 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition, the researchers found, first-born daughters who got pregnant as teenagers were 30 percent less likely to be getting most of their money from their parents than younger female siblings.

“Parents have an incentive to play tough with their kids, especially the older ones, to try to establish this signal to the other children that they’re not a pushover,” says Joseph Hotz, an economics professor at Duke University and a co-author of the study.

It’s all for the sake of setting an example, a refrain first-borns know all too well. By punishing the oldest kid more severely, Hotz says, parents are hoping to essentially scare the younger brothers and sisters straight, keeping them from making a similar mistake.

Parenting a perfectionist
“We did become stricter with Joshua after Justin was born,” says Ken Jones, father to the Jones boys — Joshua is 13, and Justin is 11. “I think I was a bit rougher on Joshua. He had to do things more perfectly.”

As the Jones family, who lives in Corona, Calif., has found, and the new research confirms, being a little tougher on the oldest kid in the family often turns out a kid like Joshua — the stereotypical rule-abiding, responsible first-born.

The study showed that older siblings were much less likely to drop out of school or, in the case of girls, get pregnant, than the youngest in the family, perhaps because they’ve had a lifetime of being held to higher standards.

That stricter parenting style often shapes the first-born kid into a play-by-the rules perfectionist, so parents tend to rely more on their oldest child than the younger kids, says Kevin Leman, a Tucson, Ariz., psychologist and author of “The Birth Order Book.”

“When a job needs to get done, it’s the habit of the parent to call on the first-born, because they’re the most reliable and conscientious,” Leman says. But it's no accident that the oldest has become a responsible wonder child; it's the parenting strategy that made them that way.

That’s how Ed Newman, a first-born, describes himself as a kid. As a teenager in New Jersey in the ’60s, he would never consider breaking his 11 p.m. curfew. He even remembers ignoring a group of buddies who repeatedly rapped on his window one night, trying to get him to come out. “It just seemed … wrong,” says Newman, now 55 and living in Duluth, Minn.

Flash forward 30-odd years later, and Newman’s youngest brother, eight years his junior, hits him with this piece of information: Baby brother Robert didn’t even have a curfew growing up.

“I knew my parents had loosened up some, but I didn’t know they had loosened up completely!” says Newman.

This is the same brother, Newman adds, who once singed off his eyelashes and eyebrows after making an explosive that blew up in his face.

Younger siblings, the researchers found, really are more likely to take more risks than the oldest kid in the family. In the data Hao and her team reviewed, younger siblings were especially more likely to drop out of school — and get financial support from their parents.

When it comes to parenting the first-born, there’s always a set of younger eyes watching the parents’ every move. But with the youngest, nobody younger is watching the consequences play out, making it harder for parents to stick to all that “tough love” talk. For the youngest kids who get into trouble, “parents are more likely to go in and bail them out,” says Hotz.

'Exhaustion takes over'
By the time the second and third kids come around, many parents lighten up, and realize that they probably overreacted a little with setting rules for their first kid, Leman says. “The first-born’s a guinea pig; we practice on ‘em,” he says. “Once the other kids come in, we lighten up. Or exhaustion takes over.”

With her oldest daughter, Lisa Russell set down very specific rules about sweets and TV watching, and kept her little girl, Emily, to a strict schedule. Dinner was always at 6, bedtime always at 8.

“When Emily was little, she was just always my perfect little robot who did everything I wanted her to do,” Russell says. “I thought, God, I must be really good at this.”

Fourteen years and four more kids later, dinner happens when it happens, and bedtime “isn’t so much of a time, it’s more like when a meltdown occurs,” says Russell, who lives in Yakima, Wash. Her five girls range in age from 5 months to 14 years.

“I don’t make an issue of things anymore,” Russell says. “You learn to choose your battles, and you learn what matters and what doesn't matter.”

In case you are wondering -- Yes, I am the oldest of three girls. ;)

Cabin Fever

2008-01-30T14:32:00.000-06:00

From Wikopedia -- "a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in, alone or together, for an extended period. For me this pretty much means January. ;) There is nothing going on this month except for school. The weather outside has been horrible. We have had lots of snow already this month as well as artic temperatures. It hasn't been worth it to go out. Also, I am trying not to spend money and if I go out I tend to spend money so another reason to stay home. I am trying to limit the amount of make-up I wear as it is still difficult to take off without rubbing my eyes which is still a big no no. So again another reason to stay home.

If only there was something on TV other than Rock of Love, Girls Next Door, The Janice Dickinson Agency and the Bad Girls Club. Isn't that damn writing strike over yet!?!?!?! I did finally watch a couple of series that I had taped and not had time to watch. I really liked Dirty Sexy Money and will watch it again. The Bionic Woman -- not so much. The only redeeming thing it had going for it is that they killed off Isiah Washington's character. Even Grey's Anatomy didn't do that so I guess there is always a chance Burke could come back some day.

I am relieved to see that January is almost over. I actually have plans in February starting on the 1st, Friday. I am getting together with the moms from my playgroup for dinner and a book exchange and maybe even a movie. Then we are going to Jim's cousin's house to watch the Super Bowl. Lipstick Jungle and Survivor start on November 7th and I can't wait to watch. Nick turns 8 on the 12th. Big Brother is back on the 12th and Jerico too. The kids are going to spend the night with Grandpa on February 15th while Jim and I help our friends celebrate turning 40 on the party bus! I am looking forward to being out and about soon. If only the weather would cooperate.

2008 So Far

2008-01-22T16:00:00.000-06:00

We rang in 2008 at Mark, Kelly, Megan and Lily's house. There were lots of friends and kids there. There was food and drinking and poker. Cassidy spent most of the night dressing up with Lily. The boys were in the basement playing XBox. I tried out some new beer and played poker. Jim did the same.

We spent a very low key rest of the day. Cassidy was asleep on the couch before bedtime.

We went to my mom's house on the 2nd to visit with my uncle from St. Louis and my cousin and his daughters from California. Lisa was there with her boys as well as Granny. Mom had to work until about 2:00.

The boys headed back to school on the 3rd. Cassidy went back to CDO on the 4th. I got to spend my time away from her getting a filling. Not fair!

We had a quiet weekend and then boys had their first full week of school. I had yet another doctor's appointment on Cassidy's CDO day -- an eye appointment this time.

The boys grew AGAIN so Jim and I took them shoe shopping on Friday night. Nick is up to a 2 1/2 and Cooper a 13. We had a delicious bbq dinner at Smokehouse. Nick actually will eat ribs and Cooper loved the sausage. Jim went out to watch some playoff football. I had to switch to my glasses on Sunday, the 13th in preparation of my surgery the following day. I was finally scheduled to have Lasic surgery to correct my horrible nearsightedness. I wore a -9.0 right contact and -6.0 left contact. And that was better than my worst vision during my pregnancies. My glasses are actually a -10 on the right.

The boys had school Monday so Jim just had Cassidy. He had to drive us both to my appointment as I could not drive afterwards. We had McDonald's for lunch before checking in. I got all paid up and headed to pre-op. I had to dress in hat, booties and gown and take 800 mg of ibuprofen and some valium. I waited and waited only to have my surgery postponed. There was a problem with the computer that guides the laser so we were all sent home. The valium worked well so I had a nap all afternoon. Tuesday was spent doing errands and Wednesday was another glasses day so I stayed home. I spent most of the time organizing and purging all the school work from the first half of the school year.

And then finally Thursday, January 17th was surgery day again. So of course it snowed. Cassidy was going to be in school and Lisa was going to pick her up. The boys were in school and Jennifer was going to get them from the bus stop. Instead all three had a snow day. Luckily my sister was out of school and so were her boys. She came up and watched all five kids and took them to lunch. Jim and I headed out in our trusty SUV. Driving was no problem but our wiper fluid froze up so we had to stop about 3/4 of the way to clean the windshield. We got there just in time for my 9:30 appointment. Same drill -- booties, hat, gown, ibuprofen, valium. But not much waiting. I was brought back almost before I was ready. I had to lay down and my right eye was taped open and then propped open with a speculum. That hurt a bit as it pinched my nose. The laser part went quickly though and didn't hurt at all. (Warning -- graphic -- The smell of the burning was kind of gross.) It went fast and then on to the left eye. I was done by 10:20. I know this because he had me look at the clock on the wall immediately afterwards and that was the time I could SEE. For the first time since 4th grade I could see the wall without glasses. And for the first time since 8th grade I could see without contacts. I had a couple of rounds of eyedrops and then Jim drove me home. I could see pretty well. It was just kind of like seeing underwater or behind a sheer. I didn't keep my eyes open much on the way home though as the sun and the ice reflections really hurt. Jim got me a shake which I drank on the way home and then I went to bed to sleep off the valium. I got up around 4:00 and watched some TV with the kids. I stayed up until 10:00 for my last set of eye-drops and then went off to bed.

I could see a lot more clearly the next day. I had a follow-up appointment that Jim drove me too at 9:30 on Friday. I was seeing 20/20 in my right eye and 20/40 from my left. We got home in time for lunch and then Jim headed off to work.

Since then I have been taking it easy. I have to sleep in a protective mask for a week. I have to do two sets of medicated drops 4 times a day for a week. I also have non-medicated drops to keep them wet. I can't wear eye make up for a week. I can't rub my eyes for two months! For the most part I haven't had much pain but I do notice my eyes getting tired by the end of the day. I had a rough day Sunday where my right eye really hurt and I had a headache. But I am much better today. And I can SEE!!

December 2007

2008-01-22T14:59:00.000-06:00

Of course there was more school, more CDO and more gymnastics in December. But NO more speech. Cassidy officially graduated on December 3rd and no longer has to go to speech therapy. Cassidy also finished off her 10 weeks of preschool on December 5th and got to spend lots of time with me in December. At least I still had some time to myself on Thursdays while she was in CDO. I didn't get to do any volunteering at the school in December since she was out of school but I did do family reading day on the 7th.

Cassidy got to meet the Fairy Princess at Zona Rosa and the kids also got a chance to see Santa a couple of times. Our good friends from the lake, Chip and Tammy, dressed up at Mr. and Mrs. Claus. We also had breakfast for dinner with Santa at my sister's church.

We went and picked out our Christmas tree at Reindeer Lane at the beginning of the month, December 2nd. It was freezing cold but dry. We warmed up with hot cocoa and popcorn before feeding the reindeer and heading home.

We celebrated St. Nick's Day on December 6th. Cassidy got an Island Princess barbie and movie. Cooper got a Transformer and Shrek 3 movie. Nick had been having some trouble at school so he got a backpack.

Nicholas went to a birthday party on December 9th and we weren't sure if we would make it as we had snow and ice that weekend. Just the first weekend of many. Cooper and Cassidy were invited to a party too but it was cancelled due to the weather.

Cooper turned SIX in December -- in the 15th. I brought cupcakes to school on the 14th. We all went to Power Play that night for games and pizza. Cooper invited his best friend from school, Cole, along. Cole also spent the night with us. Carter and Avery met us at Power Play but had to leave before pizza because Carter had a basketball game. The following day we had a family party that we almost had to cancel due to the weather. But my dad picked up my mom and Granny and brought them up in his Durango. Duane, Cathy, Paul and Chase made it over in their Tahoe. I had made lunch for everyone and we had a Star Wars birthday cake. Cooper got lots of Pokemon toys -- the battledome, a pillow and tons of new figures. My dad even took the kids home with him to spend the night so that Jim and I could go to a Christmas party that night. We went out in Jim's Yukon. Thank goodness for 4 wheel drive.

The kids' last day of school for the year was the 21st. Cassidy and I went to Cooper's winter party but the kindergarteners were so high maintenance I missed Nick's. It was a half day so I got to drive the boys home early for lunch. Lisa came up later with her boys and all the boys got haircuts at Zona Rosa. Then Jim met us at O'Dowd's for dinner.

The Christmas celebrations started the following day here. We had Christmas with my dad. It was almost cancelled too due to snow AGAIN. But we manage to have dinner (ham and hash brown casserole) and open presents before everyone headed out. No dessert though. Nicholas got the Spiderman vs Venom dart tag set and Spiderman movie from my dad. Cooper got a Transformer dart vehicle and the Transformer vehicle. Cassidy got a princess plug and play game and a mini Sleeping Beauty castle. They also got to open gifts from Jenny. She didn't make it in from Vegas this year. Nick got Legos. Cooper got transformers and a Waldo book. Cassidy got an Island Princess.

Christmas with my mom was on December 23rd. She made a big turkey and all the fixings and of course there were LOTS of presents. The streets were improved so we got to stay long enough for dessert. Nick and Cooper both got DVD games and movies -- Batman Begins and Spiderman 2. Cassidy got Little Petshops and Barbies and Cinderella stuff.

We celebrated Christmas Eve at my sister's house. NO presents but lots of food and wine and beer.

Finally Christmas day we stayed home all day. The big family gift from Santa was a Wii!!! Pretty much we spent the rest of the day playing that. Nick also got Battleship and Legos from us. Cooper got a transformer and helmet. Cassidy got a Polly Pocket jet and dolls. Jim made biscuits and gravy for breakfast and then we snacked the rest of the day.

I spent the day after Christmas hitting the sales with my mom and sister. I stocked up on paper and other Christmas goodies. I even got a little fake tree for the kids next year. I had to return my CD alarm clock from Jim as it was broken. But I didn't find much for myself. It was still fun to spend time with them.

I spent all day December 27th taking down Christmas -- the tree and all the decorations. I also had to pack and do laundry as we were heading out of town.

We had our final Christmas celebration on December 28th in St. Louis with Jim's family. The kids got gift cards to Target from Grandpa. Nick got Soccer Legos from Chelle and Amber. Cooper got Transformers and a Transformer movie that we traded for Spiderman 3. Cassidy got a Polly Pocket bus. I took them shopping at Target the next day. The boys each got a Wii game. Cassidy got Littlest Petshops and the Island Princess Elephant. We met Jim and his dad for lunch at Steak and Shake. I met up with a college friend at the Galleria. Then Michelle and Amber took the kids to a movie so that Jim and I could meet some of his friends for drinks.

We headed home on the 30th and picked up Annie from the kennel on the 31st. That night we all went to a party at our friends' house that night to ring in the new year.

The Rest of November 2007

2008-01-22T14:49:00.001-06:00

The rest of November was pretty dull -- routine. The kids all had school. Cassidy had speech, gymnastics and CDO.

We celebrated Thanksgiving of course. First we did dinner with my dad and his family at his house on the 17th. Then we hosted Jim's family here on the 22nd. My mom, dad and grandmother came up for dessert but did dinner at my sister's house. She was hosting her in-laws too. I did my traditional day after Thanksgiving shopping with my mom and sister. We started even earlier than normal -- 4:00 AM! -- when JCPenny opened. We were there for about an hour and then headed to Target when it opened. Then mom and Lisa headed to Toys R Us and I went to Best Buy. Then to the mall. Then to Sears. Then to lunch. Then to Kohl's. We finally got done around 3:00. It was a very full day of shopping. Jim took the boys skating on Saturday and the big MU vs KU football game was on that night.

The rest of the month was just more of our same routine.

Our Family Trip -- November 2007

2008-01-22T14:16:00.000-06:00

We started out November with a fun family trip to DISNEY WORLD! Jim had to go down there for work so we joined him. We had to cut our trick or treating a little short as our flight left at 7:05 am! But that got us to Orlando by lunch and to Epcot by 1:00. We spent the rest of the day there. The boys were with Daddy a lot as they wanted to do the fast, scary rides like the Test Track. Cassidy and I stuck to the Ellen dinosaur ride and the Nemo ride and aquarium. We finished up around 6:00 and went to check in at our hotel -- a Marriott suite. We had dinner at their food court and were in bed early.

The next day we headed to the Magic Kingdom. After visiting with Mickey Mouse, we split up again so that the boys could ride the Barn Stormer. Cassidy and I got to meet Minnie Mouse, Aurora, Belle and Cassidy's favorite -- Cinderella. We got pictures with them all. We all rode the Pirates of the Carribean ride and then Cooper got to learn how to be a pirate from Jack Sparrow himself. All of us loved the Buzz Lightyear ride. I think we rode it 3 times. We got a front row seat to the parade. We spent the ENTIRE day there before finally leaving to have dinner McDonald's.

Saturday we split up the day. We started at the Animal Kingdom and favorite ride of Jim and I, the safari. Then the boys rode Everest. I even got a picture of them heading down the final drop. We rode pretty much everything by eleven and the kids hated the Bug's Life show. I wanted to look at the Tree of Life more but the kids' whining did not make it worth it so we had lunch at Rainforest Cafe instead.

Then we headed to MGM. We just caught the Indiana Jones show. We all rode the Star Wars ride. Jim took the boys on the Tower of Terror while Cassidy and I caught an excellent Beauty and the Beast stage show. Jim also took Nick on the Rock and Roll roller coaster while I took Cassidy and Cooper to meet the Power Rangers. Time was limited so Cooper got to meet the Red Ranger but Cassidy missed seeing the Pink ranger up close. I also took the kids to play at Pizza Planet before it was time to head out. We tried to have dinner at a place next to the upside down museum but a lot of it had closed since the last time we were there. So we had TGIF's instead. The kids got balloon swords and a butterfly so they were happy.

Sunday we spent at Sea World. We got to see the dolphin and the whale show. We got to feed the sea lions and the dolphins. Cassidy even went on her first roller coaster. We had an early day as we had reservations at a seafood place at Downtown Disney. Cassidy fell asleep after eating but the boys got to make their own sundaes while Jim and I finished our lobster and crab. We did some souveneir shopping afterwards but only Cassidy found something she wanted -- little Minnie Mouse that she could dress in different outfits.

Our last day was Monday and we headed back to MGM. We met the Power Rangers again but the Pink one was missing. Cassidy had to meet the yellow one instead. We went on the back lot tour. We rode the Star Wars ride again and the boys did Jedi training. Cassidy and I watched the Muppet 3D show. We had lunch at Pizza Planet before watching the stunt show. Then we were off to the airport and to home.

October 2007

2008-01-22T13:53:00.000-06:00

So what did we do in October? School of course. Nicholas and Cooper go five days a week from about 8:15 until 3:45. Cassidy also had preschool three days a week from 7:45 until 10:15. She also had speech every Monday and went to Child's Day Out at my sister's church all day on Thursday. I volunteered at the boys' school every Wednesday while Cassidy was in school. Cassidy and I both got to go to the boys' fall parties at the end of the month.

October was a month of sports as well. Nicholas had soccer practice once a week and one or two games every weekend. Cooper had football practice twice a week and a game every weekend. Nicholas's team had their final game on the 21st. They never did manage to win a game but Nicholas managed to score 4 goals, the most of anyone on his team. Cooper had his last game on the 27th. His team finished their season with 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie. Cassidy didn't do any team sports but did gymnastics every Wednesday. Jim was still playing hockey every Sunday night. Guess I need a sport too.

There was some time for fun too in October. We sent to an Oktoberfest party at my sister's house on the 5th. We even got to catch up with a few play group friends. We got free tickets to the Ren Fest so we went on the last day of the season -- October 14th. It was muddy but fun. Both the boys got to go to a couple of birthday parties too. Nicholas played lazer tag at Power Play and at some caves. Cooper played at the PAC for his party but had to miss a couple of others because we were traveling. The kids got to spend the night with my sister and her boys while Jim and I went to a surprise birthday party for one of Jim's coworker's wife.

The kids got a few days off from school in October -- the 15th, the 25th and the 26th. They also got to skip a few days for a family trip. More about that in the next post.

And don't forget about Halloween! Here's a picture of my three ready to head out trick or treating.

Wow -- Even Longer Than Usual

2008-01-22T13:48:00.000-06:00

I probably should just give up the blog. It has gotten a lot harder to keep up with it. I thought it would be easier with the kids older but with two in school full time I still manage to keep pretty busy. With what do you ask? How about a quick update on the end of our 2007 and what 2008 has brought so far?

Uber Cool Nerd is Back

2008-01-22T13:47:00.001-06:00

Look Who's Asleep on the Couch!

2007-10-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

I told you we had a busy week with way too many early mornings. Guess it caught up with her too. :)

The Rest of Our Week

2007-10-05T14:14:00.000-05:00

Monday was a school day for all three kids. Cassidy also had speech and we got to do a grocery store run after that. Nicholas had another bad day for most of Monday at school but was finally able to turn things around by the time he came home. Thank goodness.

Tuesday was another day of school for all three kids. Nicholas had a good day at school so we went and looked at Halloween costumes. He still does not know what he wants to be. Cooper and Cassidy already have their costumes -- red Mystic Force Power Ranger and Cinderella. No football practice that night for Cooper though since his coach finally got out of the hospital.

Wednesday was another school day for all three. Nicholas had a good day until the end. So I got a call from his teacher. Lucky me.

Thursday was Cooper's field trip. I had to get both the boys onto the school bus and then drop off Cassidy in Shawnee before heading back north to meet the bus at the apple orchard. We had a fun time with his class. We got done in time for lunch so I ate at the school with both boys. The lunch periods are so short and the kids are in such a hurry for recess that it took me both of their lunch times to finish my meal. Afterwards I did a little shopping at the Legends and got a coffee with my birthday gift card.

Luckily I had made dinner in the crock pot as it was a busy evening. I dropped Cooper off at football practice. Then we dropped Nicholas off at soccer practice. Then we went back and watched Cooper until 7:30. Nicholas got done about the same time so he got a ride home with Tyler's mom. And to add to the chaos, Jim missed his connecting flight in Atlanta and got home at 11 instead of 8.

We had an early morning today as we had to drop off my car at the dealership. Jim is off to work in his and I am at home carless. I still have lots to do around here but instead I am uploading pictures and blogging. Better finish up so I can go do dishes and laundry. It seems like the work around here is never done.

Only a Week -- Not a Month

2007-10-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

Since my last post that is. So what happened in our week?

We ended up missing Fall Festival Friday. Nicholas had a bad day at school and I had to pick him up there. But Cooper got to go with our neighbor, Jennifer, and her son, Carter. Cassidy and I chilled with some popcorn and a movie -- Are We Done Yet? She is now afraid bats will come flying down from the chimney. Guess that is the PG part of the movie. Nicholas got to spend some quality time in his room. Jim finally made it home late Friday night.

Saturday Cassidy had gymnastics with her friend Lily. And I finally remembered my camera. Here is a picture of the two of them.

Saturday afternoon we had Cooper's homecoming game. It was delayed by an hour and we had to be there early for family pictures and warm-up so we spent a LONG time at the football field. My mom was there so Jim and I both got to walk Cooper onto the field before the game. Here is a picture.

Saturday night we headed over to my friend, Lori's house, for fried tacos. They were awesome as always. I made Rotel cheese dip. After dinner the adults all played dominoes. We weren't done until midnight so it was a late night for us all.

But we got lucky and all the kids slept in until about 10. We had a relaxing day at home until I had to take Nicholas up to the ball field for his soccer game. We got there just in time for lightning to strike and to have his game cancelled. I swear we will be playing soccer with snow on the ground.

And that was our weekend.

My Birthday Horoscope

2007-09-28T13:44:00.001-05:00

I forgot I saved this, just for my blog. I think it describes me pretty well.

Wednesday August 29, 2007

Born today, you can be a rather secretive individual, but you do present to the world a vigorous, aggressive and sometimes controversial side that is entirely of your own making, and consciously devised to get the greatest possible response out of those around you. You claim to like things simple and straightforward, yet, in your private life, you tend to overcomplicate the most streamlined of issues. In your work, you are something of a purist, and once you choose a career for yourself, you will follow it faithfully -- and according to the rules.

You are a dedicated and tenacious individual, but you will not sacrifice personal needs or pleasures for career success -- nor will you make your friends and family wait on you while you tend to business. You are an expert at balancing your work and your personal life.

Also born on this date are: Rebecca De Mornay, actress; Ingrid Bergman, actress; Isabel Sanford, actress; Robin Leach, TV personality; Elliott Gould, actor; Richard Attenborough, filmmaker; Charlie Parker, jazz musician; Michael Jackson, singer.

Caught Up

2007-09-28T12:41:00.001-05:00

I think I am. ;)

Boys' Room Pictures

2007-09-28T11:48:00.000-05:00

I think Jess asked for these awhile back. I looked and discovered that the older ones had to be scanned in which led to a bit of a delay. But here they are now.

The first ones are of what the room originally looked like. Nicholas was in a twin bed and Cooper was in a toddler bed. Jim painted the room with the dark blue bottom and the light blue sky top. He added clouds by sponging on white paint mixed with glaze. The chair rail border was from JCPenny. The blinds and valance are from JCPenney too. Nicholas's quilt is from Walmart. I got adorable transportation themed sheets to match at Target. Cooper got the Sesame street toddler bedding from my sister. I think she got it at K-Mart. The plane shelf, car light plate and train book ends are from Target.

Nicholas's Name on Wall

Nicholas's Bed

Quilt on Nicholas's Bed

Cooper's Name on Wall

Cooper's Bed

When Cooper outgrew the toddler bed, we got the boys bunk beds at Sam's Club. I freecycled the toddler bed and Cassidy is in the twin bed now. We moved the corner shelf and tall dresser into her room too and moved in the long dresser from her room. The walls and windows stayed the same. The boys really wanted character bedding so we compromised with Spiderman sheets for Cooper and Batman ones for Nicholas. Later I got them plain fleece blankets. Cooper has red and Nicholas has blue. I also got the cute red plane nightlight to match their room at Target.

Boys' Bunkbed

Boys' Dresser