Friday, September 27, 2013

I'm Losing My Mind

Yesterday, Henry and I arrived to pick up Daniel at his school's playground. A friend of Henry's came running over talking about a picnic. Henry asked if we were having a picnic and I quickly replied no. I then looked over to see my friend standing near a picnic blanket and remembered that we had set a date to have a picnic with the boys. We had talked about it, emailed about it, it was on my calendar and yet I totally forgot about it. I am usually so good about being on top of things and remembering everything but lately I keep slipping.

On vacation, our house was part of a community that you needed passes to use the pool, bus shuttle, gym, etc. On day two I lost all of my family's passes as well as our family friend's. I was SURE I had left them at the pool the day before since I had no recollection of seeing them after we checked in at the pool the day before. The badges couldn't be replaced unless we shelled out over $100 so there was lots of calls to lost and found, retracing steps, arranging different transportation to the beach, and stress that followed. Later that night, Isabelle found the missing badges - in my bag.

The other day I got to the gas station only to find that my credit card was missing. I had used it the night before at the grocery store and started to panic that I had dropped it there. I arrived home where my husband told me that Daniel had found it - on the kitchen floor.

I had been looking for my sunglasses for weeks. Every soccer practice when the setting sun was blinding me, I'd comment on how I wish I knew where my glasses was. Daniel found them yesterday - in my car exactly where they belong.

Sooooo yeah...I appear to be losing it. I guess my brain has just reached maximum capacity. I blame the kids. Goodbye with-it Diane, it was nice knowing you.

Me and my crew who I affectionately say "You, whatever your name is!" to each of them.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

When Ear Tubes Fall Out

Daniel had ear tubes put in a year ago in February. Since the spring, they have been out of his ear drum and hanging out in his ear canal. I guess the average span for them is 1-3 years so it's normal. Clearly, I was hoping for closer to the three year mark as opposed to one but what are you going to do. Since they've been "out" I've been somewhat obsessively looking at them in his ear and waiting for them to fall out completely. And by looking I mean making him stand there while I poke and prod his ears while holding a flashlight. I am sure that's not the doctor recommended approach. Apparently, I didn't need to obsess about it so much because the other morning Daniel casually handed the tube he had pulled out of his ear to my husband. The hubs was grossed out by it (in his defense it was gunky and gross) but I was psyched to see it. All I could think was how I could put it in his baby box. Now, I say baby box because as the third child he doesn't have a baby book but rather a Tupperware box that I randomly throw things in for him!

So tiny yet so wonderful
It's really amazing how such a tiny, tiny tube can make such a difference. These tubes were LIFE changing for us. He went from having an ear infection a month (at least) to only a few over the year that he had the tubes. I'm hoping that this fall/winter he does okay without the tubes and we don't go back to infection after infection. We are currently still in the throws of inhalers and nebulizers since he was sick on vacation so I'm hoping that's all we have to deal with this winter. Well in a perfect world we wouldn't deal with either but I'm a realist so I'm thinking that might be too much to ask!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Kicking Butt

I try to enforce a pretty strict no potty talk rule in our house. It's how I was raised and I feel like the world is full of bad words so let's at least limit them at home. We don't even pee in our house. We tinkle. So the other day we were driving and playing the fire hydrant game. What is the fire hydrant game you ask? It's a game where you shout out "fire hydrant!!" every time you see one. You then bicker with your siblings over who saw it first and who it actually "belongs" to. Anyway, I was playing with them and was doing a pretty amazing job (who cares that it's an easy game - I was winning). Without thinking about it I said, "I'm totally kicking butt." As soon as I said it I knew what was coming next. Henry gasped and said, "Mamma, you said potty talk." Yup, "butt" is potty talk in our house. We refer to that part of our body as our bum. So I said that in the context of that sentence butt wasn't really bad to say. Can you guess what I've been hearing non-stop since? Oh yeah, the kids are kicking butt at everything. I never would have even imagined you could kick butt at so many things in a day but they sure are. Note to self: Don't use potty talk again.


"I'm kicking butt at making silly faces"



Sunday, September 15, 2013

Staying Fit for Fall #Fit4Fall

Since the spring, I've been working on getting fit. I've been exercising and eating better. It's become part of my daily life and minus some hiccups here and there I've been pretty good about being accountable for it. The hard thing about life changes like this is sticking with it. So when Planet Shoes invited me to join their Fit 4 Fall Campaign I jumped at it. They are running a six week (9/9-10/20) challenge where you set your fitness goals, share updates, and if you meet your goal you're entered to win a $500 shopping spree. Pretty cool, huh? To find out more details about the program or to sign up click HERE!

So what's my fitness goal? To run two 5Ks this fall. Yup, you read that right, the girl who had a miserable (yet awesome) first 5K experience is doing it again. Actually, I'm already on my way to completing my goal since last weekend I ran the Diva Dash 5K with obstacles.

"I Run for Wine"
I actually was excited about the obstacles sine when you're doing obstacles you aren't running. The running gets me every time and this time was no different. I ran with a friend and it was great to have someone there to tell every second about how horrible I felt while running after we hit mile 2. Gotta love friends!

While overall I enjoyed the race, I hate that I get down on myself for not being a great runner. I know that I should be proud of myself for even doing races but in the moment I find it so disappointing. I hate that it continues to be so hard for me. I even told my friend during the Dash that I thought I was going to bail on my next 5K. But I'm not - I'm going to do it. When all is said and done I know that I need to learn to silence the doubt and negativity that shouts at me when I run. I tell myself that if I keep running that I will like it more. Honestly, I'm not sure that that is true. I guess time will tell.

Are you local and thinking of making the plunge and doing a 5K? Join me on October 4th at Gilette Stadium for the Electric Run.

Electric Run is the World's Premier Nighttime 5k run/walk experience, where the participants are an integrated part of the show. Featuring immersive "Lands" of light and sound that transport the participant into an electric wonderland, Electric Run promises to transport the mind, body and soul to a new world in a healthy and drug-free way. Participants are encouraged to join in on the art by lighting up with glow sticks, LEDs and anything else their imagination can conjure up.                            

Just think - I can tell you in person how much I hate running and we can pretend to be dancing while we actually are gasping for breath. Doesn't that sound fun? Join the team I'm on HERE!

*As a Fit4Fall blogger, I received a complimentary pair of sneakers to help me on my fitness journey. As always, all opinions are my own.*

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Isabelle's First Day of Kindergarten


Yesterday, was Isabelle's first full day of kindergarten. As I wrote about earlier this week, I'm pretty scared about the whole process. Well, I'm happy to report that she and I both survived the day.

Now I'm actually not an emotional person at all. I'm not a crier - sentimental things don't tend to get to me. However, at orientation the day before there were a few moments that I felt something. I felt like maybe if I let it happen, water would fill up in my eyes. Crazy, huh? I assume this happens frequently to others but not me so it made me nervous that seeing her off on the bus would cause me to ACTUALLY cry (imagine?!). Isabelle has been very excited about school so I assumed unless there was some last minute freak out (which is always possible with kids) that she would be fine. And you know what? In the end, we were both totally fine.

When the bus pulled up, I snapped a few pictures and without missing a beat she started climbing right up the stairs to board the bus. She had actually made it up a step or two before she turned around and said goodbye to Henry and then to me. Yup, not only did she almost forget to say bye to me but she also didn't even say bye to me first! When she got on she already had a friend from pre-school sitting on the bus waiting for her. I saw her sit down with her friend and they were off. She never even looked out the window to waive to me. It was so natural. It felt like she had been doing it for months. I knew in that moment that she was right where she belonged - right where she needed to be. How could I even be sad in a moment that felt so right?

She returned home a long seven hours later (which seemed SO long) and was still as happy as when she left. She had a great day, met new friends, and had no complaints (minus not having enough time to eat the cookie I packed her for lunch!). All in all it was a great first day (for both of us!). She was up early again this morning and excited for day two. What more could I ask for?




Wednesday, September 4, 2013

King Richard's Faire with Another Giveaway!

On Sunday, the big kids and I headed to King Richard's Faire. It was meant to be a whole family trip but the driving rain that morning held off our departure which meant Daniel would have been a bear there in the afternoon with no nap. So the big kids and I headed out with rain coats and umbrellas in hand but the rain held off and the sun even came out. Clearly, King Richard ordered it that way.

Last year was our first year going (click HERE for some great tips before you go!) and the kids remembered little bits and pieces of it. Well I'm happy to report that we had a GREAT time this year. Henry, in particular, loved every single minute of it. He was mesmerized by everything. One of the great things about the Faire is that there is never a dull moment. There is always something going on everywhere that you turn. The kids and I took in "The Voice of Choice" (a musical style routine by the King and court), Maypole, "The Mud Show,"  Daniel the Duke of Danger, plus a bunch of other things. There was singing, dancing, acrobats, flame jugglers, and pretty much anything else you can think of. It was such a fun day for us and a treat for me to be out with just two kids!

This purple guy is Henry's favorite

Do not attempt this at home.
I gotta get me one of these for the house.
Were you bummed that you didn't win the tickets to the Faire in my last giveaway? Fear not - I have another chance for you! Enter in the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win two tickets. It's a quick one so enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*My family received complimentary tickets to the Faire. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Monday, September 2, 2013

Kindergarten Scares Me

Isabelle has orientation tomorrow and then starts full day kindergarten on Wednesday and I'm pretty scared. She is ready. She is beyond ready, so why the fear? She is my LITTLE GIRL. To start, I'm going to be sending her off alone on the bus into the big bad world. That world is scary. Those people are scary. It's all so scary. The bus is full of kids. Kids who can be mean. Kids who's potty talk will demolish her innocent little ears. Her classroom will also be full of kids albeit at least her own age. But these are new kids. Will they immediately like her? Will she make new friends? These are my fears - not hers. She is excited for the bus, she is excited for new friends, she is excited for everything. I am terrified.

Until now I've been the primary influence in her life. With the exception of half day preschool that she did three times a week last year, she spends 24/7 with me. She will now spend more time with her teachers than she does with me on a daily basis. I have absolutely no doubt that they can teach her way better than I ever could but still she's MY little girl. I know everything about her. I know how she's feeling. I know what she likes. I know what she needs. I am sure that they will figure it out and Isabelle will be totally fine in telling them but it still worries me. Isabelle is a planning, to-do list making, control freak and that is all to my credit (or fault?!). I (unintentionally) molded her that way. How will they mold her?

I know that at the end of the year she is going to be a totally different child. I know she will grow and learn and even that scares me. I'm not sure that I'm ready for that. I already see the changes happening and I want to freeze time. I want to keep her with me forever, just like this - young and innocent.

So tomorrow I will take her to kindergarten orientation with a smile on my face because I am happy. I'm happy that she loves to learn. I am happy that she is so excited to start this new chapter in her life. Inside, however, my heart will be breaking a little.



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