Halloween Prep

We've gone a little Halloween crazy over here. In addition to these ridiculous costumes, we've decorated our house just a bit. And when I say just a bit, I mean a lot. We have cob webs, spiders, skeletons, lights, and lots and lots of different kinds of pumpkins. The kids made most of the stuff and have really gotten a giant kick out of all of it, which was the point, so I'm happy. Decorating a house for a holiday is pretty much against everything I stand more, but I decided I didn't need my children to be bitter and cynical like their mom. I figured genetics will play a role, but a spooky, crazy halloween house might offset it a bit.

Swimming Progression

Girls were moved to Goldfish level today in swim class. That means that they no longer wear fins. My guess is that they must be some of the youngest gold fish ever. Now they are only 3 levels below Parker.

They'd be a lot better if they didn't giggle so much during class. I'm not complaining though. Giggling is a lot better than crying and screaming which is what we had for a good long while.

more extra credit

Parker's teacher made him another math booklet today called "Parker shows he knows multiplication."

Rather than just problems, she wrote equations and then asked him to show the problem in pictures. It seemed like a neat idea and I figured it would stump Parker for a few minutes.

I showed it to him, had him read the instructions and then asked him to do the first one 9 x 3. I said, "Do you understand what you need to do?" He said, "Well...sure I can draw 9 groups of 3." Then he drew 9 circles with 3 squares in each of them.

He got bored after 5 of them.

It was a good effort (by the teacher, of course.)

Elizabeth is so fucking mean.

Elizabeth is mean on a daily basis. Usually two or three unsolicited, unprovoked, undeserved mean periods per day. Some days I can blow it off and rationalize that she is just four, tired and doesn't "mean" (pun intended) anything by it. But on other days, like this morning, it just kills me.

Elizabeth and Parker were having breakfast at the table. Miranda came in. She immediately started whining... "it's coldddddddddd" (which it was not). I channeled my mother and said, "Put on a sweater." Then she pointed to the open window and said, "But I want thaaaatttttt window closed." My gut was to tell her to shove it, but I said ok and closed the window.

She continued to have breakfast. Parker finished. I told Elizabeth whose hair had literally become crunchy, that she needed to take a bath this morning. I went into the bathroom, took a 3 minute shower myself and then filled the tub. Elizabeth came in and hopped in the bath.

Back in the kitchen, Miranda is crying at the table. "What's wrong Miranda?"

"Elizabeth opened the window again!"

Back to Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, why did you open the window again when Miranda said she was cold AND don't say I don't know." (Elizabeth says I don't know to EVERYTHING these days. Why did you kick your sister? I don't know. Why did you pull Zeke's tail. I don't know. Why did you knock down Parker's tower?)

She said, "I was hot." Which would have been a reasonable answer HAD SHE NOT LEFT THE KITCHEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER OPENING IT.

Now sure, Miranda doesn't need to sit there and cry into her cereal bowl about the window being open a crack, but I've got to come up with some way to get Elizabeth to stop this bullshit.

Miranda's Speech

Me: I heard you had a hard time last night. Lots of screaming and yelling in the middle of the night.

Elizabeth: I had a nightmare!

Miranda: I had a nightmare about SOCKS!

Me: Socks? What was scary about socks?

Miranda: No, mom, I said SOCKS!

Me: Huh?

Miranda: Not SOCKS, SHARKS!

Me: Oh. That makes more sense.

Julia's Bday

Last Friday, we drove to LA in the morning for a bday weekend with my sister's family. Yes, it's a long drive for just a couple days, but I always think it's worth it when I see the kids playing together. They all have such a nice time together I really wished we lived closer.

On Friday, we just all hung out and the kids played with Julia's plastic crap presents the girls got her. (Parker, of course, made her a coloring/dot to dot book.)

Saturday, more hanging around the house, a visit to local park where I was mistaken for Amy only once and then off to a pumpkin patch with the girls and Parker. Then we watched Oliver play soccer and then back to Amy's house for more hanging around and party prep.











Then we went to the airport to get Michael who was joining us. Dinner at mom and dad's house, and then bed. The kids slept well and the next morning we had breakfast and park time with Grammy and Ginny who hadn't seen Michael up close and personal since his weight loss.

Then home for more party prep and the party. Amy said she didn't plan anything, but we all know that is a bunch of bullshit. She made mini cupcakes (112 of them) and put them on a styrofoam cone with toothpicks. Then she made magic balls (baking soda balls filled with toys that the kids could dunk in vinegar to get the toy), and a delicious lunch spread (despite the fact that it lacked bacon.) The kids jumped in the bouncy house, played with the water play area she set up, and generally had a great time. Before the last guest had left, we packed up and headed back. It was a long drive with tired kids, but we got home safe and sound and everyone seemed back to normal in the morning.

Another Sub

Before I blog about the very fun weekend we had, I thought I would vent first.

Yesterday, Parker's teacher went home sick. So today, expecting the worst, I stayed with him at school until I could see if it was a sub or not. After all the classes had gone inside, no teacher or sub had come to get Room 6. I checked the classroom door. Locked. So, I made the executive decision to take the kids to motor skills first thing since I knew that was what they did today. The other parents just followed me, seemingly pleased that someone was taking charge.

When we got there, the sub was coming down the hall and followed us into the auditorium. I helped set up and then took the girls to preschool. Then I returned to what could only be described as the lamest day of school ever. The sub was awful. Worse than the last. Parker was not the leader and no one knew what the hell was going on. It was total chaos for a good long time interspersed with endless sitting on the floor listening to the sub talk about respect and kindess and saying things like, "Zip it. Lock it. Put it in your pocket" Which was received with complete cluelessness from all the kids. Parker kept trying to tell her what was suppose to be happening, but she kept telling him to Zip it and he was getting frustrated. She was so awful with the kids, who were doing a great job despite it all, that I decided that Parker would leave with me when I left to get the girls. I told him that when everyone went to lunch, we would leave too. He didn't seem to wonder why and I didn't explain it. I told the sub I was taking him home and just left. I figured no one else in the school would notice or care and they didn't.

I just couldn't leave him there. It just wasn't fair to him. I just wish I could have taken them all.

Chicken

At lunch today...

Elizabeth: Mommy, chicken is just like chicken the animal.

Me: Chicken is chicken the animal. You are eating a chicken.

Elizabeth (looking puzzled): So chicken and chicken are the same?

Me: Yes. (Fully expecting massive hysteria and crying and converting to veganism on the spot).

Elizabeth: I sure do love chicken. Yum.

Sub

Parker's teacher was out yesterday sick. They had a sub so I volunteered in the class in them morning to help out. Which was a good idea as the sub was clueless.

Luckily (or not depending on who you are), the teacher left a note for the sub to have Parker lead the class for a period of time. At first Parker looked unsure of himself and I said, "Do you know what to do?" He mumbled, "well....yeah." And then did it.

He literally led the class for about 45 minutes, correcting students when they said August was a day and praising them when they got the right answer. He did dates, numbers, basic addition, a little song, a clapping thing about multiples, and other stuff. The teacher (and principal who popped in) were both speechless. It was pretty unbelievable what he was doing. I don't think either of them knew I was him mom.

Premonition?

In general, I can never really picture the kids at any age except the age they currently are. I know they were younger, but I don't truly remember it. I know they will get bigger, but I just can't envision it. Perhaps this is an universal issue but I kinda think not since I know my mom used to say a lot, "When you were 5, blah, blah, blah..." telling stories about the past in such great detail, she had to remember it as if it was yesterday.

But then today I got a little peek into the future with Parker. It came and went very fast, but it was clear nonetheless. He was playing on the playground after school. Running around on the play structure. Some of his classmates were there. At one point, this little girl came over and sort of grabbed him, smiled and ran off. He smiled back and they did this a few more times before she had to leave.

I immediately saw him as a water polo player, still smart as a whip, but cool and popular too. And tan. Lots of girls liked him, but he wasn't too into any of them. He was just a happy guy doing his thang slightly oblivious to his coolness.

Then it was gone and he was a spacey 5 year old again hanging upside and bonking his head on the bars.

Sacto

Susan's husband was going to be gone today so we planned a little one day get away. We went back up to Sacramento. She got a fabulous deal on priceline for a nice hotel so it was super cheap.

We first went to the train museum which was amazing for kids and adults alike.


Sitting in the box car.




Then we spent some time in the hotel pool where apparently Sebastian decided he could swim. And Parker decided he could do laps. Elizabeth and Miranda also showed two other 4 year old twins were good swimmers who just happened to be there how to do handstands and flips.

Rachel and Sebastian in hot tub.

We had dinner at the Arden mall and then everyone passed out. We had adjoining rooms so we put the kids all together (2 beds and a fold out couch with Parker on the floor) and Susan and I got to watch a movie in peace after they fell asleep.


Miranda and Sebastian slept in the same bed. Miranda joined me in the middle of the night and Sebastian feeling lonely after being ditched joined Susan.



The next day, we did a lovely breakfast at some local joint called Pancake Circus.



Clowns were big at the pancake circus.

Then we were off to Fairytale Town where everyone had a splendid time.









With the exception of one lost child (yes, we found him) and a couple meltdowns, the trip was most excellent.

Extra Credit?

Parker's teacher made Parker a little book on Friday during class. She said she had to go back to her 3rd grade math classes to think of what to include. She said he could work on at home or during class. Apparently Parker was very happy with it.




He did it this weekend in about 15 minutes total (2 sittings of about 7 minutes each).

Then he wrote her this little note and gave an example of what he was talking about.

Lap!

TPS: Insomina

Parker: Mom, I counted to 500 last night. I started at 4:22am after I peed up and ended at 5:08.

Me: That's nice dear.

(next day)

Parker: Mom, I counted to 700 last night.

Me: Why are you doing all that counting?

Parker: To see if I can get to 1000. I almost made it.

Strong kids

Each day when I drop off or pick up Parker, the kids all play on the playground at school. We usually hang out a few minutes after the bell in the morning to let the girls play for a few minutes. Elizabeth does the monkey bars and hangs upside and Miranda climbs this pole and sits on top feeling superior.

Today, the PE teacher, who we sort of met yesterday when he collected basket balls for him, came up to me today and said, "Is she (Elizabeth) yours?" Yes, I confirmed. He said, "She is amazingly strong. I've never seen a kid so little fly across the monkey bars like her. That is incredible." I agreed and he kept going about it.

I'm quite used to these comments about her, but somehow it seemed even more sincere coming from a PE teacher.

Elizabeth then came up to me and said, "That man who we saw yesterday said I was strong."

On a similar note, I was chatting with their gymnastics teacher the other day and he said that if the girls went to a real gym (like he used to coach at) they would have been tracked already into the competitive training program. I'm not sure if I was happy (that they are really that good) or sad (that we aren't at that gym) to hear that. When I asked him if I should do anything different with them now, he said, "Naw, you can wait until they are 5 if you want to go that route. Let them have fun now."

1st grader Parker?

This evening, via email, Parker's teacher asked what we thought about promoting Parker to 1st grade. She said he had the social skills to be in first grade (and obviously had the academic skills.)

We politely declined and said we were working on helping him become a well rounded little dude.

It is nice that she noticed, though.

Zingers!

When I picked up Parker from school on Monday, he had a zinger in his hand. I was helping tidy the classroom after class and he was going on and on about not losing his treat and when could he eat it. I looked at the teacher who told me that a parent brought them in for "snack". Now, don't get me wrong. I like zingers as much as the next guy, but for snack at a public school at 10am seems just wrong. Luckily the teacher agreed, fed them some left over pretzels and then passed them out at the end of the day so as not to disrespect the parent who brought them in.

We discussed that I would bring a back up snack in case this happened again. The next day, the parent brought cut up apples and carrots. Not much to it, but at least it wasn't a giant sugar/fat cube. I thought a back up snack the next day wouldn't be necessary, but I brought one just in case and good thing I did, because the parent brought "cutie pies" (basically apple pies like they sell at mcdonalds.) Another mom is on back up snack duty tomorrow.

And to think last year I was complaining that our preschool provided juice instead of water. Oh vey.

Chalk

We seem to have chalk all over the place. Since I haven't bought any of it, I'm guessing it came in party favors, from friends or other such places. Big sidewalk chalk is a good thing to have around, but lately the kids haven't really played with any of it.

Then today, Parker comes up with, guess what? Sidewalk chalk. A prize for doing some trivial math thing at school today. He got to pick from a big bucket of lame-o prizes and chose that one. He was drawing all over the deck tonight happy as a clam with his prize.

Bike Day

There was a bike day at Parker's school on Saturday. We stopped by to see what it was all about. They were teaching kids to ride bikes without training wheels, having "slow races" and generally having bike fun. They had a good time, but it wasn't too exciting.

Weekend with Lori

Aunt Lori came up to visit this weekend. The kids are always thrilled to see her and I'm guessing it is because she literally gives them all her attention. She had to play games, make books, look at homework, get climbed all over, take kids to the bathroom, and generally be a slave to the three kids.




In return, she got to spend 3 days at the Claremont Club. (I was the high bidder for a 3 day pass from last year's preschool fundraiser and decided to use it this weekend when the weather was hot, hot, hot.) The kids loved it. I got burned. And we now know where all the white people go to cool off. You too can join for only $16,000.