End of Summer

This is it. It's here.  The end of summer.  In just three more days, my oldest will start kindergarten.  Am I ready?  Not at all.  Is she ready?  Absolutely.

So, kindergarten in San Antonio starts at 7:40 a.m.  That's ridiculously early.  My kids sleep until 7:30 every morning.  So, in order to prepare my sleeping child for an early morning school, I've been slowly getting her up earlier and earlier.  This past week, we've woke up every morning at the time we would when we have to go to school.  We've gotten completely ready to go (including dressed and breakfast eaten) and then we've walked to the school.

She has been excited for this and loves the time of just me and her up in the morning and walking to school.  And the last couple of mornings, she's said.  "momma, I'm going to miss you when I am at school, and you are going to miss me.  But, I'm going to have a lot of fun."  I am so proud of my big girl.  How is she so wise at such a young age?!

So, Monday morning, she starts kindergarten.

And, a week later, my little man starts back at preschool.  I would like to be able to say I don't know what I'm going to do with myself the two days a week that both kids will be at school, but I know better.  I'll be running errands, doing cleaning, getting stuff done.  I'll be so busy, I'll wonder where the time went each day.

So, we had a great summer.  We visited family, we traveled and explored Denver.  We went to the Children's Museum.  We went to Kiddie Park.  We went to Schlitterbahn.  We did a lot of swimming. We cuddled a lot.  And now it's over.  Good luck this year, sweetheart!  Mommy loves you and knows you are going to have so much fun!

Sometimes you just want to give up, and that's okay

This has been one of those weeks ... one of those weeks where you feel like giving up.  When you feel like nothing you do is right.  When it seems like no one is listening to you and you don't know why you even try anymore.  Well, I've had one of those weeks, but I'm doing my best to get out of it.

Monday started like any other week.  We all got up and got ready for a typical day (going to the gym, getting the grocery shopping done, running some errands).  The kids started right off with not listening at the table, not getting ready when they are supposed to, and constant complaining and fighting.  I happily dropped them off at the child watch to do my weight lifting class to my daughter whining "do I have to go to kids in motion?"  I did my workout well (as well as I could with my hurt knee and it still hurting to breath) and felt good about it.  So, we headed to Trader Joe's to do our grocery shopping.  I got them each a sample in the produce section and when they finished that, I gave them each a snack to eat.  But, that wasn't good enough. Jade couldn't drink the sample drink because it has apples in it, and so she had to whine about that.  When they finished their snack, I let Maxwell get out of the cart and help Jade push the kid's cart.  Of course, he wanted to go to fast.  She didn't want him to help at all.  They had to scream and yell at each other for the second half of our trip to control the darned cart!!!  Nap time couldn't come soon enough!  But, we made it through the day, everyone alive.

Tuesday, we went to the gym again in the morning, this time a little earlier because I'm still trying to find a zumba instructor that I like.  No luck this time either (so both Tuesday and Thursdays are out). I brought the kids home to hang out and play (hubby works from home on Tuesday) while I ran over to Maxwell's preschool to drop off my substitute teacher application and start the background check process.  Fight, fight, fight over lunch.  No one wants to eat what I make them.  Then, as a surprise to Jade, after Maxwell is put down to nap, I take her shopping with me.  I HATE SHOPPING AT TARGET!  I know I should have my SAHM card taken away for saying that, but it is a total nightmare there every time I go.  They never have what I need in the right sizes or at all, and I end up coming home with a bunch of crap I didn't need.  Then, to gymnastics, home for a dinner that the kids seemed to like, and off to bed.

Wednesday was kind of a special day.  I had been promising Jade I'd take her to Kiddie Park since April and so we finally went.  It was hot and Maxwell got scared on the ferris wheel.  I almost got sick on the carousel and Maxwell was devastated because he wanted to ride the pink airplane, but he was too slow each time and the big kids beat him to it each time.  Fits, tantrums, and crying from each of them over wanting the blue car, or the pink plane, or Maxwell to ride with Jade, all morning long.  And, not a one "Thank you, Mom! That was fun!" They both napped, so I was obligated to take them to my husband's beach volleyball game that night.  So, while he drank beer and played volleyball with his coworkers, I had to sit and referee the kids fights over shovels and buckets and keep them safe from flying balls and yell continuously to stop picking up the garbage.  And, had to make a mad-dash to get Maxwell to the bathroom in time so he wouldn't do stinks in his pants.  Fun!!!

Thursday came and I was exhausted, but I got up and went and go blood work done, then to get my finger printing done for the substituting position.  Then, went to the gym and rode the bike for an hour.  This was followed by the madness that is swim lessons.  Jade cries every time we have lessons.  It is so upsetting I just want to break down and give up, but I know she needs to do this.  She's good too, which makes it so upsetting.  Nap time and Maxwell refuses to nap today, making for a difficult toddler up until bedtime.

Friday, playdate with the preschool friends.  That was nice and fun.  I'm starting to feel a little relief. The kids haven't been terrible, although Maxwell is refusing his nap again today.  And, it's the weekend, which means nothing, except that Papa will be home to offer something.

So, it will turn around.  I'm not going to quit and bury my head in the covers and never come out.  I will keep pushing forward.  The kids will have their bad days, but they will be good too.  I'm tired and I have a lot of work to do, but what Mom doesn't, right?  Just keep pushing forward and it will be better.  And, I finally finished the antibiotic, so I can have a glass of wine tonight!  And, will the kids remember that I almost snapped this week and wanted to give up?  No.  They'll maybe remember that fun day at Kiddie Park.  They'll maybe remember playing on the playground with their school friends.  Jade is going to remember that she didn't get to make an "ocean" out of water bottles, rocks and water like Johnny did and will pester me until we make one at home.

So, I just want to say to all the other Moms out there going through a rough week ... it's okay to want to give up sometimes.  But, hang in there, because it will get better.

Theatre camp fun

My 5-year-old daughter went to theatre camp this past week.  It was Mary Poppins themed and she was so excited.  It was what she was looking forward to all summer long and it was finally here.

So, I sent her off, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. every day for a week.  Monday, she brought home her script and her music book.  She was quite devastated because she didn't get the part of Jane, like she wanted.  She was crying so hard, but I talked her down and explained to her that you don't always get the part you want, and when that happens, you do your best with what you were give them.  That night, she went through the music book and picked out the solo she wanted to try out for and she started practicing it every free second she had.

Tuesday, she came home happy.  She was really excited about learning the penguin dance, and she was really excited about solo auditions that were happening Wednesday.

Wednesday came, audition day.  And, she came out so excited that she got the solo!  I was so proud of her.  But, she was even more excited because they finished learning the penguin dance.

Thursday was just another day for her.  She was happy it was over, because that meant the next day was show day.

Friday came, show day.  She had a full day of camp and then they had two shows that evening.  She was so excited.  We only got four total tickets, divided among the shows, so we decided that I would go by myself to the first show and the Papa and little man would come to the second show.  So, I sat nervously awaiting her performance in the front row.

For a 5-year-old who only had a week to learn a dance, a skit, and a 20-minute song and dance routine, she did great.  Sure, it was perfect.  Yes, she had to look around to remember some of the dance moves, and she didn't sing every word, but I was very proud of her.

My big surprise came when the music portion of the show started and when it came time for what I was told was my daughter's solo, she was standing in the back row behind 4 much bigger girls while they sang her solo in front of her.  Every other "solo" during that night the soloists all stood in a row together.  Never was there a soloist standing behind the rest of them.  She was told it was because she didn't tell the dance teacher that she was a soloist.  But, I'm pretty upset about that.  Why can't they get their act together and not rely on a 5-year-old to relay details between teachers for her first show like this.

But, she loved it and she has asked to audition for the Nutcracker in a couple of months.  I have a true performer on my hands.

Summer time, continued

A couple of weeks ago, the kids and I tagged along on my husband's work trip.  We knew in advance that he wasn't going to have much, if any time to have fun with us, but we got a free hotel in Denver, so why not?

The problem ... I was sick when it came time for the trip.  I had no voice the day before and along with coughing, it hurt to breath.  Add in 2 small kids in the mile-high city, and you've got a rough week for this Momma.

But, if you ask my kids, I don't think they will remember that I was sick, because I did everything possible to make it a memorable trip for them.

Day 1, we got there and didn't have time for much.  We did dinner and happy hour and just settled into the hotel.

Day 2, we took a walk down to the 16th street mall.  We shopped and got some little gifts for the kids, and we saw the sites.  I was excited to see the capital building and have fun with my kids.  My kids were excited because they got to ride the bus.

Day 3, I took my kids to walk around the entertainment district of Denver.  They saw the performing arts buildings and even got to go inside the concert hall and take some pictures.  My kids loved the dancing people statue that was outside.  "Mommy, they're naked" is all they will remember of the entire trip to Denver.

Day 4, We took the bus and then walked to go to the Denver Children's museum.  They had a lot of fun.  Even through the coughing and inability to breath, I strapped Maxwell on my back and hiked all the way to the other side of town for them to have this fun day, and then hiked all the way back after they were done playing.  They loved it and we even walked along the river on the way back to get some extra scenery in.

Day 5 was a pool day.  Our hotel had a "hot tub" warm indoor pool and the kids loved swimming in it.

If you ask Maxwell what his favorite part was, he'll say swimming.  If you ask Jade what her favorite part was, she'll say the Children's museum.  Both will say they had fun and want to go back, so all in all, I think it was a successful trip.  Neither one of them will even remember that Momma was miserable the whole time, so I see that as a success!

What will she remember when she's all grown up?

Summer is a fun time for kids.  There is no school and parents do whatever they can to keep their kids busy, which includes vacations and lots of fun activities.  Now, here we are a month into this summer.  Independence Day is upon us.  If someone were to ask my kids how their summer has gone so far, would they be satisfied?  Would they be pleased?  Or, would they just have a long list of things we haven't done yet?  And, most importantly, would my soon-to-be-kindergartener be happy with how her last summer as a little girl is going?

I hate to say it, but with the attitude my 5 year old has been sporting lately, I'd have to say that she would just have a long list of things yet to do this summer.  I know she has been having fun.  She's enjoyed our adventures so far, although she complains every day we have a "normal" day.  How did my sweet little girl become the one who always needs more?  What did I do to teach her that it is okay to always whine and complain about things? I thought I did a better job of showing gratitude for what I had and never showing any need for anything else.  I have never shown her that I want anything more than I have.  So where did she get this from?

And then there is my 2 year old.  He is happy just visiting the library or going to see his best friends Maddy-Sebastian-Zach.  He asks for the "normal" days of going to the YMCA and the grocery store.

So, there is 6 weeks of summer left.  I'm taking the kids on an adventure in a new state for a week.  I hope to take them to all the places that I promised before the start of the year.  My big girl has two more summer camps, one where she will put on the play, Mary Poppins.  I want to take her to the zoo, since she still hasn't been.  I want to take her to Kiddie Park, since she still hasn't been.  I want to take both of them to Morgan's Wonderland, since none of us have been yet.

I didn't want to cram too much into this summer.  I wanted to just cuddle with my big girl and little boy.  But, more and more keeps coming up.  And, now, with it almost half done, I feel like there is too much left to do and not enough time to do it in.  So, will I let her down?  Will she remember her last summer before school as the one where her Mother didn't give her everything she promised?  Or, when she looks back, will she remember how hard I tried to give her as many memories as I good?

Happy Father's day part 2

I know you guys are probably wondering why I left my Husband off the last post.  Well, it was done on purpose because I wanted to give him his own post to celebrate the father of my children on father's day.

My husband, known as Papa to our two beautiful children, is outgoing and fun.  He teaches our kids things that I could never do, and that is why we make such a good team.

I am a very lucky woman.  My husband is a helpful father.  He participates in taking care of the kids.  Since my daughter was first born, he has done almost every bath.  And, he isn't just a babysitter when I need to do things.  He is a fully capable parent. I know that if something were to happen to me, my children would continue to be well taken care of.

Father's day is a day we get to celebrate the brave men of our lives that guide and educate children in a way only they can do.  So, this father's day, I wish my wonderful husband a happy father's day and thank him for all he does for our family.

Happy Father's Day

Here we are again ... Father's Day is just 2 days away.  A day that we celebrate all of the wonderful fathers in our lives.  So, I want to celebrate a few wonderful fathers in my life.

First, we'll start with my husband's grandfather (Dad's dad).  He is a strong, sweet and funny father to 4 wonderful children.  He is a wonderful man and we are so glad to have him in our lives.

Next, we'll go to my husband's other grandfather (Grampy).  He has been a huge influence on my husband and is one of the strongest men I know.  A prisoner of war for six and a half years, he has been through a lot, but is still kind and gentle.  He is also a father to four children.

Next, we'll move to my father-in-law.  Without this man, I would not have the life I have today because I would not have my husband.  I thank him for helping make my husband the man he is today.

Next, we'll talk about my brother-in-law.  He is a great father to three beautiful children.  He's so good with children, my two lovelies love spending time with their Uncle Shea!  Thank you, Shea, for being a great partner to my sister!





Next, there is my brother.  Although, I don't see him much, I can tell whenever I see him and his sweet daughter, I know he is a great father.  That little girl loves her father so much and he does everything he can to make sure she grows up happy.






And, although there are many other wonderful fathers that I'd love to highlight, I would be going on  forever, so we're going to finish this post with my father.  This man has made me who I am.  He's made me strong.  He's made me independent.  I would not be where I am today if it weren't for him.  And, not only is he a wonderful father, he is a wonderful grandfather.  My children love him so much and look forward to seeing him.  And, on top of all that, he doesn't just take care of his family, he's been selflessly taking care of all the girls of Owosso for years, making sure they have a safe place to learn and play softball.

To these men and all the other wonderful fathers, keep up the great work and thank you!