Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I'VE MOVED!!!!

I've got a new blog address at www.fourinarow.net. Check it out. Same painful experiences, new web address. Be sure to bookmark it once you're there!

Monday, October 15, 2007

Did you know...

...that "gonga" means "chimney" in Spanish? (Neither do any Spanish speakers.)

This afternoon while were were playing outside, Luke kept saying something that I just could not understand. So, I asked Maria what he was saying.

"He's saying gonga!"

"Gonga?" I asked. "What does that mean?"

"It means... chimney in Spanish," she says. ?!?!

A few minutes later, it dawned on me that Luke was saying "gone." "Gone, gone, gone," he said when he finished his popsicle. "Gone." "Gonga." Whatever.

Bubbles...that bubble bath is not to be used in a jacuzzi tub? I did, which is why I'd never do it.

However, I discovered today that just a tiny bit of baby wash on a pouf shouldn't be used either!

It's been several hours. There are still bubbles in the bottom of my tub.

... That Jack can climb a tree? A really Tree climbingtall tree? A really tall, flimsy tree? I mean, do you see how skinny those branches are and how high up he is?

I'm definitely seeing the ER in my future (especially since my first instinct is to run for the camera rather than spot him as he climbs down.)

...that it is absolutely hilarious when a 15-month-old pulls his sister's hair? (To the 15-month-old, anyway.) And, when she escapes - after being scalped repeatedly - it's almost as fun to crawl over and try (hard) to pull your brother's ear off?

Really, that's what Jack and Maria get for being sooooooooo completely absorbed in a TV show.

...that I really wish you people would leave me a comment or two? I mean, it's nice to hear you say you like my blog and it's nice to get the occasional email. But, I'd really like you to post it here so the whole world can read it! (Not that I'm looking for an ego stroke or anything.)

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Well...

I know you are all just dying to know how Friday at the Y went. You’ve probably all been checking my blog every few minutes for an update. Right? Right?

Sorry to keep you all in suspense!

You can congratulate Luke next time you talk to him - he was a GOOD BOY!!! (Or, maybe you should congratulate me for coming up with a scheme that worked.)

Before heading out to the Y, I took Luke’s blankie from him. (Blankies are the be-all, end-all around here. They’re worth much more than candy, ice cream or even a trip to Grandma’s. Seriously.) I put the blankie high up on our baker’s rack and showed it to him. Then I looked at him eye-to-eye. I told him that if he was good at the Y, he’d get the blankie back when we got home. But if he was BAD at the Y he wouldn’t get his blankie back until BEDTIME.

“I’m going to be a good boy ALL DAY,” he announced. When we arrived at the Y, we went over things again. However, there was a little blip on the screen this time.

Mom: You’re going to be good, right?

Luke: Yes! All day!

Mom: You’re not going to be mean to anyone, right?

Luke: No. I won’t hit anyone or poke anyone.

Mom: Great. What are you going to do if someone hits you?

Luke: Hit him with a rock.

Mom: *Deep breath* Noooo, you tell the teacher. Okay?

Luke: Okay.

Mom: Okay?

Luke: Okay.

I don’t know if they put him in isolation or what, but when I picked him up Luke announced that he was a good boy, as did entire the childcare crew.

Whew!

Oh, and we went for cookies again and everyone got one. This time Sam got an oatmeal raisin cookie and managed - just barely - to finish it before conking out. :-)

Friday, October 12, 2007

Sad

Sad: This darling little boy falling asleep IN THE MIDDLE OF EATING A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE.Sam’s cookie

Sadder: Maria taking advantage of the situation and stealing the remaining cookie before the poor guy can wake up and defend himself.

Saddest: The reason for the chocolate chip cookies was to punish Luke the Duke.

How does one use chocolate chip cookies as punishment, you ask? Easy. You just take your FOUR children to Lasater’s to buy THREE fresh, chewy, yummy chocolate chip cookies (and yourself a coffee).

Three cookies, four children.

Guess who was the odd man out in this situation? I know. I’m a mean mommy. (Luke told me so. Oh, and I need a timeout.)

“Poor, sad, Lukie,” you’re thinking. (Let me tell you, with the look on his face I was almost thinking, “poor, sad, Lukie.” He’s got it down.)

Then I recalled how just minutes before he was kicked out of the YMCA’s childcare AGAIN. Today, he didn’t even last an hour. They pulled me out of my spin class (thank goodness it’s dark enough in there to hide my embarrassment) to tell me Luke had picked up a rock and hit another kid with it.

Sh*t!!!!!!

What’s a mother to do? I made him sit for a while. Then I told him Max couldn’t come over to play as planned. Then (because he seemed completely unaffected by those things) I announced to my crew that we would be picking up cookies on the way home! And, when Luke started participating in the “hoorays” I quickly explained that his behavior did not warrant a cookie.

So call me a cookie monster.

We’ll be back at it again tomorrow, so wish us luck. Three in a row doesn’t bode well.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Not-So-Sweet Lukie

Okay, so I know it’s cheesy, but we have been calling Luke “Lukie” now for most of his life. He even calls himself Lukie. What can you do? His name, however, is not exactly the subject matter for this blog entry.

You may have noticed that I put this entry under the “milestone” category. Now, let me explain that for this family, a milestone is not just a positive accomplishment in the life of a child. No, we count all kinds of firsts.

Today, for example, Lukie marked a milestone that none of the others have yet to achieve (which is actually pretty amazing if you know this gang). Today, Lukie was KICKED OUT of the childcare area of the YMCA.

A medal for this he did not get.

The MANAGER of the childcare department had to track me down during my workout to let me know that our sweet Lukie was beating up the other kids, pushing them around and poking them in the eyes.

“So… ummm do you want me to come get him?” I asked, hoping foolishly that she’d say no. Well, she did say no. Sort of. She said she’d bring him to me rather than having me come get him (guess they were in a hurry to get rid of him).

Once I had him back in my possession, Luke and I had a short discussion about his behavior.

“Luke,” I said, using his real name. “You can’t beat up the other kids.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s mean and you can’t play in there if you’re mean to the other kids.” (Not to mention I won’t get to workout, which is not in the best interests of this family.)

“Ooooh. I’m so sorry mom,” says Luke with his saddest face and tears welling in his eyes.

Minutes Seconds later, the tears dried up when he saw my friend Kristina and realized his “punishment” would be to sit at a table while she and I socialized. (I may have had to give up my workout, but I wasn’t going to give that up, too.) Lulke the Duke

In honor of his milestone today, I think we may have to stop calling him Lukie and switch to something more fitting. Luke the Duke?

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

One of THOSE days

I should have known when Jack woke me up this morning before 5 a.m. to tell me there was a button missing on his uniform shirt that today wouldn't make my Top 10 Days of 2007 list.

I had a busy morning planned. Take Jack to school at 7:45. Take Maria to school at 9:00. Kill some time until the MOMs club meeting at 10:00 (for which I was donating a beautiful Uppercase Living expression for a door prize). Kill a little more time. Pick up Maria at noon.

Well, things didn't go exactly as planned. I did get Jack and Maria delivered. As far as killing a little time before the MOMs Club meeting... well, things went a little awry.

I grabbed a coffee at Lasater's and then brilliantly asked Luke if he thought we should go to the park. A resounding "YES!" from the back seat. Perfect. The park is just 2 minutes from the MOMs Club meeting. Wooohoooo!

We enjoy ourselves at the park and with 5 minutes to spare, I gather the boys and head to the car. As I'm walking, I feel my pockets for the keys. No keys. Hahaha. Feel around some more. No keys. The panic is starting to rise in my chest. Desperately I feel around some more (by this time I'm sure the other park-goers thought I was a little weird). NO KEYS. I walk to the van. There are the keys! On the front seat, next to my fabulous door prize.

Now guess: Were the doors to the van (a) locked or (b) unlocked?

If you chose (a) locked, you're a winner! Thankfully, I had my phone in my pocket. Not that I wish illness on people, but I'm also thankful that Max puked all over himself at preschool this morning, because that meant that my wonderful friend Kristina was in her car somewhere (and not at the Y) just waiting to respond to my distress signal.

Remember the PK* days? I don't know about you, but we were so critical of all those parents we observed doing what we thought was such a terrible job. Or, how about when you first became pregnant? We were always saying, "We'll never _______!" (Fill in your favorite affront to parenting here.) For example, who in the h*ll would EVER allow their child to ride UNRESTRAINED in a car?!? We'd NEVER do that! Well, I ate my words today (admittedly not for the first time). With my van locked up tight, we had to transport Sam *gasp* unrestrained, in my lap, in the front seat of Kristina's car. (Luke was lucky enough to score a booster, as Riley was in school.)

It was a morning of endless driving, but: we all made it through unharmed; the MOMs Club got their door prize [barely] before the meeting ended; Kristina was ever so thankful for having something to do other than tend her sick child at home; and, we made it to preschool for Maria's dismissal with plenty of time to spare (albeit a bit crabby).

So, I have to admit the morning wasn't all bad. I also had a wonderfully light moment on the drive home when my sister called to tell me the Poop-in-the-Hamper story. (Remind me not to complain anymore about the things I find in the bottom of my hamper.) I was cracking up! I think I was still laughing about it when we arrived home. Until, that is, I let the dog out of her crate only to have her shake pee all over me.

What time is it? Not even 1 p.m.?

Maybe I'll feel encouraged if I reflect some more on the good things:

  • My wonderful friend Kristina.
  • My sister's hilarious story.
  • The wine I've got sitting in the fridge!
  • Maria's "dance" (seen here) - which was kind of a pick-me-up this afternoon :-)
  • Oh! And my wonderful husband, Dan, who just called to tell me he loves me... and that he'll be very late tonight.

Maria's letter of the week at school this week is "F". Coincidence? I think not.

*prekid

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

[Working] Weekend



What's that quote? "Many hands make light work"? Clearly, John Heywood never met my progeny.


Think the gas grill was fixed this weekend?

By the way, if you look really carefully, you can see that Dan is in this picture. (Kinda reminds me of the Highlights Magazine hidden picture pages I used to do as a kid.)