First Day of School 2013

This week is First Day of School week here at the little blue house.  Yesterday, my daughter, Shaylee,  started her 5th grade year, and her last year in elementary school.  Today my son, Will, started kindergarten.  

As expected as soon as I turned to walk away from Will as I left him sitting at his new school table, I started to feel my eyes swell and my chest tighten.... tears were coming!   Something about leaving your child behind on the first day of kindergarten really tugs at those momma-emotions.   I remember sobbing on Shaylee's first day of  kindergarten too.  All of the memories of their tiny little newborn hands grasping on to my finger, their first toddely walks, their chubby baby faces... they come rushing back with a sudden realization of how quickly they have passed.... then the thoughts of the future come-- the next thing you know it will be high school, then college, then marriage... then I'm an old lady then I die.. life's too fast and too short.  Anyway, with all of those crazy thoughts, memories, and worries, floating around in my brain--its no wonder why I'm an ugly-crying fool today.    I'm sure the last day of school, when Shaylee "graduates" elementary school will be an equally as big tear fest!  (Yay??!) 

yep--those are tears!!!

This will also be the first time in 10 years that I will not have a young child to take care of all day every day...its kind of a weird feeling. On one hand, I am pretty excited for the freedom and the possibility of what I can do or where I can work.  On the other hand, its a new territory I'm entering and its  a little scary, and although my kids can drive me crazy at times.. I am going to miss them.

On a lighter note, I thought it would be fun to start a new tradition and interview my kids with the same  few simple questions each year on the first day of school. I wish I would have thought of this when Shay was going into kindergarten.

First Day of School Survey  2013

Shaylee- 5th Grade

Will-- Kindergarten

 What is your favorite color? Shaylee:  turquoise     Will: Every color they make

Favorite Song/band?   Shaylee:  "I Love It" by Icona Pop     Will:  Daft Punk

What do you want to be when you grow up ?  Shaylee: Broadway Star   Will: X-Gamer

Favorite tv show?   Shaylee: Dance Moms and America's Next Top Model    Will: Nitro Circus

Favorite Hobby/ Thing to do?  Shaylee:  Shopping,  Will: Skate Boarding

Fave food?   Shaylee:  Crab legs    Will:   pancakes

What are you looking forward to this school year?  Shaylee:  I’m looking forward to being in the top grade of the school…  Will: I’m looking forward to having a really nice teacher

Favorite Subject? Shaylee—History (but not Geography—I hate Geography)     Will-- Science Stuff

 

 

 

Sunday Funday

I hope you all enjoyed your extra hour of sleep last night!

 

Take Me Back Tuesday: Halloween Memories

Halloween is tomorrow!! It is just as fun for me, if not more fun than Christmas, I love this holiday! So today for take me back tuesday, I am sharing just a few of my favorite Halloween memories  of the kiddos from this past decade.

 

Take Me Back Tuesday: Homemade Halloween

This crisp autumn Tuesday in October has my mind in deep thoughts of Halloween.  Halloween has always been one of my favorite (if not absolute favorite) holidays.  I love costumes, and I love candy.. so its the perfect day for me.  

Ever since I can remember, the question of  "what to be for Halloween?" has always been a very important one.  When I was growing up, I was lucky enough to have a mom that made all my costumes at home on her sewing machine.  Back in the 80's, the store bought costumes just didn't cut it.. remember those pathetic plastic smocks with a cartoon logo on them with matching crappy thin plastic masks that went with them?    I remember the highlight of September was going to the fabric shop, and looking through the huge pattern catalogs and picking out what costume my mom would make for me that year.

Now that I have my own kids, I still get excited to come up with their costumes.  I usually, don't have to sit at my sewing machine and create something from scratch.  Now the store bought costumes are pretty legit.  Although, I try to encourage them to be something original, that can't be bought off a rack, to spark their creativity.   We usually  hit our local thrift store and fabric/craft stores to get  the supplies to "make" our own costumes from "half-scratch."


When Shaylee was 4 she decided she wanted to be a  "Fairy Butterfly Princess."   So we found, some butterfly print thermal pjs, some off the rack butterfly wings,  and I made her a tutu out of tulle from Hobby Lobby,  also I found a little beaded, bendable butterfly that I fashioned a princess crown out of.   She was so cute, and the only "Fairy Butterfly Princess" at her pre school's costume parade.

 

My kids' have had many costumes that we created like this one, but we've also bought some right off the the Target racks.  This year to my dismay, my 4 year old son, Will, insists on being a Red Power Ranger, lucky for me I found a red ranger costume for very cheap at a kids consignment sale.  Shaylee's costume will be much more fun to come up with though, this year she wants to be Kathy Beth Terry, Katy Perry's nerdy alter ego.  My favorite costumes always have seemed to be the ones we've pieced together ourselves.   What  are some of your favorite Halloween costume memories?

5 (or more) things that made (the past 2) Weeks Fabulous

1.  I had my annual eye-exam.  I actually love getting my eyes checked, my eye-doctor's office always has a big bowl of candy bars free for the munchin,  I find trying to read the tiny letters a fun kind of challenge... and a new exam usually means new glasses, and I love shopping for new glasses!  I haven't found the right pair yet, but its always fun to try different frames on.

 

2.  IHOP is now serving up my favorite flap jacks,  PUMPKIN PANCAKES!!!  They are so good, and you can get two of them along side two eggs and hash browns for only $4.99!  So, the fam and I had breakfast for dinner at our local IHOP last Friday, and were pleasantly surprised with an on going kids eat free at night policy!!   Will got the chocolate face pancake and almost didn't want to eat it, he just want to smile at it!

 



3. Last weekend the kids were treated by their grandma, to a trip to the Renaissance Festival, and they had a wonderful time.

4.  While the kiddos were out with their grandma, Geoff and I got to hang out with our friends, Melissa and Justin.   We had a yummy Sunday lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, and then went exploring some sweet thrift and antique shops down town.  We found lots of fun stuff and had a great time.

Melissa and I with some creepy vintage masks

 





5. Will went to the KC Pumpkin patch on a field trip with his pre-school.  I got to go along, after convincing him to let me!  The kids were so cute and had so much fun despite the freakishly cold for the beginning of October weather.   Another bonus, the KC Live crew was also there filming, and if you tune in this coming Friday, you might just catch a glimpse of Will and I!

6.  The football team Shaylee cheers for got to play at the Arrowhead Stadium (home of the KC Chiefs) youth field... basically the practice field.   Shaylee of course was there to cheer.  It was pretty special for her, and she did awesome.

 



7.  I had myself one of the most epic good hair days everrrrr!

 



 

 

 

Well, those were the high-lights of my past two weeks,  what has made your week fabulous?  Hopefully I will return to my 5 things, once a week routine next week.   I know I have some exciting things coming up this week!

Convos with the Kiddos: Will's Art

Will, my 4-year-old,  has the potential to be an artist some day, or maybe a professional baseball player, or maybe a samurai ninja.. LOL.   Seriously though, the kid loves to be artistic.  Drawing on his Magnadoodle, or coloring with crayons and markers are some of his favorite things to do. 

A few days ago he rushed into my bedroom while I was putting away laundry, very excited and proud to show me his latest piece of "art."  

"OH, wow!" I said, in that "I-have-no-clue-what-this-is-but-let-me-act-excited" mommy kind of way. "Tell me about it," I said.

Will tells me an unexpected and thoughtful explanation for his art:
   "Those are foot prints of animals.  Animals with holes in their feet.  Because, we need to think about the poor animals with holes in their feet."

Indeed Will, we do!

Throwing Caution to the Wind...

Yesterday, I told you about my getting pregnant paranoia, and then the overwhelming relief when I found out I wasn't.  I said that I went out and made a big, rash, un-thought-out decision... here is that story.

Usually, I am an over-thinker.  I  have to think about, and plan, and budget, and think some more before I do or purchase anything remotely big, remotely meaning over $50 or over a few hours time commitment.  I am not spontaneous in the least, and I really wish I was a more "throw caution to the wind" type of gal.    So with my overwhelming since of freedom I gained when I found out my period being 5 days late was not a pregnancy... I threw caution to the wind, but it backfired.

We adopted a shelter dog.

My daughter has been begging for another dog (in addition to our little Pomeranian, Leo) to call her own for months now.  She really has been wanting a Boston Terrier, specifically.  We had spent some time this summer with our family in Wisconsin and their Boston, Sparky, and we fell in love with him.   Then we doggy-sat our friend Ashley's Boston, Olive, and we fell in love with her.  So when KC pet project posted a picture of an adorable little orphan Boston up for adoption, on the same day I found out I wasn't knocked up...... I said, "Let's do it!  Why not?!"   So on a whim, we drove out to the shelter and made it there 5 minutes before it closed, paid $150 adoption fee and brought the little pup we called, Roxy, home.

She was such a well behaved, sweet, little dog on the car ride home.  I was smitten with her, and so were the kids.   When we introduced her to our dog Leo, a first red flag went up.  She lunged at him, trying to bite him, sort of viciously, at the neck.  Because of all his long, fuzzy, fur  she only got a mouth full of fur-ball and not his flesh.  It was going to take some time to get her acclimated.

We also noticed that when she would get playful, that her play would quickly evolve into aggression, and suddenly her playful growls were REAL growls.  She kept going after Leo, who is half her size, and has not one cell of dominance in his little furry body.

Finally, toward the end of the second day we had her, we were all in the living room watching TV.  My 4 year old son, Will, was sitting on the floor playing with his cars, and for no reason at all, she lunged at his face, attacking him.   As he cried, and flailed she only became more aggressive.   Thankfully, my husband and I were right there to get her off of him as quickly as possible.  His face was scratched and bloody, but not severely harmed.   It scares me to death to think what would have happened if Geoff and I, had not been there... If I was in the shower, or down doing laundry,  how bad it might have been.   We knew then, that we had to return little Roxy. 

Will, asleep, after the incident

My daughter was devastated, she cried and cried and did not want the dog to go.  Even Will, asked if she could have a second chance.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I was afraid that if we returned her to the shelter, she would be put down for her aggression, and I absolutely did not want that to happen.

We called the shelter, KC Pet Project, the next morning.  They were very understanding and assured us that nothing bad would happen to Roxy, and that they would have a foster lined up to take her when we dropped her off, so that she wouldn't have to sleep in a cage again.  They also said they would make sure she would be adopted out to someone with no other pets or children... Roxy needs to be an only child.  She is a really, really, sweet little girl, that just needs to be trained a bit, I just couldn't risk the safety of my kiddos.

I realize that despite, everything that happened, it was good that we had some time with the little pup.  I am glad that we were the family that discovered her issue.  I know many people out there would have hurt or abandoned the dog if it attacked their child.  I am also glad that Will didn't get hurt severely bad, if it had been a younger child, it could have been worse.  I also learned that if we are going to be adopting a shelter dog, it would probably be best to be a puppy.  I am not fond of training puppies, but raising a pup from early on with children, is the best way to know it will get along with them.  I am also more aware of what a good dog our Leo is. He has never been anything but submissive, and I've never had to worry about him hurting anyone.

Our little Leo

Anyway, this little bout of "throwing caution to the wind" has cost me $150 in adoption fees ( I am going to call that a donation to a deserving animal organization,)  $90 that I spent getting her checked out at the vet, and $20 I spent on pink  puppy accessories I bought at PetCo.   This was quite an expensive lesson.   I think I will go back to my over-thinking ways!

Tardiness will NOT be Tolerated

My period was 5 days late this month. My period is never late. By the second day of its tardiness I was in panic mode, which only increased by day 5.

**Disclaimer** 
I am very aware of the REAL struggle and heartache that many people face with infertility.  I know that I am blessed to have not shared in that struggle, and my heart goes out to those who do, please know this post might seem a little insensitive to the subject.. but my intentions are just to share MY experience and MY life, not to step on anyone else's.

My husband and I are blessed to be a very fertile couple.  My daughter was surprisingly conceived when I was just 21, and had just forgone using contraceptive just one time.   I got pregnant again at 25..using a condom... but that pregnancy ended in an early mis-carriage.  When, at 26 I decided to "try" for another baby, we tried once, then I decided I wasn't ready, so we stopped trying, a few weeks later I found out that one attempt was successful after all.

Because of these experiences, I have become beyond paranoid when it comes to pregnancy.  I should have bought stock in pregnancy tests, because I am sure I've spent hundreds and hundreds on EPT over the years.   This time, I did not run to the drug store,  because two years ago my husband had a vasectomy, (you can read about the funny experience HERE.)   However, he never went back to have a sample checked.  So in my paranoid mind, I became more and more certain, that he maybe had an extra vas deferens, or maybe it grew back.

 

My mind filled with the thoughts of starting all over with another baby.  My daughter would be 10 years older.  My son would be entering all day kindergarten... and the idea of starting completely back to baby again, horrified me.   I've been a Stay at Home Mom for 9 years now, and its been great don't get me wrong,  I am blessed to have had the opportunity to be with my kids,  but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit excited at the prospect of venturing out to the grown up world more. Oh, and I just knew that my already small bit of social life would be over for sure, it's hard enough to find a sitter for my kids who are old enough to basically take care of themselves, and just need a small amount of supervision... but I believe it would be next to impossible to ever go on a date again if I threw an infant into the baby-sitting mix,

Also, I am terrible at being pregnant.  I get REALLY, REALLY, REALLY big.  I get REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, sick... throughout the whole 9 months.  And then a the end I would have to have a C-Section.  I remember the last time on the surgery table, swearing to my husband that I'd "NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!"  
 

Me, Preggers.... as you can see, I'm not one of the "cute" ones.

Finally, my period came... and I rejoiced... really rejoiced... then I went crazy with the overwhelming feeling of relief.. and went and made a BIG, rash, un-thought-out decision... more on that tomorrow.

Take Me Back Tuesday: A Look Back at my Baby Girl

My baby girl is turning 9 years old this Friday.  It is pretty strange to be the mom of a "tween-aged" child.  Watching my kids grow up so quickly is like watching Father Time sprint by at Olympic record breaking speed.  So, on this week's "Take me Back Tuesday," I thought it would be fun to slow down, and take a look back at some of my favorite pictures of little-miss, Shaylee.

Hospital Pic

8 mos old

Bath time fun age 1 and a half

Dancin' age 2

 

Ariel the Mermaid, mommy-made costume age 2

almost 3, bringing a flower to mommy

Princess on her 4th birthday

a fabulous 5th birthday

My 7 year old Cheer-leader

 Last  August, 8 years old

This is my beautiful girl today, well a couple weeks ago at least.

Well, now I am all verklempt and teary eyed, looking through all those pics!  I wonder how much Shaylee will change this year, what will 10 look like?  I admire her confidence and her sense of  knowing who she is.  I hope she never looses that, this girl has a lot to offer the world.  I am proud to be her mom... happy birthday Shaylee!

Convos with the Kiddos: A Smell that Will Likes

It is 7:30 in the morning. I am reading my daily blog list, and sipping coffee.  My 4-year-old little boy, Will, climbs on to my lap.  He cuddles into my shoulder, then takes a big deep breath in and says, "MMM, I love that smell!!" 

"What smell?"  I say.

"My fart's smell, did it touch your nose yet?"

Convos With the Kiddos-- Shaylee loves love.

 Here is the conversation Shaylee and I had in the car last night, driving to dance class, well mostly it was just her telling me stuff, I just listened.

Shaylee:  "I don't understand why some kids are all like "eeeww" when they see people kiss.  I think its great, its LOVE and I love, LOVE.   I mean  kids should be happy when people love each other, its kinda what made them.  Your parents start dating, then they kiss, then they fall in love, then the get married, then they do.... THAT, then they have a baby, then that baby is you, you know?"

Me:  "They do THAT???!!"

Shaylee:  (Laughs)