One More Sleep

Yea! We've been counting down the days for weeks and we are finally down to 1 night night sleep and my parents will be here for a visit. The kids are so excited and so am I!!!

Allie is Wowing Me

In the last month or so, I've seen so much growth in Allie's abilities. She's gone from scribbling on coloring pages to actually coloring in the pictures. She knows all of her letters and sounds and loves to name a bunch of letters and ask me what word they spell. I overheard her counting to 39 the other day. She stopped when she saw me so I don't know how high she can go. I'm just really happy to see that little brain working.

Finally, A Dry Morning

I potty trained Caden in August. Within two days of starting, he was night trained. We never had problems with accidents...and THEN it started getting cold. Nothing else changed so that's the only thing I can "blame." Caden started out having 1 accident every few nights. Then it was every night and then 4-5 times a night. We don't have that many sets of sheets. Out of desperation and exhaustion, I bought a pack of pull-ups and started putting them on Caden at night. He's been wearing them for 2-3 months now and hasn't had a dry night...UNTIL last night. He came into my room this morning after he went potty to get help with his pants and I was so thrilled to discover a dry pull-up! I'm so excited that there might be a light at the end of the pull-up tunnel for him.

Dread Pirate Black-Coat

Caden, the Dread Pirate Black-Coat (a name he chose himself), has taken up residence at our house. He is usually spotted carrying a sword and a spyglass. He has a patch over one eye and a hook for a hand. Black-Coat is an expert swordsman and will fight anyone who challenges him. At least Black-Coat is usually kind to his Mommy affectionately named Pirate-Mommy. He only locks Pirate-Mommy in his dungeon occasionally instead preferring her to work in his galley. Beware because Black-Coat is always on the look out for treasure to steal. :)

A Big Heart in a Tiny Package

Jaelyn can be stubborn and maddening at times. She gets angry easily and takes forever to calm down, but underneath all of that is a very sweet little girl who likes to do things for others. She's always helping me around the house Granted, she does earn money, but I don't expect her help. She normally offers it. My parents are coming to visit tomorrow and on Monday, Jaelyn asked me to take her to the dollar store so she could buy Baba a present. We bundled up against the rain and went after school on Tuesday. Jaelyn searched through the nicknacks looking for the perfect "breakable" present. She specified she wanted to buy something breakable which I thought was funny. Thankfully, she did listen to my advice and put back the funny looking dog and the crazy ceramic "rubber" duck in favor of a kitty cat picture frame to put a picture of her and Baba.

Jaelyn was also extra sweet to Allie today. A month or so ago, Jaelyn bought herself a tube of chapstick from the box top store at school. Last night, Jaelyn wouldn't let Allie use her chapstick and it caused a little uproar that Dan solved by getting my chapstick for Allie. Today was box top store again and Jaelyn came home with a key chain for her back pack and a tube of chapstick for Allie. Isn't that sweet? I just wish she'd show that sweet, thoughtful side more often!

"Chinese Takeout" Lemon Chicken

I'm not a big cook, but lately, I've gotten more adventurous and I've been trying new recipes. Here's one of our new favorites.

Chinese Takeout Lemon Chicken

1 tbsp oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 pkg (6 oz) snow peas, trimmed (about 2 cups)
1 small red pepper, cut into strips
1 pkg (4 serving size) Jell-o gelatin (Dan likes his lemon chicken really lemony so I've been using 2 packages)
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp zesty Italian dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 4 minutes or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Add snow peas and peppers (I added onions last night too); cook and stir 2 minutes.

Mix dry gelatin mix and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add broth, dressing and garlic; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add to a skillet. Reduce heat to medium; cook 3 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring frequently.

Serve over hot cooked rice.

It's quick, easy and yummy!!!

Zumba

I joined a gym last week. I went for the first time yesterday and had the best time. I took a Zumba class which is basically a Latin dance aerobics. It was a lot of fun and I was able to catch onto 'most' of the moves. It was an hour class and 30 minutes into it, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. It's been a long time since I exercised like that (college maybe???). I did make it and I was really proud of myself. My neighbor teaches the evening Zumba classes and has told me now I have to come to hers with a big devious smile on her face. She scares me!!! I didn't hurt too much yesterday, but I woke up sore all over. Sore in places I didn't know I had, but it's a good sore. It means I'm working all my muscles. Today, my choices for classes are Step Fusion, Fab Arms with Pilates or Total Body Dance. I think I'm going to do the dance class today. One of Allie's dance teachers teaches it and I really like her. I eventually want to try out all of their classes to figure out what I like and don't like. I have 2-3 classes every morning to choose from. Allie and Caden both went to the child care yesterday and really enjoyed it. I actually had to drag Caden out. Why didn't I do this sooner???

Bird Feeders

Allie made a bird feeder at school on Monday. She was so excited to bring it home and kept begging me to let her hang it up. We only have 1 tiny tree in our yard so we didn't have many choices of where to hang it. She picked the perfect branch and we hung her home made concoction up (a pine cone with bird seed glued to it with icing??? something white - not peanut butter.) After she got it hung in the perfect place, Allie started yelling at the birds. "Birds, it's time to eat breakfast. Birds, I hung your breakfast up. Birds, come and eat your breakfast before it gets cold." It was 5 pm by the way. I guess you can tell how I get the kids to come to the table at breakfast!

Snow Day

Just as I expected I received the automated call from the school district telling me schools would be closed for the day. It started snowing last night and we are forecasted to have more snow and rain today. It's nasty outside. Jaelyn was thrilled, but Allie was sad. She was supposed to have a winter picnic today at preschool (I have no idea what that includes other than bringing a real lunch instead of a snack). Monday is just too long to wait. I was planning on taking my first class at the gym I joined yesterday. I'm bummed, Allie's bummed, but at least Jaelyn and Caden are happy.

Unhappy Mini Van Driving Momma

I used to be anti-mini van. There was no way I was ever going to drive one of those things. Then Caden came along and a mini van suited our family. We bought it with me kicking and screaming, but after one day, I was a convert. I crossed over to the dark side (an inside joke with some of my friends) and became a happy mini van driving Momma. Today, I'm not so happy. I would love to have a regular four door car. Wondering why? When it's 20 degrees outside and everything is frozen, regular doors still open. Sliding mini van doors do not! Try getting three kids in, dropping off one at school and getting the other back out through the driver's door. Not fun! The automatic door did finally open, after I warmed the car for 15 minutes and driven it for another 15. The other sliding soor is still frozen shut. Days like this really make me miss Florida weather and my Florida GARAGE!

I Plead No Contest - Mommy Brain

How long do you think it's fair for me to blame things on "mommy brain?" When the girls were first home and Caden was a baby, it was a justifiable defense. Is it now? I still feel like I'm juggling 10 balls in the air at all times.

Allie, Caden and I went grocery shopping today. I parked the van. I helped the kids into their coats, locked the van doors and made them "toe the line" in between the cars. We were getting orange juice out of the dairy section forty five minutes into our shopping trip when I heard a PA announcement. "Would the owner of a Toyota van with Florida plates please come to customer service." Great - my first thought was that someone had hit our car. I did not want to deal with that. We pushed our almost full buggy to the front and approached customer service. One of the baggers was watching, waiting for us. She had this "you poor woman" look on her face mixed with a lot of pity. Praise the Lord, though, that no one hit our car. In my "mommy moment" of trying to get Allie and Caden's coats on and then get them safely to the store, I had forgotten to close the van door. Hey, but at least I locked it :p. It was one of those times that I just had to shake my head, smile and continue on with our day (after we had gone out in the cold, with our coats in the buggy still in the store, to close the van door, of course.) So, what do you think? Can I plead Mommy Brain???

Caden's Annual Check-up

Caden had his 3 year old well child check-up today. Their scales say he weighs 29 lbs and he's 37 inches tall. He's squarely in the 25th percentile for both. At his last check-up he was between the 10th and 15th so he's definitely starting to grow. Maybe it's all those green beans he's been eating lately! Dr. Falcone only had one concern about his left eye. She noticed that it drifted toward the center when he was focusing on something. I've never noticed it and still can't see it. She's not too concerned after examing him further, but since she saw it, she would still feel better having him evaluated by an opthomologist. Caden had to get 1 shot, but he was a big boy again and didn't cry a single tear. We stopped on the way home to buy him an ice cream as a treat for being such a big boy.

Dan's Honey Do List

Dan was a busy boy yesterday, but he made me proud :p. The things on his list...fix the toilet, replace the dining room wall sconces and replace the foyer light fixture - all things I know nothing about. He went to Lowe's twice and Home Depot once to buy, return, and rebuy what he needed. I'm thrilled to tell you the toilet is now working and I love our new lights. Installation of all wasn't easy. The toilet gave Dan a small fit (but I helped him figure out how to take a clip off the new part to make it fit on the old clip instead of taking the entire toilet apart to make the new clip fit). The first light fixture didn't want to come down, but Dan triumphed over it. Removal and installation of the rest were easy and now Dan has a happy wife. Yea Dan!

Caden and His Favorite Vegetable

Caden is now willingly eating green beans. I NEVER thought I'd say this day. Yesterday, for lunch, I served him fish sticks, green beans and grapes. I told him if he ate all of his lunch, he could have fruit snacks for dessert. Without any of coersion or bribery, he ate all of his lunch including his pile of green beans. My little boy is finally eating vegetables!

But You Don't Know How

We are going shopping today to buy new light fixtures for our dining room. Dan was telling Caden where we are going and why and Caden said, with much seriousness, "But you don't know how to do it." Caden doesn't have much confidence in his Mommy and Daddy, does he?

Allie's Earrings

Allie had her ears pierced a year ago. She chose sparkly pink flowers and has refused to let me take them out of her ears. She pulled a back off of one the other day and we couldn't find it. I convinced her it wouldn't hurt if she let me take the earrings out and put new ones in with good backs. I picked a Mickey Mouse pair my mom had given her and she let me put them in. From the expression on her face, she was shocked that it didn't hurt. Last night, I showed her some other earrings she could wear: pretty pink studs from Grandmother or my tiny silve hoops. She picked the hoops and they are so cute on her. I'll get a picture tomorrow. It's fun that she'll finally let me change them. Jaelyn still says she doesn't want her ears pierced and Caden still says he'd like his ears pierced. Uh, no way little man!

All's Well That Ends Well

I couldn't leave the toilet like it was. I just don't have it in me. After a little bit of playing (flushing and turning the water off as quickly as possible), I decided it was just clogged. I few good pushes with a plunger and it cleared and was flushing fine. The kids all got renewed lesson in toilet paper usage - I made them count...5 sheets a flush. The water stopped leaking out of the light fixture and the carpet that was leaked on is drying out. All's well that ends well.

Kelley and Lyssie came for dinner last night since Dan's gone and her husband works nights. I made breakfast for dinner and it was delicious. We had cheesey bacon grits, blue blueberry pancakes (I used real blueberries and they turned the batter blue), scrambled eggs, bacon and cinnamon rolls. Yummy! Typing it out makes me hungry again. The kids had fun playing, running and dancing. Jaelyn was especially excited because now that she's in school, she misses out on most of our playdates. Caden declared his love for Lyssie and she said when she grows up she's going to marry Caden. Silly kiddos! Jen, Allie has decided she's going to marry Jackson.

Make-up, Lies and Gummy Bears

We've had a morning...one of those mornings. Jaelyn is out of school today. Today is also grocery shopping day and we have run out of food. I bundled the kids up against the 25 degree weather and off we headed to the commissary. Shopping was an experience - not a fun one. We made it to the check-out in one piece with the promise of gummies if they continued being "okay." The girls decided to play in the parking lot and nothing makes me more mad...well, okay, there are a few things, but I'm big on parking lot safety. Anyway, the girls thought it would be fun to play and I made the executive decision that they didn't deserve the gummies they picked out. Allie was unhappy, but quiet about the decision. Jaelyn, on the other hand, was not fine with it. She pitched a complete fit on the way home and might never get gummies again if I have anything to say about it. She finally calmed down and decided to help put the groceries away.

Next Allie disappeared and unfortunately, I didn't notice it until it was too late. Later, I found her in her bedroom with my make-up all over her face and her bed. She was painting her toe nails with my mascara. I also found small pearls all around her. She had gotten into my jewelry box and taken a strand that had belonged to my Great Aunt Sarah. They were strung together with a piece of string and it pulled loose from the clasp so I'm pretty sure I can fix them, but still. It's been a while since Allie received a spanking, but she got one today.

Next...do I really need a next??? Next, I found Caden with keys that had been on a key rack. He knows he's not allowed to touch them. He lied to me and told me Jaelyn got them all down. Jaelyn says she got two of the rings down and Caden got the third. I believe her, although maybe I shouldn't (see "They did it" post). Anyway, I gave Caden several chances to tell the truth. He didn't and even blamed Allie once (who was upstairs with me getting in trouble during this time). Caden got his first dose of fibby juice on his tongue and lost tickets. He was not a happy camper.

We had lunch and all seemed well. I put Caden down for his nap and sat down to type this post. Half way through, Jaelyn, who's playing connect four in the living room, tells me "mommy, the ceiling's peeing." Oh no! Off I dash to the upstair bathroom and the toilet has over flowed. I turned off the water and cleaned up 1/4 of an inch of water off the floor. Thankfully the water found a chandelier to drip down so hopefully, it'll just drip down that and not drip on the ceiling and stain the ceiling (I just finished painting! I have no desire to paint a ceiling!!!). The water will be staying off until Dan gets home and can check the toilet. I like doing things around the house. It's fun for me to fix things, but the toilet is where I draw the line. That's a man's job (like taking out the trash :p)!

BTW - Did I mentioned Dan's out of town so today is par for the course!

Working in the Classroom

I worry about my kids. Are they happy? Are they well adjusted? Do they have friends? With Allie, I've really worried if she is ready for kindergarten? I'm sure every mom does it. Allie goes to a co-op preschool which means a parent must work so many days out of the school year in the classroom. I love going with Allie and getting to see how she interacts with everyone. She can be so tempermental and head strong at times and I see what might be considered immaturity at home. I have no one to compare her to because I've always felt like Jaelyn was so mature for her age. So anyway, I worked in Allie's classroom today and I so enjoyed watching her. She listens, she sits in circle time just like the other children, she plays nicely and cleans up when it's time. All those things that I worry about, I shouldn't be. She is a well adjusted, happy four year old.

I've wanted to volunteer in Jaelyn's classroom this year, this just wasn't a way with the two at home. I'm looking forward to next year with Caden starting pre-school. I'll get to work in Jaelyn and Allie's classrooms.

I think I'm feeling sentimental tonight, but I just need to write that I am so thankful to have my three precious children in my life.

I'm Done

I'M DONE! I'M DONE! I'M DONE! Want to hear that again? I'M DONE! I finished painting tonight. The stairwell is finished and now the colors flow from the front door to the back door, from the living room to the basement and back up to the bedrooms. I love it and it looks so good (if I do say so myself). I know I said I was going to do it last night, but I took a hot bath and read a book instead :p. I'm still not going to hang those pictures in the guest room, not yet anyway. I'll wait until the itch to move is impossible to resist and then I'll jinx new orders right into existence.