As the kids get older and finally to an age to remember information when they are adults I get more and more sentimental and overly excited that they will finally be able to recall what we do. On average a persons first memory (aside from picture reference) is 5ish. Some people can recall earlier times and some cannot really recall until 6/7 years old. I can remember a lot from preschool and my 4 year old year but mainly 5 years old. I have a superb memory for useless information. One reason I excelled at being a biology major is because I can read something once and memorize it. Vacations from here on out should be a permenent memory for Dev----YAY.
You never think that when you are 7, 8, 9 years old you will think about your actions and events that happened and smile. Its the little things....for example when I get Devin up in the morning if he sleeps in I tell him softly, "its time to wake up." The first time I said it I immediately smiled. It brought me back to when I was ~9 and sleeping over my friend Julies house. We used to sleep in her basement and her dad would come down and sing in the stairwell that it was time to wake up and come up for breakfast. He did this every sleep over for years.
When I was really little our best friends were the neighbor hood kids and our cousins. I really hope that some younger families move into our neighborhood as the years go since a lot of our neighbors are my parents age. There are a few kids here and they are nice-but we need enough for flashlight tag! Our houses are not really "sprucer tag" friendly but they can definitely play flashlight tag and simply ride bikes to one another's houses to play. We used to play as kids with not a care in the world. Climbing trees, swinging into the creek behind Wilson field, bike riding, walking to 7/11-Riv....and of course each others back yards with forts and turtles and GI Joe vs Barbie battles. I mean what kid did not love growing up in the 80s in small down America. Yes I live very close from Philly and NYC is just a hop skip and jump away but my lil town was and (kinda) still is small town life. Kids still ride their bikes to school on nice day---but is this realistic with what just happened on Friday? Newtown was a small town...
You cannot keep your kids home all day-they need to live and experience life as a kid. I know this. But then you think of the parents who sent their lil guys off to school, kissing them and waving as they went on their way to the school bus. Somewhere you should never think twice about when it comes to their safety. As a stay at home mom watching your kid pull away in a bus is heart breaking but you are happy for them since they are so excited and so proud. You get used to it since it's part of the every day routine and you enjoy your alone time with the second born since its the first time you really get more than the 2.5 hr preschool day. You then you love to watch him come off the bus and wave daily to his driver and then his friends as they continue down the road. He does this EVERYDAY. He gets off the bus, runs across the street to our driveway and then stands and waves. It really is so sweet and so kind. So innocent and so loving. And some asshole had to take that sweetness away from 20 parents. I have not watched the news about it nor do I plan to read any of the articles about the funerals and press releases about the school as it plans to reopen. Why? Why watch it? I can sympathize with the feelings but I truly hope I NEVER have to experience what they feel. There is a lot of arguments about letting your kids know what happened. Almost every parent I talked to or who has messaged me said (if they discussed what happened) they were very simple and no details were given. People with 8,9 10 year olds and up can obviously discuss what happened but the parents with 3,4,5,6 year olds gave no details or simple events. There is one person that told their young child what happened and I do not agree with it. That is their way of parenting and I have my way. Neither is wrong or right but I feel good about my decision knowing that people my parents age, most of my friends and every educator I have spoken to all agree that they do not need to know and if they do keep it very simple.
Christmas is going to be here in 5 days and I want Devin and Riley to focus on that and what it means for Christmas. Its not just about Santa and gifts. Too many parents now a day do not focus on anything but presents and Santa. I want my kids to know what Christmas is (even though we are not religious) and to appreciate time with family and friends. My kids are not allowed to just go into a present opening frenzy. They take turns and say thank you after each gift-if its from someone else. I find it appalling when kids just tear through everything like its a race. Why are parents not teaching them manners? And how can a kid see; really see what they are receiving if they are opening and then moving on to the next so fast? When I ask Riley what Christmas means she says "Its Jesus' birthday and we celebrate him." This is the first year I am not ready. I am usually done every preparation by the first week in December....but with Frank traveling with work and being so busy with dumb things I fell behind. Christmas cards just got finished Monday. Sad sad sad.
So now I get my day started with Riley wanting to watch yet another Christmas movie since that is what she only wants to watch these days and I get things together for the day. Devin has his serious Santa count down and is very excited to wear jammies to school on Friday for Kindergarten pajama day. Yesterday he was questioning if a bad man would come into his school and although he did bring it up again today, I was able to divert him to finding Missy his elf. 5 year olds should be focused on playing and enjoying life-not worrying if a gunman will be busting into his school and killing him. Yes there's protocol to practice drills in case of emergency now...but he does not need the fear of what happened Friday to plague his daily life.
As our first holiday week back east (in 6 yrs) approaches I am getting excited for the kids to experience it all with family. Most of our friends in Las Vegas traveled to family for the holidays so it was typically just us...and now they have a line up of events. Its festive and fun and mom and dad will be drinking lots of wine :) Hooray for being back east where it all is so much more festive with cold weather, fire places and that cozy holiday spirit! Except the weather has been screwy and my irises and daffodils are coming up already!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Kids like to sleep in same room-is that ok?
Devin and Riley have recently started to ask to sleep in one smothers room. They usually request devins room and Riley sleeps on devins trundle bed. They still go to bed at 7/715 and do not fool around talking or playing. I'm not sure if this is normal or ok. I know I shared a room with my sister growing up but that was bc of lack of bedrooms. I do make them sleep in their own rooms every other night or so, but even then I still sometimes come up stairs to them having a slumber party.
I won't allow them to sleep in my bed with me so maybe that is why they want to have slumber parties? Devin requires a night light and his door open while Riley just wants a night light door shut. I figure letting them sleep in the same room is ok since they are able to sleep apart??? And they're at an age that devin isn't going to want his kid sister around sooner than later.
Riley also has started this odd separation anxiety thing in certain instances. She asks me if I'm ever coming back. She friend the last two days at preschool drop off and has cried when I leave her with frank or my mom to go to volleyball. She never cared before and never batted an eye esp at school. I have no idea why she all the sudden has this odd fear that I'm not coming back. She said the same thing to Kelly when she left from staying w kids over the weekend while frank and I were away.
She's in tumbling now and is just the cutest lil thing. Here's her walking backward along the tape...she's hit some killer calf muscles for such a lil squeak.
I won't allow them to sleep in my bed with me so maybe that is why they want to have slumber parties? Devin requires a night light and his door open while Riley just wants a night light door shut. I figure letting them sleep in the same room is ok since they are able to sleep apart??? And they're at an age that devin isn't going to want his kid sister around sooner than later.
Riley also has started this odd separation anxiety thing in certain instances. She asks me if I'm ever coming back. She friend the last two days at preschool drop off and has cried when I leave her with frank or my mom to go to volleyball. She never cared before and never batted an eye esp at school. I have no idea why she all the sudden has this odd fear that I'm not coming back. She said the same thing to Kelly when she left from staying w kids over the weekend while frank and I were away.
She's in tumbling now and is just the cutest lil thing. Here's her walking backward along the tape...she's hit some killer calf muscles for such a lil squeak.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Cleaning out the playroom-sick again
In Las Vegas we had a huge toy room-20*25 I believe and it was only for the kids since we has a seperate living room down stairs for frank and I to watch tv in. Their toy room was upstairs which is even better and was a open loft so we could monitor them since they were so young.
When I was packing the house to move I did get rid of a lot of toys and misc stuff we didn't need/use as well. Their toy room here is the front living room and is significantly smaller than our Las Vegas house. Although a decent size (20*16isj) it is tight w their stuff. I do not even try to clean it up half as often as I used to. This house is larger than our last and the kids do not seem to spend as much time alone in there as much as the used to. I need to do a better job of NOT allowing them in family room to veg. They have their own room....right?
That said, every Christmas I have the kids go through their toys and get rid of some. This was super easy in the past since we had so much baby/toddler stuff but now the have less stuff and its more age appropriate to grow with. I have a few things I want to hold on to for them to have when they're older and have kids of their own, but most of this stuff I just want to give to a younger guy that can use them. I want the kids to know that they need to give to those less fortunate and be 'ok' with letting things go.
Riley had a tough time with this but managed to let go if two Minnie toys, three babies and a toy lunch box. She thinks that the amount of toys that she put in the box means that's how many toys she gets from Santa. Devin told her that the toys from Santa are a surprise and you may get 3 or 37 but you never know. He told Riley that we donate to kids who "can't have enough money to pay for toys. " Devin is getting rid if a collaboration of two play tool sets and tool box. I suggested it and he said "of course mom, they don't work anyway." Now this kind of pulled my heart strings. I remember when he got his first part and the second set came when he was 27 months old and fully potty trained. It was what he chose for his special gift to be in undies. He used to get his tools and help daddy when he was just a lil guy. Now he knows they're toys and don't work. Sigh.
Went to dr today after not being able to handle being sick anymore. Double ear infection and full blown sinus infection. She was surprised my ear drums had not bursts yet since they were so inflamed. Got some crazy oral steroids to take down ears which I have to take 6 tablets on day one along with levaquin. Dr reminded me that I was just in 8 weeks ago for this same issue and maybe I will be primed to sinus/ear infections since relocating back. She also commented that although I've lost 8 lbs (saying yay as she said it) that I still need to continue in that direction to get to the ideal weight for my height. Umm thanks lady-I'm well aware.
I wish I had a bottle of wine. Office space is on so that makes tonight bearable.
When I was packing the house to move I did get rid of a lot of toys and misc stuff we didn't need/use as well. Their toy room here is the front living room and is significantly smaller than our Las Vegas house. Although a decent size (20*16isj) it is tight w their stuff. I do not even try to clean it up half as often as I used to. This house is larger than our last and the kids do not seem to spend as much time alone in there as much as the used to. I need to do a better job of NOT allowing them in family room to veg. They have their own room....right?
That said, every Christmas I have the kids go through their toys and get rid of some. This was super easy in the past since we had so much baby/toddler stuff but now the have less stuff and its more age appropriate to grow with. I have a few things I want to hold on to for them to have when they're older and have kids of their own, but most of this stuff I just want to give to a younger guy that can use them. I want the kids to know that they need to give to those less fortunate and be 'ok' with letting things go.
Riley had a tough time with this but managed to let go if two Minnie toys, three babies and a toy lunch box. She thinks that the amount of toys that she put in the box means that's how many toys she gets from Santa. Devin told her that the toys from Santa are a surprise and you may get 3 or 37 but you never know. He told Riley that we donate to kids who "can't have enough money to pay for toys. " Devin is getting rid if a collaboration of two play tool sets and tool box. I suggested it and he said "of course mom, they don't work anyway." Now this kind of pulled my heart strings. I remember when he got his first part and the second set came when he was 27 months old and fully potty trained. It was what he chose for his special gift to be in undies. He used to get his tools and help daddy when he was just a lil guy. Now he knows they're toys and don't work. Sigh.
Went to dr today after not being able to handle being sick anymore. Double ear infection and full blown sinus infection. She was surprised my ear drums had not bursts yet since they were so inflamed. Got some crazy oral steroids to take down ears which I have to take 6 tablets on day one along with levaquin. Dr reminded me that I was just in 8 weeks ago for this same issue and maybe I will be primed to sinus/ear infections since relocating back. She also commented that although I've lost 8 lbs (saying yay as she said it) that I still need to continue in that direction to get to the ideal weight for my height. Umm thanks lady-I'm well aware.
I wish I had a bottle of wine. Office space is on so that makes tonight bearable.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Welcome back
I haven't posted in forever....few reasons- first frank has been traveling a lot. While he is gone I don't have a lap top and blogging on phone or tablet is not the same. 2. Where has the time gone-how is it December 4th? 3. I just suck.
Kids are so excited for Christmas. They live looking for missy their elf every am and it's so cool that they truly believe she's real. Talk about a million or better yet, billion dollar company. Ya know pbk carried clothes for elf on the shelf? The love to look for Christmas lights at night if we are in the car and I finally finished ours here. Timer is set for 5 since it gets dark here beginning at 4:30 which is just crszy.
Riley is really enjoying school and is getting much better with writing. She actually enjoys it now when a few months back she was discouraged since she was not "good like devin." She loves crafts especially perla beads and coloring. She is such a sweet little girl with a great personality. She is excelling at tumbling and come spring I will probably get her on to a "preteam" team per suggestion of her coach. As for now, she's learning the fundamentals and loves it.
Devin is doing excellent in kindergarten as expected. He is a type a achiever and social butterfly. He is writing phonetically and doing a fantastic job at spelling words by sounding out the sounds. He is reading much better now and enjoys figuring out what the pages say by himself. He has met some great friends in class and finally has drop off play dates! Hallelujah for those!!!!!
Just to keep this post short and sweet we are getting ready for our first Christmas in nj in 6 years and acclimating to a wet winter instead of the dry desert winter.
Kids are so excited for Christmas. They live looking for missy their elf every am and it's so cool that they truly believe she's real. Talk about a million or better yet, billion dollar company. Ya know pbk carried clothes for elf on the shelf? The love to look for Christmas lights at night if we are in the car and I finally finished ours here. Timer is set for 5 since it gets dark here beginning at 4:30 which is just crszy.
Riley is really enjoying school and is getting much better with writing. She actually enjoys it now when a few months back she was discouraged since she was not "good like devin." She loves crafts especially perla beads and coloring. She is such a sweet little girl with a great personality. She is excelling at tumbling and come spring I will probably get her on to a "preteam" team per suggestion of her coach. As for now, she's learning the fundamentals and loves it.
Devin is doing excellent in kindergarten as expected. He is a type a achiever and social butterfly. He is writing phonetically and doing a fantastic job at spelling words by sounding out the sounds. He is reading much better now and enjoys figuring out what the pages say by himself. He has met some great friends in class and finally has drop off play dates! Hallelujah for those!!!!!
Just to keep this post short and sweet we are getting ready for our first Christmas in nj in 6 years and acclimating to a wet winter instead of the dry desert winter.
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