"My tummy hurts".
Gives me a minor heart attack. Every. Single. Time.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Today's lazy mom excuses
It's much easier to sweep up bread and cake crumbs the next day, after they've dried out on the floor.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The longest birthday week ever
We have a tradition in our family that birthdays are actually birthday weeks. It started about 5 years ago, when I was having a birthday. My husband determined that I should have a celebration that lasted all week long and our kids, aged about 1 and 3 at the time, went along with it because who doesn't like a party?
The next birthday after mine was for my Kid#1, turning 4 at the time. Of course, he wanted a birthday week, just like mommy - and somehow, because hubby was very busy at the time, I ended up organizing it.
The next birthday was hubby's - and of course, he's not going to organize his own birthday week - so I did that one too.
And then the next birthday was Kid#2 who was turning 2 and really didn't know what a birthday was or really remembered that anyone else had even had a birthday week, but Kid#1 keeps special track of these things and so we had a birthday week for Kid#2 as well. Which I organized.
This pattern has remained pretty much ever since - I seem to organize 3 out of 4 birthday weeks in our family, and it was originally hubby's idea. Thanks dear.
This year, since we've been in Boston, birthdays have been a bit of a bust .We have no close friends or family to invite over and life seems to be even busier here than it ever was back home, so birthday weeks consist of very small events - or else really big outings. Kid#1's birthday coincided with a family trip to NYC. His birthday gifts consisted of souvenirs from just about every place we went - and he got a huge Lego set to boot.
For Kid#2's birthday, it coincided with a school vacation week and we went to DC. However, we also spent many long hours in the car - including about 8 hours on the actual birthday day. Not exactly the great way to spend a birthday. And so his birthday week, which was supposed to be just the vacation week, seems to be extended. Although he already decorated birthday cupcakes, he has also taken birthday treats into school AND gotten a home-made and mommy-decorated birthday cake. And although he already got lots of souvenir birthday presents from our various stops in DC, he is also getting a huge Lego set (TBD) and maybe a party at a movie theatre.
All I can say is that this had better not be a new tradition - because I already work hard enough planning three birthday weeks in three months for the other three members of my family. I'm not really interested in making it a birthday fortnight!
The next birthday after mine was for my Kid#1, turning 4 at the time. Of course, he wanted a birthday week, just like mommy - and somehow, because hubby was very busy at the time, I ended up organizing it.
The next birthday was hubby's - and of course, he's not going to organize his own birthday week - so I did that one too.
And then the next birthday was Kid#2 who was turning 2 and really didn't know what a birthday was or really remembered that anyone else had even had a birthday week, but Kid#1 keeps special track of these things and so we had a birthday week for Kid#2 as well. Which I organized.
This pattern has remained pretty much ever since - I seem to organize 3 out of 4 birthday weeks in our family, and it was originally hubby's idea. Thanks dear.
This year, since we've been in Boston, birthdays have been a bit of a bust .We have no close friends or family to invite over and life seems to be even busier here than it ever was back home, so birthday weeks consist of very small events - or else really big outings. Kid#1's birthday coincided with a family trip to NYC. His birthday gifts consisted of souvenirs from just about every place we went - and he got a huge Lego set to boot.
For Kid#2's birthday, it coincided with a school vacation week and we went to DC. However, we also spent many long hours in the car - including about 8 hours on the actual birthday day. Not exactly the great way to spend a birthday. And so his birthday week, which was supposed to be just the vacation week, seems to be extended. Although he already decorated birthday cupcakes, he has also taken birthday treats into school AND gotten a home-made and mommy-decorated birthday cake. And although he already got lots of souvenir birthday presents from our various stops in DC, he is also getting a huge Lego set (TBD) and maybe a party at a movie theatre.
All I can say is that this had better not be a new tradition - because I already work hard enough planning three birthday weeks in three months for the other three members of my family. I'm not really interested in making it a birthday fortnight!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Our trip to DC
Last week was a school holiday so we headed to DC. It's a far drive from Boston, but luckily our boys were entertained by several DVDs in the car. I remember lengthy drives to Halifax and Chicago when I was a kid, before DVDs, and I have no idea how my parents survived. I'm pretty sure that my brother and I were the biggest back-seat fighters ever, though my two kids do their best to rival us for that title. Anyhow, let's just say that I love whoever created the ability for kids to watch movies in the backseat. It is probably saving their lives.
We stayed at a huge hotel that had a pool that wasn't open, had free wifi only in the lobby and gave free breakfasts for the adults. It wasn't quite what we expected, but it worked out. Thankfully, I packed camping mattresses because, even though the kids said they would be fine sharing a bed, that only lasted two nights and we were there for 4 - not to mention a night on the way down in another hotel and a night on the way back in yet another hotel. I have a lot of little bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion from this trip.
Overall, some of the sights we saw included a Capitol Hill tour (very cool - we sat in the actual seats of the congressmen and women...), strolling the Mall, Smithsonian Air & Space (both at the Mall and at Dulles airport) and the International Spy Museum. That last one was my fav but people weren't allowed to take pics, so I have no visual evidence that I was even there. I was a little hesitant about taking the boys because now they have a whole new bunch of stealth tactics to choose from, including crawling through duct work and hiding in with their surroundings. But they still laugh loudly while doing it, so I think my secrets are safe.
Other news of note: Kid#2 turned 7 while on the trip and is feeling all big and tall and proud of himself. We came home in time for Easter Sunday. At 8:30pm Saturday night, after putting the kids to bed, hubby looked at me and said "So... about Easter..." whereupon I showed him the bag of plastic Easter eggs, each one filled with Easter candy, all readyfor us for the Easter Bunny to hide. He is so lucky to have married me - or else he'd be running out in the middle of the night for Easter provisions. Honestly, you all should email him and tell him how lucky he is.
Easter Sunday started off too early with Kid#2 waking at 5:50am. We convinced him to wait until 7am but I doubt he went back to sleep. He found most of his eggs before Kid#1 even opened a single eyelid. And they're pretty much on continuous sugar highs ever since.
Today, Monday, is back at school and I'm wading through approximately 24 gazillion emails. And realizing that we only have about 2 more months in this apartment before we move to another one for July. And then we had back to Kingston. So much still to do here, but I'm also looking forward to being home again.
We stayed at a huge hotel that had a pool that wasn't open, had free wifi only in the lobby and gave free breakfasts for the adults. It wasn't quite what we expected, but it worked out. Thankfully, I packed camping mattresses because, even though the kids said they would be fine sharing a bed, that only lasted two nights and we were there for 4 - not to mention a night on the way down in another hotel and a night on the way back in yet another hotel. I have a lot of little bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion from this trip.
Overall, some of the sights we saw included a Capitol Hill tour (very cool - we sat in the actual seats of the congressmen and women...), strolling the Mall, Smithsonian Air & Space (both at the Mall and at Dulles airport) and the International Spy Museum. That last one was my fav but people weren't allowed to take pics, so I have no visual evidence that I was even there. I was a little hesitant about taking the boys because now they have a whole new bunch of stealth tactics to choose from, including crawling through duct work and hiding in with their surroundings. But they still laugh loudly while doing it, so I think my secrets are safe.
Other news of note: Kid#2 turned 7 while on the trip and is feeling all big and tall and proud of himself. We came home in time for Easter Sunday. At 8:30pm Saturday night, after putting the kids to bed, hubby looked at me and said "So... about Easter..." whereupon I showed him the bag of plastic Easter eggs, each one filled with Easter candy, all ready
Easter Sunday started off too early with Kid#2 waking at 5:50am. We convinced him to wait until 7am but I doubt he went back to sleep. He found most of his eggs before Kid#1 even opened a single eyelid. And they're pretty much on continuous sugar highs ever since.
Today, Monday, is back at school and I'm wading through approximately 24 gazillion emails. And realizing that we only have about 2 more months in this apartment before we move to another one for July. And then we had back to Kingston. So much still to do here, but I'm also looking forward to being home again.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Oh - and by the way...
My computer keeps running out of C: space. I can't tell you how frustrating this is....
*(&&(#$ I hate taxes
Taxes this year are a nightmare. I'm still self-employed, but from the US, and I have no idea how this works. I have spent WAY TOO MANY hours on taxes this year and my income last year was dismal - one of my lowest ever - so it seems even worse to spend days and days and fretful hours not sleeping figuring out this nonsense. And yes, we have an accountant do it - but I still need to pull together all the stupid forms and receipts and other bits of paper and make sure that I'm not missing anything. In the past several days, my list of things that I'm missing has only gotten longer. I hate taxes.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Why am I up?
It's 11pm and I should be in bed. I flew to LA on Sunday and spent 3 days at a great conference (on career coaching) and flew back pretty much all day yesterday, landing at 1am Boston time which is about 10pm LA time. That wasn't the hard part. The hard part was waking up this morning at 7am Boston time, meaning I had about 5 hours of sleep after a very very long day. But here I am - up and feeling just fine with my darned nocturnal body clock. Thank you so much.
In other news, I finally got to see the final production of the school play that I wrote and co-directed. The kids were just so darned cute in their costumes and make-up and it did come together really well. Kids who were so quiet at the start of the rehearsals back in January knew their lines and spoke quite well, although I still think that most of the audience wouldn't know what was being said half the time...
I'm such a perfectionist and it drives me nuts. I know those kids worked hard, but I still saw and felt every little error... Ah well. For me, it was a great opportunity to remember what I enjoyed about amateur theatre. And for the kids, it's something that I hope they will remember forever - possibly their first time on stage for some of them!
Friday (tomorrow) after school is the cast party - I've been told to show up with a Sharpie because we get ice cream and we sign everyone's t-shirts. I guess I'd better get some sleep to keep up with that energy! G'night!
In other news, I finally got to see the final production of the school play that I wrote and co-directed. The kids were just so darned cute in their costumes and make-up and it did come together really well. Kids who were so quiet at the start of the rehearsals back in January knew their lines and spoke quite well, although I still think that most of the audience wouldn't know what was being said half the time...
I'm such a perfectionist and it drives me nuts. I know those kids worked hard, but I still saw and felt every little error... Ah well. For me, it was a great opportunity to remember what I enjoyed about amateur theatre. And for the kids, it's something that I hope they will remember forever - possibly their first time on stage for some of them!
Friday (tomorrow) after school is the cast party - I've been told to show up with a Sharpie because we get ice cream and we sign everyone's t-shirts. I guess I'd better get some sleep to keep up with that energy! G'night!
Friday, April 08, 2011
Ok - I'm better now
After arriving home late Weds (seems like an eternity ago!) and getting caught up on work today, and finding out that the kids aren't really all that horrible (at least, no more than I remember...), I'm feeling a bit better. But will be leaving again soon for a conference next week.
Kid#1 will be helping with lighting in the upcoming school play (that I wrote and co-directed, but that's another story) and Kid#2 will have a small part with a bunch of other K-2 students, running in during a scene to be a crowd for a story-telling festival. Somehow, during the time I am gone, Hubby will just have to deal with getting the kids to where they need to be and then home again.
We've cancelled French lessons for the week (I'm pretty sure that, after this year, my kids will be French Immersion drop outs) but kept the piano lesson. Kid#2, who is nearly 7, asked his teacher to leave him something in B major - the scale that has 5 sharps. And then he got frustrated when he couldn't play it. He's got aspirations for sure...
And I will be arriving back after the conference at 1am on Thurs morning, just in time to get home, crash in bed, and wake up 5 hours later for a full day of work and attending the school play that night. I'm sure my hallucinations will be temporary.
Otherwise, it's game on and life as normal. And how are things with you?
Kid#1 will be helping with lighting in the upcoming school play (that I wrote and co-directed, but that's another story) and Kid#2 will have a small part with a bunch of other K-2 students, running in during a scene to be a crowd for a story-telling festival. Somehow, during the time I am gone, Hubby will just have to deal with getting the kids to where they need to be and then home again.
We've cancelled French lessons for the week (I'm pretty sure that, after this year, my kids will be French Immersion drop outs) but kept the piano lesson. Kid#2, who is nearly 7, asked his teacher to leave him something in B major - the scale that has 5 sharps. And then he got frustrated when he couldn't play it. He's got aspirations for sure...
And I will be arriving back after the conference at 1am on Thurs morning, just in time to get home, crash in bed, and wake up 5 hours later for a full day of work and attending the school play that night. I'm sure my hallucinations will be temporary.
Otherwise, it's game on and life as normal. And how are things with you?
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Get me outta here!
After three days away back in Ontario, I came home to a tired and grumpy hubby who told me all about the miserable things the boys did while I was gone and how difficult they were. After 10 minutes, I just about picked up my luggage from the front hallway and turned around and left again.
Well at least the next morning, when I finally saw them awake, they were in fairly good moods and our day unfolded pretty much as it always does - it certainly wasn't the nightmare I was expecting.
Kid#1 is back playing soccer and had his first practice tonight and Kid#2 gets into his team this weekend. This means that, on the good side, we are back with regular activities on the weekend and, on the bad side, we are back with regular activities right in the middle of each Saturday and each Sunday until the last week of June. I don't mind exactly having that to anchor each day around, but it does get in the way of things like spending the day downtown Boston or heading out for a day-trip to a beach. But oh well - we will survive and the boys will get a team activity out of it all.
In other news, I'm away again for a few days next week which is good - I hope hubby toughens up his skin for my absence. And then the week after that is school vacation around here. We have a trip to DC planned. The big question: will there be a government shut-down? And if there is, can we book a last-minute cheap trip to Disney instead?
Well at least the next morning, when I finally saw them awake, they were in fairly good moods and our day unfolded pretty much as it always does - it certainly wasn't the nightmare I was expecting.
Kid#1 is back playing soccer and had his first practice tonight and Kid#2 gets into his team this weekend. This means that, on the good side, we are back with regular activities on the weekend and, on the bad side, we are back with regular activities right in the middle of each Saturday and each Sunday until the last week of June. I don't mind exactly having that to anchor each day around, but it does get in the way of things like spending the day downtown Boston or heading out for a day-trip to a beach. But oh well - we will survive and the boys will get a team activity out of it all.
In other news, I'm away again for a few days next week which is good - I hope hubby toughens up his skin for my absence. And then the week after that is school vacation around here. We have a trip to DC planned. The big question: will there be a government shut-down? And if there is, can we book a last-minute cheap trip to Disney instead?
Friday, April 01, 2011
Particularly ugly April Fool's Day
This morning dawned with all the greatness of a really bad April Fool's Day - Mother Nature overnight dropped a couple of inches of the white slushy wet stuff, and it wasn't cream cheese frosting. The boys tried to convince me that it was a snow day and school was cancelled - April Fool's!!
I've never really liked April Fool's day. I've never really liked Hallowe'en either. I think it comes from detesting trickery and not liking deceit. Or else it's because I'm such a perfectionist that I wanted the PERFECT trick and deceit. Or else I'm just a wimp. Take your choice.
The best April Fool's joke I remember - and it wasn't mine - was in middle school when some kid showed up with a bunch of stale mini-marshmellows and put them on the chalkboard ledge, replacing the chalk. When the teacher picked up the mini-marshmellow, it felt like chalk, but didn't write on the board. The teacher went through a couple of "chalk stubs" before realizing the joke.
See - to me, that's clever and no one gets hurt - the perfect April Fool's joke!
Though when I was teaching, I hated April Fool's even more. And Hallowe'en - I never volunteered to supervise the Hallowe'en dance at high school, and they let me get away with it because I supervised more than my fair share the rest of the year. But there was no getting away from April Fool's.
So today my kids tried to fool me several times with the still sleeping joke, the "I can't find my clothes" joke and the "my tummy hurts" joke. Oh wait - none of those were actually tricks... that's our normal morning.
Ah well - the Internet has made April Fool's all that much easier to bear. I can see what the various big sites are doing for their pranks - Google usually has a good one and this year, Groupon trademarked April Fool's. That's kinda cute. But I can watch these from the safety of my own home office, and not have to worry about someone swapping out the sugar for salt in my tea.
Have a good one y'all!
I've never really liked April Fool's day. I've never really liked Hallowe'en either. I think it comes from detesting trickery and not liking deceit. Or else it's because I'm such a perfectionist that I wanted the PERFECT trick and deceit. Or else I'm just a wimp. Take your choice.
The best April Fool's joke I remember - and it wasn't mine - was in middle school when some kid showed up with a bunch of stale mini-marshmellows and put them on the chalkboard ledge, replacing the chalk. When the teacher picked up the mini-marshmellow, it felt like chalk, but didn't write on the board. The teacher went through a couple of "chalk stubs" before realizing the joke.
See - to me, that's clever and no one gets hurt - the perfect April Fool's joke!
Though when I was teaching, I hated April Fool's even more. And Hallowe'en - I never volunteered to supervise the Hallowe'en dance at high school, and they let me get away with it because I supervised more than my fair share the rest of the year. But there was no getting away from April Fool's.
So today my kids tried to fool me several times with the still sleeping joke, the "I can't find my clothes" joke and the "my tummy hurts" joke. Oh wait - none of those were actually tricks... that's our normal morning.
Ah well - the Internet has made April Fool's all that much easier to bear. I can see what the various big sites are doing for their pranks - Google usually has a good one and this year, Groupon trademarked April Fool's. That's kinda cute. But I can watch these from the safety of my own home office, and not have to worry about someone swapping out the sugar for salt in my tea.
Have a good one y'all!
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