Tuesday September 29, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Will-O took Miss S. on a Dad 'N Daughter Date to see a movie this eve (due to b-day rapidly approaching and no school...) She was thrilled to stay up "late" and I was pumped to have Liam alone and then an evening solo.

Worst Part of the Day-

Today was the 12 Days of Birthday kickoff for Scarlet. Will-O will be doing a radio show tomorrow and then continuing with the tour so he will miss her actual b-day. I decorated the dining room with balloons and streamers and we did the birthday song and cake and she opened a few presents and cards AND she still had much of the SASSSY attitude going on. (Think if me at age 13.) We almost had to pull the beloved movie theater experience as she was full of lip and sass for miles. Da-hude, kill the 'tude!

Monday September 28, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Scarlet was chipper as heeeel today post-bus. (perhaps 'cause she is off of school for the next 2 days...)

Worst Part of the Day-

I temporarily forgot that after these many days of touring, Will-O is exhausted and not mucho help-o. It kinda mucks up the kids' and my high efficiency groove to have him back...things seem a bit chaotic when they shouldn't.

Also, it is freezing cold beyond belief and normality!!!!

Tuesday September 29, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Painless tire replacement and state inspection on the car. One hour o' my time which was spent reading. Not so bad. Then other errands and checked off two majors on the the 'to do' list dealing with the family's well being.

Worst Part of the Day - Must start eating actual meals instead of just picking off the kiddo's plates .... just so tired of preparing meal after meal after meal after (you get the picture).

Monday September 28, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Teacher work day so no preschool and no speech ... the whole day stretches out before me .....

Best Part of the Day - Erik didn't leave until this evening so he was around to take some of the pressure off. Took just Wes to the gym as Quinn is still not 100% well. Then we all went to the grocery store (I did bill it as an adventure and with Wes running around like a crazy person, I think it actually was). Then lunch and outside to play.

Sunday September 27, 2009

Best Parts of the Day-

1. Will-O is home for 3 days so I sent him to collect the kids from my parents so I could ready self for brunch!!!

2. Stuffed delectable tofu-wich with bloody mary's (omg beer chasers!) while chatting and laughing and catching up. Listened to friend who has been partner-less for 5+ years tell story of new, though, real deal love. She has a sweet, cool new man and you could tell it is big time intense. She had tears of joy and then treated us all to brunch due to her cloud nine status!! Good things come to those who wait??

3. Smoochin on the kiddies who seemed so happy and ready for rest after much g.parental action.

Worst Parts of the Day-

Dare I admit I was up for 24 hours yesterday? It was a bit.

Saturday September 26, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Delivered the kidlets to my saint mother so I could clean house and traipse off to Chicago to:

smooch on nephew-the-awesome, see fun fam, drink with funny friends I see way to little of AND watch nutty oh my god show (Will-O and that spiral permanent wave is killing me!). Ah, the vast things I do for entertainment. This (never ending) night really was somethin else!

Worst Part of the Day-

The kids were sooooooo whiny today. Scarlet must be holding it all in for 5 school days--she is honestly the teacher's helper and super star of the class--only to let her emotions go full-on bananas on the weekends. Seriously, she was sobbing and sensitive last Saturday and the same went for today. Big time!! I should be a tad more sensitive myself as I know the whole school adjustment and all is a toughy, but ma lordie...she was crying and whining and sassy alllll day.

Sunday September 27, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Wes appears to be much improved today - but Quinn is being a whiner forty-niner. So.....Grating...... I have a tough time with empathy for people who are sick due to my upbringing in which the health motto can be summed up as "if you've got all four limbs intact, you're going to school."

Best Part of the Day - An impromptu boat ride in the late September sunshine. It had to be 80-something delicious degrees today and the sun felt divine. Also had super yummy Mexican take out with Chris and Ann and so fun to hang out as always.

Saturday September 26, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Erik took the boyz to soccer and I sat in the quiet, quiet, refrigerator humming is the loudest noise, quiet house. Zen-y.

Jack and Carson came over to spend the night and we watched Mary Poppins to the delight of young and old.

Worst Part of the Day - Sickness abounds in the house. I have a sore throat and some aches, Quinn has a slight cough and Wes is clearly in the throes of a cold. So Q and Erik got to go to a International Festival full of fun n' fatty foods and puppet shows and dancing. I organized the mail and cleaned out the overgrown catalog drawer. Booo - but did feel like I'd accomplished something even if it wasn't eating my weight in funnel cakes (which maybe is a good thing?)

Friday September 25, 2009

Best Parts of the Day-
1. Had an hour to myself midday--cleaning and readying for the kiddies to come back.

2. Scarlet was exceptional this eve cranking through her 1.5 hours of homework. Man, when this child focuses she is money. She was the most coachable I've seen her and I let her stay up "late" (til 8:30pm--crazy Friday!!) and we played school. I was the teacher and she was my prized student; we went through the upper and lower case letters on the chalk board in her room. She was wizzing through her spelling words and writing complete sentences with crazy good penmenship--amazing! I had to force her to stop doing school work--I think I remember those days. So fun.

Worst Part of the Day-
I somehow missed my alarm this morning and low and behold Miss S. missed the bus. It was no huge deal, but I had to pack up the kiddies and cruise downtown to drop off my sweet so she would not be tardy (to avoid her missing The No Tardy Party! the school does quarterly.) A bit rushed in the morn for my taste.

Funny Scarlet Quote:
Today Scarlet said, "Mom, you look like you're 9 years-old. Let's pretend that you're not my mom, but my 9 year-old friend. Let's tell everyone!" Oh my sweet. Do 9 year-olds have this many wrinkles???

Friday September 25, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Went to my Group Power class today (I know, I know are you sick of me mentioning it or what?) But something interesting happened. The instructor pulled me aside afterward and asked if I might want to get certified and teach some classes. She introduced me to the owner and then gave me some of the Power practice DVD's to look at and train from. SO cool - get paid to work out? Sign me up.

Worst Part of the Day - WHINY kiddos! Thank God I had Erik here to take off some of the annoyance - he was outside with them for most of the day. I do think they are a little sick but it still grates on le nerves.

Big Day - Tonight at bedtime Wes said (as he usually does) "I want to go to playground." And then I say "well the sun has already gone to bed - maybe we can go tomorrow." And then he said "Tomorrow I go to playground, ride my bike, go swim lessons, go school, go Monkey Joe's and on adventure." Well better get some sleep in then - that's one hell of a day.

Thursday September 24, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Cryptic, cryptic ... but we're getting 'er done. Lots accomplished. Also Erik home today (hooray!) and so we got to drop off the kiddos together and have a very leisurely lunch.

Worst Part of the Day - some worries, some frets - but mostly smooth sailing.

Bribing - We picked up a bike for Wes today as he is 99% potty trained (only a few accidents and none of them of the poop kind) and this was the big prize. So we gave him the bike and he was very fired up (of course). So he's got his helmet on, knee pads, elbow pads and the kiddos is riding it pretty dern good (with training wheels of course). Later he comes in to use the potty and after he's done he says to me "now Wes get YELLOW bike." Um ... not QUITE how it works

kiddo.

.

Wes running for the new bike. Riding like a pro (kind of).

Wednesday September 23, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - The career crisis continues - sorry I can't be more specific. Soon, my sweets, soon.

Best Part of the Day - You know that old saying "when God (or insert Deity or other of your choice) closes a door he (she, it) opens a window?" It's true! Especially if you open the window lock, grease jambs and push really, really (really) hard.

Thursday September 24, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Made a hearty dent in to do list: emissions test complete, sending tardy gifts, and luscious/necessary Aveda hair treatments. Ahhhh.

Worst Part of the Day-

Cannot find the time to click through my Netflix as I usually do. Soooo sleepy at night. (Day 17/19 partnerless...)

Wednesday September 23, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Went to Scarl's Open House at school. Love, love, love her teachers as they love, love, love my girl. Scarlet is rocking the house that is school and highly enjoying herself with the learning process.

(Waayyyy cooler than my kindergarten...)

Worst Part of the Day-

Carrying a kicking and screaming Liam out of the Open House. It's been about 6 years of events where I am carrying a kicking child in or out. Sheesh.

Tuesday September 22, 2009

Precursor:

While at my parental's home Sunday, my dad informed me he saw a mouse in their house. My cliched female response: I shrieked with ickiness and terror at the thought of any small mammal/rodent being in my home. My dad said something like, it's just the time of year that mice get in a warm house--it's not a reflection of cleanliness... Still, I was grossed out and soooooo glad that someone as perfect and constantly cleaning as I would ever have such an issue. Whew.

I went into work Monday and noted all of these rectangle things along the baseboards. I asked our HR person what they were and she said that there was a mouse in the hall over the weekend and these were glue traps that don't use toxins or poisions, etc, so they are safe. Oh my!! I think someone said again something like oh, it's just the time of year. Yeah, right, I thought. How come I've lived here all of my life and never heard a peep about mice?? A co-worker told a story about how she had a mouse, but never saw it, only the droppings. I asked what they looked like and she told me, little black things. Huh.

Went home to see little black things around the plants and flowers I recently brought in from outside to protect from the chilly night air...

Best Part of the Day-

Got my MacBook back in my possession. That whole separation ordeal was honestly torture.

Torture!!!

Worst Part of the Day-

For kicks I set a glue mouse trap where I saw little black thingys (which I assumed were little flower petals shrunken and all balled up--they were surrounding my frickin flowers and plants!!)

This morning, at 5:50am, mind you, I came down to find a tiny brown mouse alive and kicking though thoroughly stuck in the glue. I was freaked and shocked and disturbed and grossed out to the max. I made the first of one of my many large parenting mistakes: I let Scarlet see how freaked and scared I was to simply pick up the (squeaking and squirming!!!) mouse/trap and plop it in a garbage bag and just move on with the morn activs. I just could not do it....Scarlet saw my fear (phobia) and started mimicking it perfectly with facial and hand gestures indicating my level of grossed out-ness. Awful!!!! What a non-ideal way to start an early ass day. Really one of the worst.

Happy B-day, Molly!!! There is NO WAY we can be as old as they say!! Wishing you the happiest day!!

Tuesday September 22, 2009

Best Part of the Day - It's my birthday! I got my eyebrows threaded (whoa - it really hurt at first. Dick Cheney would love it.) and took myself out to lunch. Very, very stress-free and lovely. Talked (or had messages from) all my fave loved ones - deeelightful.

Worst Part of the Day - Career crisis mode (yes, again). Not Erik's fault at all. More later - can't even bring myself to write about it now.

Monday September 21, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Preschool, preschool, preschool. Good for me (and the kiddos) to get a break - still rainy but at least now they are in a 'learning' environment. I worked out and one of my neighborhood pals was in the class.

Worst Part of the Day - The speech rules keep on coming. Now Wes and I have to sit in a small, kid unfriendly waiting room and wait for Quinn (or we can stay in our car). Plus we have to be quiet as there are just flimsy dividers keeping us from the actual speech therapy. The upside is that Wes' preschool teacher is there waiting with her 2 year old daughter so we can commiserate (and try to keep the kiddos from tearing up the place) together.

Sunday September 20, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Another rainy, dreary day spent inside. Booooo.

Best Part of the Day - Ann, Chris, Alex and the kiddos came over (with my wallet - hooray! I'm saved!) Chris put together the IKEA dressers for the boys and I cleaned out all the old/too small clothes from each of their rooms. Ahhh - so neat and organized! Love it. Picked up Erik at the airport with a near perfectly timed pick up. He was tired but in high spirits. The dressers being in place makes me soooo happy. Imagine - drawers that actually work. Good stuff.

Saturday September 19, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Heading out for our new soccer deal (coaches aka high school soccer playas run drills and games for kiddos to teach the fundamentals). I'm picturing myself on the sideline with a newspaper and coffee. I try to dig up my wallet in order to pay for said soccer deal. Huh - where is it? I'm pretty sure I dumped it on the ground along with my phone last night. The phone is in hand - the wallet? Huh. I look and look and look. I'm thinking one of the kiddos took it ... they love them some wallet. It is not anywhere in the house. I grab my phone to call Chris/Ann just to make sure I didn't leave it ... one missed call. It's Chris and Ann - my wallet is at their house. D'Oh. And I'm on E in the car and they are 25 minutes away. D'Oh. I then head into the gas station with two crumpled one dollar bills and several handfuls of change to get a little petrol in the car - still doesn't get it above E.

Also a rainy, muggy day spent indoors with the kiddos either driving me crazy or in front of a screen. And with no wallet and no gas we can't even escape to anywhere.

Best Part of the Day - Soccer deal looks promising! Both boyz were running and kicking and having a grand time. Watching them tear it up made me happy to be a mother o' boys (not that a girl wouldn't or couldn't do it - but just give me this moment.)

Monday September 21, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

Smooth sailing day with getting the kids where they need to be and making sure we were all bathed and brushed.

Worst Parts of the Day-

1. Computer issue at work is grating

2. Did not get call back that my own beloved Mac is ready for pick-up

3. Think a mouse may have entered the home...

4. Scarlet was told at soccer practice to be "less aggressive" when going for the ball.

Happy Birthday to Will-O!!! How olll-old are you??

Sunday September 20, 2009

Best Part of the Day-

My mom tended and tended to the kiddies this afternoon so my dad and I could check out a college tennis tourney nearby: The Milwaukee Tennis Classic. Cool to see the collegiate youngsters crushing the ball away. On our way home my dad and I went to play some tennis of our own (fairly non-crushing), though I do declare I can finally understand the mechanics of serving. Wow-30 odd years later, I think I get it!

Worst Part of the Day-

Kidlets waking at 5am. It's a weekend, peeps!!

Saturday September 19, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
I took the kidlets out to Will-O's mom's so I could help her book a trip online in the evening. (She was gone til later eve.) Somehow it was like we were staying at a calm/clean, albeit down right homey, resort. The kids were right at home knowing where every book, puzzle, toy, cabled-installed television is located. I made dinner in peace and we went to the cool neighborhood park. It was all so easy and delightful.

Worst Part of the Day-
The kiddies were oh so exhausted from the full day of fresh air, yet Miss S. would not calm. Doh.

Friday September 18, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Scarlet seems so happy when she exits the bus and appears to love, love, love her new teacher/class/everything. She came home today with a certificate stating Excellent Work! for her efforts thus far and she is super duper proud. That makes two of us.

Worst Part of the Day-
Alright, being computer-less in general is completely and totalling annoying, but the whole computer-less issue at work is now driving me nuts....yes, I can borrow a co-worker's, but it is making me far less efficient/productive. And I am nothing if not checking things off my list and churning away. Frustration.

Scarlet Comment-
Scarlet asked me this morn, "Mom, ya wanna know what the worst thing about the bus is?" (What could it be?? Getting up at 5:50am daily? Your nearly 1-hour bumpy and car sick-inducing ride to school?) I mom-ishly replied, "I don't know, what?" Scar-"The floor of the bus looks clean but it smells like rotten...like rotten salami and cheese sandwiches." I nearly died with laughter. Just like the old days.

Thursday September 17, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Kiddies went down easily and all was calm at 7:30pm. Also day 8/19 down (of Will-O being on tour)...smooth sailing thus far. Whew.

Worst Parts o' the Day-
Liam's preschool is 1/4 mile from where I work so it is uber convenient to deliver/collect him on my way to/from. Today I had an eye doc appointment so I drove Liam in to school and then turned around toward home to go to the appt. When I arrived for the appointment I was told that the doctor just went home sick and I would have to reschedule. Dude.

Found out today that NONE of my files could be recovered from my fried up hard drive. Booo. No, I do not have to pay the $1500, but I don't get any of the pics, vids (Liam learing to walk!). I have also been computer-less since 8/20....it is more than annoying!!!!!!

Wednesdayt September 16, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Went to Cuz Cale's 9th B-day party this eve (how can he be this old?!) and the kids had great fun. It was good see and be seen, for sure.

Worst Part of the Day-
Scarlet has an issue with one of Cale's friends who she says called her "stupid" once and isn't nice to her and uses "bad language". I know and really like this kid's mom so we were chatting at the party. The mom asked Scarlet innocently, "Why don't you go find (her son) Finn and Cale?" Scarlet replied with a furrowed brow, "I don't like Finn! He's mean and uses bad words!" I had to take Miss S. away and explain that we don't say (especially to a child's own mother!!!) that we don't like someone...I gave a few rote responses: we don't see eye to eye, I need to watch Liam, or simply o.k, I will try, etc. Eeegads.

Unexpected Liam Comment:
On the way to L's preschool this morn, he was fussin' in the car so I was using my old stand by distraction technique of "hey, look at that ____, Liam!" to have him forget all of his worries. This time I pointed to a very large truck and gave it my all: "Look at that huge truck, Liam!" Liam replied clear as a bell, "That truck is enormous, Mom."

Happy B-day Caley!!

Tuesday September 15, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Felt like a stay-at-home mom circa 1961 as I laid out a blanket in the backyard and lesiurely sipped homemade lemonade and painted my nails (finger and toes) while Little Liam played by his bad self. I haven't had just the kids to tend to (without also slidding work into the day) in quite some time. Felt oddly vacationy and unaware of time/place.

Worst Part of the Day-
Took Liam to his painting class this morn (Monet Monkies). He ran right in and showed me his last week's masterpiece and looked pleased as punch as he showed me around. The teacher was a few minutes late and she entered in a whirlwind and began spouting how she forgot her phone and her camera (she takes a pic of each child holding their work each week) and on and on. By the time the teacher settled in, Liam got ancy and decided to balk the whole deal. I believe I personally stayed 1 minute too long and Liam then refused to stay for the class....arrgghh. It wasn't even me who was late or forgot the damn phone, camera, etc (we all know I would have) and it still threw off my lil guy. No painting today.

Monday September 14, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
My mom came in to watch the kiddies whilst I went to work for doc rounds (roughly 5-8p). It's always way easier for me just leaving when she's on duty.

Worst Part of the Day-
Scarlet using stall tactics (i.e arranging stuffed animals, books and writing utensils around her booster seat in my mom's car) prior to simply buckling up and then thoughtfully arranging all of her precious items during the 10 minute drive to soccer practice (why in the world are these thingys necessary??) I was short with her and felt a tad bad about it. But WHY all of the stalling (and stuff) when we are on a strict time schedule??!
Also felt compelled to rush on out of work to relieve my madre though the work kiddies were going slightly bonkers...hastily sent 1 kid to the urgent care as I physically sprinted out the door.

Friday September 18, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Took kiddos to the new (to me) gym for the first time today. Wes threw a crying FIT stating (over and over) "don't like this place. Wanna go home." After five minutes of this he glanced at Quinn who was playing with a basketball set, slid out of my arms and walked over to him. Okay - well at least his 'hate of the new' is less long now.

Also got home late from Q's doctor appointment (doctors! traffic!) and then had to rush, rush, rush to get everything ready to take Erik to the airport (Fort Wayne wedding) and then head (traffic!) to Chris and Ann's house as other Reitter, Alex, is in town for the weekend.

Best Part of the Day - Workout, out to lunch, doctor's office, airport, Chris/Ann's house, home at 9 p.m. The day FLEW by with lots accomplished. Also very fun, low key and low stress dinner with Chris, Ann, Alex and all the boys. The boys played sooo well together until about 8 p.m. when it was past bedtimes. Then they settled down for some Deigo while we finished our din din.

Life Lessons - We're at Q's four year Well Appointment and things are going super grand. The doctor is showing Q all his cool equipment and letting him listen to his heart and joking with him. So Q is having a wonderful time. The flu vaccine comes out and it's in a nasal mist format - so that's pretty cool. Then the nurse sets out three shots on the table. "What's that Mama?" asks Q in his sweet voice expecting something cool like the otoscope. Ummmm. The first stick takes him by surprise. The second makes his start to cry. By the third - he is yelling "THAT HURTS! THAT HURTS!" We get in the car and on the way home he announces "I no like doctor. That hurt. I no like the doctor." I have a feeling it is not going to be easy getting him back for that flu booster in four weeks.

Thursday September 17, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Think me bourgeois if you will - but the cleaning lady (Marietta) started today. I feel kind of bad for her - the house REALLY needs to be cleaned. Ugh. I entered the house and it was delightfully clean and I automatically felt (and became) more organized. Cool. Also nice lunch with Ann - naked veg burrito at QDoba. Could eat that sh*t every day.

Worst Part of the Day - Speech canceled but I was not notified - so we hauled ass out there and then were told it was not going to happen. Sigh. Then a (of course) cluster to get them in their suits and ready for swim lessons. By the time we got there I could only sit and stare for the 30 minute period in a vegetative state.

Wednesday September 16, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Drop off for preschool much improved thanks to the changing out o' the car seats. It's the little things that can make your day or drive you crazy. Change it out, I say. Also did a new little class at me brand new (SUPER close) gym (still part of the 'Group' family - don't you worry). Kind of (dare I say) - fun. Clearly I'm also in a parenthetical type of mood (!)

Worst Part of the Day - Tired, tired of playing referee.

Tuesday September 15, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Amazing to see Quinn at swim lessons! He is having so much fun and can't wait to get in the water to participate (in fact they had to hold him back several times). What a difference from the last set o' swim lessons.

Worst Part of the Day - The manners play of yesterday turned into sibling smack down today. The whining and the shoving and the taking of toys - why oh why must you fight so, my boys?

Oh Clarence - After returning home from preschool I decided to switch out Quinn and Wes' carseats. This has to do with the drop off/pick up logistics - it's easier to have Q on the passenger side due to Wes not letting him through by putting his leg up. Easier to switch out carseats than reason with the strong willed Wes.) So I'm letting the kiddos play in the driveway while I'm changing out the carseats. They let Clarence out and he comes to say 'hi' to me. Then I'm really focusing on the seats and on the kiddos staying close by and I forget he's even outside. I get done - SUCCESS! Then I think "uh oh - where is that dog?" We all call for him for a bit - no dog. We get in the car and drive the main drag of our 'hood. No dog. I give up and go home. I call Erik's cellie to see if anyone has called in about him. No dog. About a hour later I'm turning on the computer for the kiddos in the bonus room. I just happen to look out the window and see Clarence trotting down the sidewalk. He is not heading home - just trotting on by. So I run downstairs and yell for him. He comes running on up and he's all wet. Must have been quite an adventure and he's quite a stanky dawg.

Monday September 14, 209

Best Part of the Day - Preschool, workout, $2 pumpkin spice latte, grocery shopping. Quinn's speech teacher is amazed with him - just judging from his last year's notes (and the fact that he sits and focuses). So great for others to be able to understand him -love it! Children behaving as if in a good manners play.

Wes - "Pease share Qinn."

Quinn - "Okay, Okay. Here you go Wes. Thank you. You're welcome."

Wes - "Now you have it Qinn."

Quinn - "OH Okay. Thank you, Thank you Wes."

If this could just continue I could maybe become slightly less insane in the mom-brain.

Worst Part of the Day - The Monday session o' preschool is not very crowded. Had a slight pang of guilt as I envisioned the other moms at home with their apple cheeked children preparing craft projects that are both fun and educational. However, I was really needing the village to kick in re: raising my children plus I'm not very crafty (sly, yes. crafty, no.)

Sunday September 13, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Slept in! Slept in! Slept in! Arrived at Chris and Ann's at 10 a.m. with coffee and bagels and hung out there for most of the day.

Worst Part of the Day - Another unproductive one - didn't get ANYTHING done on our very long house project list. Boooo.

Sunday September 13, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Headed to my parents (for my weekly visit). Played fun tennis with my dad (how can this man absolutely crush me at his 63 years? I guess he could be 93 and still hand it to pretty much anyone...) while my mom took the kids to the beach. We all headed to their church festival for the afternoon and oodles of playtime fun was had by all. Sweet mercy.

Worst Part of the Day-
Scarlet again was freaking out as I had to take away something (a clipboard, no less) as she was not doing as she was told. She screamed and sobbed and said, "I am just having a sensitive day..." My sweet child. Sensitive you may be, a toddler you are not.

Worst/Best-
Finished The Bell Jar. Highly enjoyed this quite funny and thoughtful book. Inspiring, really. Will miss it. Need a new book pronto.

Saturday September 12, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Easy breezy day with chilluns. Outside fun in this nutty hot late summer.
Watched a bit of the women's semi finals for the US Open--draahh-mah and crazy good tennis.

Worst Part of the Day-
Scarlet kinda freaked out when we were heading into the Y this morn. She wanted to hand in her card per our standard routine, but she was stalling a tad getting out of the car so I let Liam do it. She was p-o'ed and acting much like a toddler would. Again she thought I was "too strict" with her and again I told her that sometimes things don't go our way (due to our own behavior) and we must go with the bigtime flow when we are nearly 6. Jeez.

Friday September 11, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Dare I say I feel amazingly refreshed (in a general sleep way)? It is as if things are getting exponentially easier with the kid thang. Dare I jinx myself as I type???
Today I was showered and in a hipster outfit and off to work without forgetting my phone, losing my wallet or just plain forgetting one of my children. I'm back. (2.5 years after Liam's birth...)

Worst Part of the Day-
I could not stop watching Dexter-disc 3 even though my eyes were blood shot and I was beat..just one more...(so much death. And still cannot quite stand Rita's fakey boobs--I can't take my eyes off of them--in an annoyed way. It's taking away from my viewing experience.)

Thursday September 10, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Gettin er done successfully on minscule amounts of REM. Delightfully devoured a foot-long Jimmy John's sub in the afternoon and that made me feel of so much better.

Worst Part of the Day-
Just the shoddy internet availability...I can share with various co-workers, but dude, it's annoying for all (I am certain.)

Liam-the-Cute:
Out of the sheer blue sky Liam cupped and gripped my face/cheeks like a chubby Italian grandmother might do and asked with a grin, "Are you happy, Mom?" I told him I was and he repiled, "Me too!" (My doll baby.)

Saturday September 12, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Just didn't get much done today - unproductive.

Best Part of the Day - Lunch out with the boyz and they were very, very good. Wow. Dropped off the boyz at Chris and Ann at about 4:30 p.m. and then headed to a wedding. It was a cool experience - the bride and groom are both Korean (both born in Korea and emigrated here with their parents as young children). The service was actually Baptist and then the two hours following the ceremony were in the church basement (which was very nice) with Korean buffet featuring tons of authentic Korean food (some good, some ... not as good). Then the bride and groom changed from a tux and bridal gown into traditional (gorgeous!) kimonos and did a tea ceremony type deal with the groom's parents. Very, very cool. Hung out with another couple (Erik went to dental school with the groom and another pal was there) and it was quite fun.

Friday September 11, 2009

I can't believe it's been eight years - Never Forget.

Worst Part of the Day - KILLER cramps. Boooo.

Best Part of the Day - Marathon o' Dexter (Season 3 Disk 3) with Erik. WHOA!!!

Thursday September 10, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Amazingly efficient - oil change, dropped off dry cleaning, scheduled swim lessons, toured new gym, trip to the bank, dropped off tip for haircut (why oh WHY do they not let you leave it on your credit card?). After preschool Quinn had his first speech appointment and it went really well.

Worst Part of the Day - Scheduled swim lessons for the boyz today and talked them into letting Wes 'test' for the Level One - usually you have to be three. I got to the swim lessons ten minutes early and felt very proud of myself. Then the teacher came over to let me know I was 2o minutes late - I was thinking the ending time was the start time. D'Oh. But Wes did 'test' into the swim lessons so he and Q can take together and Mama doesn't have to get in the pool. Hooray!

Wednesday September 9, 2009

Best Part of the Day - FINALLY the first day of preschool arrived. I got my haircut (MUCH needed) and then lazed around Target grocery shopping with a latte and nary a care.

Worst Part of the Day - Is it bad when the kiddos are bugging you one minute after you pick them up from said preschool? Probably.

Wednesday September 9, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Will-O arranged child care coverage for me to go and see his fairly last minute rock show and kick-off of 6 week tour for this eve. Went with Cuz S. which is always good fun. Zoinks--the old stuff did rock and the new album is sensational (even if it is all about the culmination of the downfall of us.)

Worst Part of the Day-
When a rock show doesn't even begin until 11pm, ya know you are in trouble...bed at 2am is no good for my 6am wake up.

Tuesday September 8, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Reading The Bell Jar and looovin. (Now that my 4 hours of nightly internet usage is gone.) Also went to bed with the kiddies at approximately 7:30pm (dork).

Worst Part of the Day-
Still no computers for me to have at my leisure.

Happy Birthday to Quinnie!!!!

Tuesday September 8, 2009

Happy Birthday Quinn! Sweet, sweet four years o' age.

Best Part of the Day - Quinn's birthday! He was a super sweet birthday boy opening up presents with lots of joy and gratitude. He had cupcakes and cake and then pizza for dinner. He really seemed to get that he is a big boy.

We also hit the preschool open house - the big first day is tomorrow. HOORAY!!

Worst Part of the Day - Trying to explain to Wes that it was not HIS birthday. Although I think he knows it - he just didn't want to accept it. He ripped open presents, stole presents, blew out Quinn's first set of candles .... all set to the musical track of Quinn's whines. Exhausting.

Bribery, Jealously, Whatever it takes - After watching Quinn get several presents today - Wes took matters into his own hands. I heard him call from the bathroom and when I walked in I saw that he was sitting on the toilet. He hopped off the toilet, showed me that he had pooped and then said "now WES gets a present."

Monday September 7, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Headed out to the Lazy 5 ranch in Mooresville. It is this amazing place where you drive your car down a dirt road and animals rush your car begging for the treats you've bought at the concession stand. The kiddos (Quinn, Wes, Jack and Carson) thought is was hilarious and super fun, as did I. It's one of those places you'd think have shut down in the '60s due to litigation - I mean these HUGE horned bulls or whatever they are are coming straight up to your car (and the jokers behind us had their minivan doors open the entire time). It seems like something you'd hear about from your parents and say "that does NOT seem safe." But it's pretty fun.

Worst Part of the Day -whiny childrens. Oh my oh my are the days getting longer instead of shorter? Sure seems like it.

Monday September 7, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
You know it is the sleeping in! A full night's sleep without the minimum of 5 interruptions per night=magical (as always). Will-O and I took the kiddos to the beach in a fitting outing for the final free day of summer. It was refreshing and a beautiful day!!

Worst Part of the Day-
1. I forgot that Will-O is kind of a wuss when it comes to sand.
2. Lake Michigan has its real issues on the Milwaukee side. The south portion of the beach had waves of obvious black sludge and it was scary. There were signs stating that swimming and any human contact with the water had to take place just a few yards north where it creepily was not sludge-laden and looked perfect. Weird and yicky and somewhat alarming.

Sunday September 6, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
My parents invited us out for some park n' tennis fun and then a sleepover for the kidlets (sans me). I went to work and caught up on a ton and then Will-O and I watched the Tyson documentary with pizza in the eve. Super duper relaxing.

Worst Part of the Day-
After playing some tennis in the gorgeous sun, I was spent. I felt as though I could fall fast alseep...but instead drove an hour, went to work and stayed up til late.

Saturday September 5, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Will-O took Scarlet to flag football this morn and then also had both kiddies all day for the gym, errands and then snacks at his mom's. It was unexpected and kinda nice...

Worst Part of the Day-
Will-O didn't fully declare that he would be taking the kidlets all day, so I really couldnt' plan to do much. For instance, I thought they would be home around 10:30am, (and his phone was off the entire time) so I had no idea if they would be back in 5 minutes or an hour...much of my (really, really peaceful) day was spent waiting to hear the lot of them trounce in the clean home at any moment. They arrived at 4...that's a tad bit of waiting.

Friday September 4, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Watching Dexter Disc 1-season 3. Yes, yes.

Worst Part of the Day-
I had my first tears this morn as we did make it to the bus on time/early and when I saw my big girl smiling on that HUGE bus, it hit me: she is growing up so darn fast. It doesn't phase her, of course. Just me.
Not having access to internet is officially driving me nuts. Like a man with a porn addiction, but I just wanna pay my bills with a click and search for cheap airfare...doh.

Sunday September 6, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Deeeeelicious boat ride with Chris, Ann and the kiddos. Sunny, warm day - plenty of swimming and sunning for the group. Plus Jack is all up on the knee board and it is so fun to watch. Then dinner and drinks at our place for some (more) late night fun.

Worst Part of the Day - The boyz were in the basement laughing hysterically and you know that is no good. I walk downstairs and immediately get hit with the stench. Then notice both boyz are bare bummed on the couch. Then notice the dirty diapers on the floor. Then notice the ground in poop all over the floor (and the couch). I go slightly ballistic. Erik joins in. Boyz end up banished to their rooms for two hours. Basement cleaned, deodorized and sanitized. REALLY???? I'm going to throttle them.

Saturday September 5, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Super fun party at Chris and Ann's for Labor Day holiday. Always so nice to go to kid-friendly party fun. Had several Mike's Hard Lemonades (good for the hot, humid day) and plenty of laughs at the party. Very, very relaxing fun time.

Worst Part of the Day - Had not been watching Wes' diet at all lately - and he ended up with a killer diaper rash. Also didn't get home until well after 10 p.m. Bad, bad parents!!

Friday September 4, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Have missed the UPS microwave delivery for two days now (must have signature on this one), so we have to stay put in the house. I just KNOW it's going to be 2 p.m. before anything is delivered .... 11 a.m. the doorbell rings. HOORAY, HOORAY! And UPS guy is sooo nice - apologizes he couldn't leave it and walks the very heavy box into the house for me. Deelightful! Also Erik home by 4:30 p.m. Let Labor Day (and Dexter Disc Two) begin!

Worst Part of the Day - Kiddos = crazy. Leave it at that.

Thursday September 3, 2009

Worst Part of the Day-
Got up bright n' early to get Miss S. to her bus stop (1/2 block from home) only to miss the bus by 1 minute. Guess the dude this year is a stickler (last year's lady gave a 5 minute window...)
COMPUTER ISSUES: Now my work laptop also had a hard drive failure. WHAT???!!!


Best Part of the Day-
Made lemonade outta lemons after I had to wake/dress Liam in a quickness and cruise Scar to school at 7am. We were actually 15 minutes early so I got the car washed/waxed and vacuumed--all before 7:45. (Honestly this car has ongoing issues of non-cleanliness.) Whew.

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Scarlet and Liam started their respective schools today. What a relief to see each child cheerful and well-adjusted to their new environs within minutes. Scarlet's kindergarten teachers seem SUPERB and she is super pysched. Liam did not bat an eyelash when I departed his cutsie pie preschool. No tears for any of us! Feels good to be getting back in the school saddle. Whew.

Worst Parts of the Day-
1. Some Will-O high-stressin on the way to take S. to school (time management, my friend.)
2. Went to helpful data recovery man (cliched chubby IT man with food pieces in his beard as we chatted). Found out it will cost $1500 (or more) to recover files from my good ol Mac. What I must do for the home videos and kid pics...
3. My work laptop (PC) is also having issues with the hard drive and device errors, i.e. something is VERY wrong...difficulties getting on to my beloved world wide web.

Thursday September 3, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Drove with friend and neighbor Janelle and her two boyz to the Nature Museum for a morning o' fun. Walked all through the museum (it takes about ten minutes - but truly perfect for the under six set). Then we walked around the duck pond to the playground. There the boyz played and we set up a picnic lunch (lovely except for the dern flies). Very, very fun way to spend the morning. And so fun to get to catch up with J.

Worst Part of the Day - All the boyz fell asleep in the car ... but Wes would not be transferred for his nap (he was insistent on staying up). So the afternoon was pretty much misery .... Quinn seems off (getting another cold? He's not truly over the first one - or maybe they are now overlapping?) Wes was just a tired nightmare. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

Tuesday September 1, 2009

Worst Part of the Day-
Packing up some serious madness so the 4 of us could have a sleepover at Will-O's mom's...all in the hopes that she could watch Liam while Will-O and I take Miss S. to her first day of school tomorrow. (Liam is awful in this school--sprinting and screeching with delight and hiding in a large auditorium and then screaming with non-delight as he is carried out...) Whew. Though I remembered 99 items (back-to-school supplies, snacks, drinks, school forms and fancy outfits for both kiddies and me) I forgot to grab my camera...must document first day...

Best Part of the Day-
Quite a relaxing eve with Will-O's mom: din din made by someone other than me, Will-O on the clean-up crew and then running out to obtain the last minute needed school supplies allowed me to sit and watch the Brewer game in an easy chair and get borderline smashed on 1 Corona.

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Got to the gym, IKEA and then the playground. Check, check, check.

Worst Part of the Day - Quinn had a meltdown on the way to the playground. It was so intense (esp for him). Crying and screaming that he did not WANT TO GO TO THIS PLAYGROUND. Wes even was amazed by it. I about aborted mission playground but since it was 75 degrees and sunny - I just could not take them back home. After we got set up at the playground with picnic lunch all was well. In fact ten minutes in he was running around with twin girls holding hands and being bossed around. Hilarious - but exhausting for mama.

Also had high hopes and dreams of assembling the IKEA bureaus for both boys ... daunted by lack of tools (Erik has them in Wilmington) and too many pieces. Looks like it will be a team effort - sigh.

Tuesday September 1, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Got the boyz bedding in the mail today. So we headed off to Bed Bath and Beyond to supplement the adorable bedding. Both are sooo pleased with their bedspreads and pillows. "I LOVE IT MAMA" said Wes. "I LOVE MY NEW BED AND PIWWOWS."

Worst Part of the Day - Actually was at Bed Bath and Beyond twice because I only came home with three pillows instead of four ... and both times at the store the boys were HORRIFIC. Knocking over displays, opening packages, running wild .... I know people in that store were thinking "woman - control your children." I'm trying - I promise.

Monday August 31, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
I slept soooo long and well last night due to the kiddies being at their sleepover. I slept in this morn and feel amazing. Love it. (Now hopefully I can stop talking about how sleepy I have felt...booorrring.)

Worst Part of the Day-
A bit of stress with Will-O as I gave him my list of errands I would like him to do (what I would normally do on top of work). Perhaps it was a misinterpretation all around, I just LIVE for cheerful helpers surrounding me (or else I'd rather do it all myself.) Whatevs.

Sunday August 30, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
My parents graciously asked for the kids to spend the afternoon and overnight and the kiddies were thrilled!! (me too.) After my work and cleaning time, Will-O stopped by after his Chicago stuff and we ended up going out for Pakistani/Indian food. He took my on his motorcycle for the first time and it was all pleasant.

Worst Part of the Day-
The morn was slightly brutal with my measley 3 hours o rest. Dumb

Scarlet Quote-
Scarlet has been really into money and coins lately and when she asked a question regarding how many quarters would equal $1.50, I thought I would take the opportunity to discuss it in depth with what a quarter means in relation to a dollar, blah, blah. Twelve seconds into my speech, Scarlet cut me off and said, "I don't need or want a lesson on money, I just want $1.50 in quarters. Do you have them?"

Saturday August 29, 2009

Best Part of the Day-
Girls Night Out. Highly funny and fun (though I could've stayed in and slept...) but good to be out and social.

Worst Part of the Day-
Had to take the kiddies to the mall (this was our second mall experience as the 3 of us) to have my MacBook diagnosed with, in fact, having a dead, dead, dead hard drive. Yes, it is all covered under the Apple Care warranty that I purchased from the get go, but I still have to pay hundreds of bucks to get all of my precious vids and pics of the kids recovered.
The kiddies were unbelieveably horrible at the mall: Liam was full-on knocking over displays in Apple Store and sprinting through crowds and nearly tripping old and new folks alike. He tried with all of his might to enter the worker only areas in any store, Food Court, etc. At one point I ran into a friend who was amused by Liam trying to enter the swinging door that leads to Mrs. Fields Cookies worker area as he stated to any who would listen, "I work here, yeah, I do."
After I nixed Scarlet for more quarters for the gumball machines (she used the up the ones from her wallet and I gave her the 2 I had), she proceeded to beg for quarters from ANYONE as I was engaged in conversation--and she had roughly 4 people searching in their purses for coins when I turned back to look at her....omg. My friend said to me upon departing, "my god, a camera crew should follow you all around for an entertaining reality show." Who could possibly be entertained by this madness???? It was mad.

Monday August 31, 2009

Best Part of the Day - Got in a fabu workout (even though I so did not want to go).

Worst Part of the Day - It's close to lunchtime and Wes is way overtired. I'm done with the grocery shopping and have about two minutes before total baby breakdown. So I find the fastest check out lane. Then I realize that the person ahead of me is going to open a Target Card. Okay. THEN I realize that the cashier is brand new and has NO idea what she is doing. The minutes tick by and the boyz become more and more volatile (they are strapped in - thank GOD!) By the end all three of us about lose it (who in the HELL designed those double-kid strap in grocery carts? Certainly not someone with actual children. They can kick in the collapsible part from where they sit making a really loud WHAM sound.) Tomorrow begins the one week countdown until preschool starts - then mama can zen out at the grocery store instead of treating it like a battlefield where I'm mostly worried about friendly fire.

Sunday August 30, 2009

Worst Part of the Day - Erik left today at about 5 p.m. But this week he is not coming home on Tuesday evening :-( The driving three hours four times a week is getting old and exhausting. And the patient base at his new work is ... tough stuff.

Also Wes came downstairs today bare bummed with an empty cotton ball container containing a piece of his own poop. With a shit-eatin' grin he handed it to Erik and exclamied "poop!" as if he had NO idea how it got there.

Best Part of the Day - Ran some errands about the town. Realized that, why yes, it is getting MUCH MUCH easier to get the kiddos in and out of the car. Ninety percent of the time they just get right in their seats. Amazing compared to just one month ago ... light is shining bright at the end of that particular tunnel.