Errands

I've done a good job of allowing the kids to stay home and play while I take care of errands alone much of their lives. Because of this they truly don't enjoy running errands, especially Ellie. Max can be convinced sometimes. And, Clair is the exception as she just loves running around and seeing the world. 

Yesterday I decided to bring Max and Ellie with me to grocery shop despite their protest largely because David was so busy with a big house project and couldn't mediate fights and respond to needs. They weren't pleased but once I to the car they were good spirited. 

I decided to treat them to something they rarely get if they behaved and they did. We all stopped st Starbucks and I got them frappochinos! They were so pyhsched. Best faces all day! Too bad it's a love a sugar, but still love these moments. I was grouchy and stressed out with everything going on so this was my good moment of the day. 

Clair loves her Legos!

Clair will spend hours playing with her Lego diploma since we expanded the set at Christmas. She creates whole stories and worlds for all the little figures we have lying around the toy shelves from the frogs, to smurfs, her fairies, and many more. 

I captured this photo mid play last week and think of it as a real picture capture of her childhood. 

Interview with the kids: Subject - Mommy

Yesterday I followed a fun facebook/email interview with the kids on the subject of Me, Mommy. Below are the answers and they were quite fun to here. Each kid's personality came out in their responses. It was a bit hard for Clair, but in Clair spirit, she can do anything Ellie and Max can do, so she wanted a chance too!

Instructions: Without ANY prompting, ask your kids these questions. Its a great way to see what they think. 

Ellie - age 8, Max age 5 1/2, and 2 1/2
1. What is something I always say to you?m- stop
E- hurry up and get ready
C- get a bath

2. What makes me happy?M- when I snuggle you
E- me protecting you
C- chocolate

3. What makes me sad?M- when I'm in time out
E- when I have to be away from them
C- go to time out

4. How do I make you laugh?M - when I tell you silly things to say to people
E- by being funny with me
C- how to put our pants on

5. What was I like as a child?M - silly
E- I don't know

6. How old am I?M- 39
E-39

7. How tall am I?M- as tall as a dinosaur
E- 5 feet 7 inches

8. What is my favorite thing to do?M- sleep
E- play with us
C- put shirts on

9. What do I do when you're not around?M - watch a movie
E- I don't know
C- wake you uo

10. What am I really good at?M- writing pictures and keeping things safe
E-cooking desserts and playing with us
C-taking care of Clair bear

11. What is something I'm not good at?M- putting eye-drops in my eyes
E- spending a lot of time with us
C- at the letters

12. What do I do for a job?M- work on my computer
E- you help make apps to fix computers
C- go on a phone call

13. What is my favorite food?M- turkey
E- peanut butter
C - meat

14. What do you enjoy doing with me?M- movies, getting dressed in costumes
E- going on dates with me
c- putting our socks on

A Mommy Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the one extra holiday I get off each year and get to spend it with me and the kids. Today was a really good day for me and the kids. I tried to let them lead. We did a lot of things that they wanted to do.

We had a bit of a treat for breakfast and then it was requested by max that we get the drum set up. We inherited some drums and he thinks this is the best thing ever. Today, after two hours, I got the drum set set up. I think you told me three or four times it was the best day of his life!

The girls were also pretty interested in the drums, and they all helped a little bit as well. After lunch he also helped me take down the Christmas tree. Each of them was helpful. It is amazing to me how much clearer really wants to help and do big things when she is just 2 1/2. The little scary the number times I find myself saying to her because you're two.  David and I talk tonight about needing to find some chores that we call hers. She really wants to be a big girl too. 

During nap we played a game for a while. Then, they got out dolphin tale. I spent a good 2 Hours helping Ellie with a craft project she got for her birthday- a tie quilt.  I even skipped my exercises. 

For snack we made our pop-pop with butter, salt, and Parmesan, and this is always a special for us. Everyone enjoys it!

The other thing we did was make the fixings for a dessert that Ellie picked out of her hairy Potter cookbook. This was very exciting to both her and Max. We proceeded to enjoy this dessert after a dinner of tacos. Mostly, everyone had a good day. There were a few moments of fighting over the new drums. And always a few moments disagree with mommy's rooms and Waze. But overall they were friendly, kind, helpful, loving, and just all around great to spend a day with. I wish we could have one mommy day a week without having to have anything to accomplish. I need to work on making more of these in my life!

Coloring with the boss

After nap, snack and business were taken care of today, Clair and I sat down to draw and paint. Basically, she mostly told me what to do and I created her vision. Her vision was as specific as Clair sitting in her high chair buckled inside our house. 

In another skit, Clair is at swimming with mr Zach blowing bubbles. Except she doesn't want to blow bubbles and wants to get in the bus instead. 

I'm expected to draw every story and skit that comes to mind. 

This girl is something else. 

Max first school class birthday party

One of the little girls in Max's kindergarten invited the whole class to her party. Max was so excited to go, that he had a hard time sleeping last night. It so happened the party was at Pump It Up, which everyone loves. But I think it was much more about having fun socially with his classmates. 

Max was counting down the hours to the party. He mentioned it several times during the week, but them Friday night it was all he talked about, he woke up like 5 am to pee and came to tell David he was so excited about the party that he couldn't go back to sleep, and finally when we all got up he was counting the minutes and seconds until they got to leave for the party.  It was adorable!

The adrenaline rush was so strong that he is exhausted and now down for his first Saturday nap since being sick. What a cutie pie! He's growing up!

Dinner Drama

Family dinners are supposed to be one of the pillars of a good childhood. For Ellie, i'm not sure she'd agree. 

Ellie is 8. She has always been a slow picky eater. I see Max and Clair coming around with their eating habits, but poor Ellie Bean is holding strong in being slow, picky and drama ridden when it comes to eating her dinner. If it's not spaghetti or pizza, we have a problem. 

Last night she was struggling once again and I took this photo. One day I hope to look back on this and laugh at the long painful dinners that ended with timers and lost desserts. One day I hope that this challenge has resulted in Elli becoming the healthy eater that puts her in the right path in life. One day, I hope to look back and safe I was right to keep fighting this fight with often ends in tears, frustrations, and Ellie saying things like "I feel like you don't love me or care about me." 

I love her so much and I will fight for her health. I will not give in to the junk food diets that prevail at dinners around America today. I will stay strong. 

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.