Halloween Happenings

Although neither of my kids' schools officially recognized Halloween, which I think it lame, both concocted a way to allow the kids to wear a costume to school.  Our district only allows 2 class parties per year, but Sam's school wrapped up Red Ribbon Week with Super Hero Day on Friday, so he was allowed to wear his Ironman costume to school.  Annabelle, who's school is private but hosted at a church that doesn't celebrate the holiday, participated in the Noah's Ark Parade.  All animals, all the time.  Fortunately last year's cat costume still fit well enough for the 20 minutes she needed to wear it.

Mommy got a special Halloween treat, too.  Frankenstein Frapachino, anyone?

On the big day a friend, who's son is in Sam's class, invited us to an early dinner at Jimmy Changa's (play place, outdoor seating and Tex-Mex!) right after school.  PERFECT.  Something fun to do to kill some time before the big event, and a cheap way to feed my kids.  I love all the kids-eat-free promotions they run in my neck of the woods!  After dinner we scooted home to costume up, all full of excitement and cooperation.  What bliss!  I put mascara, lipstick and blush on my daughter, managed to get her hair into a bun and then pulled my own very first ballet recital costume onto her.  Be still my heart.

(side note: she will be old enough for ballet in the fall, and I already knew I'd be signing her up.  And then they started running commercials for the Nutcracker this week, and she literally stopped running around in circles to stare at the TV and ask, "Mommy what they doing?!"  And she continues to watch every single time she sees one, with equal fascination.  Its innate...or inherited.)

We gathered at a house around the corner for a little trick-or-treat pre-party.  Adults snacking, kids running around, general neighborhood merriment.  And I was only asked 137 times when it was time to start trick-or-treating.

I have expressed this notion before but I'll say it again (and probably several more times over the next few months: We are in the "magic years" here in this house.  Our kids are 2.5 and 5.5.  That is old enough to understand, anticipate, believe and live in the moment, but not so old that any of those things might be tainted by the big kid notions of too-cool, its not real or it doesn't really matter.  There are moments when being in the magic years feels like a lot of pressure - like I have to make it magical for them - but a dear friend pointed out to me that childhood is magical all on its own, Pinterest not required.  And Halloween night was proof of that.


I hope that I can always picture in my head the sweetness that was Annabelle while she was trick-or-treating this year.  I don't think she ever realized that she was often at least 10 yards behind the "big kids," regardless of how many times I call to her to "follow the Elsa's!"  She was happy to take several shorter rides on the hay wagon, while the big kids only bothered when we were changing streets, but as soon as we lifted her over the rail and her little feet hit the ground she was running.  And she was repeating the phrases she was hearing around her.  "I see a wight at dis one, guys!  Ok, wets go da next house!  Let's go, guys!"  So much enthusiasm, so much pure joy. 

We did score a pretty sweet deal by joining some friends on their Ranger/Hay Ride.  It took Annabelle about 2 seconds to figure out how to climb onto it herself, and was pleased as punch when the Elsa's (there were 2 in our group) were distracted long enough that she could score the primo hay bale at the back of the wagon.  Sam preferred to ride up front in the Ranger, but really as long as he was close to his buddy, he was cool.

Well, mostly cool.  As is the case with any highly-anticipated event in Hunniford House (and this was HIGHLY anticipated - he started counting down days on Monday mornings, and after having to wake him each day for school, he bounded out of bed on Friday announcing "TONIGHT IS TRICK-OR-TREAT!"), there were a few meltdowns.  Once because he'd forgotten his shell (Daddy was already returning from the house with said shell, we realized before he did), once because his knee pad ripped (this is what happens when you and your buddy play spies in the bushes in full costume), once because he didn't get his desired seat, and probably at least one more.  I will give him credit for recovering quickly from each meltdown - as he gets older he is actually getting a bit easier to reason with and I am seeing some growth in understanding that fits don't solve problems.  Hard to break life-long habits, though.

But he had a great time overall.  He was poised to be the leader of the pack, although that position shifted throughout the group (if that kid can harness his powers for good instead of evil, he might just run the world - although I'm not sure he's interested in Democracy), always with the Ballerina and Olaf bringing up the rear.  Olaf is Annabelle's age, and he loves her.  We're talking all kinds of unwanted physical advances ranging from poking to hugs.  She greats each with a stern "Don't Touch Me!"  It sound rude coming from a 2-year-old, but we'll be proud of the same phrase when she's 16.  Well it turns out the costume one him some points because the next day she told me "Only Walker is a Honey!"  Oh, and Walkers mom taught him to great people with "I Like Warm Hugs!"  Adorable.

Our door-to-door adventures lasted about an hour and a half, which I think is a pretty long time for this crew!  We quit when Sam's candy bucket was literally overflowing, and Annabelle had begun handing hers to Daddy because it was too heavy.  Please note that she still went to doors to collect candy, she just couldn't be bothered to carry it.  When we made it back to the house the kids had a few pieces of candy and went to bed - very easily.  We had left our candy bowl out with the neighbors but heard the crowds on our cul-de-sac were small.  We received a few more stragglers before turning out the light and eating far more candy ourselves than we ever would have allowed the kids to consume.

 The next day was the candy sorting.  Sam rocked it, and rearranged it a couple of times throughout the day.  He traded a few unwanted items with me and has been negotiating extra pieces of candy for random "accomplishments" all week.  Annabelle has become incredibly possessive of her bucket, ready to fight off any and all who threaten to take a piece from her.  My kids will won't touch ice cream and can walk away from cake all day.  But candy...that's their love language.

We really had a fantastic day filled with friends, neighbors and family.  It makes me excited for all the magic to come...

His and Hers Fall Fun

Well, this season of fun, fall festivities has turned out to be a little less "family fun" and a little more "date with Mommy" than I anticipated.  But they both have had a turn to do something festive, so I guess that's what really matters.

A few weeks ago some friends and I took our little two-year-old girls to Zoo Boo.  The three of them were born within 7 weeks of each other and have been in the same class at church their whole lives (and the mommies were friends long before they were born), so it was a very fun group.  But the morning did tug at my heart strings a bit, because I didn't get to take Sam.  I took his for the first time when he was two, with one of his life-long buddies, a tradition we repeated three years in a row.  But this year they're both in school 5 days a week.  And ALL the mommies were in agreement that Zoo Boo isn't quite enough fun to justify the Saturday crowds.  I did my best to side-step Sam's questions about our plans for the day, and I'm proud that I DID NOT lie about anything.  But really, he is handling like the champ the fact that Annabelle and I lead a life while he is at school.  He doesn't complain when we do fun things, which I think is a sign that he enjoys his time at school. 

Anywho...  Annabelle and I did have a lovely morning with friends.  She gets the concept of Trick-or-Treating and thinks any and all animals are cute, regardless of how gross they actually are.  "Awww!"  And unlike her brother, who at that age was still putting one swipe of crayon on a sheet of paper and declaring it "all done," this girl had to be pried away from the "paint a tiny pumpkin" station. 

We had some "family homework" sent home from the elementary school...decorate a pumpkin to look like a character from a book you've read from the school library.  Two things: 1. I'm not really going to let my 2 year old help with this "family homework" and 2. My options are SO LIMITED when my 5 year old has literally only checked out Star Wars books so far from the school library.  But, I think the few hours that Mommy, Daddy and Sam put into our R2D2 pumpkin produced excellent results. 

This past weekend was supposed to be a full day of family fun, but when Annabelle woke up with dried vomit all over her bed, our plans changed a bit (poor girl, she'd never thrown up before and didn't know what had happened.  It happened once more shortly after she woke up and she told us "my mouth spilled").  Family Fun Outing to the Horse Farm/Pumpkin Patch turned into a Mommy/Sam date.  Again, my heart was sad because I know Annabelle would have loved all of the animals.  Sam thought it was ok, but next year he'll probably have more fun at the over-commercialized Dewberry Farm.  Ugh, I miss this Midwest in October!

This picture is from the "haunted trail."  He was all smiles until some woman in a funny breathing mask wouldn't get the clue that he was too scared and she needed to back off.  I turned my crying child around and left the way we came in.  Fortunately we were able to trade in Annabelle's groupon-purchased admission prices for a few large pumpkins - which I lugged by myself back to the car.  My arms were shaking when we got there - guess I need to do some weight training.

That night I stayed home with the by-then-probably-fine-but-still-in-the-24-hour-window "sick" child while Sam and Chris headed to a Halloween party.  I consoled the left out girl with the promise of a Princess Movie and Toenail Polish, and a dinner of toast and apple sauce.  She accepted.

NOW we did make it to ONE fall event as a family: The Neighborhood Fall Festival.  We took a hay ride, played on the playground, ate some cookies, chatted/ran wild with friends and Annabelle received her requested Rainbow Butterfly.  Which was a smeared mess by the time bath time rolled around that night.  Here's hoping we can all make it out together on Friday night, too!

A Hobby for Mommy

Five and half years ago, when I became a mom, every aspect of how I defined myself changed.  Some ways were for the better, others probably not.  If I'm honest, it has taken me the better part of these five years to figure out who I am as "mom."  How do I parent, how do I relate to other moms, school...how has my relationship with my husband or friend changed...how much free time I get, how important is it, how I use it.  This last one has probably taken the longest to work out.  How do I balance being ME with being MOM, when the two are inseparable, yet I need to be defined by more than just that one word!?

In that last year I have recognized and landed on two hobbies that I have grown attached to and that I find both enjoyable and a great source of stress relief.  One, shockingly enough, is running.  Took me about 6 months to stop hating it, but 15 months in I kinda love it.  About 10 minutes ago I signed-up my family of 4 for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Dash.  Woot Woot!  The other is baking and making my baked good beautiful.

That one's not a surprise.  I've loved it my whole life.  So much so that my mom never bothered with the Easy Bake Oven, but I regularly found real kitchen supplies - even a small electric one year! - under the Christmas tree.  I pretty much took over the Christmas Cookies (an big thing in our family) in high school and college.  More recently I've come to enjoy the challenge of making shaped, themed birthday cakes for my kiddos. 

Which is why I was SO VERY excited when my bestie, who pays excellent attention even from far distances and on very little sleep (thanks to her newborn), gifted me with a cupcake decorating class for my birthday.  I went this past Saturday and had SO MUCH FUN.  Honestly, in another life I may go work in a bakery.  Or at this shop.  Or just bake a lot and get fat.

My teacher was awesome - she's even been on Food Network's cake decorating competition show, and she did win the $10,000 prize.  I want to go spend a million dollars at this store buying all kinds of new supplies and tools.  And I'm brainstorming what additions might be made to this year's Christmas Cookie Tray as a result of what I've learned.

Obviously it was a Halloween-themed event, and we pumped out all these treats in 3.5 hours.  She had everything baked, but we did all the decorating.  I mentally predicted which treat each family member would pick first when I got home, and I am pleased to announce that I was correct in my predictions!  My kiddos, they eat with their eyes first a foremost!

Now I'm going to go eat the brain.  Good thing my one hobby can undo the affects of the other!

Lately with Lady A

Funny that I'd call her that in a blog title, because I never use that name out loud anymore.  In fact, she gets called her full name most of the time, unlike her brother whom I mostly call by one nick name or another.  Funny - it really should be the other way, given the length of their names!

Anywho...

Although I do regularly call her "Baby Girl," it is very clear that she is no longer a baby.  She is doing a lot of growing up these days - I can see it in her attitude (which is much more, um, opinionated these days), her play (which is more creative), her interactions with other kids (she gets what the big kids are doing and tries hard to keep up) and in what she's learning.  One night she set things up for her baby doll to join us for dinner.  She and baby took turns taking bites throughout the meal.

In spite of all this growing, she is still the littlest around here, and sometimes when you're little you just don't get to do certain things.  And Baby Girl is no longer indifferent about missing out on things that the rest of us are doing.  Do not joke with her about staying home while everyone else leaves, lest she leave you with her "Don't Stay Me At Home!" line she demanded at Gommy.  And don't ask her to stay in the car when Mommy and Sam are dropped at a birthday party at the splash pad, lest you suffer a 20 minute melt down.  Chris texted me this picture while we were at the party - when they got home she ran to her room and came back with her swim suit so that they could head back to the splash pad.  She didn't handle the "not this time" all that well.

One day last week, while Daddy was out of town, I took the kids for donuts as a special after-school treat.  She handed me this and told me she was done.  Do all 2-year-olds go through a phase of eating only the parts touching the frosting, or is that just my 2-year-olds?

This morning was our last music class for the fall session.  The kiddos all dressed up for "national wear a costume day" - the music class was at a Baptist church...teachers hands were a bit tied on what she was allowed to call our little celebration!  That would be Mommy's very first ballet costume she is wearing - her favorite of all her dress up items.  Fear not: of the 8 little girls at class today, there were 3 Elsa's. 

We started up a Tuesday morning bible study a few weeks ago, so even though our music class is over, our weeks are still sufficiently full.  She's a good side-kick to have around - and way better at shopping than her brother was at this age!

NCE

So we, as a family, are new to the elementary school.  I don't like to be "new" to anything.  I like to fit in, feel comfortable and at home.  I like to know what's going on and how "to work" a place.  I like to know who everyone is, and be known.  And it frustrates me that arriving at this place takes time, regardless of what the new place is.  But one thing I have learned along the way: the best way to fell connected and at home is to get involved.  So...

I've over-committed myself.  As per usual.  Grade Level Coordinator (for room moms, although I am sharing this job with a friend), Work Room Volunteer (I did negotiate this down to an every-other week commitment), Friday Readers, and this week I will spend the entire school day there teaching Junior Achievement.  And I encourage those around me to get involved, too.

Enter "Watch D.O.G.S."  That's, "Dad Of Great Students."  Their way of getting the Dads more involved at school was to have them commit to volunteer one full school day out of the year, rather than hodge-podge hours throughout the week, like is more my style.  Chris got his turn earlier this month.  I think that when he signed up he mostly did it because he was "supposed to" and he knew Sam would feel special having him there.  When the day was over, it was clear that he enjoyed himself.  It was such a great opportunity for him to see how the school operates, get a picture of how Sam spends his day, get to know his teacher a bit and see how the kids in his class interact. He met some more people at the school - including the Principal's husband, who was there Watch DOGging with his 5th grade daughter (although because he is also a middle school VP, he actually ended up substitute teaching.  Ha!).  He gained some insights I hadn't yet, and Sam DID feel special having him there. 

And I got everyone we live near and are related to involved in our first elementary school fundraiser.  Thanks again for all of your generous donations!  Sam loved everything about the Boosterthon Fun Run - from the prizes he brought home daily (literally, at least one a day for 9 school days) to the running around and getting water cups for 40 minutes with his buddies.  We made a poster so that he could earn an extra prize (obviously.  And the Boosterthon chair posted it on Facebook - woot woot!).  And although I did go to watch the event, I did not volunteer for it - proud of me?!  I wasn't sure if I'd have Annabelle with me or not, or I would have volunteered.  There's always next year ;-)

So I'm over at the school a little bit more each week, feeling a bit more at home each time.  The good thing is, Sam already feels at home and comfortable there - and I guess that matters more than my feelings, right?

Bonus Picture: I was in the PTA room when they were counting box tops one day.  Have you ever seen such a tiny box top?  I cannot imagine what product this cam off of!

The Big 6-0!

Happy Birthday Papa!

In my books, a big birthday deserves a big celebration.  That's just too hard to do from a different time zone.  So...I invited him down here!  And he came, along with Gommy and Uncle Matt and Uncle Kate, for a weekend in Houston to mark the occasion.

The 'rents came in on Thursday morning so they got to see Annabelle's classroom at preschool pick-up.  I was intentionally vague with Sam as to what time they'd be arriving, so they were able to surprise him at elementary pick-up.  He was very excited, and it was cute to watch him run up to them.  They also got to go to soccer practice.  All terribly exciting things, but this is our real life these days!

Friday morning they were actually able to go into Sam's classroom with him to participate in Friday readers.  He felt pretty special to have to readers come with him!  Grandparents report he was a model student while they were there - perhaps I should send them in every week!  And I think the grandparents enjoyed seeing where he spends his days and getting a small feel for the school.  And then they came home to play princesses for awhile.  I do love when I get to let Annabelle direct the play while Sam is at school. As luck would have it, Friday was actually early dismissal for the district, so they weren't able to eat lunch with him.  Instead they used the afternoon off to head out to Chuck-E-Cheese's.  I'm no 5-year-old, but I think that's better than ANY afternoon at school ever could be.

(Please don't tell Annabelle.  She took a 4-hour nap on Friday afternoon and has no idea what fun she missed.  Sometimes there are privileges to being the oldest!)

Matt and Kate flew in late on Friday...fun for the kids to wake up with more people in the house than when they went to bed!  After a cinnamon pancakes with maple/apple topping, some of us visited a new Farmer's Market while others played outside.  We overate on "football food" for the Ohio State game and then loaded up to cheer on Sam at his soccer game.  Fortunately he scored a few goals for his visitors!

Saturday night was the big deal - dinner at a steakhouse, with the kids!  I was obviously nervous about taking them there, but they did really really well.  Especially Annabelle, who sat in her booster at the table for 2.5 hours.  Seriously!  She got a little upset when the well-intentioned server cleared her "bwead" while she was in the potty, but that was easily remedied with a new loaf, just for her.  Sam needed to go outside for a bit, but I don't blame him.  It was a long, wonderful, filling meal!  And a big birthday deserves a big meal, right?  (We also saw a proposal while we were there - fun!)

Sunday was church, brunch, a bit of hanging out and a few airport runs.  The weekend visits always seem to go so fast!  I am happy that Annabelle now no longer needs to be re-introduced to any family members after extended absences, and happy that she still has no idea that Uncle means "boy" and Aunt means "girl."

Annabelle had a couple good quotes from the weekend, unfortunately I can't share them all here.  But here are a few:
"Don't stay me at home!"
"Mommy, I coming!" (said with teenage sass...help me!)