Hunter will be 4 in about a month, and I forgot how much I love this age.
He is eager to be a helper--which means that when I ask for something to get done (like get something from the fridge), he will try and TACKLE Lori to get to it first. I also love that I can get him to do many things that he might not be crazy about, just by telling him he can do it himself.
His attention span is amazing, especially when Lori is at school. He can sit and play with his cars or Legos for at least 30 minutes at a time, and I love watching his imagination at work. It is also so much fun to see how his fine motor skills have developed. Just the other day he was twisting something open, which he couldn't do a few months ago. He is so attentive when he colors, too.
He is talking non-stop, especially when we are in the car alone. When I start to get annoyed by it, I remind myself that 2 short years ago, we contacted Birth to 3 because we were worried that he wasn't putting words together. Be careful what you wish for, right?
His memory is remarkable. While he says "yesterday" for any point in time before this minute, he clearly describes things that happened a long time ago in great detail.
My favorite thing is watching how absolutely sweet and loving he is. He usually insists on hugging and kissing every single person when he leaves preschool, Sunday school, and most family functions, especially his favorite people. As rambunctious and active as he is, he is incredibly sweet and gentle when it comes to little ones, like his baby cousins.
That being said, there are just as many things that frustrate me about this age, but this post isn't about those things--adore it most of the time.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Have I told you how much I hate winter??
Things cancelled/not attended due to someone being ill in my house since January:
3 church services
1 concert
3 visits to my mom
2 visits to my grandmother
3 playdates
2 days of work
5 days of school
1 dinner out with friends
2 violin lessons
And that doesn't count all of the things we've missed because of the darn weather.
I'm not bitter much.
Bring on spring!
3 church services
1 concert
3 visits to my mom
2 visits to my grandmother
3 playdates
2 days of work
5 days of school
1 dinner out with friends
2 violin lessons
And that doesn't count all of the things we've missed because of the darn weather.
I'm not bitter much.
Bring on spring!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Rising to the occasion
On Friday, I came down with the dreaded stomach bug. I was at my brother in sister-in-law's house, and all was fine until dinner time, and I just did not feel like digging in to the pizza that we had ordered. It became apparent quickly that I was most definitely sick.
Since Scott was at work, I had drive the 20 minutes home with the kids by myself, crossing my fingers that I wouldn't need to pull over on the highway. Once I got home, I made a beeline to the couch, and my lovely 5 year old rose to the occasion. Lori loves to play the mommy role, so she jumped right in.
This precious child made sure that she and Hunter got PJs on, teeth brushed, and tucked into bed. She even sang Hunter his bedtime song and then sang her bedtime song to herself.
Seems like not a big deal, but when you aren't feeling well and the only adult in the house at the moment, it is nice to know that your kid can step up and take charge in a situation that isn't ideal.
Since Scott was at work, I had drive the 20 minutes home with the kids by myself, crossing my fingers that I wouldn't need to pull over on the highway. Once I got home, I made a beeline to the couch, and my lovely 5 year old rose to the occasion. Lori loves to play the mommy role, so she jumped right in.
This precious child made sure that she and Hunter got PJs on, teeth brushed, and tucked into bed. She even sang Hunter his bedtime song and then sang her bedtime song to herself.
Seems like not a big deal, but when you aren't feeling well and the only adult in the house at the moment, it is nice to know that your kid can step up and take charge in a situation that isn't ideal.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Cooked once, served several ways.
I didn't want to stock up my freezer just in case we lost power, so I decided that on Friday I'd use some ground beef that I had in the freezer. My kids LOVE taco meat, and we had leftover guacamole,so we grabbed some taco seasoning at the store, and I tried to think about what I wanted to make.
We have some kind of burritos at least once every other week--it is one of those meals that I know both kids will eat, I will eat, and I can make it healthy with lots of veggie toppings. Plus, yum. But I wasn't in the mood for burritos.... what to make??
I cooked up the meat, and I decided that I was in the mood for nachos--thus nacho bar for dinner was born! Big hit with EVERYONE in the family, even my picky boy.
We had leftover meat, and I decided tonight that we'd eat the leftovers--kids had burritos (only 2 burrito shells left). The girl eats hers with stuff IN the burrito, and picky boy wants everything on his plate and eats the burrito wrapper on the side. Hubby was home for dinner (VERY rare occurrence during the week), and he and I had taco salad. We got to finish up the guacamole, ate lots of healthy veggies, and used up my leftover meat.
I also love using leftover meat to make quesadillas-it makes me happy to maximize every ingredient so that we aren't throwing out food at the end of the week. Another popular favorite in our house is taco casserole--basically, you layer the cooked taco meat with black beans, veggies, and cheese on top.
And I can't forget about the taco skillet with rice.
Maybe I can find some more ways to serve up taco meat!!
We have some kind of burritos at least once every other week--it is one of those meals that I know both kids will eat, I will eat, and I can make it healthy with lots of veggie toppings. Plus, yum. But I wasn't in the mood for burritos.... what to make??
I cooked up the meat, and I decided that I was in the mood for nachos--thus nacho bar for dinner was born! Big hit with EVERYONE in the family, even my picky boy.
We had leftover meat, and I decided tonight that we'd eat the leftovers--kids had burritos (only 2 burrito shells left). The girl eats hers with stuff IN the burrito, and picky boy wants everything on his plate and eats the burrito wrapper on the side. Hubby was home for dinner (VERY rare occurrence during the week), and he and I had taco salad. We got to finish up the guacamole, ate lots of healthy veggies, and used up my leftover meat.
I also love using leftover meat to make quesadillas-it makes me happy to maximize every ingredient so that we aren't throwing out food at the end of the week. Another popular favorite in our house is taco casserole--basically, you layer the cooked taco meat with black beans, veggies, and cheese on top.
And I can't forget about the taco skillet with rice.
Maybe I can find some more ways to serve up taco meat!!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Snowed in-Saturday
1. Son crawls into bed at 5:30am. Snuggle with him until he gets hungry and wonderful hubby gets up to get him breakfast. Fall back asleep until 8 because hubby feeds kids and puts a show on so he can start shoveling.
2. Wake up and go "OMG this snow is INSANE!!" Look out all the windows to survey the craziness.
3. Eat breakfast and hang out with kids. Decide that this snow is too much for hubby--get yourself and kids dressed for snow and head out to help.
4. Get totally overwhelmed by the amount of snow that needs to be cleaned. Help hubby shovel while kids play in snow. Watch hubby ski down the hill because we aren't plowed yet. Laugh at him with the neighbors as he hikes back up the hill.
5. Send kids inside to watch TV and continue to shovel.
6. Come in to warm up and make lunch. (Lunch included edible playdough for kids and soup for me and hubby)
7. Head back out to shovel while hubby takes a break and gets kids to nap.
8. Remain overwhelmed at the amount of snow. Trudge to back of the house to clear slider door of snow. Walk through waist high drifts of snow to come back to the front. Decide that you are done with snow for the day.
9. Entertain kiddos with various activities--Valentine making, sensory play, coloring, more math with the older child.
10. Make dinner while kids play in the snow with wonderful neighbor child for an entire hour.
11. Make snowcones for the kids.
12. Bedtime for kiddos=drinks for us again.
13. Chill and contemplate that we have to clean off the deck tomorrow. Look at weather report and wonder if we'll be in school on Monday.
2. Wake up and go "OMG this snow is INSANE!!" Look out all the windows to survey the craziness.
3. Eat breakfast and hang out with kids. Decide that this snow is too much for hubby--get yourself and kids dressed for snow and head out to help.
4. Get totally overwhelmed by the amount of snow that needs to be cleaned. Help hubby shovel while kids play in snow. Watch hubby ski down the hill because we aren't plowed yet. Laugh at him with the neighbors as he hikes back up the hill.
5. Send kids inside to watch TV and continue to shovel.
6. Come in to warm up and make lunch. (Lunch included edible playdough for kids and soup for me and hubby)
7. Head back out to shovel while hubby takes a break and gets kids to nap.
8. Remain overwhelmed at the amount of snow. Trudge to back of the house to clear slider door of snow. Walk through waist high drifts of snow to come back to the front. Decide that you are done with snow for the day.
9. Entertain kiddos with various activities--Valentine making, sensory play, coloring, more math with the older child.
10. Make dinner while kids play in the snow with wonderful neighbor child for an entire hour.
11. Make snowcones for the kids.
12. Bedtime for kiddos=drinks for us again.
13. Chill and contemplate that we have to clean off the deck tomorrow. Look at weather report and wonder if we'll be in school on Monday.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Snowed in--Friday
Friday
1. Run to Dunkin Donuts as the snow starts because you might be able to get out for a day or 2--ironically, my hubby didn't even get coffee despite being the sole coffee drinker in the house. Also, wanted to get the kids out of the house to kill some time since we knew we'd be housebound for a bit. (If only we knew how long we might have stayed out longer!).
2. Run to KMart to get batteries just in case of a power outage. Realize that buying batteries means that power will most likely not go out. While at KMart, also realize that you should get some milk there, because when it snows in New England, everyone buys some (we already had eggs and bread at home)--you might have a French Toast emergency during the storm.
3. Drive home.
4. Realize once you get home that you are missing some ingredients to make nachos and chili (dinner for last night and tonight). Send hubby back out into snow to get that.
5. Make homemade mac and cheese for lunch. Bake cupcakes to decorate later with the kids.
6. Call neighbor to bring kids over to play because kids are already irritating you--chit chat with her while 5 kids under the age of 6 run amok throughout the house.
7. Put kids down for a nap. Try to get cleaning and work done.
8. Get annoyed at kids because they won't nap, meaning you won't get your work stuff and cleaning done.
9. Do lots of laundry in case power goes out.
10. Do 8 million math pages with oldest child because she asked. Play trucks with youngest child because he is all about stuff with wheels.
11. Send children outside with husband to play in the snow while he shovels.
12. Make nachos for dinner. Decorate cupcakes and eat for dessert. Marvel at the fact that your children are old enough to not trash the entire kitchen when doing this activity. Decide that we must make cupcakes more often.
13. Bedtime for kids=drinks for us.
14. Study while hubby cleans snow again.
15. Listen to wind whip snow and ice into your window.
16. Look at the driveway your hubby cleared 2 hours ago, and say "HOLY COW!!" because there are already 6-8 inches covering everything again.
17. Go to sleep wondering what everything will look like in the am.
1. Run to Dunkin Donuts as the snow starts because you might be able to get out for a day or 2--ironically, my hubby didn't even get coffee despite being the sole coffee drinker in the house. Also, wanted to get the kids out of the house to kill some time since we knew we'd be housebound for a bit. (If only we knew how long we might have stayed out longer!).
3. Drive home.
4. Realize once you get home that you are missing some ingredients to make nachos and chili (dinner for last night and tonight). Send hubby back out into snow to get that.
5. Make homemade mac and cheese for lunch. Bake cupcakes to decorate later with the kids.
6. Call neighbor to bring kids over to play because kids are already irritating you--chit chat with her while 5 kids under the age of 6 run amok throughout the house.
7. Put kids down for a nap. Try to get cleaning and work done.
8. Get annoyed at kids because they won't nap, meaning you won't get your work stuff and cleaning done.
9. Do lots of laundry in case power goes out.
10. Do 8 million math pages with oldest child because she asked. Play trucks with youngest child because he is all about stuff with wheels.
11. Send children outside with husband to play in the snow while he shovels.
12. Make nachos for dinner. Decorate cupcakes and eat for dessert. Marvel at the fact that your children are old enough to not trash the entire kitchen when doing this activity. Decide that we must make cupcakes more often.
13. Bedtime for kids=drinks for us.
14. Study while hubby cleans snow again.
15. Listen to wind whip snow and ice into your window.
16. Look at the driveway your hubby cleared 2 hours ago, and say "HOLY COW!!" because there are already 6-8 inches covering everything again.
17. Go to sleep wondering what everything will look like in the am.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Restless....
With me, satisfaction is always very fleeting with our work. I always get a little restless with it.
Geddy Lee
Musicians are notoriously restless. We are always looking for the next gig, the next piece. I find that in my teaching I feel this way as well. I've been working on my National Board Certification, and I think one of the many reasons that I decided to do this is because I wanted to do something big that didn't entail getting my PhD or administration certification.
There are moments in my job where I think "Goodness, I'm not sure if I can do this job forever," but at the same time, there is a comfort and ease with knowing my curriculum inside and out and being able to just add and enhance it year after year.
But then I get that restless feeling again........
Geddy Lee
Musicians are notoriously restless. We are always looking for the next gig, the next piece. I find that in my teaching I feel this way as well. I've been working on my National Board Certification, and I think one of the many reasons that I decided to do this is because I wanted to do something big that didn't entail getting my PhD or administration certification.
There are moments in my job where I think "Goodness, I'm not sure if I can do this job forever," but at the same time, there is a comfort and ease with knowing my curriculum inside and out and being able to just add and enhance it year after year.
But then I get that restless feeling again........
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