Teach Me How to Mommy

I was pleasantly surprised that my husband had the day off this year and I had planned for it to be the best "good" Friday it could be.  This involved a run to the toy store, visiting with Nana's brand-new puppy, outside play and of course Easter egg dying.  (You can get all of this done in one day - plus more- if your son refuses to nap). As opposed to doing it the standard, traditional, without-a-doubt successful way (you know buying a package from Walgreens and dropping the eggs in a cup) I decided to do it the Pinterest way (the trendy, fun and sure-to-fail way). We did cool-whip egg dying.  I thought it would be fun and cleaner (I literally have no idea why I thought this - 100 wipes later...).  The process was so fun.  It was one of the few crafts that I have done where both kids have held an equal interest.  John and Lou are so different that keeping them focused on the same activity has been a challenge.  Turns out cool-whip makes anyone happy - especially sin

Don't mind my face in the picture.    I had just spent over an hour putting Colin's train table back into perfect working order.It doesn't usually bother me when it's played with and out of order.  But for sommmmmme reason, it drove me nuts the other day.  Colin and I were playing... he was Chugga Chugga Choo Chooing away, and I was putting some tracks together for him to play with... and then next thing I know... I  was alone in the front room, Brian and Colin were snuggling and watching Elmo two rooms away, and I was crawling around looking for missing pieces.   I found the pieces, I was trying to put it together without the directions (because I thought I was a ballllller mom), I failed, and used the directions.   An hour later -- order was restored in the world of the train table. and then........ Colin came running in --  Chugga Chugga Choo Choo -- there goes Mommy's hard work.   Thank god I got a picture with it in pristine condition

Literally, I feel like Friday night was two hours ago.  Grocery shopping done, laundry ready to be folded and a good episode (I am five episodes behind) of O.J. vs. The People.  It was set to be a fantastic weekend.  At times it was, swimming lessons were great, dairy queen at night even better.  At times it was frustrating like when the washing machine started leaking, stopping, humming, buzzing and breaking. Add in the fact that your husband is at a fantasy baseball draft that lasted 48 hours (give or take 10 hours) and time really zoomed by. So when Amy and I did our weekly playdate and the kids started doing this, I felt so connected to them.  I too feel like doing this (at least 5 times a day).  I envy you for doing it with such lack of inhibition.  These must be my children (and also the child of my #soulmatebestfriend). Happy Monday to you all.  Hoping all of you have a 4-day work week and that the snow melts into green grass, 70 degree weather and the promise that s

Girl time recently has involved Lucy making my hair "pretty".  She's really into it and it's really cute.  We've tried about 5 different versions of the "hairstyle" below.  Getting it done hurts, it breaks my hair and it takes forever. I love it. Now if only Lucy would warm up to me doing her hair and if only my husband would appreciate her amateur skills.

This week I got that look. You know, the look a teacher gives before she's about to give a parent bad news.  I have mastered it myself, but I wasn't planning on being on the receiving end of it yet (at least not any time soon). This week (well last week too) John has received some less than glowing reports from daycare.  This gentle critique is not really something I am accustomed to.  If you tell me how cute my kids are, how happy they seem, or how advanced they are I will encourage it.  In fact, in general that's what I am used to. If you tell me one of my kids isn't perfect in every way, I guess I feel doubtful  taken aback. Well this week I heard: John John didn't have the best of days John took one of his friend's blankies He laughed while he did it He says ok once you talk to him and then minutes later, does it again He kind of gave up on listening today. Where are you getting this from lady?  He's an angel at home: I went t

Friday after school I had to bring Colin on an errand with me to West Hartford Center.  I was excited to get a snack at Cosi, and be outside for a bit too, since it was so nice!!! BUT -- as soon as I pulled into the parking lot (the one behind Barcelona/BarTaco if you know WeHa at all) Colin pooped.  A nice stinky, smelly poop (TMI?), and he was damn proud.  His newest thing is to say "uht-oh Mommy" whenever he poops.... and there were a lot of "uht-oh's" coming from the back seat.... So, since  I didn't know the bathroom situation in the office where we were going I changed him quick in the backseat, I've done it before, I'll do it again... It was no biggie. I left the diaper in the car because I didn't see a trashcan and figured I'd look for one on our walk out of the lot, and then throw it out later. Just a cute picture -- for a "crappy" situation. We did our errands, and headed back to the car -- totally forgetting

It's been a week filled with extra work obligations...meetings, conferences, grading, long hours, tired mama. Yet, the weather changed and for the first week in a long time both my kids were completely healthy (excluding two nights of coughing that I thought would turn into croup but ended up being just a tickle in the throat).  So, even though I was running on empty, I got through.   The whole week the kids just wanted to go outside.  When  I did get home we got rid of our shoes, wore short sleeves and just played.  No walls, no music, no screens, no play dough.  No crying, no whining, no boo-boos (well not many at least). Instead, lots of bubbles and chalk and giggles. Turns out chalk is more fun when you get it wet and use it as paint on your playhouse.  She could've done this for an hour and we almost did... It's that some of us like crafting better than others.  Caught you red handed, as per usual.

It's been one of those weekends.  The joyous, busy, fun, keep it movin', don't sleep kind of weekends. It doesn't matter if we were up till 1 am on Friday night because we were at a beautiful wedding - swim lessons start at 9.  Wake up! Get in a swim suit and get ready to teach two toddlers to kick and sing Humpty-Dumpty in the water. Outside time and running up and down the drive-way singing, "Bad to the Bone"?  Sign me up.  Ugh, wait I'm exhausted. Grocery shopping at 9pm on a Saturday night?  Sure...or rather, yes because there is no other option. Even with a spare couple hours we snuck in an impromptu pizza party.  We dare say our most successful yet.  No tears, no fights, the always fun "sharing" and all kids ate. One of these three has nailed the "cheese". One of these three hates clothes. One of these three is still deciding whether he thinks his bestie is cool or not. And off we go.  Another Monday.  Anoth

After last week I think it's safe to say my house has been touched by each and every one of the icky illnesses that a family could endure.  Yes, that includes croup, colds, stomach bug and the ever popular hand-foot-mouth virus.  (Wait, I just realized there are a few we didn't get..how common is scarlet fever these days?).  Every illness has been viral and so there have been no antibiotics to ease the pain or quicken the pace of these damn things in my kids' bodies.  In short, much of the winter we have been in and out of the doctor's office and waiting for the discomfort, sniffles, pukes, lack of sleep and hours of whining to dissipate. Last week I pulled into the school parking lot only to be called immediately by daycare.  John had puked all over the breakfast table.  This has never happened to me before.  I have always been able to call out of work with some advanced warning.  (Having flashbacks of a stomach bug last year that had me shuttering, convulsing and ty

Happy HAPPY Birthday to my blogger buddy, best friend, mommy in arms, mother of dragons (I mean toddlers) and coolest lady I know! I mom crush on you daily! You juggle life effortlessly, you are the one who showed me how beautiful starting a family would be, and you're the only one I'd ever trust to know my deepest darkest mommy secrets. Here are the top 3 reasons  I love Colleen: Megan's Bachelorette! RESPECT us! 3.  RESPECT!!!! -girrrrlll… you have made me laugh til it hurt more times than I can count!  Bachelorette memories come to mind first… RESPECT! Are you talking to meeeeeeee.     2. You’re the best Mom and Wife. I remember our first phone call about PHS Hottie Jerry Mals, and I remember the moment you called to tell me that Lucy was on her way!  Now you’re a pro at Lunches, dinner, art projects, play dates, summer vacation activities.  You’ve built an amazing life!  You can do it all and with a smile! Here we are B.C. "