Parties, Pinterest, Promises of Wine, & Paragraphs

Whew!  That's a lot to tackle, but here goes:

Today Claire had not one, but TWO birthday parties...her morning started off rough...she was a wee bit sluggish and quiet...she even considered staying home--but like a true trooper she hit them both and reconnected with all her school chums...it's sad, but my five year old has a more active social life than I do...

HOWEVER, today, Sabrina was coming for a visit (which may have brought on Claire's moodiness about going away from home...big sister, Brina is not often around...We had big plans, BIG plans, HUGE...we were going to craft and create...we spent the morning sharing Pinterest ideas back and forth before she even headed over...

We were also going to drink wine...two bottles to be exact.  I was ready--wine glasses were brought down from the top shelf--dust chiseled off of them..."What are those?" Payton asked...haha...yes, wine drinking, or ANY drinking seems to have faded away in my grown-up world.  But not tonight...

Needless to say...nearly midnight...and I have to confess...none of it happened.  No crafting, no creating.  And certainly no wine drinking.  What did we do?  Well...we LOOKED at Pinterest...does that count?  We snacked and ate...we watched...let's see...Herculeus, Up, Despicable Me, Matilda, an old school Mickey Mouse show...and some random hockey (that I tried my hardest to ignore)...we sat on the deck, and most of all...we talked.  Good times regardless...

Oh, and what else did I do?  I worked on a paragraph writing printable booklet....was not planning to--it just popped into my head and I ran with it:

There are four different topics: object, animal, food, and place.  Each one has the following pages to complete:

This one is to fill in about a specific object.  This is the prewriting...

Then the ideas on the sensory sheet need to get turned into sentences in a paragraph.  Because students usually have trouble beginning and ending, I gave them a little guidance...

And finally, there is an illustrating page:

Because I ended up making four topics, I was thinking about having my students do one a quarter--then I would keep them to compare student growth.  I will probably start out with the animal sheet, because students are usually not blocked when writing about an animal.  I think that I will save "place" for last, as it could get more in depth than some of the others.

So during the over-does of tv-viewing...I was really, being productive...Now the rest of my family...not so much...  :)

We are Family...

Sister Sledge aside...Do you ever look at your children and think that the insane amount of love you have for them is probably not healthy?  I think that often.  I had one of those mornings where my house got very...quiet.  Eeriely quiet...suspiciously quiet.  I started poking about from room to room...calling out their names.  No takers.  I went to the door and looked out.  There was Claire, heading across the lawn...green jammie pants getting soaked with dew, carrying a Little Tykes chair with her.  On a mission.  The destination:  The old chicken coop.  Pretty soon the other two  poked their heads out--apparently they had decided this morning that the old chicken coop was an excellent "clubhouse" for them...until Payton spotted a ball of fuzz she decided MUST be a mouse bed...and back in they came.  I LOVE that my children are buds.  That was the entire reason I suffered  went through three back-to-back pregnancies...because I wanted them to have playmates...instant and unwavering friends.  Granted, I know this can also cause a share of squabbles and chaos, but I wouldn't want it any other way.  Something as simple as watching that little girl head determinedly across the lawn, to the expectant faces of her brother and sister completely validates my life path...I AM a mother...(rawr)...

Zombie Mode

So--the time has come--I am "officially" on summer vacation!  I should be dancing about the room...loud music blaring, perhaps?  Splurging in a celebratory drink, you might think?  Well, sorry to disappoint, but it is none of the above.  I am, in fact, laying on my bed, in a half-comatose state...listening to my children right outside my bedroom window, partaking in all kinds of summer mischief.  The problem with my children is that they have now entered the stage where they are very aware of Mommy's "zombie mode" and they try to capitalize on it however they can.  The door will creak open to a plethora of requests they think I'll okay in my groggy stupor..."Can we have a Popsicle?"  "Can we set up the sprinkler?"  "Can we get out the slip and slide?"  Unfortunately for them, I am too aware of their plot to let too much pass me by...that being said, they have now in their desperation moved on to the water faucet under my bedroom window.  I'm not sure exactly what is happening, but I am pretty sure it involves a bucket of ice-cold tap water, and a little game of chicken.  Whatever...they are wet and happy and safe...and that, my friends, is enough!  Bring on SUMMER!  Woo-hoo!

The kids (in a fuzzy pic) AFTER the water faucet fiasco! 

Claire + House = Disaster

     Like other people I know, I am slightly obsessed with Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers.  I'm not going to lie...it has sucked away entire days of my summer vacation.  However, I am at least obsessed with something that could possibly make me a better teacher, right?  So it can't be that bad.  Until I look around the room.  And I think...BAAADDD....you see I have been somewhat glued butt to bed, laptop on legs...Pandora cranking out teenie-bopper tunes...while the children have been left to their own vices.  Now, it is not as if I have been ignoring them...Claire has been happily buzzing about the room all afternoon.  Hence the problem.  My bedroom is suddenly an insane collision of all things "Creative Claire" has deemed entertaining:  floor cushions, piano stool, spare keyboard, high heels, markers, tote bags, stuffed animals, lotions, cow flashlight, heating pad, at least five pairs of sunglasses, six or seven random shirts of mine....the list goes on and on...getting off the bed becomes a potentially dangerous land mine.  And the sad thing is I know my child...these items under no threats of punishment, coercion, or begging will ever be picked up by her.  Which now makes my afternoon of laziness a cruel joke on me.  Now, in addition to the normal household chores I have been neglecting, I have the five-year old cyclone to deactivate.  And that, my friends just seems overwhelming...I think I hear Pinterest calling me....

The Quiet Critter Conspiracy

     So...I was browsing the Target dollar bins and I came across a few packs of pom pom critters.  Remember those?  They have a pom pom body, glued to feet of foam or felt, googly eyes, and some little antennas?  Teachers on Pinterest have been calling them "Quiet Critters"...being that they tell their students that they are tiny creatures that are very shy and only come out when it is SUPER quiet in the room...then when a student is quietly working you set one on their desk...you get the point.  Well, I took a pack home, in case I wanted to try it out, and when we got home, I took a few out, and explained to my children...apparently a with a little TOO much gusto all about the "quiet critters".  Of course they each wanted to hold one, and I let them, thinking, of course, that they totally got that they were just a fuzz with glued on eyes...boy was I wrong!  Before I realized it, my three each on their own had spread themselves out to the most remote corners of the yard to sit in silent wonder, waiting for their critter to magically come alive.  Neil and I were flabbergasted.  Carter was standing by the garage, ear to ear grin gently holding his little critter...looking at me every few seconds expectantly...Payton climbed to the top of the play set--discouraging Claire to come near--warning her she needed it QUIET.  In Payton-like fashion she sat there with a too grown-up expression on her face...willing her critter to come alive...and Claire, stood in the middle, giddy with delight, gesturing wildly with her finger to her lips that all should be quiet. 

     I felt...horrid.  Really.  I had somehow unintentional tricked my own children.  I hadn't meant for them to take it so seriously.  I thought they would laugh and pretend along with me.  Neil and I kept looking back and forth between them...whispering..."Oh my gosh...what are they thinking is going to happen?!  I had no idea they'd really think they were magic!"  I didn't know whether to let the illusion continue...or tell them they truth...it was like being caught off guard faced with Santa or the Easter Bunny.  Finally I went with the distraction technique...and quickly pointed out the kittens down by the silo...they ever so gently placed them back in the package...shrieking when one of them fell to the ground in front of the dogs...no worries...we saved the little critter and put in back in its bag! 

     To appease my guilty spirit, I promised them that we will spend a day making a bin of our own quiet critters...I got out a bag of pom poms for them to admire, and we thought of different ways to make them unique.  However, I still think they wholeheartedly believe the tiny beings will spring to life once made...it will be interesting to see how my third grade class takes to them...of course, remembering their enthusiasm for Leprechaun catching last March...I don't think I'll have anything to worry about...and the Quiet Critter Conspiracy shall continue...

This pic is taken from (this) blog:  http://projectsandpolkadots.blogspot.com/

Simpletons and Solar Lights

Okay, so...let me just say that we are dorks...and by we, I mean ME.  Well, let me just toss in Neil and the kids into that "we" as well.   There.  I said it.  WE are dorks.  We know it, we own it.  Take tonight, for example...as you all know, Neil and I rebuilt the front deck.  Of course that meant new landscaping had to figure into the mix...and as part of that, we bought some new solar lights for around the deck.  This in and of itself should not be a big deal...we have had solar lights before (until Neil kicked them apart one too many times and hauled them to the dump in typical throw-everything away Neil-style).  However, did that stop us from experiencing the rushy-excitement of watching the new lights "click" on for the first time?  Of course not.  There we are, Neil, Payton, Carter, Claire, and I...gathered out in the driveway at dusk, screeching with giddy delight each time a new light popped on.  It was like the redneck version of a pyrotechnic display.  Even as it was happening, I openly acknowledged to Neil, that we, undoubtedly, were a strange family...but than another light would click on and the kids would be cheering and clapping and running to see it, and I'm not going to lie...pure joy, my friends!

You see, this is why Neil and I are the perfect homebodies...we are so easily entertained by the elements around us that we have no need to stray far from home.  I was just explaining to one of my friends at work today why I would never want to be a "weekend camper groupie" (as she is).  And she said, "Yes, but if you are at home what do you actually do?"  Well, Jody, there it is...now you know.

The Easter Bunny Lane...

I was feeling nostalgic...wanted to take a walk down the Easter Bunny's Lane...here's a peek at the last seven years of Easter's with my kids.

The One and Only...1st Easter with Payton--I would kill for that glowing complexion!

Every little girl needs an Easter Bonnet!  Year Two adds....

A Little Brother!  Carter's 1st Easter

Back in the Bonnet!

We were so rushed we left for Church with your hair still dripping wet!

Year Four brings a sister!  Claire's first Easter!

Not quite an Easter Bonnet--but adorable none the less!

Getting bigger...

Okay, so I know this is a HORRIBLE shot...but my memory card was corrupted, and this is the ONLY pic I have to remember this year by...SO sad. 

This brings us to the present...three pretty big kids!



Say Cheese!

I know...I KNOW!  The thing is, I, myself, am irate whenever my faithful bloggers don't update...I feel neglected, out of the loop.  Once again...I have an excuse...lame as it may be:  My laptop was not in working mode.  My cord literally frayed through, and my battery was dead.  I had to wait for a new cord to be delivered before I could boot up again!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it...Okay, well.  Can I just stick up a bunch of pictures and call this entry done?  Please?  Okay, thanks, here goes:



How can you not just fall in love with these two?  This also happened to be after one of Claire's ER inducing asthma attacks a few months ago...which makes a peaceful sleep even more of a blessed occurrence!

Later on...all tucked into the downstairs bed--so we could keep our eye on her.

Here is Little Man fast asleep in Mom and Dad's bed--he disappeared, and this is where we found him!

Payton--the night she lost her last tooth--she is getting SO grown up!

The day before Easter--dying Easter eggs...each year the kids are another year older...and the dying process is that much easier!  No spills this year!

When it comes to dying eggs, we don't mess around--I think we had...17 different colors of dye!

Neil's ONE egg that he did--"Jesus is Risen"...I, on the other hand...did an Easter Bunny...

The Adventures of Claire and Mr. Frog

Claire is the LOUDEST imaginary player around.  When she is in the midst of a game, the entire house can hear her.  My own thoughts were interrupted by this story line...courtesy of Claire.

Apparent Plot: Mr. Frog a stuffed green Webkinz is stranded on the floor beside my bed. Claire–Rescuer
               and part ninja? is lying on the bed trying to rescue him.

Claire:      Mr. Frog just hold on okay? First, I need my birthday crown (pulls on paper handmade crown,
               with crayon "4's" on it) Just hold on Mr. Frog–I’ll be right back. (Runs to other side of room, then
               mutters to self) Ahh I don't need this stupid crown it doesn't make anything better for Mr. Frog!
               Mr. Frog don't worry about it, I’ll get you out. You just stay close down there, I’ll be right back!
               (Muttering to self) This is seriously not working for me. (Runs away yelling) Ninja storm ranger   
               form-ha! Hi-ya! (Cue ninja kicks)

               (Returning to Mr. Frog) Mr. Frog, just hold on, you are my only hope! I will get you! I got you!
               Oh no, Mr. Frog, you are all stinged up! You have to get all that stinged off of you. But wait! A
               tattoo! First I must put on my tattoo! Just wait Mr. Frog, I’ll just be a minute–I’ll put on my tattoo
               fast! 1-2-3-Done!

And then she got sidetrack by her toy cell-phone and began texting the High School Musical characters...Mr. Frog lays abandoned on the bed.

Dreary SHOULD be a Bad Word

Typical Claire exchange:

Me:  What a dreary day!

Claire:  (GASP) You said a bad word!

Me: ???

Claire:  Dreary is a BAD word!

Me:  No…it’s not.  Dreary is NOT a bad word.

Claire:  I know that.  I don’t even know what dreary means!

All That and a Bag of Chips...

     Okay, so I know I am really, really bad at this blogging thing...I want to be a good, faithful writer...but truthfully...first off–I bought a Kindle Fire and have sort of...abandoned my laptop. Not that I couldn’t blog on my Kindle Fire–I can, and I have...it just takes me a really long time. And secondly...I just can’t seem to focus on any one topic long enough to fill an entire entry...so today, out of guilt, I will sit here faithfully and type away...however I make no promises whatsoever of staying on topic...none. Remember that.
     This weekend was a whirlwind of various happenings...first off...Friday night we took the kids to see The Lorax. Which now brings their movie theater total up to a grand total of THREE visits. I know, we really outdo ourselves around here...we call it: Being Cheap. So off we went to spoil our children with a real movie theater experience. I liked it...I didn’t LOVE it...but that could be due in part to the fact that I had overtired, and ill-behaved Claire on my lap nearly the entire time...whispering LOUDLY things like, "When is it OVER? I want to see the movie I saw on your computer...I don’t like these glasses...they are HURTING my ears...Is it over NOW?" So...I have to admit a sense of relief flooded over me when the credits finally rolled. So much for spoiling our children. I walked out feeling like I had just put my child through torture...a very expensive 3D butter-coated, caffeine-splurging type of torture. Then, as a final kicker to the evening we had to make a quick stop at Walmart on the way home to make an emergency microwave purchase...as Neil had witnessed ours shooting out flames earlier in the day...and since I have a really serious bacon addiction right now–and pan cooked bacon is gross–we HAD to buy a new one. And seriously, what is it with Neil and fire-inducing appliances lately?
     Roll Saturday. Payton had her first EVER friend birthday party invite. Big stuff here. So, off we went...the entire family to send her off in style. I panicked slightly when giving her wardrobe free-reign...as she ended up with a Packer jersey and leggings...seriously? First grade? First party? This has sparkles and floofy skirts written ALL over it! Doesn’t she realize these will be the party photos that will resurface in 11 years as yearbook and slideshow flashbacks? However, I gave her the choice, and I wasn’t going to interfere...so off she went. Party was a huge success...(three of the six girls in skirts...future Prom court right there...). She happily chattered away the entire way to Grandma’s house when it was over. Claire and Carter were green with envy...and I was left yearning for Payton’s next birthday when I can put together an equally kid-wowing soiree.
     Unto Sunday. Well...went to Mass and Grocery shopping (put away groceries and realized we have 20 boxes of cereal in our pantry. 20. None are old. None are stale. We stock-pile cereal the way Mom and Dad did toilet paper.) Ate bacon...felt exhausted, ate more bacon. Took Excedrin to counteract exhaustion. Wished the house didn’t smell of bacon. Made cereal bars after feeling extreme disgust at having 20 boxes of cereal...Managed to use up two...down to 18. And now...Excedrin has kicked in enough that I could blog, and will now go whip up a casserole for supper...and maybe some laundry...and closet cleaning...although the kid's just put in Camp Rock...and I may get sucked in.
     And that my friends is a really long, really boring entry. You asked for it. I warned you. I did. So there. (Cue really childish tongue-sticking out and finger wiggling).

Oh the Thinks Claire Can Think

   Okay, not to force you into reading my four-year old's writings, but hey, it is a free country and you can stop anytime.  Claire and I were reading Dr. Seuss books together...but after a few, my voice was tired of reading, and I told her it was her turn to read.  So she did...well, kinda...not really, as she is FOUR and doesn't know how to read, exactly.  So she picture read two books to me.  As she read, I typed out her story, cuz I am apparently unable to sit still without multi-tasking...however, she really wanted her stories to reach a larger audience...so for all of my four blog followers...here you go...Claire's Dr. Seuss stories...I think she has a real future...perhaps not in story writing...but a definite future...

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think
This has way too many. They put out 102. It was way too many. "You think this will hurt me, no it won’t! I have gloves on." And he laid his gloves on the Porky. They wanted a cake and out came a cake. He was watching them but their marshmallows were falling. And there was a swimming pool. And they made a rope to tie around, and they climbed up into the swimming pool and along came a bird, "CAW! CAW!" Whales came up, they came out of their heads, as far as they could. Two little brothers, they are twins and twins. "I have made my decision, I am NOT going to go in the pool! I hate the pool!" And there’s a little Big, and its tail was real long. And Nick was over there, and he has a rope and was jumping in, "Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp." Nick fell over, he was so scared. He didn’t know what it was. There were all naughty guys, they were all naughty. All naughty. And they wanted Nick to win. Someone was pointing a candle so they can see who he was. And he shouted from the moon. And there was lots of Thing 1s and Thing 2s, some were blue, some were pink, some green, and some were red. And they were all purple. They were all different colors. And there were lots of naughty people, but the Cookers were nice, but the rest were naughty people. Some of the animals were nice, too. And that’s the end.

Old Hat New Hat
Once there was a little bear named Furry Bear and he wanted a new hat. His flower kept falling down.
And he founded a hat and it was really good.
"No, No, you shouldn’t take my hat!"
"You mean this one?"
Some were fat some were little, some were short, some were big.
"I look stupid in this hat."
"No, no, I don’t like this hat."
"I look squishy in this hat. I look big in this hat. These cakes are too big for me to carry."
"I look fuzzy in this hat! OWW! This hurts my neck"
"NO, no, too dotty. NO, no too red."
"I look Wise-Men in this." "I look Wise-Men again!"
"I look like a baby in this hat."
"I look like a house in this."
"NO, no, that looks too necklacey in this."
"NO, no, that’s too popcorny!"
"NO, no, that’s too leafy."
"NO, no, that’s too ice-creamy."
"That looks too ice-creamy AGAIN!"
"NO, no that looks too swirly."
"NO, no much too wiggy!"
"NO, No much too curly!"
"NOOOOO!!!" Shouted Bear.
And the Wig Lady was very disappointed.
And then she dropped out a hundred hats, and he was like "What is ALL this mess? Cheese hat? Square hat?"
He was like, "NO I don’t like any of these hats! This hat is just right for me!"
"I look GOOD in this one. There’s one of me, two of me, three of me, four of me, and they were much too good!" And everybody was "HMMM..." And you don’t have to do that, you just have to see!

A Red Letter Day

     So yesterday was some kind of day...well, at least once I left work. I picked up Claire from Daycare...only to hear the one thing that puts fear in any parent’s heart: a confirmed case of head lice in Claire’s class...so home we went–baths all around...frantically I searched her head (whew...nothing)...then scrubbed it...just in case...ignoring the phantom itching happening on my own head. Clean kids, jammies, and a nebulizer treatment for my asthmatic, coughing Claire. After school TV has been surrendered during Lent...which adds chaos and NOISE to our already busy home. Neil’s trying to get supper on...while I’m chasing the other three around the house. "FIRE!" He yells...I look over to see giant flames inside my stove. He slams it shut, looks at me, and yelps, "I don’t know what to do!" I grab the baking soda and douse the flames...now I have a house filled with thick smoke..open windows, usher asthmatic, coughing Claire upstairs away from smoke. Cancel supper. Move to "free for all" mode. Close windows...deem downstairs smoke-free enough for Claire. Continue on with night...eating, spelling words, piano playing, phone-talking...Claire keeps coughing...and now, yes, yes, we have vomiting! Poor Claire now has christened much of downstairs living area, each time insisting, "I don’t have to puke anymore!...(cue cough, gag, and vomit). Forgo Lenten promise in hopes of containing vomit and making asthmatic less active...scrub entire bathroom with bleach...scrub all downstairs floors with PineSol...fumes now probably too much for asthmatic...more nebulizing, bedtimes, get dressed back into real clothes lest ER is necessary...spend night uncomfortably perched on couch or bed, wringing hands, as Claire moves through a series of coughing/vomiting fits, followed by exhausted fitful sleep. In between 1 and 2 fever spikes...103...Claire is now talking nonsense about planting gardens, milking cows, and disposing of imaginary Kleenex. But hey, coughing and vomiting has slowed...go us. Call to nurse-line, trip to ER...where we are treated by Dr. McDreamy...(even Neil was in awe)...back home by 5:30 with seemingly routine Prednisone prescription in hand...put Claire back to bed...where she sleeps until after 11:00, and wakes up surprisingly perky–how is that POSSIBLE? I on the other hand, look and feel like death. Starving...only it’s Lent and I can’t eat meat...decide cookies for lunch is totally acceptable...wait–remember giant fire in stove...decide baking cookies in toaster oven is not at all weird. And now...here I am...trying to write this while being horrifically distracted by "The Fresh Beat Band" that Claire is now watching...and ridiculously entertained...must be overtired, because this show right now is seriously the most entertaining thing I’ve ever watched...either way...just another typical day in the Roth household...

Unbreakable...oh wait, never mind...

     Yesterday...we went roller skating as part of our Catholic School’s Week celebration. Now, this particular field trip used to be greatly anticipated by me...back when I was younger...hipper...more invincible...now it is starting to feel more like a form of cruel punishment.. I was skating around the floor, thinking to myself, seriously, how is this fun? Why would any grown person do this? Oh, yes, please, let’s strap four tiny wheels to the bottom of my feet and force myself out on a glossy surface...Where every second my senses are working overtime, trying to anticipate any possible diversion that will cause me to tumble unsuspecting to that hard floor. So I’m watching...wobbly children–steer clear of them, they can and will take you down with them...the show-off weavers–avoid them at all costs, they will cut you off and force you into an unwanted path...the dangers are endless. And these kids just fall over and over like they are made of rubber, but I’m pretty sure I’m not as bendy! My four year old, Claire, was fearless! She whipped on those skates, and she wanted NO help. She would just head out into that chaotic fearful skate zone...clomping along in a walk she’s perfected in my high heels. My first grader, Payton held her own, too. Not exactly skating...more of a shuffle, but definitely on her feet! Now, don’t get me wrong, I actually do know how to skate, but it has just lost the fun factor...I guess I’m slowly morphing into a older, crabbier, no fun version of myself...or perhaps, just one who has lived long enough to experience pain, injury, and humiliation...and would really like to avoid all of them if at all possible!

The look on her face is not apprehension, but annoyance over a forced photo op!

Payton looking just as excited!

This was the only time the girls let me hold their hands--just for a picture!

Exasperation...

On Monday...
CLAIRE:  Mom, will you make muffins?
ME:  Not today...

On Tuesday...
CLAIRE:  Mom, will you make muffins?
ME:  It's my early morning, maybe another day...

On Wednesday...
CLAIRE:  Mommy, will you PLEASE make muffins?
ME:  There's no time today, Claire...

On Thursday...
CLAIRE:  Mom, can we have muffins today?
ME:  Not today Claire, maybe on the weekend.

On Friday...
ME:  Hey Claire, guess what?
CLAIRE:  What?
ME:  I'm going to go make muffins!
CLAIRE:  YAY!!!!!

Five minutes later...
CLAIRE:  Are the muffins done yet?
ME:  Not yet!

Two minutes after that...
CLAIRE:  When are the muffins going to be done?
ME:  Soon!

A minute after THAT...
CLAIRE:  NOW are they done?
ME:  In a minute...

Two minutes later...
ME:  Claire!  Claire the muffins are done!
CLAIRE:  Oh, actually, I don't really want muffins...