Fun(der) Times

"Mom, what does 'der' mean? Why does Funderland have a 'der' in it?
 "Mazzy, I have no idea. But, good question!"

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After the kids had there Well Child appointments we headed over to Funderland, a place with pint-sized roller coasters and fair rides for pint-sized kids.

It had come time for us to redeem a Groupon we purchased a few months back, so what better time to take the kids than after a doctor's appointment? Josh met us after work and we were able to enjoy the little amusement park with just a few other patrons on such a breezy and beautiful fall afternoon. It was really nice to follow the kids as they made their way back and forth between rides. I was in some serious need for a reconnection of some sort with my daughter. We have not been getting along as well as both of us would like. Let's just say,  like mama, like daughter. We both sure know how to be stubborn.

(I am presently working on this. In a big way.)

Anyways, back to our lovely afternoon. Josh and I enjoyed watching our two children enjoy each other. They really had a wonderful, joyful time together which pretty much made the day perfect. There's just something about spending time just the 4 of us out and about, showing the kids a good time. I want to bottle that feeling.

Here are some pics of our time...

Sometimes this parenting gig is hard

Especially on days that go like this...
Child insists that she wants everything in the refrigerator for breakfast. When I explain to her that eating everything in the refrigerator would take too long, "but how about a yogurt and cereal bar?"  she says,  "You're mean."

When you pick said child up from kindergarten after lugging two toddlers for a mile in a stroller in the beating hot sunshine - sweating so much you keep wiping your forehead and upper lip while exchanging pleasantries with fellow parents.... only to have the kindergartner throw a tantrum because she has to walk along side the stroller instead of letting her pile onto the double stroller because her legs hurt after standing on them for 5 minutes. Tantrum had for the entire length of the time it takes to pass every kindergarten mother in the neighborhood. So much awesomeness.

You are a block away from home with the three kids mentioned above and my son, who has been  acting relatively normal so far, gets his arm slashed by a passing rose bush. Blood appears, chaos ensues. Kindergarten goes to rose bush and insists that she too has been attacked by the beastly bush because god forbid someone receives more attention than her. Really, kid? REALLY.

Telephone rings while I'm tending to my son's gash, it's me and the two toddlers and the kindergartner arguing with her cousin about something she said in the bathroom.  Like clockwork kindergartner starts yelling at the top of her lungs for me "to listen to her!" the second my ear touches the telephone receiver. I nudge her out of the bathroom door. And lock the door. And it felt good.

(Update: Kindergartner just opened her door after I instructed her to take a nap for the sake of both of our souls. She opens the door to tell me that a snake is in her room. I'm thinking I might just go in the room and ask that snake to eat me.)

(Update #2: This evening? So tiresome and stressful and sad. Layed with Mazzy just praying that I would find the resolve to fix us. Why are there so many times when I feel lost and alone in this parenting job, especially with my daughter? Hoping tomorrow is better. Hoping to be a better mom.)

Kindergarten: Recap (Mazzy's 1st week)

Photo 1

My  baby (see Photo 1) started real school last week.The kind of school that requires she arrive on time or gets marked TARDY! This in turn requires that her mother get on her game: preparing her snack the night before, making sure Mazzy's homework is completed, and agreed upon clothing is laid out. The next morning breakfast must be consumed and her hair combed by the time we walk out the door at 7:45. ( My coffee consumption is put on hold until I return home, can you believe the sacrifices I make?!) 

Photo 2

This also requires that her brother (see Photo 2) wake up in a timely manner, uncrankdified, and willing to go with the flow. We cannot count of this. More days than not last week I basically just sat him in the carseat minutes after taking him from his crib, in all his jammies and pull-up glory (yes, he's still in a crib and he'll be three in a month. The boy never learned to crawl out. What?)

Photo 3

The first morning was a success: hair brushed, breakfast had, snack in hand (see Photo 3). High five, mom.

Josh had taken the day off so he could accompany Mazzy on her first day of kindergarten. I'm so glad he did. She felt pretty special having all of us there. I was super proud of her; the way she sauntered up to the crowd of parents and kids , ready and excited for this new phase in her life. I wasn't sad. I was happy. The five years we have spent together at home and the year she had in preschool had more than readied her for school. We stuck around a bit, took a few photos (see below) and listened the the teacher's spiel. When it came time to leave, I looked at my beautiful daughter sitting at her knee-high desk, with her fellow classmates, and blew her a kiss goodbye. She smiled and put her hand to her lips and threw a kiss right back at me.  I left with a combination of feelings welling up inside me: pride, love, relief, and curiosity. I wanted her day to hurry up and happen so I could here all about it....

During the time she was at school I was able to take a walk by the river FOR AN HOUR! It was wonderful. This new found freedom is something I can get used to to...but soon it came time to pick the Roo up and we were all anxious to see her.

The breakdown of Day 1:

Recess was shorter than Mrs. K's recess (her preschool).

She was shy.

She liked the projects.

Her teacher was fine.

She likes school.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the lack of information I was able to drag out of her, but I knew it might takes  a few days for her to find her sharing groove.

Day 2

Very good! She met a friend. She was very smiley about this. She didn't know her name yet but that didn't seem to bother her.

Day 3

She came out of her classroom with a bit of a gloomy look on her face. I finally got it out of her that she received a yellow card for not "coloring correctly". This coming from a  five year old; who really knows what happened if the five year old in question isn't super forth right with information?  She could have 1) not been paying attention by spacing out, or 2) been talking, or 3)  been confused by the directions, but a little part of me was sad for Roo since she seemed so upset by the 'warning'. At times I wish I could be a fly on the wall.

Day 4

I was dropping her off and a little girl waved at her through the sea of parents and children. Mazzy sheepishly looked up at me for permission to leave and visit with her friend. I nodded and gave her a quick kiss and while I was trying to tell her to have a good day I see the two of them embrace in the sweetest little hug you ever saw. I died. So much preciousness, I tell ya.

Week 1? A success.

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Week 2: Homework begins.

This little desk my mom bought Mazzy fits perfectly underneath her window. Times are a changin'. When she was born (all of  6 lbs. 14 oz) her room looked like this...

And now it looks like this...

...fit for a school-age girl. I can't believe it.

(Love you, Mazzy. Time is flying, my love.)

Simpler Times

Who am I fooling? Packing up and heading out of town to enjoy the great outdoors with two young children is anything but simple. The packing alone involves careful deliberation and good old fashioned manual labor when it comes to just trying to fit everything in the car that you need in order to "rough it". It's hard work, this camping gig. Hard, back-breaking, sleep-depriving, dirt-encrusting work. But oh so worth it for these very reasons...


One Watching the bond grow between my son and my neice. They are almost siblings, really. And I love that.



Two  Admiring the technique of a Master Firestarter. (Spending time with my nephew, a bonafide teenager, was quite enjoyable and allowed me to understand the difference between cross-country and track - they ARE very different it turns out.)

Three   The ability to take in, from a bit of a distance, the love surrounding my kids.

Four   The glorious sunlight.

Five  The views.

Six  Reminding two little stinkers to stay where we can see them 2836452354 times a day. (Wait, that wasn't really all that awesome.)

Seven   Wildflowers!

Eight  Hanging out with fellow camera happy folk.

Nine   Her.

Ten   Sunset.

Eleven    The soothing effect calm water has.

Twelve  Natural, vibrant color.

Thirteen   Her.

Fourteen   Rugged men. (I couldn't resist.)

Fifteen  Moonlight.

Sixteen  Morning light.

Seventeen  My mom. Loving and playful.

Eighteen  Time outs. (Oh, yeah, those weren't so awesome either. But ya know what was? This pout right here.)

Nineteen  Leisurely hikes.

Photo by friendly passer-byer

Twenty  Dipping chubby little toes into ice cold water.

Twenty-one  Grandparents who bring ice cream packed in dry ice.

Twenty-two Her. (again.)

Twenty-three   Daughters who act like propellers.

Twenty-four The company of my beautiful sister.

Twenty-five  Dude. Reeses Peanut Butter S'mores!!!!!!!!!!!!

Twenty-six Campfires and practical jokes.

Now, just to be honest here...a list of a few more not so awesome things about roughing it.

One Uh, the sleep I did not get. Dude, my kids were down to wake up every other hour the first night. Not so fun. I mean, really kids we need to WORK ON THAT!

Two No showers. I like a shower.

Three The proximity of our neighboring fellow campers. I mean really, can a woman who's sleep deprived and cranky have a little space when she decides to nag her husband.

Four The cranky and naggy woman towards the end of Day 2. Who let her come, anyway?

Five  The whiny and sleep deprived children towards the end of day 2. Who invited those rascals?

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Good times, folks. Good times!