Cool Idea

I don't know if anyone else knows about this, but I thought I'd share. There's a skating rink near us (yes, skating rinks ARE still around) that has a "Tots and Toddlers" program about once a month. This skating rink has an indoor playscape-like thing, that isn't like any other I've ever seen. It is woven mesh with climbing compartments, slides, obstables, bridges, and other nifty things. The kids love climbing around in that, but what also makes it a little kid function is that there is NO skating. You bring your own ride-on toy onto the rink instead. It's pretty amusing seeing all the tricycles, big wheels, push toys, and other things with wheels just covering the rink. You see kids riding, crashing, trying to take each others toys, etc. It is pretty amusing. It is a fun thing to do on a Monday morning!

You Know You're Tired When . . . .

I don't know if this means dinner was good or bad, but after eating dinner, my son got very quiet. (That always means trouble.) I looked over to find him asleep on the chairs! How funny. Yesterday he fell asleep on his sister's shoulder. I guess he's not quite ready to give up naps like he thinks!

A Special Valentine Gift

I took my five-year-old daughter to the doctor for Valentine's Day to get her ears pierced. She and I had discussed it a long time ago, and she informed that she thought she'd be ready when she turned six. However, at Christmastime she informed me she was ready. I made the appointment for Valentine's Day, figuring that would give her plenty time to back out if she wanted. She counted down the days! Well, we went, and it almost didn't happen. She was fine until the last minute then ducked her head to try to hide her ears. I told her it was fine, we could just go home and do it another time. But NO, she wanted to do it then. So, I held onto her and the doctor gave it a go. Well, when the doctor pierced the first ear, there was a blood-curdling scream that probably could have taken the paint off the walls. The doctor moved fast and quickly got the second ear. It was a deafening experience. She did survive it though! Now she has these pretty little pink gemstone flower earrings in her ears (that she got to pick out). She looks so beautiful and grown up.
The good thing about getting them done at the doctors office is the materials they use (certainly not the cost). It's not like when we were kids. She doesn't have to twist them and use peroxide daily. All we have to do is wash her ears twice a day. She is now eager to wear other earrings (she received some as Valentine gifts from me and my parents) and waiting the six weeks until she can take the starter earrings out is going to seem like eternity to her. She is now happy that she did it, even though her daddy keeps giving her a hard time about it.

The weekend has arrived . . .

What a week! Whoever on the PTA dreamt up having Teacher Appreciation Week on the same week as Valentine's Day was crazy!!! It might not be that bad if you have older kids, but those of us with younger ones get stretched pretty thin. I'm not going to go on and on about all the stuff that made this week insanely busy, but let's just say I am glad the weekend is here. The thing is I was at my daughter's school every day this week either appreciating teachers or doing Valentine centers, and I LOVE being able to do all that. It's just that when it all comes in one week it is a little overwhelming. I guess I am going to have to concede to what my mother keeps telling me, that I just can't do it all. How do some of these moms make it look so easy? Or do they all have hired help??

Friday Night Sleep

Any of you with children have undoubtedly had to share your bed with them on occasion. Well, I get to do this every Friday night. I created this "monster" myself in the fall when my daughter was wanting to argue about going to bed. (She is my child that REALLY needs her sleep!) Anyhow, I told her that if she went to bed each night without a fuss that on Friday she could sleep in our bed with us. This did the trick! She rarely, if ever comments on what time she goes to bed (which is about 7:00 on a school night). I never get argument about it, at all. Consequently, she is in our bed every Friday night. Somehow though, this carried over to my son, so now our Friday nights consist of cuddling in the bed while watching Animal Planet until about 9:00 when they finally doze off (then I put on Friday Night Lights!) Although we have a king size bed, it is a little tight, and my husband now sleeps on the couch on Friday nights. The past couple of weeks my daughter's cat has joined the fun as well. (Thankfully, our Rottie can jump up that high, or I'm sure she'd try to join us.) It's amazing that even in a king size bed we all wind up on one half of the bed. Therefore, it is not the most restful night sleep, and I wake up with aches all over, but . . . .
I would not trade these Friday night memories for the world!!!

I Want to But Haven't

I know that I have been the world's worst blogger and have probably noone reading now, and I could give you all the excuses I have for not posting, BUT . . .
The truth is, I just haven't been able to make myself do it. It's like the project you know you need to work on, but keep putting off until the due date. The only thing is, there is no official "due date."

Anyhow, life around here is about the same - busy, busy.

My 2-yr-old now LOVES school, and I was informed yesterday that he has a little girl in his class smitten with him. He even does well at Sunday School now, but since one of his Sunday School teachers was going to be out last week, and they were looking for someone to fill in, I gladly volunteered.

We had a conference with my daughter's kindergarten teacher last week. I am glad to say that she is doing incredibly well! She is reading up a storm. She has, however, started to get a little bit chatty. Once she found out that her teacher was going to mention that at conferences though, she has corrected that.

I will keep this one brief. Maybe if I try to just jot down a couple thoughts, the idea of posting won't be so daunting.