Scavenger Hunt!

I haven't been a good mom lately. Between sleep training and work, my patience and attention span has been at an all time low.  So I decided the kids needed a special treat -- something fun for them and Mommy and Daddy.

Then I saw an idea for a scavenger hunt on Pinterest.  (I can't decide if I like or hate Pinterest).  So scavenger hunt it was... with an X-marks the spot treasure and everything.  They had a blast.  My husband was excited.  And I couldn't stop laughing. 

And they are off!

Their reading skills are low and I am not known for my artistic ability

Daddy gave them the first clue.

Girlie figured it out first.

But they worked the puzzles together.

What could it be?

Woohoo! The prize!

Wordless Wednesday: The Force Is Strong In This One

Judge me by my size, do you?

It Sneaks Up On You....

Just how quickly they grow...

My baby is five months old and doesn't fit in the bassinet anymore.

I knew how hard it was going going to be for my youngest to get older.  Well, I thought I did.  I was expecting the firsts to be hard -- a little bitter sweet.  First smile.  First time sitting up.  First time rolling over.  First tooth. 

It was the firsts that I wasn't expecting that knocked me to my knees -- first time in a crib.  First time in 3-6 month clothing.  First time going to sleep by herself.  First time in the play center.  First time in the jumper.

And the packing up of the newborn stage.... Getting rid of the swing, the bassinet, the vibrating chair.  Passing the 0-3 month clothes on to friends.

Where did the last five months go?!?

Gender Definitions

I am going to raise strong, independent children.  I've blogged about how I want my girls to have strong role models, how we talk about making the right choices here and here  -- and that is just to start.  My daughters will not be with anyone who disrespects them.  My son will be a gentleman AND know how to treat women as equals.  Which is why, when I saw this at a Target, I saw red.  I stood there and sputtered.  

At first, it looks the same, right?  But why can't girls climb trees, and boys dress up?  My daughter has climbed trees wearing fairy wings and a princess costume and my son rocks his Darth Vader/Pirate costume.  

Why can't girls build a fort?  Honestly, my daughter is better fort builder than my son.  And why can't boys dance and sing?  My son loves to make up songs.  

And why the hell can't girls get dirty?  And boys giggle and laugh?  One of my favorite memories of my kids is of both of them giggling and laughing while sitting in a mud puddle in the back yard.  

Why are gender definitions marketed to kids like this?!

  

Wordless Wednesday: Sleep Training

Yeah, it's not going so well. 

Monkey Bars

Remember doing this as a kid? 

Girlie asked me if I could do it too.

"Sure, I said.  "No problem."

I got stuck.  Upside down.  With my shirt around my neck. 

No, there is no photographic evidence of it. 

And no, we won't be going back to that park.  EVER.

An Epic Battle

What is this, you might be thinking?

A very, very epic battle.  In the dark.  Cuz that is cool.

Wordless Wednesday: A $2 Apple. One Bite and then he gave it to the dog.

Last time I buy an apple at Disneyland...

How to tell if you have more than one child...

The first child throws a tantrum at 19 months -- you pull out all of the parenting tips from the parenting handbooks -- "Sweetheart, I understand you're angry.  Can you use your words to tell Mommy what is wrong?  Mommy loves you even if you are making naughty choices right now" -- and so on.

Second child throws a tantrum at 19 months -- you roll your eyes and ignore him until he either stops or falls asleep.

Third child throws a tantrum at 19 months -- you take a picture because it's "cute."

Perspective

It's no secret that my family and I have had a run of bad luck this year. 

I've often found myself cursing the heavens, wondering, "How did I end up here?  How is this my life?!"

After all, I was supposed to be a Very Important Person with a briefcase filled with very important papers.   I was supposed to have designer everything and get to jet off to important places for work and travel to exotic locations for fun.  I was supposed to be In Demand at all times.  I was supposed to work in Congress, to have a law degree, to know very influential people.


And yet....

We have a roof over our heads.  Food in the pantry.  Money in the bank.  Healthy, happy children.  My husband and I love each other and treat each other respectfully (usually).  We have not one, but two, cars that work.  We have an idiot dog who is thrilled when we come home.  We travel to exotic locations in our living room -- places that my children imagine.  I am In Demand at all times and a Very Important Person -- just only to my 4 kids. 

We have family.  We have friends.  We have fun.  We have love.

This was made very clear to me the other night when I came upstairs.  I checked on the baby -- blissfully swinging away.  Boyo had fallen asleep with a book in one hand and a flashlight in the other.  BabyGirlie was tucked into her toddler bed, with a death grip on "Mimi" (Minnie Mouse), her legs tucked under her and her tush in the air.  Girlie was in our bed - again - sleeping diagnolly, her long, coltish legs sticking out from under the covers.  My husband was asleep at his desk.  I went to the counter where I emptied my pockets -- two angry bird pigs, a pink hair bow, a binky, a crayon, and a baby sock.  Everything was quiet and calm for once.

And I looked at the heavens and said, "Thank God this is my life"





 
 

Wordless Wednesday: Because even stuffed puppies named Pongo need houses

President Versus Magician

It should be no secret that I want to raise strong, independent daughters.  Daughters who will shatter the glass ceiling.  Daughters who can do anything they want.  Daughters who earn the same wage as their brother.  Daughters who, as I have mentioned here, could be president one day. 

When we were at the toy store the other day, to spend their allowance, I saw this:

 

I immediately began to lobby hard for her to buy it.  It was a woman president.  It could stand on her own two feet (literally and figuratively).  It was a non-princess Barbie doll.  Wasn't it awesome?  I asked Girlie.  It even had a pink suit. 

"It's okay," she said, shrugging.  "But I want this one!"

A Magician Barbie.  In a revealing dress.  

"Why?" I asked a bit desperately.  "Why Magician Barbie and not President Barbie?"

"Magician Barbie has a bunny," Girlie pointed out.

How do I argue with that logic?  

At least it was the Magician and not the Magician's Assistant.

This Is What A Good Brother Looks Like

His sister wanted to go into the bathroom by herself, but was afraid to lock the door. 

He said he would guard it, so no one would walk in on her.

This kid's going to make someone a great husband some day.