Spinning Yellow

Wordless Wednesday - It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like ...

... not much yet!

                                    Ornaments - WIP (work in progress)

                                    Decorations that need to be freed

                                        Fill me with cookies, please!

Wordless Wednesday - Counter Surfing

                                    Libby - caught in the act.

Internet Challenged

My husband is trying to set up his internet connection for his office so he keeps turning it off and on.  I am too tired and my head hurts too much to stay up until he gets it right.  So this is my lame - I am posting, dammit - post.

Maybe I'll have double content for tomorrow.

I can hope.

Sorry.

Afternoon; Hijacked

Today started out pretty well. 

Yesterday my in-laws brought me brand new furry crocs.  This makes me so happy!!  I love my crocs because they are soooo comfortable and supportive.  I don't care if they are supposed to be fashionable or if they are popular, I wouldn't wear them for that reason.  What I do know is that they are the best pair of shoes I've ever had.  I also love slippers.  I hate cold feet and I don't like to wear dirty shoes in the house. 

Now I have the best of both worlds: fuzzy croc slippers!!!

OK, NaBloPoMo is beginning to wear on me a little, I am too tired to come up with much today, but I am trying...

So, as I was saying, the day started out well because I could pad around in my new shoes.  After Scott got on the bus, Jane and I went to the neighbor's house for a playgroup.  She played happily, I sat and talked.  Then we went home and it started to spiral out of control.

I was busy trying to get together the things I needed before we could run errands.  Plus I had some phone calls to make and get lunch and before I knew it, it was close to 2pm. 

I told Jane we had to get going, she needed to use the potty and then put her shoes on.  She balked.  "I don't have to go potty!  I don't want to go out!  I don't like my shoes!"

"I know you are tired, but we have a few things we have to do, like get something for dinner.  You'll get a lollipop at the dry cleaners.  Come on, we have to get going so we'll be home in time for the bus."

Cue big tantrum.  Yesterday she had a rip-roaring one, too.  In fact, there have been quite a few lately.

She finally calmed down and then peed all over the floor.

Then she didn't want to get dressed.

Now it was too late to do anything more than quickly get something for dinner.  Except she still fought and screamed.  Then she started to cough and wheeze.  Great.

Now I had to sit with her and calm her down before she had an asthma attack.  Yep, the whole afternoon was shot.

I remembered that developmental thing about the whole year time being full of compliance and organized behavior while the half year time is marked by disagreement, angst, turmoil.

This was so true of Scott.  Each year around his birthday in April, he'd be easy to live with (relatively) and then come fall, six months later, it seemed that he was falling apart and miserable.  With Jane it hasn't been as pronounced, but I still buy into this general premise of two steps forward, one step back.  As children are struggling through big developmental changes and leaps, they revert back to less mature behavior in other ways.

I will try to remember this tomorrow.  What is it that she will be doing soon?  What big leap is in store for us?  There must be a large step forward.  Because there sure has been some serious regression.

The Time Game

For as long as I can remember, I have played a game inside my head about time.  It goes like this:

I start by thinking about the same day, one year ago.  For instance, September 10th, 2006.  Then I ask myself what is happening right now that would have been impossible for me to imagine last year at this time.  Like, if you told me on 9/10/06 that I’d be running regularly and that I have a blog (not sure I even knew what one was at that time) and I even went to a blogging conference, I wouldn’t have believed you.  I also play this forward into the future, wondering what might be going on in September of 2008 that I couldn’t possibly foresee now.  Will we live in a different house?  Will we have a new baby?  Will I have a job? 

Get it?

A lot can happen in a year.  It never ceases to amaze me that, if I pick any moment in time, there is always something significant that is happening in my life that I would have never been able to believe one year ago.

At the same time, there are many constants.  I know that next year, I’ll be a year older.  So will Matt and the kids (provided nothing happens to anyone, a version of the game I rarely play, as in what if so-and-so died.  I usually don’t do this.  But I have gone down that road.).  I know that it will be the weekend after Labor Day, after school has already begun, a weekend an ex-boyfriend of mine used to call “the best weekend of sports all year” because it is the opening day for college and professional football, the US Open tennis tournament finals, baseball games getting close to the finals, all at the same time.  A weekend I tend to look forward to as the start of fall, my favorite season, and the beginning of school.  A new start, much better than January 1st.  I am still tan and haven’t started worrying about the holidays yet.

There are many variations of this game to play.  Take, for instance, this weekend.  I can go back in time to 2000, when Matt and I had been married for a month.  My parents had just sold their Day Care School and I was out of a job.  I was wondering if I might be pregnant while I started taking Sociology courses to pursue that elusive Liberal Arts degree.  At that time, I would have been able to imagine having a 4 month old child a year later.  But I didn’t know that I would have such terrible morning sickness and I would abandon my dream of getting a masters degree.  I certainly could have never predicted the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11 that were one year away.

Or two years ago when Scott started prekindergarten and our world was in such upheaval.  We didn’t know what was wrong with him, but we had come to the conclusion that we all needed some help.  At that time, I surely didn’t believe that one year later he’d be starting kindergarten and doing so well.  Or last year, when Scott got on that bus to go to the big school, I guess I never imagined that we’d be here, with him going to first grade without any additional help at all.

You can further morph this game by looking at any time when something big was happening, say a job change or a house move, and think about one year before.  Would you have been able to know about it?  Or just pick any old time and challenge yourself to come up with at least one significant thing that was impossible for you to imagine happening one year prior.

Or you can shorten or extend the time.  Like a month ago or even a week out.  What has been unexpected?   

As an over-thinker, the fact that I play this game shouldn’t surprise you.  I am prone to continually analyzing my life.  What does amaze me is that I take such delight in the unpredictableness of life when viewed this way.  I am such a control freak.  One who always wants an answer, a clear path from point a to b.  No surprises.  And yet, I love this about life.  That I am always surprised.  That it is impossible for me to know what lies ahead.

Go figure.

C'mon Summer, Let's Hug It Out

Summer? 

Before you go, we need to talk. 

I am sorry I haven't always been so nice to you.  I've complained about your arrival.  I bemoaned your bright days that require sunscreen and bugspray.  Your lack of adherence to a schedule.  No school or rules.

I know I haven't exactly been fair.  I mean, my birthday falls during your time.  And a number of really great things have happened to me when you've been visiting.  Years of playing kick the can and wandering around the neighborhood.  Going to my cousin's house and swimming and exploring in the woods.  Boat rides up at the river.  My first kiss, my first love, my first job.  As a teenager I loved your long, idle days and hot, unpredictable nights.

I love that we wear sandals together and I can let my hair dry on its own.  I dig your strapy tops and brown skin.  Kids playing in sprinklers.  Ripe blueberries, green beans and tomatoes fresh from the garden.  Eating outside.  Fireworks.

And this year, you've really outdone yourself.  The kids have grown so much.  Reached amazing milestones.  I've evolved, too, with the running and blogging.  And Matt, he's finally making the move he's been thinking about for so long.  You've ushered in some really cool changes for our family.

But, I just can't handle that much of you.  You insist that we have a fabulous time when sometimes, I just don't want to be that happy.  You arrive with such fanfare and intensity.  Then, you slowly burn everything out.  The lawn is brown, my garden is doomed, even Scott's sunflower has withered up.  You're not good for me.  I do better with a routine.  And, quite frankly, I've always looked forward to when it's time for you to leave.

(psst...BFF, Autumn, I know you are ready to move in.  I've felt your presence for the last few weeks.  It gets dark earlier and the nights are cooler.  I hear the marching band practicing.  I set up your room.  The windows are open.  I am so looking forward to your visit this year.  To watching football games and going to the pumpkin patch.  To raking leaves and pulling on sweaters.  She's almost gone now, I know you don't like to be pushy, she'll see it's your turn soon ...)

I know you aren't quite ready to go.  That even though school starts tomorrow, technically you still have a few weeks.   So while you are still here, I'll try hard to appreciate you.  To remember how I felt about you as a kid.  I'll look forward to your return next year and all that you will bring.

One last hug before you go?

Now, move on, girl, your time is up.

I Never Claimed to Be Fun

When you live in the world of little kids, you can't escape the dreaded three:

1. Lollipops
2. Balloons
3. Stickers

Of course people are trying to be nice and keep your kid quiet put a smile on your kid's face, but I would like to ban all of the above items. 

Let's start with lollipops.  Sticky.  Potential chocking hazard as my children are not patient enough to lick or suck the lollipop and always chew them straight away. Bad for teeth (see last point on chewing instead of sucking) .  I wonder if I will get weird google searches from that.  Incites arguments about who gets what flavor and whether their lolly is better tasting, bigger, less gummy, whatever.  The icky wet paper stick gets left somewhere for you to sit on or try to extract from the carpet or the dog gobbles it up.  Kids with sticky hands are now in the car and touch everything including their hair and then cry that they are inadvertently pulling their hair out or have dirt stuck to them.  Wipes don't clean effectively (and/or kids won't use a wipe) so you have to find a sink to wash up in (not always available).  Because they chew them, the actually amount of time that the kids are occupied is about 1 minute.  Clean up equals 30 minutes.

Balloons seem harmless.  So bright and floaty and festive.  Except that there is the very real potential for the balloon to float away because children NEVER heed the grown-up warning that they will lose the balloon by not holding it securely enough.  Lots of crying and blaming to follow.  If the balloon does make it into the car you have to constantly remind your child that you will crash the car if they don't keep the balloon from coming into the front seat and blocking your view.  At home, the balloon becomes a weapon especially when there are two.  Which always leads to someone getting smacked in the face.  More crying.  Once again there is fighting over whose balloon is the better color or bigger or more round, whatever.  Oh and they can pop and scare the daylights out of everyone and then there are the pieces, which again are a chocking hazard and an environmental issue because they never decompose and animals eat them and get sick, right?  That rubber, latex smell is nauseating and leads me to look around wondering if the kids found the stash of condoms.  And the string, oh my, I envision it wrapped around my kid's wrist or neck and I have to cut it off of them before I end up in the ER with me lamely explaining that I thought balloons were fun, not dangerous.  Balloons are great for decorating but are not a toy. 

I hate stickers with a passion.  I've always hated stickers, because, quite simply, they are sticky.  They get stuck to your skin or the table or your clothes.  Peeling off stickers or price tags is one of my least liked activities.  I would go so far as to say I have a sticker phobia.  Don't come near me with them.   Kids love them.  Especially when they are a picture of their favorite character.  Well, most kids love them.  Scott does not and is always being offered one, which he thinks is a lame prize (he'd rather have a lollipop or a balloon).  People give very young children stickers, like at the grocery store, where I want to say, what are you dumb?  the kid is just going to eat it.  I mean, what is the big deal with stickers anyway.  So Jane likes them and puts them on her clothes which we then forget about and end up putting in the wash and now that you know how much I hate taking stickers off of things, well, you can imagine how I feel about scrapping the pieces out of the washer or dryer.  Once again the sticker thing creates arguments about who has which one and then someone loses theirs or it doesn't stick or now they want the other kid's sticker, whatever.  So if it doesn't get stuck to the bottom of my shoe or end up on someone's belly, then it gets stuck to paper at home and the kids lament the fact that they cannot now use it again.

Yeah, you are glad I am not your mother, or your kid's mother.  Sure, feel all smug that you are fun, but I know you secretly feel the same way.

From WhyMommy

I am here at BlogHer2007 because of WhyMommy from Toddler Planet who gave me her BlogHer pass.  I am honored to attend in her place.  I want everyone to click over to her post about IBC.  Everyone needs to know what is happening to her and why she is not here.  And they need to be aware of what I knew nothing about. A breast cancer that isn't about mammograms.  Something they never tell you about.  Please read it and pass it on, to any woman you love.  Your mom, sister, friend, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, daughter, cousin, wife, nanny, neighbor.  Everyone.

She is blogging and sharing her experience.  She is informing people.  She is saving people.

Thank you WhyMommy. 

And thank you, readers, for passing it on.

Wii for Me!

I won a Wii game system from the Manic Mommies!  I know I should say, "I'm sooo excited.  I've never won anything before."  But that's not true.  I have won lots of things.  From office sports pools to random door prizes at weddings and parties.  One of my favorite times wasn't because of the prize (a bottle of wine?) but because I won for correctly identifying the Grinch's dog as Max.  I love games and puzzles, just not athletic competition (watching is good, participating not good)!  My father even won a lottery when I was in high school.  So my secret is out.  I am lucky that way.

And I didn't even really think much about this prize.  I just happened to be listening to the podcast and then reviewing the show notes when I entered.  We do not have any gaming systems here at our house.  My nephew has a GameCube that Scott begs to play anytime his cousins will let him.  We've been a little apprehensive about having these things around.  Scott can be so obsessive about playing.  Plus, the OTs say that sort of stimulation isn't the right kind for him. 

All in moderation, though.  Right?  I hope we can get the Wii before Scott's birthday!

I do feel a little bit guilty about winning this.  Mostly because I haven't written a post about the Manic Mommies yet!  I did comment on their site after the show about their favorite things.   And I have so much to say about every one of their podcasts that I was planning on including a weekly post about it.  I just haven't gotten to it.  And now they are giving me something!  Ahh!  It's like getting a gift from someone you've been meaning to catch up with and haven't.

Of course, I really can't complain.  This really IS exciting.  Even if it's not the first thing I've won, I think it will prove to be the most fun!  Stay tuned to hear about the Wii experience.

And thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to Erin and Kristin.  You've been entertaining me for months now.  I absolutely LOVE you podcast.  Really.  You always make me laugh and make me feel that whatever I'm doing is just fine.  I promise to repay you with lots of shout-outs and posts and links and all that.

As soon as I stop playing with my new Wii!

I Spend a Lot of Time Trying to Avoid Stuff Like This

Really. This was not what I wanted to write about today. I have so many important posts to create. About Scott and what a challenging child he is. About how much understanding him has changed how we look at ourselves and other people. About being a mom. So, so, much to tell.

But instead, I have to stop and talk about what happened today. Because this kind of thing makes me CRAZY!

I signed Scott up for a spring soccer class because I was worried that baseball alone would not be enough activity. He needs to really run around and he is so good at soccer. It seemed like a good idea. He’s done the little kid version of this program before and I knew he was ready for the more advanced, 6-8 year old group. No problem (even though he is not 6 quite yet). Oh, but there was a problem.

The soccer program’s brochure had different times listed then the Township booklet showed. Since you have to sign up through the township I live in, I called the soccer office to alert them to the discrepancy before enrolling Scott. It will be fine, they said, just sign up for the right age group. OK. When I went to the township building, the not very helpful woman informed me that only 3 kids had signed up so far. Right. Is that a problem? We’ll let you know if they decide to cancel the class. Sure, thanks.

This is the same woman that, when I told her that we never received the Spring class booklet, snapped back: Do you live in the township (uh, yeah, why else would I be here?)?  Well, you know how the mail can be sometimes (actually, we don't have mail problems - also, I later asked some neighbors and they did not receive the booklet either).   You can get all the information on-line, you know.  Yes, I do know that, but I still can't register on-line.  When are you planning on having that available?  We aren't.  Thanks.  Again.

Earlier today I called first the soccer program. Did enough kids sign up for my son’s age group? Is the class still being held at 5pm or did they decide to put all kids together at 4pm?

We don’t exactly have that information, you’ll have to call the township. Hello, township, do you know if the soccer program will be held at the time – . Before I could even ask my question, or explain why there might be an issue, I was abruptly cut off.  All classes are running as scheduled as far as we know, goodbye.

I’m sure you can see where this is going. At 5pm, we arrived at the soccer field and there was one kid there. The coach said he was sorry for any confusion, but that the few older kids will be grouped together with the 4pm class. They can’t run a whole hour for only a handful of kids. Yeah, I figured that. Of course the soccer coach has no idea that I did all the questioning earlier, so it is not his fault at all.

Back in the car: What happened? Well, it turns out that instead of trying to get dinner ready ahead of time and rushing to get here that we actually should have come at 4pm because that’s what the other people did and now they aren’t running a class at 5pm.

Mom, I didn’t even want to do this soccer thing. Really, why not? You love soccer. I know mom, but only if they keep score.

** Update:  We asked for a refund for the class and was told that it would take 6-8 weeks to get a check from the township.  That's the best they can do.  Unbelievable!